Ouch! Young lion gets impaled on the horns of water buffalo which is finally brought down after epic NINETY MINUTE battle .
Incredible pictures reveal the moment a ferocious young lion found itself impaled on the horns of a water buffalo during an epic ninety minute battle.
The unlucky cub was caught on the horn of a cape bull buffalo as it leapt onto the animal, while it was grazing in long grass, in the Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa.
Joined by four other members of its pride the lion pounced on the beast and despite the fact they clawed, gouged and sank their teeth in together – it took them an incredible hour and a half to finally take the buffalo down.
Caught: A lion is impaled on the horns of a buffalo as it attacks with members of its pride, in the Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa
Ouch: Despite being impaled, the lion, pictured, continues to plunge its claws into the animal before eventually taking it down
Mr Ravenhill, who was about 20 metres away for the entire attack, said: ‘There was a fight going on between the cape buffalo bull and a pride of lions and we could see them leaping upon it.
‘Suddenly we could see that a young male had managed to get hooked by the buffalo’s horn underneath his left front leg. He ended up stuck there for a good 20 minutes.
Hunters: Pictured, the lions strike by leaping onto the back of their (almost defenceless) prey from a dusty ledge, as it grazes in long grass
Bite: The pride of lions, pictured, plunge their teeth into the back of the cape bull buffalo as the beast gives up its fight to survive
Dinner: The young lions feast on their prey after taking an hour and a half to bring down the animal in the Mala Mala Game Reserve
Buffalo herd save friend from lion attack in South Africa
‘After that time, he managed to get unhooked, but was limping for days afterwards we noticed.
‘By a long way, it was the longest battle we have ever seen between lions and a buffalo – it was hard to watch, but that is the reality of nature.’