Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen Lives With Cheetahs, Lions And Tigers In South African Home (VIDEO)

The Daily Mail reports on the bizarre story of Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen, the South African woman who lives with 11 orphaned cats. However, these are not your typical house cats; they consist of four cheetahs, five lions and two tigers. The Daily Mail has some incredible photos as well as more details. Apparently the cats are just allowed to roam freely and have been integrated into the normal family life. However, this seems like a situation that could quickly spiral out of control if these cats suddenly remember that they're wild animals.

WATCH:

Comments

[Shwazy]

Actually, cheetahs are quite docile and trustworthy when tamed from kittenhood. They have been tamed for centuries in some parts of the world, and are extremely affectionate and gentle creatures in captivity.

Lions and tigers... not so much. Tigers are solitary animals in the wild, and lions settle disputes by fighting by their nature. Neither are suitable house pets.

[UnknownSoldier]

Different parts of the world.....­....... Cheetahs are in only ONE Part of the world

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Actually, Cheetahs used to be found throughout Asia and in Europe as well.. They have become extinct in most of the world, and will likely become extinct in Africa as well......­.

That is, unless people like this are successful in their breeding and education programs and are able to change people's misperceptions of cheetahs.

[Kels78]

What people need to understand is that this is just another person who is using the guise of *conservation* to keep exotic pets and make a living off of it. The fact is, it is near impossible to release hand-raised animals into the wild, as they lack all survival skills and have no fear of humans. Yet of course, she claims releasing them is her goal. If you go to her website you will see how she uses these animals to make money by charging people to come play with them. You will also notice that the 'lions and tigers' are cubs, which are quite harmless. I'd like to see what she does with them after they grow up... it is a common practice in South Africa to keep cubs for people to pay to play with, and then sell them to be shot by trophy hunters when they grow up. Anyways, sorry for ranting, but people like this drive me crazy.

[kathy001]

I think you said it all, Kels78, and I agree with you.

[lbjranch]

I'm with you on this one.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

90% of cheetah cubs d ie from predators in the wild. These cheetahs are not kept so much as pets, but as educational ambassadors, allowing farmers and children, who would otherwise shoo t these cats, into getting to know how docile and friendly they can be.

[Niasia]

ok I can see the Cheetas maybe but the other cats...rea­lly lady? I hope she will be ok! I have seen people on safari feed cheetahs first and then be able to pet them. I think they may be relativley docile but the other cats not so much. Best of luck dear!

[AtomicMan]

...and she will be SOOO surprised when they maul her or someone else!

[biglover]

She won't be surprised at all. I am sure she understands the risks and takes the risk because it is something she feels she must do and she is doing good things by saving the breeds. None of you except one or two must have not read the whole story - because if you had, I would hope your posts would be different.

[mmgbizgirl]

foolish arrogance.

[biglover]

No more foolish than your comments. People have the right to choose. She has chosen this as an avocation after 22 years in the Justice Department.

Why does she have to be crazy. I give her all the credit in the world. Read the whole story please.

[susangg]

Actually, cheetahs have been kept as pets for centuries and if raised from tiny kittenhood with people, are supposed to be relatively docile. But lions and tigers? Its a tragic accident waiting to happen.
We sleep with a bed full of cats (the little meowy house cat type). A few weeks ago, my little 7 pound fluffy Athena, a gentle lovable kitty who has never scratched anyone, was climbing the wood louvers on the window directly above the headboard. I was reclining in bed, reading a book. Suddenly, my face was on fire. I got up and ran to the bathroom window, and my face was covered with blood and multiple deep scratches. Athena had lost her balance and when she landed on my face, she dug her claws in to break her fall, just by instinct. It took weeks for the scratches to heal. One just missed an eye. She would never have deliberately hurt me, she put her claws out by sheer instinct, knowing she was falling. She was just being a cat.

[biglover]

Look the woman is a smart woman. She made this as a conscious decision. This is probably her avocation and she knows the risks. I am sure she is willing to die at the hands of these creatures she knows.

I totally get it. I would do the same as she if I had the opportunity. If dying at the hands of one of them is her fate, then so be it.

We are all going to die somehow some way.

[arabianway]

Exactly right

[love5pets]

Wild animals are not meant to be domesticated and if they turn on her, which is just a matter of time, they'll be shot, through no fault of their own. Pity!

[TremoluxMan]

Won't be long until they're picking her bones out of the cat box.

[Brett1981]

Update:

Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen Eaten by Cheetahs, Lions And Tigers In South African Home (VIDEO)

[winningticket]

Hello kitties.

[redsonja5]

The "newscasters" on this station are the epitome of everything wrong with local news. Did she actually do a hair flip?! Barf. And the big mouth on the right can stuff a sock in it...the performance of incredulity is just self-serving. This has nothing to do with a reporting a story, this is just an excuse for these "journalists" to look folksy to viewers. Don't fall for it!!!

[Merckx]

What you say is true, but the folksy delivery is what makes a local news show.
People feel like they know the hosts and think they are friends.
Don't think about it too much, you'll just drive yourself crazy.

[dagdavid]

The next story we see about her will read, "Cheetah victim receives face transplant"

[NewYorkStateofMind]

how long until those things decide to eat her and 3 of her friends?

[Lemeritus]

I'm reminded of a friend who refuses keep house cats. Said he: "I can't bond with an animal that, were it big enough, would eat me."

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

the same would be said for dogs.

[jrfunkenstein]

Next months' headline:

WOMAN MAULED AND DEVOURED BY 11 CHEETAHS, LIONS AND TIGERS MISGUIDEDLY KEPT AS PETS