The Last Lions (2011)

The Last Lions: Directed by Dereck Joubert. With Jeremy Irons. Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion’s pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened “big cats,” tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make. And when one takes into account the fact that big cats are at the very top of the food chain-and that their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them, causing a complete ecosystem collapse-the need takes on a supreme urgency.

“man!i was spell bound to watch the motherhood of these iconic animals.firstly the direction of the scenes was spine chilling,raise your hands to the only mother lion who takes survival and courage to a whole new transition. my salutes to the filmmakers who made shot these fantastic story . last but not the least a huge cheers to the narration and background score.then there one question that pops in my mind.could we humans do a bit more for helping these gigantic creatures by providing enough space for them to freely inculcate the natures beauty and save our mother earth.together we all can. 10/10 from me with out a doubt.”