Snared by the jaws of death: Wildebeest is caught by a killer crocodile before being dragged to its doom after trying to cross a river in Kenya
This is the dramatic moment a crocodile lurches out of a Kenyan river and drags a wildebeest to its death in the blink of an eye.
The herd was trying to make the crossing as part of the Great Wildebeest Migration, which takes place from July to September and sees millions of the animals travel to find new grazing grounds.
But the journey is fraught with danger, including attacks by crocodiles that can grow to around 16ft long.
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What lies beneath: A herd of unsuspecting wildebeests cross a river in Kenya as a crocodile prepares to launch an attack from the water
Picking his target: The crocodile zeroes in on a young member of the herd as he raises his head above the surface of the water
In the blink of an eye: The 16 ft crocodile strikes at the wildebeest and grabbing its legs in its jaw before dragging his prey back to the river
Snared: The herd was making the crossing as part of the Great Wildebeest Migration which sees millions travelling to find new grazing grounds
Photographer Clement Kiragu Mwangi said: 'The wildebeest was about the size of the crocodile's head, it's amazing to see such a huge reptile move at lighting speed when they strike'
Photographer Clement Kiragu Mwangi captured the moment the male crocodile approach the group of wildebeests as they struggled to make their way up the side of the river bank before launching its attack.
He said: 'In the blink of an eye, the crocodile had grabbed the wildebeest and drowned it – the water turned red, then like nothing had happened the waters were calm again.
'The wildebeest was about the size of the crocodile's head, it's amazing to see such a huge reptile move at lighting speed when they strike.
'All you could hear is the sound of the wildebeest as they cross the river, they are always constantly making mooing sounds.
'When the crocodile caught the wildebeest it drowned it – that's how they kill their prey. They then then stash it on the river banks to eat later.'
Condemned to die: The wildebeest migration is fraught with danger including attacks by crocodiles that can grow to around 16ft long
Photographer Clement Kiragu Mwangi captured the moment the crocodile struck as the herd struggled up the side of the river bank in Kenya
Mr Mwangi said: 'All you could hear is the sound of the wildebeest as they cross the river, they are always constantly making mooing sounds'
Terror: The entire kill lasted less than 30 seconds and the sudden attack caused chaos among the herd which went scattering in all directions
Mr Mwangi, from Nairobi, in Kenya, said: 'I knew there were crocodiles in the water, but its rare to see them hunt'
The entire kill lasted less than 30 seconds and the sudden attack caused chaos among the herd.
Mr Mwangi, from Nairobi, in Kenya, said: 'There was one young wildebeest who was lost in the confusion and started going the opposite direction, at some point they turned back in the right direction and made it across.
'I was just looking for great photos of the wildebeest crossing the river. I knew there were crocodiles in the water, but its rare to see them hunt.
'As this was one of the first groups to cross, the crocodiles were hungry.
'Even though I was behind the lens I felt chills – it's really tense to witness and the size of these crocodiles is just amazing.'
Mr Mwangi added: 'Even though I was behind the lens, I felt chills – it's really tense to witness and the size of these crocodiles is just amazing'
Dragged to its death: The crocodile pulls the wildebeest into the water to drown it. The predators often stash prey on the river bank to eat later
Mr Mwangi said: 'In the blink of an eye, the crocodile had grabbed the wildebeest and drowned it – the water turned red'
Gone in a splash: The wildebeest is pulled under the water as the other members of the herd run for their lives
Mr Mwangi said: 'Then like nothing had happened, the waters were calm again'
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