Iain McDonald, 21, was making tea in his tent at Mayukuyuku Camp, on the banks of the Kafue River, when he suddenly heard a loud roar from the other bank. Curious about the source of the sound, Iain looked out and encountered an astonishing sight.
Before his eyes was a 2.5 m long crocodile, opening its mouth and roaring, threatening a small otter. However, what is surprising is that the otter does not seem to show any fear of this giant monster. On the contrary, it even actively attacks the crocodile by biting its opponent’s tail.
Not stopping there, the reckless otter continued to attack a second time. This time, it aimed for the crocodile’s body, despite the risk of being knocked down and bitten by the crocodile. Faced with a sudden and continuous attack from a much smaller creature, the crocodile appeared confused and confused, not knowing how to respond.
According to Iain, the whole incident only took a few minutes but left a deep impression on him. “I was very confused. The otter was definitely playing with fire but looking back at the footage, it seemed very mischievous,” Iain shared. “By attacking the crocodile’s tail, it avoided the sharp teeth.”
Iain also offered some theories about why the otter so recklessly attacked the crocodile. “The only reason I can imagine is that the otter may have had young nearby and was trying to get the crocodile to move away,” Iain said. “I can’t imagine that he would risk his life just for fun, but you know.”
After the attacks, the otter left peacefully. “After a light interaction, the otter moved a few meters and took a sip of water before gliding into the bushes,” Iain described. “The crocodile stayed a while longer before quietly swimming back into the river.”
This was the first time Iain witnessed such a scene in Africa. The incident left him with many interesting and worried emotions. Worried about the otter’s safety from a predator many times larger. Interesting in the bravery and wisdom of a small creature in the face of danger.
The story of the fearless otter became one of the most unforgettable moments of Iain McDonald’s trip. At the same time, it also gives us a lesson about the courage and survival instinct of wild animals.
Qui Anh
