Lions are known as the kings of the jungle, the fiercest of the fierce, apex predators, big cats that are as regal as they are fearsome and formidable. However, just like any other animal, they can also be big babies at heart.
Just take Sigra, the orphaned lion, for instance. She was abandoned and thus grew up without a pride, and now heavily relies on her human for comfort and companionship, showing that she is little more than an overgrown baby deep down inside.
According to her human, Sigra will always try to touch him whenever he is nearby because she knows that after she falls asleep, he will likely go away, and she doesn’t like that, so she usually puts a paw on his foot to keep him in place so that she will not wake up alone.
Obviously, feeling that body contact is very important to Sigra. According to this video, “Lions depend on their pride for comfort and survival. They groom each other, raise cubs together, and defend their home as a unit. All of this creates a deep bond that holds the pride together.”
However, since Sigra is an orphan, she grew up without the comfort and security that being part of a pride would have afforded her. According to her human, since Sigra “didn’t grow up with other lions,” she had to find that “connection elsewhere.”
In the years that they have known each other, her human has been “the one constant in her life.” According to him, the affectionate way she greets them, by leaning against him and seeking physical contact, “mirrors what she would share with her pride.”
Without a doubt, growing up without a pride left a big hole in Sigra’s life. Thankfully, she was able to develop a bond with his kindhearted human to fill that space, which allowed her to experience a sense of trust and security that has allowed her to thrive.
Sigra’s Origin
According to this other video, Sigra’s human found her when she was just 10 days old, lying under a bush, after her mother had abandoned her.
She was so small that she could barely open her eyes, and she was severely dehydrated, meaning that she would not have survived very long if her human had not come along to rescue her.
According to her human, her mother was a problem lion who had to be relocated because she kept going after the livestock of local farmers. When she gave birth, none of the cubs in her litter survived, except for Sigra.
Apparently, her mother did not think that Sigra would make it and decided to abandon her. As heartbreaking as the story is, it is still wonderful to hear that Sigra was found by such a kindhearted human who has since fostered a deep and loving connection with her.
As these videos show, she is, without a doubt, a gentle baby at heart, and we are so glad that she is loved now!
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.