1 00:00:01,346 --> 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 00:00:09,561 --> 00:00:12,494 The Okavango Delta in Botswana... 4 00:00:12,495 --> 00:00:15,531 We are in a pristine environment right now. 5 00:00:15,532 --> 00:00:19,156 one of Africa's last wildernesses... 6 00:00:19,157 --> 00:00:22,297 The magnitude of life here is unparalleled. 7 00:00:22,298 --> 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 --> 00:00:30,408 cheetah, 10 00:00:30,409 --> 00:00:31,823 and leopard. 11 00:00:31,824 --> 00:00:34,792 Big cat country. 12 00:00:34,793 --> 00:00:38,313 Armed with the latest filming technology, 13 00:00:38,314 --> 00:00:41,730 the "Big Cats 24/7" team is following 14 00:00:41,731 --> 00:00:45,699 individual big cats for 6 months... 15 00:00:45,700 --> 00:00:47,839 This is a unique opportunity to follow 16 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,187 these cats round the clock. 17 00:00:50,188 --> 00:00:52,465 through the day... 18 00:00:52,466 --> 00:00:56,089 I used to think I'd have a fair fight with a lion. 19 00:00:56,090 --> 00:00:57,642 I'm not so sure now. Ha! 20 00:00:57,643 --> 00:00:59,403 and the night... 21 00:00:59,404 --> 00:01:01,819 We've got the most sophisticated 22 00:01:01,820 --> 00:01:04,201 thermal imaging technology. 23 00:01:04,202 --> 00:01:08,757 capturing their behavior 24 hours a day. 24 00:01:08,758 --> 00:01:12,174 I have never seen anything like this. 25 00:01:12,175 --> 00:01:13,693 Epic! 26 00:01:23,290 --> 00:01:26,568 Ooh! They're locking jaws. 27 00:01:26,569 --> 00:01:29,778 She's clawed him in the face! 28 00:01:29,779 --> 00:01:33,851 Oh, the girls are driving Dimo away. 29 00:01:33,852 --> 00:01:35,715 These females might have done it. 30 00:01:42,447 --> 00:01:44,725 She's contact calling. 31 00:01:46,313 --> 00:01:48,417 Conflict looks over for now. 32 00:01:48,418 --> 00:01:53,215 That was insane. That was so insane. 33 00:02:03,226 --> 00:02:06,504 Rea, have you got eyes on these cubs? 34 00:02:06,505 --> 00:02:07,988 Nah, that's a negative. 35 00:02:15,342 --> 00:02:18,378 Lionesses have no idea where the cubs are. 36 00:02:18,379 --> 00:02:22,555 Lion mums Matho... 37 00:02:22,556 --> 00:02:23,935 Tsebe... 38 00:02:25,835 --> 00:02:28,906 and Naledi are searching for their 9 young cubs... 39 00:02:30,633 --> 00:02:33,600 scattered in the chaos of the fight with the Rogue Boys. 40 00:02:35,258 --> 00:02:36,914 I'm just really scared just to see 41 00:02:36,915 --> 00:02:40,469 beyond the long grass and see a dead cub. 42 00:02:40,470 --> 00:02:43,369 Please tell me that's not happened. 43 00:02:48,858 --> 00:02:50,755 It's a cub. It's a cub right here. 44 00:02:53,932 --> 00:02:55,657 Ha ha ha! 45 00:02:59,627 --> 00:03:00,938 Some cubs are over there. 46 00:03:12,675 --> 00:03:14,745 Right. Let's count these cubs. 47 00:03:14,746 --> 00:03:20,751 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8. Got 8. 48 00:03:20,752 --> 00:03:23,063 We're missing one cub. 49 00:03:23,064 --> 00:03:24,582 This is not cool. 50 00:03:24,583 --> 00:03:27,930 Rea, have you got eyes on this ninth cub? 51 00:03:27,931 --> 00:03:30,347 That is a negative. 52 00:03:30,348 --> 00:03:32,901 Naledi is just nonstop contact calling. 53 00:03:34,559 --> 00:03:36,594 I feel for her. 54 00:03:36,595 --> 00:03:40,426 It's Naledi's smallest cub that's missing. 55 00:03:47,710 --> 00:03:50,090 Please, please, please, please, please, please be OK. 56 00:03:50,091 --> 00:03:51,540 Be OK. 57 00:03:55,373 --> 00:03:56,718 Ah! There's the cub. 58 00:04:01,793 --> 00:04:03,414 Ha! 59 00:04:03,415 --> 00:04:05,416 What a relief. 60 00:04:12,666 --> 00:04:15,633 The cub is trailing pretty far behind. 61 00:04:18,292 --> 00:04:21,121 It's not over for these mums and cubs. 62 00:04:21,122 --> 00:04:25,609 The 3 younger Rogue Boys have circled back. 63 00:04:27,439 --> 00:04:29,060 This cub is alone. 64 00:04:29,061 --> 00:04:34,928 He's literally within 50 meters to these 3 Rogue Boys. 65 00:04:34,929 --> 00:04:37,414 Intruder male lions are responsible 66 00:04:37,415 --> 00:04:39,657 for a quarter of cub deaths. 67 00:04:39,658 --> 00:04:42,729 This is very dangerous. 68 00:04:42,730 --> 00:04:45,767 What?! 69 00:04:45,768 --> 00:04:47,803 One of the mums has come back. 70 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,882 But Naledi is not leaving her cub behind... 71 00:05:06,789 --> 00:05:12,034 and Matho and Tsebe are joining. 72 00:05:12,035 --> 00:05:15,452 It's like a gang war here. 73 00:05:15,453 --> 00:05:19,110 I've never seen anything like this. 74 00:05:19,111 --> 00:05:21,596 They're trying to settle this through growls. 75 00:05:25,186 --> 00:05:27,947 Lions typically will avoid confrontations. 76 00:05:27,948 --> 00:05:32,745 If you have an injury, it could be fatal. 77 00:05:32,746 --> 00:05:34,194 Without their leader Dimo... 78 00:05:41,996 --> 00:05:43,928 The battle's over. 79 00:05:43,929 --> 00:05:47,207 the 3 youngsters are finally backing down. 80 00:05:47,208 --> 00:05:49,451 These Rogue Boys seem to be heading 81 00:05:49,452 --> 00:05:51,073 to the direction they came from. 82 00:05:56,597 --> 00:05:58,736 These are some serious women bosses. 83 00:06:02,534 --> 00:06:05,847 Anna. I can't believe it, eh? Ha! 84 00:06:05,848 --> 00:06:09,851 They have successfully fought off these Rogue Boys. 85 00:06:09,852 --> 00:06:13,958 Yes! Ohh! Great news. I'm so relieved. 86 00:06:18,826 --> 00:06:21,414 Matho, Tsebe, and Naledi 87 00:06:21,415 --> 00:06:25,867 have saved their cubs for now... 88 00:06:25,868 --> 00:06:29,733 Since Big Toe and Madumo have disappeared, 89 00:06:29,734 --> 00:06:35,532 they're leaving their lionesses to just do all the work. 90 00:06:35,533 --> 00:06:39,432 but with the Rogue Boys still in the area, 91 00:06:39,433 --> 00:06:43,505 the mums and their cubs remain vulnerable. 92 00:06:43,506 --> 00:06:45,783 It just feels like this territory is 93 00:06:45,784 --> 00:06:49,200 completely up for grabs. 94 00:06:49,201 --> 00:06:52,997 The Xudum Pride has been apart for weeks, 95 00:06:52,998 --> 00:06:58,037 now scattered across its 250-square kilometer territory 96 00:06:58,038 --> 00:07:01,247 in the Okavango Delta. 97 00:07:01,248 --> 00:07:05,872 There are lots of players who are just moving in. 98 00:07:05,873 --> 00:07:07,667 Who knows who this territory is for now? 99 00:07:07,668 --> 00:07:11,050 It's total chaos. 