Christian the Hugging Lion
August 1st, 2008 by Stephen Altrogge
I’m not sure how I feel about this video. Kind of interesting, somewhat heartwarming, disturbing background music. I’d like to get your thoughts on this one.
Thanks to my friend Mary Ann for sending this one to me.
Posted in Video
August 1st, 2008 at 7:16 am
Wow… I’m not sure I know what to think either. It’s a little wierd- and it is hard to take it seriously with the background music. It is kind of interesting that the lion recognized them, I guess. I don’t even know what else to say…
August 1st, 2008 at 7:57 am
Wow…my first thought that was a lot of money to spend to take care of, send to Africa, and then fly out again…for a lion?
Second thought was, the music just didn’t fit the video…
August 1st, 2008 at 8:03 am
Two observations..
Aslan liked to hug and toss dwarfs up and catch them in his paws.
Finally, he had a better neck beard than Sting!
More encouraging than Batman…..Sorry, that’s three.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:48 am
Wow! You are right about the music. I did turn that down.
I love Lion. It is interesting to watch it, and how they and the lion reacted again after a year.
Thank you for sharing this with us!
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion
August 1st, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hmmm.. it was kind of heartwarming. Those people have a lot more guts than I do though! After being in the wild for a year, that lion totally could have ripped them to pieces rather than giving a loving hug. I find it odd the money and trouble people expend on their pets. No thank you very much.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
I tend to like sweet heartwarming animal videos, so this was fun. Not sure if the “always” part of this song can be trusted — the lion is a wild animal, afterall. Here is another video clip of an affectionate lion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv75IJpKV2U&eurl=http://susanwiggs.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/out-like-a-lion/
August 1st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
would have hated to been wrong…music was lame.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
*feels stupid for getting all teary-eyed*
Hmm…I think I liked this clip, what can I say? Animals make me feel all warm inside, especially the ferocious, roaring ones that actually just want to give you a big, fuzzy hug.
On a side note, I just recently stumbled upon this blog and have already been blessed by some of the posts here. Thank you for some encouraging insight!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Bridget - I’m glad you find the blog to be encouraging!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Whitney Houston and the return of Semba…perhaps a bit much. However, being a animal lover and the proud owner of a Saint Bernard almost the size of said lion, I felt a warm spot in my heart!
Whitney…stop singing.
Lion “owners”…stop looking after Semba.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
From a wildlife grad student:
Essentially the only reasons those guys weren’t torn apart were 1. Lions are the only social cats, and males being so conspicuous cannot survive outside of the pride. 2. Younger males of any species are less territorial and aggressive by nature of being younger.
This particular male was only about 2 years old, which is quite young in terms of lion hierarchies. The report of him being head of his own pride was probably false. He had likely either joined a coalition of other young males to stay alive, or was accepted into a pride of females as a “cub”. Not being territorial yet, this guy recognized his rescuers as his original pride that had protected him and fed him, and therefore reacted well. A few more years and visiting will be a bad idea without sharpshooters.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Becca - Thanks for the specific info. Trust me, I won’t be going out into the wild and hugging any lions any time soon! I did notice when watching the video that the lion appears to be pretty young. Your comment explains things!
August 4th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
That song is so weird. WEIRD, I say!
I never quite understood people who did this. Liking your cat or dog is one thing, chasing after African lions is something else entirely.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I ended up turning down the volume, wondering why a film from 1968 was being shown on the news…but not seeing the lion tear into the guys was refreshing. Can’t wait ’til I get to heaven and am able to have a pet tiger.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I saw this same video footage with Aerosmith’s “Don’t want Close My Eyes” as the soundtrack. I definitely liked that one better….
What I would like to know is why Harrods had a lion cub for sale in the first place? Isn’t that illegal, even in 1969?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
big hair
bell bottoms
lion love
and whitney houston
good times. thanks for that, Stephen.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hey. Could you send or write the address of this site? I like weird things. Thanks.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Never mind. It finally showed up on my painfully slow, prehistoric, pathetic excuse for a computer.
The music completely went with the video. My 16 year old son reacted just the same after leaving him 2 years with a pride of lions. The same song played, too.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
What the guy said at the very end of the video were my exact thoughts…
“And then there’s a second video where he figures out the two men are NOT lions and then he eats them.”
September 28th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I stumbled across this site and have to say I was taken aback by ho-hum jaded stupidity of the initial remark and most of the responses that followed. So what if the music was a strange choice. No one who has a compassionate heart, cares about other living creatures, and knows anything about large African felines could fail to be moved by this footage. When I checked to see what weird site I had happened onto, it all made sense. I had landed on so-called “Christian” site. Who but fundamentalist “Christians”– people who don’t believe in evolution because it doesn’t square with their tiny interpretation of God — would have such a lack of appreciation a cross-species connection that demonstrates how closely related all God’s creation is. What a miracle that this wild, powerful creature that could have ripped the two men to shreds in seconds instead swept them with boundless love. Of course good fundamentalist “Christians” prefer not to believe other animals are related humans, that they have intelligence and feelings — makes ‘em easier to kill if we think they are only things for our exploitation. Just ask Sarah Palin.