arrange for him to be flown out to Africa where George Adamson can return him to the wild."
It was as if a prison sentence had suddenly, simply, been lifted. Of all the lions ever born in Europe, Christian had been offered an unprecedented reprieve. He was to go back where he belonged. Bill had contacted George Adamson in Kenya after his initial introduction to Christian at Sophistocat. George was extremely interested in the experiment of bringing a lion from England for rehabilitation in Africa, and was confident that it would be successful. Bill and James intended to make a documentary for television that would help to cover the considerable expenses involved.
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.
B ill 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,
It was as if a prison sentence had suddenly, simply, been lifted. Of all the lions ever born in Europe, Christian had been offered an unprecedented reprieve. He was to go back where he belonged. Bill had contacted George Adamson in Kenya after his initial introduction to Christian at Sophistocat. George was extremely interested in the experiment of bringing a lion from England for rehabilitation in Africa, and was confident that it would be successful. Bill and James intended to make a documentary for television that would help to cover the considerable expenses involved.
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.
B ill 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,
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