1
00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,280
If you want to film
tigers, get an elephant.

2
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,120
Preferably one that can
carry a camera.

3
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,280
These ele-cams
have already told the story
of four cubs growing up.

4
00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:33,200
They filmed as the cubs
practised their killing
and fighting skills.

5
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,840
But then
the cubs' mother was injured

6
00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,760
and a rogue male
entered their territory.

7
00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,000
This was the cubs'
greatest challenge yet.

8
00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,880
The cubs flee
across the dammed lake

9
00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,560
in the centre of
Pench Tiger Reserve.

10
00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,560
They have reason
to be worried.

11
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:08,400
A strange male will kill cubs
so that he can have the chance
of mating with their mother.

12
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,600
The cubs must put
as much distance as they can
between them and him.

13
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,680
The male decides
not to follow.

14
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,200
But while he's around,
the cubs are in danger,

15
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,080
particularly
as their mother is injured.

16
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,560
They reach the far shore.

17
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,080
Although they have
bought some time,
they're still in danger,

18
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,760
for their father, when last
seen, was also injured.

19
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,720
The elephant camera team
set off to find him.

20
00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,440
They head towards
the alarm calls of prey

21
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,040
that so often give away
a tiger's location.

22
00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,400
And here he is,
the aptly named Charger.

23
00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,400
He was last seen
nearly two weeks ago.

24
00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,600
Then he had wounds
on his side from a fight,

25
00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:18,560
and was unusually subdued.

26
00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,000
But it's
a different story now.

27
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He's back to his old
belligerent self.

28
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The cubs are not far away.

29
00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,120
Now, with Charger back to
fighting fitness,

30
00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,360
they have some
much-needed protection.

31
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,000
But what they need
right now is a meal.

32
00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:57,280
They're 15 months old,
and certainly big enough
to catch a small deer.

33
00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,840
But have they yet developed
the necessary skill?

34
00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,360
Here's a chance for them.

35
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,560
They'll have to do
better than that

36
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if they're to survive
as adults.

37
00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,040
They still need their mother's
help and tuition.

38
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They find her
where they saw her last.

39
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,680
The wound on her side
is still visible.

40
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,960
But she seems
considerably perkier.

41
00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,120
Tiger saliva contains
a strong antibiotic,

42
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so even serious wounds
rarely go septic.

43
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It seems
she might be all right.

44
00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,960
The cubs, when without her,
stick closely together.

45
00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,240
When one makes a move,
they all do.

46
00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,880
They can't resist
play fighting,

47
00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,800
even though the strange male
must still be on their mind.

48
00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,640
And then a tiger seems to
appear in the water.

49
00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,880
The cub tries
an alternative crossing

50
00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,920
but the water tiger
is there as well.

51
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,880
Best to take
the long way round.

52
00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,240
Submerged tigers forgotten,
he joins the game.

53
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,600
The cubs must spend
another night on their own.

54
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,040
Next day, the cubs
have caught something.

55
00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,240
It's a pangolin,
a scaly anteater.

56
00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,360
They last encountered one
when they were just
a few months old.

57
00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,440
Then, it scared them.
Now it's a different story.

58
00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:51,600
Pangolins exude a foul odour
like a skunk,

59
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so few animals eat them,
and the cubs decide
not to try.

60
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They're so absorbed
in their game,

61
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they nearly miss
an important arrival.

62
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It's their mother.

63
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,560
They are safe once more.

64
00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,400
She seems fully fit.

65
00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,200
Her cubs are hungry

66
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and she leads them away
towards the best
hunting grounds.

67
00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,520
Log-cam can film
animals automatically.

68
00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,320
It will switch itself on
when something is happening,

69
00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,640
even when the elephants
are not around.

70
00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,840
One has recorded
golden jackals

71
00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,840
and they have got pups,
just three weeks old.

72
00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,200
There are six of them
and they've just started
to venture out of the den.

73
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But for safety, they must
stay close to the entrance.

74
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This pup, however,
has other ideas.

75
00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,720
Fortunately,
mother quickly spots him.

76
00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,800
And she shepherds him
back to the safety of the den.

77
00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,720
The tiger family
are back at the lake,

78
00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,320
but this time,
their mother is with them.

