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 --> 00:00:27,060 and it's a haven for Africa's big cats-- 8 00:00:27,061 --> 00:00:28,786 lion, 9 00:00:28,787 --> 00:00:30,408 cheetah, 10 00:00:30,409 --> 00:00:32,169 and leopard. 11 00:00:32,170 --> 00:00:34,205 Big cat country. 12 00:00:34,206 --> 00:00:37,484 Armed with the latest filming technology, 13 00:00:37,485 --> 00:00:40,556 the "Big Cats 24/7" team 14 00:00:40,557 --> 00:00:45,285 is following individual big cats for 6 months... 15 00:00:45,286 --> 00:00:47,356 Gordon Buchanan: This is a unique opportunity 16 00:00:47,357 --> 00:00:50,187 to follow these cats round the clock. 17 00:00:50,188 --> 00:00:52,223 through the day... 18 00:00:52,224 --> 00:00:53,500 Rea Schulte to Brinke: I used to think I'd have 19 00:00:53,501 --> 00:00:57,539 a fair fight with a lion, not so sure now. 20 00:00:57,540 --> 00:00:59,299 and the night... 21 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:01,750 We've got the most sophisticated 22 00:01:01,751 --> 00:01:03,890 thermal imaging technology. 23 00:01:03,891 --> 00:01:08,722 capturing their behavior 24 hours a day. 24 00:01:08,723 --> 00:01:12,278 I have never seen anything like this. 25 00:01:12,279 --> 00:01:14,176 Epic! 26 00:01:34,818 --> 00:01:37,372 With the Xudum pride males missing, 27 00:01:37,373 --> 00:01:40,340 the Rogue Boys are making their presence known. 28 00:01:40,341 --> 00:01:42,618 OK. We're just gonna look for the cubs. 29 00:01:42,619 --> 00:01:45,380 Gordon is searching for the pride's 30 00:01:45,381 --> 00:01:49,349 most vulnerable members-- its young cubs. 31 00:01:50,558 --> 00:01:53,560 We've got some lions up ahead. 32 00:01:53,561 --> 00:01:58,220 The Rogue Boys' roars travel more than 8 kilometers. 33 00:01:58,221 --> 00:01:59,980 When they hear these rogue males 34 00:01:59,981 --> 00:02:01,948 and intruder males calling, there's concern, 35 00:02:01,949 --> 00:02:04,468 there's threat, and there's danger. 36 00:02:04,469 --> 00:02:06,987 The females with cubs, they are moving 37 00:02:06,988 --> 00:02:10,163 out of the core part of the territory. 38 00:02:10,164 --> 00:02:13,718 This is the furthest south that I've seen them. 39 00:02:17,171 --> 00:02:19,276 Separating from the rest of the pride 40 00:02:19,277 --> 00:02:25,247 and keeping so many cubs on the move is dangerous... 41 00:02:25,248 --> 00:02:27,698 They've stopped. 42 00:02:27,699 --> 00:02:31,875 but these mums with young cubs have no choice. 43 00:02:33,222 --> 00:02:34,463 A good position. 44 00:02:34,464 --> 00:02:37,535 They're up on this termite mound here, 45 00:02:37,536 --> 00:02:40,814 so anything that is coming through this area, 46 00:02:40,815 --> 00:02:44,301 they're gonna see. 47 00:02:44,302 --> 00:02:46,787 We'll just do a little count. 48 00:02:49,514 --> 00:02:54,345 We've got 9, 9 cubs. 49 00:02:56,245 --> 00:02:59,937 These 8-month-old cubs belong to pride mothers 50 00:02:59,938 --> 00:03:02,182 Naledi... 51 00:03:03,873 --> 00:03:05,564 Tsebe... 52 00:03:07,394 --> 00:03:08,842 and Matho. 53 00:03:08,843 --> 00:03:10,499 They are all hanging out together 54 00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:12,744 because they've all got cubs of the same ages. 55 00:03:13,952 --> 00:03:16,747 My respect goes to these females because they're doing 56 00:03:16,748 --> 00:03:20,992 all the hard work keeping these cubs alive 57 00:03:20,993 --> 00:03:25,583 while Big Toe and Madumo, the heads of the Xudum pride-- 58 00:03:25,584 --> 00:03:30,037 they're the dominant males-- they're nowhere to be seen. 59 00:03:32,902 --> 00:03:35,938 It's been a week since I've seen Madumo, 60 00:03:35,939 --> 00:03:40,840 and for Big Toe, that's 3 weeks since anyone has seen him, 61 00:03:40,841 --> 00:03:43,394 so when it comes to invading males, 62 00:03:43,395 --> 00:03:46,432 the burden of protecting the cubs 63 00:03:46,433 --> 00:03:49,055 just lands on the shoulders of the females. 64 00:03:52,301 --> 00:03:53,301 Right. 65 00:03:54,303 --> 00:03:55,958 They're on the move. 66 00:03:57,823 --> 00:04:00,377 The best thing we can do is just stick with them. 67 00:04:03,864 --> 00:04:05,796 Water levels are at their lowest 68 00:04:05,797 --> 00:04:09,455 in this 400 square kilometers of the Okavango Delta. 69 00:04:14,426 --> 00:04:17,877 The annual flood will soon arrive, 70 00:04:17,878 --> 00:04:21,674 making it harder for Matho, Naledi, Tsebe, 71 00:04:21,675 --> 00:04:24,608 and their cubs to move freely. 72 00:04:27,853 --> 00:04:32,581 Every single one of them walking in the same direction. 73 00:04:32,582 --> 00:04:35,343 They must put distance between themselves 74 00:04:35,344 --> 00:04:39,588 and the Rogue Boys, who are just 5 kilometers to their north, 75 00:04:39,589 --> 00:04:42,108 while they still can. 76 00:05:00,852 --> 00:05:06,132 Sets is joining Greg to keep track of the Rogue Boys. 77 00:05:06,133 --> 00:05:08,721 Oh, my goodness, they're on a buffalo kill, 78 00:05:08,722 --> 00:05:10,999 3 subadults, 79 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,107 and the big male is right here in front of me. 80 00:05:16,454 --> 00:05:21,458 Oh, my gosh, really interesting update. 81 00:05:21,459 --> 00:05:23,977 They've killed the buffalo 82 00:05:23,978 --> 00:05:26,912 in the center of the Xudum lion territory. 83 00:05:28,811 --> 00:05:31,364 It means they are willing to challenge 84 00:05:31,365 --> 00:05:34,471 Big Toe and Madumo, our dominant males. 85 00:05:34,472 --> 00:05:38,889 They really seem to be making themselves at home 86 00:05:38,890 --> 00:05:42,721 and have the nerve to make a large kill. 87 00:05:44,447 --> 00:05:46,483 The Rogue Boys are staking a claim 88 00:05:46,484 --> 00:05:50,695 to Xudum pride territory and everything in it. 89 00:05:54,768 --> 00:05:56,389 Dude, what is going on? 90 00:05:56,390 --> 00:05:58,874 I have no idea. This is truly insane. 