An alpha hippo is challenged by two outside males. A coup by two hippo bulls is out of the ordinary, but this is no ordinary year, as a once-in-a-lifetime drought spurs unusual animal behavior.

Displaced by low water levels upstream, these two males are challenging the dominant resident bull. [ Hippos grunting ] This is extremely unusual, even for this experienced alpha male.

Two hippos in a mud pool. Katavi National Park, Tanzania. And when the drought finally breaks, Katavi veers from one extreme to another. For some, the return of the rains brings not salvation ...