Fox29 WFLX TV, West Palm Beach, Florida-Meet the animals of Lion County Safari

Meet the animals of Lion County Safari

By: Rachel Leigh

More than 900 wild animals call Lion Country Safari their home. And standing within feet of full grown lions was definitely out of the ordinary.

The lions not only know wildlife lead keeper Brian Dowling's voice and scent, they also enjoy his companionship. In fact, he raised two of the 14 by hand.

He explained to me the lion pride runs a lot like a community. "They'll form little coalitions; they'll pair up with one another and pick on one another. They're always battling for their hierarchy."

Lion Country Safari has been around for nearly 40 years. "We truly are an unique experience. We live in an area where there is a lot of tourism, and the weather is pretty mild year round for us."

And when the storms roll in... "Instincts really take over.... And as the storm blows through, it blows right over them. And as soon as the winds calm down, they're back on their feet grazing again."

Brian then took me to hand feed the animals. But before we arrived, we got into a tad of a traffic jam.

As we made the trek through the four-mile drive, we held our breaths as this two-ton rhino inched its way closer.

Thankfully, the animals are accustomed to sharing their ground with visitors. "It's actually called desensitization. These animals see that so often and so regularly, that it doesn't even phase them."

It's now lunch time, and the giraffes are ready for their carrots, sweet potatoes and crackers. Did you know their tongues are 14 inches long?!

We had time for one last stop before heading out. The lory birds are native to Australia, and they really enjoy their sugar water!

With more than 300 acres of adventures, it's always a wild time at Lion Country Safari. And, the best part, you don't have to go halfway across the globe to encounter the thrill of these cageless African animals!