Guide Note

Christian was the name given to a young lion cub purchased in London in the late 1960s. He quickly outgrew his home and his owners took him to Kenya to be integrated back into the wild. After several years in the wild, the two owners were reunited with Christian in Kenya.

Fast Facts

1. Originally from the Ilfracombe zoo
2. Purchased from Harrods in 1969
3. Price: 250 guineas
4. Weight at time of purchase: 35 lbs.
5. Owners: John Rendall and Ace Berg
6. Raised for a year in London
7. Ate four meals a day
8. Food cost £30 a week
9. Taken to Kenya
10. Weight when taken to Kenya: 185 lbs.
11. Turned over to wildlife conservationist George Adamson

In 1974, Rendall and Berg returned to Kenya to visit Christian. Adamson had reported that Christian had not been seen in nine months and probably would not recognize them even if he did happen to be in the area.

Mysteriously, the same night that Rendall and Berg arrived in Kenya by plane, Christian arrived back at Adamson's conservation camp with his pride. After going out to meet the lion, there was an emotional reunion between the men and the lion.