100 00:07:11,051 --> 00:07:15,192 The abundance of prey brought by the annual flood 101 00:07:15,193 --> 00:07:17,608 is drawing more predators in... 102 00:07:19,922 --> 00:07:22,164 putting all the big cats on edge... 103 00:07:23,650 --> 00:07:25,961 especially these young mothers. 104 00:07:25,962 --> 00:07:29,206 There's so many cubs to protect. 105 00:07:29,207 --> 00:07:32,692 Without Big Toe and Madumo to help them... 106 00:07:32,693 --> 00:07:36,627 Mums working together is essential. 107 00:07:36,628 --> 00:07:40,079 Matho, Naledi, and Tsebe must rejoin 108 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,151 the other mums in the pride for protection... 109 00:07:43,152 --> 00:07:47,327 We just really, really need safety in numbers. 110 00:07:47,328 --> 00:07:51,539 but first, they need to find them. 111 00:07:57,511 --> 00:08:00,824 I think I've just seen a glimpse of a leopard. 112 00:08:00,825 --> 00:08:02,619 Tristen and Brad are on the trail 113 00:08:02,620 --> 00:08:04,724 of leopard mum Lediba. 114 00:08:13,734 --> 00:08:16,253 Mum looks happy. 115 00:08:16,254 --> 00:08:17,599 Cub looks happy. 116 00:08:22,018 --> 00:08:25,676 Look. This little cub is very playful. 117 00:08:28,818 --> 00:08:30,716 I think she spotted an impala. 118 00:08:43,143 --> 00:08:44,764 Yeah. 119 00:08:44,765 --> 00:08:48,285 The little cub's just tried to run an impala. 120 00:08:48,286 --> 00:08:50,150 It scared everything. 121 00:08:52,117 --> 00:08:55,050 Oh, it was too cute! 122 00:08:55,051 --> 00:08:58,640 Any opportunity, these cats are ready to go, 123 00:08:58,641 --> 00:09:01,332 and even from the age of 4 months, 124 00:09:01,333 --> 00:09:06,648 they seem to think that they can take down adult impalas. 125 00:09:06,649 --> 00:09:10,687 That was absolutely adorable. 126 00:09:10,688 --> 00:09:13,068 "Look, Mum! Look what I tried to do. 127 00:09:13,069 --> 00:09:14,656 "Did you see me? 128 00:09:14,657 --> 00:09:16,313 I nearly caught one!" 129 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:21,871 Heh! Oh, yes. Mummy and cub. 130 00:09:26,082 --> 00:09:28,844 After losing one of her cubs... 131 00:09:30,362 --> 00:09:32,605 Might get a little bit of suckling here. 132 00:09:32,606 --> 00:09:36,816 Lediba is now focusing on keeping this one alive. 133 00:09:36,817 --> 00:09:39,198 I would really like to see her starting 134 00:09:39,199 --> 00:09:43,443 to provide a lot more meat for the cub. 135 00:09:43,444 --> 00:09:45,307 My sense is that she should be getting a lot 136 00:09:45,308 --> 00:09:47,759 more than she is at the moment. 137 00:09:49,312 --> 00:09:53,350 To feed them both, Lediba needs to catch 138 00:09:53,351 --> 00:09:56,837 something every 2 to 3 days. 139 00:09:59,184 --> 00:10:03,325 Lediba's just gone up, so suckling has stopped. 140 00:10:03,326 --> 00:10:05,224 Lediba's on the move. 141 00:10:05,225 --> 00:10:07,882 Which means she must leave her cub unprotected 142 00:10:07,883 --> 00:10:12,612 in its nursery to search for food. 143 00:10:15,097 --> 00:10:17,685 She's covering a lot of ground, pushing hard. 144 00:10:27,212 --> 00:10:30,042 She's just bumped into the baboon troop. 145 00:10:35,945 --> 00:10:37,429 Haven't seen her. 146 00:10:39,466 --> 00:10:42,951 She is sneaking away as quietly as possible. 147 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:52,064 Baboons will alert any prey to Lediba's presence. 148 00:10:52,065 --> 00:10:53,824 Amazing. 149 00:10:53,825 --> 00:10:57,069 She's virtually going underneath the front of my car. 150 00:11:02,489 --> 00:11:06,009 Trist, she's now heading back through the forest. 151 00:11:15,985 --> 00:11:20,195 Lediba's finally found something to hunt. 152 00:11:20,196 --> 00:11:22,473 Nice, big male reedbuck. 153 00:11:29,481 --> 00:11:31,172 You don't know where the cat is 154 00:11:31,173 --> 00:11:33,864 because she's so well-camouflaged and hidden. 155 00:11:33,865 --> 00:11:38,386 Less than 1 in 5 leopard hunts are successful. 156 00:11:38,387 --> 00:11:41,458 This reedbuck no idea that a leopard's 157 00:11:41,459 --> 00:11:44,944 coming up behind him. 158 00:11:44,945 --> 00:11:47,947 Lediba's best chance is to stalk 159 00:11:47,948 --> 00:11:50,363 within 5 meters of her prey. 160 00:11:53,954 --> 00:11:55,161 Reedbuck's moving. 161 00:12:03,481 --> 00:12:08,278 Oh! Jeez, that was close. Unlucky. 162 00:12:08,279 --> 00:12:11,315 She just--just missed it. 163 00:12:13,387 --> 00:12:15,112 What? What is going on? 164 00:12:15,113 --> 00:12:16,493 You go on her. 165 00:12:16,494 --> 00:12:17,874 I'll go and have a look. 166 00:12:22,258 --> 00:12:24,225 A little bit of a noise and alarm calling 167 00:12:24,226 --> 00:12:25,536 going on here. 168 00:12:25,537 --> 00:12:27,435 There's definitely something else going on. 169 00:12:32,234 --> 00:12:35,615 We've got a male lion underneath a tree. 170 00:12:35,616 --> 00:12:37,894 This is really, really scary. 171 00:12:37,895 --> 00:12:40,862 She's moving straight towards him right now. 172 00:12:40,863 --> 00:12:43,278 She hasn't seen him. 173 00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:46,903 She's gonna pop up right in front of him there. 174 00:12:46,904 --> 00:12:48,628 If the male lion can catch her, 175 00:12:48,629 --> 00:12:50,182 he will kill her. 176 00:12:50,183 --> 00:12:52,115 It's just what predators do to each other. 177 00:13:02,229 --> 00:13:04,921 She doesn't see him, but she's right in front of him. 178 00:13:13,827 --> 00:13:15,863 She's very lucky this guy didn't decide to charge her 179 00:13:15,864 --> 00:13:20,419 because that could have been a horrible, horrible ending. 180 00:13:20,420 --> 00:13:21,938 Oh, she's being brave. 181 00:13:21,939 --> 00:13:23,560 Coming straight down the tree. 182 00:13:23,561 --> 00:13:28,496 Lediba is making a hasty retreat. 183 00:13:28,497 --> 00:13:32,465 That was a bit close for comfort. 184 00:13:32,466 --> 00:13:37,298 This lone male lion is not one of the Rogue Boys 185 00:13:37,299 --> 00:13:40,059 but yet another newcomer to the area. 186 00:13:48,517 --> 00:13:50,863 Right next to the front of the flood. 187 00:13:50,864 --> 00:13:55,419 Greg is with the mums and young cubs moving south. 188 00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:57,697 as one of the biggest, most dominant prides 189 00:13:57,698 --> 00:13:59,320 in the whole Okavango, 190 00:13:59,321 --> 00:14:02,426 we've become quite accustomed to these lions 191 00:14:02,427 --> 00:14:05,602 really ruling the roost here, 192 00:14:05,603 --> 00:14:10,572 and it looks like that's all changing. 