Even though it is the strongest predatory reptile in the world, the journey for the Nile crocodile to “grow up” faces countless difficulties. 

The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is one of the largest and strongest eagles in the African sky native to the sub-Saharan region.

They can be found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, wherever there are abundant food sources and favorable habitats such as open forests, forest edges, savannas…

Martial has a fairly large body size with a length of 78 – 96 cm, an average weight of 3 – 6.2 kg and a wingspan of 190 – 260 cm. The tail of this eagle species is up to 32 cm long and its legs are up to 13 cm long. Their lower legs are covered with feathers, not bare skin like other birds.

They are one of the strongest raptors in the world, if in healthy condition they have no natural enemies.

Their prey is quite diverse, from birds, chickens, geese… to reptiles such as monitor lizards and snakes, including venomous snakes such as cobras, vipers, mambas and African rock pythons. .

Even the wild boar and eagle did not make Martial tremble. They can actively attack and use their large, sharp claws to squeeze and hold the animal’s head down, causing the animal to die in an instant.

As a high-level predator, the Martial eagle not only hunts prey but also bullies and steals the carcasses of other wild animals.

However, compared to the eagle’s opponent that Jessica Keeton witnessed during her trip to South Africa, it is still far behind.

Accordingly, while observing a Martial eagle, the tourist witnessed an astonishing image.

The mighty eagle perched on a tree and was staring intently at something on the riverbank, like a creature that could attack. Upon closer inspection, Jessica realized it was a Nile crocodile.

The Nile crocodile is a famous crocodile whose scientific name is Crocodylus niloticus.

They are a giant-sized African crocodile (more than 5 m long and weighing more than 250 kg when mature), considered a predator that haunts all creatures, including humans.

Because of its brutal strength, the Nile crocodile was highly revered by the ancient Egyptians, who even mummified and worshiped it as gods.

According to CrocBITE statistics, from 1884 to 2017, 1,014 Nile crocodile attacks were recorded, of which there were 717 deaths (mortality rate is 70%, much higher than saltwater crocodiles at 57%). ).

Despite its ferocity, the odds of a small Nile crocodile growing to adulthood are very low in the wild. The reason is that during the development process, the Nile crocodile will have to overcome countless difficulties.

They are easily attacked by other predators such as birds, large fish and other animals. Their small size and lack of survival skills make small Nile crocodiles extremely fragile.

After catching its prey, the eagle will take them to a secluded place such as a high tree branch or a cliff to enjoy.