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In January this year John Rendall died at the age of 76. It features an early 20th century Beja tribe (Sudan) elephant hide shield and a large carved softwood figure of a snake from Central Africa.Ī plaster maquette modelled in the form of a man embracing a lion, inscribed: 'Two Beautiful Beings, Happy John & a Lion Called Christian' is also expected to bring £100-150. The latter collection includes 26 African tribal objects from drums and head rests to weaponry and will be sold on June 14 to 15. Photo collections of 'Christian the lion' and a separate auction of African tribal art John Rendall possessed upon his initial travels to Africa are on for sale with Sworders next month.

However he was known to be getting into fights with other resident lions at the Kora Reserve and began to stay away from the area for long periods before being last seen in 1973 heading towards Meru National Park. They also returned one year later again and, despite Christian having not been seen for three months at the time, the lion rushed into their camp to greet them again and they were able to spend nine days with him.Ĭhristian then left the two friends one morning to rejoin the other lions and they never saw him again – which they viewed as a success, because he was no longer dependent on humans and had become a real African lion.

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'The events inspired Rendall to become a conservationist and created a lifelong affinity with Africa and its wildlife.'Ĭhristian, born on August 12, 1969, was originally acquired by Harrods from a now-defunct zoo park in Ilfracombe, off the North Devon coast.Ĭhristian's growing size and the increasing cost of his care led Rendall and Bourke to come to the realisation they could not keep him in London.Ĭhristian ate four meals - two liquid, two solid- plus supplements every day, which cost about £30 a week at the time.īoth Ace and John travelled to the continent in 1970 to return Christian to the wild, though they were extremely concerned as he was a fifth generation zoo-bred lion. 'The transition to the wild at the Kora National Park was successful with Christian, weighing over 500lbs, leading a pride of lionesses and a dynasty of cubs.

'However, following a meeting with the actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of the 1966 film Born Free, it was agreed that Christian would be flown to Kenya and placed in the care of the lion conservationist George Adamson.

The duo felt that by buying Christian they could offer him 'something better than his life at a department store' even just for a few months

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