Cornered! Moment a lone buffalo is brought down by a trio of hungry lions in deadly ambush

• Trail ranger Jan Kriel captured the footage in Kruger National Park, South Africa
• The 50-year-old was just several feet away from the three male lions
• Trio spent 90-seconds cornering and stalking their prey before going in for killA trio of hungry lions proved they were a force to be reckoned with as they launched a deadly ambush on a lone buffalo.

  Trail ranger Jan Kriel, from Mpumalanga, South Africa, captured the nail-biting footage in the country's Kruger National Park. 

  The 50-year-old was just several feet away when the three male lions spent 90-seconds cornering and stalking their prey before going in for the kill.  

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  Trail ranger Jan Kriel, from Mpumalanga, South Africa, captured the nail-biting footage in the country's Kruger National Park

  In the clip one of the male lions tentatively makes his way down a hillside toward its unsuspecting prey.

  The buffalo suddenly spots the lurking predator and clambers to its feet before forcing the lion on to a nearby rock. But two more lions then join the hunt and circle the buffalo before the deadly trio pounce and make their kill.  

  Trail ranger Jan has since said: 'The lions looked incredibly hungry so I knew we would be in for a surprise.

  'We were actually watching the buffalo when we suddenly noticed the three male lions nearby.

  

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  The three male lions spent 90-seconds cornering and stalking their prey before going in for the kill 

  

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  Lions usually ambush their prey by fanning out into a semi-circle to herd the prey into the centre where it is easier for them to make their final kill

  'Knowing that they had quite an appetite, we gave them some space and watched the hunt unfold.

  'Once the lions had launched at the buffalo, we realised the buffalo had a broken front leg which explains why it was on its own and easy prey.

  'I knew that what we saw in front of us was the circle of life and a good example of the strongest survive. If an animal is injured, Mother Nature will dispose of it. This time, the lions did that job.'

  Lions usually ambush their prey by fanning out into a semi-circle to herd the prey into the centre where it is easier for them to make their final kill. 

  Lionesses hunt roughly 90 per cent of a pride's food but males do not tend to pass up a prime hunting opportunity.