Justin, Rosa and Maxine Fernandes play with a caracal at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The Fernandes family live a rather unusual life. Their family features three humans, six lions, ten tigers, three caracals and one jaguar in their isolated trailer in South Africa.
Justin Fernandes feeds milk to a tiger at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Justin Fernandes plays with a tiger at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The Fernandes family once owned the luxurious Jugomaro Predator Park in South Africa, and a grand complex big enough to allow the big cats to roam inside. But financial difficulties at the end of 2015 took it all away from retreat owner Rosa and her children – 31-year-old Justin and 28-year-old Maxine.
Justin Fernandes massages a tiger at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Rosa Fernandes strokes a lion at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Justin Fernandes feeds milk to a lion at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The nine years of living together as a family for these three humans and a dozen big cats ruled out the possibility of them trading their furry friends to make some much-needed money.
A Bengal tiger relaxes in a paddling pool at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Justin Fernandes plays soccer with a lioness at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
“The daily routine we have with the animals consists of waking up early in the morning, going around and checking if they are all okay,” Justin said, “'I see the cats as a big part of my family. These animals mean so much to me that I put my life on the line for them.”
Tattoos on the chest of Justin Fernandes of the paws of one of his lion's, Taariq, are photographed after a shower at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
“I'd rather be killed by one of my cats than being in town and getting murdered for 50 rand and my cell phone,” He added.
Justin Fernandes feeds a lion from his mouth at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The family's outdoor toilet is seen among the bushes at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Maxine Fernandes lies on a bed inside a caravan at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Maxine Fernandes kisses a caracal at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The Fernandes family were forced to move after losing everything, only taking the big cats. “We left with just the clothes on our back,” as Rosa,53, described. They settled in a caravan in Krugersdorp. Life has proved hard and inconvenient ever since then - it takes three hours to boil water for a shower, and they are forced to rely on nature for many daily chores. One of their main expenses is on their pride of big cats - it costs about 800 US dollars per week to keep them all fed. The cats consume some 1,000 kilograms of chicken every day. Nevertheless, they never thought about giving up on their feline family members. “We have been living like this for more than a year now - it would have been easy for us to sell the cats and get back on our feet again but unfortunately for our family that wasn't an option,” Rosa said, “We'd rather have nothing and have our cats.”
A fridge with family photographs inside a tent where the Fernandes family live at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
Maxine, Justin and their mother, Rosa Fernandes are photographed at the Jugomaro Predator Park on November 06, 2016 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. /PHOTOGRAPH BY Daniel Born, VCG
The family is now struggling to obtain a piece of land to establish a park for the animals, and to make a better home for themselves.
