Dramatic pictures were taken by Matt Armstrong-Ford, of Eastbourne, who works as a safari guide in the region

Tense fight left both animals exhausted and smeared with blood, with the lion dying of its wounds two days later


Cast out by his pride, this starving lion was forced to take on a fully-grown buffalo in his desperate bid to survive.

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.

Scroll down for video

Tossed around: A male lion is flung into the air after attacking a lone female buffalo in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

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.

Starving: The hungry six-year-old lion was suffering from mange, a type of skin disease, and had become detached from his pride

Bloody battle: Dramatic images capture the lion biting and clawing at the buffalo's mouth, the big cat's face smeared with blood and dust

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.

Exhausted: Both battle-worn animals appear to have little energy left after fighting for an hour in the national park in Zambia

Clinging on: The lion digs his claws into the buffalo's face as he attempts to pull the animal downwards to deliver a killer bite

'The same process continued for about an hour until both animals were completely spent.

'The rest of the herd, who had come to the water to drink were watching from a distance while the fight carried on.'

As it looked like fortune was favouring the exhausted but ravenous lion a member of the buffalo's herd came to its aid and delivered a deadly blow.

The safari guide added: 'That seemed to give the cow the opportunity it needed to escape and along with the rest of the herd moved off.

Final attack: The lion sinks his teeth into the buffalo's mouth - but the attack is not enough to bring down the much larger animal

Battle for survival: The incredible pictures were taken by Matt Armstrong-Ford, 25, an amateur photographer from Eastbourne

'After this the lion managed to drag himself under a bush to lick his wounds. Both animals were covered in blood by the end.'

Two days later the lion succumbed to his injuries, while the buffalo's carcass was found two weeks later having failed to fight off infection.

Mr Armstrong added: 'I have never seen anything like that before. Usually when lion hunt buffalo it is as a pride - it is hardly ever alone.

'The fact that the lion was familiar to us and we had seen him in his prime made it very emotional to see him in the state he was in. By the end of the fight everyone was exhausted.'

Herd arrives: As the lion prepares to rise, more buffalo arrive with another of the animals delivering a lethal blow to the feline

Beaten: Caked in blood from where he has been gored by the buffalo's horns, the male lion lies beaten on the dusty ground

Fatal wounds: Both animals died as a result of the clash. The lion succumbed to injuries two days later while the buffalo later died of infection