On this Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom special, an inversion of nature baffles the scientific world when a young lioness in Samburu Reserve, Kenya, sets aside her predatory instincts to adopt a baby oryx antelope. She mothers it with infinite tenderness for 16 days, foregoing her most basic needs and proving to be both a compassionate and wise protector.

Wildlife expert Saba Douglas-Hamilton sets out to explain this intriguing mystery. What complex motivation has stirred the heart of this lioness? The local Samburu people — who've named the lioness Kamunyak, which means "the blessed one" — have never witnessed anything like this before, and experts are also baffled by Kamunyak's motives.

When Saba encounters the pair, it is clear that they are in a bad way. The young lioness is unable to nurse the oryx calf, and it is weak and thin. Kamunyak refuses to leave her young charge, so she's not feeding herself and is woefully undernourished. In an effort to help the park warden throws her a chunk of meat but Kamunyak refuses to eat it. As the days go on she becomes less and less able to protect herself or the oryx from other lions. Will this precarious bond last, or will it end in tragedy?

Heart of a Lioness is a heartwarming, yet heartbreaking, wildlife tale that's unlike anything you've ever encountered.