Travel Photographer of the Year judges Jonathan and Angela Scott are returning to Animal Planet together with Jackson ole Looseyia in all-new natural history series, BIG CAT TALES. This series documents the present-day prides and families of the lions, leopards and cheetahs of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, including the Marsh Pride.
Animal Planet audiences will be submerged into the world of these big cats for a first-hand look as stories evolve, cubs grow and lives ebb and flow, bringing the mix of joy and sorrow that make these big cats so irresistible. Produced for Animal Planet by Untitled Film Works and directed by award-winning filmmaker Abraham Joffe ACS, BIG CAT TALES premieres this month
Jonathan Scott was first seen by viewers in the U.S. on Animal Planet beginning in 1999 in the ground-breaking series Big Cat Diary which aired on the network until 2009. BIG CAT TALES, filmed in the Masai Mara in 2017, features the latest innovative production techniques, including rich 4K resolution.
Exceptional storytelling in stunning detail reveal the sheer splendor of these fierce felines in the wild, including never-before-captured sequences and multiple storylines and scenes of nurturing, hunting, survival and territorial battles – with each big cat family overcoming the many challenges of life on the African savannah.
Some featured big cats have been documented for decades. It is only through the long history and experience of the Scotts and Mr. ole Looseyia that the intimate lives of these big cats can be brought to Animal Planet audiences across the globe in such spectacular and intimate detail. Jonathan Scott has spent over 40 years in the Mara and has an unrivalled knowledge of its big cats; Angela Scott is a world-class wildlife photographer and has a very special bond with lions, particularly the famous Marsh Pride; Jackson is a proud Masai local and has spent his entire life alongside these magnificent animals.
“We wanted to reveal the joys and hardships of what it means to be a big cat in all its vital rawness and honesty, and to explore the vital role the Masai people play in their story,” said Jonathan Scott.
“It is our duty to ensure that the roar of the mighty lion continues to echo across the African savannah, inspiring the next generation of conservationists long after we have disappeared from this world. Animal Planet is the perfect home for Big Cat Legacy; they are as passionate about big cats as we are and they reach a global audience.
“Having our great friend Jackson ole Looseyia with us on this journey was pivotal to the success of this venture, and we all knew that for this to be a success we needed to ensure the highest production values as well as the integrity of our stories; Abraham and his team at Untitled Film Works brought an energy and creativity that made it a privilege to work with them. By revealing the wonder and fascination of the lives of Africa’s charismatic/magnificent big cats, we can help to ensure their future.”
“The depth of knowledge that our wonderful presenters possess meant that we were able to record some remarkable big cat behavior, from the rarely observed bonding between mother leopard and cubs to dramatic male impala hunting sequences,” said Mr. Joffe. “What makes this series so special is that these individual big cats have a known history going back decades. Their documented legacy brings to the screen a deeper level of connection only made possible by a lifetime spent in the field by Jonathan, Angela and Jackson.”
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN SCOTT IN ‘TRAVEL AFRICA’ MAGAZINE HERE
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