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In a heart-stopping encounter captured on camera, a newborn giraffe barely learning to walk faced off against a hungry lioness and a lurking hyena. This dramatic showdown unfolded in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya, leaving wildlife enthusiasts worldwide in awe.
Wildlife photographer and owner of Escape Safari Co, Don Heyneke, alongside safari consultant Rustom Framjee, founder of Safarinut, witnessed this extraordinary event. “A female giraffe gave birth to a baby calf,” Don recalls. “Just 30 minutes after being born, giraffes are able to walk with only minimal stumbling. But this calf had no time to find its feet before danger struck.”
Predators on the Prowl
A hungry lioness and a hyena quickly spotted the vulnerable newborn. “The hyenas lost interest after a while, but the lioness was relentless,” says Don. “She trailed the mother and calf for over 6 kilometers (4 miles), almost herding them. The newborn was knocked over several times by its mother in desperate attempts to escape the predator.”
A Mother’s Desperate Attempt
The chase led the giraffe duo to a dead-end at a riverbed. Cornered, the mother giraffe tried to protect her calf from the advancing lioness. In a panic, she accidentally bumped the newborn down a cliff into the riverbed. “The calf was now stuck and too weak to climb back up,” Don explains. “The lioness saw her chance.”
What happened next was a testament to the sheer will to survive. The lioness grabbed the calf, but the mother giraffe chased her away multiple times. “We thought the calf was gone, but to everyone’s surprise, it stood up,” Don recounts. “Exhausted, the baby found temporary safety in the river.”
Despite its incredible fight for survival, the ordeal proved too much for the newborn. “The baby giraffe, after an unimaginable struggle, drowned in the river,” Don says somberly. “It was a heartbreaking end to a battle that showcased the harsh realities of nature.”