A photographer captured the moment a brave Sambar deer defended her fawn against a pack of wild dogs.
The stunning images, taken in Kabini forest, Karnataka, India, show the deer’s maternal instincts kicking in as she goes head to head with the baying predators.
The sambar deer is accosted by six wild dogs that are hunting her fawn in Kabini forest, Karnataka, India
Photographer Sriramulu Ravi Kumar from Bangalore, India, captured the dramatic showdown between prey and predator
The Sambar is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, China and Southeast Asia
Sambar deer spend the first two years of their lives under the tutelage and protection of their mothers. This photo shows a female Sambar’s maternal drive kicking in as she defends her fawn
Although much smaller than the Sambar deer, the wild dogs use teamwork and their sharp teeth to bring down their prey
Face off: The dog’s sharp, forward-facing eyes mark it out as a predator. Meanwhile, the Sambar deer’s eyes are on either side of its head, providing a defensive, wide-vantage view
Standing at around 60 inches at the shoulder and weighing as much as 1200 pounds, the Sambar deer is not to be underestimated
The Sambar fawn, seen writhing on the ground by its mother, was eventually killed by the pack