Could those captive animals be trained to fend for themselves in the wild?

Lion Country shows that they can. This new series follows the fortunes of big cats at the African Lion Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild programme at Antelope Park, Zimbabwe. African lions are decreasing in number and the project aims to counter that by “training” captive-bred lions to cope in the wild.

Among the conservationists working at the centre is Brit David Youldon who is regarded by the lions as a dominant member of the pride. What he must do is encourage them to hunt, first by taking walks in the wild with them while they are cubs, then by releasing them into 10,000-acre enclosures. At this point, human contact is withdrawn and their offspring can be released directly into the wild, having learned hunting skills from their parents. Youldon says: “We believe the hunting instinct is there, it just needs the opportunity to develop.”

There’s an undeniable “aww” factor about lion cubs. Youldon takes two, Jabari and Jelani, into open scrub where they see impala for the first time. These ain’t pussy cats and when 13-month-old Dhakiya has to be treated for an infected wound, she has to be tranquilised.

That doesn’t stop Youldon taking her and her brother Damisi for a walk in the wild, during which he must keep his wits about him and maintain his position as leader. He knows what he’s doing and when they arrive at a watering hole, the two play for the cameras. This is absorbing telly.

Lion Country, STV, 7.30pm