"Yes, we had lions, in Africa, the mountain lions and pumas in North America were a little different. There were big cats all over the world; jaguars, panthers, tigers ... they're not in great numbers now, but people are trying to preserve them." Poachers, land encroachment, she wondered how long until the idea of a 'living lion' was an ancient concept.

"Did you not have lions anymore where you're from?"