Crew Almost Felt 'the Breath of the Lion'

May 18, 2008 — -- On the Serengeti in Eastern Africa, lions rule.

Amid the zebra, wildebeest, rhinoceroses, gazelles and cheetahs roaming nearly 11,500 square miles of Tanzanian and Kenyan plains, mountains and forests, lions raise their young, hunt their prey and feed on their kill.

"I see the Serengeti as a place that exists as if humankind never did," wildlife photographer and independent film producer Andy B. Casagrande IV told ABC News. "You walk through there and it's as if you're in another world. It's definitely the animal kingdom."

Yet Casagrande, 30, spent over three months there.

One of the world's premier wildlife photographers, Casagrande lived in the middle of lion territory for some 13 weeks, documenting the lives of one of Africa's largest prides, or groups, of lions -- a "superpride," consisting of two adult males, eight full-grown lionesses and 12 cubs. He and his team shot their material for a National Geographic special that will air tonight.

Also, watch ABC News' report on the special tonight on "World News." Check your local listings for air time.

"I very much prefer filming animals over people," Casagrande told ABC News. "I feel that most animals are at a disadvantage against the superhuman species. So if anyone's going to be on their team I'd like it to be me and other conservationists."

The Serengeti is not an easy place to work, and this wasn't an assignment for the faint of heart.

Unlike traditional wildlife photographers who use mostly long lenses and keep a safe distance from the animals they film, Casagrande and his team got close to their subjects.

"People want you to be right up there in the action," said Casagrande. "So we get as close as we possibly can without interfering with the animal's natural behavior."

At times, that meant getting within 10 feet of the ferocious felines.

"You could … almost feel the breath of the lion on your hands as you're filming them," Casagrande said. "We had a few times when we got growls from the lions. It just let us know, 'Hey, this is our kill. Back off.' And we would stand our ground and stay where we were."