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Christian the Lion - Reunion with John Rendall & Ace Berg

July 16th, 2008 | by Debra Oakland |

John Rendall and Ace Berg found a cub for sale at Harrod’s in a cramped space. They bought the cub and named him Christian. They played with Christian on the grounds of a church until he became to big to keep at home. The introduced him back into the wild of Africa.
One year later they went to see Christian in the wild. They were told that the lion was wild now, the head of his own pride and would not remember them. Here is their courageous story.

 

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  1. 36 Responses to “Christian the Lion - Reunion with John Rendall & Ace Berg”

  2. By Pat Wolfe on Jul 18, 2008 | Reply

    This is so beautiful!

  3. By Lynn Meadows on Jul 23, 2008 | Reply

    Beautiful,it fills my heart with such happiness. After all of the years that have passed, the sheer and utter joy and happiness that clearly felt from Christian, John and Ace come right into my heart. God Bless you all!!

  4. By Tinette on Jul 26, 2008 | Reply

    Someone emailed this to me…

    I am not usually this touched, but was very touched by this reunion.

    does anyone know where Randell and Berg is now?

  5. By Kate on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply

    Randall and Bourke will be on NBC’s Today Show on W, 7/30.

  6. By Nancy Parker on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply

    I have never before been so touched and moved by anything as I was by this story; how happy Christian was to see Ace and John again, I could not stop crying. This goes to show us how the power of Love can reach all creatures of this world. What has happened to Christian, Ace and John? Please update us on this wonderful story.

  7. By Martine on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply

    I would like to know where they are and what they are doing now too. The blonde man looks familiar - which one is he?

  8. By Martine on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply

    How long do lion’s live?

  9. By rebeka moore on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply

    Today, Ace Bourke is a museum curator in Australia. John Rendall is a trustee of the George Adamson Wildlife Trust, an organization actively involved in preserving African wildlife. The organization, according to Rendall, is part of Christian’s legacy. (For those in the US, Rendall recommends the site WildlifeNow.com.)

  10. By Kim on Jul 31, 2008 | Reply

    Does anyone know which guy is Ace Bourke? Is he the dark haired one or the blonde in the Khaki shirt? Thanks.

  11. By s martin on Jul 31, 2008 | Reply

    Ace Bourke is the Blonde in the Khaki shirt. I love these two men!!!

  12. By Paola on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply

    I love this !!! iwant more info about the story of these friends, a very emotional story i love it so much. this really shows love.

  13. By Barbara Miller-Stacey on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply

    I too was entralled by the recent video posted on “You Tube” of the Reunion with Christian. It tugged at my heartstrings….upon further reading the site and viewing the entire documentary I followed with great interest George Adamson, Ace Bourke and John Rendall. They made the ultimate sacrifice in allowing Christian to be released back into the wild and letting him be a lion. I felt the strong bond these two young men had forged with Christian and the devotion and love Christian displayed when he was reunited with his boys. What a wonderful story…..sadly the two commentators of the American Today Show did little preparation in asking questions that were relevant, educational or even interesting and prefaced the interview with insulting dribble. It would have be great if Ms. Vierra had mentioned George Adamson, who gave his life for his charges, or the Kora Preserve, and the George Adamson Wildlife Trust. Mereith, lions in the wild live between 7 and 12 years….but as Rendall and Bourke added…..Christian’s offspring and legacy live on. I doubt if she “got it” for all the snickering in the background. THANK YOU gentlemen for sharing Christian’s story with the world.

  14. By Concetta on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply

    What an extraordinary story and such a beautiful one. There should be more Johns, Bourkes, Bergs and Adamsons in this world - it would be such a better place!!

  15. By Vicki on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply

    So moving - thankyou to my friend in Skye who shared it with me x

  16. By Candy on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply

    This is truly a beautiful story and made me cry with emotion. The sheer joy on the faces of Rendell and Bourke were wonderful to see, and that split second when you can see Christian recognise them is astounding.
    Such an inspiration at a time when there’s such cruelty and sadness in life. Wonderful

  17. By Deborah on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply

    Ace Bourke (who they mistakenly refer to as Ace Berg) is the dark haired guy. John Rendall is the blonde. I did not know who was who until I saw them interviewed on the Today Show on NBC in U.S. Really nice guys.

  18. By Deborah on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply

    By the way, John and Ace wrote a book back in the 70’s called “A Lion Called Christian”. From what I hear, it may be re-released very soon!

  19. By Ashley on Aug 4, 2008 | Reply

    Actually, Ace is the blond man. John Rendall has dark hair.

  20. By Linda on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply

    Here are two links to an interview John and Ace did last week in Australia. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What an amazing and beautiful story. I just ordered the book by George Adamson called The Pride and Joy. Hope to get it next week. Also hoping for re-release the book by John and Ace. I would love to have that also. If anyone hears if it will be released soon, please let us know.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItC5Tg_mU_o

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JfkAnEGCHCc

  21. By Deborah on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply

    Ashley…actually John Rendall is the blonde. If you watch the Today Show interview online, you will see that when both he and Ace are speaking to the host of The Today Show.

  22. By Deborah on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply

    OOPS…my mistake…Ashley is right. John has dark hair in video, Ace has blonde. Sorry.

