Field guide Callum Robertson, 28, was walking through South Africa’s Sabi Sand Park when he made the incredible footage of a mother rescuing a calf that had been swept away by a river.

The lion cub is carried away by the current, and the maternal instinct awakens – Photo: Reproduction / ND

Callum told Latest Sightings that he and his group were looking for the cubs. “We had a general idea of ​​his whereabouts and headed in that direction. Finally, we found them on the other side of a river full of water,” he said.

He recalls that it was a tense moment as the animals prepared to cross dangerous waters. The lions do not like water and swim only when necessary, which surprised the group even more.

“We held our breath. One of my guests couldn’t even look because she had her head between her legs,” Callum commented. “In the end, we breathed a sigh of relief when the mother managed to swim to safety with one calf, but the question of how to get the second calf was still there,” recalls the guide.

Lionesses have an incredible maternal instinct and devotion to their cubs. From protection from predators to learning to hunt, lionesses are always close to their cubs. They feed their young to take care of them until they reach adulthood.

“Our relief was short-lived as a strong current swept away the second calf. We watched in horror as he struggled to stay afloat. To our surprise, the cub managed to swim to its mother. Our hearts were in our throats as we waited for what would happen next.”

Luckily, the mother lioness proved her worth by diving into the water to save her cub. “We watched as she swam up to the struggling child and pulled her out safely.