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How Christian the lion became a YouTube sensation
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of MSNBC
Posted: July 31st, 2008
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25797678
The decades-old footage of a full-grown lion joyously embracing two young men like an affectionate house cat has made myriad eyes misty since it recently landed on YouTube. What is it about the old, grainy images that has attracted millions of clicks around the globe? Is it simply that a lion, whimsically named Christian, remembered the two men who raised it and then released it into the wild? It may be something more: the indelible image of a creature that could kill a man in seconds behaving like a pussycat with two men it obviously loves, smack in the middle of the African bush. The video is the work of Anthony Ace Bourke and John Rendall, two Australians who in 1969 were living in ... London. Nearly 40 years later, Rendall expressed astonishment that one video of his reunion with his former pet had drawn more than six million hits as of this writing. Oh, my God, Rendall exclaimed from Australia when told how popular the video has become. If its made people more aware and more interested in conservation and the protection of the environment, were very pleased. Back in 69, Rendall was living on Kings Road, in the Chelsea section of London. The center of Londons counterculture at the time, Kings Road seethed with creativity and fashion. When a friend came back from a trip to Harrods, Londons famous department store, and told a story about her trip to the pet department, Rendall was understandably fascinated. Harrods has always claimed that they could find anything, he explained. Anything youd want, Harrods could get for you. ... There were these beautiful lion cubs.
Note: To watch this highly inspiring three-minute clip, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U.
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