Temporarily forgetting the fact that Tsavo is not one of those lions that Richardson raised from when he was a cub and that before the Lion Park, Tsavo was mistreated at another facility, he bravely ventured into the enclosure. If someone you respect says, “Hey, that is not okay” then the person’s ego is affected – a significant motivator of behavioural change.
If not, where did the cubs for the movie come from?
Belly rubs (when permitted), food on demand at the hint of a meow, and always a string dangling from somewhere to play with. Kevin Richardson is all but ordinary with his unique career in wildlife conservation and filmmaking. Posted by Editorial Team | Interests, Wildlife | 0. How many predators do you have at the sanctuary, and would you be willing to explain the background of all of them? I think the idea that paying money for something that serves a higher purpose is the same as “supporting” an industry they disagree with is a bit far-reaching and lacking in creativity and foresight. Like most people who campaign for the welfare of lions, I sometimes battle to envision an effective way to bring legal reform when the system is primarily designed in a way that the emotional and physical wellbeing of the animal are neglected. Richardson isn’t the Mowgli type, raised in the wild with animals all around him. Despite his success at cultivating intimate bonds with the dangerous predators, Richardson has seen his fair share of dangers and close encounters. For these few lucky lions that escaped the bullet and now live in my sanctuary, this choice served them well too. Would this have been possible without the interactions and relationships the presenters have with the wildlife? No, my relationships and interactions began by a chance opportunity given to me as a young and naïve man.
During a family celebration in the Lion Park, Richardson under pressure from his family members and still “green” enough, risks his safety by entering the enclosure of a young lion named Tsavo. The background of these animals is that I came to know them while working at Lion Park as a young man in the late 90’s. It seems, in this case, the fish is rotting from both ends. The animals in sanctuaries that allow petting are victims of exploitation for financial gain. He spent much of his working (and free) hours at Cub World in The Lion Park – a cub interaction and petting attraction. The demand for petting small, cute animals has always existed. Most of the lions are well over 12 years old, many 15, 16 and 17.
You can call it rescuing or purchasing… in that situation I felt I was paying a ransom for animals I had grown to know and love. KR: We would prefer to look at the lion cubs from the film “Mia and the White Lion” as being saved from the abhorrent canned hunting industry.
Thus, Richardson started thinking about moving away from the Lion Park and getting a large conservation sanctuary on his own, which would allow the captive lions to roam freely and not suffer behind cages.With the help of Rodney Fuhr, Richardson previously managed a special facility called the “Kingdom of the White Lion” in Broederstroom, which is an 800 hectors park. The response to the film was, and still is, overwhelming. The charity turned us down because one or more of their board members refused to partner with me. Perhaps this will help bring legal reform? The demand always existed and will continue to exist until outlawed. Cycads: Are you living next door to a poacher? Well, it only takes one look at Kevin Richardson’s videos to see his unique relationship with the animals. After realising quickly that one can only play to their strengths in this challenging campaign, I decided to take advantage of mine – which is reach. I'm committed to help change this. We also contribute to their school’s education programs in these highly remote areas.