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

[helgathewitch]

It seems that no matter what Fox news reports they make a mockery out of it.

[Blenvid]

LOL, that's so true. What's up with that? LOL

[roma1]

I've been to a Cheetah sanctuary in Namibia and was actually inside with them. They are beautiful and in most cases are not harmful to humans. In historical times they would sit along side kings in Egypt and other countries.

[jackstpaul]

"In most cases" like that Chimp in Conn.?

[dee1984]

That because in most cases cheetahs aren't living in peoples homes, but hey if you wanna take the risk if being one of the few who end up as cat nip then more power to you

[DietrichMoody]

Lions and Cheetahs and Tigers...........OH MY.

[EarthToZoey]

Update: Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen Found Mangled In South African Home

[EarthToZoey]

Oh, I kid, I kid!

These giant kitties are absolutely gorgeous and I wish Riana all the best. She runs a sanctuary, so I'm sure she's very aware of how to interact with the cats. And she's obviously passionate about what she does, so good for her! :)

[ibivi]

I've seen programs on Cheetahs. They are very quiet and gentle. They are also shot by farmers who treat them as vermin to protect their livestock. The lions and tigers on the other hand are more unpredictable. So do take care Ms Van Nieuwenhuizen!

[ChinaC]

She needs a hotdog necklace.

[The Albany Kid]

Does anyone know if it's hard for an American to get named in the will of a South African whom he has never met?

j/k

[Swatantra]

Cuddle with the carnivores at your own peril.
Humans are made of meat.

[gakota]

Guess she never heard of ziggy and roy.

[NilesCrane]

Breaking News: Womans head chewed off by "feline friends"...Thought she had a "puurrrfect" life....

[kimi6]

My friend told me about a co-worker who had a snake as a pet. It was one of the large ones, I forget what type. But it was supposedly harmless. She would let it sleep in her bed with her. Soon, she noticed that it had stopped eating and was gtting extra cuddly in bed. She thought it was sick so she took it to the vet.

The vet told her that it wasn't eating so it could make room for her in it's stomach, It was extra cuddly because it was actually measuring her to see how much room it would need. She had to have it put down. Disguting story, but true. These animals were meant to live in the wild, not in our beds.

[KinkyGirl]

Yikes!

[NilesCrane]

OMG lol that is so scary, would make for an awesome movie though...

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Uh... big difference between a snake and a cat.

[Emmy2]

Yeah, my college friend who raised kittens and cats "underfoot" (uncaged in his home) also had a fairly large python. Big to me, at least--about 10 feet. One day the snake's cage was empty and he was in a tizzy about it. I was visiting, spending the weekend, and wasn't too happy about the situation either. I was really afraid for the cats (and me!), and he looked at me like I was an idiot (he, a vet student, me, a biology grad), saying that he wasn't afraid for the *cats*, he was afraid *they* would kill the *snake*. Which they did, before he could find it. It didn't stand a chance.

[jackstpaul]

Like bigger stomachs and teetch on the part of the big cats.

[kimi6]

Tell that to Siegfried and Roy....

[chronic]

She'll be dinner one day.

[Tunghoy]

It's great that this lady is protecting these critters. Though tomorrow morning when my 8 lb. tuxedo cat pokes me while I'm sleeping because she wants breakfast.....I'll be glad that she's only an 8 lb. tuxedo cat.

And I wonder what Natassja Kinski would think of this story.

[CynAnne]

Heehee, Tunghoy. My ginger-colored american short-hair (aka "Cap'n Jack, the smokehouse boucanier kitteh") weighs in at nearly twenty pounds (almost all muscle) and measures about 28" from nose to tail..and when HE sits on you to let you know it's food-time, you know you've been sat on..! ;) ...

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Frankly, I am surprised that so many people on this site do not understand Cheetahs, this woman or what she is doing.

Cheetahs are not classified as a "Big Cat" and are not really dangerous to humans. They are about the same size as a German Shepherd (80-130 lbs) and are not fierce. In fact, in the wild, Cheetahs usually lose the game they caught to real Big Cats or Hyenas. About 90% of Cheetah cubs do not live to see adulthood. Cheetahs are much more gentle than any of the Big Cats and there is a long history of lore about humans taming cheetahs and using them to help people with hunting.

The only animals that this woman allows in the house are the Cheetahs and the large dogs- which really are very similar in nature. The other cats (the "Big Cats") do roam free on her property - like anywhere else in Africa that is a Wildlife Conservation area. She does hand raise Big Cat cubs- the lion and tiger - that people bring her.

For more info on her work see www. cheetahexperience. com.

[hopefull2008]

That was helpful , thanks.

[brooklyncitizen]

Thanks.
They're so beautiful.

[TanzaniteDiamonds]

Your insight is extremely appreciated. It also explains your adorable avatar.

[zardowur]

Now, I feel like getting myself a cheetah. Thnx for the info.

[dee1984]

yhea well I don't mess with German Shepherd either

[wadenelson1]

Can we go ahead and nominate her for a Darwin award ante-mortem?

[113]

the cheetahs seem cool...i dunno about the rest of 'em though