THIS is the moment nine lionesses brutally attacked a lion in front of horrified visitors.

Shocking footage shows the pack of females tearing their teeth into the leader of the pride’s flesh at West Midlands Safari Park.

The lionesses then drag him from the rocks into the water where he is seen helplessly roaring in pain.

Safari workers at the enclosure in Bewdley, Worcestershire, had to step in and spray fire extinguishers at the beasts to break up the ferocious attack after the male was left covered in blood.

It is conceivable the lionesses were trying to kill their leader because he was too old to run the pride.

However Mya Beverstock, who caught the attack on film, said the females may have pounced on him after a dispute over food.

Beverstock said: “It pretty much happened out of the blue. It was feeding time and then suddenly we heard growling and roaring.

“Two other males stepped back and didn’t get involved while the females attacked the leader. He may have ate before his turn.”

She added: “Safari workers dealt with it very quickly. Three jeeps ended up in the enclosure honking their horns and driving towards the lions to break them up.

“One of the jeeps sprayed them with a fire extinguisher which ended up mostly breaking up the fight.

“We did go around the park again afterwards and all the female lions had been removed from the enclosure and it was only the three males in there.”

In February of this year a pride of lions pounced at a car at the same safari park.

And in South Africa, a woman and her son were left critically injured after being trampled by a giraffe.

Dr Katy Williams, 35, and son Finn, 3, were left “covered in blood” near their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate near Hoedspruit.

The towering animal was with her two-month-old calf, and is believed to have defended it after being startled by the family.

Dr Williams’ husband saw the attack when he was returning home from work, and managed to chase it off and save their lives.

The pair were flown to Johannesburg where they underwent surgery. They are understood to be in a stable condition.