Dramatic images capture this hour-long fight as a starving lion take on a fully grown buffalo.
After the brutal hour-long battle, both animals were left bloodied, exhausted and with fatal wounds. The images also shows the lion savagely biting and clawing at the buffalo’s mouth, the big cat’s face smeared with blood from where he’s been gored by his heavier and larger opponent’s horns.
The feline is tossed around in the air as he attempts to mount his adversary and is finally finished off when another buffalo arrives on the scene to deliver a lethal blow.
The gut-wrenching pictures were taken by Matt Armstrong-Ford, 25, in the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. The amateur photographer, from Eastbourne, who works for Shenton Safaris as a guide and camp manager, came across the bloody scene as the lion's claws were hooked onto the female buffalo's muzzle.
He recognised the cat as a six-year-old lion who suffered from mange, a type of skin disease, and who had become detached from his pride. Mr Armstrong said: 'After around ten minutes of our arrival the buffalo managed to shake the lion off itself but instead of trying to escape just stood there.
'Both animals stared at each other both too exhausted to move.
'After a few minutes of rest the lion then went for the buffalo and another ten-minute battle ensued. Again the buffalo managed to shake itself free.
'The same process continued for about an hour until both animals were completely spent.
'The rest of the herd, who had come to the water to drink were watching from a distance while the fight carried on.'
As it looked like fortune was favouring the exhausted but ravenous lion a member of the buffalo's herd came to its aid and delivered a deadly blow.
The safari guide added: 'That seemed to give the cow the opportunity it needed to escape and along with the rest of the herd moved off.
Two days later the lion succumbs to his injuries while the buffalo’s carcass was fond two weeks later having died of infections.
No comments:
Post a Comment