Jump to content

George Adamson: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 64: Line 64:
</ref>
</ref>


He is buried in the park beside his brother Terrance and Supercub, which was Terrence's favorite lion. <ref name="george-adamson-buried">[http://www.fatheroflions.org/RestingPlace.html "Final Resting Place], George Adamson, fatheroflions.org, retrieved 22-04-2009</ref>
He is buried in the park beside his brother Terrence and Supercub, Terrence's favorite lion. <ref name="george-adamson-buried">[http://www.fatheroflions.org/RestingPlace.html "Final Resting Place], George Adamson, fatheroflions.org, retrieved 22-04-2009</ref>


==Film and television==
==Film and television==

Revision as of 04:25, 3 October 2012

For the illustrator and cartoonist, see George Worsley Adamson.
George Adamson
George Adamson photographed in 1970
photographed in 1970
Born(1906-02-03)February 3, 1906
Etawah, India
DiedAugust 20, 1989(1989-08-20) (aged 83)
Kora National Park, Coast Province, Kenya, Africa
Cause of deathAssassinated
Other namesBaba ya Simba
Occupations
  • British Wildlife Conservationist
  • Author
Spouse(s)Joy Adamson
(1944 – 1977; separation)
Websitewww.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], India (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 to death at Kora Reserve by Somali bandits when he went to the aid of a tourist.[4][5]

He is buried in the park beside his brother Terrence and Supercub, Terrence's favorite lion. [6]

Film and television

  • Born Free (1966), based on the book of the same name by Joy Adamson about Elsa the Lioness, who was rehabilitated into in the wild but remained in a friendly relationship with George and Joy Adamson. Stars Virginia McKenna as Joy Adamson and Bill Travers as George Adamson. George Adamson served as Chief Technical Advisor.[7]
  • The Lions Are Free (1967), The true story of what happened to the lions Boy, Girl, Ugas, Mara, Henrietta, Little Elsa and other lions who starred in the popular movie classic Born Free. George Adamson rehabilitated many of these lions after the movie Born Free was completed. Documentary-style film about George Adamson and his lions.[8]
  • An Elephant Called Slowly (1969) Travelogue featuring George Adamson, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna.[9]
  • Lord of the Lions...Adamson of Africa - Filmed in the Kora Reserve in Kenya only months before George was murdered. About 53 minutes.
  • Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story a Nature PBS documentary 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 Sep 1986), ISBN 978-0-00-272518-7

References

  1. ^ "George Adamson, Friend of lions... Father of Lions". Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  2. ^ "George Adamson Information - Father of Lions". www.fatheroflions.org. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c "Obituaries: Adamson, George". 1990 Britannica Book of the Year. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1990. p. 103. ISBN 0-85229-522-7.
  4. ^ "George Adamson Information - Father of Lions". www.fatheroflions.org. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  5. ^ "Adamson". www.georgeadamson.org. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  6. ^ "Final Resting Place, George Adamson, fatheroflions.org, retrieved 22-04-2009
  7. ^ "Born Free (1966)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  8. ^ "The Lions Are Free (1967)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  9. ^ "An Elephant Called Slowly (1969)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  10. ^ "Living Free (1972)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  11. ^ "Christian the Lion: George Adamson, Terence Adamson, Anthony Bourke, James Hill, Virginia McKenna, John Rendall: Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  12. ^ ""Born Free" (1974)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  13. ^ "To Walk with Lions (1999)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  14. ^ Eisner, Ken (1999-06-14). "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

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=George_Adamson&oldid=515740127"