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Enkoveni - Run baby, run (13)

The next couple of photos where all taken during one siting. A group of lions, three adult females and seven young lions set after a giraffe calf.

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The next couple of photos where all taken during one siting. A group of lions, three adult females and seven young lions set after a giraffe calf.

This was an amazing siting, even if we had experienced the brutality of nature. It was clear from the first moment, as we stumbled across this event in nature that the young one would not survive. This struggle would continue for more than two hours. This pack of lions had killed and devoured a buffalo the previous day and thus was not in immediate need for food. Yet the group decided to go for the young giraffe anyway. It was clear from the adult lions behaviour, staying in the back ground, that this was an opportunity for the younger lions to hon their hunting skills.

The mother of the young giraffe valiantly tried to protect the young one. The lions certainly had a healthy respect for the kicking ability of the giraffe and every time she turned around the lions scattered.

The lions clearly keeping a safe distance, however never losing their aura of control.

She tried to show the calf by example how to get away, unfortunately the calf’s speed was no match for the lions. It was amazing to see how this young giraffe picked up on her mother actions and started to kick with its front legs to chase the lions away.

One would have thought that lion instinctively knew how to hunt and kill. Even the king of nature still has to learn how to become an effective hunter. Countless times the young lions chased after the calf, tackling it to the ground without executing the lethal blow. Only after the older lion females decided that is was time to finish this and getting involved demonstrating how should be done, the calf was finally killed. There were a few times we thought, this must surely be it, that the calf got up again to our disbelief.

Eventually, after two hours of struggle, one of the older female lions went for the kill, ending the agony of the calf.

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Awards

Contest Finalist in Food Chain Struggles Photo Contest
People's Choice in Circle of Life - Animals Chowing Down Photo Challenge
Peer Award
holmeshooke1 jw719 PreissAlex ron7cal gloria085 joankleynhans ethandixonphotography +27
Magnificent Capture
Macpwm GypsysPhotography kurtsnyder Steve-n-Ning mialocquet michelletracey alef0 +13
Absolute Masterpiece
Devanpayne nandicmb Tilley nickgeorgevdwesthuizen MoragLindsay Hoov Burnettj +6
Top Choice
alexlevinsky JayneBug mohammadhadiboojariloodariche KillerBee01 Blue-Maddness Pidge815 simonvenables +4
Superb Composition
CURUTCHET Fotozap Maria0103 brimel
All Star
Samborough mkriggins
Superior Skill
debbietintle kenderby
Virtuoso
DUPLICATE_KellieMyka edhendricks

Emotions

Relaxed
mohammadhadiboojariloodariche

Top Ranks

Food Chain Struggles Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Food Chain Struggles Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Call Of The Wild Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Call Of The Wild Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Visions Of Africa Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Visions Of Africa Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

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12 Comments | Report
dmitrysamsonov
 
dmitrysamsonov December 22, 2016
great catch!
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz December 22, 2016
Thank you
josephbologna Platinum
 
josephbologna February 12, 2017
The narrative was just as much a part of this image as the image conveyed.Thank you for taking the time to create and share it.Awesome image,awesome narrative!
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz February 12, 2017
Thank you Joseph
CarpeDeeM
 
CarpeDeeM March 07, 2017
Your description of the events that followed this shot were harrowing. Mother Nature can be so cruel. :( Thanks so much for sharing and congratulations. Such a rare sight & perfectly captured.
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz March 07, 2017
Thank you
Merbert
 
Merbert March 07, 2017
What an incredible photo and story!
Must have been very special to witness this drama of nature.
Well done and thanks for sharing.
Super Foto.
Norbert
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz March 07, 2017
Thank you Norbert
debhall Platinum
 
debhall March 25, 2017
Amazing opportunity to see and capture something like this in the wild! Thank you for sharing!
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz March 28, 2017
Thank you Deb
Chris78
 
Chris78 April 17, 2017
To watch and capture nature at its best and sharing that for us to see amazing. Beautiful shot thank you.
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz April 18, 2017
Thank you Chris
garycoppin
 
garycoppin April 18, 2017
WOW ..... WOW.....AMAZING
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz April 18, 2017
Thank you Gary
lianeadele
 
lianeadele July 22, 2017
Looks like maybe they broke it's neck? Hard to look at the image but it is nature and I love your narrative, very well written!
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz July 24, 2017
Thank you Liane
deneceslade Premium
 
deneceslade October 02, 2017
That's sad, awful!! Its a great shot though. Good Job!!
CURUTCHET
 
CURUTCHET September 30, 2020
tremendous photo and action
Karl-Heinz PRO
Karl-Heinz September 30, 2020
Thank you
GypsysPhotography Platinum
 
GypsysPhotography April 07, 2022
WOW! Great capture!
egifford Platinum
 
egifford April 08, 2022
brutal reality.
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