This is heartbreaking ....

I read in the paper at work today, about a lion cub who was killed by one of the lionesses in the pride for 'insolence'. I don't know how long the story will be online, but it's here at the Daily Mail website. The last picture absolutely broke my heart .... :(

Picture 1 of 7:
It started out as an innocent afternoon's fun for this young male cub, playfully biting a lioness's neck.





Picture 2 of 7:
Then the cub gets cheeky. In an act of folly which turns to tragedy, he takes a swipe at one of the dominant males, while the pride's lionesses look on.



Picture 3 of 7:
Enraged, the lion king roars and the cub runs to the lionesses. But they themselves have become roused to fury




Picture 4 of 7:
Her blood up, one of the females even challenges the male, forgetting his size and his dominant position in the pride





Picture 5 of 7:
Now all the lions join in roaring and fighting, two males squaring up. The females are so angry they rush to the cub





Picture 6 of 7:
...and one of the lionesses kills the young male, while his siblings look on






Picture 7 of 7:
With what looks a howl of anguish, the female sits with the dead cub in front of her