1 00:00:01,208 --> 00:00:03,830 Viewers like you make this program possible. 2 00:00:03,831 --> 00:00:05,833 Support your local PBS station. 3 00:00:09,630 --> 00:00:12,839 The Okavango Delta in Botswana... 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,393 We are in a pristine environment right now. 5 00:00:15,394 --> 00:00:19,121 one of Africa's last wildernesses... 6 00:00:19,122 --> 00:00:22,262 The magnitude of life here is unparalleled. 7 00:00:22,263 --> 00:00:26,784 and it's a haven for Africa's big cats-- 8 00:00:26,785 --> 00:00:28,751 lion, 9 00:00:28,752 --> 00:00:30,477 cheetah, 10 00:00:30,478 --> 00:00:31,892 and leopard. 11 00:00:31,893 --> 00:00:34,067 Big cat country. 12 00:00:34,068 --> 00:00:37,346 Armed with the latest filming technology, 13 00:00:37,347 --> 00:00:40,418 the "Big Cats 24/7" team 14 00:00:40,419 --> 00:00:45,147 is following individual big cats for 6 months... 15 00:00:45,148 --> 00:00:47,218 This is a unique opportunity 16 00:00:47,219 --> 00:00:49,910 to follow these cats round the clock. 17 00:00:49,911 --> 00:00:52,085 through the day... 18 00:00:52,086 --> 00:00:53,362 Rea Schulte to Brinke: I used to think I'd have 19 00:00:53,363 --> 00:00:57,401 a fair fight with a lion, not so sure now. 20 00:00:57,402 --> 00:00:59,334 and the night... 21 00:00:59,335 --> 00:01:01,784 We've got the most sophisticated 22 00:01:01,785 --> 00:01:03,924 thermal imaging technology. 23 00:01:03,925 --> 00:01:08,757 capturing their behavior 24 hours a day. 24 00:01:08,758 --> 00:01:12,312 I have never seen anything like this. 25 00:01:12,313 --> 00:01:14,211 Epic! 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:22,909 Sets Nthomiwa: They've got the drones. 27 00:01:22,910 --> 00:01:24,324 -Got the drones. - OK. 28 00:01:24,325 --> 00:01:26,257 The "Big Cats 24/7" team... 29 00:01:26,258 --> 00:01:28,639 Pretty cool to have everyone back together. 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,883 is reuniting after 6 months. 31 00:01:31,884 --> 00:01:33,954 Really excited about the first day. 32 00:01:40,445 --> 00:01:42,239 Ach, it is day one, 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,138 and I am so excited 34 00:01:45,139 --> 00:01:49,660 because immediately, there's some ruckus going on. 35 00:01:51,490 --> 00:01:54,216 What a start. Things are already kicking off. 36 00:01:57,738 --> 00:02:00,257 Based in a remote film camp, 37 00:02:00,258 --> 00:02:04,192 the team is working in 400 square kilometers 38 00:02:04,193 --> 00:02:05,952 of the Okavango Delta. 39 00:02:07,886 --> 00:02:10,405 It's the driest time of the year. 40 00:02:12,166 --> 00:02:14,202 Prey is scarce, 41 00:02:14,203 --> 00:02:18,138 but where it goes, the predators follow. 42 00:02:19,656 --> 00:02:21,209 This is the southwestern part 43 00:02:21,210 --> 00:02:22,658 of Xudum Island. 44 00:02:22,659 --> 00:02:24,626 Last time we were here, 45 00:02:24,627 --> 00:02:27,180 there wasn't a huge amount of lion traffic, 46 00:02:27,181 --> 00:02:29,493 but at the moment, 47 00:02:29,494 --> 00:02:33,291 this is where I suppose the core of the pride is. 48 00:02:34,913 --> 00:02:36,500 Hey. 49 00:02:38,192 --> 00:02:42,885 Oh, wow. Rush hour for the lions. 50 00:02:45,372 --> 00:02:49,029 My goodness, every one of them is on the move. 51 00:02:50,929 --> 00:02:53,033 That is incredible. 52 00:02:53,034 --> 00:02:56,589 The Xudum pride is now 40 strong. 53 00:02:58,695 --> 00:03:02,698 This is the largest pride of lions in the world. 54 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,912 Gordon and Sets are with its most important part-- 55 00:03:09,913 --> 00:03:13,053 its mums and cubs. 56 00:03:13,054 --> 00:03:15,228 It's so great to be back here 57 00:03:15,229 --> 00:03:19,577 to see all of those cubs that I met last year. 58 00:03:20,993 --> 00:03:24,030 There are 16 cubs in the pride, 59 00:03:24,031 --> 00:03:26,032 aged between 8 weeks... 60 00:03:28,449 --> 00:03:30,485 and 18 months old. 61 00:03:32,246 --> 00:03:34,661 This is a picture of success. 62 00:03:34,662 --> 00:03:37,700 They're here. They're alive and doing well. 63 00:03:40,772 --> 00:03:43,291 The mothers of the oldest cubs 64 00:03:43,292 --> 00:03:46,226 are 3 of the most experienced females. 65 00:03:47,606 --> 00:03:49,400 The matriarchs are all here-- 66 00:03:49,401 --> 00:03:51,022 Mmakgosi, 67 00:03:51,023 --> 00:03:53,577 Nosi, 68 00:03:53,578 --> 00:03:55,441 and Magogo. 69 00:03:55,442 --> 00:03:57,408 She's experienced. 70 00:03:57,409 --> 00:04:00,411 She's a phenomenal hunter, and that's why she's still 71 00:04:00,412 --> 00:04:04,104 prowling the savanna at 11 years old. 72 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,113 Oh, my word, Mathata, you have grown. 73 00:04:13,114 --> 00:04:16,116 Ha ha ha! He's a giant. 74 00:04:18,534 --> 00:04:20,811 That's fantastic. 75 00:04:20,812 --> 00:04:23,434 He was still a tiddler the last time I saw him. 76 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:25,643 He was much bigger than the other cubs. 77 00:04:25,644 --> 00:04:28,336 Now he is enormous. 78 00:04:30,994 --> 00:04:34,963 He's become a really handsome young--young male. 79 00:04:36,621 --> 00:04:40,417 You see his mane across the top of his head, 80 00:04:40,418 --> 00:04:42,004 and around the neck, he's just got 81 00:04:42,005 --> 00:04:45,111 this sort of shagginess to him. 82 00:04:45,112 --> 00:04:48,942 Hey, Mathata. Hey, big boy. 83 00:04:48,943 --> 00:04:51,013 Where are you off to? 84 00:04:51,014 --> 00:04:53,602 Mathata is 18 months old 85 00:04:53,603 --> 00:04:56,571 and maturing fast... 86 00:04:56,572 --> 00:04:59,608 He is big. He's gotten big. 87 00:04:59,609 --> 00:05:03,025 but he's still not able to hunt for himself. 88 00:05:03,026 --> 00:05:05,614 The cubs are growing at a rapid rate. 89 00:05:05,615 --> 00:05:09,584 It puts a lot of pressure on these mums to provide for them. 90 00:05:09,585 --> 00:05:12,414 These older cubs now need to eat 91 00:05:12,415 --> 00:05:15,969 almost 11 pounds of meat a day, 92 00:05:15,970 --> 00:05:18,903 and their mums face the unrelenting task 93 00:05:18,904 --> 00:05:22,838 of providing all of this for them. 94 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,680 What are we dealing with here? 95 00:05:36,819 --> 00:05:40,511 Definitely just shifted into that hunting mode. 96 00:05:40,512 --> 00:05:43,100 Magogo, Nosi, and Mmakgosi 97 00:05:43,101 --> 00:05:45,620 have split off from the rest of the group. 