Baboon recreates iconic Simba scene from The Lion King by grabbing cub from tree and holding it aloft

The cub looked destined for a grisly end from a troop of baboons before one of the primates decided to re-enact a favourite movie scene.

This is the incredible moment a baboon rescued a lion cub from danger by holding it aloft – just like Rafiki did to Simba in The Lion King.

Stunned safari guide Kurt Schultz, 43, captured the Disney-worthy moment in Kruger National Park, South Africa, while he was filming big cats.

The baboon took the cub into a tree after it was encircled by other primates. Picture: www.kurtsafari.com/ Magnus News.

An early scene in The Lion King where Simba is held up by Rafiki. Picture: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

As he sat with his finger poised on his camera, he spotted a group of baboons circling the helpless cub and feared they were closing in for the kill.

Then one of the males ran over to the little lion, scooped it up in its arms and began scaling a marula tree as the rest of the baboon pack scowled below.

The ape hopped from branch to branch as Mr Schultz and other safari guests winced – worried the tiny cub would fall from its grip.

Worried onlookers watched the baboon climb the tree holding the cub in its hands. Picture: www.kurtsafari.com/ Magnus News.

He eventually settled with the cub in its arms before stroking and caring for it like a loving father.

In the hit Disney movie, Rafiki is a wise ape – thought to be a mandrill or baboon – who looks after young Simba and often gives him guidance.

Mr Schultz said: “It was a strange experience. I was worried the cub would fall because it would not survive that height.

“The baboon was grooming the lion cub as if it was a baby baboon. It moved from branch to branch grooming and carrying the cub for a long period of time.

“The males do a lot of grooming but the care given was the same care given by a female to one of her own young.

“In 20 years of guiding southern and East Africa, I have witnessed baboons viciously killing leopard cubs and have heard of baboons killing lion cubs.

“I have never seen the care and attention given to a lion cub in this manner.”

The baboon cared for the cub like one of its own young. Picture: www.kurtsafari.com/ Magnus News.

The fate of the young cub is unfortunately unknown, but it’s not expected to have survived. Picture: www.kurtsafari.com/ Magnus News.

While Mr Schultz and other animal lovers watched on, they feared the baboon would bring the cub back down to its waiting troop – meaning certain death.

However, it’s not known if the young cat eventually escaped his brush with a horror death.

Mr Schultz said: “The troop of baboons was large and a lion would not be able to get the young back.

“Nature is cruel at most times and survival of young predator cubs is not easy. The lion cub poses a threat to the baboons when it gets older.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission