And now Brazilian tiger-lover Ary Borges wants to build an eco-park at his home in Maringa, near Sao Paulo, for the giant predators.
The father-of-three refuses to accept being so close to the 35-stone animals is dangerous and insists if he gives them respect, they will respond.
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Dangerous: Ary Borges' granddaughter Rayara is
allowed to ride on the back of the family's seven tigers, despite
protests from her father that it is not safe
Family affair: Ary's (left) two-year-old
granddaughter Rayara (right) is even allowed to play with the tigers
under the supervision of mother Uyara (right) and aunts Daniella (second
left) and Nayara (centre)
Friends: Nayara says she swims with Tom the tiger three times a week to keep him in shape
Borges rescued two tigers from a circus eight years ago and built a sanctuary in his garden before launching a breeding programme.
He was forced to call an end to it when the authorities realised he was breeding the big cats without a permit.
Borges, 43, said: 'I was never worried about my daughters co-existing with these animals.
'You have to show the animals respect and love - that's how you get it back from them.'
He and his daughters Nayara, 20, Uyara, 23, and Deusanira, 24, walk the tigers on leads and feed meat directly into their mouths.
They even allow them into their kitchen during mealtime and let them lounge around the house.
Incredibly, Uraya, who also works as a dog trainer, is happy for daughter Rayara to interact with the massive predators with minimal safety precautions.
She said: 'Rayara loves playing with the tigers - she sees my dad interacting with them and she goes crazy.
'But it's safe. I would never expose her to a dangerous situation.
'Every day since they were born we have taken care of them and fed them so their instincts become dormant.
'They are part of the family. I can't imagine life without them.'
Nayara regularly takes a dip with 35-stone tiger, Tom, clinging to his back as he paddles through the water.
She said: 'I swim with Tom three times per week to help keep him in shape.
'He wouldn't get in the water with anyone else now - he associates the pool with me.'
Despite having no training in animal handling, Borges began to breed tigers at his property to secure their survival.
He hoped to boost their numbers to counteract the worldwide decimation of the species, and one day release captive tigers back into the wild.
But he was later forced to discontinue a breeding program after officials told him he needed a permit.
Now he plans to open a 40-acre ecopark in Maringa where his animals can roam free.
But not everyone in the family is happy about being in such close proximity to the lethal carnivores.
Uyara's husband, Rafael, worries that his daughter is being put in harm's way.
He said: 'I think her interaction with the animals is dangerous, they can be lethal.
Borges rescued two tigers from a circus eight years ago and built a sanctuary in his garden before launching a breeding programme.
He was forced to call an end to it when the authorities realised he was breeding the big cats without a permit.
Borges, 43, said: 'I was never worried about my daughters co-existing with these animals.
'You have to show the animals respect and love - that's how you get it back from them.'
He and his daughters Nayara, 20, Uyara, 23, and Deusanira, 24, walk the tigers on leads and feed meat directly into their mouths.
They even allow them into their kitchen during mealtime and let them lounge around the house.
Incredibly, Uraya, who also works as a dog trainer, is happy for daughter Rayara to interact with the massive predators with minimal safety precautions.
She said: 'Rayara loves playing with the tigers - she sees my dad interacting with them and she goes crazy.
Bizarre: The family's pet chihuahua is perched on top of Tom the tiger inside their home
Unusual: Nayara holds onto the 35-stone tiger's back as it paddles through the water
Ary Borges plays with two of his seven pet tigers at his home in Maringa, Brazil
'But it's safe. I would never expose her to a dangerous situation.
'Every day since they were born we have taken care of them and fed them so their instincts become dormant.
'They are part of the family. I can't imagine life without them.'
Nayara regularly takes a dip with 35-stone tiger, Tom, clinging to his back as he paddles through the water.
She said: 'I swim with Tom three times per week to help keep him in shape.
'He wouldn't get in the water with anyone else now - he associates the pool with me.'
Despite having no training in animal handling, Borges began to breed tigers at his property to secure their survival.
Bond: Borges said living with the tigers is not
dangerous because by showing 'the animals respect and love - that's how
you get it back from them'
Pet: Like a dog or a cat, the tigers are allowed to live inside the family home and even in their bedrooms
Crazy: The predators sit in the kitchen while the family eat and are fed meat directly into their mouths
He hoped to boost their numbers to counteract the worldwide decimation of the species, and one day release captive tigers back into the wild.
But he was later forced to discontinue a breeding program after officials told him he needed a permit.
Now he plans to open a 40-acre ecopark in Maringa where his animals can roam free.
But not everyone in the family is happy about being in such close proximity to the lethal carnivores.
Uyara's husband, Rafael, worries that his daughter is being put in harm's way.
He said: 'I think her interaction with the animals is dangerous, they can be lethal.
Ambition: Borges, pictured with vet Livia Pereira Teixeira, 29, wants to open an eco-park for the animals
Not allowed: The tiger lover started a breeding programme but was forced to stop because he did not have a permit
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