A man sits by the edge of a pond, engaging with two lions. One lion moves gracefully to drink water, while the other nuzzles his arm. They are enveloped by grass and natural scenery.
A man in a green shirt and camo shorts holds the tail of a running lion, capturing the majesty of lions on the move across a grassy field. The lion appears mid-stride against a backdrop of dry trees and open grassland.
A vigilant hyena stands in a natural setting, surrounded by dry grass and green bushes. Its tan and brown fur blends seamlessly into the savanna backdrop as it looks to the right, ever ready to move at the slightest hint of nearby lions. The lighting suggests it's daytime in this wild landscape.
Three majestic lions move gracefully behind a chain-link fence in a grassy enclosure, with a sign warning
A man crouches on the ground, gently stroking the chin of a relaxed lioness. They are outdoors under a sunny sky, surrounded by lush green grass where lions often move with regal grace.
Two men are moving two lions from a white van into a fenced grassy enclosure. The lions step out cautiously as one man holds a bucket. The entire process unfolds seamlessly, and the secure enclosure features sturdy fences and a locked gate, ensuring safety for all involved.

Lions on the Move

Nature & Wildlife·2 x 53 min·Completed

Kevin Richardson faces the challenge of moving 28 lions and 14 hyenas to a new sanctuary, while navigating delays, designing enclosures, and ensuring their well-being.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
2 × 53 min
1 × 90 min
Definition
HD
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

Kevin Richardson shares an extraordinary bond with Africa’s most fearsome predators, and together with them, he has experienced quite some adventures. However, moving 28 lions and 14 hyenas to a new home presents a different challenge.

The lions’ new home will be a sanctuary on the edge of Dinokeng, a South African game reserve spanning 18,000 square metres. A huge task lies ahead of Kevin: planning and designing the new enclosures and securing permits to move the animals.

To prevent stereotypical behaviour developing out of frustration and boredom, Kevin tries to make sure his animals live as enriched of lives as possible. The animals are therefore regularly rotated into new enclosures, encouraging them to explore and establish new territories as they would in the wild.

Meanwhile, work on the animals’ new home at Dinokeng is still in progress. Kevin takes us on a tour of the already existing and occupied enclosures and explains how their design is crucial in meeting the animals’ requirements. However, the permits to move the animals are held up. Everything takes longer than anyone predicted. And every day, the pressure to move the animals and open the lodge increases.

At Dinokeng, there’s another surprise in store. One of the wild nomadic male lions has been fighting with an established pride. Although battle-scarred, he has survived, while his brother has been killed. With lion numbers dwindling in the wild, Kevin and the team of conservationists decide to step in. The lion is brought into one of the empty enclosures to recuperate in peace and quiet. Later, he will be radio-collared and re-released away from the established pride’s territory.

Weeks away from the move, the permits are turned down. When they are eventually granted, moving the animals presents the next major challenge. Being able to understand the individual characteristics of his animals will be key to moving them safely. But a few of them are not that keen on climbing into the specially adapted van. Can the reluctant lions and hyenas be persuaded to join in on the move?

Team

Written and directed by Kevin Richardson and Virginia Quinn
Executive producer Sabine Holzer
Production Companies A Terra Mater Factual Studios / Kingdom Films / ARTE co-production
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