You're invited to celebrate 23 years of LION Meg and Kevin Richardson's unbreakable bond! It's Meg's 23rd birthday and in this special extra-long live premiered video, Kevin takes us through Meg's life. She has had an incredible impact on Kevin and the world.
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If you're moved by Meg's story and support what we do at the Animal Sanctuary, please consider joining our Youtube membership or gifting memberships to others!
#cat #wildlife #nature
Become a member of LionWhispererTV today and receive exclusive videos and content! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NS4MiiHAFo3CYI7fRSLtQ/join
New video every Friday at 4:00 PM GMT - Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NS4MiiHAFo3CYI7fRSLtQ?sub_confirmation=1
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LionWhispererTV aim is to raise awareness about The Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary.
Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:14look how happy she is hey guys so today is a very special day the wonderful Meg
00:24Meg I'm sporting the latest Meg tea in celebration of the wonderful Meg's birthday not just any
00:37birthday it's her 23rd birthday which is absolutely insane so yeah today we're going to be celebrating
00:48Meg's birthday together she's a special cat in so many ways but not only to me but to you guys
00:59as well
01:00hello my girl I'm 23 happy birthday to you 23 years old look at you you don't look a day
01:15older than 10 or 12 girl you really are a special cat look at that hey where do you find
01:26all that
01:26energy hey where do you find that energy you are such a gorgeous cat yes you are a gorgeous cat
01:38yeah guys I think everyone is wanting to wish this special lady a happy 23 happy 23
01:51such a special occasion and yeah what can I say this lion really
02:03has so much to do with why I do what I do to this day if you think about back
02:14when I didn't know much
02:15about anything and then I met this gorgeous girl and her sister and really they kind of opened my eyes
02:27eyes as to what was happening in the world of lions especially in captivity so you know I often say
02:39to people
02:41back when I started working with lions in 1998 we didn't really have access Meggie to the internet
02:49like we do today and it was very difficult to get information solid information reliable information
03:00on things so one kind of got the information through the word of mouth through people who you trusted and
03:11respected and or and or through the the media newspapers documentaries etc but things took a lot
03:20more time to get to the bottom of and I think what Meg is going to be doing for pretty
03:31much most of this
03:32time hey Meggilly yes yes are you just chilling hey let's get rid of those poggies there
03:45so
03:48what I might do guys is I might depending on how Meg is because sometimes when she wants to take
03:56her
03:56little naps she gets bugged when I am just talking all the time hey oh is this true
04:07so we'll see how she reacts to my talking but if she gets bugged then I will go and sit
04:13somewhere else
04:13because this is not about irritating Meg this is about just relaying the wonderful story of Meg
04:20um to you guys the audience okay let's just put that there because that is annoying let's just break it
04:28off there there we go there we go
04:59oh
04:59oh
04:59oh
05:00oh
05:00oh
05:00oh
05:23yeah so this special lady opened my eyes and
05:27I'd say the world's eyes to the plight of the lion in captivity along with her sister
05:35let's not forget your beautiful sister Amy
05:38um who so many of you would also remember who passed away
05:42yeah pretty much six years ago 2020 pretty much just before the start of COVID
05:49and who passed away sadly um because of leukemia
05:54slowly
06:01I think it's like a brown deer hey
06:04no
06:05no
06:07no
06:08no
06:08no
06:08no
06:08no
06:08no
06:08no
06:09no
06:09no
06:10no
06:21no
06:23no
06:25no
06:47no
06:47no
06:47no
06:48no
06:48no
06:48no
06:48no
06:49no
06:50no
06:57no
06:57no
06:58no
06:58no
06:59no
07:26Oh, my head!
07:30Oh, my head!
08:07Oh, my head!
08:29Alright, so I've just given Meg a little bit of space because she does tend to get a bit grumpy
08:39if I sit there rambling on and on and on while she's trying to sleep.
08:47You can see that unimpressed look in her face.
08:49And I don't want to disturb her on her birthday.
08:53So, I'm sitting here and I'm going to judge her mood and, yeah, let's see.
09:02Let's see how that goes.
09:04What can I say about Meg?
09:07Meg and Amy, two lions that really did turn my world upside down.
09:15From the moment they were born, they've just caused chaos in my life, but not in a bad way.
09:25Hello, boy.
09:25There's old Ikki.
09:27Shame.
09:33Old age is not for sissies.
