The attack took place during Zimbabwe’s dry season, with animals gathered around a watering hole. The young elephant had strayed away from its herd, leaving it vulnerable to predators.
Photographer and conservationist Brent Staplekemp was studying the lions with Oxford’s WildCRU when he captured these images during a trip to Zimbabwe. The young elephant struggled in the grasp of the lion cub, as lions tend to target youngsters away from the safety of the herd during hunts.
“The elephant realized something was up and tried to chase the lion before turning and fleeing,” the photographer said. “The lion caught him and brought him down before a lioness came to help.”
“It does tug at the heartstrings, but this is a result of man’s artificial management of nature, and the lions are seizing a survival opportunity,” Brent Staplekemp added. This unfortunate encounter serves as a reminder of the complex interactions between predators and prey in the natural world, where survival often hangs in the balance.
