{"id":11419,"date":"2021-01-20T14:51:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T12:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=11419"},"modified":"2021-01-20T14:51:18","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T12:51:18","slug":"big-cat-month-2021-features-seven-premiere-specials-highlighting-big-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2021\/01\/20\/big-cat-month-2021-features-seven-premiere-specials-highlighting-big-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Cat Month 2021 Features Seven Premiere Specials Highlighting Big Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Big Cat Month Kicks Off 7 February 2021 with the premiere of Jade Eyed Leopard, narrated by award-winning actor Jeremy Irons and directed by acclaimed local big-cat filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Geographic Wild\u2019s 10th Big Cat Month highlights the National Geographic Society\u2019s commitment to conservation through its Big Cats initiative, which supports on-the-ground research and efforts to help protect big cats and their habitats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Closeup of Toto the leopard’s eyes. (Wildlife Films\/Dereck Joubert)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

February marks the tenth anniversary of National Geographic Wild\u2019s Big Cat Month<\/em><\/strong>, and this year\u2019s outing is the biggest yet, with seven premiere specials highlighting the majestic and wonderous large felines of our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, big cats are facing big challenges. For many populations, extinctions are imminent due to habitat loss, degradation and conflicts with humans. In response, The National Geographic Society, with its long history of raising awareness of the plight of big cats and supporting impactful conservation efforts across the planet, is partnering its Big Cats Initiative <\/strong>with National Geographic Wild<\/strong> for Big Cat Month<\/strong>.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday 7 February at 18:00 (CAT), National Geographic Wild (Dstv 182, Starsat 221) kicks off Big Cat Month <\/strong>with Jade Eyed Leopard<\/em><\/strong>, from world-renowned local big-cat filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers and co-founders of the Big Cat Initiative, Beverly and Dereck Joubert.<\/strong> Narrated by the Academy\u00ae<\/sup> Award-winning and Emmy\u00ae <\/sup>Award-nominated actor Jeremy Irons<\/strong> (\u201cWatchmen,\u201d \u201cThe Lion King\u201d), the one-hour special transports viewers to an idyllic paradise, where for the first time ever, National Geographic cameras capture the story of a young leopard, Toto, during the critical first three years of her life. Viewers follow this cub with deep aquamarine eyes \u2013 an exceptionally rare trait \u2013 and experience her challenges and triumphs firsthand as Toto learns the fundamental skills of survival and makes her passage to adulthood. With leopards now occupying just 25-37 percent of their historic range, and six of the nine subspecies of leopard now in significant risk of extinction, Jade Eyed Leopard<\/em><\/strong> is a timely addition to the programming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecil: The Legacy of a King<\/em><\/strong>, premieres 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 in Zimbabwe – spelled the end of his extraordinary reign; evoking feelings of fury and sadness to all who hear his tale across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Male lion. (Aquavision Television Productions)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Still in Africa, Serengeti Speed Queen<\/em><\/strong> tells the story of cheetah Nzuri, the speed queen of the Serengeti \u2013 for whom being fast isn\u2019t enough \u2013 on Sunday 21 February at 18:00. She is 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 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Cat Month <\/strong>culminates in the premiere of Tiger Queen of Taru<\/em>, <\/strong>by award-winning filmmaker Aishwarya Sridhar on Sunday 28 February at 18:00. This unique special that was filmed over six years tells the story of Maya the tigress 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\u2019t come easy. However, <\/em>one thing is clear, Maya will do whatever it takes to secure her bloodline within the Kingdom of Taru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe partnered with the Jouberts 11 years ago to create National Geographic Society\u2019s Big Cats Initiative to shed light on these vital and vulnerable wild felines,\u201d says Colby Bishop, senior director of Wildlife Programs at National Geographic Society. \u201cMore than a decade later, the initiative continues to make major strides in its mission to protect big cats in the wild, including the removal of 13,000 life-threatening snares from their habitats; building more than 2,100 livestock enclosures to reduce human-wildlife conflict with big cats; and providing funds for grantees to work in more than 300 communities. National Geographic Wild is the perfect platform to premiere Jade Eyed Leopard<\/em> <\/strong>as part of Big Cat Month<\/strong> 2021 and to inspire further a protection for these majestic creatures around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBig Cat Month is an exciting television event for us every year and a firm viewer-favourite. This year is particularly special as we will be broadcasting no less than seven premieres highlighting the incredible lives led by these ferocious felines, to many of whom, Africa is home. Even more remarkable is that many of the filmmakers are actively involved in wildlife conservation themselves, including  Aishwarya Sridhar, who makes her debut on the channel with the premiere of Tiger Queen of Taru<\/em><\/strong>\u201d said Evert van der Veer, Vice President, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the month-long event will include several interstitials featuring National Geographic Explorers who are working to protect big cats around the globe. Viewers are encouraged to learn more about the Big Cats Initiative and how they can help safeguard big cats in the wild by visiting natgeo.org\/bigcats<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch Big Cat Month<\/strong> this February on National Geographic Wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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