Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make...

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Many years ago, lions thrived in the Namib Desert along the Skeleton Coast, while they are not destroyed people. Six years ago, an independent biologist Flip Stander found their small population, the remainder in the nearby mountains, and began to study them. Eventually their numbers increased, and they began to return to the desert. But to the lions continued to live here, Flip has to convince local residents that these lions are more alive than dead.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make. And when one takes into account the fact that big cats are at the very top of the food chain-and that their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them, causing a complete ecosystem collapse-the need takes on a supreme urgency.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make. And when one takes into account the fact that big cats are at the very top of the food chain-and that their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them, causing a complete ecosystem collapse-the need takes on a supreme urgency.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years.

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make...

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make...

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make. And when one takes into account the fact that big cats are at the very top of the food chain-and that their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them, causing a complete ecosystem collapse-the need takes on a supreme urgency.