This Lioness Repays Her Caregiver Of 10 Years With Hugs And Cuddles

 No matter the language, culture, distance, and even species, friendship knows no bounds. While most pet owners rant and rave about dogs and cats being a man’s best friend, Valentin Gruener, a wildlife enthusiast, has a friend of another caliber, one which would probably paralyze many with fear if she even opened her mouth to say “Hello!” Val can safely say that his best friend is a lion named Sirga. Their special bond is so great, they leap at each other every time they meet each other. Somebody managed to record these heartfelt encounters, and it, deservedly I might add, went viral on TikTok for all the right reasons. To Val, Sirga is perhaps the gentlest of lions out there, but he doesn’t recommend trying to befriend her, for it might have serious consequences: “she is always gentle and friendly despite her size. But I am the only one interacting with her. It would be dangerous for people who she is not used to.”

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Meet Sirga, the gentle lioness, and Valentin, her favorite human and caregiver

Just recently, their compilation of mutual hugs became viral on TikTok

In the video, many instances were shown where Sirga excitedly meets Valentin

Here’s the video itself:

Bear hugs!? Try a lion hug

Sirga is the only cub that survived the early days

Her mother refused to feed her, and that’s where Valentin started taking care of her

They formed an immediate bond

At that time, the Sirga started forming her habbit of hugging Valentin

Sirga grew and grew over the years

As she was maturing, their bonds grew even stronger

They’ve became acquainted 10 years ago, and their friendship moved leaps and bounds since then

Nowadays, Sirga and Valentin chill at the 2000 hectare reservation made just for her

There, they mostly chill in the shade, walk around Sirga’s dominion, and, of course, cuddle

Obligatory silly best-bud selfie

They are BFFs in the making