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Big Cat Month takes place in South Africa in March 2017
Majestic lions, agile cheetahs and powerful leopards, big cats are some of the animal kingdom’s most magnificent creatures, yet they are rapidly disappearing from the wild. Nat Geo WILD’s BIG CAT MONTH dramatically showcases these extraordinary felines and reminds viewers of their importance in the world.
In March 2017, Nat Geo WILD presents BIG CAT MONTH, turning the spotlight on nature’s most iconic big cat species. The ferocious line-up includes Battle for the Pride, featuring a pride in Botswana — home to some of the largest male lions on the planet — as they fight for survival. For the young cubs to make it to adulthood they must overcome many dangers, from buffalo to wild dogs to other lions. Find out what it takes for a cub to become a lion king.
In this year’s BIG CAT MONTH, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and renowned filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert present Soul of the Cat, in which they explore the deep connections and parallels between domestic cats and big cats. From pet tabbies to great lions, cats of all sizes are natural-born killers.
Other premieres include Ultimate Rivals: Cat v. Dog, which reveals the tumultuous relationship between big cats and wild dogs in Africa, as they compete for territory and prey. Storm Cats follows the lives of two generations of big cats — lions and cheetahs — during the fleeting wet season in arid Botswana. Then, Return of the Lion takes you on journey to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park as the first lions are reintroduced to the park since the population was wiped out by civil war in the 1990s.
More than a television event, BIG CAT MONTH is an extension of the Big Cats Initiative, a long-term commitment by the National Geographic Society to stop poaching, save habitat and sound the call that big steps are needed to save big cats around the world. This global initiative actively supports on-the-ground conservation projects and education to help stem and eventually reverse the rapid disappearance of big cat populations. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit causeanuproar.com.
Episodes Include:
Soul of the Cat
5 March 2017, 18:00
Produced by National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and world-renowned filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert, Soul of the Cat looks at the parallels between domestic cats and their wild cousins. From pet tabbies to great lions, cats of all sizes are natural-born killers. When they spot prey, the same muscles come alive and the same eyes and instincts are ignited in most cat species, whether large or small. Soul of the Cat explores the origins and deep connections of cats of all sizes in the hopes that by increasing the understanding of these large predators, we will have a greater appreciation for their key role in our world.
Queen of the Chase – 5 March 2017, 18h58
The African acacia woodland and grasslands are home to a spotted feline known for its speed and grace. Many cheetahs prowl the south-eastern open plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania. Safely secluded in the tall grass lies a cheetah mother with her five cubs. She relaxes while she nurses her new-born. These peaceful family moments are scarce though, as the female will soon have to leave her litter alone in their lair to hunt for food.
Storm Cats – 12 March 2017, 18h00
In a landscape where rain is rare, violent and short lived, Africa’s big cats lead a predictable life — masters of the dry terrain to which they are adapted. However, for eight intense weeks, violent storms transform their world, shattering their routine. While the risk of death is as high as ever, so too is opportunity. The well-watered plants lure herds of migrants to their territory, which means plenty of food for the lions, if they can use the driving rains to their advantage. Storm Cats follows the lives of two generations of big cats during the fleeting wet season in arid Botswana. It is an intimate portrayal of lion and cheetah families, pushed to the edge by nature’s raw power. Only those that can adapt will survive.
Return of the Lion – 12 March 2017, 18h58
Two decades ago a brutal civil war ripped through Rwanda, killing an estimated 1 million people and wiping out its most iconic wildlife. The country has worked hard to recover from the atrocities of war, and today the wild plains are flourishing, but there is still one thing missing … lions. Rwanda is eagerly anticipating its first lion reintroduction, and leaving their native home in South Africa are seven lions who are making the arduous journey to Akagera National Park. To survive in this foreign land, the lions need to learn to hunt as a team and support each other. Join the lions in their struggle for survival in Return of the Lion — a tale of hope, courage, failure and rebirth.
Battle for the Pride – 19 March 2017, 18h00
In Battle for the Pride, follow a pride in Botswana — home to some of the largest male lions on the planet — as they fight for survival. The pride is a dangerous place to grow up and the lion cubs start their life vulnerable and weak, with threats from all sides. As few as one in five cubs live to 2 years old and it takes them years to develop the abilities needed to become an apex predator. Watch as the cubs learn from their family, mastering the expert skills needed to stay on top and practising their killer tactics on prey. Within a couple of years, the aspiring young male lions will need to fend for themselves and find a pride of their own. Find out who will become a lion king.
Leopards at the Door (Also part of Mission Critical strand) – 25 March 2017, 18h00
Steve brings sophisticated remote imagery equipment to one of the biggest and most crowded cities on the planet, India’s financial capital of Mumbai. Here, the urban sprawl is swallowing up a national park that’s home to at least 21 leopards. When attacks happen, the hunter can become the hunted: retaliatory killings of leopards are just one of the reasons this is the most persecuted big cat. Yet most of the time, incredibly, the people and the cats get along.
Ultimate Rivals: Cat v. Dog – 26 March 2016, 18h00
In Ultimate Rivals: Cat v. Dog, the competition for survival — during the good times and the bad — unfolds in the plains of southern Africa. Both cats and dogs bring their own unique arsenal of weapons and tactics to the playing field, yet it is not just a “cat eat dog” world in the grasslands. Lions eat cheetahs; jackals eat lion cubs; hyenas eat whatever they can get their paws on. In this competitive landscape, showdowns can be deadly, yet each species has managed to carve out its own unique existence. Avoidance might be the only way to stay alive for cats, dogs and the wild-card hyena — all jousting in a free-for-all for survival. Whatever strategy they choose, cats and dogs will remain Africa’s ultimate rivals.
