Dave Salmoni Walks INTO THE PRIDE to Save Magnificent Lions Marked for Death

Dave Salmoni Walks INTO THE PRIDE to Save Magnificent Lions Marked for Death

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Animal Planet’s large predator expert Dave Salmoni embarks on the most transformative mission of his life — and also the most relevant one. Leaving the city life of Toronto, Salmoni heads deep into the Namibian bush to spend six months — ALONE — among a pride of lions and the diverse and often deadly wildlife in Africa. His mission is twofold — to return to his wild roots and to head INTO THE PRIDE to save a rogue pride of lions from elimination.

After spending much time in the “urban jungle” as a host and executive producer, Salmoni is given the ultimate opportunity to reconnect with two of his lasting passions — the serenity and solitude of living in the wild and his love of big cats, particularly lions.

Premiering Thursday, August 13, at 8 PM as a five-part series, INTO THE PRIDE takes viewers along with Salmoni on a tenuous journey — accompanied by a camera crew by day and completely alone once darkness falls. Setting up camp deep within Namibia’s Erindi Private Game Reserve, Salmoni spends each solitary night while African game roam through his campground. He awakes early each and every morning determined to get closer and closer to the lions he’s trying to save.

INTO THE PRIDE extends far beyond Salmoni’s personal journey. As their last chance for survival, Salmoni must help a pride of “problem lions” learn to accept humans and support the growing eco-tourism in the area. These cats, transplanted from the largest national park in Namibia, are known for cattle raiding and aggression toward humans; if they don’t calm down, they will be destroyed. Salmoni’s challenge is immediate; he’ll need to get as close to the lions as possible — dangerously close. INTO THE PRIDE follows Salmoni as he heads straight into the fray to ingratiate himself among the lions and become the first human they can trust. It’s an emotional journey told through Salmoni’s compelling personal narrative as he attempts to forge a relationship with every lion, from Brutus, the dominant male, to Rough and Tumble, the youngest cubs.

Dave Salmoni & "friend"

Dave Salmoni & "friend"

INTO THE PRIDE is just as much about the man as it is about the beasts that he encounters. The series tests all of Salmoni’s experience and knowledge as a zoologist and large predator expert as he risks everything — including his life and the safety of his TV crew. The experience will change him every bit as much as it changes the lions. Watch to see if the two species can harmoniously share the land they both depend on for survival.

Additional INTO THE PRIDE information and special features are available on the Animal Planet at http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dave-salmoni/dave-salmoni.html. Salmoni’s Twitter site is http://twitter.com/davesalmoni.

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5 Responses to “Dave Salmoni Walks INTO THE PRIDE to Save Magnificent Lions Marked for Death”

  1. Catherine

    17. Aug, 2009

    i think its good that hes doing it to save the lions.but i also think we as human beings should leave well enough alone.we have no business messing with mother nature.and messing with wild animals.they are wild and they will remain that way WILD.thats why people get bit.because we dont leave mother nature alone.they are not beast as we know them to be.they have to survive to just like us.they have to eat 4 times a day.imagine.we not having no food source.and be starving for days.how wolud you feel.thats what we need to stop and think about before we start killing wild animales.they never done anything to deserve this they are inocent as far as im concerned.LEAVE WILD ANIMALS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Barbara Weher

    21. Sep, 2009

    Catherine, did you LISTEN to the show? The reason these lions were moved (and Dave worked with them) was because their home territory was already near humans They were already preying on livestock, one step away from hunting humans, Either one will get them killed.

    Families in those areas often live on LESS THAN $! A DAY. Their houses have no running water or electricity. People still go hungry, get diseases we’ve forgotten about. They need to farm to live. If a grandmother dies by being eaten by a lion, they hurt just as much as you would if yours was killed by a car.

    If you want to help the lions, you have to help the people too. Dave is part of the solution, but dealing with messy human politics and hard decisions, is essential too. (If you think you are “protecting” wild animals because you live in a city, with so much safe drinking water you use it to flush toilets, and get all your food at supermarkets, think harder.)

  3. catherine

    20. Dec, 2009

    WHO CARES WE AS PEOPLE NEED TO LEAVE THE WILDLIFE ALONE.I GUESS THAT PEOPLE DONT CARE.AT ALL. ABOUT THE WILDLIFE.WELL I SURE AS HECK DO.WE NEED TO LEAVE THEM ALONRE.PERIOD.NO QUESTIONS ASKED.AND IT DOESENT MATTER WHERE I LIVE I GOT A HOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH ME ON MY OPINION.AND IM STICKING TO IT.AND HES PART OF THE PROBLEM ALSO.AND I AM THINKING.ABOUT THE WILDLIFE.U R PROBABLY NO.I CARE IF A speces of animals is gone.well i do.and like i said i got a hole bunch of people to back me up.

  4. Alex

    08. Apr, 2010

    It’s awesome that Dave is socializing with the pride..getting to know each of the lions personalities of each member of the pride especially the male lion. Lions have been my favorite animal for ages and seeing what Dave does and how he socialises with the lions now makes me want to go out to africa when im older and do what he does with lions…doesnt matter if hes messing with mother nature..we do things all the time to mother nature sure its bad and sometimes good but on these ocassions its good what hes doing..people get bit because they approach and think that lions are man eating carnivores but there not if you do such things to them to get them angry no one will get hurt if only the humans do the right things when around a lion!! Dave Salmoni the best!!!

  5. don

    05. Aug, 2010

    Catherine…u should stop thinking of Ur self and think about the animals also..by ur words its seems to know that u r mean..we have to protect our wildlife..i am a trainer of lions and i have the responsibility of keeping then good..u don’t have any right ot say about it.. u don’t care.but some people care ..you should watch my friend Dave salmoni he is good…he is training those lions which were kicked out of the national park because of their behavior .

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