EPISODE 01: Big Cat Diary Uncut – '1996: A Leopard Called Half-Tail'

Welcome to The Big Cat People podcast! We're Jonathan and Angela Scott, award-winning wildlife photographers, authors and conservationists. We've have made our name documenting the lives of lions, leopards and cheetahs in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Today's episode is named '1996: A Leopard Called Half-Tail', and it's the first episode in our ten part series named 'Big Cat Diary Uncut'. In 1996 the BBC launches its landmark wildlife series Big Cat Diary. Pioneered by Keith Scholey of the BBC Natural History Unit, and building on the success of Africa Watch (1989) and the increasing popularity of reality shows, Big Cat Diary is destined to become a television phenomenon - the original big cat soap opera. Key to the popularity of the first series is a leopard called Half-Tail and her 7 month-old daughter Zawadi (known to the audience as Shadow). Jonathan and Angela had followed Half Tail since 1990, naming the two-year-old leopard the Paradise Female - before she lost her tail. The Marsh Pride, who Jonathan had followed since 1977 and was key to the success of Africa Watch, were in disarray at the start of filming having suffered the loss of their pride males. Fortunately the team are able to pick up the story of the Big Pride who occupy a territory to the north of the Reserve and number 27 lions - 4 adult males, 7 adult females, and 16 cubs.

While Jonathan concentrates on the leopards, Simon follows two families of cheetahs, sharing the lion story with Jonathan. There are plenty of the kinds of moments of drama and jeopardy that reality shows rely on, including when Kidogo the cheetah's female cub becomes trapped by the forepaw while scrambling around in an acacia bush. Simon poses the question: "Should the team intervene or let nature take its course?" Meanwhile, the night crew, filming with infrared cameras, capture amazing scenes with Half-Tail and Zawadi at play after dark, and show how much the Big Pride benefit from their acute nocturnal vision while stalking prey in the open. Jonathan and Angela describe what a unique experience it is to spend quality time with Half-Tail the leopard who they have followed all her adult life. She proves to be a once-in-a-lifetime animal character who captures the hearts of the millions of viewers who tune in to the show."

This podcast series is a continuing effort to educate and inspire our audience. If you'd like to learn more about us, or to check out our latest collection of educational ebooks, please visit our website: www.bigcatpeople.com.