This is the moment a herd of buffalo stopped a pride of lions eating an abandoned baby elephant in South Africa last week.
Video taken in Kruger National Park shows a group of female lions surrounding the the baby elephant – which is lying helpless on its back and appears to have been abandoned by its mother.
As the lions start to attack, they attract the attention of a nearby herd of Buffalo. At least four of the buffalo begin charging at the big cats, most likely in an effort to prevent their own young being attacked.
Astonishing moment buffalo herd rescues baby elephant from lions
Defenseless: The elephant calf can be seen on its back surrounded by a pride of lions at Kruger National Park in South Africa
The buffalo herd, who’s natural born enemy is the lion, were unimpressed at seeing the pride gathered around the elephant
One by one the rest of the herd backs it up and, outnumbering the lions, the big cats decide discretion is the better part of valour and flee.
Spotting its chance to escape, the elephant rolls back on to its feet and escapes to survival and its family by a nearby watering hole.
The tourist who shot the video, Jill Matthew, said: ‘Watching all of this happen, our hearts were pumping.
‘The baby elephant was helpless, and we were sitting and wondering when the mother was going to come and help the poor baby.
HOW MANY LIONS DOES IT TAKE TO KILL AN ELEPHANT? BATTLE BETWEEN TWO OF THE PLAIN’S DEADLIEST ANIMALS
Lions have been known to work together to hunt full-sized adult elephants, but sightings of the kills are uncommon.
The King of the Jungle is the only animal, apart from humans, that is able to take down an elephant.
Incredibly, just two males could kill an elephant together, but it would take seven females to do the same task because they are less brawny.
If a lion were to try and take down an elephant, it would normally go for a younger animal.
Generally, lions will not try and attack a full grown elephant unless they are very short of food and out of other options.
Experts say that older female elephants that elephant matriarchs are more likely to keep their herd away from male lions because they’ve seen attacks first hand.
Aside from the threat from lions, elephants do not have any natural enemies, because they form tight-knit herds that are intimidating to attack.
The hyena has been known to wait until an elephant has died before feasting – they can be spotted lurking around a herd when they know an elephant is ill.
Source: Discover Magazine, Elephant Predators, Mccomb et al. (2011), Kariega Game Reserve
Safety: The elephant calf can be seen back on its feet and scampering away from the scene in the incredible clip
‘From the waterhole, a group of buffaloes heard the commotion and decided to come and investigate.
‘Buffaloes and lions are eternal enemies of the wild, so when they saw the lions, they weren’t happy.
‘The buffaloes decided they wanted the lions out of there and proceeded to chase them away.’