wolverxne:

This is enough to warm even the wildest of hearts. Deep in the African bush a lioness gives giant hug to the two men who saved her. As a cub, Sirga was driven out of her pride and rescued by Valentin Gruener and Mikkel Legarth who could not stand by and watch her die. Now the 110lb lioness has developed an incredible bond with the pair who are fighting to save her species in Botswana, southern Africa.

Sirga treats the two conservationists just like she would other lions and with their help she can now hunt for prey on her own. She is now a beacon for hoped success of the Modisa Wildlife Project, founded in Botswana, Africa, by Mr Gruener, from Germany, and Mr Legarth, who is Danish, with the hope of saving the lion population. Botswana is two and a half times the size of Britain and has vast areas of wilderness - but already increased farming is bringing lions and man into more and more conflict.

From a base camp in the African bush the Modisa Wildlife Project has been working with local farmers and Willie De Graaff, owner of Grassland Safari Lodge, to find a way long term solution.The plan is to relocate the lions which are coming into contact with farmers to one large protected area where they have enough wild prey to feed on.As these amazing shots show Mikkel and Valentin has an incredible affinity for the lions they rescue and not just Sirga.

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Photos by:  Nicolai Frederik and Bonnén Rossen {Tumblr},