Anne TootillFirst ever pictures of leopard attack on a crocodule
July 19th 2008 05:23
Hal Brindley snapped the amazing moment a leopard snatched a crocodile at a South African game reserve on the only occasion this behaviour has ever been documented worldwide.
The American wildlife photographer was taking pictures of hippos from his car at a waterhole in Kruger National Park when a speeding shape came out of the bushes and headed for the water.
After an initial struggle, onlookers stared in disbelief as the leopard emerged dragging a thrashing crocodile up the bank.
With its' snout pointing upwards, the crocodile snapped and attempted to fight back as the predators flipped and tumbled in a dramatic battle.
But the leopard, who had it caught by the throat, remained in control as the crocodile's legs clawed frantically at the cat's belly, its jaws snapping at air.
Despite being outweighed, the leopard was able to sit on top of the crocodile and suffocate it.
The big cat eventually dragged its' prey into the grass and out of sight as park visitors are forbidden from leaving their cars.
There have been recorded cases of crocodiles killing leopards but never the other way around as the meat a crocodile provides is not sufficient enough to justify the risk.
Brindley said: 'I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.
'It just doesn't make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire.
'The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone.
He added: 'I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I've ever seen.'
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