Tuesday, Aug 09, 2016

Manama: A Saudi woman has become a social media sensation after pictures and a video showed how she was able to tame lions, often revered as among the world’s most fearsome animals.

Rosana Al Deeni, in her 20s, said that she became engaged in raising lions and wild animals after she was deeply influenced by wildlife documentaries.

Her passion was fiercely resisted by her family and friends and she was deeply criticised for the risks she was taking, but Rosana persisted and insisted on living her passion, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Sunday.

“Many of my acquaintances were totally opposed to my idea,” she said. “However, after they watched my experience of living daily with lions on my SnapChat account, most of them changed their minds and they started telling positive things. They were convinced that a wild animal could change and be loyal to its owner.”

Rosana argued that although animals did not have brains similar to those of humans, they did have hearts and feelings.

“The costs for raising a wild animal can be high, but they most depend on the kind of food and care provided to them,” she told the daily.

In comments over the recent incidents in the Gulf in which owners were attacked by lions and tigers, the young Saudi woman said that people should make a clear distinction between those who tame and those who raise animals.

“Tamers want to teach the wild animals how to behave or how to react and they are often harsh with them, alternating between deprivation for long hours and gratification. However, those who raise animals do not have to use these techniques and there are therefore no attacks,” she said.

By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief

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