Sarah Kanowski

He's documented leopards in India, jaguars in the Amazon and lions in Uganda.

And one of the lions there that has a special place in his heart is known as Jacob.

And if ever there was a cat who really did have nine lives, it would be Jacob, who survived being poisoned, trapped, snared and gored by a buffalo.

Hi, Alex.

Hi, Sarah.

Hi.

You grew up in Africa on the continent that's home to these amazing mammals.

But where were you born?

Do you have any memories of Greece?

So that's where you were when you were born.

How did your family end up in South Africa?

And so where were you based there?

Lots of people, Alex, who devote their working lives to animals the way that you do, they're often being drawn to them from a very young age.

Like some of their first memories seem to be about trying to trap reptiles or chase after the family dog.

Was that the case with you?

Tell me how you ended up working as a volunteer at the zoo in Johannesburg.

Ham sandwich.

Well, it could have been worse.

I thought you were going to say I let you through a chair at the algebra teacher.

Ham sandwiches.