Big Cat Live

[Kath Mulligan]

Anyone watching this new series on BBC1 this week? A stunning programme tonight, I thought, although I am not at all keen on Kate Silverton as a presenter - and what on earth was that rig out she was wearing?! Like an old colonial idea of what the memsahib should wear!!

Some fabulous photography though, can't wait to see the rest of the programmes this week. The night camerawork is an added bonus this series.

And how gorgeous those cheetah cubs; I shall be devastated if they don't survive.

Once again you can't beat the Beeb for wildlife programmes like this.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Yes watched it and like you feel I won't be able to bear it if those cubs don't survive.......the odds are not good by the sound of things. What on earth does Kate Silverton think she looks like, she is like the person who has an outfit for every occasion whether she understands it or not. Too silly.........she didn't move further than the land-rover let alone trek anywhere, not well advised I'd say. Still the point of the programme isn't about her and I have to say how good it was to see Bella got over her injury and was hunting again, she is an old cat now so she must be a fantastic hunter to have lived so long. How brave was the leopard facing up to the lion you could see how intense she was in drawing them away from her cubs and put her own life in great danger. I look forward to the week ahead - I hope Kate dresses more appropriately for the rest of the week.

[Kath Mulligan]

Yes it was good to see Bella back in action again. Apparently Saba Douglas-Hamilton had other commitments this time so wasn't able to take part, but will be back for the next series. That will be good, then Kate can be dispensed with. I read somewhere that she is a regular visitor to Africa and to safaris, so you would think she would know how to dress for the occasion, wouldn't you? (miaow! will put my claws away now :wink: )

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Will be good if Saba comes back, she is excellent as it is so obvious she knows what she is talking about and really 'lives' the programme as do the other presenters, Kate just kind of - sat there and talked. Maybe it's early to judge her, it's always difficult to follow a good presenter, so really she is at a disadvantage from the off. :(

[Brenda]

Yes it was good to see Bella back in action again. Apparently Saba Douglas-Hamilton had other commitments this time so wasn't able to take part, but will be back for the next series. That will be good, then Kate can be dispensed with. I read somewhere that she is a regular visitor to Africa and to safaris, so you would think she would know how to dress for the occasion, wouldn't you? (miaow! will put my claws away now :wink: )

Kath

About 30 years ago, I gave my father-in-law a book about Africa by a Douglas-Hamilton (I think it was Iain?). Same family, just a generation or two on?

Brenda

[Kath Mulligan]

Probably, I know Saba was born, and lives out there. And she is passionate about the wildlife too.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Not sure if I will last the week out watching this......If anymore of the cheetah cubs are lost I think it will be too much to bear. I know it is the way life is but it is very hard to see such beautiful babies going this way.

[gloria townsin]

Meant to say, Kate Silverton's attire seems to have been toned down and she is getting better with the presentation, I love Jackson what a wonderful view on life and the world he seems to have. A brilliant addition to the programme in my view. :D

[Kath Mulligan]

You beat me to it - I was going to say how much I am enjoying Jackson too. What a lovely knowledgeable man, and such a gorgeous smile!

I was in tears last night over the two lost cheetah cubs, and tonight's footage of the three remaining cubs being bullied by those 3 male cheetahs had my heart in my mouth.

I can't imagine what is going to happen on tomorrow night's show either with the lions and the elephants - that looked as if mayhem was about to break out.

Agree Kate has toned down her clothing, but still not sure she adds much to the show. The other presenters would do fine without her in my opinion.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I can't imagine what is going to happen on tomorrow night's show either with the lions and the elephants - that looked as if mayhem was about to break out.

Kath

Oh Help.......I can't bear to look. :(
Poor Shakira being roughly treated by the three male Cheetah's - I thought any moment the babies would show themselves and it would all be up for them. I understand totally that the game wardens allow life to continue naturally that is the way it should be, but, oh what would I do if I were there? I'm sure I would find it practically impossible not to interfere. In fact I'd be hopeless.

