Henco Roelofse sent this interesting video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it from the Crocodile Bridge on the border of South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Seen from above
Henco was enjoying the view from the bridge near the entrance to the Kruger National Park when he spotted something interesting.
Below him, he saw an Egyptian goose standing in the water. Several metres behind the goose, he saw a small crocodile approaching with the top of its head just above the waterline.
Anticipating action, Hencoe started filming the unfolding events.
Target acquired
It would appear that the crocodile had spotted the goose while its eyes were above the water. Subsequently, it submerged fully and, with a swipe of its flat tail, advanced.
At this point, the goose was unaware of the croc’s presence. Its posture suggests it is resting at peace in the shallow, clear water.
Goose on guard
However, as many can attest, geese are hyper-vigilant about their surroundings. So, as the crocodile got closer, it quickly spotted the still-submerged crocodile.
Alarmed, it raised its head and began honking, all the while watching the crocodile. At this point, the croc appeared to be swimming past the goose.
Target lost
Apparently, the crocodile had other plans. Realising that it had nearly swum past the goose, it stopped and turned in the current.
With the croc now motionless and facing directly towards it, the goose quickly realised it was in danger. Continuously honking, it turned away from the submerged threat.
Target reacquired
Meanwhile, the croc needed to reacquire its intended target. But, the only way it could do that was to once again expose the top of its head above the waterline.
If the goose still harboured any doubts about the croc’s intentions, these vanished when the reptile resurfaced. Again, it took a few steps away from its pursuer.
Tracked from below
As the goose moved to outflank the crocodile, the crocodile tracked it from beneath the surface. Ideally, the croc would want its target directly in front of it before launching its final assault.
However, as the croc submerged, the goose kept walking. Although the croc managed to follow its progress for a while, it would appear that it lost track again.
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Attack foiled
Subsequently, as it began its attack run, it was once again swimming blind. As a result, it swam behind the goose and missed its chance.
At this point, it seems the crocodile finally realised that it was on a fool’s errand. Having lost the element of surprise and being plainly visible in the clear water, its chances of catching this wily old goose were gone.
With that, it continued swimming towards the overhanging vegetation at the riverbank. We imagine it would then have a good, long think about its ambush strategy.
Ambush hunters
Crocodiles are most successful as ambush hunters, where they lie just beneath the surface in discoloured water. Ideally, they will get close enough to their prey (or wait until the prey gets close to them).
Then, with a huge burst of speed, they lunge forward, jaws agape and snatch their prey before it has time to react.
Since the crocodile in the video is quite young, it can take comfort in the fact that it has a long life ahead during which to perfect its technique.