‘Tony,’ they said, ‘the board of TANAPA are very happy with your investment here in Mkomazi and we would like you to continue for as long as is practical and possible.’
It was great to hear it said out loud. Over the twenty years we have been at Mkomazi we have had all sorts of problems with individuals but the central relationship between us and the government has always been good. The authorities have always let me get on and do the job in the field. They trust us and the Tanzanians who work here to do the best we can for the wildlife and the area. I am extremely grateful to them for giving me the chance. Brigadier Mbita has announced his intention to step down as chairman as soon as the agreement with TANAPA is signed so they can take as long as they like: we don’t want to let him go.
The great thing about both our projects is that they are vibrant and flourishing and moving forward. The wild dogs continue to breed, we continue to vaccinate, wait a generation and then release them. The rhino sanctuary is a going concern with a viable population from various gene pools. The rhinos are breeding, there’s no fighting and they browse happily away – being rhinos in the place where they belong. More importantly, we have trained up an entire team of people at Mkomazi to know how to run a game sanctuary, look after the most valuable animals in the world and bring a species back from the edge of extinction. I’m not redundant yet but I’m working on it.
Of course I’m desperate to have some more lions or leopards in Kora and it will come. Julius Kipn’getich told me the other day I have his blessing. And we are going to train up a new team in Kora. I had some great people working for me in George’s day but I didn’t manage them as well as I should have done. I didn’t give them enough chances to make mistakes and I didn’t help them to exceed their expectations. I’m so proud of my team in Mkomazi – Elisaria and Fred at Headquarters and Semu and Sangito with the animals. And they have brought on teams of their own too. I want to do the same again in Kora and I know George will be watching over me as I do.
In earlier days, my constant urge to keep going forward may have prevented me from reflecting enough on the past. Now I try to do both. I was asked by a film crew the other day why it had taken me so long to go back to where George had been killed. I was with Ibrahim Mursa, a Kenya Wildlife Service game scout from Asako, who was the driver of the first vehicle on the scene after the ambush. The reporter asked why I was writing a book and taking so much time to look back when normally I only looked forwards. I didn’t know how to answer for a while but then said that I felt I had to reflect on the past a little more responsibly. They asked me what I’d learnt or found out. I recalled the carefully prepared words of Winston Churchill that George had once read out to me: ‘Success is not final,’ he said. ‘Failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.’
I have found that courage.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As I reach the end of this book I feel as if I should embark on an Oscar-winner’s speech of thanks. There are so many people I need to thank and so many debts to be paid but I’ll never manage it. All of you, all over the world, who have helped me so much over the years know who you are and I couldn’t have done it without you, and whether it’s been a bed for a night, a tractor, a year’s running costs or pure moral support, my gratitude is immense. Thank you, all. This book is for you as well.
I also know that without George’s guidance I would never have succeeded in half of what we have done. George devoted his life to the wildlife of East Africa and he showed me how to walk with lions. I miss the Old Man every day as I try to live up to his beliefs - working to give animals a chance to live with dignity in their own land. I know there’ll be problems ahead but I also know that Lucy and I will be able to find a way around them. If we continue to care enough and ’keep going forward one step at a time’, we’ll walk with lions again.
And this book would never have taken off, let alone been completed, without the friendship, professionalism and sheer lunatic energy of Miles Bredin, my co-author. An accomplished journalist and author, he ’got it’ and was often way ahead of me on this journey of reflection and adventure. I was amazed at both his perceptions and feelings, and the historical context that he provided as background was invaluable.
Eleo Gordon at Penguin worked tirelessly and with formidable and enormous enthusiasm to make sure that the book was a fitting tribute to both George and all the animals. The way she steered the project across continents and still allowed us to be able to continue with our work was a coup of some genius. It was always a great pleasure when we got together in London, but even I almost crumpled at the pace!
Without my wife Lucy no one would have had anything to work from. She produced three hundred pages of chronology from both our diaries and was critical at the end stages when I didn’t quite get it right or went a bit overboard. But that’s just work. She has been an amazing friend and companion in two of the more remote areas of East Africa under, at times, some very trying and difficult conditions, and managed to raise four lovely children at the same time as doing all the field administration of the project. It’s all We now, not Me, and without her love and support there would have been a very different story. Many men have said it before, but love is all you need. . .