91 00:05:58,875 --> 00:06:00,428 They're not even trying to hide. 92 00:06:00,429 --> 00:06:01,774 No. They're not. 93 00:06:01,775 --> 00:06:04,466 They made to kill to prove a point. 94 00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:06,123 Mm. Yeah. 95 00:06:06,124 --> 00:06:07,987 They're a very interesting coalition 96 00:06:07,988 --> 00:06:10,817 of one huge male 97 00:06:10,818 --> 00:06:12,958 with 3 subadults. 98 00:06:14,650 --> 00:06:18,031 Adult male lions form coalitions, 99 00:06:18,032 --> 00:06:22,727 lifetime partnerships for protection and strength. 100 00:06:23,831 --> 00:06:26,902 Typically, you don't find coalitions like this 101 00:06:26,903 --> 00:06:31,597 with vastly different age in the same coalition. 102 00:06:31,598 --> 00:06:34,704 I wonder if it's a father and sons, potentially. 103 00:06:36,292 --> 00:06:39,190 They've got a huge coalition leader. 104 00:06:39,191 --> 00:06:42,090 He's in his prime. 105 00:06:42,091 --> 00:06:44,437 We have decided to call him Dimo. 106 00:06:44,438 --> 00:06:46,784 Dimo just means a giant. 107 00:06:46,785 --> 00:06:50,236 I can see the size of his mane and how dark it is. 108 00:06:52,135 --> 00:06:56,276 This coalition looks like it's been fighting quite a lot. 109 00:06:56,277 --> 00:06:58,555 Can take example of this youngster here. 110 00:06:58,556 --> 00:07:01,523 He has a lot of battle scars on his face. 111 00:07:03,699 --> 00:07:05,769 With no pride of their own, 112 00:07:05,770 --> 00:07:09,669 The Rogue Boys are looking for one to take over. 113 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:11,878 These Rogue Boys, 114 00:07:11,879 --> 00:07:14,156 they're gonna want to mate with the females, 115 00:07:14,157 --> 00:07:16,504 and that'll mean killing cubs 116 00:07:16,505 --> 00:07:19,265 if they want those mothers to come back into estrus 117 00:07:19,266 --> 00:07:22,061 so that they can have their own cubs... 118 00:07:23,822 --> 00:07:27,135 and no one is defending this territory. 119 00:07:27,136 --> 00:07:28,550 It's crazy, hey? 120 00:07:28,551 --> 00:07:30,552 It's gonna be really hard 121 00:07:30,553 --> 00:07:33,659 to fight off these Rogue Boys. 122 00:07:50,331 --> 00:07:52,988 Leopard specialists Brad and Tristan 123 00:07:52,989 --> 00:07:55,577 have found new mum Lediba. 124 00:08:10,282 --> 00:08:13,112 This is too cute. 125 00:08:13,113 --> 00:08:16,806 Lediba has two cubs 3 1/2 months old. 126 00:08:19,706 --> 00:08:21,570 Really quite sweet. 127 00:08:22,985 --> 00:08:24,917 They've got this whole nursery area 128 00:08:24,918 --> 00:08:27,091 that their mother has put them into, 129 00:08:27,092 --> 00:08:29,093 and she'll walk in and call, 130 00:08:29,094 --> 00:08:31,613 and then they'll reveal themselves to her. 131 00:08:33,098 --> 00:08:34,961 Lediba's cubs are too young 132 00:08:34,962 --> 00:08:37,757 to go with her when she hunts, 133 00:08:37,758 --> 00:08:40,658 so the nursery keeps them hidden. 134 00:08:42,038 --> 00:08:44,350 It's the perfect nursery here. 135 00:08:44,351 --> 00:08:46,801 It's thick, thick sage. 136 00:08:46,802 --> 00:08:48,699 You know, it's a lot of places these cubs can learn, 137 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:51,081 play, and run around. 138 00:08:51,082 --> 00:08:56,189 There's nowhere really better suited 139 00:08:56,190 --> 00:09:00,954 to a leopard raising her cubs than an area quite like this. 140 00:09:06,062 --> 00:09:07,925 I love that interaction 141 00:09:07,926 --> 00:09:10,203 between a mum and a cub, 142 00:09:10,204 --> 00:09:13,173 something so gentle and beautiful about it. 143 00:09:16,210 --> 00:09:19,074 Lediba is suckling this one cub. 144 00:09:19,075 --> 00:09:20,836 It's a pretty, little thing. 145 00:09:22,354 --> 00:09:24,183 It's a busy time for a mum, 146 00:09:24,184 --> 00:09:27,152 two cubs that are highly mobile and needing to be fed. 147 00:09:28,740 --> 00:09:30,672 She'll have a good session of feeding, 148 00:09:30,673 --> 00:09:33,849 and then she'll do her long hunting forays. 149 00:09:37,093 --> 00:09:39,992 Lediba must hunt every two to 3 days, 150 00:09:39,993 --> 00:09:43,168 traveling kilometers from the nursery. 151 00:09:45,170 --> 00:09:47,447 She can't be there all the time. 152 00:09:47,448 --> 00:09:50,658 Leopard cubs have very high mortality rates. 153 00:09:50,659 --> 00:09:52,833 They don't have somebody else to look after them. 154 00:09:55,905 --> 00:09:58,942 This is one of the most vulnerable times 155 00:09:58,943 --> 00:10:00,737 in a leopard cub's life. 156 00:10:10,955 --> 00:10:13,266 Sun's just dipping behind the tree line, 157 00:10:13,267 --> 00:10:15,752 and Lediba is now on the move. 158 00:10:21,137 --> 00:10:23,173 She's heading off on another hunt. 159 00:10:29,698 --> 00:10:34,771 As Brad follows Lediba away from the nursery, 160 00:10:34,772 --> 00:10:37,428 she hides in some bushes. 161 00:10:37,429 --> 00:10:41,087 There's a male sitting here on the road. 162 00:10:53,204 --> 00:10:55,239 and he's definitely interested. 163 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,759 Brad and Tristan have already experienced 164 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,831 how brutal male leopards can be. 165 00:11:00,832 --> 00:11:04,041 Male leopards are notorious for killing cubs. 166 00:11:06,769 --> 00:11:11,497 We were just so happy with her having cubs in this area 167 00:11:11,498 --> 00:11:15,432 because there's very little male traffic through here, 168 00:11:15,433 --> 00:11:21,231 and just when we say that, a big male rocks up. 169 00:11:30,241 --> 00:11:31,966 They're growling. 170 00:11:31,967 --> 00:11:34,762 You can see the way his tail is twitching, 171 00:11:34,763 --> 00:11:37,385 he's definitely on her scent. 172 00:11:37,386 --> 00:11:39,318 I just hope that she doesn't lead him back 173 00:11:39,319 --> 00:11:42,873 to where she's keeping those cubs. 174 00:11:51,365 --> 00:11:56,818 He's letting Lediba know that he's here. 175 00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:01,823 Not gonna sleep easy tonight. 