What was Kamunyak’s reaction to the lion attacking the calf?
On the last day, 6th Jan 2002, the lioness and calf walked down to the river and drank deeply, it was the first time we had seen them drink in 4 days. The calf passed right by our vehicle and the lioness slunk out of sight then reappeared around a bush in front of us, flopping into its shade. We filmed their tender interaction as the calf came to touch noses with the lioness. Little did we know that this was their last moment. As the calf moved out of sight, we heard a terrible cry and saw a stray male lion snatch the calf up into its jaws. The lioness reacted as if she’d been stung, flattening against the ground in fright with claws out. Unable to rescue the calf and too terrified to take on an adult male lion she watched helplessly as her calf was killed, all the while lying close to our car for protection. The lion took a very long time to kill the calf and it cried out plaintively. That rough lion tongue and great teeth that had once been so comforting and familiar, now the tools o
