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The lioness, nearly the same height as Hawkins, manages to leap up on its hind legs and give Hawkins a passionate hug before snuggling into him. She even tries to jump in his arms, hoping to be cradled like a baby. Soon enough, the weight of the lioness brings Hawkins to his knees, where the lion is relentless in cuddling and rubbing all over him. Despite being a ferocious beast, the relationship seen here resembles that of a puppy excited to see her owner come home.
Hawkins lives in Seoul, South Korea, however he recorded this unique footage while visiting Botswana. He has a close bond with some of the lions there, this one in particular.
Later, using her as a hound, Hawkins takes the same lioness out to hunt for wildebeests. Watch below.
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