Mikkel playing with Sirga the
lioness. Their work has now been documented by photographer Nicolai
Frederik Bonnén Rossen who himself got up-close-and-personal with
the magnificent predators.
Mikkel playing with Sirga the
lioness cub. The amazing pictures show Sirga - a 110lb lioness -
and her adopted pride Valentin Gruener and Mikkel
Legarth
Mikkel playing with Sirga the
lioness cub. Incredibly she treats the two men just like she would
other lions and with their help she can now hunt for prey on her
own.
Mikkel playing with Sirga the
lioness cub. She is now a beacon for hoped success of the Modisa
Wildlife Project, founded in Botswana, Africa
Mikkel posing for a selfie with
Sirga
Valentin playing around with
Sirga. He said: "A pride had three cubs and two were killed before
Sirga was abandoned without food. It happened on our land and we
could not standby and watch her die.
Valentin and Mikkel with some of
the lions from the project. "We didn't want Sirga to become like
other lions in captivity, constantly fed by streams of tourists.
She only interacts with me and Valentin.
Mikkel, Sirga and Valentin. She
hunts her own food, taking antelopes and she will let us be near
her when she eats it which is remarkable.
"Sirga doesn't mind people, but she
doesn't pay them any attention. Wild lions are scared of people,
the problem comes if you release a lion that is used to people in
the wild, that can cause problems.
Valentin and Mikkel with some of
the lions from the project. Mikkel said: "If you release wild
lions somewhere else, they will come straight back to where they
were before because there is food there.
"And if you just dump a pride of
lions in the middle of a new territory they will disturb the prides
that are already there.
Valentin, Sirga and Mikkel.
As these amazing shots show Mikkel and Valentin has an incredible
affinity for the lions they rescue and not just Sirga.
