Big Cat Month is a month-long, annual programming event on National Geographic Wild. The stunt is designed to appeal to blue chip / natural history viewers looking to see the majesty and power of these animals and learn something new. In addition, it allows National Geographic to highlight the work the National Geographic Society is doing to protect big cats and their habitats through the Big Cats Initiative with Derek and Beverly Joubert.
Jade Eyed Leopard
Sunday 7 February at 18:00
Her name is “Toto,” Swahili for small, with the most striking, bright, aquamarine eyes. She was born under a safari camp tent in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. JADE EYED LEOPARD, narrated by Emmy-nominated and Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”), reveals the first three years of Toto’s life as she learns the fundamental skills of survival and makes her passage to adulthood. World-renowned filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers and big cat conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert uncover Toto’s tale with stunning perspective — shot in pristine 4K and seldom-before-seen thermal night vision views.
Leopard & Hyena: Strange Alliance
Sunday 7 February at 18:45
When Toni, a young male hyena is expelled from his clan, he forms an unexpected hunting partnership with Mahri, a female leopard. But predator enemies are waiting to drive a wedge between them. After an explosive attack from wild dogs, Toni must decide between returning to Mahri or joining a clan of his own.
Diary of a Teen Leopard
Sunday 7 February at 19:30
Pemba is a Mamma’s Boy! At two-years old, he should be independent, but he’s still living at home! Like most teenagers, he’s impatient and headstrong, which makes him bad at stalking and hunting, so Mom provides all their meals. But when Mom is injured Pemba is forced to grow up fast in order to survive! Can he sever those apron strings and face his fears to launch into adulthood?
A Leopard’s Legacy
Sunday 7 February at 20:25
A confident and powerful leopardess named Olimba, rules over an exceptionally large area along Zambia’s Luangwa river. She is a formidable hunter, a courageous ruler, and a devoted mother. She’s just given birth to two tiny cubs, and as she faces the challenging task of motherhood, it’s a constant battle to hunt successfully, to defend her prime territory, and to protect her cubs against her enemies. During their first few months, the cubs go from strength to strength, as Olimba introduces them to the world of a carnivore. But whenever she goes out hunting, she leaves them vulnerable. One day, Olimba discovers a nomadic male leopard near her cubs, and without hesitation, she attacks him. He makes a lucky escape, but when Olimba returns to the den, one of her cubs is gone. As she comes to terms with her loss, Olimba forges on as a devoted mother, and passes on all her knowledge to her blue-eyed boy, named Makumbi. When he’s a year old and succeeds in hunting his own prey, Olimba parts ways with her son. But their final hostile encounter leaves the youngster vulnerable, with a dreadful eye injury. His resilience and fighting spirit see him through, and despite his blind eye, he turns into a strong-willed hunter.
Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard
Monday 8 February at 6:50 & 10:05
Shot over three years in China's Qhinghai Mountains and with never-before-seen footage, The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard tells the story of a devout female snow leopard who settles into an unfamiliar valley to give birth and raise her two cubs despite incredible odds.
Cecil: The Legacy of a King
Sunday 14 February at 18:00
This incredible special follows the life and legacy of one of the world's most famous lions - Cecil. The ultimate big cat king, Cecil was a warrior, a father and a loyal brother. But his untimely death at the hands of an illegal hunt - spelled the end of his extraordinary reign; evoking feelings of fury and sadness to all who heard his tale across the globe. This special will look at the life of the lion behind the headlines, it will look at his pride before and after his death as well as how he came to be Africa's ultimate king of the beasts.
Seregenti Speed Queen
Sunday 21 February at 18:00
Nzuri is the Speed Queen of the Serengeti - but being fast isn’t enough. She’s constantly bullied by hyenas on the grassland and hunted by lions in the marsh. When two of her cubs are killed, the family is exiled to the transition forest. There, she learns to adapt her hunting methods and adds strategy to speed in order to outwit her enemies and steer her remaining cubs successfully to adulthood.
Tiger Queen of Taru
Sunday 28 February at 18:00
Filmed over six years, the story of Maya the tigress plays out in a tiger reserve in Tadoba, Central India. Here, Bengal tigers chase wild dogs, fight sloth bears and feud among themselves over bloodlines and territory in never-before seen footage. Maya writes her own rules when it comes to raising a litter, yet motherhood doesn’t come easy. One thing is clear, Maya will do whatever it takes to secure her bloodline within the Kingdom of Taru.
SNAKES IN THE CITY S7
Mondays at 18:00 from 25 January
Episode 2 (1 February at 18:00): A hitchhiking forest cobra at a wedding keeps Simon and Siouxsie guessing and an emergency black mamba callout turns into a canine rescue mission.
Episode 3: (8 February at 18:00): Simon and Siouxsie try to secure a black mamba escape artist, wrangle an irate python, and catch a cat killer.
Episode 4: (15 February at 18:00): Simon has his hands full with a lightning fast mamba and an unidentified snake terrorizes a school, before Siouxsie handles the deadliest of the lot.
Episode 5: (2 February at 18:00): Synopsis TBC
The channel is available on DStv, Starsat and StarTimes.
