BBC viewers tuning into the first episode of Tiger Island have been left saying the same thing.
The two-part documentary follows two tiger mothers – Goma and Mala – and their young cubs as they hunt and survive on an island in Nepal’s Bardiya National Park.
The series also tracks the sole male tiger in the area, Bandheil, said to be more elusive than his female counterparts. It also features sisters Sushila, Manju, and Ranju Mahatara, specialist tiger guides and expedition leaders at the park who joined the BBC filming crew to guide and advise on shooting.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “Anybody watching Tiger Island on BBC1? These tigers are such majestic creatures. Most probably going to watch the second episode straight after on BBC iPlayer.”
View 3 ImagesThe two-part documentary follows two tiger mothers and their young cubs as they hunt and survive on an island in Nepal’s Bardiya National Park(Image: BBC)
Another added: “The footage is amazing and we’re only 10 minutes into the documentary #tigerisland.” A third person said: “I adore tigers, tigers and leopards are my favourite big cats I think, just beautiful. This documentary looks like it gets never before seen behaviour which is cool #tigerisland.”
Someone else gushed:” This is incredible behaviour to be witnessing #tigerisland.” A fifth agreed: “Wow I’ve not seen this before, where another female tiger cares for another mothers cubs #tigerisland.”
Documentary-maker Dan O’Neill and presenter Anna Dimitriadis previously appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the new programme.
Dan told hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent at the time: “It’s hair-rising being so close to the largest cat in the world but I think it’s also important to say that they are exclusively stalk and ambush hunters so if they are looking at you and you are looking at them, they are far less likely to see you as prey.”
View 3 ImagesBBC viewers loved the rarely-seen footage (Image: BBC)
While filming, Dan and Anna had to learn how to behave while being close to the tigers. Host Anna explained: “Because we’re using drones so much, it meant we could stay at a distance from them, and that’s really important as well because you want to make sure that whatever you’re capturing is them in their most natural, pure form.”
“The drone technology that we were using was incredible because it meant we were able to stick with the tigers and follow them like never before.”
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Talking about filming the series, Anna continued: “People love to watch other people struggle and go through hard times.
“On this series, on the second shoot we were there during monsoon season, it was 40 degree heat, 90% humidity, so we had to adapt the way we work to our tigers’ schedules and essentially become nocturnal because it was just so unworkable in the morning heat.”
The second episode of Tiger Island airs on Sunday, June 14 at 7.15pm