Historical Accuracy
Although Patterson claimed the lions were responsible for up to 135 deaths, research undertaken in 2009 says that they likely ate about 35 people. (This figure does not take into account people that were killed but not eaten by the animals). The original lions are on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
In the film, both lions are depicted having manes. In reality, the man-eaters lacked manes, a trait common among male lions in Tsavo where they possess either minimal manes or none at all.
Michael Douglas's character, Charles Remington, is entirely fictional. Patterson hunted and killed the rogue lions more or less on his own.
The location where the bridge was built is now called Man-Eater's Camp. It is in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, about 200 miles (300 kilometers) southeast of Nairobi, at 2°59′37″S 38°27′41″E / 2.993558°S 38.461458°E / -2.993558; 38.461458.
Read more about this topic: The Ghost And The Darkness
Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or accuracy:
“The past itself, as historical change continues to accelerate, has become the most surreal of subjects—making it possible ... to see a new beauty in what is vanishing.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)
“Such is the never-failing beauty and accuracy of language, the most perfect art in the world; the chisel of a thousand years retouches it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)