A heroic set of images show a mother gazelle desperately trying to save her baby from the clutches of a giant eagle.
The brave mother can be seen approaching the bird of prey at it sits defiantly with one claw resting on the fawn’s skull.
Stand off: A mother gazelle gets ready to fight off a giant eagle that has attacked her baby in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya
The parent charges at the bird of prey to scare it away – but the eagle throws up one of its claws and stands its ground as they exchange blows
Unsuccessful: The gazelle doesn’t manage to free her young from the clutches of the eagle and is forced to retreat or face getting seriously injured herself
The sombre scene was captured by Linda Skeen. The 65-year-old, from Wyoming, said: ‘All of a sudden a huge Martial Eagle swooped over the top of the safari wagon.
The giant eagle stood over its victim and spread its wings to look as intimidating as possible to the Thompson’s Gazelle mother
The bird of prey menacingly placed its claw over the baby gazelle’s body after swooping in and attacking it
‘As a wildlife and outdoor photographer, you are a witness to the reality of life, watching the interaction of animals.
‘There is always life and death in nature. Honestly, I was hoping the mother would free her fawn, but the reality of the situation was not in her favour.
‘It was difficult to watch, in fact, heart-wrenching. The cruelty and reality of life and death is never my favourite thing to witness.’