My girls picked up this book on tape entitled A Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall from the library. It had a picture of a lion on the cover.
I asked them what it was about when they were finished and they explained to me it was about a lion cub bought in a department store and re-introduced to the wild.
The cover has “YouTube Sensation” so of course I googled it.
Here’s what I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5vRPKIS5UM
Be prepared to weep every time you watch this. It’s heart-wrenching and beautiful all at the same time. To think a wild animal could love so deeply…
I know I would not have been able to do such a thing: let the cub go. Even though it was the right thing to do. I become too attached. I can’t stand the thought of not being there when my two old dogs die so not knowing what’s happening to Christian the Lion would tear me up. I would constantly be wondering how Christian was doing, what he was doing, if he were okay, etc. And I would miss him and his love.
Bourke and Rendall saw Christian one more time after this in 1974 but was never seen afterwards. If you google, you can see multiple interviews with these two and more clips of Christian and the Last Reunion.
Remarkable story that shows just how intelligent animals are, how only God could create such creatures, and the incredible power of a bond formed in adolescence.
When I watch a wild lion jump on his owners in greeting, I’m speechless. Animals are much more than meets the eye and there must be a purpose to all this–life. I think, “Life couldn’t get any better than that” for those two guys in that moment. Knowing the impact you’ve had on an animal. Just think the impact you have on your kids…
This is also a book which I haven’t read but it has glowing reviews on Amazon.
A touching story I had to share–one that will hopefully make you think about animals in a different light and support the survival of all species on this planet.