Uma história, de amor, amizade, compreensão, abandono e reencontro. Esse é o enredo de “Um leão chamado Christian”, baseado em fatos reais.

Em 1971, Anthony Bourke e John Rendall escreveram a primeira versão da suas histórias ao lado de um leão londrino que após crescer demais foi enviado para a África. Quase 50 anos depois, um vídeo no Youtube apresentou ao mundo Christian para uma nova platéia que ficou emocionada e curiosa a respeito da relação maravilhosa e da história extraordinária vivida entre dois jovens australianos e seu leão de estimação.

Quando chegaram na Inglaterra, no início da década de 70, Anthony e John compraram um filhote de leão em uma loja de departamentos. Viveram com ele em Londres e também no interior da Inglaterra. Quando não foi mais possível criar Christian como um animal de estimação, como um cachorro ou gato, eles decidiram que Christian deveria ir para o Quênia e viver em uma reserva para que ele conseguisse ser reabilitado por George Adamson.

Christian tinha necessidade que Anthony e John não podiam fornecer. Ele precisava de mais espaço, de atividades físicas, alimentação adequada e um apartamento em uma cidade não era a vida mais apropriada para um animal selvagem levar.

O livro tem relatos diários da vida dos três juntos, há muitas fotos dos momentos inesquecíveis e especiais, o leitor fica maravilhado pensando e refletindo como esses dois australianos conseguiram por quase um ano criar um leão selvagem sem ocorrer nenhum acidente grave ou fatal. Com certeza, o leitor passará a olhar com outros olhos o animal que muitos teme e, através de Christian, entendemos porque o leão é o rei das selvas.

Christian é adorável. Anthony e John são incríveis e fizeram um trabalho maravilhoso. A história deles ficou mundialmente conhecida por causa do vídeo que exibe o inesquecível encontro de um leão muito grande e que estava vivendo ao lado de outros leões e leoas, no ambiente natural, após um ano sem contato com os seus pais adotivos, em 1971.

Encante-se com o vídeo.

My Scrapbook is released in Australia on the 31st July 2009…(Hey that’s my birthday…)

Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall are both thrilled to announce the release of their Christian the Lion… My Scrapbook in Australia.

My Scrapbook

It is ideal for children,  as the glossy 26 page scrapbook features many never before seen photographs as well as their favourite images of Christian, which accompanies the retelling of their amazing story in Christian’s words.

Christian the Lion: My Scrapbook will be available to purchase from good book stores across Australia as of the 1st August 2009…

Once again… Well done gentlemen.

On the Quest to Meet Ace and John…

Forever Bellas Grace

A Lion Called Christian to be published on over fifteen new territories 24-Jul-2009

A Lion Called Christian

Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s book A Lion Called Christian is on track to become a global success with the book confirmed to be published in over fifteen territories worldwide.

The publications will roll out over the next twelve months commencing on 30 July 2009 in Brazil followed by Italy, Norway, Spain and the mainland Chinese edition to be published by Christmas 2009.

The book has already been a success in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the United Kingdom and, continues to appear on the Best Seller’s lists in these territories around the world.

Once again… Well done genltemen.

Forever BellasGrace

Congratulations

Congratulations to Anthony “Ace” Bourke, whom on the 23rd of July 2009 graduated with a Masters of Arts from the University of Wollongong this last week. Ace Bourke is also the co author of A Lion Called Christian with fellow Australian John Rendall.

His MA(R), titled Family Footprints: Tracing the Past in the Present through Curatorial Autobiographical Practice. Ace examined a new form of “autobiographical” curatorship, that evolved from three major museum exhibitions. He has worked through every staged over the last few years which has synthesised, to various degrees. Australian foundational narratives, an Aboriginal perspective, and Ace’s own family colonial history, which includes Governors Bourke and King.

Once again well done Ace.

Forever Bellas Grace

Ace Bourke and John Rendall share with us the photographs from their publicity tour for A Lion Called Christian.

The tour saw them appear on programs including Oprah, The View, and Entertainment Tonight in the US, This Morning with Richard and Judy and take part in numerous interviews for BBC Radio in the UK, Today Tonight and Sunrise in Australia and CCTV’s “Us” in China.

To view Tour Photographs, click here.

Welcome back gentlemen.

Forever BellasGrace

Ace Bourke and John Rendall recently visited China where they both were interviewed on Beijing’s  CCTV’s weekly program called “Us” by host and executive producer Wang Lifen.

Wang Lifen’s  weekly television program “Us” can be seen in every house or village throughout China. A viewing audience of 1.3billion people  may have watched the story A Lion Called Christian. Amazing to think that many people watched.

The interviewer, herself is  very dynamic person who had thoroughly researched the  book , Ace Bourke and John Rendall co wrote “A Lion Called Christian”, and The George Adamson’s Preservation Conservation Trust.  Wang  built a informative  program around the gentlemen with a diverse and informed audience all interested or actively involved in wildlife conservation.

The issues  discussed frankly with experts were either in the studio or by video link to the World Wildlife Organisation in Switzerland.

In the studio audience were local academics; Zhu Chunquan the Head of Conservation Operations for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Beijing Office, The World Wildlife Fund Supporters, and the people working in the field of saving the Pandas.

Ace and John were very pleased to learn that unlike the global trend for most animals, the panda population is not decreasing. They were asked many interesting questions and were well served by efficient interpreters.

They found the experience worth whiled and were pleasantly surprised to realise that there is a degree of awareness and sense of responsibility for wildlife and environmental challenges. The program will be aired in China in October when A Lion Called Christian is published.