193 00:14:10,573 --> 00:14:13,853 I've never seen a pride take cover. 194 00:14:20,583 --> 00:14:22,136 Roger that. 195 00:14:22,137 --> 00:14:23,897 I'm following a couple of nomadic males. 196 00:14:27,590 --> 00:14:29,695 Heading towards the mums... 197 00:14:29,696 --> 00:14:31,179 With the arrival of the flood, 198 00:14:31,180 --> 00:14:33,492 we're seeing concentration of big cats. 199 00:14:33,493 --> 00:14:36,598 Gordon has discovered more intruders... 200 00:14:36,599 --> 00:14:38,324 There's a bit of a melting pot. 201 00:14:38,325 --> 00:14:42,018 taking the total in the area to at least 7. 202 00:14:42,019 --> 00:14:44,330 These lions have probably battled their way 203 00:14:44,331 --> 00:14:47,506 around the Okavango for the last couple of years 204 00:14:47,507 --> 00:14:50,405 with that singular mission of finding somewhere 205 00:14:50,406 --> 00:14:53,408 they can call their own. 206 00:14:55,308 --> 00:14:57,930 Now, what in the hell is happening? 207 00:14:57,931 --> 00:15:01,037 We've got two bigger subadult males chasing 208 00:15:01,038 --> 00:15:02,970 directly after Dimo. 209 00:15:02,971 --> 00:15:05,006 And now just a kilometer away, 210 00:15:05,007 --> 00:15:08,320 Rea has spotted the Rogue Boys' leader Dimo... 211 00:15:08,321 --> 00:15:10,529 What's going on here? I mean, he's all alone. 212 00:15:10,530 --> 00:15:12,600 without backup. 213 00:15:12,601 --> 00:15:14,084 They're coming straight to us! 214 00:15:14,085 --> 00:15:15,292 They're coming straight to us! 215 00:15:15,293 --> 00:15:16,569 He's being pursued 216 00:15:16,570 --> 00:15:19,158 by even more intruding male lions. 217 00:15:19,159 --> 00:15:20,504 I can't even recall how many groups 218 00:15:20,505 --> 00:15:22,472 of males have popped up. 219 00:15:26,442 --> 00:15:28,340 Oh, they've got Dimo, they've got him. 220 00:15:34,519 --> 00:15:36,658 Oh, this is so close! This is directly in front of us! 221 00:15:36,659 --> 00:15:39,075 They're right here! 222 00:15:39,076 --> 00:15:40,524 Look. They're biting him! 223 00:15:44,426 --> 00:15:47,462 I've never seen this before. 224 00:15:47,463 --> 00:15:51,225 This is a battle of intruders versus other intruders. 225 00:16:01,615 --> 00:16:05,515 Dimo came into this territory, and we cast him as a bad guy. 226 00:16:10,038 --> 00:16:14,386 Can't help but feel a little sorry for him now. 227 00:16:14,387 --> 00:16:16,112 Badly injured... 228 00:16:16,113 --> 00:16:19,598 This might be the last time we see Dimo. 229 00:16:19,599 --> 00:16:21,703 Dimo is leaving. 230 00:16:21,704 --> 00:16:23,429 It's really hard to keep track of all these lions 231 00:16:23,430 --> 00:16:25,328 we're seeing. 232 00:16:25,329 --> 00:16:27,571 With no dominant males, 233 00:16:27,572 --> 00:16:31,506 the Xudum Pride territory is now a battleground. 234 00:16:34,752 --> 00:16:37,547 Very worrying for the pride. 235 00:16:37,548 --> 00:16:41,344 Lionesses are having to protect the cubs on their own. 236 00:16:41,345 --> 00:16:45,072 Matho, Naledi, Tsebe, and their cubs 237 00:16:45,073 --> 00:16:47,384 are all in danger. 238 00:16:47,385 --> 00:16:51,285 Banding together is definitely gonna help. 239 00:16:51,286 --> 00:16:53,735 Yeah. We got the lions moving. 240 00:16:53,736 --> 00:16:57,877 They want to move their cubs to safety. 241 00:16:57,878 --> 00:17:01,088 They must find the other mums of the pride 242 00:17:01,089 --> 00:17:02,848 as soon as possible. 243 00:17:13,653 --> 00:17:16,275 Hey, Pobe. How are you doing? 244 00:17:16,276 --> 00:17:18,622 How are your cubs? 245 00:17:18,623 --> 00:17:23,282 Anna is with Pobe the cheetah and her two cubs. 246 00:17:23,283 --> 00:17:28,391 They're just growing day by day. 247 00:17:28,392 --> 00:17:31,877 These two are super lucky because at the moment 248 00:17:31,878 --> 00:17:34,467 their mum is doing all of the hard work. 249 00:17:36,572 --> 00:17:38,366 Oh, there they are. 250 00:17:40,749 --> 00:17:42,646 Kea... 251 00:17:42,647 --> 00:17:43,785 Whee! 252 00:17:43,786 --> 00:17:45,373 and Bo have made it 253 00:17:45,374 --> 00:17:47,099 to 6 months old. 254 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:48,928 Super cute to see. 255 00:17:48,929 --> 00:17:53,209 The world is just their playground at the moment. 256 00:17:53,210 --> 00:17:57,937 Every single tree is like a jungle gym. 257 00:17:57,938 --> 00:18:00,492 They're now starting to learn the skills 258 00:18:00,493 --> 00:18:02,805 to survive on their own. 259 00:18:06,464 --> 00:18:10,364 These cubs are practicing their tree climbing. 260 00:18:10,365 --> 00:18:12,435 This is essential learning for them 261 00:18:12,436 --> 00:18:15,231 because climbing trees helps them 262 00:18:15,232 --> 00:18:18,717 when they need to get off the ground, 263 00:18:18,718 --> 00:18:21,720 but it gives a really good viewpoint 264 00:18:21,721 --> 00:18:24,550 above all of this long grass. 265 00:18:24,551 --> 00:18:26,207 Cheetahs can see movement 266 00:18:26,208 --> 00:18:28,175 up to two kilometers away 267 00:18:28,176 --> 00:18:31,143 By climbing trees, they can scan for prey, 268 00:18:31,144 --> 00:18:33,422 but they can also scan for predators. 269 00:18:35,838 --> 00:18:37,391 Being able to spot danger 270 00:18:37,392 --> 00:18:39,807 from afar and escape it... 271 00:18:39,808 --> 00:18:42,154 Kea is at the top of a tree. 272 00:18:42,155 --> 00:18:47,401 is crucial with so many lions now in the area. 273 00:18:47,402 --> 00:18:48,781 Hmm. Heh. 274 00:18:51,923 --> 00:18:53,717 She's looking a little bit uncomfortable 275 00:18:53,718 --> 00:18:55,305 up there right now. 276 00:18:58,654 --> 00:19:03,002 Oh, dear. She's got herself into a bit of a situation here. 277 00:19:05,696 --> 00:19:08,870 She's trying to go down backwards. 278 00:19:08,871 --> 00:19:10,286 Ooh! 279 00:19:12,323 --> 00:19:15,808 And she made it down. Looked quite stressful. 280 00:19:15,809 --> 00:19:19,709 Their wonderful springy legs coming into their own. 281 00:19:19,710 --> 00:19:22,677 I do feel like they're slowly growing into their legs. 282 00:19:30,410 --> 00:19:32,239 Every day, 283 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:33,688 they're getting more used to their bodies, 284 00:19:33,689 --> 00:19:36,243 and you can see that that is really helping them 285 00:19:36,244 --> 00:19:39,970 in their speed and agility, their tree climbing, 286 00:19:39,971 --> 00:19:42,456 all of it. 287 00:19:42,457 --> 00:19:44,768 What looks like play is just 288 00:19:44,769 --> 00:19:48,634 essentially key training for them 289 00:19:48,635 --> 00:19:50,947 because we can't forget that cheetahs are 290 00:19:50,948 --> 00:19:54,433 at the bottom of the pecking order. 