Alligator Stalking Bird Gets Attacked by Giant Crocodile From Behind

An alligator stalking its prey has been filmed being attacked by a much-bigger creature from behind.

The video, which was taken at Gatorland wildlife park in Orange County, Florida, was posted to Twitter by @Glick_Owens, with the caption: "Life comes at you fast."

Florida is home to 1.3 million alligators, and they live in all of the state's counties and can be found in wetlands and swamps. Gatorland is home to more than 2,000 American alligators and crocodiles, and acts as a preserve for the species.

In the video, a small alligator can be seen emerging from a pond and stalking a white bird that seems unaware of its presence

A crocodile, much bigger than the alligator, can then be seen approaching it at speed, before appearing to clamp its jaws around the smaller animal. The creature struggles in its jaws for a few seconds before the larger reptile carries it off into the pond. It is not clear whether the smaller alligator was dead.

Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Florida park Gatorland, told Newsweek that it is normal for crocodilians to hunt each other, but this case was slightly different.

"The video, however, is a mother crocodile protecting her nest. The crocodile laid her nest in the clump of palms. Normally, there are numerous alligators lying on the grassy island, but the crocodile had been aggressively defending her nesting site," McHugh said.

It is not clear when exactly the video was taken, but American crocodiles in the wild usually start nesting in late April and early May. They built their nests on land, above the water, and usually lay between 20 and 60 eggs, incubating for around 85 days.

Crocodiles can be incredibly maternal and watch over their nests closely for the whole incubation period.

The video was reposted to the Everglades Holiday Park Facebook page, which said in a caption: "Wow, I didn't see that coming! Nature can be rough sometimes!"

The reposted video generated responses from other social-media users.

"I can't believe the two birds just stood there and watched.....I would have flown far far away," one Facebook user wrote, while another posted: "And so the bird survives another day!!"

Others joked that the crocodile was using the bird as bait.

"That was brutal... Poor little dude just wanted crane for lunch," a Facebook user posted.

"That crane is going to wake up tomorrow and eat breakfast like it was the first day of his life," another wrote.

Alligators have also been known to eat others of their own kind. One reptile that lives in Florida's Silver Springs is often observed attacking other alligators in the area.

In August, the animal was filmed attacking a small alligator, swinging it back and forth, and the dead body was found later.