Lion Trainer

They may be king of the jungle, but lions are so much more than predators. A quick Internet search, for instance, turns up a video of “Christian the Lion” and his heartfelt reunion with two Lion Trainers who adopted him as a cub in the 1970s. Although onlookers expect the grown lion to eat the men, Christian hugs and kisses them, instead — proof that lions can be not only fierce, but also fiercely loyal and loving.

Like Christian’s masters, it’s your job as a Lion Trainer to teach and train wild cats, including not only lions, but also other large felines, such as cheetahs, tigers, leopards, jaguars, panthers, and pumas.

Employed by zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, theme parks, and circuses, as a Lion Trainer you’re an Animal Trainer who works with lions for one of two purposes: safety or entertainment. If safety’s your goal, you help protect people — including those who work at zoos and visit them — by teaching lions to trust humans, which makes it possible to more safely interact with lions for the purpose of feeding, petting, or observing them. If your goal is entertainment, on the other hand, you teach lions to do tricks and perform in front of audiences.

No matter your goal, your objectives include getting animals accustomed to human voices and contact, conditioning them to respond to commands, giving them positive reinforcement, overseeing their diet, and building relationships with them by providing mental stimulation, physical exercise, and emotional bonding.

Make no mistake: Lions are dangerous animals. While they can never be truly tamed, therefore, with your experience and expertise, they can definitely be trained!