Frasier (lion)

Last updated

Frasier (1952?-1972), also known as Frasier the Sensuous Lion, was a captive male lion who became famous during his brief time at the Lion Country Safari franchise in Laguna Hills, California, a drive-through safari park, for his prodigious feats of siring lion cubs. [1] After his death, a motion picture was made about him.

Contents

From circus to safari park

The lion was 18 or 19 years old, analogous to a human aged 80+, toothless and ill when he was bought by the safari park from a bankrupt Mexican circus in 1970. [2] [3]

Named "Frasier" by park employees, he “hobbled about on weakened legs, his once-lustrous coat was scruffy and his tongue sagged from a toothless mouth,” according to the Los Angeles Times .

LIFE Magazine said of Frasier, “He is underweight and splay-footed....His fur resembles an old moth-balled coat, and he sleeps 19 hours a day. The muscles in his tongue are so shot that it unreels from his mouth like a slobbery red carpet.” [4]

The scrawny lion was put on a special diet and gained 100 pounds. [2] He was expected to live out his days in retirement at Lion Country Safari, not become a world-renowned champion stud. [4]

Fatherhood

Frasier was introduced to the pride of six lionesses—Lefty, Linda, Nadula, Sally, Stompy,and Zona—with no expectations that he would be accepted by them, as they had rejected relations with other five younger males, often violently. [5] Overnight, the lionesses began mating with Frasier, and took to nurturing him too. The lionesses would chew their toothless mate's food for him. [2]

LIFE Magazine reported that the lionesses “were sprawled protectively around Frasier,” and would offer him choice meats and would not begin to eat until he had finished his meal. Within seven weeks, all six lionesses were pregnant and he sired the first 33 of his 35 cubs within 16 months. [4]

Because of his reputation as a lover, the old lion soon became a major attraction at the park, despite his advanced age, torpor and unsightly appearance (characterized by a scruffy coat and his tongue perpetually sticking out of his mouth). Los Angeles Times columnist John Hall reported that viewing Frasier in his haunts was not exciting, writing:

“[Frasier was] asleep on his back, his paws dangling in the sky....

A ranger in a Jeep tossed meat hunks. Frasier’s eyes popped open. He yawned and struggled to his feet.... His favorite wives of the moment, walked on each side, holding him up....

He leaned over for the meat and missed, his tongue lolling in the dirt six inches off target. He didn’t care. He went back to sleep.” [2]

Frasier typically slept 19 hours a day, huddled side-by-side with lionesses and their cubs. [4]

Father of the Year

Nonetheless, park attendance climbed 20% due to the fame that accrued to Frasier for the feat of fathering multiple lion cubs. Eventually, he sired litters totaling 35 lion cubs with the lionesses. The secret to his success apparently was a strong libido, as his life in a circus apparently hadn't caused him the stress of competing with other males, and by allowing the females to initiate mating. [2]

As a result of his new-found celebrity, T-shirts, watches, and other souvenirs were made featuring a photo of Frasier. The California State Assembly declared Frasier “Father of the Year.” [2]

Death and legacy

Frasier died of pneumonia on July 13, 1972 and was buried at Lion Country Safari, his grave marked by a six-foot-tall wooden cross. Adopted as a mascot by the Scottish Clan Fraser, he received the clan's funeral rites at his internment, which was attended by clan members dressed in kilts, who mourned his passing with bagpipe music. [2] A tree also was planted at Frasier's grave site. [6]

In 1973, Lion Country Safari tried to capitalize on their deceased star with a feature film called Frasier the Sensuous Lion. [7] The film featured a song, by the same title, performed by Sarah Vaughan. [8] However, the film was a major flop, financially and critically, being roundly panned for using a different lion in Frasier′s place and for employing a voice actor for Frasier to fictionalize the story.

