Incredible images from the TV show "Big Cat Diary"
Posted by kluciole at 8/21/2009 12:35 AM 
Categories: news, Animal Rights, Environment, History, Photography, Hope, International, Science, Travel
Categories: news, Animal Rights, Environment, History, Photography, Hope, International, Science, Travel
Thereby hangs a tail: Lion cubs are fascinated by the swishing tails of older relatives, even taking an occasional bite
Dear Diary, spent all day lion around... As TV bosses scrap Big Cat Diary, these are the magical moments we'll miss
By Nigel Blundell 20th August 2009
With no series to film, the Scotts have continued following the region's big cats - lions, leopards and cheetahs - and have now produced a book: Stars Of Big Cat Diary.
The show's long-running success story is, to a large degree, due to 60-year-old Jonathan's incredible insight into wildlife behaviour.
Scott first pitched his tent in the Mara in 1975 as a zoology graduate on a backpacking trip. It was there that he met wildlife photographer Angela and they got married on the dramatic escarpment where the final scenes for the film Out Of Africa were filmed. Angela Scott took the amazing photographs shown here.
The couple have a home in Nairobi but spend most of their time in the endless bushlands of the Masai Mara and the neighbouring Serengeti plain in Tanzania.
Paying tribute to his wife, Jonathan says: 'She has an intuitive instinct about where to find the animals we need to film. Without her, we would often find ourselves with nothing to shoot but grass!
'What particularly fascinates me is how individual the animals are. My favourite is the leopard - so utterly private that it is a privilege when he allows you even to catch a glimpse of him.
Article:
HEREBy Nigel Blundell 20th August 2009
For more than a decade, Jonathan and Angela Scott have been following these majestic beasts across the African plains for the BBC's Big Cat Diary. But now the future of the top-rated wildlife show is in doubt.
For the first time in 13 years, no new series has been commissioned and, in a cost-cutting exercise, the film crews who annually criss-crossed Kenya's Masai Mara have stayed at home.
With no series to film, the Scotts have continued following the region's big cats - lions, leopards and cheetahs - and have now produced a book: Stars Of Big Cat Diary.
Love your coat, mum: Mother's on guard, so Toto the baby cheetah can relax
The show's long-running success story is, to a large degree, due to 60-year-old Jonathan's incredible insight into wildlife behaviour.
According to Sir David Attenborough: 'He understands the animals so well that it is as though he has entered their minds and can see the world as they do.'
Scott first pitched his tent in the Mara in 1975 as a zoology graduate on a backpacking trip. It was there that he met wildlife photographer Angela and they got married on the dramatic escarpment where the final scenes for the film Out Of Africa were filmed. Angela Scott took the amazing photographs shown here.
Life in the roar (or is it a yawn): The lion on the left lost a battle with a buffalo
Nipped in the bud: Leopard cub Mangaa gives his sister a brotherly bite
The couple have a home in Nairobi but spend most of their time in the endless bushlands of the Masai Mara and the neighbouring Serengeti plain in Tanzania.
Paying tribute to his wife, Jonathan says: 'She has an intuitive instinct about where to find the animals we need to film. Without her, we would often find ourselves with nothing to shoot but grass!
'What particularly fascinates me is how individual the animals are. My favourite is the leopard - so utterly private that it is a privilege when he allows you even to catch a glimpse of him.
'It is sad that a 13-year run of Big Cat Diary has now been broken. The series raised huge interest worldwide in the wildlife of East Africa, and gave a boost to conservation efforts there.'
Follow my leader: Little Moja, the smallest lion cub in her pride, with two relatives. Later, when they start competing with each other for food, the backbiting will begin in earnest
Muddied but unbowed: Lion cubs quickly get used to the wild
Called to the bar: A cheetah watches the world go by while resting on the windscreen of the film crew's 4X4
Happy days (from left): Presenters Simon King, Saba Douglas-Hamilton and Jonathan Scott
Article:
This has to be the saddest day in my life. To learn that the Big Cat Diaries will no longer be seen is - well - quite unbelievable. It staggers - and saddens me - that the BBC has seemingly taken this step in the name of cost cutting. Why not get rid of Jonathan Ross for a start? Simon, Saba and Jonathan Scott are just so far ahead of Ross in the respect game that there is simply no way that cost cutting should be the reason for this programme to end.
Very, very sad.
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Hi Malcolm... I agree with you! You raise very good points; wish the BBC would listen...
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I truely love this show. Everyone does a fantastic job and I feel like I am right in Africa. Thank-you to you all for your hard work and dedicatin to these amazing animals. I hope that there is more Big Cat Diary to come.
Thank-you, Neama
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It is a fantastic beautiful job,we must respect the nature, and the african cats have the right to be protected by showing such programmes and images on the web. I liked, well done.
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I've been watching Big Cat Diary on reruns here inthe USA, it's fantastic. I've read where altho the show is on hiatus right now, the BBC hasn't discounted the show for 2010. I imagine the crew just needs a 'break' for a bit. So I'm optimistic we'll be seeing more of Jonathan, Simon and Saba again. I love seeing the animals...miss Honey/Toto (little furball), enjoy all the others. I applaud everyone's hard work and efforts on this great, educational, heartwarming (and heartbreaking) show. Look forward to seeing more.
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I absolutely loved Big Cat Diary. I felt like I knew all the people and the animals personally. My favorites were Toto( of course) and Solo. Is there anything we can do to get you guys back on?
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I LOVEEEEEE BIG CAT DIARY!!!!!!! BEFORE I EVEN WATCHED THE SHOW, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BIG CATS, BUT NOW I HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT THEM!! EVEN THOUGH I HAVE WATCHED EVERY SINGLE EPISODE, I NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING THE EPISODES OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!! SUCH BEAUTIFUL AFRICAN BIG CATS!! SIMON,JONATHAN, AND SABA DID A REALLY GOOD JOB DOING THE SHOW! EXCELLENT WORK!! AND JUST LIKE NEAMA SAID, I ALSO FEEL LIKE I'M RIGHT IN AFRICA!!! I REALLY HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE BIG CAT DIARY SOON!!!! PLEASE!!!
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PLEASE bring back Big Cat Diary!! The cast did such a fantastic job! I loved every show! I miss the cats, and the wonderful cast, that brought me such joy!
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