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NARRATOR: The Nsefu Pride.
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A lion family,
blessed with young.
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For two little males,
friendship is everything.
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00:00:11,445 --> 00:00:14,448
Two brothers, a misfit
and a dreamer,
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form an unlikely alliance.
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Looking out for each other
by day, and night.
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00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,297
But the pride is under attack,
from enemies, large...
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(TRUMPETS)
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(GROWLS)
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And small.
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(HYENA CACKLES)
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Together,
the two young lions
face danger...
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00:00:42,743 --> 00:00:43,744
And tragedy.
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If they are
to secure their future,
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they must first
overcome their past.
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(MUSIC PLAYING)
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It's a big day for
the Nsefu Pride
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in Zambia's Luangwa Valley.
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The family has seven new cubs,
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the offspring
of two lionesses.
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It's May, and they've been
born into the wet season.
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It's not the best timing.
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The valley is flush
with green growth
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so the antelope have moved
away from the river,
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and are harder to find.
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There are a lot
of new mouths to feed.
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These cubs have only just
joined the main pride.
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They've been hiding
in a den for a month.
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(GROWLS WEAKLY)
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Each cub has
a different character,
right from the start.
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Among these litter mates,
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one is confident and dominant,
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another more easy-going.
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A third is timid.
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All have personalities
of their own.
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(CUB MEWLING)
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(WHIMPERS)
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This little cub always
seems to get left behind.
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He's perhaps a dreamer,
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more interested
in other wildlife.
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But it's not
all butterflies here.
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(MEWLS)
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His mother's noticed
he's lagging behind
and waits for him.
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The lionesses have a tough job
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protecting their cubs
from other predators.
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This mother's had
several litters,
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though in the last
couple of years,
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none of her cubs has survived.
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00:03:27,741 --> 00:03:29,543
But this isn't unusual.
(GROWLS)
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Eight out of 10 cubs die
during their first few years,
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from predation, starvation,
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or even
at the hands
of rival lions.
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But maybe the little dreamer
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has something
that will make him
a survivor.
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Nights are the most dangerous.
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(CUB MEWLS)
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Hyenas shadow the lions
to steal their kills
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and would make a meal
of any stray cub.
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Leopards, too,
would seize any opportunity
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to kill the new generation
of their age-old enemies.
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As the months pass,
the wet season
gives way to the dry.
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The waterholes and gullies
around the Luangwa River
dry up.
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It's now September,
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nearly five months
since the cubs were born,
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but they're nowhere in sight.
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The Nsefu lions are together,
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but only one
of the seven cubs remains.
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It's the dreamer.
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The trials of the wet season
proved too much for the others
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but, somehow,
this little one survived.
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He's a lonely 4-month old
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with no one
his own age to play with.
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He does have
older half-brothers.
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They're yearlings,
effectively teenagers
in lion years.
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They tend
to ignore the dreamer.
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All except for one.
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This teenager had
a traumatic time as a cub.
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A year ago, he was
the nervous runt
of the litter.
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A timid little loner.
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He was bullied
by his older brothers.
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(LOW GROWLS)
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(CUB WHIMPERING)
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Weak and injured,
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he was rejected
by his mother,
who refused him milk.
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She seemed to accept
this little runt
wouldn't pull through.
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00:06:31,524 --> 00:06:32,993
(GROWLING)
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00:06:38,365 --> 00:06:41,268
His chance of survival
was next to none.
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(GROWLS WEAKLY)
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But his mother's
maternal instinct was
unexpectedly reignited.
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00:07:03,657 --> 00:07:06,359
A year later,
he's still alive,
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still timid,
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still on the outskirts
of the family.
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He's still the misfit.
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00:07:14,067 --> 00:07:16,469
And he's starting
to forge a new bond
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with the
surviving little cub...
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The dreamer.
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He often goes over
to check the little cub's OK.
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In fact, the little dreamer's
got the whole pride
looking after him.
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00:07:39,592 --> 00:07:40,593
(BOTH ROARING)
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Two huge brothers rule.
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They come and go,
occasionally checking in
with the family.
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This season,
the Nsefu Pride
is made up of 16 lions,
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six lionesses
and their offspring,
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ranging from the dreamer
to 3-year-olds
just entering adulthood.
