Lions They are perhaps the greatest character in the brochure for African travel. And in many of the larger parks across the African continent they are not too difficult to see either - could even be described s prolific. In fact many would consider you unlucky to visit Africa and not see at least one on safari. But this perhaps sends a slightly inaccurate message to the world that lion numbers healthy and stable. Sadly, this couldn’t be further from the truth. As much as they are abundant in places like Kruger National Park, Masai Mara and Okavango Delta, their numbers have been in a steady decline in recent decades. So much so that population estimates suggest that there are more polar bears in the wild than there are lion in Africa. A staggering thought to say the least! Lion are critical to the environmental and economic success of the continent. They are a keystone specie. But their protection and strained history with humans is a deeply complex relationship and one that requires a profound level of patience, experience, understanding and a multidisciplinary approach to ensure their survival and by association, ours as well. In this, the latest series from the Art Of Conservation, Simon Borchert will be chatting to Dr Peter Lindsey, director of the Lion Recovery Fund and one of the most astute conservationists working in this field. Once a month, Peter and Simon will chat about Peter’s travels, his observations and his work. Not just in lion conservation but across a host of pertinent and relevant topics in conservation. This is part one in an ongoing series.