Discovery of Christian the Lion
A Chance Encounter
In 1969, John Rendall and Anthony Bourke stumbled upon an unusual sight in Harrods, a London department store. Amidst the lavish goods, they found a lion cub in a small cage, looking forlorn and out of place. This cub, named Christian, had been put up for sale after being born in captivity. His plight moved John and Anthony, who decided on the spot to give him a better life. They couldn’t bear to see him in such a condition.
The Decision to Adopt
Despite the challenges ahead, John and Anthony adopted Christian, determined to provide him with a proper home. They bought Christian and took him to their flat in Chelsea, where they made special arrangements to accommodate their new and rather unusual housemate. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary bond between man and beast. Their commitment to giving Christian a better life showed their deep compassion and willingness to take on such a huge responsibility.