09:40So, yeah.
09:42They turned my life upside down, but as I say, not in a bad way.
09:46They opened my eyes and really, from the day they were born, from the day their aunt tried to drown
09:57them, their mother neglected them.
09:58So, Tabby said, I don't want to look after these two girls.
10:02And I thought that Tabby's sister, Maddie Tau, would be a good alternative.
10:08And she wanted nothing to do with Meg and Amy and took them one by one and dunked them or
10:16dumped them in the water drinking bath.
10:20And it's ironic because, actually, this lioness loves swimming or used to love swimming, not so much anymore.
10:29Amy, not so much, but Meg used to really love the water.
10:34And, yeah, from that day on, I took them and I hand-raised them, not knowing where the adventure would
10:42go.
10:43So, here we are with Meg and Amy, and we're about to take them on an enrichment walk.
10:47And this is what will happen eventually with George and Yame.
10:51They'll be fully grown lions and doing exactly the same thing.
10:55So, here we go.
10:57And, enjoy.
10:59Off you go.
11:00Meg and Amy are really awesome lions to go walking with.
11:03It's literally like going for a walk with your dog.
11:07However, you just never know what's going to happen with them.
11:10They're very curious.
11:12They're very fit.
11:13They're very agile.
11:14And they always pick up on different scents.
11:16And they're not shy to go exploring.
11:19And that's really what I love about them.
11:23The huge water monitor.
11:25And it spattered her.
11:27It gave her a go.
11:28It said, get out of here.
11:30Did you respect her there?
11:31She's on her way.
11:35What they do to make themselves seem threatening is they hiss.
11:42There you go.
11:44And if you get too close, it faces you with its back.
11:47And then it lashes out its tail.
11:50And that tail is like a whip.
11:52But we're going to leave him alone.
11:54I think he's had enough trauma for one day.
11:56And you can see if a lion gives him that much respect, I think so should I.
12:05So, out here on a walk with Meg and Amy.
12:10Oh, they're going after something.
12:18I swear these girls do not learn.
12:21Oh, sure, but they've just gone after a porcupine.
12:47Just trying to look into her mouth to see if there's a quill that's stuck there.
12:57Okay, doesn't seem to be a quill stuck there.
12:59So, what's happened is they caught scent of this porcupine.
13:03And Meg, as efficient as she is, before the porcupine could put in a threatening display,
13:09she actually just nailed it quickly and crushed its skull.
13:13So, it was a very efficient, quick death.
13:16But it looks like she might just have a quill stuck somewhere.
13:22Tiny little one stuck somewhere in the throat.
13:29Okay, so what Amy is doing there now is she's plucking it.
13:32So, she's grabbing all the quills and pulling them out.
13:36And I'll try and get a good shot of that.
13:37But what they do is they pluck off all the quills so that they can get to the nice tasty
13:42meat.
13:42And actually, lions really, really love porcupine.
13:44So, let's get in there.
13:50Okay, so we are on an early morning walk with Meg and Amy.
13:56Okay.
14:08So, there's old Amy enjoying some fresh buck poop.
14:15Getting all that lovely smell all over her body.
14:20Ooh, is that nice?
14:36I tell you, I'm way too slow to run off to these lads.
14:41Oh, she's gone off to something.
14:46Okay, there's only something in the reeds here.
14:49She's gone in to inspect.
14:53Can you hear something moving?
14:57She's brave then, I am.
15:02Up pops Meg.
15:04Maybe that's what she heard in there.
15:09It was, yeah.
15:11It was Meg wandering in the bushes.
15:14She almost stalked and ambushed her sister.
15:18Hello Meggie.
15:25I think it's a bull.
15:31Bush pig.
15:32Ah, let me get there.
15:36Gosh.
15:42Now Meg thinks she's going to go and catch the other one.
15:46I think, uh-oh.
15:49Double trouble.
15:50It's running away.
15:51I think she'll give up on that one.
15:54I made a little promise to Meg and Amy
15:56that I would look after them
15:59for as best I could,
16:02for as long as I could.
16:03And, yeah, certainly in the case of Amy,
16:07I honoured that promise.
16:09And, yeah, it looks like I will be doing the same with Meg.
16:14But that promise, guys,
16:17was almost not fulfilled.
16:21And not due to my doing,
16:23but due to the fact that
16:25they were sold from
16:29literally behind my back
16:31whilst I was away on holiday.
