In the African bush, a baby elephant had an incredible escape from a crocodile, thanks to the help of its mother and a lot of luck.
The baby elephant was swimming happily in the deep part of a waterhole. Without warning, a crocodile shot out of the water, its sharp teeth clamping down on the elephant’s trunk. The herd, shocked and terrified, watched as the crocodile tried to drag the baby elephant underwater.
The young elephant didn’t panic. With a burst of strength, it shook the crocodile off and backed away, forcing the reptile to retreat into the muddy water.
Francois Borman, a photographer who had been waiting for the perfect shot, was there to capture the stunning scene. He was at Mana Pools in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, hoping to get an exciting picture of wildlife. “This was the last thing I expected to see! I had been in the jungle for hours, hoping for some action,” he said.
Borman had set up his camera for hours, hoping for something extraordinary, and he got more than he bargained for. “I usually set a high bar for what I capture, but this was incredible to witness,” he added.
The crocodile had been watching the elephants for a while. “The crocodile noticed the small elephants coming to drink and began stalking the calf that was playing in the shallow water,” Borman explained.
The baby elephant, unaware of the danger, was having a great time in the water. It jumped and splashed, trumpeting loudly with excitement. “The baby elephant seemed excited about the water, jumping into the deep, murky pool and rolling around,” Borman said.
As the baby elephant bent down to drink from the pool, the crocodile saw its chance. It leapt out of the water and grabbed the calf’s trunk. The whole herd reacted instantly, making loud, urgent calls and rushing to protect the little one.
The baby elephant let out a loud squeal and charged at the crocodile, fighting for its life. “It was chaotic when the crocodile grabbed the baby elephant’s trunk,” Borman said. The calf pulled and tugged, its strength surprising everyone. “Time seemed to freeze as the calf struggled, pulling the crocodile almost completely out of the water,” Borman recalled.
Finally, with the help of the other elephants, the crocodile let go and retreated into the water. The baby elephant, shaken but safe, stumbled back to its mother. “It had no idea about the dangers in the muddy waters,” Borman said.
When Borman reviewed the photos, he knew he had captured something special. “When I looked at my photos, I was thrilled because I knew they were something special,” he said.
For wildlife photographers like Borman, moments like these make all the waiting worthwhile. “Wildlife photographers spend hours waiting for moments like this, and shots like these make it all worth it,” Borman said.
Share your thoughts in the comments!
