GEN - Bongo gets final chance at female companionship

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Terminally ill actor, Bongo the lion, gets final chance at female companionship

By Tom Cohen, Associated Press, 7/26/2001 00:55

TORONTO (AP) He's a veteran actor who was too busy making films, television shows and commercials to learn the ways of love. Now terminally ill, he is trying to make up for lost time by making time.

If that sounds implausible, consider that the thespian is Bongo, a 14-year-old lion who starred in films such as ''George of the Jungle'' and ''The Ghost and the Darkness.''

His trainer, Michael Hackenberger, said Wednesday that Bongo has lung cancer and probably will die in the next few months. To give him a chance at that most lion-like passion mating Bongo has been paired in his enclosure at the Bowmanville, Ontario, zoo with Gresil, a 4-year-old lioness from a zoo in Quebec.

While Hackenberger would welcome any offspring, he said the chances of Bongo fathering a cub are fairly small. More important is the final opportunity for Bongo, who was born in captivity and spent his life only with male lions, to experience female companionship.

''To me, this is just that final bit of closure that completes the circle,'' Hackenberger said.

So far, it hasn't worked too well, even though Gresil went into heat last month and made it clear she was available.

''He was very amorous,'' said Hackenberger, director of the zoo 30 miles east of Toronto known for training exotic animals for film and commercial work. ''The foreplay was excellent.''

Beyond that, however, ''it's very obvious he didn't have a clue,'' the trainer said.

Abstinence during Bongo's entertainment career was a necessity to preserve the gentle nature that made him a star.

If allowed to mate, Bongo would never have tolerated males within his territory, Hackenberger said. The arrival of Gresil has changed Hackenberger's relationship with Bongo, something the trainer knew would happen but accepted for Bongo's sake.

''He's far less interested in me,'' he said. ''He sees me as an adversary.''

Bongo's inability to do the things wild lions take for granted was earlier apparent when Hackenberger took him for a hunt in the African bush. Without any experience in stalking, Bongo roared and jumped about after zebra, which looked at him almost quizzically while easily running away, Hackenberger said.

''He had a good time, but it just wasn't going to happen,'' Hackenberger said.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Answers

''The foreplay was excellent.''

He watched? Eewww! No wonder Bongo didn't finish the job. He probably just wants some privacy. If the trainer didn't expect cubs or need cubs, he doesn't need to watch.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001


The "Make a Wish" Foundation got a letter signed with a pawprint, saying the writer wanted to get laid before he died?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

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