98 00:05:48,209 --> 00:05:50,487 Oh, Mr. Piggy, 99 00:05:50,488 --> 00:05:52,799 the future is not looking too bright. 100 00:05:54,733 --> 00:05:56,838 OK. This is Magogo here. 101 00:06:00,187 --> 00:06:02,913 Every time that she thinks that the warthog 102 00:06:02,914 --> 00:06:05,467 is gonna look round in her direction, 103 00:06:05,468 --> 00:06:07,814 she stops, and she sinks to the grass. 104 00:06:52,619 --> 00:06:55,000 I was sure they had it. 105 00:06:58,038 --> 00:07:02,282 For lions, life is incredibly difficult. 106 00:07:02,283 --> 00:07:06,079 Starvation accounts for a quarter of all cub deaths 107 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,461 under the age of two. 108 00:07:08,462 --> 00:07:12,465 They are hungry, and they are active. 109 00:07:12,466 --> 00:07:14,743 With so many cubs in the pride, 110 00:07:14,744 --> 00:07:18,540 the stakes for the lion mothers are higher than ever. 111 00:07:18,541 --> 00:07:21,232 Gordon and Sets are sticking with them. 112 00:07:26,722 --> 00:07:28,688 Schulte to Brinke: Go ahead, Anna. 113 00:07:28,689 --> 00:07:30,172 Hey, guys, we're just trying to sort of 114 00:07:30,173 --> 00:07:31,933 work out which way we should come. 115 00:07:31,934 --> 00:07:34,522 Anna is joining Rea. 116 00:07:34,523 --> 00:07:35,971 Pobe, Pobe. 117 00:07:35,972 --> 00:07:39,561 I've got Pobe east of the lagoon in the floodplains. 118 00:07:45,810 --> 00:07:47,846 Ooh, I see her. I can see her. 119 00:07:49,572 --> 00:07:52,056 What an amazing start. 120 00:07:52,057 --> 00:07:53,955 This is day one in the delta, 121 00:07:53,956 --> 00:07:56,336 and we have found Pobe. 122 00:08:03,137 --> 00:08:06,727 It's been 6 months since we last saw her... 123 00:08:08,867 --> 00:08:12,698 and we had some incredible news since we've been away. 124 00:08:14,563 --> 00:08:16,529 What? 125 00:08:18,152 --> 00:08:21,534 We're looking at two really beautiful, cute cubs here. 126 00:08:24,227 --> 00:08:27,229 It's quite the time since we've seen Pobe, 127 00:08:27,230 --> 00:08:32,512 and actually the first glance we've had of these cubs. 128 00:08:34,375 --> 00:08:36,860 I reckon these two must be 129 00:08:36,861 --> 00:08:38,586 probably between 3 and 5 months old 130 00:08:38,587 --> 00:08:41,623 because they've got the remains of, like, a mohawk, 131 00:08:41,624 --> 00:08:44,558 and that's their silver mantle on their back. 132 00:08:46,008 --> 00:08:48,699 Schulte to Brinke: Usually with cheetah mums, 133 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:52,634 they try to keep cubs in nice, thick areas 134 00:08:52,635 --> 00:08:54,602 hidden away from big predators. 135 00:08:54,603 --> 00:08:57,812 Big predators would be lions, leopards, 136 00:08:57,813 --> 00:09:02,126 basically anyone who might be a potential threat to the cubs. 137 00:09:07,754 --> 00:09:11,688 And can you see that one is a little girl 138 00:09:11,689 --> 00:09:14,207 and one is definitely a little boy. 139 00:09:18,696 --> 00:09:20,973 For most big cats, 140 00:09:20,974 --> 00:09:25,356 the females just develop so much faster than the males. 141 00:09:28,844 --> 00:09:34,849 The girl is just so much more boisterous than the little boy. 142 00:09:36,265 --> 00:09:38,611 She's constantly pouncing on him... 143 00:09:42,064 --> 00:09:46,067 and she seems to be the one that is always taking the lead. 144 00:09:46,068 --> 00:09:49,726 No matter where they go, she's there with her mum first. 145 00:09:52,246 --> 00:09:55,317 She just seems super interested in what Pobe is doing. 146 00:09:58,218 --> 00:10:02,152 The fact that she's got this far with them already 147 00:10:02,153 --> 00:10:03,740 is incredible. 148 00:10:05,225 --> 00:10:07,364 Only a quarter of cheetah cubs 149 00:10:07,365 --> 00:10:09,849 will make it to 3 months old. 150 00:10:09,850 --> 00:10:13,163 The odds are so stacked against them. 151 00:10:13,164 --> 00:10:17,685 Lions are the number-one killer of cheetah cubs... 152 00:10:19,895 --> 00:10:21,930 and they are in a place 153 00:10:21,931 --> 00:10:25,209 that has the biggest lion pride in the world. 154 00:10:27,454 --> 00:10:31,043 This is a critical stage for the cubs. 155 00:10:31,044 --> 00:10:35,219 Pobe is going to have to work hard to keep them safe. 156 00:10:43,401 --> 00:10:46,852 The oldest cubs of the Xudum pride 157 00:10:46,853 --> 00:10:49,026 need more food than ever. 158 00:10:50,442 --> 00:10:52,961 That little guy's-- 159 00:10:52,962 --> 00:10:55,481 Mothers Magogo, Nosi, and Mmakgosi 160 00:10:55,482 --> 00:10:58,001 now must hunt around the clock. 161 00:10:59,866 --> 00:11:02,384 Gordon is preparing for the night shift. 162 00:11:02,385 --> 00:11:04,766 This is our thermal imaging camera. 163 00:11:04,767 --> 00:11:07,458 This camera is a miracle worker. 164 00:11:07,459 --> 00:11:11,842 So much of their lives are lived after dark. 165 00:11:11,843 --> 00:11:16,260 At night, lions can see 6 times better than humans. 166 00:11:18,539 --> 00:11:21,472 For Gordon, this incredible technology 167 00:11:21,473 --> 00:11:24,096 lets him see things even the cats can't. 168 00:11:25,857 --> 00:11:27,859 Oh. 169 00:11:29,205 --> 00:11:31,517 These females with their cubs, 170 00:11:31,518 --> 00:11:33,726 they need to hunt. 171 00:11:33,727 --> 00:11:35,902 They need the food more than anyone. 172 00:11:37,524 --> 00:11:38,800 But the cubs... 173 00:11:38,801 --> 00:11:40,940 Oh, look at that. 174 00:11:40,941 --> 00:11:43,909 may be biting off more than they can chew. 175 00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:45,220 It's a honey badger. 176 00:11:47,499 --> 00:11:50,916 For Mathata and all of these cubs, 177 00:11:50,917 --> 00:11:54,126 anything that moves is worth investigating. 178 00:11:55,507 --> 00:11:57,543 Honey badgers might be small, 179 00:11:57,544 --> 00:12:00,028 but they have big attitudes. 180 00:12:00,029 --> 00:12:02,341 Good. Mathata and his partner in crime 181 00:12:02,342 --> 00:12:05,447 harassing this honey badger, but that is one animal 182 00:12:05,448 --> 00:12:07,898 that they really should not mess with. 183 00:12:07,899 --> 00:12:11,591 It's, what, maybe a fifth the size of one of those cubs, 184 00:12:11,592 --> 00:12:15,768 but it is probably 50 times as tough. 185 00:12:15,769 --> 00:12:19,565 They've got an incredibly powerful bite. 186 00:12:19,566 --> 00:12:24,259 They're kind of skunklike, but instead of spraying, 187 00:12:24,260 --> 00:12:26,917 honey badgers kind of, like, do these stink bombs. 