Crocodiles and elephants can both be terrifying in their own way. So what happens when the two beasts face off against one another?
A crocodile might have bitten off a bit more than it could chew when it latched onto the tail of an elephant. Before long, the elephant swung the crocodile around until it eventually let go. The wild ride took place in front of Emmanuel Sauti who captured the incredible sight on camera.
“As we were driving by the Luangwa River, we saw a commotion transpiring in the water below. As the sighting started playing itself out, we were able to identify the culprits: an elephant and a crocodile! I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was a bit scared for the crocodile. I mean, have you seen how big elephants can get?”
The safari guide added: “I was absolutely thrilled to witness something so rare. And boy, was it a sight to see! The elephant was putting up a good fight, and the crocodile wasn’t backing down either.”
Crocodiles are known to target smaller prey like antelope and fish as their main sources of food. They almost never go after elephants unless they are suffering from extreme hunger and desperate for food.
“In the end, the elephant managed to shake off the crocodile and cross the river. Phew, what a relief. I must say, that was one of the most exhilarating moments of my career as a safari guide. And the fact that it was my first time seeing an elephant fight with a crocodile just made it all the more special.
“As a safari guide, I’ve had my fair share of incredible wildlife sightings, but this one definitely takes the cake. It’s not every day that you get to witness something like an elephant fighting a crocodile. These sightings are rare and precious, and it’s moments like these that make me grateful for the job that I have,” Sauti said.