Attendance at the Laguna Hills park declined sharply after Frasier's death, eventually closing in 1984. The property was then subleased to the operators of the Wild Rivers water park, the Camp Frasier (later Camp James) summer camp (which was named for Frasier) and the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. [9] According to local lore, when the property was eventually turned into residential buildings as Los Olivos Apartment Village, Frasier's burial spot was spared and not paved over. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lion</span> Large cat native to Africa and Asia

The lion is a large cat of the genus Panthera native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans, lions typically do not actively seek out and prey on humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy Adamson</span> 20th-century naturalist, artist and author

Friederike Victoria "Joy" Adamson was a naturalist, artist and author. Her book, Born Free, describes her experiences raising a lion cub named Elsa. Born Free was printed in several languages, and made into an Academy Award-winning movie of the same name. In 1977, she was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.

<i>Born Free</i> 1966 film by James Hill

Born Free is a 1966 British drama film starring the real-life couple Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson, another real-life couple, who raised Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lion cub, to adulthood and released her into the wilderness of Kenya. The film was produced by Open Road Films Ltd. and Columbia Pictures. The screenplay, written by blacklisted Hollywood writer Lester Cole, was based upon Joy Adamson's 1960 non-fiction book Born Free. The film was directed by James Hill and produced by Sam Jaffe and Paul Radin. Born Free, and its musical score, by John Barry, as well as the title song, with lyrics by Don Black and sung by Matt Monro, won numerous awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown hyena</span> Species of carnivore

The brown hyena, also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is the only extant species in the genus Parahyaena. It is currently the rarest species of hyena. The largest remaining brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa. The global population of brown hyena is estimated by IUCN at a number between 4,000 and 10,000 and its conservation status is marked as near threatened in the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted hyena</span> Species of hyena

The spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus Crocuta, native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN due to its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. The species is, however, experiencing declines outside of protected areas due to habitat loss and poaching. Populations of Crocuta, usually considered a subspecies of Crocuta crocuta, known as cave hyenas, roamed across Eurasia for at least one million years until the end of the Late Pleistocene. The spotted hyena is the largest extant member of the Hyaenidae, and is further physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build, rounded ears, less prominent mane, spotted pelt, more dual-purposed dentition, fewer nipples, and the presence of a pseudo-penis in the female. It is the only placental mammalian species where females lack an external vaginal opening, having a pseudo-penis instead.

<i>Old Yeller</i> (film) 1957 American film

Old Yeller is a 1957 American Western drama film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney. It stars Dorothy McGuire and Fess Parker, with Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. It is about a boy and a stray dog in post-Civil War Texas. The film is based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Fred Gipson. Gipson also co-wrote the screenplay along with William Tunberg. The film's success led to a 1963 sequel, Savage Sam, which was based on a 1962 book by Gipson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White lion</span> Rare colour mutation of the Kruger subspecies of lion

The white lion is a rare colour mutation of the lion, specifically the Southern African lion. White lions in the area of Timbavati are thought to have been indigenous to the Timbavati region of South Africa for centuries, although the earliest recorded sighting in this region was in 1938. White lions first became known to the English-speaking world in 1977 through the book The White Lions of Timbavati.

A Panthera hybrid is a crossbreed between individuals of any of the five species of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard. Most hybrids would not be perpetuated in the wild as the territories of the parental species do not overlap and the males are usually infertile. Mitochondrial genome research revealed that wild hybrids were also present in ancient times. The mitochondrial genomes of the snow leopard and the lion were more similar to each other than to other Panthera species, indicating that at some point in their history, the female progeny of male ancestors of modern snow leopards and female ancestors of modern lions interbred with male ancestors of modern snow leopards.

<i>Pride</i> (2004 film) British TV series or programme

Pride is a 2004 television comedy-drama film about two lion cubs as they grow up and face the harsh realities of adulthood. Produced by the BBC and shown on A&E in the U.S., the film features the voices of numerous British actors and uses CGI technology to enhance footage of actual lions and other animals. Jim Henson's Creature Shop provided the digital effects and animatronics for the film. It was shot in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.

