A eagle and a cobra have been filmed locked in an intense stand-off – after the hungry bird tried to bag himself a snack in the grass.
As the eagle and cobra surreptitiously circle each other, the mighty bird tries to make a move on the deadly snake – before flapping his feathers as the cobra spits out poisonous venom.
They continue to stare each other out – before the eagle eventually admits defeat and flies off.
Staring competition: As the eagle and cobra surreptitiously circle each other, the mighty bird tries to make a move on the deadly snake – before flapping his feathers as the cobra spits out poisonous venom
Show off: They continue to stare each other out – before the eagle eventually admits defeat and flies off
The incredible footage was taken by Matthew McCreesh and his girlfriend Catherine van Eyk, both 26 from South Africa, on a trip to Kruger National Park.
Catherine said: ‘We were both absolutely ecstatic with excitement when we saw this.
‘We were actually on our way out of the park when it happened – I’m so glad we managed to see this before we left.
‘We both agreed it was the best sighting we’ve ever experienced – which is saying a lot, as we spend a lot of time in Kruger.
‘We actually thought the snake was dead in the beginning as it wasn’t moving, so we couldn’t understand why the eagle hadn’t started eating it.
‘When the snake’s tail started moving we were giddy with excitement – it took the sighting to a whole new level.
‘The eagle was standing on the cobra’s head, and actually had its claws in the snake’s mouth – once the snake’s head was up we could see it was bleeding from its mouth.
‘The eagle must have thought the snake was dead, or thought it was too weak to move off – as after about 45 minutes, the eagle got off the snake’s head and started walking down its body to its tail.
Playing with food: Witness Catherine van Eyk said: ‘We were both absolutely ecstatic with excitement when we saw this. ‘We both agreed it was the best sighting we’ve ever experienced ‘
Tasty: ‘The eagle crabbed onto the snake’s tail a few times and tried to pull it, but the snake was so big and heavy, and the eagle wasn’t strong enough’
‘Once the snake had enough room and its head was free, it lifted up its head and opened its hood.
‘The eagle got such a fright, and jumped backwards.
‘From then on it was a stand-off, with the cobra spitting at the eagle a few times.
‘The eagle crabbed onto the snake’s tail a few times and tried to pull it, but the snake was so big and heavy, and the eagle wasn’t strong enough.
‘The eagle was very brave, trying to get closer to the snake’s head, but after much failure and many efforts to regain control the eagle decided this snake was just too big to take down, and flew away.
‘The snake slowly lowered its head in relief, but did not slither away immediately as we expected – I suspect out of exhaustion.
‘People have been astonished that we were so lucky to see such a sighting – it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’
What you looking at? ‘The eagle was very brave, trying to get closer to the snake’s head, but after much failure and many efforts to regain control the eagle decided this snake was just too big to take down, and flew away’