On the box
Sir David Attenborough reveals the plight of the world’s tigers as his BBC1 series, Dynasties, ends
After following penguins, lions, painted wolves and chimps, BBC1’S Dynasties comes to an end this week with a visit to India’s Bandhavgarh National Park, where tigress Raj Bhera struggles to raise her cubs.
Raj Bhera’s offspring – three males and one female – face threats from other tigers, a lack of prey and having humans as neighbours. ‘The cubs are vulnerable and will remain so for the next two years,’ says narrator Sir David Attenborough.
With the area suffering the worst drought in years, Raj Bhera struggles to feed her cubs and fend off attacks from other tigers. ‘She has to strike an almost impossible balance between hunting, scenting her territory and nursing her cubs,’ says David.
Desperate, she strays out of the reserve, but with locals aware of the damage a tiger can do, this has been the death knell for so many tigers before her. Can Raj Bhera make it back to her cubs to ensure her dynasty lives on?
‘All the animals we feature in this series face an uncertain future, but tigers in particular,’ says David. ‘Our population is increasing and taking more space. Each year is harder than the last for tigers because of the encroachment of humanity.’ l Dynasties is on BBC1
‘Cubs remain vulnerable for two years’