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The little dreamer
is outgoing, and,
unlike the misfit,
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plays happily
with his older cousins.
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But he has
a special bond
with the misfit.
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(YOWLING)
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(YOWLING)
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The pride females
call to keep in touch
with the two big males,
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who have left on patrol.
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The Nsefu Pride
is the local royalty,
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with the best territory along
the Luangwa River in Zambia.
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The land is drying
and the river will soon be
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the only reliable
source of water
for many animals here.
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Wildlife gathers
around the Luangwa,
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eating the last of the grass.
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All the lions
need to do is wait.
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Antelope have to run
the daily gauntlet
of predators to reach water.
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They're nervous.
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This is their
toughest time of year.
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Lions are not
predominantly daytime hunters,
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but so many targets
close to the river
are irresistible.
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The Nsefu pride
rarely catches
the swift antelope.
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But no matter.
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At this time of year
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they know there's
bigger prey on its way.
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Slower, easier to run down,
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but much more dangerous.
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Buffalo.
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Huge herds gather together
in the dry season,
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traveling long distances
between foraging grounds
and the river.
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00:10:40,139 --> 00:10:44,310
A shriveling lagoon
offers little relief
for the thirsty herd,
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00:10:44,744 --> 00:10:48,281
and its mud
can be a death trap
for the unwary.
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They must push on
to the river.
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While the pride stays
close to the Luangwa,
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the males
patrol their territory.
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(ROARING)
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00:11:04,731 --> 00:11:08,668
Their roars
travel further after dark
when the air is cooler.
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00:11:10,169 --> 00:11:11,170
(ROARING)
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This wall of sound protects
the pride from rival lions,
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but there are other dangers
at the river's edge.
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Thirteen foot crocodiles
come ashore to scavenge.
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Even the young lions know
to leave these beasts
well alone.
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The misfit and the dreamer
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drink together.
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00:11:43,636 --> 00:11:45,738
The pride's young bachelors
want to play,
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but they can be rough.
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00:11:49,609 --> 00:11:53,179
The misfit sits protectively
at the little cub's side.
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00:11:53,813 --> 00:11:55,481
It was this gang of bullies
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that beat him up
when he was tiny.
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But they're soon distracted.
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(ANIMAL GRUNTING)
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It's time for the hippos
to emerge from the river
to graze.
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00:12:10,063 --> 00:12:12,332
The lions are waiting
for the buffalo herd,
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00:12:12,665 --> 00:12:15,702
but they're nothing
if not opportunists.
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00:12:21,641 --> 00:12:24,410
The Nsefu pride
has killed hippos before.
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But even a young hippo
like this is a huge target.
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Prey this size needs
a well-coordinated attack.
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There'll be plenty more
opportunities before dawn.
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Up above the beach,
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one lioness tries
to drive puku towards
her sisters for an ambush.
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But the others don't want
to waste their energy
on such small prey.
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(BUFFALO GRUNTING)
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At last,
an advance party of buffalo
makes a run for the river.
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The lionesses see their chance
to separate one from the herd.
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(ROARS)
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(LOWING)
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Buffalo defend each other,
and are willing and able
to kill a careless lioness.
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Even alone,
this is a formidable opponent.
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All the hunters
move in to battle
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over a ton of muscle,
hide and dangerous horns.
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00:14:22,161 --> 00:14:24,697
The trick is
to bring down
the back end,
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while staying clear
of the front.
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(BUFFALO LOWING)
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The females are a crack team.
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They've been hunting
cooperatively for
several years.
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The buffalo stumbles,
and it's soon over.
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This kill will feed
the whole pride,
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00:14:49,155 --> 00:14:52,091
and it could be
days before they
need to hunt again.
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00:14:55,828 --> 00:15:00,399
The little dreamer only
started eating meat
in the last week or two.
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He's amazingly confident.
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00:15:04,737 --> 00:15:08,007
He's the baby of the family,
but precocious.
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The misfit will eat
his fill eventually
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but must wait his turn,
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which is always last.
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His little brother,
belly full, consoles him.
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By morning, the pride
and the buffalo carcass
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00:15:37,503 --> 00:15:41,440
are surrounded by scavengers
ready to clean up the scraps.