291 00:19:54,434 --> 00:19:59,404 They're always looking over their shoulders. 292 00:19:59,405 --> 00:20:03,925 Cheetah cubs leave their mothers at 18 months old. 293 00:20:03,926 --> 00:20:06,859 It's amazing how much they have to develop 294 00:20:06,860 --> 00:20:08,689 in such a short amount of time. 295 00:20:08,690 --> 00:20:11,243 To be ready to go it alone, 296 00:20:11,244 --> 00:20:14,971 Kea and Bo still have a lot to learn. 297 00:20:14,972 --> 00:20:17,318 That is the life of a cheetah. 298 00:20:17,319 --> 00:20:21,288 They have to develop so much faster 299 00:20:21,289 --> 00:20:23,497 than the other cats in the delta. 300 00:20:39,686 --> 00:20:41,273 It's begun. 301 00:20:41,274 --> 00:20:44,380 Lediba is well and truly on her mission tonight. 302 00:20:44,381 --> 00:20:48,038 The cub's den is only a couple hundred meters away. 303 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:51,110 With her cub hidden nearby, 304 00:20:51,111 --> 00:20:54,286 Lediba is hunting again. 305 00:20:54,287 --> 00:20:56,495 Looks like she's managed to sight out 306 00:20:56,496 --> 00:20:59,636 some impala moving through the floodplain. 307 00:20:59,637 --> 00:21:03,295 This might be her change in luck. 308 00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:05,401 She's certainly very hungry, 309 00:21:05,402 --> 00:21:06,678 and it looks like she's gonna give this 310 00:21:06,679 --> 00:21:08,749 as good of a go as possible. 311 00:21:16,585 --> 00:21:21,762 She's got herself into a pretty amazing position here. 312 00:21:22,971 --> 00:21:25,593 I can hear something barking. 313 00:21:25,594 --> 00:21:28,976 What the hell, man? 314 00:21:28,977 --> 00:21:31,668 She was in the perfect position. 315 00:21:31,669 --> 00:21:33,877 What? 316 00:21:33,878 --> 00:21:36,604 . Lion. 317 00:21:39,815 --> 00:21:42,161 She doesn't want to even try and compete with a lion. 318 00:21:42,162 --> 00:21:44,578 They're just too big. 319 00:21:44,579 --> 00:21:46,856 There's lions literally everywhere. 320 00:21:54,727 --> 00:21:58,937 Lediba's gone into some thicker cover now. 321 00:21:58,938 --> 00:22:01,871 The influx of new lions into the area... 322 00:22:01,872 --> 00:22:04,701 and I'm losing visual of her. 323 00:22:04,702 --> 00:22:08,740 is affecting all of the resident big cats. 324 00:22:08,741 --> 00:22:10,604 She's bolted off into the sage ridge, 325 00:22:10,605 --> 00:22:14,435 and I can't keep up with her through there. 326 00:22:14,436 --> 00:22:16,506 It's now been 3 days since the team 327 00:22:16,507 --> 00:22:19,716 last saw Lediba eat. 328 00:22:19,717 --> 00:22:21,028 Hopefully for Lediba, 329 00:22:21,029 --> 00:22:22,719 she manages to get herself a meal. 330 00:22:29,693 --> 00:22:33,143 It's morning, but Tristen and Rea 331 00:22:33,144 --> 00:22:36,664 are being held in camp by a curious visitor. 332 00:22:46,537 --> 00:22:47,848 Got a little bit of a blockage here 333 00:22:47,849 --> 00:22:50,816 on our way to the vehicles. 334 00:22:50,817 --> 00:22:53,819 Mr. Ellie's enjoying our lawn. 335 00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:58,168 This is supposed to be our badminton field. 336 00:22:58,169 --> 00:23:00,723 There's a lot of elephants around. 337 00:23:00,724 --> 00:23:02,621 I'm just seeing, like, elephants over there. 338 00:23:05,901 --> 00:23:07,868 We probably get elephants walking through camp 339 00:23:07,869 --> 00:23:09,559 4 or 5 times a day. 340 00:23:15,532 --> 00:23:16,842 You can see what the elephant does 341 00:23:16,843 --> 00:23:18,188 when he takes the grass. 342 00:23:18,189 --> 00:23:20,432 He pulls it out with his trunk, 343 00:23:20,433 --> 00:23:21,951 then he shakes it side to side, 344 00:23:21,952 --> 00:23:24,505 removing that sand and the dust off, 345 00:23:24,506 --> 00:23:27,922 not to hurt his teeth, and then he eats it. 346 00:23:30,443 --> 00:23:32,927 Having a elephant right literally in the middle 347 00:23:32,928 --> 00:23:35,240 of a camp is always a reminder just 348 00:23:35,241 --> 00:23:37,967 how wild this place is. 349 00:23:37,968 --> 00:23:40,279 Definitely something special. 350 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:44,145 When we've got a bit of a speed bump like this on our way out, 351 00:23:44,146 --> 00:23:47,839 best thing to do is appreciate it. 352 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:49,599 We shouldn't forget at the end of the day 353 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:50,738 this is their land. 354 00:23:50,739 --> 00:23:52,153 We're just visitors. 355 00:23:55,019 --> 00:23:56,675 Some people drive a car to work, 356 00:23:56,676 --> 00:23:58,297 and you've got to watch out for an accident. 357 00:23:58,298 --> 00:23:59,885 When I get out of my room in the morning, 358 00:23:59,886 --> 00:24:01,577 I've got to make sure I don't bump into him. 359 00:24:06,065 --> 00:24:07,859 Mr. Ellie's gone. 360 00:24:07,860 --> 00:24:09,654 Time to get back to work. 361 00:24:19,665 --> 00:24:22,805 I do feel like today is a major school day. 362 00:24:22,806 --> 00:24:25,186 Bush school for cheetah cubs Kea and Bo 363 00:24:25,187 --> 00:24:28,604 is continuing with mum Pobe. 364 00:24:28,605 --> 00:24:33,022 Pobe looks uninterested in the actual impala. 365 00:24:33,023 --> 00:24:34,644 It kind of feels like it's actually just more 366 00:24:34,645 --> 00:24:36,197 about the lesson. 367 00:24:46,795 --> 00:24:50,142 That felt like she was teaching the cubs 368 00:24:50,143 --> 00:24:53,180 how to run or how to accelerate. 369 00:24:55,597 --> 00:24:57,149 Yeppo. Go, Anna. 370 00:24:57,150 --> 00:24:58,875 Pobe seems to be on a mission to 371 00:24:58,876 --> 00:25:01,222 show them a few little hunting skills. 372 00:25:01,223 --> 00:25:03,086 Roger that. 373 00:25:03,087 --> 00:25:07,194 The cubs are learning another vital lesson. 374 00:25:07,195 --> 00:25:10,715 We've got Pobe's cubs here imitating their mum. 375 00:25:10,716 --> 00:25:12,682 They think they're on a serious hunt. 376 00:25:12,683 --> 00:25:16,134 These are skills which will help them in the long term. 377 00:25:16,135 --> 00:25:17,860 To survive on their own, 378 00:25:17,861 --> 00:25:21,967 Kea and Bo must learn how to run down prey. 379 00:25:21,968 --> 00:25:25,937 Got wildebeest just over in that direction. 