Sighting of the Quarter: Predator Face-off in the Delta

7/25/2012

Location: Mombo Camp, Chief's Island, Botswana

Date: 8 June 2012

Matthew Copham, a safari guide at Mombo Camp, was on a game drive with photographer Pia Dierickx on 8 June 2012 when they came across a pride of 18 lions heading purposefully towards a carcass on the far side of a shallow channel. Lions in this aquatic landscape regularly swim or wade through water, but do so carefully as a small crocodile could be food, but a large one could be dangerous!

On this occasion, two of the lionesses walked straight into the channel, their eyes on the carcass. The first did not see the lurking crocodile and, although the second did, she continued after her companion. Swiftly, the crocodile moved into the deeper water ahead of the second lioness and sprang up to attack her.

At the conclusion of the skirmish, the reptile was sent swimming into the deepest part of the channel, while the lioness scuttled away on dry ground with a battered face and bruised ego.

For more photos and the full story, see Pia's website: http://www.nature-photography.be/section620086.html