Jump to content

George Adamson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Lm945 (talk | contribs) at 21:37, 3 January 2008 (→Books). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the illustrator and cartoonist, see George Worsley Adamson.

George Adamson (3 February 1906 - 20 August 1989), the "Lion Man" of Africa, was one of the founding fathers of wildlife conservation and an author. He and his wife Joy Adamson are best known through the book and film Born Free, which depicts the true story of Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub they raised and later released into the wild.

Adamson was born in Dholpur, Rajasthan, India (then British India) in 1906. He first visited Kenya in 1924. After a series of adventures, which included time as a gold prospector, he joined Kenya's game department in 1938 and was Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier District. Six years later he married Joy. It was in 1956 that he came to have Elsa the lioness who would gain world fame and affection.

George Adamson retired as a game warden in 1963 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 Christmases together.

On 20 August 1989, at the age of 83, Adamson was shot to death at Kora Reserve by Somali poachers when he went to the aid of a tourist. Joy had been murdered in 1980. [1] [2]

Films / Television

Born Free
In 1966, James Hill directed the award winning film Born Free, based on a best selling book of the same title written by Joy Adamson. It stars Virginia McKenna as Joy Adamson and Bill Travers as George Adamson. George Adamson served as Chief Technical Advisor on the film. This movie tells the true story of Elsa the much loved lioness and her transformation from a cub to a free living lioness. [3] [4]
Living Free
a sequel to Born Free, finds the dying Elsa, now a mother herself, returning to the Adamsons, who must figure out what to do with Elsa's three cubs. Stars Nigel Davenport as George Adamson, and Susan Hampshire as Joy Adamson. [5] [6]
Born Free
A short-lived television series (1974), based on the lives of George and Joy Adamson. Starred Gary Collins and Diana Muldaur. [7]
The Lions Are Free
a true-life sequel to Born Free, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna document what became of the lions used in the filming of Born Free. [8]
Christian the Lion
is the true life story of Christian the Lion and his journey from London England to Kenya East Africa to live a free life with conservationist George Adamson of Born Free fame and to join other wild lions. It is a remarkable story of trust, affection and friendship between man and lions. It is written, produced and directed by Bill Travers, star of Born Free, and James Hill, the director of Born Free. [9]
An Elephant Called Slowly
Travelogue featuring George Adamson and starring his friends Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. Also featuring elephants named Pole Pole and Eleanor. [10] [11]
To Walk with Lions
This 1999 movie depicts George Adamson's later years (played by Richard Harris), shown through the eyes of his assistant, Tony (played by John Michie). The producers took a number of liberties with the story, but the basic facts are essentially correct. [12] [13]

Books

  • Bwana Game (1968): George's 1st autobiography ("A Lifetime With Lions" in the US)[14]
  • My Pride and Joy (1987): George's 2nd autobiography [15]
  • George Adamson (1991) by Sandy Gall [16]
  • The Great Safari (1993) by Adrian House [17]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=George_Adamson&oldid=181959949"