The cold on Saturday night was forgotten as award-winning wildlife expert, author and public speaker Gareth Patterson took to the stage at the Scottish Masonic Centre in Parkhill Gardens.
Known internationally for his efforts to protect the lions and elephants of Africa, Gareth opened his talk with a roar, allowing him to calm himself and connect to “his animals”.
Gareth was born in England and, from a young age, spent time in Africa.
“I was about ten years old when I first saw a lion,” he said.
“We were on a game drive in Africa and I saw two lions on a hill. When the lions ran away, I felt like a part of me had run away with them.”
Now, 53 years old, he has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years for the greater protection of African wildlife.
Probably best known for his work with the famous Adamson lions, which he returned to the wild after the murder of Born Free legend George Adamson, Gareth’s love for the wild has spurred various projects surrounding animal rights.
“From an early age lions deeply affected me,” said Gareth.
Gareth had his first book, Cry for the Lions (1989), published in his early 20s, after his work with the lions of Mashatu (Botswana).
In it he shared “the very real problems existing for the preservation of the species throughout Africa”.
Gareth continued to document his experiences in several more books including, Where the Lion Walked (1991), The Lions’ Legacy (1991), Last of the Free (1994), With My Soul Amongst Lions (1995), Dying to be Free (1998), Making a Killing (2000), To Walk with Lions (2001) and The Secret Elephants (2010).
Gareth’s autobiography, “My Lion Heart – a life of the lions of Africa”, is his latest book to hit stores and was a large focus on his presentation of Saturday.
All profits from the event will be donated to charity.
Gareth is currently working with the Knysna elephants (which were thought to be extinct) in the Titsikama Forest.
