This is the dramatic moment a monster crocodile swung a wildebeest around in its jaws before ripping off its head in a river in Kenya.
Incredible images show the migrating animal being stalked by the giant predator as it was trying to swim across the Mara River in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park.
The Nile crocodile finally caught up with its prey, catching the wildebeest in its massive jaws and flinging it through the air.
Wildlife photographer Mahendra Jain, 46, said the carnivore then dashed the wildebeest repeatedly against rocks leaving its head ‘hanging off’.
Snared: Dramatic pictures capture the moment a monster crocodile hurled a wildebeest through the air before ripping off its head in a river in Kenya
Savage: Images show the migrating wildebeest trying to swim across the Mara River in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park only to end up in the jaws of the giant predator
Devoured: The massive carnivore dashed its wildebeest prey repeatedly against rocks leaving the migrating animal’s head ‘hanging off
‘I’ve never seen anything like that before at any crossing I’ve photographed,’ said Jain.
‘If you’re a wildlife photographer and get to see a kill like this, it’s your lucky day. Not for the animal though, but for me this was incredible.
‘The wildebeest had pretty much reached the shore and the crocodile picked it up and held it with its jaws for some time. It then swung it in the air and smashed it on the rocks until its head was hanging off. Very soon it was all over.
‘The crocodiles are actually quite slow in their movements. You will see the wildebeest crossing and most times they won’t succeed at catching one. It was a fantastic thing to see. To be in Masai Mara during the Great Migration is amazing.
‘We have had several sightings of a crocodile catching a wildebeest and you may see three or four caught each day, however it’s incredibly rare to see one killed above water.’
The hunt: Images show the migrating wildebeest being stalked by a crocodile as it tried to cross a river in Kenya. Eventually, it was caught in the jaws of one of the beasts – and quickly met its demise
The crocodile showed off its awesome strength by swinging the wildebeest in the air and smashing it on the rocks until its head was hanging off, the photographer said
Wildebeest will typically travel in groups of over a million along with zebras and antelope – all of which risk falling prey to the crocodiles lingering beneath the water
The father -of-two visits Kenya at least once a year to photograph its wildlife around the Great Migration in July.
The wildebeest will typically travel in groups of over one million along with zebras and antelope – all of which risk falling prey to the crocodiles lingering beneath the water.
He said: ‘We were watching and many wildebeest before this were coming pretty close to the crocodile, but they were always too fast for it to catch. This was around noon and I’d been waiting for just over an hour when I spotted this one lurking under the water.
‘The wildebeest would attempt to cross in their group, but one at the back would hear a noise and bolt in the opposite direction. They’d be scared off.
‘Any bit of noise will spook them and scare them off in the opposite direction. It’s a typical behaviour you will see in many crossings.
‘The wildebeest will follow the one in front without looking where they are going. It’s called ‘herd mentality’.
‘Trying to get good shots during the Great Migration demands a lot of patience but I’ve been doing it for a few years now and I’m used to it.
‘You have to wait for the right moment and only if you’re lucky will you get the right image. Sometimes you will wait longer.’