For Indian wildlife enthusiasts, Jonathan Scott is perhaps best known as a presenter of the BBC wildlife series, Big Cat Diary, which followed the daily lives of three African big cats—a cheetah, a leopard and a lion. In this book, he tells the story of his life in earnest words, from a farm in England, to his hitchhiking trips across America and overland expedition to Africa, and his career as a wildlife artist and photographer, and then as a TV presenter. It also tells the personal ups and downs in his life.
Scott lost his father when he was two, but never stopped hero-worshipping him. He was troubled with disassociation, anxiety and the belief that he too would die young: he had to fight personal devils throughout his life. He was, however, a talented artist and photographer and in love with wildlife, so Africa—Kenya and Tanzania—was naturally his place. He tried to make a living as a tour guide and through his art. Plagued occasionally by insecurity, his personal life only really took off when he met his wife, Angela. She steadied his ship and gave him a family.
For anyone who wants to make a career in wildlife, this book is an eye-opener. Scott was able to make his dream come true as he was exceptionally talented and completely in love with his subjects. He followed the lives of lions and wild-dogs through the seasons, camping in his car for days. He loved the rough, outdoor, itinerant life.
The book also gives a valuable insight into the wildlife industry of Africa. Its prime movers comprised tour guides, camp operators, spotters, etc., keen on raking in the moolah; researchers and scientists studying their subjects, anti-poaching forces, photographers and film-makers hell-bent on getting dramatic footage, and the locals (the Maasai Mori), and the clashes that took place between them.
African landscapes are much larger and usually more open than the Indian ones, but the problems of wildlife management are the same. While tourism brings in the much-needed revenue, over-exploitation can kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. And the locals rarely get their fair share of the revenues, having often paid the highest price. Then there’s poaching and corruption and Scott doesn’t hold back his punches. Researchers, writers and even film-makers and photographers have to be careful about what they say, lest they offend the often corrupt powers, who can ban them from these places.
Television producers have their own agendas too: pressing for ‘dramatic’ footage, which usually means kills or fights, to an extent that some photographers actually stage events with captive animals.
Another aspect that Scott reveals is the importance of networking; perhaps not done consciously but nevertheless very important to get you to the place you want to be or meet the person who can help you. In African game parks, the wildlife society seems to be pretty closely knit, with everyone knowing everyone, which can be of immense help in getting you what you want.
Woven through all of this is Scott’s personal narrative, his battles against real and the imaginary illnesses, his great joy and happiness with his wife and now the necessity to speak out for the wildlife of Africa. He writes earnestly, having spent over 40 years in the field. For anyone wanting to make a career in wildlife, this book can be inspiring.