188 00:12:29,024 --> 00:12:31,508 It's got danger at both ends. 189 00:12:33,476 --> 00:12:35,063 Mathata's probably thinking, 190 00:12:35,064 --> 00:12:38,101 "OK. This is maybe not something I want to eat." 191 00:12:40,483 --> 00:12:42,864 Honey badgers are nasty. 192 00:12:47,974 --> 00:12:50,423 Looking for an easier meal... 193 00:12:50,424 --> 00:12:52,115 Lions are on the move. 194 00:12:52,116 --> 00:12:55,083 the cubs are following their mothers. 195 00:13:05,094 --> 00:13:07,233 They've left Xudum Island. 196 00:13:07,234 --> 00:13:09,339 They've headed westward. 197 00:13:09,340 --> 00:13:13,515 I've never been this far from the core territory. 198 00:13:20,938 --> 00:13:23,871 There's always a few impala around. 199 00:13:26,081 --> 00:13:29,600 Every little herd has got at least sort of 15, 20. 200 00:13:49,345 --> 00:13:50,932 Impala alarm-calling. 201 00:13:57,906 --> 00:13:59,458 Oi. 202 00:14:02,980 --> 00:14:06,051 Oh, think we've got-- I think they've got something. 203 00:14:10,297 --> 00:14:12,712 I think it's an impala... 204 00:14:14,577 --> 00:14:17,131 smothered in lions, 205 00:14:17,132 --> 00:14:20,410 but this meal won't go very far. 206 00:14:23,241 --> 00:14:25,449 Oh, look. Some big male has come in. 207 00:14:25,450 --> 00:14:28,452 Who's this? It's a big male. 208 00:14:28,453 --> 00:14:31,524 Whoa. Who is this guy? 209 00:14:35,046 --> 00:14:37,703 Who is he? Ah, it's Madumo. 210 00:14:37,704 --> 00:14:40,430 Look at his waistline. 211 00:14:40,431 --> 00:14:44,192 I didn't recognize him, he's so skinny. 212 00:14:44,193 --> 00:14:46,436 Huh. 213 00:14:46,437 --> 00:14:49,335 Where have you been? 214 00:14:49,336 --> 00:14:51,303 An adult male lion will eat 215 00:14:51,304 --> 00:14:54,651 8 times as much as a cub in one sitting, 216 00:14:54,652 --> 00:14:58,620 and Madumo's hunger is taking priority. 217 00:14:58,621 --> 00:15:00,553 Madumo is one of two male lions 218 00:15:00,554 --> 00:15:05,075 that are the head of the Xudum pride. 219 00:15:05,076 --> 00:15:07,353 Big Toe is the other one. 220 00:15:09,425 --> 00:15:14,326 Madumo and Big Toe haven't been seen together for weeks... 221 00:15:16,018 --> 00:15:17,294 so things are changing. 222 00:15:17,295 --> 00:15:19,469 It's just not as it was. 223 00:15:19,470 --> 00:15:21,678 Without Big Toe... 224 00:15:21,679 --> 00:15:25,406 This is the worst state that I've seen him in. 225 00:15:25,407 --> 00:15:28,513 Madumo will struggle to protect the pride. 226 00:15:29,721 --> 00:15:31,584 We may be witnessing the end 227 00:15:31,585 --> 00:15:34,209 of Big Toe and Madumo's reign. 228 00:15:40,491 --> 00:15:44,252 These cubs are really hungry, really persistent. 229 00:15:44,253 --> 00:15:46,669 Incredibly bold. 230 00:15:52,641 --> 00:15:57,508 The best thing that all of them can do is just back off. 231 00:16:00,304 --> 00:16:02,684 What a temper. 232 00:16:04,756 --> 00:16:08,794 We're seeing how difficult it is for a female with cubs... 233 00:16:11,349 --> 00:16:14,593 who spend most of the night trying to hunt, 234 00:16:14,594 --> 00:16:17,182 and when you are eventually successful-- 235 00:16:17,183 --> 00:16:19,632 whoa-- 236 00:16:19,633 --> 00:16:24,051 they're having to share this small meal, 237 00:16:24,052 --> 00:16:28,608 and Madumo is getting more than the lion's share. 238 00:16:30,851 --> 00:16:34,095 Mathata and the cubs can only watch 239 00:16:34,096 --> 00:16:36,996 as their food disappears. 240 00:16:41,828 --> 00:16:44,105 There's a desperation to him. 241 00:16:44,106 --> 00:16:48,213 Just watching him hog that carcass 242 00:16:48,214 --> 00:16:52,355 on his own without Big Toe by his side, 243 00:16:52,356 --> 00:16:56,532 yeah, he's just an old, hungry lion. 244 00:16:59,225 --> 00:17:03,263 With empty stomachs, the mums and cubs leave. 245 00:17:07,129 --> 00:17:11,305 Unable to follow, Gordon calls it a night. 246 00:17:19,245 --> 00:17:20,831 It's morning. 247 00:17:20,832 --> 00:17:24,283 I'll update on numbers soon. 248 00:17:24,284 --> 00:17:27,252 Brad has found the hungry lion mothers 249 00:17:27,253 --> 00:17:28,667 and older cubs. 250 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,464 So she's running now. 251 00:17:32,465 --> 00:17:35,191 Mmakgosi, Magogo, and Nosi 252 00:17:35,192 --> 00:17:37,710 have spotted an opportunity. 253 00:17:37,711 --> 00:17:40,437 This is a leopard up in this tree on a kill, 254 00:17:40,438 --> 00:17:42,405 and the pride has found him. 255 00:17:45,409 --> 00:17:47,582 When it's really, really dry, 256 00:17:47,583 --> 00:17:49,895 prey is limited, and it's isolated, 257 00:17:49,896 --> 00:17:53,588 and everybody's just bottled up into one little ball. 258 00:17:53,589 --> 00:17:57,523 This has brought the predator interaction to a peak. 259 00:17:59,354 --> 00:18:02,873 Leopards stash their food in trees to keep it safe... 260 00:18:11,883 --> 00:18:14,161 but these lion mothers 261 00:18:14,162 --> 00:18:16,473 will stop at nothing to feed their cubs. 262 00:18:19,201 --> 00:18:21,133 This group of lionesses 263 00:18:21,134 --> 00:18:23,342 are known for their tree-climbing, 264 00:18:23,343 --> 00:18:25,862 and I think this is an example of the advantage of that. 265 00:18:48,472 --> 00:18:51,819 The leopard has no chance against a lion 266 00:18:51,820 --> 00:18:54,547 3 times its weight. 267 00:18:56,549 --> 00:18:58,308 So Mmakgosi has decided 268 00:18:58,309 --> 00:19:00,586 to eat the carcass up in the tree alone 269 00:19:00,587 --> 00:19:02,485 and not share it with everybody below-- 270 00:19:02,486 --> 00:19:04,625 what a thief-- 271 00:19:04,626 --> 00:19:07,663 strange thing for the cubs and the other lionesses. 272 00:19:08,768 --> 00:19:10,701 She's being a little mean. 273 00:19:13,048 --> 00:19:14,773 These cubs are hungry. 274 00:19:14,774 --> 00:19:16,637 They can smell this pig, 275 00:19:16,638 --> 00:19:19,916 and they're desperately trying to get up and down, 276 00:19:19,917 --> 00:19:22,816 but none of them seem to be winning. 277 00:19:25,578 --> 00:19:27,889 It's almost like she's trying to get these cubs 278 00:19:27,890 --> 00:19:30,685 to learn to climb trees, to go and get it. 279 00:19:30,686 --> 00:19:33,724 If they want something to eat, they'd better climb. 280 00:19:40,317 --> 00:19:42,388 Oh, girl, Mathata. 