Richardson's father, who worked for a pharmaceutical company, was born in the United Kingdom and moved to South Africa from Reading, Berkshire.

"[2] Richardson went to college and studied zoology, but quit following two years of repetitive lessons on marine biology instead of mammals.

When he was twenty-three, he had the opportunity to work as a handler and cared for two six-month-old lion cubs, Tau and Napoleon which he later rescued.

[6] Richardson and his team work with animals for the commercial filming industry and make documentaries to generate income to fund the facility.

[4] Richardson worked within a 650 hectares (1,600 acres) Lion Park in Broederstroom, a town 35 miles north of his hometown, Johannesburg, in South Africa.

[15] He has also been criticised by many in the conservation community, members of whom state that experiences which expressly bring people and lions together on "walks" are risky because of the unpredictable nature of the wild animals.

Richardson's role as a conservationist was also questioned with experts stating that more care was needed in private reserves to ensure they mirror what has been developed in national parks.

[18] On 27 February a young woman was mauled to death in the Dinokeng Game Reserve by a lioness that was under his care.

[19][20] Wildlife biologist Luke Dollar responded to the killing in an article by National Geographic, stating that "behaviors and programs that skirt the reality of our place in the food chain seem to be an accident waiting to happen.

It was during his stint at the Lion Park that Michael Rosenberg decided to use Richardson in documentaries such as Dangerous Companions and In Search of a Legend.

[21] Richardson's work in the Okavango Delta and Lydenberg had brought forth the documentary concerning black leopards entitled In Search of a Legend.

Because of the frequency of filming, Richardson moved all of the animals to one facility at the Kingdom of the White Lion property.