Motherly instincts kick into high gear as this buffalo fearlessly protects her calf against a hungry pride of lions in Tanzania. Tourists caught the adrenalin-pumping moment on film after the mother and calf got left behind by the rest of their herd.

Initially, one lone lioness approaches and the buffalo mom makes a good attempt at chasing her away. But the lioness is soon followed by two others. Outnumbered, the mother bravely circles around her calf while fending off the attackers. But despite her best efforts, the lions finally manage to snatch the calf and drag it off. There's a collective gasp from onlookers at witnessing nature’s darker side … and then something quite astounding happens: the rest of the buffalo herd returns to save the day.