I must say, it’s completely understandable to feel fear towards lions. They are indeed powerful and majestic creatures. Similarly, many people experience apprehension when it comes to hyenas, even though they may not have personal experiences with raising them. In my case, I had the opportunity to raise a lion, and it was an intimidating experience.

Let me describe my lion to you. He was truly awe-inspiring, primarily due to his immense size. When fully grown, he weighed over 400 pounds and stood much taller than me when on all fours. His striking feature was his inky black, voluminous mane, which extended halfway down his spine and made his head even taller than mine. Sometimes, I would style his mane into a punkish mohawk, mousse and all.

However, as Tsavo, my lion, reached adolescence, our dynamic changed. He transformed into a bully, and my once deep affection for him became intertwined with genuine fear. What made matters worse was that Tsavo could sense my nervousness around him, and it only exacerbated the situation. It’s essential not to display nervousness around lions, as they can pick up on it.

I must admit, I was distressed by this turn of events. Such doubt hadn’t plagued me in my interactions with tigers, whom I respected without harboring absolute fear. But with Tsavo, it was different. I struggled to reconcile my feelings, especially since fear didn’t align with my character.

In the end, something happened, and I had to maintain a physical distance from Tsavo. Our interaction became limited to caring for him from outside his enclosure, which created a sense of resentment. Curiously, Tsavo appeared unfazed by these changes, and I was grateful for that.

With time, I came to understand that the new arrangement was for the best, though it’s still difficult for me to admit. Meeting Tsavo introduced a level of fear that I hadn’t experienced before, and it has influenced my perspective. As we grow older and gain wisdom, it’s natural for most individuals to harbor a certain level of fear towards lions and hyenas—particularly those with good common sense. Lions can indeed be quite intimidating, and I can attest to that firsthand.