FIERCE. MAJESTIC. KING OF THE JUNGLE.

NAT GEO WILD'S FIFTH ANNUAL "BIG CAT WEEK" RETURNS WITH ITS MOST JAW-DROPPING LINEUP EVER

A Week of Firsts: An Inside Look at a Lions Devouring Their Prey, Never-Before-Seen Leopard Survival Skills and a Glimpse at Future Big Cats

Fifth Annual BIG CAT WEEK Kicks Off with Big Cat Tracker Boone Smith in Man v. Lion on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at 9 PM ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oct. 17, 2014) Speed. Power. Intelligence. Stealth. Beauty. For millions of years big cats have stood atop the food chain as treasured icons of the wild, but as civilization has expanded, their habitat has decreased. Today every big cat species in the world is endangered, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars and cougars. For five years, Nat Geo WILD has turned its lens on these majestic creatures during its annual BIG CAT WEEK to shine a light on their struggle and to remind viewers of their importance in the world.

Nat Geo WILD presents the fifth annual BIG CAT WEEK, its fiercest lineup ever, beginning Friday, Nov. 28, 2014.

Kicking off the week at 9 p.m. ET/PT is big cat tracker Boone Smith, who is put to the ultimate test in Man v. Lion, when he is placed inside an enclosed acrylic box in the middle of a lion feast! But before Boone gets into the box, we will test a lion's strength, speed and jumping abilities so he knows exactly what he's up against. As Boone takes a seat at the dinner table and risks becoming the lions' meal, he will be sitting directly in the middle of the action, witnessing the lions' hunting skills firsthand, revealing how strong a lion's jaw is and how much weight it can pull.

Additional premieres include Future Cat, a fantastic look into the far future of big cats, using state-of-the-art CGI images to illustrate how big cats might evolve in the face of extreme planetary scenarios, including a desert world and a water world; Leopard: Ultimate Survivor, a filmmaker's chance encounter in the wild leads to a rare opportunity to follow a mother leopard and her cubs through the first precarious years of life; Tiger's Revenge, about the tabloid-worthy rivalry between two sister tigers in India's Ranthambore National Park; Lion Gangland, an in-depth look at a lion pride that battles high heat, shortages of food and water and a dangerous rival coalition in its struggle to survive; and finally Tiger Wars, the story of tigers who reclaimed an ancient kingdom in India.

Rounding out the week are encores of some of Nat Geo WILD's most popular big cat films, including two from National Geographic's Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert: Game of Lions and The Last Lions.

More than a television event, BIG CAT WEEK is an extension of the Big Cats Initiative, a long-term commitment by the National Geographic Society to stop poaching, save habitat and sound the call that big steps are needed to save big cats around the world. This global initiative actively supports on-the-ground conservation projects and education to help stem and eventually reverse the rapid disappearance of big cat populations.

For more information on BIG CAT WEEK, visit natgeowild.com/bigcatweek or follow us on twitter @NGC_PR. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit causeanuproar.com.

BIG CAT WEEK Premiere Episodes Include:

Man v. Lion Featuring Big Cat Tracker Boone Smith Premieres Friday, Nov. 28 at 9 PM ET/PT For wildlife filmmakers, the only way to safely explore the startling powers of the African lion has been at the end of a mighty long lens - until now. Man v. Lion follows veteran big cat expert Boone Smith across the Nambiti Game Reserve, tracking three male lions searching for their next meal. We follow along as they hunt for food and search for a mate in the open African bush. But to truly understand what makes these brothers tick, Boone will go face to face with them. One inch of acrylic separates him from one of the world's top predators, bringing audiences closer to African lions than ever before. We take an in-depth look into lions' unique physical attributes, their intricate hierarchy, and their complex hunting strategies. Boone explores each stage of a lion's kill - the stalk, the pursuit, the jump, strength and the bite - all leading up to the final face-off: Boone in the middle of lions devouring their prey, close enough to feel their breath.

