By PRABIT2020 – The Digital Weekly
In Zimbabwe, a brave mother elephant charged at two lionesses to save her baby from being eaten by the two lionesses.
Kevin Dooley, the photographer who captured the scenes at Mana Pools National Park last month, stated that the lionesses were hunting a warthog when a baby elephant which had roamed away from its herd appeared in front of the lionesses.
Mr. Dooley stated that the elephant calf started chasing the warthog, unaware of the predators sneaking nearby, before being forced to the ground by the lions who attempted to kill it.
Mr. Dooley stated that while the warthog would be consumed within a matter of hours, a baby elephant could have served the lions for days.
He said that “One of the lionesses was really pregnant and was terribly in requirement of food.”
“Elephants are a very complex animal for lions to kill and usually the lions will have had to grow up in pride that trains in killing elephants, otherwise they will bypass them and go for smaller and less vulnerable prey.”
“The lions took the elephant down with comfort, both jumped on to the elephant’s back and forced it to the ground, after which they used all their weight and started to immobilize the elephant.”
“The baby elephant started to scream loudly and within a minute or two a teenage elephant appeared and attempted to save its younger sibling.”
“However, the lions would not free their food and the teenager ultimately gave up and ran in terror. Soon the mother elephant appeared and in all her fury and power she charged at the lions that were aggressively attempting to kill the young elephant calf.”
“One of the lionesses immediately retreated and the mother elephant screeched in anger and threw the dust into the air.”
“The second lioness held firm and growled and snarled at the mother elephant. However, the elephant did not leave and finally, the lion gave up. The lion understood that she was no match for an enraged adult elephant.”
“Once the lions left the mother elephant lifted the baby up using its trunk. She sniffed the baby and examined her over. The lions went into the shrubs close by. The whole herd of now six or seven elephants charged the shrubs and the lions ran off.”
“I knew I had a once in a lifetime experience taking place in front of me, I was very busy just attempting to get the photographs.”
“At first, before the mother appeared, I was slightly sad but knew the lions must eat. Once I noticed the mother elephant charging the lions I understood they did not have a chance.”
