This episode of Animal Society explores the great cats, including the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, cougar, cheetah, and snow leopard. We will explore the physical characteristics, social structures, hunting behaviours, and life cycles of these apex predators.

Key points include:

• The great cats are found across the world, ranging in size from the massive Siberian tiger to the smaller cheetah. They are all large, fast-moving hunters that sit atop the food chain in their respective habitats.

• Lions are unique in that they live in social groups called prides, with a dominant male and several females. The lionesses do most of the hunting, while the male protects the pride and its cubs.

• Leopards are solitary, territorial cats that use their camouflage to stalk and ambush prey. They are skilled climbers and often drag their kills up into trees.

• Tigers are the largest of the great cats, with distinctive orange and black striped fur. They are solitary and fiercely territorial, using a variety of vocalisations to communicate and establish dominance.

• The great cats face numerous threats, including disease, starvation, and attacks from other predators. Their cubs have a high mortality rate, with only around 50% surviving to adulthood.

This video provides a comprehensive look at the biology, behaviour, and ecological importance of the world's most iconic feline predators.

Animal Society is a documentary series about the different social behaviors of various animal groups and individual species, from seabirds to insects, schooling fish to great cats.