<i>The Lion King</i> (musical) Musical

The Lion King is a stage musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' film of the same name. Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

<i>Absolute Midnight</i> Novel by Clive Barker

Absolute Midnight is the third book in the Abarat series by Clive Barker. It is a dystopian fantasy-adventure which follows the story of Candy Quackenbush and her journeys through the world of the Abarat. The book contains more than 125 full color illustrations. The story continues Candy's journey in the extraordinary world of the Abarat with familiar friends and new foes. With war looming on the horizon, Candy is put to the test to save the Abarat from total destruction and rescue the people of Abarat from eternal darkness. Absolute Midnight was released by HarperCollins on September 27, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lion Country Safari</span> Safari park in Florida, US

Lion Country Safari is a drive-through safari park and walk-through amusement park located on over 600 acres in Loxahatchee, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Founded in 1967, it claims to be the first 'cageless zoo' in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre</span> Former amphitheatre in Irvine, California

Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre was an amphitheater operating from 1981 to 2016 in Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mara the Lioness</span> Animal actor best known for Born Free

Mara the Lioness (1965–1974) was an animal actor who appeared as Elsa in the 1966 movie Born Free, based on the true story of Elsa the Lioness raised by George and Joy Adamson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay's Lion Farm</span> Tourist attraction in El Monte, California, United States (1925–1942)

Gay's Lion Farm was a public selective breeding facility and tourist attraction just west of the south-east junction of Peck Road and Valley Boulevard in El Monte, California. It operated from 1925 through 1942, when it was closed temporarily due to wartime meat shortages. It never reopened.

Christian the lion was a lion born in captivity and purchased by Australian John Rendall and Anthony "Ace" Bourke from Harrods department store in London in 1969. He was later reintroduced to the African wild by conservationist George Adamson. Two years after Adamson released Christian to the wild, his former owners decided to go looking for him to see whether Christian would remember them. He did, and with him were two lionesses who accepted the men as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulises (orca)</span> Male orca (born 1977)

Ulises is a male orca who lives at SeaWorld San Diego in California. He was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1980 and is currently the oldest male orca in captivity as of 2022. SeaWorld San Diego celebrates his birthday on 1st January every year.

<i>Clan Ground</i> Novel

Clan Ground is the second book in The Books of the Named series of young adult prehistoric fiction novels by Clare Bell. The book was originally published in 1984 and was re-released in 2010 with a new cover illustration by Lew Lashmit. The series follows a follows a group of sentient, prehistoric large cats called the Named, led by the female cat, Ratha. It also deals with their struggles against the group of non-sentient cats, the Unnamed.

The Mapogo lion coalition was a band of male South African lions that controlled the Sabi Sand region in Kruger National Park. The coalition became infamous for their sheer power and strength in taking over and dominating an area of approximately 70,000 ha. It is believed the Mapogos killed in excess of 40 lions and cubs in a little over a year. The statistics may be higher given their coverage of such large territories. At its peak, the coalition consisted of six males: the leader Makulu, Rasta, Scar, Pretty Boy, Kinky Tail and Mr. T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P-22</span> Wild animal in Los Angeles (d. 2022)

P-22 was a wild mountain lion who resided in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, on the eastern side of the Santa Monica Mountains. P-22 was first identified in 2012 and was the subject of significant media attention, including numerous books, television programs and other works of art. P-22 was often recorded prowling in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was monitored by a radio collar. P-22 remained in Griffith Park for ten years until he was captured on December 12, 2022. He was then euthanized on December 17, 2022, after examinations revealed he was suffering from traumatic injuries consistent with being hit by a car, in combination with several longer-term health issues.

References

  1. ↑ "www.latimes.com". Remembering an Unlikely Lothario: Frasier the Sensuous Lion. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Harvey, Steve. "Lionizing Frasier, a first-class lover". latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Berman, Eliza. "This Rescued Lion Became a National Sensation—and Father to 33 Cubs". Life Magazine. Time-Life. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "5: Best Thing Not There Anymore". OC Weekly . 2000-10-19. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  5. 1 2 Whiting, David. "Is Frasier the lion's grave paved over?". ocregister.com. Orange County Register. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Frasier The Sensuous Lion".
  7. ↑ "Send in the Clowns (Columbia) - Sarah Vaughan". AllMusic . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  8. ↑ Martinez, Brian (2011-05-23). "Timeline: Wild Rivers' wild ride". Orange County Register . Retrieved 2019-07-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.