79
00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,600
She's caught a sambar deer
and seems intent on
dragging it into the water.

80
00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,080
The cubs appear to be
eager to help,

81
00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,560
but it's not clear what
they're trying to achieve.

82
00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,920
They're certainly
enjoying themselves

83
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and need little excuse
for a game of chase.

84
00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,160
Tigers do sometimes
kill prey in water,

85
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so this is all good practice,

86
00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,160
as are the running leaps
and the rugby tackles.

87
00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:55,720
The mother seems to have her
own plan for the carcass
and continues to drag it away.

88
00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,640
For her cubs,
it's still just a game.

89
00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:20,800
The natural buoyancy
of her kill makes it
easier for the mother

90
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to move it through the water,
but the cubs aren't helping
one little bit.

91
00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,400
She finally drags it
to the shore,

92
00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,320
but out of water,
it's hard going.

93
00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,400
The cubs still love
play fighting,

94
00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,760
but as they get bigger
and more powerful,

95
00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,920
their blows seldom make
serious contact
during their sparring.

96
00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,880
The mother perseveres
with her puzzling mission.

97
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,640
She seems to be tiring,
unlike her cubs,
who have energy to spare.

98
00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:15,440
Their play is now about
testing each other to see
who is top cat.

99
00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:26,680
The mother's chosen
obstacle course

100
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runs across an inlet of water
that cuts through
the shoreline.

101
00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,960
She's determined
to get the carcass
to the other side.

102
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The cubs show
no interest in helping.

103
00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,840
Sambar are India's
largest deer

104
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and this is hard graft,
even for a tigress
in her prime.

105
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Female cubs
play more aggressively
than males.

106
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They may eventually set up
neighbouring territories

107
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so perhaps
it's safer to sort out
their differences now,

108
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before they can do
much harm to one another.

109
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But it will be some time
before they acquire

110
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their mother's
formidable strength.

111
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When they finally fight,
they seem to really mean it.

112
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After their mother has been
labouring for an hour,

113
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her intentions
have become clear.

114
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She simply wanted to take
the carcass into shade.

115
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The tigers are dozing,
so the langurs venture down
to the ground.

116
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But nonetheless,
they must prepare
to be challenged.

117
00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,400
The hawk eagle
tries to make himself
look bigger.

118
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For the moment,
there's a stand-off.

119
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But there can only
be one winner
in a contest like this.

120
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Log-cam and the other
remote spy cams

121
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continue to document
the tiger's once secret world.

122
00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,520
When the tigers start to move,

123
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the elephants and their
mobile cameras take over

124
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and enable us to travel with
the tigers at their level.

125
00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,360
By now, this wild bunch
have little to fear

126
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and they stride
through the forest
with confidence.

127
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A group of tigers such as this
is a rare sight indeed.

128
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Adult tigers
are basically loners.

129
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They don't practice
the kind of communal
hunting techniques

130
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for which lions,
who do live in large groups,
are famous.

131
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Finding prey is the easy bit.

132
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To succeed, they will
have to get close

133
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without alarming the deer.

134
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At first, that looks
deceptively easy.

135
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The cubs must be feeling
that they could walk
right up to their prey.

136
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She checks that her brother
is backing her up,

137
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and prepares for the charge.

138
00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,040
But the deer know
just how close is safe.

139
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Her brother
tries a swifter approach.

140
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But he peaks too soon.

141
00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:11,760
All is not lost.

142
00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,560
The deer are running
right in front of
one of his sisters.

143
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,040
But she didn't
take her chance.

144
00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,560
The youngsters
still have a lot to learn.

145
00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,480
Mother isn't far away
and she is well hidden.

146
00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,560
Now it's her chance.

147
00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:49,160
But the sambar's kicks
are very effective defence.

148
00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:50,640
Another failure.

149
00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,640
The family move on
to try their luck elsewhere.

150
00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,160
Their journey takes them
near the jackals' den.

151
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,760
While their mother is around,
the pups are now
very confident.

152
00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,200
They even follow her
for short forays
away from the den.

153
00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,440
Jackals will scrounge
from tiger kills.

154
00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,920
But this is too close
for comfort.

155
00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,760
For the tiger cubs,
each new location
is another playground.

156
00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,640
-They immediately
try out the facilities.

