Saturday, April 18, 2009

Camera Critters 54


Camera Critters


Last week I shared one of my Little Cats.

This week I'd like to share with you one of my favorite Big Cats.


This is Jonathan and he is magnificent.

He has a story. He was raised as a pet and then got too big.
(Well, DUH!)
He was lucky. The Houston Zoo had room for him and now he lives here.





The lions have a wonderful area to roam.
This is their door. Really cool.
The gate lowers (where the keeper is standing).
From here the keepers can *play* with the lions.
They go through different commands.
This one makes Jon stand on his hind legs
and allows the keepers to check his belly area.
Jon was declawed by his former owner.
Occasionally Callista will swipe Jon a good one!



Jonathan, the King!




We took this picture last week.
For those who have cats, this pose will look familiar!
Life is good!

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great weekend.




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27 comments:

  1. Jane Hards PhotographyApril 18, 2009 at 10:13 AM

    Marvellous facial close up of the big beast.

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  2. MarthaApril 18, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. What a magnificant lion. What are people thinking when they get such things as pets? Duh! is right. We have cats, dogs, and guinea pigs. Our one male cat, Kovu, is the KING (although the youngest cat) and he can be found quite frequently in the exact same pose as Jonathan!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. Reader WilApril 18, 2009 at 11:30 AM

    What a magnificent animal! I love cats, big ones and the small cats. Thanks for sharing and also for your visit!

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  4. IndraniApril 18, 2009 at 11:31 AM

    The most majestic of the Cat family!
    Delightfully wonderful shots.

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  5. AnonymousApril 18, 2009 at 11:56 AM

    Yes, the last pose looks very familiar to me. We see that (in a smaller version) very often around here :)
    It was very nice of the zoo to give him a home. He couldn't have been put into the wild without claws. Great story and beautiful photos!

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  6. Flying SoloApril 18, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    What a cat!!
    Was your pet???

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  7. ninjaApril 18, 2009 at 2:47 PM

    Just love that last photo!!!

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  8. BruceApril 18, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    Hi Johnathan...yes, that pose does look familiar:)

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  9. SharonApril 18, 2009 at 3:02 PM

    Beautiful animal but I am so glad he is in that cage!

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  10. i beatiApril 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Johnathan looks like a charmer. I haven't seen a lion in ages Sandy

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  11. UnknownApril 18, 2009 at 6:18 PM

    What a handsome fella ! :-)

    I really like the closeups..

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  12. DianeApril 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM

    great shots!!!

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  13. The Bodhi ChickletApril 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM

    The big guys really do resemble the little guys. Or maybe it's the other way around. Jon is lucky to have found that home. What are people thinking when the decide to get a "pet" like that?! Here I go again, but there ought to be laws...and I guess there are. Poor thing to have been de-clawed. I wonder what vet agreed to do that. That's it for my pontificating for tonight.

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  14. DianneApril 18, 2009 at 7:53 PM

    yes I recognize that pose!
    he is magnificent

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  15. floretaApril 18, 2009 at 10:49 PM

    what a nice expression in the first pic!

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  16. NormApril 19, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    nice capture of that huge animal, his handsome and looks very friendly. Thanks for the visit.

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  17. Smalltown RNApril 19, 2009 at 9:45 AM

    That 's one big cat...but I do love lions...being a Leo..I just seem to be drawn to them...I love the playful one of him on his back....very nice...kind of fools you though that they could be more approachable than they really are...

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  18. Teena in TorontoApril 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    Jonathon is quite a magnificent animal!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  19. Adrienne ZwartApril 19, 2009 at 12:48 PM

    I can't imagine what makes people think they can have these big cats as pets. It's evident that he likes his new home at the zoo.

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  20. OskarApril 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM

    That's one big cat.

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  21. UnknownApril 20, 2009 at 11:52 AM

    Jonathon looks like he's full of character!

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  22. TinaApril 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    hes gorgeous. its a shame you cant have them as pets.

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  23. WildflowerhouseApril 21, 2009 at 10:58 AM

    I am so glad he has a home that he loves.Thanks for the story and photos. Sharon

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  24. carolynApril 22, 2009 at 5:27 AM

    what a handsome fellow! this story reminds me of christian the lion from the 70s. you may have seen the heartwarming video that made the rounds on the internet last year.

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  25. CaroleApril 23, 2009 at 12:35 AM

    What a gorgeous animal (and a happy ending).

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  26. Misty DawnSApril 23, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    Oh he's fantastic! I'm so glad that the zoo was able to take him after he got too big... what were those people thinking?

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  27. MinieApril 25, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    wonderful entry today. great series of him. i love the last post you were able to capture the close up one.

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