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
00:00:09,699 --> 00:00:12,770
The Okavango Delta
in Botswana...

4
00:00:12,771 --> 00:00:15,186
We are in a pristine
environment right now.

5
00:00:15,187 --> 00:00:19,087
one of Africa's
last wildernesses.

6
00:00:19,088 --> 00:00:22,745
The magnitude of life
here is unparalleled.

7
00:00:22,746 --> 00:00:27,267
And it's a haven
for Africa's big cats--

8
00:00:27,268 --> 00:00:29,166
lion,

9
00:00:29,167 --> 00:00:30,684
cheetah,

10
00:00:30,685 --> 00:00:32,514
and leopard.

11
00:00:32,515 --> 00:00:34,895
Big cat country.

12
00:00:34,896 --> 00:00:38,278
Armed with the latest
filming technology,

13
00:00:38,279 --> 00:00:42,248
the "Big Cats 24/7" team
is following

14
00:00:42,249 --> 00:00:45,699
individual big cats
for 6 months.

15
00:00:45,700 --> 00:00:47,356
Different man: This is
a unique opportunity

16
00:00:47,357 --> 00:00:49,876
to follow these cats
round the clock.

17
00:00:49,877 --> 00:00:51,912
through the day...

18
00:00:51,913 --> 00:00:53,328
Different man:
I used to think

19
00:00:53,329 --> 00:00:56,089
I'd have a fair fight
with a lion.

20
00:00:56,090 --> 00:00:57,608
I'm not so sure
now. Ha!

21
00:00:57,609 --> 00:00:59,092
and the night...

22
00:00:59,093 --> 00:01:01,612
Different man: We've got
the most sophisticated

23
00:01:01,613 --> 00:01:03,648
thermal imaging
technology.

24
00:01:03,649 --> 00:01:06,479
capturing
their behavior...

25
00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,688
24 hours a day.

26
00:01:08,689 --> 00:01:11,863
I have never seen
anything like this.

27
00:01:11,864 --> 00:01:13,831
Epic!

28
00:01:20,839 --> 00:01:21,839
The lions
are running.

29
00:01:24,739 --> 00:01:30,951
Oh, he's got--No.
Oh, so close. So close.

30
00:01:30,952 --> 00:01:33,782
Ah, those zebras.

31
00:01:33,783 --> 00:01:37,372
I don't think any of them
got anything, eh?

32
00:01:37,373 --> 00:01:38,856
Nah. There was
a dust bowl

33
00:01:38,857 --> 00:01:40,444
they got lost in.

34
00:01:44,690 --> 00:01:48,141
Gordon and Sets
are with the Xudum pride mums

35
00:01:48,142 --> 00:01:50,799
and their 14 cubs.

36
00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:56,356
This is now
a huge pride

37
00:01:56,357 --> 00:01:59,152
with over 20 lions here.

38
00:01:59,153 --> 00:02:01,361
And there's Naledi,

39
00:02:01,362 --> 00:02:04,433
Nosi, Mmakgosi,
Magogo, Matho,

40
00:02:04,434 --> 00:02:06,159
and Tsebe.

41
00:02:07,782 --> 00:02:09,990
It's a big pride,

42
00:02:09,991 --> 00:02:12,441
and it's also a force
to be reckoned with.

43
00:02:17,413 --> 00:02:20,449
The problem is
with so many lions

44
00:02:20,450 --> 00:02:24,765
hanging out together, that
is a lot of mouths to feed.

45
00:02:26,525 --> 00:02:29,251
The mums have banded
together for safety

46
00:02:29,252 --> 00:02:32,634
but now have a new challenge.

47
00:02:32,635 --> 00:02:35,292
I feel sorry
for these girls.

48
00:02:35,293 --> 00:02:37,880
They haven't seen these
lions get a significant meal

49
00:02:37,881 --> 00:02:39,882
in--in a few days.

50
00:02:41,954 --> 00:02:45,233
Lioness Tsebe
has more cubs to feed

51
00:02:45,234 --> 00:02:48,581
than any other mum in the pride.

52
00:02:48,582 --> 00:02:51,342
Tsebe is
an incredible mum.

53
00:02:51,343 --> 00:02:57,866
To raise 4 cubs to this
stage is no mean feat,

54
00:02:57,867 --> 00:03:01,421
but that little one is
looking very skinny.

55
00:03:03,907 --> 00:03:06,807
He's definitely not
getting enough to eat.

56
00:03:09,085 --> 00:03:12,950
Tsebe's
smallest cub is struggling.

57
00:03:12,951 --> 00:03:16,781
Every day that passes,

58
00:03:16,782 --> 00:03:19,785
that little cub's gonna
be getting weaker and weaker.

59
00:03:24,825 --> 00:03:27,723
Tsebe's spotted
something.

60
00:03:27,724 --> 00:03:31,348
The lions pair up.

61
00:03:31,349 --> 00:03:33,798
I hope this
time, it's a success.

62
00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,706
She's running,
running, running.

63
00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:46,639
Go, go, go, go.

64
00:03:52,818 --> 00:03:56,545
Tsebe's running
on empty.

65
00:04:00,930 --> 00:04:03,656
Tsebe must catch
a meal soon...

66
00:04:05,728 --> 00:04:07,867
Hard luck,
boys and girls.

67
00:04:07,868 --> 00:04:09,593
That was a shame.

68
00:04:09,594 --> 00:04:13,355
if she's to keep
herself and her cub alive.

69
00:04:13,356 --> 00:04:17,739
Tsebe can't catch
a meal quick enough.

70
00:04:39,140 --> 00:04:41,970
Brad and Tristen
are with Lediba the leopard

71
00:04:41,971 --> 00:04:44,524
and her 5-month-old cub.

72
00:04:46,665 --> 00:04:49,909
This cub looks like
it's in good nick.

73
00:04:49,910 --> 00:04:52,532
It's happy. Definitely
looks in good shape.

74
00:04:56,019 --> 00:04:57,744
How beautiful is that.

75
00:05:02,957 --> 00:05:04,164
Brad, Brad,
Gordon.

76
00:05:04,165 --> 00:05:06,374
We've got a male leopard
in a tree

77
00:05:06,375 --> 00:05:09,584
just at the edge of
Lediba's territory.

78
00:05:09,585 --> 00:05:12,414
This makes me anxious.

79
00:05:13,761 --> 00:05:15,900
To have such
a high density

80
00:05:15,901 --> 00:05:18,489
of leopards on this earth,

81
00:05:18,490 --> 00:05:21,596
if there's a male and he
thinks the cub is not his,

82
00:05:21,597 --> 00:05:23,736
there's a good chance that
he'll kill him.

83
00:05:26,809 --> 00:05:30,639
Male leopards
kill cubs that are not their own

84
00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,917
so they can mate
with the females.

85
00:05:32,918 --> 00:05:35,506
So keeping them
on the move here--

86
00:05:35,507 --> 00:05:37,405
it'll be 4 or 5 days--
to a new location

87
00:05:37,406 --> 00:05:38,820
is smart.

88
00:05:42,756 --> 00:05:45,654
I think this might be their
new little kindergarten

89
00:05:45,655 --> 00:05:47,069
for a while.

90
00:05:50,419 --> 00:05:53,766
Lediba must keep
her cub well-hidden.

91
00:05:53,767 --> 00:05:56,113
Nice thick forest
with a lot of cover.

92
00:06:04,156 --> 00:06:06,123
At this time of year,

93
00:06:06,124 --> 00:06:08,677
the floodplains of
the Okavango Delta

94
00:06:08,678 --> 00:06:10,507
are at their fullest...

95
00:06:12,164 --> 00:06:16,478
pushing all the big cats
in the area closer together.

96
00:06:17,929 --> 00:06:22,760
I've managed to find
another big male leopard.

97
00:06:22,761 --> 00:06:25,211
Starting to get
seriously concerned.