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00:15:46,579 --> 00:15:49,615
The dreamer is having
to clean himself this morning.
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His mother
is severely injured.
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(FLIES BUZZING)
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There's a puncture wound
in her neck.
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00:16:05,565 --> 00:16:07,733
She was caught
by a buffalo horn.
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00:16:09,802 --> 00:16:12,738
The little cub needs
his mother fit and well.
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00:16:12,738 --> 00:16:15,374
He's only just begun
to be weaned
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00:16:15,374 --> 00:16:17,009
and still needs to suckle.
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00:16:22,081 --> 00:16:25,051
The misfit
seems to offer
what comfort he can.
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00:16:31,757 --> 00:16:36,028
Last year, an Nsefu lion
was killed in a buffalo hunt.
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00:16:36,696 --> 00:16:40,032
If this mother doesn't recover
over the next few days,
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00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:42,435
the cub will be
in real trouble.
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00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:49,308
The gang of yearlings
and sub-adults
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00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:52,245
are play-hunting with
the carcass and each other.
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00:16:58,284 --> 00:17:00,653
The little cub is ready
for another helping.
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00:17:08,527 --> 00:17:09,962
He's brave.
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00:17:10,663 --> 00:17:12,732
The sub-adults
can be dangerous.
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00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:18,037
Even now, the misfit
is never this brave.
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00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:43,696
One by one,
the sated lions move away
to sleep off their meal,
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00:17:44,397 --> 00:17:46,632
a chance for others
to move in.
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00:17:56,108 --> 00:17:59,278
The little dreamer is
in his own world again,
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00:17:59,812 --> 00:18:01,247
and doesn't notice.
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00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:13,626
(YIPPING)
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00:18:20,166 --> 00:18:22,335
But his aunts
have got his back.
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00:18:25,438 --> 00:18:26,672
(YELPING)
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00:18:33,646 --> 00:18:37,750
Eventually the cub twigs that
he's the last lion standing.
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00:18:40,386 --> 00:18:42,388
He's never been
so full of meat.
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00:18:59,505 --> 00:19:01,640
He's too full
to run and catch up.
218
00:19:02,641 --> 00:19:06,212
But his faithful brother,
the misfit, waits for him.
219
00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:31,237
A dry river bed
is a comfortable place
220
00:19:31,237 --> 00:19:33,305
to sleep off their huge meal.
221
00:19:40,079 --> 00:19:42,114
His injured mother
needs to rest.
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00:19:45,518 --> 00:19:47,586
Injuries
that would kill a human
223
00:19:47,586 --> 00:19:50,489
are surprisingly common
among wild animals.
224
00:19:55,694 --> 00:19:57,663
Africa is a harsh place.
225
00:19:58,364 --> 00:20:01,500
The animals that live here
are tough and resilient.
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00:20:03,135 --> 00:20:05,504
There's a young elephant
with half a trunk.
227
00:20:06,439 --> 00:20:08,340
She got it caught in a snare.
228
00:20:09,742 --> 00:20:13,212
She's coping,
and, like the lioness
and her pride,
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00:20:13,446 --> 00:20:15,781
the rest of the herd
look out for her.
230
00:20:16,682 --> 00:20:20,052
It's one of the great benefits
of being a social animal.
231
00:20:31,597 --> 00:20:35,401
A few days later,
the buffalo kill
is a distant memory
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00:20:35,668 --> 00:20:38,104
and the lions
are hungry again.
233
00:20:40,172 --> 00:20:42,341
The dreamer does
what he always does,
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00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:46,145
goes to his mum for milk.
235
00:20:51,817 --> 00:20:53,719
Her injury hasn't yet healed.
236
00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:55,321
(MEWLS)
237
00:21:04,463 --> 00:21:08,434
Slowly, painfully,
she pushes him away.
238
00:21:14,807 --> 00:21:16,108
He's confused.
239
00:21:17,176 --> 00:21:19,345
His attempts at affection
clearly hurt her.
240
00:21:23,349 --> 00:21:28,220
Her windpipe is damaged,
and the gash wheezes
as air escapes.
241
00:21:40,099 --> 00:21:41,567
The cub keeps trying.
