This is the agonising moment a baby hippo bravely tries to save his dying mother from a hungry lion after she became stuck in a muddy riverbank.
The bravest little hippo: A baby hippo steps in to defend its mother, which had ended up stuck in mud in Kruger Park
Protector: The lion can be seen lying in wait for the dying mother hippo while her heartbroken calf circles her
The lion did not seem to fancy its chances against the calf either, and reportedly left the scene after being chased off.
Sadly the tale did not have a happy ending. The mother hippo died of dehydration shortly after the photos were taken. Not yet ready to look after itself, the calf also died of a similar condition two days later.
No way out: The exhausted and weak hippy notices the lion coming closer but remains stuck in the drying mud
Taster: The lion gets its teeth into the adult hippo in front of its baby calf
Bad move: The lion soon learns that the calf may be a baby, but will defend its mother with its dying breath
Heartbreaking: The baby calf chases the lion off, but sadly neither mother nor baby calf made it, with both perishing from dehydration within a few days of these photos being taken