The Lions’ Pride
He is 35 year old Animal Behaviourist who shares a very unique bond with big cats that he can spend the night curled up next to them without the fear of being attacked.
Kevin was a student of human physiology who once worked with pre and post-operative human patients. He turned to animals ten years ago when he discovered that he could trust a lion over one of his own kind every time – well, almost every time.
“I could enrich their lives and they are enriching mine.” Kevin said.
A close encounter with an aggressive four-year-old male lion in the early days taught Kevin a lesson he will never forget. The animal had pinned him to the ground and started biting him until something about Kevin’s passive attitude stopped him completely.
“I have to rely on my own instincts to gauge an animal or a situation, and I will not approach a creature if something doesn’t feel right,” Kevin explained.
“I don’t use sticks, whips or chains, just patience. It may be dangerous, but this is a passion for me, not a job.” Kevin added.
Kevin says that he is most confident with animals he has known since birth, but claims he can become close friends with any lion less than a year old, when it is still flexible enough to accept him as part of its own pride.
Today, people call Kevin, “The Lion Whisperer”.
He has set up a wildlife conservation park in an area of Lanseria (near Johannesburg) in South Africa to prevent poaching and to educate the mass public about the animals under his care. And the way these animals interact with him is simply unbelievable.
The animals seem to know that he is there to protect them. What’s more, his magical charms also work with other species such as cheetahs, foxes, panthers and hyenas. Hyenas are characteristically highly aggressive and unpredictable, but they hold no threat for Kevin. He is so instinctively in tune with these beasts that the mother hyenas even allow him to hold their newborn cubs without pouncing to the rescue.
Lions are Kevin’s favourite. He lavishes them with unconditional love, he says, treating each individual differently, speaking to them, caressing them and, above all, treating them with respect.
Kevin met his first fell in love with lions 11 years ago when he was assigned to take care of two young lion cubs which he named, Tao and Napoleon.
“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.” Kevin shared.
These two lions are adults now, and are part of a pride of 38 that has been raised at Kevin’s vast private reserve. Through the years he has developed an amazing and sometimes hair-raising relationship with all of them.
“Some people might say I’m interfering with nature. 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.” Kevin explained.
His bond with the lions has been built over the years 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. These Lionesses would even allow Kevin to handle their cubs. Such is their trust in Kevin.
One lioness named Meg, is especially 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.
Below are two videos about Kevin and his very “special friends”:
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/v20495458Rkn6XWdb.mp4
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/v20495744Bjw3B7gE.mp4
Sources:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1111119649684?page=2
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-464353/The-king-jungle-doesnt-frighten-lion-whisperer.html” target=”_blank”>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-464353/The-king-jungle-doesnt-frighten-lion-whisperer.html
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Kevin also known as “The Lion Whisperer”to many . He is one brave guy with a more recognized relationship with wild cats. He is famous for getting dangerously close to those fearsome wild cats. Unbreakable bond with lions whom he truly loves, attracted to them and seem to understand their language. He can even spend the night curled up next to them without the fear of being attacked. Kevin is a South African self-taught zookeeper who has spent his entire life spreading awareness and hoping to educate people an insight into the lives of these animals and to prevent poaching. Looking at those beautiful pictures we could imagine how close relationship he shares with those wild cats.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful post with us.
Kevin is not the first man to turn to animal because he found that he could trust an animal over his own kind. Some of us turn to technology, entertainment, alcohol, drugs, etc.
Human kind is hard species to love because it doesn’t always reciprocate the way we expect it to. Once disappointed we look for other alternatives to fulfill that need.
I’m happy that Kevin found that in animals specially lions. But the way I see it, I don’t think it is so much him giving them the unconditional love but vice versa. The lions accepted him without expecting anything in return. Because they are able to give him complete trust and unconditional love, it allowed that to develop him too.
The danger of being among these wild animals that can easily overpower and devour us in a blink of eye is very real. But to fear them is a perception of our mind.
Fear can escalate and manifest into ugly actions such as cruelty towards animals. A need to prove our superiority over animals. To put them in place, to show we are in control. These are not acts of courage, they are acts of cowardice masking our fear, our weaknesses.
“Danger is very real, but fear is a choice” – After Earth (movie)
Brave and kind man. What an unusual yet heartwarming friendship he shares with the kings of the jungle. The pictures are stunning too.
Kevin really inspires me! I enjoyed myself a lot while looking through each and every pictures of him with the big cats. I’m very fascinated by his special bonding with these big cats, they seem to really trust him. He said that if they happen to kill him, he would still come back and continue to spend time with them, he really loves them with all of his heart.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
This is just truly amazing how the love and compassion he has for the lions has melted the lions’ hearts, allowing him to be part of their group and to even play with the cubs. It is even more amazing how close the relationship he has with the lioness. Even bringing her down to the lake for a swim. It is very sweet and cute to see things like that. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this with us.
This is amazing! I wish i could be so up close to a lion like this. How amazing that the lion doesn’t care, all the lion does is love him back. So cool!! I was so shocked to know this because i already knew that there were such things and dog and cat whisperers, but i never herd of a lion one before! That for sure beats the cat and dog whisperer.