242
00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:43,502
He has to.
243
00:22:00,085 --> 00:22:02,021
She's fighting for her life,
244
00:22:02,421 --> 00:22:04,356
and if she doesn't
get through this,
245
00:22:05,157 --> 00:22:07,059
he'll be fighting for his.
246
00:22:10,462 --> 00:22:11,463
(SNARLS)
247
00:22:14,333 --> 00:22:17,536
Lionesses with many cubs
nurse each other's offspring
248
00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,207
but with the early death
of the other six cubs,
249
00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:23,309
the rest of the mothers
in this pride
250
00:22:23,309 --> 00:22:25,711
have long since
stopped producing milk.
251
00:22:26,679 --> 00:22:29,248
His mother is his only hope.
252
00:22:30,482 --> 00:22:34,186
He won't be
fully weaned for another
three or four months,
253
00:22:34,186 --> 00:22:36,355
and still needs
milk in his diet.
254
00:22:44,597 --> 00:22:46,365
The misfit can't feed him,
255
00:22:47,466 --> 00:22:49,034
but he can wash him,
256
00:22:49,835 --> 00:22:51,537
and that's some comfort.
257
00:23:02,581 --> 00:23:06,151
The two friends,
half-brothers,
are a good team.
258
00:23:09,321 --> 00:23:12,491
The misfit's experience
of rejection last year
259
00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:15,995
may explain his unusual
affection for the little cub.
260
00:23:17,696 --> 00:23:20,199
He's knows what it is
to be alone.
261
00:23:38,350 --> 00:23:40,419
The two young lions
need each other.
262
00:23:41,086 --> 00:23:43,122
The misfit's bond
with the dreamer
263
00:23:43,122 --> 00:23:46,725
is his best shot
at forming a coalition
later in life.
264
00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:51,597
Males form teams
of brothers, or cousins,
265
00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:54,066
to rule a pride
and a territory.
266
00:23:55,734 --> 00:23:58,437
It's nearly impossible
to achieve alone.
267
00:24:09,515 --> 00:24:13,018
The Nsefu pride is run
by two such brothers.
268
00:24:13,319 --> 00:24:16,221
Eight-year-old twins
who, between them,
269
00:24:16,221 --> 00:24:19,091
have fathered
all the youngsters
in the pride.
270
00:24:20,392 --> 00:24:22,428
Their bond is unbreakable.
271
00:24:22,828 --> 00:24:25,130
They've been working
on this coalition
272
00:24:25,130 --> 00:24:27,032
since the day they were born.
273
00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:32,638
They're brothers in arms,
274
00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:35,207
a powerful force
in the valley.
275
00:24:43,382 --> 00:24:46,318
Ranging throughout
their Nsefu territory,
276
00:24:46,752 --> 00:24:48,520
they scent mark with urine,
277
00:24:49,088 --> 00:24:52,257
and with secretions from
a gland between their toes.
278
00:24:53,425 --> 00:24:57,329
A pungent warning
to rival males to stay out.
279
00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,176
The big males come
and go from the pride,
280
00:25:11,677 --> 00:25:14,580
and the dreamer
is always pleased to see them.
281
00:25:26,258 --> 00:25:28,694
There's something
about this little cub.
282
00:25:29,395 --> 00:25:31,730
His confidence
belies his youth.
283
00:25:45,144 --> 00:25:48,313
The bonds between males
can last their whole lives,
284
00:25:49,615 --> 00:25:54,486
between fathers and sons,
brothers, half-brothers
and cousins.
285
00:25:55,654 --> 00:25:59,158
It's a little observed side
of lion family life.
286
00:26:11,703 --> 00:26:14,773
Through the valley
as the dry season intensifies,
287
00:26:14,773 --> 00:26:17,176
every remaining
stream and pool
288
00:26:17,176 --> 00:26:19,711
is like a thread
of precious life.
289
00:26:23,449 --> 00:26:26,652
The lions tend
to clear the waterhole
of drinking antelope.
290
00:26:28,053 --> 00:26:30,589
But not everything
gives way to lions.
291
00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:34,660
There's a feud here
with an even bigger family...
292
00:26:36,662 --> 00:26:38,230
Of elephants.
