{"id":26197,"date":"2023-10-29T22:40:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T22:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/berkshiredoulas.com\/?p=26197"},"modified":"2023-10-29T22:40:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T22:40:21","slug":"gigantic-crocodile-swallows-shark-in-one-bite-in-terrifying-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/berkshiredoulas.com\/world-news\/gigantic-crocodile-swallows-shark-in-one-bite-in-terrifying-scene\/","title":{"rendered":"Gigantic crocodile swallows shark in one bite in terrifying scene"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An enormous 1500-pound crocodile has been filmed eating a shark in North Queensland, Australia as heavy rainfall pushed the two apex predators into sharing territory. In one photo, the crocodile could be seen closing in on the 100-pound bullshark pup with its huge mouth open wide, ready to feast on its prey. Research scientist Mark Ziembicki claimed he saw the crocodile \u201cswallow\u00a0the shark\u00a0whole headfirst\u201d.<\/p>\n
The reptile was pictured in a second image with the shark upside down between its jaws, unable to escape its grim fate.<\/p>\n
This once-in-a-lifetime moment was captured by research scientist and photographer Mark Ziembicki, 46, from North Queensland, Australia, during a visit to the east coast of Australia.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Ziembicki, the combination of the recent opening of the St Lucia estuary and excessive rainfall inland caused freshwater species to be washed downriver into saline coastal waters, leading to the unlikely meeting between the two apex predators, which happened just 60 feet away from where Mr Ziembicki was standing.<\/p>\n
Mr Ziembicki captured the images using a Canon 5D SLR camera with a 300mm lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we were busy taking photos of another crocodile on the bank there was some commotion about one-hundred feet away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA local resident of the area who was also there shouted that there was a croc eating a shark. We turned to see the shark thrashing away in the crocodile\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt spent about 10 minutes with the shark in its jaws, tossing it about. The shark gradually moved less until it was eventually swallowed whole headfirst. We were completely taken by surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d been observing both the crocodiles and sharks in the area for several hours and were wondering what would happen if the two might meet.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe had our answer I guess, although obviously there was a size mismatch on this occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crocodiles have the most powerful bite in the animal kingdom, exerting a force eight times greater than that of a great white shark.<\/p>\n
It comes after a group of stunned fishermen captured the moment a huge crocodile snatched a shark away from their boat.<\/p>\n
Geoff Trutwein and Nat Barnes had just caught the juvenile blacktip shark near Wyndham, Western Australia when a 2.5-metre-long saltwater crocodile appeared and wrestled it away from them.<\/p>\n