George Alexander Graham Adamson MBE (3 February 1906 – 20 August 1989), also known as the Baba ya Simba ("Father of Lions" in Swahili), was a British wildlife conservationist and author, based in Kenya. His wife Joy Adamson related in her best-selling book Born Free (1960) (in 1966 made into a film) the couple's life with Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned cub they raised and later released into the wild.

Life

George Alexander Graham Adamson was born on 3 February 1906 in Etawah, India, to English and Irish parents. He was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, England, and moved to work on his father's coffee plantations in Kenya in 1924. After the death of his parents he worked in a series of jobs, which included gold prospector, goat trader and professional safari hunter, before joining Kenya's wildlife department in 1938,

  • Born Free (1966), based on the book of the same name by Joy Adamson about Elsa, who remained in a friendly relationship with the Adamsons after being released in the wild. 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 (1967) is a documentary-style film about 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.
  • An Elephant Called Slowly (1969) 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.
  • Living Free (1972) is the sequel to Born Free; it stars Nigel Davenport as George Adamson and Susan Hampshire as Joy Adamson.
  • Christian the Lion (1972) 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.
  • Born Free (1974) is a television series based on a loose adaptation of the book, starring Gary Collins and Diana Muldaur.
  • To Walk With Lions (1999), a feature film, starring Richard Harris as George Adamson.
  • "The Born Free Legacy" (2010) is a BBC documentary.
  • "Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story" (2011) is a Nature documentary episode from PBS.

Bibliography

  • Bwana Game: The Life Story of George Adamson, Collins & Harvill (April 1968),
  • A Lifetime With Lions, Doubleday (1st ed. in the U.S.A.) (1968), ASIN B0006BQAZW
  • My Pride and Joy: Autobiography, The Harvill Press (22 September 1986),

References

Further reading

  • Sandy Gall, George Adamson: Lord of the Lions (Nov 1991), Grafton,
  • Adrian House, The Great Safari: The Lives of George and Joy Adamson, (1993), William Morrow & Company,
  • George Adamson Website featuring photos, letters and much information on George Adamson.
  • George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust
  • Profile of Joy & George Adamson
  • Animated website for kids. Meet Dotty Rhino & her friends who live in Mkomazi, a real-life game reserve in Africa.
  • WildLifeNow – African Wildlife Preservation Trust website
  • Born Free Foundation website
  • Gary Hodges Wildlife Art – drawing of George Adamson with Boy and Christian by artist Gary Hodges for George's memorial service.
  • Christian the Lion, Ace Bourke & John Rendall