Episode 1
Big cat expert Giles Clark adopts Maya, a jaguar cub, and hand-raises her at home while gathering funds for wild cats. But Maya’s health deteriorates, and her life hangs in the balance.
Big cat expert Giles Clark is embarking on his biggest mission to date: to turn the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent into a centre of global excellence for big cat conservation. He steps in to help Maya, a five-day-old black jaguar cub. Neglected by her mother, she is weak and vulnerable. Taking her home, Giles provides her with care around the clock. We get to know Maya and witness her developmental milestones, and her relationship with Giles, his fiancΓ©e Kathryn and daughter Sam.
At the sanctuary, Giles has his hands full, improving the lives of the 50 cats that live there and working towards them becoming ambassadors for their wild cousins. Giles experiences the plight of big cats in the wild first-hand. He travels to Cambodia, where he sees the dilemma clouded leopards are facing. The trip fuels Giles’s determination to want to raise awareness and much-needed help.
At the sanctuary, Giles and his team plan their annual open days, where they kick off raising funds. At home, Maya is growing well and has started to move around the house, but suddenly her health deteriorates, and she develops eyesight and mobility issues. She is rushed to a high-end veterinary hospital, where at only five weeks old, her life hangs in the balance.
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Clips
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How to raise a baby jaguar
Duration: 00:59
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First jaguar MRI scan
Duration: 00:47
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Forest animal traps
Duration: 01:38
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Giles meets baby Maya the jaguar
Duration: 00:31
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | Andrew Lincoln |
Participant | Giles Clark |
Executive Producer | Jo Shinner |
Series Producer | Tom Jarvis |
Broadcasts
- Thu 22 Mar 2018 20:00
- Sat 24 Mar 2018 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Scotland
- Sat 24 Mar 2018 17:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland & Wales
- Wed 13 Feb 2019 19:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Wales
- Sat 23 Jan 2021 08:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland
- Wed 13 Apr 2022 16:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland
- Fri 26 May 2023 15:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland
- Mon 10 Jun 2024 16:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland
Featured in...
New Beginnings
As the seasons change, new life bursts through.
All Creatures Great and Small
From miniature marvels to gentle giants.
Willow and Maya in pictures
Maya is ten weeks old and is starting to push the family to their limits.
Maya as a toddler in pictures
Maya the jaguar grows into a boisterous toddler, and Giles helps jaguars in Costa Rica.
Maya's early days in pictures
Learn about the first few days of Maya being looked after at Giles' home.
Giles' views on big cat conservation
Giles shares his thoughts on how to help the world's big cats.