THIS is the heart-stopping moment a leopard pounces on a zebra – only to be challenged by a huge crocodile who charges out of a river to try and steal it for itself.
The mother zebra had crossed the notoriously dangerous Mara River in Masai Mara, Kenya, as part of the annual migration – but was forced to go back to coax her reluctant young family into making the crossing.
The mother zebra was attempting to head back across the river to encourage her family to join herCredit: Konrad Wothe/Minden/Solent
On her way back, the mother, followed by one of her foals, was caught by a crocodile who dragged her underwater.
The zebra was able to break free from the struggle and quickly jumped out of the water and made it to a riverbank – only to encounter a hungry leopard hiding in the bushes.
The leopard pounced on the zebra, killing it almost instantly, and started tucking in.
But moments later the crocodile who originally attacked the zebra – not wanting to give up its prey – charged out of the water and up the riverbank, challenging the leopard.
She was immediately killed by a leopard she encountered on the bank of the riverCredit: Konrad Wothe/Minden/Solent
The dramatic pictures capture the 13ft Nile crocodile opening its jaws in an attempt to snap the carcass away from the leopard, who wasn’t having any of it and continued eating,
Fortunately for the leopard, the croc couldn’t navigate its way up the rocks and wasn’t able to steal the carcass.
Wildlife photographer Konrad Wothe, 65, was just over 300ft away from the incredible encounter and confirmed the zebra foal managed to flee from the danger.
He said the leopard was injured and had to catch animals which were also injured from attacks in the river.
Konrad, from Penzeberg, Germany, said: “After one group of zebras had already crossed, a mother zebra and her young also successfully managed to escape the hungry jaws of the crocs and safely reached the other side of the river.
“But the rest of her family did not dare to follow. They were desperately calling on either sides so the mother decided to cross back to reunite with her herd.
“But on her way back, a croc caught the mother and pulled her fully underwater. This seemed to be the end.
“But all of a sudden the struggling zebra escaped the mighty jaws, jumped completely out of the water and finally reached the riverbank and collapsed between the black rocks with the baby perplexed beside her.
The crocodile wasn’t giving up that easily – and attempted to take back his preyCredit: Konrad Wothe/Minden/Solent
“At the same time a leopard approached out of the bush. With one powerful bite in the throat the big cat killed the mother zebra.
“The young went on and joined the rest of his family, luckily it is already old enough not to be depending entirely on the mother’s milk.
“But the croc who had attacked the zebra did not want to give up its prey and climbed up the river bank then tried to get a bite while the leopard was already eating from the other side on the carcass.
“The croc, not so mobile on land, did not succeed and couldn’t get the carcass. A second crocodile came out of the water but also had no chance. Both crocs gave up and disappeared.
“After the leopard had finished his meal he went down to the water to drink. It was then I realized that he was limping – he obviously was not able to hunt a healthy animal and was hunting hurt animals along the Mara River.
“This was a once in a lifetime moment, it was incredible.”