The Lion Man

- Season 1

(2009)

In Whangarei, on Northland, we meet New Zealand's 'Lion man', Utah-raised farm-boy Craig Busch, an experienced self-taught cat wild 'trainer'. He runs the Zion Wildlife Gardens with his wife Karen. The large safari park-type private zoo is devoted to wild felines, with twelve lions and six tigers, notably the nearly extinct Barbary lions (North African), starring male zoo mascot Zion, and five white Bengal tigers. His dream is to add the rare African white lion to this collection. Other species include serval cats, deer and a rascal baboon, Foxy. Today is memorable: ...

The one year young park has two resident builders, Tony 'Shrek' Organ and John 'Moses' Davis, who work on the permanent facilities, sometimes with external contractors. They must trust Craig to prevent them ending up as cat food. Tiger mother Shikana did well, despite the stress caused by neighboring males as the early birth prevented moving away, but at night accidentally crushed the cub fatally.

Unlike mascot Zion and his mate, Samson's pride is rather wild and rowdy. Two cubs, Asland and sister Narnia, have so far lived alone, but are now exposed to their notoriously mischievous big sister Savannah. Now tigress Shikanah has recovered from loosing her cub, she's introduced to Tigo, a white Bengal male, given her genes a one out of five chance on adding to the world's population of 90 white tigers. Eight weeks later, resident vet Didier Poot, who brings his little son Matthieu, confirms she's already lactating. Resident artist Gordon Howard helps with feeding ...

Craig, training lion mascot Zion for acting in a commercial, makes unique lunch entertainment. Bengal tigress Shikana has another orange pup, more relaxed now the birthing den was ready. Sampson defends his siring privilege in the pride's cage. Savanah is toppled by Narnia in the lion trio cage. Aslan gets his first walk on a leash.

Craig finally gets an opportunity to legally bid on a white lion pup in South Africa, but must leave in two weeks. Meanwhile tigress Shikana has grown so protective of her pup Sita that only he can still approach her, and binding early is crucial for her training later. The father, white tiger Edhu, also needs his and vet Didier's attention. The Barbary lion cubs come along on a beach walk.

On his expedition to acquire Gandor, a 3-4months old white lion cub, Craig visits the Lions and Rhino Park, near Johannesburg. An, exchange for a white tiger appeals to both zoos chiefs. Craig finds the park well run, Gandor in perfect condition and good-natured.

Craig's cats are quite happy in their daily routine back home, the high-points including feeds. Meanwhile Craig's South African tour continues at White River Cheetah and Rhino Park, where he makes contacts to get involved in breeding the fastest, perfectly adapted feline.

On his South African trip, Craig visits Timbavati park, where ranger Dave's team show him the natural habitat of the African white lions, amidst elephants, rhinos and other wildlife. He proves himself more knowledgeable than the traditionally reputed 'lion queen' dynasty, an abler tracker and animal handler and even the tribal rangers.

Just back from South Africa, Craig bonds again with his 'cats', even Zion is Grumpy having missed his 'dad'. he hopes Abu and Rewa will mate and produce a white tiger cub he can exchange with Ed Hern for a white lion. Since this reality show is on TV, all Whangarei is proud of 'their' rather shy Craig, who returns from his rare night out to check up on tiger Abu's stomach trouble. The park gets ever more visitors, today New Zealand Idol stars Ben and Michael, but will have to close for three months to complete extension phase two.

This season finale recapitulates how Craig and his small staff started his New Zealand endangered big cats park. It overviews how the various felines -Barbary lions and Bengal tigers- fared, individually and/or as cage companions. Special stars are the tigress new mother Shikana and Craig's mascot actor, lion Zion. Finally there's the breading program, and Craig's South African trip to arrange swapping white lion cub Gandor his next white tiger cub.

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