157
00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,880
A leaning tree provides
lots of possibilities
for games,

158
00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,240
but there are many other
ways of having fun
in this jungle gym.

159
00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,440
They only play
in the cool of the morning.

160
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When the day
begins to heat up,
they rest in the shade.

161
00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:19,560
The heat draws game
to the water holes,
as the mother knows it will.

162
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She brings one down.

163
00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,240
It's a spotted deer.

164
00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,880
The cubs have heard
the commotion and are
quickly on the carcass.

165
00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,800
When four cubs
compete for food,

166
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the weakest
frequently loses out

167
00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,680
and may eventually
die from starvation.

168
00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:12,760
But among these cubs,
even the smallest, a female,
seems well-nourished.

169
00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,840
Apparently, mother is
such a good hunter

170
00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,000
that there's always enough
to go round.

171
00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,400
But they still quarrel
over their meals.

172
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,640
And it's usually the females
that start the argument.

173
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For the nearby jackals,
this is a bit of luck.

174
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They seek out kills,
hoping for a share
in the spoils.

175
00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,960
The cubs have yet to learn
what skilled dodgers jackals
can be.

176
00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,160
Unlike their normal prey,
she actually runs towards
the tigers.

177
00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,480
This is blatant provocation.

178
00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,320
The attack came as a surprise
to the jackal

179
00:21:23,360 --> 00:21:26,160
but she is far too agile
to be in any real danger

180
00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,160
and the cubs
are quite used to failure.

181
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,760
With the tigers so close,
the mother jackal decides
to move her pups.

182
00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,800
This one is quite a bundle
but fortunately the rest
are quite capable

183
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,840
of following
under their own steam.

184
00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:02,120
Jackals always have
alternative dens
for emergencies.

185
00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,920
This one is in the hollow
of a fallen tree.

186
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:20,640
As the day heats up,
two of the cubs take to
wallowing in the mud,

187
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,960
an effective if rather messy
way of keeping cool.

188
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,800
The others are still getting
rid of their surplus energy.

189
00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,760
Not very elegant,
but at least he's not alone.

190
00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:02,160
The mud looks permanent,
but in just a few hours,
it will blow away as dust,

191
00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:08,040
and the cubs
will be spotless again
with their coats dry-cleaned.

192
00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:13,320
Peacocks originated in India,
and here in the wild they are
quite nervous creatures.

193
00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:22,040
They're so inoffensive
that langurs allow them
to share their waterhole.

194
00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,120
They are occasionally
killed and eaten by tigers,

195
00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,400
but they're more of
a snack than a meal.

196
00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:42,000
The cubs seem to be
fascinated by them.

197
00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,760
Like many birds,
peacocks will mob predators

198
00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,280
and keeping danger
in their sights helps prevent
a surprise attack.

199
00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:01,120
Their mocking must be
infuriating for the cubs.

200
00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:04,600
They play a game of dare
as soon as he looks away.

201
00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:14,240
This really is teasing.

202
00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,400
And he loses patience.

203
00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,680
His sister
makes an easier target.

204
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:37,800
As the cubs
grow in confidence,
they tackle almost anything.

205
00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:45,040
A tail to them must be like
a piece of string to a kitten.

206
00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,040
But what it's attached to
is an altogether
different proposition.

207
00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,920
Wisely, the cub thinks
better of it.

208
00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,160
Wild boar are different.

209
00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:12,880
They are prey.

210
00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,640
This one seems to have
a spot of cramp.

211
00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:46,760
Yet another failure.

212
00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:58,400
The time has come
for the elephants

213
00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,520
to take another of their
six-week breaks.

214
00:26:15,360 --> 00:26:20,120
When they return,
they have no difficulty
in locating the cubs again.

215
00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,880
The alarm calls of prey
quickly reveal where they are.

216
00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:37,800
The tigress is with them.
They are still living
together as a family.

217
00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:52,880
The elephants put
trunk-cam down

218
00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:56,680
and leave it to make
the final approach
under its own power.

219
00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,520
The cubs are
feeding on a carcass.

220
00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:14,160
It's a wild boar
killed by their mother.

221
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,560
The cubs are now
nearly as big as she is,

222
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,960
so feeding them all
is a major challenge for her.

223
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,520
Even so, her cubs' bellies
are rarely empty.

