Lions join forces to kill Nile crocodile

Zambia A lone Nile crocodile sunning itself on dry land becomes the target of attack by lionesses in Kafue National Park.

In the aquatic environment of Africa, the Nile crocodile is one of the most feared predators. However, on land, they are no longer at the top of the food chain, especially if there is a hungry pride of lions nearby. Wildlife photographer Muhammad Mulla captured the moment a crocodile was caught off guard by a lion in the Busanga grasslands of Zambia in mid-September. In the video Mulla shared on his Instagram page Nature is Metal, the pride of lionesses worked together to take down the crocodile, Yahoo reported on September 23.

In the video, at least a dozen lionesses roam the barren plains, foraging for food. About half are adults, the rest are cubs. Mulla quickly notices that the pride has focused on a crocodile lying in the middle of a large mudflat. Several larger lionesses stalk the crocodile until one of them taps its snout with her paw.

The crocodile leaped out of the mud and tried to bite the lion. But the lionesses, with their advantage in numbers, continued to surround the crocodile, continuously hitting and biting all over its body as it circled in self-defense. One large lioness (wearing a tracking collar and apparently the leader) even grabbed the crocodile by the tail and dragged it across the grass. She continued to wrestle the crocodile while her companions walked around to distract the prey. The process of wearing down the crocodile was slow. Finally, the lionesses got on top of the crocodile so the collared female could deliver a fatal bite, immobilizing it.

According to Nature is Metal, cold-blooded crocodiles must occasionally leave the river water to warm themselves and sun themselves on dry land. When they do, they are vulnerable to attack by nearby predators. African lions (Panthera leo) are distributed mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the only cat species in the world that lives in prides. Female lions are the main hunters, preying on antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, and other animals. Male lions defend the territory of the pride.

Kafue National Park, where Mulla filmed, covers nearly 36,260 square kilometers. It is the second largest national park in the world and is home to nearly 160 species of mammals, including a population of nearly 200 lions. The Kafue River, which cuts through the park, is also famous for its giant Nile crocodiles.

An Khang (According to Yahoo )

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