Astonishing moment a wildebeest escapes the jaws of an attacking crocodile as it swims across a river
- Wildlife photographer Chris Bray was in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya
- Footage shows the crocodile lurking in the water as the wildebeest approaches
- The wildebeest swerves away just before the predator can catch it with its teeth
A lucky wildebeest narrowly avoided the waiting jaws of a hungry crocodile that was lurking in a river in Kenya.
Chris Bray, 36-year-old wildlife photographer, was in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, overlooking the Mara river.
He was capturing the mass migration of animals from Tanzania to Kenya in September when he captured the incredible sight.
Footage, captured by wildlife photographer Chris Bray, 36, shows a lucky wildebeest narrowly escape the waiting jaws of a hungry crocodile in the Mara river in Kenya
Many wildebeest traverse the dangerous waters in order to progress on their journey but the rivers are plagued with hungry Nile crocodiles awaiting an easy meal.
The heart-stopping video shows a crocodile lurking in the murky water.
The wildebeest approaches the scaly beast as the croc slowly opens its mouth and bares its razor-sharp teeth.
The wildebeest approaches the scaly beast as the croc slowly opens its mouth and bares its razor-sharp teeth
The animal manages to swerve out of the way just before its neck is grabbed by the waiting crocodile
Just before the wildebeest’s neck can be snapped by the hungry crocodile’s gnashers, the animal swerves out of the way.
As the predator disappears under the water, the wildebeest swims away to safety.
The video ends with the disgruntled crocodile moving away.
Mr Bray said: ‘One huge Nile crocodile has spotted a crossing wildebeest and cruises over to it, bangs into it and makes a lunge for it, but amazingly the wildebeest somehow manages to just pull away enough to escape.
Lucky escape: The crocodile’s teeth graze the wildebeest but aren’t able to bite down as the creature swims away to safety
The video ends with the disgruntled crocodile moving away. Mr Bray said: ‘My heart was in my mouth, it’s absolutely life or death for the wildebeest, and pretty dramatic to witness’
‘The crocodile was not really trying hard enough, as it’d already eaten plenty of wildebeest and was full.
‘My heart was in my mouth, it’s absolutely life or death for the wildebeest, and pretty dramatic to witness.
‘I was totally hoping the wildebeest would escape as I’ve seen way too many eaten.
‘Filming as steadily as I could in super slow-motion I knew this was going to be awesome footage as the scene unfolded in front of me, and I was pretty excited to play it back after to check it worked! It did!’