This is the moment a tiger snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when a deer managed to fight back and escape to safety.
The predator pounced on the Sambar deer while it was hunting for food for its four cubs in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Madhya Pardesh, India.
A 20-minute fight took place during which the tigress locked its jaws around the deer’s throat.
Brutal: Pictures captured the moment a tiger snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when a deer managed to fight back and escape to safety
The predator pounced on the Sambar deer while it was hunting for food for its four cubs in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Madhya Pardesh, India
A 20-minute fight took place during which the tigress locked its jaws around the deer’s throat. But the prey managed to wriggle free and escape
Despite being pinned to the ground and covered in its own blood, her prey managed to wriggle free – kicking the tiger in the face before bounding off into the forest to safety
But despite being pinned to the ground and covered in its own blood, her prey managed to wriggle free – kicking the tiger in the face before bounding off into the forest to safety.
Sudhir, 43, from Bangalore, said: ‘This tigress has four cubs, and has to hunt frequently to feed them. When we were out on safari, we saw the tigress chasing a Sambar deer who was running down the hill.
‘She tripped the deer up and tried to bring it down. The whole fight lasted for about 20 minutes – the deer was a fighter.
Fight for survival: The dramatic scene was caught on camera by the 43-year-old wildlife photographer Sudhir Shivaram
Deadly: The fight lasted 20-minutes and the tiger even had its teeth clamped around the deer’s throat at one point
Savage: The brutal battle ended when the deer scramble free and lashed out with its back legs, kicking the predator in the face
Epic battle: The deer never gave up, and spent the whole time trying to escape, even though the tigress tried repeatedly to bring him down
‘He never gave up, and spent the whole time trying to escape – the tigress tried repeatedly to bring him down.
Sudhir said the four cubs even tried to join in at one point in a bid to secure the kill.
‘The tigress managed to bring the deer down, and one of the cubs climbed on top of the deer,’ the photographer added.
Bid for freedom: The tiger gave chase after the deer managed to scramble free before bounding off into the forest
Counter attack: The deer kicked out repeatedly with its back legs as the tiger made one last bid to claim its dinner
Tough work: The tiger was hit in the face when the deer was bounding away and eventually gave up the chase
Helping hand: The photographer said that the tiger’s four cubs even tried to join in at one point in a bid to secure the kill
‘But the deer got up again, kicked the tigress and escaped. The deer had lost a lot of blood during the fight, but managed to get away.
‘This is the first time I have witnessed an attempted kill at such close quarters – we were in the right place at the right time.
‘This is a very rare opportunity, to see a tiger hunt in the forest in its natural habitat – and to capture the entire sequence on camera is most exciting.’
Breaking out: At one point, it looked like the game was up for this deer, but it managed to wriggle free and make a break for it
Vicious: The tiger looked certain to have claimed its dinner when it had its teeth locked around the throat of its prey
But the deer fought for its life and made a desperate bid for freedom, kicking out with its leg before scrambling away
The photographer said that the battle at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Madhya Pardesh, India lasted up to 20 minutes
Squaring up: The deer showed it could defend itself when it rammed its horns into the predator
Sudhir said it was a ‘very rare opportunity’ to see a tiger hunt in the forest in its natural habitat – and to capture the entire sequence on camera