[Kath Mulligan]

Jackson seems much less emotionally involved with the animals than the other presenters, and he keeps stressing that it is nature's way of controlling the animal population, and that the reserve would soon be overrun if all the cubs survived - but oh, I am with you, Gloria, I just could not bear to stand by and do nothing if one of those cheetah cubs was threatened.

What did impress me was the way Jackson is going into the schools and educating the young lads about the ways of the animals and the importance of conservation. Therein lies the hope for the future of the reserves.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

What a worry for a parent seeing a child off to school......it's a wonder any arrive safely.
Yes Jackson of course has the correct instincts about his country and the animals in it. It would be no good to be over emotional to the point that more problems were caused by overcrowding. I hold strong opinions about people buying puppy farmed dogs, i.e. purchasing one only encourages so called' breeders' to breed more and all at the expense of the poor mother's who are rarely well looked after, who when their breeding life is over are thrown out. Don't get me started on that one!! So Jackson has sensible thoughts on what makes for healthy animals and natural life-style for them.

[Kath Mulligan]

Well, we had a biology lesson tonight on how to sex cheetah cubs!!! Something I have always wanted to know! That brought a blush to Kate's cheeks! :lol: :wink:

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Eddie recorded it for me as I was at the totally boring Friday meeting .......... do you know I have lived here my entire life and didn't realise just how cliquey (sp?) people here are........and the laugh is most of them haven't been here for more than a handful of years............. I quickly assure everyone FOMS are NOT like that so if you come to the Memorial Weekend AGM you will find a big welcome and lots of fantastic people only too eager to chat and include you.

[Janet Swan]

Thank goodness I didn't watch any of the Big Cat programmes this time or, like Gloria and others, I would have been a total wreck :roll: . I do love Simon King but with an old friend (from the '60s :wink: ) staying with me for a few days, just didn't get round to checking out the programmes. Then, when she had left, I did try to watch one, but found the constant emphasis on threats and danger and too many presenters so annoying I began to read 'Cornwall Today' and ignored the programme :oops: .

Janet

[Kath Mulligan]

Well another series finishes, and at least the three remaining cheetah cubs survived - for now anyway. Look forward to catching up with their stories again at Christmas when they are to do a review of their progress.

Been very quiet on here this weekend - where is everyone? :lol:

Kath

[Sybille Weber]

......Been very quiet on here this weekend - where is everyone? :lol:
Kath

Enjoying the lovely Indian Summer! :D
(At least that's what I have been doing: a visit to Villa Hügel Gardens yesterday and a walk in the country today.)

[Joan]

We too were enjoying the Indian Summer. A trip to the bookfair in the market place (only saw one hardback Derek Tangye book, and it was overly expensive, so decided against getting it for Jennie for the Tangye Corner at the Pottery).

Then a lovely walk round the outside of the castle, down to the river, and out into the countryside for a few hours.

Sounds as though you had a good weekend too Sybille, though poor old Linda seems to be getting the weather we had here for most of the month of August. Hopefully Linda will get her share of sunshine soon (fingers crossed) before the winter arrives!

Joan

[Brenda]

We've been so incredibly lucky here for our Thanksgiving weekend, and for my son and daughter-in-law's first visit to Skinner's Pond. We are just about to begin our fourth day in a row of absolutely picture-perfect weather. It's been sunny and hot, like full summer, and the sky has been that wonderful startling blue that you get in the autumn, and the leaves have been gently drifting down, and the nights have been crisp and dry. They are mightily impressed with Skinner's Pond!!! I'm so glad - I'm sure they'll want to come back at other times of the year, too.

I'm just about overdosed on being a giddy-happy grandma, but I'm going to give myself one more day just to be sure :wink:.

Will catch up with other posts later in the week.

Brenda

[Kath Mulligan]

Sybille, Joan and Brenda, so glad you have all been enjoying this beautiful weather. A forecast in our paper this morning is threatening a return to stormy weather for the rest of the month - just my luck! Still, there may be some spectacular seas around so that will be exciting.