281 00:19:44,631 --> 00:19:46,909 It's the highest one of the cubs has gone. 282 00:19:51,914 --> 00:19:54,193 Mmakgosi is coming down... 283 00:19:55,470 --> 00:19:56,884 everybody trying to get hold of it, 284 00:19:56,885 --> 00:19:59,266 and she's about to tumble down with the carcass 285 00:19:59,267 --> 00:20:02,269 and knock the cats out of tree so-- 286 00:20:04,858 --> 00:20:07,343 Now we're gonna have absolute pandemonium 287 00:20:07,344 --> 00:20:09,725 trying to compete over this warthog. 288 00:20:19,804 --> 00:20:22,599 Finally, Mathata--ha!--is there, 289 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,602 can actually eat something. 290 00:20:25,603 --> 00:20:28,951 Everybody is now on the remains of the carcass. 291 00:20:30,815 --> 00:20:33,403 But scavenging will provide only a fraction 292 00:20:33,404 --> 00:20:36,649 of the food Mathata and the older cubs need. 293 00:20:39,307 --> 00:20:42,274 8 lions fighting over a warthog, 294 00:20:42,275 --> 00:20:44,622 totally insane. 295 00:20:47,349 --> 00:20:51,491 The mums must hunt bigger prey... soon. 296 00:21:02,951 --> 00:21:04,952 Away from the lions... 297 00:21:04,953 --> 00:21:06,574 These cheetahs are on 298 00:21:06,575 --> 00:21:09,819 a completely different level this morning. 299 00:21:09,820 --> 00:21:13,340 Anna is with Pobe. 300 00:21:13,341 --> 00:21:16,412 Her two cubs are now growing in confidence... 301 00:21:16,413 --> 00:21:18,793 I can see two zebra ahead. 302 00:21:18,794 --> 00:21:22,556 which makes it even harder to keep them safe. 303 00:21:24,041 --> 00:21:26,007 What are you up to? 304 00:21:26,008 --> 00:21:28,700 There's no chance they'd be able to take 305 00:21:28,701 --> 00:21:31,393 a fully grown zebra down. 306 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:34,396 They're way too big. 307 00:21:36,053 --> 00:21:37,674 At this age, 308 00:21:37,675 --> 00:21:40,540 cheetah cubs start to show an interest in hunting... 309 00:21:41,748 --> 00:21:46,096 Yeah. They're moving straight towards them. 310 00:21:51,931 --> 00:21:54,829 What? Hang on. Pobe's running. Pobe's running. Pobe's running. 311 00:21:54,830 --> 00:21:58,074 but they don't always pick the right prey. 312 00:22:00,457 --> 00:22:02,354 That was really strange. 313 00:22:04,564 --> 00:22:08,809 That almost felt like she was teaching the cubs. 314 00:22:08,810 --> 00:22:11,432 She's probably saying, "Look. 315 00:22:11,433 --> 00:22:14,366 "These ones are a little bit too big for us. 316 00:22:14,367 --> 00:22:17,611 This is not what we want." 317 00:22:17,612 --> 00:22:20,130 A kick from an adult zebra 318 00:22:20,131 --> 00:22:22,961 could seriously hurt a cub. 319 00:22:22,962 --> 00:22:25,032 She's running again. She's running again. 320 00:22:26,552 --> 00:22:29,208 All she wants to do is protect her cubs. 321 00:22:30,797 --> 00:22:32,557 To keep them safe, 322 00:22:32,558 --> 00:22:34,593 it looks like Mum is stepping in. 323 00:22:36,941 --> 00:22:39,184 It's all playing out in front of these zebra, 324 00:22:39,185 --> 00:22:40,910 who are very confused. 325 00:22:44,708 --> 00:22:46,743 Oh, this is one thing I just love about cheetahs. 326 00:22:46,744 --> 00:22:49,815 There's, like, never a dull moment, really. 327 00:22:49,816 --> 00:22:52,473 They're just so much fun to watch... 328 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,237 and the zebra have kind of got the message, 329 00:22:58,238 --> 00:23:01,068 and they're trotting off into the distance. 330 00:23:05,763 --> 00:23:07,695 Crazy cubs. 331 00:23:13,012 --> 00:23:16,843 Anna has been following Pobe for over 3 hours. 332 00:23:19,605 --> 00:23:21,985 I'll just scope you where you are... 333 00:23:21,986 --> 00:23:24,885 so Greg is joining to lend a hand. 334 00:23:24,886 --> 00:23:27,613 Thanks, Greg. 335 00:23:32,894 --> 00:23:34,619 Problem. 336 00:23:37,105 --> 00:23:39,278 Hartman, on radio: Anna, lions behind you. 337 00:23:44,802 --> 00:23:49,219 We've got Pobe and her two cubs out in the open, 338 00:23:49,220 --> 00:23:51,463 and there are lions watching them. 339 00:23:54,122 --> 00:23:56,537 Pobe has just noticed them now. 340 00:23:58,195 --> 00:24:00,472 Lions are their number-one threat. 341 00:24:03,925 --> 00:24:06,823 They're all sat really still. 342 00:24:08,308 --> 00:24:11,483 Lions are responsible for more than 3/4 343 00:24:11,484 --> 00:24:15,004 of cheetah cub deaths by predation. 344 00:24:15,005 --> 00:24:18,076 Greg, are the lions looking directly at her? 345 00:24:20,562 --> 00:24:23,150 Yeah. That's an affirm, eh? 346 00:24:24,497 --> 00:24:26,602 It's one lioness that's looking at it, 347 00:24:26,603 --> 00:24:28,535 and a subadult male... 348 00:24:30,883 --> 00:24:32,677 and I think there's lions in between 349 00:24:32,678 --> 00:24:34,092 that are still flat. 350 00:24:36,578 --> 00:24:39,269 This is literally the worst-case scenario 351 00:24:39,270 --> 00:24:41,133 for Pobe. 352 00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:47,001 She's out in the open. 353 00:24:47,002 --> 00:24:49,210 What are you gonna do, Pobe? 354 00:24:50,281 --> 00:24:52,179 Go on. Quickly, Mum. Get down. 355 00:24:54,354 --> 00:24:58,219 If Pobe runs, it could trigger the lions to chase. 356 00:25:03,985 --> 00:25:05,813 Subadult male is up now. 357 00:25:08,023 --> 00:25:10,818 Ooh. 358 00:25:10,819 --> 00:25:13,303 Stay low. Stay low, Pobe. Just stay low. 359 00:25:39,296 --> 00:25:41,366 That was seriously close. 360 00:25:41,367 --> 00:25:43,817 I'm actually shaking. 361 00:25:43,818 --> 00:25:47,786 Pobe has kept her cubs safe... for now. 362 00:25:47,787 --> 00:25:49,961 Classic Pobe, the lion dodger. 363 00:25:49,962 --> 00:25:52,377 She's--she's too clever for this, 364 00:25:52,378 --> 00:25:54,828 touch wood. 365 00:25:54,829 --> 00:25:57,658 That was terrible. 366 00:25:57,659 --> 00:26:00,835 It's gonna take a while for my heart rate to go down. 367 00:26:08,808 --> 00:26:10,671 Brad, Brad for Tristan. 368 00:26:10,672 --> 00:26:12,052 Brad and Tristan... 369 00:26:12,053 --> 00:26:13,294 Go ahead. 370 00:26:13,295 --> 00:26:15,262 Just spotted Xudum in a tree. 371 00:26:15,263 --> 00:26:18,645 are searching for female leopard Xudum. 372 00:26:18,646 --> 00:26:21,164 Hey, well done. Nice one. 373 00:26:21,165 --> 00:26:23,442 She's moved to a new area. 374 00:26:25,894 --> 00:26:30,242 She tends to spend less time around our camp now, 375 00:26:30,243 --> 00:26:33,176 comes in just for water and then heads out again, 376 00:26:33,177 --> 00:26:35,972 so it'll be very interesting to catch up with her 377 00:26:35,973 --> 00:26:39,148 and see what's going on in her life. 378 00:26:46,156 --> 00:26:50,159 It's really, really nice to see Xudum alive and well. 379 00:26:51,955 --> 00:26:56,891 I'm really liking this area she's moving into. 380 00:26:58,306 --> 00:27:00,963 Last year, both of Xudum's cubs 381 00:27:00,964 --> 00:27:03,656 were killed by an aggressive male leopard. 