A Lion Called Christian

Ace Bourke Interview

ace — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:47:25 +0000

This month Ace Bourke was interviewed by Wilson Vega for Tiempo Real.

Click here to watch the skype interview.

Christian’s Christmas Card

ace — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:51:40 +0000

Thanks to Derek Cattani again for Christian’s Christmas card.

Merry Christmas and Season’s Greeting to all.

Christian and George Adamson

ace — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:49:16 +0000

Christian with George Adamson – probably late 1972 or 1973.

It must be one of the last photographs taken. Courtesy GAWPT and George/usasportswarrior.

Christian painting by Karen Neal

ace — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:13:46 +0000

New Zealand artist Karen Neal generously donated the proceeds of this painting to GAWPT.

See her website for limited edition prints and other images.

Ace Bourke: A Collector’s Journey

Therasa — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 01:41:52 +0000

Michael Riley, Kristina 1986 gelatin silver photograph

This weekend Ace Bourke opened his exhibition A Collector’s Journey at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre in Sydney. The exhibition features Aboriginal art, Indian tribal art, traditional and contemporary Pacific works, photographs and more from curator Ace Bourke’s personal collection. Also included in the exhibition are photographs and memorabilia of Christian the Lion.

The exhibition is open from 11 August to 23 September. More details are available here.

Ace Bourke: A Collector's Journey. Photo by Therasa Jazowy August 2012

Happy Birthday Christian!

Therasa — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 01:20:36 +0000

Happy Birthday Christian, image from Derek Cattani

The 12th of August marks Christian’s birthday and this month also marks 40 years since we last saw Christian. By 1972 Christian had grown into what George Adamson thought may have been the biggest lion in Kenya – close to 500 pounds, and with more growing to do. To quote from our book A Lion Called Christian, and Ace’s letter to his parents.

“We saw Christian every morning and evening for a walk and a chat. He is much calmer and much more self assured than last year, and stunning to be with. Just as silly. Huge. Jumped up on me only once as before on his hind legs and he did it extremely gently. He licked my face as he towered over me.”

Despite his size, the local wild lions were still unrelenting in their opposition, and Christian was spending extended periods away from Kora and George assumed he was looking for somewhere more suitable to live. We realised this may mean we may never see him again… but we did. This is the video of our second and last reunion with Christian in 1972.

Ace writes… This is one of my favourite photographs with Christian. It sums up the relief of finally getting Christian to Kenya after months of delays, and the necessary vigilance over his well being and everyone’s safety in England. The photograph represents for me the freedom from restrictions, the beginning of Christian’s natural life, and to just… be.

The Tana River, Kora, Kenya

BBC’s “The One Show” features Christian the Lion

Therasa — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:38:14 +0000

On 1 May 2012, BBC’s “The One Show” featured two stories about reunions of wild animals with their former owners. The first story featured Christian. Click here to watch.

Thank you Whitney

Therasa — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:50:21 +0000

Vale Whitney Houston. Your song I Will Always Love You helped send Christian’s video viral and introduced him to a new global audience, and we will always be grateful.

Ace Bourke

A great gift this Christmas!

Therasa — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:23:27 +0000

A Lion Called Christian is a beautiful story that continues to inspire people around the world. The book is available in more than in more than 18 languages around the world and makes a great Christmas gift. The book is available in hard copy through www.amazon.com and digital or e-book editions are available through the following channels.

Dutch edition

iBooks: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/a-lion-called-christian/id437005297?mt=11

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Lion-Called-Christian-ebook/dp/B0038LB3Z4/

Waterstones: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/anthony+bourke/john+rendall/a+lion+called+christian+28ebook29/6449728/

WHSmith: http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/eBooksProductDetails.aspx?productID=KB00104739541

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Lion-Called-Christian/book-OMXKLakmSEyu5TnRXJn31w/page1.html?utm_source=whsmith&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=detailpage

French edition

Bingo, India

Therasa — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:45:26 +0000

I am from a city called Bangalore in India. I once found a dog with a severe wound on its right leg. I took it to the nearest vet-clinic and had it treated. Then I brought it home.

After a few days it occurred to me as if the dog had already been trained. Not long after it was with me, one day I noticed that my dog was no where to be seen. I searched all over my locality, but without any success. I was scared at this point of time that the dog catchers might have caught hold of my dog or maybe it had lost its way back home.

I had lost my hope. I waited for a week. After a week or so, I knew I couldn’t moan any longer waiting for my dog to come back, as I had to continue with my routine. One day when I came back from my school, I couldn’t believe my eyes. At first I thought it was not ‘BINGO’. But then he came running and hugged me in the same way as Christian had. This incident took place nearly one and a half years after he had disappeared.

I realized that even though I had forgotten about him, he had remembered me and had come from god knows where to meet me after 1 1/2 years. This shows that we have an important lesson to learn from animals. The attached picture was the one taken by me before he was lost.

Raghavendra

Bingo, India