This is the incredible moment a brave mother elephant c.h.a.r.g.e.d at two lionesses in order to save her baby from being e.a.t.e.n in Zimbabwe.

Photographer Kevin Dooley, who captured the scenes at Mana Pools National Park last month, said the lionesses were hunting a warthog when a baby elephant that had wandered away from its herd showed up.

Mr. Dooley said the elephant calf began chasing the warthog, unaware of the predators lurking nearby, before being p.i.n.n.e.d to the ground by the lions who tried to k.i.l.l it.

This is the moment a brave mother elephant saved her calf from being e.a.t.e.n after charging at two lionesses who had p.i.n.n.e.d it to the ground in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

Photographer Kevin Dooley said the lions had been stalking a warthog when they noticed the baby elephant was playfully chasing it, and immediately switched targets because the elephant would provide more food

Mr. Dooley explained that, while the warthog would be e.a.t.e.n within a matter of hours, a baby elephant could have fed the lions for days.

He said: ‘One of the lionesses was very pregnant and badly in need of food.

‘Elephants are a very difficult animal for lions to k.i.l.l and normally the lions will have had to grow up in pride that specializes in k.i.l.l.i.n.g elephants, otherwise, they will avoid them and go for smaller and less d.a.n.g.e.r.o.u.s prey.

‘The lions took the elephant down with ease, both leaped onto the elephant’s back and f.o.r.c.e.d it to the ground, after which they applied all their weight and began to immobilize the elephant.

‘The baby elephant began to scream loudly and within a minute or two a teenage elephant showed up and tried to save its younger sibling.

‘However, the lions would not release their meal and the teenager eventually gave up and ran in fear. Soon the mother elephant showed up and in all her anger and power she c.h.a.r.g.e.d at the lions that were aggressively trying to k.i.l.l the young elephant calf.

‘One of the lionesses quickly retreated and the mother elephant screamed in anger and threw dust into the air.

Mr. Dooley said the two lionesses – one of which was heavily pregnant – quickly p.i.n.n.e.d down the baby elephant and were trying to k.i.l.l it when its family showed up and c.h.a.r.g.e.d at them

The baby elephant’s juvenile brother (right) was first to arrive and tried to scare the lions off but wasn’t big enough to tackle them both, before mother (left) turned up and drove them both away

‘The second lioness held tight and growled and snarled at the mother elephant. However, the elephant did not retreat and eventually, the lion gave up. The lion knew that she was no match for an angry adult elephant.

‘Once the lions retreated the mother elephant raised the baby up using its trunk. She smelled the baby and checked her over. The lions ran into the bushes close by. The entire herd of now six or seven elephants c.h.a.r.g.e.d the bushes and the lions ran off.

‘I knew I had a once-in-a-lifetime event taking place in front of me, I was very busy just trying to get the photographs.

‘At first, before the mother arrived, I was somewhat sad but understood the lions must eat. Once I saw the mother elephant charging the lions I knew they did not have a chance.’