Tourist photographs Australian scene of croc versus croc

In this Oct. 26, 2015 phoyo, a large crocodile flings a smaller crocodile through the air before eating it at Catfish Waterhole in the Rinyirru National Park in Australia's Queensland state. Tourist Sandra Bell was poised to photograph a sedate scene of two crocodiles sunning themselves at the edge of an Australian waterhole when the picture unexpectedly exploded into violence. (Sandra Bell via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES, MANDATORY CREDIT In this Oct. 26, 2015 phoyo, a large crocodile flings a smaller crocodile through the air before eating it at Catfish Waterhole in the Rinyirru National Park in Australia's Queensland state. Tourist Sandra Bell was poised to photograph a sedate scene of two crocodiles sunning themselves at the edge of an Australian waterhole when the picture unexpectedly exploded into violence. (Sandra Bell via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES, MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press December 4, 2015 1 min read

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – Tourist Sandra Bell was poised to photograph a sedate scene of two crocodiles sunning themselves at the edge of an Australian waterhole when the picture unexpectedly exploded into violence.

Bell said Friday she was startled but managed to snap around 20 graphic photos as a 5-meter (16-foot) estuarine croc killed and devoured a far lighter 2.5-meter (8-foot) croc over 15 minutes.

The extraordinary pictures were taken in October at Catfish Waterhole in the Rinyirru National Park where Bell had been camping with her 14-year-old son in north Queensland state.

Crocodile expert Grahame Webb says cannibalism is common among crocodiles although humans rarely witness such attacks in the Australian wilderness.

While birds and fish prey on hatchlings, the only predator a larger croc fears is another croc.