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Long before the story of
Androcles and the Lion,
there was recorded in the
tablets of Nineveh the pic
ture of the priestess leading
a lion, but the modern world
now has the absorbing narra
tive of the wife of the Kenya
game warden who raised a
lioness from a four day old
cub and claimed its affection
and alliegance when it had
been released again to the
freedom of the jungle.
Joy Adamson had brought
to her the litter of three cubs
left by a lioness who had to
be shot when she attacked a
party which had inadvertently
approached too close to her
lair. The two healthier cubs
went to the Rotterdam Zoo,
but the weakling, Elsa, was
raised to be an affectionate
companion. She rode on the
roof of the land rover on
safari, preferred to sleep on
camp beds, and had not leanr
ed to kill or the ways of
wild life until she was three
years. Then, it was felt that
Elsa should be prepared for
release to the jungle. She
was taught to kill and eat
her prey, but the first attempts
to release her produced an
unhappy animal pining for
her human companions and
ready and waiting for the
call home.
In the period of adjustment,
Elsa would leave camp at the
call of a lion, and return at
the sound of a rifle shot.
After the final parting, her
foster parents went to Eng
land where the tidings were
received of the birth of cubs
to Elsa.
A feature of this work is
the photographic documenta
tion.
"Born Free," by Joy Adam
son. Publishers Collins and
Harvill Press, London. Price
25/- slg.
$