Best on the Box for February 1 sees a week of wild things.
Today, (Monday, 1st February) Nat Geo WILD kicks off its annual Big Cat Week, with CECIL: THE LION KING.
Narrated by animal expert, zoologist and naturalist Chris Packham CBE, this special follows the life and legacy of one of the world’s most famous lions – Cecil. Cecil was a warrior, a father and a loyal brother. But his untimely death at the hands of an illegal hunt – spelt the end of his extraordinary reign; evoking feelings of fury and sadness to all who heard his tale across the globe.
Also premiering during Big Cat Week is JADE EYED LEOPARD, from world-renowned big-cat filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers and co-founders of the Big Cat Initiative Beverly and Dereck Joubert and narrated by the Academy® Award-winning and Emmy® Award-nominated actor Jeremy Irons.
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 – an exceptionally rare trait – and experience her challenges and triumphs first-hand as Toto learns the fundamental skills of survival and makes her passage to adulthood.
“Documenting big cats in the wild, particularly leopards has been our passion for more than 30 years,”
“This film presented us with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to shadow a leopard born under our tent for the formative first three years of her life. Toto welcomed us to her territory as one of her own, and with the use of cutting-edge, thermal-night-vision technology, we were able to shed light on the nocturnal world to reveal behaviours previously shrouded in darkness.” – Dereck and Beverly Joubert
With a raft of new premieres, including TIGER QUEEN OF TARU, SERENGETI SPEED QUEEN and FROZEN KINGDOM OF THE SNOW LEOPARD, Big Cat Week will include programming from National Geographic’s vast library including TIGER WARS, TRIBE VS. PRIDE and STORM CATS.
Additionally, the week-long event will include several interstitials featuring National Geographic Explorers who are working to protect big cats around the globe.
Nat Geo WILD’s Big Cat Week Premiere Schedule
CECIL: THE LION KING – Monday, 1st February 2021, 9pm
TIGER QUEEN OF TARU – Tuesday, 2nd February 2021, 8pm
JADE EYED LEOPARD – Tuesday, 2nd February 2021, 9pm
DIARY OF A TEEN LEOPARD – Wednesday, 3rd February 2021, 8pm
LEOPARD LEGACY – Wednesday, 3rd February 2021, 9pm
SERENGETI SPEED QUEEN – Thursday, 4th February 2021, 8pm
FROZEN KINGDOM OF THE SNOW LEOPARD – Thursday, 4th February 2021, 9pm
LEOPARD & HYENA: STRANGE ALLIANCE – Friday, 5th February 2021, 8pm
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