293
00:26:39,765 --> 00:26:44,136
The animosity is fueled
by fear and family loyalty.
294
00:26:45,270 --> 00:26:47,773
Adult and even
sub-adult elephants
295
00:26:47,773 --> 00:26:49,775
are too large
for the pride to tackle,
296
00:26:50,342 --> 00:26:53,579
but this herd has lost
calves to lions before.
297
00:26:56,415 --> 00:26:59,351
They take every opportunity
to show the big cats
298
00:26:59,351 --> 00:27:02,554
how powerful
and dangerous
they can be.
299
00:27:05,624 --> 00:27:08,360
The lion family
backs down, cowed.
300
00:27:09,061 --> 00:27:10,496
They understand the perils.
301
00:27:11,263 --> 00:27:13,665
Elephants have killed
lion cubs, too,
302
00:27:14,299 --> 00:27:16,268
trampling them to death.
303
00:27:25,210 --> 00:27:27,613
The pride
is surrounded by enemies,
304
00:27:28,213 --> 00:27:31,149
one far more secretive
than elephants.
305
00:27:33,585 --> 00:27:35,754
Leopards outnumber lions here
306
00:27:35,754 --> 00:27:37,556
and, along with hyenas,
307
00:27:37,556 --> 00:27:39,758
are the biggest
killers of cubs.
308
00:27:45,397 --> 00:27:48,200
This age-old rancor
goes both ways.
309
00:27:50,068 --> 00:27:52,204
The pride kills her cubs, too.
310
00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,448
This leopard's no match
for the whole pride.
311
00:28:04,082 --> 00:28:05,350
She can't outrun them.
312
00:28:05,584 --> 00:28:07,986
But she's a much
better climber.
313
00:28:08,587 --> 00:28:11,990
She's half their size
and twice as agile.
314
00:28:14,192 --> 00:28:16,194
Lions rarely climb trees.
315
00:28:17,095 --> 00:28:19,398
So her best bet
is to wait it out.
316
00:28:20,532 --> 00:28:21,333
Stalemate.
317
00:28:24,102 --> 00:28:27,072
Below, the lone cub's
injured mother
318
00:28:27,072 --> 00:28:29,308
is managing
to keep up
with the pride,
319
00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:31,677
but she's still in pain.
320
00:28:32,244 --> 00:28:34,079
She won't let him nurse.
321
00:28:46,592 --> 00:28:48,360
The standoff continues.
322
00:28:52,698 --> 00:28:55,534
The family keeps
a close eye on their prisoner.
323
00:29:01,173 --> 00:29:03,308
But leopards
are masters of stealth.
324
00:29:06,445 --> 00:29:08,947
The lions lose
concentration for a minute...
325
00:29:11,717 --> 00:29:14,286
And the leopard
seizes her chance.
326
00:29:21,259 --> 00:29:22,594
It's a risky move.
327
00:29:25,597 --> 00:29:28,033
But the lions are
too hot to care.
328
00:29:37,342 --> 00:29:40,312
In the heat of the day,
they sleep.
329
00:29:40,812 --> 00:29:45,350
In fact, they typically
sleep 21 out of 24 hours,
330
00:29:45,350 --> 00:29:49,521
conserving energy
for the cool of the night
when they usually hunt.
331
00:29:50,088 --> 00:29:52,257
Sleeping in a heap looks hot,
332
00:29:52,257 --> 00:29:55,494
but lions like to be
in touching distance
of one another.
333
00:29:56,194 --> 00:29:58,463
They're the only
truly social cats
334
00:29:58,463 --> 00:30:02,467
and even the way they sleep
helps reinforce their bonds.
335
00:30:04,603 --> 00:30:08,040
The misfit and the dreamer
are together as usual.
336
00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,042
(ELEPHANT TRUMPETS)
337
00:30:12,511 --> 00:30:15,013
But they're destined
for disturbance today.
338
00:30:15,781 --> 00:30:19,651
The herd is not happy
to have bumped into
the lions again.
339
00:30:25,390 --> 00:30:26,725
(TRUMPETING)
340
00:30:29,628 --> 00:30:33,532
They move
with the calves inside
a protective wall of mothers.
