Lion Called Christian (12 page)

Within two days Christian had fully recovered from his flight, so early next morning we left Nairobi in several Land Rovers for the first stage of the journey. Christian traveled in the back of George's Land Rover, and to our concern, he paced relentlessly and quickly rubbed bare patches on his nose and forehead from the wire barrier between him and the front seats. We stopped frequently to give him water and to try to pacify him, and George probably thought that we were unnecessarily worried about our pampered lion. On one of these breaks George warned us that Christian could run off if we let him out of the vehicle, and we were very proud when much to George's surprise he obediently jumped back in.

As the day progressed it became increasingly hot, dry, and desolate. We had been depressed by George's description of Kora, and now we could see for ourselves the nature of the country that Christian was to live in. We drove two hundred miles, and just before nightfall arrived at a temporary camp, where we were to spend two nights, prepared by the safari company engaged to look after us. Christian was exhausted, and we led him into a small compound that had been built for him. We decided to put our beds in with him, and he promptly climbed onto one of them and fell asleep. His first night in the African bush!

In the stillness and refreshing coolness of the African evening, we sat down to a superbly set table where Africans in flowing blue kaftans and red boleros and caps served us a delicious three-course meal. It was a surreal but pleasant surprise. At dinner George relaxed and asked us to call him "George," and he told us about the other lions that were to be rehabilitated with Christian. For his man-made pride George already had two other lions waiting at Naivasha, and in a few days he would have to return to collect them. One was Katania, a four-month-old lioness, who had been found and given to George, her mother being presumed dead. The other was Boy, a seven-year-old lion who had led an extraordinary life.

In 1963, when they were young cubs, Boy and his sister, Girl, were abandoned or lost and were found by Colour Sgt. Ryves of the Scots Guard Regiment based near Nairobi. They were lovingly raised by his wife, Hildegarde, and their two young daughters, Jenny and Patricia. The cubs were so friendly and popular that they became the regimental mascots. When the regiment returned to the U.K., there was even a suggestion that Boy and Girl would go with them, but luckily they were given to Joy and George Adamson for rehabilitation. Before being returned to the wild, the cubs were to be used in the film
Born Free
, and Girl played Elsa. Most of the other lions used in the filming were sold to zoos and circuses, which angered Joy, George, Bill, and Virginia, and created controversy. In April 1965, Boy and Girl moved with George to Meru National Park.

Their rehabilitation had been successful, but in October 1969 Joy had quite by chance found Boy emaciated and badly injured, perhaps by a buffalo. He was operated on by the experienced wildlife vets Dr. Tony Harthoorn and his wife, Sue, and during the complicated operation they inserted a steel pin into one of Boy's legs. Joy and George nursed him for nine months at Naivasha, where Joy lived. It was a fortunate coincidence that Bill had contacted George about Christian at the time when Boy was almost well enough to be released again. George would leave our camp in a few days to collect Boy and Katania from Naivasha.

Next morning Christian had his first walk in Africa. We symbolically took off his collar, now permanently discarded, and followed him with Bill and George. The country was barren, with many thorn-bushes, and totally featureless, and Christian, who had appeared so big in a London furniture shop, was dwarfed by his surroundings. It was extremely hot, and he just walked quietly, absorbing everything. Instinctively, he knew how to remove thorns from his tender paws with his teeth, and we saw that the color of his coat was a natural camouflage. He was so obviously in his rightful environment.

Since it was a waterless region, it was unlikely that we would see any other animals. But late that afternoon a stray gombi, a large domestic African cow, came wandering toward the camp. Separated from its herd, it was looking for water or food. Christian saw the gombi and immediately began to stalk it. The animal had enormous sharp horns, and George warned us to stop Christian, for as he was so inexperienced he could easily be injured. He would not be restrained, so George raced to his Land Rover and drove between Christian and the gombi, which then ran off. Before Christian could follow it, we both grabbed him to put him in the Land Rover. But for the second time in his life he snarled a terrifying warning, and we instantly released him. The gombi had disappeared, and Christian, justifiably angry, reluctantly followed us back to camp.

George was impressed by Christian's perfect, instinctive stalking of the gombi, and explained to us how he had fanned out in a wide semicircle, using the natural cover of the bushes. He had been correctly positioned so that the wind would not carry his scent to the gombi and alert it. George said, "We won't have any trouble adapting young Christian to the wild," and we were very proud.

It was now eighty miles to our final camp at Kora. But the road was rough and covered with powdery volcanic dust. We had to drive very slowly. As we drew closer to the camp on the Tana River, to our relief the countryside became slightly more fertile and varied. Among other animals we saw elephants, waterbucks, and some giraffes, and Africa began to come alive for us. We drove past a village whose inhabitants were wearing simple cloth wraps, necklaces, and bracelets. They were the first Africans we had seen apparently living as they had for centuries and not wearing drab Western clothes.

For the last twenty miles it was often necessary to use the four-wheel drive on the Land Rovers, particularly when crossing sandy riverbeds, and it was obvious why the area was sometimes inaccessible in the wet season. We arrived late in the afternoon to find the camp in an unexpectedly beautiful setting. Our tents were among the distinctive Doum palms, beside the wide Tana River. Christian's long journey was over, and we could not believe we had actually got him to where he was to live. No doubt many challenges lay ahead, like meeting the other lions and just surviving.

