Lions, tigers, and bears (not really bears) OH MY!

That is so cool!  How old were the cubs when you got them, and how long did you take care of them? [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]

Yes, it was WAYYYYYY COOOOOL. I still have a hard time believing that I was "mom" to lions.
They were 3 weeks old when I brought them home. They stayed with me for a little over 3 months (or twenty pounds, lol).
They would go outside with me and run around the yard with the chickens, cats, ducks, and dog. They really wanted to play with my pigmy goat, Ladybug, but she realized really quick that they weren't fun to play with (even when they were small, their claws/teeth were big and sharp), so she butted them hard and from that point forward they just stalked her from the tall grass but would not get close enough for her to use her horns again.
 
What a cutie you have there!

Aww, I love the second pic!

were you raising them for a zoo or something?  That is WAAAY cool!

That is so cool, I agree with nigguysmom, how did you come to foster these guys? Do you work for a zoo or rescue? we want details!! []

I worked as a keeper at a rescue facility. We took in 13 big cats that were confiscated by USDA from a very large "COLLECTOR". He was using them for breeding so he could sell the cubs. We recieved 2 prides of  4 lions (1 male, 3 females in each pride) 1 tiger and 4 tigresses. Four of the females were pregnant upon arrival, one of the tigress' had to be euthanized due to a HUGE cancer that had completely enveloped her nose and half her face, all of these animals were in terrible shape. We did not know that the girls were expecting and low and behold, we had babies coming out the ying-yang in no time. 15 babies in all. 4 tiger cubs, and 11 lion cubs all born with in 1 month of each other. Several of the babies had to be fostered and I was one of the lucky ones.
As wonderful an experience as it was, I still get sad thinking of these great animals living in cages. They (lions, tigers, etc) should not be used for profit or to benefit humans, but living free as god intended them to be. I do know however, that my cubs will be very well cared for the rest of their lives and they will always be loved by me even though I can no longer cuddle and snuggle them.
It's hard to let go, but when the time is right, that is what must be done for the animals welfare. Same with my wildlife rehab's. It's great to see THEM go free, but I do worry if they will make it. I still have fawns (although they are not fawns anymore) come around almost daily.
 

Oh, thank you for posting them!! They're so cute.  What an awesome experience. []

Certainly not ideal situation, but I'm crazy jealous that you did get to be part of their young lives.  Beautiful photos and even if not in the wild, you surely helped them to have a better quality life then the one they were headed for.
 
Thanks for sharing!

That is just too cool.  I love the pictures & would love to hear more about your fostering.

I took some pictures this evening of two of the deer I raised last summer/fall. These two still come around almost daily and one of them still recognizes me as mom, but run from others.