380 00:25:28,630 --> 00:25:31,770 And the cubs are over straight ahead of me. 381 00:25:33,704 --> 00:25:37,983 They're moving straight towards them. 382 00:25:37,984 --> 00:25:41,090 Definitely got their ears down. 383 00:25:41,091 --> 00:25:43,264 Oh, running, running, running, running. 384 00:25:48,892 --> 00:25:51,203 It's pretty amazing to see the difference 385 00:25:51,204 --> 00:25:53,689 from just a month ago when they were shy 386 00:25:53,690 --> 00:25:56,244 and never take the initiative. 387 00:25:58,936 --> 00:26:01,420 Fully grown wildebeest are 10 times heavier 388 00:26:01,421 --> 00:26:04,734 than Kea and Bo. 389 00:26:04,735 --> 00:26:08,324 Bet the wildebeest are thinking, "What is going on? 390 00:26:08,325 --> 00:26:11,742 Why is this tiny cheetah trying to run at us?" 391 00:26:16,195 --> 00:26:20,094 They are staring at the zebra. 392 00:26:20,095 --> 00:26:22,614 They've got missile locks on their eyes. 393 00:26:24,859 --> 00:26:26,894 But Kea is not giving up. 394 00:26:31,106 --> 00:26:34,315 What? She's so fast. 395 00:26:34,316 --> 00:26:36,455 At this age, cheetah cubs can run 396 00:26:36,456 --> 00:26:39,182 nearly 80 kilometers per hour. 397 00:26:39,183 --> 00:26:42,358 Ooh! That is nuts. 398 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:45,051 Heh heh. No. OK. 399 00:26:47,364 --> 00:26:51,263 Every failed attempt is a lesson. 400 00:26:51,264 --> 00:26:56,683 It'll be another year before they can hit top speed. 401 00:26:56,684 --> 00:26:58,063 Getting that little practice 402 00:26:58,064 --> 00:27:00,445 how to approach prey gives them a good sense 403 00:27:00,446 --> 00:27:06,209 of from what distance will prey see you. 404 00:27:06,210 --> 00:27:07,935 They definitely haven't quite learned 405 00:27:07,936 --> 00:27:09,316 the element of surprise yet. 406 00:27:16,876 --> 00:27:18,014 Oh! 407 00:27:22,261 --> 00:27:24,365 There's a hyena over here that has picked up 408 00:27:24,366 --> 00:27:26,505 the scent of something. 409 00:27:29,233 --> 00:27:33,098 This has got the potential to go really, really wrong. 410 00:27:36,413 --> 00:27:40,796 I don't know how the cubs are gonna respond to this. 411 00:27:43,938 --> 00:27:48,458 A single spotted hyena is a challenge. 412 00:27:48,459 --> 00:27:50,495 What on earth is Kea doing? 413 00:27:56,088 --> 00:27:59,711 She's going straight towards the hyena. 414 00:28:09,308 --> 00:28:11,723 Kea is standing her ground. 415 00:28:15,279 --> 00:28:18,523 Super brave. 416 00:28:18,524 --> 00:28:20,319 Take that, hyena! 417 00:28:24,254 --> 00:28:25,772 What the hell? 418 00:28:29,949 --> 00:28:32,433 There are 3 hyenas. 419 00:28:32,434 --> 00:28:36,506 3 is a scary number for them. 420 00:28:36,507 --> 00:28:39,026 But 3 hyenas together... 421 00:28:39,027 --> 00:28:40,545 It's going in, it's going in, it's going in! 422 00:28:40,546 --> 00:28:42,961 could be deadly for the cubs. 423 00:28:44,308 --> 00:28:46,240 They were running from the hyenas. 424 00:28:46,241 --> 00:28:47,932 Kea's running. 425 00:28:55,561 --> 00:29:00,116 Both the cubs and Pobe have been chased away. 426 00:29:00,117 --> 00:29:02,256 This is not great news because the cubs 427 00:29:02,257 --> 00:29:03,982 have been separated. 428 00:29:10,507 --> 00:29:13,337 One cub has found Pobe. 429 00:29:19,447 --> 00:29:22,621 The other one has taken refuge up a tree, 430 00:29:22,622 --> 00:29:28,075 so their tree climbing skills, they are coming in 431 00:29:28,076 --> 00:29:31,320 more useful than, I think, they probably thought. 432 00:29:31,321 --> 00:29:34,807 Thank God for that. Yay! 433 00:29:36,982 --> 00:29:40,088 Kea and Bo are unscathed. 434 00:29:41,434 --> 00:29:45,921 These cubs are having a lesson after lesson, 435 00:29:45,922 --> 00:29:48,302 and I think they've just learned a very important one, 436 00:29:48,303 --> 00:29:51,893 which is don't mess with hyenas. 437 00:29:59,832 --> 00:30:06,562 We've got Matho, Naledi, and Tsebe here with their cubs. 438 00:30:06,563 --> 00:30:09,979 It's gonna get thick up ahead. 439 00:30:09,980 --> 00:30:13,603 Sets and Gordon are on the night shift. 440 00:30:13,604 --> 00:30:16,468 They've wandered so far tonight. 441 00:30:16,469 --> 00:30:20,369 Matho, Tsebe, and Naledi are still searching 442 00:30:20,370 --> 00:30:24,338 for the other pride mums. 443 00:30:24,339 --> 00:30:26,030 This is miles away. 444 00:30:26,031 --> 00:30:29,966 This is right down as far south as I've ever been. 445 00:30:33,038 --> 00:30:38,457 Naledi and Matho have gone up a tree. 446 00:30:43,738 --> 00:30:46,533 Very quiet. They can hear a lot better 447 00:30:46,534 --> 00:30:48,259 if they're off the ground. 448 00:30:48,260 --> 00:30:50,571 Lions use sound to find each other 449 00:30:50,572 --> 00:30:54,127 from up to 8 kilometers away. 450 00:30:54,128 --> 00:30:55,680 I think they've heard something. 451 00:30:59,340 --> 00:31:03,550 They've locked on to something behind me. 452 00:31:09,591 --> 00:31:12,386 But it's not the other pride mums. 453 00:31:12,387 --> 00:31:16,287 Those zebra 100%. 454 00:31:16,288 --> 00:31:19,324 Yeah. They're interested. 455 00:31:19,325 --> 00:31:24,088 This is a chance to feed their cubs. 456 00:31:24,089 --> 00:31:26,504 OK. It's gonna to be tricky, 457 00:31:26,505 --> 00:31:29,576 but they've started to spread out. 458 00:31:29,577 --> 00:31:33,338 Matho is going straight towards them. 459 00:31:33,339 --> 00:31:37,411 Tsebe has gone wide to the left. 460 00:31:37,412 --> 00:31:40,345 Naledi has disappeared off to the right. 461 00:31:44,178 --> 00:31:47,525 OK. The hunt is on. 462 00:31:51,564 --> 00:31:52,599 I lost her. 463 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:02,643 They got something. 464 00:32:02,644 --> 00:32:05,198 Oh, they're taking a zebra down. 465 00:32:05,199 --> 00:32:09,512 That is a big cat bundle. 466 00:32:09,513 --> 00:32:12,550 Oh! It's down. They've taken it down. 467 00:32:16,762 --> 00:32:18,453 The cubs are digging in. 468 00:32:21,215 --> 00:32:23,009 Quite some prize. 469 00:32:26,427 --> 00:32:29,015 After days on the move... 470 00:32:29,016 --> 00:32:30,602 Just gonna pop the drone up. 471 00:32:30,603 --> 00:32:33,053 this is a welcome meal. 472 00:32:37,783 --> 00:32:39,646 They need to keep quiet, keep this a secret 473 00:32:39,647 --> 00:32:44,720 and will not alert other cats in the area. 474 00:32:48,656 --> 00:32:50,726 Hey, Gordon. 