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Zion the cub was born to his mother, Simba, in captivity, but the cub had to be removed from her care because his father did not accept him and became a danger to him. Without a mother and father to care for him, there was no choice but to have humans intervene - for the cub's survival. That's where 69-year-old Mr Von Solms comes in. It was up to him to take care of Zion.
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via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media -
The cub was friendly and tame by nature, which made his return to the wild unlikely, but it did help him bond with his caretaker. Zion lives with 18 other lions, as well as a couple of cheetahs and leopards, all under the care of Mr Von Solms. The DailyMail covered this story 11 years after Zion came into Mr Von Solms' care, and 11 years down the line, their bond is stronger than ever.
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03 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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Over all this time, the two have gotten to know one another well, and now, they often go on walks together, side by side, with Mr Von Solms affectionately holding Zion's tail. They ride trucks together. They cuddle at night sometimes, resting with one another. Mr Von Solms has learned that Zion does not like sudden noises, that they scare him, so he has taken to walking barefoot next to him during their walks.
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04 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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“Since Zion, I have raised nineteen lions, and leopards and cheetahs,” said Mr Von Solms, "But he is special because of the bond we share. I learnt so much from him."
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05 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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“It was a once in a lifetime experience to grow up with him and learn and live with him through all of the stages of being a lion," he added. “People talk about lions like they are just lions but they have personalities, they have humour and laugh. Zion is a gentle giant. He has never attacked humans and I trust him completely.”
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06 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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07 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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08 via DailyMail / Martin Harvey/Barcroft Media
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Cute teenage lion with giant paws lying on the ground.
Image shown for illustrative purposes; person depicted is a model.
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Cute lion cub in the grass.
Individual pictured is a model used for illustrative purposes.
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Adorable lion sub roaring in tall grass.
Models pictured are not representative.
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Itty bitty lion cub climbing onto a stair.
Image depicted solely for explanatory purposes.
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