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Lion Hearted: The Life and Death of Cecil & the Future of Africa's Iconic Cats Hardcover – April 10, 2018

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

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“Until the lion has its own storyteller, tales of the lion hunt will always glorify the hunter.” —Zimbabwean proverb

In 2015, an American hunter named Walter Palmer shot and killed a lion named Cecil. The lion was one of dozens slain each year in Zimbabwe, which legally licenses the hunting of big cats. But Cecil’s death sparked unprecedented global outrage, igniting thousands of media reports about the peculiar circumstances surrounding this hunt. At the center of the controversy was Dr. Andrew Loveridge, the zoologist who had studied Cecil for eight years. In
Lion Hearted, Loveridge pieces together, for the first time, the fascinating life and murky details of this beloved lion’s slaying.

In the tradition of
Born Free and Gorillas in the Mist, Lion Hearted chronicles Loveridge’s long acquaintance with a host of charismatic lions that his team has tracked, often from birth to death. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Loveridge learned to love predators at the knee of his father, an eminent herpetologist who stored baby crocodiles in the family bathtub. After earning his doctorate at Oxford, he seized an invitation to study the lions of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. There he meets Stumpy Tail, who, despite her name, has the dignity of the Queen of the Animal Kingdom; Dynamite, a venerable coalition leader who, muscled out by younger males, sets off on an incredible thirty-seven-day, 137-mile journey to find a new home; and Kataza, who escapes another lion’s claws, and whom Loveridge twice saves from death at the hands of humans. And, of course, there is Cecil. Dethroned in an epic battle, he forms an alliance with a former rival. He also becomes a favorite of photographers and tourists—until the fateful night when a Minnesota dentist and his hunting guide entice the trusting cat with a free meal.

Loveridge unravels the complexities of lion society and the dangers the cats face both within their ranks and from the outside world. Despite their ruthless reputation, lions can form deep emotional bonds—females live in prides, a sisterhood of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts that can exhibit military precision when hunting in formation; males band together in coalitions to vie for control of territory and the female prides. They also display a wide range of emotional behavior, including mourning the loss of their mates, partners, and cubs.

Africa’s lion population is estimated to have shrunk by 43 percent in the last twenty years. There may now be as few as 20,000 wild lions across the entire continent—far fewer than the number of elephants. While deploring the killing of lions for sport, Loveridge does not believe that banning trophy hunting, by itself, will halt the decline of Africa’s lion populations. He sees greater threats in human population growth, the loss of habitat to agriculture, and the illegal trade in lion body parts for use in traditional medicines. And he offers concrete proposals for averting the lion’s extinction.

More than a gripping detective story,
Lion Hearted is an exploration of humanity’s relationship with the natural world and an attempt to keep this majestic species from disappearing. “Lions are one of the most beloved animals on the planet,” Loveridge observes. “They are the national symbol of no fewer than fifteen countries. . . . Surely, we can think of a better way to save the wild animals we love besides killing them.”
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Loveridge is a Research Fellow in the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. He has a degree from Rhodes University, South Africa, and a doctorate in Zoology from University of Oxford. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he has dedicated the last eighteen years to understanding the lives of big-cats and how to protect them from the threats they face in the twenty-first century. He is married with two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Regan Arts. (April 10, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1682451208
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1682451205
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
55 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They appreciate the author's honest account of the lion research project and the challenges lions face in life. The book is described as an educational and important contribution to conservation literature.

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9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They praise its well-written and edited content, educational approach, and impressive presentation. The account of an iconic animal is presented in an intelligent and non-patronizing way.

"It is a really good book. The author shared stories about the lion research project and the real challenges lions face in life...." Read more

"...He most certainly was! This was fascinating to read before we left then again when we returned. Highly recommend this book to any and all!..." Read more

"...facts among the hunting and regulatory authorities are interwoven in an intelligent, non-patronizing way...." Read more

"...This book met my expectations for multiple reasons. First, it was well-written and edited...." Read more

4 customers mention "Storyline"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's storyline. They find it a true account of the author's lion research project and the challenges lions face in life. The book also covers lion behavior and management in Zimbabwe.

