Randall Ortega
Randall Ortega Chávez is a nature photographer with more than twenty years of experience in Costa Rica.
During a recent trip, aboard a small boat on the Tárcoles River and while leading a group of birdwatchers, he had the miraculous bliss of witnessing a raccoon that stealthily approached a crocodile.
I thought that the raccoon had run into the crocodile by accident and would soon be running away from the place, to avoid being devoured. But it was not like that. The raccoon practically jumped the crocodile’s back and hesitated to climb up. I think our presence made him leave, because, unfortunately, one of my clients could not contain his emotion and raised his voice,”
explained Ortega.
The photographer also said he has consulted specialized sources but has not been able to find scientific evidence proving this is a typical behavior. Rather, it seems a beautiful coincidence.
Richard Jones
In Florida there was a well-known case in 2015, documented by National Geographic (NG) and photographer Richard Jones. Biologists consulted by NG said that the photograph captures a fortuitous event. Crocodiles actually eat raccoons.