A Lion Called Christian

A lion, raised by two Australian men, living in London. They named him "Christian". When he got too big, they released him into the wild. This story has become a sensation on the internet, and the YouTube video is one of the most popular, right now. The story of Christian, The Lion. When I got the email, this morning, and watched the video, I had to investigate. I needed to know more about this lion called Christian, and the men who raised him. The story is a remarkable one. And very heartwarming.

Anthony "Ace" Bourke (for some reason, misnamed "Berg") and John Rendall had a furniture store in London, back in 1969, called, ironically, Sophistocat Furniture. It was a small business, not very well known.

One day, these two Australian men heard about the "exotic pets area" in Harrod's Department Store. The story goes that a woman went in there, asking for a camel, and the manager replied, "One hump or two, madam?" Ace and John thought the story was funny, so had to go check it out, for themselves. Among the exotic pets, in a small, cramped cage, were two lion cubs. Harrod's had bought them, at just a couple weeks old, from a zoo. Ace and John couldn't handle the thought of these poor animals in such cramped conditions, so decided to save one of them. They scraped together what, in American dollars, amounts to about $600, and bought the one they named "Christian".

Christian the Lion came home to live with Ace and John in their London apartment, and spent many hours with them at the furniture store.

"Bourke and Rendall did have to go through a long process to prove they could care for the animal, and there were others who wanted to buy the cub. But the two friends prevailed, and soon the basement of the custom furniture store where they worked had a new and exotic housecat.

"We persuaded the owners of the shop that it would be great publicity for the shop if we had the lion live there," Rendall explained." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25797678/)

As Christian the Lion grew, they realized they needed more room for their "housecat" to play. Someplace big enough for him to run, where no one else would be, but also completely enclosed. They convinced a local priest to let them use the old graveyard, each morning. Christian's favorite game seemed to be soccer.

Christian had grown from the small 35 lb cub to a 185 lb teenager, and there just wasn't enough room for him. "They weren't worried about Christian attacking anyone, he said. It was more that he was so big he could break a window just by leaning on it. Who knew what other damage he could accidentally cause when he grew even bigger?" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25797678/)

As it happened, the filming of the movie "Born Free" had been finished, not long before. And by a stroke of incredible luck, two of the actors from this movie (Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna) happened into this furniture store one day, to buy a pine desk.

Ace and John recognized them, and decided to show them their pet kitty: Christian the Lion. Travers and McKenna told them they'd talk to George Adamson, a well known "lion whisperer" (so to speak). Mr. Adamson was the one who'd raised the lion in the movie "Born Free" and reintroduced her into the wild.

George Adamson at first didn't think it would work. After all, Elsa had been born in Africa, and knew the surroundings. Christian had been born in captivity, his parents had been born in captivity, and he wondered if Christian still had the natural instincts he would need to survive. In order to fund this, they decided to make the documentary of Christian and sell it. This documentary is called "Christian the Lion". It's also been called "Christian: The Lion Who Thought He Was People". (http://www.whitelionrestorations.com/Christian.htm)

For many months, they all lived at the compound in Kenya, slowly introducing Christian to Boy (the male from "Born Free"), and a lioness cub orphan named Katiana. Eventually, the three lions would begin to go out on their own. And Ace and John went back to London.

Later, Katiana was eaten by crocodiles, and Boy was attacked by wild lions in the area. Attacked so badly that he lost his trust in others and his socialization skills. Eventually, Boy had to be shot, by Adamson himself, when he attacked and killed Adamson's assistant. They, by then, had brought in three females, and Christian became the leader of his own pride.

It was a year later, that Ace and John returned, in 1971, to see how Christian the Lion was doing. Adamson told them that Christian would probably not remember them. But, after hours of searching, they found him. He approached cautiously, at first, uncertain. Then, slowly, recognition set in, and Christian ran forward to hug his former owners. This is the clip that is such a sensation on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U&feature=related

What amazed George Adamson was that, in Christian's acceptance of Ace and John, his mates, Mona and Lisa, accepted them, as well. It was a tearful and heartfelt reunion.

What isn't known by most is that, in 1974, Ace and John contacted George Adamson, saying they wanted to return. Adamson told them, again, that Christian the Lion would definitely not remember them, now, as three more years had passed. Christian and his pride were fully wild. Christian had his own territory, which he had defended often, and his own cubs. The pride had not even been seen for nine months. Ace and John said they'd come, anyway.

When their plane landed at the compound, Adamson met them, telling them-guess what? Christian and his pride were up at the rock above the compound. Out of nowhere, they'd come back, and had been waiting, all night. When Ace, John, and Adamson went to the rock, Christian again came down cautiously and uncertain. But, as before, he remembered, and tackled the three men to the ground, giving hugs and licking their faces.

This was the last time, Christian and his pride were seen. And ,years later, in 1987, George Adamson was ambushed and killed by bandits in Kenya. Ace and John carry on a foundation in his name, The George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust. (http://www.georgeadamson.org/)

Are Ace and John upset, that after all these years, the story is suddenly being retold? No.

"Now (John) Rendall hopes that the sudden popularity of the old film will help wildlife conservation efforts. He has remained an active supporter of the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania and the George Adamson Trust. Tragically, Adamson himself was killed during local unrest 14 years after the video was shot.

Rendall doesn't know who posted the first video on YouTube, but he doesn't mind that they did. "It's a lovely story and we're delighted people are interested in it," he said. "If they want to support the George Adamson Trust, we're delighted." " (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25797678/)

This a beautiful story of love and friendship that continues to live on. And, hopefully, will lead to more people being aware of environmental issues.