98
00:06:27,214 --> 00:06:29,905
We just keep on finding
male after male after male,

99
00:06:29,906 --> 00:06:31,597
and it's a big problem.

100
00:06:36,430 --> 00:06:38,742
It's now
more challenging than ever

101
00:06:38,743 --> 00:06:41,261
for Lediba to keep
her cubs safe.

102
00:06:41,262 --> 00:06:46,163
Looks like mum is
starting to snarl at the cub.

103
00:06:48,546 --> 00:06:51,720
That's their way of
saying, "OK, now you stay."

104
00:06:54,241 --> 00:06:56,207
"Get used to
your new room."

105
00:06:59,764 --> 00:07:01,661
The cub knows exactly
what it means.

106
00:07:07,185 --> 00:07:11,568
Lediba is heading off to hunt...

107
00:07:11,569 --> 00:07:14,605
It's amazing that they
can communicate like that.

108
00:07:14,606 --> 00:07:17,505
leaving her cub alone.

109
00:07:17,506 --> 00:07:19,748
Mum has to just trust

110
00:07:19,749 --> 00:07:21,301
that she's gonna
stay concealed.

111
00:07:39,079 --> 00:07:41,045
OK, big girl.

112
00:07:43,186 --> 00:07:45,222
Gordon is with Tsebe

113
00:07:45,223 --> 00:07:47,258
and the pride mums and cubs.

114
00:07:47,259 --> 00:07:49,709
They're looking hungry.

115
00:07:49,710 --> 00:07:52,781
Looks like it's gonna be
a busy night for them.

116
00:07:52,782 --> 00:07:56,026
They've got lots of
little bellies to fill.

117
00:07:58,339 --> 00:08:00,133
Ready? Watch your feet.

118
00:08:00,134 --> 00:08:02,895
To see
if they can catch a meal,

119
00:08:02,896 --> 00:08:04,793
the team is deploying

120
00:08:04,794 --> 00:08:07,693
some brand-new
night-vision equipment.

121
00:08:07,694 --> 00:08:09,695
This is
a beast of a camera.

122
00:08:12,975 --> 00:08:15,908
The sun has set,

123
00:08:15,909 --> 00:08:18,531
and the night is
full of opportunities.

124
00:08:21,742 --> 00:08:24,882
I have never,
in my whole life, seen

125
00:08:24,883 --> 00:08:27,989
this number of lions
moving together,

126
00:08:27,990 --> 00:08:31,061
particularly at night.

127
00:08:31,062 --> 00:08:34,754
It's unreal,
scary as hell, though.

128
00:08:37,793 --> 00:08:40,104
It looks like
the lionesses

129
00:08:40,105 --> 00:08:42,900
can hear something
in this tree line.

130
00:08:47,319 --> 00:08:49,597
This looks like Tsebe.

131
00:08:49,598 --> 00:08:53,359
With four hungry
cubs to feed,

132
00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,258
Tsebe is taking the lead again.

133
00:08:56,259 --> 00:08:59,848
Gordon, we've
got Tsebe on our side,

134
00:08:59,849 --> 00:09:01,919
moving through
the tree line.

135
00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,303
This time, more
of the mums are joining her.

136
00:09:06,304 --> 00:09:08,754
I've got
the drone up quite high,

137
00:09:08,755 --> 00:09:10,100
and there's lots of
impala in there.

138
00:09:10,101 --> 00:09:12,067
Copy that.

139
00:09:12,068 --> 00:09:13,413
If the lions
can get close enough

140
00:09:13,414 --> 00:09:16,106
and outsmart them
with teamwork,

141
00:09:16,107 --> 00:09:18,280
hopefully, they're
going to win.

142
00:09:18,281 --> 00:09:20,144
Hunting in a group

143
00:09:20,145 --> 00:09:23,734
doubles a lion's chance
of success.

144
00:09:23,735 --> 00:09:26,288
Tsebe's done
a big loop round,

145
00:09:26,289 --> 00:09:31,431
and if she can just sneak in,
they're going to scatter.

146
00:09:31,432 --> 00:09:33,295
And they could
very well head

147
00:09:33,296 --> 00:09:36,126
in the direction of
the other lions.

148
00:09:42,098 --> 00:09:44,203
They're running.

149
00:09:47,966 --> 00:09:49,933
Yo, look at that.

150
00:09:54,076 --> 00:09:59,114
The lions' superior
night vision and acceleration...

151
00:09:59,115 --> 00:10:01,151
Whoa.
They've got it.

152
00:10:01,152 --> 00:10:02,704
gives them the edge.

153
00:10:02,705 --> 00:10:04,741
Oh, my goodness.

154
00:10:04,742 --> 00:10:08,642
Mums, cubs
all spring in.

155
00:10:10,299 --> 00:10:12,818
Given that it's
such a small meal

156
00:10:12,819 --> 00:10:15,027
split between
this many lions,

157
00:10:15,028 --> 00:10:16,856
a little impala
like that,

158
00:10:16,857 --> 00:10:20,101
it is less than
the crust of a sandwich

159
00:10:20,102 --> 00:10:22,344
for each of them.

160
00:10:22,345 --> 00:10:25,451
It's really not
going to go far.

161
00:10:25,452 --> 00:10:29,041
Tsebe is only getting
a few bites...

162
00:10:29,042 --> 00:10:30,974
When it gets
to this point,

163
00:10:30,975 --> 00:10:32,941
when they're
super hungry,

164
00:10:32,942 --> 00:10:35,357
it is every lion
for themselves.

165
00:10:35,358 --> 00:10:38,050
and her cubs are
getting nothing at all.

166
00:10:42,331 --> 00:10:44,021
Oh, my gosh.

167
00:10:44,022 --> 00:10:45,229
One of these cubs
is trying

168
00:10:45,230 --> 00:10:46,783
to pull a piece of meat

169
00:10:46,784 --> 00:10:49,475
through the subadult
male's legs.

170
00:10:55,413 --> 00:10:58,760
The mums must take priority.

171
00:10:58,761 --> 00:11:03,075
If they're not strong enough
to hunt, no one gets fed.

172
00:11:03,076 --> 00:11:04,524
Tsebe's little cub,

173
00:11:04,525 --> 00:11:06,526
he's in the toughest
position.

174
00:11:06,527 --> 00:11:09,806
He's the smallest of
this part of the pride,

175
00:11:09,807 --> 00:11:11,428
and he's less able
to actually fight

176
00:11:11,429 --> 00:11:14,189
and get access to the food
that he desperately needs.

177
00:11:19,782 --> 00:11:23,405
The adult lions
have devoured the impala

178
00:11:23,406 --> 00:11:24,924
in minutes...

179
00:11:28,239 --> 00:11:29,826
The best
chance they've got

180
00:11:29,827 --> 00:11:31,862
of everyone getting
the food that they need

181
00:11:31,863 --> 00:11:34,209
is if they catch
something big.

182
00:11:34,210 --> 00:11:38,110
To feed herself and her cub,

183
00:11:38,111 --> 00:11:41,389
Tsebe must target larger prey.

184
00:11:41,390 --> 00:11:43,494
Zebra will go farther,

185
00:11:43,495 --> 00:11:46,463
buffalo even farther
than that.

186
00:11:46,464 --> 00:11:52,331
But, yeah, Tsebe's cub
still needs to feed.

187
00:12:12,593 --> 00:12:16,113
Oh, Trist, I got her here.
She's just crossed over.

188
00:12:16,114 --> 00:12:19,877
Brad is on the trail of Lediba.

189
00:12:23,294 --> 00:12:27,574
Tristen is just
a few hundred meters away.

190
00:12:36,445 --> 00:12:39,516
It's all good.

191
00:12:39,517 --> 00:12:42,346
Let's hope Lediba doesn't
push too far across.

192
00:12:46,973 --> 00:12:49,595
This boy seems
to be quite active,

193
00:12:49,596 --> 00:12:53,495
rubbing himself up against
trees and scent marking.

