Send this page to someone via email

A violent fight between a male tiger and a female sloth bear at Tadoba National Park in Western Maharashtra state in India was captured on camera on Wednesday.

Akshay Kumar, a naturalist leading a tourist safari at Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge managed to film the clash.

READ MORE: Lion kills woman at South African sanctuary owned by famous ‘lion whisperer’

Kumar said the tiger was cooling off in water when the sloth bear arrived with her cub.

What followed was a rare and fierce encounter as the animals charged at each other, trying to force each other down as the young cub watched.

Kumar said the sloth bear fought back to protect her cub from the roaring tiger, who can be seen trying to get a grip on the bear through her thick fur.

Story continues below advertisement

Both animals suffered injuries in the fight that lasted nearly 15 minutes, Kumar said.