Looks like buffalo’s off the menu! Three lions ambush a lone Ьeаѕt strolling through their territory but it manages to tһгow them off and eѕсарe

These pictures show the incredible moment three lions ambush a lone buffalo – and come off second best.

The buffalo had strolled in to the lions’ territory in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya while they were tending to their cubs.

Sensing easy prey, they launched an attack with one lioness leaping on to the startled animal and sinking its claws into its back in an attempt to bring it down.

But the enraged bull flicked up its hind legs, scooping the beast up and launching it through the air in a dramatic fightback before fleeing the area.

The stunning photos were taken by Laurent Renaud and Dominique Haution, teachers from France.

They said: ‘Lions and buffalos are always in conflict. The buffalos never tolerate the presence of the lions – the lionesses had several cubs that were hidden in the reeds. They didn’t want to leave the place.

‘When the third lioness left the reeds, the attitude of the lionesses changed. It was not a game. Was it in order to try to kill and eat it? It’s difficult to say.

‘It was a very big bull and for only three lionesses it was quite difficult to bring down this buffalo.’

Flash point: A lioness leaps onto the back of a giant buffalo, sinking its claws into the animal’s back as it tries desperately to run away from its deadly attackers in the Maasia National Reserve, Kenya

Holding on: The lioness does its best to keep hold of the enraged buffalo as it flicks up its back legs and tries to shrug off its assailant during the spectacular clash

Putting up a fight: The buffalo continues to rampage cross the plain as the lioness tries its best to hold on and sink its teeth in to the bull’s back

Claws out: The lionesses is understood to have had several cubs that were hidden in the reeds nearby and attacked the buffalo as it was strolling through their territory

Taking flight: The angry bull was in no mood to give in and managed to flick up its hind legs, scooping the beast up and launching it through the air in a dramatic fightback

Airborne: The lioness is thrown upwards as the furious buffalo tosses up its back legs and charges off across the plain while another attacker runs alongside

Escape: kicking up its hind legs the buffalo finally wrestles itself free before fleeing the area. The stunning photos were taken by Laurent Renaud and Dominique Haution, teachers from France

Outnumbered: The lions keep their distance as they surround the buffalo during the tense stand-off, which happened after the horned bull had wandered in to their territory as they tended to their young