Death of a Hunter: Starving Lioness Overpowered by Elephant Calf, Found Dead the Next Day After Failed Attack

This is the moment a starving lioness was defeated while trying to bring down a baby elephant, before being found dead just hours later.

Both the painfully thin lioness and her elephant calf adversary were lacking their usual back-up from the pride or herd in this life-and-death struggle.

A starving lioness attacked a baby elephant, and a fight ensued which soon saw the hunter become the hunted

A starving lioness attacked a baby elephant, and a fight ensued which soon saw the hunter become the hunted

The elephant may have been young, but was still much heavier than the elderly, starving lioness and used this to its advantage.

No escape: The baby elephant uses its body to crush the lioness against the ground as they fight 

No escape: The baby elephant uses its body to crush the lioness against the ground as they fight

Battle of the beasts: The elephant may be young, but it is much heavier than the elderly, starving lioness

Battle of the beasts: The elephant may be young, but it is much heavier than the elderly, starving lioness

Winner: Finally the baby elephant chased off its attacker, and the lioness was found dead the following day

Winner: Finally the baby elephant chased off its attacker, and the lioness was found dead the following day

This photo shows the lioness earlier in the day before she fought the elephant, her ribcage and hip-bones clearly visible

This photo shows the lioness earlier in the day before she fought the elephant, her ribcage and hip-bones clearly visible

Ms Wight was on an evening drive through the Nsefu sector of South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, when the unusual scene unfolded.