George left the next morning to collect the other lions from Naivasha, and was away for several days. We were thoroughly spoiled; our tents were comfortable and insect-free, our meals were provided, hot showers were prepared, and our clothes were washed and somehow even ironed. Christian had a compound near the tents to sleep in at night. The Africans with the safari company were terrified of him, however, and if he teased them too often we had to keep him in the compound during the day, as well. Because of the heat, we were all lethargic. Christian behaved like the worst tourist, avoiding the sun and lolling on our camp beds at every opportunity, probably dreaming of cooler weather in England.

In the early mornings before it became too hot, or in the late afternoons, we went for walks with Christian. We will never forget the freedom of just walking with him after the eight months in England so full of our imposed restrictions. He would bossily push his way in front of us and always insist on leading. But he was easy to direct and showed no inclination to wander off by himself. Fortunately, on these walks we did not meet any other animals, for we knew we would not be able to restrain him. If we went swimming, he sat in the shade and watched. He was fascinated by the baboons barking at him from across the river, and he observed the hippopotami that occasionally surfaced and the crocodiles that ominously slid into the water whenever we appeared.

Filming continued intermittently, and to everyone's surprise the "King's Road Australians" adapted very easily to Africa compared to the English film crew. We were used to the heat and did not get sunburned, drove the vehicles and had a good sense of direction, loved the bush, swam in the river, and of course, had confidence and ease with lions.

In several ways Christian seemed very much a beginner with a lot to learn. With his big paws he was rather clumsy and inept at climbing rocks, and we often had to show him the way or help him. For the first time in his life he was not wholly dependent on us for amusement, but we were slightly concerned by his lack of interest in investigating anything by himself. There were many thornbushes, and although he was able to pull the thorns out of the pads of his paws, he often just looked helpless and waited for us to do it. His pads were still soft, and because of the long walks and the thorns they became quite raw, but they quickly began to toughen.

He was content and free and very gentle with us. Although now a large animal, he would still sometimes spontaneously leap into our arms, a gesture of affection that could now almost knock us to the ground. Soon other lions would arrive to hopefully make his life more complete.

W
hile George went to Naivasha to collect Boy and Katania, and we stayed by the river, Terence Adamson was building a permanent camp for George in much less attractive surroundings, several miles from the Tana River. This was to discourage the lions from swimming across the crocodile-infested river to the other side, which was a hunting block, where hunters pay for a license to hunt specific animals and where there was a real danger that the lions could be shot. George intended to live at Kora for at least two years, which would give him time to form a pride, and the lions would have the chance to establish their territory and operate independently. This second camp had several huts and tents within two large wire compounds.

A few days later George returned with Boy and Katania, and they were taken to his camp. In two days they had both recovered from their long journey, and it was time for Christian to be introduced to his first lions. The initial test in his rehabilitation was that he should be able to assimilate into a life with other lions and show that he had not been disadvantaged by his life among humans. George explained that the introduction would have to be a gradual one, spread perhaps over weeks or months. He wanted to live with Christian in one compound, separated by a strong, high wire fence from Boy and Katania in the other compound. Living side by side, they would develop a familiarity, and eventually could be fully introduced. As in all relationships, human or animal, compatibility cannot be assumed, especially in this case with Christian and Boy--their age difference and both being male.

Unsure of what would happen, excited but apprehensive, we drove innocent Christian up to George's camp. He followed us into the first compound, and in the other one we saw Katania and Boy. Katania was tiny and cute, but our attention was riveted by Boy. He was enormous, impressive, and stood motionless with his eyes on Christian, who was instantly aware of his presence but, understandably confused and frightened, unwilling to even look at him. We walked toward Bill and George, who were standing a few yards from the dividing wire fence. Christian was reluctant to follow, but slowly picked his way toward us, his eyes averted from Boy. Bewildered, he crouched behind us, pressed against our legs. Katania sensed the impending events and wisely kept well away. Suddenly, with a deafening roar, Boy ferociously charged at Christian. Under his weight the wire gave slightly, and we all scattered. Poor Christian remained where he was, but cringed and snarled. Momentarily satisfied, Boy walked away. Christian was badly shaken and needed consoling. He leaned on our legs and sat on our feet, insistent we did not leave him. It was obviously a shock for him to discover that he was not the only lion in the world, and worse, that the first one he met was at least twice his size. We waited a few yards from the wire for about half an hour. Boy kept a nonchalant eye on Christian, who either sat on us or hid behind our legs pretending to be asleep. Several more times Boy charged at Christian, who again cowered and snarled.

We moved away from the wire, the initial introduction over. Boy had behaved predictably, for as an adult lion he demanded submission from Christian, but George noted that Christian, too, had behaved predictably and correctly, cowering and deferring to an older male. Christian was very nervous all day, and although his eyes were constantly on Boy, he stayed close to us, well away from the wire. That night we put a bed for him between our beds, but our sleep was broken by Boy's powerful, haunting roars, which frightened Christian and us equally.

Christian spent most of the next day on George's bed, although he was free to leave the compound if he wished. We were rather worried about him as he seemed too at home on the bed and appeared to take no interest in Boy or Katania. He occasionally gave them a cool glance in the next compound. But late in the afternoon he walked to within a few yards of the dividing fence. Katania came over and flirted with him. Christian was definitely interested but did not move any closer. Boy charged toward him, and again Christian cowered. He then casually retreated and came back to us, and we felt that he had made a positive step.

The following morning George constructed a small hatch between the two compounds so that Katania could be with either Boy or Christian. The crucial introduction would be between Boy and Christian, but Katania could be a helpful link. She tentatively came through the hatch twice, but Christian was of course asleep on a bed and did not see her. Again we were concerned about Christian's lack of interest in communicating with them. He pretended they did not exist, but we sensed he knew exactly what their movements were.