Bradt green prints: if using four colour - C100 M10 Y100 K0
Programme
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Saturday 13th April 2019 Royal Geographical Society
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Welcome to the Bradt Travel Guides Big Cat Festival 2019 – the only event of its type in the UK (and quite possibly the world!). The feedback from last year’s inaugural festival was so positive that we just had to run it again. Bradt is well-known for its coverage of nature, both in the travel and wildlife guides. And in recent years we’ve published several ‘literary’ titles focused on big cats specifically, from Jonathan Scott’s autobiography The Big Cat Man to Princess Michael’s A Cheetah’s Tale. The newest addition to the list is Christian the Lion: The Illustrated Legacy, which tells the amazing story of how John Rendall and Ace Bourke bought a lion from Harrod’s in the 1960s, raised it in a flat in London, and eventually released it to the plains of Kenya. Footage of John and Ace’s reunion with Christian – who was now a wild lion with his own pride – became one of YouTube’s most-viewed clips. The new book features stunning, never-before-seen photos by Derek Cattani. John and Derek are here at the festival, of course, and will be talking about the lion behind the story. We’re delighted also to be joined by Chris Packham, who will be contributing to three different sessions during the day, as well as presenting a signed canvas of his favourite photo to the winner of our Big Cat Festival Photographer of the Year. Alongside him on the billing is a stellar line-up of leading broadcasters, authors, photographers and conservationists, all of whom have spent their lives immersed in the world of big cats. As well as the main talks in the Ondaatje Theatre, there are smaller break-out presentations in the Education Centre, and book signings in the hall. You’ll find a bar in the Map Room! I’d like to thank our good friend Paul Goldstein and Exodus Travels for joining us as headline sponsor for the second year, as well as our other sponsors – AfriCat, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Visit Uganda and Zambia Tourism – without whom the event simply wouldn’t have been possible. They each have a stand in the Hall upstairs, and have provided a few exclusive festival offers which you’ll find in your goodie bags when you leave (along with a free copy of Bradt’s The Leopard’s Tale). Thank you for choosing to spend your Saturday with us at the Big Cat Festival. We very much hope you’ll enjoy the programme.
Adrian Phillips Managing Director, Bradt Travel Guides
PROGRAMME Ondaatje Theatre 10.45 Big Cat Conservation in Tanzania and Beyond Amy Dickman Dr Amy Dickman is a National Geographic Explorer, and the founder and Director of Tanzania’s Ruaha Carnivore Project. She will discuss the complexities of conserving large, dangerous species alongside extremely poor people, and will showcase the work being done to protect big cats and improve the lives of local people in Ruaha and beyond.
11.30 Christian the Lion John Rendall & Derek Cattani in conversation with Adrian Phillips Christian the lion cub was bought by John Rendall from Harrod’s in 1969, raised in a flat in London, and later successfully released into the wild. The video of John’s emotional reunion with Christian in Africa became one of the most-watched clips ever on YouTube. John and photographer Derek Cattani – who documented Christian’s life – speak to Bradt MD Adrian Phillips about the remarkable story, and show some of the stunning images from their new book about Christian.
12.15 Safer on the Moon? Chris Packham “I doubt whether there is a single safe enclave left on Earth for the tiger. Maybe we should take all the charitable funds spent on conservation and send the last few to the moon.” In the keynote talk of the day, Chris Packham outlines some harsh realities faced by conservationists and opens a pragmatic but hopeful discussion about the future.
14.00 Telling the Story: Tales from behind the scenes of a big cat shoot Tania Esteban What goes into making a natural history documentary? How do blockbuster series such as Big Cats captivate our attention? Tania Esteban reveals it’s all about the story. She shows how initial research, storyboarding and scriptwriting combine with filming, post-production editing, colour grading and music to tell powerful stories. She also demonstrates the effects made possible by the latest technology: gimbals, drones and timelapse photography.
PROGRAMME 14.45 My Life with Lions Brian Jackman Brian Jackman is a veteran journalist and author with a lifelong passion for travel and wildlife. For 20 years he worked for The Sunday Times, and although his travels have taken him around the world he is best known as Britain’s foremost writer on wildlife safaris. Brian has spent more than three years under canvas in the bush and has gathered up a lifetime of close encounters with Africa’s big cats to share with you.
