A tiger braves crocodile-infested waters for a meal when it dives into a lake and goes after a fully-grown crocodile.
Ramon Gonzales shared this truly remarkable experience with LatestSightings.com after capturing it on video.
In the heart of India’s majestic Ranthambore National Reserve, a world-renowned wildlife sanctuary, Ramon was out on safari in search of tigers. “We had stopped at a lake in the hope that there may be some animals in the area that were keen to drink. Little did we know what lurked in the shadows of the trees on the far bank.”
“We had been sitting for only a few minutes when a tiger appeared. The tiger cautiously approached the lake in stalk mode. Slowly but steadily, the tiger closed the distance. And then, with lightning speed, it lunged forward in the water.”
“At first we were not sure what the tiger was hunting, but it became clear when a crocodile jumped up. The water churned as the tiger and crocodile fought. The splashes were big and the noise was a lot; these two were engaged in a struggle for survival.”
Tigers usually eat animals like deer and wild boar. They have strong jaws and teeth for catching and killing their prey. While tigers are powerful, they don’t usually hunt crocodiles. Crocodiles have tough skin and live in water, making them difficult for tigers to hunt.
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“Despite the tiger’s impressive display of strength, the crocodile’s armored body and strong jaws proved to be too much for the tiger. As the minutes ticked by, it became apparent that the tiger’s hunt had come to an end. The crocodile won this one and was able to swim another day!”
Crocodiles are usually seen as strong and dominant predators, but they can still be caught off guard. Since they are top predators in their habitats, they don’t expect to be hunted by other animals. This can make them vulnerable to surprise attacks from opportunistic hunters. Even powerful creatures like crocodiles can have moments when they’re not prepared for a predator.