Mother leopard risks her life to wrestle with lion to protect her cub

Although much smaller than the lioness, the mother leopard still rushed into dangerous battles with enemies and successfully protected her cubs nearby.

The leopard's fight to protect its cubs.

The fight between a mother leopard and a lioness was captured by two safari tourists named Carol and Bob at the Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge with their guide named Godliving Shoo, according to Latest Sightings. During their morning drive, they witnessed the leopard's maternal instincts when faced with a major threat. Initially, the mother leopard and her cubs appeared near their den. But then Carol saw the lioness lurking nearby, leading to a tense confrontation.

The lioness initially appeared to be stalking the wildebeest, but her real target was the leopard and its cub. The mother leopard's only option was to confront the lioness head-on, despite the significant size difference. The lioness charged, and the mother leopard retaliated with equal ferocity. She clawed and bit the lioness's underbelly, even finding a vulnerable spot on her leg, forcing her to retreat.

This gave the leopard precious time to hide her cubs in a nearby tree, escaping to safety just as the lions were approaching. Eventually, the lions' focus shifted to a wildebeest, allowing the mother leopard to return to her cubs. Despite being slightly wounded, she was the ultimate victor.

The African lion (Panthera leo) is found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only cat species in the world that lives in prides. Female lions are the main hunters, preying on antelopes, zebras, wildebeests and other animals. Male lions defend the territory of the pride.

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of four species of big cats in the genus Panthera that live in Africa and Asia. They range from 1 to nearly 2 meters in length and weigh 30 to 90 kg. Females are usually about two-thirds the size of males. Although smaller than other big cats, leopards are formidable predators. With their camouflage and stealthy habits, they can approach their targets without being detected.