A recent video taken in South Africa’s Kruger National Park shows crocodiles and cheetahs fighting over who gets to enjoy a meaty meal.
The first scene in the video shows a group of three cheetahs eating a waterbuck.
But, just as the cheetahs begin to dig in, a pair of crocodiles saunter up. The cheetahs face off against the crocs as they drag their prey further away from the approaching crocodiles several times.
Though cheetahs are much faster than crocodiles, the crocs’ persistent intimidation eventually wins them the prey. As the bigger crocodile gets right up to the waterbuck carcass, the cheetahs back away and slowly retreat.
After the crocodiles have successfully captured the prey the video shows other crocodiles rolling to the feast.
Watch the entire scene unfold in the video below, featured on Latest Sightings YouTube channel:
“A total of 12 crocodiles appeared and went for the waterbuck kill,” the couple who took the video, Bob and Rosa Swart, said, according to Earth Touch News Network. “However, in the end, only the largest crocodile remained at the carcass, surrounded by vultures and other scavenging birds.”
The crocs at Kruger National Park are Nile crocodiles, the second-largest crocodile species in the world. The crocs can be scavengers that will eat carcasses along with other carnivorous creatures, who usually “seems to tolerate one another’s presence” according to the park site .
The cheetahs feeding didn’t appear to be as tolerant this time.
It’s not clear why the cheetahs gave up on dragging their kill away from the approaching reptiles, though weight could have something to do with it. The average adult cheetah weighs up to 125 pounds, while the average adult waterbuck can weigh anywhere from 350 to 660 pounds, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
The foundation also describes the cheetah as a “timid predator,” since they often lose their kills to thieving lions, leopards, hyenas, vultures, and jackals.
Nile Crocodiles must feed in large groups to be able to hold down the carcass with their jaws while taking turns to twist off large pieces, says Kruger.
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