1 00:00:07,007 --> 00:00:09,551 - [birds chirping] - [animal coos] 2 00:00:09,635 --> 00:00:14,348 [narrator] The birth of a baby animal is always special. 3 00:00:14,431 --> 00:00:16,725 - [birds chirping] - [purring] 4 00:00:16,808 --> 00:00:19,478 But for those on the brink of extinction, 5 00:00:20,437 --> 00:00:21,813 every new life… 6 00:00:21,897 --> 00:00:24,399 - [exhales] - …brings hope. 7 00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:26,026 [chirping] 8 00:00:26,109 --> 00:00:28,445 Six endangered youngsters 9 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:31,240 raised in our world… 10 00:00:31,323 --> 00:00:32,698 [meowing] 11 00:00:32,783 --> 00:00:36,078 …are on the journey of a lifetime… 12 00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:37,454 [man] Follow me. 13 00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:38,914 [narrator] …back to theirs. 14 00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:41,959 Are you inquisitive? Yeah. 15 00:00:42,501 --> 00:00:44,545 [narrator] But they can't do it on their own. 16 00:00:44,962 --> 00:00:46,213 He lost his mother. 17 00:00:47,214 --> 00:00:48,799 - [elephant snorts] - [hisses] 18 00:00:48,882 --> 00:00:52,719 [narrator] With human foster parents helping them on their way… 19 00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:55,931 [man] You don't need to be scared, I'm here with you. 20 00:00:56,014 --> 00:00:56,849 [bear whines] 21 00:00:56,932 --> 00:01:01,395 [narrator] …can these little ones help save their species… 22 00:01:01,478 --> 00:01:04,188 [woman] If you love something, you have to let it go. 23 00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:09,027 [narrator] …and return to the wild? 24 00:01:11,655 --> 00:01:13,574 [orchestral swell] 25 00:01:15,576 --> 00:01:17,828 [woman vocalizing, music climaxes] 26 00:01:19,454 --> 00:01:22,499 [dramatic drumroll] 27 00:01:23,083 --> 00:01:24,710 [birds tweeting] 28 00:01:26,712 --> 00:01:29,423 [narrator] In a wildlife center in South Africa… 29 00:01:31,466 --> 00:01:33,635 a cheetah mum has given birth… 30 00:01:34,595 --> 00:01:35,679 [purring] 31 00:01:35,762 --> 00:01:38,015 …to some very special cubs. 32 00:01:39,892 --> 00:01:43,020 - [birds tweeting] - [cubs chirping] 33 00:01:43,103 --> 00:01:45,939 [sprightly music playing] 34 00:01:46,356 --> 00:01:48,192 [cubs squeaking and chittering] 35 00:01:48,275 --> 00:01:50,068 [narrator] Not just one or two. 36 00:01:52,237 --> 00:01:53,322 But six. 37 00:01:53,405 --> 00:01:55,407 [purring] 38 00:01:58,827 --> 00:01:59,953 [chirps] 39 00:02:01,079 --> 00:02:01,914 [chirps] 40 00:02:01,997 --> 00:02:06,710 Cheetahs are Africa's most endangered big cats. 41 00:02:08,377 --> 00:02:10,756 [purring] 42 00:02:10,839 --> 00:02:14,009 That's why these little ones are so precious. 43 00:02:15,427 --> 00:02:19,181 Especially for Petro Van Eden who runs the center. 44 00:02:20,557 --> 00:02:22,434 [Petro] It's a huge moment when they are born. 45 00:02:23,143 --> 00:02:25,521 And it's always a very exciting time for us. 46 00:02:26,063 --> 00:02:28,649 It's quite amazing to see these guys. 47 00:02:29,816 --> 00:02:32,569 They've got these brown, soulful eyes. 48 00:02:32,945 --> 00:02:35,072 You can see the warmth in their eyes. 49 00:02:35,697 --> 00:02:39,660 [narrator] Petro hopes one day these cubs will be released into the wild. 50 00:02:40,869 --> 00:02:42,704 [Petro] Are you coming to say hello? 51 00:02:42,788 --> 00:02:44,081 Are you inquisitive? 52 00:02:45,707 --> 00:02:47,459 [narrator] Part of an amazing project 53 00:02:48,252 --> 00:02:52,297 to return cheetahs to parts of Africa they've been lost from. 54 00:02:55,592 --> 00:02:56,927 Over the last century, 55 00:02:57,344 --> 00:03:02,891 numbers have dropped from around 100,000 to just 7,000. 56 00:03:04,351 --> 00:03:05,394 One reason? 57 00:03:05,727 --> 00:03:08,689 As farms replaced their old hunting grounds, 58 00:03:09,106 --> 00:03:12,568 cheetahs were seen as a threat to livestock and killed. 59 00:03:14,528 --> 00:03:16,446 [dramatic music playing] 60 00:03:16,530 --> 00:03:20,909 Today, the world's fastest land animal is running out of time. 61 00:03:20,993 --> 00:03:23,412 [music slows and fades] 62 00:03:26,957 --> 00:03:29,042 So every cub counts. 63 00:03:31,545 --> 00:03:34,298 But getting a baby cheetah ready for the wild 64 00:03:34,381 --> 00:03:36,175 can take up to two years. 65 00:03:37,259 --> 00:03:38,093 [meows] 66 00:03:39,094 --> 00:03:42,014 First, there's cheetah nursery with Petro. 67 00:03:43,473 --> 00:03:45,475 Here, they must build their strength. 68 00:03:46,727 --> 00:03:49,062 And learn how to climb and chase. 