176 00:12:14,941 --> 00:12:16,527 The lion mums 177 00:12:16,528 --> 00:12:19,220 are still moving their young cubs south. 178 00:12:21,085 --> 00:12:24,535 To their north, the intruding Rogue Boys 179 00:12:24,536 --> 00:12:27,953 have left their buffalo carcass unguarded. 180 00:12:34,961 --> 00:12:39,102 Oh, this is ballsy. 181 00:12:39,103 --> 00:12:44,072 Some other members of the Xudum pride have found it. 182 00:12:44,073 --> 00:12:46,420 These two boys are enjoying a free meal. 183 00:12:48,112 --> 00:12:51,045 It's the pride's two subadult males. 184 00:12:53,186 --> 00:12:55,429 This is really bold of him. 185 00:12:56,879 --> 00:13:00,088 The Rogue Boys, they are heading to have a drink 186 00:13:00,089 --> 00:13:05,301 at a nearby waterhole not far from here, about 500 meters. 187 00:13:06,924 --> 00:13:10,271 He's quite nervous, looking around because he knows 188 00:13:10,272 --> 00:13:13,896 when those males come back, it is not gonna be pretty. 189 00:13:16,899 --> 00:13:20,660 These two youngsters might look almost fully grown... 190 00:13:22,871 --> 00:13:24,526 There's some grunting. 191 00:13:29,912 --> 00:13:31,326 That's Dimo. 192 00:13:31,327 --> 00:13:33,639 but the Rogue Boys' leader Dimo 193 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,470 is almost twice their weight. 194 00:13:39,611 --> 00:13:43,407 The big boy, he's about a 50 meters behind me. 195 00:13:43,408 --> 00:13:46,169 He's advancing. 196 00:13:55,973 --> 00:13:58,181 You can see how massive he is. 197 00:13:58,182 --> 00:14:01,218 He is showing signs of aggression, 198 00:14:01,219 --> 00:14:03,151 his body posture. 199 00:14:06,293 --> 00:14:08,639 Oh, he's chasing. He's chasing. 200 00:14:10,573 --> 00:14:13,506 Ah. The lions have run off. 201 00:14:13,507 --> 00:14:16,061 They ran like hell out of there. 202 00:14:16,062 --> 00:14:17,994 Hopefully, they're safe. 203 00:14:29,351 --> 00:14:32,180 Dimo is victorious. 204 00:14:32,181 --> 00:14:35,390 He is going to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. 205 00:14:37,393 --> 00:14:40,326 Two subadults are no match for Dimo. 206 00:14:42,536 --> 00:14:44,606 The absence of Big Toe and Madumo... 207 00:14:46,368 --> 00:14:48,369 is leaving the pride defenseless. 208 00:14:53,962 --> 00:14:56,204 It just shows how bold he is. 209 00:14:57,758 --> 00:14:59,483 It's a clear challenge. 210 00:15:05,801 --> 00:15:07,526 Dimo and the Rogue Boys 211 00:15:07,527 --> 00:15:10,322 are now taking more ground, 212 00:15:10,323 --> 00:15:13,981 moving south towards the mums and young cubs. 213 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:19,089 Just begs the question, 214 00:15:19,090 --> 00:15:23,162 where are Big Toe and Madumo when all of this is happening? 215 00:15:45,289 --> 00:15:48,118 Got Pobe and the cubs. Ha ha! 216 00:15:48,119 --> 00:15:49,982 Dimitraidis, on radio: Excellent news. 217 00:15:49,983 --> 00:15:51,984 I will be there ASAP. 218 00:15:53,469 --> 00:15:56,713 and Anna are with Cheetah mum Pobe... 219 00:15:59,441 --> 00:16:01,580 and her 5-month-old cubs. 220 00:16:04,170 --> 00:16:05,722 Schulte to Brinke: Pretty cool to watch these guys. 221 00:16:05,723 --> 00:16:07,620 I mean, when we're following them every single day, 222 00:16:07,621 --> 00:16:10,175 you literally see their development. 223 00:16:10,176 --> 00:16:14,041 It's like having your own baby going from crawling to walking. 224 00:16:14,042 --> 00:16:15,766 It's a feeling of accomplishment, 225 00:16:15,767 --> 00:16:17,700 watching your little children grow up. 226 00:16:19,288 --> 00:16:21,151 Now, Rea and Anna know the cubs, 227 00:16:21,152 --> 00:16:23,153 they've named them-- 228 00:16:23,154 --> 00:16:25,673 Kea the confident female 229 00:16:25,674 --> 00:16:29,125 and Bo her shy brother. 230 00:16:29,126 --> 00:16:31,575 Only a few weeks ago, 231 00:16:31,576 --> 00:16:34,233 they were reliant on their mum's milk, 232 00:16:34,234 --> 00:16:37,857 but now they are full-blown carnivores. 233 00:16:43,105 --> 00:16:44,519 Schulte to Brinke: Cubs are looking pretty hungry. 234 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,143 They've-- Their bellies are concave. 235 00:16:49,353 --> 00:16:51,388 Kea and Bo must now eat 236 00:16:51,389 --> 00:16:55,151 more than a pound of meat a day. 237 00:16:56,705 --> 00:17:01,088 Cubs are really far in the distance. 238 00:17:01,089 --> 00:17:05,368 This could be a moment for Pobe to get a successful hunt in 239 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:08,130 without her cubs distracting her. 240 00:17:10,477 --> 00:17:13,790 Pobe needs to catch a meal every day 241 00:17:13,791 --> 00:17:16,689 to feed the cubs. 242 00:17:31,705 --> 00:17:33,223 Schulte to Brinke: She went. 243 00:17:33,224 --> 00:17:34,569 She went, she went, she went for them. 244 00:17:34,570 --> 00:17:36,709 They should be coming out to your side. 245 00:17:38,609 --> 00:17:40,299 Where is she? 246 00:17:42,233 --> 00:17:43,682 Oh. 247 00:17:54,452 --> 00:17:56,419 She's done it. 248 00:17:56,420 --> 00:17:58,179 Well done, Pobe. 249 00:17:58,180 --> 00:18:00,457 What an absolute genius. 250 00:18:02,322 --> 00:18:04,185 Guys, she's got one. She's got one. 251 00:18:04,186 --> 00:18:06,705 I'm sh-- 252 00:18:06,706 --> 00:18:10,329 My hands are shaking. Everything is shaking. 253 00:18:10,330 --> 00:18:12,366 That was incredible, 254 00:18:12,367 --> 00:18:14,402 and, you know, 255 00:18:14,403 --> 00:18:17,267 she's done that for her cubs, 256 00:18:17,268 --> 00:18:19,857 and I can see them coming in. 257 00:18:22,825 --> 00:18:27,554 This is going to be an absolute feast for these two. 258 00:18:29,453 --> 00:18:31,350 Schulte to Brinke: What Kea and Bo need is for Mummy 259 00:18:31,351 --> 00:18:33,802 to open up this carcass so they can have a meal. 260 00:18:35,597 --> 00:18:37,563 The cubs' teeth won't be sharp enough 261 00:18:37,564 --> 00:18:41,327 to tear through skin for another two months. 