The mother leopard risked her life to wrestle with the lion to protect her cub

The struggle between a mother leopard and a female lion was recorded by two safari tourists named Carol and Bob at the Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge with their tour guide named Godliving Shoo, according to Latest Sightings. During their morning drive, they witnessed the leopard’s maternal instincts when faced with a great threat. Initially, the mother leopard and her cubs appeared near their den. But then, Carol saw the lioness lurking nearby, leading to a tense confrontation.

Initially, the lioness appeared to be tracking the wildebeest, but her real target was the leopard and its cub. The mother leopard’s only option is to confront the lioness head-on, despite the significant difference in size. The lioness rushed to attack and the mother leopard responded with equal ferocity. It scratches and bites the lion’s lower abdomen, even finding vulnerable spots in the enemy’s legs, forcing the opponent to retreat.

This gives the leopard precious time to hide the cubs in a nearby tree, fleeing safely as soon as the lions chase them. Eventually, the lions’ center of gravity shifted to a wildebeest, allowing the mother leopard to return to her cubs. Even though it was slightly injured, it was still the ultimate winner.

African lion (Panthera leo) distributed mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the only cat species in the world that lives in groups. Female lions are the main hunters, prey including antelopes, zebras, wildebeests and a number of other mammals. Male lions protect the territory of the entire pride.

Leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of four species of big cats in the genus Panthera that lives in Africa and Asia. They are from 1 to nearly 2 meters long, weighing 30 – 90 kg. Females are usually about 2/3 the size of males. Although smaller in size than other big cats, leopards are formidable predators. With their camouflage ability and hiding habits, they can get close to their target without being detected.