69 00:03:49,146 --> 00:03:51,440 What are you going to do? [chuckles] 70 00:03:52,608 --> 00:03:54,318 [narrator] If they can crack that, 71 00:03:56,069 --> 00:03:58,572 they'll be off to big cat college… 72 00:03:59,072 --> 00:04:00,365 - [cheetah hisses] - Hey, guys. 73 00:04:00,449 --> 00:04:02,659 [narrator] …where cheetah expert, Marna Smit… 74 00:04:02,743 --> 00:04:03,577 [hisses] 75 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:05,913 …will teach them the most important skill of all. 76 00:04:07,122 --> 00:04:08,540 How to hunt. 77 00:04:09,625 --> 00:04:14,546 Only when they can do this, will they be released into the wild. 78 00:04:19,968 --> 00:04:24,431 With the six newborns, Petro's got her work cut out. 79 00:04:24,515 --> 00:04:26,683 Every day is an adventure to be honest, 80 00:04:26,767 --> 00:04:29,019 because you really don't know what you're going to get. 81 00:04:29,102 --> 00:04:29,937 [chatter] 82 00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:32,189 [narrator] She leads a team of 19 people. 83 00:04:32,689 --> 00:04:33,899 [speaking Afrikaans] 84 00:04:35,025 --> 00:04:37,194 [chattering in Afrikaans] 85 00:04:37,277 --> 00:04:39,279 [Petro] Have everybody heard we have cubs? 86 00:04:39,363 --> 00:04:41,031 - [chatter] - [Petro] Yes! 87 00:04:41,698 --> 00:04:43,075 It looks like they're all healthy. 88 00:04:43,492 --> 00:04:46,245 So we'll just keep an eye on them, make sure they get enough food, 89 00:04:46,328 --> 00:04:47,871 that Mum is okay. 90 00:04:47,955 --> 00:04:50,415 But, um, really happy that we've got cubs. 91 00:04:50,499 --> 00:04:51,416 [scattered chuckles] 92 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:54,628 All right, good. Have a good day and then we'll chat again later. 93 00:04:54,711 --> 00:04:56,588 - [all chattering] - Thank you, guys. 94 00:04:56,672 --> 00:04:58,298 [cheetahs hissing] 95 00:04:58,841 --> 00:05:01,802 [narrator] Together, they look after rescued cheetahs… 96 00:05:01,885 --> 00:05:03,637 - It's fine. - Yeah, it's fine. 97 00:05:04,096 --> 00:05:06,932 [narrator] …and some resident cats that were born here. 98 00:05:09,268 --> 00:05:13,272 Those adults are really important to the survival of the species. 99 00:05:14,606 --> 00:05:19,820 [narrator] Carefully bred, these are the perfect cheetah mums and dads. 100 00:05:20,696 --> 00:05:23,949 We do a bit of matchmaking by selecting parents 101 00:05:24,032 --> 00:05:26,743 that we know have healthy offspring. 102 00:05:26,827 --> 00:05:30,747 [narrator] Without these pedigree parents, it would be impossible 103 00:05:30,831 --> 00:05:34,960 to breed the next generation of young cubs for the wild. 104 00:05:35,043 --> 00:05:36,044 [bird hoots] 105 00:05:43,051 --> 00:05:47,848 It's been four days since the youngsters first stepped out of their den. 106 00:05:49,516 --> 00:05:50,893 And they're growing fast… 107 00:05:50,976 --> 00:05:51,977 [purring] 108 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:55,606 …each drinking half a pint of their mother's milk a day. 109 00:05:56,190 --> 00:05:59,359 You can hear her say, "Okay, guys. There's enough for everyone." 110 00:06:00,235 --> 00:06:03,363 Our aim is to keep them with Mum for as long as possible. 111 00:06:04,031 --> 00:06:06,700 Because Mum installs that wild instinct. 112 00:06:08,202 --> 00:06:12,748 [narrator] Like all newborn cheetahs, they have silvery baby fur, 113 00:06:13,373 --> 00:06:15,751 which will grow out after three months. 114 00:06:17,336 --> 00:06:19,087 [birds chirping] 115 00:06:19,171 --> 00:06:20,297 Right from the start, 116 00:06:20,380 --> 00:06:24,384 Petro's looking out for any little ones that are particularly bold. 117 00:06:27,804 --> 00:06:29,556 Whilst most snooze, 118 00:06:30,807 --> 00:06:34,353 two brothers the team have named Kabo and Khumo… 119 00:06:35,103 --> 00:06:36,813 - [squeaks] - …are on the move. 120 00:06:37,189 --> 00:06:38,482 - [chirping] - [Petro chuckles] 121 00:06:38,565 --> 00:06:40,234 The adventurous ones. 122 00:06:41,860 --> 00:06:44,947 We can see their little different personalities developing. 123 00:06:46,782 --> 00:06:48,450 [narrator] Kabo is braver. 124 00:06:49,826 --> 00:06:52,579 And Khumo, slightly more skittish. 125 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,081 [meows] 126 00:06:55,415 --> 00:06:57,626 But they go everywhere together. 127 00:06:58,627 --> 00:07:01,129 [Petro] You want them to make a close bond with a sibling 128 00:07:01,213 --> 00:07:02,714 that they can continue with. 129 00:07:03,841 --> 00:07:08,679 [narrator] In the wild, brothers that stick together are more likely to survive. 130 00:07:11,807 --> 00:07:12,724 [chirping] 131 00:07:12,808 --> 00:07:17,145 Right now, these two just seem intent on playing up. 132 00:07:19,356 --> 00:07:20,232 [tiny growl] 133 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,610 Naughty boy. [chuckles] 134 00:07:24,653 --> 00:07:26,405 [growls] 135 00:07:27,573 --> 00:07:28,907 [narrator] Mischief over. 136 00:07:30,325 --> 00:07:32,953 Time for their first life lesson. 137 00:07:33,996 --> 00:07:35,455 - Climbing. - [meows] 138 00:07:36,915 --> 00:07:39,418 Adventurous Kabo takes the lead. 139 00:07:40,127 --> 00:07:44,381 When they get to this point, they think that they are little leopards. 