A surprising photo appeared online this spring: Malkin is lying on the floor, cuddling with a huge lion. “Did my son buy it?” asked Evgeni’s father in a trembling voice, after we told him about the photo. Now Evgeni himself explains the story behind it.
It’s an old picture, Malkin smiles. From Magnitogorsk. At that time Zapashny brothers’ circus came to the city. It’s their pet lion. There’s nothing scary about it.
It doesn’t exactly look small and harmless.
You’re right about its size, but I heard it’d been living in Zapashnys’ apartment with them for ten years. It’s very kind.
Did you take a picture with it because your star sign is Leo?
No, it was just an interesting thing to do. Even kids took pictures with it. I was born in the year of the tiger, so does it mean I should now climb into their cages? No.
Does your personality match your star sign?
Not 100%. But I have a difficult personality. When I get mad, I scream and go an a rampage like a lion. So there is some similarity.