Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Open wide: Massive crocodile clamps jaws around FOUR wildebeest in horrifying killing spree

A giant crocodile emerges to pick off a host of wildebeest making their way across a river in Kenya's Masai Mara during their annual migration.
The sight of the creatures being grabbed are a common sight on many a nature programme - but the sheer ferocity of the croc make these images more terrifying than ever.
The killing machine slaughters four, but strangely, leaves them to float down the river uneaten.
Force of nature: The unsuspecting wildebeest are no match for the deadly jaws and superior strength of this huge crocodile. The predator had been lying in wait as the heard made their way across a stream during their mass migration in the Masai Mara
Force of nature: The unsuspecting wildebeest are no match for the deadly jaws and superior strength of this huge crocodile. The predator had been lying in wait as the heard made their way across a stream during their mass migration in the Masai Mara
The amazing images were captured by wildlife photographer Paolo Torchio.
 
The 49-year-old was on safari in the Masai Mara nations park in Kenya when he noticed the crocodile eying up his prey.

He said: 'This was very rare behaviour and I couldn't understand why the crocodile left the wildebeest after killing them.
'It's almost unheard of and to be in the middle of such a chaotic moment is incredible. The smell, the dust and the noise is unforgettable.


No-where to run: The huge heard Wildebeest were making their way across a Masai Mara river during their annual mass migration to find new pasture for grazing
No-where to run: The huge heard Wildebeest were making their way across a Masai Mara river during their annual mass migration to find new pasture for grazing
Open wide: The ferocious show of strength was captured by 49-year-old wildlife photographer Paolo Torchio who was on safari in the Masai Mara at the time
Open wide: The ferocious show of strength was captured by 49-year-old wildlife photographer Paolo Torchio who was on safari in the Masai Mara at the time
Survival of the fittest: The terrified animals do their best to escape the clutches of the ferocious croc, but they are no match for its brute strength and razor-sharp teeth
Survival of the fittest: The terrified animals do their best to escape the clutches of the ferocious croc, but they are no match for its brute strength and razor-sharp teeth

What lies beneath: Bizarrely, after slaughtering four of the wildebeest, the crocodile didn't even eat his prey, leaving them to float off in the river instead
What lies beneath: Bizarrely, after slaughtering four of the wildebeest, the crocodile didn't even eat his prey, leaving them to float off in the river instead
'This is the most dramatic moment of migration because you can be roasting all day in the sun and then suddenly everything happens within a few minutes.' 

Paolo, who is originally from Turin, in Italy, but now lives in Kenya, added: 'This is the moment photographers wait a lifetime to capture.

'I've never seen anything like this before and I always try to communicate as much of the emotion of the situation as possible with my photos.'

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