This Wildlife Photographer Was Taken By Surprise When He Got A Hug From A Cheetah
Wildlife photography can deliver some unforgettable moments, but this one went from routine to remarkable in seconds. Sasan Amir was at a South African sanctuary doing what he came to do, taking photos, when a cheetah decided to walk right up to him.
Instead of keeping its distance, the big cat calmly moved in for cuddles and even a hug, turning the shoot into something far more personal than anyone would expect. Amir had seen the animal before, but that did not make the moment any less surprising.
The photos tell the whole story, and the cheetah's timing is hard to beat.
Here's a photo directly from Sasan's Instagram that captures this encounter beautifully.
Sasan Amir is a German photographer who was visiting a South African sanctuary to capture some shots when an unexpected friend approached him for some cuddles.
Here's a great quote from Sasan explaining the experience.
“I slowed down my movements and stood up to show the cheetah that I was aware he was coming towards me,” Amir told CATERS NEWS. “The cheetah was curious and came slowly closer, sniffing me at first, and then began to purr and rub his head against me.”
Speaking of wildlife standoffs, this is similar to a cheetah chasing off a mighty lion while defending her cubs.
This photo shows just how adorable this encounter was. Here's a bit more from Sasan about the cheetah and how he recognized him from previous visits.
“It took a few minutes for me to realize what a once-in-a-lifetime moment this was,” he said. “I had visited this sanctuary a few times and noticed that this cheetah was used to interactions with humans.”
This is quite unexpected for even the most seasoned wildlife photographers, as wild animals aren't typically this trusting.
Even Sasan admits that he has seen this cheetah before and has had encounters with other large cats, but it usually takes wild animals quite a while to trust a human in this way.
Clearly, this cheetah has had many human encounters to be this comfortable approaching Sasan.
Here's another story that Sasan has experienced to give you an idea of what he's seen during his journey.
“Once, a leopard was hiding in some thick bushes. He was close to me, looked straight at me, and then slowly started to take a nap,” Amir explained to METRO. “He realized that I wasn’t dangerous to him in any way, and I really enjoyed that he was so comfortable with me.”
This story is just one of many that wildlife photographers have after witnessing some of the wildest and largest animals in their natural habitat. Many of us wouldn't know how to react, but clearly, the cheetah sensed Sasan's calming nature.
It was the kind of moment that only happens once in a while.
Want more cuddly chaos? See how a photographer built a bond with meerkats.
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