A cheetah cub was left squealing as it was brutally snatched and dragged into water by a lurking crocodile.
Shot from a game vehicle in the &Beyond Phinda nature reserve, South Africa, a shows the cub taken as it reached down for a drink.
The sighting occurred at noon, with the male cheetah cub taken being one of two cubs at the waterhole.
While typically the mother would go with her cub to the waterhole, in this instance, it was left unclear why she remained behind – off-screen with the second club.
The tense scene begins with the cheetah leaning down towards the water for adrink, seemingly aware of the danger as it growls at the croc, yet not wary enough to stop it quenching its extreme thirst.
‘Oh no!’ the safari guide could be heard crying out.
‘That’s so close to the crocodile!’
The cheetah had been lurking close to the water’s edge, with the croc barely visible under the stream until it lurched out and grasped its teeth around the cub’s neck.
In the horrifying moment, the croc leapt out of the water with its whole body almost in view.
The cheetah cub tried to fight back, using its legs and paws to scratch away from the croc, but after a disastrous fight it was dragged into the water.
Not only could the splashes be heard, but the cub’s terrified squeals as it was dragged under.
Shortly after the croc splashed around with its prey, the water returned to a deadly quiet.
After the attack, the mother and the other cub were left calling for the fallen cub.
They remained for days at the waterhole bank, calling for the late cub.
Although cheetahs are one of the most agile in the animal kingdom, crocodiles are advantageous in the water, and it was almost impossible for the cub to make it out alive as the croc dragged it into deep water and drowned it.
As the water returned to calm, it was assumed that the croc buried its prey in the mud, waiting for it to rot before feasting on it.
The horrific moment was seen on WildEarth, which airs daily Sunrise and Sunset Safaris from South Africa with live broadcasts recreating the thrilling experience of being on a safari vehicle in remote African locations.
WildEarth is available to watch on Freeview channel 91.
