You can find cheetahs in a variety of environments throughout eastern and southern Africa, however, they favor open meadows. While these big cats are known to scare off other animals in the area, crocodiles aren’t intimidated by a kitten. A startling video has appeared online showing a 13-foot crocodile ready to attack. You can see the croc pulling a juvenile cheetah in an ambush at a watering hole in South Africa. WildEarth safari leader Busani Mtshali, 30, from KwaZulu-Natal, captured the remarkable video. He was conducting a trip at the Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. A thirsty cheetah kitten is shown in the video going to the edge of the water for a drink. It’s completely ignorant to the fact that a crocodile lurks just below the water’s surface. The croc emerges to strike as the cheetah starts to sip water. The cat struggles to flee as the ravenous reptile captures it between its fangs. The croc, on the other hand, is effective in pulling the poor kitten to its death. Crocodiles pursue their victims from the water, quietly tracking them. Some animals surprise their prey while drinking or bathing along the water’s edge. Many animals, including zebras, antelopes, and mankind, fall prey to these huge creatures. A crocodile will drag its victim into the murky water and drown them once the prey has been caught. Arguably the most heartbreaking part of this video is after the young cheetah is taken by the croc, you can see its parents standing near the water. Even in the wild, a mother watching her cub die is absolutely gut-wrenching. As Busani commentates about how there is nothing they can do, the mother cat is pacing back and forth. She continues to look back at the water for her baby. With over 58 million views, it’s safe to say seeing something so wild and instinctual from the crocodile’s perspective leaves us, humans, in awe. One commenter says, “Heartbreaking for the mother cheetah seeing her kid disappear in front of her in the blink of an eye, wrong place at the wrong time. There’s no mercy in the wild.” Another person wrote, “Considering the fact that the cheetah is a predator itself and has all those instincts required deep in his DNA, shows you what of an incredible predator those crocs and gators are. The way he approached the cheetah unrecognized is barely believable.” Watch the video below to see it with your own eyes!
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