341
00:30:39,204 --> 00:30:40,672
Tensions are running high.
342
00:30:41,807 --> 00:30:44,276
This is very dangerous
for the pride.
343
00:30:50,749 --> 00:30:52,818
The elephants get more
and more agitated.
344
00:30:54,419 --> 00:30:57,789
And push the lions straight
into a small herd of buffalo.
345
00:31:03,462 --> 00:31:05,430
They're equally belligerent.
346
00:31:19,177 --> 00:31:24,049
Caught in the middle,
the little cub could easily be
trampled under so many feet.
347
00:31:28,386 --> 00:31:29,721
No one backs down.
348
00:31:50,308 --> 00:31:54,513
Eventually the buffalo
retreat from the confusion
and head for the river.
349
00:31:55,313 --> 00:31:57,282
The lions
instinctively follow.
350
00:32:06,558 --> 00:32:09,694
The sticky mud does
the hunters' job for them.
351
00:32:10,495 --> 00:32:11,797
(LIONS GROWLING)
352
00:32:11,797 --> 00:32:13,498
It's an easy meal.
353
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,679
It's opportunities like this
354
00:32:27,679 --> 00:32:32,184
that make the river front
the Nsefu pride's
greatest asset.
355
00:32:33,785 --> 00:32:36,488
The dreamer is
in sore need
of sustenance.
356
00:32:37,088 --> 00:32:40,392
This unexpected meal
isn't a moment too soon.
357
00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:50,168
Now the lions have a kill,
the elephant calves
are in less danger...
358
00:32:50,702 --> 00:32:53,405
But the herd is still
unusually distressed.
359
00:32:58,877 --> 00:33:01,079
The matriarch can't
contain herself.
360
00:34:05,076 --> 00:34:06,745
It's extraordinary behavior.
361
00:34:07,579 --> 00:34:10,282
Perhaps it's the smell
of blood that's upsetting them
362
00:34:10,749 --> 00:34:13,451
or just displaced
anger and fear.
363
00:34:21,826 --> 00:34:25,664
Eventually they back off,
but the message is clear.
364
00:34:26,298 --> 00:34:28,533
Elephants are not
to be messed with.
365
00:34:30,101 --> 00:34:33,138
It's not a lesson the lions
will forget in a hurry.
366
00:34:44,849 --> 00:34:47,619
The burst of energy
has taken its toll
367
00:34:47,619 --> 00:34:50,288
on the injured mother
of the little dreamer.
368
00:34:50,288 --> 00:34:52,290
She's having
breathing problems.
369
00:34:53,525 --> 00:34:55,827
The wound looks
a little better,
370
00:34:55,827 --> 00:34:58,063
but she still moves gingerly,
371
00:34:58,463 --> 00:35:01,666
as if every footstep
causes her discomfort.
372
00:35:05,403 --> 00:35:09,341
The dreamer has given up
trying to elicit
any affection from her.
373
00:35:16,815 --> 00:35:19,217
After his big meal of meat,
374
00:35:19,217 --> 00:35:20,785
he's thirsty,
375
00:35:20,785 --> 00:35:23,555
but has an
instinctive fear of water.
376
00:35:24,289 --> 00:35:28,526
The river is a lifeline,
but it's full of dangers too.
377
00:35:31,463 --> 00:35:36,167
For comfort he goes,
not to his mum,
but to the misfit.
378
00:35:41,172 --> 00:35:43,541
Their bond is getting
stronger all the time.
379
00:35:50,749 --> 00:35:53,551
The rest of the day is spent
sleeping off the meal.
380
00:35:57,522 --> 00:36:00,992
The dreamer finds
a quiet moment
for a nervous drink.
381
00:36:15,607 --> 00:36:17,509
This may be the turning point.
382
00:36:18,143 --> 00:36:21,246
His mother's wound
is finally starting
to heal over.
383
00:36:24,182 --> 00:36:28,420
And above all,
he has the misfit,
a solid friend.
384
00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:45,837
That evening,
the little cub's mother
seems stronger,
385
00:36:45,837 --> 00:36:47,105
and wanders off.
386
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,409
A lion's ability to heal
is remarkable.
