Boldly coming ashore to snatch a meal, a crocodile was unexpectedly surrounded by five lions and had to hurriedly flee for its life.
The encounter between the crocodile and the five lions took place at the Buffelshoek campsite, within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve of Kruger National Park.
Specifically, after taking down a male waterbuck, the Talamati lions enjoyed their meal, leaving the carcass about 100 meters from the waterhole.
Hours later, a crocodile caught the scent of the dead antelope. It decided to venture out of the water to investigate and find itself a meal. Upon reaching the shore, the crocodile was immediately surrounded by the five lions.
Initially, the lions seemed to be toying with the crocodile to test its reflexes and speed. Soon after, the crocodile snapped its jaws at the lions. However, the lions quickly retaliated with a full-force attack. Realizing it had no chance of winning, the crocodile turned and fled back towards the water.
Upon reaching the shore, the crocodile was immediately surrounded by five lions.
Like other members of the cat family, lions are supreme predators and top-tier carnivores due to their abundant prey population.
Lion hunts typically do not take long and are very powerful. When hunting alone, they kill their prey by biting the neck to break it or damage the circulatory system. When hunting in groups, lions can pin down large prey while others bite the neck or suffocate the victim by clamping their jaws over its mouth, preventing it from breathing.
However, in a pride, lionesses (Panthera leo) are usually responsible for hunting, while male lions are tasked with protecting the pride from danger or eliminating rival competitors. Each pride typically consists of two to three adult males living alongside the females, who are often siblings or newly integrated members of the pride.