224
00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,960
But feeding them so well
doesn't encourage them
to hunt for themselves.

225
00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:42,040
They certainly have
the aggression,

226
00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,440
but they must learn how to
use it to bring down prey.

227
00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,000
A good meal
is usually followed by
an after-dinner siesta.

228
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:09,400
But even these quiet periods
are times of learning.

229
00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,240
One of the males tries
some sexual experimentation.

230
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,480
But his partner, his brother,
is rather baffled.

231
00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,760
The elephant's tail
no longer provokes a reaction.

232
00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,840
Everyone is just trying to
find a way to get comfortable.

233
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,360
One of the males goes off
to spend time on his own.

234
00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,600
Spotted deer appear nearby.

235
00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,200
The cub decides
to try his luck.

236
00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:12,000
His stalking technique
has greatly improved.
Now, he's acting like a pro.

237
00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,800
He uses a tree trunk as cover.

238
00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,080
He places his paws
with great care

239
00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,160
to avoid making
even the slightest rustle.

240
00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,040
Now his success will depend
on his timing.

241
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,160
Close, but missed again.

242
00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,880
Nevertheless,
this is real progress.

243
00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,200
The family has moved
into the shade

244
00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,000
but there is
very little space.

245
00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,440
By the time the cub returns,
there's no place for him.

246
00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,120
His mother makes it clear
that he's not welcome.

247
00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,720
She's starting
to lose patience
with her grown-up family.

248
00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:32,480
The cubs are also
far less tolerant
of one another.

249
00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,640
Even their games now
have an aggressive edge.

250
00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:08,480
It seems they want to play
but are nervous
as to what might happen.

251
00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,160
Again, it's the females
who show the most aggression.

252
00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:37,880
The squabbling continues
as one female tries
to settle down for a rest.

253
00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,720
Eventually, this rivalry
will force them apart.

254
00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:55,320
Mother is equally hostile.

255
00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:59,680
She is beginning the process
of making her cubs
less dependent on her.

256
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:16,160
So the female cub
has to find a spot of her own.

257
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,560
She's not alone for long.

258
00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,120
Her brothers are still
ready to show affection.

259
00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:31,520
It's a peaceful interlude
but an increasingly rare one.

260
00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,520
Monkeys on the other hand
are always companionable.

261
00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,200
Regular grooming
maintains the bonds of
friendship between them.

262
00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:00,520
Langur monkeys
are particularly social.

263
00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:05,200
The females and their young
live in family troops,
led by a dominant male.

264
00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,200
The jackals' new den
is not far away.

265
00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,080
The monkeys
set off to investigate
the new arrivals.

266
00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:20,560
The pups now regularly
venture from the den,

267
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:22,280
even when their mother
is away.

268
00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,400
But they vanish into it
at the first sign of danger.

269
00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:33,080
Monkeys are
intensely inquisitive

270
00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,480
and they have nothing to fear
from jackal pups
as young as this.

271
00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:53,720
But mother jackal
is a different matter.

272
00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,000
It's now safe
to come out for play.

273
00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:14,440
The pups have started
to eat meat

274
00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,600
and mother jackals,
like many dogs,

275
00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:19,120
have a special way
of delivering it to them.

276
00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:25,040
When the pups
nuzzle her mouth,
she disgorges a meal.

277
00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:41,320
While the tiger cubs
were sleeping,
the deer have been active.

278
00:34:45,720 --> 00:34:49,760
It's the turn of
the second male cub
to try his luck.

279
00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:02,400
He succeeded in taking them
by surprise but again,
he wasn't close enough.

280
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:12,760
He is learning exactly
what the critical distance is.

281
00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:20,360
All Indian predators
are under constant
high-angle surveillance

282
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,440
and lookout duties for a
langur start at a tender age.

283
00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:34,400
Despite the challenges,
leopards are good
at catching monkeys.

284
00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,280
This one is returning to
an earlier kill.

285
00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,680
But the leopard
has unwelcome company.

286
00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:07,960
Although leopards were
once a danger to the cubs,

287
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,160
the tables have now turned.

288
00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:18,120
The leopard won't
risk a fight.

289
00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:20,120
He can soon
catch another monkey.

290
00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,400
So the male cub steals a kill.

