A Lion Called Christian - Leaving Christian the Lion

[raycodem]

I could have not left chrisitan I would have moved to the country with him, you 2 guys were all he knew and loved I can tell by the Video he loved you very much. I would have moved to the country with him. RIP Christian. We Miss You and Love you

[LouLuvsMeowMeow]

:'( i cried at the ending....Christian was panting and trying to track u guys!!! STOP THE freaking car and let Christian stay with u guys! :'(((((( wahhhh im crying again

[jvegas069]

awwwwwwwwwwww :(

[musethemusclemuseum]

its disgusting that youtube puts advertisments over videos like this

[mrb1088]

@musethemusclemuseum how is that disgusting? youtube needs to make money to stay in business

[burritocandynugget]

dang i wouldve cried my eyes out if i had 2 leave him!!

[kalmankukka]

Amazing how little people know of Christians real story. I first knew Christian by George Adamson, an amazing man who dedicated hes life to free lions to the wild. He lived amongst hes lions in africa and died by the bullits of poachers. Ace and John did the right thing. Christian lived and died FREE.

[lovegansaw]

ႈIsaiah 65:25 " The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD." NIV

..One day the LORD will restore everything of the world into the ancient of days. We will live like this in the new world which is to come...

[SaxoRocks]

Just let Christian stay with Ace and John, who gives a damn fuck about the sanctuary all u need to care about is the lion's feelings man

[MrLoucoSA]

The video is very short... my rate is negative for this... sorry...

[Roger4313]

Omg its so sad...

[MrBaseballsluger]

i swear i cried its just so touching

[TheLongAndWindingRd]

Ace Bourke and John Rendall did what was best for Christian....and yep, Christian is in Heaven now and I bet he watches both Ace and John from Heaven and thanks them, in his own way, for the love and life they both selflessly gave him. RIP Christian.

[darkvader76]

christian the lion did he diied

[TheFlanker35]

@LadyLillianContessa,

May we all be so fortunate :).

[TheFlanker35]

@LadyLillianContessa,

They'll always live on in memories and their legacy to the world of love and compassion. Their names may be forgotten and their bodies may decompose, but their works will live on forever. 

[SarethZhukov314]

My favorite animal of all time!

[napachild]

It is very difficult to take a lion raised in captivity and return him/her to the wild. Remember "Born Free" and Elsa? She almost died before they succeeded in returning her to the wild. But they succeeded in doing so. George and Joy Adamson spent their lives helping rehabilitate lions until both were tragically murdered in Africa. I'm glad John and Ace have spent their lives helping continue George's work. God Bless both of them. We will see Christain again someday.

[Cherrypop513]

Who is the old man?

[napachild]

@Cherrypop513 George Adamson who spent his life trying to help lions. Remember "Born Free"?

[TheCocobana]

So heartbreaking to see him walk after the jeep - and look up when the jeep started as if to say - where are you going without me? It must have been sad for Ace and John too - this was the young lion they had brought up and the decision must have been so hard to make. I would have put him into the Sanctuary they talked of in the book - and gone and seen him regularly. Love you Christian.

[TheCocobana]

Thank you - I have tried to get copies of posters but they are so expensive - I would so love one for my wall. Thank you once again for understanding. C

[assaabiquun]

i just want the trust to trace his children and grandchildren.we love his dna.

[TheCocobana]

@assaabiquun That would be so lovely - I wish!

Love you Christian and RIP.

[assaabiquun]

@TheCocobana

YA ALLAH,PLEASE....mr.rendall accepted my plead to ask them to sell toys based on CTL's many sweet poses.hugging him is a comfort.

[abby850]

Can't stop crying.... how can people be so cruel to animals

[assaabiquun]

did i hear mr.bourke said: he tracked the path when we left.and that was sad.

oh my heart bleeds for all of us who love him!

[Novatene]

It must have bee terribly sad - Like a child when you leave him/her at school the first few times - heart breaking.

[assaabiquun]

@Novatene

i agree 100% with you.i am a mum,i know my daughter's feeling....like you said....he must feel terribly devastated...

[TheCocobana]

So sad - saying goodbye to a dear friend - this beautiful lion they had brought into their lives and became a part of their family - him looking up when they were leaving and walking after the jeep - broke my heart and it must have been the hardest thing to do Ace and John - if only there was another way. George or Baba Ya Simba as he is remembered said he did not see him again after so many weeks - I do wish he had looked for him, - Sweet dreams my lion friend - will always love you.

