The animal ran into trouble after making a panicked getaway – but ended up in even deeper water
A hippo bites down on an impala after the helpless animal ran into troubled waters.
The antelope was being chased by a pack of wild dogs, when it sprinted into the river in an effort to find safety.
As the desperate impala swam through the water it found itself in the path of two massive hippos.
Chase: The impala jumps in the river to escape the wild dog ( Image: Barcroft)
Escape: The antelope tries its best to get away ( Image: Barcroft)
Trouble: The impala swims towards two massive hippos ( Image: Barcroft)
One of the powerful animals snapped its jaws around the impala, before both of them came crashing down on its body to try and drown it.
After being tossed around in the water, the lucky antelope was able to escape the huge vegetarians and get back to dry land.
Professional wildlife photographer Hannes Lochner, 43, captured the images at the Khwai River in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, in July last year.
Paddling: The antelope tried desperately to swim away ( Image: Barcroft)
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Open wide: The hippo draws in on its prey ( Image: Barcroft)
He said: “This is the kind of scene I love to capture.
“It was a great story to watch unfold and I was relieved it came to a happy ending.
“I don’t think this kind of event has ever been pictured before. It’s certainly not something you see every day.
Double trouble: The two hippos gang up on the unfortunate impala ( Image: Barcroft)
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Spoils: The two hippos tuck into to their latest meal ( Image: Barcroft)
Trouble looming? Another impala stands on a small patch of land with the hippos nearby ( Image: Barcroft)
“After its struggle, the impala was left with just a bite on its leg.”
South African photographer Hannes took the images after watching a group of impalas run from a pack of wild dogs.
A less fortunate antelope was eaten by a crocodile in the river, while another managed to get away completely unscathed.
An hour earlier another impala had ran into the water, but was drowned and killed by the ruthless hippos.
