We were on a drive in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, in mid October, which is just before the rains, at the peak of the dry season. Herbivores really find life difficult and there is very little for them to eat. As a consequence, their condition deteriorates rapidly and they are more prone to diseases. Anthrax lays dormant in the soil and every so often, is caught by weakened animals in the dry season.
This hippo propbably died of anthrax. When we saw him, he had been dead for a while and we counted 70 crocodiles in the vicinity of the carcass. There were big ones and small ones and they were entering the carcass, doing a death roll, coming out and then swallowing whatever flesh they had torn.
I used my 500mm lens on a monopod to take the picture.
Date: 14/10/2004
Location: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Photographer: Arnaud Germain
