At the tender age of 10 days, naturalist Valentin Gruner came to the rescue of a nine-year-old lioness named Sirga.
At the Modisa Wildlife Project, a wildlife sanctuary in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, Sirga lives alongside her 33-year-old partner and his 33-year-old girlfriend. They walk, play, and even act as a close unit.
Her embraces are full of energy too. She rubs her head against my shoulder like a house cat. Despite her size and strength, Sirga has never been hostile toward me.
Because I am so distinctive, she must be aware of that.
Since her mother refused to feed Sirga when they were placed in a rehabilitation center, Valentin has taken care of her ever since.
He saved Sirga’s life, and she has never forgotten it.
To me, she’s a friend I’ve had for ten years, not just another lion. Sirga patrols her territory like a true lioness.
Her preference in hunting lies in the thrill of stalking and chasing her prey, rather than the kill itself.
