Lion Called Christian

by Anthony Bourke

  We did not have to be converted to Bill and Virginia's proposal. We did worry, however, that because Christian had led such an unnatural life we may have delionized him to an extent that made rehabilitation impossible. George had assured Bill that Christian was still very young, and that it would take many more generations of lions existing in captivity before their natural instincts would be impaired. George intended to create a man-made pride of lions, incorporating Christian. We were to accompany Christian to Kenya and help him start to adjust to his new life. George would live with the lions and feed them until they had established their territory and were functioning effectively as a pride.

  We realized it could not be assumed that Christian would have a long, natural life. On average lions live to eighteen to twenty years in zoos, but approximately twelve to fifteen years in the wild. Lions have to face territorial battles with one another, as well as droughts and scarcity of game, and only the strongest survive. When lions hunt animals as large as buffaloes, unless they kill efficiently, they can easily be injured or be killed themselves. And Christian, with his Chelsea background, would be starting with disadvantages. However, he would escape a long, safe, but totally pointless life in captivity, and would be given the opportunity to take his chance in his natural environment.

  On our way back to London we spoke excitedly of the unpredictability of life. Where would Christian be now if someone else had bought him from Harrods? What would have happened if Bill and Virginia had not come into Sophistocat? By accident they walked into our problem of Christian's future and became involved in it. By buying Christian we had added new dimensions to our lives, and now unexpectedly to his. It would have been an unforgettable experience for us, but one that would be totally spoiled if Christian were to live the rest of his life in captivity. George Adamson now offered the perfect solution to our dilemma with Christian, a lion, it seemed, that had been marked for an extraordinary destiny. When we arrived back in London that night, Christian fittingly made his first attempt at a roar. It was immature but recognizable, and we were immensely proud.

  Bill Travers flew to Kenya to assist in negotiations that had already begun with the Kenyan government. He was confident that this unusual project would be acceptable, but the plans became more complicated than had been anticipated. In principle, permission to make the documentary was not a problem. It would be good publicity for Kenya and help attract more tourists, still the main source of revenue. Even if the basic motivation was to maintain this industry, at the time there was an increasing awareness among most African governments of the need for the conservation and protection of animals. In the intervening years it has become obvious that even more urgent action is required, and there has been an alarming acceleration in the competition between man and wildlife for dwindling resources and habitats. The Kenyan government was also interested in having a record of George Adamson's methods of rehabilitating lions, and particularly the scientific documentation of such a unique experiment with a lion from England.

  However, there had been considerable controversy in Kenya the previous year over the whole question of the rehabilitation of lions. A child had been slightly injured by one of George Adamson's lions, and this unfortunate incident provided an unfavorable background to our negotiations. Some members of the government viewed the rehabilitation of lions as a worthwhile project, but others felt that because of their earlier contact with humans, these lions would be likely to approach people in the game parks, and that could create a dangerous situation. Most people fear lions, and for Africans, they are a traditional natural enemy or competitor, so why bring yet another potential man-eater from England?

  But the Kenyan government finally agreed to give their permission for Christian to come to Kenya if a suitable area could be found. It had to have water and game, and be in a region where there were neither tourists nor any immediate likelihood of a tourist area developing. It would have to be closed to hunting, and have no resident Africans or their cattle, which could be an easy temptation for the lions. Bill looked at several possibilities while he was in Kenya, but had to return to England, leaving George to continue the search.

  Meanwhile, we had not heard from Bill and Virginia in several weeks. We did not dare telephone them in case we were told that it was no longer possible for Christian to go to Kenya. Finally, Bill rang and explained the delay, and he told us that George had just found two suitable areas, and it seemed likely that the Kenyan government would agree to the use of either.

  Bill was confident enough to decide that filming would begin at Sophistocat the following Monday. The documentary, to be called The Lion at World's End, would be directed by James Hill, and it was to start with a reconstruction of Bill and Virginia's first meeting with Christian, then record the story exactly as it happened. The documentary would help to attract attention to the need for the protection and conservation of animals, and Christian, through extraordinary luck, was to be the subject and prime beneficiary of the film.

  Our excitement was mixed with apprehension. After our experience at the television studios when Christian had appeared on the children's program, we realized that it was impossible to predict how he would react to being filmed. We did not know to what extent we would be involved in the filming, although having no acting ambitions we could reject the old theatrical axiom "Never compete with animals or children."

  Bill and James gave strict instructions that Sophistocat was to remain unchanged for the filming. We were asked not to cut our hair, and to be as flamboyantly dressed and as "King's Road" as possible, instructions that we now rather regret. But as the shop would be closed to customers for one or two days, we thought it would be a nice gesture to the patient and tolerant owners if the shop appeared as smart as possible. On Sunday we repainted the walls and floor. It was a nicer gesture than we had intended, for it was an enormous shop and we worked hard all day. Christian was allowed upstairs only late in the afternoon, after the paint had dried on the floor. The last wall was still being completed when Christian knocked over the can, splashing paint everywhere. Surprised, he jumped back, but slipped and fell. Scrambling to his paws, he then ran to the other end of the shop. We were dismayed; white paw marks covered the black floor, and Christian, required to appear as a lion for the cameras the following morning, was an unrecognizable white animal. Until very late that night one of us was repainting the floor, while in the basement, the other, armed with towels and turpentine, was struggling to clean Christian, who just thought it was a new game.