194
00:12:53,496 --> 00:12:56,982
This unknown male is
on the border

195
00:12:56,983 --> 00:12:58,535
of Lediba's territory.

196
00:13:04,093 --> 00:13:05,991
This is a very
high-stakes situation

197
00:13:05,992 --> 00:13:07,509
for Lediba.

198
00:13:07,510 --> 00:13:10,271
This is where she lives,
where she hunts,

199
00:13:10,272 --> 00:13:13,446
and where her cub's
growing up.

200
00:13:13,447 --> 00:13:15,828
Male leopards are
extremely aggressive

201
00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:17,381
to females
and their cubs,

202
00:13:17,382 --> 00:13:20,419
and if they aren't certain
that they're the father,

203
00:13:20,420 --> 00:13:22,422
they will kill them.

204
00:13:31,017 --> 00:13:33,018
He's approaching
a tree.

205
00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,436
Oh. I see another
leopard up there.

206
00:13:39,266 --> 00:13:41,578
It looks like
a female, eh?

207
00:13:41,579 --> 00:13:45,478
I don't
recognize this girl.

208
00:13:45,479 --> 00:13:48,240
It's not Lediba.

209
00:13:48,241 --> 00:13:50,345
Pushed together
by the flood,

210
00:13:50,346 --> 00:13:54,556
competition amongst leopards is
now fiercer than ever.

211
00:13:54,557 --> 00:13:57,905
This guy looks angry.

212
00:13:57,906 --> 00:13:59,665
Yo! Oh, wow.

213
00:14:02,289 --> 00:14:05,153
To assert their dominance...

214
00:14:05,154 --> 00:14:07,293
He's just
mumbling and grumbling

215
00:14:07,294 --> 00:14:09,364
and just giving these
deep guttural noises

216
00:14:09,365 --> 00:14:12,436
that are, to be honest,
quite terrifying.

217
00:14:12,437 --> 00:14:15,336
...males will
sometimes attack females.

218
00:14:15,337 --> 00:14:16,958
She can,
hopefully,

219
00:14:16,959 --> 00:14:18,442
just get out of it

220
00:14:18,443 --> 00:14:20,410
by hiding on
the lighter branches.

221
00:14:24,001 --> 00:14:26,312
. He's just gone
straight up to the top.

222
00:14:35,046 --> 00:14:36,460
That was insane.

223
00:14:46,402 --> 00:14:48,507
They must have fallen

224
00:14:48,508 --> 00:14:51,510
over ten meters
out of that tree,

225
00:14:51,511 --> 00:14:54,547
and he just seems
completely unfazed by it.

226
00:14:56,688 --> 00:14:59,932
With yet another male
establishing himself

227
00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:01,278
in the area...

228
00:15:01,279 --> 00:15:04,523
Brad, Brad. This is
an aggressive male

229
00:15:04,524 --> 00:15:07,457
who's very keen to show
everyone who's boss.

230
00:15:07,458 --> 00:15:09,010
Copy that.

231
00:15:10,668 --> 00:15:13,566
That's, uh,
that's not a good sign.

232
00:15:16,053 --> 00:15:18,744
Lediba
will have to work even harder

233
00:15:18,745 --> 00:15:22,368
to keep herself
and her cub safe.

234
00:15:25,096 --> 00:15:27,339
This is really,
really scary for Lediba.

235
00:15:37,591 --> 00:15:39,351
So slightly to the left.

236
00:15:39,352 --> 00:15:42,285
To check on Lediba's cub,

237
00:15:42,286 --> 00:15:45,219
Tristen is rolling
into a night shift.

238
00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:48,153
I can't see
anything in the trees.

239
00:15:48,154 --> 00:15:50,603
It makes me really
quite worried, actually.

240
00:15:50,604 --> 00:15:54,055
But the cub is not
where he left her.

241
00:15:56,645 --> 00:15:58,025
Oh, wait.

242
00:16:03,997 --> 00:16:05,653
Well, that's a relief.

243
00:16:10,797 --> 00:16:13,557
Leopard cubs are
very, very strong climbers.

244
00:16:13,558 --> 00:16:15,801
This is one of their
biggest adaptations

245
00:16:15,802 --> 00:16:17,630
and reasons for survival.

246
00:16:17,631 --> 00:16:19,356
Mum can leave them by
themselves.

247
00:16:19,357 --> 00:16:21,634
They can climb up to the top of
a tree very easily

248
00:16:21,635 --> 00:16:24,327
and get away from predators.

249
00:16:24,328 --> 00:16:28,572
These cats are very,
very inquisitive at this age.

250
00:16:28,573 --> 00:16:34,440
After 24 hours alone,
the cub is getting restless.

251
00:16:34,441 --> 00:16:36,546
It's like watching
a toddler, basically.

252
00:16:36,547 --> 00:16:38,341
The world is their oyster,

253
00:16:38,342 --> 00:16:40,653
and they, you know,
are just ready to explore,

254
00:16:40,654 --> 00:16:42,346
ready to learn.

255
00:16:45,418 --> 00:16:47,834
He's come down the backhand side
of the tree.

256
00:16:50,147 --> 00:16:51,595
Out in the open,

257
00:16:51,596 --> 00:16:54,358
there's no hiding
from predators.

258
00:17:00,847 --> 00:17:03,538
There's any number of
dangers out here

259
00:17:03,539 --> 00:17:05,678
for a young leopard cub.

260
00:17:10,546 --> 00:17:13,652
Ooh, wait. Another leopard.

261
00:17:20,763 --> 00:17:22,419
Thank God for that.

262
00:17:22,420 --> 00:17:24,387
It's Lediba.

263
00:17:28,461 --> 00:17:32,740
This cub obviously
heard mum calling,

264
00:17:32,741 --> 00:17:34,604
ran off into
the floodplain after her,

265
00:17:34,605 --> 00:17:36,640
very, very eager
to meet mum.

266
00:17:39,127 --> 00:17:40,748
But it's going to be
quite difficult

267
00:17:40,749 --> 00:17:44,441
to figure out where
they're going to be going.

268
00:17:46,375 --> 00:17:49,101
My feeling is that it's
probably going to go

269
00:17:49,102 --> 00:17:51,345
and find a new place to live.

270
00:17:51,346 --> 00:17:54,658
With so many
male leopards in the area...

271
00:17:54,659 --> 00:17:55,797
She's gonna move this cub

272
00:17:55,798 --> 00:17:57,627
through very,
very thick terrain

273
00:17:57,628 --> 00:18:02,114
in an attempt to keep it safe
and out of harm's way.

274
00:18:02,115 --> 00:18:07,188
...Lediba is now
moving her cub almost every day.

275
00:18:08,225 --> 00:18:10,881
And stop.

276
00:18:10,882 --> 00:18:13,608
All right. So let's try
and find them, shall we?

277
00:18:20,478 --> 00:18:24,205
Why does it have to be
so difficult?

278
00:18:24,206 --> 00:18:27,691
Why can't filming
leopards just be easy?

279
00:18:27,692 --> 00:18:31,764
Lediba and her cub
have vanished.

280
00:18:31,765 --> 00:18:35,216
Good luck, girl.

281
00:18:35,217 --> 00:18:37,253
I'm done.

282
00:18:55,341 --> 00:18:58,688
I absolutely love
this time of day...

283
00:19:00,242 --> 00:19:04,211
Anna is
following cheetah mom Pobe.

284
00:19:04,212 --> 00:19:07,214
is when Pobe is still
tucked up in bed

285
00:19:07,215 --> 00:19:09,561
and the cubs
are just playing around her.

286
00:19:11,495 --> 00:19:13,634
Now six months old,

287
00:19:13,635 --> 00:19:15,498
her two cubs...

288
00:19:15,499 --> 00:19:17,603
Good morning,
Kea and Bo.