  23. By Linda Sauer on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply

    Attached are two links of an interview John and Ace did last week in Australia. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I have. They are two amazing men. The story is so heart warming and just beautiful to watch. It is certainly a tear jerker….. I have just ordered the book, The PRIDE and JOY by George Adamson. I should get it next week. I can hardly wait to start reading it. If anyone knows if they are going to re-release the book written by John and Ace, please let me know. I would also love to have a copy of it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItC5Tg_mU_o

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JfkAnEGCHCc

  24. By Kelly Sali on Aug 17, 2008 | Reply

    Here is a link to a way better interview with Ace and John, the NBC people sure buggered that interview in Australia.
    http://www.facekitty.com/2008/08/whatever-happened-to-christian.html

  25. By marla on Aug 23, 2008 | Reply

    Christian was given complete and unconditional love and because of that love so early on Christian was able to bring that love to his pride and all those who knew him. If there is a lesson in this story - aside from the clear evidence that animals can be feeling, loving creatures, it is that love transcends all boundaries and when you are loved you can give love — Lions, humans, all living creatures.

  26. By Linda on Aug 24, 2008 | Reply

    I just completed reading the book A Lion Named Christian by John Rendall and Ace Bourke. I was able to get it through my local library. It was just amazing. I’m also reading George Adamson’s book, My Pride and Joy. Last week, I received the DVD from the Born Free Foundation,Christian The Lion at World’s End. I’m going to watch it with my 90 year old mother. As you can see I can’t get enough about this story. Kelly thanks for the link to the interview from Australia. It’s so much better than the one I previously had. Alos, the interview was alot better than the one from the Today Show. Marla, I concur with your sentiments.

  27. By Laurie on Sep 2, 2008 | Reply

    I saw this for the first time last Friday and stayed up until 2 in the morning watching it over and over. Then I watched all the different variations on YouTube including the entire Christian the Lion movie that the clips came from. I was so moved. This is proof positive that animals have souls that some of us have always known but how else could he have known they were coming (if you watch some of the other films they tell how he hadn’t been seen in a while and then the night before the guys showed up Christian and his pride were in the area. Kind of like some of us knowing that when the phone rings it’s our mother on the other end, pick it up and there she is! I loved how Christian immediately remembered that Ace was the one who used to invite him to jump into his arms and so he did it time and again. That says to me that he loved that little game he played with Ace. What I also love is that smile of Ace’s. That man has the sweetest soul. Then when I heard him speak on the recent interviews I knew he was indeed a very sweet sensitive patient person you could tell from his manner. Strangely I want to know more about Ace and John’s lives because something like that experience with Christian has to affect one’s life for the better.

    And didn’t that final photo of Christian with George that they showed in some of the interviews, showed what a handsome cat he turned into and he still had that friendly look to his face. I’m still in awe! Of course I love my little kitties so it might have something to do with it!

  28. By Debra Oakland on Sep 3, 2008 | Reply

    Laurie,

    Thank you for this moving and heartfelt post. People all over the world seem to gravitate towards this story. Many people leave posts here conversing about Christian, Ace and John.

    This story shows the true love that exists within all human life, when we trust in that love and are able to reach out and share it.

    Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage

  29. By Sham on Sep 10, 2008 | Reply

    I think, that’s why me must call Lion as a King of the jungle.

    I’m really crying when I saw it. It’s so beautiful!!! No words can describe it.

    I really want to know more about them. I hope somebody will make movie of this Christian The Lion. Somebody should do something so that this story will never lost.

  30. By Kelly Sali on Sep 10, 2008 | Reply

    Actually there is a movie about him and the two gents who adopted him. It’s called Christian- The Lion At World’s End, it is quite fascinating, if you have a broadband connection you can watch it online. Cheers, Kel

  31. By cynthia on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    You know words cannot describe when I first saw this You tube. A pen friend sent it. She just assumed everyone had seen it. I told her I had never even heard or seen it. Well, I can tell you I was moved to tears. I cried and cried. What a extraordinary and heartfelt story. What struck me the most, how much this lion loved them. Well, in my eyes they are heros. You know what? They saved Christians life. Even though this story to some seems so long ago, 1969 when they found him in the Harrods dept store. It truly isnt. This type of story will live on. I am grateful it was filmed. Hey, I am sure christian is looking down and saying love you john and ace and thanks for loving and saving me. : ) Have a great life you two. : )

  32. By Linda on Sep 14, 2008 | Reply

    GOOD NEWS…. Sony is looking to bring the story of Christian to the big screen. The studio is currently securing the life rights of Rendall and Bourke and their 1972 book “A Lion Called Christian.” Neal Moritz will produce this project.

  33. By cynthia on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks linda for sharing that. I will would like to have the book.

  34. By Scout on Sep 17, 2008 | Reply

    What a beautiful story!

    Christian is the sweetest lion I’ve ever heard of. He’s adorable!

    I hope that he lived a long life in the wild.

  35. By Linda on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

    As for as to how long Chistian may of lived. In the book ‘Journey to Freedom’ written by Virginia McKenna, she stated George Adamson beleived Christian had crossed tye nearby Tana River and established a new territory. Although George new saw Christian again, he did receive report of a lion that looked very much like Chistian for several more years in the are to the north.

  36. By AJ on Nov 28, 2008 | Reply

    Wow, that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I will try to send copies of the DVD to my nieces and some friends.
    AJ

  37. By Dave on Dec 18, 2008 | Reply

    For those of you that have read the books “My Pride and Joy”, “Journey to Freedom”, and/or “A Lion Called Christian”, I’d like to ask you a question:

    How many reunions were there between Christian, John, and Ace? Based on the Australian TV interview, it sounds like there were at least 3. The first which we’ve all seen on YouTube, several others (?), and then a final one with only John in 1974…after which Christian was never seen again.

    I’m skeptical about what I’ve read through online articles because they seem to blur/merge the details of the first and last reunion visits. I was hoping that someone here might be able to provide accurate information.

    Thank you very much!!

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