Big Cat Diary

This show is absolutely brilliant. I love everything about it. I started watching it back in 2008 when we had the Animal Planet for a short period and instantly fell in love. I have had a natural love for animals since I was a year old and this program and its animals captured my heart. The set up of the show is different from other animal documentaries in that it is more up close and personal with the animal stars. It follows their habitat, habits, family, and more. The animals are also given names so the viewer can grow even closer to them. My favorite character was the leopard named "Shadow" ("Zawadi" in Swahili). Seeing the animals...following them, was a really great experience. I now want to go on my own African safari!

It almost seems that when Big Cat Diary began that I loved watching the stories and loved the animals. I don't remember all the heart wrenching scenes of deer and other animals being torn to bits whilst screaming... Today I can hardly even repeat, so heartbreaking, an antelope in mid- birth? surprised by a cheetah and chased with her unborn baby hanging from her. You know I can't even express how that got my day started. I love the stories of the lions and other big cats about their lives and the struggles that they incur but I am not interested in watching any more of the hunting scenes. Yes, I know that is part of their lives and of nature but I think there is a gentle way to tell the story of the lions without the emphasis on that part. In short, I love the lions but I love the other creatures, too. The way you are filming the shows is breaking my heart. For what it's worth...

This film is in "safari format" except the viewer only sees glimpses of the cats, mostly lions. Instead of seeing wildlife, the camera focuses mostly on the long noisy rides & guides trying to find the big cats. When one is finally found, the camera again films the talking guide who DESCRIBES the scene for the blind Instead of showing the iconic predator. Few glimpses of leopards, a non running cheetah, & lions waiting for night. Skip this, unless one likes seeing talking heads, & bumpy back seat views of old dirty Jeep's dashboards.

I watched the first season and the second and eagerly await the next edition, although we have to wait almost a year for the next series to begin. So far I have watched the first 3 series and the 4th I expect will begin in mid 2007. As soon as you begin watching it it's as if a spell has been cast which hooks you on and never lets go until the end of the series. The animals are also given names so the viewer can grow even closer to them. My favorite character was the leopard named "Shadow" ("Zawadi" in Swahili). Seeing the animals...following them, was a really great experience. I now want to go on my own African safari!

It's really hard to watch such a great show, then out comes Saba Hamilton..so boring, whispering...sounds like she's reading a monitor... ***

But Jonathan and Simon are great.... Love the documentary.

Thanks.

Correct me if I'm wrong, BBC's Big Cat series contain:

BBC Big Cat Dairy:(1996-2002 total 4 series);

BBC Big Cat Week: (2003-2006 total 4 series) and

BBC Big Cat Live: (2008 1 series so far)

BBC needs to re-release ALL OF THEM!!!! I can't even buy them because some of them aren't even released in DVD or Blu-ray!!!

I'm so in love with this TV shows and more people should know about this amazing documentaries that absolutely melt hearts, the quality of it is top notch! And the fun fact is, I actually leaned a lot more from these wildlife animals, I can't appreciate it enough.