<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Well, with all the crap the hobby's been going through, figured it time for something other than bad news.</DIV>
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<DIV>Now, while this article may bother some people with a couple points made, tough cookies. *smiles* It was brought to my attention in a different forum and figured it'd be worth forwarding here. And before you crab to me about any undertones about this or that... this article appeared as presented in the London METRO newspaper, and you know how prudish Brits can be!</DIV>
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<DIV><A href="http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?When_pride_comes_before_a_ball&in_article_id=541873&in_page%20_id=34">http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?When_pride_comes_before_a_ball&in_article_id=541873&in_page%20_id=34</A></DIV>
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<H1>Park ranger who likes to tickle his lion's pride and joys</H1>
<DIV><SPAN class=byline>Tuesday, February 17, 2009</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ff_img_fix><IMG height=300 alt=lion src="http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/lion2CATERS_450x300.jpg" width=450 border=1><BR>
<DIV class=caption>Alex Larenty grabs Jamu by his 'mane-hood' </DIV></DIV>
<H2 class=articlestandfirst>Cat lovers come in many different forms, it seems. There are the ones who are content to stroke Tiddles on his tummy while he purrs on a rug in front of the fire. </H2>
<P class=article>And then there are those happy to cup a fully grown lion's 'king of the jungle credentials' in their hand – and squeeze them. </DIV>
<P class=article>Meet Alex Larenty, the park ranger not afraid to get up close and (very) personal with his lion pride. </DIV>
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<P class=article>The 50-year-old often scratches, brushes and massages his animals – and has even been caught grabbing a young male's, er, mane-hood. 'I was showing another warden that Jamu trusts me completely,' he explained. </DIV>
<P class=article>'People can't believe it's real when they see the picture. I have to tell them “Yes, it's real, I am holding on to a lion's balls”.' </DIV>
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<DIV class=imgHolder style="WIDTH: 450px"><IMG height=300 alt=lion src="http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/lionCATERS_450x300.jpg" width=450 border=1><BR>
<DIV class=caption>Taking it lion down: Mr Larenty gives Jamu a paw massage </DIV></DIV>
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<P class=article>Mr Larenty left his home in Britain to join the circus as a youngster and now works at a game reserve near Johannesburg, South Africa. </DIV>
<P class=article>He has spent six years developing his relationship with eight-year-old Jamu, who has starred in TV shows such as ITV's Wild At Heart. </DIV>
<P class=article>'I don't use any magic techniques, I just offer them friendship,' he said. And anyone thinking the animals must be tame should think again – they attacked and killed an intruder days after these shots were taken. </DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR>Bringing fire as the light of reason to mortals and morons for better than two decades.<BR><BR>Check out http://www.neopoa.com and become a more informed pet owner.<BR><BR>Be a snappy dresser and help animals too! - NEOPOA has an online shop at www.cafepress.com/neopoa</DIV></td></tr></table><br>