The Lion Man - Season 1 (2009)

Craig, training lion mascot Zion for acting in a commercial, makes unique lunch entertainment. Bengal tigress Shikana has another orange pup, more relaxed now the birthing den was ready. Sampson defends his siring privilege in the pride's cage. Savanah is toppled by Narnia in the lion trio cage. Aslan gets his first walk on a leash.

Craig finally gets an opportunity to legally bid on a white lion pup in South Africa, but must leave in two weeks. Meanwhile tigress Shikana has grown so protective of her pup Sita that only he can still approach her, and binding early is crucial for her training later. The father, white tiger Edhu, also needs his and vet Didier's attention. The Barbary lion cubs come along on a beach walk.

On his expedition to acquire Gandor, a 3-4months old white lion cub, Craig visits the Lions and Rhino Park, near Johannesburg. An, exchange for a white tiger appeals to both zoos chiefs. Craig finds the park well run, Gandor in perfect condition and good-natured.

Craig's cats are quite happy in their daily routine back home, the high-points including feeds. Meanwhile Craig's South African tour continues at White River Cheetah and Rhino Park, where he makes contacts to get involved in breeding the fastest, perfectly adapted feline.

On his South African trip, Craig visits Timbavati park, where ranger Dave's team show him the natural habitat of the African white lions, amidst elephants, rhinos and other wildlife. He proves himself more knowledgeable than the traditionally reputed 'lion queen' dynasty, an abler tracker and animal handler and even the tribal rangers.

Just back from South Africa, Craig bonds again with his 'cats', even Zion is Grumpy having missed his 'dad'. he hopes Abu and Rewa will mate and produce a white tiger cub he can exchange with Ed Hern for a white lion. Since this reality show is on TV, all Whangarei is proud of 'their' rather shy Craig, who returns from his rare night out to check up on tiger Abu's stomach trouble. The park gets ever more visitors, today New Zealand Idol stars Ben and Michael, but will have to close for three months to complete extension phase two.

This season finale recapitulates how Craig and his small staff started his New Zealand endangered big cats park. It overviews how the various felines -Barbary lions and Bengal tigers- fared, individually and/or as cage companions. Special stars are the tigress new mother Shikana and Craig's mascot actor, lion Zion. Finally there's the breading program, and Craig's South African trip to arrange swapping white lion cub Gandor his next white tiger cub.

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