ON MSNBC TODAY: The most touching thing I have ever seen. Totally renewed me. TOTALLY.

[BigBearJohn]

CLICK-HERE-FOR-VIDEO

People in Cali, Colombia, are shocked to see the bond between a large African lion
and a woman who saved it from abuse, involving long, affectionate kisses and hugs
between the pair.

Ana Julia Torres, who runs the Villa Lorena animal shelter in Cali, fed and nursed
Jupiter the African lion back to health years ago after it was found abused and
emaciated in a traveling circus.

"It is amazing to see an animal like that be so sweet and affectionate," said Torres.
"This hug is the most sincere one that I have received in my life."

Torres, 47, said her work rehabilitating animals began more than a decade ago when a
friend gave her an owl that had been kept as a pet.

See: http://www.local6.com/spotlight/10726779/detail.html

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. That was so sweet

His love for her was overwhelming.

Thank you for sharing this.

[malaise]

2. It was beautiful indeed

I needed that lift.

[montanacowboy]

3. Wonderful Animals

we cannot even begin to understand what they feel and understand and these innocent and wonderful creature live at the whim of the cruelty of one of nature's higher forms

[malaise]

7. I have long had doubts about

our higher form of nature. We are the most destructive animals ever.

[Jeanette in FL]

19. I agree 100%

We are the most destructive animals on the face of the planet. I read one time that if humans disappeared, that the planet would go on as if nothing was missing. I believe that is true.

[WinkyDink]

22. Oh, SOMETHING would be missing, all right. Evil and destruction.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

32. I read/heard that also.

The animal kingdom could exist without humans, but not the reverse. Humbling.
It'll all come out in the wash someday.

P_P

[frogcycle]

35. well duh

of course the planet would go on, and life would go on! The planet would be FAR better off with no humans. Humans do NOTHING to improve the condition of planet earth, and PLENTY to damage it. Humans are a blight on the planet - a runaway species that has no natural predators and is overbreeding and systematically destoying natural habitat of other species.

humans have been around in roughly the current form for a million years or so - life has been around for a few billion. Higher life forms have been around for hundreds of millions. The dinosaurs went extinct 160 million years ago, they dominated the planet for the better part of 200 million.

human have had "civilization" for less than 100,000 years; have been screwing with the face of the planet for only 3-4 thousand (cutting down all the Cedars of Lebanon, eg), but have only been REALLY messing with it for few hundred.

make no mistake about it - we can destroy life as we know it, and we may, but the planet will go on, new lifeforms will emerge, and the world will actually be the better for it.

[Alamom]

4. Definitely an "AHHHHHHH" moment. Thanks for posting.n/t

[Der Blaue Engel]

5. That was great! :)

But I have to say that the closing commentary had me in stitches:

Male anchor: "I can't even get my dog to sit in my lap."

Female anchor (giving him pitying look): "Oh, I'm sure you can."

Male anchor: "We'll talk."

:rofl:

[Parche]

6. lion king

They look 'purrfect' together!!!!

[madokie]

8. yes it is, something we all need, a good story

[leftchick]

9. I would love to send her a donation

I didn't see a web ste for her. What a wonderful human being. Thank you.

[Fredda Weinberg]

15. Others with similar inclinations got contact info

There are phone numbers here

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_lifestyle_animal/2007/01/mother_love_req.html

[BigBearJohn]

10. If you loved this video, please recommend it so others see it too

[theoldman]

11. When I first saw the video I thought the lion was going to bite

off her head. I am still surprised that it was just affection. Wild animals seldom change their habits. Just ask Sigfried and Roy.

[Double T]

12. What a beautiful animal and relationship with Ana Julia

Thank you for posting this great story!!!

[Bucky]

13. This is still a wild animal.

The story is heartwarming, sure. But there's still a chance that animal could follow its instincts and get aggressive with her. I think we should respect lions, but I gotta draw the line and hugs and kisses with large carnivores.

[Morgana LaFey]

21. You're right, of course, but

fortunately you don't get to make that decision for her. SHE's not even on this continent. :D

[The Stranger]

14. SHUT DOWN ALL OF THE CIRCUSES.

[flvegan]

25. Just the ones with animals.

Let the people perform, let the animals be just that.

[Maraya1969]

44. I will not go to a circus or a fair of to any "entertainment" that cages animals like these

I remember all to well seeing big cats moving back and forth and back and forth in small cages while people gawked. The poor things looked nervous to me.

If it were up to me they would all be banned.

[SeattleGirl]

16. I had seen the picture; thanks for the video, BBJ

That is truely awesome!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

17. Ach thass grand, Jimmie!

Just sat and played that second hug over about 8-10 times :D

Mil gracias BBJ :pals:

Oh and gotta email this everywhere I can umm ... can I? heh.

Good for yon kehn, nae?

[Jeanette in FL]

18. Awwwwww, that was beautiful

I have watched it over and over again. How absolutely beautiful. My heart feels bigger by just watching it. Thank you so much for posting that BigBearJohn.

Animals are my weak spot, all of my 4 legged family members will attest to.

K & R'd

[BigBearJohn]

20. I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as I. With all the ugliness in this world, a moment of love.

:hug:

[Clark2008]

23. Awwwww....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Thanks Big Bear John. Medicine for the heart.

[flvegan]

26. As a rescuer of severely abused animals

I can tell you this...sometimes, they just know.

