The yellow-billed bird was fishing in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve when it came upon the head of a tigerfish lying in the water. A four-meter-long reptile appeared in the shallows as it scooped up the food in its beak.
For a split second, it appeared as though the stork had become entangled in the action, it’s head ᴘᴇʀɪʟᴏᴜsly close to the beast’s jaws. Fortunately, the crocodile avoided snapping the bird and instead left it to continue fishing.
While working as a safari guide, Mark Sheridan Johnson captured the magnificent sequence of pictures. ‘I saw the stork was toying with something in the water, which turned out to be the head of a tigerfish,’ claimed the 35-year-old.
While toying with the fish head, the stork drew the attention of a young crocodile, who swam in quickly to grab the bird’s supper.
‘Once the crocodile got the fish, the stork recognized the struggle was over and opted to continue fishing alongside the crocodile.’ A stork’s d.i.et consists primarily of tiny fish, which they devour whole.
The photographer went on to say that it was normal to witness storks fishing near crocodiles. ‘They know that when the croc walks down the lake’s shores, it will drive fish away from it, which the stork will catch,’ he added.
Similarly, you’ll see different bird species ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ side by side, such as the yellow-billed stork and the spoonbill. This is known as a “dual ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ approach.”
