NATURE: Epic Battle to the Death Between Buffalo and Lion Captured (Bonus Video)

Warning: Disturbing Images

We know the battle for survival happens everyday in the wild but seeing images of this lion being defeated by a buffalo was still truly remarkable. These incredible images were taken by amateur photographer Matt Armstrong-Ford, who works as a safari guide for Shenton Safaris in the region of Zambia, South Africa. He knew of the lion – the six-year-old cat who suffered from a skin disease called mange, (caused by parasitic mites), which probably caused the lion to be cast out from his pride.

Tossed around: A male lion is flung into the air after attacking a lone female buffalo in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

The hour-long battle left both animals covered with blood, worn-out and with fatal wounds.

‘After this the lion managed to drag himself under a bush to lick his wounds. Both animals were covered in blood by the end,’ stated Mr. Armstrong. The lion finally succumbed to his injuries and died two days later, while the buffalo’s dead body, having failed to fight off infection, was found a few weeks later.

Starving: The hungry six-year-old lion was suffering from mange, a type of skin disease, and had become detached from his pride

Mr Armstrong added: ‘I have never seen anything like that before. Usually when lion hunt buffalo it is as a pride – it is hardly ever alone.

‘The fact that the lion was familiar to us and we had seen him in his prime made it very emotional to see him in the state he was in. By the end of the fight everyone was exhausted.’

Bloody battle: Dramatic images capture the lion biting and clawing at the buffalo’s mouth, the big cat’s face smeared with blood and dust

Exhausted: Both battle-worn animals appear to have little energy left after fighting for an hour in the national park in Zambia

Clinging on: The lion digs his claws into the buffalo’s face as he attempts to pull the animal downwards to deliver a killer bite

Final attack: The lion sinks his teeth into the buffalo’s mouth – but the attack is not enough to bring down the much larger animal

Battle for survival: The incredible pictures were taken by Matt Armstrong-Ford, 25, an amateur photographer from Eastbourne 

Herd arrives: As the lion prepares to rise, more buffalo arrive with another of the animals delivering a lethal blow to the feline

Beaten: Caked in blood from where he has been gored by the buffalo

Fatal wounds: Both animals died as a result of the clash. The lion succumbed to injuries two days later while the buffalo later died of infection

Nothing left to give: The majestic badly-wounded animal died two days after the battle in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

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