Orphan Leopard Knocked on Her Door Every Dawn. One Day She Finally Let Him In

She knew all of this, understood it better than most. Helping would only make things worse. If a wild animal began to associate humans with safety or food, it could never be released again. Dependency was a death sentence in disguise.

And still, when the cub slumped forward under the weight of the midday heat, her instincts overpowered reason. Catherine filled a shallow bowl from the tap and crouched by the doorway. She slid it outside through the narrow gap and froze.