The cruel side of nature revealed as baby impala tries to escape hungry crocodile
The young animal took a big risk as it went for a drink during a drought at the Kruger National Park in South Africa
Thirsty: A baby impala was attacked by a crocodile at Kruger National Park in South Africa
An exhausted baby impala just wanted to quench its thirst in the scorching African heat.
But the youngster’s decision had grave consequences when it was spotted by a hungry crocodile.
The tiny youngster was born during a huge drought in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where animals have been struggling to find enough water to keep them alive.
When the youngster finally managed to find something to drink it was caught by a waiting crocodile looking for its next meal.
The sad moment was caught in a series of snaps by wildlife photographer Karen van Damme.
Close: A baby impala and its mother don’t seem to spot a waiting crocodile hiding in shallow waters at the Kruger National Park in South Africa (
The 53-year-old, from Johannesburg, said: “There is a massive drought in South Africa at the moment and the Kruger is badly affected.
“The animals are very thin because they have dropped their new babies but there is not green grass to feed on, and the rivers have diminished to large puddles – a series of small waterholes.
Risk: A baby impala takes a fatal risk during a huge drought in the Kruger National Park in South Africa (
“The crocodiles all congregate in these large puddles and the animals need to be very wary when they are drinking due to there being so many crocs.
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“These crocodiles made a few unsuccessful attempts to catch an impala, and the impala explode into the air with fright at each attempt.
Desperate: An exhausted baby impala runs from a crocodile after it tried to quench its thirst in the scorching heat at Kruger National Park in South Africa (
“We had been watching from a distance for about four hours before they managed to catch anything.
“A baby impala that was inexperienced went too far into the water to drink and did not recognise the nearby crocodile.
Caught: The crocodile tries to drown the baby impala in the shallow waters (
“A bigger croc waited for the impala to relax and then managed to catch it by the hind leg. The croc dragged the impala into the water and tried to drown it by rolling it and pulling it under into the muddy water.
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“The crocs in the nearby waterholes all flocked to the croc with the impala and there was a fight over the baby impala. The croc then managed to leave the water hole with his kill and escape to the nearby waterhole to eat in peace.
Victorious: The crocodile walks away with its kill (
“I felt really sorry for the thirsty impalas as the temperatures there were going well into the 40C range.
“The impala were literally trying to dodge between crocs to drink and the crocs kept changing their position to try outwit the impala.
“After an unsuccessful attempt by the croc, the impala would go back to the spot and lean towards the croc to see what it was.
Nature: Wildlife photographer Karen van Damme, 53, caught the snaps at Kruger National Park in South Africa
“The mother of the dead baby was bleating and calling for her baby.
“I was amazed at how curious the impala were as they went straight back to the spot where the croc leapt out at them, to have a better look at what the croc was.”