16:33And when I got back from my trip,
16:35I called out to them
16:37and they would normally come running up
16:39and jump on me.
16:41But on this particular occasion,
16:44the camp was empty
16:46and they didn't come up.
16:47And when I investigated further,
16:50I found out that they'd been sold off.
16:53And, yeah,
16:54I just didn't let it stop there.
16:59I didn't take that to be the end.
17:02I knew just deep down
17:05that my life with these two
17:06meant more
17:08and was to be more.
17:10And so I fought tooth and nail.
17:12Are you going?
17:14Hello, my girl.
17:16Come, my girlie.
17:18Come, my girlie.
17:20She's...
17:21Oh, sorry, my girl.
17:23Oh, those legs are getting a little bit shaky
17:25as she gets older.
17:26Oh, she's got a thorn in her paw.
17:28That's why.
17:30But you can see, guys,
17:31so when I start to talk too much,
17:35she doesn't get grumpy
17:36in the sense that she will bite me
17:39or whatever.
17:39She just moves away
17:41and she's going to go and sit there
17:43in the grass
17:45with Icarus,
17:46who's not making a noise
17:47like Kev.
17:50She doesn't want to hear
17:51the story of Megan Amy.
17:52She's heard it
17:54way too many times.
17:55But anyway,
17:58I fought tooth and nail
17:59to get Megan Amy back.
18:02And long story short,
18:05if you want to know
18:06all the nitty-gritty details,
18:07it's there
18:09in so many different formats
18:11in the format of a book,
18:14of my book,
18:15in the format of videos
18:18that I've done previously.
18:20don't check out
18:21the Megan Amy story.
18:22But needless to say
18:24is that
18:24when I rescued
18:25those two
18:27from the place
18:28that they were at,
18:30which was
18:30a horrible
18:33farm,
18:33breeding farm,
18:35and
18:35I never forget them
18:37in and amongst
18:38this sea of lionesses
18:40and I called out
18:41their names,
18:42Maggie, Amy,
18:43and these two heads
18:44popped up
18:46out of all these
18:47sleeping lions
18:48and came running
18:49to the fence.
18:52And I remember the guy,
18:54like it was yesterday,
18:55saying to me,
18:56and now,
18:57how are you going to
18:57get them into the crates?
18:59Because typically,
19:00you're going to have to
19:02sedate a lion
19:03to get them in a crate
19:04and didn't have
19:05any sedation drugs.
19:08And so,
19:09I remember looking at
19:10Megan Amy and saying,
19:11this is your opportunity
19:13to get out of here,
19:14so you better just
19:15listen.
19:17And
19:18I started with Meg
19:19and I put the crate
19:20next to the gate
19:21and I opened the crate
19:22and opened the gate
19:23and in went Meg,
19:24put her on the back
19:25of the truck
19:26and the same with Amy.
19:28They knew
19:29what this was about.
19:31They didn't need
19:32any coaxing
19:33or anything like that.
19:34They knew that
19:35this was their ticket
19:36out of there
19:36and that Kev
19:37had come to rescue them.
19:39So,
19:40it was a
19:41really
19:45defining moment
19:47in my life,
19:48a defining moment
19:48in my career
19:49where I
19:51was driving back
19:53from that place
19:54realizing what was going on.
19:56Well,
19:56actually not realizing
19:57but starting to process
19:59what was going on
20:01and realizing
20:02that actually
20:07inadvertently
20:08I had become
20:08a part
20:09of this whole
20:11industry,
20:12let's call it that.
20:13And
20:13so that set
20:15the cogs in motion
20:18to try
20:19and figure out
20:20how I was going
20:21to
20:22one day
20:23own
20:24my own sanctuary
20:26that I could be
20:27the one
20:28calling the shots
20:29and obviously
20:30also bear the
20:31responsibility
20:32which is
20:33why we moved here.
