Female tiger wrangler Or Lazmi - PHOTO
5.4.2013

Petite Or Lazmi shows absolutely no fear, as she snuggles up to Shosho - a massive 33 stone, male Siberian tiger.

Or, who stands just 5ft 1ins tall and weighs only 8st 11, looks after dozens of big cats at Seaview Lion Park, South Africa.
After raising many of the animals from cubs she has complete confidence in them and over the years had barely suffered so much as a scratch.

Or, 25, who is originally from Israel, and now manages the park, 18 miles from Port Elizabeth, said: 'It's not your everyday job, but these tigers are my babies.

'I love getting this close to the animals - even though I am a lot smaller than them.

'People are scared of tigers because they are so powerful, but we train them to understand 'no'.

'I never let them use their claws or teeth on me. I have only been scratched when they were tiny and knew no better.'

The tiger lover has raised two-year-old Shosho and his sister Faye since park staff took them from their mother at nine days old.

Or, who is also pictured with three-month-old cubs Judah and Ruby said: 'I live on site and spend four hours a day, seven days a week with the tigers.

'I have to replace their mother in every way when they are young; bottle feeding, walking, and even potty training.

'They are more similar to human babies than lion cubs, as they cry all the time - we even have to rock them under the arms to calm them down.

'Shosho is my big boy and always loved cuddles, but Faye was a feisty cub - I think I've got her under control now.'

Seaview started housing lions 15 years ago - they now have 30 lions, ten tigers and three leopards.

Or is pictured walking 23-month-old roaring lions, Adam and Jagger.

All the big cats live in individual enclosures of around two hectares, and are taken out daily for walks.

Or said: 'The tigers have trees to climb, bushes to hide in and a damn to swim.

'They are totally happy here - if they weren't, they wouldn't be breeding, eating and playing as often as they are.

'The illegal hunting of tigers in South Africa means these tigers are endangered. They have to stay here so we can keep up their gene pool.

'It is hoped some tigers will eventually be put back into the wild. I'd love to see that happen in my lifetime.'

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