A child’s elephant narrowly escapes the crocodiles of an attack with the help of its mother.
The newborn elephant had a scary brush with danger when the crocodile threw itself out of the water and gripped onto its suitcase. Fortunately, he was able to free the young calf with his mother.
A dramatic meeting took place on the irrigation hole in the African wilderness, where a crocodile suddenly appeared and fell into a suitcase when he played at the deep end. The rest of the herd was shocked, trembled, and snorted in alarm as they tried to protect the vulnerable child.
In an incredible expression of durability, the calf fought back and pulled the crocodile out of the water before hitting the back to escape. The frightened reptile, unable to maintain his grip, threw himself back into the dark depths.
Photographer Francois Borman captured a breathtaking moment in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, located in the Zambezi valley. “I never expected to witness something like that,” Borman said. “I was out in the wild for hours, hoping to see some action, but this was over anything I imagined.”
According to witnesses, the crocodile lurked in the water and watched a herd of young elephants as they approached the irrigation hole.
He looked at the playful elephant, which looked enthusiastic that he was in the water. The calf had eagerly sprayed around, rolled in the shallows and pleased, did not know about the lurking danger.
When the calf tapped to drink and tried to use its suitcase properly, the crocodile saw its chance and struck. He immediately fell on the trunk of an elephant with powerful jaws, which triggered a frantic struggle for survival.
“The children’s elephant released a desperate scream and fought with all his strength,” Borman recalled. “For a moment it seemed that time stood in peace, because the calf with incredible determination resisted and managed to pull the crocodile partially out of the water.”
Fortunately, the mother of the calf and other elephants quickly hit and forced the crocodile to go. The child crashed back, shaken, but unharmed.
In the resistance of the experience, Borman was enthusiastic about capturing such a rare and extraordinary moment. “When I saw my photos, I knew they were something special,” he said. “Wildlife photographers spend countless hours waiting for a perfect shot, and moments like this are all worth it.”
Finally, the resistance of the newborn elephant combined with the protective presence of her mother and herds proved to be his saving grace. Despite the sudden and frightening attack, the calf was able to escape the crocodile and demonstrate the incredible instincts of the strength and survival of these majestic animals.
This dramatic meeting, captured by the lens of photographer Francois Borman, serves as a strong reminder of the raw and unpredictable beauty of nature. Moments such as these emphasize the gentle balance of life in the wild, where danger and survival go hand in hand, and the bond between mother and her young remains one of the strongest forces in the Kingdom of Animals.