With his mother’s help, the newborn elephant made a fortuitous escape when a crocodile tried to bite off his trunk.
A crocodile emerged from the water and snatched the trunk of a baby elephant that was swimming around the deep end of a drinking hole in the African forest.
Trunking and snorting, the herd mates stared in amazement as they battled to protect the defenseless little calf from the threat.
The young elephant overwhelmed the scared crocodile and tumbled back to avoid the danger, forcing it back into the murky water.
A baby elephant drinks at a watering hole in the African bush while a crocodile stands stiffly in the water a few feet away. The crocodile jumps out of the water and snaps its jaws shut around the calf’s trunk in an instant.
Francois Borman’s camera was used to take the amazing pictures by Mana Pools in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley.”This is the last thing I imagined seeing! I was out in the jungle for several hours hoping for some activity,” he exclaimed.
I usually have high standards when I go out with my camera, but this situation is just amazing to witness.
“A local crocodile saw the herd of small elephants coming down to drink and spent some time measuring them up, chasing the baby calf playing in the shallows,” the observer reported.
“It’s clear the baby elephant was excited about the water because he sprang into the deep, murky water and began to roll around, screaming.”
The amazing photos were taken by talented photographer and farmer Francois Borman in Zimbabwe, close to the Mana Pools in the Zambezi Valley.
The rest of the herd gathered around in wonder, snorting and trumpeting as they struggled to keep the helpless baby elephant safe.
The baby elephant throws off the crocodile and stumbles backward with a little help from his mother.
“It didn’t have to worry about the outside world, and it definitely didn’t consider the dangers that might be present in the murky waters,” he went on.
The tiny calf knelt down to drink from its lips because it was unsure of how to use its trunk to do so. Eventually, it got up and tried its hand at using its trunk to reach the water.
“It was a mess when the crocodile jumped onto the baby elephant’s trunk and grabbed it.”With a choking squeal, the calf charged the crocodile, fighting for its life.
“Time stopped still as the calf resisted and with incredible tenacity, almost immediately pulled the reptile out of the water.”After more elephants raced to the scene to assist, the crocodile eventually released the calf.
“When I saw my pictures, I was overjoyed because I knew they were special.”
“Snaps like this are the payoff—wildlife photographers spend a lot of time waiting, hoping for that specific sight.”
Frank Fritz, “American Pickers” star, dead at 60 — rest in peace
Fans are devastated at the news that Frank Fritz, the antiques expert who gained fame on the reality series American Pickers, has died at 60.
Fritz, who left the series in 2021, had been suffering from health problems and was hospitalized from a stroke two years ago.
The news was announced by Fritz’s friend and co-star Mike Wolfe, who said that Fritz passed away last night.
“I’ve know Frank for more [than] half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny,” Wolfe wrote in a social media tribute. “The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself.”
Fritz and Wolfe gained fame as the hosts of the reality TV series American Pickers, which premiered on the History Channel in 2010. The series showed the two “pickers” traveling across the USA, searching for valuable antiques and collectibles in unexpected places.
“We’re looking for amazing things buried in people’s garages and barns,” the show’s opening narration explains. “What most people see as junk, we see as dollar signs. We’ll buy anything we think we can make a buck on.”
“We make a living telling the history of America… one piece at a time.”
The series attracted millions of viewers, becoming one of History Channel’s most popular programs. In its debut year it was the #1 non-fiction series among total viewers and adults 25-54.
While the antiques were often interesting, there’s no doubt it was the chemistry and charisma of the two hosts that kept viewers coming back for more.
In 2021, it was announced that Fritz would be leaving American Pickers after a decade on the hit series. Fritz said the decision was not his own, and that he was pushed out by the network after a back surgery.
“I didn’t leave the show,” he told The Sun at the time. “I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
He also suggested that his co-host’s ego was a factor, saying the show had “tilted towards him 1,000 percent.” “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz said. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.”
In July 2022, Fritz was hospitalized from a stroke. In 2023, he had a tearful reunion with Mike Wolfe, and the two resolved their purported feud. However, Fritz declined an offer to rejoin American Pickers, deciding to focus on his health.
It’s clear that the two former co-hosts have remained friendly since then, and it seems Wolfe was by his side til the end.
“We’ve been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. “I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know [you’re] in a better place.”
American Pickers remains a staple of the History Channel lineup. Fritz has never officially been replaced as co-host, though series regulars like Danielle Colby, Mike Wolfe’s brother Robbie, and friend and antiques expert “Jersey Jon” Szalay will rotate accompanying Wolfe on his antiquing trips.
Colby also shared her own tribute to Fritz on social media. “Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time,” she wrote.
“Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more.
Rest in Peace Road Dog.”
Rest in peace to the iconic reality TV star Frank Fritz 😢🙏 Please share this story in his memory.
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