This is the moment a young zebra met a gruesome end after a crocodile bit on to its head while it was crossing a river in Kenya’s Masai Mara national park.
Photographer Julius Dadalti, 48, captured the panicked animal staring straight into his lens from between the reptile’s jaws before it was dragged to a watery grave.
Dadalti was in Kenya to capture the Great Migration – where 2.5million wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate across Africa – when he witnessed the astonishing scene.
‘It is very difficult to control your feelings when you’re an animal lover and you see such an horrific scenario – a mother watching her foal being eaten alive in front of her,’ said Dadalti.
‘But photographers have to tell stories – both beautiful and deadly. Crocodiles sometimes don’t eat for months and this season is excellent to keep them strong and healthy. It’s nature.’
This is the moment a young zebra was dragged to its death after a crocodile bit on to its head while it was trying to cross a river in Kenya’s Masai Mara national park during the annual Great Migration
Photographer Julius Dadalti, 48, was watching from the opposite bank when he saw the life-and-death struggle between the reptile and its quarry unfolding in front of him
The young zebra struggled against the crocodile for several moments before being dragged underwater, with Mr Dadalti admitting that it was ‘difficult to watch’
Every year millions of zebra, wildebeest and antelope take part in a risky migration across Africa as they follow rains which cause fresh grasses to grow, providing them with a supply of food
Another zebra had its hoof caught by one of the crocodiles waiting in the shallows for prey, but managed to struggle free before continuing along with its herd
A zebra narrowly avoids becoming lunch as it scrambles out of the river and on to the safety of the shore. While lions and other land predators will also target the herds, it is when crossing rivers that the animals are most vulnerable
Zebra wait on the banks of the river look nervously into the waters before deciding to cross. Every year an estimated 2.5million animals take part in the Great Migration, in search of fertile grazing lands
After waiting on the banks, the zebra pick their moment and decided to race to the opposite shore before crocodiles lurking in the water can pounce
A mixture of zebra and wildebeest scramble to safety as they cross a river in Kenya’s Masai Mara national park
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