00:00 lions, and spotted hyenas, the apex predators of the African plains, arch rivals that compete
00:13 for the same prey.
00:15 But there is one man who counts these formidable carnivores as among his best friends.
00:22 Called the "lion whisperer" by his global fans, Kevin Richardson has a perspective into
00:27 predator behavior like no one else.
00:31 The ability that I've honed over the years is to read into the body language and one
00:36 has to be astutely aware of it.
00:41 I never cease to be humbled every time I'm around them.
00:45 Just the sheer power of an animal like fayetzi, but in the same breath, the gentleness, once
00:51 you accept it into their group.
00:53 This is one of those things that you'll never find the right words to describe it.
00:58 Kevin looks after 26 lions and 15 spotted hyenas that live in large natural enclosures.
01:09 They were all orphaned and unwanted, born in captivity elsewhere.
01:15 Kevin raised the lions from young cubs, helping to form lifelong bonds that play an important
01:21 part in his relationship with them.
01:25 This is not just me coming in here one day, sitting down with a fully grown adult male
01:30 lion and rolling around with him.
01:33 This is a relationship that's developed over many, many years.
01:36 He's a six-year-old male.
01:37 The trust has been built over time.
01:39 By the same token, I never forget that there are wild animals and this is a lion and something
01:45 can switch in his brain and I can be a goner if you don't play your cards right.
01:49 So there has been a method to my madness and it has evolved over time.
01:54 [music]
02:01 (upbeat music)
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