Brutal lion versus zebra clash becomes fight to the death, you want to read this

Ready to pounce: The lionness makes her presence known to the shocked zebras (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

The brutal reality of the natural world is made clear in this series of stunning images showing what happens when a big cat clashes with its prey.

The incredible pictures, taken in Pilanesberg National Park in Bojanala, South Africa, show a herd of zebras suddenly startled by an incoming danger.

The running lioness launches herself towards the group, and they make their best efforts to break for freedom.

 

But as the striped equines bolt, the slowest of their number is targeted by the hungry beast.

Patient: The sly big cat spent 10 minutes stalking the herd (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

Choice: The lioness gives chase and then decides which animal is the most likely victim (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

Heading off: The lion accelerates and comes alongside the slower zebra (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

In the next image, the young lioness looks like it’s hitching a ride on the back of a zebra as it tries to hunt the animal down for dinner.

The sly big cat spent 10 minutes stalking the herd and patiently waited before pouncing.

Staying strong: The young zebra keeps on pushing in the hope that it can escape (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

No chance: The lioness closes in on its prey and gets ready to tuck in (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

Prize: The queen of hunters then takes down her selected zebra in triumph (Image: Yusuf Chavoos/Solent)

Within 10 seconds of sprinting at 40mph it caught up and leaped onto the back of the fully-grown zebra.

Optometrist Yusuf Chavoos captured the tense moment.

Brutal lion versus zebra clash becomes fight to the death, you want to read this

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