Closer Look: Sleeping With Lions

Posted by Lauren Ward of NG Staff in Explorers Journal on December 11, 2012
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December 9th-15th, Nat Geo WILD presents a week dedicated to nature’s fiercest felines—big cats—creatures of magnificent strength, ferocity and beauty that are rapidly facing extinction. With visually stunning and powerful stories from around the world, get closer than ever before to lions, tigers, cheetahs, panthers and more as you share in their triumphs, defeats, and epic struggles to survive.

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We’ve heard some crazy stories here at National Geographic—everything from a polar bear that shredded an occupied tent to a livid elephant that nearly gored a man. None so terrifying, however, than Big Cats Initiative Grantee Amy Dickman‘s lion encounter … but maybe not in the way you might think.

Learn More

Follow NG’s Big Cats Initiative on Twitter

More about Nat Geo WILD’s Big Cat Week

Other posts from Big Cat Week: Closer Look: Warriors for Conservation

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Comments

  1. hadi
    December 18, 2012, 12:33 pm

    i love you nqt geo

  2. lara
    greece
    December 18, 2012, 6:11 am

    is fantastik,amazing,is one beautiful icon.

  3. Tamara
    big Island Hawaii
    December 16, 2012, 4:50 pm

    I sleep with my tiny little kitty..I couldn’t imagine a lion..what a great story she tells

  4. erin livan
    qld
    December 16, 2012, 4:26 pm

    they say poeple start looking like their animals,,few more hormones-this lady s feline features ,attracting mates

  5. Phillip H George
    USA
    December 16, 2012, 3:18 pm

    Greetings, Amy Dickman’s And National Geographic
    Hope everyone is having a fine Day!
    Dear, Amy Dickman’s
    Truly enjoyed your story about the lion. The only other story that I know where another human may have sleep so close to wilderness wild lions or lion is Daniel in the Lion’s Den, strangely I believe your Lion was sent there to protect you that night, that being true you encounter a supernatural intervention from God, (“A True Miracle Happen During That Time!”)
    “I have a pondering question I will ask of myself ?”
    ‘Why would people in charge put you out there on the ground all by yourself in harms-way?’ “To Me That’s Bad-joking!”
    Amy, that lion knew you were there; it smelled you long before you smelled it, a lion that close can smell your breath, I’m truly surprised you wasn’t a meal for the lion, you could have being eaten at anytime, it’s very strange how the Lion rested and afterwards went on it’s way, during all that time it knew you were there, truly within my heart is a knowing both of you were Blessed That Night and I believe the Good Lord has Great Works Planed For Your Love of His Creatures, Please at all times Be Careful Amy, and Thank You very much for all your works.
    Amy, this is kinda funny but most likely not, if all the creatures could say Thank You they Dearly would, so this little prayer is from All the Creatures living today who haven’t voices. Thank-you from all of our hearts big and small Amy Dickman’s for your many kind caring works with great hopes We ask God’s Loving Blessings to be with you at all-times so you can enjoy the True Wonders of Our Homelands. Amen
    Dear, Any
    I pray for your safe keeping at all times with hopes when the time is right you will meet your Miracle Loin in Heaven where you will become Great Friends again, ‘this too,’ Thank You Great Lord for your many beautiful wonders, please guard-over All the Great Caring People trying to help your amazing creatures here on Earth. Amen
    Respectfully Yours,
    Phillip H George

  6. Becky Johnson
    ohio
    December 16, 2012, 11:49 am

    wow Amy! what an experience! I would have been so nervous that the entire tent would be shaking & the Lion would have probably sensed it. With an experience like this you probably feel a little “closer” to these beautiful yet terrifying cats.

  7. NANCY
    San Diego, CA
    December 15, 2012, 11:21 pm

    How exciting and scary. Don’t think I could have fallen asleep!! In a tent in the Serengeti, my tent mate work me up saying there was something outside. I said where’s the flashlight. She said don’t do that, it will know we’re here. Then we heard growling. Next morning there were feathers all over the place and lion prints. Guess the lion had bird for dinner. Glad it wasn’t us.