When an up-and-coming pair of lions encountered the ageing ruler, they showed little respect for his legacy. Using tag-team tactics, they dealt a severe blow, ending his reign.
Liam Henderson submitted this brutal footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Hunted down
According to Liam’s Facebook post about this encounter, two lion brothers, just entering their prime, had been trailing the older male for three days.
Slowed by an old injury, the old male was eventually cornered by the pair in the eastern Kruger. Initially, they kept their distance, watching the incumbent resting in the long grass between them.
Sensing weakness
Sadly, the older male seemed unable to do anything but await his fate. Sensing weakness, the male on the right was the first to approach.
As he did so, his ally also edged closer, drawing attention to himself.
Still, the older male remained where he lay, unaware of the danger behind him.
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First blow landed
After a careful approach from behind, the first lion attacked. Seizing the older animal’s mane, he pulled him onto his back.
As he did so, his brother charged in and attacked their victim’s groin area.
With his whole body now held down by his rivals, there was very little the older animal could do.
Felt like a lifetime
Then, for what felt like a lifetime but was only ten seconds, the newcomers worked together to severely injure their victim.
While one held his head, according to Liam, the other savaged his groin. While the grass obscured the gory details, it was nevertheless heartbreaking to see the older male struggling for his life.
Last stand
Somehow finding the strength, the older lion managed to land a blow with his massive paw to the head of the male on the right.
Consequently, we see that male pull away, still with a mouthful of his foe’s mane.
With that, the besieged beast turned his attention to the male on the left, delivering a blow to that lion’s head too.
With that, the old male was finally free.
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Subsequently, one of the males moved in, hoping to do more damage.
However, the fallen warrior deterred his advance with another swipe of his massive paw.
Defiant to the end
Consequently, the injured male summoned his strength and rose with a vicious snarl. In turn, the brothers’ defiance was evident as their roars shook the air, proclaiming their one-sided victory.
Perhaps reluctant to endure another mauling, the old king sank back into the long grass as the video ended.
This would be the last time he was seen alive. As Liam wrote on Facebook, “The paralysed and castrated male lion [was] left for the hyenas and nature to finish off what has been a 15-year reign.”
Rest in Peace, King.