A photographer captured the moment a brave Sambar deer defended her fawn against a pack of wild dogs.
The stunning images, taken in Kabini forest, Karnataka, India, show the deer’s maternal instincts kicking in as she goes head to head with the baying predators.
Photographer Sriramulu Ravi Kumar, 52, from Bangalore, India, released the collection of photos on January 30 as part of a series on wildlife living in Kabini forest.
Kabini forest is spread over 55 acres and is a part of Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve.
Kumar, the photographer, said: ‘Whilst the Sambar fawn didn’t survive, the mother tried all she could but the wild dogs were tenacious.
‘As a photographer, it was a great opportunity to document this rare event.’
The sambar deer is accosted by six wild dogs that are hunting her fawn in Kabini forest, Karnataka, India.
The Sambar is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, China and Southeast Asia.
Sambar deer spend the first two years of their lives under the tutelage and protection of their mothers. This photo shows a female Sambar’s maternal drive kicking in as she defends her fawn.
Although much smaller than the Sambar deer, the wild dogs use teamwork and their sharp teeth to bring down their prey.
Face off: The dog’s sharp, forward-facing eyes mark it out as a predator. Meanwhile, the Sambar deer’s eyes are on either side of its head, providing a defensive, wide-vantage view.
Standing at around 60 inches at the shoulder and weighing as much as 1200 pounds, the Sambar deer is not to be underestimated.
The Sambar fawn, seen writhing on the ground by its mother, was eventually killed by the pack.