HEARTBREAKING photos reveal the brutality of nature as a mother elephant – stuck in mud – is forced to watch her baby eaten alive by a pack of hyenas.
The pair has become stuck in mud in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, when Wildlife photographer Jens Cullmann captured the tragic scene.
A pack of hyenas take the opportunity to feast on the dead baby elephantCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
One hyena took off with one of the elephants feetCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The mother raises her trunk as she attempts to battle for lifeCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The utterly helpless baby elephant became stuck in deep mud – only to be eaten by hyenas and vultures in front of its mother.
One hyena patiently waits from the ground aboveCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The helpless elephants are seen completely paralysed in mudCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
A close-up shows the almost completely submerged calf helplessly waving its trunkCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
Hyenas scrapped over the poor baby’s limbs the following dayCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The mother is seen with just its back above ground and out of reach from her baby as a hyena circlesCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The mother appears furious as she slings mud at the hyenasCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
“It’s important to show the full picture because we’ve lost connection. Most people on Earth live in big cities. This is just the real nature.”
Half-way submerged, the mother tries to free herself from the mudCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
Only a sliver of the baby elephant can be seen just poking through the thick mudCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
A photo from a distance shows how submerged the elephants are in mudCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
Tragically, the elephants did not survive from the hyena attackCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The mother is seen still alive with vultures around her as one sits on her back while she can’t moveCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The scene took place at Mana Pools National Park, ZimbabweCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The eager hyenas make off with a lucky mealCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
Devastatingly the baby was killed by hyenas overnightCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
Despite a rescue attempt, the mother died a few days laterCredit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann
The photographer said It’s important to show the photos because ‘we’ve lost connection to nature ‘Credit: Kennedy News/Jens Cullmann