Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack

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Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack
Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack

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.

Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack
Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack

However, its nearby mother was well-placed to react quickly and counteracted with a horned headbutt to the leopard's upper body.

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.

Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack
Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack


The stunning images were captured by Martin Farrell, 54, from Bristol, who was taking a Kicheche safari camp tour of the Mara North Conservancy in Kenya.

Kicheche guide Benjamin Kaluena, who spotted the cat and sensed that there may be action, said: "Leopard kills in daylight hours are incredibly rare but in over 5,000 game drives I have never seen anything like this."

Kathy said: "We have done many safari but have never seen anything remotely like this and somehow Benjamin put us in the right place at the right time."

Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack
Incredible photos as brave wildebeest saves calf from leopard attack

Kicheche camp co-owner and wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein explains: "Martin and Kathy Farrell stopped to observe a sleeping leopard. It soon awoke and immediately started hunting.

"This was a big, fully adult male after a young wildebeest which, during migration will form a major part of its diet. However, having brought it down with a tackle any rugby wing forward would have been proud of, it was not prepared for the anguish and protection the wildebeest mum threw at him.

"Chastened and bruised it slunk away to lick its wounds. Somehow, despite their feverish excitement, Martin and Kathy took some amazing images and footage."

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