BBC’s Dynasties film crew ‘absolutely devastated’ after lions POISONED by farmers with toxic meat
But heartbreak is just around the corner when the crew discover the lions have been poisoned by Kenyan farmers
HEARTBREAK seems to be reigning supreme in David Attenborough and the BBC's new Dynasties documentary series - this time it's the Kenyan Masai Mara lions.
The BBC's camera crews have embarked on the most ambitious filming of the famous Marsh Pride ever attempted.
But they were left devastated by the discovery that local farmers had used toxic meat in a bid to protect their cattle that graze in the protected territory.
The revelation came after the initial distress of seeing the pride's adult males abandon them, leaving lioness Charm and another female to do all the hunting and protect their eight young.
Sophie Darlington, a camerawoman on the programme, said the crew were left "absolutely devastated" by the poisoning, which affects most of the pride.
Sophie said: "We were all incredibly sad – it was so out of our control. There was nothing anyone could do.
“There have been days where I’ve seen things that break your heart and, of course, you do get upset.”
Sunday night's viewers will see flying squad vets swoop in by helicopter in a bid to save the lions worst affected by the poisoning.
The outcome will be revealed at the end of tomorrow night's show. The incident highlights how humans and wildlife are in a battle over territory in Africa.
“The poisoning is brutal and heart-breaking – but it’s important to know all these animals don’t live in a chocolate-box environment,” Sophie said.
“There’s just not enough space or wilderness in the world and... lions are in desperate trouble... So I’m glad that this brings that to light.”
The fresh misery on the next episode follows the devastating moment a colony of Emperor penguins were forced to ditch one of its young in order to save the mum's life.
Lions are an endangered species, with numbers dropping by half, to around 20,000, in the past 20 years. In Kenya, just 2,000 remain, with the population falling by around 100 every year.
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Dynasties producer Mike Gunton said: “Their lives are tough enough as it is, but there’s that extra lever that’s making their lives a little bit too tough.
"That, in a way, is the whole point. Every single day something like this could happen... It’s like Game of Thrones.”
- Dynasties is on BBC One TONIGHT at 8pm.