South African photographer Mark Dumbleton captured a heartbreaking and heroic moment…

A lioness, blood still fresh on her face and a tooth lost in a brutal fight, hugging her cub with superhuman bravery.

The image shows the lioness clinging to her cub, her sacrifice visible in every drop of blood that adorns her face. Little Ali, the cub in her arms, doesn’t yet understand the price his mother has paid. But when he grows up to become the guardian of the pride, he’ll understand the magnitude of the sacrifice his mother made for him.

This image not only captures the unconditional love of a mother, but also the immense cost that comes with protecting those we love. A powerful reminder of the strength and sacrifice that defines wildlife.