Those watching on imagined that if they were in his shoes, they would be torn to shreds by sharp claws. "He is distraught over the unnecessary and spiteful killing of his cats, like Zion [one of his lions] and others, and that he has been withheld from his beloved animals and park.". One of the things that left the Lion Man's fans spellbound was the apparent trusting bond he had with his animals. A statement issued by South Africa's Jabula Big Cat Sanctuary — where he is now based — said he had been left "distraught" over the cats at the Northland park he was last at in 2014. But his homecoming didn't prove to be the magic bullet to turn around the park's fortunes. Lions 53-man roster list after final cuts made. Craig Busch (born 18 December 1964) nicknamed "The Lion Man", is a New Zealand television personality. Sun, 10 May 2020, 3:18PM Craig Busch was once the king of animal shows on reality TV. February 23, 2020 (February 3 & 10, 2020) Decision! [3] The series was shown in more than 130 different countries. [22] In early December 2008 Busch applied for an interim reinstatement to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). It also engulfed his mother Patricia – who stepped in to help bankroll Zion for several years – and his sister, Megan Busch, who later worked there. Later he spent time in Hollywood as an animal handler for studios and wealthy individuals. It has the head of a cave lion with a partly human body. Fans had travelled from around the world to see the TV star and Busch's axing led to a drop in visitor numbers. A message on the Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary's Facebook states the park is "currently closed for renovation and rebuilding". It was alleged that one of the staff members had been jumped upon by one of the tigers, and the animal had gone for the keeper's throat. But no protection — even spiritual support from the big cat — could protect Busch from the fall from fame once the cameras stopped filming. [citation needed], On his return to New Zealand in 1996, Busch built Zion Wildlife Gardens, initially in Kerikeri where he leased a property from the Cornelius family,[who?] Despite handling the lions and tigers — including mock wrestling and having some of the near-200kg beasts place their large paws over him — he never received a scratch. [12], In August 2011, Busch attempted to have his mother Patricia Busch adjudicated bankrupt over an alleged debt of $3800. Busch made a counterclaim, seeking back both his job and control of Zion. Dentist Walter Palmer, 60, forked over almost $100,000 for the … [15], On 31 January 2012, Zion Wildlife Gardens was sold by receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Limited. The big-cat park was purchased by Bolton Equities, with a spokesman saying at the time it was hoped it would be a "world-class facility for breeding", and that the venue — renamed the Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary — was viewed by the new owners as a "labour of love because they love big cats". Family harmony was tested and the mother and son became locked in a bitter court battle both over Craig's dismissal from Zion, and control of the once-popular park. Reece claimed he had financed the majority of the zoo facilities at Zion Wildlife Gardens. In return, she was made sole director of Zion until the loan was repaid. Last time as the lion. "They are my family — part of me," he said at the time. If successful he would open it up as an African-style safari park, and re-establish a big-cat breeding programme. The man… It was broadcast in India, South Africa and some European countries by Discovery Channel's Animal Planet. Peters had applied for summary judgement, after attempts to serve Busch with court documents in 2010 had failed. The Lion Man is a masterpiece. [8] In the years that followed, Busch and his mother Patricia battled in court over ownership of the park and its assets. The owners did not want to comment when contacted by the Herald on Sunday. A protective mountain lion chased a man running on a hiking trail in Utah last week for six minutes — a scary encounter he captured on video. New Zealand Herald Photograph. Footage included in the programme also showed Busch pulling a lion on a chain, and of one animal being subjected to physical punishment. Lions dominate Team of the Week, Pride’s Kornieck goes on loan, Dike putting MLS on notice, and more. The park was temporarily closed and on reopening had to restrict visitor interactions, a further blow to its financial sustainability. But the bad news continued, this time allegations of animal abuse by South African current affairs show Carte Blanche. The incident — and its aftermath — unleashed a