The incredible scene showing a lioness tenderly cradling an antelope was taken by photographer Gordon Donovan
You can see the lioness licking the baby antelope clean and holding it in a protective fashion, seemingly shielding it from danger.
She even protected it when a pair of lions approached in search of food.
Mr. Donovan said: “It was a bizarre yet stunning sight to behold. I was excited about the lions, and when she captured the springbok I was waiting for the kill.”
“But it never came and started cleaning the calf. That’s the mysterious way of nature, never knowing what will happen next.”
“Then she protected her adopted springbok cub from the other lions. These are the moments I seek when I go to Africa.”
The bizarre scene played out for over two hours while the photographer was visiting the pride in Namibia’s Etosha National Park.
Apparently, the lioness was part of a pride that had been taken over by a new male, and therefore the dominant male killed the lioness’ cubs.
Despite antelope being natural prey for the lioness, this particular grieving lioness seemed to treat it like one of her own cubs.
