16+ Intense Pics That Reveal How Tough It Is Out There In Nature

Based on how its behavior is described in Volume 14 of The Agricultural Journal of the Cape of Good Hope, this is likely a wattle bag-worm that uses thorns from a wattle tree to make a protective cocoon that nobody really wants to touch.

And considering that wattle trees are found in both Australia and South Africa, this little worm likely has a lot to protect itself from.

If this shoebill wanted to, it could probably have ruined the little guy's whole day. However, it's just engaging in what's called "duck flinging," which is how some birds move each other out of the way.

There's no "excuse me" in nature.

There's a chance that this magpie's foot is gnarled as a result of a birth defect, but it's also possible that it was broken and healed in an unhealthy way.

Either way, the fact that it found a way to stand on it goes a long way to show how it survived long enough to star in this photo.

Everything about how it's scooping up this harbor seal for a meal indicates very clearly that it never saw the shark coming.

While it's a little amusing for birds of prey to always seem like they're saying "what?" when someone photographs them with their prey, that's probably because they're worried about keeping it that way.

While we might be able to think of a friend who eats with similar intensity, they didn't have the adrenaline rush of taking down a massive hippo.

So what exactly are we seeing? Well, you know how intimidating and powerful giant squids can seem to us?

This is a sperm whale using one as a chew toy.

Somehow, it was deprived of the top part of its jaw, which means it won't be able to hunt or otherwise feed itself.

And since, as National Geographic reported, crocodiles have powerful antibodies in their blood, it was able to stave off the infection that would normally occur when something like this happens.

Unfortunately, that means it'll probably just die of starvation in this case.

The fish may be decked out with spiny fins, but the problem is that they can all easily fold back, which means the fish will have no trouble fitting down the bird's throat.

Apparently, this limp husk used to be a mosquito, which either means that the ant is particularly small or the bug is quite large.

They were obviously gunning for this seal, but it was lucky enough to make it on land before they could do anything.

Nonetheless, they hovered by this beach for a time before finally cutting their losses and leaving.

Because in most cases that a large, wild cat is giving us this kind of look, the only thing that anyone can say for us is "rest in peace."

As we can see, it is covered by mites, who are likely to eventually devour it. At this point, its only hope is that they don't take the rest of its hive with it.

And as the uploader confirmed on another picture, this young elephant was confirmed to be killed and eaten by the lions we see here.

As for why the mother wasn't around to defend the little one, this was apparently taken in the middle of a massive drought that ravaged Zimbabwe last year. Simply put, she may have already fallen by then.

Did it get sick or injured and crawl in here just to die with some privacy? Did it eat the eggs only to be killed by the mama bird?

Who can say?

Even if a hawk's prey weighs as much as the bird itself, it has long demonstrated that it's strong enough to carry it away.

Not only is the European hornet about as large as the noisy bug, but it also looks like something that even we wouldn't want to get too close to.

Part of it probably has to do with the fact that it's about to eat another adorable animal, but the way it can open its jaw is pretty unnerving regardless.

The circle of life isn't as round and smooth as The Lion King might lead us to believe.

This time, a sparkle squid is taking out a shrimp that's about as big as it is. Now, that's an appetite.