Mother's courage: The moment a protective wildebeest mum left leopard after attacking her calf

Jaw-dropping shots were taken in Mara North Conservancy in Kenya
Predator stalks and pounces on the seemingly doomed six-month-old calf
But mother was well-placed to react quickly and saved young animal

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Defence: A young wildebeest looked destined to become lunch for a hungry leopard - but the big cat hadn't counted on a powerfully protective mother

This young wildebeest looked destined to become lunch for a hungry leopard - but the big cat hadn't counted on a powerfully protective mother.
These jaw-dropping shots show the predator stalking and then pouncing on the seemingly doomed six-month-old calf.
However, its nearby mother was well-placed to react quickly and counteracted with a precision horned-headbutt to the leopard's upper body.

On the prowl: The hungry leopard spots its next lunch and skulks forward

Waiting: The animal stops to watch the pair before pouncing

Attack: The leopard launches forward and sinks its teeth into the baby wildebeest

Back to the rescue: As the leopard firmly grabs hold of the wildebeest its mother approaches

Protective: It's nearby mother is well-placed to react quickly and counteracted with a precision horned-headbutt to the leopard's upper body

Determined: The mother rams her horns into the predator lifting it into the air

Escape: The calf escapes to safety as the mother takes on the leopard

Terrified: The beast runs off in fright after the mauling as the younger animal escapes

Turn around: In a blink of an eye, the stunned cat went from being the attacker to scampering off with its tail between its legs with the angry female in pursuit

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2441449/Protective-wildebeest-mother-leaves-leopard-licking-wounds-failed-attack-calf.html
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Survival of the fiercest: Wildebeest takes on 18ft killer crocodile... and there can be only one winner

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Unsteady on his feet: The young wildebeest, already separated from the rest of the herd, is an easy target for the ever-watchful killers beneath the surface of the Mara River in Kenya

As regular as the seasons themselves, herds of wildebeest make an annual migration across east Africa - following rainfall and the growth of new grass.
Exploiting this predictability, each year predators lay in wait until the migrating beasts come into their killing zone.
Day or night, death can come to the young, sick or simply unlucky members of the herd - swiftly from a single cheetah, or without mercy from a pride of lions or pack of hyenas.

Under attack: An 18ft Nile crocodile has targeted the young beast and is using its teeth to injure its prey, as well as its weight and strength to drag it beneath the surface

Dance of death: The wildebeest tries to out-manoeuvre his attacker but has already been badly injured. At one point the crocodile's massive jaw span seems to be taking in the wildebeest's body

For this young male, the end came not on the plains but in one of Kenya's heaving rivers - delivered by one of nature's apex killing machines.
Like all in his herd, the doomed wildebeest was taking his chances crossing the Mara River in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.
Unfortunately for him, he walked straight into the path of an 18ft Nile crocodile - a species of predator so efficient that it has barely changed throughout evolution.

Dragged below: Exhausted and outweighed, the wildebeest eventually succumbs to the relentless onslaught

Horrific end: As more crocodiles join in the fight, the wildebeest is drowned and torn to pieces

The crocodile used its huge weight and strength to attack the beast as it was already caught off balance by the rushing water and uneven footing.
Its enormous jaw span virtually took in the entire wildebeest's body as the victim attempted in vain to escape the attack.
As more crocodiles joined in on the kill, the fight became hopeless.
At the end of the rainy season in east Africa, around May and June, wildebeest migrate to wetter areas in response to a lack of drinking water.

Circle of life: The majority of wildebeest would have safely forded the Mara River this year, but will have to take their chances with each migration

They travel hundreds of miles, crossing several rivers in a formation known as swarm intelligence - where they work together to cross the obstacle as safely as possible.
Casualities are inevitable, however, and this young male was estimated to be around five years old.
New Zealand photographer David Lloyd, 41, who captured the one-sided fight, said he was awe-struck by the sheer power of the killer.
He said: 'The crocodile is the largest in Africa. They're huge creatures that make many kills like this every year. The migration season really is feeding time for them.
'I estimate that the ones lurking in the river that day were between 15 and 18 feet. They're huge creatures.'

source: dailymal

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Hippo to help: Amazing moment hippopotamus tries to rescue drowning wildebeest

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Stuck: The stranded wildebeest looks like it could be the giant hippo's next meal as the creature moves in


Stuck on a rock in a crocodile infested river, this Wildebeest must have feared for its life.

And, separated from the rest of the herd with a group of hippos closing in, the prospects for the animal did not seem appealing.

But in an amazing act of animal compassion one of the passing hippos paddles over and gives the wildebeest a quick leg-up to set it on its way.


Free: Incredibly, the hippo lifts the drowning wildebeest free from the rock which it had been stuck on


The bull hippo takes pity on the struggling creature and fixes it enormous jaws around it and lifts it away from the rock.

The wildebeest was then released from the rock and tried to join the rest of its herd which had been crossing the Masai River during an annual crossing in Masai Mara, Kenya.

Unfortunately despite the hippo's best attempts the wildebeest struggled to make it across the river and drowned with a broken back.


Swim: wildebeest make their spectacular annual crossing of the Masai River where one of their herd was helped by a hippo after getting stuck


Photographer Mitchell Krog, 39, said: 'One of the more mature hippo bulls eventually came very close to the wildebeest and tried nudging him a few times to see if he could free the animal from the rocks.

'The hippo sensed the wildebeest was injured and had no chance of survival. It's not often an animal like a hippo shows a softer side.

'This proved useless and eventually this same hippo grabbed the wildebeest on his back using his mouth and dragged it clear of the rocks and into a deeper section of river where he then released it into the river flow. '


source: dailymail

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You don't scare me: Moment brave young wildebeest stood up to a lioness who wanted him for dinner

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Watch out: The lioness waits patiently as the young wildebeest struggles through the mud


A series of amazing pictures shows how a young wildebeest overcomes the odds to successfully beat off a hungry lioness before submitting to the king of the jungle.

The migration of wildebeest through swirling Kenyan rivers always loses many victims to drowning, but this fawn manages to battle its way across and haul itself through the mud towards safety.


Face off: The wildebeest startles the lioness with an aggressive head-butt


Unfortunately, the youngster's brave bid for survival has attracted the attention of the lioness who waits patiently on the riverbank for the exhausted fawn to emerge.

But even though the poor wildebeest is on its last legs, he somehow manages to fend off his aggressor with a series of head butts that startle the attacker into retreat.
But his success is short lived. A huge male lion at least five times the

wildebeest's weight has been waiting in the wings and decides to show the shame-faced female how it should be done... with the inevitable outcome.


Backward step: The lioness has second thoughts as the wildebeest prepares to attack again


End game: Despite the wildebeest's brave efforts, he is no match for the lion



All over: The king of the jungle sinks his teeth into his prey


source: dailymail

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