A series of photographs captured by renowned wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein reveals an unexpected confrontation between a young wildebeest and three lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara.
The images show a wildebeest calf, alone and injured, managing to turn the tables on a hungry lioness by exploiting the feline’s reluctance to enter the water.
Paul Goldstein describes the scene: “The underdogs often earn our admiration more than the stars. This lone wildebeest calf, injured and abandoned, found itself pacing along the edge of a foul-smelling pool. This shallow water was its only refuge from the advances of three young lions.”
As hunger began to override their natural aversion to water, one of the lionesses, a medium-sized female, finally moved in for the kill.
However, the situation quickly shifted. “Moments later,” Paul recounts, “the lioness was in retreat, chased off by a furious wildebeest barely a third of her size.
Despite dripping blood from earlier wounds, the determined calf sent the disgraced lioness running and eventually managed to rejoin its herd.”
Paul adds humorously, “It’s always satisfying to see a small contender tarnish a big star’s reputation.”
These striking images were taken at Kicheche, Paul’s camp in the Masai Mara. Paul also leads specialized photographic safaris in other parts of the world, including Antarctica, the Arctic, and India, through Exodus Travel.
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