This is one of the most remarkable wildlife interactions that I have come across in my time. The photographs are amazing, but it’s the touching behaviour of the animals involved that makes this story so unique.

Photographer Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth were on an safari in the northern Botswana‘s Selinda Camp, when, during a game drive, they came across a big troop of baboons charging through the bush.

“30-40 baboons were heading in our general direction, making a lot of noise,” Lisa recalls.

The baboons were obviously frightened by something and they all scampered up trees, shouting, alarming, and making a big scene. It quickly became clear what the problem was: two large lionesses came out of the tall grass and rushed the baboons into the trees, soon joined by two more lionesses.

“Between the baboons shrieking and the lionesses communicating with deep guttural roars, it was a mad scene,” Lisa says.

But then the real chaos began! One brave baboon descended the dead tree and tried to make a run for it… but got snapped up in the jaws of a lioness.

“The baby was showing signs of physical harm and fatigue from the whole ordeal. The lioness picked the baby up in her mouth—it was in agony watching the baby’s ordeal—and I kept on turning off the video option on my camera because it was hard to record.”

What happened next blew our minds – the baby, in another instinctual moment, held onto the lioness’ chest and tried to suckle…

Photograph by Evan Schiller

Here’s where it gets interesting: Waiting in a nearby tree is a big male baboon, who is obviously intent on saving the baby. The male lions were causing such a ruckus that it presented a short window of opportunity for the brave hero to descend the tree, grab the baby and head back to safety.

“I was touched by how gently the father baboon held this little baby who was in tough shape after its ordeal.”

The baby baboon was really struggling with the heat and the father baboon really needed to get him into the shade. Finally, with the combination of daring courage and the lion’s own desire to take cover, he was able to dash to the safety among the flowers and shade of a neighbouring tree.

And what happened to the baby? It seems the little guy survived with the help of his troop. He was alive and safe in his father’s arms when Evan and Lisa left.

“No matter what,” Lisa says. “The young baboon remains an inspiration to me—and a reminder, that life is fragile and no matter how much we fight to control its outcome, all we can do is live in the moment.”

Paul Steyn is a widely-published travel journalist from South Africa and regular National Geographic contributor. For updates on African wildlife, follow Paul on Instagram.

Back on elephant assignment in Tarangire NP, Tanzania. #greatelephantcensus #tanzania A photo posted by Paul Steyn (@steynless) on Dec 5, 2015 at 11:11pm PST

The National Geographic Photo Ark is a multi-year project to photograph all species in captivity. The Guinea baboon is one of them. To learn more about the Photo Ark, visit natgeophotoark.org,

Follow the Photo Ark photographer Joel Sartore and the National Geographic Photo Ark on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and add your voice using #SaveTogether.