Big Cats

Christian the lion was bought by John Rendall and Anthony Bourke for 250 guineas. They raised him with the help of friends until he was a year old. He was then moved to the basement, that they made comfortable for him, of their store, coincidentally called Sophistocat. When Christian grew too big and costly, John and Anthony brought him to the Kora National Reserve. Christian was introduced to a older male lion name Boy who was in the movies Born Free and The Lions are Free. He was also introduced to a female cub named Katania. Christian grew to be the head of the pride. When the two original owners of Christian came to visit him in 1971, Christian welcomed them by standing on his hind legs and putting his front paws around them. Two other female lion in the pride and a cub also welcomed the two men. After John's and Anthony's second visit to Christian, they never saw him again. A book and a film were published on the lion.