Thanks to its lightning-fast reflexes, the antelope narrowly escaped a fatal bite from the crocodile and quickly ran away.
The clip was recorded by tour guide Peter Geraerdts, 51, in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
The antelope detects its enemy and jumps back just in time.
Specifically, an impala was drinking water when a 318 kg Nile crocodile suddenly lunged at it.
Upon detecting the threat, the antelope quickly jumped back and then immediately turned 180 degrees to escape. Missing its target, the crocodile slowly retreated back to the water, waiting for its next opportunity.
Besides being recognized as the largest freshwater predator in the world, the Nile crocodile instills fear in humans due to its sharp teeth and terrifying bite force. Any prey that comes within its sights is almost guaranteed to meet a deadly fate, and humans are no exception.
A victim will either drown in the water or be torn apart by the crocodile’s razor-sharp jaws. There are no accurate statistics on the number of human fatalities each year caused by this creature. However, based on reasonable estimates, this number could reach hundreds annually.
Meanwhile, the impala is among the fastest animals in the world, capable of reaching speeds of nearly 90 km/h. Their agility allows them to evade predators. They can also jump over 9 meters in distance. Impalas typically avoid encounters with lions at watering holes by drinking water during the hot parts of the day when the big cats are napping.
