Walking A Lion On The Way To Work
"Can I pat it on its' back?" I asked the keeper.
"Sure. It'll tell you if it doesn't like it."
5 pats, is the limit. Ask me how I know.
PHOTOS
Can You Take Some Pics Of Lions For Me ...
"Sure, no problem."
It seemed like a good idea. Enter an area with 8 lions in it. All loose. All roaming free.
So, I lie down on the floor in front of this lion and the lion was simply not interested in looking at me, at all. So, I tap its' paw with my camera. (Seemed like a good idea at the time).
The lion suddenly awakes. It snaps at me.
It makes contact and leaves a big scratch across the base of my camera with its' claw.
Thankfully all was ok. Here are some more shots for you.
Casela Nature Park - Mauritius
The Casela Nature Park is located in Mauritius and at the time of these pictures, these lions were fairly young and it was possible to take them for a walk. I was a regular attendee, often walking them on my way to work.
The rules were simple : don't run, don't scream, don't get in front of them and hold a stick between you and the lions. I was able to touch the lions, on the back. The cheetahs were, as you can see, a lot more docile and ameniable to being held. Not sure I would do that with a fully grown one.
Being so familiar with them, meant I got to spend the first part of each walk right next to them, whilst new visitors acclimatised to being so close to lions.
I also got to go into their enclosure with them and take some images for large posters on the island. Thankfully, a keeper was there to look after me, or, so I thought.
When the lion flung his paw at me, I assumed the keeper would 'step in', or, at the very least 'show some concern'. Instead, I asked him if he had seen what he had done.
"Nope, I was looking at something else" came a casual and totally non-fussed response.
Good to know I was in safe hands.
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