475 00:32:52,073 --> 00:32:54,143 Did you copy that? 476 00:32:54,144 --> 00:32:55,558 Yeah, I did. 477 00:32:55,559 --> 00:32:58,768 It's kind of over my right-hand shoulder. 478 00:32:58,769 --> 00:33:00,736 You know, the scent of this carcass is wafting 479 00:33:00,737 --> 00:33:03,532 straight towards me, so it's probably 480 00:33:03,533 --> 00:33:06,362 carrying far and wide. 481 00:33:06,363 --> 00:33:11,643 Yeah, we might be in for a surprise. 482 00:33:11,644 --> 00:33:15,544 Lions have to eat fast because you never know 483 00:33:15,545 --> 00:33:19,617 who wants to come along and pinch that meal from you. 484 00:33:19,618 --> 00:33:22,861 I can hear them. 485 00:33:22,862 --> 00:33:24,691 I saw something moving behind them 486 00:33:24,692 --> 00:33:28,522 in the tree line. 487 00:33:28,523 --> 00:33:30,490 Oh, yeah. 488 00:33:30,491 --> 00:33:33,217 So it's a female. 489 00:33:33,218 --> 00:33:35,529 I can't tell who that is. 490 00:33:39,189 --> 00:33:42,743 Matho is up. 491 00:33:42,744 --> 00:33:44,815 She's being extra cautious. 492 00:33:46,679 --> 00:33:48,335 Oh. 493 00:34:02,143 --> 00:34:03,557 They're chasing. 494 00:34:03,558 --> 00:34:05,352 It's clearly not one 495 00:34:05,353 --> 00:34:07,803 of the other Xudum Pride Lionesses. 496 00:34:09,875 --> 00:34:11,669 Whoever they are, they're not welcome. 497 00:34:15,846 --> 00:34:17,744 Heading back. 498 00:34:17,745 --> 00:34:20,817 They're just passing behind the car. 499 00:34:28,135 --> 00:34:30,101 Oh, no. 500 00:34:30,102 --> 00:34:32,276 What's going on? 501 00:34:34,589 --> 00:34:36,659 More lions coming in. 502 00:34:45,635 --> 00:34:48,947 Oh, that is such a menacing sound. 503 00:34:48,948 --> 00:34:51,329 All of these lions 504 00:34:51,330 --> 00:34:55,851 just trying to intimidate 505 00:34:55,852 --> 00:34:58,923 and push the girls off the kill. 506 00:35:00,753 --> 00:35:02,409 The mums have traveled so far 507 00:35:02,410 --> 00:35:04,480 from their own territory... 508 00:35:04,481 --> 00:35:07,828 Oh. 509 00:35:07,829 --> 00:35:10,486 they've run into another pride. 510 00:35:10,487 --> 00:35:13,386 There are 5 in total. They are calling. 511 00:35:13,387 --> 00:35:15,181 They are the ones calling. 512 00:35:15,182 --> 00:35:19,392 These newcomers aren't after the cubs. 513 00:35:19,393 --> 00:35:21,152 Oh. There's more. 514 00:35:21,153 --> 00:35:23,706 They want a free meal. 515 00:35:30,714 --> 00:35:32,543 There's a big fight erupting. 516 00:35:32,544 --> 00:35:33,820 It is massive. 517 00:35:40,483 --> 00:35:42,656 Their numbers are not working in their favor. 518 00:35:50,734 --> 00:35:53,322 They're now being chased off. 519 00:35:53,323 --> 00:35:54,841 The kill is not worth it. 520 00:35:58,915 --> 00:36:02,435 The zebra carcass has been abandoned. 521 00:36:02,436 --> 00:36:06,612 It's just not worth defending. 522 00:36:08,235 --> 00:36:12,341 They've taken the cubs, and they're off. 523 00:36:12,342 --> 00:36:15,965 That was enough for them to pull out of here. 524 00:36:18,521 --> 00:36:23,249 The mums and cubs have lost their meal... 525 00:36:23,250 --> 00:36:25,354 It is quite thick here. 526 00:36:25,355 --> 00:36:27,874 Just lost visual of the lions 527 00:36:27,875 --> 00:36:30,221 and disappeared into the scrub. 528 00:36:44,788 --> 00:36:47,065 Next morning... 529 00:36:47,066 --> 00:36:50,345 Aha! Here they are. 530 00:36:55,627 --> 00:36:59,457 We've got a whole pile of lions. 531 00:36:59,458 --> 00:37:02,909 Greg has found Matho, Tsebe, and Naledi 532 00:37:02,910 --> 00:37:06,568 on the edge of pride territory. 533 00:37:06,569 --> 00:37:08,743 A couple of the lionesses are getting up. 534 00:37:12,989 --> 00:37:16,061 Ooh! I can see some blood. 535 00:37:18,788 --> 00:37:24,689 Some of them look like they really did take a beating, eh? 536 00:37:24,690 --> 00:37:30,833 Naledi looks like she got seriously hurt last night. 537 00:37:30,834 --> 00:37:33,836 She's got a lot-- of lot of open wounds. 538 00:37:33,837 --> 00:37:37,288 Cuts under her leg. Cuts on her face. 539 00:37:42,052 --> 00:37:44,571 Poor thing. 540 00:37:44,572 --> 00:37:47,988 Matho has just gotten up, and she's walking across. 541 00:37:47,989 --> 00:37:50,474 Ooh! She's got some serious blood 542 00:37:50,475 --> 00:37:52,545 underneath her front leg. 543 00:37:54,755 --> 00:37:58,551 Oh. She's been hurt. 544 00:37:58,552 --> 00:38:00,898 Very uncommon for us to see Matho turned 545 00:38:00,899 --> 00:38:03,108 turned in a confrontation. 546 00:38:05,110 --> 00:38:07,456 It looks like last night these lionesses 547 00:38:07,457 --> 00:38:09,147 met their match. 548 00:38:09,148 --> 00:38:12,012 Her and Naledi both have wounds on the back of their rump, 549 00:38:12,013 --> 00:38:14,946 which means that they were bitten from behind. 550 00:38:14,947 --> 00:38:17,363 Pbbb. One hell of a scrap. 551 00:38:19,711 --> 00:38:23,576 I mean, not one of them is unscathed. 552 00:38:23,577 --> 00:38:27,131 From what I can tell, all of the cubs are OK, 553 00:38:27,132 --> 00:38:31,342 so the mums must have put up one hell of a fight, 554 00:38:31,343 --> 00:38:35,001 but we've got a lot of cubs that haven't eaten. 555 00:38:35,002 --> 00:38:38,763 It's not a good place to be. 556 00:38:38,764 --> 00:38:42,940 Matho, Tsebe, and Naledi 557 00:38:42,941 --> 00:38:47,945 cannot afford another attack from intruders. 558 00:38:47,946 --> 00:38:51,362 It's a pivotal point for the leading lionesses 559 00:38:51,363 --> 00:38:54,572 to make a decision on what to do here. 560 00:38:54,573 --> 00:38:58,611 Safety with the other mums of the pride 561 00:38:58,612 --> 00:39:01,476 has never been more urgent. 562 00:39:01,477 --> 00:39:04,099 They've got intruders all over their territory, 563 00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:06,929 Big Toe, Madumo nowhere to be found, 564 00:39:06,930 --> 00:39:10,208 so they've been squeezed. 565 00:39:10,209 --> 00:39:11,762 It's gonna be very interesting to see 566 00:39:11,763 --> 00:39:13,971 how they navigate their way out of it. 567 00:39:29,194 --> 00:39:30,781 Ah. 568 00:39:30,782 --> 00:39:33,128 Brad has found Lediba. 569 00:39:33,129 --> 00:39:36,062 Cats have unbelievable expressions. 570 00:39:36,063 --> 00:39:38,892 but she's not alone. 571 00:39:38,893 --> 00:39:43,172 Looking at this lion with utter disgust. 