I have devoted years to photographing animals that can only survive in wild and remote regions. Above all my love and admiration for large cats has dominated my life, my work, and even my dreams for seven years. Only when I became involved in the lives of these matchless creatures who consume only what they need without harming nature in any way did I understand the true meaning of loving animals. In the course of my work I have met people who devoted their entire lives to making life easier for a single lion, without expecting anything in return. I have seen people whose passion for tigers prompted them to abandon their homes and countries to live in the jungle. These seem to me to have more meaning that many other lives. My concept of loving animals gradually changed after each photo safari. It was such a marvellous experience to come face to face with such exceptional animals.

My admiration for domestic cats first inspired my search for large cats, and I ended up travelling not to take photographs, but just for the joy of being there and seeing them. The photographs became a secondary pursuit, serving only to share what I saw with the rest of the world. I have learnt much from these animals in experiencing the privilege of proximity to them. As well as envy and admiration, I have learnt to feel respect for all of them. I have seen that they demand no more living space than they need, that they do not attack another animal unless they are hungry, that they never pretend, and that far from damaging their environment they preserve the natural balance. From them I have also learnt patience. While in search of an animal I have learnt to renew my hopes every moment of every day. I have read studies of their behaviour and, combining this with my experience in the wild, have gained the knowledge needed to seek them out.

African lions (Panthera leo) are the most sociable of the large cats and live and hunt in large packs known as prides. Like all wild cats their behaviour can vary according to their environment. Lions generally sleep through the day and get ready to hunt when the air cools.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is small compared to the tiger, lion or cheetah. It varies in weight between 28 and 70 kilograms and has a lifespan in the wild of 11-15 years. All its movements possess the perfection of a trained performance. Leopards are harder to find than any of the other large African cats. Unlike other species the leopard will hunt for pleasure even when it is not hungry. When resting, particularly after the hunt is over, it prefers to climb into the branches of a tree.