With the help of its mother, a newborn elephant narrowly escaped a crocodile attack that could have ended tragically. The crocodile emerged suddenly from the water, latching onto the baby elephant’s trunk as it splashed around the deep end of a watering hole in the dense African forest. The herd, watching in shock and alarm, stood frozen for a moment before rallying to protect the helpless calf from this unexpected predator.
In an impressive show of instinct and survival, the young elephant, though visibly frightened, managed to pull back from the snapping jaws of the crocodile, evading what could have been a fatal bite. It was a tense moment, but the calf’s efforts, along with a nudge from its mother, forced the crocodile to retreat back into the murky depths, sparing the young elephant from serious harm.
This unforgettable scene took place near Mana Pools in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, and was captured on camera by the skilled photographer Francois Borman. “This was the last thing I expected to witness!” Borman exclaimed. “I had been in the jungle for hours, hoping for some interesting activity, but nothing could have prepared me for this.”
As a dedicated wildlife photographer, Borman was accustomed to patiently waiting for hours in the hope of spotting something extraordinary. Yet, in this particular moment, he found himself in awe of the drama unfolding before his lens. “I have high standards when I go out with my camera,” he shared, “but this was truly one of the most incredible moments to witness.”
The incident began when the local crocodile spotted the herd of young elephants as they approached the watering hole for a drink. The reptile, likely recognizing the vulnerability of the younger animals, watched them closely, eventually zeroing in on a baby calf that was playing in the shallow waters. The young elephant seemed thrilled with the water, leaping around playfully, unaware of the lurking danger. In a burst of excitement, the calf ventured into deeper, murky water, rolling around with joyful squeals—entirely oblivious to the crocodile nearby.
Borman’s camera captured every thrilling second. The rest of the herd gathered around, observing with concern as the crocodile lunged forward. Snorting and trumpeting, the adult elephants displayed both curiosity and a growing urgency to protect the little calf. In a split second, the crocodile snapped its jaws shut around the calf’s trunk, gripping it tightly. The calf let out a high-pitched squeal, a cry of fear as it struggled to break free. The crocodile’s sudden attack took the calf by surprise, but its instinctive reaction was swift.
The calf fought back, summoning all its strength to wrestle free from the reptile’s grasp. Its mother, sensing the danger, gave a supportive nudge, helping the calf throw off the crocodile and stumble backward to safety. This brief yet intense skirmish left the crocodile defeated, slipping back into the water as other elephants rushed to the scene to provide backup. The combined efforts of the herd ultimately overwhelmed the crocodile, which reluctantly released its hold, retreating into the shadows.
Borman described how the baby elephant’s initial encounter with water was filled with innocent curiosity. “The calf didn’t have any fear of the outside world,” he explained. “It hadn’t considered the potential dangers that could lurk in the murky waters.” The young calf, still learning to drink, bent down awkwardly, attempting to reach the water with its lips rather than using its trunk—a sign of its inexperience. After some trial and error, it finally figured out how to use its trunk to sip from the pool.
The incident turned into a chaotic struggle when the crocodile lunged at the calf’s trunk and clamped down hard. For the baby elephant, it was a fight for survival. In an act of resilience and sheer determination, the calf responded, charging at the crocodile with a loud, choking squeal, refusing to surrender. “It was a heart-stopping moment,” Borman recalled. “The calf resisted fiercely and, with an incredible show of tenacity, managed to pull the crocodile out of the water.”
After what felt like an eternity, other elephants arrived to reinforce the calf’s defense. Overwhelmed, the crocodile finally released the baby elephant, disappearing into the depths of the watering hole. Borman’s photographs captured every heart-stopping second of the struggle. “When I reviewed the pictures later, I was ecstatic,” he said. “I knew immediately that these were rare and special shots.”
As a wildlife photographer, Borman explained that capturing moments like these is what he lives for. “Images like these are the ultimate reward—wildlife photographers spend countless hours waiting, hoping to witness a moment like this. The patience and effort are worth it for shots like these.”
Thanks to Borman’s remarkable timing and skill, viewers everywhere can now appreciate the tense yet triumphant moment when a baby elephant, with a little help from its mother, outsmarted a crocodile in the wild African bush. His photographs provide a lasting reminder of the unpredictable, raw beauty of the animal kingdom and the instincts that drive creatures to survive in nature’s fiercest battles.
