'I adore big cats and am fascinated with their beauty, said Anastasovski.

'I took these photos to show people that these cats have everything we so desperately want - such as love, bravery, sincerity and loyalty.

'My goal is to introduce people to the beauty and character of the big cats.

'They are endangered animals and they should be loved, not killed.'

Anastasovski's images show leopards, lions and tigers in surprisingly relaxed poses, with many of them sharing intimate moments with their companions.

Affectionate: The 46-year-old photographer said the snapshots show that big cats have a lot of personality traits that human beings value

Caring: He said the animals' behaviour clearly shows 'love, bravery, sincerity and loyalty' as he studied them over 10 years at the zoo

Intimate: A number of the photographs show the big cats interacting in pairs, while others are solo shots of the animals roaring

Companions: Here, two leopards living at the Skopje Zoo share a quiet moment, unaware that they are being watched by the photographer