Big Cats

Despite their fearsome size and reputation, lions and tigers actually share many genetic traits with the common house cat. Filmmaker David Dugan's PBS-aired documentary—part of the Inside Nature's Giants series—examines these magnificent and endangered animals both in the wild and in the lab (scientists are shown conducting rather graphic autopsies of a lion and tiger who died in zoos). Big cats are well muscled stealth hunters who stalk, sprint, and pounce on their prey, taking advantage of anatomies that have made them experts on tracking a potential kill. Tigers are solitary hunters, while lions—whose shattering roars can unnerve enemies—hunt in groups, and must defend large territories. Naturalists, who are shown tagging big cats in a South African game preserve, explain how the animals extract energy from their food. Despite their prowess, only one in five chases results in a kill, although lions can eat 30 percent of their body weight at a time, aided by sharp cutting teeth and claws. When not otherwise engaged in hunting and eating, big cats nap or search for a possible mate. Viewers will learn about the anatomy of a pride (or lion group), where males spray to mark their territory, and females engage in "sexual selection," looking for characteristics such as a dark mane on males, which apparently indicates a high testosterone level. Males sometimes kill lion cubs (to encourage females to breed), making it even more necessary for females to enjoy the protection of a dominant male to increase their cubs' chance of survival. Unfortunately, while Big Cats contains interesting information, it jarringly comes to an abrupt end, offering no real conclusion. Optional. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)