A desperate giraffe mother kicked a hunting lion in the face after it jumped on her baby’s back.
Ishipo Masudi was leading a tour through Olare Motoroki Conservancy, Kenya on February 22 when he spotted a lion chasing a baby giraffe.
Dramatic footage shows the lion jumping on its back to attack the two-day-old giraffe, easily pinning it to the ground. At this time, the mother giraffe rushed forward and used her foot to kick the lion’s head to rescue the baby.
Despite the mother’s heroic efforts, both giraffes were taken down by lions.
“Witnessing such a scene undeniably traumatized me emotionally,” Ishipo said. “The impact was profound, highlighting the harsh reality of nature’s unpredictability.
The struggle lasted about an hour, resulting in the unfortunate death of both the baby giraffe and its mother. Healthy, mature giraffes pose a significant challenge when preying on lions.”
With its famous long neck, giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world, adults can be up to 5.5 m tall. Their prominent height helps them guard against predators such as lions or hyenas, and also helps them eat leaves and buds on tree tops. They often roam the African grasslands in small groups.