387
00:36:51,709 --> 00:36:53,778
Her body is working overtime
388
00:36:53,778 --> 00:36:56,548
to get her back
to full hunting fitness.
389
00:37:07,092 --> 00:37:09,294
At dusk, the elephants return,
390
00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:20,405
the cue for the rest
of the pride to move
further along the beach.
391
00:37:32,717 --> 00:37:36,654
Every night,
the Nsefu brothers declare
their pride's ownership
392
00:37:36,654 --> 00:37:38,323
of this territory.
393
00:37:50,068 --> 00:37:52,770
The misfit sits apart
from the other yearlings.
394
00:37:53,805 --> 00:37:57,308
It's only when the dreamer
joins him that he plays.
395
00:38:12,023 --> 00:38:15,293
The cub's mother
is off consorting
with one of the big males.
396
00:38:16,161 --> 00:38:18,029
She's definitely
feeling better.
397
00:38:24,769 --> 00:38:27,238
Together they set off
for the night's hunt.
398
00:38:29,407 --> 00:38:30,808
The pride is on good form,
399
00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:33,611
strong and taking
buffalo regularly.
400
00:38:42,187 --> 00:38:45,557
The evening patrol
is a training session
for all the youngsters.
401
00:38:46,291 --> 00:38:49,227
The yearlings are learning
how to hunt cooperatively.
402
00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:57,468
They've found something.
403
00:38:58,570 --> 00:39:00,939
A pair of warthogs
hiding in a bush.
404
00:39:10,582 --> 00:39:12,317
(WARTHOG SQUEALING)
405
00:39:12,317 --> 00:39:14,152
That's how it's done.
406
00:39:23,461 --> 00:39:26,698
The misfit and the dreamer
aren't usually this close
to the action.
407
00:39:27,265 --> 00:39:29,400
It's an exciting
night for them.
408
00:39:33,037 --> 00:39:34,505
A warthog isn't
much of a meal.
409
00:39:35,073 --> 00:39:38,476
There's hardly enough
to feed all 16 lions.
410
00:39:40,245 --> 00:39:42,447
And new mouths
are coming to the table.
411
00:39:43,348 --> 00:39:44,415
Hyenas.
412
00:39:44,816 --> 00:39:46,117
Lots of them.
413
00:39:47,652 --> 00:39:50,154
The dreamer
is in the thick of the melee.
414
00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:08,473
The hyenas are getting cheeky.
415
00:40:28,126 --> 00:40:30,428
The misfit has had
enough of the scrum.
416
00:40:31,529 --> 00:40:33,765
Grabbing a scrap,
he moves away.
417
00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:36,634
He's an easy target.
418
00:40:43,107 --> 00:40:47,145
Five burly hyenas
against one yearling lion.
419
00:41:03,127 --> 00:41:06,197
Just in time, the lionesses
come to the rescue.
420
00:41:16,607 --> 00:41:19,744
Meal over, the pride moves on.
421
00:41:21,312 --> 00:41:23,348
But in the drama
over the misfit,
422
00:41:23,748 --> 00:41:25,750
the dreamer
has been left behind.
423
00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:33,691
(HYENAS CACKLE)
424
00:41:49,374 --> 00:41:53,277
By morning, the pride
is miles away.
425
00:41:55,747 --> 00:41:58,416
The misfit is
battered and sore.
426
00:41:59,117 --> 00:42:00,685
But it's nothing
that won't mend.
427
00:42:03,588 --> 00:42:07,125
The little cub, however,
is nowhere to be seen.
428
00:42:09,060 --> 00:42:12,430
The cub's mother
retraces her steps,
searching for him.
429
00:42:13,831 --> 00:42:16,300
Her calls echo
across the plains.
430
00:42:19,370 --> 00:42:23,508
Just as she's recovered enough
to nurse him again, the cub,
431
00:42:23,508 --> 00:42:26,010
the little dreamer, has gone.
432
00:42:28,579 --> 00:42:32,583
For several days, she scours
the bush looking for her cub.
433
00:42:37,422 --> 00:42:39,157
But all in vain.
434
00:42:41,192 --> 00:42:43,561
The dreamer is dead.
435
00:42:44,629 --> 00:42:46,564
The misfit is on his own.