20:36Ultimately,
20:36we were able
20:38to move here
20:39to
20:40this sanctuary
20:42where we could
20:43just let the lions
20:45live out
20:45their lives
20:47as best
20:48as we could
20:50allow them to
20:51and as best
20:52as we could
20:53give them
20:54the kind of
20:55attention
20:56and love
20:57and everything
20:58that they
20:58deserved
20:59which included
21:01me maintaining
21:02the relationships
21:03with these individuals
21:05and being able
21:06to take them
21:07out of these camps
21:08and walk them
21:10in the bigger
21:10areas
21:12of the farm
21:13as well as
21:14rotate them
21:14within the camps
21:16as well as
21:17do all the other
21:18normal enrichment
21:19stuff that you
21:20would do
21:20to keep
21:21these lions' minds
21:24active
21:25and their bodies
21:25and like
21:27two good girls
21:28off they go
21:28go go go
21:29yeah yeah yeah
21:30Meggie
21:32okay so always
21:33when I
21:34take the lions out
21:36I don't know
21:37those of you
21:38who follow me
21:38will probably
21:39see that
21:39I start walking
21:41and I head off
21:42in a direction
21:42immediately
21:43because it gets
21:44the lions into
21:45a mode
21:46of walking
21:47so Meggie's
21:48using this bush
21:49up front
21:49as cover
21:50and Amy
21:51is to the left
21:53and she's gone
21:54out quite wide
21:57and I guess
21:58what's going to
21:58happen is Meg's
21:59going to try
21:59and chase
22:00the giraffe
22:01towards Amy
22:02I'm not
22:03sure
22:04that these lions
22:05have the ability
22:06to take down
22:08such a big giraffe
22:09with their
22:10experience level
22:12but they certainly
22:13are closing in
22:14on it
22:16okay the giraffe's
22:17onto them
22:19and trotting away
22:21at a nice pace
22:23so I think that's
22:24not going to happen
22:26thank you
22:29and that's what happens
22:32that's what happens
22:33when there's been
22:33too much rain
22:34these lions
22:35got a cuckoo
22:36too much rain
22:37and it's
22:38it's too
22:41it's too cool
22:42outside
22:44you got the
22:45crazy crazy crazy
22:47Meg and Amy
22:49never a dull moment
22:50with these two girls
22:51listen
22:52today we got some
22:53very very very
22:54important questions
22:55to ask
22:57and I know
22:59it's feeding day
22:59so please
23:00just give me
23:0210 minutes
23:03of your time
23:0310 minutes
23:04of your time
23:05please Meg
23:07and I promise
23:08I'll get you
23:09out of your hair
23:10and I'll leave you
23:11to do whatever
23:13you want to do
23:14for the rest of the day
23:15eat your
23:15nice big steak
23:19Meg's age
23:2023 years of age
23:21bears testament
23:22to the kind
23:24of a quality
23:25of life
23:25that they've lived
23:27and yeah
23:28obviously not all
23:29of the animals
23:29fair as well
23:31as Meg
23:31Meg has been
23:32a wow
23:33stellar example
23:34of health
23:37the kind
23:38of the epitome
23:38of health
23:39if you ask me
23:42longest living
23:43lioness
23:43in my care
23:44I think
23:46Tao
23:48he lived
23:49to
23:50he was the
23:51longest living
23:51lion
23:5223
23:52I think
23:53he also got
23:54to Tao
23:54but he was not
23:55in the kind
23:56of
23:58physical
23:59and I suppose
24:00mental condition
24:01that Meg
24:02is in
24:03so
24:03that was that
24:04so
24:04yeah
24:05one of the
24:06big
24:09kind of
24:09milestones
24:10in my life
24:11was that
24:12Meg and Amy
24:13rescue
24:15and
24:16so many
24:18so many
24:19adventures
24:19and stories
24:20of these
24:20girls
24:22you know
24:22from walking
24:23in the bigger
24:23area
24:26Meg and Amy
24:27being
24:29porcupine
24:30specialists
24:31in the sense
24:32that I've never
24:32seen lions
24:35to this day
24:36guys
24:36I've never
24:37seen lions
24:38kill porcupine
24:40more quickly
24:42and efficiently
24:42than Meg
24:43and Amy
24:43it's
24:45incredible
24:45I so often
24:46get told
24:47that captive
24:48lions
24:48are unable
24:49to hunt
24:51or fend
24:51for themselves
24:52but
24:53it is true
24:54in many
24:55respects
24:56because
24:56mostly captive
24:58lions
24:59are living
24:59in environments
25:00where they
25:00are not
25:01stimulated
25:01enough
25:02and not
25:03fit enough
25:04and then
