~:C.C.4.U:~ Clinging on for dear life to the side of a vertical cliff

Clinging on for dear life to the side of a vertical cliff,

The tiny lion cub cries out pitifully for help.

His mother arrives at the edge of the precipice with

three other lionesses and a male.

The females start to clamber down together but

turn back daunted by the sheer drop.

Eventually one single factor determines

which of them will risk her life to save

the youngster - motherly love.

The drama begins:

The mother arrives at the edge of the cliff as her son

Cries out for rescue after being trapped when he slipped

On the brink:

Four lionesses look over the edge before

Aborting their rescue mission because of the sheer drop.

Slowly, agonizingly, the big cat edges her

Way down towards her terrified son,

Using her powerful claws to grip the crumbling cliff side.

One slip from her and both animals could end up

Dead at the bottom of the ravine.

Just as the exhausted cub seems about to fall,

His mother circles beneath him

And he is snatched up in her jaws.

She then begins the equally perilous

Journey back to the top. Minutes later,

They arrive and she gives the frightened

Creature a consoling lick on the head.

The dramatic rescue, captured by wildlife photographer

Jean-Francois Largot, was played out in

Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve.

HOW AWESOME IS THIS? Amazing!!