A DENTAL appointment may be required for this lion whose tooth was left hanging by a thread following a brawl.
The brutal fight between the loose-toothed male lion and a female in his pride broke at the Kruger national park, South Africa.
The magnificent beasts go toe to toeCredit: Caters News Agency
The lion’s tooth was hanging by a threadCredit: Caters News Agency
The big cat pair’s fight was captured by 43-year-old farm manage, Corlette Wessels, from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Corlette said: “It all started when we saw the one male on his own and photographed him.
“In the distance we spotted his coalition brother, about 200m away coming down the road. We drove closer to the other male as we were curious how they would greet one another.
“The male coming down the road, the one with the tooth hanging loose, you could see was walking with some attitude.
“He hardly greeted his brother and walked on. He was marking his territory as he walked off with his brother following him.
“It was raining the night before and normally males then the next day go to re-mark their territory.
“He was clearly looking for the pride known as the Southern Pride of Sabi Sabi.
The incredible images were captured by Corlette Wessels, from Johannesburg, South AfricaCredit: Caters News Agency
“It was minutes later when the females started to call, clearly smelling the boy’s scent.
“As soon as the males heard the females calling they started to run towards the direction where the sound was coming from.
“We decided to go to the females with the cubs. I was concerned as I thought the male might lash into the cubs as he seemed to have been on a mission.
“The lionesses approached him and they greeted each other and even the cubs greeted him and jumped on him playfully.
“The other male arrived and also greeted the females. They all walked off what at the time seemed as a happy family.
The lion was left reeling from the battleCredit: Caters News Agency
The photographer said: “The fight ended as quickly as it started and they each walked off in different directions”Credit: Caters News Agency
“A few minutes later one of the cubs approached one of the males and the oldest female of the pride started to growl at the male and he growled back and then she slapped him and the other females joined in and they growled at each other.
“Soon after this he went to mark a big dead tree and he went to lie down.
“The females did not like the fact that he came to lie down so close to them and growled at him again.
The lion, captured in this image, roars in pain during the scrapCredit: Caters News Agency
Wounded and almost about to lose a tooth, the lion trundles off following the fightCredit: Caters News Agency
“The fight ended as quickly as it started and they each walked off in different directions.
“I did not see any blood nor did I see any of them biting one another.
“I cannot tell you the intensity of their voices and growls they made and the pure force of their fore legs lashing out at one another.”