262 00:18:43,329 --> 00:18:44,536 Schulte to Brinke: Pobe needs to catch her breath 263 00:18:44,537 --> 00:18:46,262 a little bit. 264 00:18:46,263 --> 00:18:50,300 Cheetah's main tactic for hunting is a full-on sprint. 265 00:18:50,301 --> 00:18:52,958 Sometimes being able to go over 100 kilometers per hour, 266 00:18:52,959 --> 00:18:55,754 very hard for cheetahs. 267 00:18:55,755 --> 00:18:57,790 They are not really able to sweat properly. 268 00:18:57,791 --> 00:19:01,622 You can see her right now. She's having a very heavy pant. 269 00:19:01,623 --> 00:19:04,659 "Hah hah hah..." Ha ha! 270 00:19:04,660 --> 00:19:07,594 That's just to help with cooling. 271 00:19:09,907 --> 00:19:12,840 This is a really dangerous time for cheetah 272 00:19:12,841 --> 00:19:15,532 because there was quite a lot of commotion 273 00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:17,810 when that all went down, a lot of alarm calls. 274 00:19:17,811 --> 00:19:20,848 Cheetahs lose one in 10 of their meals 275 00:19:20,849 --> 00:19:23,368 to other predators. 276 00:19:23,369 --> 00:19:25,473 Schulte to Brinke: Pretty much every single predator 277 00:19:25,474 --> 00:19:28,442 can chase our lovely cheetahs off this kill. 278 00:19:28,443 --> 00:19:30,858 Sadly for them, amongst all our big cats, 279 00:19:30,859 --> 00:19:33,654 they are the underdogs. 280 00:19:33,655 --> 00:19:35,518 Being such a small cat like a cheetah, 281 00:19:35,519 --> 00:19:37,658 you really are down the pecking order. 282 00:19:37,659 --> 00:19:39,591 The challenge for Pobe now 283 00:19:39,592 --> 00:19:42,283 is keeping hold of their meal. 284 00:19:49,602 --> 00:19:51,982 With the annual flood due any day... 285 00:19:51,983 --> 00:19:54,571 Hey, girls. 286 00:19:54,572 --> 00:19:57,436 We have run into the mums and cubs. 287 00:19:58,852 --> 00:20:00,784 Greg has found 288 00:20:00,785 --> 00:20:02,717 the pride's mums and youngest cubs... 289 00:20:02,718 --> 00:20:06,065 It's Naledi, Tsebe, and Matho 290 00:20:06,066 --> 00:20:08,413 with their crew of cubs. 291 00:20:08,414 --> 00:20:11,830 at the southern limit of Xudum pride territory. 292 00:20:14,937 --> 00:20:16,766 The lionesses are all very much on edge 293 00:20:16,767 --> 00:20:19,700 about male lions, and there's just, you know, 294 00:20:19,701 --> 00:20:22,289 anxiety and stress and built-up tension. 295 00:20:29,366 --> 00:20:32,852 Hold on. I think we have another lion there. 296 00:20:35,855 --> 00:20:39,238 Oh, it's big male. 297 00:20:41,378 --> 00:20:44,276 Who is this? 298 00:20:44,277 --> 00:20:48,729 Here comes Matho, the most formidable lioness. 299 00:20:48,730 --> 00:20:52,284 Matho is approaching as if this could be one of the intruders. 300 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,467 Whoa! Yoo, she's upset. 301 00:21:10,752 --> 00:21:13,374 Wait a minute. 302 00:21:13,375 --> 00:21:15,480 I think that this is Madumo. 303 00:21:17,552 --> 00:21:20,554 Big Toe has very obvious eyebrows, 304 00:21:20,555 --> 00:21:23,108 whereas Madumo does not. 305 00:21:31,738 --> 00:21:34,361 I'm so pleased to see Madumo back 306 00:21:34,362 --> 00:21:38,882 looking strong and healthy at a time when we've had 307 00:21:38,883 --> 00:21:41,990 so much upheaval from the Rogue Boys. 308 00:21:44,544 --> 00:21:46,890 Matho looked so angry. 309 00:21:46,891 --> 00:21:48,961 She was ready for battle. 310 00:21:48,962 --> 00:21:51,412 She was just assuming that every male 311 00:21:51,413 --> 00:21:53,966 that approaches her is about to go after her cubs. 312 00:21:53,967 --> 00:21:56,832 That was amazing just aggression from her. 313 00:21:58,834 --> 00:22:01,837 Even Madumo has to approach with caution. 314 00:22:04,184 --> 00:22:06,151 Now that the mums, including Matho, 315 00:22:06,152 --> 00:22:08,947 have calmed down, 316 00:22:08,948 --> 00:22:10,845 everyone's approaching Madumo. 317 00:22:15,713 --> 00:22:18,508 Oh, it's a snuggle with Dad. 318 00:22:20,856 --> 00:22:24,032 The cubs are so excited. That's so sweet. 319 00:22:25,930 --> 00:22:27,793 Gordon. Gordon for Greg. 320 00:22:27,794 --> 00:22:29,623 Buchanan, on radio: Hey, Greg. Go. 321 00:22:29,624 --> 00:22:31,763 Madumo is back in town. 322 00:22:31,764 --> 00:22:33,937 Wow. 323 00:22:33,938 --> 00:22:36,044 Madumo, my boy. 324 00:22:41,152 --> 00:22:43,637 He is a handsome fellow. 325 00:22:43,638 --> 00:22:47,572 Last time I saw him, he was severely skinny. 326 00:22:47,573 --> 00:22:50,196 Look at him. He's put on a lot more weight. 327 00:22:52,474 --> 00:22:56,097 One question I always have whenever I see Madumo on his own 328 00:22:56,098 --> 00:22:59,480 is, where his Big Toe? 329 00:22:59,481 --> 00:23:02,414 Lately, Madumo has been seen with the pride 330 00:23:02,415 --> 00:23:05,003 from time to time, 331 00:23:05,004 --> 00:23:07,454 but his coalition partner Big Toe 332 00:23:07,455 --> 00:23:11,492 has now been missing for almost a month. 333 00:23:11,493 --> 00:23:14,081 Since we've been following the pride, 334 00:23:14,082 --> 00:23:16,773 I've never had it that the big boys 335 00:23:16,774 --> 00:23:19,570 have been separated for so long. 336 00:23:21,710 --> 00:23:23,918 Alone, Madumo is no match 337 00:23:23,919 --> 00:23:26,990 for the 4 advancing Rogue Boys. 338 00:23:26,991 --> 00:23:29,199 No matter how determined and how strong 339 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,994 and how big he is, he's not gonna win 340 00:23:30,995 --> 00:23:35,655 against multiple lions, so until we find Big Toe... 341 00:23:37,623 --> 00:23:41,280 it's still a very precarious moment for the pride. 342 00:23:57,677 --> 00:23:59,160 Tristan and Brad... 343 00:24:01,025 --> 00:24:02,889 are checking in on Lediba... 344 00:24:07,515 --> 00:24:11,621 after finding a male leopard close to her nursery. 345 00:24:11,622 --> 00:24:15,107 Lediba is back in the nursery area. 346 00:24:15,108 --> 00:24:17,247 One cub showed up. 347 00:24:17,248 --> 00:24:20,906 Looks like Mum might be trying to pick up the second one now, 348 00:24:20,907 --> 00:24:23,702 and she seems to be getting a little bit concerned. 