Greg Lederle submitted this challenging video to Latest Sightings. He witnessed the incident at Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Please note that this content may be challenging for sensitive viewers.
A strange sight
As Greg’s video begins, we see a crocodile holding a waterbuck calf in the shallows of a dam.
On the adjacent shore, a mature male looks on. At first glance, it is unclear why the calf does not escape, as the croc seems to be resting its head on the calf’s body.
Help on its way?
Even when the calf stands up, it stays rooted to the spot, with the crocodile now lifting its head clear of the water.
Meanwhile, the adult waterbuck continues to look on, even moving closer. As it does, we hear Greg speculate as to whether it is about to help the stricken calf.
On the contrary, the ram does nothing, leaving the calf to fend for itself.
In deep trouble
Subsequently, it looks like the poor calf’s time has come as the crocodile drags it into deeper water. Typically, this is when the crocodile would dispatch its prey, either by tearing it apart or by drowning.
Although the croc’s grip remains hidden, the calf struggles in vain against what seems like certain death.
Escape!
Just when we expect the calf to succumb, it somehow breaks loose from the croc’s hidden grip.
As it does, we see that a large patch of skin has been torn from its back. This must be what the croc was holding onto.
Flight to freedom curtailed
Immediately, the calf runs towards the shallows. As it does, both the croc and the ram converge.
Strangely, the calf does not leave the water, but rather stands in the shallows. For some reason, it is as wary of the ram as it is of the crocodile.
Meanwhile, the croc continues to zero in on the calf. Seeing this, the calf moves closer to the shore but still doesn’t exit the water.
As it does, the ram moves closer, resulting in a short face-off between the ram and the calf.
Battering ram
Then, the unthinkable happens. Lowering its head, the ram charges at the poor calf, narrowly missing impaling it on its sharp horns.
The calf is smashed off its feet into the water. As the ram turns towards the shore, the croc moves in once more.
As the calf struggles to find its feet, the croc lunges again…
It manages to grab the calf by the ear…
To our relief, the calf miraculously manages to escape again, the full extent of its injury plainly visible.
Wasting no time, the calf again runs towards the shore with the crocodile hot on its heels. Sensibly, this time it runs away from the ram too.
As the calf again makes it into the shallows, the crocodile abandons its pursuit, leaving the shaken calf watching as it disappears back into the depths of the dam.
As the video concludes, the calf is last seen standing in the shallows facing a very uncertain future.
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Strange behaviour
Without question, the ram’s behaviour seems bizarre. Why would it attack the calf, seemingly forcing it into the croc’s waiting jaws?
The most likely explanation is that the ram is not the calf’s father. It may have recently taken over the territory and is in the process of asserting its dominance over its new herd.
Since the calf is a male (as can be seen by the tiny emerging horns), the ram may view it as a potential rival. In some species, males kill or evict male offspring to force females into sexual receptivity.
It is debatable whether the ram is trying to force the calf into the crocodile’s jaws. Rather, it is opportunistically hunting during a “domestic” dispute.