You would have thought that Michaela Zimanova would have birthed lions Malkia and Adelle with the way those two react when they see her.
However, she’s more like their human “godmother,” according to Daily Mail.
Michaela, who helped raised the two cubs in captivity, calls them her “darlings.”
Malkia and Adelle were actually rejected by their own mother when they were cubs.
Thankfully, they were rescued by a Big Cat Rescue in Slovakia.
Malkia and Adelle’s parents were used in circuses across Eastern Europe, but Malkia and Adelle would leave a very different life. One of leisure thanks to the rescue organization.
They grew up with humans serving the role as their parent and Michaela ended up being one of those people.
She visits Malkia Park in Slovakia up to three times a month just to see her “godchildren.”
She’s one of only three people who is allowed to be up close to the animals.
And when she finally does visit, Malkia and Adelle basically freak out. I mean, don’t you get excited when you see your mom?
Though some media reports said that Michaela hadn’t seen the lions in seven years, that report was false.
But the way these lions reacted to seeing Michaela after just a few weeks of separation would make you think they had been apart for years.
“That’s not the case, Michaela comes to see them sometimes three times a month,” a spokesman for Malkia Park said. “We never play with them as they are dangerous animals, we respect their mood, and only cuddle when they want. It always takes only those few minutes what you see on the video, sometimes less.”
But cuddle time for lions can look pretty terrifying for a human. A video was captured of Michaela greeting her two lion buddies.
Basically, you see two giant beasts run toward her which is scary in itself.
Then they both jump up and grab her from the other side of the fence with both paws. She is getting giant hugs from these two fearsome looking creatures.
The pair then proceeds to lick her with their razor-sharp surfaced tongues and even gently gnaw at her skull.
They seem to be trying very hard not to hurt her.
However, you can hear a few “ows” through Michaela’s squeals of excitement and cooing.
Look how excited and happy this lion is…. so adorable!
“Then they continue running and playing together. At the age of four, Malkia is a little bit different, she is more wild, so we need to be more aware,” the park spokesperson said.
Watch Michaela get loved up by two lions in the video below.
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