As regular as the seasons themselves, herds of wildebeest make an annual migration across east Africa - following rainfall and the growth of new grass.
Exploiting this predictability, each year predators lay in wait until the migrating beasts come into their killing zone.
Day or night, death can come to the young, sick or simply unlucky members of the herd - swiftly from a single cheetah, or without mercy from a pride of lions or pack of hyenas.
For this young male, the end came not on the plains but in one of Kenya's heaving rivers - delivered by one of nature's apex killing machines.
Like all in his herd, the doomed wildebeest was taking his chances crossing the Mara River in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.
Unfortunately for him, he walked straight into the path of an 18ft Nile crocodile - a species of predator so efficient that it has barely changed throughout evolution.
The crocodile used its huge weight and strength to attack the beast as it was already caught off balance by the rushing water and uneven footing।
Its enormous jaw span virtually took in the entire wildebeest's body as the victim attempted in vain to escape the attack.
As more crocodiles joined in on the kill, the fight became hopeless.
At the end of the rainy season in east Africa, around May and June, wildebeest migrate to wetter areas in response to a lack of drinking water।
They travel hundreds of miles, crossing several rivers in a formation known as swarm intelligence - where they work together to cross the obstacle as safely as possible.
Casualities are inevitable, however, and this young male was estimated to be around five years old।
New Zealand photographer David Lloyd, 41, who captured the one-sided fight, said he was awe-struck by the sheer power of the killer.
He said: 'The crocodile is the largest in Africa। They're huge creatures that make many kills like this every year. The migration season really is feeding time for them.
'I estimate that the ones lurking in the river that day were between 15 and 18 feet. They're huge creatures.'
Source : dailymail
Post a Comment