  Next day Sophistocat was transformed into a film set. At first Christian was dazzled by the bright lights and confused by all the unfamiliar equipment and camera crew. But this helped to keep him unusually subdued, and he only scattered the crew a few times. Bill and James were familiar with filming animals, and were very patient and undemanding. Christian, bored with the normal shop routine, enjoyed the day and was so cooperative that Bill described him as a "one-take lion." We were to participate fully in the filming, and could forget about the cameras by concentrating rather intensely on Christian, who performed magnificently. Unfortunately, our few lines of dialogue were later dubbed in excruciatingly broad Australian accents, as our voices sounded "too English."

  The following day we filmed at the Moravian Close, but Christian resented sharing his garden with so many other people and was very uncooperative. This was probably because of his strong territorial claim, and although he loved chasing soccer balls, that day he totally ignored them. Bill and James wanted to film some slow-motion sequences, but when we finally succeeded in getting Christian to run or move, he stopped as soon as he heard the noisy slow-motion camera. Eventually, with no other alternative, we broke all our rules by encouraging him to chase us. We were irresistible and Christian could not believe his luck. Despite our torn clothing, the result was an enjoyable and worthwhile day's filming.

  Several days later we saw the rushes of the first two days of filming. Christian looked beautiful, the slow-motion seq
uences of him running and playing were stunning, and none of us, not even Bill or Virginia, had seen a lion in slow motion before. For the first time we really appreciated his strength, power, and perfect coordination.

  This might have been Christian's last visit to the garden, because the Moravian minister, although extremely fond of him, had reluctantly told us that he could no longer exercise there. Like most other people, he had been very tolerant, but other people had access to the garden and could not now be expected to cope with Christian's boisterousness as we could. The day he had obstinately refused to get off the roof of the minister's car might also have been an influencing factor. But when we told him that we expected to be in Kenya in a few weeks' time, he kindly compromised by allowing us to come to the garden at 6:30 A.M. Our lives had to be considerably readjusted, and Christian was now finding his life at Sophistocat increasingly monotonous and frustrating. He needed his day to be broken by an afternoon outing, so the early-morning exercise did not suit him either. Bill suggested building a compound for Christian in the garden at their house at Leith Hill near Dorking in Surrey, so that the three of us could live there until we left for Kenya.

  When the compound was completed, Christian left the King's Road and London forever. Many of his World's End friends gathered to say good-bye. After living for several weeks fearing an accident, it was a relief to leave only pleasant memories behind. But we were also sad; our five very happy, unrepeatable months with Christian in London were over.

  Bill and Virginia's house at Leith Hill was surrounded by an attractive, rambling garden. Although only thirty miles from London, it overlooked a valley of unspoiled countryside. When we arrived, their children and dogs were safely inside the house, and Christian had a taste of the freedom that awaited him in Africa. For the first time in his life he could do exactly what he wanted to do. He ran around the lawns, occasionally sniffing daffodils, and into the woods through the bluebells. It was a beautiful but incongruous setting for a lion. He continually came back to us to show how happy he was.

  It was necessary that Christian should live in the compound, but luckily he seemed very pleased with it. It measured twenty-five yards by fifteen, and it enclosed a huge tree, several shrubs, and a colorful gypsy caravan. He was so excited that his first reaction was to climb the tree, but as he had never climbed one before, he was confused as to how to turn around and get down again. He just waited for us to help him. Bill thought that Christian would sleep under a shrub, but we suspected he would prefer to sleep in the caravan. We were to live in another caravan beside the compound. It was summer and the sun was shining, and it was so peaceful in comparison with London.

  That first night we sold Christian. A contract had been drawn up between us and the film company making The Lion at World's End. The whole project would be an expensive one, and while it was unlikely we would not fully cooperate, we were required to relinquish to the company our ownership of Christian. We surrendered all legal control over Christian's future. We were paid five hundred pounds, and we tried to view the transaction as a necessary formality in his best interests. But we felt guilty, and preferred to think of Christian becoming a Kenyan citizen rather than the mere property of a film company.

  Christian slept in the caravan, of course. He greeted us effusively the next morning, relieved that we had not abandoned him and returned to London during the night. He seemed untroubled by his change of surroundings and oblivious to the fact that we no longer technically owned him.

  We expected to be at Leith Hill only a few weeks, but George was still having difficulty in finding an area that both he and the Kenyan government found suitable, as the two he had originally proposed had not been approved. We were anxious to get Christian to Kenya, but we dreaded to think how unattractive and desolate the district that finally met all the requirements might be. Always expecting to leave shortly, we waited while George continued searching, and the weeks passed. Fortunately it was summer and the weather was usually pleasant. We spent restful days reading, sunbathing, playing with Christian, and friends came down to visit. But as we were both basically city-oriented, one of us would occasionally go to London for a few days.

