Smithsonian Channel Doc Spotlights Desert Lions

Smithsonian Channel has slated the new wildlife documentary King of the Desert Lions, which follows the plight of the endangered big cats, for a summer premiere.

King of the Desert Lions follows five male lions for nearly six years, chronicling their lives in Namibia’s desert terrain. It will debut on Wednesday, July 11, at 8 p.m. King of the Desert Lions is produced by Intonature Productions, Boksdocs and Interspot Film for Smithsonian Channel, ORF and ARTE. Will and Lianne Steenkamp produced and directed for Intonature Productions.

Will and Lianne Steenkamp’s first film for the Smithsonian Channel about the endangered desert lions, Desert Warriors: Lions of the Namib, received an Emmy nomination for cinematography, and earlier this year it was recognized with a top award at the Big Cat Film Festival at the United Nations.

“It is quite exceptional for filmmakers to devote so many years of their life to follow any story, especially in such harsh conditions as a desert landscape,” said David Royle, the chief programming officer at Smithsonian Channel. “This is one of those rare and important examples of a film that has made a significant contribution towards saving an endangered species.”