Don’t snap ME! Camera-shy crocodile flashes its fangs as it lunges out of the sea to attack low-flying drone
- Quentin Roper films crocodile as it stills in sea near Groote Eylandt, Australia
- Drone passes over reptile’s head and the crocodile lunges towards the camera
- Sharp teeth of the salt water crocodile hit lens of the camera as it twists in air
This is the astonishing moment a furious crocodile lunges out of the sea to attack a low-flying drone as it veers too close to the camera-shy reptile.
The footage, filmed by Quentin Roper, captures the salt water crocodile as it wades through the sea near the coast of Groote Eylandt in Australia.
The drone then begins to move closer to the reptile, passing over the head of the animal and capturing the stunning scenery behind it.
But as Mr Roper edges the camera too close to the crocodile, it propels itself out of the water and lunges towards the drone.
Quentin Roper captured the astonishing moment a salt water crocodile lunged at his drone as he flew over the sea near the coast of Groote Eylandt in Australia
The camera then twists in the air as the reptile’s sharp teeth are seen in the lens.
It soon rights itself, however, and is able to successfully fly away from the scene and navigate back to the boat Mr Roper was aboard on February 9.
Speaking after he captured the incredible footage, Mr Roper said the salt water crocodile was around 230ft away from the boat when the drone took off.
‘I spotted the salt water crocodile about 70 metres (230ft) from the boat and it was heading straight for us,’ he said.
The drone captures stunning views of the Groote Eylandt coastline as it passes over a salt water crocodile
As the camera veers too close to the reptile, it lunges at the drone and bares its teeth for the camera
The crocodile releases Mr Roper’s drone moments later despite the aggressive attack
‘I got the drone up as quickly as possible to have a closer look and that attack happened. He or she kept hanging around after the incident, very interested in our little tinny and the drone.
‘We kept filming and taking photos until the drone battery was nearly dead then I tried landing the drone in the boat.
‘It just went crazy so I had to crash land it inside the boat otherwise we would have lost the drone and more importantly the footage.
‘I knew we had some epic footage, sometimes you have to take a risk to get the reward.’
The drone is then able to successfully fly away from the scene and navigate back to the boat Mr Roper was aboard on February 9