Alex the Lion Stroke-King

British wildlife expert Alex Larenty, 50, calms savage cats with gentle foot-rubs.

Alex, originally of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, UK, moved to South Africa in 1999. He started massaging Jamu, nine, after putting insect repellent on him one day.

“I gave him a scratch and massage and he rolled around with his tongue out. Now he adores massages — his favourite game is This Little Piggy,” says Larenty.