THIS is the tragic moment a defenceless baby monkey clung to its dead mum as her lifeless body was clamped in a leopard’s jaw.
The vervet monkey in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, refused to let go of its parent even after the predator had pounced.
The leap of leopards, led by a female known as Olimba, then killed the defenceless youngster.
The heart-wrenching moment was caught on camera by wildlife photographer Shafeeq Mulla from Chipata, Zambia.
He said: “Nature is not always pretty and this picture definitely shows us the harsh reality of life.
“To have a sustainable environment, animals need to die for others to survive.”
The photo was snapped in October, but has recently been shared.
It comes after a photographer captured a similar scene where a baby monkey clung to its mother as a lion ate her.
Hendri Venter, 60, caught the moment in South Africa’s Zimanga Private Game Reserve.
The 400-pound lion can be seen sinking its teeth into its prey as the baby monkey clutches on.
Hendri said: “As a safari guide, I’ve seen many cruel wildlife encounters, but this tops them all by far.
“Nature – as wonderful and incredible as it can be – can also be frightful, even bordering on atrocious but this is the reality of it.
“Life and death play out in all of our lives. It’s never easy.”
