It’s been 10 years since this very lucky man found a lioness who was just a few days old and took her in. He still has morning cuddles with his huge furry friend. People and animals have been spending time together ever since. Their unique relationship shows that love is a language we all speak, both humans and animals.

When Valentin Gruener, a conservationist, saw his friend’s lioness in the morning, he made a video to show everyone what she does when she sees him for the first time. People were moved by the video, and it’s easy to see why.

She thinks I’m his best friend. He said: “She always gives me a big hug.” As a cat would, “She does like to rub her head on my shoulder.” In the past, Sirga has not been mean to me. I admire her for what she does. I’m sure she knows that I’m very different.

Gruener and Sirga met for the first time in 2012, but it wasn’t the best time. It was only a few days old when Gruener found the strong lion. She was born in a rehabilitation center, and her mother didn’t like her right away. She was the only one to live from the litter. In Botswana, Gruener took her to the Modisa Wildlife Project, which he helped start with a group of other people. It was there that their friendship began.

She is very gentle with such a big cat. Whenever I visit her, she always hugs me like in the video. “She is very friendly and gentle for a lion.”

Valentin Gruener is a dedicated conservationist and co-founder of the Modisa Wildlife Project in the Kalahari, Botswana,