KORA FAMILY TREE
Index
aardwolf 298
Adams, Douglas 216
Adamson, George
breaks pelvis playing with Arusha 88–9
Bwana Game 22, 27, 37, 63
funeral 181–2
introduction to 24–41, 49
Joy and 126–7, 128–30
knowledge of animal behaviour 51–3, 139–40
Kronenborg's film of his life 254–6l
lessons learned from 139, 189, 197,268, 315
and life at Kora 51–68, 86–98, 109–15, 121–2, 131, 134–41, 153
mauling by Suleiman 111–13
murder 177–80
My Pride and Joy 97
in old age, following death of Terence 157–9, 162, 163, 168, 169, 170, 173, 177
saves author's life 2, 91
sayings of 131, 195, 240
Adamson, Joy 19–20, 23, 27, 34, 36–7, 63, 121, 122
Born Free see Born Free
cremation and scattering of the ashes 128–30
George and 126–7, 128–30
murder 38, 125, 127–8
Adamson, Terence 24, 25, 28, 30, 34, 40, 47–8, 51, 66, 67, 84, 91, 115, 138
attacked by Shade 119
death 157
lessons learned from 189, 192, 268
Addis Ababa 18
Aden, Mohammed 146
Adnan (leopard) 153
African hunting dogs see wild dog
Agneta, author's friend in Malindi 63, 102
alcohol 114, 169
giving up drinking 199–202
Ali, Wazir 120
Allen, Bunny 14, 233
Allen, Dave 141, 142, 145, 155, 233
Amdany, David 173
America
pilot training 150–1
US Fish and Wildlife Service 226,232, 309
USTrust 199, 207, 211, 259
Amin, Idi 35, 83, 237
Amina (leopard) 154
Anderson, Rick 307
Anstey, David 186, 197, 244
Anti–corruption Squad, Tanzania 285
Arnot, Richard 13, 21
Arusha Declaration 186
Arusha (lioness) 79–80, 86, 88–9, 94, 96, 97, 98, 102, 113, 114, 122, 131
Asako 33, 59, 116, 125, 130, 171–2,224–5, 253
primary school 295, 306
rangers' base 97, 171–2
windmill 288, 293, 312
Aschan, Tina 79, 80
Asmara 19
Attenborough, David 263
Attila (leopard) 137, 144, 146
Auschberg, Prince Alfie 14
Ayo, Fred 193, 195, 202, 212, 247, 261, 267–8, 282–3, 291, 295, 311, 312, 314
baboon 62, 136, 166
&nbs
p; Back to Africa organization 292
Baden–Powell, Robert, 1st Baron 5
Badger (rhino) 262, 264, 266, 275, 277–8
Bamford, Sir Anthony 216, 251, 259
bandits 261
Somalisee shifta
Barrah, Jack 69–70, 81, 89, 95–6, 97,131, 141, 182–3
Baxendale, Nevil 57–8
Baxter, Lee 211
Bayusuf, Fahim 108, 109, 297–8
Beadle, Jeremy 263
Beard, Peter 114, 186–7
Behar, Henri 123
Bell, Carol 80
Bell, Damian 238
Bell, Lindsay 92, 111, 114
Benn, Tony 269
Bernhard Leopold, Prince of the Netherlands 97, 224, 253, 258–9, 288, 292–3
Bisanadi Camp 105, 118, 120
Bitacha, Osman 178–9, 183
Blackantan (lion) 113, 114, 133
Blackman, Honor 254
Blue Peter 151–2
Bonham, Richard 117, 145, 159
Borman, Hilla 259
Borman, Moritz 211, 246, 259
Born Free 2, 26, 81, 284
film version 27–8, 38
Born Free Foundation 228
Bourke, Ace 26, 32, 71
Boy (lion) 38–9, 132
BP 239, 260
Bradley Martin, Chryssee 84, 99
Bradley Martin, Esmond 78, 84–5
Brandon, Pete 162, 246, 259
Brett, Rob 210, 211, 248
British Army 110
buffalo 35, 82, 276
Bugsy (lion, Lucifer) 154–5, 160–1,166, 168
Burroughs, Edgar Rice 5–6
Canadian Trust 162
Canessa, Roberto 207
Cape Town 13–14
Chaka (leopard) 153, 154
Chaplin, Geraldine 254
Charles, Prince of Wales 304
Charlie (female rhino) 243, 289, 295
Chaudry, Dr 154
Cheruyiot, Mark 301, 307, 311, 312
Chester Zoo 255, 294, 306
