Nat Geo WILD knows that when it comes to saving our planet’s big cats, “catitude” is everything. With incredible species like cheetahs, leopards and lions in decline, Nat Geo WILD’s eighth annual Big Cat Month is roaring louder than ever with a fierce lineup of visually stunning and inspirational specials aimed at raising awareness of the plight of big cats around the world. Big Cat Month premieres in January 2018.
The Big Cat Month slate includes innovative new specials featuring world-renowned storytellers. National Geographic photographers Steve Winter and Bertie Gregory track down and capture incredible footage of Brazil’s top predator in Jaguar vs. Croc; famed wildlife filmmaker Bob Poole reveals the intimate story of a cheetah mother and her cubs in Man Among Cheetahs; three prides of lions battle over territory, food and power in the dramatic three-part series Lion Kingdom; and we reveal the secrets of a legendary tigress that famously reigned over her territory in western region of India in the new special The World’s Most Famous Tiger.
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 halt the decline of big cats in the wild. This global initiative actively supports on-the-ground research and conservation projects to protect the planet’s top felines. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit NatGeoBigCats.org
Eighth annual Big Cat Month premieres include:
Lion Kingdom/Premieres 7 January 2018 at 6pm
In this three-part series, follow the intense dramatic story of three lion prides battling each other for territory, food and power along the Mwagusi River in Tanzania. Destiny conspires to bring the prides together, leaving a bold lioness fatally wounded and devoured by hyenas. A teenage son is excommunicated and unlikely to survive. This is the story of family, death and revenge. This is war.
Man Among Cheetahs/Premieres 14 January 2018 at 6pm
Veteran wildlife filmmaker Bob Poole sets out on a madcap adventure following a formidable cheetah mother who is determined to keep her cubs alive. Along the way, watch him negotiate the risks and realities of filming in the African wilderness while trying to keep up with the fastest animal on four legs. This firsthand account of a cheetah chase will have you rooting for the cats and the filmmaker.
The World’s Most Famous Tiger/Premieres 21 January 2018 at 6pm
Known as “Queen Machli,” “Lady of the Lake” and ruler of her territory in western India’s Ranthambore National Park, Machli was a legendary tigress that went down in history as one of the most well-known wild tigers in the world. Machli — whose name is the Hindi word for fish because of fish-like markings on her face — was a beautiful and powerful tigress that played a key role in the regeneration of the tiger population in Ranthambore and Sariska National Parks. Discover the incredible stories behind Machli’s rise to power and her legacy.
Jaguar vs. Croc/Premieres 28 January 2018 at 6pm
World-renowned wildlife photographer Steve Winter and cameraman Bertie Gregory capture the rarely seen, remarkable lives of jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil. Follow a mother jaguar as she teaches her cub survival, while a determined male jaguar, appropriately named Scarface, dives headfirst into a river to tackle the deadliest of opponents — a 1.8 metre-long caiman. Clever capybaras and playful giant otters stick with their family members to avoid being jaguar dinner.
What: Big Cat Month:
Where and when: On Nat Geo WILD, DStv Channel 182 from 7 January 2018
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