The photographers could not believe what they were watching. Through their lenses, they were witnessing something only the animal kingdom would be able to understand. It was impossible to know what they should do, so instead, they sat in shock.
It's a cruel world in the animal kingdom, especially for an orphan deer. The animal was on the bottom of the food chain when the lion approached. The photographers could hear the deer screaming across the plains. Would the animal escape and survive? Or were the photographers witnessing its last minutes?
A Group Of Animal Photographers
It was going to be a beautiful day for the team of wildlife photographers. They checked the weather reports and knew they capture beautiful shots of their favorite species, lions. The photographers could have never predicted what one lion would do in their company.
This lion would be captured doing something none of the photographers would ever forget. It was destined to haunt their dreams for months to come, but at the moment none of them could have looked away if they tried.
A Lioness With Responsibility
This group of photographers mainly focused on lions and had documented several known behaviors. While everyone knows certain traits, photographers love to be surprised by the wild animals they shoot. There was one big difference between a lion and a lioness that none of the photographers would soon forget.
A lion has a beautiful mane and is larger than a lioness, but it doesn’t do one important thing. This one trait makes a big difference in the entire lion family’s life. The photographers were slow to realize what they were witnessing until it was almost too late to stop it.
The Hunter Or The Prey?
A lioness is responsible for hunting to feed her entire pride. This is important information to remember since most people assume the male lion is the most dangerous. The photographers were quickly finding out that they were staring a blood-hungry lion in the eyes.
From where the photographers set up from the day they were able to see everything around them. The flatlands the photographers were on was definitely the animal kingdom. In this part of the world, the photographers were in danger at every turn. One unsuspecting victim got a little too close for comfort.
A Team Dynamic
This group of photographers had worked together many times. They were used to supporting each other through difficult conditions and didn’t think there was anything they couldn’t handle. After a couple of hours watching one spot, their efforts were finally rewarded.
The photographers saw a lioness emerge from the distance and held their breath. One-shot could change their entire careers, but it was tricky to understand what mood the lion would be in. Suddenly a small shape darted in front of the camera crews.
What Could It Possibly Be?
The photographers had to focus their cameras several times to pull the object into focus. It was so tiny they could barely tell what it was. The photographers knew that whatever small creature was in front of the lioness, this would be its last chance.
The photographers were about to witness an epic battle of wits and strengths! Who would survive and run free in the jungle, and who would never see the jungle again? The crew held their breath when they realized one possibility they had never considered.
It Was A Baby Deer
When the group of photographers focused their cameras, they realized the small animal near the lioness was a baby deer. Deer were extremely common in this part of the jungle, but it was unfortunate the deer had wandered right into dangerous paths. The photographers knew it had a slim chance of survival but then a glimmer of hope came shining through.
The baby deer had no idea where to run or hide and instead cried out in distress. The photographers knew this would be an easy snack for the lioness, but started to question their judgment when they saw what happened next.
Were These Maternal Actions?
The photographers had seen documentary’s when lionesses surprise everyone and take care of abandoned small creatures. A lioness may get a maternal instinct over these small animals, but just as quickly can turn lethal. It was up to fate what would happen to this baby deer.
The photographers could not intervene. This was the animal kingdom and they were powerless to defend the baby deer from the lion attack. Waiting to see what happened turned into a bigger gamble than anyone realized.
Why Would The Lion Do This?
The photographers figured it would be a quick decision when the lioness found the tiny deer. They watched as she did something none of them expected. When the lioness found the tiny deer, instead of enjoying her tasty snack she lay down.
The large predator kept the tiny deer between her paws and lay down on the ground. The photographers assumed this was to help eat her tiny lunch. As the tiny deer made noises and tried to run, the lioness began to play a deadly game.
Holding A Life In Her Paws
The lioness didn’t try to eat the baby deer. She continued to hold the tiny animal between her large paws. The photographers felt certain that it was only a matter of time but after a few minutes, the tiny deer was still alive. There had been several photos taken of a lioness nursing sick calves back to health, would the deer receive this kind of treatment.
Would this big predator feel pity for the tiny deer? The photographers thought the lioness would keep the deer since it was probably an orphan, but there was another option no one wanted to think about.
What Did It Mean?
As the lioness held the baby deer in between its massive paws, the photographers didn’t understand what was happening. It wasn’t even touching the baby deer but even from far away, the photographers knew the deer could not escape. The lioness began cleaning the baby deer, in a very gentle act.
