The Sheer Determination This Nile Crocodile Has to Take a Wildebeest Down Is Wild

When the going gets tough, many people end up quitting. Whether that is a career change, a failed diet, or an overdue credit card. Well, animals are no different than humans in the need to be determined to keep going no matter what.

This Nile crocodile in the video below is one hungry reptile. And despite the size of this wildebeest, he is committed to having lunch that day, no matter what.

Don’t Miss the Wild Hunt Below!

Crocodile and Wildebeest Fight to the Death

The short TikTok video shown in the section above takes us to Africa, where the wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) lives.  The Top Wild Animals TikTok page shares real-life footage of what life is like for animals in the wild. Much of the content they provide that has gone viral is of the vicious nature of animals. Although sad, it is a very necessary way of life to keep them alive. 

Determined Crocodile Hunts Wildebeest

At the start of this video above, we see a small herd of wildebeest that are grazing near the water. Notice how spread out they are. These mammals are aware of their surroundings and of any number of predators that may attack while they are getting some much-needed hydration. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, “The two main predators of wildebeest in the Serengeti are the lion (Panthera leo Linnaeus) and the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta Erxleben).” However, other animals, such as African wild dogs, cheetahs, and the Nile crocodile, are also known to hunt them. 

Suddenly, at nine seconds, we see one of the wildebeest close to the water flinch and jump back. This should have been a warning to the rest of his friends who were drinking with him that something was lurking in the water below. However, it was too late, and a Nile crocodile leaps out and grabs one of them by the throat. A vicious fight ensues until, ultimately, the crocodile has won. 

Do Crocodiles Drown Their Prey?

As we can see from the video posted above, the willpower this wildebeest had to stay alive was intense. But, by the end, we can see the crocodile dragging it down under the water. The Berkeley University of California describes crocodiles as messy eaters. “After latching onto an animal and drowning it, a crocodile will dismember its victim into “bite-size” pieces by rolling it underwater, violently shaking the carcass, and banging it on rocks, marking and fracturing the bones in the process.” 

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) may have anywhere from 60 to 100 teeth in its mouth. Not only do they have a lot of teeth that are ready to rip apart flesh, but they also have an incredible bite force of 5,000 PSI (pounds per square inch.) This bite force can even outbeat a lion, with only a bite force of 650 PSI!

With a bite force like this, it is no wonder this crocodile was able to hang on to this wildebeest for so long. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mari Swanepoel/Shutterstock.com