NEWS
Big Cats
![A female tiger cools off in the water at the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, India. National Geographic Channel is celebrating these animals with a series called Big Cat Week, which starts Dec. 9.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/tigerdynasty_10-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A female tiger cools off in the water at the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, India. National Geographic Channel is celebrating these animals with a series called Big Cat Week, which starts Dec. 9.
By Aditya Singh, NGC![A wild tigress, Machli, and her three cubs relax in the shade at Ranthambore National Park.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/tigerdynasty_1-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A wild tigress, Machli, and her three cubs relax in the shade at Ranthambore National Park.
By Aditya Singh, NGC![Machli shows her spirit, fighting with 'Star male' at Ranthambhore National Park.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/tigerdynasty_16-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Machli shows her spirit, fighting with 'Star male' at Ranthambhore National Park.
By Dhritiman Mukerjee, NGC![Trapper Boone Smith examines snow leopard paw prints in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/snowleopardofafghanistan_3-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Trapper Boone Smith examines snow leopard paw prints in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
NGC![Wildlife Veterinarian Stephane Ostrowski checks the tranquilized snow leopard's vital signs in Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/snowleopardofafghanistan_15-3_4.jpg?width=496&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Wildlife Veterinarian Stephane Ostrowski checks the tranquilized snow leopard's vital signs in Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.
Wildlife Conservation Society/NGC![A Wildlife Conservation Society team member examines the tranquilized snow leopard's teeth.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/snowleopardofafghanistan_16-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A Wildlife Conservation Society team member examines the tranquilized snow leopard's teeth.
Wildlife Conservation Society/NGC![A group of young cheetahs feeds on an animal in the Serengeti.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/cheetahfatalinstinct_3-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A group of young cheetahs feeds on an animal in the Serengeti.
By Reinhard Radke, Naturfilm/NGC![A cheetah encounters a giraffe in the Serengeti. A friendly neighbor, giraffes can't harm cheetahs but buffaloes are a real threat to the cats.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/cheetahfatalinstinct_10-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A cheetah encounters a giraffe in the Serengeti. A friendly neighbor, giraffes can't harm cheetahs but buffaloes are a real threat to the cats.
By Reinhard Radke, Naturfilm/NGC![Lion cub Moja stretches in a tree.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/bornpredator_lions_12_fightforlife-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Lion cub Moja stretches in a tree.
By Sophie Darlington, NGC![Lion cub Moja sits with his mother after a feeding.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/bornpredator_lions_10_fightforlife-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Lion cub Moja sits with his mother after a feeding.
By Natasha Breed, NGC![Notch, one of the Masai Mara lions from the National Geographic Channel show 'Planet Earth Live.'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/bornpredator_lions_1_fightforlife-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=371&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Notch, one of the Masai Mara lions from the National Geographic Channel show 'Planet Earth Live.'
By Jackson Looseyia, NGC![Lioness Nyota watches for prey from atop an acacia tree.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/06/bornpredator_lions_15_fightforlife-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Lioness Nyota watches for prey from atop an acacia tree.
By Sophie Darlington, NGCFeatured Weekly Ad