National Geographic: Last Feast of the Crocodiles Page #2

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and dive for their drinks.

For some of the crocs this is

the signal to take up positions.

The odds are heavily in favor of

the bee-eaters

and most survive the croc strikes.

A thirsty lioness comes to water.

She tries a pit

but finds it full of bees.

She decides to risk the pool.

In heat like this the bees

need water, too.

Lions can go without water

for a long time...

But this one is a nursing mother.

She must drink.

Maybe the bee-pit

isn't so bad after all.

Large flocks of queleas are in the

area, searching for seed and grain.

As they stop by the pool to drink,

their busy fluttering

at the water's edge

inspires the crocodiles with a keen

and almost sporting enthusiasm.

The monitor lizard is the scourge of

both ground nesting birds

and the egg lying crocodiles.

It's a voracious predator,

particularly partial to eggs...

And the feisty plover

immediately declares war.

During the heat of the day

the sand becomes unbearably hot

and burns the skin

between the impalas' hooves.

For the plovers on their nest, this

is when easy access to water pays off.

The bird is soaking its breast-feathers

until they are weighted with water.

It then hurries up the scorching sand

to reliever its mate.

The plovers are brooding on sand

that feels hot enough to fry an egg,

and by mid-day they are changing guard

at the nest every ten minutes.

Without the constant protection

of their cool wet feathers,

the eggs could not survive the heat.

The sand is so hot...

it's a wonder she doesn't fly down.

These buffalo have just

one thing in mind.

Their usual watering places

are dry now

and they've had a long,

hot journey to get there.

One of the calves strikes out on its

own and is soon in dangerous company...

But these aren't

the biggest crocs in the pools

and the lucky calf quickly

returns to the herd.

The crocs intentions are clear enough

but before they can find

a small enough victim

the buffalo decide it's time to leave.

An irritated hippo helps them

on their way.

The drought and heat are now so severe

that some animals with small young

cannot supply enough milk, and thirsty

youngster follow their mothers to water

before they're weaned or wise enough

to know how to drink.

In an instant both croc

and fawn vanish into the pool...

leaving behind a bewildered mother.

Somewhere under the surface of the pool

the crocodile lies low with its prey,

waiting for an opportune moment

to eat without having to share.

The most carefree creature

in the pool is this baby hippo.

She frolics around her mother

in that special state

that belongs to all young things.

She is oblivious to the dangers

in her world.

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