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Big Cat Facts

Click through this slideshow to learn more about these fierce felines. Big Cat Week begins Sunday, 12/9 at 8 PM on Nat Geo Wild. More Big Cat Week goodies

Programming Highlights

'Cat Wars: Lion vs. Cheetah'

SUN DEC 9 9PM ET - Caught on tape in Africa's wild Serengeti is a stunning act of violence between top predators. Three cheetahs are brutally attacked by two lions - the first time an event like this has ever been filmed. Now filmmaker Leo Kuenkel is trying to make sense of it. Was this a once-in-a-lifetime event? Or do these cats have a deep-set, sinister reason to fight?

'The Last Lions'

MON DEC 10 8PM ET - From the lush wetlands of Botswana's Okavango Delta comes the suspense-filled tale of a determined lioness ready to try anything - and willing to risk everything - to keep her family alive. Filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert follow the epic journey of the lioness as she battles to protect her cubs against a daunting onslaught of enemies.

'Attack of the Big Cats'

MON DEC 10 10PM ET - There may be nearly 40 different species of wild cat running around, but only four make it into the big cat club: the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. In their world, nothing is small and many things are surprising. So get ready for a vicious lesson on what makes a big cat a big cat. We'll take a look at their size, speed, claws, and so much more.

'Night Stalkers: Leopard Battleground'

TUE DEC 11 8PM ET - Yala National Park on the small island of Sri Lanka is home to one of the highest leopard populations in the world. Through the use of specially developed night vision cameras, the real nature and behaviour of the Sri Lankan leopard are exposed. Follow these secretive solitary creatures as they prowl in surprisingly social lives.

'Swamp Lions'

TUE DEC 11 9PM ET - A pride of lions is on its knees. Its mighty male was killed by poachers, leaving three mothers and their cubs vulnerable in one of the toughest landscapes in Africa. Hunting in the shoulder-deep mud of Busanga Swamp is all but impossible, and deadly hippos and crocodiles patrol the ever-present waters.

'Tiger Dynasty'

TUE DEC 11 10PM ET - A legendary Tiger Dynasty has ruled India's Ranthambhore National Park for decades. Led by Machli, a fierce tigress, the family has beaten the odds and continues to thrive despite the constant threat of poachers. As Machli nears the end of her life, take a look at the reign of one of India's most beloved tigers.

'Stalking the Mountain Lion'

WED DEC 12 8PM ET - Naturalist Casey Anderson sets out to track one of North America's most elusive ghosts: the mountain lion. Armed with specialized camera technology, he and cat expert Tyler Johnersonthey hope to capture never-before-seen footage of mountain lions and their cubs living in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

'Born Predator'

WED DEC 12 9PM ET - Meet Moja, a 5-month-old lion cub, and his single lioness mother, Nyota. Outcasts from a pride, they live a fragile existence in the Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. Food is running out, and Nyota must provide everything for her son, but she is low on energy and they face dangers in every direction.

'Built for the Kill: Lions'

WED DEC 12 10PM ET - Lions, polar bears, great white sharks, and crocodiles are not natural born killers. These creatures need years of practice to hone their hunting skills to become some of the most feared killers on the planet. Exposing real life-and-death struggles in dramatic, we compare the abilities of top predators both on land and sea.

'The Unlikely Leopard'

THU DEC 13 8PM ET - This is a coming-of-age story about Dikeledi, a somewhat clumsy male leopard struggling to get the hang of, well, being a leopard. Follow Dikeledi as he grows into his oversized paws and eventually moves away from his mother—his provider and protector. Witness his confidence grow as he becomes a stealthy, effective hunting machine.

'Cheetah: Fatal Instinct'

THU DEC 13 9PM ET - The cheetah: the fastest land animal on earth and a feared predator. But before her cubs can dominate the African savannah, a mother cheetah must transform her offspring from adorable kittens into bold, powerful hunters. Follow one mother as she struggles to teach her offspring how to survive.

'Lion Battle Zone'

THU DEC 13 10PM ET - Journey into dry season in Tanzania's Ruaha National Park. Competing prides of lions stalk their prey — the deadly Cape buffalo — whose 2,000 lbs of hooves and horns are more than a match for even the toughest of lions. As watering holes become dust, the buffalo must take increasingly bold risks to satisfy their burning thirst.