382 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,832 She's really pushed northwest, 383 00:27:07,833 --> 00:27:09,973 away from where all those male leopards are. 384 00:27:11,457 --> 00:27:14,736 It's good for her if she secures this top section... 385 00:27:16,427 --> 00:27:19,947 much more conducive to cubs, so quite exciting 386 00:27:19,948 --> 00:27:22,917 that she's shifting her boundaries a little bit. 387 00:27:26,058 --> 00:27:31,166 It's just really nice to be with Xudum again. 388 00:27:32,409 --> 00:27:34,859 Wondering where she's gonna go. 389 00:27:34,860 --> 00:27:38,725 Xudum is trying to make this new territory home. 390 00:27:42,177 --> 00:27:44,903 She's out in a very, 391 00:27:44,904 --> 00:27:47,734 very grassy little area. 392 00:27:47,735 --> 00:27:49,183 Normally, this time of year, 393 00:27:49,184 --> 00:27:52,083 she's very interested in hunting from trees. 394 00:27:52,084 --> 00:27:53,774 Ah. 395 00:27:53,775 --> 00:27:56,812 To be successful here in open grassland, 396 00:27:56,813 --> 00:27:59,988 Xudum must change her approach. 397 00:28:01,231 --> 00:28:03,404 This is a completely different tactic. 398 00:28:03,405 --> 00:28:06,718 She's got to stalk in, get close, be patient. 399 00:28:06,719 --> 00:28:09,480 Makes our lives a lot more difficult. 400 00:28:11,206 --> 00:28:13,104 They blend in so easily, 401 00:28:13,105 --> 00:28:16,003 and they just evaporate, essentially... 402 00:28:17,419 --> 00:28:21,078 so I'm hoping we can stick with her. 403 00:28:31,502 --> 00:28:34,090 Whoa, that's pretty cool. 404 00:28:34,091 --> 00:28:36,161 She just erupted out of the grass. 405 00:28:36,162 --> 00:28:38,060 Someone wasn't ready. 406 00:28:38,061 --> 00:28:40,477 Ha ha ha! 407 00:28:42,168 --> 00:28:45,861 Leopards use their sense of smell and hearing 408 00:28:45,862 --> 00:28:48,035 to pinpoint hidden targets. 409 00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:52,799 Yes, girl. Nice one. 410 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,112 Looks like she's just got a reedbuck. 411 00:28:56,113 --> 00:28:57,493 She's right on top of it, 412 00:28:57,494 --> 00:28:59,357 and this is gonna be an amazing meal for her. 413 00:29:01,187 --> 00:29:02,878 Now, that is impressive. 414 00:29:02,879 --> 00:29:04,914 That thing is so much bigger than her. 415 00:29:04,915 --> 00:29:07,123 Probably weighs 416 00:29:07,124 --> 00:29:09,092 1 1/2 times her body weight. 417 00:29:10,956 --> 00:29:12,853 Well done, girl. 418 00:29:16,340 --> 00:29:19,895 Xudum's kill here gives me a lot of hope. 419 00:29:23,278 --> 00:29:24,934 She's making her own way 420 00:29:24,935 --> 00:29:28,110 and adapting to her surroundings. 421 00:29:28,111 --> 00:29:30,871 It's a really good sign. 422 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:38,534 There they are. 423 00:29:38,535 --> 00:29:40,881 Anna is with the cheetahs. 424 00:29:40,882 --> 00:29:43,297 There are loads more little pockets 425 00:29:43,298 --> 00:29:45,265 of thick brush. 426 00:29:45,266 --> 00:29:47,060 Pobe is looking for somewhere safe 427 00:29:47,061 --> 00:29:49,338 to spend the night. 428 00:29:52,583 --> 00:29:55,171 OK. Looks like the sun's gonna set soon, 429 00:29:55,172 --> 00:29:56,552 and I'm gonna back off, 430 00:29:56,553 --> 00:29:58,036 give them a little bit more space 431 00:29:58,037 --> 00:30:00,488 and then switch to the thermal camera. 432 00:30:12,534 --> 00:30:16,192 Unlike our lions and leopards, 433 00:30:16,193 --> 00:30:19,920 cheetahs are a predominantly diurnal species, 434 00:30:19,921 --> 00:30:22,371 which means that their eyes 435 00:30:22,372 --> 00:30:26,237 are much better suited to daylight hours. 436 00:30:26,238 --> 00:30:29,550 At night, they actually really can't see a huge amount. 437 00:30:29,551 --> 00:30:33,106 This makes cheetahs most vulnerable after dark. 438 00:30:34,625 --> 00:30:36,488 There's always a chance that a lion 439 00:30:36,489 --> 00:30:39,940 could stumble upon Pobe and her cubs, 440 00:30:39,941 --> 00:30:42,874 and we really don't want that. 441 00:30:42,875 --> 00:30:46,947 Lions kill cheetah cubs and cheetahs, 442 00:30:46,948 --> 00:30:51,194 so she needs to be alert to everything in the area. 443 00:30:57,165 --> 00:31:00,133 Cheetahs' night vision may be poor, 444 00:31:00,134 --> 00:31:02,687 but with ears that rotate independently, 445 00:31:02,688 --> 00:31:06,001 Pobe can pinpoint danger from any direction. 446 00:31:13,112 --> 00:31:15,182 She's got herself right into the middle 447 00:31:15,183 --> 00:31:18,254 of a big, open floodplain, just so that she can hear 448 00:31:18,255 --> 00:31:21,154 any sounds of danger approaching. 449 00:31:21,155 --> 00:31:25,159 In a safe spot, Pobe is ready to settle down. 450 00:31:27,989 --> 00:31:30,749 The cubs, however, have other ideas. 451 00:31:35,341 --> 00:31:37,653 God, you can really see that Pobe 452 00:31:37,654 --> 00:31:39,655 is just like, "Guys, it's bedtime. 453 00:31:39,656 --> 00:31:41,691 "Please settle down. Settle down. 454 00:31:41,692 --> 00:31:43,762 It's way past your bedtime," 455 00:31:43,763 --> 00:31:46,696 and these two are like, "Come on, Mum, 456 00:31:46,697 --> 00:31:48,940 5 more minutes of play." 457 00:31:58,606 --> 00:32:02,402 Think they're just getting rid of all of their pent-up energy 458 00:32:02,403 --> 00:32:03,955 from the day. 459 00:32:15,381 --> 00:32:17,417 Ooh. 460 00:32:19,454 --> 00:32:21,041 OK. 461 00:32:21,042 --> 00:32:24,701 They are finally settling down. 462 00:32:28,532 --> 00:32:31,638 As good a mum as Pobe is, 463 00:32:31,639 --> 00:32:35,297 she's gonna need to be on high alert all night. 464 00:32:35,298 --> 00:32:37,264 I really feel for her. 465 00:32:37,265 --> 00:32:40,750 It's a really tough job being a cheetah mum. 466 00:32:40,751 --> 00:32:45,238 So sweet to see them cuddled up like that. 467 00:32:45,239 --> 00:32:47,172 Be safe, Pobe, please. 468 00:32:53,074 --> 00:32:54,488 In the morning, 469 00:32:54,489 --> 00:32:56,628 Anna and Rea are still with the cheetahs... 470 00:32:56,629 --> 00:32:59,459 They are awake and they're looking around. 