Frikkie Von Solms, a 69-year-old lion caretaker
in Southern Africa, knows this perfectly well: he has spent the last 11 raising
Zion, a gentle, tender and loving African lion.
Zion was born in captivity to a lioness named
Simba but had to be separated due to fears that his father would kill him.
Growing up with Von Solms, Zion has turned into a little softie – when Von Solms goes for a walk with him, he takes his shoes off because their noise
bothers the big cat.
The two are so close that they share a truck and a bed.
Frikkie says he has raised 19 lions, tigers and cheetahs, but says that Zion “is special because of the bond we share. I learned so much from him”
(h/t: dailymail)
