The impressive moment a herd of elephants club together to save one of their young calves from hungry lionesses has been caught on camera in Botswana.
A roaring lioness leapt on the elephant’s back in Chobe National Park, Botswana while her backup stalked the calf from behind
Fortunately the single lioness was not strong enough to take down her prey by herself and the elephant managed to reach the safety of its herd
One lioness approaching the oblivious elephant calf, who was lagging some distance behind the rest of the herd in Chobe National Park, Botswana
The lion waited until the adult elephants had passed ahead before seizing her opportunity to attack a youngster which was on its own
The first lioness attempt to bring down the frightened elephant calf by jumping onto its back, but she was unable to bring it down on her own
The lions and elephants in Chobe National Park were photographed by UK photographer James Gifford who witnessed one of the lionesss jump on the small elephant’s back
James had been following the lion pride for a while in the hope of capturing them hunting and captured these images of the pride’s failed attempt to take down an elephant calf
After around ten seconds a second lioness arrived to help but the brief window of opportunity had closed as the elephant herd was on its way
Five hungry lion cubs look on as their mothers unsuccessfully try to bring down an elephant calf in Chobe National Park, Botswana
The calf fled towards the safety of the herd and was accepted into the fold while the adult elephants staged a stand off with the lion pride
Once the young elephant had returned to the safety of its herd, the lion pride left – knowing that if they got too close to the adult elephants, they risked serious injury