Ace and John also had time to visit the Forbidden City which they found to be overwhelmingly beautiful and of course they admired the two stylised bronze lions which flanked the entrance to the Emperor’s pavilion. The number of lion statues in Beijing reminded them of the awe in which Chinese people hold lions (the lion dance features in many Chinese celebrations) and perhaps explained the interest in Christian’s story. The gentlemen also visited The Great Wall of China on the misty mountain ranged and a landscape familiar to many Chinese paintings.

On the Quest to meet Ace and John….

Forever BellasGrace

Essa é uma entrevista com John Rendall e Anthony ‘Ace’ Bourke para uma Rede de TV Australiana, em 2008, em que eles relatam toda a dinâmica com christian nos últimos 20 anos.

Observação: in english

1ª parte

2ª parte

John Rendall e Anthony ‘Ace’ Bourke, encontraram um filhote de leão, à venda, no departamento de animais exóticos em Londres e, comovidos com suas condições e futuro, decidiram comprá-lo. Porém, o tamanho cada vez maior de Christian e o custo para mantê-lo fizeram com que eles percebessem que não poderiam mantê-lo em Londres por muito tempo.

Então, pediram ajuda de George Adamson, um conservacionista Kenyano. Adamson concordou em ajudá-los na adaptação de Christian para a vida selvagem na Reserva Nacional de Kora.Após um ano estabeleceu-se na região de Kora, tendo Christian como o líder do bando iniciado por ‘Boy’(leão que veio a morrer).

Quando Rendall e Bourke foram informados por Adamson do exitoso resultado em 1971, eles viajaram para o Kenya para visitar Christian.Adamson alertou Rendall e Bourke para a possibilidade de Christian não recordar-se deles.

Toda vez que assisto, fico emocionado!

Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s   appearance

on Oprah’s show is to Air in the UK.

Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s appearance on Oprah is to air in the UK on the 10th June 2009.

Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s  interview with Oprah, which has been viewed by millions of people across America and Australia, will be seen in the UK on Friday the 17th July and Sunday the 19th  July on Diva TV.

In their interview, which was a rare and wonderful opportunity, Ace and John talk with Oprah and the Friday Live Panel about their experiences with Christian the Lion and his release into Africa.

The interview is where Ace and John first shared the footage of their final farewell with Christian in 1972.

Ace Bourke and John Rendall are currently overseas promoting a Lion Called Christian to audiences in China and India.

Well done, gentlemen!

Forever BellasGrace

Looking back over the last three months I can say without a doubt, Embracing A Lion Called Christian has been an experience I will never forget. I feel it  needs to be shared with the world.

Christian The Lion

When I began this journey on the quest to meet Ace Bourke and John Rendall, I did not know embracing  Christian the Lion would  have such an impact on my day to day life.

Ace Bourke described what took place over forty years ago in Kenya, a “Euphoric Moment” . For me the euphoric moment was when I saw for the first time in April this year the famous “Reunion” clip from You Tube. It was the most beautiful event I had ever seen. I am not comparing it to the birth of my two sons. However, I am comparing it to a once in a life time moment that can never truly be repeated in our own existence.

Harrod's Lion

Watching it on You Tube made me aware of this amazing footage but nothing could prepare me in seeing it on my television.  Watching the reunion of  Christian in Kenya, and seeing that glorious moment, with the background music of Whitney Houston, ” I Will Always Love You”, brought me to tears. This pure unconditional love enveloped me and captivated me to see a powerful bond between man and beast.

Since then I have spoken to many people who have heard the story of Christian and I have spoken to many people who have not yet seen this rare footage. Mentioning Christian the Lion to  people, I  asked them what they  thought when they saw the clip. Each  answer was pretty much the same; ” It is magical, beautiful, unbelievable, amazing, wonderful, and my favourite, “God works in mysterious ways”.  However, when I asked people “How did it make you feel?”  The response would be;  “it made me feel happy, it made me feel there is love in this world, regardless whether it is  animal or human being.  The consensus was, “it was an amazing event”.

I realised then what I must do. I wanted to meet Ace and John and say thank you for giving me a euphoric moment of my own. So I began this quest and started to create a series of different Internet sites which would be dedicated in my quest to meet them.

Ace and John

In the next post I will share with you the steps I have travelled so far in the quest to meet these two amazing Australian men.

On The Quest To Meet Ace and John…

Forever Bellas Grace

This is one of my favorite videos.  It shows that love knows no boundaries, even between humans and animals.  Enjoy!

My friend Buttercup sent me this. Looking into it, I learned that it’s a true story. The reunion shown here took place in 1972.

Here’s a much more recent interview with Christian’s friends, John Rendall and Ace Bourke:

En el año 1969, John Rendall y Ace Berg vieron un pequeño león en una jaula a la venta en Harrods y decidieron llevarlo a casa. El párroco local lse dejó ejercitar al pequeño león, llamado Christian en las tierras de la iglesia, hasta que se hizo demasiado grande como para seguir con su crianza en aquél lugar. 

La única alternativa coherente que les quedaba era intentar devolverlo a su entorno natural, llevándolo de nuevo a África, cosa que cumplieron. Dejaron al animal en un parque natural de Kenia.

Un año más tarde, quisieron visitarle, pero los expertos locales y cuidadores del parque les dijeron que el león era ahora jefe de su propia tierra y que como tal, era completamente salvaje y no los recordaría. Aún así fueron de todos modos en su búsqueda por Africa y esto es lo que pasó cuando encontraron el león salvaje:

(PDT: Creo que el video es realmente emotivo, aunque desconozco hasta que punto es veraz la historia y en qué tipo de condiciones fue devuelto el león a la libertad. No obstante un bello video para comenzar el día)

“Los animales son de Dios. La bestialidad es humana” Víctor Hugo.

Fantastisk historie.. Jeg vil lade videoen tale for sig selv (Ha’ kleenex klar…)