As mentioned by Mary in the comments in the first post on this topic, Meredith Vierra interviewed John Rendall and Ace Bourke on the Today Show this morning. Video’s after the jump (interview starts about two minutes in, after the Christian video is replayed).
It’s a little awkward at times given the time delay between Meredith’s questions and their answers (they’re in Australia and it takes a few seconds for them to hear her questions), but both men seem sweet and are very articulate. I also love Australian accents, even coming out of 60-some year old men 
Thanks for the heads up, Mary!
thank you for that info on these guys that raised christian. great video and great guys for there good deeds. everone please help the wild life
I love lions and just loved this video. What a pleasant thing to see when all too much
we here only bad news. When i grew up My parents were animal lovers and I remember Born Free
being a favorite in our house. I have had cats all my life and they are so much like lions.
Christian was a lucky lion indeed and so were Ace & John. What a rewarding life experience.
The world needs more men like John and Ace.What a beautiful story,I can’t get enough.
A truly becautiful video. John and Ace also have beautiful hearts to take a lion in, raise him, and then with heavy heart set him free back into the wild where he was intended to be. If you love something, set it free, if it comes back to you, then it was to be. And he did come back to them after all that time. Rest assure, God has made a special place for those two men for what they did, and George Adamson, Bill travers, Terrance Adamson and everyone involved with saving all aspects of life will be rewarded when they die. Would love to see some producer make a full length movie of John and Ace’s lives before, during, and after releasing Christian back into the wild. Not a documentary, but a full length movie. What a block buster that would be, and the profits going to save other animals, no matter what kind or where they are.
I cannot get enough of this story! I’d love to get in touch with both Ace and John…what wonderful guys. Their book, which is out of print, is EXCELLENT in the way it brings out their love and respect for Christian. It is written with humor and should be re-released for sure! Come on Doubleday! Re-print this one!
Truly animals are faithful. But these boys who loved Christian are to be given honors as well, without submitting to the “norm” of pet caring. Here in the Philippines , this video is wildly seen … thanks Christian for bringing back love in our hearts…
GOD BLESS YOU …JOHN AND ACE….!!!what a heart warming story..
Such a wonderful story and wonderful guys. If everybody in thhis world can treat animals with such respect as they do, the world will be much better.
Hi, I was blessed by getting in touch with Ace, can’t say why or how, but when I complimented him he replied “Yes, Christian is still casting his spell on people after all these years, I don’t know what for. But it’s something beautiful.” Then he said “Happy New Year, have a great 2009″, and something like “Go Obama”.. What a man!! What a beautiful man!! They both are and so was/is George.. I’m sure God does have a special reward in heaven for them..
I understand the book: A Lion Called Christian has a reprint date release of March 9, 2009 for those looking to read about this lucky lion’s life. When the book first came out I had read it and had seen the Born Free movies, falling in love with returning exotic animals to the wild after rehabilitation.
Channel 5 – UK – Tuesday 24/3/09 – about 8pm – a programme all about Christian, Ace amd John – enjoy!!
I can’t get enough of this story and my heart swells with pride and love when I watch the video – I can’t do this without crying buckets!!
Enjoy!!
Kate
I met them both at the time they had Christian as I bought a wardrobe from the shop…but alas…I didn’t know they had a lion cub.It was only when the book came out I realised what I’d missed. Grrrr. They were and (obviously are )very nice guys and deserve all credit for bringing him up so beautifully even if they did have a headstart with his mild disposition.
When I was very young I suffered a nervous breakdown and all my life (I am now 58) I have very, very rarely experienced love in my heart.
This story affected me very deeply. I cried for days and couldn’t really understand why, since it is such a happy story. Then I realised that seeing the love between these three had awakened what I had somehow lost very early in life. The sadness was for what I have missed all these years.
So thank you, Christian, John and Ace, for bringing me back to life, and thank you to two extraordinary men who know the true meaning of love – to give your soul to someone else and let them go.
I, too, can’t get enough of that story. The lion obviously loved those two men. I think it shows the deep love capable between animals and man, if they are treated with love. It’s all about love. I’ve just read the re-released book, “A Lion Called Christian”, and viewed the documentary on Animal Planet just last night. There is another documentary called “Christian the Lion” I was able to find on tape. And I have bought a biography about George and Joy Adamson’s tumultuous life, in and out of Africa. Amazing stories, all.
Kim
WHat happen to Christian’s sister?
This indeed is a beautiful story and each time I watch it, I cry and cry, because of the bond between man and animals. Yet there is a darker side that most don’t know about that is happening in South Africa right now, every day at every hour. Have anyone ever heard of Canned Hunting? This is a cruel way of killing hand raised lions, most captured from their moms and as soon as they are old enough or start showing a mane, they are brutally murdered. People pay a lot of money to kill these beautiful animals in the most inhumane way. Trophy hunters pay steep fees to shoot tame or drugged lions released in small enclosures. As I write this, I am in tears because I can only imagine the horror the lions face as they are being executed by flying bullets. I have so far written to the Minister of Tourism in South Africa as well as the Tourism Board and no one has ever written back. I am also trying to get the help of Ace Bourke and John Rendall to see if we all can come together and help stop this barbaric act. Completely inhumane, unfair and again barbaric. The equivalent of people going into jails and killing criminals while they’re contained in cells, only the animals are completely innocent and do not deserve to be contained in any way.
Please I am begging for us all to do something. I have tried alone and have not succeeded.
Clara.
For the person who had the nervous breakdown, I am a therapist and also had my own sad life. Think of this: joy also brings tears. When I saw ‘the reunion’ sequence with the men and Christian, I realized I had catapulted into an unknown area myself–not just grief, but joy. JOY! Hold onto the joy… (I remember calling my son, an emergency vet in CA and saying, I just wish I had felt that way just once!”)
I too am writing and emailing powers that be with no result so far. I want to continue the work George did, and–as you–STOP caged hunting. No animal is as cruel as some men are! Put me on the listi of people who will travel, pay all I cana, and fight for animal rights. Keep in touch.
John, Ace, I’m your age, but well, and ready to help. God bless you guys. Help me get out of Texas! I’m checking on passport tomorrow.
For the person who had the nervous breakdown, I am a therapist and also had my own sad life. Think of this: joy also brings tears. When I saw ‘the reunion’ sequence with the men and Christian, I realized I had catapulted into an unknown area myself–not just grief, but joy. JOY! Hold onto the joy… (I remember calling my son, an emergency vet in CA and saying, I just wish I had felt that way just once!”)
I too am writing and emailing powers that be with no result so far. I want to continue the work George did, and–as you–STOP caged hunting. No animal is as cruel as some men are! Put me on the listi of people who will travel, pay all I cana, and fight for animal rights. Keep in touch.
John, Ace, I’m your age, but well, and ready to help. God bless you guys. (Help me get out of Texas! I’m checking on passport tomorrow.)
Just heard on 60 Minutes the rate of elephants’ tusks went up 45% just this year.
Hi what great wonderful Lion
can any one still tell me if he is alive Christian and the owners.
Beeing vision Impaired thats the dream i would like to do is get to pat a lion or tiger.
Where do Ace and John reside today? What where they? Whayt didi thaey do with their jobs?
that was the sweetest story i have ever seeen
i watch it all the time im even doing a little inquiry on it