In Botswana, an astonishing scene of a herd of elephants banding together to save one of their young calves from ravenous lionesses was captured on camera.
In Chobe National Park, British photographer James Gifford captured a lioness pursuing a baby elephant before climbing onto its back.
But she wasn’t strong enough to take down her prey on her alone, and by the time help arrived, an entire herd of elephants had gathered to guard the youngster.
A roaring lioness leapt on the elephant’s back in Chobe National Park, Botswana while her backup stalked the calf from behindÂ
‘When I observed the elephant herd approaching their direction, the lions lay low,’ James explained. The elephants didn’t seem to notice the lions, or if they did, they didn’t think they were a threat.
‘Because the pride wouldn’t stand a chance against the herd, they waited until the adults had long gone before attacking a youngster on its own, straggling some distance behind the others.
‘The unfortunate juvenile was terrified, but despite one of the lionesses jumping on its back, she could not bring it down on her own. Importantly, a second female arrived to assist only 10 seconds later, by which point the tiny window of opportunity had passed.
‘The calf retreated towards the protection of the herd, and when it was within around 20 metres, the lionesses abandoned the attack, knowing that they risked catastrophic injury if they ventured too close to the adult elephants.’
Fortunately the single lioness was not strong enough to take down her prey by herself and the elephant managed to reach the safety of its herd One lioness approaching the oblivious elephant calf, who was lagging some distance behind the rest of the herd in Chobe National Park, Botswana The lion waited until the adult elephants had passed ahead before seizing her opportunity to attack a youngster which was on its own The first lioness attempt to bring down the frightened elephant calf by jumping onto its back, but she was unable to bring it down on her own The lions and elephants in Chobe National Park were photographed by UK photographer James Gifford who witnessed one of the lionesss jump on the small elephant’s back James had been following the lion pride for a while in the hope of capturing them hunting and captured these images of the pride’s failed attempt to take down an elephant calf After around ten seconds a second lioness arrived to help but the brief window of opportunity had closed as the elephant herd was on its way Five hungry lion cubs look on as their mothers unsuccessfully try to bring down an elephant calf in Chobe National Park, Botswana The calf fled towards the safety of the herd and was accepted into the fold while the adult elephants staged a stand off with the lion pride Once the young elephant had returned to the safety of its herd, the lion pride left – knowing that if they got too close to the adult elephants, they risked serious injury
