These heart-breaking images show the final moments of a frail old lion who was once king of his land before he starved to death.
He was kicked out of his pride and became emaciated after the protection and food that his family used to provide was stripped away.
Final days: The once mighty beast looked down to the ground as he lived out his final days in the Kruger National Park
Painful to watch: The frail old animal appeared to be in agony as it languished in the grass
Stripped of his strength: The lion, known as Skybed Scar, was kicked out of the pride he once ruled and his bones are now clearly visible
Starving to death: The pictures of the once mighty lion were taken by a visitor to the Kruger National Park, in South Africa
‘After he had his fill of water he struggled to his feet hardly able to stand. What you did not notice while he was drinking, he literally was nothing but skin and bones.’
He describes how as the lion moved away from the water ‘he staggered as if he was drunk towards a small rise’ trying to catch his breath every few steps.
‘It was evident he was in his last days if not his last hours on this earth,’ he said.
Move out my way: A large elephant brazenly approached the frail lion in the park as it crouched on the floor
I’m stronger than you: The King of the Beasts lets out a half roar of defiance but was in no condition to stand up to the elephant
Get out of here! Skybed Scar is forced to beat a hasty retreat in the face of the advancing elephant
Humbled: Male lions’ role in the pride is to defend it from attacks but when a successful challenger take over, the defeated male is forced out
I’m off: the lion realises the game is and turns to flee in the face of the much larger elephant