Hey so I saw this youtube video today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqQt1MKTiaI&feature=related
Its about a lion who was raised by humans and then let out into the wild, the humans found him again and he remembered who they were and it was a joyful reuniting. I want to believe this is real so bad, it seems like such a great story. But from what I have learned about animals, especially lions, this is fake. I was wondering, those who are very knowledgeable about these types of animals, if this is indeed possible?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqQt1MKTiaI&feature=related
Its about a lion who was raised by humans and then let out into the wild, the humans found him again and he remembered who they were and it was a joyful reuniting. I want to believe this is real so bad, it seems like such a great story. But from what I have learned about animals, especially lions, this is fake. I was wondering, those who are very knowledgeable about these types of animals, if this is indeed possible?
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I only watched a few seconds, however...
That is actually a famous story dating back to the 1960's.
It most definitely IS true.
It was well documented with loads of footage.
The lion was bought as a cub in England from Harrods.
Yes, in the 60's if you wanted a pet exotic animal, you just went to a department store.
They were not cheap to buy or care for however, so it tended to be the rich and famous that had lions, tigers, etc.
Most of the animals were stuck in cages and with terribly inadequate care, and ended up dumped in zoo's when they became dangerous or too big and not so cute.
However, they two men (a gay couple) who bought Christian (the cub), actually looked after and cared for him remarkably well!
He would drive in their car, and walk on lead, and they went to all kinds of incredible measures to make sure he was well exercised etc (I seem to recall they took him for runs in the local cemetary (??), because it was the only place with a massive fence (the cemetary is the first bit of footage, on your link).
Anyway - he got too big, and they realised their mistake.
They were stongly against the idea of putting him in a zoo (zoo's back then were often just concrete cells).
So they went to huge expense and effort, to rehabilitate him and set him free.
They went back sometime later, and CLEARLY he recognised them both.
I think it had been a year or more (?).
However, I believe the last time they flew over to see him, he was no where to be found.
Hopefully off living the life of freedom he was destined to.
That is actually a famous story dating back to the 1960's.
It most definitely IS true.
It was well documented with loads of footage.
The lion was bought as a cub in England from Harrods.
Yes, in the 60's if you wanted a pet exotic animal, you just went to a department store.
They were not cheap to buy or care for however, so it tended to be the rich and famous that had lions, tigers, etc.
Most of the animals were stuck in cages and with terribly inadequate care, and ended up dumped in zoo's when they became dangerous or too big and not so cute.
However, they two men (a gay couple) who bought Christian (the cub), actually looked after and cared for him remarkably well!
He would drive in their car, and walk on lead, and they went to all kinds of incredible measures to make sure he was well exercised etc (I seem to recall they took him for runs in the local cemetary (??), because it was the only place with a massive fence (the cemetary is the first bit of footage, on your link).
Anyway - he got too big, and they realised their mistake.
They were stongly against the idea of putting him in a zoo (zoo's back then were often just concrete cells).
So they went to huge expense and effort, to rehabilitate him and set him free.
They went back sometime later, and CLEARLY he recognised them both.
I think it had been a year or more (?).
However, I believe the last time they flew over to see him, he was no where to be found.
Hopefully off living the life of freedom he was destined to.
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It is possible it was even on te news when it happened some animals have better memory than others
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Actually, this really did happen.
It's not completely unheard of for animals to behave this way. Some bonds between human and animal are very strong.
It's not completely unheard of for animals to behave this way. Some bonds between human and animal are very strong.