When it comes to fending off a surprised lion and his girlfriends feasting on zebra tartare, the situation requires both enough gun and fast reflexes.

“As the trail took us through the tall grass and around a small hill, suddenly we surprised a large male lion and its two lionesses contentedly feeding upon a recently killed zebra … . In response to our noisy intrusion, the lion bounced to its feet to turn and face us in one quick move. … Our adrenaline pumped with each switch of the lion’s tail. Crouching low, growling deeply, its tail jerking ever more fiercely, the lion charged.
… Cheetah held my rifle in a ready position, his eyes glued to the oncoming lion. Andrew, his mouth wide open, was speechless. … In a single great bounce, the lion was virtually upon us. In the same split second, Cheetah tossed me the gun. I snatched it in midair, jammed it to my shoulder, and managed to get off a quick shot at the lion’s right shoulder, just as it was making its final leap.”—Channing Beebe, Cannibals and Big Game, from the chapter “Too Close.”