140 00:07:45,883 --> 00:07:50,262 [narrator] In the wild, climbing trees helps cheetahs search for prey. 141 00:07:56,852 --> 00:07:59,104 But their claws are meant for running, 142 00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:02,316 so aren't as sharp as other cats. 143 00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:07,154 Which makes getting down… 144 00:08:11,742 --> 00:08:13,118 - …tricky. - [meows] 145 00:08:16,371 --> 00:08:17,372 [cub chirps] 146 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:24,546 [small meows] 147 00:08:25,130 --> 00:08:26,924 Not a bad first attempt. 148 00:08:28,967 --> 00:08:32,429 But this is one of the skills they'll need to master 149 00:08:32,513 --> 00:08:35,557 before they can move on from cheetah nursery. 150 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:36,725 [purrs] 151 00:08:41,855 --> 00:08:43,857 [chittering] 152 00:08:48,654 --> 00:08:51,281 Petro can't get too close to the cubs. 153 00:08:53,158 --> 00:08:55,702 Because cheetahs that become used to people 154 00:08:55,786 --> 00:08:57,871 lose their wild instincts. 155 00:08:59,039 --> 00:09:00,332 Hello… [speaks Afrikaans] 156 00:09:01,124 --> 00:09:03,585 [narrator] And must spend their lives in captivity. 157 00:09:03,669 --> 00:09:05,754 [cooing] Oh, hi there. 158 00:09:07,130 --> 00:09:08,715 [purring] 159 00:09:08,799 --> 00:09:11,176 [Petro] They can be fierce when they need to be, 160 00:09:11,260 --> 00:09:13,095 but they have such gentle souls, 161 00:09:13,178 --> 00:09:15,472 and I think that is what gets me about cheetah always. 162 00:09:15,556 --> 00:09:16,390 [purring loudly] 163 00:09:16,473 --> 00:09:20,018 [narrator] This male had a very different start in life to the cubs. 164 00:09:20,102 --> 00:09:21,228 [purring continues] 165 00:09:21,311 --> 00:09:23,063 [Petro] This cheetah was hand raised, 166 00:09:23,146 --> 00:09:25,607 so he doesn't have that natural fear for humans 167 00:09:25,691 --> 00:09:28,068 like what Mum would install in her cubs. 168 00:09:28,151 --> 00:09:30,112 - [purring] - [Petro] He finds us to be his friends 169 00:09:30,195 --> 00:09:31,697 and therefore you cannot release him 170 00:09:31,780 --> 00:09:34,241 because he will always revert back to humans. 171 00:09:34,324 --> 00:09:36,910 And that can be a very dangerous situation. 172 00:09:37,369 --> 00:09:39,663 [narrator] Cheetahs that aren't scared of people 173 00:09:39,746 --> 00:09:42,666 can be seen as a threat and could be killed. 174 00:09:44,251 --> 00:09:47,254 [Petro] That is why it is important for Khumo and Kabo 175 00:09:47,337 --> 00:09:49,173 not to have any interaction 176 00:09:49,256 --> 00:09:51,049 so that they can run free in the wild. 177 00:09:53,635 --> 00:09:56,346 [birds twitter in distance] 178 00:09:58,515 --> 00:09:59,641 [narrator] One week later, 179 00:10:00,851 --> 00:10:03,312 and the two brothers are still proving to be… 180 00:10:04,354 --> 00:10:06,648 - a bit of a handful. - [growls, squeaks] 181 00:10:06,732 --> 00:10:07,566 [chuckles] 182 00:10:07,649 --> 00:10:10,986 [narrator] Now Petro's keen to see if these little fluff balls 183 00:10:11,069 --> 00:10:12,946 have got a killer instinct. 184 00:10:13,906 --> 00:10:17,951 We want them to be mimicking what they would be practicing eventually 185 00:10:18,035 --> 00:10:19,077 when they are hunting. 186 00:10:19,578 --> 00:10:20,829 In the wild, when they hunt, 187 00:10:20,913 --> 00:10:23,957 they would be tripping the prey with that little back paw. 188 00:10:25,292 --> 00:10:27,377 [narrator] As the others hang out with Mum, 189 00:10:31,173 --> 00:10:33,383 Kabo's sizing something up. 190 00:10:36,178 --> 00:10:37,179 His brother, 191 00:10:38,096 --> 00:10:39,097 Khumo. 192 00:10:40,849 --> 00:10:44,686 They're learning to trip their prey. But, you know, in a playful way. 193 00:10:46,355 --> 00:10:47,189 [meows] 194 00:10:47,272 --> 00:10:50,609 [narrator] This technique is known as a paw slap. 195 00:10:52,569 --> 00:10:53,987 And it takes practice. 196 00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:02,579 [chirps] 197 00:11:02,663 --> 00:11:03,497 [narrator] Gotcha. 198 00:11:04,206 --> 00:11:07,501 You can't watch that without having a smile on your face. 199 00:11:07,584 --> 00:11:09,878 It's, uh… It's something nice to see, yeah. 200 00:11:10,212 --> 00:11:11,588 [cubs squeak] 201 00:11:11,672 --> 00:11:13,340 [narrator] It's playful for now. 202 00:11:14,341 --> 00:11:15,175 [tiny growls] 203 00:11:15,259 --> 00:11:19,263 But to be released, they'll need to perfect the paw slap 204 00:11:19,805 --> 00:11:21,014 at high speed. 205 00:11:21,598 --> 00:11:22,850 [hisses] 206 00:11:23,976 --> 00:11:26,979 [birds chirping] 207 00:11:27,062 --> 00:11:28,230 [in Afrikaans] Yes. Okay, good. 208 00:11:28,313 --> 00:11:30,732 [narrator] When Petro's not checking up on the cheetahs… 209 00:11:30,816 --> 00:11:33,068 - [chain rattling] - …she's on dinner duty. 210 00:11:33,151 --> 00:11:36,321 [in Afrikaans] We just want the meat, leave the bones. 211 00:11:36,655 --> 00:11:39,032 [narrator] Feeding all the cats at the center 212 00:11:39,116 --> 00:11:41,910 is meal prep on a major scale. 