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 a game drive in the northern Botswana’s Selinda Camp when 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…
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 lions own desire to take cover in
some shade, he was able to dash to the safety 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.”
www.nationalgeographic.com