There are few animals as revered and as respected as the cheetah.
Well known for the being the fastest animal in the world, they are fearsome predators, and most people would never dream of approaching one.
But Riana isn’t most people. Like the incredible conservators who raise tiger cubs by hand, Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen has made it her life’s work to raise awareness and protect cheetahs and other big cats from poachers and other sources of danger with her conservation effort, Cheetah Experience.
And sometimes, for her efforts, her beautiful animals protect her right back, specifically her special cheetah friend Fiela. When Riana first started her big cat sanctuary, it was just her and Fiela building the program from the ground up.
Like these tiny tigers who are being raised by an orangutan, Fiela thinks of Riana as her mom. So when Riana was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fiela did what any good daughter would do; she stayed right by Mom’s side.
While Fiela doesn’t necessarily care for other humans, she loves her mom without reservation, and stayed with her throughout the illness. Riana was worried that Fiela wouldn’t recognize her when she first came home from the hospital with no hair, but Fiela recognized her instantly, and immediately tried to nurture her by licking her head.
Now, Riana says that Fiela helped give her the strength to fight through her illness and recover. While it’s not a traditional therapy, nor is it one that anyone should try without plenty of training with big cats, this a truly beautiful bond.
And if you were moved by Fiela and Riana’s touching story, please SHARE on Facebook for everyone who knows that healing is always easier with a beloved animal at your side!
My Pet Cheetah Helped Me Through Cancer by BarcroftTV
