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Christian the Lion

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Animal

The Resume

    (circa 1969-circa 1973)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Sold as an 'exotic animal' at Harrod's Department Store
    Purchased as a cub by Australians Anthony 'Ace' Bourke and John Rendell
    Relocated to the wild through Joy and George Adamson at the Kora National Reserve in Kenya
    Subject of the documentary 'Christian, The Lion at World's End'

Why he might be annoying:

    When staying at Harrod's, he escaped from his cage, damaging the carpet department.
    Rendell and Bourke enlisted their girlfriends to help care for the lion cub in the basement of a furniture shop.
    When he grew from 35 lbs. to 185 lbs. in a year, Rendell and Bourke reluctantly gave him up for reintegration with other wild animals.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He remained sole survivor of the initial lion pride Adamson attempted to create.
    He successfully established a second pride with lionesses 'Mona' and 'Lisa.'
    When Bourke and Rendell reunited with him in Kenya, he greeted his former owners with affection (1972).
    The touching reunion, caught on film, became an internet phenomenon decades later.
    He vanished in late spring 1973, presumed to have been killed.

Credit: Black Chic


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 10 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 93 Votes: 43.01% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 116 Votes: 47.41% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 77 Votes: 51.95% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 105 Votes: 49.52% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 25 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 72 Votes: 51.39% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 145 Votes: 53.10% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 121 Votes: 66.12% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 105 Votes: 37.14% Annoying