The shooting of Cecil the lion and a new documentary have sparked a rethink on killing for sport and bragging rights.

Deep in the ancient part of our brains is a memory of being hunted by lions. Both our species and theirs emerged in the crucible of the great East African savanna – they were lords of the plains and we were their prey.

Weak and defenceless, we co-operated to survive, invented language, then writing and technology. We made weapons and reversed the equation: lions are now our prey.