In the 1970′s, actress and model Tippi Hedren (mother of actress Melanie Griffith) created the Shambala Preserve after producing the film Roar. The preserve rescued exotic big cats living in captivity that had been abused or were in need of help, one of which the family created a close bond with. Neil the lion lived with the family in their home, and played an active role in the day to day activities of the preserve.

Young African lion Asali (R) jumps for a bungee-ball toy as her father Jambo or “Bruiser” looks on at the opening of a savannah-themed makeover of the lion enclosure at Taronga Zoo August 29, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. The renovation includes sandstone rock features, a wading pool, and red ochre crushed granite substrate in a move to make the enclosure more closely resemble the natural habitat of the African savannah. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Reuters photographers Carlos Barria and Bobby Yip photographed protestors and details of life on the barricades, asking demonstrators what their role was in the movement, and what they wanted to happen. Here: Crystal, 15, a part-time boutique sales assistant, poses on Nathan Road in Mongkok shopping district in Hong Kong October 7, 2014. Holding a walkie talkie for fast communication with other supporters, Crystal said, “I am not demanding Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to quit, but (want) to protect protesters from being threatened badly by opponents and the police”. (Photo by Bobby Yip/Reuters)

A girl who suffers from hearing and speech disorders reacts to the camera at a rehabilitation centre supported by Bhopal Medical Appeal, for children who were born with mental and physical disabilities, in Bhopal November 11, 2014. The rehabilitation centre only treats families they believe have been affected by the Union Carbide gas leak 30 years ago. Human rights groups say that thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste remain buried underground, and the government has conceded it is contaminated. There has, however, been no long-term epidemiological research which conclusively proves that birth defects are directly related to the drinking of the contaminated water. (Photo by Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

Osama bin Laden lookalike Ceara Francisco Helder Braga Fernandes laughs while chatting on the phone in his “Bar do Bin Laden” on April 29, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Braga says he was known as the “Beard Man” before 9/11 but became known as a Bin Laden lookalike following the 9/11 attacks. He says he is Christian and continues to play the role to support his business. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A Belarusian law enforcement officer approaches women, who react while sitting on the pavement during a rally of opposition supporters following the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus on August 10, 2020. Belarusian police clashed with protesters on Monday after the opposition accused President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging his re-election victory amid a chorus of criticism from Western leaders. (Photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

In this Sunday, September 6, 2020 file photo, people with their children stand at a barbed wire fence in front of a police line toward the Independence Palace, residence of the President Alexander Lukashenko, during Belarusian opposition supporters rally in Minsk, Belarus. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has relied on massive arrests and intimidation tactics to hold on to power despite nearly three months of protests sparked by his re-election to a sixth term, but continuing protests have cast an unprecedented challenge to his 26-year rule. (Photo by TUT.by via AP Photo)