These were the incredible scenes when a rutting stag decided to pick a fight with a one-ton bison – and paid a high price for his mistake.
The beast went head-to-head against his huge opponent at a zoo in Ustron, Poland.
Things were never going to work out well in such a mismatched clash.
Crash: The one-ton bison tosses the stag into the air after the pair clash at 30mph. A second bison looks on in the background
No match: The deer hits the floor head first before fleeing for his life. But he was found dying from severe head injuries
The smaller animal was tossed in the air like rag doll when the two collided at 30mph. The combined impact was equal to 2,500lbs.
Severe head injuries meant the stag was later found dying.
The amazing images were captured by wildlife lover Szymon Glodkiewicz.
He said: ‘The bison seemed to feel that the stag had got too close so he warned it off.
‘But the stag stood his ground and when he didn’t move, the bison charged.
‘The bison caught his antlers and tossed him into the air like a rag doll and then the stag fled into the trees.’
Fearless: Despite the might of the bison the stag takes his chances against the deadly beast. Zookeepers called the animals ‘aggressive and unpredictable’
Fearless: For a moment the bison looks like he might lose his footing. The stag gives his all in his bid to crush his adversary
Ill advised: The unmoved bison looks down at the stag as he makes he challenge. The deer never stood a chance
One of the keepers who found the dying stag had to put the animal out of its misery.
He said: ‘These animals are both in their rutting and mating seasons and are aggressive and unpredictable. These things happen in the natural world.’