NEED TO KNOW
- A video captured by a safari guide in Zambia, shows a wildlife encounter between a crocodile and a buffalo
- In the intense footage, the crocodile chomps its jaws around the buffalo’s head and attempts to drag it underwater
- The buffalo eventually got free, according to safari guide, Lazarus Mceric Bobota, who captured the video
A crocodile had a little too much to chomp down on in Zambia.
A video captured by Lazarus Mceric Bobota, 37, a safari guide from Chirundu, Zambia, shows a wildlife encounter between a crocodile and a buffalo that ended up caught in the reptile’s powerful jaws.
The incident happened in Lower Zambezi National Park. Bobota’s footage shows a crocodile launching a sudden attack on a buffalo that moves near the water’s edge. The large reptile then attempts to drag the mammal underwater.
“The crocodile was hungry and wanted to kill the buffalo to have food,” Bobota told Caters News of the incident.
In the video, the buffalo struggles in the water as the crocodile wraps its jaws around the horned animal’s head. Luckily for the buffalo, the crocodile appears unable to handle a meal as large as a whole buffalo, especially when the animal’s horns get tangled in the croc’s mouth.
After several moments tussling with the blood-hungry crocodile, the buffalo broke free and escaped back to land, according to Bobota, who has spent the last decade documenting animal behaviour in the wild and has been following the Nyamangwe Island buffalo herd for around two years.
“Crocodile vs buffalo. Nature drama. The true safari experience,” he said, adding, “It was such a great experience to witness, even though it was very intense.”
Bobota told Caters News that animal encounters like the one he videoed are “rare but unforgettable,” and urged people to take the time to visit wildlife areas to see nature at play.
“I would love more people to come to Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park to experience moments like this with us,” he said.
The Nile crocodile is a species found throughout Zambia and is one of the largest reptiles in the world, according to National Geographic. The species “can reach a maximum size of about 20 feet and can weigh up to 1,650 lbs.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
According to National Geographic, the Nile crocodile mainly eats fish. Still, it will “attack almost anything unfortunate enough to cross its path,” including larger creatures like zebras, small hippos, porcupines, birds, and other crocodiles. It is estimated that up to 200 people may die each year due to Nile crocodile attacks.
Read the full article here
