Christian the Lion

by Éric P. Lemoine

The tale of Androcles (or that of Saint Jerome who was similarly said to have relieved a lion from the pain of a thorn stuck in its paw) are touching stories, but so remote in time that one could be tempted to think such “tales” impossible in our modern age.

However, there is another strikingly similar and poignant story which has re-surfaced these past few years, thanks to the viral diffusion of the Internet video-tubes. Unlike the others, this (documented) story is set not so far in history.

Back in 1969, John Rendall and Anthony Bourke, two Australians living in London, came across the most unexpected item on sale in the ‘exotic animals’ department at Harrods. A lion cub in a small cage.

Somehow, they decided that something had to be done for the (yet) small creature, and they bought it.

For a few months, they lived happily in London with their big cat which not without humour, they had christened ‘Christian’. Until they start to realise that his growing size, as well as the attention and care it needed would be too much effort for them to handle.

A chance encounter with two actors having starred in a movie about a lion cub rehabilitated in the wild brought an acceptable solution to their quandary.

At the advice of the actors, they contacted Kenyan conservationist George Adamson who agreed to help them reintroduce the British lion into its natural habitat.  
What then follows is a long and amazing story of patience and cooperation with nature, as it took some years to have the lion acquainted with other lions so that he could form a pride and establish his territory. But finally the efforts paid off and by 1974 the new pride was established, self-sufficient and thriving in the Kora Reserve in Kenya.

One of the most amazing facts which alone would almost occult all the other fabulous events in this story is that even after years, when his previous owners came to see him, being told he would not recognise them, the lion once named Christian did recognise them. 
And greeted them with a warm hug in the most tender and unbelievable moment.

“Christian stared at us in a very intense way, […]” recalls Rendall. “We called him and he stood up and started to walk towards us very slowly. Then, as if he had become convinced it was us, he ran towards us, threw himself on to us, knocked us over, knocked George over and hugged us, like he used to, with his paws on our shoulders. 
“Everyone was crying. We were crying, George was crying, even the lion was nearly crying.”