"It is a really good book. The author shared stories about the lion research project and the real challenges lions face in life...." Read more

"...Second, there was a huge focus on lion behavior and lion "management" in Zimbabwe...." Read more

"...Cecil’s death was not in vain as this incredible story memorializes his life and the lives of all lions." Read more

"True story, great read, fact based, and such a shame......" Read more

Does the book provide answers as to why Dr. ...
5 out of 5 stars
Does the book provide answers as to why Dr. ...
Does the book provide answers as to why Dr.Palmer and his team let Cecil suffer for long 10 agonizing hours before putting Cecile out of his misery? Why?!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
    It is a really good book. The author shared stories about the lion research project and the real challenges lions face in life. It made me really sad when reading about pride males were hunted by trophy hunters and how the other male were calling for days. The pride became fragmented then disappeared. It was emotional for me to read the book and I learned a lot about lions.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2021
    We were about to take a trip to Africa and were told the gentleman who was to be our guide was talked about in this book. He most certainly was! This was fascinating to read before we left then again when we returned. Highly recommend this book to any and all! We purchased one for us and one to take to him. He loved it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
    The media scrum around Cecil the lion failed to provide context, it’s hard for any journalist to adequately caption a lifetime of scientific study. Andy paints a stark picture of the effects of legal trophy hunting in Hwange National Park, a picture that could only be obtained by decades of study. The fact that most of the lion mortality observed by the project was connected to legal or illegal hunting and the resulting infanticide associated with power vacuums created by the loss of key pride members casts real doubt on the benefits of trophy hunting and the ‘if it pays, it stays’ paradigm. The personal stories of the biologists, the lions and the reactions to inconvenient facts among the hunting and regulatory authorities are interwoven in an intelligent, non-patronizing way. A great, and important contribution to conservation literature.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2019
    Like many people, I had heard of the "Cecil the Lion" incident. Later, I found myself driving by the very railroad Cecil had crossed toward the bait before he was killed near Hwange National Park. And I've used this case history in multiple university lectures to date.

    So I looked forward to reading Lion Hearted: The Life and Death of Cecil & the Future of Africa's Iconic Cats. This book met my expectations for multiple reasons. First, it was well-written and edited. The photos certainly could have been of higher quality, but then the book would probably cost more. Second, there was a huge focus on lion behavior and lion "management" in Zimbabwe. This was also interesting, and gave me a better sense of the political and social environment around and within Hwange. Finally, you "see" the life and times of Cecil the lion, and understand his death in a way that no one else could describe other than the author, whose team put the GPS collar on Cecil.

    Recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019
    I was angry that this lion Cecil was killed in 2015. I heard about this book and wanted to know more about how Cecil lived and what has happened to any other lions that lived with cecil. Knowing more about them has made me appreciate the people who are doing what they can to save any remaining lions.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020
    I am an animal advocate and I have been screaming about this type of thing for years, this type of thing should never have happened. Cecil should've lived a long and happy life.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2020
    Excellent book. Hopefully it helps to raise awareness of the shocking truth and what happened to Cecilm and will help to ensure it can be prevented form continuing.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020
    This is an amazing account of the worlds most iconic animal. Cecil’s death was not in vain as this incredible story memorializes his life and the lives of all lions.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Anthony Ballance
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book on lions and Cecil...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2019
    This is one of the best books I have ever read - well I actually listened to it on audio books. It tracks the history of the lion research project in Hwange and of course this leads up to the story of the sad demise of Cecil. It is very well written and very balanced in tone. The book also discusses the future of lions and conservation in Africa with very insightful views expressed. I wasn't 100% taken in my the American narration but the underlying writing is first rate.
  • Gail Baker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story, such a tragic ending to a most amazing lion
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2022
    Beautiful ❤
  • june m day
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cecil little angel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2022
    I love lions but it was so sad about Cecil beautiful boy people are so cruel
  • vickit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2018
    Very well written. An interesting read for anyone interested in wildlife or conservation. Lots of atmospheric descriptions of the Zimbabwean Bush, and plenty of witty recollections and stories to keep the reader interested. Fascinating insights into the behaviour of lions and the pride. A thought provoking book which has challenged me to think about hunting and it’s impact on the sustainability of lions in the wild.
  • Vanessa Harding
    5.0 out of 5 stars A personal, insightful tribute to Cecil & the challenges of conservation in Africa
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2018
    Fascinating & insightful read not only about the story of Cecil but also the wider context & challenges for lions & conservation in Africa. Highly recommended