What started as an ordinary day in the life of Red, a golden lion, quickly turned deadly when he found himself in a field, surrounded by a pack of hyenas. BBC Earth's "Dynasties" videographers were at the right place and the right time to capture the battle that ensued and revealed the fate of the majestic lion who fought against such vicious odds.
The video clip begins with Red jumping nimbly over a small stream and follows him as he walks toward a large field. There, he encounters a pack of hyenas who are determined to destroy him. It is clear from the hyenas' gazes that they mean business, and they begin to circle Red, who nervously paces back and forth.
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Red realizes that he is in the fight of his life and badly outnumbered. The lion adopts a defensive posture as he warily watches the hyenas around him. As the hyenas take turns closing in on Red, he charges at them to back them away and retain space between the pack and his position.
Then the hyenas tighten their circle around the lion, and Red begins to panic. He roars and charges the group, at one point grabbing a hyena and throwing it to the ground. But the pack continues to close in, and Red's situation looks desperate. The hyenas attack in waves, biting at the lion's flanks.
Suddenly, a hero comes onto the scene. It is Red's cousin, Tatu, a younger lion who sees that Red is in serious trouble. Tatu charges into the fray, chasing off a large segment of the hyenas. The remainder of the pack gives up and backs off as Tatu runs up to Red.
The big lions greet each other like long-lost domesticated cats – they headbutt each other repeatedly. Then the cousins flop onto the ground for some big cat cuddles. Red is thanking Tatu for saving his life. Check out the video clip below of this amazing battle and rescue.
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