If you ever been to a zoo, you have seen first hand the majesty of big jungle cats.
They are majestic, inspiring both awe and fear of anyone close enough to look in their eyes.
As a zookeeper or animal caretaker, looking these cats in the eye is a privilege that cannot be taken lightly.
Eduardo Serio, a caretaker at The Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation, was reminded of this truth in a frightening way. In the video below, Serio is seen playing casually with a group of lions and tigers.
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For about the first fifty seconds, all seems to be well. That is until a leopard named Dharma starts creeping in from the background. Keep your eyes peeled on the left side of the video.
Suddenly, Dharma is on a sprint towards Serio, who stands obliviously with his back turned.
Before Serio can realize the danger he’s in, a tiger named Aztlan leaps to his rescue, knocking Dharma off his course.
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Though this leopard turned on its caretaker, Aztlan the tiger certainly showed how special the relationship between man and beast can be. Aztlan protected Serio like he was one of its own. Check it out for yourself:
What a frightening situation to be in! But knowing that the caretaker is safe and sound, this made for a hilarious video.