471 00:32:59,460 --> 00:33:02,082 but Pobe is on edge. 472 00:33:05,466 --> 00:33:07,363 Schulte to Brinke: Anna, I'm not sure 473 00:33:07,364 --> 00:33:09,262 what's happening here, but Pobe is looking 474 00:33:09,263 --> 00:33:11,574 a little bit scared or agitated. 475 00:33:14,302 --> 00:33:16,303 What? Can you see what she's looking at? 476 00:33:24,105 --> 00:33:25,864 Actually, I can see another cheetah. 477 00:33:25,865 --> 00:33:27,866 Yeah. There's another cheetah here. 478 00:33:27,867 --> 00:33:31,009 There's another cheetah? What? 479 00:33:33,356 --> 00:33:35,288 Oh, you will not believe it, Anna. 480 00:33:35,289 --> 00:33:36,634 It's Sepoko. 481 00:33:42,434 --> 00:33:44,642 Yeah. I can see him. I can see him. 482 00:33:46,231 --> 00:33:50,613 We haven't seen Sepoko in about a year, 483 00:33:50,614 --> 00:33:52,339 and here he is again. 484 00:33:52,340 --> 00:33:54,583 He's just emerged out of thin air. 485 00:33:54,584 --> 00:33:57,482 He is the ghost that we named him after. 486 00:33:57,483 --> 00:34:00,382 He is Sepoko. 487 00:34:06,389 --> 00:34:08,252 He hasn't seen them yet. 488 00:34:08,253 --> 00:34:10,323 They look a bit terrified here. 489 00:34:10,324 --> 00:34:11,842 I don't think they're gonna hang around. 490 00:34:13,189 --> 00:34:15,432 She's getting away from this male. 491 00:34:18,366 --> 00:34:20,678 Male cheetahs can be aggressive 492 00:34:20,679 --> 00:34:23,301 towards adult females, 493 00:34:23,302 --> 00:34:27,788 but Sepoko isn't a threat to Pobe's cubs. 494 00:34:27,789 --> 00:34:31,447 One really strange similarity between cheetahs 495 00:34:31,448 --> 00:34:37,522 and domestic cats is that they both have multiple paternities. 496 00:34:37,523 --> 00:34:42,217 These two cubs could have completely separate dads. 497 00:34:42,218 --> 00:34:45,530 Female cheetahs mate with many partners 498 00:34:45,531 --> 00:34:47,912 and can carry cubs from different males 499 00:34:47,913 --> 00:34:49,534 in a single pregnancy. 500 00:34:51,572 --> 00:34:53,331 Sepoko could be one or both 501 00:34:53,332 --> 00:34:56,714 or neither of these cubs' dads... 502 00:34:56,715 --> 00:35:00,131 This increases genetic diversity 503 00:35:00,132 --> 00:35:03,410 and also helps protect the cubs. 504 00:35:03,411 --> 00:35:06,241 which means that he's not gonna come in 505 00:35:06,242 --> 00:35:08,760 and do them any harm because he simply doesn't know 506 00:35:08,761 --> 00:35:10,831 if they're his cubs. 507 00:35:13,283 --> 00:35:14,973 Great for Pobe because it means 508 00:35:14,974 --> 00:35:17,769 that she doesn't have to be concerned about a male cheetah 509 00:35:17,770 --> 00:35:20,945 coming in and potentially killing them, 510 00:35:20,946 --> 00:35:25,743 but I wonder what Pobe is thinking. 511 00:35:25,744 --> 00:35:27,952 She's made a quick exit. 512 00:35:50,872 --> 00:35:53,322 Brad and Tristan are on the trail 513 00:35:53,323 --> 00:35:56,394 of a new female leopard. 514 00:35:58,811 --> 00:36:02,607 Oh. Oh, there she is. 515 00:36:02,608 --> 00:36:04,852 Sorry. Yes. 516 00:36:06,302 --> 00:36:07,957 There's Lediba. 517 00:36:11,341 --> 00:36:13,653 The left-hand side of the face, 518 00:36:13,654 --> 00:36:16,966 she's got one massive whisker pad, 519 00:36:16,967 --> 00:36:20,661 very distinct, very easy to I.D. her. 520 00:36:22,318 --> 00:36:25,251 Ah, little cub. Yes, yes, yes, yes. 521 00:36:27,219 --> 00:36:29,807 Lediba has two cubs-- 522 00:36:29,808 --> 00:36:32,396 Oh, they're so beautiful. 523 00:36:32,397 --> 00:36:34,743 a male and a female. 524 00:36:37,540 --> 00:36:42,716 Cubs most likely around 3 to 4 months old, 525 00:36:42,717 --> 00:36:47,411 old enough to move around and climb and do a lot of things, 526 00:36:47,412 --> 00:36:50,241 but nowhere near being able to provide 527 00:36:50,242 --> 00:36:52,416 or fully look after themselves. 528 00:36:55,903 --> 00:36:58,732 She's a really incredible, little cat, 529 00:36:58,733 --> 00:37:03,496 very sly female, similar size to Xudum, 530 00:37:03,497 --> 00:37:05,877 but older. 531 00:37:07,811 --> 00:37:11,952 Being older means that she's more experienced-- 532 00:37:11,953 --> 00:37:15,922 more experienced hunting, more experienced staying alive. 533 00:37:15,923 --> 00:37:18,545 keeping cubs alive. 534 00:37:23,862 --> 00:37:26,484 I have a suspicion that Lediba is going to end up 535 00:37:26,485 --> 00:37:30,902 turning into one of if not my favorite cats. 536 00:37:30,903 --> 00:37:34,320 Over the next few months, Brad and Tristan 537 00:37:34,321 --> 00:37:38,289 will follow Lediba to see if she can be a successful mother. 538 00:37:41,569 --> 00:37:42,914 I've got a good feeling 539 00:37:42,915 --> 00:37:45,676 that these two cubs are gonna survive. 540 00:37:58,552 --> 00:38:00,415 In film camp... 541 00:38:00,416 --> 00:38:01,761 Been chewed on. 542 00:38:01,762 --> 00:38:04,142 Greg is checking camera traps 543 00:38:04,143 --> 00:38:06,559 to see who's been visiting after dark. 544 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,735 We've got a network of 6 camera traps 545 00:38:10,736 --> 00:38:13,980 set up all over the camp just to show us 546 00:38:13,981 --> 00:38:18,433 what sort of creatures have been moving around, 547 00:38:18,434 --> 00:38:20,952 particularly at night. 548 00:38:23,404 --> 00:38:25,785 It's like being a spy. 549 00:38:28,616 --> 00:38:30,962 Oh, my word, there's a hyena. 550 00:38:30,963 --> 00:38:34,345 This is right here in front of our main area. 551 00:38:34,346 --> 00:38:36,658 Ha! Hyena is snooping around. 552 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:44,182 What? Looks like a hyena has robbed somebody of a kill. 553 00:38:44,183 --> 00:38:46,875 What has he got? 554 00:38:46,876 --> 00:38:48,359 It's a young impala, 555 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,050 and, I bet you, scavenged from a leopard. 556 00:38:50,051 --> 00:38:53,847 It looks classic leopard crime, 557 00:38:53,848 --> 00:38:56,471 literally walking right by where I'm sitting. 558 00:38:58,094 --> 00:39:01,993 There's an elephant here who's strolled right through. 559 00:39:03,996 --> 00:39:05,376 It's quite amazing. 560 00:39:05,377 --> 00:39:07,585 We don't have any fences around the camp, 561 00:39:07,586 --> 00:39:10,934 and the wildlife just take over. 562 00:39:13,454 --> 00:39:15,731 Oh. There's Jake, 563 00:39:15,732 --> 00:39:18,838 our junior editor-- ha ha!--going off to bed. 564 00:39:21,393 --> 00:39:23,187 Oh, my word. 565 00:39:27,192 --> 00:39:29,676 It's a lioness. 