Pakistan

Lahore photographer snaps lion moments before escaping attack

The beast almost immediately noticed his presence and leaped towards him

Web Desk April 16, 2015

PHOTO: ASIF SAEED

A Lahore based photographer got lucky when he managed to capture an intimidating photograph of a lion before it tried to pounce on him.

Taken in 2012 while Atif Saeed, 38, visited the Lahore Safari Park, the picture has only recently surfaced on social media and going viral with people calling the photograph beautiful and scary.

Saeed lived to tell the cautionary tale and said "It was an adult male lion and what I liked most about him was the beautiful, dark hair on his neck."

In order to capture the animal in its natural habitat and element, the courageous photographer stepped out of his vehicle and sat on the ground a stone's throw from the lion.

"I must show the character and status of lion," Atif thought to himself at the time. This was also the only way for him to get the natural photo he wanted.

PHOTO: ATIF SAEED

The beast almost immediately noticed his presence and leaped towards him. Saeed managed to reach his car within a matter of seconds and with a great shot.

Describing the incident as "a pretty close encounter," Atif said that watching the aggressive lion approach him through the camera view finder is something that he cannot explain in words.

"I was witnessing every minute detail that no photograph or movie can show," he explained.

When questioned about whether he would do it again he said "I was laughing at that time, but now I don't think I will be able to do it again."

The photo was shared by the photographer on his Facebook page.

The stunning photograph continues to make its rounds on Twitter.

The photographer, Atif Saeed, took this moments before the lion charged him! pic.twitter.com/pSli844TUd
— Ripley's Believe It or Not! (@Ripleys) April 13, 2015

Atif Saeed, almost took his last photo ever at a safari zoo park near Lahore. Luckily, Saeed survived an attack... http://t.co/03OeytUOZv
— pakteahouse (@paktea) April 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/BrianFaughnan/status/588509506931326977

Photographer escapes with stunning picture of a lion (literally moments before it pounced) http://t.co/qPaz21Ze6r pic.twitter.com/bzcHiPIFqn
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) April 16, 2015

This article originally appeared on NDTV

COMMENTS (18)

SMD | 9 years ago | Reply A similar picture is trending on animal twitter with caption, Food escaping in a car after taking a snap without permission.

Lord of the Ring | 9 years ago | Reply @IK: The lions in Karachi zoo are too emaciated to even give a menacing look to anyone They are a silent victim of Wadera Corruption party thugs' loot who have not even spared the funds allocated for the food and medical of the poor animals. Aik Beemari Sub pe Bhari.

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Lord of the Ring | 9 years ago | Reply Well there are certain rules to safari photography: 1) Use of long range close up lenses 2) Going on close proximity of the animals is decided based on their conditions i.e. whether they are hungry or unhappy due to any reason or trying to mate or are uptight about their territorial sensitivities. Only foolish and amateur photographers and general public overlook such factors 3) Photographers are equipped with self defence gadgets like stinkers and

stun guns

This man lucky to be alive while being foolish. Enjoy life it's a bonus for u bloke.

Sami | 9 years ago | Reply No doubt the picture is awesome but I must say what a class shown by the author and the photographer. Just take it this way, lion roaming around is safari park in a controlled and tamed environment. Its not their natural habitat. Its strictly prohibited for the visitors to even let their window down. We feel proud in breaking the rules and regulations in Pakistan because we know nothing would happen, nobody is there to take strict actions and if someone shows up from management, a deaf ear is shown. Because of such foolish and idiotic incidents, the personal car patrolling is restricted and now two jeeps from 1900 century feels like they just escaped from nagasaki nuclear attacks run with JUNGLA trolley! Show some life! if you are really an adventure seeker and enough guts then go to the jungle and take such pictures there not in safari park where people come to enjoy their experience surrounded by lions.

Muhammad Kashif | 9 years ago | Reply @ ET Any proof this was taken in safari park lahore?

I am a Khan | 9 years ago | Reply The Lion looks evil in the photo...

AHK | 9 years ago | Reply There is a safari park in lahore?

TooTrue | 9 years ago | Reply What a magnificent creature! One of nature's finest.

GI Joe | 9 years ago | Reply Not impressed. It could have cost the foolish photographer his life.

usman qureshy | 9 years ago | Reply A persian poet says if you want to gain something in the world, fetch it from the mouth of the lion. Either you'll get the glory or a manful demise. Atif saeed has literally proved it.

straightshooter | 9 years ago | Reply Shouldn't have said "Go Nawaz Go" standing so close to it, dude.

Desi boy | 9 years ago | Reply Somebody's not brushing their teeth. Bad Cat!!!

vijay ramesh | 9 years ago | Reply Too Good photo Atif Sayed, also we are happy you are alive by the grace of God.

Puppet | 9 years ago | Reply Oh please, stop bugging the poor animal. Leave him alone.

IK | 9 years ago | Reply As lovely as these pictures are (and they are fantastic), it was really foolish of the photographer to get this close to a wild animal. Many people have died trying to pull off stunts such as this and no picture is worth dying for.

Asad Shairani | 9 years ago | Reply Once in a lifetime shot!

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Superb Click.

OS | 9 years ago | Reply Stunning!!!

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