chain of events from which Busch and the big-cat park never publicly recovered. Six months later Zion suffered tragedy when tiger handler Dalu Mncube was mauled to death. But long before the world was introduced to Tiger King, New Zealand had its own colourful big cat wrangler complete with a TV show, family infighting and a court case. The Herald on Sunday was unable to contact Patricia Busch for this story. Zion Wildlife Gardens is now named Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary. [19], From 2000 to 2008, during Busch's tenure as Zoo Operator, 30 (21 lions and 9 tigers) of the big cats were declawed,[20] a "restricted" surgical procedure in New Zealand. Receivers were called in at the embattled Zion Wildlife Gardens in July 2011. Outdoors Published at 10:06 am, March 14, 2020. A man being stalked by a mountain lion in southern Colorado on Sunday lived to tell about it — and post a two-minute Facebook video capturing the encounter. Craig Busch (born 18 December 1964) nicknamed "The Lion Man", is a New Zealand television personality. By Ben_Miller Sep 1, 2020, 7:30am EDT. [14], During mid-January 2012, the Northern Advocate reported a defamation suit was being taken against Busch and his spokeswoman Jill Albrow for statements and actions taken relating to a video uploaded on YouTube in August 2010. In 2012, Busch said Zion was his best mate and wherever in the world he was, he could feel the lion's presence. The owner of a South African safari lodge who styled himself “the Lion Man” has been … The statement claimed he had also been a victim of a smear campaign. [citation needed], In January 2006, Auckland builder Robert Reece alleged Busch owed him NZ$400,000. On the day of its public reopening, April 7, he spoke of how his big cats realised "dad was home". The two … News By TooFab Staff | 5/1/2020 2:40 PM PT Instagram. The park and its assets were sold to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd for an undisclosed sum, with the day-to-day running of the park to be handled by Earth Crest Limited. He was the founder and majority shareholder of Zion Wildlife Gardens Ltd, which featured on television programme The Lion Man. "Not only do I believe I am essential to their well-being, they are equally essential to mine.". [5] Greybrook sustained a cut to her head, a fractured vertebra and bruising. [16], In February 2012, current affairs programme Campbell Live revealed Busch had not reported injuries to a young boy by a lion cub, during his tenure as operator of Zion Wildlife Gardens. Another high-profile detractor was American big-cat expert and future Tiger King star Dr Bhagavan Antle, from South Carolina-based T.I.G.E.R.S — The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Patricia's lawyer, Evgeny Orlov, said the receivers were refused entry due to concerns for their safety around the big cats. Reece had been involved with Busch since around 2000. PwC responded by taking legal action forcing Patricia to allow them in. The ERA declined his application in its determination of 9 December 2008. [8][9][10], At the end of May 2009, serious allegations were made against Busch by Zion Wildlife Gardens park staff. Promotional material for the series stated: "His passion . He was adamant he had acted on advice from "experts in the field". The proverbial ‘king of the beasts,’ the lion has been one of the best-known wild animals since earliest times. The latter's sole shareholder was Busch's then-partner, Suzanne Eisenhut. Patricia Busch and her daughter Megan, photographed in October 2012. Get your LION OF A MAN muscle shirt just in time for summer time. For man and beast, apparently. The claws on many of the big cats at Zion had been surgically removed; akin to a human having the first joints of each of their fingers amputated. Although Busch was gone from the park, and his beloved cats, he did make a short-lived return to the small screen, fronting the new reality TV series The Lion Man: African Safari. With Ralph Fiennes, Harris Dickinson, Gemma Arterton, Djimon Hounsou. "Because of this, Craig does not trust the New Zealand media anymore and is very disappointed by what has been done to him in New Zealand.". Photograph / Northland Advocate. the park was renamed the Kingdom of Zion. [9][10] In the same month, the New Zealand-based current affairs programme Campbell Live aired an item concerning serious allegations made against Busch by Ed Hern of the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, and Fred Berrange of the Leopard Conservation Project, both based in South Africa, of unpaid loans and stolen film footage. Busch denied the allegations. The Lion Man is fighting back at allegations he nearly killed a baby