436
00:42:51,402 --> 00:42:55,273
He needs to make
a friend in the pride,
all over again.
437
00:42:59,877 --> 00:43:02,079
As the season
begins to change,
438
00:43:02,547 --> 00:43:06,217
the lost cub's mother
seems to find it hard
to let go.
439
00:43:13,691 --> 00:43:17,728
She becomes a lonely figure
at the edge of the pride.
440
00:43:23,367 --> 00:43:25,603
A storm would be
a welcome relief.
441
00:43:26,103 --> 00:43:29,373
The days are hot
and full of biting insects.
442
00:43:30,475 --> 00:43:32,610
The misfit is bothered
by a tsetse fly.
443
00:43:35,413 --> 00:43:36,714
(FLY BUZZING)
444
00:43:45,089 --> 00:43:47,124
There's only one thing to do.
445
00:43:48,159 --> 00:43:51,629
He goes over and sits with
one of the other yearlings.
446
00:43:54,232 --> 00:43:56,701
His brother gets
his tsetse fly.
447
00:43:56,701 --> 00:43:57,702
(FLY BUZZING)
448
00:43:59,103 --> 00:44:02,340
Perhaps not the best way
to make friends,
but it's a start.
449
00:44:09,046 --> 00:44:13,551
Two weeks go by
and the injured lioness
has made a full recovery.
450
00:44:14,652 --> 00:44:16,721
The scar is barely visible.
451
00:44:18,656 --> 00:44:20,725
She's still roaming
away from the pride.
452
00:44:21,659 --> 00:44:24,462
But she's no longer
searching for her lost cub.
453
00:44:25,463 --> 00:44:27,698
She's searching for the males.
454
00:44:29,567 --> 00:44:31,335
She's coming into estrus
455
00:44:31,335 --> 00:44:33,337
and wants
another litter of cubs.
456
00:44:34,338 --> 00:44:36,107
She's found
one of the brothers.
457
00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:41,312
He inhales
the scent of her urine,
458
00:44:41,312 --> 00:44:43,447
testing her readiness to mate.
459
00:44:47,151 --> 00:44:48,419
The signs are good.
460
00:44:48,819 --> 00:44:50,588
There's a new future here.
461
00:44:57,595 --> 00:45:01,332
Hope is on the horizon
for the parched landscape too.
462
00:45:02,466 --> 00:45:04,502
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
463
00:45:25,189 --> 00:45:27,592
The misfit moves
to join his brother.
464
00:45:29,427 --> 00:45:33,264
Since the cub died,
the misfit's becoming
more sociable.
465
00:45:43,474 --> 00:45:45,509
He's lost
his youngest half-brother,
466
00:45:46,077 --> 00:45:49,380
but he instinctively knows
he needs a teammate.
467
00:45:53,517 --> 00:45:56,387
Strong families
are vital to lions.
468
00:45:58,255 --> 00:45:59,991
He's slowly maturing.
469
00:46:01,192 --> 00:46:04,962
His brother is responding,
and invites the misfit
to wrestle.
470
00:46:06,564 --> 00:46:07,999
(SOFTLY GROWLING)
471
00:46:21,812 --> 00:46:25,316
For the first time,
he's playing with his peers.
472
00:46:39,463 --> 00:46:44,001
It'll take a while,
but the misfit's
beginning to fit in.
473
00:46:49,273 --> 00:46:54,078
Over the coming weeks,
he and his brother
make up for lost time.
474
00:46:58,482 --> 00:47:01,185
His first two years
have been hard,
475
00:47:01,619 --> 00:47:04,221
but they seem to have
made him stronger.
476
00:47:05,589 --> 00:47:09,326
It's early days yet,
but his prospects are rising.
477
00:47:10,361 --> 00:47:12,530
He has a new allegiance
to build on.
478
00:47:14,265 --> 00:47:17,601
Perhaps one day the misfit
and his brother
479
00:47:17,601 --> 00:47:20,071
will have a pride
of their own,
480
00:47:20,071 --> 00:47:22,807
and raise
a new generation of lions
481
00:47:22,807 --> 00:47:26,677
to rule the Luangwa Valley.
482
00:47:27,578 --> 00:47:31,482
(MUSIC PLAYING)
37800
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