566 00:39:29,677 --> 00:39:33,025 What? On the ramp. 567 00:39:36,581 --> 00:39:38,409 That's insane... 568 00:39:40,585 --> 00:39:42,793 and he wouldn't have had a clue. 569 00:39:46,694 --> 00:39:49,662 I'm gonna be walking around this camp very differently now 570 00:39:49,663 --> 00:39:52,423 at night, considering what we're seeing on this camera trap. 571 00:39:54,564 --> 00:39:57,947 Just shows the sheer density of predators in this place. 572 00:40:00,225 --> 00:40:02,053 Wow. Huh. 573 00:40:02,054 --> 00:40:03,917 No way. 574 00:40:05,230 --> 00:40:09,647 Got 1, 2, 3 big, male lions, 575 00:40:09,648 --> 00:40:12,443 and these are not Big Toe and Madumo. 576 00:40:15,033 --> 00:40:17,897 These lions 577 00:40:17,898 --> 00:40:19,968 are intruding right into the heart 578 00:40:19,969 --> 00:40:22,729 of the Xudum pride territory. 579 00:40:22,730 --> 00:40:26,699 a serious threat to Madumo and Big Toe. 580 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:29,184 Part of their role as pride males 581 00:40:29,185 --> 00:40:32,118 is to secure the boundary of the territory 582 00:40:32,119 --> 00:40:33,947 from intruders like this, 583 00:40:33,948 --> 00:40:39,125 and it doesn't seem as though their security is watertight. 584 00:40:39,126 --> 00:40:41,990 The only sign of Big Toe and Madumo of late 585 00:40:41,991 --> 00:40:44,026 has been Madumo on his own. 586 00:40:44,027 --> 00:40:47,789 He was looking really skinny and concerningly ragged. 587 00:40:47,790 --> 00:40:51,655 It seems like the big, dominant males are at a slight weak spot. 588 00:40:51,656 --> 00:40:53,933 They seem fragile. 589 00:40:53,934 --> 00:40:56,798 These intruders pose a significant threat 590 00:40:56,799 --> 00:40:58,558 to everyone involved. 591 00:41:05,704 --> 00:41:07,912 Out on the night shift... 592 00:41:07,913 --> 00:41:11,053 It just got dark, and they're already active. 593 00:41:11,054 --> 00:41:13,642 Gordon and Sets, 594 00:41:13,643 --> 00:41:17,681 they're with Mmakgosi, Nosi, Magogo, and their cubs. 595 00:41:17,682 --> 00:41:19,579 They haven't eaten a decent meal 596 00:41:19,580 --> 00:41:21,823 within the last few days. 597 00:41:24,274 --> 00:41:26,206 Adult lions can survive 598 00:41:26,207 --> 00:41:28,726 two weeks without food... 599 00:41:28,727 --> 00:41:32,281 The cubs are looking a little bit skinny, 600 00:41:32,282 --> 00:41:36,528 and for their sake, I really hope they get something tonight. 601 00:41:37,356 --> 00:41:39,530 but Mathata and the cubs 602 00:41:39,531 --> 00:41:41,982 need to eat much more regularly. 603 00:41:44,225 --> 00:41:46,296 Females have started moving. 604 00:41:53,821 --> 00:41:56,305 It's zebra they're interested in. 605 00:42:05,005 --> 00:42:08,214 Looks like all the cubs are staying put... 606 00:42:12,322 --> 00:42:14,082 while the mums go out hunting. 607 00:42:15,705 --> 00:42:19,294 They can focus on finding a cub something to eat. 608 00:42:33,171 --> 00:42:36,829 This terrain they've chosen is advantageous. 609 00:42:36,830 --> 00:42:40,315 It's thick, which means they can... stalk 610 00:42:40,316 --> 00:42:45,665 and get really close before pouncing. 611 00:42:48,911 --> 00:42:50,946 There's no moon, 612 00:42:50,947 --> 00:42:53,086 and it's the perfect cover for an ambush. 613 00:43:05,686 --> 00:43:08,067 Think I spoke too soon. 614 00:43:08,068 --> 00:43:10,829 Ha! One cub doesn't want to be left behind. 615 00:43:12,072 --> 00:43:15,316 She's running after her mum... 616 00:43:23,428 --> 00:43:25,637 and they're all getting up to follow. 617 00:43:28,295 --> 00:43:30,365 Every single one of these cubs 618 00:43:30,366 --> 00:43:32,436 is making a little bit of noise 619 00:43:32,437 --> 00:43:34,852 as it walks through the dry grass. 620 00:43:37,476 --> 00:43:40,340 They're not exactly being discreet. 621 00:43:42,067 --> 00:43:44,793 With so many curious cubs in the pride, 622 00:43:44,794 --> 00:43:48,797 hunting is almost impossible for these mums. 623 00:43:48,798 --> 00:43:52,318 On a night like this, that noise carries. 624 00:43:56,357 --> 00:44:00,360 Whoa, the zebra know that something is out there. 625 00:44:09,992 --> 00:44:11,889 Their cover's been blown. 626 00:44:13,512 --> 00:44:15,375 The zebras are gone. 627 00:44:18,241 --> 00:44:21,899 Mathata and the cubs have lost another chance to eat. 628 00:44:24,109 --> 00:44:26,248 They'll ruin a couple hunts 629 00:44:26,249 --> 00:44:29,010 because they'll want to participate. 630 00:44:29,011 --> 00:44:31,495 It'll be a learning curve for them. 631 00:44:31,496 --> 00:44:35,430 The consequence of a failed hunt, it is going hungry. 632 00:44:40,332 --> 00:44:44,473 The lion mothers are getting desperate. 633 00:44:44,474 --> 00:44:46,303 And it is ultimately life or death 634 00:44:46,304 --> 00:44:48,443 for the lion family. 635 00:44:48,444 --> 00:44:52,067 If these lions cannot hunt, 636 00:44:52,068 --> 00:44:54,967 they can't survive. 637 00:44:59,731 --> 00:45:02,250 Nthomiwa, on radio: Gordon, I've lost them in the bush. 638 00:45:03,977 --> 00:45:07,082 Looks like this is it for tonight. 639 00:45:07,083 --> 00:45:09,533 We've lost the lions. 640 00:45:09,534 --> 00:45:11,466 Time to head back to camp. 641 00:45:20,372 --> 00:45:24,030 Anna has now been with Pobe and her cubs 642 00:45:24,031 --> 00:45:26,861 for 3 days and nights. 643 00:45:26,862 --> 00:45:30,174 Hello. Gorgeous. 644 00:45:30,175 --> 00:45:34,592 Wow, that is so incredible... 645 00:45:37,838 --> 00:45:40,738 and now the other cub is gonna come in, I think. 646 00:45:42,153 --> 00:45:44,224 Good morning. Sleep well? 647 00:45:46,088 --> 00:45:48,331 Have some good dreams of catching impala? 648 00:45:50,471 --> 00:45:53,888 I feel like, as the younger sibling, I always did 649 00:45:53,889 --> 00:45:56,442 or wanted to do whatever my sister was doing, 650 00:45:56,443 --> 00:46:00,205 so I can see that playing out here. 651 00:46:01,172 --> 00:46:03,588 Right, who wants to come and join the party? 652 00:46:06,004 --> 00:46:09,420 With them coming so close to us here, 653 00:46:09,421 --> 00:46:12,217 feels like we're being accepted into the family. 654 00:46:17,257 --> 00:46:19,845 I feel like I'm seeing a completely different side 655 00:46:19,846 --> 00:46:21,570 to Pobe this morning. 656 00:46:21,571 --> 00:46:23,296 What I knew of her before was that 657 00:46:23,297 --> 00:46:26,299 she was basically, like, a bloodthirsty predator, 658 00:46:26,300 --> 00:46:31,822 but motherhood has just given her a whole new softer side. 659 00:46:31,823 --> 00:46:36,482 She's been cleaning herself and her two cubs, 660 00:46:36,483 --> 00:46:38,518 and it's so cute to have seen them 661 00:46:38,519 --> 00:46:40,866 licking each other this morning. 