Living with the king of the jungle

Hollywood actress Tippi Hedren has revealed her embarrassment and regret that she let a fully grown lion live with her family in the 1970s, saying they were ‘stupid beyond belief’ to let the beast play with her daughter Melanie Griffth, then aged just 13.

In 1971, LIFE magazine photographer Michael Rougier spent time with Hedren and her family at their home in California. With them a 180kg mature lion. Neil had access to the entire house and practically lived freely with the family, he would even swim with them.