Big Cat Diary: Cheetah
by Jonathan and Angela Scott
I’ve been an avid fan of the television program Big Cat Diary for years, so it’s hard for me to imagine picking up this book without already being in love with the cats mentioned on the pages. On television, Jonathon Scott and Simon King show audiences at home the beautifully dramatic lives of cheetahs, leopards, and lions in the Masai Mara in Africa. Jonathan and his photographer wife Angie created three glossy hardcover books that coincide with the series. Although there’s no comparison to the series, the photographs in the book are breathtakingly beautiful.
In the series, most of the viewers—myself included—fell in love with Half Tail the leopard, but I’ve always been partial to the beauty of the cheetahs. I remembered Amber, Kike, and Kidogo fondly from television, so seeing their photos warmed my heart. Also, the cheetahs were by far the friendliest to the television crew, and we were often treated with seeing them climbing all over the trucks and playing with the cameras. The up close and personal photographs of the cheetahs interacting with humans are priceless.
Jonathon gives a history of the three big cats—although the main focus of this book is the cheetah, he mentions and gives comparisons to leopards and lions—as well as fascinating details from his decades of research and observance in Africa. He also provides chapters about the most famous cheetahs from the program, and educates readers who haven’t watched the show on the habits and lifestyle of cheetahs in general.
If you loved the series, and you love cheetahs, you need this book. If you’ve never seen the series but you love cheetahs, you’ll still enjoy the photographs. Most likely, the stories will make you want to watch the documentary, and after you watch it, you’ll be glad you have the book as a souvenir!
In the series, most of the viewers—myself included—fell in love with Half Tail the leopard, but I’ve always been partial to the beauty of the cheetahs. I remembered Amber, Kike, and Kidogo fondly from television, so seeing their photos warmed my heart. Also, the cheetahs were by far the friendliest to the television crew, and we were often treated with seeing them climbing all over the trucks and playing with the cameras. The up close and personal photographs of the cheetahs interacting with humans are priceless.
Jonathon gives a history of the three big cats—although the main focus of this book is the cheetah, he mentions and gives comparisons to leopards and lions—as well as fascinating details from his decades of research and observance in Africa. He also provides chapters about the most famous cheetahs from the program, and educates readers who haven’t watched the show on the habits and lifestyle of cheetahs in general.
If you loved the series, and you love cheetahs, you need this book. If you’ve never seen the series but you love cheetahs, you’ll still enjoy the photographs. Most likely, the stories will make you want to watch the documentary, and after you watch it, you’ll be glad you have the book as a souvenir!