A desperate mother giraffe kicked a hunting lion in the face after it jumped on her calf.

Ishipo Masudi was leading a tour through the Olare Motoroki Conservancy in Kenya on February 22 when he spotted a lion chasing a giraffe calf.

Dramatic footage shows the lion leaping onto the two-day-old giraffe’s back and easily pinning it to the ground. The mother giraffe then lunged forward, kicking the lion in the head to rescue the calf.

Despite the mother’s brave efforts, both were later taken down by the lions.

“There is no denying that witnessing such a scene was emotionally devastating,” said Ishipo. “The impact was profound, highlighting the harsh reality of nature’s unpredictability.

The struggle lasted for about an hour, resulting in the unfortunate death of both the baby giraffe and its mother. Healthy, adult giraffes pose a significant challenge when preyed upon by lions.”