Was the lioness washing her snack before she ate it, or was she showing the baby deer it was safe? The situation was incredibly confusing. What happened next made the photographers question everything they knew about the animal kingdom and let their jaws drop in shock!
Playful or A Predator
After licking the baby deer, the lioness was now playfully batting it with her paws. The photographers reasoned this could accomplish several different things. It could be a way for her to feel how heavy her snack is or, it could be a way to play with the deer and make it relax.
The photographers wanted to desperately understand what would happen next to the baby deer. All of their assumptions had been incorrect. They didn’t know how to feel about the lioness’s behavior but all they could do is continue to watch the strange behavior and hope for a happy ending…
What Would Happen After Playtime?
After batting the tiny deer between her big paws, the lioness begins to groom them. She begins to slowly lick and clean the tiny deer. The photographers watch the tiny deer closely, but these actions seem to relax the scared creature.
Before the tiny deer was making noises of distress but now it was genuinely soothed and quiet. It sat in the lioness paws and wasn’t attempting to run away or scatter. The photographers noticed the baby deer had fallen asleep in the lion’s paws. Did this mean it would sleep through a disaster?
Grooming Was Turning Deadly
The lioness continued to lick the baby deer, but the photographers could tell it was opening its mouth wider. They weren’t the only ones who saw the sharp teeth and the baby deer began to get scared. Suddenly it began making noises of fear towards the lioness’s sharp fangs.
Hearing the baby deer scream in terror, the lioness paused. This noise had caught her off guard, especially since moments ago the baby deer was almost asleep in her paws. Would this be the baby deer’s final scream of mercy?
It Was Time For A Tough Choice
The lioness seemed to be bothered by the baby deer’s screams. It stopped licking the tiny creature and opened its mouth even wider. At first, the photographers prepared to watch a gruesome end for the adorable creature, but the lioness had one more surprise in store.
Slowly, she opened her jaws as wide as possible. The baby deer was distressed and starring into the mouth that was about to eat him, while the photographers looked helplessly on from the sidelines. The lioness would prove everyone wrong once and for all.
A Mother’s Killer Instinct
The lioness knew her teeth were making the baby deer scared. Unfortunately, it was time for them to move locations and the only way that was possible was if the lioness carried the baby deer. She opened her mouth as wide as possible and gently put the baby deer’s neck in her mouth.
The lioness was only picking up the baby deer. She held the baby in her mouth and began to walk slowly towards her next destination. The photographers didn’t want to lose their subject. They began to move with the lion, but would she keep this slow pace or run off into the sunset?
One Chance For Escape
The lioness only walked a short distance before dropping the deer. The photographers continued to watch, anxious to see what the baby would do. Why would the lioness drop the baby deer so quickly? Whatever the reason, the baby deer knew this was the only chance of escape it would have.
When the lioness dropped the baby deer, it quickly tried to take off and run away from the predator. Regardless of the earlier cleaning and grooming, this deer knew there was no way it could survive in the lioness jaws. As it began to run, the photographers slowly prayed for a miracle of survival.
Amusing To A Degree
The lioness was amused at the baby deer’s attempt to run away. It was such a new calf that it couldn’t run very fast and was also very clumsy. The baby deer still didn’t know how to use its long limbs and after a couple of seconds the line picked it up again.
The photographers had never seen such a patient lioness with something that should have been food. This had clearly been a test and the baby deer had failed miserably. Would the lioness change its mind and make room for this tasty snack, or continue to care for the orphaned baby?
Approaching The Pride
The lioness held onto the baby deer and would occasionally continue to drop them on her walk. Each time the lioness dropped the baby deer, it would attempt to run, but the lioness would pick it back up with its mouth every time.
The deer knew there was no escape, and the photographers began to realize they would not see the end of the tale. While no one had expected this lioness to groom and nurture the baby deer, the photographers assumed this would be the extent of her kindness.
An Unknown Fate
The lioness carried the baby deer out of sight from the photographers. Unfortunately, they would have to pack up their gear as the light was fading. It was time to head home and they had gotten amazing pictures of a lioness being gentle.
The group of photographers viewed this as a successful day. They had amazing photos that proved the animal kingdom was full of surprises. You never know what you’ll get a chance to witness and now the photographers could prove their wild story!