This is the incredible moment a pair of bloodied tigers slashed each other with their claws in a dramatic fight over territory.
The dramatic battle was caught on camera at the world famous 'Tiger Canyons' in the Londolozi private game reserve in Pretoria, South Africa.
The clash erupted after one of the tigers delivered a vicious blow to the neck of its rival.
In the thick of it: This is the incredible
moment a pair of bloodied tigers slashed each other with their claws in
dramatic fight over territory
Believing it to be dead, the
tiger released its opponent from its jaws but instead of the fight
coming to a grizzly end, the two broke out in a second, even more savage
struggle.
German photographer, Marion Vollborn, captured the predatory pair while on safari tour.
Ms
Vollborn said 'The day before I took these pictures, our group spotted
two male tigers pacing along each of their own territory borders.
'There had been a female tiger who had mated with both males and there was a very tense atmosphere but nothing had yet happened.
'In the morning we all suddenly heard a loud roar and we drove immediately towards the noise.
Rumble in the jungle: The two tigers come face
to face, although the bigger tiger on the right won the bloody battle.
The clash erupted after one of the tigers delivered a vicious blow to
the neck of its rival
Paws for thought: The nasty clash of these two
furry titans was captured at the world famous 'Tiger Canyons' in the
Londolozi private game reserve in Pretoria, South Africa
'The
male tigers we had been observing the day before were in the water
hidden by reeds, one had bitten the other on the throat and they both
remained still for several minutes.
'It
was horrific to see, the tigers were covered in mud, blood and water we
could see them both breathing heavily because of the cold air.
'One
of the tigers assumed his rival to be dead and it stopped biting but
the bitten tiger saw his chance to escape and save his own life.
'All of a sudden a spectacular fight for life and death began, again and again the males clawed at each other.
All claws and teeth: One of the tigers seems to
get the upper hand during their vicious clash. The tigers were covered
in mud, blood and water in the battle
Giving the evils: The two bloodied combatants
stare each other down before resuming their ferocious encounter in a
battle of territory
Raw power: While both fighters were up to the
task, after 45 minutes of fighting a winner emerged - and it was the
significantly stronger and younger male
Injured: 'The roaring was unbelievably loud,
everyone who was there watching was clearly scared and I will never
forget those sounds,' Vollborn said
'The roaring was unbelievably loud, everyone who was there watching was clearly scared and I will never forget those sounds.
'The
two opponents went from the reeds to the shrubbery and finally to an
open area, both were bleeding heavily and we all feared the worst.
'After 45 minutes of fighting a winner emerged, it was the significantly stronger and younger male.
'Luckily, both survived the battle and their wounds are now healed.
'For a photographer it's spectacular to see something like this, but as an animal lover it makes it very hard to watch.'
Difficult situation: Vollborn said, 'For a
photographer it's spectacular to see something like this, but as an
animal lover it makes it very hard to watch'
Finishing off: One of the tigers seems to have
the upper hand as the other lies bloodied and submissive. Both have now
recovered from their wounds