[HattieLovesCattie]

@TheCocobana I'm not that much of a religous person but I do believe in meeting our beloved pets at Rainbow Bridge when its our time to cross over.I do think the lion forgot about Ace and John when he got real old,we all forget as we age.

[assaabiquun]

@TheCocobana

i truly agree with u.still crying to see...

[agneskwk01]

that's very sad esp. in the re-union when christian jumped toward them . I could feel C felt his masters finally came back which he couldn't believed and took him home like a kid may hope. But they disappeared again without he knowing why and left in the lonely wild that he never familiar with. you can see he's not excited in the final union or as cheerful as in the previous time, he knew they would disappear again.

[msskippy7781]

Check out A 60's movie called ELSA AND ANOTHER ABOUT HER CUBS the lady in vidio was elsa's owner Boy was A cub.There is also A full movie about Christian The Loin.They are sad but, wonder memories.

[cca12457]

read one of the Valley Girls series. This one is like Jessica who eventually lets go of a bear cub in the wilds and she was crying because she was the one who cared for it in the zoo. lovely. i sure hope christian was happy in the wilds.

[TheCocobana]

I guess we have this wonderful memory of a very charismatic lion called Christian and he will remain with in our hearts and in our thoughts forever - in mine at any rate. I simply love this lion.

[Novatene]

Thank you Ace for showing your feelings at leaving Christian - I agree - he should have gone to a Lion Sanctuary - I have voiced this sentiment many times - the suggestion that humans let their children go is all very well, however, they do not take them to the wilds of Africa to do so. Rest in Peace Christian - I so hope he WAS happy in Africa and lived a good life - I guess we will never know. I like to thinks he is in Paradise now and that we shall meet up one day.

[HattieLovesCattie]

@Novatene As someone posted on another board, C probably lived only 5-10 years in the wild as its a rough hard life for a lion.We see this a lot on the Animal Planet's Big Cat Diaries.

[GauravA42]

@Novatene nope we do know, they reunited with him a few years later, he had survived fine and recognised his original keepers

[CommanderChet]

@Novatene I wouldn't have been able to part with such a bond like they had with Christian. Watching him wander on the passage way they left on would've made me want to run out and bring him back. Thats a sight I would never want to see. Just wondering if they still miss you. Or if they're depressed. You want to be there to comfort them. However we need to learn to let things go. But thats something I could never let go of!

[SENSAYSIERRA]

How sweet they helped him grow now it was time to let him go

[Akaliko]

Parents have to let go of their children when they are adults for their own family and pursuit. They may come to visit, or they are busy. But love stays in the heart, forever.

[urabuttsniffer]

you must feel proud of your self

[kuhlet16]

so sadd......the tearrssss!.

[avi10000]

I don't understand how Ch had learned how to make a kill in the wild. Don't the mature females do the hunting anyway?

[mlehj]

that is correct the males only hunt when they have to

[HattieLovesCattie]

But you must remember that G A said he heard of no big lions getting killed and that C may have gotten up to 700 lbs.I do hope he ended up in the safer Meru River Preserve.I am not a real religious person but I do think we see our deseased loved ones and pets someday.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Whats not true?

[HomoSapiensSUCK]

Why don't they just post one long video instead of all these small excerpts? How annoying. This is a movie and not true.

[dkfelix]

What an amazing geniuos you are. You must have made a lot of money.

[XxXDreamakerXxX]

aw how sad but cute

imagine having a little lion

and raising it as your own

how awesome would that be?

[emi1913]

so sad

[HattieLovesCattie]

I do think we are reunited with our loved ones and our pets in heaven.I've read those books about ppl that have died and come back.They all pretty much tell the same story,they see their loved ones again.

[taliasalia]

I watched this last night on tv and went to bed really upset, then watched again this morning and still crying my eyes out, I just cant stop thinking that it was a wrong decision to leave Christian in Africa, he loved those guys so much and Christian was so tamed , I hope he wasnt scared in Africa and wondering why thye left him there, I wonder if Ace and John have any regrets now, I love those guys and most of all Christian.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I think they did the best at that time.Hardly any countries had big enough sancutaries like the one in San Diego.The Lion didn't really pay much attention to them that last visit in 1974.The lion had his own pride by then and didn't stay with George Adamson.View the videos after that first visit.

