Meet the animal lover who is best friends with a 550 lbs lion that he pampers and cuddles

The pair first met when Goerge was born at the Lion and Safari Park in Gauteng, South Africa, where Shandor works as the head of animal husbandry. George, now 10, has grown from a tiny cub to the head of his own pride, but he always makes time for Shandor. Shandor said: "It's like watching a child grow up, or a younger sibling grow up, and it's exactly the same feeling. "George is similar to me in the sense that while he's social, he also likes to be alone a lot. It's amazing to see that when I arrive he'll leave the rest of the pride and walk over. "I can thinks of times in my life where I was really struggling and the animals really helped me." And George chooses to spend time with Shandor as much as the other way around. Shandor added: "They have good days and bad days just like us. If I go in there and he doesn't come running up, then I know it's not going to happen." George loves to be pampered and Shandor massages, brushes his hair and plays with him at least once a day. Shandor said: "He absolutely loves the fly repellent we make for him. He rolls around like a little kitten, and it's his favourite time to get a massage, or a foot rub, he loves it. "But I always used to say, at the end of the day, their natural instinct kicks in, so if one lion has a go at you, the others join in.