289
00:19:17,604 --> 00:19:19,295
...are maturing fast.

290
00:19:24,370 --> 00:19:29,443
You can really see
their little sibling bond.

291
00:19:29,444 --> 00:19:32,963
They don't have
the support of a pride,

292
00:19:32,964 --> 00:19:34,551
but they've got
each other.

293
00:19:34,552 --> 00:19:36,243
They love each other
so much,

294
00:19:36,244 --> 00:19:40,385
and that is really,
really beautiful to see.

295
00:19:42,008 --> 00:19:46,322
Bo is just being
a classic little brother,

296
00:19:46,323 --> 00:19:48,496
winding his
little sister up.

297
00:19:48,497 --> 00:19:50,429
Kea is not
having any of it.

298
00:19:50,430 --> 00:19:52,466
She's like, "No, don't
slap me in the face,

299
00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:54,985
thank you very much."

300
00:19:54,986 --> 00:19:58,299
Cheetah cubs
learn vital skills

301
00:19:58,300 --> 00:20:00,543
they need through play.

302
00:20:00,544 --> 00:20:02,959
You can see the way
that they stalk each other...

303
00:20:05,031 --> 00:20:06,687
practicing
their hunting.

304
00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:13,901
Over the next six months,

305
00:20:13,902 --> 00:20:18,561
Kea and Bo will need to put
these skills into action...

306
00:20:18,562 --> 00:20:20,321
Oh, they've definitely
been watching Pobe.

307
00:20:20,322 --> 00:20:23,945
...and start
to hunt alongside their mum.

308
00:20:23,946 --> 00:20:26,258
Things are going to
start moving pretty quickly

309
00:20:26,259 --> 00:20:28,674
from here on out.

310
00:20:28,675 --> 00:20:31,263
They're not
babies anymore.

311
00:20:54,391 --> 00:20:56,323
With the flood
reaching its peak,

312
00:20:56,324 --> 00:20:58,808
the density of
buffalo skyrockets.

313
00:20:58,809 --> 00:21:01,293
So this is one hell
of an opportunity.

314
00:21:05,091 --> 00:21:08,576
Tsebe and the mums are
hunting for something big enough

315
00:21:08,577 --> 00:21:12,546
to feed themselves
and all of their cubs.

316
00:21:12,547 --> 00:21:15,894
The desperation of
the cats is very high.

317
00:21:15,895 --> 00:21:17,378
They are all very hungry.

318
00:21:17,379 --> 00:21:19,104
The cubs have been nagging
their mums,

319
00:21:19,105 --> 00:21:21,140
and these lionesses
are feeling the pressure

320
00:21:21,141 --> 00:21:23,419
to provide
for such a huge pride.

321
00:21:26,733 --> 00:21:30,460
Buffalo are
powerful and aggressive prey.

322
00:21:32,152 --> 00:21:33,843
They're closing in

323
00:21:33,844 --> 00:21:37,122
on one of the most dangerous
animals in the delta.

324
00:21:37,123 --> 00:21:40,090
But a one-ton bull

325
00:21:40,091 --> 00:21:42,817
will easily feed
the whole pride,

326
00:21:42,818 --> 00:21:45,545
making it worth the risk.

327
00:21:54,140 --> 00:21:55,934
Chase is on.

328
00:21:55,935 --> 00:21:58,695
Oh, my goodness me.

329
00:22:01,112 --> 00:22:04,011
Lioness is right up the rump.

330
00:22:06,152 --> 00:22:10,604
Someone's clinging on
like a bucking bronco.

331
00:22:10,605 --> 00:22:12,571
Jeepers creepers.

332
00:22:12,572 --> 00:22:14,055
Dealing with buffalo,

333
00:22:14,056 --> 00:22:16,023
you can't afford
to make any mistakes.

334
00:22:16,024 --> 00:22:18,059
Oh, there's a little calf
in there.

335
00:22:18,060 --> 00:22:21,131
Oh, it's just--OK.

336
00:22:21,132 --> 00:22:23,444
We've got buffalo moving in,
defending the calf.

337
00:22:23,445 --> 00:22:24,790
Oh, look out.

338
00:22:24,791 --> 00:22:26,067
Oh, [bleep].

339
00:22:26,068 --> 00:22:27,828
Tsebe got walloped
by the bull.

340
00:22:31,971 --> 00:22:33,558
Back on the calf.

341
00:22:36,424 --> 00:22:38,425
That's game over.

342
00:22:40,428 --> 00:22:42,429
It's something,

343
00:22:42,430 --> 00:22:45,604
but a calf is far from enough
to feed them all.

344
00:22:48,021 --> 00:22:49,401
Oh.

345
00:22:52,888 --> 00:22:54,751
Someone's getting
beaten up.

346
00:22:54,752 --> 00:22:58,445
Hunger is turning
the lions on each other.

347
00:23:02,035 --> 00:23:03,691
It's a dangerous
place to be a lion cub

348
00:23:03,692 --> 00:23:05,141
around a small kill.

349
00:23:08,076 --> 00:23:10,491
I really feel
for Tsebe's cub

350
00:23:10,492 --> 00:23:12,182
because he's really being
pushed around

351
00:23:12,183 --> 00:23:14,600
and he's struggling to get
his head in there.

352
00:23:18,535 --> 00:23:20,881
Oh.

353
00:23:20,882 --> 00:23:22,641
Tsebe's cub has a wound.

354
00:23:28,993 --> 00:23:31,443
Hey, Gordon.
I can see Tsebe's cub,

355
00:23:31,444 --> 00:23:34,860
the one that's been
looking very skinny.

356
00:23:34,861 --> 00:23:37,242
Looks like he has a wound

357
00:23:37,243 --> 00:23:39,693
on the left side
of his ribcage.

358
00:23:39,694 --> 00:23:42,558
It looks pretty bad.

359
00:23:42,559 --> 00:23:45,181
Gordon, on Walkie-talkie:
Oh, my gosh. That's no good.

360
00:23:46,908 --> 00:23:50,117
That injury on his side,
he's picked that up

361
00:23:50,118 --> 00:23:53,983
either during the buffalo
hunt or in the aftermath.

362
00:23:55,675 --> 00:24:00,196
The cub is
malnourished and now injured.

363
00:24:02,613 --> 00:24:05,166
If he doesn't get
the food to help him recover

364
00:24:05,167 --> 00:24:06,823
and heal his wound,

365
00:24:06,824 --> 00:24:10,137
things could turn
for the worse quite quickly.

366
00:24:15,005 --> 00:24:19,146
Seeing this cub in
this condition is--

367
00:24:19,147 --> 00:24:20,872
is very hard to watch.

368
00:24:36,958 --> 00:24:40,685
With Pobe as their teacher,

369
00:24:40,686 --> 00:24:44,861
cheetah cubs Kea and Bo
are learning fast.

370
00:24:44,862 --> 00:24:46,035
Yeah, she's going to them.

371
00:24:48,141 --> 00:24:49,694
Go, go, go, go.

372
00:24:49,695 --> 00:24:51,523
And she's got one.

373
00:24:54,354 --> 00:24:55,700
Oh, wow.

374
00:24:55,701 --> 00:24:58,497
The cubs are going
straight in.

375
00:25:00,050 --> 00:25:02,223
Pobe didn't even need
to call them.

376
00:25:05,227 --> 00:25:07,539
The cubs already understand...

377
00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:09,886
This is
about fast food.

378
00:25:09,887 --> 00:25:11,957
You need to just
eat and leave.

379
00:25:11,958 --> 00:25:15,651
...that at mealtimes,
time is of the essence.

380
00:25:15,652 --> 00:25:19,344
Meanwhile, Pobe
is just sat, guarding.

381
00:25:19,345 --> 00:25:22,243
Now they're at risk
of predators coming in

382
00:25:22,244 --> 00:25:25,799
to steal this kill.