572 00:39:43,173 --> 00:39:46,624 The lone intruder male has interrupted Lediba's 573 00:39:46,625 --> 00:39:48,902 plans to eat again. 574 00:39:48,903 --> 00:39:50,835 It's just sad that she's gone 575 00:39:50,836 --> 00:39:52,630 through all this effort to make a kill, 576 00:39:52,631 --> 00:39:56,910 and it gets stolen by a lion. 577 00:39:56,911 --> 00:39:58,567 She really needed a meal. 578 00:40:02,572 --> 00:40:05,678 It must be torturous for her to just sit there 579 00:40:05,679 --> 00:40:08,750 and watch a male lion eat her carcass 580 00:40:08,751 --> 00:40:10,614 and not be able to do anything about it. 581 00:40:15,136 --> 00:40:16,896 I think he's done eating for now. 582 00:40:16,897 --> 00:40:20,624 He's burying the entrails, trying to conceal the scent. 583 00:40:25,595 --> 00:40:26,837 He's moving... 584 00:40:31,532 --> 00:40:32,946 and he's done. 585 00:40:36,572 --> 00:40:38,573 Lediba's started to move around a little bit. 586 00:40:40,645 --> 00:40:43,854 She's watching that carcass. 587 00:40:43,855 --> 00:40:45,614 I think she's thinking about taking 588 00:40:45,615 --> 00:40:46,995 a piece back here. 589 00:40:49,550 --> 00:40:51,068 I think there's a cub there. 590 00:40:51,069 --> 00:40:54,727 Yeah. Her cub's at the base of the tree. 591 00:40:54,728 --> 00:40:56,314 It looks like Lediba brought 592 00:40:56,315 --> 00:40:58,282 her hungry cub to eat... 593 00:40:58,283 --> 00:41:00,180 This is crazy. 594 00:41:00,181 --> 00:41:04,702 before the lion pushed them off. 595 00:41:04,703 --> 00:41:07,602 This is a particularly dangerous situation. 596 00:41:11,296 --> 00:41:15,264 That cub just has to stay concealed. 597 00:41:15,265 --> 00:41:17,922 In his resting, 598 00:41:17,923 --> 00:41:22,513 Lediba has spotted an opportunity. 599 00:41:22,514 --> 00:41:24,342 She's being very careful. 600 00:41:29,625 --> 00:41:33,869 OK. She's on the ground. 601 00:41:33,870 --> 00:41:36,631 I admire her determination to try and get 602 00:41:36,632 --> 00:41:38,080 some of this back. 603 00:41:41,326 --> 00:41:43,154 I think she's getting desperate, too. 604 00:41:43,155 --> 00:41:46,364 This is a valuable meal. 605 00:41:46,365 --> 00:41:48,228 I think she's gonna risk it all. 606 00:42:11,045 --> 00:42:13,910 Greg is joining Brad on the night shift. 607 00:42:24,852 --> 00:42:28,752 She's been here 8, 9 hours, very patiently 608 00:42:28,753 --> 00:42:31,686 waiting to steal something back. 609 00:42:31,687 --> 00:42:34,102 The cub is desperate. 610 00:42:34,103 --> 00:42:36,656 At this age, the cub should be eating 611 00:42:36,657 --> 00:42:39,797 almost 3 pounds of meat every day 612 00:42:39,798 --> 00:42:42,800 on top of her mum's milk. 613 00:42:42,801 --> 00:42:45,907 It's quite easy to notice with the thermal imaging 614 00:42:45,908 --> 00:42:49,255 just how skinny Lediba and her cub are, 615 00:42:49,256 --> 00:42:54,709 so it makes sense that her and the cub waited. 616 00:42:54,710 --> 00:42:58,782 But hunger is putting them both at risk. 617 00:42:58,783 --> 00:43:00,128 Oh! 618 00:43:03,650 --> 00:43:06,928 Big boy is moving. 619 00:43:06,929 --> 00:43:08,861 He has moved off the kill. 620 00:43:14,661 --> 00:43:17,939 Lediba's sneaking in. 621 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:27,949 She's got it. 622 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,436 Brad, I think he's coming back, eh? 623 00:43:36,130 --> 00:43:38,822 Oh. She's seen it. Cub's on the move. 624 00:43:41,377 --> 00:43:44,172 Ooh! 625 00:43:44,173 --> 00:43:47,416 That is just remarkable. 626 00:43:47,417 --> 00:43:51,455 The cub is heading into the trees for safety... 627 00:43:51,456 --> 00:43:54,492 It's a hell of a climb for a cub. 628 00:43:54,493 --> 00:43:56,011 She's seen him. 629 00:43:56,012 --> 00:43:57,668 but Lediba is determined 630 00:43:57,669 --> 00:43:59,049 to get something to eat. 631 00:44:08,369 --> 00:44:10,405 Go, go! Come on. 632 00:44:13,720 --> 00:44:15,444 Well done, Lediba. 633 00:44:15,445 --> 00:44:19,863 Managed to sneak a little bit of food there. 634 00:44:34,395 --> 00:44:37,846 Lediba's nice and high up. 635 00:44:37,847 --> 00:44:41,885 She'll get some decent value out of what she managed to scavenge. 636 00:44:41,886 --> 00:44:43,818 She needs it. 637 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:51,411 Lediba's persistence has paid off. 638 00:44:51,412 --> 00:44:56,900 She can now feed herself and her cub. 639 00:44:56,901 --> 00:45:00,213 Never a moment's rest for a mother leopard. 640 00:45:16,886 --> 00:45:18,991 Pobe is in hunt mode. 641 00:45:18,992 --> 00:45:21,579 She's definitely walking about with purpose. 642 00:45:21,580 --> 00:45:23,443 After the cheetahs' hunt training was 643 00:45:23,444 --> 00:45:25,825 interrupted by hyenas... 644 00:45:25,826 --> 00:45:27,102 It's so cool. 645 00:45:27,103 --> 00:45:29,967 Her body language just completely changes. 646 00:45:29,968 --> 00:45:32,383 Ears have gone back. 647 00:45:32,384 --> 00:45:34,316 lessons are back on. 648 00:45:37,424 --> 00:45:40,875 Oh, I think she's gonna go. 649 00:45:50,609 --> 00:45:54,371 There's a kudu calf. There's a kudu calf. 650 00:45:54,372 --> 00:45:55,786 Oh! 651 00:46:01,413 --> 00:46:02,967 She's got it. 652 00:46:05,038 --> 00:46:07,004 Oh! Kea's in already. 653 00:46:07,005 --> 00:46:08,626 She is first on the scene. 654 00:46:13,218 --> 00:46:18,291 That came completely out of nowhere. 655 00:46:18,292 --> 00:46:19,637 She's a machine. 656 00:46:19,638 --> 00:46:21,363 As soon as she gets up into hunt mode, 657 00:46:21,364 --> 00:46:22,951 you're like, "Well, she's about to kill something." 658 00:46:22,952 --> 00:46:24,816 You just know it. 659 00:46:29,303 --> 00:46:30,995 Kea's watching Pobe... 660 00:46:32,548 --> 00:46:37,379 and Pobe is clamping her jaws around this kudu's neck, 661 00:46:37,380 --> 00:46:43,040 and this is a perfect moment for Kea to learn 662 00:46:43,041 --> 00:46:47,389 just what it takes to suffocate her prey. 663 00:46:47,390 --> 00:46:49,115 Because that's what cheetahs do. 664 00:46:49,116 --> 00:46:53,016 They just clamp down on the windpipe of their prey. 665 00:46:53,017 --> 00:46:56,502 By bringing in prey that is alive and then showing 666 00:46:56,503 --> 00:46:59,505 them how it's done, this is the next stage 667 00:46:59,506 --> 00:47:01,473 in their hunting practice. 