Mane Attraction: Visitors Pet Animals at Slovakia Zoo

By Amanda Stringfellow @amanda_l_s

LIONS are often considered one of the most ferocious animals in the world, but a zoo in Slovakia is giving visitors the opportunity to cuddle with the notorious big cats

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Creature Comforts: Zoo keeper Iveta holds Coati, Mimi

Contact Zoo near Liptovský Mikuláš in Northern Slovakia offers the public the chance to get up close and personal with lion cubs, arctic fox cubs and coatis.

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Climbing Coati: Mima loves climbing on human hands and shoulders

The zoo has become the first in Slovakia to let visitors not only look at - but actually hold - the animals on show.

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Mane Attraction: Furry young lions Aslan and Kiara are a highlight of the zoo

Furry lion cubs Aslan and Kiara are the main attraction and at 21 and 24 weeks old are already reaching a weight of 30kg.

One of the Contact zookeepers, Iveta, 20, said: "The cubs are stubborn and becoming personalities.

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A-ROAR-able: The lions came to the park from abroad but were born in captivity

“They are like children, constantly playing, but they have great strength.

“The Coati named Mima is also growing to being a rascal.

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Kissing Kitty: The lion cubs show affection to their human friends

“She likes walks and the company of people and examines what clothes the visitors are wearing.”

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Big Cat Cuddles: The big cats have already reached a weight of 30kg

The petting zoo has around 50 species and 300 animals.

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Animal Friends: A six-month-old arctic fox cub

Zoo manager Jaroslav Kompiš said: "The animals were born in captivity. The presence of man is now associated with secure and accessible food.

“Many are disabled and would not survive in the wild.”