Scientist Lyall Watson was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He received degrees in botany and zoology from the University of Witwatersrand. He would later receive degrees in geology, chemistry, marine biology, ecology, and anthropology. He received a doctorate in ethology from the University of London. He had numerous jobs including working as a producer and reporter of nature documentaries for the BBC, designing zoos, serving as director of the Johannesburg Zoo, running a safari company in Kenya, and creating a whale sanctuary in Seychelles. He introduced the hundredth monkey theory to explain the sudden and inexplicable transmission of behavior and ideas across social groups. He wrote numerous books including Supernature: A Natural History of the Supernatural, Lifetide: A Biology of the Unconscious, The Romeo Error, and The Whole Hog: Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs. He died from a stroke caused by Lewy body dementia on June 25, 2008.