News

Roger Cook — A Voice for the Voiceless
6th  April 1943 – 13th June 2026

LionAid mourns the passing of Roger Cook, the fearless investigative journalist who dedicated his career to holding the powerful and corrupt to account.

Born in New Zealand, Roger became one of Britain's most celebrated broadcast journalists, credited with pioneering the "doorstep" interview technique and bringing some of the world's darkest secrets into the living rooms of millions. His landmark ITV programme, The Cook Report, ran for 16 series and more than 120 episodes, attracting audiences of up to 12 million viewers — making it the most-watched current affairs programme on British television.  

Among his many courageous investigations, Roger was the first journalist to shine a global spotlight on the hideous canned lion hunting industry in South Africa — bringing this cruel and shameful practice to the world's attention at a time when few dared to speak of it. It was a story that aligned closely with LionAid's own mission, and one that helped lay the groundwork for growing international outrage against trophy hunting.  

This is what Roger wrote for us in March 2014, just before our Global March for Lions:

“So-called ‘canned hunting’ involves unfairly preventing the target animal from escaping the hunter, thereby eliminating ‘fair chase’ and guaranteeing the hunter a trophy – for which he will have paid up to £25,000. The hapless animal is handicapped either by being confined to a small enclosure or because it has lost its fear of humans as a result of hand-rearing. Some are even tranquilised, as the Cook Report found in South Africa when it brought this ghastly trade to public attention in 1997.
After the programme, the Mandela government outlawed the practice, but this enlightened change in the law was successfully challenged under succeeding administrations by the influential Predator Breeders Association – and is now both legal and flourishing. There are fewer than 3000 lions left in the ’wild’ in South Africa, but more than 8,000 in captivity, being bred – like grouse – exclusively to be shot. What’s more, some of the volunteers who have paid to help raise them have been deliberately misled into believing that they are helping conservation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This is a multi-million pound industry, founded on cruelty and fuelled by money. It is certainly not a sport. The South African Government needs to be persuaded to close it down, once and for all. By marching today you are helping to achieve that aim. I wish I could have been with you.”

ITV paid tribute, saying Cook "worked tirelessly to expose criminal wrongdoing and injustice, helping to drive important and lasting changes in the law," adding that "his fearless contribution to journalism will long be remembered."  

He was awarded a BAFTA special award for 25 years of outstanding quality investigative reporting.

LionAid extends its deepest condolences to Roger's family. He was a rare breed — a journalist who understood that sometimes the most important stories are the ones nobody wants told. Lions, and those who fight for them, have lost a true friend.

Please support our work to save our endangered and vulnerable species and to bring an end to the abominable practice of trophy hunting. Thank you so much if you can help. Click here to DONATE.