Hungry Lion vs. Warthog: South African Predator Shows Why He's the King of the Jungle - Caught on Camera
A lion and a warthog engaged in a fierce six-minute battle at Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa recently, and one lucky photographer was there to capture the entire thing. Dr. Trix Jonker, 57, said she was stunned by the "amazing" incident, which occurred after the wild pig already had one close call.
The warthog's first encounter with a lion at the park came near the end of the day when park officials were getting ready to close the gates. The wild pig came upon a sleeping lioness and startled her, so she didn't attack it and the warthog managed to escape.
"After the warthog escaped, I thought the action was over," Dr. Jonker told Caters News Agency. "But the warthog went back in a circle and went back on the same path as before, straight back to the lions."
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TO SEE PICTURES OF THE FIERCE BATTLE BETWEEN LION AND WARTHOG, CLICK HERE.
By then a larger male lion had been alerted to the commotion, and by the time the animal made its second pass, he was ready to attack. Jonker said she "had my camera poised" in preparation because it was clear what was going to happen.
When the warthog came past the bush obscuring the big cat, the lion pounced paws outstretched, but the wild pig was no easy foe. After six minutes of back-and-forth fighting, the king of the jungle emerged victorious from the dust, warthog clenched in its jaws.
Jonker, who hails from Bloemfontein in the Free State Province of South Africa, was just happy to have witnessed the incredible battle.
"I couldn't believe how tough the warthog was, and was absolutely stunned by what I saw that afternoon," she said. "It's amazing I managed to capture it on camera."
To see two lionesses team up to take down a warthog, click below (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT).
