Taking advantage of the crocodile’s distraction, the fish eagle swooped down to steal the remaining piece of the warthog, but the heavy bait prevented it from flying away.
The fish eagle attempted to steal the crocodile’s prey but failed. (Video: Latest Sightings).
Visitor Gavin Ellard witnessed an exciting food struggle between a crocodile and a fish eagle in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Latest Sightings reported on September 3. Ellard stated that he and his family were relaxing at the Pafuri Border camp when they suddenly heard splashing sounds from the nearby Luvuvhu River. Realizing that a crocodile was hunting a warthog, he began recording the scene with his phone.
However, Ellard’s family was not the only one observing the crocodile. From above, a hungry fish eagle was also watching the hunt and landed on the riverbank nearby. The crocodile easily caught the warthog, and soon, the animal was reduced to mere scraps. The eagle knew it had to act quickly before there was nothing left.
The eagle swoops in to steal the crocodile’s food.
As the crocodile paused to swallow, the eagle dove in and snatched the food. This action was swift, but it could not escape. The bait felt heavy, pulling the fish eagle down into the water. At this moment, it found itself in grave danger as the crocodile immediately pursued it. The thief had to flap its wings and paddle with its feet to reach the shore.
In the end, the eagle narrowly escaped, but the bait was left stuck at the river’s edge, right next to the sandy bank. The crocodile quickly lunged to reclaim its prey, leaving the eagle still hungry.
African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is a bird species belonging to the hawk family, found in sub-Saharan Africa where there are large water bodies rich in fish. They bear a striking resemblance to the bald eagle, with adults measuring 63 – 75 cm in length and a wingspan of about 2 meters. Their feet have rough pads and strong talons, allowing the fish eagle to grip slippery fish tightly. Although they primarily eat fish, they are opportunistic feeders and can take many other types of prey.
