Here, in the scorched terrain of south-east Sri Lanka,
the dry summer months
bring high temperatures for all living things.
Water is a vital resource.
Finding it is a life- or-death challenge.
But there’s an oasis in this landscape,
which provides for all who can reach it.
The waterhole.
The Watering Hole
It supports a huge range of diverse species,
who co-exist alongside each other peacefully.
For some,
this is a place to drink.
But for others,
this is a place
to eat.
Mugger Crocodiles
Mugger crocodiles.
Unlike most other animals, these super-successful predators
have remained relatively unchanged
for 200 million years.
They can grow to five metres and weigh hundreds of kilograms.
But they aren’t built for chasing down prey over distances
like some other predators.
But what they lack on land,
they make up for in the water.
They are masters of the ambush.
Ambush
These living fossils lurk under the surface,
waiting patiently for a deer to step too close.
They have special sensors in their facial scales,
which may give crocodiles an impressive sense of touch.
This could allow them to finely sense
the movements of their prey in the water.
But sometimes even the best-laid plans can fail.
Water Plants
Unsuccessful,
it returns to land to warm back up in the sun,
with something extra.
The water plants.
They sometimes find themselves adorned,
as if wearing peculiar crowns of aquatic greenery.
Almost like an ill-thought-out disguise.
They seem quite happy with their hats of vegetation.
But now, hunger is priority again.
There’s only one thing on this croc’s mind.
Deer Attack
Silently and unnoticed,
it moves into position.
It’s missed.
But a deer could last for months,
so it’s worth taking its time to reset.
The deer aren’t completely helpless.
They have rapid reaction times,
kicking themselves out of the way of its clamping jaws.
They spring away from the danger time and time again.
On land, deer have the advantage.
But if they’re not careful where they jump,
they’ll find themselves in the croc’s world.
With one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom,
once a croc clamps down,
there’s very little chance for escape.
Eventually, the patience of this predator as old as the dinosaurs
will win.
