Lions
A Lion Called Christian ~ Bourke and Rendall
31/08/09 18:22 Filed in: BotTF
Summary: This is the true story, as the title suggests, about a Lion called Christian. Christian was purchased by two young Australians at Harrods of London and stayed with them until his release back into the wilds of Kenya with the help of George Adamson (of Born Free fame).
The Aussies realised that Christian would probably spend the remainder of his life in a Zoo, unless they did something about it. What results is a wonderful tale of his relocation and rehabilitation back to the life he was born to lead.
This is certainly worth a read. This version is the recently updated version with over 50 photographs of Christian. It was released because of Christian’s tale rising again to prominence through YouTube. I have added the reunion clip below.
How likely would this situation occur today? Would cost come into it? I hope it wouldn’t but, I’ll leave that up to you.
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Born Free ~ Joy Adamson
30/08/09 13:25 Filed in: BotTF
Summary: This is the true account of Elsa, the lioness rescued with her sisters and, raised and nutured by Joy and George Adamson while George was the senior game warden for the Northern Frontier district in Kenya.
Born Free was written by Joy Adamson and chronicles the life of Elsa while she was part of the Adamson “Pride” and as they prepared her for her release back to the wilds of the African life she was born to.
It is an incredible tale of a lion who ended up being completely at home in two worlds, and knowing the boundaries and freedoms of each.
I saw the movie of the same name more than twenty years ago, and the story is still an inspiring one albeit in an Africa that is all but gone.
... the final paragraph is this
Whatever her ultimate fate may be, we shall always be thankful that she has given us a unique experience and the abiding memory of a most lovable character. If I have sadly to confess that “With a great sum obtained I this freedom” for her, I like to think that when she rubs her face against mine she is trying to comfort me by saying, in her own way, “But I was free born.”
Joy Adamson, 1960