25:05there's also
25:05the whole
25:06genetic
25:06component
25:08that comes
25:08into it
25:09and
25:09it's another
25:11story for
25:12another day
25:12why
25:13captive
25:14carnivores
25:16in my opinion
25:17many
25:18of the
25:18hand raised
25:19or human
25:19imprinted
25:20captive
25:21carnivores
25:22can't be
25:23released
25:24back into
25:24the wilderness
25:25and I have
25:26done videos
25:26on it before
25:28you're most
25:29welcome to
25:29go and
25:29have a look
25:30at those
25:31but yeah
25:32so from
25:33Amy and
25:34Meg
25:34doing their
25:35thing
25:37to
25:39Meg
25:39just
25:40loving
25:41swimming
25:41and always
25:42you know
25:42having the
25:43confidence
25:43to
25:45come into
25:46the water
25:47when I
25:48called her
25:49which is
25:50incredible
25:50for her
25:52to have
25:52such trust
25:53that she
25:53would
25:54actually
25:55you know
25:56put all
25:57of her
25:58reservations
25:58and
25:59suppress
26:00her instincts
26:01saying
26:02like this
26:03is not a
26:03good thing
26:03to actually
26:04come to me
26:05and swim
26:06to me
26:06is such
26:08a special
26:09honour
26:10where
26:10actually you
26:12realise
26:12that there's
26:13something more
26:13to this
26:15lion
26:15in your
26:16relationship
26:16than meets
26:18the eye
26:18so another
26:19very
26:21incredible
26:22story
26:23in the
26:24life of
26:25Meg
26:26yeah guys
26:27I mean
26:27there's so
26:28many stories
26:28but obviously
26:29when Amy
26:32fell gravely
26:33ill
26:33and lost
26:34a lot
26:35of weight
26:35and eventually
26:36was diagnosed
26:37with leukaemia
26:38we
26:38struggled to
26:42we really
26:43did struggle
26:43to come
26:45to terms
26:46with
26:46accepting
26:47that we
26:48had lost
26:49Amy
26:49and it
26:50was a
26:51tough time
26:52because I
26:52could see
26:52the change
26:53in Meg
26:55they don't
26:56think about
26:56the past
26:57or the future
26:58like we
26:58do
26:59and I
27:00suppose
27:00that's
27:01good for
27:02their survival
27:03you know
27:03because Amy
27:04will
27:05she'll just
27:06live
27:06her life
27:07until she
27:08can't live
27:09it anymore
27:09just
27:11and
27:11as
27:14Oh
27:14Oh
27:16Oh
27:18Oh
27:20Oh
27:23Oh, my God.
28:12Wow, that's really incredible.
28:16It's been a long time since meganomia have roared like that, so wow, it's incredible.
28:24Got goose flesh sitting here in the rain and got these two girls going roaring like there's
28:36no tomorrow.
28:37Wow.
28:38Incredible.
28:51She's such a fighter.
28:53I mean look at that fighting spirit.
28:55She's just so fighting.
29:01Yeah, my girl.
29:06Beautiful, majestic Amy.
29:10You are a princess.
29:23I think we are on borrowed time with Amy.
29:30It's not an easy pill to swallow but what we are going to do is we are going to try
29:35our
29:35best, give her the meds, hope for the best and just make sure she has everything she wants
29:42and needs and has the happiest few months that we can possibly give and I think that's the
29:53aim now.
29:53the aim now is to just make Amy's life the best, the best, best, best, best, best life
30:01ever.
30:03Hey sweetie pie.
30:18Amy, Amy, Amy.
30:20Hey.
30:23I've said it before and I'll say it again.
30:25It's just mental because we know too much and I think that's the problem.
30:37Amy, the problem is we know too much and that is not a cool thing because we start to worry
30:45about the future and Amy doesn't really worry about the future.
30:50She's just living today and if she's feeling good she's going to give it her all and if she's
30:55not feeling good she's going to be lethargic and depressed but today she's feeling good.
31:05Hey.
31:07Are you feeling good?
31:09Hey my darling.
31:11Are you feeling good?
31:13Yes you are feeling good today.
31:15Hey.
31:16Actually for a change Meg is allowing me to spend time with Amy so who knows.
31:22these animals are more in tune than we think so perhaps Meg does know that there's something
31:27up but I don't know maybe Amy does too.
31:33It's very hard to understand these things because you really just don't know.
31:41I wish I had a way of getting into her head but it's not going to happen.
