Mara the Lioness domesticated dog. Along with animal lovers, naturalists and experienced game wardens, they held the belief that integration back into the wild would harm Mara, rather than benefit. Mara did not fear man and indeed went out of her way to approach and play. This posed an enormous risk to her safety. In addition, release into the wild would place Mara and the other lionesses at risk of contracting "Babesia". Domesticated animals have no resistance to the fatal disease, a fact which George and Joy Adamson knew. Their lion Elsa had died of the same disease not less than two years
Born Free (TV series) in 1996, starring Linda Purl and Chris Noth. Joy and George Adamson do not appear as the main characters in the story. Guest stars included Peter Lawford, Barbara Parkins, Alex Cord, Susan Dey. Juliet Mills had a recurring role as Dr. Claire Hanley. "Born Free" was scheduled opposite ABC's Top 20 hit "The Rookies" and CBS's Top 30 hit "Gunsmoke". Rating for the series were low and it was canceled in the middle of the 1974-75 television season after thirteen episodes. The series was set in Kenya and filmed in East Africa. The series "Born Free" was released in DVD