Christian (lion) 26–7, 29, 32, 39, 40–2,48–9, 53–7, 58–61, 70–1, 72
Christian the Lion (documentary) 39, 50, 82
Christie, Gus 263
Christie, Imogen 263
Churchill, Winston 315
Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya 217, 312
Clarke, Ken, wildlife manager 103, 104, 106
Clunes, Martin 229, 230, 235, 237
Cockfosters 2, 3–4, 148
Coetzee, Clem 229
collarbone injury of the author 306–7
Collins, Dougie 159, 183
communications 141, 276–7
Corbally–Stourton, Patrick 'Bunter' 147
Craig, Ian 177, 211, 241
Dam, Catrien van 296
Dam, Ted van 273, 296, 313
Daniel (lion born to Juma) 62, 86–7,96, 97–8, 102, 114
Dar es Salaam 195–6, 210
embassy bombing 246
OBE party 302
de Souza, Nick 299
Deakin, Roger 124
Decker, Fred 198, 209
Dickinson, Kit 69
Dickinson, Sandy 69
Dikayu, Ongesa 179
Dirkicha, Erigumsa 2, 25, 66, 91,107–8, 158–9, 224
Dobie, Charles 191, 209, 217, 231, 233, 244, 285, 294
dogs, wild see wild dog
drinksee alcohol
du Plessis, Dawie 20
du Plessis, Sand 20
Duncan, Alex 4
Dutch Trust 246, 250
Dvur Kralove zoo 291–2
Eastwood, Clint 199
Edinburgh, Prince Philip, Duke of 304
Edmonds, Doddie 170, 171, 172, 173
education
Mkomazi education centre andprogramme 299–300, 305, 306
schoolssee schools
Trust outreach and 246, 250, 271–4,294, 295, 299–300, 306
Ekai, Paul 128
Eleanor (elephant) 133
elephant 46, 48–9, 82, 99–100, 103,105, 107, 116, 288–9
filming with Eleanor 133
Mkomazi Game Reserve 186–7, 202, 209, 242, 292, 303
transportation of 228–9
see also specific named animals
Elizabeth II 304
Elke, nurse 153
Elliot, Rodney 17
Ellis, Kim 161, 164, 173, 177, 204
Elsa (lioness) 28, 126
Elsa Trust 122, 181, 183, 216
Eltringham, Keith 124, 227, 292
Elvis (rhino) 263–4, 289, 294
Emmanuel (cook) 228
Enfield Grammar School 6
Enoch, Erasto 201
Eritrea 19
Ethiopia 18–19, 95, 150
Evans, rhino tracker 295
Express Dairies 9–10, 11
Fatima (leopard) 154
Fincher, Terry 123
Fish and Wildlife Service (US) 226, 232, 309
Fitzjohn family background 3–4
Tony's childhood and schooling 2–9
Tony's first jobs and experiences of Africa 9–23
Tony's natural parents 2–3
Fitzjohn, Hilda (Tony's adoptivemother) 3, 148
Fitzjohn, Imogen (Tony's daughter) 256, 298, 305, 310
Fitzjohn, Jemima (Tony's daughter) 243, 290, 295, 310
Fitzjohn, Leslie (Tony's adoptive father) 3, 6–7, 147–8, 153–4, 206–7
Fitzjohn, Lucy, nee Mellotte (Tony's wife) 235, 236, 243, 244, 245, 262, 269–70
see also Mellotte, Lucy
Fitzjohn, Margaret (Tony's sister) 4, 148
Fitzjohn, Mukka (Alexander, Tony'sson) 225, 235, 264–5, 287–8, 290, 295, 305, 310
Fitzjohn, Tilly (Tony's daughter) 256, 298, 310
Flying Doctors 89–90, 92, 111, 146, 170, 224
flying licence 150, 153, 217, 218, 221
Fosbrooke, Henry 220
Fouche, Jacobus 20
Freddie (lion) 76–7, 78, 80, 86, 89–90, 94, 96, 98, 102, 118, 119
to the rescue 1, 2, 89, 91
Freels, Larry 150, 191, 211, 251
Friends of Mkomazi 196, 204
Friends of Serengeti 211, 212
fundraising 88, 122, 132, 176–7, 191, 207, 262–3
for rhino conservation 211, 212–13, 216
trustssee international trusts and specific trusts
Galana 102–3, 104, 106
Game Department, Kenya 35, 50–1, 69, 73, 78, 120, 121
game hunting 46–7, 63, 105–6
2005 efforts of the hunters to close down Mkomazi project 285–7
