Born Free

In Kenya's Northern Province, George Adamson is forced to shoot a man-eating lion and her cub-loving mate. He realizes too late that the lioness was defending her cubs, who are now motherless. He brings the three orphaned cubs home to raise them with his wife Joy.

As the cubs grow, Big One and Lustika are sent to Rotterdam Zoo, while Elsa remains under the Adamsons’ care. The family bonds with Elsa deepen, especially Joy’s attachment to her. The separation marks the beginning of Elsa’s unique upbringing compared to her siblings.

George learns of a lion in Kiunga killing goats in a local village, prompting him to hunt it down. He succeeds in killing the lion, restoring peace for the village. The event foreshadows George’s continuing role as a wildlife hunter and caregiver to Elsa.

After finishing the Kiunga job, George and Joy take a holiday with Elsa near the Indian Ocean. Elsa is still with them, highlighting the bond they've formed. They enjoy the time, briefly letting Elsa be a normal companion.

Back in the Northern Province, Elsa causes a massive elephant stampede, alarming villagers and authorities. John Kendall informs them that they can no longer keep Elsa. The family must decide Elsa’s future.

Joy wants to set Elsa free instead of keeping her in a zoo, arguing for a natural life. John reluctantly agrees to give the Adamsons three months to rehabilitate Elsa. The plan marks the start of a careful rewilding effort.

The Adamsons transport Elsa to Meru National Park to begin rehabilitation. They attempt to introduce her to a wild lion with a kill, hoping she will learn to hunt and integrate. The plan tests Elsa’s abilities and their determination.

In Meru, they try to introduce Elsa to a wild lion with a kill, but it does not go as planned. The next day they return to find Elsa all alone, not yet integrated with wild lions. The setback makes George worry Elsa cannot survive without human care.

Elsa struggles to hunt and is attacked by a warthog during an attempted kill. She becomes severely injured, prompting a change of plans. George begins to doubt whether Elsa can survive in the wild without rescue.

To encourage independence, the Adamsons leave Elsa in the bush for a week. The gamble pays off as she survives and largely fends for herself. It marks a turning point in her learning to live apart from constant care.

After the bush stint, Elsa begins to leave for days at a time and makes several kills on her own. The wildness in her returns, and she seems to thrive away from captivity. Joy and George grow hopeful about her future.

When Elsa comes into season, she is taken out for her final test: joining a wild pride. Despite initial aggression, she is accepted into the pride, a crucial milestone for her freedom. The couple’s faith pays off as Elsa finds a place in the wild.

A year after her release, the Adamsons return to Kenya and are delighted to find Elsa thriving as a wild lion and now a mother to three cubs. This marks a successful reintroduction and the return to natural life for Elsa. The Adamsons decide to let the cubs grow up wild instead of hand-rearing them.

Joy and George choose not to hand-rear Elsa’s cubs, letting them remain wild like their mother. The film closes on the idea of wild freedom and the Adamsons’ lifelong commitment to Elsa. The story ends with Elsa continuing her life as a wild lion family among Kenya’s plains.