349 00:24:39,201 --> 00:24:41,617 She's calling, searching, 350 00:24:41,618 --> 00:24:44,205 broadcasting her presence. 351 00:24:52,663 --> 00:24:55,803 The male cub is missing. 352 00:25:02,259 --> 00:25:07,297 I've never seen this amount of vocalization 353 00:25:07,298 --> 00:25:10,198 coming from a single leopard in such a short space of time. 354 00:25:19,034 --> 00:25:21,691 She's just desperate for a response... 355 00:25:23,176 --> 00:25:24,867 and she's just not getting it. 356 00:25:31,668 --> 00:25:33,254 She's sawing. 357 00:25:39,917 --> 00:25:42,747 This call, known as sawing, 358 00:25:42,748 --> 00:25:45,750 is unique to each individual leopard 359 00:25:45,751 --> 00:25:48,754 and can travel almost 3 kilometers. 360 00:25:50,272 --> 00:25:52,204 The fact that she's trying this hard 361 00:25:52,205 --> 00:25:54,931 really starts to... 362 00:25:54,932 --> 00:25:57,382 scare me, to be honest. 363 00:25:57,383 --> 00:25:59,178 It's not a good sign. 364 00:26:02,112 --> 00:26:04,632 The longer it's missing... 365 00:26:06,634 --> 00:26:08,945 the lower its chances drop. 366 00:26:11,052 --> 00:26:13,329 Less than 50% actually survive 367 00:26:14,952 --> 00:26:16,677 because they do get left alone. 368 00:26:16,678 --> 00:26:18,990 They do have to fend for themselves. 369 00:26:21,165 --> 00:26:22,925 Now she's high up, 370 00:26:22,926 --> 00:26:26,238 she's increasing her throw of her call. 371 00:26:26,239 --> 00:26:29,000 She's throwing caution to the wind now. 372 00:26:29,001 --> 00:26:31,036 She may draw other predators, 373 00:26:31,037 --> 00:26:35,731 and I think what we're seeing is a very desperate mother. 374 00:26:47,778 --> 00:26:49,089 It's looking more and more likely 375 00:26:49,090 --> 00:26:51,436 that we've lost a cub already. 376 00:27:14,115 --> 00:27:17,496 Life for all the big cats of the Okavango Delta 377 00:27:17,497 --> 00:27:20,085 is about to change. 378 00:27:20,086 --> 00:27:22,053 Ha ha ha! 379 00:27:22,054 --> 00:27:24,055 They're actually by the flood. 380 00:27:25,885 --> 00:27:29,060 The annual flood has arrived. 381 00:27:29,061 --> 00:27:32,788 We're expecting it to be here within the next week, 382 00:27:32,789 --> 00:27:34,893 but it's here now. 383 00:27:34,894 --> 00:27:37,171 This is now. Ha ha ha! 384 00:27:39,312 --> 00:27:44,282 This is the first time seeing the flood come in in real time. 385 00:27:51,014 --> 00:27:52,531 Hey, Gordon, 386 00:27:52,532 --> 00:27:55,017 I have something amazing to show you. 387 00:27:55,018 --> 00:27:56,984 I'm intrigued. 388 00:27:56,985 --> 00:27:58,917 We're on the right road. I can see your tracks, 389 00:27:58,918 --> 00:28:01,195 so, yeah, I'll bump into you soon. 390 00:28:06,132 --> 00:28:07,823 The waters of the Okavango 391 00:28:07,824 --> 00:28:10,273 have come a long way, 392 00:28:10,274 --> 00:28:13,311 close to 600 kilometers 393 00:28:13,312 --> 00:28:16,970 from the highlands of Angola 394 00:28:16,971 --> 00:28:19,041 through 3 countries, 395 00:28:19,042 --> 00:28:21,112 finally ending up in Botswana... 396 00:28:21,113 --> 00:28:23,321 It goes from pure, dry floodplain 397 00:28:23,322 --> 00:28:27,290 to a flowing river within a matter of hours. 398 00:28:27,291 --> 00:28:32,261 to create a spectacle that's beyond words. 399 00:28:36,231 --> 00:28:39,131 Whoa, whoa, whoa. 400 00:28:41,996 --> 00:28:44,514 I don't need to ask what you've got to show me. 401 00:28:44,515 --> 00:28:46,482 Oh, yeah. You can see it already. 402 00:28:46,483 --> 00:28:48,415 The speed. Listen. 403 00:28:48,416 --> 00:28:50,486 I was here yesterday, it was just bone dry. 404 00:28:50,487 --> 00:28:52,143 Yeah, it was completely dry. 405 00:28:52,144 --> 00:28:54,801 Yeah. It's really gonna affect the lions. 406 00:28:54,802 --> 00:28:56,872 It really is. 407 00:28:56,873 --> 00:28:58,874 The territory is going to shrink. 408 00:28:58,875 --> 00:29:01,359 These waters, they are dangerous for them. 409 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:03,050 Yeah. 410 00:29:03,051 --> 00:29:05,052 For the mums and smaller cubs, 411 00:29:05,053 --> 00:29:06,951 they'll be restricted. 412 00:29:06,952 --> 00:29:09,091 They can't really move around as freely 413 00:29:09,092 --> 00:29:11,403 as they used to before the flood has arrived. 414 00:29:11,404 --> 00:29:14,372 Mm. There's less dry ground. 415 00:29:14,373 --> 00:29:15,994 Yeah. 416 00:29:19,999 --> 00:29:22,414 With the flood waters rising, 417 00:29:22,415 --> 00:29:27,040 the mums and cubs are running out of safe space. 418 00:29:27,041 --> 00:29:31,458 The Rogue Boys are now just a kilometer away. 419 00:29:33,254 --> 00:29:34,806 Buchanan, on radio: Don't know if anyone else heard that, 420 00:29:34,807 --> 00:29:36,187 but I heard some roaring. 421 00:29:36,188 --> 00:29:37,844 It's Dimo. 422 00:29:37,845 --> 00:29:39,293 This is a sign 423 00:29:39,294 --> 00:29:41,226 that these boys mean business. 424 00:29:46,370 --> 00:29:49,407 The mums and cubs can't rest. 425 00:29:52,376 --> 00:29:54,308 On a still night like this, 426 00:29:54,309 --> 00:29:57,898 Dimo's roar will carry throughout this whole territory. 427 00:29:57,899 --> 00:30:03,007 What he's saying is, "Be afraid. Be very afraid." 428 00:30:16,159 --> 00:30:17,987 This is when it all starts to get 429 00:30:17,988 --> 00:30:19,955 a little bit scary for cheetahs, 430 00:30:19,956 --> 00:30:22,371 especially when they're on a fresh kill. 431 00:30:24,995 --> 00:30:28,033 Anna is with Pobe and her cubs. 432 00:30:30,207 --> 00:30:31,898 They still have the kill. 433 00:30:31,899 --> 00:30:34,210 Nothing's come in to take it. 434 00:30:34,211 --> 00:30:38,870 I think that could be something to do with her smart tactics, 435 00:30:38,871 --> 00:30:42,701 which involve basically covering the carcass with dust. 436 00:30:42,702 --> 00:30:45,083 She's trying to cover the scent 437 00:30:45,084 --> 00:30:47,499 because when it turns to night, 438 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:51,401 things start to get a little bit dangerous around here. 439 00:30:56,716 --> 00:31:00,272 Pobe needs to be on high alert all of the time. 440 00:31:02,964 --> 00:31:06,071 Who knows what predators could be lurking in the shadows? 