Rescued ... cub is lifted to safety
A BRAVE lioness shows raw strength as she lifts her tiny cub to safety in a dramatic cliff-side rescue.
Mum came to the rescue after the young male wandered off from the herd and became stranded above a ravine.
Facing an almost vertical climb and the prospect of a huge drop, the lioness carefully made her way to the ledge where the cub was stuck.
Slip ... lioness dives to catch son
She then had to dive for him when he fell from the crumbling refuge.
The lioness eventually clawed her way back to the top with the cub in her jaws.
Steep ... another lion tried but failed
Once back to safety, she gave the wayward youngster an affectionate lick of the head.
The amazing rescue at Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve was captured by wildlife photographer Jean-Francois Largot.
Licky escape ... duo after rescue
