Baby Jaguar vs. Caiman Alligator (VIDEO)

If you play with fire, you might get burned.

National Geographic posted a fascinating video of a curious baby jaguar sniffing, prodding and nibbling at a live caiman alligator before learning a valuable lesson.

The caiman lies still for minutes during the jaguar's harassment, apparently hoping the cat will lose interest.

"At that age, basically [the young jaguar] is just like a toddler, exploring the environment, trying to figure out what's what, and amusing himself," explains Susie Ekard, an animal training manager at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. "You could tell he was scoping out the food aspects of it."

But eventually the caiman loses its patience with the jaguar.

WATCH:

Caimans are relatively small crocodilian reptiles in the Alligatoridae family that live in Central and South America.

Comments

[Kambriel2]

12:12 AM on 04/03/2011

Now that was fun!! Poor Caiman...just getting some sun and this kitten just has to come along and bother him...

[planetjeffy]

11:06 PM on 03/24/2011

caiman vs republican

who wins that battle?

[TigersEye]

11:37 PM on 03/23/2011

Great video.

[TggerJen]

02:33 PM on 03/24/2011

Agreed! LOVE your avatar!

[3Nox]

02:54 PM on 03/23/2011

Run away run away!

[dvncmdy]

12:20 PM on 03/23/2011

Take That You Pesky Cat!

[MrWebster]

10:35 AM on 03/23/2011

In this one. Cat attacks alligator. Cat wins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF0Lr--K4oo

[bmora]

10:21 AM on 03/23/2011

F you jaguar!

[JumpySnark]

10:06 AM on 03/23/2011

I'm going to that park in San Diego this June, I can't wait! Excellent video.

[foolme1ns]

09:42 AM on 03/23/2011

Sort of like republicans messing with the middle class.

[Bush Liberated Me]

10:34 AM on 03/23/2011

Really? What political party has ruled our ghettos for the past 50 years? And if you ask which ghetto, I mean every one.

[Decipherer]

01:16 PM on 03/23/2011

Go liberate yourself.

[pcpc]

08:51 AM on 03/23/2011

I play possum in bed all the time and it drives my hubby crazy!

[Decipherer]

01:15 PM on 03/23/2011

OK, and while you're playing possum, what is he playing? The violin?

[pcpc]

03:48 PM on 03/23/2011

Trying to find out if I am still alive...

[Jeremyewilliams]

08:31 AM on 03/23/2011

Could this caiman be related to "Bloody Loco's" nemesis "Cool, calm cashmere guy"?

[bighamms]

11:48 AM on 03/23/2011

haha...nice.

[gumbo1049]

07:56 AM on 03/23/2011

Natures beauty.

[Decipherer]

01:44 PM on 03/23/2011

Which one of the "natures" do you find beautiful?

[gumbo1049]

07:20 AM on 03/24/2011

both

[Decipherer]

07:43 AM on 03/23/2011

A caiman (cayman) is NOT and "alligator." It is a caiman (cayman), OK?

[Decipherer]

07:45 AM on 03/23/2011

Make that "an." Sorry.

[Beermonger]

10:00 AM on 03/23/2011

Wow. Do you micro-manage everyone this much?

[Ohene]

06:53 AM on 03/23/2011

That caiman alligator has more patience than most intelligent humans. And it shows real savvy in emotion and crisis management.

[TggerJen]

02:35 PM on 03/24/2011

Agreed! It's a nice example of the judicious and successful use of non-lethal force. That baby jaguar is ridiculously cute too.

[fleetmoon]

05:30 AM on 03/23/2011

This alligator kept cool a very long time.