My Lion and Me

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The true story of animal trainer Ralph Helfer who raised a lion, Zamba, in his Californian home, who became his best friend, and playmate, to Ralph’s toddler daughter.

When a three month-old African lion cub, rescued from starvation in Africa in 1952 was handed over to Californian Ralph Helfer a beautiful relationship developed. Over the next 18 years, Ralph trained the lion, Zamba through affection, not fear. This gentle giant, who lived not in a cage but in Ralph’s own home, became a soul mate to Ralph, a 500lb companion to his little daughter, Tana, and a movie star. Nearly fifty years after Zamba’s death, Ralph continues to cherish his lion’s memory, and their legacy lives on in the way animals are trained for the movies today.

"My Lion and Me" is part of a 3 x 60' series called "Raised Human" which tells the extraordinary stories of three animals that formed a surprising attachment with humans. These astonishing relationships that cross the species divide allow privileged insight into the life of creatures that share our world.

Other titles in the series are "My Chimp and Me" and "My Dolphin and Me".

Available to pre-buy now.

SCREENER available from mid-September.