The film has been nominated for a string of awards at the SAFTAS (South African Film and Television Awards): Best Cinematography, Best Music Score and Best Sound Design. It looks like it’s going to be well worth seeing. If you’d like to get to know the film’s feline stars so long have a look at Richardson’s book, Part of the Pride, co-authored with Tony Parks.
Here’s more on the film:
“The casting process was a tricky one,” recalled Richardson.
“As the original story was about a tawny lion, I had all my little tawnies, of all age-groups, lined-up, and then we got the call saying, ‘Hang on a moment what would you say if we cast the main hero as a white lion!’ It made sense, but it also made my life a nightmare. We only had a few white lions at the Lion Park, and our main hero white lion, an adult male, is probably the only completely workable one in the country. The two lions that we actually had to source, were the lions needed to portray the teenage period of Letsatsi’s life. The lions we finally used were ‘Bruce’ and ‘Bravo’ who were aged just fourteen-months at the time.” Richardson continued. “The difference between these lions and those in other movies or Hollywood productions, is that ours are not ‘trained’ lions; i.e. lions who can hit their marks: stop there, sit down, lay, stay.”
The trip to meet Kevin Richardson at his world-famous big cat reserve was not a book launch; it was an experience. Starting with hot coffee at Seattle’s at Montecasino, the privileged guests piled into two minibuses to head out into the wild.
Anticipation for what lay ahead grew as the vehicles worked their way through built-up Fourways. The cars, roads, robots, malls, housing complexes and petrol stations slowly gave way to lush green highveld land out past Maropeng. We were going to the Kingdom of the White Lion to meet the man himself and his big cats.
Arriving at the Kingdom the two buses navigated their way past the main gate and down the dirt trail deep into the reserve. The legendary animal behaviourist was waiting to meet us. Once we “de-bussed”, Richardson gave everyone a quick run-down of the rules, and we were off – passing through another two gates and walking into the bushveld. A large human cage had been set up from within which everyone could safely view the lions. Lion whisperer Richardson stayed outside. He has an intimate relationship with all the lions and is able to interact freely with each of them.
Everyone waited.
Slowly emerging from the bush came Rodney Nombekana, Richardson’s “right-hand man”, with a pride of mixed tawny and white lions. It took everyone’s breath away. Richardson called to the lions with mixed lion noises and human words. Wary of the human cage at first, the lions slowly came forward and greeted him the lion way – with a rub of the head. Richardson returned the greetings in kind.
Cameras clicked and clicked and clicked. The lions sauntered round to find the shade of the tree beside the cage and settled down. It was a hot day and it was time to relax into the whole human-gazing thing! The humans were honoured to be so close to these magnificent cats.
Richardson laughingly said that 11:30 in the morning was like 2:30 am for the lions, and we should appreciate their effort in coming to see us. He shared many experiences of his work at the reserve and what it means to him, saying that at first he “didn’t know what he was getting involved with”.
Guests spent over three hours with Richardson, Nombekana, the lions, hyenas, a jaguar and beautiful black leopards. It was a unique and moving experience. Watch out for the movie, White Lion: Home is a Journey due for release in February 2010; and share in Richardson’s extraordinary experiences with big cats with Part of the Pride.
Looking some of the world’s most deadly animals directly in the eye, Kevin Richardson has made a place for himself in the often dangerous animal kingdom. He’s broken every taboo working with lions, hyenas and other predators. Flouting common misconceptions that breaking an animal’s spirit is the best way to subdue them, he uses love, understanding and trust to develop deep personal bonds with them.
Richardson’s unique method of learning their individual personalities – what makes each one angry, happy, or irritated, like a mother to a child – has caused them to accept him like one of their own. Richardson sleeps with adult male lions, cuddles newborn hyenas, and swims with lionesses. This powerful connection has dispelled myths and shown these animals as complex creatures capable of human-like bonds. With Part of the Pride: My Life Among the Big Cats of Africa, Richardson, with novelist Tony Park, delves into the minds of the big cats to show how he became a part of the pride.
Emma Hurd met with Richardson and his lions earlier this year. Here is her spine tingling account of their first introduction to the Kings of the animal world.
As the gate swung open the three lions pounced. Powerful young males, within seconds they had wrestled the human intruder – Kevin Richardson – to the ground. We cowered behind the fence, fearing that our day filming with the famed “lion whisperer” of South Africa was about to come to an abrupt and bloody end.
“Are you ok in there,” I yelled, genuinely alarmed as Kevin was pinned down by a pile of writhing predators. “Don’t worry,” he shouted back, emerging with a giant paw wrapped gently around his head. “This is normal,” he laughed.
When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of “rogue” elephants on his reserve at Thula Thula, his commonsense told him to refuse.
But he was the herd’s last chance of survival – notorious escape artists, the elephants would all be killed if Lawrence wouldn’t take them. He agreed – and The Elephant Whisperer tells the rest of their remarkable story.
Sunday Times books editor Tymon Smith caught up with the man who has translated the lessons he’s learned from elephants about love, loyalty and freedom on to the page. Listen in on their conversation:
Podcast: Lawrence Anthony in conversation with Tymon Smith
When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of “rogue” elephants on his reserve at Thula Thula, KwaZulu Natala, his common sense told him to refuse. But he was the herd’s last chance of survival – notorious escape artists, they would all be killed if Lawrence wouldn’t take them.
He agreed, but before arrangements for the move could be completed the animals broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot. The remaining elephants were traumatised and very angry. As soon as they arrived at Thula Thula they started planning their escape…
As Lawrence battled to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution, he came to realise that they had a lot to teach him about love, loyalty and freedom. Set against the background of life on the reserve, with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, The Elephant Whisperer is a delightful book that will appeal to animal lovers everywhere.
Watch a video on Lawrence Anthony’s rehabilitation of elephants from “problem backgrounds”: (more…)
SA’s own Lion Whisperer, Kevin Richardson, and his lions have been involved in the production of the film White Lion – Home… is a Journey, due for release this February.
