A kitty video, not of our cats this time

[xiphias]

This is from the Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory and Education Center, in Louisburg, Kansas.

Senior handler Steve Klein and lioness Shanta have a pretty good relationship. He roughhouses with the lioness the way I do with Nicky, and she seems to like it just as much as he does.

The difference, of course, is that if Nicky gets careless or just overexcited, I can get a scratch, which, in the worst case, might even leave a tiny scar. If Shanta does . . . it would be worse. But, apparently, Shanta is aware that her playmate is somewhat fragile, at least compared to another lion.

Comments

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Amazing, including that she's figured out it's safe for her to drag him by the t-shirt.

[elgoose.livejournal.com]

The best part comes around the three-minute point, when they both hear something, I think it's a car or truck.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my feeling at that point, when they both look at the same time, and in the same way, was, "Oh, great. The zookeeper's gone native."

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, who needs shampoo when you have a lion to lick your hair for hours?

[cellio]

Wow, impressive!

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

BIG KITTY!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous that there are people who get to be so close to lions like that. Part of me is astounded though. Tugging the lionness along by her teeth? Doesn't that seem like he's really testing his luck?