CHENNAI: If you’re looking to slow down this weekend, these wildlife documentaries streaming on discovery+ offer an immersive look at forests, grasslands and remote habitats. The following titles follow predators, conservation efforts and rewilding projects through close, patient observation.
Set in Jaipur’s Jhalana forest, Leopard Dynasty: The Rise of Rana follows the life of a young male leopard. The narrative centres on a rare power struggle between Rana and his father Bahadur, while another leopard, Flora, adds tension to the shifting hierarchy of the forest. Directed by wildlife filmmaker Aishwarya Sridhar, the documentary uses intimate footage and Indian-rooted music to portray how leopards mark territory, defend space and adapt to a changing landscape.
Filmed across several of India’s prominent tiger reserves, Project Tiger looks beyond the animals to the people working to protect them. The documentary captures patrol routines, habitat management and the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife coexistence. By focusing on sustained conservation efforts, it presents a grounded view of what it takes to keep tiger populations thriving.
Rise of Jaguars turns its lens on one of the Americas’ most formidable predators. Shot across dense forests, wetlands and river systems, the film documents how jaguars hunt, travel and survive in demanding terrains. With patient camerawork and close observation, it portrays the jaguar as both a powerful hunter and a species facing vulnerability.
Narrated by David Attenborough, Mammals explores how species endure in environments ranging from frozen polar regions to humid jungles. Each episode highlights different groups of mammals and the traits that enable them to adapt from intelligence and cooperation to physical endurance. The series balances scientific clarity with unhurried storytelling.
Return of the Cheetah follows India’s ambitious effort to reintroduce cheetahs after decades of absence. The documentary tracks the animals as they adjust to unfamiliar terrain, relearn hunting patterns and navigate new ecological challenges. It frames conservation as a gradual, evolving process shaped by patience, research and uncertainty.