Leopard Takes Down a Crocodile
The astonishing spectacle of a leopard savaging a crocodile has been captured for the first time on camera.
All pictures by Hal Brindley/SOLO Syndication
A series of incredible pictures taken at a South African game reserve document the first known time that a leopard has taken on and defeated one of the fearsome reptiles.
The photographs were taken by Hal Brindley, an American wildlife photographer, who was supposed to be taking pictures of hippos from his car in the Kruger National Park
The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby. A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.
With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled. Despite the crocodile’s huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat. Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.
Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.In the past, there have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards, but this is believed to the first time that the reverse scenario has been observed.
Mr Brindley said: ‘I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.
It just doesn’t make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone. I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ellie Rose, a reptile keeper at London Zoo, said: “Normally, crocodiles are well able to defend themselves against attack. I can’t think of any examples of this happening before.”
UPDATE: I did some further research and found the website of the guy who took these shots. He’s called the Hal Brindley and and go to this page on his site to see how it all started.
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August 14th, 2008 12:54
Really!? wow.
August 14th, 2008 12:58
Fascinating…the leopard must have been desperate.
They’re very capable hunters…hmm…a mystery is at hand…lol.
^_^ Thanks for the post!
August 14th, 2008 13:18
Facinating for all wild life enthusiasts.On record de369@yahoo.com
August 14th, 2008 14:55
This is a prime example of how desperate animals are getting to find food.It must of been a very hungry cat in order for this attack to happen in the first place.
We have so badly screwed this planet up there may be no turning back untill God intervines in world affairs
August 14th, 2008 16:20
Amazing! Maybe the leoprd thought the croc was a threat to its home? O_o
…or maybe It was really Uma in a leopard costume doing an animal version of Kill Bill?
August 14th, 2008 18:02
Faked. This has been obviously photoshopped. The Leopard’s spots look very fake.
August 14th, 2008 18:26
shopped. i should know because ive seen quite a few.
August 14th, 2008 19:30
Incredible
August 14th, 2008 20:40
This is so fake.
August 14th, 2008 20:53
what…
Look at that ….
August 14th, 2008 21:15
’shopped
August 15th, 2008 00:17
Damn nature, you scary!
August 15th, 2008 05:14
I GOTTA SAY FAIL photochop
August 15th, 2008 06:02
The reason i have to believe this is true is just take a look at the series of camera shots..you can see the leopard has its bite on the left side of the neck of the crocodile throughout all the pictures….
August 15th, 2008 08:05
Haha I love all of the people saying this is photoshopped. It obviously isnt, and if it was, why would someone fake the spots on the leopard….keep wasting your life trying to point out photoshop jobs on the internet. Does that really make you feel that important? Get over yourselves….
August 15th, 2008 13:39
The pictures are fake. In the first picture, the tail of the Crocodile is missing. In the second picture, the rear legs and the tail are missing. In the rest of the pictures, somehow the tail and the rear legs are back. Even if the pictures are in reverse, the leopard is going to tear open the stomach instead of eating the hard tail. Its amazing what can be done with photoshop.
August 15th, 2008 14:13
[...] a video or images of one beast fighting another. Well, here’s a pretty sweet page showing a leopard killing a crocodile. Simply [...]
August 15th, 2008 15:31
Cats are incredible hunters, even a house cat can make a bad mess of most dogs or people if it gets in the first lick. They are so fast that most others don’t have a chance.
August 15th, 2008 19:06
Mighty impressive shots… I thought the crocodile would win, but hey, seems i was wrong.
August 16th, 2008 02:52
um seriously anyone here and guy who took the shots..Jaguars eat Alligators all the time. Its documented. Well documented. So just because a cousin of the Jaguar eats something not normal on his diet does not make it anything truely astounding. seriously do some research dammit!
August 16th, 2008 02:58
I cant believe you would really think this is photoshopped, like that’s such a normal pose you can find a bloody crocodile in anywhere on the internet. And yes, ditto on why the hell would you photoshop the spots? are you implying this was another cat besides a leopard in which case it would be just as cool, no need to change the fur pigmentation.
August 16th, 2008 03:12
incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 16th, 2008 04:55
Having been raised in a remote part of the Western U.S., I have known since I was a kid that competing predators often kill each other. Why would a leopard in Africa be any different? It may have seen a crocodile take an animal that the leopard itself was stalking. This would imprint on the leopard that crocodiles are competition and explain its aggressive behavior toward the croc in the photo.
August 16th, 2008 10:48
Wow!
Is that real? I mean what is crocodile going on land. Is it supposed to be in water?
If these picture are real, then I am truly shocked. Amazing!
Hard to believe.
August 16th, 2008 10:48
Really incredible
August 16th, 2008 16:13
Haha I love the inevitable comment from the guy who doesn’t understand the ’shopped comments are a sad attempt at humor.