giraffe and dragged a lion through the bush after footage of the incidents was aired on a South African television show. The legal action came after Patricia Busch had paid off his company and personal debts. Sculpted with great originality, virtuosity and technical skill from mammoth ivory, this 40,000-year-old image is 31 centimetres tall. . Busch also returned as a self-employed contractor, fulfilling a specialist animal handler role at the facility. Lions are most active at night and live in a variety of habitats but prefer grassland, savanna, dense scrub, and open woodland. Back in New Zealand, his mother had sold off several investment homes in Auckland, as well as putting her family farm in the Waikato on the market in a bid to keep Zion afloat. Well after his departure from Zion, and in the midst of the family legal battle, it emerged there was a good reason for a lack of injury. Former park workers also alleged that Busch had lost a finger after it had been bitten off by the white lion Gandor. New Zealand Herald photograph. What happened to New Zealand's own Tiger King, Lion Man Craig Busch. The controversial procedures were later investigated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry — with its findings giving weight to Husband's stance. [8][9] There were allegations by his employers Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited that he failed to keep proper training records, could not follow correct cash handling procedures, had caused a loss of revenue due to sudden and unexplained cancellation of tours, undertook major breaches of safety protocols and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. Once, Busch was the star of The Lion Man reality TV show, broadcast in more than 100 countries, and the owner of the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Northland, a big-cat reserve that attracted tourists from around the world. and then relocated it to the current site, north of Whangarei. The jury were blown away by its coherent concept – combining cost-efficiency, comfort and reliability – as well as its distinctive MAN design. The allegations included the inhumane killing of unwanted cubs with rocks, beating of two lions with a short stick, and putting the lives of staff at risk by having them run with tigers. In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out millions. Two separate attempts were made to liquidate Earth Crest Limited in early 2013. And Busch never did make his return to New Zealand TV, with no local networks picking up The Lion Man: African Safari. by Carolyn Giardina 'Alita: Battle Angel,' 'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Gemini Man,' 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' and 'The Lion King' are nominated for VES' top award. It will forever be the show associated with the age of Covid-19, an escape from our locked down lives via Netflix. Zion Wildlife Gardens is now named Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary. He also made an emotional plea to his fans to do all they could do to help him return to his pride. [6] Greybrook died from unrelated complications during September 2011 in Australia, where she had resided for some years after the assault. And although he had earned worldwide fame working with big cats, his initial work was involved in the war against poachers threatening the extinction of the rhino. White tigers pictured at Zion Wildlife Gardens in 2011. … Neil Reid reports. He stands upright, perhaps on tiptoes, legs … [7], In November 2008, Busch was dismissed from Zion Wildlife Park. A Utah man found himself in a nightmare scenario on a recent hike near … ", Lion Man Craig Busch feeding a white tiger cub in 2005. The show focuses on the stranger-than-fiction lives of a group of big-cat conservationists in the US, including the larger-than-life Joe Exotic; currently serving a 22-year jail sentence for two counts of hiring someone to commit murder, plus a further 17 counts relating to breaches of animal welfare laws. Reece had planned to take court action to recover the debt during the following month. Busch has said that while spending time in Utah, in a mountainous region populated with wild cougars, he developed a friendship with one of these cougars and realised that interacting with big cats was his mission in life. Busch said he aimed to breed big cats to increase their numbers. Success in 2020 for this sign will find its anchor in its relationships. Sowa had always wanted to dance in THON but didn’t want to take any dancer spots from cheer or dance, which is why he asked Gaspich to be an IDC with him. The process overseen by Busch was described as "barbaric" by zoologist Peter Dickinson and Australian-based