South African lion gets soothing massage - Daily Mail

[massage]

• Suzanne Scott looks after 74 lions at the GG Conservation Centre in South Africa
• She says lion manager, Mike Mapalala, has a unique relationship with the cats
• Mr Mapalala, 42, gets close to the lions and is able to give some head massages
• He was filmed giving seven-year old male Smokey a comforting head massage

By Rachael Burford For Mailonline

Published: 05:05 EDT, 20 April 2017 | Updated: 05:47 EDT, 20 April 2017


This is the adorable moment a fully grown male lion gets a relaxing head massage.

Suzanne Scott and Pat Shannon look after 74 lions at the GG Conservation Centre in South Africa, where the lion manager, Mike Mapalala, has a unique relationship with the big cats.

Mr Mapalala, 42, gets close to a lot of the lions, and is able to give a select few of them relaxing head massages.

Lion manager, Mike Mapalala (pictured), has a unique relationship with the big cats he looks after

He is able to give some of the lions, including Smokey (pictured left and right), a head massage


He is seen giving seven-year old male Smokey a comforting head massage.

Ms Scott, 48, said: 'Mike has a special relationship with the lions and he knows which ones like human interaction.

'He knows when it is safe to touch the lions and there is no worry of them lashing out.

'Mike has a special bond with Smokey, and the lion loves his attention.

'Every morning they spend time together as Mike moves Smokey to his camp, in order for vehicles to pass through.

Smokey (left and right) is a seven-year-old lion living at the GG Conservation Centre in South Africa


'The lion always delays moving areas because he's waiting for Mike's attention, it's adorable.'

Wild lion numbers are rapidly declining in Africa due to loss of habitat, poaching, and diseases.

More information can be found at ggconservation.org.

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