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Headline: Lions Outwit Giraffe Mother To Catch Her Calf

Caption: A pride of lions outwitted a mother giraffe - to pick off her calf. In jaw-dropping pictures taken in Kenya on Wednesday (15 Aug), the protective parent is seen trying to fend off the female and young male predators. But despite a plucky defence - including a fierce kick - the mother is distracted when a lioness leaps onto her back and the pride are able to easily take down her youngster. Kenyan guide James Nampaso, from Kicheche Bush Camp (www.kicheche.com), captured the action. He explains: "The calf was only a few days old, yet it is still a big struggle to overcome, as one kick from the uber-protective mother can often be mortal for a predator. A combination of adult females and young males ambushed the single parent family then distracted the mother long enough to pull down the youngster. Once the mother had retreated, fearful for its own 'neck' it was only a matter of time before the foal was killed. "Watching any animal lose its young is distressing whatever the species. It is particularly harrowing when the whole drama is played out in front of you. "This sort of incident is rare and has only been photographed a few times. These healthy lions are from the dik-dik pride and however upsetting an episode like this may be, the Masai Mara migration is later than normal this year and so the larder door is not as wide open as it is normally is, so they will take on a newborn like this." Camp owner and wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein says: "James Nampaso is a remarkable guide and also superb photographer, but even for him, these images are astonishing. He told me he has never seen this before so I would have expected a little bit of camera shake! He was humbled and indeed sobered by such an event, as were his guests. Thankfully this was seen in the heart of the priceless Olare Conservancy so there were only a few vehicles around." Paul adds: "This sort of sequence can stay with you for years, it desperate for the mother, visceral for the viewer, but lion numbers have plummeted all over the continent, except in a few areas like the Mara Conservancies, so this sort of meal can often be critical for a pride. Giraffe numbers are also in decline but they are not as vulnerable as their tawny adversaries."

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