[heulceris]

I hope you're right hattie - and the thing is..I do believe in the afterlife, I have read books with people's testimonials on the afterlife, but I never thought about it regarding animals, it must be just the same for them..If you need something desperately enough ...for the good....it will happen. Thanks again for your comment, it's made me feel a lot better.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I am sure as the lion aged and never saw his ex - owners again,he forgot about them.We all age and forget things as years go by.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I'm not that religious but Christian will reunite with Ace and John someday.

[heulceris]

Christian will stay with me forever..I find it very difficult not to think about him day after day...just think what Ace and John have been going through! I feel sorry for them, but something had to be done..but I would never have left him there, no way.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Ace and John wanted the lion to be free,not cooped up in a pen.I guess the wild sanctuaries weren't big enough back in the early '70's.The biggest one is the one in San Diego,its a over a thousand acres.

[heulceris]

Ace and John must have been so worried when they got there. Leaving their jobs to be with him in Africa I look at Ace's face the pain is so obvious, John too was so close to him lm 'Madagascar' when you mentioned San Diego, I watched it recently..for the upteenth time with my granddaughter..she loves it. But It doesn't even come near to my Christian although

something tells me that the producers 'must' have been thinking along the same lines, about Christian, when they made this film.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I read the book last night and remember reading online that G A said before he died that he heard C moved to a safer area up river in Meru National Park and that he heard that the lion may have gotten up to 500 lbs.He also heard of no big lions being shot or killed either so maybe Christian did make it to an old ripe age after Geo A died.This would be 1989.Ace and John did make the right decision as they released the lion at a park that was somewhat protected.

[Kirstyn5]

My heart is breaking. How Ace and John could leave him in Africa is something I can't comprehend. If it had been me I would've stayed with him. I watch this interview and when Ace says that Christian padded up the track after them when they left and his voice was breaking and there were tears rolling down his face I thought " How could you leave ".

[stevelewis3]

Dear kirstyn5 Ace & John did the right thing for Christian. To live 4/10 years FREE in the wild Has to be better than 15 years in a 10x5 cell. Christian mated and had cubs of his own. His legacey lives in Kenya today. If he had been sold to a Zoo, we would never have heard his story. If you love something let it go, if it comes back.......

[Kirstyn5]

What I mean't was " How could THEY leave." If it had been me I wouldn't have been able to leave him even if it was the best place for him. When you love someone or something as much as they obviously loved Christian it can be very difficult to say goodbye knowing it might be forever

[Ruula]

They did visit him many times.. and the last time christian littraly ignored them becouse he had pride and was fully grown. its people like you that keeps them from getting wild..becouse its so hard to leave them out in the wild, how can you actually discuss it at all? it was the best for both parts in the end anyway.

[Kirstyn5]

I don't disagree or deny that taking Christian to Africa was a bad idea. What I can't comprehend is, If it had been me it would have broken my heart to say goodbye and walk away. I have been thru a situation like that and the pain is unbearable and something that sometimes you never get over. Try to give up or walk away from something or say goodbye to somebody you love and see how easy it is.

[heulceris]

That's a very good saying actually, and like HattieLovesCattie says..'They will be reunited one day'..she's the only one - apart from yourself - who has any faith among the lot of us!

[taliasalia]

Hi Steve I hope you are right as this has been on my mind and I cry so much about this, I saw the doco last night and feel Christain was too tamed to be put back in the wild its so sad,

[lostnyc2]

They couldnt simply just move there and stay, people need food, money- JOBS, you cant simply just MOVE to a foreign country on a whim, nor can you keep an adult lion in LONDON!

[taliasalia]

Hi, Im still sobbing over this, I cant believe they left him in the wild when they loved him so much, I cry alot thinking about Christian being sad without them he was to tamed to go live in the wild, poor wee thing

[heulceris]

Yes it's a pity A&J couldn't stay with GA looking after the animals, for a while,that way..Everybody would be happy including me, whereas as it is I feel for Ch as if he were their child, it's obvious they adored him and visa versa so it's obvious that Ch was going to be hurt. So so Sad.

[HattieLovesCattie]

When you think about it,the only people still alive are Ace and John.Joy,George Adamson,Elsa,Boy,Christian are all dead.Joy and George were murdered.

[Sall240]

this is one of the best reunions in the world.

[HattieLovesCattie]

He wandered off on his own,like a real lion should.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I guess Geo A,Ace and John thought that Christian would stay with G A always,not wander off to the river with his lionesses and cubs.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Please no Brad Pitt in another movie!!!!

[heulceris]

Brad Pitt - he's not that good-looking any longer now he has something else to think about apart from himself - a Family!!

