The Last Wildebeest in the Herd Successfully Escapes a Crocodile Attack While Crossing the Mara River.
The wildebeest crossed the river successfully despite being surrounded by crocodiles. (Video: Latest Sightings)
Luke Street, content and communications manager for Wild Eye Tours, witnessed the dramatic encounter between the wildebeest and a group of crocodiles at the Wild Eye Mara camp in the Mara Triangle Reserve. He shared the footage capturing this intense moment on the Latest Sightings page on June 16.
The lone wildebeest was the last of over 300 individuals attempting to cross the river, with three crocodiles targeting it. Earlier, while the other members of the herd tried to swim across, the crocodiles had attacked multiple times without success. Thus, when the final wildebeest began to move, the crocodiles were highly focused.
The nearest crocodile quickly lunged at the wildebeest, launching a series of attacks. It aimed to take down the prey swiftly to avoid sharing its meal with others. The crocodile clamped onto the spine of the wildebeest, using its weight to force the prey underwater. This crocodile was notably large, as its jaws encompassed much of the wildebeest’s back. However, the wildebeest was fortunate because the water at that section of the river was relatively shallow, allowing it to use its strong legs to push itself up.
The crocodile closely follows the prey while the wildebeest moves slowly due to exhaustion.
After a fierce struggle, the crocodile was still unable to execute its signature death roll. The wildebeest unexpectedly broke free and swam away. However, another crocodile pursued it. The crocodile maintained close proximity to the prey while the wildebeest moved slowly, fatigued. Just as the wildebeest reached the riverbank, the second crocodile caught up and bit its leg. Nevertheless, a slight thrash from the wildebeest was enough to push the crocodile back. Ultimately, the wildebeest limped away onto the dry land, heading towards the remaining members of the herd without any serious injuries.
The scientific name for the wildebeest is Connochaetes, a species commonly found in Africa. They are herbivores primarily distributed across Kenya, Namibia, and other countries. Wildebeests typically live in large herds and even form mixed groups with zebras to create a stronger population, which helps reduce the risk of predation by carnivores. It is estimated that only 1 in 6 wildebeests survive their first year of life, as they are a crucial food source for many predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, and crocodiles.
