The brutal moment a young elephant calf is separated from its herd and attacked by lions as the adults try desperately to protect it

Baby elephant became separated from its herd when trying to cross the Mwgusi river in national park in Tanzania

Two keen-eyed lionesses quickly closed in on the vulnerable baby elephant after it found itself stranded in the mud

But its herd raced to the rescue when they heard the calf's cries of distress and desperately tried to drag it to safety

A tense war of wills followed as the baby elephant became increasingly exhausted, and was eventually defeated 

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