Big Cats documentary reveals amazing survival story of species that has evolved over 11 million years

• 28 Dec 2015
• By Natalie Corner

Spectacular footage presented by biologist Patrick Aryee shows him getting up close and personal with the clouded leopard, thought to be the very first cat

Turns out cats are born survivors as a stunning new documentary reveals.
They have managed to conquer the planet by evolving over an astonishing 11 million years, ever since the first cat - thought to be a clouded leopard - was first discovered.
That feline creature is just one of the stars of the biologist Patrick Aryee's new programme Big Cats: An Amazing Animal Family set to air on Sky One.

The clouded leopards are very inquisitive

Patrick Aryee meets some amazing animals

He gets up close and personal with the extremely rare clouded leopard in some spectacular footage filmed at a conservation centre in Thailand.
The inquisitive kittens are seen leaping from tree to tree, sometimes via Patrick as he gets a taste of their sharp claws.
Read more: Kate Winslet narrates enchanting documentary Snow Chick charting baby penguin's dramatic early months
Patrick laughs and giggles as the kittens jump onto his head and scratch him, as he says: "They're usually quite gentle..."

Big Cats: An Amazing Animal Family looks at how cats have evolved over 11 million years

He explains how cats have a super sense and their ability to twist their spines an impressive 180 degrees enables them to be one of the best predators in the wild.

In the two-part programme the biologist explores how cats have evolved throughout the millennia, learning to thrive in inhospitable environments, as well as becoming the world's most popular pet.

 

In the first edition there is spectacular footage of caracals jumping three metres to catch flying birds, and a rare Bornean bay cat, which was thought to have been extinct.
Patrick finds out how tigers made the transition from South-east Asia's steamy jungles to the -40C temperatures of Siberia, and meets 'lion whisperer' Kevin Richardson.

Filming for the wildlife TV project

Kevin is actually part of a pride and even hunts with the cats in South Africa as well as clean their teeth.
Patrick is invited to share a hunting trip, remaining in a cage so that he stays safe, while the cats roam the savannah.
He says of the experience: "I felt like dinner. The dominant male came so close I could smell his breath. I was shaking and it was terrifying."

* Big Cats: An Amazing Animal Family part one airs tonight at 8pm on Sky One*

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