Three lionesses pounced on a crocodile as the creature attempted to eat one of the pride’s pups in an incredible occurrence. The protective females reacted quickly to fend off the threatening predator.
The lionesses surrounded the croc with precision and launched a barrage of strikes at it. During the fight, the crocodile managed to bite one of the huge cats, but the pride rapidly k.i.l.led it.
While on a safari with his kid in Botswana’s Duba Plains, Tony Goldman snapped the unique photographs. ‘The lionesses had just slaughtered a buffalo when a crocodile emerged from the lake about 100 yards away and began nibbling on the flesh,’ said Tony, 58, a cardiologist.
When one of the smaller cubs got in the way of the crocodile, it started approaching it in a terrifying manner before attacking it. Three nearby lionesses launched a concerted attack on the croc as a result of this.’
‘I expected the croc to flee, but it didn’t, and a terrific struggle ensued, with the croc biting one of the lionesses.’ There was a ruckus with dust flying everywhere before the lionesses finally overcame the invader.
Only my child, our driver, and I were present for the entire incident, which lasted around 15 minutes. We were quite lucky, since the driver had sped like a crazy to arrive on time after learning of the buffalo s.’
‘On my future safaris, I’ve retold my experience to rangers with over 20 years in the bush, and no one has ever watched lions take down a crocodile,’ Tony, a father of two from Benoni, near Johannesburg, South Africa, continued. We were lucky enough to see and photograph a rare animal occurrence.’