31:50It's interesting because we talk about mourning and mourning is not the same.
31:57Lions and we don't, it's not the same emotional kind of connection.
32:02And in my past I did say like when Vaietsi lost his brother Mafumo I did say that Vaietsi was
32:08more moaning
32:11and groaning because of his loneliness more than as a result of him wanting Mafumo back.
32:20That was my position.
32:22And certainly there was merit in that because as soon as Ginny and Livy got put with Vaietsi all of
32:30that went away.
32:31So yeah they are designed differently to cope with those, to cope with the losses.
32:38But I could see Meg was not happy about just living on her own.
32:41So when Unitei passed away, which was Icarus' partner, we then decided that it might be a good idea
32:54to try and pair those two because they were both living alone.
32:58And slowly, okay, and he's through.
33:05And guys it wasn't the first time that we had tried to pair Meg and Amy with other lions.
33:11We had, when we moved here, old Suja was getting picked on by Bongani and Sa.
33:19And so, ah man, it was just constant fighting.
33:23So we thought, well, poor old Suja, let's pair him up with these two beautiful lionesses
33:28and let him live out his life that way.
33:31But that was not meant to be because Meg and Amy became the bullies and started bullying Suja.
33:38So much so that eventually Suja would just hang out at the back of the enclosure.
33:43And we had to make then the hard decision of, well, it wasn't really a hard decision,
33:46but we made the decision to move Suja back to Bongani and Sa.
33:53Subsequently, Sa passed on and then it was Suja and Bongani.
33:57But their relationship was a lot better once Sa was no longer there.
34:04So the dynamics do change.
34:06So that was quite, quite the story.
34:08But then yes, the romance, the romance, what can I say about the Icarus and Meg romance?
34:16It wasn't love at first sight and it certainly wasn't love at first bite.
34:21Oh, that's a very good, that's a very good interaction.
34:24Very good.
34:26Oh.
34:30But together with Jessica Burkhart, the behavioral, is she a professor or a doctor?
34:38Doctor.
34:39I think she's a doctor.
34:40Doctor now.
34:41But anyway, she's a behavioral, neurological, a behavioral neuroscientist.
34:51Okay.
34:52So, you know, I'd worked with her before, but we got together and talked about the positive
35:00effects of oxytocin.
35:02And so I said, well, you know, nothing to lose here.
35:05Both these lines are quite amenable to having the oxytocin sprayed in their nasal passages.
35:11So why not?
35:12It can only help.
35:13And so that's what we did for weeks, months on end until the day we put Meg and Amy
35:21Amy, not Meg and Amy, sorry, until the day that we put Meg with Icarus.
35:27Oh, this is nerve-wracking stuff.
35:30I've got butterflies.
35:32All right.
35:32I'm going to try and get her a little bit closer.
35:40Okay.
35:41So as soon as he gets there, right here.
35:46Okay.
35:48Yeah.
35:52And slowly.
35:54Okay, Caroline, you can open the tip of the gate.
35:56Okay.
35:58Opening now.
36:00And he's through.
36:16Oh.
36:21Gates open.
36:26Oh, yes.
36:27Lord.
36:29I'm so, I'm so relieved.
36:31Oh, wow.
36:32That's just incredible.
36:34Well done, my girlie.
36:37Oh.
36:38Hello, my sweetie pie.
36:43My heart.
36:45I cannot tell you how hard my heart is beating because it's that initial reaction of the two
36:52of them that is really what we've all been anticipating and to be honest, it was an anti-climax.
36:59It was absolutely perfect.
37:01He, I mean, I thought he would at least rush at her and show him who's boss, but he was
37:07like marking the tree.
37:08She just flared her lip at him and he took a wide berth.
37:14He was like, okay.
37:17They, I'm telling you, they, this is a language we don't speak.
37:22We are looking at it purely from a human thinking perspective.
37:27These guys are communicating in so many different ways.
37:30The oxytocin obviously helping, I think.
37:34Jessica's happy.
37:35I'm happy for now.
37:39And actually the introduction day, I remember it like it was yesterday.
37:44Icarus just walked straight past her and there was actually no altercation or interaction that was negative.
37:51It certainly wasn't love, but it wasn't aggressive at all.
37:56And the time the aggression actually came was once upon a time where Bobcat was causing trouble with Icarus, obviously
38:06through on the other side.