662 00:46:40,867 --> 00:46:43,835 They clearly love each other so much. 663 00:46:45,975 --> 00:46:48,321 A lot of the time out here, it's just, like, 664 00:46:48,322 --> 00:46:50,323 go, go, go, go the whole time. 665 00:46:50,324 --> 00:46:55,087 It's really high-octane, so it's also really important 666 00:46:55,088 --> 00:46:57,675 to have these moments where everything's 667 00:46:57,676 --> 00:47:00,057 just really chilled and relaxed 668 00:47:00,058 --> 00:47:04,234 and to properly take in what's happening around us. 669 00:47:25,083 --> 00:47:28,189 Pobe's two cubs, they've got beyond 670 00:47:28,190 --> 00:47:31,088 the most dangerous point of a cheetah cub's life, 671 00:47:31,089 --> 00:47:34,712 and seeing this family so comfortable 672 00:47:34,713 --> 00:47:39,200 here in this area and also so comfortable with us, 673 00:47:39,201 --> 00:47:42,928 it's just awesome, so awesome. 674 00:47:44,206 --> 00:47:46,483 Pobe's doing a really good job. 675 00:47:49,452 --> 00:47:51,695 Just behave, you two, OK? 676 00:48:09,990 --> 00:48:12,716 I can see some lions huddled up. 677 00:48:12,717 --> 00:48:16,271 Sets has found the lion mothers and cubs. 678 00:48:16,272 --> 00:48:18,653 Nthomiwa, on radio: Gordon, Gordon, copy... 679 00:48:18,654 --> 00:48:21,414 After 5 days without a decent meal... 680 00:48:21,415 --> 00:48:24,417 Think they might have actually done it. 681 00:48:24,418 --> 00:48:27,351 they finally triumphed. 682 00:48:27,352 --> 00:48:30,699 Think they might be on a kill. 683 00:48:34,463 --> 00:48:39,156 The cubs and the mums, they've had success, 684 00:48:39,157 --> 00:48:40,951 so it's fantastic. 685 00:48:40,952 --> 00:48:42,504 They've got something to eat. 686 00:48:48,270 --> 00:48:52,100 It's Magogo, Nosi, Mmakgosi with their cubs. 687 00:48:52,101 --> 00:48:55,759 I can see Mathata there with his scruffy, little mane. 688 00:49:04,044 --> 00:49:07,150 Whatever that is, not much remains. 689 00:49:10,464 --> 00:49:12,465 This looks like a crime scene. 690 00:49:12,466 --> 00:49:14,467 It does. 691 00:49:14,468 --> 00:49:15,744 What is it? 692 00:49:15,745 --> 00:49:19,127 It's a zebra kill, well, what's left of it. 693 00:49:19,128 --> 00:49:20,473 The remains of it. 694 00:49:20,474 --> 00:49:21,750 Yeah. 695 00:49:21,751 --> 00:49:23,235 They've polished through it quite quickly. 696 00:49:23,236 --> 00:49:24,650 Mm. 697 00:49:24,651 --> 00:49:27,342 I was thinking last year, it's really important 698 00:49:27,343 --> 00:49:28,654 for these mums to get 699 00:49:28,655 --> 00:49:30,242 regular meals for these cubs, 700 00:49:30,243 --> 00:49:32,244 but now the cubs are this size, 701 00:49:32,245 --> 00:49:35,419 it is even more-- even more important. 702 00:49:35,420 --> 00:49:37,421 Yeah. 703 00:49:37,422 --> 00:49:39,078 You can see Mathata 704 00:49:39,079 --> 00:49:40,528 is almost as big as a lioness, 705 00:49:40,529 --> 00:49:42,047 Mm. 706 00:49:42,048 --> 00:49:44,221 so the pressure keeps growing each day. 707 00:49:47,363 --> 00:49:51,642 It makes me happy when I see well-fed, happy lions. 708 00:49:55,371 --> 00:49:57,269 This is easy as it gets. 709 00:49:57,270 --> 00:49:59,340 They've done all of the hard work. 710 00:50:01,170 --> 00:50:05,416 Now they can enjoy the fruits of their labor. 711 00:50:08,695 --> 00:50:13,768 Well, tomorrow will always bring its own set of challenges, 712 00:50:13,769 --> 00:50:17,737 but I think the challenge that remains for today 713 00:50:17,738 --> 00:50:20,533 is just--ha ha!-- 714 00:50:20,534 --> 00:50:23,571 trying to sleep off that meat coma, 715 00:50:23,572 --> 00:50:25,607 all of them. 716 00:50:25,608 --> 00:50:29,059 They're all looking very fat and very happy. 717 00:50:29,060 --> 00:50:31,889 It's exactly how I like to see this pride. 718 00:50:33,892 --> 00:50:37,205 Mmakgosi, Magogo, and Nosi 719 00:50:37,206 --> 00:50:41,590 have finally provided for Mathata and the older cubs... 720 00:50:43,799 --> 00:50:45,558 Man, on radio: Copy that. 721 00:50:45,559 --> 00:50:48,389 but another, even bigger challenge is coming. 722 00:50:50,530 --> 00:50:51,909 What? 723 00:50:53,809 --> 00:50:55,844 No way. 724 00:51:03,750 --> 00:51:07,270 Oh, that is a big lion, 725 00:51:07,271 --> 00:51:10,376 a very, very big lion. 726 00:51:10,377 --> 00:51:13,931 It's the intruders from the camp's camera trap, 727 00:51:13,932 --> 00:51:18,350 and there are not just 3, but 4 of them. 728 00:51:18,351 --> 00:51:21,698 Major update on the lion front. 729 00:51:21,699 --> 00:51:24,770 We've managed to find the intruder males. 730 00:51:24,771 --> 00:51:27,738 That could be trouble. 731 00:51:27,739 --> 00:51:32,502 Here we are with 4 male lions-- 732 00:51:32,503 --> 00:51:37,645 a large prime male with 3 subadults, 733 00:51:37,646 --> 00:51:42,201 easily the greatest threat to the pride that we've had so far. 734 00:51:42,202 --> 00:51:45,687 Coalitions of 4 males are rare. 735 00:51:45,688 --> 00:51:49,898 The team has never seen a group of this size here before. 736 00:51:49,899 --> 00:51:52,384 We're right in the Xudum pride territory. 737 00:51:52,385 --> 00:51:54,869 Madumo and Big Toe 738 00:51:54,870 --> 00:51:59,529 normally would be pushing these intruders out, 739 00:51:59,530 --> 00:52:02,532 but there's absolutely no sign of them. 740 00:52:02,533 --> 00:52:04,741 With Big Toe and Madumo missing... 741 00:52:04,742 --> 00:52:08,848 This is really, really bad news. 742 00:52:08,849 --> 00:52:11,920 All of the lion mums and cubs 743 00:52:11,921 --> 00:52:14,337 are dangerously exposed. 744 00:52:14,338 --> 00:52:17,409 The biggest threat to any cub 745 00:52:17,410 --> 00:52:20,722 comes from a male lion, from infanticide. 746 00:52:22,380 --> 00:52:25,900 The smaller cubs, the more vulnerable. 747 00:52:25,901 --> 00:52:29,800 They're not as fast, not as mobile. 748 00:52:31,631 --> 00:52:34,840 It looks dark for the pride at the moment, 749 00:52:34,841 --> 00:52:38,706 and they are looking around with menace and intent, 750 00:52:38,707 --> 00:52:41,847 scent-marking almost every bush-- 751 00:52:41,848 --> 00:52:44,712 maybe they can smell other lions-- 752 00:52:46,680 --> 00:52:48,819 and they are moving straight through the heart 753 00:52:48,820 --> 00:52:51,305 of the Xudum pride territory.