Adamson, Joy

Adamson, Joy
orig. Joy-Friederike Victoria Gessner

born Jan. 20, 1910, Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary
died Jan. 3, 1980, Shaba National Reserve, Kenya

Czech-born British naturalist.

Educated in Vienna, she moved to Kenya in 1939. She became known worldwide for books describing how she and her husband, George, raised a lion cub, Elsa, and returned it to its natural habitat: Born Free (1960), Living Free (1961), and Forever Free (1962). The books were adapted into two films. She later repeated her rehabilitation success with cheetah and leopard cubs. In addition to writing other books, she founded the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal (1961), an international conservation fund. She was killed by a disgruntled employee.

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née  Joy-Friederike Victoria Gessner 
born Jan. 20, 1910, Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary [now Opava, Czech Republic]
died Jan. 3, 1980, Shaba National Reserve, Kenya

      conservationist (conservation) who pioneered the movement to preserve African wildlife.

      Following an education in Vienna, she relocated to Kenya (1939), where she married George Adamson (1944), a British game warden who had worked in Kenya as a gold prospector, goat trader, and safari hunter from 1924. She won international renown with her African wildlife books, especially the trilogy describing how the couple raised a lion cub, Elsa, and returned it to its natural habitat: Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds (1960), Living Free: The Story of Elsa and Her Cubs (1961), and Forever Free: Elsa's Pride (1962). All three were best sellers that were later developed into films and condensed into one volume as The Story of Elsa (1966). Her other books included The Peoples of Kenya (1967), The Searching Spirit: An Autobiography (1978), and Queen of Shaba: The Story of an African Leopard (1980).

      In 1961 Adamson founded the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal (later renamed the Elsa Conservation Trust), an international group that financed conservation and education projects. At age 69 she was murdered by a disgruntled employee. George Adamson was killed by animal poachers in 1989.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Adamson, Joy — orig. Joy Friederike Victoria Gessner (20 ene. 1910, Troppau, Silesia, Austria Hungría 3 ene. 1980, Reserva Nacional de Shaba, Kenia). Naturalista británica de origen checo. Educada en Viena, se trasladó a Kenia en 1939. Adquirió renombre mundial …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • joy — /joy/, n. 1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son s success. 2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or… …   Universalium

  • Joy — /joy/, n. a female given name. Also, Joye. * * * (as used in expressions) Adamson Joy Joy Friederike Victoria Gessner Cartwright Alexander Joy * * * …   Universalium

  • Joy — (as used in expressions) Adamson, Joy Joy Friederike Victoria Gessner Cartwright, Alexander (Joy) …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Joy Adamson — (January 20, 1910 – January 3, 1980) was a naturalist and author, best known for her book, Born Free , which described her experiences in raising Elsa from cub to lioness. The book Born Free was an international bestseller and printed in several… …   Wikipedia

  • Joy Adamson — Joy Adamson, eigentlich Friederike Victoria Adamson (* 20. Jänner 1910 in Troppau, Österreich Ungarn; † 3. Jänner 1980 im Shaba Nationalreservat in Kenia[1]) war eine Naturforscherin, Malerin und Schriftstellerin, die durch ihr Buch „Frei geboren …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Joy Adamson — (20 janvier 1910 3 janvier 1980) est une naturaliste et auteur, notamment connu pour son livre Born Free, qui raconte ses expériences de réintroduction dans la nature de la lionne Elsa. Biographie De son vrai nom Friedericke Victoria Gessner, Joy …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Adamson — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Al Adamson (1929–1995), US amerikanischer Regisseur Amandus Adamson (1855–1929), estnischer Bildhauer Andrew Adamson (* 1966), neuseeländischer Regisseur Barry Adamson (* 1958), englischer Rockmusiker… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Adamson (surname) — Adamson is an English language patronymic surname meaning son of Adam . It is rare as a given name. People with the surname Adamson include:Family name name = Adamson imagesize= caption= pronunciation = meaning = son of Adam region = Anglo Saxon… …   Wikipedia

  • Joy Adamson — (20 de enero de 1910 3 de enero de 1980) fue una naturalista austriaca conocida por su libro Nacida libre, en el que narra las experiencias que vivió para salvar a una leona llamada Elsa. La novela alcanzó popularidad gracias a una serie… …   Wikipedia Español

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