A tapir swam for its life as a jaguar stalked it from the riverbank in the Pantanal, a region in South America that encompasses a massive tropical wetland. Roger Benedik recorded the moment, likely from within the Pantanal Jaguar Camp in Brazil, where he captures much of his jaguar content. Benedik and his companions were on pins and needles as the tapir swam as fast as it could to try to escape the jag. Do you think it got away?
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Jaguars are apex predators in the South American rainforest, but tapirs are excellent swimmers, and if these animals have any chance against a jag, it’s in the water. However, this tapir doesn’t stay in the water. After an impressive underwater sprint, it emerges and takes its chances on land. Smart move, or the last move it ever made?
See what happens with the tapir and the jaguar here:
Some commenters on Benedik’s Instagram post suggest the jaguar must not be that hungry, suggesting it basically let the tapir go. Others praise the tapir’s survival skills.
“That is the fastest underwater sprint in the history of animal existence,” wrote one person.
“Survival skills: 10 out of 10,” wrote another.
“It’s amazing how the Tapir swims underwater to hide. A strategy that requires a certain intelligence,” wrote another.
Did you expect the tapir to escape?
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