Science and Nature

Big Cats 24/7

In Botswana’s wild Okavango Delta, the Big Cats 24/7 team of local and international filmmakers follows lions, leopards and cheetahs day and night. Using the latest filming technology they reveal the cats’ lives like never before.

Episode Four

54m 31s

The Okavango Delta is transformed by the arrival of the flood, bringing new challenges for the big cats. The lion cubs experience water and its dangers for the first time.

Episodes

  • Episode Four: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Four

    S1 E4 - 54m 31s

    The Okavango Delta is transformed by the arrival of the flood, bringing new challenges for the big cats. The lion cubs experience water and its dangers for the first time.

  • Episode Three: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Three

    S1 E3 - 54m 33s

    A fight with intruders leaves the lion pride males injured and the mothers with cubs vulnerable to attack. Xudum, the female leopard, takes risks to find a mate.

  • Episode Two: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Two

    S1 E2 - 54m 33s

    The team follows lions, leopards and cheetahs after a massive wildfire. Witness the dominant male lions fight intruders while leopards and cheetahs struggle to secure their next meal.

  • Episode One: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode One

    S1 E1 - 54m 33s

    The Big Cats 24/7 team begins a six-month expedition following lions, leopards and cheetahs in the Okavango Delta. A huge wildfire threatens the big cats and the team.

Extras + Features

  • Female Leopard Defending Cubs from Male Leopard Caught on Thermal Camera: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Female Leopard Defending Cubs from Male Leopard Caught on Thermal Camera

    S1 E6 - 2m 52s

    Shortly after Xudum returns to her young cub, she detects another leopard at the den site. It’s Musweo, nearly double her size and believed to be the dominant male in the area. She confronts him head-on to protect her baby, but in the harrowing encounter, Musweo manages to grab the cub and carries it off into the night.

  • Episode Six Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Six Preview

    S1 E6 - 30s

    As lion numbers rise, the competition for food becomes fierce. A lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs and Xudum’s newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.

  • Hungry Lions Battle A Crocodile for a Meal: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Hungry Lions Battle A Crocodile for a Meal

    S1 E6 - 3m 12s

    Food is running low for Tsebe, and she’s always on the lookout for a meal. As a nursing mother, producing enough milk for her large litter of five cubs leaves her constantly hungry. When the female lion hears a lechwe struggling in the water nearby, her hunger leads to a desperate and dangerous battle against a crocodile to steal its prey.

  • Competition for Food Increases with More Mouths to Feed: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Competition for Food Increases with More Mouths to Feed

    S1 E6 - 6m 17s

    Tsebe’s large and very rare litter of five cubs indicates a healthy pride. But survival isn’t guaranteed. A young cub must consume more than 20 fluid ounces of milk each day, and a nursing mother needs food to supply it and remain healthy. In reality, Xudum Pride’s growth is outpacing its food supply. As prey becomes less available, Tsebe and her five cubs will be the first to go hungry.

  • Thermal Cameras Reveal Leopard Cubs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Thermal Cameras Reveal Leopard Cubs

    S1 E5 - 3m 6s

    Xudum has yet to successfully rear cubs, but she’s reaching an age where experience should help her raise at least one to adulthood. Nearly two years after losing her last litter, she gives birth again. Female leopards keep their cubs concealed at this time, but a revolution in low light camera technology offers a glimpse of the den. At around four days old, they’ve rarely been filmed this young.

  • A Lost Lion Cub Faces Nighttime Alone: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Lost Lion Cub Faces Nighttime Alone

    S1 E5 - 3m 11s

    Matho’s lost lion cub has been alone for 14 hours. As night approaches with no sign of his mother, he starts to wander off into the tall, dense grass. At this age, a young cub has little chance of survival on its own, and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan fears the worst.

  • Lions Steal a Starving Leopard's Kill: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Lions Steal a Starving Leopard's Kill

    S1 E5 - 3m 14s

    Xudum the leopard is hunting again. Now pregnant, she desperately needs a successful kill and makes a risky decision to strike from the treetops. The gamble pays off, and Xudum takes down an impala. But her victory is short-lived when she attracts the attention of the lioness mothers, and they move in and steal her meal.

  • Episode Five Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Five Preview

    S1 E5 - 30s

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta. Lioness Matho must protect her cubs alone, while leopard mum, Xudum, reveals her newborns with danger looming nearby.

  • A Herd of Buffalo Force the Pride Into Deep Water: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Herd of Buffalo Force the Pride Into Deep Water

    S1 E4 - 3m 7s

    The Xudum Pride finds itself in a tough spot when it gets stuck between a large herd of buffalo and a river channel. Lions may eat buffalo, but a herd of this size has the upper hand. When a bull charges, the lions flee into the water. Panic drives the cubs into deeper water, and the risk of attracting crocodiles increases. Even dominant male, Big Toe, is in jeopardy.

  • A Male Leopard Has A Surprising Hunting Style: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Male Leopard Has A Surprising Hunting Style

    S1 E4 - 5m 36s

    A male leopard moves onto the floodplain, heading straight toward Xudum. This poses a great risk to the female leopard, who is close to giving birth to cubs. But Metsi isn’t on Xudum’s trail. Instead, he’s picked up the scent of a young lechwe lamb – and his hunting style takes everyone by surprise.

  • Episode Four Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Four Preview

    S1 E4 - 30s

    The Okavango Delta is transformed by the arrival of the flood, bringing new challenges for the big cats. The lion cubs experience water and its dangers for the first time.

  • Showdown: Intruding Male Lions Threaten Young Males of the Xudum Pride: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Showdown: Intruding Male Lions Threaten Young Males of the Xudum Pride

    S1 E3 - 4m 41s

    Two intruding male lions on patrol slowly enter Xudum Pride territory. With no sign of the pride’s dominant males, Big Toe and Madumo, a lone female and two juvenile males must defend it alone. But, at only half the weight of an adult male, it’s a dangerous risk for the young lions to take.

Schedule

  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 9

    1 Hour

    A flood brings new challenges for the big cats; for the first time, the lion cubs experience water and the danger it brings.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 9

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 9

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 10

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 10

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 10

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 10

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Sunday
    Oct 13

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Sunday
    Oct 13

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Sunday
    Oct 13

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Sunday
    Oct 13

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Monday
    Oct 14

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Monday
    Oct 14

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 16

    1 Hour

    The team witnesses a baby boom in the Delta; lioness Matho protects her cubs while the leopard Xudum reveals her newborns as danger looms nearby.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 16

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Wednesday
    Oct 16

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 17

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 17

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 17

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.
  • Image
    Big Cats 24/7: TVSS: Banner-L1

    Big Cats 24/7

    Thursday
    Oct 17

    1 Hour

    Competition for food becomes fierce as lion numbers rise; a lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs; Xudum's newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.

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