38:08And Meg ran up to Icarus to try and help.
38:14I could only see it as that.
38:17And Icarus thought that Meg was coming up to try and do something.
38:24And he just laid into her and bit her paw and it was traumatic.
38:29And I was right there.
38:30And so ultimately she was fine.
38:33She was unscathed.
38:34But whoa, she did not trust Icarus for months after that.
38:38Maybe it could have been six months.
38:42Then I was waiting for the day that I would capture that head bump.
38:48That, you know, that head bump that symbolizes that bond that lions have.
38:54So when lions, you will see when they are really bonded with a human or another lion, they will face
39:01to face bump heads.
39:03It's that head bump.
39:03And that is in the lion's world a real important thing.
39:21Did you see that?
39:23Did you see that?
39:24That was the first time Meg played a game.
39:30That's what lions do, man.
39:33That is so awesome.
39:34I am so happy.
39:39Like two...
39:41Like a loving couple.
39:43Look at that.
39:46Oh, oh, oh.
39:57The...
40:02The weariness that I talk about.
40:04That Meg had.
40:08Of Icarus.
40:10Has completely dissipated.
40:13She does not...
40:14Ah!
40:14Spiderweb in the face.
40:16She does not fear him one bit.
40:19So...
40:20She is completely happy.
40:22With his presence.
40:25Where is he?
40:28Here he comes.
40:30He comes.
40:31Here he comes.
40:33Your boyfriend.
40:34Your bow.
40:35Hey?
40:36Am I no longer your bow?
40:38So, I don't mind sharing you with Icky.
41:02Guys, I can't believe what I'm seeing here.
41:05This is just super, super incredible.
41:29Sniffing, they found some lovely poo-poo.
41:33I think Icky is looking for poo.
41:35Yeah, almost.
41:42Hello, my girl.
41:44Hello, my girl.
42:13Wow, now we sit and wait.
42:16We sit and wait.
42:18Hey.
42:23Oh, man.
42:24It's one of the happiest days of my life.
42:26I can tell you guys, this is...
42:30This is going to be one of the happiest days of my life.
42:33I cannot tell you how happy I am that these two lions are sitting here on a walk.
42:40Like...
42:41I'm not even going to say like an old married couple because they're not.
42:44They're like a young married couple.
42:46Full of life.
42:47Full of beans.
42:48Full of...
42:49Full of a...
42:50I dare say it, love.
42:51Look at that.
43:01Flirting.
43:04Yeah, ultimately...
43:06Boom.
43:06I got the head bump.
43:08And to this day, now, Meg and Icky are like an item.
43:14You would never say that they were ever apart.
43:17You would think that they had lived together all of their lives.
43:20So, wow, wow, wow.
43:22I want to talk about, yeah, how Meg has influenced your lives and how the lions here.
43:30But let's talk specifically about Meg.
43:33Meg, Meg, Meg.
43:34Meg the...
43:35Well, that's the lion whisperer.
43:36But this is a new tribute t-shirt to kind of punk rock, I think.
43:41I think that's the terminology.
43:44And, yeah, wearing it in tribute to Meg.
43:48And, yeah, just on that, so many of you guys ask me how you love the videos.
43:54You love what I do.
43:55And you love the fact that we care for these animals so greatly.
43:58And how can you help?
43:59And I think, you know, without saying to you, just donate money, which I think is always,
44:05you know, it's better to get some value for what you, you know, you're giving.
44:10So, merchandise is one way of helping, guys.
44:13We support us through buying the merch.
44:16But if you really want to go to that extra step, guys, the membership is really the way that this
44:23channel continues to flourish.
44:25And also the animals continue to get the best care.
44:29So, you know, the memberships really does help in allowing us to do the things we need to do here,
44:37give them the best lives, film the content, create the awareness, you know, keep you guys up to date on
44:45what's going on.
44:46And so, yeah, if you want to, if you want to check out memberships and the other tier on that
44:51is pride leaders.
44:54Yeah.
44:54Awesome.
44:55Go and check that out.
44:56That's how you can help.
44:57You asked and I'm telling you.
44:59Okay.
44:59So happy birthday, Meg, a Meg, a happy birthday, Meg membership.
45:05How about that?
45:06Let's go for 23 memberships because Meg's 23.
45:12Anyway.
45:13So, yeah, Meg and Amy, their story has resonated with so many people around the world.