383
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,939
Of all the big cats,

384
00:25:27,940 --> 00:25:32,840
cheetahs are the most likely
to have their meals stolen.

385
00:25:32,841 --> 00:25:40,261
What's really cute is that
it looks like Bo is copying mum

386
00:25:40,262 --> 00:25:42,574
and is also standing guard.

387
00:25:42,575 --> 00:25:47,268
He's basically adopted
the exact same stance

388
00:25:47,269 --> 00:25:48,580
as Pobe,

389
00:25:48,581 --> 00:25:50,962
and is looking out.

390
00:25:50,963 --> 00:25:56,070
Male cub Bo is finally
taking lessons seriously.

391
00:25:56,071 --> 00:25:57,658
One of them
is eating,

392
00:25:57,659 --> 00:25:59,108
and one of them
is standing guard.

393
00:25:59,109 --> 00:26:03,112
They're clearly learning
really, really fast.

394
00:26:03,113 --> 00:26:07,807
These little cubs are
getting ready for the future.

395
00:26:12,950 --> 00:26:15,434
Pobe's
looking at something.

396
00:26:21,234 --> 00:26:24,616
Pobe's crouching
down a little bit.

397
00:26:24,617 --> 00:26:27,446
What is going on?

398
00:26:32,729 --> 00:26:34,315
Oh, there's a leopard.
There's a leopard.

399
00:26:37,009 --> 00:26:39,631
Pobe is going
straight towards it.

400
00:26:43,463 --> 00:26:46,293
Really, really don't want
her to get into a fight.

401
00:26:46,294 --> 00:26:48,433
This would not be good.

402
00:26:50,678 --> 00:26:53,093
This leopard
could seriously injure

403
00:26:53,094 --> 00:26:56,959
an adult cheetah
and kill a cub.

404
00:26:59,928 --> 00:27:02,792
Pobe is just
staring at this leopard.

405
00:27:02,793 --> 00:27:04,691
She's not going to let
that leopard

406
00:27:04,692 --> 00:27:06,762
come anywhere near
Kea and Bo

407
00:27:06,763 --> 00:27:09,488
and also that meal.

408
00:27:12,838 --> 00:27:15,425
But Pobe is not
backing down.

409
00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,675
The leopards ran away.

410
00:27:23,676 --> 00:27:25,470
Oh, my heart.

411
00:27:27,438 --> 00:27:31,372
That was
a seriously lucky escape.

412
00:27:31,373 --> 00:27:34,272
Typically, the cheetah
would run away from a leopard.

413
00:27:37,828 --> 00:27:42,867
I've got a feeling due
to Kea and Bo being here,

414
00:27:42,868 --> 00:27:44,385
Pobe knew
she's got to stand ground.

415
00:27:44,386 --> 00:27:46,215
she's got to take
care of her cubs.

416
00:27:49,909 --> 00:27:51,703
Thanks to mum,

417
00:27:51,704 --> 00:27:54,257
the cubs have learned
a vital lesson--

418
00:27:54,258 --> 00:27:56,397
how to defend a meal.

419
00:27:56,398 --> 00:27:58,710
Cheetah cubs
generally have

420
00:27:58,711 --> 00:28:01,057
such a tough start
to life,

421
00:28:01,058 --> 00:28:05,717
but these two have
the most incredible mum,

422
00:28:05,718 --> 00:28:08,513
who is just showing them
the ropes every single day.

423
00:28:08,514 --> 00:28:12,275
With so many leopards
in the area,

424
00:28:12,276 --> 00:28:16,245
Pobe is going to have to be
more vigilant than ever before.

425
00:28:27,050 --> 00:28:29,741
We have run
into Lediba.

426
00:28:31,917 --> 00:28:34,573
After vanishing with her cub...

427
00:28:34,574 --> 00:28:36,541
Oh, so good
to see you.

428
00:28:36,542 --> 00:28:39,199
...Greg has found
leopard mum Lediba.

429
00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:40,787
Oh, man.

430
00:28:40,788 --> 00:28:42,374
The last few weeks have
been very stressful

431
00:28:42,375 --> 00:28:43,928
because there's been
so many males

432
00:28:43,929 --> 00:28:45,481
really threatening
the area.

433
00:28:51,799 --> 00:28:55,525
Oh, gosh.
Another one.

434
00:28:55,526 --> 00:28:58,597
Oh, my word.
Big male leopard.

435
00:29:00,152 --> 00:29:02,360
This is Bongwe,
and he's the dominant male

436
00:29:02,361 --> 00:29:03,879
in this area.

437
00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,813
He's fully mature,
about seven years old.

438
00:29:09,264 --> 00:29:11,956
Oh, Lediba.

439
00:29:11,957 --> 00:29:14,855
If the cub is nearby,

440
00:29:14,856 --> 00:29:17,409
this is a super
dangerous situation.

441
00:29:19,378 --> 00:29:24,416
Bongwe and Lediba's
territories overlap,

442
00:29:24,417 --> 00:29:29,594
but male territories are four
times larger than females'...

443
00:29:29,595 --> 00:29:33,287
Whoa! What?

444
00:29:33,288 --> 00:29:37,498
so interactions
like this are rare.

445
00:29:37,499 --> 00:29:38,914
He's about
double her size,

446
00:29:38,915 --> 00:29:40,501
and she's trying
to push him off.

447
00:29:46,543 --> 00:29:51,029
It's working.
Eee-you!

448
00:29:51,030 --> 00:29:52,928
This is insane.

449
00:29:56,311 --> 00:30:00,176
Lediba. Ballsy, eh?

450
00:30:00,177 --> 00:30:02,834
Lediba really can't afford
to get injured here

451
00:30:02,835 --> 00:30:05,009
with a cub to protect.

452
00:30:11,637 --> 00:30:15,053
Absolutely
unreal situation.

453
00:30:19,196 --> 00:30:21,439
What is going
to happen here?

454
00:30:27,860 --> 00:30:31,069
Holy smokes.
Here comes the cub.

455
00:30:31,070 --> 00:30:32,484
Oh, gosh.

456
00:30:32,485 --> 00:30:35,142
If Bongwe sees her,
this could be the end.

457
00:30:39,182 --> 00:30:41,079
I cannot believe
my eyes.

458
00:30:49,399 --> 00:30:51,089
Oh, my gosh.
She's seen her.

459
00:30:55,405 --> 00:30:59,304
Oh, my word. He's not
reacting at all.

460
00:30:59,305 --> 00:31:01,065
There's only one
reason why a male

461
00:31:01,066 --> 00:31:02,929
wouldn't kill a cub.

462
00:31:02,930 --> 00:31:06,104
Bongwe must be
her father.

463
00:31:10,316 --> 00:31:11,558
That's amazing.

464
00:31:11,559 --> 00:31:14,699
Bongwe is her dad
for sure. Ha!

465
00:31:16,667 --> 00:31:19,946
That's cool.
I'm--I'm stoked.

466
00:31:19,947 --> 00:31:22,293
Oh, gosh. That is
heart-wrenching.

467
00:31:22,294 --> 00:31:24,053
I thought that it could
have been trouble

468
00:31:24,054 --> 00:31:25,572
for that little cub,

469
00:31:25,573 --> 00:31:28,989
but now it looks like he's
actually the defender.

470
00:31:28,990 --> 00:31:30,957
Fantastic.

471
00:31:30,958 --> 00:31:33,131
Go, Bongwe.

472
00:31:33,132 --> 00:31:37,756
Although he'll play no
active role in rearing his cub,

473
00:31:37,757 --> 00:31:41,691
Bongwe will challenge
any intruder male leopards

474
00:31:41,692 --> 00:31:43,762
in the area.

475
00:31:43,763 --> 00:31:45,972
He is a formidable,
big male.

476
00:31:45,973 --> 00:31:47,559
So, I mean,
if there's any leopard

477
00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,493
that we want to
be dad

478
00:31:50,494 --> 00:31:53,151
and to give us a sense
of security for the cub,

479
00:31:53,152 --> 00:31:54,566
it's Bongwe.

