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Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend

Thursday, 23/03/2023, 12:40 (GMT+7)

Their special bond is so great they hug each other every time they meet. Recently, a video about this special friendship is being popularized on TikTok.

Regardless of language, culture, distance, and even race, friendship knows no bounds. Valentin Gruener, a wildlife enthusiast, has a beautiful friendship with a lioness named Sirga. 

Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 1
Image credits: sirgathelioness

Sirga had its own territory - a very peaceful kingdom. The lioness lives in a specially set up 2000-hectares reserve where she can hunt and live as freely as possible. And Valentin is still by her side every day in Botswana.

Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 2
Image credits: sirgathelioness
Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 3
Image credits: sirgathelioness
Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 1
Image credits: sirgathelioness
Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 5

Valentin said that caring for Sirga is very meaningful to him personally: “I have always loved animals but Sirga changed my life forever. Caring for Sirga is still teaching me what it means to truly be there for another being. I will continue to be by Sirga's side and fight for the survival of Sirga's wild relatives for as long as I live."

Lioness who loves hugging her human best friend 6
Image credits: sirgathelioness

For him, the secret to caring for such a large, wild animal is “a lot of love and time”. His girlfriend also helps a lot of other animals. "In the past 12 years, I haven't taken a vacation - I don't regret it though," he shared.