The hungry lionesses and their cubs stood proud of the dinner they had hunted but their joy was shortlived as the rest of the group came over to inspect what they had killed at the Singita Game Reserve located on the western border of the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

A ravenous lion was caught at full gallop looking straight into the camera as he ran over to grab himself some dinner.

Soon a fight had broken out, with the dominant male, lionesses and young cubs snarling at one another and baring their teeth as they fought over who could eat what.

South African photographer Chris Renshaw caught the whole incredible event on film. The safari operator took the photos while leading a tour of the reserve. 

He said: 'It took a while for all of us to calm down and digest what we had just witnessed.

'They went from sleeping beauties to rage-filled warriors and it is why I love lions, they epitomise everything that is the African bush.

'They have peaceful beauty, wonder and splendour that in an instant can become brutally intense with awe inspiring power.' 

In one amazing shot the dominant male, marked out by his flowing mane, puts one of the young cubs in his place with a few well-placed blows from his mighty paws and biting jaws.

In complete submission, the cub rolls on his back and accepts his punishment.

The respect shown by Renshaw for his subject contrasts utterly with a shocking photo of Dr Walter Palmer posing with a dead lion he has killed.

The image emerged in the wake of the Minnesota dentist's slaughter of Cecil, a famous and protected lion in Zimbabwe, which has appalled the world. 

(dailymail.co.uk)