Leopard: Ultimate Survivor Premieres Saturday, Nov. 29 at 9 PM ET/PT Leopards are loners and famously elusive, but in a remote corner of Botswana, filmmakers find a window into their world when they discover a mother and her cubs. The result is a two-year journey packed with danger, humor, and revelation, following the fate of a reckless young male, his sensible sister and their supremely resourceful mother. Leopard: Ultimate Survivor features a rarely seen leopard behavior: catching fish from a river, a giant leap toward survival. Yet in a land stalked by lions, hyenas and wild dogs, it's far from certain that both cubs will go the distance.

Future Cat Premieres Sunday, Nov. 30 at 9 PM ET/PT Using cutting-edge visual effects, Future Cat showcases a new approach to big cats, visualizing how they would change and adapt to new worlds of ice, desert, flood and an epic merging of the continents that could pit African, Asian and American big cats into one super-jungle "hunger games." Future Cat also draws on the varied history of big cat evolution to show how cats have survived extreme climate events in the past.

Tiger's Revenge Premieres Monday, Dec. 1 at 9 PM ET/PT Tiger's Revenge is the ultimate reality TV, complete with secret alliances, battle wounds, lost cubs, revenge and a mysterious disappearance. It is the story of two tiger sisters - Sundari, powerful but unable to become pregnant for more than two years, and her sister, Krishnaa, with a litter of three healthy cubs. A fresh rivalry born of jealousy and deceit plays out in the forests of Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, India. The sisters battle it out for domain over their territory and the eligible males in their midst. The backdrop is a magnificent ancient fort, once ruled by the maharajas of Rajasthan.

Lion Gangland Premieres Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 PM ET/PT In a remote corner of the Serengeti, the "Vumbi" lion pride battles high heat, shortages of food and water and a dangerous rival coalition in its struggle to survive. It's a challenging and unforgiving landscape, not only for the lions but also for the photographers bringing their story to light. Drawing on decades of experience and deploying robots, drones and night-vision cameras, renowned National Geographic photographer Michael "Nick" Nichols and cinematographer Nathan Williamson capture the intimate story of these intrepid lions, who are defying the odds and thriving in one of Africa's most desolate landscapes.

Tiger Wars Premieres Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 9 PM ET/PT In the heart of India, a tiger family battles for dominance in the ruins of a lost empire. B1, a young tiger, challenges his aging grandfather for supremacy over their pride land, taking advantage of his slowed reflexes and struggling vision. Meanwhile, B1's mother tries to keep the peace for her new cubs during their risky first years of life, and for her father, who is becoming increasingly helpless. But B1 is bent on taking over and starting his own dynasty deep in the heart of ancient India.

Big Cat Week Lineup

Premieres Highlighted in Green

All Times ET/PT

Fri, Nov 28 Sat, Nov. 29 Sun, Nov. 30 Mon, Dec. 1

7 PM Lion Army: Battle to Survive Cat Wars: Lion v. Cheetah Leopard: Ultimate Survivor Cheetah: Fatal Instinct

8 PM Game of Lions Swamp Lions Attack of the Big Cats Lost Land of the Tiger

9 PM Man v. Lion Leopard: Ultimate Survivor Future Cat Tiger's Revenge

10 PM Man v. Cheetah Cheetah: Fatal Instinct Super Cat Lion Army

Tues, Dec. 2 Wed, Dec. 3 Thurs, Dec. 4 Fri, Dec. 5

7 PM Born Predator Built for the Kill: Lions Tiger Dynasty Leopard of Dead Tree Island

8 PM American Cougar Leopard: Ultimate Survivor The Last Lions Killer Queen

9 PM Lion Gangland Tiger Wars The Last Lions (continued) Man v. Lion

10 PM Man v. Lion Game of Lions Cat Wars Future Cat

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About Nat Geo WILD

Experience the best, most intimate encounters with wildlife ever seen on television. Backed by its unparalleled reputation for quality and blue-chip programming, Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, the environment and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. From the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of our oceans, to the protected parks on our doorsteps, Nat Geo WILD will use spectacular cinematography and compelling storytelling to take viewers on unforgettable journeys into the wild world. Launched in 2006, Nat Geo WILD is part of National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and is available in more than 90 countries and 100 million homes. Nat Geo WILD HD launched in the U.K. in March 2009, and is also available in Greece, Latin America, Poland, Spain and Russia. Further expansion is expected globally. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.