[imagesource:latestsightings]

Any parent knows it is a terrifying moment when you realise that you’ve left your child behind.

Worse – by miles – when you realise they’re in danger.

A busy mother elephant had run across the road in the Kruger National Park in such a hurry that she completely forgot her calf on the other side. Then suddenly, lions spotted the lost baby and saw an opportunity.

55-year-old Brent Schnupp, a paramedic firefighter from Virginia in the US, captured this sighting and shared it with LatestSightings.com. The incident occurred just north of Mopani Camp in the Park.

Brent said that he and his party were fixated on the lions “enjoying a peaceful moment of coexistence” when their attention shifted to the distressed female elephant rushing around.

With the vulnerable calf out in the open, the lions started zoning in:

It was an emotional moment as the baby elephant stood in confusion, contemplating whether to make a break for it or confront the lions. The lions attempted multiple times, but the baby elephant turned to face them every time. The little one displayed remarkable courage and bravery. The lions, despite their numerical advantage and years of experience, couldn’t manage to get a grip on the calf.

The mommy can be proud of her confident and capable young’un:

The guest expressed his dumbfoundedness at the rare experience, saying “In my six years of visiting Kruger National Park, I’ve never witnessed anything quite like this. Even our seasoned guides from Leo Vantage were astonished, admitting that they had never seen lions chasing a baby elephant during their entire time in Kruger.”

The seasoned animal sighter gave a piece of advice for anyone lucky enough to find themself in the wild; “be patient and stay committed to a sighting” because “often, nature rewards those who wait”.

[source:latestsightings]