zoo consultant Tim Husband who had been contracted by Patricia to look after the day-to-day operation at Zion. Meet Craig Busch . Share This . That included spending time at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Pretoria. Many also coughed up to attend meet-and-greets in the UK. We all have to ask ourselves what is the solution? Lion cubs Aslan and Mardia with Craig Busch in 2003. [11], In June 2011, the Northern Advocate reported Busch had been taken to court by Whangarei-based lawyer Wayne Peters for unpaid legal fees amounting to a total of $86,351.47, relating to various legal services provided for a period of seven months during 2009. By Tom Hoopes, June 9, 2020. [4], In 2007, Busch was convicted in the Whangarei District Court of assaulting his former partner Karen Greybrook in 2005. Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford Afternoons, John Key's former press secretary surprised by Ardern ditching Hosking slot, Kate Hawkesby: Markle and Ardern have something in common, Josh Junior of Team NZ can't wait to get started in the 36th America's Cup. Associate Judge Bell declined to hear the case on the day, and set a later hearing date set for October that year. And despite Busch and Husband being in opposing corners, they were both on the receiving end of chilling threats. But as New Zealand fans lap up all the drama, many will remember the drama a little closer to home concerning another big cat handler. He was the founder and majority shareholder of Zion Wildlife Gardens Ltd, which featured on television programme The Lion Man. (CNN) An elderly man has been killed by a pack of hyenas in Zimbabwe, after they pulled him from his bed while he was sleeping. Busch's spokeswoman also released several threats made to the big-cat handler, including one titled "CraigBuschMustDie". He also spoke of his dreams for the future, claimed he was in talks with international broadcasters over a return to reality TV, but added "good things take time". In the same news item, questions were also raised about Busch's dealings with the finances of the defunct UK charity Big Cat Rescue Trust (UK). The Lion Man - Home Page. [citation needed], In 2002 Busch purchased five white tigers from Bonnie Ringo of Cave Junction, Oregon in the United States.[1]. Husband went public with claims he had been told over the phone that if he was seen crossing the road in Whāngārei he would be run over. And fan tours were ended after the Ministry of Primary Industries closed the facility in mid-2014 for widespread upgrading of enclosures. . While Patricia was struggling to keep the park's doors open, The Lion Man was still proving to be a hot-ticket overseas. The lion’s “handoff” date is typically later in the spring, but Sowa said he wants THON 2020 to be his last event as the lion because of its special meaning to him. New Zealand Herald photograph. a real-life hero who will take you closer to the world's most adorable but dangerous wild cats.". Its website adds: "We are working closer to being available for Northland New Zealand to meet the cats once again". Wednesday August 21 2019, 12.01am BST, The Times. Busch was finally reunited with his pride in early 2012. [27][28], "Federal Register Vol.67 Issue 54 March 20, 2002", "Triple joy as white tiger Rewa earns her stripes", "Assault over three in bed only human says judge", "Accident ends tragic life of lion carer", "Lion Man out of a job, but the show will go on", "Zion Wildlife Park: Lion Man Warned of Cat Danger", "Animal cruelty allegations made against Busch", "Lion Man's sister claims boy 'mauled at park", "Questions raised over lion man's actions in Africa", "Lion Man must front up with $90k in legal fees", "MAF Report Zion Declawing Investigation Feb 2009", "Guide to the Animal Welfare Act 1999: Table of Contents | MPI Biosecurity New Zealand", "Assessment of Zion Operator 23 October 2008", "Determination of the Authority Busch vs Zion Wildlife Gardens and Ors", "Claws out over Lion Man Craig Busch's new park in South Africa", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Craig_Busch&oldid=989213542, People educated at Saint Kentigern College, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2013, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 November 2020, at 18:21. This Chinese zodiac sign is proud and likes to show off, but being too self-centered will not get them anywhere this year. He lived in Stockbridge for over 40 years, and spent the last year and a … Busch refuted the claims, saying it was the latest example of "smear campaigns" targeting him. By the late 2000s, with the legal action continuing, Busch was making himself known again in the big-cat community, in South