Battle to the death

What ensued was a brutal hour-long battle leaving both animals bloodied, exhausted and with fatal wounds.

Dramatic images capture the lion savagely biting and clawing at the buffalo's mouth, the big cat's face smeared with blood from where he's been gored by his heavier and larger opponent's horns.

The feline is tossed around in the air as he attempts to mount his adversary and is finally finished off when another buffalo arrives on the scene to deliver a lethal blow.

The gut-wrenching pictures were taken by Matt Armstrong-Ford, 25, in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

The amateur photographer, from Eastbourne, who works for Shenton Safaris as a guide and camp manager, came across the bloody scene as the lion's claws were hooked into the female buffalo's muzzle.

He recognised the cat as a six-year-old lion who suffered from mange, a type of skin disease, and who had become detached from his pride. 

The lion had camped himself next to a watering hole hoping to attack unsuspecting buffalo.

Mr Armstrong said: 'After around ten minutes of our arrival the buffalo managed to shake the lion off itself but instead of trying to escape just stood there.

'Both animals stared at each other both too exhausted to move.

'After a few minutes of rest the lion then went for the buffalo and another ten-minute battle ensued. Again the buffalo managed to shake itself free.

(dailymail.co.uk)