Dramatic Feast: Lioness Reigns as Queen of the Jungle, Slaying a Zebra and Dragging It Home for a Majestic Dinner

A stunning collection of images captured on the plains of Southern Africa show a hungry lioness quickly dragging a bloodied Zebra corpse across the wilderness without any help from her pride.

The lioness was photographed dragging her deceased prey along grassy and rocky terrain. She didn't seem to struggle under its weight 

The lioness was photographed dragging her deceased prey along grassy and rocky terrain. She didn’t seem to struggle under its weight

Go away! The lioness leers at the snapping photographer probably fearful that her meal could be taken from her 

Go away! The lioness leers at the snapping photographer probably fearful that her meal could be taken from her

Back to work. After a quick rest she grabs the zebra, who appears to be a juvenile, and sets off for a safer place to eat her catch

Back to work. After a quick rest she grabs the zebra, who appears to be a juvenile, and sets off for a safer place to eat her catch

Iris Braun is a Belgium-born wildlife photographer based in Kenya. She says she specializes and shares her time between East and Southern Africa.

Iris Braun is a Belgium-born wildlife photographer based in Kenya. She says she specializes and shares her time between East and Southern Africa.

Bloodied mouth and legs. The lioness gazes across the wilderness for any potential scavengers lurking in the distance  

Bloodied mouth and legs. The lioness gazes across the wilderness for any potential scavengers lurking in the distance

A shot from photographer Iris Braun even managed to capture to lion looking directly into the camera lens as she guards her precious food.

The 280-pound predator can be seen lobbing her lifeless prey over rough grassland and rugged rocks in her journey to a safe place. We presume she took the zebra to a quiet spot to feast on its flesh without disturbance.

African lions live in central and southern Africa and can reach up to 6.5 feet in length. The species' numbers have been declining steadily for the past hundred years 

African lions live in central and southern Africa and can reach up to 6.5 feet in length. The species’ numbers have been declining steadily for the past hundred years

Loss of habitat, prey decline, pesticides and even tuberculosis has seen number drop in Africa to just 20,000. During the 1940s there were around 450,000 in the wild 

Loss of habitat, prey decline, pesticides and even tuberculosis has seen number drop in Africa to just 20,000. During the 1940s there were around 450,000 in the wild

The feline dumps the corpse on the rocks and gazes ahead. Lions consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to sometimes rhinos and hippo 

The feline dumps the corpse on the rocks and gazes ahead. Lions consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to sometimes rhinos and hippo

Lions are usually found in their pride, which usually consist of around 15 lions, however this one was alone in the hunt  

Lions are usually found in their pride, which usually consist of around 15 lions, however this one was alone in the hunt

Off to the wilderness. The Lioness drags the lifeless Zebra out of sight-probably to feast on its flesh without disurbance 

Off to the wilderness. The Lioness drags the lifeless Zebra out of sight-probably to feast on its flesh without disurbance