George Adamson
| George Adamson | |
|---|---|
 photographed in 1970 | |
| Born |
3 February 1906 Etawah, India |
| Died |
20 August 1989 (aged 83) Kora National Park, Coast Province, Kenya, Africa |
Cause of death | Murder |
| Other names | Bwana Game, Baba ya Simba |
| Occupation |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Joy Adamson (1944 – 1977; separation) |
| Website | |
| www.georgeadamson.org | |
George Adamson (3 February 1906 – 20 August 1989), also known as the Baba ya Simba (“Father of Lions” in Swahili),[1] was a British wildlife conservationist and author. He and his wife, Joy Adamson, are best known through the movie Born Free and best-selling book with the same title, which is based on the true story of Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lioness cub they had raised and later released into the wild. Several other films have been made based on Adamson's life.
Life
George Alexander Graham Adamson was born 3 February 1906 in Etawah,[2] then British India. Educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, England, he first visited Kenya in 1924. After a series of jobs, which included time as a gold prospector, goat trader, and professional safari hunter,[3] he joined Kenya's game department in 1938[3] and was Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier District. Six years later, he married Joy.[3] It was in 1956 that he raised the lioness cub, Elsa, who became the subject of the 1966 feature film Born Free.
Adamson retired as a game warden in 1961 and devoted himself to his many lions. In 1970, he moved to the Kora National Reserve in northern Kenya to continue the rehabilitation of captive or orphaned big cats for eventual reintroduction into the wild. George and Joy separated in 1970, but continued to spend Christmas holidays together until she was murdered on 3 January 1980.
Death
On 20 August 1989, the 83-year-old Adamson was shot dead at Kora Reserve by Somali poachers when he went to the aid of a tourist.[2][4]
He is buried in the park beside his brother Terrence and Supercub, (Terrence's favourite lion) and his own favourite, Boy. He most likely would have had Christian buried next to him as well, but Christian was never seen after his last encounter with his previous owners, John Rendall and Anthony Bourke.[5]
Film and television
- Born Free (1966), based on the book of the same name by Joy Adamson about Elsa the Lioness, that was rehabilitated into the wild, but remained in a friendly relationship with the Adamsons. The film stars Virginia McKenna as Joy Adamson and Bill Travers as George Adamson. George Adamson served as Chief Technical Advisor.[6]
- The Lions Are Free (1967) is the true story of what happened to the lions Boy, Girl, Ugas, Mara, Henrietta, and Little Elsa, and other lions which starred in the popular film classic Born Free. George Adamson rehabilitated many of these lions after Born Free was completed. It is a documentary-style film about George Adamson and his lions.[7]
- An Elephant Called Slowly (1969) is a travelogue featuring George Adamson, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna.[8]
- Lord of the Lions...Adamson of Africa was filmed in the Kora Reserve in Kenya only months before George was murdered (about 53 minutes)
- Living Free (1972) is the sequel to Born Free; it stars Nigel Davenport as George Adamson and Susan Hampshire as Joy Adamson.[9]
- Christian the Lion (1972) is a documentary of Christian the lion and his journey to George Adamson; it was written, produced, and directed by Bill Travers and James Hill, the director of Born Free.[10]
- Born Free (1974 television series) is a loose adaptation starring Gary Collins and Diana Muldaur.[11]
- To Walk With Lions (1999), a feature film, starred Richard Harris as George Adamson.[12][13]
- "The Born Free Legacy" is a BBC documentary from 2005.
- "Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story" is a Nature PBS documentary episode from 2011.
Bibliography
- Bwana Game: The Life Story of George Adamson, Collins & Harvill (April 1968), ISBN 978-0-00-261051-3
- My Pride and Joy: Autobiography, The Harvill Press (22 September 1986), ISBN 978-0-00-272518-7
References
- ↑ "George Adamson, Friend of lions... Father of Lions". Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "George Adamson Information – Father of Lions". www.fatheroflions.org. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Obituaries: Adamson, George". 1990 Britannica Book of the Year. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1990. p. 103. ISBN 0-85229-522-7.
- ↑ "Adamson". www.georgeadamson.org. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ↑ "Final Resting Place, George Adamson, fatheroflions.org, Retrieved 22 April 2009
- ↑ "Born Free (1966)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ "The Lions Are Free (1967)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ "An Elephant Called Slowly (1969)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ "Living Free (1972)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ "Christian the Lion: George Adamson, Terence Adamson, Anthony Bourke, James Hill, Virginia McKenna, John Rendall: Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ ""Born Free" (1974)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ "To Walk with Lions (1999)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ↑ Eisner, Ken (14 June 1999). "To Walk with Lions Review". www.variety.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
Further reading
- Sandy Gall, George Adamson: Lord of the Lions (Nov 1991), Grafton, ISBN 0-246-13699-5
- Adrian House, The Great Safari: The Lives of George and Joy Adamson, (1993), William Morrow & Company, ISBN 978-0-00-272082-3
External links
- George Adamson Website featuring photos, letters and much information on George Adamson.
- George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust
- Profile of Joy & George Adamson
- Animated website for kids. Meet Dotty Rhino & her friends who live in Mkomazi, a real-life game reserve in Africa.
- WildLifeNow – African Wildlife Preservation Trust website
- Born Free Foundation website
- Gary Hodges Wildlife Art – drawing of George Adamson with Boy and Christian by artist Gary Hodges for George's memorial service.
- Christian the Lion, Ace Bourke & John Rendall
|