Original subtitles

On the edge of the Okavango Delta in Botswana,

a new generation are learning about their world.

This boisterous bunch are wild dog pups, just ten weeks old.

The most confident of them all is Juma.

She is always looking out for adventure and fancies herself as a future leader.

The pups' parents are the alpha pair.

But every adult works equally hard to raise this family.

While the pack is out hunting, cousin Bamba is keeping guard at the den.

This incredible team shares one of the strongest bonds in the natural world.

Bonds that the pups must build and that will soon determine Juma's very survival.

For many wild babies, being part of a close family

can make the difference between life and death.

These four pups are banded mongooses.

Three gutsy girls.

And their bashful brother, Kito.

After four weeks inside their den, they're getting their very first look at the world.

They have a big family of 35 to look after them.

But the pups are easy targets for predators.

Kito and his sisters have just a 50-50 chance of surviving the next few months.

To improve their odds, each pup must team up with an adult

to teach them the skills they need in the outside world.

The pups are now ready to go.

And the pups are ready.

Kito's mum will continue to provide milk.

But daily childcare is a family affair.

And the stronger the bond with their minders, the better their chances.

All the pups are now paired up.

All except Keto.

He's not pushy enough to persuade an adult to take him on.

So right now, he's on his own.

The girls are already being taught what to eat.

Termites.

Millipedes.

Beetles.

And even small snakes are on the menu.

But while his sisters get fuller, poor Keto is getting hungrier.

He plucks up courage to approach his big brother, Kubwa.

But the teenager has no interest in being a babysitter.

He wants to play with Keto.

Unless he can team up with an adult soon, Keto's future is far from certain.

While some little ones struggle to form an attachment,

in the icy waters of Alaska, one baby and her devoted mum can hardly be prized apart.

This little sea otter is Kasari.

She's four weeks old and the centre of her mother's world.

She's been carried around by her single mum every day for the last month.

Because despite being born in water, up to now,

Kasari hasn't had the coordination to swim.

The other pups her age are starting swimming lessons.

And Kasari should be too.

But with free transport from mum, she's perfectly happy where she is.

She's a truly pampered pup.

But grooming is important.

Fluffing up Kasari's fur traps air next to her skin,

giving her vital insulation against this glacial water.

Without it, she wouldn't last a day.

All Kasari's needs are catered for, including full fat milk on tap.

It'll be five more months before Kasari is fully weaned.

It's a big energy drain on her mum, who badly needs to eat.

But diving for food means leaving her daughter alone and unprotected.

She can't leave Kasari on land.

The closest island is already occupied.

And the shore is a definite no-go.

Her mum's only option is to leave her daughter on the sea's surface.

But it's risky.

Bald eagles come here to fish, but they'll readily take an otter pup left unattended.

Despite the dangers, while Kasari's sound asleep, her mum grabs her chance.

A sea star is just the calorific meal she needs.

A quick check of her daughter, and it's back for seconds.

On this part of the coast, tides change quickly.

In only a few minutes, Kasari drifts over 300 feet from where her mother left her.

On her return, Kasari's mum finds her precious baby gone.

Even with the most devoted parenting in the world,

growing up in the wild is highly precarious.

Especially for Mongoose Keto, who's still

struggling to find anyone willing to take him on.

The relationships between his sisters and their mentors grow stronger every day.

As does their confidence.

Play fighting is how the pups learn self-defence.

And Keto is missing out.

Keto's mother is running wild.

He scidles up to Kubwa.

But once more, he's given the brush off.

Keto is losing out on more than just lessons.

Mentors are also bodyguards.

A marabou stalk can swallow a pup whole.

And predators aren't Keto's only threat.

As evening approaches, a bigger danger emerges.

The family emerges.

Only feet from the den, the family has picked up a scent.

A rival mongoose gang entered their territory just moments ago.

Turf walls are brutal.

And if the family is attacked, the pups might not come out alive.

There's no time to waste.

They must move dens.

And they must move now.

In southern Africa, the wild dog family is also under threat.

Babysitter Bamba is on high alert for predators.

And he's spotted the most dangerous animal.

The most dangerous of all.

A lion.

Only 200 feet from where Juma and her siblings are sleeping.

The lion may be alone, but to small pups, she's deadly.

Risking his life, Bamba confronts the enemy.

But

the intruder isn't budging.

And she's clocked the pups.

Bamba's helpless on his own.

But backup is on its way.

One dog may be no match.

But four is enough to set them free.

And the lion packing.

Danger over.

It's dinner time.

Every adult gives 100% for this family.

It's a team effort to protect and feed the pups.

But putting others first is something Juma has yet to learn.

For her, every meal time is a chance to assert herself.

But Juma's days of being waited on are coming to an end.

Her world is about to get bigger and more dangerous.

In Alaska, life for Kasari is already on a knife edge.

The little pup is missing.

And her mum is getting frantic.

Suddenly, a familiar call.

Mother and daughter are safely reunited.

After the scare of losing her, her mum decides it's time for some tough love.

From now on, it's boot camp for Kasari.

First, short dips to get used to the water.

Then full-on swim training.

With her mum's encouragement and some careful ear-holding.

Slowly, but surely, Kasari gets the hang of it.

In just a fortnight, she's mastered splashing around on the surface.

But diving underwater is a whole different ball game.

Her attempts to find food are a little patchy.

But thankfully, she's still given meals by her mum.

Kasari is thriving.

She's no longer a laid-back baby.

But a little girl growing more independent by the day.

The incredible bond that these two share will

give Kasari the best chance in the future.

In four more months, this little pup will go her own way.

But until then, these two can enjoy their precious time together.

In Uganda, family strength has never been more important for Keto and his sisters.

Under threat of attack, the family is moving dens.

It's a short trek, but through a dangerous neighbourhood.

The girls have someone looking out for them.

But little Keto has no-one by her side.

With half the journey still to go, he's already fallen behind.

He's alone.

In the open.

A martial eagle is big enough to take adults as well as pups.

If Keto is spotted, he has little chance.

All he can do is call for help.

Big brother Kubwa comes to the rescue.

Not a moment too soon.

Coast clear.

The family moves on.

The sound of Keto in danger was the trigger Kubwa needed.

And at last, Keto has the special bond he always longed for.

Up ahead, the family finally reaches the safety of their new home.

With a lakeside view.

And plenty to drink.

And eat.

Keto has had a shaky start.

But life is looking up.

Despite Kubwa's initial reluctance, he's turning

out to be the most attentive mentor of all.

The path to adulthood is challenging.

But with his family's support, Keto has every chance of getting there.

It's a new day.

And a new milestone for Juma and her siblings.

Juma's mum has decided that it's time to stop bringing food to the pups.

And to start bringing the pups to the food.

This is the first time they've been this far from their den.

And even plucky Juma is not quite so sure.

The pups' first meal out is in parlour.

And Juma can't wait to dive in.

In this family, the pups come first.

And only when they're full do the adults take their turn.

Juma isn't one for showing patience.

While her minders are preoccupied, she starts to explore.

And her siblings follow her lead.

A termite mound makes the perfect climbing frame.

As intrepid Juma starts to head back...

It's clear she has no idea which way to go.

As self-appointed leader, she picks a direction.

But it's the wrong one.

This wet ground is completely new to them.

Juma has got her siblings well and truly lost.

Back at the kill, Bamba realises the pups are missing.

And quickly forms a search party.

Usually, they smell the pups.

But in wind this strong, they can't pick up their scent.

The pups' lives now depend on their family bonds.

Juma is learning just how important it is to be part of a team.

The pups need their pack.

And they need them now.

Subtitles by the Amara.org community