A Memoir by Cam Whitnall
LionHeart
How a lifelong love of big cats led to an incredible lion rescue
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The Book
A story of legacy, love and the bond between humans and animals
Lion Heart is the powerful and uplifting memoir of Cam Whitnall — conservationist, wildlife advocate and Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary — whose life has been shaped by an extraordinary childhood alongside some of the world's most iconic and threatened animals, and by a dramatic rescue mission that captured global attention.
Waterstones Exclusive: Pre-order through Waterstones and you'll automatically be entered into a competition to win an overnight stay at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
The Journey
How it all began
1984
Where others saw failure, they saw potential
The Whitnall story began when Cam's grandparents visited the dilapidated Broxbourne Zoo — then labelled the worst zoo in the UK. Selling their business, they took a leap of faith and set out to rebuild it from the ground up, laying the foundations for what would become one of the UK's leading zoos.
Childhood
A bedroom overlooking tigers and birds
Cam grew up on those grounds, immersed in the daily realities of caring for lions, tigers and countless other species. Alongside his brothers, he lived among the animals after hours — and most remarkably, the family hand-reared a lion cub named Zara in their home.
2024
Five lions. One war zone. One mission.
That lifelong dedication culminated when Cam led a high-risk rescue mission to save five African lions from war-torn Ukraine. As missiles fell and borders closed, he coordinated the complex international operation to bring Yuna, Vanda, Rori, Amani and Lira to safety — raising over £500,000 towards a forever home for them.
Rescuing five lions was the headline moment, but Lion Heart is about everything that made it possible. It's the story of the journey that led me there — growing up in a zoo, the successes and mistakes, the pressure, and the people who shaped me along the way. This book is really about what it takes to work with wildlife when the stakes are high, the responsibility is real, and the goal is to make a lasting difference.
The Rescue
The first time they felt grass beneath their paws
Their arrival at The Big Cat Sanctuary marked a moment that resonated with millions around the world. After a lifetime in captivity during conflict, five lions finally found peace, safety and a forever home.
Pre-order to win a stay at
The Big Cat Sanctuary
Available 21st May 2026
Get your copy of Lion Heart
A story of legacy, love and the bond between humans and animals — a memoir that asks what we owe the wild, and how far we are willing to go to protect it.
Hardback · ISBN 9781529979503 · Ebury Spotlight / Penguin Random House
