A dramatic scene in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park unfolded when a leopard snatched a three-week-old lion cub from under its mother’s nose.
Canadian lawyer and photographer Scott Hyman captured the event, highlighting the harsh realities of the animal kingdom.
The incident occurred as a lioness moved her cubs deeper into the bush for safety.
She left one cub alone while she went to hunt for food.
The frightened cub became an easy target for a stealthy leopard, swiftly pouncing and carrying the helpless cub up a tree in its jaws.
This shocking sequence of events took place in September, revealing the unforgiving nature of the wild.
Scott Hyman, 54, witnessed and documented the incident.
He explained, “The lioness was moving her cubs deeper into the bush for safety when she had to leave them alone to go off and hunt. They have no hands, so they must use their mouths to carry the cubs gently.”
Hyman’s photographs captured the chilling moment when the leopard, weighing approximately 160 pounds, seized the opportunity to make the young lion its prey.
While Hyman chose not to document the most brutal parts of the lion cub’s fate, his images convey the harsh and unforgiving nature of the wild.
The mother lioness, returning to find her cub gone, showed shock and dismay, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide with realization.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges wildlife face in their struggle for survival.
Though brutal at times, the circle of life in the animal kingdom underscores the delicate balance between predators and prey in the vast landscapes of Africa’s national parks.