On a side note, damn nature, you scary! ^.^
August 16th, 2008 17:02
For the skeptical ’shoppers’ take a look at another incident involving cats vs crocs that happened in the same game park, but caught on film.. it does happen from time to time, or maybe they’re all just actors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
August 16th, 2008 18:24
Steve’s remark on Aug 14th is half right, how desperate animals are getting to find food. But untill God intervines in world affairs? what is that all about?
Crazy Steve, man needs to intervine, man needs to stop the destruction of the animal kingdom. God has nothing to do with what is happening to our EARTH, only man does.
August 16th, 2008 21:42
And Steve, what evidence do you have that this animal was unusually hungry due to something humans did?
Stop pretending you are better than the rest of the human race by pretending you are smarter than everybody. Yes we have done thoughtless things but we are becoming aware and are getting better. You are part of it and you can help.
August 17th, 2008 01:16
It comes down to habitats.leopard is going to dominate on land.The gator was looking for water.If the gator was in water bye bye leopard.
August 17th, 2008 14:50
This is obviously photoshopped. It is a domestic cat and a rat that has been modified. The shadows and the texture is all wrong. If you look at the second picture you can see the rats ears, and crocodiles don’t have ears.
August 18th, 2008 09:09
wo wo amazing hunt down
August 18th, 2008 15:37
Stage managed, fo sho!!!
August 18th, 2008 19:17
Amazing really!! Just don’t mess with a Leopard!
August 18th, 2008 19:31
WOW now that is amazin, I would have thought that the crocodile would have won that fight with its thick armor like skin.
August 18th, 2008 20:34
[...] Leopard Takes Down a Crocodile [...]
August 18th, 2008 20:48
wow - that is insane!
August 19th, 2008 16:45
Amazing photos and amazing story - talk about (the photographer) being in the right place at the right time.
No way has this been Photoshopped.
August 19th, 2008 18:45
natural…
August 20th, 2008 00:42
Re: Steve’s comment #4 made August 14th, 2008 14:55… If you think that’s crazy just wait until you see what human beings are capable of when the economy starts to tank deeper than it already has.
August 20th, 2008 04:00
THIS WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NEWSPAPER IN LATE JULY 2008. MY MOM WAS THERE AND BROUGHT A COPY OF THE PAPER BACK TO THE STATES
August 20th, 2008 06:00
Rune Parsson, lmfao you say that this is ’shopped from a photo of a domestic cat and a rat.. have you ever seen a rat and a domestic cat that were nearly the same size fighting each other like that? ridiculous.
these pictures are awesome.. thanks for posting. anyone who thinks this is incredible should definitely check out “Battle at Kruger” on youtube.com. now THAT video is amazing.
August 20th, 2008 09:06
Kristi, I agree with you about the Battle at Kruger video; truly amazing and worth tracking down. The way the pack come together is awesome.
August 20th, 2008 17:58
Realy Amazing!
August 21st, 2008 01:21
[...] vs Crocodile http://www.africapoint.net          The photographs were taken by Hal Brindley, an American [...]
August 21st, 2008 14:35
Very cool, never seen that before!
August 21st, 2008 17:34
[...] Full set of images here [...]
August 21st, 2008 23:24
Wow. That leopard really looks like a cheetah! Amazing!
August 22nd, 2008 21:22
Wow! Those crocs are fast, they might look slow. That leopard really risked it.
Kruger National Park is about 2000km from here. Have to go see it.
August 23rd, 2008 01:01
Mammals rule!
August 23rd, 2008 04:57
it makes so much sense now… http://k53.pbase.com/v3/37/565237/1/48377834.Cinderthelizardhunter.jpg
August 23rd, 2008 11:13
Guys………….do a little “internets research” and you’ll find out this simple fact………..CATS HATE REPTILES. Bobcats often kill snakes without even eating them afterwards. And about the habitats thing, you’re right….if the leopard was in deep water, he’d be dead. But you see, cats are smart. He dragged him deep into his own turf. Full point for the cat!!!
August 24th, 2008 12:48
It’s clearly fake. You people are easily fooled…
August 24th, 2008 14:25
the thought that the leopard was desperate for food to attack a croc is ridiculous. Carnivores are almost entirely opportunity hunters and will eat anything that presents itself. The leopard probably does not associate a croc on land as a threat because they are seldom (if ever) attacked by one or have one move in on its kill.
August 24th, 2008 17:15
What amazing photos!!!
August 25th, 2008 12:50
Joe this is so funny -> http://k53.pbase.com/v3/37/565237/1/48377834.Cinderthelizardhunter.jpg
August 26th, 2008 01:51
wow.. awesome pictures.
September 6th, 2008 09:39
This makes sense. I have seen a mini-version if this live before. Saw a cat eat up a lizard. That’s a mini version of whats on these pictures.
September 6th, 2008 13:49
Wow, that is absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing!
September 21st, 2008 01:29
Wow, I think if a lion can do this, because is the king of animals no?:)
September 22nd, 2008 21:33
Guys…anything is possible out there in the wild!!I have seen a python squeeze a very big croc n swallowing it.I would hve thought a snake is no match for a croc.!
November 22nd, 2008 11:56
I bet the croc just owed his hos some money. crocs love that spotted poon