Tribute to Roger Cook

Roger Cook (c) BBC/Shutterstock

Born Free is sorry to hear of the sad death of trailblazing investigative reporter, Roger Cook, who brought the horrific practice of ‘canned lion hunting’ to the world’s attention, as our charity’s Co-Founder, Will Travers OBE, recalls.

“As a journalist, Roger will be remembered for his relentless pursuit of the truth, his tenacity, and for being willing to put his personal safety on the line, if necessary.

“But it was his uncovering of the brutal ‘canned hunting’ industry and his numerous conversations with Born Free, and our Co-Founder – my mother Dame Virginia McKenna, that revealed him to be a genuine animal champion. His exposé, which shone a light on the South African practice of captive breeding thousands of large carnivores, mainly lions, only to be executed by paying trophy hunters in enclosures from which they could not escape, brought international condemnation.

“Sadly, although recent positive moves by the South African government to bring ‘canned hunting’ of lions to end seemed to be on track, the summary dismissal of the progressive Environment Minister, Dr Dion George, has halted and may even reverse the process. Roger would have been disgusted.

“Unlike some commentators, who can resist everything except temptation, Roger – who bravely posed as a trophy hunter – managed to expose the horror of it all without feeling the ‘need’ to pull the trigger and experience taking a life first-hand.

“Roger was a man of principle and remained true to his values. I recall our conversations fondly and thank him for his life’s work. He shall be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family.”

 ~ Will Travers OBE, Co-Founder and Executive President, Born Free Foundation