15.30 Cats from the Cradle Paul Goldstein Photographer and guide Paul Goldstein has had a lifelong obsession with big cats that has led him into some ridiculous and frustrating situations as he tries to capture THAT image. He shares some of the pitfalls for the budding wildlife photographer, as well as some of his best (and worst) pictures.
16.00 So You Think You’re a Big Cat Photographer? Chris Packham & Paul Goldstein Chris Packham joins Paul Goldstein on stage for a no-holds-barred critique of each other’s big cat pictures. They will then offer their opinions on some of the best entries to the Big Cat Festival photography competition.
16.30 The Big Cat Festival Photographer of the Year is announced The lucky winner will take home signed canvases of Chris Packham and Paul Goldsteins’s favourite pictures, plus £500 of Exodus Travels vouchers.
16.45 Big Cats: The Future? HRH Princess Michael of Kent & Jane Galton (Cheetah Conservation Fund), Chris Packham & Carey Widdows (AfriCat), chaired by Adrian Phillips Who is doing what to preserve our favourite species? Will lions and cheetahs still roam free when the 22nd century rolls around? Bradt MD Adrian Phillips chairs a panel discussion about the future of big cats in the wild, and the inspiring and creative work of two big cat charities in Namibia. The panel includes charity patrons Chris Packham and HRH Princess Michael of Kent (who, as a teenager, raised an orphaned cheetah cub for release to the wild and has been a champion of big cat conservation ever since).
Bradt green prints: if using four colour - C100 M10 Y100 K0 if using spot colour - pms 355u
PROGRAMME Education Centre
11.30 Big Cats on Film: Everything you wanted to know about working as a wildlife filmmaker but were too scared to ask Tania Esteban A practical Q&A on how to get your start in wildlife documentaries. What are the different roles? What skill sets are necessary? How do you go about creating your own portfolio? What qualifications and work experience will you need? An invaluable opportunity to put questions to someone working in the field.
13.00 Loved to Death: Do animal lovers pose a bigger threat to lions than trophy hunters? Amy Dickman Dr Amy Dickman hosts an intentionally provocative, interactive discussion, encouraging people to challenge their pre-conceptions regarding emotive issues such as trophy hunting, and consider the deeper issues behind lion decline, the role of local people and the challenges of co-existence.
14.00 Jaguars of the Pantanal Lyn Hughes A ranch in Brazil’s southern Pantanal now has a 99% success rate for viewing jaguars. Lyn Hughes, cofounder of Wanderlust magazine, gives an insight into a conservation success story.
Book signings 12.00 John Rendall & Derek Cattani will be signing copies of Christian the Lion: The Illustrated Legacy in the Hall 13.30 Hilary Bradt will be signing copies of Beastly Journeys in the Hall 15.30 Brian Jackman will be signing copies of The Marsh Lions in the Hall 17.30 HRH Princess Michael of Kent will be signing copies of A Cheetah’s Tale in the Ondaatje Theatre
Bradt green prints: if using four colour - C100 M10 Y100 K0 if using spot colour - pms 355u
Bradt green prints: if using four colour - C100 M10 Y100 K0 if using spot colour - pms 355u
FAQs
Q Where can I collect my pre-ordered lunch? A Lunches, which must have been pre-ordered in advance of the festival,
can be collected from the bar in the Map Room. The bar will also have snacks and drinks available to purchase throughout the day.
Q How long will the talks last? A The talks in the Ondaatje Theatre will last between 30 and 45 minutes,
including time for questions. The sessions in the Education Centre will last 30 minutes. Please note, space in the Education Centre is limited so entry to talks there is offered on a first come first served basis.
Q What is there to do at the festival other than talks? A You can visit the Hall and Map Room where we have exhibitor stands,
and an art exhibition by Jonathan Truss. There will be plenty of time between the talks and breakout sessions to visit these.
Q Can I leave and re-enter? A Of course! Please see the front desk staff for a wristband if you are
planning on re-entering the venue.
Q Where do I collect my goodie bag? A These will be available for collection when you exit the event. If you have any other questions please visit the Bradt Travel Guides stand in the Hall, where someone will be able to help you.
Don’t forget to visit the
Bradt Travel Guides bookshop, located in the Hall. Here are just a few of the titles available to purchase:
Bradt green prints:
Bradt green prints:
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if using four colour - C100 M10 Y100 K0 if using spot colour - pms 355u