The Truth About Lions

2011 · 60m · Documentary

From political intrigue to a complex social system and unexpected intelligence, Jonathan Scott explores the secret lives of lions.

Episodes

▶1. The Social Cat60m · Lions are strangely social, the only wild cats to live in family groups. Lion expert and BBC Big Cat Diary presenter Jonathan Scott investigates the reason why with the help of the most famous lion pride in the world - the Marsh Pride of the Masai Mara in East Africa. Jonathan's intimate knowledge of this massive pride and their various sub-groups helps him explore the possible reasons for the lion's social lifestyle. While there are some apparent benefits to living in prides, from co-operative hunting to raising cubs, none appear to be a reason enough to evolve social living. Now, after 30 years of intensive study, the Serengeti Lion Project, lead by Professor Craig Packer, may have finally found the answer and it could have direct consequences for the survival of the lion as a species.▶2. The End of the Road?60m · The lion's social nature makes it both complicated and fascinating. Lion expert and BBC Big Cat presenter, Jonathan Scott, has lived in Kenya, in East Africa, and watched the most famous lion pride in the world, the Marsh Pride, for more than 30 years. With the help of the latest lion research from Professor Craig Packer and his team at the Serengeti Lion Project, Jonathan takes a fresh look at the lions he knows so well. He reveals why male lions have a mane, why murderous step-fathers are an important part of lion family life and discovers why being social brings unique challenges for the survival of the species as a whole. Living in prides once helped the lion to be the most widespread land mammal on Earth after humans, but now it could be their downfall as they are increasingly restricted to small parts of Africa.

More Like This

Akvariet

2007

No synopsis available.

More info →

Planet Carnivore

2007 · ★ 3

An intimate and powerful experience, looking at some of the planet’s most fearsome animals in their own unique neighborhoods.

More info →

Nightmares of Nature

2025 · ★ 7.8

Chilling tales of survival unfurl in this documentary series that captures the drama, danger and dark beauty of nature from the perspective of its prey.

More info →

Ultimate Zoo

2005

There is a remarkable zoo in Nebraska that has enclosed its entire grounds and flipped night for day, allowing visitors to experience nocturnal animals in their natural habitat, when the animals are awake. In California, a zoo allows cheetahs to engage in free-roaming hunts. Another encourages rare, nearly extinct species to breed. This documentary is a close-up, behind-the-scenes look inside the world’s most fascinating and animal-friendly zoos.

More info →

Wildest Arctic

2012 · ★ 10

From the Taiga to the Tundra to the Arctic Ocean, this series immerses the viewer in the nature of the northern extremities of Europe, beyond the Arctic Circle and into a land of ice and fire. Wildest Arctic captures the awesome cinematic range of the Arctic region, from the creaks, crashes of vast glaciers, to the howls of the wildest wolves and the haunting remoteness of this true wilderness.

More info →

Planet Earth

2006 · ★ 8.6

David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.

More info →

Timbavati: An Epic Cat Story

2013 · ★ 7

The wild terrain of South Africa’s Timbavati reserve is the backdrop to this epic trilogy. Over a two year period, filmmakers follow the everyday struggle for survival of an old lion king at the end of his prime and three aggressive lion brothers ready to fight for his pride

More info →

Wild Russia

2008 · ★ 8.1

Through unprecedented access we showcase the spectacle that is Wild Russia. From east to west, via mountains, volcanoes, deserts, lakes and Arctic ice, this breathtaking six-part series uses stunning cinematography to chart the dazzling natural wonders of this vast country.

More info →

Amazing Animal Friends

2020 · ★ 10

Best friends come in all shapes, sizes, and species, from America to Australia, and from Britain to Zimbabwe. This six-part series looks at the cutest, funniest, and least expected animal relationships in the world, featuring animals that shouldn't get along but, for whatever reason, make their special bonds work. Join us as we travel the globe to meet an orphaned rhino calf and her dog and sheep companions, an orphaned baby kangaroo and a wombat, a zebra-donkey hybrid and two camels, and many more unusual but amazing friendships.

More info →

Really Wild Animals

1994 · ★ 9.5

An animated globe named Spin whisks kids around the world, teaching them about animals and their habitats.

More info →

Seven Worlds, One Planet

2019 · ★ 8.5

Millions of years ago, incredible forces ripped apart the Earth’s crust creating seven extraordinary continents. This documentary series reveals how each distinct continent has shaped the unique animal life found there.

More info →

Life in Cold Blood

2008 · ★ 8.4

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians. These animals are as dramatic, as colourful and as tender as any other animals.

More info →