Zambian Carnivores Feature on New BBC Dynasties Series
The Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) has announced that they are thrilled to be part of BBC One’s Dynasties II series. The episodes, featuring hyena and cheetah, will star Liuwa Plain’s South Clan hyenas and cheetah Kali. ZCP has been working with the BBC on the new series that takes an intimate look at the dramatic lives of these wild animals over the course of several years.
“Dynasties II will be a gripping look at the lives of four remarkable wild animals as they struggle to build a family against the odds. With characters you fall in love with, and genuine life-and-death stakes, this will be a series every bit as thrilling as the greatest drama.”
– Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Science and Natural History
Dynasties was first aired in 2018 and was watched by over eight million viewers who were captivated by each episode – the unbelievable daily struggles faced by David the chimpanzee, Charm the lioness, Blacktip the painted wolf and more.
The second series promises to be just as fascinating as the first, transporting audiences into the dangerous, surprising and breath-taking worlds these wild animals live in – as demonstrated by Meerkat: A Dynasties Special on BBC One and iPlayer.
BBC One has confirmed that their second Dynasties series will bring even more remarkable stories to life, looking at animal families and leaders; heroes and villains; and, triumph and tragedy. “From the southern tip of the snow-capped Andes, to dusty plains in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, to vast wetlands fed by the flooding of the Zambezi River – these four films will tell the stories of elephant, cheetah, puma and hyena.”
Like the first series, each episode will delve deep into the lives of individual groups of animals, which were filmed in a single, iconic location. These focus on a protagonist leader and then follows them on their daunting quest to keep their family safe whilst establishing their genetic line, or dynasty. “Each a leader in their own right; Angelina the matriarch elephant, she-cheetah Kali, Rupestre the puma and hyena clan-leader Suma, are confronted by a rapidly changing world with relentless competition for dwindling resources that stacks perilous odds against them. These pioneers must adapt quickly, or face losing their dynasty forever.”
“Being able to tell these stories is a wildlife film-makers dream – and just like in series one, they are going to be a gripping rollercoaster ride”
– Mike Gunton, Executive Producer
Dynasties II will feature four, sixty minute programmes, made for BBC One, by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced with BBC America and bilibili. The new series is set to air in March 2022.