This is the heartbreaking moment a helpless baby monkey clung onto its dead mother as her lifeless body hung from a leopard’s mouth.

The tiny vervet monkey refused to let go of its mother after the predator pounced at South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, despite putting itself in grave danger.

The youngster was also eventually killed by the leopards – led by a female known as Olimba – during the hunt on October 14.

This is the heart-breaking moment a helpless baby monkey clung onto its dead mother as her lifeless body hung from a leopard’s mouth

The heart-wrenching moment was caught on camera by wildlife photographer Shafeeq Mulla from Chipata, Zambia, who said:

‘Nature is not always pretty and this picture definitely shows us the harsh reality of life.The tiny vervet monkey refused to let go of its parents after the predator pounced at South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

The 400-pound lion can be seen sinking its teeth into its prey as the baby monkey clutches on.

‘To have a sustainable environment, animals need to die for others to survive.’

“As a safari guide, I’ve seen many cruel wildlife encounters, but this tops them all by far.

“Nature – as wonderful and incredible as it can be – can also be frightful, even bordering on atrocious but this is the reality of it.

“Life and death play out in all of our lives. It’s never easy.”