441 00:31:12,974 --> 00:31:15,355 I wonder if there's something there. 442 00:31:22,501 --> 00:31:24,330 Ooh, jackal. 443 00:31:25,435 --> 00:31:27,505 The cubs are essentially learning 444 00:31:27,506 --> 00:31:31,371 how to guard their food against animals, 445 00:31:31,372 --> 00:31:35,685 and level one is the-- 446 00:31:35,686 --> 00:31:38,343 the lovely jackal. 447 00:31:58,675 --> 00:32:01,263 Jackal doesn't really pose much of a threat for these cubs. 448 00:32:02,713 --> 00:32:06,061 I am super chuffed that Pobe and the cubs 449 00:32:06,062 --> 00:32:08,995 have managed to keep hold of this meal, 450 00:32:08,996 --> 00:32:10,410 but it's when the big things come in, 451 00:32:10,411 --> 00:32:12,999 like lions and leopards, 452 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,071 that's when it's gonna get really real for these cubs. 453 00:32:36,057 --> 00:32:38,196 The flood is making it harder 454 00:32:38,197 --> 00:32:40,716 for the mums with young cubs to escape. 455 00:32:45,066 --> 00:32:47,550 Nothing quite like crashing through a floodplain. 456 00:32:49,174 --> 00:32:51,727 To stop the advancing Rogue Boys, 457 00:32:51,728 --> 00:32:55,144 the pride needs both of its dominant males... 458 00:32:57,044 --> 00:32:59,700 Loads of vultures here. What's going on? 459 00:32:59,701 --> 00:33:02,703 so Greg is searching for Big Toe. 460 00:33:06,156 --> 00:33:08,571 We've looked in all the regular spots, 461 00:33:08,572 --> 00:33:13,507 so we're gonna look in areas that we would never normally go. 462 00:33:18,617 --> 00:33:20,445 Ah! 463 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:26,693 I think we've got Big Toe tracks. 464 00:33:26,694 --> 00:33:29,661 Yes! Finally! 465 00:33:30,767 --> 00:33:32,561 Ha ha! 466 00:33:35,323 --> 00:33:38,567 He must be not far from here. Let's go and find him. 467 00:33:45,816 --> 00:33:48,887 Oh. Uh-oh. Oh, oh. 468 00:33:48,888 --> 00:33:51,476 Somebody up ahead of us. 469 00:33:53,583 --> 00:33:58,138 This is a big male lion just in front of me, 470 00:33:58,139 --> 00:34:00,727 so who is this? 471 00:34:02,833 --> 00:34:06,457 Ahh! Oh, gosh. 472 00:34:08,184 --> 00:34:10,185 Please, please, please, please, please. 473 00:34:15,846 --> 00:34:18,814 Come on. It's Big Toe. 474 00:34:18,815 --> 00:34:21,920 Yes! What? 475 00:34:24,752 --> 00:34:27,202 I can see those eyebrows. 476 00:34:28,618 --> 00:34:33,380 The mighty Big Toe, he's back in the game. 477 00:34:33,381 --> 00:34:36,797 Greg has finally found Big Toe, 478 00:34:36,798 --> 00:34:40,387 but he's a long way from the usual pride territory. 479 00:34:40,388 --> 00:34:42,838 This is an area where I've, in fact, 480 00:34:42,839 --> 00:34:46,531 never seen any of the Xudum pride before, 481 00:34:46,532 --> 00:34:49,810 and it begs the question, you know, 482 00:34:49,811 --> 00:34:52,468 where has Big Toe been 483 00:34:52,469 --> 00:34:55,334 this whole time that he's been missing? 484 00:34:59,269 --> 00:35:02,340 But he's definitely 485 00:35:02,341 --> 00:35:05,205 on some sort of mission here. 486 00:35:05,206 --> 00:35:08,106 It looks like he's about to cross the water. 487 00:35:09,314 --> 00:35:10,935 Haven't seen him for-- 488 00:35:12,765 --> 00:35:15,388 for weeks, and it seems like 489 00:35:15,389 --> 00:35:17,736 I'm only gonna have him for a few minutes. 490 00:35:21,705 --> 00:35:25,951 Come on, Big Toe. Don't do this to me now, please. 491 00:35:28,195 --> 00:35:31,611 I'm just not sure how I'm follow him 492 00:35:31,612 --> 00:35:34,510 because I don't want to get stuck. 493 00:35:35,754 --> 00:35:37,858 All right. 494 00:35:37,859 --> 00:35:40,275 We're gonna have to do a big water crossing here. 495 00:35:42,174 --> 00:35:45,280 Oh, that's not ideal. 496 00:35:45,281 --> 00:35:48,559 Ooh, hoo hoo! Ooh. Hoo hoo. 497 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,251 Oh. Oh, dear. 498 00:35:51,252 --> 00:35:53,495 Ha ha! 499 00:35:53,496 --> 00:35:55,945 It's flowing. 500 00:35:59,536 --> 00:36:01,641 Not too bad. 501 00:36:01,642 --> 00:36:03,953 We're through. 502 00:36:03,954 --> 00:36:05,714 This is wild. 503 00:36:05,715 --> 00:36:07,992 Trying to keep up with Big Toe through the fresh flood 504 00:36:07,993 --> 00:36:10,270 is not for the faint-hearted. 505 00:36:17,313 --> 00:36:20,384 He's just picked up a scent 506 00:36:20,385 --> 00:36:23,421 and is following it very intently. 507 00:36:23,422 --> 00:36:25,423 He's sniffing, sniffing, sniffing. 508 00:36:25,424 --> 00:36:29,324 He's trying to find another lion. 509 00:36:38,851 --> 00:36:42,026 OK. We've just got visual of other lions now. 510 00:36:47,791 --> 00:36:49,999 Who are these lions? 511 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,278 What's going on there? 512 00:36:53,935 --> 00:36:56,903 It's very, very strange. 513 00:37:01,667 --> 00:37:04,324 I can't believe this. 514 00:37:04,325 --> 00:37:07,672 This is not Xudum pride. 515 00:37:09,813 --> 00:37:12,367 This is a whole different pride. 516 00:37:12,368 --> 00:37:17,269 It appears that Big Toe has another pride. 517 00:37:18,650 --> 00:37:20,859 Well, that was unexpected. 518 00:37:22,032 --> 00:37:25,656 At a time when the Xudum pride, you know, needs him the most, 519 00:37:25,657 --> 00:37:28,762 that is a problem. 520 00:37:28,763 --> 00:37:31,490 That is a big problem. 521 00:37:33,768 --> 00:37:35,493 Gordon. Gordon for Greg. 522 00:37:35,494 --> 00:37:37,323 Go, Greg. 523 00:37:37,324 --> 00:37:39,394 Gordon, you are not gonna believe this, 524 00:37:39,395 --> 00:37:42,431 but I finally found Big Toe. 525 00:37:42,432 --> 00:37:44,916 He's busy fooling around with other lionesses. 