Christian the Lion Alert

Updated: John Rendall and Ace Bourke have been on US TV several times this week. Their TV appearances are part of their tour to promote their revised edition of their book, A Lion Called Christian.

The love shared by these two men and their lion became famous with the "reunion clip" from the 1971 documentary about Christian. This reunion showed that even after a year apart, with Christian starting a new life in the African wild, their love was not forgotten.

What is not as well known is that Ace and John went back to Africa another time, after another year had passed. Christian showed up to meet them again. (George Adamson said that lions have a sort of telepathy that lets them know when their friends are near.) On Wednesday's TV appearance, Ace and John hope to show more clips filmed during that second reunion visit.

Christian was much larger at this time, as you can see in the first picture, and his mane was coming in nicely. He still was just as loving toward Ace and John, although more mature and independent.

This second picture shows Christian's face in 1972. It seems to me you can see his greater maturity, but still the same happy personality is very much evident.

Below is over 6 minutes of film from their 1972 reunion visit (there is no sound for this film). On my original page about Christian, you can see Ace and John's appearance on the Today show on March 18.

John Rendall recommends that anyone who wishes to contribute to Christian's legacy can make a donation to the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust. In the US, go to WildlifeNow.com. Outside the US, go to GeorgeAdamson.org. The charity is hoping to raise funds to restore the Kora preserve where Christian was rehabilitated.