author's giving of evidence in USAabout 225–6
banning of 'sport' hunting 46, 105, 218
Mkomazi Game Reserve 186–7,190, 213, 214–15, 217–18
tourism, wildlife conservation and 226
Gandhi, Indira 152
Garissa 27, 42–4, 101, 108, 120–1, 146
education 306
General Service Unit 101, 121, 175–6
police 44, 66–7, 101, 107, 121
Garvin, Tom 211
General Service Unit, Kenya 101, 121,175–6, 178, 183
George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust 7, 33, 47, 71, 176, 190, 231–2, 235–6, 251–2, 266, 300–1
education and outreach 246, 250, 271–4, 294, 295, 299–300, 306
international trusts see internationaltrusts
Lucy's work for 243
and Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism 220–1, 235
trustees 7, 190, 211, 212, 216, 242, 246, 285–6, 291, 295–6 see also individual trustees
Gichangi, Steve 202, 217
Gigi (lioness) 80, 86, 94, 96, 102, 114,122, 131
Gilfillan, Pete 122
giraffe 187, 188, 242
Girl (lioness) 38, 132
Gizmo (aardwolf) 298
Glenn, Scott 199
global positioning system (GPS)technology 277
Glowe (lioness born to Gigi) 102, 131, 145
Godana, Hassan 179
/> Golden Ark for Conservation award 258, 293
Gortner, Marjoe 196, 198, 207
Goss, Ted 145–6, 150, 166, 168, 170, 173
Gross, Anthony 145, 172, 175, 297
Growe (lion cub of Gigi) 102, 131, 145
Growlie (lioness) 80, 94, 96, 102, 111,113, 114, 122, 131
Grzmiek, Bernard 83–4
GSUsee General Service Unit
Haile Selassie I 18, 95
Hall–Martin, Anthony 210, 223, 237
Hamisi (cook) 29–30, 44, 109, 114, 170
Harries, Mike 134, 143, 233–4, 288,312–13
Harris, Richard 254
Hawaiian Tropic event (1993) 207
Heather–Hayes, Jim 111
Hennitty, Nicky 104, 110, 298
Herd, Alan 142
Hessel, Jens 157
Hessel, Tutti 157
hippo 24, 49, 83, 115
Hola police 165, 167, 172
House, Adrian 37–8, 97, 178
Hughes, Ian 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 57, 145
hunting, game see game hunting
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) 252, 309
international trusts 162, 190–1, 196 see also specific trusts
Isaya (cook) 228, 264
Isiche, James 252
Isiolo 127–8
Islamic extremism 117
Jackman, Brian 203
James (rhino) 243, 294
Jane, girl in Cape Town 13, 20
Jeanniot, Michel 134, 151
Jenkins, Mark 38, 253
Jenkins, Pete 38, 129–30
Jipe (lioness) 247–8, 255–6, 266, 270, 282–4
John, first person to shoot at the author 13–14
Johnson, Lyndon B. 167
Jojo (lioness) 96, 102, 104, 111, 114, 115,122, 131
Jonah (rhino) 243, 250, 294
Jonny Wilkinson (elephant calf) 279, 288–9, 302
Juma (lioness) 25, 32, 41, 53–4, 61, 62–3, 65–6, 71, 75, 86–7
Kaaya, Dickson 264, 275, 276
Kalonzo Musyoka, Stephen see Musyoka, Stephen Kalonzo
Kampi ya Chui (Camp of the Leopards) 131–2, 135–41, 146–50, 152–6, 170
dismantling of 166
Kampi ya Simba (Camp of the Lions) 25–6, 28, 30, 35–6, 48, 71–2, 109–14, 115, 119–22, 153, 173
after death of Terence Adamson 158–9
and the murder of George Adamson 178–9
rebuilding of 269, 293, 301, 311–12
and surrounding area see Kora
Kariuki, Jimmy 14
Katania (female lion cub) 39
Kaunda (lion) 96, 102, 104, 111, 114,115, 117–19
Kazi (leopard cub) 153
Kenya 14–22, 42–4, 81, 115–17, 127, 142–3, 300–1, 304–5
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