The East African wildebeest migration is packed with dramatic moments. While most inspire awe, others highlight Nature’s savage beauty.
Donovan Cross of Wild Eye Safaris submitted this heartbreaking footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. You can check out the Wild Eye YouTube Channel here.
Watch the video now:
At a loss
For the millions of wildebeest in the great migration, the route is fraught with danger. For those the herd leaves behind, the dangers only multiply.
So, as we join the action in Luke’s video, we see just one such unfortunate individual. Standing on the bank of a river, a young wildebeest appears to be at a loss.
Blissfully ignorant
However, being alone is the least of his worries. Emerging from the water, a massive Nile crocodile is walking directly towards the youngster.
Basking in a blissful state of ignorance, the young wildebeest turns its head and calmly watches the approaching reptile. This may be the first time it has ever seen a crocodile.
It is worth mentioning that there is more than one reason why this is unusual. Ordinarily, hunting crocodiles wait for their prey to come to the water’s edge before ambushing them from underwater.
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Legs buckle
Consequently, it is only when the crocodile gets to within a few metres of the calf that it shows any sign of alarm. However, when the calf tries to move away, we realise why it didn’t flee earlier.
As it moves, one of the calf’s hind legs seems to buckle under its own weight. Subsequently, we hear someone say that it looks like it has a broken leg.
Snatched!
Consequently, there is little the poor calf can do but watch as the crocodile opens its jaws. It is safe to assume that the croc had realised that the calf was vulnerable before venturing out of the water.
Whatever the case, the croc shows absolutely no mercy to the stricken animal. First, it snaps its jaws onto the calf’s front leg.
It then whips the stricken beast into the air before catching it across its abdomen. Its next meal secured, the croc turns and heads back to the river.
Meanwhile, the wildebeest thrashes its body in an effort to free itself from the croc’s interlocking teeth. However, it is no match for the brute strength of one of Nature’s most efficient predators.
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All mine
As the croc returns to the water with its victim, other crocodiles move in, hoping to share the meal.
But the croc is in no mood to share, and bullies its way past the others.
Having done so, the croc heads into deeper water to drown the still-struggling calf.
Wild Eye in Kenya
Wild Eye hosts small-group photographic safaris in this part of Kenya from the Wild Eye Mara Camp. It’s on the banks of the Mara River in the Mara Triangle. The camp is close to the region’s best action, including some of the Great Migration’s craziest moments, like this sighting.
The deed is done
Minutes later, the croc completes the deed and resurfaces to devour its prize. By biting and rolling, the croc tears off chunks of flesh and swallows them whole.
Before long, only scraps will be left, to be picked up by the scavengers waiting in the wings.
As painful as the sighting was to watch, we can take solace knowing that death came quickly. Far better than being unable to move and starving to death.