Dominant Apex Predator Takes Down a 14-Foot Crocodile

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When we think of apex predators in the wild, we easily think of lions, tigers, crocodiles, polar bears, wolves, and killer whales. And typically, when an apex predator gets into a fight, it is with the prey they are trying to consume. But what happens when two apex predators come together for an epic fight? You don’t want to miss this video at the top!

Tiger Fights a Crocodile in India

The YouTube video shown at the top of this blog post takes us to the Ranthambore National Park in India. Where a tiger is seen fighting a crocodile. The Zooearth TV YouTube page shared this footage with almost half a million subscribers. Their most recent video shorts are of birds, pandas, gorillas, and various landmarks around the world. 

Epic Fight Between Two Predators

As the video above starts out, we see a tiger and a crocodile engaged in a fight that looks to be one that will end in death. This is no mere scuffle happening; they both mean business. This tiger is actually a famous animal called Tigress Machli that lived from 1997 to 2016. And she was known to dominate Ranthambore National Park. 

This crocodile was not a small crocodile by any means. He was a fully grown crocodile that was 14 feet in length. Saltwater crocodiles can weigh upwards of 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds). In addition to that, their skin is often referred to as a suit of armor because of how tough it really is. However, her sharp claws penetrated this armor, giving her the hold on him she needed to take him down successfully. 

The tigress used the crocodile’s massive weight to her advantage by staying on top of him during the fight. She wrestled on top using all of her legs and her mouth at the same time. Eventually, the crocodile succumbed to his injuries. 

Do Tigers Eat Crocodiles?

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a carnivorous animal that feasts on deer, cattle, and wild boar. You’ll notice from the prey they eat that it is mainly herbivorous animals. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare tigers eating herbivores helps to keep those numbers under control. “In doing so, they protect the land from overgrazing and degradation, which would damage the ecosystem and put other species at risk. “

So, eating a crocodile would not be considered a tiger’s main diet. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t. There are sporadic reports of tigers attacking and eating crocodiles. The crocodile has a hungry appetite and can eat up to 75 pounds at a time. And so a large animal such as a crocodile would bring plenty of meat.