This proves that big cats such as lions are not cold blooded. They love kevin so much , one of the lioness let him touch her cubs. Lioness are usually very fierce when someone or some animals tries to approach their cubs. And in this video show us how can an wild animal will listen to Kevin when he told a lioness to go for swimming. Big cats are very scared of water but she would rather follow him than being scared and just stay there. So please be nice to animals and they will treat you nice too. Thank you for reading
This is so amazing, so heartwarming! It shows how sincere and kind hearted he is, even the animals can sense it. We can barely find humans like Kevin anymore. It’s very good that there’s someone can understand and listen to the cats.
Thank You for sharing this wonderful post Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
[…] The Lions' Pride | Tsem Tulku Rinpoche Kevin shared. These two lions are adults now, and are part of a pride of 38 that has been raised at Kevin's vast private reserve. Through the years he has developed an amazing and sometimes hair-raising relationship with all of them. […]
Having been to Johannesburge Rhino & Lion Park (the animals roam freely), hearing the stories how some visitors have become lunch for the lions (for the environment is so surreal that some visitors get out of their cars), remembering the daunting view of the group of lions sitting at the gate waiting for the feeding truck, what Kevin does is absolutely amazing. He has practiced acceptance in replacement of dominance, earned the animals trust to be where he is today. And realizing that he still may end up being eaten or hurt by the animals. I salute Kevin. True practioner of loving, being compassionate and kind to sentient beings.
Wow. I have major man-love for that guy. What a HERO.
Great post. One of those pictures is my background now heh.
I remember years ago a lama told me if you come across a ferocious dog barking at you and want to attack you. Stay still and generate compassion towards the animal and do not feel fear. And you can see the reaction of the animal. I have not encountered such experience but I believe it will work. Can you imagine the Lions are supposed to be the King of the Jungle. His encounter with the 4 year old lion that pinned him down would have killed him if he were to use wrath to fight back but instead the passiveness he use saved his life. It is true his interaction with the lions from the time they were born has brought the lion cubs to think that Kevin will protect them like a mother would protect his child.
beautiful… i’ve also been to Johannesburg, the nature reserves there are one of the most beautiful sights i’ve ever laid my greedy grasping eyes on… you never can imagine that sight impressions can lift one so high… especially the sunsets… timeless and since i was a child then, i think it really made a very deep impression.
Dearest Rinpoche,
How truly amazing… But then again is it really? If we believe in past lives, etc, perhaps this is yet another indication of a previous imprint and through keen animal instincts, these cats “seem” to sense it? I can believe that!
While watching the first video, three things stood out for me:
1. It was mentioned that when the critics said he is interfering with nature he put them in their place by so aptly responding “We interfered with nature the day we put these animals in enclosures…” He also added he was merely promoting a better life for these animals in captivity… This one statement really reminds me of how Rinpoche shares the same compassion for all animals in captivity, the ones we call pets… be it fishes, birds, turtles etc… clearly evident in our little mini zoo in the Ladrang! 🙂
2. How incredibly large these “cats” are compared to a human. We see these cats on their own and they seem proportionate but when we throw a human into the pride… we are completely dwarfed. There was a scene of him cuddling and playing with the pride and his head was half the size (if not smaller!) compared to the head of the lion… I could not help but think, all it took was one mere bite and…!
3. If inter-species interaction between a supposed hostile species and a non hostile species (in this case the “cats” hehehe) is evidently possible as shown here by Kevin, what more do we need as a reminder that we as a supposed friendly species should care more between ourselves.
What touched me in the 2nd video is when he talks about:
1. How he is making this experience he has to benefit the plight of the lions in their dwindling numbers. Realizing he could enrich their lives and they can enrich his life. = Realizing something important and helping others in the process and thus healing ourselves.
2. How two little lion cubs touched his heart in a special way some 11 years ago and that was the start. But he also mentions a method to the madness. How he clearly states that it was a process and not a single event. = It takes but a mere moment to change our mindset (shift) but a longer time to develop our minds.
3. How he believes in getting out a greater message. What he calls lucky lessons in life in reference to his attack by a 2 year old lion. = How we can always learn from lessons especially “negative” ones but we need to realize the root of the problem and making sure the “cycle” is stopped and that we do not in turn cause the same hurt to another.
I take this posting as a reminder to us as human beings (in this lifetime) to not only think about the animals but also for our fellow mankind and all lviing beings. And that we are all actually just the same, sentient beings lost in samsara.
It is a Sunday morning and I am feeling all fluffy, bright-eyed and bushy tailed!!! hahahaha. Should we not always feel this way? Well that is my two cents worth anyway.
I went on a search for more of this man Kevin Richardson (NOT to be mistaken as the member of boyband BSB of the same name!) and found his website which makes for interesting read especially on his life… truly an amazing man who has dedicated his life to helping those who cant help themselves!
http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za
Much love… Andrew
Amazing! So heartwarming too – animals have always been capable of being loving – they have the equal chance for enlightenment too! We so seldom give them that chance…. Kevin’s ability – wow! Could we call that the feat of (a loving) mind over matter(or rather, another sentient being)? Thank you, Rinpochela, for sharing another heartwarming story.
agradecido por tamanho amor e pureza
Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche !!!
Thank you for sharing this one. My life is devoted to intercultural dialogue … and I often think about the importance to also open up to inter-species dialogue. What an inspiring sharing 🙂 !!!
And as I am a Leo it even touches me more :-).
Thank you and lots of good dialogical inspirations !!!
Christoph