213 00:11:41,994 --> 00:11:42,828 [saw buzzing] 214 00:11:42,911 --> 00:11:46,164 [in English] An average eats about between 1.8 and 2 kilos a day. 215 00:11:46,248 --> 00:11:47,583 So you can do the maths. 216 00:11:48,876 --> 00:11:50,711 There's no such thing as, "You are the manager," 217 00:11:50,794 --> 00:11:52,337 or, "You are the this," or, "You are the that." 218 00:11:52,421 --> 00:11:54,339 The job is the job, and we do it. 219 00:11:54,423 --> 00:11:55,465 [light chatter] 220 00:11:55,549 --> 00:11:57,176 [narrator] It's now eight weeks 221 00:11:57,259 --> 00:12:00,053 since the young cheetahs emerged from their den. 222 00:12:01,346 --> 00:12:03,557 And today, keeper Georgie 223 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,435 has something new for them to get their teeth stuck into. 224 00:12:06,518 --> 00:12:08,729 Cub, cub, cub, cub. 225 00:12:09,521 --> 00:12:11,607 Cub, cub, cub, cub. 226 00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:14,359 [narrator] It's a big meal… 227 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,487 - for a small cub. - [hisses] 228 00:12:19,489 --> 00:12:22,242 Until now, they've only had milk. 229 00:12:23,368 --> 00:12:25,621 They've never seen anything like this before. 230 00:12:25,704 --> 00:12:27,206 [cubs hissing] 231 00:12:29,625 --> 00:12:31,752 - [narrator] Most look wary. - [mewing] 232 00:12:33,587 --> 00:12:36,632 [hissing] 233 00:12:36,715 --> 00:12:38,091 [hissing] 234 00:12:38,175 --> 00:12:39,635 [growls] 235 00:12:42,221 --> 00:12:43,597 But not Kabo. 236 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:44,890 [meows] 237 00:12:50,270 --> 00:12:52,105 Khumo's more cautious. 238 00:12:52,189 --> 00:12:53,941 [low growl] 239 00:12:56,193 --> 00:12:58,654 [hisses] 240 00:13:00,405 --> 00:13:01,406 [hisses] 241 00:13:10,707 --> 00:13:11,708 [mews] 242 00:13:13,544 --> 00:13:14,837 [chitters] 243 00:13:19,967 --> 00:13:23,303 Cheetah brothers often feed together in the wild. 244 00:13:25,556 --> 00:13:30,394 Helping them protect their kills from other hunters, like lions. 245 00:13:32,896 --> 00:13:34,106 [chirping] 246 00:13:34,189 --> 00:13:37,025 If the bond between these two continues to grow, 247 00:13:38,277 --> 00:13:40,320 they could be released together, 248 00:13:41,446 --> 00:13:44,116 which would increase their chances of survival. 249 00:13:50,330 --> 00:13:51,248 [man] Hey. 250 00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:53,250 [monkeys chattering] 251 00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:54,877 [narrator] Over the coming months… 252 00:13:55,502 --> 00:13:56,336 [chattering] 253 00:13:58,338 --> 00:14:01,592 …the boys fine-tune their chase skills. 254 00:14:04,803 --> 00:14:06,930 Perfecting that paw slap. 255 00:14:07,014 --> 00:14:08,140 [growls] 256 00:14:10,309 --> 00:14:12,186 And become confident climbers. 257 00:14:12,269 --> 00:14:13,937 [playful music playing] 258 00:14:14,897 --> 00:14:15,731 Both up… 259 00:14:15,814 --> 00:14:17,774 [cubs chirping] 260 00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:19,401 …and down. 261 00:14:20,152 --> 00:14:22,237 Cub, cub, cub, cub. 262 00:14:23,947 --> 00:14:25,782 [narrator] Every meal is now meat. 263 00:14:26,950 --> 00:14:29,828 And the brothers always feed together. 264 00:14:32,039 --> 00:14:33,582 [Petro] They are really close bonded. 265 00:14:34,082 --> 00:14:36,418 And I think that is what makes them very special. 266 00:14:37,544 --> 00:14:43,258 [narrator] Cheetah cubs grow up faster than any other African big cats. 267 00:14:48,055 --> 00:14:49,264 By six months old, 268 00:14:50,516 --> 00:14:56,104 these once tiny toddlers have lost their silvery baby fur 269 00:14:57,523 --> 00:14:59,942 and look like gangly teenagers. 270 00:15:00,025 --> 00:15:02,069 [birds squawking] 271 00:15:05,364 --> 00:15:08,867 Kabo and Khumo seem to be on track for release. 272 00:15:09,952 --> 00:15:13,455 But to move to the next stage, they need to pass a medical. 273 00:15:14,706 --> 00:15:16,124 [Petro] We do have health checks. 274 00:15:16,208 --> 00:15:20,587 Then we will have a better understanding of exactly what their conditions are. 275 00:15:21,922 --> 00:15:24,716 They look good, so we hope for the best. 276 00:15:25,467 --> 00:15:28,303 [narrator] Petro's called in vet, Peter Caldwell. 277 00:15:29,263 --> 00:15:32,099 [Peter] All right. So, I'm just gonna load some syringes here. 278 00:15:32,808 --> 00:15:36,186 [narrator] To take blood samples, the cheetahs must be sedated. 279 00:15:37,104 --> 00:15:38,272 - [vet 2] Perfect. - [Peter] Got it? 280 00:15:38,355 --> 00:15:39,398 [Peter] They're at the age 281 00:15:39,481 --> 00:15:41,567 where they're starting to get dangerous and aggressive. 282 00:15:42,359 --> 00:15:43,569 [hisses] 283 00:15:44,027 --> 00:15:45,445 [growling] 284 00:15:45,529 --> 00:15:47,197 [snarls] 285 00:16:03,130 --> 00:16:03,964 [Peter] Okay. 286 00:16:06,550 --> 00:16:10,220 We have to work very carefully with them. We have to move them in a special way. 287 00:16:10,304 --> 00:16:12,723 We have to keep them cool and in the shade. 