Hilarious Encounter: Newborn Crocodile Mistakes Hippo for a Rock

In a comical twist of events, a newborn crocodile had a rather amusing encounter when it mistakenly took a massive hippo for a peaceful resting spot.

The incident unfolded when the young crocodile, seeking a sunbathing spot, approached a large hippopotamus, thinking it was nothing more than an inert rock. Much to the surprise of onlookers, the clever croc clambered onto the massive back of the hippo and settled down.

Even as the hippo began to move, the young crocodile seemed unfazed and continued to enjoy its sunny perch for nearly 15 minutes before eventually making a hasty retreat.

Richard Millar, a 21-year-old field guide, had just finished photographing the hippo in the water when the amusing encounter occurred. He managed to capture the unique moment on camera in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

“It must have mistaken it for a rock in the water and just relaxed on it for a while,” explained Richard. Crocodiles, being cold-blooded creatures, often require sunlight to warm up and rest.

“The hippo didn’t seem to mind and did nothing to scare the croc away. The crocodile moved slightly but stayed motionless for around 15 minutes. In the wild, hippos and crocodiles are not competitors. A hippo may try to bite a crocodile if it believes its young are in danger. It was a complete once-in-a-lifetime situation. I’m pretty sure I’ll never see another photograph like that again in my life.”