[jo131169]

I wonder what happened to him??? I hope he died a peaceful death. Sweet lion :)

[HattieLovesCattie]

If you google the story and Geo Adamson,it tells of him giving up looking for Christian in the mid 1970's.The lion was gone 97 days ( after the '73 reunion)so G A stopped counting.Christian was believed to have moved a few miles down the river.The lion most likely died in the late '70's or into the 80's as they don't live that long in the wild( 15-18 ) years.If he had been in a nice zoo,he could have lived to be 25.

[heulceris]

Personally, I think that Christian missed Ace and John and thought that they were not coming back and after a while just wandered off looking for them, he must have felt lonely without his friend 'Boy' too. But even 'Boy' could not make him completely happy, he must have wanted to return to what he knew before.Who knows perhaps it was a mistake to visit him in the wild when he was settling down. But I would have done the same thing exactly.

[VanSile]

I to thought that Christian was very lonely after Ace and John Left. After reading George Adamson's book, "My Pride and Joy" and learning that after only 2 years, Christian was never heard from again, I wondered if Christian would have been better off in an Animal Park. He would not have had to compete with other lionds for food and territory.

[heulceris]

Yes, I'm pretty sure that Christian went looking for A&J, because he didn't look very happy in Africa anyway..he looked like he was waiting for them to take him away from there, and he didn't like the climate..too hot. I'm not familiar with GA's book "My Pride & Joy" , will have a look for it on Amazon, it sounds good.

[heulceris]

I went searching for GA's history and

I saw George A's video with his lions last night, Ch was in one or two of the photos with him. What a good title for the book "My Pride & Joy" being that 'Joy' was his wife, very apt.

[NathanPathan]

we all are wild, meant to live the way life is supposed to be lived... even if it means the worse...

[VanSile]

Nathan, I respect your comment but Christian wasn't born and raised as a wild lion. Hindsight is always clear but I think Christian would have been better off in a wild safaria park. Ace and John described a safaria park in London in their book but decided against it. I believe Christian would have been better off there. Ace and John could have visited him for many years. I know many people would disagree with me but I believe Christian would have been happy in the wild safaria park.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Amen on the park but there was no San Diego Wild Animal Park back then.

[VanSile]

Hattie, there was an animal park in England not far from where Ace and John raised Christian the first year. They were going to place Christian in this animal park but decided against it. This is in their book. I believe this is where Christian should have gone.

[pharlap9]

Wonder why they decided not to put Christian in that park. Do you know why?

[VanSile]

pharlap9,  In the book, "A Lion Called Christian," by Ace and John, they thought the animal park in London, which was not very far from where Ace and John raised Christian the first year, would exploit Christian in commercials and other promotional events. I guess the park did do this with their animals. My thoughts are that he would have been happy there and lived a long life. He wouldn't have had the danger and stress of living in Africa.

[TheCocobana]

@VanSile Yes, I often wonder if they were too hasty in taking him to Africa - after all Christian was born in captivity & a Reserve would have been the ideal situation for a home grown lion. I am so saddened when I think of Christian after his humanised start in life having to live in the wilds of Africa - having to fight other lions who had more knowledge of the wild as they were borne into it - it happened a long time ago & we may never have known him - but his life may have been different.

[margarete20]

@TheCocobana I dont think that being in captivity is the ideal situation for any wild animal, born in reserve or not

[margarete20]

@TheCocobana I dont think that being in captivity is the ideal situation for any wild animal, born in reserve or not and i think he did fine becuase he became the head of his pride and to do that he probably had to fight and kill the previous one.

[Robfoxman]

@pharlap9 a lion in the nature is better then in a zoo

[TheCocobana]

@HattieLovesCattie Talking about London Hattie - it would have been the ideal situation.

[HattieLovesCattie]

@VanSile Oh I agree VanSile.Christian would have had a happier less stressful life at a wild animal park.Many agree with us Van.

[johnoconor1]

that was so intresting i loved it

[tubers2255]

I really really wish this story can be made into a movie. Its very very inspiring, very heart-warming. And we all need positive news these days...Hope Brad Pitt stars:)

[jtking2504]

Brad Pitt doesn't look anything like a lion.

[cobrioc]

there is a big risk to put Christian back to africa

I think some animal killed him , this is a very sad story...I would save christian life all the way..

[slaw115]

when was this made?

[HattieLovesCattie]

The old film is from 1972 and 1973,the last time they saw the lion.The newer interviews of Ace and John are from late last year.George Adamson was shot by poachers in 1983 and his ex wife was also murdered somehow in 1980.I think Kenya took over the reserve after Adamson died but in the 1990's.