288 00:16:13,182 --> 00:16:15,392 [narrator] Blindfolds keep them calm. 289 00:16:15,809 --> 00:16:17,019 They get hot very quickly. 290 00:16:17,477 --> 00:16:20,939 So we just gotta watch their heart rate and watch their breathing. 291 00:16:22,816 --> 00:16:25,777 [narrator] The team get samples and all the vital stats 292 00:16:25,861 --> 00:16:28,113 to check the brothers are growing well. 293 00:16:29,114 --> 00:16:31,408 We wait. We literally hold our breath. 294 00:16:35,579 --> 00:16:36,997 [Peter] All good? Okay. 295 00:16:39,625 --> 00:16:43,212 They're at optimal weight. And they're eating well. 296 00:16:43,295 --> 00:16:45,797 They haven't got any external parasites. 297 00:16:45,881 --> 00:16:48,800 So they're really, really healthy, and I'm very happy with their condition. 298 00:16:48,884 --> 00:16:49,718 [panting] 299 00:16:49,801 --> 00:16:51,094 [narrator] Medical passed. 300 00:16:51,386 --> 00:16:53,388 [Petro] Well done, guys. Really nicely done. 301 00:16:53,472 --> 00:16:55,224 [playful music playing] 302 00:16:55,307 --> 00:16:57,768 [narrator] And thanks to their adventurous spirit… 303 00:17:00,479 --> 00:17:01,897 and close bond… 304 00:17:04,148 --> 00:17:09,404 Kabo and Khumo are the first of the litter ready to move to big cat college, 305 00:17:10,656 --> 00:17:12,449 Ashia Cheetah Center. 306 00:17:12,532 --> 00:17:13,450 [music fades] 307 00:17:14,034 --> 00:17:17,538 Hopefully, the rest of the siblings won't be far behind. 308 00:17:23,627 --> 00:17:26,922 [panting] 309 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:30,509 - Hello. - [hisses] 310 00:17:30,592 --> 00:17:32,177 Oh, is he a good cat? 311 00:17:32,636 --> 00:17:35,973 - [hisses] - Hello, how are you this morning? Hmm? 312 00:17:36,056 --> 00:17:39,101 [narrator] For Petro, it's almost time to say goodbye. 313 00:17:39,518 --> 00:17:42,437 They will always have a special place in our hearts. 314 00:17:43,063 --> 00:17:45,023 But it's time for them to grow. 315 00:17:45,607 --> 00:17:48,819 And I hope it's going to be a really amazing journey. 316 00:17:49,319 --> 00:17:50,153 [light hiss] 317 00:17:50,654 --> 00:17:52,781 You don't know what's going to happen in future. 318 00:17:53,156 --> 00:17:56,410 You can just wish them the best and just pray for them to be happy 319 00:17:56,493 --> 00:17:58,245 and to have a really good life. 320 00:18:00,455 --> 00:18:05,460 And hopefully one day to father some cubs and to carry the legacy forward. 321 00:18:12,467 --> 00:18:14,052 [narrator] It's the day of the move. 322 00:18:14,803 --> 00:18:16,221 - [Petro] Good morning. - Morning. 323 00:18:16,305 --> 00:18:19,766 [narrator] From here on, Marna will take over parenting duties. 324 00:18:19,850 --> 00:18:20,684 [chuckles] 325 00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:22,436 [Marna mutters] 326 00:18:22,519 --> 00:18:23,437 Careful. 327 00:18:26,523 --> 00:18:29,610 [narrator] For the team, this is the hardest part. 328 00:18:29,693 --> 00:18:30,694 [wood scrapes] 329 00:18:31,028 --> 00:18:31,904 Okay. Push. 330 00:18:32,362 --> 00:18:33,280 There we go. 331 00:18:33,363 --> 00:18:34,865 It's definitely mixed emotions. 332 00:18:35,449 --> 00:18:38,744 Sad because we have to let them go. 333 00:18:38,827 --> 00:18:39,870 [panting, purring] 334 00:18:39,953 --> 00:18:42,915 But the thing is, if you love something enough… 335 00:18:42,998 --> 00:18:44,708 - [Marna] You let it go. - …you have to let it go. 336 00:18:44,791 --> 00:18:46,919 [vehicle rumbles] 337 00:18:50,047 --> 00:18:51,298 [narrator] Farewells over, 338 00:18:52,674 --> 00:18:55,010 it's time to hit the road. 339 00:19:01,934 --> 00:19:05,729 [Marna] Tonight's journey is gonna be about 1,400 kilometers. 340 00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:08,857 It'll most likely end up being between 15 and 16 hours. 341 00:19:09,650 --> 00:19:10,734 [narrator] For the brothers, 342 00:19:10,817 --> 00:19:15,030 this is the most dangerous day of their lives so far. 343 00:19:16,281 --> 00:19:18,659 [Marna] It's through the night on a very hot day. 344 00:19:19,284 --> 00:19:22,663 And stress is one of the main killers of cheetahs. 345 00:19:26,333 --> 00:19:28,210 We'll do quite a few stops along the way. 346 00:19:28,293 --> 00:19:31,505 We'll make sure their breathing pattern is nice and slow and normal. 347 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:40,806 They are nice and relaxed. 348 00:19:40,889 --> 00:19:42,850 Not stressed at all, which is a very good sign. 349 00:19:42,933 --> 00:19:45,310 They're all just alert, which is great. 350 00:19:57,072 --> 00:19:58,574 [hisses] 351 00:19:58,657 --> 00:20:00,242 - [man murmurs] - Can I get a slip, please? 352 00:20:08,542 --> 00:20:11,336 [narrator] Finally, they make it to their new home. 353 00:20:13,005 --> 00:20:14,506 Ashia Cheetah Center. 