480
00:31:58,606 --> 00:32:00,710
Happy days for
everybody involved.

481
00:32:02,403 --> 00:32:04,956
What a magical
little moment.

482
00:32:25,495 --> 00:32:27,703
Here we are.

483
00:32:27,704 --> 00:32:31,465
Gordon has caught up
with the Xudum pride.

484
00:32:31,466 --> 00:32:35,331
I can see a cluster
of lions over here--

485
00:32:35,332 --> 00:32:40,647
Tsebe and Naledi, Matho,
and their cubs.

486
00:32:40,648 --> 00:32:42,683
But half of the mums
are missing.

487
00:32:42,684 --> 00:32:46,722
They've split off
from the rest of the pride.

488
00:32:46,723 --> 00:32:49,242
These cubs haven't eaten
anything really

489
00:32:49,243 --> 00:32:50,795
in the last week,

490
00:32:50,796 --> 00:32:55,248
and these lions are
beginning to feel the pressure.

491
00:32:55,249 --> 00:32:59,079
They were moving around
with around 20-plus lions,

492
00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:01,599
and if you don't catch
something big like a buffalo,

493
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,983
next best thing is
to split up in smaller groups.

494
00:33:06,432 --> 00:33:10,849
Mum and cubs are up,
and they're moving off.

495
00:33:10,850 --> 00:33:14,163
Tsebe's group
is now so hungry,

496
00:33:14,164 --> 00:33:16,683
they're sacrificing safety
in numbers

497
00:33:16,684 --> 00:33:19,100
to hunt on their own.

498
00:33:20,653 --> 00:33:23,483
Oh, and that
one little cub,

499
00:33:23,484 --> 00:33:26,624
the skinny one,
is fast asleep.

500
00:33:26,625 --> 00:33:29,282
He's been left behind.

501
00:33:29,283 --> 00:33:31,491
Hey, little guy,
wake up.

502
00:33:36,497 --> 00:33:39,326
Desperate to find
food for her cubs,

503
00:33:39,327 --> 00:33:41,673
Tsebe is leading the hunt.

504
00:33:43,331 --> 00:33:45,332
She may even have called,

505
00:33:45,333 --> 00:33:47,093
and all the cubs
have just followed on,

506
00:33:47,094 --> 00:33:50,406
but this one, probably just
because he's so tired,

507
00:33:50,407 --> 00:33:53,099
he didn't get the memo.

508
00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,211
The saddest sight ever.

509
00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:10,426
See how his hipbones
are sticking out?

510
00:34:13,568 --> 00:34:16,087
And he's starting
to call.

511
00:34:22,129 --> 00:34:26,132
In this state,
his call won't go far.

512
00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:28,099
There's
a bit of a breeze,

513
00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:30,205
so no one's going
to hear him.

514
00:34:30,206 --> 00:34:32,172
They've gone
too far away.

515
00:34:43,150 --> 00:34:49,914
Not only is he tired,
weak, underfed, injured,

516
00:34:49,915 --> 00:34:51,536
now he's alone.

517
00:34:53,574 --> 00:34:55,851
OK, he's moving,

518
00:34:55,852 --> 00:34:58,164
but he's going
the wrong way.

519
00:35:02,686 --> 00:35:06,137
The further away he walks
from where his mum left him,

520
00:35:06,138 --> 00:35:08,484
the less chance he has
of her finding him

521
00:35:08,485 --> 00:35:10,624
when she comes back.

522
00:35:10,625 --> 00:35:12,281
With the flood

523
00:35:12,282 --> 00:35:14,628
concentrating
predators in the area...

524
00:35:16,321 --> 00:35:20,634
There's leopards,
hyena, other lions.

525
00:35:20,635 --> 00:35:25,950
And he needs his mum
for protection.

526
00:35:25,951 --> 00:35:29,816
...this wounded cub
faces a race against time

527
00:35:29,817 --> 00:35:32,819
to reunite before nightfall.

528
00:35:32,820 --> 00:35:35,339
He's just
completely defenseless.

529
00:35:48,215 --> 00:35:52,356
Really nice
to see her with the cub.

530
00:35:52,357 --> 00:35:57,775
Lediba and her cub are
still in dad Bongwe's territory.

531
00:35:57,776 --> 00:36:01,572
Lots of playing,
jumping on each other,

532
00:36:01,573 --> 00:36:05,541
and it's just a fantastic
scene to witness it.

533
00:36:06,888 --> 00:36:08,717
Too cute!

534
00:36:20,764 --> 00:36:22,282
I've got
a male leopard here

535
00:36:22,283 --> 00:36:25,009
walking straight towards
Lediba and the cub.

536
00:36:25,010 --> 00:36:26,838
Oh, [bleep].

537
00:36:26,839 --> 00:36:29,945
It's the aggressive
young male that Tristen

538
00:36:29,946 --> 00:36:31,843
previously found in the area.

539
00:36:34,813 --> 00:36:36,538
With younger
males like this

540
00:36:36,539 --> 00:36:38,643
that aren't fully
established,

541
00:36:38,644 --> 00:36:40,404
they've got
a lot to prove.

542
00:36:40,405 --> 00:36:44,546
This guy's main role
is going to be

543
00:36:44,547 --> 00:36:45,961
finding a territory,

544
00:36:45,962 --> 00:36:47,997
finding females
to breed with.

545
00:36:47,998 --> 00:36:50,828
He's going
to really be pushing

546
00:36:50,829 --> 00:36:52,830
in a very
aggressive way.

547
00:36:54,936 --> 00:36:58,560
If this male ventures
into Lediba's territory,

548
00:36:58,561 --> 00:37:00,976
he's just going to try
and wipe out anything

549
00:37:00,977 --> 00:37:03,323
that isn't within
his gene pool.

550
00:37:06,569 --> 00:37:08,466
What's that?

551
00:37:08,467 --> 00:37:11,987
Hey! Come on.
This is Bongwe.

552
00:37:11,988 --> 00:37:15,508
He really needs
to make a big effort

553
00:37:15,509 --> 00:37:17,648
to push this male
out of the area

554
00:37:17,649 --> 00:37:20,720
and keep Lediba and
his offspring safe.

555
00:37:27,728 --> 00:37:30,074
They're both big.
They're both powerful.

556
00:37:30,075 --> 00:37:33,388
And if these two males
come into contact,

557
00:37:33,389 --> 00:37:35,942
it'd just be
an all-out war.

558
00:37:44,779 --> 00:37:49,335
Bongwe's thrown down
the gauntlet. The chase is on.

559
00:37:52,373 --> 00:37:55,617
Running side by side
allows leopards

560
00:37:55,618 --> 00:37:57,619
to size each other up.

561
00:38:00,657 --> 00:38:02,658
I have to admit, it
looks very, very even.

562
00:38:02,659 --> 00:38:06,421
It's the last step
before a fight.

563
00:38:11,599 --> 00:38:13,462
Bongwe
has chased him

564
00:38:13,463 --> 00:38:15,050
over a ridiculous
distance now

565
00:38:15,051 --> 00:38:16,879
and doesn't seem
to be letting up.

566
00:38:21,091 --> 00:38:23,817
He is just pushing,
pushing, pushing.

567
00:38:37,798 --> 00:38:40,627
Looks like our boy
has won this battle.

568
00:38:40,628 --> 00:38:43,354
The other male is
slowly moving away,

569
00:38:43,355 --> 00:38:45,977
and Bongwe is
watching him move off

570
00:38:45,978 --> 00:38:47,910
and out of his
territory.

571
00:38:47,911 --> 00:38:50,637
Bongwe has resolved the dispute

572
00:38:50,638 --> 00:38:53,778
without coming to blows.

573
00:38:53,779 --> 00:38:56,091
This is absolutely
amazing for Lediba.

