Introducing Disney's leading lions: Intimate photographs show the stars of hit-film African Cats at work, rest and play

By Daily Mail Reporter


Soggy moggies: Some of the stars of Disney's new African Cats movie

Move over Wills and Kate - it's time to meet the real stars behind Disney's African Cats movie.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may have been the star attraction last week when the film's premiere rolled into town - but Paul Goldstein's pictures of the cute kitten-like Kenyan lions and cheetahs show the four-pawed princes and princess now want their turn in the limelight.

The wildlife photographer and Exodus tour guide worked alongside the Disney team in pinpointing the position of the animals on the Masai Mara.


Cute: Tour guide Paul Goldstein worked alongside the Disney team in Kenya, often pinpointing the position of animals on the Masai Mara

Intimate: While the film crew has captured the two featured animal families on film, Paul has shot the animals he knows almost intimately through the lens of his camera

And while the film crew have captured the two featured animal families on film, Paul has shot the animals he knows almost intimately through the lens of his camera.

Paul said: 'I knew a few of the Disney crew anyway and on several occasions we found the cheetah and cubs first and let them know. Their camp was virtually next to mine.'

African Cats is a nature documentary film about several lions and cheetahs trying to survive on the African savannah.

Using real-life footage, it focuses on a mother cheetah named Sita who is raising five newborns, and Fang, the leader of Mara defending his family from a banished lion.


Grubs up: African Cats is a nature documentary film about several lions and cheetahs trying to survive on the African savannah

Reservoir big cats: Using real-life footage, it focuses on a mother cheetah named Sita who is raising five
newborns, and Fang, the leader of Mara defending his family from a banished lion

Paul, 49, is very familiar with the big screen big cats, having shown hundreds of tourists the animals in their natural habitat.

His amazing images of Sita show the close bond between the mother and her cubs.

Atmospheric shots show her huddled together with her offspring as the rain falls.

Paul added: 'There is no giant cat flap on the plains for any cheetah to retreat through during rain.

'She always does the same: sitting it out, her eyes closing momentarily before opening to check for danger, it is often a long and saturated vigil.

'Cubs at this tender age of a few months are very vulnerable, the mum barely ever sleeps.'


Stunning: The amazing images of Sita show the close bond between the mother and her cubs



source: dailymail