354 00:20:14,590 --> 00:20:16,592 [adventurous music playing] 355 00:20:17,551 --> 00:20:20,429 With more space and a special running track, 356 00:20:21,471 --> 00:20:25,809 it's the perfect place to learn to hunt at high speed. 357 00:20:25,893 --> 00:20:27,311 [music fades] 358 00:20:30,272 --> 00:20:34,067 But settling into a new place can be daunting. 359 00:20:40,532 --> 00:20:41,366 [footsteps patter] 360 00:20:46,330 --> 00:20:48,498 Kabo took a bit of a while to come out of the crate. 361 00:20:49,625 --> 00:20:51,627 Khumo is doing exactly the same thing. 362 00:20:51,710 --> 00:20:54,046 It's a completely new environment. 363 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,257 There's been a lot of other cheetah in these camps, 364 00:20:57,758 --> 00:21:00,093 so the smell must be very intimidating. 365 00:21:00,177 --> 00:21:01,178 [hisses] 366 00:21:04,223 --> 00:21:06,308 [hisses, small growl] 367 00:21:08,018 --> 00:21:09,269 [hisses] 368 00:21:09,853 --> 00:21:10,854 [huffs] 369 00:21:12,022 --> 00:21:14,566 [narrator] Thankfully, the brothers have got each other. 370 00:21:15,442 --> 00:21:17,986 [purring] 371 00:21:19,530 --> 00:21:22,741 Cheetahs are the only African big cats to purr. 372 00:21:23,367 --> 00:21:27,412 - A sign of reassurance. - [purring] 373 00:21:27,913 --> 00:21:30,749 Tomorrow, the hard work begins. 374 00:21:36,046 --> 00:21:39,550 [soft growling] 375 00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:44,680 Young cheetahs usually learn to hunt by watching their mums. 376 00:21:45,931 --> 00:21:48,767 So, it's up to Marna to show the brothers the ropes. 377 00:21:49,726 --> 00:21:54,106 A high-speed pulley moves a target around a 300-meter track. 378 00:21:54,982 --> 00:21:57,609 So the machine can go 80 kilometers per hour. 379 00:21:57,693 --> 00:22:00,863 The cats' average speed is about 70 to 80. 380 00:22:00,946 --> 00:22:02,239 [whirring] 381 00:22:02,322 --> 00:22:05,242 [narrator] It can change direction in an instant. 382 00:22:05,951 --> 00:22:07,119 [whizzing] 383 00:22:07,202 --> 00:22:09,830 Mimicking the movement of prey in the wild. 384 00:22:10,455 --> 00:22:13,458 You want to ensure that they can anticipate that as well, 385 00:22:13,542 --> 00:22:15,127 and their body is used to that sudden change 386 00:22:15,210 --> 00:22:17,713 and sudden jerk action that they might go through. 387 00:22:20,340 --> 00:22:22,885 [narrator] It's the first time the brothers have had the chance 388 00:22:22,968 --> 00:22:25,095 to properly stretch their legs. 389 00:22:32,394 --> 00:22:35,230 [Marna] They're just like house cat, so they like to chase things. 390 00:22:39,151 --> 00:22:41,987 [narrator] Cheetahs can go from nought to 50 miles per hour 391 00:22:42,070 --> 00:22:43,447 in just three seconds. 392 00:22:43,906 --> 00:22:46,074 [whirring] 393 00:22:47,034 --> 00:22:48,202 [Marna] The cats love it. 394 00:22:48,285 --> 00:22:49,453 It's lovely to see. 395 00:22:51,288 --> 00:22:55,667 Khumo is standing right in the middle of the line. [chuckles] 396 00:22:57,336 --> 00:22:59,338 The first run of Kabo and Khumo was the first time 397 00:22:59,421 --> 00:23:01,924 that they actually had the space to run like that. 398 00:23:02,007 --> 00:23:04,384 It was amazing to see how quickly they picked it up. 399 00:23:05,219 --> 00:23:08,013 But it's a bit chaotic. [chuckles] 400 00:23:09,306 --> 00:23:11,141 [narrator] They've clearly got the instinct, 401 00:23:11,558 --> 00:23:13,519 but they'll need the accuracy too. 402 00:23:16,688 --> 00:23:18,440 [whirring] 403 00:23:19,316 --> 00:23:22,945 Over the coming weeks, serious training begins. 404 00:23:30,369 --> 00:23:32,538 [line whirring] 405 00:23:36,667 --> 00:23:38,836 [Marna] Kabo, stop! [laughs] 406 00:23:43,799 --> 00:23:45,509 Kabo, that would've been beautiful. 407 00:23:46,510 --> 00:23:50,264 They are definitely up for getting on to the next phase. 408 00:23:52,099 --> 00:23:54,393 [narrator] Cheetah brothers often hunt in pairs. 409 00:23:55,269 --> 00:23:59,273 So now, Marna wants to see the boys chase together. 410 00:24:03,694 --> 00:24:09,116 If Kabo and Khumo can crack that, Marna's found the perfect home for them… 411 00:24:12,870 --> 00:24:15,289 a wild reserve called Maloba. 412 00:24:19,001 --> 00:24:21,003 This all used to be farmland… 413 00:24:23,505 --> 00:24:28,594 but has recently been returned to a 50,000-acre wild expanse. 414 00:24:30,971 --> 00:24:34,516 Cheetahs haven't been seen here for more than 50 years. 415 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:35,601 [springbok grunting] 416 00:24:36,476 --> 00:24:40,606 So the brothers could be pioneers for a new generation. 417 00:24:41,607 --> 00:24:42,441 Morning, guys. 418 00:24:44,234 --> 00:24:45,068 [hissing] 419 00:24:45,152 --> 00:24:46,737 It's fine. You'll feed soon. 420 00:24:46,820 --> 00:24:48,697 - [small growl] - [laughs] 421 00:24:50,365 --> 00:24:52,659 [Marna] I love the fact that they hiss at me and growl at me. 422 00:24:52,743 --> 00:24:53,577 [hisses] 423 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:55,704 - It's exactly what we want to see. - [door slides] 424 00:24:57,706 --> 00:24:59,333 We actually have quite a bit of separation. 