An incredible clash of Titans shows how a pregnant warthog desperately tries to defend herself – and her unborn baby – as a wild leopard savagely launches a stealth attack.
Epic: Covered in blood from the battle, the leopard leaps on the pregnant warthog as a hyena watches for its chance in the background in these astonishing images taken by a British photographer in Botswana
Clash: The leopard gets a grip on the warthog’s neck
But after flipping, clawing, biting and scrabbling in the exhausting fight the hungry male leopard was left empty handed when a hyena charged at the pair – making an attempt to cash in on the big cat’s gruelling efforts.
Seizing her opportunity, the battered and bruised mother-to-be warthog dashed away in the confusion and made it to the safety of a burrow.
Retelling the amazing event seen in October, Mike, who lives in Liege, Belgium, said: ‘I have waited for hundreds of hours to see a moment like that.
‘The speed of the event was incredible.’
Describing the build-up, he added: ‘We watched the leopard about 25 metres in front of us and noticed he was waiting to ambush a burrow used by the warthogs.
Losing battle: Grabbing its prey in a terrifying hug, the leopard brings the warthog down
‘After an hour of patiently waiting two warthogs suddenly appeared and the leopard pounced on the pregnant female.
‘During the wrestling match, the leopard tried to bite her throat while trying to keep, with his back paws, the warthog’s head at a distance, to defend himself against against the sharp tusks. ‘
After ten minutes of a wild battle, the leopard seemed to have succeeded in immobilising the warthog, his mouth and fangs around the warthog’s neck.
‘We all then thought that it was finally over when, attracted by the commotion, a hyena decided to dive into the action.
‘The leopard had to release his grip and the injured warthog managed to escape.
Seconds from victory: The leopard digs its claws into the warthog – just as the hyena moves in, distracting the predator and giving the mother-to-be a chance to flee
‘It is not uncommon to see a hyena saving the life of a leopard’s prey,’ the 61-year-old financial executive and grandfather added. ‘I saw it several years ago in the Savute with an impala.
‘The hyenas try to scavenge and take advantage of the leopard’s hard work. But it distracts the leopard and they have to let go to defend themselves from the approaching dogs.
‘Before witnessing this, it was very difficult for me to imagine that an animal like a warthog could resist the power and speed of a leopard for ten minutes, which seemed like an eternity.