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Mara the Lioness is 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. Mara was born in the wild in 1965, a premature cub abandoned by her mother during a violent rain storm. She was found lying on sodden ground, caked in mud on the plains of Masailand by Samwel, an African game scout and Larry Wateridge. Sick with hunger and in a semi coma, she was taken to a nearby coffee plantation in Kenya owned by British couple Irene and Douglas Grindlay.〔Denis, Michaela 'Forward' in Grindlay, Irene. Velvet paws: the story of Mara, the young lioness. London: Robert Hale (1966) p.10〕 Irene Grindlay took it upon herself to nurse the ailing cub back to health. Initially Mara was to stay only a few days but she soon became a permanent fixture, hand reared and fully domesticated. As she grew larger however it became increasingly clear that she would need to be relocated.〔Grindlay, Irene. Velvet paws: the story of Mara, the young lioness. London: Robert Hale (1966) p.173〕 The most obvious choice was the local animal orphanage at the entrance to the Nairobi National Park. Opened in September 1963 as a refuge for orphaned or sick wild animals, the park initially held less than thirty animals, with Ugas (who also starred in the movie ''Born Free'') the only lion. By 1965 the park held 117 orphans of 36 species including lion, leopard, cheetahs, african buffalo, camels, hyena, jackal and wild dogs.〔Grindlay, Irene. Velvet paws: the story of Mara, the young lioness. London: Robert Hale (1966) p.185-186〕 It took many months for Mara to settle into her new home where she was affectionately known as the "friendly lioness".〔Grindlay, Irene. Velvet paws: the story of Mara, the young lioness. London: Robert Hale (1966) inside sleeve〕 The Grindlays, as self-appointed guardians, remained in frequent contact. == Fame == Mara had only been in the Animal Orphanage for about six months when the ''Born Free'' film crew arrived. They were looking for lionesses to play the part of Elsa and decided that Mara would make an ideal adult Elsa. Seventeen lionesses were selected from across Africa and used to portray this famous big cat; their ages ranging from a few weeks to several years old. In total there were twenty-one lions and lionesses used during filming, with Mara the primary animal actor.〔 Although Mara's size and weight required delicate handling on set, she was placid and easily directed. The Grindlays were regulars on set but were careful never to attend when Mara was filming because Mara had a tendency to stray towards them. Her affection for the Grindlays and theirs for her never waned.〔Grindlay, Irene. Velvet paws: the story of Mara, the young lioness. London: Robert Hale (1966) p.187〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mara the Lioness」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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