425 00:24:59,416 --> 00:25:00,876 We make sure we're only down here for feeding, 426 00:25:00,959 --> 00:25:03,128 and there's no unnecessary interaction. 427 00:25:05,339 --> 00:25:08,383 The next phase will ensure that they realize 428 00:25:08,467 --> 00:25:10,636 that they can completely survive without human care, 429 00:25:10,719 --> 00:25:12,679 and that's when they start hunting for themselves. 430 00:25:15,390 --> 00:25:17,559 - [chewing, lips smacking] - [flies buzzing] 431 00:25:20,938 --> 00:25:23,440 [squawk] 432 00:25:30,322 --> 00:25:33,242 [narrator] The brothers are now almost fully grown. 433 00:25:33,992 --> 00:25:36,411 And after hundreds of hours of training… 434 00:25:37,454 --> 00:25:38,789 [Marna] Go. Yes. 435 00:25:39,164 --> 00:25:41,542 [narrator] …they're starting to look like pros. 436 00:25:48,131 --> 00:25:50,884 Kabo and Khumo tag team, so one will do the straight line 437 00:25:50,968 --> 00:25:52,594 and then another one will wait on the opposite side 438 00:25:52,678 --> 00:25:55,806 of the running enclosure and keep the chase going. 439 00:26:00,394 --> 00:26:01,353 They run together. 440 00:26:01,436 --> 00:26:03,522 It's a beautiful vision to see the two cats 441 00:26:03,605 --> 00:26:05,774 keeping pace with one another as they chase it. 442 00:26:07,234 --> 00:26:08,068 Yes. 443 00:26:11,154 --> 00:26:14,992 [narrator] Working together, they now regularly catch the target. 444 00:26:20,330 --> 00:26:22,791 [Marna] They seem to actually have all the skills that they need. 445 00:26:23,584 --> 00:26:25,586 The natural next step would now be for them 446 00:26:25,669 --> 00:26:26,712 to give them the bigger space. 447 00:26:28,130 --> 00:26:29,173 [purring] 448 00:26:29,256 --> 00:26:32,092 [narrator] The brothers have passed their hunting tests. 449 00:26:36,597 --> 00:26:38,599 Okay. One, two, three. Lift. 450 00:26:39,099 --> 00:26:41,768 [narrator] So it's time for them to leave cheetah college, 451 00:26:42,811 --> 00:26:45,814 and put all their skills into action in the wild. 452 00:26:49,318 --> 00:26:51,653 It's another massive drive… 453 00:26:52,446 --> 00:26:54,615 through the night to avoid the heat. 454 00:26:59,161 --> 00:27:03,081 After 11 hours, they make it. 455 00:27:07,586 --> 00:27:08,462 - Good? - Yeah. 456 00:27:15,135 --> 00:27:17,221 [narrator] Now fitted with tracking collars, 457 00:27:18,013 --> 00:27:21,600 the brothers will soon be released into their wild home. 458 00:27:23,352 --> 00:27:26,813 They'll need to use everything they've been taught to survive. 459 00:27:29,608 --> 00:27:32,361 Any cat born in captivity is completely reliant 460 00:27:32,444 --> 00:27:34,196 on the people that take care of them. 461 00:27:34,279 --> 00:27:36,615 We might be surrogate mothers in some people's eyes. 462 00:27:36,698 --> 00:27:38,575 [hissing] 463 00:27:38,659 --> 00:27:39,910 We are the only things they know. 464 00:27:40,452 --> 00:27:44,331 So letting them out there is pretty much sending your first kid off to school. 465 00:27:46,667 --> 00:27:48,293 It gives me goosebumps, because you know 466 00:27:48,377 --> 00:27:51,463 that you've actually changed their entire future. 467 00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:55,092 So it's butterflies and excitement and joy. 468 00:28:02,432 --> 00:28:03,725 All right, guys. Let's do this. 469 00:28:11,358 --> 00:28:14,945 [narrator] Nearly two years since they were born in captivity… 470 00:28:17,823 --> 00:28:20,158 the brothers are finally free. 471 00:28:20,242 --> 00:28:22,661 [majestic music playing] 472 00:28:27,708 --> 00:28:28,917 [Marna] And there they go. 473 00:28:30,836 --> 00:28:34,840 Opening this gate is pretty much the last thing I'm going to do for them. 474 00:28:34,923 --> 00:28:37,759 Everything else now is completely up to them. 475 00:28:40,721 --> 00:28:41,972 I think they're gonna be happy. 476 00:28:42,723 --> 00:28:43,932 They've got each other. 477 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,445 [narrator] This will be their biggest challenge yet. 478 00:28:58,572 --> 00:29:01,533 Cheetahs need to hunt every five days. 479 00:29:01,617 --> 00:29:03,619 [music fades] 480 00:29:05,204 --> 00:29:08,415 But they've never had to catch their own dinner before. 481 00:29:09,917 --> 00:29:12,878 [animals chittering] 482 00:29:15,088 --> 00:29:17,883 [chittering] 483 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,803 They're sprinters, not long-distance runners. 484 00:29:25,974 --> 00:29:29,102 Ideally, they need to get within 150 feet. 485 00:29:31,104 --> 00:29:32,356 [bird tweeting] 486 00:29:32,439 --> 00:29:34,066 Without being spotted. 487 00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:35,067 [springbok grunts] 488 00:29:40,948 --> 00:29:43,617 Springbok are fast and flighty. 489 00:29:45,702 --> 00:29:47,704 Timing will be everything. 