291
00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:44,800
One of the spotter elephants
has given birth.

292
00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:01,000
The calf's father must be
one of the elephants
that carry the spy cams.

293
00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:08,680
It's great news
but also a total surprise.

294
00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:10,920
No one knew
the mother was pregnant.

295
00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:17,240
The tigers are
at an old favourite location,

296
00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:20,280
the dammed reservoir
that they used as small cubs.

297
00:37:22,720 --> 00:37:24,760
They are now 20 months old.

298
00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:28,560
Not so long ago,
the whole family
could fit under this log.

299
00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,760
Tigers are always on the move.

300
00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:35,920
But they are also
creatures of habit,

301
00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:40,240
so that although
this reservoir is twice
the size of an Olympic pool,

302
00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:45,560
a spy cam can be placed
beside the precise spot
that the tigers will use.

303
00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:03,160
Elephants love water too.

304
00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,720
And they start young.

305
00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:17,280
The cool water
has given the cubs new energy.

306
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:22,640
One of them has become
fascinated by his reflection
in the poolside camera.

307
00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,080
Another cub
has different preoccupations.

308
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:32,440
The reservoir
is in a deep hollow

309
00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:36,040
which conceals the tigers
from other forest dwellers.

310
00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,280
How will her hunting technique
compare with her brother's?

311
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:49,680
She adopts a swift
but stealthy approach,

312
00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,800
and closes the gap
as quickly as possible.

313
00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:04,480
Crouching low is a good move.

314
00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:08,120
A camera on the other side
shows how well-camouflaged
she is.

315
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:11,760
The deer may be suspicious,
but it doesn't seem to
see her.

316
00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:15,760
It even moves towards her.

317
00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:21,040
The deer are
just about in range.

318
00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,480
She may be leaving it
too late.

319
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:52,320
The deer make up
her mind up for her.

320
00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:55,920
But she wasn't close enough.

321
00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:04,520
Back at the dam,
one of her brothers
is having his own adventure.

322
00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:06,280
Tightrope walking.

323
00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:14,720
Not such a good idea,
but turning around
is even more difficult.

324
00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:37,040
The other cub's fascination
with log-cam is turning into
an obsession.

325
00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:38,680
He investigates further.

326
00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:51,720
He then sees
how it works underwater.

327
00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:02,480
Some above-water photography.

328
00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:08,240
Then underwater once more.

329
00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,640
When the elephant crew
return a month later,

330
00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:21,480
there's been quite a change
in the family's behaviour.

331
00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:29,760
One of the males is found
beneath the shade of a tree,

332
00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:31,840
but he seems to be alone.

333
00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:43,520
Then, some way away,
the second male is discovered.

334
00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:45,760
The two used to be
inseparable.

335
00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:54,680
This one seems to have
inherited some of his
father's aggressive nature.

336
00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:04,560
The females
are found together,

337
00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:06,960
but all is not sweetness
and light.

338
00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,400
Even here,
the one in the water

339
00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:11,680
makes it clear that
she wants to be alone.

340
00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:25,920
The cubs are
beginning to separate.

341
00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:28,200
Tigers are solitary hunters.

342
00:43:28,240 --> 00:43:32,160
Learning to live alone
is an essential part
of growing up.

343
00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:47,560
But to survive on their own,
they must succeed as hunters

344
00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:51,200
and they still have to pass
this crucial test.

345
00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:55,840
At least here they have
plenty to practice on.

346
00:43:57,480 --> 00:43:59,960
A jungle cat pays a visit.

347
00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:04,640
Any cat
makes the deer nervous,

348
00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:07,840
even though jungle cats
aren't big enough
to harm them.

349
00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:14,400
Tigers, on the other hand,
are something everyone
should worry about.

350
00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:17,520
Fortunately
for the jungle cat,

351
00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:20,480
the cub is too focused
on her prey to notice him.

352
00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:31,480
She is making good
and determined progress.

353
00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:35,120
She's learnt to move
only when the prey
is not watching.

354
00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:44,640
As she closes the distance,
her movements slow.

355
00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:47,080
As yet, she hasn't been seen.

356
00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:03,120
The deer bolts. She follows.

357
00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:05,800
That was close.

