While traveling through Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, Marc Mol captured these cute images of a newborn hippopotamus being terrified by a flock of birds.
Photographer Swiss captured woodpeckers visiting a cub with his camera. Mol was concentrating on a bloat of hippos when he noticed the infant running in terror with pursuers on his back.
As the hippopotamus writhed, cried, and went to its mother, he began snapping pictures to fend off its predators. My jaw dropped when I saw this hippo emerging from the water and racing towards me.It was discovered to be a flock of woodpeckers by the photographer.
Normally, hippopotamus ticks and parasites are consumed by woodpeckers, who are in turn consumed by hippos. In this case, however, it is unclear whether the baby hippopotamus has yet fully benefited from the partnership.
I couldn’t believe what I captured,” says Maul. This little guy looks desperate as he tries to fend off what he thinks are unpleasant insects.
