Return to the Wild

In 1957 Norman Carr was warden of Kafue National Park in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) - this book tells of the two orphan lion cubs he adopted. Raised from very young, Carr shares a series of stories primarily about them, but also briefly taking in his other experiences. He was ably assisted by various other game wardens to stopped in when his work required him to be elsewhere, or just to take some of the responsibility away.

The two lion cubs were male, and were initially called Nero and Hero, but the names were quickly replaced by the names Big Boy and Little Boy - a reflection of the size disparity between the two even from that early time.

Until they were three and a half years old, they stayed with Carr, initially in Kafue, but later they all relocated to the Luangwa Valley establishing a lowland camp and for the wet season a camp at higher ground. The book title tells you the end - the lions are reintroduced to the wild.

Carr shares his experience with lions, their behaviour, their hunting skills, their interactions with other lions. This primarily focuses on his own lions, but he draws on other experiences from his time in Zambia to round out this short book.

The writing, while fairly straight forward, is entertaining and honest. Carr is prepared to share the doubts he has about raising the cubs, especially when he makes the decision to kill two wild lions who are terrorising his lions, although in reality these lions are behaving reasonably naturally, defending their own territory. Carr is protective of his cubs, but has respect for the wild lions and the natural selection process that maintains balance in the wild. His intervention with the two wild lions is his only mis-step.

This short, entertaining book was just what I needed to pick up after a couple of dud books (one of which I am still battling on with). I would like to have seen it expanded to a full sized book though!

4 stars