574
00:38:56,092 --> 00:38:57,644
I mean, she's got
a male that she

575
00:38:57,645 --> 00:38:59,439
can completely rely on
to protect her territory

576
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:01,130
and to protect her cub.

577
00:39:01,131 --> 00:39:04,617
Lediba seems to know
the right boys.

578
00:39:13,178 --> 00:39:16,698
I've been called in
to take over the cheetah--

579
00:39:16,699 --> 00:39:19,770
Pobe and her two cubs.

580
00:39:19,771 --> 00:39:21,737
This will be quite exciting

581
00:39:21,738 --> 00:39:25,085
because I haven't really had
much time with the cheetahs.

582
00:39:27,606 --> 00:39:29,952
Cheetah cubs
Kea and Bo are learning

583
00:39:29,953 --> 00:39:32,472
from their mum every day.

584
00:39:35,096 --> 00:39:37,512
Pobe spotted some impala.

585
00:39:44,554 --> 00:39:47,418
Oh, she is stalking,

586
00:39:47,419 --> 00:39:49,662
using the grass as cover.

587
00:39:49,663 --> 00:39:52,493
Wow. That's incredible.

588
00:39:54,495 --> 00:39:58,222
I don't see her anymore,
but I know she's in position.

589
00:39:58,223 --> 00:40:00,742
She's hiding behind her--

590
00:40:00,743 --> 00:40:03,089
a termite mound.

591
00:40:04,781 --> 00:40:05,988
Oh, she's going.

592
00:40:08,854 --> 00:40:10,786
She is super-fast.

593
00:40:10,787 --> 00:40:12,616
Yo, it's insane.

594
00:40:20,038 --> 00:40:22,453
She got it!

595
00:40:28,771 --> 00:40:30,980
Oh, my goodness.

596
00:40:34,846 --> 00:40:36,537
Wow!

597
00:40:39,022 --> 00:40:42,162
Wait.
She's letting it go. What?

598
00:40:44,234 --> 00:40:47,720
This is a big moment
for these cubs.

599
00:40:47,721 --> 00:40:49,756
Kea has taken the lead.

600
00:40:51,759 --> 00:40:53,760
Both are going on it.

601
00:40:57,006 --> 00:40:59,007
They are chasing it around.

602
00:40:59,008 --> 00:41:01,527
Because this is
their first time,

603
00:41:01,528 --> 00:41:05,047
they don't really know
what they are doing.

604
00:41:05,048 --> 00:41:08,257
Cheetah mums
bring their cubs live prey

605
00:41:08,258 --> 00:41:10,674
to hone their hunting skills.

606
00:41:10,675 --> 00:41:13,953
Wow. Look at Kea.
She's really, really into it.

607
00:41:13,954 --> 00:41:15,920
She's hanging onto it.

608
00:41:15,921 --> 00:41:18,336
She's learned
so much from her mom.

609
00:41:18,337 --> 00:41:20,097
She's just mimicking her.

610
00:41:24,033 --> 00:41:25,861
Oh, she's taking it down.

611
00:41:30,142 --> 00:41:31,349
Wow.

612
00:41:33,525 --> 00:41:37,355
Kea is holding on to its throat
and suffocating it.

613
00:41:38,944 --> 00:41:41,774
She is going to be
an exceptional teacher

614
00:41:41,775 --> 00:41:43,327
when she grows up.

615
00:41:45,606 --> 00:41:48,021
Oh, wow.

616
00:41:49,576 --> 00:41:52,543
It's like I'm actually
watching these cubs

617
00:41:52,544 --> 00:41:54,545
grow in real time.

618
00:41:54,546 --> 00:41:57,548
Pobe has helped her cubs

619
00:41:57,549 --> 00:42:00,137
reach an essential milestone.

620
00:42:00,138 --> 00:42:02,933
Oh, Pobe,

621
00:42:02,934 --> 00:42:05,591
I bet you are a proud mom today.

622
00:42:05,592 --> 00:42:10,181
You have ushered your cubs
into the new age of maturity.

623
00:42:16,395 --> 00:42:18,638
Yo!

624
00:42:26,095 --> 00:42:27,647
Oh, there... he is.

625
00:42:30,168 --> 00:42:33,411
Gordon has been
following Tsebe's lost cub

626
00:42:33,412 --> 00:42:35,724
for more than six hours.

627
00:42:38,797 --> 00:42:40,764
It's going
to be dark soon,

628
00:42:40,765 --> 00:42:42,179
and the night holds

629
00:42:42,180 --> 00:42:44,733
a whole set
of other dangers,

630
00:42:44,734 --> 00:42:47,012
especially for a cub
on its own.

631
00:42:56,125 --> 00:42:57,884
You're doing
the right thing.

632
00:42:57,885 --> 00:43:00,129
Calling is
the best policy.

633
00:43:03,408 --> 00:43:08,826
OK. Oh, you've got
a warthog.

634
00:43:08,827 --> 00:43:11,277
So he's probably seeing
this warthog, thinking,

635
00:43:11,278 --> 00:43:13,831
"Maybe this is
my next meal."

636
00:43:13,832 --> 00:43:17,041
But not on his own,
that's for sure.

637
00:43:21,806 --> 00:43:25,222
This little lion's completely
dependent on his mum.

638
00:43:25,223 --> 00:43:28,432
There is nothing that
he can take down on his own,

639
00:43:28,433 --> 00:43:29,916
technically not
in the condition

640
00:43:29,917 --> 00:43:31,815
that he's in
at the moment.

641
00:43:40,307 --> 00:43:43,999
He's just disappearing
off into the grass.

642
00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:46,450
OK, let's catch up.

643
00:43:52,491 --> 00:43:55,286
Oh, my goodness me.
Hey, look. There they are.

644
00:43:55,287 --> 00:43:57,462
Tsebe up ahead.

645
00:43:59,188 --> 00:44:03,364
OK, if he calls now,
maybe she'll hear him.

646
00:44:04,814 --> 00:44:08,300
Come on. Big roar. "Mummy!"

647
00:44:36,950 --> 00:44:40,400
Oh! Happy days.

648
00:44:40,401 --> 00:44:42,092
There you go, little guy.

649
00:44:44,060 --> 00:44:47,028
Ah, ah. There they are.

650
00:44:52,103 --> 00:44:54,725
In the nick of time as well,

651
00:44:54,726 --> 00:44:57,970
just 20 minutes before sunset.

652
00:44:57,971 --> 00:45:02,077
You can tell. He's not leaving
his mum's side. Look at that.

653
00:45:02,078 --> 00:45:04,908
Ohh. It's perfect.

654
00:45:35,284 --> 00:45:38,873
Greg and Gordon are
sleeping out next to the lions.

655
00:45:42,153 --> 00:45:43,981
The lions are over there,

656
00:45:43,982 --> 00:45:46,190
maybe kind of
over 100 meters away.

657
00:45:46,191 --> 00:45:49,021
I'm out in the middle of
the plains,

658
00:45:49,022 --> 00:45:51,023
and just going to bed down
for the night.

659
00:45:51,024 --> 00:45:52,438
This is the best place to be.

660
00:45:52,439 --> 00:45:54,268
I mean,
right in the thick of it.

661
00:45:55,580 --> 00:45:57,857
OK, good night, lions.

662
00:45:59,549 --> 00:46:04,899
It might be nighttime,
but not everyone's asleep.

663
00:46:37,518 --> 00:46:41,280
The lion cubs
haven't had a proper meal

664
00:46:41,281 --> 00:46:42,902
in over a week.

665
00:46:46,493 --> 00:46:48,666
And they're
all getting desperate,

666
00:46:48,667 --> 00:46:51,980
but Tsebe's little cub,
it's life or death.

667
00:46:51,981 --> 00:46:56,053
And not just getting lost
from Tsebe, from his mum,

668
00:46:56,054 --> 00:47:00,195
but his body condition, he's
weak, he's picked up an injury.

