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Video: Crocodiles Ambush Gazelles During Great Migration

A herd of gazelles brave the perilous Mara river - only to get snapped up by six foot long crocodiles.

Between June and December every year about three million wildebeest, eland, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle migrate across the Serengeti.

Upon arriving at the Mara triangle in Kenya, they must make a treacherous trip across the crocodile-infested Mara river.

On September 23, safari guide James Hendry spotted a herd of 40 gazelle contemplating the tricky crossing - including a young fawn.

James said: “The little tommy is going to have to cross with his parents, and cousins and sisters and aunts, if they decide that is what they are going to do.”

Even though the group spotted a crocodile sizing them up in the water, one brave gazelle dove into the water and made it across safely.

James said: “One jumped in and swam across unscathed and then the rest followed.

“Almost as soon as the rest of the herd jumped into the water a great flurry of reptilian activity took place.”

The second gazelle to try his luck in the hazardous waters was not so lucky - as a 6ft crocodile sped straight toward it and dragged it to the depths of the river.

Crocodiles can stay underwater for up to two hours at a time so the clever creature was barely visible to the herd of gazelles until he selected his prey.

James added: “Those crocodiles sped into the water like little speed boats, as the crocs caught up with them they posed out of the water and whap, they slammed their jaws down on them and dragged them underwater.”

The reptiles usually kill their prey by drowning, dragging them underwater and violently shaking them as they crush the animal between their jaws.

Following the victory of a larger crocodile, another croc dragged his own gazelle dinner under the murky waters.

Luckily, most of the nervous gazelle found their way to the other side sadly, including the young fawn James spotted at the shore earlier.

Soaked and shaken, the gazelle appeared disoriented before scrambling up the bank to find the herd and its parents - if they survived the crossing.