As apex predators reigning over the land like proverbial “kings of the jungle,” African lions usually needn’t be concerned about being preyed upon by outsiders. But despite that lofty place atop the food chain, clearly not all the animals they live amongst consider them so invulnerable.
A young male lion was attempting to cross a slow-moving stream in Kruger National Park, South Africa, recently, when he had an incredibly close call with a creature far more at home in the water.
Moments after the lion steps foot into the stream, a large crocodile who had been hiding in the water emerges and begins to pursue him.
With a single bite from the crocodile’s powerful jaws, the unsuspecting lion is pulled beneath the surface.
Crocodiles kill their prey by submerging them until they drown, but luckily for the lion, he was able to slip free from the croc’s clutches before that happened.
Although confrontations between lions and crocodiles are said to be rare events, incidents of crocodiles attacking lions, and vice versa, have been captured on film before – though the big cats usually shy away from confronting them.
“Lions are wary of crocodiles and will generally avoid the water to stay away from crocs,” writes NatGeo TV. “Occasionally, crocodiles have been known to attack lions while they drink at the water’s edge (but lions are also known for attacking and eating baby crocodiles).”