[vnano]

watch the original instead.

[Secretgirl93]

I watched this twice last week on animal planet ,this whole reunion took place because the two men that gave him to george to be rehabilatated into the wild were notified by him that christian hadn't left the graveside of Boy the adult lion you see in this video and it was a set back for them,so they went back to africa to see him and that was the reunion,they went back to see him one more time a year later and that was the last he was ever seen again.

[PutTheGlassesOn]

Lame. time will not honour this sort of thing.

give me the original

[koreanfreak321]

did the lion die

[brighteyes256]

no he did not die he found his own territory and lived there

[Secretgirl93]

No one knows for sure,their hoping he found his own way since he was never seen again,but George's lions always came back and never travaled alone,so its strange Christian left george and his lionesses he was attached to,how does a lone Lion make it through the wild lands of africa alone? against a pride of wild african lions?.Boy the adult lion was attacked by wild lions and then had to be shot and that left Christian the only male to fend for himself against prides,unlikely he survived alone

[HattieLovesCattie]

I agree,Christian probably didn't survive too much longer after 1973.Tamer aninmals don't do well in the wild.He was rumored to have been seen a few miles up the river from the reserve.I wonder if Ace and John now have regrets about leaving Christian there?I think most people would have had him sent to a zoo in England or the USA.

[Secretgirl93]

I so agree with you Hattie,while almost everyone is saying what a beautiful loving thing John and Ace did,i think it's an absolutely tragedy that they thought that this tame,loving lion should now be put into the wild,a tame lion and especially on his own with no pride has only a fifty fifty chance of making it,they won't even consider putting a tame exotic wild animal they find in captivity now days into the wild,they put them in the most wonderful wildlife sanctuarys where their loved and safe

[DVideoPro]

he is probably dead by now

[0dour]

christians lived a pretty happy life and probably died naturally by now

[shanie7167]

This is a great video ! After one year the LION still remembered them. It touched my heart and I cried while watching the video. I even forwarded to my husband serving in IRAQ. I bought the book and I Hope they have this in dvd.

[Sunnyvista50]

Every time I see one of Christian's videos I cry. I'm going to bed soon so can't watch any more or I'll be stuffed up all night.

[taliasalia]

Im still crying and its been 3 days since I saw the doco, its really affected me I just think its so sad they had to leave him, he wasnt a wild cat he was so so tamed, I love that little guy xx

[denver13gore]

get a life! its more than 3 days now,i hope you moved on! lol

[vyrgo84]

you're a bit hard

[HattieLovesCattie]

That person is also a moron.

[mzkrista]

wow that adult lion is GINORMOUS!

Lions! great great animals!

[Chick6517]

Wow everyone this is amazing! I absolutely loved it! The video was clear and very interesting! It was awesome! :)

[jenniferluchenebaker]

They were so great to release christian into the wild i'm sure that was tough letting him go after all that time of having him. Its a touching & sad story it shows the feline bond us humans share no matter how big or small they are. I hope Christian is doing good in the wild & no poachers try to harm him.

[Beccathepromomami]

I just watched this on TV and it's so beautiful! what an amazing story!

[Secretgirl93]

george adamson,the old man you see in the documentary, is the man they made the movie born free about,hes the man known for father of the lions or living with the lions,theres many websites dedicated in his name and tells alot more of his relationship with christian and his other lions,george himself though was killed along with 3 of his workers in 1989 by pouchers,do a website on george adamsom,very very interesting life he had

[Secretgirl93]

oops i meant web search,if you do a web search on george,youd be amozed by his work with the lions and many pictures,some with christian,christian was the only one of his lions that disappeared and never returned,so no one knows but they wished for the best,he disappeared one year after the reunion with his first owners

[Lunastar12121]

lol i'm watching this same video on tv RIGHT now XD

[NothingMuffins]

Awe I saw this on TV and cried a bit xD

[jenniferluchenebaker]

I watched it twice & cried too! :)

[delkolver2]

omg:( makes me so sad hes like a dog in a way

[darkmasterofssbb]

it is sad

but they did do the right thing

but it was very sad that it tried to follow them

wcih is also good aswell it means umans can open the heart to animails and then if we all do then they cant harm as to much (we hope) I HATE THEM DARN POCHERS

[GodsEndtimearmy]

it was necessary yes

[GodsEndtimearmy]

hmmm

[kid29a]

They did the right thing.