Dangerous Game: Hippo Tempts Fate by Playfully Tugging on Sunbathing Crocodile’s Tail

This is the moment a playful young hippo tried to get the attention of a dangerous suNBAthing crocodile by biting his tail.

George the hippo playfully approaches the crocodile lying in the sun on the riverbank in the Turgwe River in Zimbabwe

But when the crocodile pays the hippo no attention, he decides to give him a playful bite on the tail

Hippos can often be seen trying to chew or lick the tails of crocodiles, or do it to each other but it is unknown why

Images of the exchange were snapped by photographer Karen Paolillo, who watched George risk his own life, as his mother Tacha stood in the background.

George and another hippo stand face to face with the crocodile. A total of 53 young hippo calves have been born in the reserve

George’s brother Darrow and sister Bonbon approach another crocodile and begin to lick its back

‘He loves his photo being taken, and he is just one big show off.’