Time for a catnap! Lioness settles down for a snooze next to the man who rescued her as a cub – and tenderly lays a giant paw on his headTen-year-old Sirga the lioness loves to snooze next to her rescuer Val GruenerThe pair will often nod off in the shade, while Sirga places her paw on his head Mr Gruener and Mikkel Legarth saved her as a cub when her mother rejected herThe pair founded the Modisa Wildlife Project in Botswana to protect wild lions
A lioness who survived against all odds loves nothing more than to have a snooze next to the man who rescued her as helpless cub – with one paw placed gently on his head as a mark of affection.
Ten-year-old Sirga might be a massive predator weighing around 185kg, but the big cat leaps into the arms of conservationist Val Gruener at the Modisa Wildlife Project in Botswana like a tabby seeing their owner after a long day.
Mr Gruener, 34, rescued the lioness when she was only a few days old and has reared her ever since, meaning the unlikely couple are now so comfortable they have a quiet nap under trees together.
Best of friends: Sirga and Val Gruener have such a close relationship that he will happily lie next to her when she yawns, baring her teeth, at the Modisa Wildlife Project in Botswana
Despite the fact they lie right next to each other, Sirga will even reach out with a giant paw and place it on Val’s head while asleep to make sure they have body contact.
German-born Mr Gruener said: ‘Cuddling Sirga is of course an amazing feeling. On a hot day she can spend most of the time just sitting under some bush in the shade with me.
‘While she snoozes, she usually wants to know I am nearby and keeps body contact by putting a paw onto me or just leaning against me.
‘The first bit when she greets and hugs me is a little bit like playing a short game of intense rugby and can be physically challenging and exhausting for me.
‘When she is over that hype which usually doesn’t last long it gets more relaxed and enjoyable for me as well.
‘Although I fully trust her it is mentally a huge deal to be so close to a large predator as there is always an element of risk involved.’
Sirga reaches out with a giant paw on Mr Gruener’s head whenever they have a snooze under a tree in Botswana
Greetings! Sirga weighs around 185kg but she always greets conservationist Mr Gruener with a hearty leap
Sirga’s parents had wandered from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in search of land and ended up in an enclosure on a cattle farm, where she and two other cubs were born.
Her siblings died and Sirga was rejected by her mother, before being rescued by conservationists Mr Gruener and his business partner Mikkel Legarth, who refused to stand by and watch her die.
Throughout the years, Sirga developed a special bond with the pair, who have fought to save her species in Botswana.
She is now a proud mascot of the Modisa Wildlife Project, founded by Mr Gruener and Mr Legarth, who is Danish, in an endeavour to save southern Africa’s wild lion population.
Increased farming has endangered big cats by cutting off their territories, despite the fact Botswana is two and a half times the size of Britain – with vast areas of wilderness.
Sirga has a special bond with Mr Gruener, who rescued her as a cub, and will wake up by nudging his head with hers
Mr Gruener added: ‘Since she could overpower me so easily it is therefore obvious that I need to be absolutely focused on her and her behaviour.
‘I blend out everything else around me and when I am with her it is only me and her and the moment and space that we are in.
‘That feeling of no distractions and just living in this very presence is maybe the most rewarding experience about being with her.’
Sirga lives in a 5,000-acre reserve right next to Val’s home and the pair can trek up to 18 miles a day while she stalks antelope.
Apex predator Sirga has known Valentin Gruener her whole life since he began raising her after she was rejected by her mother
The lioness is always so happy to see Mr Gruener that she leaps through the air and into his arms before lying on top of him and licking him
Mr Gruener said: ‘If the weather is cool, Sirga can move 20 to 30 km in a day, and we are busy tracking and stalking and chasing antelope.
‘On those days she does not have much time for cuddles until she gets fully exhausted.
‘Sirga has become a huge lioness. If she stands up on her hind legs, she is much taller than me.’
‘Aside from Sirga growing very massive nothing much has changed.
‘Today she has a 2,000 hectare reserve where she can roam around in but with our relationship it has always been the same.’
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