Picture exclusive: The incredible moment a leopard attacks a crocodile

By Daily Mail Reporter [1]
Last updated at 11:49 AM on 18th July 2008

These are the incredible pictures which show the first ever leopard attack on a crocodile.
 

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.
 

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Clash of the Titans: The leopard attacks a crocodile in Kruger National Park
 

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.

 

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Predator vs. Predator: The wily cat slams full force into the crocodile

Tussle: The leopard begins dragging the crocodile away from the water

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.

 

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Defeat: The croc hangs lifeless and limp from the leopard's jaws

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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Victory: The leopard gains control and gets on top of it, suffocating it
 

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Dinner's ready: The big cat drags its prey off into the bush
 

The scene was reminiscent of the famous Battle at Kruger amateur wildlife video that depicted a confrontation between a herd of Cape Buffalo, a small pride of lions, and a pair of crocodiles.
 

The video was shot in September, 2004 at a watering hole in Kruger National Park, South Africa, by videographer David Budzinski and photographer Jason Schlosberg.

After being posted on YouTube in 2007, Battle at Kruger became a viral video sensation and was widely praised for its dramatic depiction of wildlife on the African savannah.

It became one of YouTube's most popular videos, with more than 31 million views

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1036216/Pictured-The-incredible-moment-leopard-attacks-crocodile.html [3]

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