The solitary Nile crocodile basking on land becomes the target of lionesses in Kafue National Park.
In the aquatic environment of Africa, the Nile crocodile is one of the most fearsome predators. However, when on land, they no longer sit at the top of the food chain, especially if a hungry pride of lions is nearby. Wildlife photographer Muhammad Mulla captured the moment a complacent crocodile fell victim to the claws of a lioness in the Busanga plains of Zambia in mid-September. In the video shared by Mulla on the Instagram page Nature is Metal, the lionesses coordinated to take down the crocodile, as reported by Yahoo on September 23rd.
In the video, at least a dozen lionesses can be seen scavenging around the arid, open fields. About half of them are adults, while the rest are young lions. Mulla quickly noticed that the pride was focused on a crocodile lying exposed in the vast marsh. Several of the larger lionesses stealthily circled the crocodile until one of them struck its snout with a paw.
The defeated crocodile overwhelmed by the number of lionesses.
The crocodile sprang up from the marsh and attempted to snap at the lions. However, thanks to their numerical advantage, the lionesses continued to surround it, repeatedly hitting and biting the crocodile as it spun in circles to defend itself. One particularly large lioness (wearing a collar for tracking and appearing to be the leader) clamped onto the crocodile’s tail and dragged it across the grassland. She continued to wrestle with the crocodile while her companions moved around to divert the prey’s attention. The process of exhausting the crocodile unfolded slowly. Eventually, the pride pinned the crocodile down, and the collar-wearing female delivered a fatal bite, rendering it motionless.
According to Nature is Metal, cold-blooded crocodiles sometimes have to leave the water to warm up and sunbathe on dry land. In doing so, they become vulnerable to nearby predators. The African lion (Panthera leo) primarily inhabits the sub-Saharan region of Africa. This is the only feline species in the world that lives in social groups. Lionesses are the main hunters, preying on animals such as antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, and various other species. Male lions defend the territory of the pride.
Kafue National Park, where Mulla filmed the video, spans nearly 36,260 square kilometers. It is the second largest national park in the world, home to nearly 160 species of mammals, including a population of around 200 lions. The Kafue River, which cuts through the national park, is also famous for its giant Nile crocodiles.
