This is the rare moment a mostly herbivorous hippopotamus sinks its teeth into the carcass of an impala – before throwing the animal around as it plays with it in the water.
The giant hippo used its huge teeth to toy around with the body of an impala in the water at the Kruger National Park
The animals usually only eat grass but this hippo was photographed with the carcass after he came across the dead impala
The hippo was able to use his strength to pick up the impala as it made its ways through the water in South Africa
The hippo – which can weight up to 300 stones – makes a huge splash while playing with the dead impala
Mr Geldenhuys said: ‘The best way to describe the hippo’s actions is to say that it was playing with the carcass.
There has been an increase in hippos spotted feeding on meat – including one which was photographed chowing down on the carcass of another dead hippo last year
The giant animal opened its huge mouth so it was able to pick up the dead animal when it was enjoying a swim in the dam
Wildlife photographers Eben and Elna Geldenhuys spotted the rare moment at Transport Dam in Kruger National Park, Limpopo in South Africa
The hippo use its mouth to pick up the carcass by its legs and was seen tossing it around several times in the national park
The couple did not arrive in time to see how the impala ended up dead, but they did consult a field guide in Shamwari to find out what could have provoked the hippo.
Other hippos were also not bothered by the mammal’s new toy at Kruger National Park in Limpopo, South Africa
It dragged the impala’s lifeless body along the water as it made its way through the dam at the national park in South Africa
The hippo did not appear to be feeding on the impala and was simply photographed lifting it up as it was in the water
Mr Geldenhuys said: ‘The best way to describe the hippo’s actions is to say that it was playing with the carcass’