In a remarkable encounter deep within the African wilderness, a newborn elephant narrowly escaped danger with the help of its protective mother when a crocodile attempted to grab hold of its trunk.
The baby elephant was peacefully swimming in the deeper part of a watering hole when a lurking crocodile suddenly launched an attack, seizing the calf’s trunk. Nearby, the herd watched in shock, their trunks raised and trumpeting as they rushed to defend the vulnerable young elephant from this unexpected threat.
With a burst of strength, the baby elephant managed to shake off the startled crocodile, forcing the predator back into the murky water. It was a tense moment as the calf fought to evade the snapping jaws of the crocodile and stumbled backward to safety, thanks to the quick assistance from its mother.
This dramatic scene took place at a watering hole in the African bush, where the herd of elephants had gathered for a drink. The crocodile, concealed just a few feet away, was biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike. In the blink of an eye, it leaped from the water and clamped its jaws around the baby elephant’s trunk.
Photographer Francois Borman, who happened to be nearby, captured the heart-stopping moment on camera near Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools in the Zambezi Valley. “This was the last thing I expected to see,” Borman exclaimed. “I had been out in the bush for hours, hoping to catch some wildlife action, but nothing could have prepared me for this!”
Borman, an experienced photographer, admitted that his expectations are usually high when he ventures out with his camera, but this encounter was beyond anything he had ever witnessed.
The crocodile had been patiently observing the herd of smaller elephants as they approached the watering hole, eyeing the playful calf that was splashing around in the shallow water. The young elephant, seemingly unaware of the lurking danger, was having the time of its life, rolling around in the muddy water and trumpeting with joy.
As the rest of the herd watched in amazement, they struggled to protect the baby elephant from harm, snorting and trumpeting in unison. The calf, however, managed to throw off the crocodile and stagger backward to safety, receiving a helpful nudge from its ever-watchful mother.
“It was clear that the baby elephant wasn’t concerned about any threats,” Borman noted. “He was just enjoying himself, without a care in the world, not realizing the danger that was lurking beneath the water.”
At one point, the calf knelt down to drink, still unfamiliar with how to properly use its trunk. After a few failed attempts, it finally managed to figure it out, but that’s when disaster struck. The crocodile launched itself at the baby elephant, grabbing onto its trunk with terrifying force.
The young elephant let out a piercing squeal as it fought for its life, charging at the crocodile in a desperate bid to free itself. Time seemed to stand still as the brave calf resisted, its determination and strength pulling the reptile out of the water.
Before long, other elephants from the herd rushed to the scene, their loud trumpets filling the air. The crocodile eventually released the baby elephant and slunk back into the water, defeated.
Borman was thrilled with the photographs he captured during the incident. “When I saw my pictures, I was ecstatic. I knew I had something special,” he said. “Wildlife photographers spend so much time waiting for moments like this, and this was one of those moments that makes it all worthwhile.”
These incredible images, a testament to the unpredictability of nature, stand as a reminder of the constant dangers that wildlife faces and the resilience required to survive.
