Gazelle is torn to shreds by a baboon in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya

Betrayed by a baboon: Gazelle is torn to shreds by a monkey, despite the animals often working together to keep an eye out for predators

  • Animals spotted in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in South-Western Kenya, by photographer Nimit Virdi
  • The gazelle was seen standing uncertainly on the grassland before being killed
  • Mr Virdi said baboons and gazelles often work together to keep an eye out for big cats
  • ‘It was a gut-wrenching moment but it’s something I had never seen before in nature,’ Mr Virdi added 

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Jaw-dropping images show the torn-apart body of a gazelle fawn hanging from the mouth of an 82-pound alpha-male baboon in Kenya – even though the creatures often work together to keep an eye out for predators.

The animal was spotted enjoying its lunch in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in South-Western Kenya, by photographer Nimit Virdi, from Wellington, India. 

Shortly before being killed, the baby gazelle was seen standing uncertainly on the grassland as an elder relative stood in the background. 

Mr Virdi was in his car when he saw the baboons in the nature reserve. ‘Baboons will seemingly accept any opportunity to get a full belly – even if it means attacking and killing their friendly neighbour,’ he said. 

‘Baboons and gazelle tend to have a civil relationship as they work together to keep an eye out for big cats, but not here.’

Jaw-dropping images show the torn-apart body of a gazelle fawn hanging from the mouth of an 82-pound alpha-male baboon in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in South-Western Kenya

The baboon and its younger relatives was spotted by photographer Nimit Virdi, from Wellington, India. Pictured: A much younger baboon was later seen cradling the upper half of the gazelle

The baboon and its younger relatives was spotted by photographer Nimit Virdi, from Wellington, India. Pictured: A much younger baboon was later seen cradling the upper half of the gazelle

Shortly before being killed, the baby gazelle was seen standing uncertainly on the grassland as an elder relative stood in the background

Shortly before being killed, the baby gazelle was seen standing uncertainly on the grassland as an elder relative stood in the background

But its 'shredded' body was later pictured in the jaws of the fierce baboon. Mr Virdi was in his car when he saw the baboons in the nature reserve

But its ‘shredded’ body was later pictured in the jaws of the fierce baboon. Mr Virdi was in his car when he saw the baboons in the nature reserve

'Baboons will seemingly accept any opportunity to get a full belly - even if it means attacking and killing their friendly neighbour,' he said. Pictured: The remains of the gazelle being held by a baby baboon

‘Baboons will seemingly accept any opportunity to get a full belly – even if it means attacking and killing their friendly neighbour,’ he said. Pictured: The remains of the gazelle being held by a baby baboon 

Mr Virdi said the baboons spent around 30 minutes eating the gazelle fawn and that the younger primate got a look in when the carcass was dropped by its older relative

Mr Virdi said the baboons spent around 30 minutes eating the gazelle fawn and that the younger primate got a look in when the carcass was dropped by its older relative

'It was a gut-wrenching moment but it's something I had never seen before in nature,' Mr Virdi added

‘It was a gut-wrenching moment but it’s something I had never seen before in nature,’ Mr Virdi added



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