George AdamsonMBE, also known as the Baba ya Simba, was a Kenyan wildlife conservationist and author. He and his wife, Joy, were depicted in the film 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, India to British parents. He was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, England. He moved to Kenya in 1924. After a series of jobs, which included time as a gold prospector, goat trader and professional safari hunter, he joined Kenya's wildlife department in 1938 and was Senior Wildlife Warden of the Northern Frontier District. Six years later, he married Joy. It was in 1956 that he raised the lioness cub, Elsa, who he helped to release into the wild and who became the subject of the 1966 feature filmBorn Free based on the book written by Joy. Adamson retired as a wildlife warden in 1961 and devoted himself to raising lions that could not look after themselves and training them to survive in the wild. 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, George Adamson was murdered near his camp in Kora National Park, by Somali bandits, when he went to the rescue of his assistant and a young European tourist in the Kora National Park. He was 83 years old. George is buried in the Kora National Park near his brother, Terance and Boy, one of the Lions who was part of the Born Free film. Two other lions are buried next to Adamson as well: Super Cub, and Mugie, a lion released in Kora after George's death.
Film and television
Born Free, 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.
The Lions Are Free is the true story of what happened to the lions Boy, Girl, Ugas, Mara, Henrietta and Little Elsa, and other lions which starred in 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.
An Elephant Called Slowly is a travelogue featuring George Adamson, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna.
Lord of the Lions...Adamson of Africa was filmed in the Kora Reserve in Kenya only months before George was murdered
Christian the Lion 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.