Africa. [2], Busch featured in the reality series The Lion Man, which became one of New Zealand's biggest selling television series internationally. Patricia went to the Employment Relations Authority in a bid to gain the return of park property (including firearms and a tranquilliser gun), legal fees and alleged loss of income. The presiding judge had declined summary judgement, due to Busch being overseas. In 2005, Busch arranged the exchange of New Zealand's first natively born white tigers, Tane and Aotea (born January 2005), and later Kiwi and Rongo (born 2 October 2005), with a white lion cub named Gandor from the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Busch went public with claims he had the "financial resources" to regain control. It's how producers of American true-crime documentary series pitched Tiger King, the global hit from Netflix, which has attracted viewers in their millions. February 12, 2020 3:57 pm Free agency offers Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia the chance to patch some holes on the roster with proven veterans. Lion Gardiner Miles, age 86, died on December 25, 2020 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. to hunt down poachers. Fans around the world couldn't get enough of the first three series of The Lion Man, which first aired in 2004. [21], On 3 November 2008 Busch was dismissed from his role as Operator of Zion Wildlife Gardens by the companies. But the New Zealand public's appetite for Busch — who like Exotic was a self-taught big-cat handler — plummeted in 2007 after he was convicted of assaulting his then partner. [24], From 2014 to 2015 Busch became star of a new reality TV series, The Lion Man: African Safari, on the Discovery Channel's Animal Planet network. Updated 11:41 AM ET, Fri November 20, 2020. Antle told New Zealand media that the declawing of the cats to allow for human interaction would mean they were likely to have to be euthanised if the cash-strapped Zion were to close its doors. . Karen Greybrook — who also starred in The Lion Man — suffered a cut to her head, a fractured vertebrae and bruising in an altercation after Busch found her in bed with another couple. A wild cougar stalks hiker Kyle Burgess in Slate Canyon, Utah on October 14, 2020. [17], In April 2012, the park reopened under the name Kingdom of Zion. Now he is a "distraught" man. . Animals continue to die in captivity due to the ignorance of the humans given the responsibility of their care. The two stories also share a link in the form of Dr Bhagavan Antle, one of Exotic's mentors, who has spoken out against Busch's animal practices. Nowhere are those more evident than on club crests. Craig was meant to stay on as the public face of the tourist venture, but was given his marching orders by Patricia in November 2008, after their relationship fell apart. It’s a great way to radically improve the team, and the Lions have considerable salary cap room to … Busch responded that his decisions were made "with the best interests of his cats uppermost" in his mind. File photograph. [18], In August 2013, Busch's former lawyer Wayne Peters again took action against his former client for unpaid legal fees. Apr 20, 2020 With sports, including soccer, at a standstill, it's a good time to delve into the history and culture of the game. Now he is in South Africa and feeling "distraght" at the plight of his former pride. Texas wildlife officials on Sunday said there was no evidence that a mountain lion or any wild animal killed a 28-year-old man, disputing a medical examiner’s preliminary finding in the case. "Not only do I believe I am essential to their well-being, they are equally essential to mine. Video Shows Utah Man Records in Terrifying Encounter With Mountain Lion. It was 120 years ago that Frank Baum first published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and 80 years ago that the film version won its Academy Awards, and it has become an American parable. Lion Man Craig Busch up close and personal with one of his pride of big cats in 2003. 'Lion King' Dean Schneider Explains Punching Video After Animal Abuse Accusations. Plans boasted of potential "night tours". Without claws they had lost a key defensive tool if they were to be rehomed with other big cats in zoos around the world. By Christopher Brito October 14, 2020 / 7:06 AM / CBS News A hiker survived a terrifying encounter with a mountain lion in Utah after the animal chased … [25][26], Busch has a new park near Rustenburg in South Africa - the "Jabula Big Cat Sanctuary". “Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion,” says a title card at the beginning of the movie.
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