ANNEL SNYMAN: My name is Annel Snyman, I’m
35 years old. I’m the owner of Loebies Predator Park and I’m outside of Bela-Bela.
ANNEL SNYMAN: I started the park in 2009 with
my first servals and now 9 years later, we are now established predator park.
ANNEL SNYMAN: To manage the park, it’s really,
it’s hard work and I have a dedicated staff. Neil is my assistant or the head guy.
ANNEL SNYMAN: The park is visited by a lot
of public and school groups. We try to educate people personally about all the cats. A lot
of the feedback that I get from guests is, “Do I trust my lions?”
ANNEL SNYMAN: I know they can turn on me anytime
and you don’t know what’s going on in his head. You don’t know if he is not feeling
well. I’m not scared but I’m just cautious.
NEIL VAN DEVENTER: You can’t be scared going in around the animals. You need to have respect, otherwise
they feel it and then you think you’re higher than they are or bigger than they are and
they want to show you who is boss.
ANNEL SNYMAN: There's always someone outside the enclosure when I’m inside the enclosure.
Feeding time, there is both always two; outside and inside. So, we always have a back up with
the gates and if I’m working with the animals. Everyone can bite, everyone can attack; everyone
is dangerous on his own level.
NEIL VAN DEVENTER: And I was very, very close to the animals. We have a very special bond
and relationship with each other.
ANNEL SNYMAN: I have 17 South African predators and scavenger species on the farm and there’s
35 animals in the park. My relationship with the animals all differ; everyone has their
own way of talking to you, everyone has a different personality. The banded mongoose
is they are very sociable, so they love to give you all their attention.
ANNEL SNYMAN: Pierre-the honey badger, you
need to be loud because he is always busy.
ANNEL SNYMAN: My house is actually in the middle of the park that we call it the zoo
house. Currently, animals living in my house is Pierre the honey badger and the cubs, the
lions cubs are staying in my house. When the animals is in my house, they can get up to
mischief and Pierre loves to go into the closets, take out all the clothes, to climb on top
of the sofa, watch some TV.
ANNEL SNYMAN: I do have a few scars and stories to tell, but that was not of aggression. So
for 220 kilograms to jump on top of me, you get, your nose broke, that’s normal. So,
but, no aggression. They don’t know they’re bigger than you are, they think you’re part
of the pride, you’re part of the family. And they give you cuddles and they jump you
and that’s normal for them.
ANNEL SNYMAN: So for me to raise a baby from small and I can raise him up as big animals
and they still love you. I do it because the passion they have and my passion for them
and the love they give me.