Granted, this lion is as far from domesticated as can be, and I deal only in domesticated animals (dogs, mostly). However, to write off an animal and the inclination to understand what has befallen/been given them, is moronic.

[Clark2008]

27. Of course they know.

I can't count the number of times strays have just "showed up" at my house because they "know" I'll take care of them until I find them a home. Two dogs and one cat in this past year alone.

No one else I know has this happen to them on as regular of a basis as I do, so I know they must know I'm on their side.

My husband has started calling us the "Our last name" animal welfare and rescue hospice when he answers the phone. :)

:hug: for all your good work.

[Mnemosyne]

28. Jupiter's love is so beautiful to see! Torres is a true

St. Francis. I agree that much care is needed around wild creatures, but I believe Torres has a friend for life.

Thank you for sharing this story BBJ! My heart needed a lift and hearing from you helps too! :hug:


Here's a little sweetie I just saved with much smaller teeth. My dear friends that adore cats, but were breeders and got overwhelmed when their health went bad and no insurance, have given many of their cats away. It breaks their hearts to see them going, but thanks to the "booming" economy and health care costs, just couldn't care for them all well anymore.

Poor Amos was a runt among too many kitties and not getting enough to eat. He was soo thin I thought he might die. Apparently he was fun to chew on, the tips of his ears are chewed off. The hair was also chewed off all but the end of his tail and face(he had a mohawk to his nose!).

Amos first day, 4 months old:



Amos after a month, fat and sassy now:



And it only took a few days for my "Queens" Dalai and Malai to put up with him.

I just had to share his pics, he's a sweetie!

[BigBearJohn]

30. Amos is soooooo beautiful. You did good Mom.

[Mnemosyne]

31. Thanks! He's so funny and lively,

wouldn't know he was same kitten. Wish I could do half as well with houseplants! :)

[BigBearJohn]

34. try MiracleGro

[Mnemosyne]

36. Smarty! :)~ I grow a heck of a garden outside, but

indoors I have been guilty of forgetting them or over-doing it. Even cacti suffer at my hand; inside.

Outside the crop is limited to veggies and no healthful weeds, damn helicopters. :evilgrin: :(

[Pierogi_Pincher]

33. Amos is be-you-ti-full!

I assume he lets you live in his home and use his possessions?!!

Our kitty lets 'us' stay in her home!!

:hi:

P_P

[Mnemosyne]

38. It's all theirs now for sure. Malai finally mostly over

jealousy. She was a bit of a beaten-up runt also.

Got a pic?

May I introduce also?

Malai, sitting still! -


And her sister Dalai, of whom I have yet to catch a front photo of in the 2 1/2 years she's owned me. She's a throw rug kitty. -



I'm a huge pain in the ass to them, but they let me stay anyway, so far! :)


Sorry pics so big, don't know how to shrink them yet.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

40. Malai's little tongue!! And Dalai does kinda look like one of those Flokati rugs! (sp)

Bigger is better. (pix) I'm enjoying them. Thanx for a beautiful and heart ticklin' close of an otherwise trying week.

@->->-

P_P

[Mnemosyne]

47. BBJ got me going! Glad you enjoyed the Kids!

I can tell where Malai is by the crashing sounds!

Have a relaxing weekend P_P!

And a late welcome to DU!:hi:

[BigBearJohn]

48. Gosh, I wish I had beautiful cats like yours.

Have you ever seen what's called a "ragdoll" cat?

[Mnemosyne]

49. I've heard of the ragdoll, but have

no clue what they look like.

The secret to my beautiful kitties is organic cat food. Expensive, but the savings in vet bills is amazing. Glad you liked my kitties.

I will never forget the love you showed us in this OP. Just so moving! We need all the love we can get on this earth. It all adds up!

[goforit]

29. This is when humanity can do good in this world. LOVE... a great concept

[Guaranteed]

37. That's great. It's still a lion, though.

Just like they're still bears, they're still crocodiles, etc.

She needs to be very, very careful.

[BigBearJohn]

39. I'd take my chances with that lion anyday over a GOP politician.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

41. For sure. And thank you for your OP. n/t

[babylonsister]

42. What a nice story! I saw that lion lovin' on Ms. Torres on CNN last

night.

[Myrmidon]

43. Touching, but that lion is too warped now to survive in the wild...

I would imagine. So what's the moral exactly?

[lies and propaganda]

45. that its touching...

why does there have to be a moral? this woman rescued the animal, the animal loves her, its sweet. there ya go.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

46. The animal was in a circus...

when she found him - he was never meant for the wild from the time she got him. If a normally wild animal is raised away from its natural habitat and fellow creatures, that animal has next to zero chance of surviving in the wild even with extensive rehabilitation.

My sister, an animal rehaber, just took in several baby bobcats that had been found abandoned by their Mom. Even though she was every careful not to interact with them more than necessary, there was one of the three cubs who insisted on acting like a domestic kitten. She managed to get two of them to the point where they were releasable, but the third just would not have made it out there in his own. He now has a home with other rescued bobcats on a protected ranch.

That bobcat was a truly wild animal -- not one raised in a circus -- and he just didn't have the stuff to make it in the wild.

[SammyWinstonJack]

50. That was so sweet! nt

[charlie]

51. Youtube link

for those with non-MS video players:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEyKS2P_j20