Bucking Buffalo Sends Lioness Soaring During Attack

The astonishing pictures were taken as three lions ambushed a lone buffalo.

While such a situation may signal the end for the beast the buffalo fought back and managed to launch one of the lionesses into the air during the scuffle.

The three lions were tending to their young cubs in the reeds in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, on July 19.

But the big cats tensed when the large bull strolled into the area. Two lionesses tried to force the buffalo away from the cubs but soon the third lion joined the fray.

The trio tried to bring down the buffalo but the large animal was too big a match for the felines.

One cat sunk its claws into the back of the buffalo but the horned animal kicked up its hind legs and threw the lion into the air before escaping.

Laurent Renaud and Dominique Haution, teachers from France, said: “Lions and buffalos are always in conflict.

“The buffalos never tolerate the presence of the lions.

The lionesses had several cubs that were hidden in the reeds. They didn’t want to leave the place.

“When the third lioness left the reeds, the attitude of the lionesses changed. It was not a game.

“Was it in order to try to kill and eat it? It’s difficult to say.

“It was a very big bull and for only three lionesses it was quite difficult to bring down this buffalo.”