  Unexpectedly, Leith Hill became an important phase in Christian's life. He had fewer restrictions, a less complicated life, and a more clearly defined territory to live in. For the first time, he experienced the natural cycle of a day. Sleeping in the caravan was a hangover from his life as a London lion. It was often hot, and he was lethargic during the day, but he became rather boisterous in the late afternoons and evenings. After living at Sophistocat with Christian for five months, and regularly putting him to bed at about 8:30 P.M., we now appreciated that lions are naturally nocturnal. We spent most of our time in the compound, as he would look discontented if we were not with him. Yet he often ignored us once we were inside, for even if he did not want to play with us, as part of his "pride," he just enjoyed the companionship. A double-gate system made entries and exits from the compound easy and safe.

  Below: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Ace, and John in Christian's gypsy caravan at Leith Hill.

  Above: Christian at Leith Hill, aged ten months. His mane had begun to grow.

  Bottom: Christian playing wheelbarrows with his best friend, Unity Bevis-Jones.

  Right: John playing with Christian at Leith Hill.

  Below: John removing a twig from Christian's mouth at Leith Hill.

  Bottom: John, Christian, and Ace relaxing at Leith Hill.

  Left: Ace and John checking on Christian in his crate at Heathrow Airport.

  Bottom: Loading Christian's crate onto the East African Airways flight to Nairobi.

  George Adamson, Bill Travers, Ace, and John with Christian at Nairobi Airport.

  Top: John, Ace, and Christian at Kora.

  Bottom: Christian investigates the Tana River while John and Ace watch for crocodiles.

  The first camp beside the Tana River.

  Three-month-old Katania with Boy, who had starred in the film Born Free.

  George Adamson and Christian at Kora.

  Christian meets Katania for the first time.

  Christian preferred to leap from rock to rock in the Tana River, rather than get wet.

  Christian picking his way carefully through the thick thorn bushes at Kora.

  Bill and Virginia had three young children and several dogs, and from his compound Christian watched their movements closely. He would have loved to be included in their games. At Sophistocat, if Christian had to be in the basement, he was unaware of what he was missing upstairs. Christian did not like to be left out of anything and expected to have the freedom to decide if he wanted to participate. At Leith Hill a twelve-foot-high wire fence prevented him from joining in, but not from seeing the tempting games from which he was excluded. Unless we were with him, he paced the fence with frustration, and very quickly wore a path along it. By now it might have been a cage he was pacing in the same pointless way. After the initial mutual curiosity between Christian and the dogs, they quickly lost interest in one another. But if one of the dogs strayed too close to the fence, Christian would tensely crouch and flatten his ears, imagining he was invisible, but he forgot about his tail, which swished in excitement. Then he would charge the fence and succeed in frightening away the dog, and because of the number of times he succeeded in stalking and almost knocking us to the ground, we felt his natural instincts had not been impaired.

  We decided to begin Christian's preparation for Africa in a small way at Leith Hill. By comparisons we had made with other lions at Longleat Safari Park or at zoos, Christian was big for his age, but he needed to be as strong as possible for his new life. With constant exercise and this outdoor life, he looked even healthier and continued to grow rapidly, his body now more in proportion with his head and paws. On a rope from his tree we hung a sack filled with straw, and lie adored attacking it, often swinging entirely off the ground. This was good practice for Kenya, and helped to develop his muscles. H
e had learned to keep his claws sheathed when we were playing with him; sharp, inch-long claws are an important weapon for a lion, and attacking the sack strengthened them and taught him how to use them efficiently. We also changed Christian's diet. Lions in the wild usually kill in the evenings and have a varied diet. Christian was now given a small milk and Farex meal in the morning and one large evening meal. In addition to raw meat, he had dried meat, carrots, and cow's liver, and sometimes we gave him the head or stomach of a cow. His presence at Leith Hill had not been publicized, and the local butcher, mystified by our meat orders, asked, "What on earth are you two feeding, a crocodile?" As he knew we were living with Bill and Virginia, a lion would have been a far more reasonable assumption.

  His new diet improved his coat. It became thicker and softer, and was a beautiful lion-caramel color. His partially black mane became more pronounced, and lie was growing into an extremely handsome lion. He spent more time cleaning and grooming himself, although he was never as fastidious as most domestic cats. His tongue was so rough that his licks on our faces could almost draw blood. He had lost his milk teeth, and he initiated his new ones by destroying several rungs of the ladder to his caravan.

  He also had more scope to express himself at Leith Hill, and because we had more time to spend with him and appreciate him away from the demands of the city, our relationship with him grew even deeper and more affectionate. Unity came down from London several times each week to spend the day with him, and new games were invented. He particularly enjoyed playing "wheelbarrows" with her and became adept at tapping ankles and tripping people. He had a variety of toys, a new tire, and several shrubs to play lions behind. He was content, and we found him irresistibly entertaining. Considering his size, he played extremely gently with us and remained easy to manage. It was perfectly safe for any of our visitors to come into the compound with him, except for children who could accidentally be knocked over. A lion prepared to play "wheelbarrows" must have, in addition to a sense of humor, a love for the human race.