668 00:47:04,614 --> 00:47:07,237 Whoa, whoa. Look at this. 669 00:47:07,238 --> 00:47:08,929 Kea's having a go. 670 00:47:10,344 --> 00:47:13,208 She's copying Pobe. 671 00:47:13,209 --> 00:47:15,417 You can really see that Pobe is trying to 672 00:47:15,418 --> 00:47:17,247 teach her a lesson here. 673 00:47:17,248 --> 00:47:20,906 She keeps, like, clamping, and then she lets it go, 674 00:47:20,907 --> 00:47:23,598 and then Kea has a go. 675 00:47:26,429 --> 00:47:29,604 Your parents always tell you don't play with your food, 676 00:47:29,605 --> 00:47:31,951 but that's exactly what you should do 677 00:47:31,952 --> 00:47:35,230 if you're a cheetah cub. 678 00:47:35,231 --> 00:47:39,096 Kea is learning fast... 679 00:47:39,097 --> 00:47:40,477 Where is Bo? 680 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:46,448 but her brother is skipping class. 681 00:47:47,692 --> 00:47:52,316 Oh, wow. Kea is calling Bo. 682 00:47:52,317 --> 00:47:55,147 That is such a sweet sound. 683 00:47:56,459 --> 00:48:01,463 Oh, Pobe is also calling. 684 00:48:03,708 --> 00:48:08,022 They can make these incredible chirping sounds. 685 00:48:11,164 --> 00:48:13,717 He's coming. 686 00:48:13,718 --> 00:48:16,202 I feel for him because he just seems like he's 687 00:48:16,203 --> 00:48:19,136 always a little bit slower off the mark than Kea. 688 00:48:19,137 --> 00:48:23,140 Kea runs into every situation head-first, 689 00:48:23,141 --> 00:48:25,418 whereas Bo's a little bit more shy 690 00:48:25,419 --> 00:48:27,213 and anxious of everything. 691 00:48:31,253 --> 00:48:34,358 Pobe is succeeding as a cheetah mum. 692 00:48:38,329 --> 00:48:41,779 All of this teaching will be completely worth it 693 00:48:41,780 --> 00:48:45,024 when these cubs reach about a year old 694 00:48:45,025 --> 00:48:50,098 because at that point they can start participating in the hunt. 695 00:48:50,099 --> 00:48:53,584 Every day, her cubs move another step closer 696 00:48:53,585 --> 00:48:55,552 to looking after themselves. 697 00:48:55,553 --> 00:48:57,968 Pobe is gonna start handing the ropes over 698 00:48:57,969 --> 00:49:00,660 to them and saying, you know, "You go ahead." 699 00:49:00,661 --> 00:49:02,145 Amazing. 700 00:49:06,046 --> 00:49:11,326 Every single day, these cubs are learning more and more. 701 00:49:14,123 --> 00:49:16,711 Eventually, they're gonna be absolutely unstoppable. 702 00:49:34,005 --> 00:49:37,422 This is uncharted territory for me. 703 00:49:41,047 --> 00:49:43,531 Gordon and Greg are searching for lion mums 704 00:49:43,532 --> 00:49:46,707 Matho, Naledi, Tsebe, and their cubs... 705 00:49:52,127 --> 00:49:55,406 but they've become increasingly hard to find. 706 00:49:58,719 --> 00:50:02,377 We have crossed to the west, 707 00:50:02,378 --> 00:50:04,276 a place where we've never found them before. 708 00:50:09,213 --> 00:50:11,698 Bingo! Look! 709 00:50:13,286 --> 00:50:17,254 Gee, girls. What the heck are you doing down here? 710 00:50:17,255 --> 00:50:20,533 Hallelujah! That is great. 711 00:50:20,534 --> 00:50:24,813 Hey. Hey, fam. Been missing you guys. 712 00:50:24,814 --> 00:50:26,470 Last time we saw them, they'd just come out 713 00:50:26,471 --> 00:50:29,473 of a big boxing match, but thankfully, 714 00:50:29,474 --> 00:50:32,545 looks like everybody's doing OK. 715 00:50:32,546 --> 00:50:35,032 Where have you been? 716 00:50:36,688 --> 00:50:38,862 You can see in many of our lions 717 00:50:38,863 --> 00:50:41,554 the healing ability is amazing. 718 00:50:41,555 --> 00:50:47,215 Their lives are often shown so vividly on their faces. 719 00:50:47,216 --> 00:50:50,632 These lions are incredibly resilient. 720 00:50:50,633 --> 00:50:52,358 They're just super tough. 721 00:50:57,709 --> 00:51:00,711 Sets Hey, Gordon. I just found some lionesses. 722 00:51:00,712 --> 00:51:02,748 Heh heh heh. 723 00:51:02,749 --> 00:51:04,198 I can't believe this. 724 00:51:04,199 --> 00:51:09,203 I have Mmakgosi, Nosi, and Magogo. 725 00:51:09,204 --> 00:51:12,344 Ooh. That is good news. 726 00:51:12,345 --> 00:51:16,555 What? We've been looking for so long. 727 00:51:16,556 --> 00:51:21,111 I can't begin to tell you how I'm feeling. 728 00:51:21,112 --> 00:51:23,355 Sets has finally located 729 00:51:23,356 --> 00:51:25,702 the other mums of the pride. 730 00:51:27,291 --> 00:51:30,293 Moving in search of safety from intruders... 731 00:51:30,294 --> 00:51:31,777 They're contact calling. 732 00:51:31,778 --> 00:51:33,779 both groups of lionesses 733 00:51:33,780 --> 00:51:36,230 are now within earshot. 734 00:51:40,131 --> 00:51:42,374 Can you hear that? 735 00:51:42,375 --> 00:51:45,308 Oh, my word. 736 00:51:45,309 --> 00:51:47,551 The girls are up. 737 00:51:47,552 --> 00:51:48,759 The 3 of them-- 738 00:51:48,760 --> 00:51:52,660 Naledi, Tsebe, and Matho-- 739 00:51:52,661 --> 00:51:56,353 they've all got up, started to move. 740 00:51:56,354 --> 00:51:59,632 Could get very exciting. 741 00:51:59,633 --> 00:52:01,427 Oh, wow. 742 00:52:07,469 --> 00:52:11,403 This is quite incredible to see. 743 00:52:11,404 --> 00:52:12,611 They are running. 744 00:52:12,612 --> 00:52:14,268 They're running across the water. 745 00:52:18,549 --> 00:52:21,171 After two weeks apart... 746 00:52:21,172 --> 00:52:25,002 Oh! Happy days. 747 00:52:25,003 --> 00:52:29,662 Matho, Naledi, Tsebe, and their cubs are reuniting 748 00:52:29,663 --> 00:52:32,700 with the other pride mums. 749 00:52:32,701 --> 00:52:35,220 Tell me that there's a better sighting 750 00:52:35,221 --> 00:52:38,326 in life than this. 751 00:52:38,327 --> 00:52:40,466 I don't think I've ever seen them 752 00:52:40,467 --> 00:52:42,572 in such a huge number. 753 00:52:42,573 --> 00:52:44,781 The bonds are clearly very strong. 754 00:52:44,782 --> 00:52:47,784 It's as if they haven't seen each other in a lifetime. 755 00:52:53,377 --> 00:52:55,619 Seeing so many lions moving together, 756 00:52:55,620 --> 00:53:00,003 you can't help but just feel a sense of strength. 757 00:53:00,004 --> 00:53:01,798 Oh! 758 00:53:01,799 --> 00:53:03,455 I'm feeling it right now. 759 00:53:12,050 --> 00:53:14,914 This is the security and safety in numbers 760 00:53:14,915 --> 00:53:17,262 that this pride needs. 761 00:53:19,506 --> 00:53:23,475 I think we could all breathe a sigh of relief. 762 00:53:23,476 --> 00:53:25,477 They've survived against the odds. 763 00:53:31,415 --> 00:53:32,932 If I was an intruder lion, 764 00:53:32,933 --> 00:53:35,625 this is one group I don't want to mess with.