Born Free: A New Adventure teach the lioness how to survive in the wild. In 1960, Joy Adamson published a book called "Born Free", based on her (and her husband, George Adamson) experience raising the lioness Elsa. The book was followed by two others, "Living Free" (1961) and "Forever Free" (1963). In 1966, the first book was adapted into a movie. The film was a commercial and critical success, leading to a 1969 documentary called "The Lions are Free" and then a sequel, released in 1972 and based on the third book, but using the name of the second book. In 1974, the NBC did
Mara the Lioness earlier when they had attempted to release her back into the wild. Eventually only Ugas was released into the Meru Game Reserve. It was decided that Mara was too tame and she and the other lionesses should be relocated to Whipsnade Park. Just prior to her departure Mara gave birth to male and female twin cubs, sired by Ugas during the filming of "Born Free". In 1966, Irene Grindlay wrote a book titled "Velvet Paws" which detailed the life of Mara up to and including her appearance in the movie "Born Free". ""We have no reason to reproach ourselves. We