526 00:37:44,917 --> 00:37:47,056 You are kidding me. 527 00:37:47,057 --> 00:37:49,611 It's not good, not good at all. 528 00:37:56,584 --> 00:37:58,378 Wait a minute. 529 00:38:00,036 --> 00:38:02,140 Looks like there's actually another male here, as well. 530 00:38:05,075 --> 00:38:07,525 Oh, no. 531 00:38:07,526 --> 00:38:09,458 This is, in fact... 532 00:38:11,012 --> 00:38:12,806 Madumo. 533 00:38:16,535 --> 00:38:19,434 That is unbelievable. 534 00:38:22,714 --> 00:38:25,785 The dominant males have been dividing their time 535 00:38:25,786 --> 00:38:30,790 between the Xudum pride and this new pride. 536 00:38:32,379 --> 00:38:35,173 What's happening is, our big males 537 00:38:35,174 --> 00:38:38,694 are mating with other lions, 538 00:38:38,695 --> 00:38:42,388 and that's why we don't see them very often. 539 00:38:42,389 --> 00:38:44,976 While Madumo has been coming and going, 540 00:38:44,977 --> 00:38:48,049 Big Toe has been here. 541 00:38:49,913 --> 00:38:52,156 What's potentially at play here is the fact 542 00:38:52,157 --> 00:38:54,676 that amongst the Xudum pride lionesses, 543 00:38:54,677 --> 00:38:57,541 all the older lionesses have cubs at the moment, 544 00:38:57,542 --> 00:39:00,060 and there's a fair chance that all the younger lionesses 545 00:39:00,061 --> 00:39:03,409 are related to Madumo and Big Toe. 546 00:39:03,410 --> 00:39:05,756 In fact, they could be their daughters, 547 00:39:05,757 --> 00:39:09,450 so the mating opportunities within the pride are limited. 548 00:39:10,727 --> 00:39:13,971 That might explain why the boys have gone outside 549 00:39:13,972 --> 00:39:18,665 to look for the chance of siring more cubs. 550 00:39:18,666 --> 00:39:19,840 Hmm. 551 00:39:21,048 --> 00:39:22,945 Problem is, if they're paying so much attention 552 00:39:22,946 --> 00:39:26,155 to other lionesses, they're neglecting the Xudum pride, 553 00:39:26,156 --> 00:39:31,160 and that's why we've had so much drama and chaos, 554 00:39:31,161 --> 00:39:34,957 and that is gonna be a very serious risk to those cubs. 555 00:39:42,069 --> 00:39:44,070 The Xudum pride mums have been left 556 00:39:44,071 --> 00:39:48,454 to defend their cubs alone from the advancing Rogue Boys. 557 00:40:10,753 --> 00:40:12,685 Lediba the leopard has been searching 558 00:40:12,686 --> 00:40:14,859 for her missing cub... 559 00:40:16,897 --> 00:40:20,002 for almost two days, 560 00:40:20,003 --> 00:40:22,902 but there's no sign of it. 561 00:40:24,456 --> 00:40:27,976 Well, she's led us back to one cub. 562 00:40:42,267 --> 00:40:45,546 She is entirely that one's world. 563 00:41:06,774 --> 00:41:08,189 Just one... 564 00:41:09,950 --> 00:41:12,779 and I think she's moving it to a new space. 565 00:41:15,749 --> 00:41:18,302 Bestelink, on radio: There's no daughter cub. 566 00:41:27,761 --> 00:41:29,520 I just hope now, 567 00:41:29,521 --> 00:41:32,178 with all her attention focused on a single individual, 568 00:41:32,179 --> 00:41:35,251 that cub stands a better chance of staying alive. 569 00:41:37,115 --> 00:41:38,874 It's still a miracle in itself 570 00:41:38,875 --> 00:41:44,086 that she has one healthy, surviving, and thriving, really. 571 00:41:44,087 --> 00:41:46,745 That's a testament to her abilities as a mother. 572 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,818 Lediba's surviving cub will soon pass 573 00:41:51,819 --> 00:41:54,649 this most vulnerable age 574 00:41:54,650 --> 00:41:58,342 and leave the nursery with her when she hunts. 575 00:42:06,593 --> 00:42:09,872 Pobe the cheetah is looking for her next meal. 576 00:42:11,218 --> 00:42:14,289 Wow. I think she's gonna go. 577 00:42:29,685 --> 00:42:32,687 Go on. Go on. Go on. Go, go, go, go, go. 578 00:42:40,937 --> 00:42:43,906 Yep. She's done it again. 579 00:42:45,010 --> 00:42:47,047 Schulte to Brinke, on radio: Pobe, Pobe, Pobe. 580 00:42:48,289 --> 00:42:52,948 Those two cubs are insanely lucky 581 00:42:52,949 --> 00:42:55,124 that they've got Pobe as their mum. 582 00:42:58,023 --> 00:43:02,889 Cheetah mum Pobe has secured her cubs another meal... 583 00:43:05,686 --> 00:43:08,792 as long as she can keep it through another night. 584 00:43:23,635 --> 00:43:27,742 I'm really, really chuffed for Pobe and the cubs. 585 00:43:27,743 --> 00:43:31,125 She's doing an incredible job at feeding them. 586 00:43:34,473 --> 00:43:36,648 Wait a second. 587 00:43:38,098 --> 00:43:40,134 What's she seeing? 588 00:43:43,068 --> 00:43:47,278 Pobe looks like she's getting into, like, a weird stalk mode. 589 00:43:47,279 --> 00:43:49,867 She's seen something. 590 00:43:54,908 --> 00:43:56,909 There is something... 591 00:43:59,429 --> 00:44:01,430 sat... 592 00:44:01,431 --> 00:44:03,674 about 100 meters from her. 593 00:44:05,712 --> 00:44:07,885 That is big. 594 00:44:10,717 --> 00:44:12,338 Oh, God, I think that's a leopard. 595 00:44:12,339 --> 00:44:14,271 That's a male leopard. 596 00:44:21,210 --> 00:44:23,176 It's running in. It's running in. 597 00:44:42,093 --> 00:44:45,060 I think she's trying to lure this leopard away from the cubs. 598 00:44:46,442 --> 00:44:49,237 This feels like a mad move from Pobe. 599 00:44:50,722 --> 00:44:52,516 This hungry male leopard 600 00:44:52,517 --> 00:44:55,208 is 1 1/2 times Pobe's weight 601 00:44:55,209 --> 00:44:58,522 and could easily overpower her. 602 00:45:00,559 --> 00:45:03,941 Pobe can't save her food, 603 00:45:03,942 --> 00:45:06,392 but she can protect her cubs. 604 00:45:09,776 --> 00:45:11,362 She just jumped at it. 605 00:45:11,363 --> 00:45:14,055 She just jumped on the floor to try and make a sound 606 00:45:14,056 --> 00:45:16,057 to lure it away. 607 00:45:16,058 --> 00:45:18,404 She's so, so clever. 608 00:45:20,959 --> 00:45:23,236 Pobe might be smaller than the leopard... 609 00:45:28,346 --> 00:45:32,073 but she has one clear advantage. 