490 00:29:53,085 --> 00:29:53,919 [snorts] 491 00:30:01,218 --> 00:30:02,344 They've blown it. 492 00:30:06,181 --> 00:30:08,308 A warthog should be easier. 493 00:30:11,687 --> 00:30:13,605 [warthog squeals] 494 00:30:13,689 --> 00:30:15,524 But even he spots them 495 00:30:16,358 --> 00:30:17,484 and gets away. 496 00:30:20,487 --> 00:30:21,613 Days pass. 497 00:30:22,906 --> 00:30:24,908 The brothers are getting hungry. 498 00:30:24,992 --> 00:30:26,326 [animals hooting] 499 00:30:26,410 --> 00:30:28,912 Unless they can learn the art of stealth… 500 00:30:30,163 --> 00:30:31,582 [thunder cracks] 501 00:30:31,665 --> 00:30:33,292 …they won't survive out here. 502 00:30:33,959 --> 00:30:37,629 [thunder rumbles] 503 00:30:50,350 --> 00:30:53,061 The brothers try a different approach. 504 00:30:54,271 --> 00:30:55,314 [snarling] 505 00:31:01,737 --> 00:31:04,114 Rather than chasing out in the open… 506 00:31:10,037 --> 00:31:11,830 they go undercover. 507 00:31:21,340 --> 00:31:24,843 Using the bushes, Kabo sneaks closer… 508 00:31:27,971 --> 00:31:30,224 whilst Khumo is ready to pounce. 509 00:31:45,030 --> 00:31:47,574 [yipping] 510 00:31:56,583 --> 00:31:59,586 - [hooves clatter] - [rustling] 511 00:32:05,259 --> 00:32:09,596 - [birds squawking] - [light growl] 512 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:14,893 After days without food, the brothers have finally made a kill. 513 00:32:18,021 --> 00:32:22,776 Proof they have what it takes to survive in the wild. 514 00:32:22,860 --> 00:32:25,529 [panting] 515 00:32:33,537 --> 00:32:36,248 [animals chirping] 516 00:32:42,713 --> 00:32:45,340 300 miles from where they were born, 517 00:32:46,216 --> 00:32:49,845 today an old friend is hoping to catch up with the brothers 518 00:32:49,928 --> 00:32:51,889 in their vast new home. 519 00:32:54,266 --> 00:32:57,561 With the help of field guide, Craig Mushet. 520 00:32:59,188 --> 00:33:01,523 So last I saw them, they were little youngsters. 521 00:33:01,607 --> 00:33:02,816 - Mm? - Yeah. 522 00:33:03,650 --> 00:33:06,486 It's breathtaking to have access to all of this. 523 00:33:06,904 --> 00:33:09,323 If you know the places where they were born. 524 00:33:09,406 --> 00:33:10,240 [Craig] Yeah. 525 00:33:10,782 --> 00:33:13,243 Really looking forward to seeing those boys again. 526 00:33:17,039 --> 00:33:20,501 [narrator] Using their collars, they're able to track them down. 527 00:33:22,127 --> 00:33:23,712 Are they here somewhere out? 528 00:33:23,795 --> 00:33:26,089 [Craig] They should be just off our one o'clock. 529 00:33:26,173 --> 00:33:28,675 Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There we go. 530 00:33:29,510 --> 00:33:32,095 [chirping] 531 00:33:32,804 --> 00:33:34,056 Hello, doll. 532 00:33:36,558 --> 00:33:37,643 [cooing] Hello. 533 00:33:39,895 --> 00:33:41,021 Oh, look at this boy, 534 00:33:41,104 --> 00:33:43,190 and he still has a little bit of blood on his face. 535 00:33:43,273 --> 00:33:44,525 - [Craig] Mm. - [Petro] Look at that. 536 00:33:46,944 --> 00:33:48,445 I'm so proud of these boys. 537 00:33:48,529 --> 00:33:50,531 I can't tell you the feeling inside my chest. 538 00:33:50,614 --> 00:33:53,242 - It's like my chest want to burst open. - [Craig chuckles] 539 00:33:58,080 --> 00:33:59,540 [Petro] Can we just move out a little bit? 540 00:33:59,623 --> 00:34:00,916 - Is it okay? - [Craig] Yeah. With pleasure. 541 00:34:00,999 --> 00:34:02,292 So, we will just keep the door between us 542 00:34:02,376 --> 00:34:03,877 - and the cheetah for obvious reasons. - Of course. 543 00:34:03,961 --> 00:34:05,796 - Yeah. - But yes, no. You're welcome. 544 00:34:05,879 --> 00:34:07,840 Well, at least, I'm not scared of them. [giggles] 545 00:34:08,841 --> 00:34:10,425 [Craig] You know them very well by now. 546 00:34:10,509 --> 00:34:12,386 Yeah, well, the question is not if I know them. 547 00:34:12,469 --> 00:34:16,139 The question is if, if they would recognize me, yeah. 548 00:34:19,768 --> 00:34:21,103 Hello, bubba. 549 00:34:24,147 --> 00:34:27,900 Nah, I think they are completely proper wild cheetahs now. 550 00:34:28,485 --> 00:34:32,864 No more, no more listening to weird old women whispering things to them. 551 00:34:33,489 --> 00:34:35,409 They are just, they are the dudes now. 552 00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:36,952 They've arrived. 553 00:34:40,205 --> 00:34:43,625 [narrator] The brothers are the first cheetahs here for 50 years. 554 00:34:44,501 --> 00:34:49,464 The world's fastest land animals are slowly making a comeback 555 00:34:50,174 --> 00:34:51,507 in South Africa. 556 00:35:12,779 --> 00:35:13,947 Next time… 557 00:35:14,031 --> 00:35:16,825 - [yelps] - …some of the world's rarest kittens 558 00:35:18,827 --> 00:35:21,079 born in a high-tech breeding center… 559 00:35:21,413 --> 00:35:22,414 [person chuckles] 560 00:35:22,915 --> 00:35:23,957 [chuckles] 561 00:35:24,583 --> 00:35:26,585 …must prove they are wild enough… 562 00:35:26,668 --> 00:35:28,504 - [man murmuring] - [chuckling] 563 00:35:28,587 --> 00:35:31,882 - …to survive in the mountains of Spain. - [birds squawk]