My first experience studying African large carnivores was as a research assistant for the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust (BPCT)...

​ I was lucky enough to join the BPCT as a research assistant at an ideal time, just as several of the female lions gave birth to their cubs. Once a female lion gives birth, she will leave the pride and remain on her own whilst the cubs are small, for the first three months or so. Fortunately, two of these females with new cubs are fitted with radiocollars (Krystal and Valentina), which allows us to monitor the growth and survival of their offspring while they are separate from the pride....