610 00:45:32,074 --> 00:45:34,282 Pobe is not at her max. effort 611 00:45:34,283 --> 00:45:36,491 in terms of speed, but that leopard 612 00:45:36,492 --> 00:45:38,873 is really struggling to keep up with her. 613 00:45:38,874 --> 00:45:40,598 This is crazy. 614 00:46:12,804 --> 00:46:15,081 Pobe has diverted the leopard's attention 615 00:46:15,082 --> 00:46:17,049 from the cubs... 616 00:46:19,362 --> 00:46:22,433 OK. This leopard is going to a kill, 617 00:46:22,434 --> 00:46:24,953 but their meal is lost. 618 00:46:29,821 --> 00:46:31,512 Off he goes. 619 00:46:34,550 --> 00:46:36,620 That's so annoying. 620 00:46:38,450 --> 00:46:41,315 That must have been terrifying for those cubs... 621 00:46:44,042 --> 00:46:46,354 but we've seen tonight Pobe is capable 622 00:46:46,355 --> 00:46:50,461 of essentially fighting off a male leopard 623 00:46:50,462 --> 00:46:53,500 to protect her cubs. 624 00:46:55,191 --> 00:46:59,643 These are the lengths that a mother cheetah will go to. 625 00:47:01,577 --> 00:47:03,578 What an incredible cat she is. 626 00:47:19,940 --> 00:47:21,216 OK. 627 00:47:21,217 --> 00:47:24,288 Up ahead, we have a cluster of lions. 628 00:47:28,017 --> 00:47:30,260 Gordon is also on the night shift. 629 00:47:31,987 --> 00:47:35,541 We can put the drone up, hopefully spot it from the air. 630 00:47:36,957 --> 00:47:39,096 The Rogue Boys are closing in 631 00:47:39,097 --> 00:47:41,340 on the Xudum pride mums and cubs. 632 00:47:43,722 --> 00:47:47,449 Madumo and Big Toe, they're out of the equation, 633 00:47:47,450 --> 00:47:50,280 hanging out with a second pride, 634 00:47:50,281 --> 00:47:53,421 and at some point, 635 00:47:53,422 --> 00:47:56,734 these Rogue Boys, they are gonna push towards these cubs, 636 00:47:56,735 --> 00:47:59,290 and that could be tonight... 637 00:48:01,188 --> 00:48:03,293 so whenever a Dimo goes, 638 00:48:03,294 --> 00:48:06,710 I'm just gonna keep up with him as best I can. 639 00:48:12,268 --> 00:48:14,649 He's on the trail. 640 00:48:14,650 --> 00:48:17,065 The Rogue Boys are now close enough 641 00:48:17,066 --> 00:48:19,309 to be picking up the females' scent. 642 00:48:20,621 --> 00:48:24,072 Now things are serious. 643 00:48:24,073 --> 00:48:27,765 Dimo is making his presence known 644 00:48:27,766 --> 00:48:31,562 in sound and in scent. 645 00:48:39,433 --> 00:48:45,507 Yeah. He's belting it out with all his might. 646 00:48:51,549 --> 00:48:52,998 Whoa. 647 00:48:56,485 --> 00:48:59,556 A roar like that just gets you in the belly. 648 00:49:03,147 --> 00:49:06,459 Things are gonna escalate. 649 00:49:14,434 --> 00:49:15,710 They're running. 650 00:49:17,264 --> 00:49:20,439 I--I--I-- I don't want to lose them. 651 00:49:23,719 --> 00:49:26,376 Where are we going, pal? 652 00:49:26,377 --> 00:49:29,344 Dimo just ran off into this forest... 653 00:49:32,486 --> 00:49:35,557 so at the moment, I've lost them. 654 00:49:38,354 --> 00:49:40,769 The Rogue Boys have vanished 655 00:49:40,770 --> 00:49:44,463 just 500 meters from the mums and young cubs. 656 00:49:47,260 --> 00:49:51,263 I think they've disappeared into the forest. 657 00:49:51,264 --> 00:49:53,782 This is really bad. 658 00:50:07,142 --> 00:50:10,316 After losing the Rogue Boys in the night, 659 00:50:10,317 --> 00:50:16,081 the whole team is out at dawn searching for lions. 660 00:50:16,082 --> 00:50:19,775 Oh, my gosh, mums. 661 00:50:21,190 --> 00:50:23,296 What a relief. 662 00:50:24,780 --> 00:50:28,232 Anna has found the mums and young cubs. 663 00:50:30,303 --> 00:50:33,753 OK. We're all safe. I can't believe it. 664 00:50:33,754 --> 00:50:37,034 What incredible mums. 665 00:50:43,385 --> 00:50:45,903 OK. 666 00:50:45,904 --> 00:50:47,734 "I'm just coming to say hi." 667 00:50:51,462 --> 00:50:53,463 Morning, Tsebe. 668 00:50:53,464 --> 00:50:56,190 Hi, gorgeous girl. You are beautiful, aren't you? 669 00:50:57,882 --> 00:51:00,539 Well done for keeping your cub safe. 670 00:51:02,542 --> 00:51:04,543 Oh, my God. Look. 671 00:51:12,276 --> 00:51:14,863 What an amazing morning. 672 00:51:17,143 --> 00:51:19,868 Schulte to Brinke, on radio: Anna, Anna, are you reading me? 673 00:51:19,869 --> 00:51:25,529 This is such just, like, a dreamy, tranquil scene. 674 00:51:25,530 --> 00:51:27,359 Anna, Anna, do you copy? 675 00:51:27,360 --> 00:51:29,154 Anna... Amazing. 676 00:51:29,155 --> 00:51:32,398 The Rogue Boys are coming towards the mums. 677 00:51:33,780 --> 00:51:35,401 Oh, my God. 678 00:51:35,402 --> 00:51:36,816 Rea, yeah, it's Anna. 679 00:51:36,817 --> 00:51:38,404 Yeah. Anna, Dimo is right here, 680 00:51:38,405 --> 00:51:40,544 and the 3 subadult males 681 00:51:40,545 --> 00:51:42,926 looking super keen in your direction. 682 00:51:47,414 --> 00:51:48,725 The Rogue Boys are heading 683 00:51:48,726 --> 00:51:51,486 straight towards the mums and cubs, 684 00:51:51,487 --> 00:51:54,524 and this is exactly what we don't want to happen. 685 00:51:54,525 --> 00:51:56,595 This is really, really dangerous. 686 00:51:59,219 --> 00:52:02,187 Schulte to Brinke: They're trying to pick up scent. 687 00:52:02,188 --> 00:52:05,466 You can see them right now with their noses, their mouth, 688 00:52:05,467 --> 00:52:07,951 and then they put their head up and go... 689 00:52:10,610 --> 00:52:13,681 There's absolutely no chance 690 00:52:13,682 --> 00:52:17,271 that these lionesses, with this amount of cubs, 691 00:52:17,272 --> 00:52:19,342 are gonna be able to outrun the Rogue Boys. 692 00:52:19,343 --> 00:52:21,516 There's no way. 693 00:52:28,214 --> 00:52:29,938 Rea, Rea, do you have an update? 694 00:52:31,838 --> 00:52:34,460 Like 100 meters. They're super close. 695 00:52:34,461 --> 00:52:36,704 I see them. I see them. 696 00:52:43,436 --> 00:52:47,301 OK. Tsebe has seen them. She's seen them. 697 00:52:47,302 --> 00:52:49,441 Oh, they're coming in. They're coming in. 698 00:53:17,332 --> 00:53:20,575 I've never heard a noise like that ever. 699 00:53:20,576 --> 00:53:22,474 Where are the cubs? 700 00:53:24,856 --> 00:53:26,375 Please don't be dead.