Watch the man who lives with dangerous animals
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53-year-old Petr Augustÿn and his family live with big cats at their home in Lipová, Czech Republic, including a tiger that weighs 600lbs.
Petr manages Fauna Park – a sanctuary with more than 150 animals and 40 different species – with the help of his wife, son, and daughter. They also have three other employees.
Petr, who has been working with dangerous animals for the last 10 years, has developed a special bond with his 600lbs tiger named Diego that he hand-feeds.
Petr told Barcroft TV: “My favourite moment is when I go in with the animals. It’s an incredible feeling, that the animal perceives you as an equal.”
“They want to cuddle you and show their love to you. It’s indescribable. It’s a kind of adrenalin rush, the respect, but mainly there’s love.”
Petr bought a puma called Babu eight years ago. Then, three and a half years ago, he bought Diego when he was just eight weeks old.
He said: “Diego was with me a lot until he was nine months old. He even shared my bed. He spent a lot of time with me and animals are grateful for this kind of interaction.”
He says it’s very dangerous when a stranger approaches them as they are only used to see him and his family.
They have never attacked him and his family but if a stranger would come near to them, they wouldn’t react the same way.
He said: “They’ve never attacked me. If a stranger entered, however, it wouldn’t end the same way. If it’s someone they don’t know, I don’t think it would end well. These animals were born in captivity – and this environment is their safety.”
“I think in the wild, that hunger would force them to find some food, but it would be very dangerous. These animals are used to humans. Any contact could be fatal.”
Petr wants to add some more animals to his collection. He says: These animals are my life. I’d even say my whole family’s life. I think that the care and love that they get here, they could never get anywhere else.”