In a dramatic encounter in the African wilderness, a baby elephant had a narrow escape when a crocodile latched onto its trunk as it was drinking at a watering hole. Thanks to the quick response of its mother and the nearby herd, the little elephant was able to escape unharmed, turning what could have been a tragedy into an extraordinary story of survival.
The incident unfolded at a drinking hole deep in the African bush, where a young elephant calf, full of energy and curiosity, was playing and drinking water. The rest of the herd watched from nearby as the calf splashed around, unaware of the danger lurking beneath the surface. Without warning, a crocodile emerged from the murky water and snapped its powerful jaws around the baby elephant’s trunk.
The sudden attack caused an uproar among the herd. Trumpeting and snorting in panic, the elephants rushed to the baby’s aid, determined to protect the vulnerable calf. The calf, startled and in pain, struggled to break free from the crocodile’s grip. The tension was palpable as the baby elephant fought for its life, resisting the predator’s powerful jaws.
Photographer Francois Borman, who was observing wildlife in the Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe, managed to capture the intense moment on camera. “This is the last thing I expected to see!” Borman said. “I had been out in the bush for hours, hoping to capture some wildlife activity, but I never imagined I would witness something like this.”
The crocodile’s sudden attack on the baby elephant sent shockwaves through the herd. The calf, though young and inexperienced, instinctively began to pull back, trying to shake off the predator. Its mother quickly stepped in, along with other members of the herd, trumpeting loudly and forming a protective barrier around the calf. With their help, the baby elephant managed to wrench its trunk free from the crocodile’s grip, stumbling backward in the process. The crocodile, realizing it was outmatched, retreated back into the water.
Borman, who had the unique opportunity to photograph the entire sequence, described the scene as both terrifying and awe-inspiring. “The crocodile had been watching the elephants for a while, sizing them up, and chose to go after the calf when it wandered into the deeper part of the water,” he said. “It was clear that the baby elephant was excited about playing in the water, completely unaware of the danger lurking below.”
The young calf, not yet adept at using its trunk to drink, had initially knelt down to sip water with its lips, but as it tried to use its trunk, the crocodile struck. The scene that followed was chaotic, with the calf letting out a loud squeal as it fought for its life. “It was an intense moment. The calf didn’t give up—it fought back with all its strength and, with the help of its mother, managed to pull the crocodile out of the water for a split second before it let go,” Borman recalled.
As the crocodile slipped back into the depths of the watering hole, the rest of the herd quickly gathered around the calf, trumpeting in a show of solidarity and protection. The baby elephant, though shaken, was unharmed, thanks to the swift actions of its mother and the herd. It was a powerful reminder of the strong familial bonds that elephants share and their instinct to protect the youngest members of their group.
Borman, a seasoned photographer and farmer, expressed his excitement about capturing such a rare and dramatic moment in nature. “When I looked at the photos, I was overjoyed. I knew right away that these images were something special,” he said. “As a wildlife photographer, you spend a lot of time waiting, hoping to witness moments like this. When it happens, it’s a reward for all the patience.”
The close call serves as a reminder of the dangers that even the youngest animals face in the wild. But it also highlights the resilience and strength of the baby elephant, and the unwavering support of its herd. This incredible moment, captured through the lens of a camera, is a testament to the unpredictable and awe-inspiring beauty of nature.
