The crocodile that was waiting in the river that the lion family had to cross as a threat to their pride caught the attention of the lion’s amber eyes as they surveyed the water’s surface.
Without thinking twice, the fiercely protective lioness plunged into the river and engaged the reptile in a struggle so that the rest of the pride could safely pass.
Images from the Okavanga Delta in Bᴏᴛsᴡᴀɴᴀ show the majestic big cat securing the crocodile’s jaws with her front legs before submerging it and running towards the river bank. Wildlife photographer Pia Dierickx captured the courageous diverting movements of the lioness, and she claimed that the animal moved with such astonishing speed that she could not realize what had happened until she looked back at the photos on her camera.
When the huge cat and the crocodile suddenly collided, the Belgian photographer from Antwerp had been watching the lioness and her pride happily going about their business around the river. The 48-year-old said that the struggle happened within seconds.
She recalled seeing a lioness gently enter the channel before there was a large splash of water. Fortunately for the lioness, the crocodile’s mouth was kept shut between the lioness’ front legs, preventing her from performing the ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ roll, the photographer continued. The crocodile then swam away.
She didn’t fully realize what she had seen until she looked at her photos on the camera viewer. All of the lionesses and cubs made it to the other bank safely, ensuring a joyful ending to the tale.
Source: https://dailylifeworld.com
