Lions, like most big cats, are beautiful animals— but they’re also incredibly dangerous. The lion isn’t known as the ‘King of the Jungle’ for nothing. Lions can weigh anywhere from 265 to 420 pounds, and can grow to be over 6 feet in length! If you still think you want to test your luck with these bad boys, Live Science reminds us that they can run 50 miles per hour, and can leap as far as 36 feet.

Despite the fact that lions are dangerously wild, one petite woman has managed to make herself the Queen of this South African pack. Meet Or Lazmi, an animal trainer and manager at Seaview Predator Park.

The privately-owned park is located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. And here, Lazmi has been caring for a group of lions since they were just cubs.

Because Lazmi has been around for the cubs’ entire lives, they respect her and consider her to be a dominant member of their pride. In fact, Lazmi is so confident about the lions’ behavior that others are invited to walk right into their pens if she is around!

When asked how she has managed to form such a close relationship with, what are essentially, wild animals, Lazmi has an enlightening response:
“We respect them as wild animals, to start off with. I think that’s one of the key points. We don’t train them; we don’t do anything like that.”

“You basically need to earn their trust and their respect. They’ve known me as a constant dominant figure in their life since they were babies, and that’s why I’m able to go up so close to them now.”

It’s so amazing to see how much these giant felines respect their tiny caregiver. Despite their unbelievable strength, these cats seem completely content and peaceful in her presence. They snuggle up close and give her big lion kisses.

More:

The large feline appeared to thrust his tongue out at park visitors with open mouths while perched atop another lion.

Mr. Bridges, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, stated, “There are two males and one female in that pride.” Suddenly, one of the lions stood up, strode over to his companion, and leapt onto his back.

“Quite a few people were laughing as they observed and commented on what they saw,” the author writes.

“I believe it was a case of’should have gone to Specsavers’ as the lioness was just lying there next to them.

‘However, whenever a male approached her, she barked and struck his face with her paw.

It is not unheard of for them to behave in such a manner occasionally. I don’t know if it’s a dominance issue or something similar – it appears like they’re being aggressive, but it’s just friendly play.’

One of the male lions can be seen approaching his companion, mounting him, and pinning him down in the photographs.

Mr. Bridges, a 42-year-old warehouse shift supervisor, had previously photographed lions at the zoo, but this was the first time he’d witnessed them playing together.

Mr. Bridges, a 42-year-old warehouse shift supervisor, had previously photographed lions in the wildlife park, but this was the first time he witnessed them frolicking together.

Typically, when I go to photograph them, they are sleeping and doing nothing, but this time they were active.

My favorite photograph is the one in which he appears to be thrusting out his tongue.

I’ve never seen a photograph of two men stacked on top of one another with one of them protruding his tongue – it looks like he’s taking pride in his work.

I admire creatures so much that I cannot bring myself to harm even an insect or a spider, and I appreciate the park’s conservation efforts.