669
00:47:00,196 --> 00:47:03,233
And when there's food available,
it can't even fight its way

670
00:47:03,234 --> 00:47:05,131
to get access to the meat.

671
00:47:05,132 --> 00:47:07,409
It's like a downward spiral.

672
00:47:07,410 --> 00:47:10,896
Tsebe is an amazing hunter,

673
00:47:10,897 --> 00:47:13,277
but she's on a losing streak
the last week.

674
00:47:13,278 --> 00:47:16,418
It's been tough for all of them.

675
00:47:22,632 --> 00:47:25,669
Gordon, Tsebe
is crossing the floodplain

676
00:47:25,670 --> 00:47:28,189
towards the tree line.

677
00:47:28,190 --> 00:47:30,225
I'm pretty confident
she's seen something.

678
00:47:30,226 --> 00:47:32,365
Roger that, Greg.
I'll put the drone up.

679
00:47:34,886 --> 00:47:38,233
In a bid to feed her cub,

680
00:47:38,234 --> 00:47:41,305
Tsebe is going it alone.

681
00:47:41,306 --> 00:47:43,618
Oh, there's
a zebra right there.

682
00:47:43,619 --> 00:47:45,689
Right there.

683
00:47:48,210 --> 00:47:50,487
She's sneaking
into that bush.

684
00:47:59,669 --> 00:48:02,602
Oh, this is close.
This is intense.

685
00:48:13,407 --> 00:48:14,752
OK, there she goes.

686
00:48:16,514 --> 00:48:18,929
Oh, she's got it.

687
00:48:18,930 --> 00:48:21,242
My goodness.

688
00:48:21,243 --> 00:48:23,140
It's pretty astonishing.

689
00:48:23,141 --> 00:48:26,764
She did all of this
on her own.

690
00:48:26,765 --> 00:48:29,389
the neck.
That was mad.

691
00:48:36,465 --> 00:48:40,054
Tsebe led the hunt.
Amazing.

692
00:48:40,055 --> 00:48:41,745
One lioness on her own

693
00:48:41,746 --> 00:48:44,230
managed
to take down the zebra.

694
00:48:46,578 --> 00:48:48,200
To this number of lions,

695
00:48:48,201 --> 00:48:50,581
that is a sizable meal.

696
00:48:50,582 --> 00:48:53,032
She is the hero
of the day.

697
00:48:57,003 --> 00:49:01,247
Tsebe has provided
for the whole group...

698
00:49:01,248 --> 00:49:04,319
Every single one of
these lions has been hungry.

699
00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:06,701
This is the best meal that
they've had in a week.

700
00:49:06,702 --> 00:49:09,290
...and finally
delivered the food

701
00:49:09,291 --> 00:49:11,602
her smallest cub needs.

702
00:49:13,571 --> 00:49:16,780
For Tsebe's
cub, that little one,

703
00:49:16,781 --> 00:49:19,093
he has literally been
starving.

704
00:49:19,094 --> 00:49:23,373
This could save
its life.

705
00:49:23,374 --> 00:49:26,617
You just see him
sneaking in

706
00:49:26,618 --> 00:49:28,550
and almost read
his mind.

707
00:49:28,551 --> 00:49:31,277
He's like,
"Thank God."

708
00:49:31,278 --> 00:49:34,453
Finally
getting a good meal.

709
00:49:34,454 --> 00:49:37,387
And that is just...

710
00:49:37,388 --> 00:49:38,802
so good to see.

711
00:49:38,803 --> 00:49:41,460
We were really worried
about the cubs.

712
00:49:41,461 --> 00:49:44,428
Everyone
has finished eating

713
00:49:44,429 --> 00:49:47,397
but Tsebe's little
male cub.

714
00:49:47,398 --> 00:49:50,538
He is tucking in.

715
00:49:50,539 --> 00:49:55,129
He's just refusing
to leave the table.

716
00:49:55,130 --> 00:49:58,028
He is going to eat
until he pops.

717
00:50:00,514 --> 00:50:02,412
Happy days
for this cub.

718
00:50:07,142 --> 00:50:09,246
How was that, eh?
Amazing.

719
00:50:09,247 --> 00:50:11,490
Talk about unexpected.

720
00:50:11,491 --> 00:50:12,767
I know.

721
00:50:12,768 --> 00:50:15,287
Couldn't come
a moment too soon.

722
00:50:15,288 --> 00:50:18,324
Through skill and determination,

723
00:50:18,325 --> 00:50:22,639
Tsebe has done
the seemingly impossible.

724
00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:24,468
Most cubs
don't make it

725
00:50:24,469 --> 00:50:26,125
to their first year,

726
00:50:26,126 --> 00:50:29,439
and she raised
four of them.

727
00:50:29,440 --> 00:50:31,889
And that has not
been about luck.

728
00:50:31,890 --> 00:50:34,064
That's been about
hard work,

729
00:50:34,065 --> 00:50:35,583
commitment to them,

730
00:50:35,584 --> 00:50:39,690
and just being
an all-around pro.

731
00:50:39,691 --> 00:50:42,624
Yeah. They survived
against the odds.

732
00:50:54,396 --> 00:50:55,810
What the hell?

733
00:50:59,470 --> 00:51:02,092
There is another cat.

734
00:51:02,093 --> 00:51:04,715
And Pobe and the cubs

735
00:51:04,716 --> 00:51:06,924
have absolutely
no idea.

736
00:51:12,414 --> 00:51:13,897
That is a leopard.

737
00:51:13,898 --> 00:51:15,899
That is a big
male leopard.

738
00:51:20,456 --> 00:51:23,182
They're so close now.

739
00:51:23,183 --> 00:51:25,426
The leopard is
literally here.

740
00:51:28,223 --> 00:51:31,501
And Pobe and the cubs
are there.

741
00:51:34,815 --> 00:51:37,541
This is really
not good.

742
00:51:42,444 --> 00:51:45,342
One moment they're
just playing around,

743
00:51:45,343 --> 00:51:48,138
and in the next breath,

744
00:51:48,139 --> 00:51:50,831
they're basically
at risk of death.

745
00:51:52,557 --> 00:51:54,489
You've already seen Pobe

746
00:51:54,490 --> 00:51:57,354
put her life on
the line for these cubs

747
00:51:57,355 --> 00:52:00,426
when it came to
the leopard.

748
00:52:00,427 --> 00:52:03,602
So if this does escalate,

749
00:52:03,603 --> 00:52:05,914
I have a strong suspicion

750
00:52:05,915 --> 00:52:09,228
she's going to be doing
the exact same thing.

751
00:52:15,580 --> 00:52:17,995
The leopard is
basically staring

752
00:52:17,996 --> 00:52:20,377
at Pobe and the cubs.

753
00:52:25,211 --> 00:52:26,694
Oh, he's coming down the hill.

754
00:52:32,839 --> 00:52:35,323
He's creeping,
he's creeping.

755
00:52:38,845 --> 00:52:42,261
He's heading straight
towards Pobe and her cubs.

756
00:52:44,506 --> 00:52:47,680
Oh, this is such
a bad situation.

757
00:52:49,890 --> 00:52:51,512
It's really close.

758
00:53:05,285 --> 00:53:07,286
Oh, my. .

759
00:53:07,287 --> 00:53:08,874
He's right next
to the cub.

760
00:53:08,875 --> 00:53:11,014
You're right next
to the cub.

761
00:53:11,015 --> 00:53:12,740
You have no idea.

762
00:53:23,890 --> 00:53:25,891
Move, Pobe. Move.

763
00:53:25,892 --> 00:53:27,617
You need to move your cubs.

764
00:53:29,999 --> 00:53:32,069
He's right behind you. Move.

765
00:53:35,073 --> 00:53:37,005
Oh, no, no, no, no.

766
00:53:40,078 --> 00:53:42,322
No, no, no, no...