45:19And, you know, because they've developed this platform, it's enabled me as a creator of content to obviously tell their
45:32story and act as a conduit really to tell you guys out there what needs to be told about the
45:40lives of lions.
45:41Not just in captivity, guys, but also out there in the wild and how my foundation, you know, came about
45:48and why I decided to, you know, go that route of trying to enlighten people as to what's really going
45:57on in the wild with lions.
45:59And why it's so important that we preserve and protect habitat and expand, try and reclaim habitat and re-wild
46:10habitat.
46:12So that's really the kind of the future because so many are asking, well, what is going to happen after
46:22the lions pass?
46:23And so now you, you know, if you didn't know already, now, you know, that is the plan.
46:30Meggy, Meggy.
46:33Hello my sweet pie.
46:40I miss these days.
47:09I'll give you a quick poor check.
47:14Open that one there.
47:18The other thing.
47:20No, no, give me that paw.
47:22Give me that paw.
47:25That's a big trust thing, guys.
47:29Because lions, as I'm sure you will know, other cats are very sensitive on their paws.
47:40Luckily, I don't have allergies, but they are super, a little bit itchy today, but super itchy, super itchy, super
47:50sensitive on their paws.
47:52So for, you know, a lion, you can see, it says, stop it, Kev.
47:58A lion to let you touch their paws.
48:01It's just incredible.
48:04Yeah.
48:06What can I say?
48:08Meg.
48:09Meg is a special, special animal.
48:15Meggy.
48:17You've literally got me in like a throat choke.
48:22I actually wanted to do some shout outs to some members, guys.
48:27So maybe, while I'm lying here, and Meg doesn't mind, maybe what I can do is just read out.
48:38At Munanita Das, from India.
48:44Her favourite item is the Be Like George tea.
48:47And it's really helped her.
48:50She lost her father when she was very young.
48:54And, yeah, she's been struggling with her mother.
48:58So, I mean, guys, this story comes up often, where people have been helped by these lions.
49:05So, yeah, not only amazing that we all get to share in their lives, but they're also helping people.
49:16At Keribark2344, she's like anything Bobcat and Gabby.
49:21Those two also helped during some dark times in her life after losing her mom.
49:25And she's also going through some health issues.
49:28So, she can't thank us enough for sharing the content with the world.
49:33So, yeah, these are from recent members, guys.
49:37At Phoenix EC42, Gabby and Bobcat are the favourites.
49:43It's the Tyre Slayer.
49:44So, yeah, also very happy to be part of the year.
49:50Oh, Meg.
49:51Your paw is very heavy.
49:55Okay, I can breathe.
49:59Yeah, sure, another individual who has lost parents, you know.
50:06So, helped get her through these tough times.
50:10I can't read without my classes.
50:13But, and then there's Rubino Tero, 2983 in the USA, but from Argentina.
50:22Also a favourite T-shirt.
50:23I have to admit, is the one of the two brothers.
50:28It was the first shirt he purchased.
50:31But I think this guy has purchased the entire collection of T-shirts.
50:37So, yeah, a real fan of all the merch.
50:43I can't, Meg, I can't breathe, man.
50:47Look how happy she is.
50:49Anyway, that's just a shout out, guys, to a few new members.
50:57And so, thanks for joining memberships.
51:00Give a happy birthday, Meg.
51:04Happy birthday, Meg.
51:05You special cat.
51:07Where's your chin over there?
51:09Scratches for you.
51:11You know, she's really enjoying this now.
51:15What's going on?
51:16Yeah, my camera is not able to deal with that.
51:22Okay, guys.
51:24Awesome.
51:25It's been amazing.
51:27And this is part of, obviously, the video compilation that my wonderful editor Dan has put together
51:36as a tribute to this wonderful, wonderful lioness who has really touched so many people's lives.
51:44I can't even tell you.
51:45But especially mine.
51:48And I'm so truly grateful and thankful to have had this animal, or this special lady, be part of my
52:00life.
52:01It really has been a privilege and an honor.
52:05And I will cherish however much time I have left with Meg.
52:12So, happy birthday, Meg.
52:14Thanks for watching.
52:15Thanks for being part of this live broadcast.
52:19And until next time, guys.
52:20From me, Kevin.
52:22And Meg.
52:24Happy birthday, girl.
52:27Bye.
52:28Bye.
52:28Bye.
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