When an enraged bull raced to the aid of a helpless buffalo, an angry lion was sent flying.
A pack of four lions was stalking a herd of buffalo through South Africa’s Kruger National Park’s Mjejane reserve when one hungry lion decided it was time to pounce.
Despite his preference for a weak female buffalo, the rest of the herd rushed to her aid, and one enraged bull charged at the hungry lion as he went in for the kill, digging his horns in and tossing him high into the air.
Conn O’Donoghure, a photographer from Johannesburg, South Africa, captured the dramatic scenes on film.
A series of photographs show the lion being thrown into the air after it attacked the buffalo.
‘We were following the buffalo herd towards the river – the lions were tracking the buffalo,’ said Conn, 48.
‘There was a sickly female cow who was trailing the herd, and the lions were interested in her.
‘We thought the lions were too young to be driven away, but the dominant of the brothers had a strong natural instinct and stalked and jumped on the female buffalo.
‘As the second lion tried to find an opening for the death blow to the throat, another female buffalo began bellowing loudly and summoning reinforcement from the bulls.
‘The lions had now brought the old female down, and we expected the worst.
‘But the bull charged right in, dug his horns under the young lion, and threw him in the air twice.
‘We thought he’d be killed, but he bounced back, gathered himself, and the two lions actually stalked the big bull a while later,’ said the guide.
‘It was a fantastic experience, and seeing everything right in front of us was incredible – it’s definitely an experience to remember.’
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