Brenda, great that you were able to show off Skinner's Pond at its best to your son and daughter-in-law. I'm sure they will be wanting to visit again whatever the weather. You really must post a photo of Caelen in your album so we can all share in your pleasure in him.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Had the second of my meetings yesterday so a clear diary now - for a while at least ......... just got the club magazine to do and send to the printer. Then I shall feel like a child let out of school after an exam. And it will be off to Bryher for me in a week or so, this time for a bit longer I hope. Yesterday's meeting was at Middleton Cheyney in Northampton.......very pretty village in the old parts, thatched country cottages around a tiny village green, takes me back to a time of reading children's story books, pic-nics and looking for four leaf clover while chattering to friends on endless (or so it seemed) Summer days. :D

[gloria townsin]

Re the cheetah cubs, do we dare hope there are still three at the Christmas update? I'd so like to think there would be. :)

[Kath Mulligan]

Oh I do hope they are still around at Christmas, Shakira is such a good mum and I just loved the way one of the cubs took on and challenged Honey's three big boys! Bless her, she certainly deserves to survive. :lol:

Kath

[Linda]

We had sun yesterday!

we have a little bit of sun today!!

On coming back from setting a trap for some kittens one of whom was killed on teh orad..I sat in teh barn for a while just trying to see where this lovely sbird song was coming from and then it flew onto the gazebo was have stored in there and I thanked the little Robin for his wonderful voice! He continued to sing abd I kept telling him how lovely it was...it was a bit like a conversation, I spoke, then he sand, I spoke, then he sang! Wonderful!

Will be checking on the trap on the way back from picking Jeff up from work. Oh! you should have seen the little kitten that was killed...so pretty, little white face with some tabby on one ear and ginger on the other, a white bib and lovely tortie and white markings on the rest of the body..such a shame. The person who rang me told me her husband had found it and moved it from the road to the verge..she was very upset that whoever ran it over couldnt be bothered to stop and at least do that...so fingers crossed that they are tempted byt eh food and go in....apparently they had been with the dead kitten when this chap found it....animals ...we could learn so much from them.

[gloria townsin]

I hope they take the bait Linda and find themselves in your trap which will, in time, give them the secure and loving homes they need. It could be that the kitten was so tiny the motorist didn't realise........well trying to find another point of view but probably, sadly, you are right.

[Brenda]

Brenda, great that you were able to show off Skinner's Pond at its best to your son and daughter-in-law. I'm sure they will be wanting to visit again whatever the weather. You really must post a photo of Caelen in your album so we can all share in your pleasure in him. Kath

Okay, I've done it. We raked leaves so he could play in them, and the game was a real hit! Brenda :D

[Kath Mulligan]

He is so gorgeous. I wanted to pick him up and give him a big cuddle! Bet you are walking around with a big smile on your face now, aren't you?

Kath

[Brenda]

Yes, my jaw is a bit achy from all the grinning I did all weekend!

Brenda

[ellie]

Yes we watched this as a family and loved it all. My favourite of the cats are the leopards.
Think you were a bit unkind about Kate though, we thought she was fine and miles better than that Kate Humble (wrong name!)who does Spring Watch & Animal park, that woman never stops talking. I think both she & Bill Oddie, have succumbed to the celeb culture and I much prefer Simon King...he has just the right manner & atttitude of presenting a wildlife programme.

Nite & God bless x

[Kath Mulligan]

I think Kate Silverton got better as the week went on, but I still think the programme would have been more enjoyable, for me at least, if it had just been presented by Simon, Johnny and Jackson; they are just superb.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Mmmmm.........I'm not a Kate Humble fan but I did think the first 'get-up' K.Silverton wore was somewhat over the top. Was interested in her looking for her family war history last week though.

[Kath Mulligan]

Have to confess to feeling sorry for Kate Humble - working with the increasingly eccentric and grumpy Bill Oddie would try the patience of a saint. I used to really enjoy his birdlife shows but just feel that he doesn't enjoy doing them anymore, and therefore his viewers don't feel the joy either - just my personal opinion, others may feel totally differently.

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Heard Fiona Bruce saying on CIN on Friday that Kate S. should have been dancing and singing with the newsreaders but that she has slipped a disc in her back, stepping into an elephant's foothole while on safari and is quite badly hurt. Wonder if that happened on Big Cat Live, or on a private holiday since.

Kath