Christian The Lion

[Zephyr]

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In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend’s furniture shop on the weekends.

 

Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. But they didn’t know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

 

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

 

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

 

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson’s camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.

 

This video was taken during their reunion with Christian. What a story! What a video!

http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/26/christian-the-lion/

I know this is all wrong, and it was so dangerous of them to risk being out there with a now wild lion, but it made me cry seeing the wonderful bond between the two guys and the lion they had kept as a cub. :wub:

Glad that he got to lead a natural wild life in the end :thumbsup:

 

[k4tie-d]

i thought im not gona cry at this, dont be silly, but the min he jumps up god, tears running down my face :huggles:

 

[hely]

i thought im not gona cry at this, dont be silly, but the min he jumps  up god, tears running down my face :huggles:

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you and me both katie......................

that is lovely :huggles:

 

[Nicola]

It just goes to prove we make far too many assumptions about what animals can or cannot remember or feel emotionally. Great video...thanks for the link :thumbsup:

 

[TC]

OMG If that is fake then I really abhor the people who set it up. I'm so cynical these days after seeing so many videos and photos disproved

I'd love to believe it's real, it's amazing! Overwhelming in fact :huggles:

TCx

 

[Zephyr]

I know what you mean Tracey, but this is from Wikipedia, so I think it is true.

Christian the lion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Christian was a lion purchased in 1969 by two Australians living in London, John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace' Bourke (sometimes erroneously cited as Ace Berg) — from Harrods department store.[1]

 

Rendall, his girlfriend Jennifer Mary, Bourke and Unity Jones cared for the lion as it grew too large to remain their pet. [1] After meeting Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who starred in the film Born Free, Rendall and Bourke agreed to have Christian sent to Kenya with the assistance of conservationist George Adamson — in order that Christian be rehabilitated into the wild at Kora National Reserve.

 

After Christian had been in Kenya a year, Rendall and Bourke returned and visited their former pet. The animal recognized them, reared up, grasped and nuzzled both Randell and Bourke. The following video of the event received widespread dissemination around 2007-2008, more than 35 years later.

See Video: Reunion of Christian, Rendall and Bourke, circa 1970.

 

A movie titled Christian the Lion at World's End documented the relocation of Christian from England to Kenya and his successful reintroduction to the wild. After serious problems in the 1980s, Adamson and two of his assistants were murdered by poachers in 1989

 

[TC]

I know what you mean Tracey, but this is from Wikipedia, so I think it is true.
Christian the lion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Christian was a lion purchased in 1969 by two Australians living in London, John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace' Bourke (sometimes erroneously cited as Ace Berg) — from Harrods department store.[1]

 

Rendall, his girlfriend Jennifer Mary, Bourke and Unity Jones cared for the lion as it grew too large to remain their pet. [1] After meeting Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who starred in the film Born Free, Rendall and Bourke agreed to have Christian sent to Kenya with the assistance of conservationist George Adamson — in order that Christian be rehabilitated into the wild at Kora National Reserve.

 

After Christian had been in Kenya a year, Rendall and Bourke returned and visited their former pet. The animal recognized them, reared up, grasped and nuzzled both Randell and Bourke. The following video of the event received widespread dissemination around 2007-2008, more than 35 years later.

See Video: Reunion of Christian, Rendall and Bourke, circa 1970.

 

A movie titled Christian the Lion at World's End documented the relocation of Christian from England to Kenya and his successful reintroduction to the wild. After serious problems in the 1980s, Adamson and two of his assistants were murdered by poachers in 1989

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Thanks for that Beth, just watched it another three times :b He must have seriously bonded with the blonde guy, he was all over him. Such a wonderful sight and amazing to see the two guys reaction, the blonde man was really choked/excited/full of love imo. A really lovely video.

TCx

 

[Zephyr]

Thanks for that Beth, just watched it another three times  :b He must have seriously bonded with the blonde guy, he was all over him. Such a wonderful sight and amazing to see the two guys reaction, the blonde man was really choked/excited/full of love imo. A really lovely video.
TCx

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Yes, I think it is so beautiful, I can't stop watching it! :b :huggles:

 

[TC]

Thanks for that Beth, just watched it another three times  :b He must have seriously bonded with the blonde guy, he was all over him. Such a wonderful sight and amazing to see the two guys reaction, the blonde man was really choked/excited/full of love imo. A really lovely video.
TCx

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Yes, I think it is so beautiful, I can't stop watching it! :b :huggles:

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Me neither, it's mesmerising! That's why I'd be so upset if I thought someone was just faking it. An amazing story, thanks for posting it :thumbsup:

TCx

 

[meddling]

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

[meddling]

I know what you mean Tracey, but this is from Wikipedia, so I think it is true.
Christian the lion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Christian was a lion purchased in 1969 by two Australians living in London, John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace' Bourke (sometimes erroneously cited as Ace Berg) — from Harrods department store.[1]

 

Rendall, his girlfriend Jennifer Mary, Bourke and Unity Jones cared for the lion as it grew too large to remain their pet. [1] After meeting Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who starred in the film Born Free, Rendall and Bourke agreed to have Christian sent to Kenya with the assistance of conservationist George Adamson — in order that Christian be rehabilitated into the wild at Kora National Reserve.

 

After Christian had been in Kenya a year, Rendall and Bourke returned and visited their former pet. The animal recognized them, reared up, grasped and nuzzled both Randell and Bourke. The following video of the event received widespread dissemination around 2007-2008, more than 35 years later.

See Video: Reunion of Christian, Rendall and Bourke, circa 1970.

 

A movie titled Christian the Lion at World's End documented the relocation of Christian from England to Kenya and his successful reintroduction to the wild. After serious problems in the 1980s, Adamson and two of his assistants were murdered by poachers in 1989

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​

Thanks for that Beth, just watched it another three times :b He must have seriously bonded with the blonde guy, he was all over him. Such a wonderful sight and amazing to see the two guys reaction, the blonde man was really choked/excited/full of love imo. A really lovely video.

TCx

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I think Christian might have been jealous of the blond guys mane :thumbsup:

 

[peppermint lady]

trish sent this to us awhile ago and mum watches it every day :huggles:

both of us balled our eyes out the 1st time of seeing it :b :b

it gives me goose bumps when i see it

 

[AnnSa]

Yes im sure it was Trish who sent it to me as well.

Its lovely isn't it makes me get teary eyed every time i watch it :lol: