These heartbreaking images capture the heartbreaking moment that a giraffe sacrificed her life in order to protect her young. The spectacular photos were taken at Olare Motorogi Conservancy in Kᴇɴʏᴀ.
The 38-year-old wildlife photographer James Nampaso captured the images, which show a lion trying to pounce at a baby giraffe. But in an effort to fend off the lion, the protective mother of the calf stepped into its path.
It was a life experience that he has never witnessed before, James remarked. The ravenous lion pride congregated around the giraffe calf, obviously viewing the little animal as simple prey.
However, the courageous mother put up an amazing battle, putting herself between the lions and her infant, so the meal wasn’t as easy to come by as they had thought. The lion once jumped upon her back, but she threw him off like a rodeo performer. But that did not deter the predators. It didn’t take long for the pride to succeed in bringing down the calf and ᴋɪʟʟing it.
James added that the lions were attempting to separate the mother and young and they finally succeeded in doing so and ᴋɪʟʟed the youngster. It’s natural, yet it’s still terribly depressing.