Kevin Richardson, The Lion Whisperer
Big Cat Keeper: Lion King Of South Africa
As the gate swung open the three lions pounced. Powerful young males, within seconds they had wrestled the human intruder - Kevin Richardson - to the ground. We cowered behind the fence, fearing that our day filming with the famed "lion whisperer" of South Africa was about to come to an abrupt and bloody end.
"Are you ok in there," I yelled, genuinely alarmed as Kevin was pinned down by a pile of writhing predators.
"Don't worry," he shouted back, emerging with a giant paw wrapped gently around his head. "This is normal," he laughed.
Kevin, 34, met his first lion 11 years ago and was hooked.
"There were two cubs born in captivity, and I got the opportunity to spend some time with them, never guessing that it would change my life."
"Are you ok in there," I yelled, genuinely alarmed as Kevin was pinned down by a pile of writhing predators.
"Don't worry," he shouted back, emerging with a giant paw wrapped gently around his head. "This is normal," he laughed.
Kevin, 34, met his first lion 11 years ago and was hooked.
"There were two cubs born in captivity, and I got the opportunity to spend some time with them, never guessing that it would change my life."
Those two lions are adults now, part of a pride of 38 that has been raised at Kevin's vast private reserve near Johannesburg.
Through the years he has developed a remarkable, if sometimes hair-raising, relationship with all of them as an animal behaviourist.
"Some people might say I'm interfering with nature," he said. "But these lions were born in captivity and I'm trying to give them the best life possible. They seem to thrive on the human interaction."
We watched as Kevin sat crossed legged on the ground of one of the huge enclosures, calling the lions with his version of a roar.
Slowly, they slunk out of the bush and headed towards him; the strutting males of the pride with their huge manes, followed by the females and their bounding, curious cubs. Then the earth vibrated as the big males returned his call.
Once again we feared for Kevin's safety, but as they rolled around him waiting for their manes to be stroked and their stomachs rubbed, it was clear that he had been accepted as an honorary member of the pride.
His bond with the lions has been built without any kind of coercion. Kevin refuses to carry food treats or any kind of weapon when he interacts with the pride.
Lionesses are usually fiercely protective of their cubs, but the mothers seemed relaxed as Kevin played with them.
None of the youngsters have been hand reared so a human is still a novelty, something to be stalked with claws and teeth.
Through the years he has developed a remarkable, if sometimes hair-raising, relationship with all of them as an animal behaviourist.
"Some people might say I'm interfering with nature," he said. "But these lions were born in captivity and I'm trying to give them the best life possible. They seem to thrive on the human interaction."
We watched as Kevin sat crossed legged on the ground of one of the huge enclosures, calling the lions with his version of a roar.
Slowly, they slunk out of the bush and headed towards him; the strutting males of the pride with their huge manes, followed by the females and their bounding, curious cubs. Then the earth vibrated as the big males returned his call.
Once again we feared for Kevin's safety, but as they rolled around him waiting for their manes to be stroked and their stomachs rubbed, it was clear that he had been accepted as an honorary member of the pride.
His bond with the lions has been built without any kind of coercion. Kevin refuses to carry food treats or any kind of weapon when he interacts with the pride.
Lionesses are usually fiercely protective of their cubs, but the mothers seemed relaxed as Kevin played with them.
None of the youngsters have been hand reared so a human is still a novelty, something to be stalked with claws and teeth.
Kevin scolded them gently, as the adults competed to be petted and rubbed.
One lioness, Meg, is so devoted to Kevin that she has taken to following him down to the river and joining him for a swim.
In the wild lions are notoriously wary of water, but Meg places her paws on his shoulders and splashes around.
His lions are not tame, with lots of space to roam they have retained plenty of their wild instincts and we were not allowed to interact with any of them for our own safety.
Kevin is the only human they have accepted, and he is aware that one day that could change.
"I know they could kill me in a second," he said. "But that doesn't bother me. If I came back to life, I would do it all again."
One lioness, Meg, is so devoted to Kevin that she has taken to following him down to the river and joining him for a swim.
In the wild lions are notoriously wary of water, but Meg places her paws on his shoulders and splashes around.
His lions are not tame, with lots of space to roam they have retained plenty of their wild instincts and we were not allowed to interact with any of them for our own safety.
Kevin is the only human they have accepted, and he is aware that one day that could change.
"I know they could kill me in a second," he said. "But that doesn't bother me. If I came back to life, I would do it all again."
