It was love at first sight even if Heather Tookey's new best friend could be described as a bit fast - and a bit of a cheetah.
City girl Heather, 21, has formed an extraordinary bond with a big cat called Dew and the two are now inseparable on her visits.
They play together, sunbathe together, have sleepovers together - and they even take selfies together.
It has been, says Heather, the most extraordinary experience of her life.
She said: "People are astonished that I can have such a close relationship with a wild animal.
"When she lies on top of my head, purring so contentedly, I can feel the love in her eyes as she stares down at me, sharing her cheetah cuddles.
"There is no feeling better than the unconditional love of an animal, especially when that animal is a cheetah who you love with all of your heart."
The HR assistant from Beckenham, Kent, has now been back to the Cheetah Experience sanctuary four times and each time Dew and her sister Dawn rush to greet her.
Under endless African skies, Heather can be found playing with her 19-month-old friend for hours on end.
Sometimes Dawn joins in too, especially if they are playing catch-me-if-you-can on the dusty floor of the sanctuary dedicated to breeding and conserving cheetahs.
Heather has even slept in the cheetah enclosure overnight to stay close to her friend.
"When I look into her eyes I feel safe and at home," she says.
Cheetahs - which can reach speeds of around 75mph and accelerate to 62mph in just three seconds - are Africa's most threatened big cat with the majority of cheetah cubs failing to survive into adulthood.
Mostly it is because of other predators but it also is because of mankind.
They are generally tolerant of humans although they have been known to attack, the most famous recent example being when Harry Gilmore actor Adam Sandler strayed too close to one when on safari last year.
City girl Heather, 21, has formed an extraordinary bond with a big cat called Dew and the two are now inseparable on her visits.
They play together, sunbathe together, have sleepovers together - and they even take selfies together.
It has been, says Heather, the most extraordinary experience of her life.
She said: "People are astonished that I can have such a close relationship with a wild animal.
"When she lies on top of my head, purring so contentedly, I can feel the love in her eyes as she stares down at me, sharing her cheetah cuddles.
"There is no feeling better than the unconditional love of an animal, especially when that animal is a cheetah who you love with all of your heart."
The HR assistant from Beckenham, Kent, has now been back to the Cheetah Experience sanctuary four times and each time Dew and her sister Dawn rush to greet her.
Under endless African skies, Heather can be found playing with her 19-month-old friend for hours on end.
Sometimes Dawn joins in too, especially if they are playing catch-me-if-you-can on the dusty floor of the sanctuary dedicated to breeding and conserving cheetahs.
Heather has even slept in the cheetah enclosure overnight to stay close to her friend.
"When I look into her eyes I feel safe and at home," she says.
Cheetahs - which can reach speeds of around 75mph and accelerate to 62mph in just three seconds - are Africa's most threatened big cat with the majority of cheetah cubs failing to survive into adulthood.
Mostly it is because of other predators but it also is because of mankind.
They are generally tolerant of humans although they have been known to attack, the most famous recent example being when Harry Gilmore actor Adam Sandler strayed too close to one when on safari last year.
Music : Monkoto by Kevin MacLeod
Source: Mirror
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