Nat Geo Wild’s eighth annual Big Cat Week roars with new specials about jaguars in Brazil, lions in Tanzania, cheetahs in Kenya and tigers in India.
Big Cat Week premieres at 9/8c Dec. 10 in 140 countries and 37 languages. The programming event 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.
Big Cat Week follows the premiere of the second installment of Nat Geo Wild’s miniseries event “Savage Kingdom.” Premiering at 9/8c Nov. 24, “Savage Kingdom: Uprising” returns to Africa, where lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas battle it out to become rulers of the remote wilderness.
These new premieres are part of this year’s Big Cat Week. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.
Big Cat Week 2017
Jaguar vs. Croc
9/8c Dec. 10
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. Meanwhile, a determined male jaguar, appropriately named Scarface, dives headfirst into the river to tackle the deadliest of opponents—a six-foot long caiman. Clever capybaras and playful giant otters stick with their family members to avoid being jaguar dinner.
Man Among Cheetahs
9/8c Dec. 11
Here kitty, kitty. 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
9/8c Dec. 12
Known as “Queen Machli,” “Lady of the Lake,” and ruler of her territory in Western India’s Ranthambore National Park, Machli went down in history as one of the most well-known wild tigers in the world. Her name is the Hindi word for fish, a name she received due to fish-like markings on her face. The legendary tigress 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 legacy.
Lion Kingdom
9/8c Dec. 13
Three lion prides battle 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.
Safari LIVE
9/8c Dec. 14
Join us as we head back to South Africa and Kenya to revisit the excitement of Safari LIVE for a special two-hour broadcast during Big Cat Week! Get up close and personal with Africa’s most incredible animals. You’ll see herds of elephants, thousands of wildebeest, prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, among many others. Chat with our guides in real time using #safarilive.
Savage Kingdom: Uprising
Miniseries finale, 9/8c Dec. 15
A vicious drought gripping the kingdom forces the Marsh Pride’s aging king, Sekekama, to lead his family into hostile territory on a mission to save them. His great gamble sends him into a bloody contest against rivals old and new. But his control over one treacherous son will determine Sekekama’s hold on power, and the future of his own legacy.