358
00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:19,920
Although the male cubs
are becoming more independent,

359
00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:23,280
they spend more time together
than the females do.

360
00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:30,040
Males are often attacked
by other males.

361
00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:33,560
Staying together
may give the brothers
some protection.

362
00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:43,840
At 20 months, their only
danger is from people
and other tigers.

363
00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:47,960
All animals fear them,
except, it seems,
the skittering frogs

364
00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:51,000
that are hitching a ride
on this cub's back.

365
00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:01,520
As they mature,
they will face new dangers.

366
00:46:01,560 --> 00:46:05,160
Male cubs have been known
to travel over 200 kilometres

367
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,200
to find a territory
of their own,

368
00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:11,080
and these journeys
often bring them closer
to human habitation.

369
00:46:15,360 --> 00:46:19,360
Outside the reserve,
they will face conflicts
with farmers

370
00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:22,000
and they are at greater risk
from poaching.

371
00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:27,520
There are also no elephants
to protect them.

372
00:46:44,800 --> 00:46:47,880
Next morning,
the jungle cat is found dead.

373
00:46:51,720 --> 00:46:53,880
The culprit appears.

374
00:46:57,680 --> 00:47:01,840
The cubs now kill everything
that dares cross their path.

375
00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:03,960
But, in common with
other cats,

376
00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:06,640
they rarely eat
other carnivores.

377
00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:14,960
Catching a proper meal
still eludes them

378
00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:17,880
but fresh opportunities
appear every day.

379
00:47:21,600 --> 00:47:24,280
The larger female
takes up the challenge.

380
00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:48,240
All is going well.

381
00:48:13,960 --> 00:48:17,680
She places each paw
with consummate care.

382
00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:41,200
She could hardly be closer.

383
00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:50,720
She selects her target.

384
00:48:54,560 --> 00:48:55,640
And gets it.

385
00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:58,160
-It's a fawn.

386
00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:08,560
From now on,
fawns will be her mainstay,

387
00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,360
as she perfects
her hunting techniques.

388
00:49:13,640 --> 00:49:15,840
The other cubs
are not far away.

389
00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:21,160
But a fawn is
too small to share.

390
00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:34,640
-Her sister pushes her luck.

391
00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:48,440
Claws are unsheathed
for the first time.

392
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:51,200
The cubs are now real tigers.

393
00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:57,200
The monsoon arrives.

394
00:49:57,240 --> 00:50:02,360
The cubs are two years old
and by now they may well
have left the reserve.

395
00:50:06,360 --> 00:50:10,400
The elephants set out to see
if any of them can be found.

396
00:50:12,320 --> 00:50:14,640
A female is spotted first.

397
00:50:18,240 --> 00:50:23,040
She was the best hunter,
so it's no surprise that
she is thriving.

398
00:50:23,080 --> 00:50:24,560
But is she alone?

399
00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:31,720
The second female.

400
00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:33,320
It seems that the sisters

401
00:50:33,360 --> 00:50:36,800
have carved out
separate territories
close to their mother.

402
00:50:40,840 --> 00:50:43,320
Then one of the males appears.

403
00:50:43,360 --> 00:50:45,200
This is more unusual.

404
00:50:45,240 --> 00:50:48,720
Perhaps Pench has enough game
to support him too.

405
00:50:53,440 --> 00:50:57,680
And then, most remarkably,
the other male is also seen.

406
00:50:57,720 --> 00:50:59,640
This is good news indeed.

407
00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:02,600
Most tigers are killed
outside reserves.

408
00:51:02,640 --> 00:51:04,640
If they can find their own
space here,

409
00:51:04,680 --> 00:51:09,880
then they have every chance
of surviving and having
cubs of their own.

410
00:51:09,920 --> 00:51:12,920
Given protection,
tigers breed very well.

411
00:51:12,960 --> 00:51:16,800
The individual success
of these cubs brings real hope

412
00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:20,360
for the survival of
one of our most
endangered animals.

413
00:51:21,960 --> 00:51:23,960
As filming comes to an end,

414
00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:28,280
one of the log-cams
is found to have recorded
more good news.

415
00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:36,280
Three precious new cubs.

416
00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:41,240
And then a fourth.

417
00:51:44,440 --> 00:51:49,840
As the story
of our four cubs ends,
a new one is beginning.