Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Two brothers,

fathers and protectors,

rule a pride that's in crisis.

(SNARLS)

(GROWLS)

Roving bands of rival males,

(GROWLS)

battle hardened fighters,

and changing allegiances

threaten to break the family apart.

Could this be the end for the Nsefu pride?

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(ROARING) (ROARING)

The Nsefu brothers roar a warning to all.

This is their land.

These 8-year-old leaders

have ruled here for three years.

On average, males keep a pride for only two years,

so they've already exceeded expectation.

The brothers are a powerful force in the Valley.

Their role is to patrol their territory

and safeguard their family from rival males.

Between them they've fathered all the youngsters here

who range from five months to three years old.

The secret to the twins' success

is their unbreakable bond.

They have worked side by side

since the day they were born.

Chief is the more confident of the two.

Notch is less self-assured,

and happy for his brother to take the lead.

Their territory is bordered to the west by the Luangwa River.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(ROARS)

Chief's roars can reach 114 decibels,

louder than a jackhammer.

They carry for five miles through the bush,

a clear signal to any rivals that he's in charge here.

His calls reach a lone nomadic male.

Young male lions leave their family pride

when they're about three years old,

Alone, this male is no match for Chief.

(ROARS)

But there are others out there.

The east bank of the river

marks the border of the brothers' territory.

As the dry season progresses,

it becomes the only source of water,

drawing prey from far and wide.

Roaming lions are sure to follow

and the brothers will have to work hard

to defend their territory and pride.

Notch is more of a lover than a fighter.

One of the females is coming into estrous,

so he's staying close to the family.

Curling his lip helps draw in her pheromones

to an organ on the roof his mouth,

enabling him to assess her readiness to mate.

He needs to be patient for a little longer.

(GROWLING)

Like all families,

there are different characters in the pride.

A cub that doesn't fit in.

Adolescent boys who like to hang out in a gang.

And the moms, the oldest of whom

has been tracked by scientists for four years.

These females are the pride's main hunters.

(SNORTING)

Midday is usually the safest time for warthog to drink,

when the pride is typically resting.

But lions are unpredictable.

(WARTHOG SQUEALING)

The younger pride members turn up too late to be any help.

The females aren't easily discouraged.

(GROWLS)

The puku's tactic of running into the river seems to work.

But one lioness calls her bluff.

She's got competition.

This is not worth the fight.

(BIRDS CALLING)

The family decides to call it a day.

(GRUNTING)

One of the yearlings

has been left behind on the other bank.

(GROWLS)

He's instinctively wary of the river.

It's not just crocodiles that are dangerous here.

(SNARLS)

A hippo more than ten times his weight

could cause serious damage.

(ROARS)

(ROARS CONTINUE)

With a little encouragement from the sidelines,

he's safely reunited.

One of the adolescents is more daring.

But even he knows when to back down.

(WATER SPLASHING)

Lesson learned.

The river is a dangerous place.

At three years old, the adolescent males

are on the verge of adulthood.

(GROWLS)

They still have a playful, kittenish streak.

These two are twins, just like their father and uncle.

This playfulness

is their way of keeping their bonds strong.

They're pride leaders in the making,

though they've got a lot to learn

before they're ready to strike out on their own.

This young female is a year older than her brothers.

She's now ready to have cubs of her own

but, unlike the males, she won't leave her pride.

Her younger brothers

are also on the brink of sexual maturity.

With hormones running high, things can get confusing.

(GROWLS)

The urge to reproduce is strong,

but this is his sister!

It's a difficult time for the young lions.

If the males are to breed, they will have to leave their family

and try to take over a pride of their own.

And if their sister is to have cubs,

she needs the very takeover

Chief and Notch are striving to prevent.

As the day cools, it's time for another hunting lesson.

One of the lionesses spots a target.

But the boys aren't paying attention.

The experienced lioness stays focused,

but without back-up, her chase is a wasted effort.

The young boys still have a lot to learn

before they're ready to go it alone.

The brothers are back on patrol.

But there's unease in the air.

Three years is a long time to lead a pride

and keep hold of a territory, and it's getting harder.

The brothers must split up to cover more ground

and keep their borders under surveillance.

It's a good strategy to make their presence felt,

but one lion

is more vulnerable than a pair.

Chief, the born leader, is determined.

Always prepared to go that extra mile.

His brother chooses to stay closer to the family.

There's tension in the pride, too.

(DISTANT ROARING) They can hear distant roars

and sense the threat of intruders.

A takeover is a violent time for all members of the pride,

whatever their age.

(ROARS)

The adolescents would be chased away.

Still green,

they'd have a hard time surviving on their own.

Yearlings would be beaten up or evicted,

as good as a death sentence either way.

The youngest cub, just five months old, is still suckling.

He'd be the first victim of a murderous new regime.

(DISTANT ROARS)

The young female faces a dilemma.

She alone would benefit from an influx of new males.

It's her only chance to mate.

Only Notch, the male who stayed behind,

seems unperturbed.

He's always relied on his brother to be the fighter.

He's more interested in finding food.

This wild dog kill will do nicely.

Even 12 dogs won't take on a big male lion.

(GROWLS)

Scavenging and stealing are an important part

of a male lion's arsenal.

They spend lots of time away from the pride,

so can't rely on the females, the most skilled hunters,

to provide all their food.

(CALLING)

Stealing others' kills is a trick

the adolescents need to learn, too.

Their hunting skills leave a lot to be desired,

but at least their thieving instincts are kicking in.

They've got the scent of a kill

stashed in a tree by a leopard.

(GROWLING)

The solitary cat would be no match for the lions.

(GROWLS)

But this takeaway is out of reach,

exactly what the leopard intended.

Worn out from his 24-hour, long distance patrol,

Chief returns to the river

that marks the western border of the Nsefu territory.

At this time of year, low water levels

reveal a sand bank in the middle of the river.

In between lion territories, this is no man's land.

Notch has come to the riverbank

in search of his brother and leader.

He's keen to be reunited but is hesitant

to step into unknown territory.

He's not brave like Chief,

but the desire to be with him is strong.

(GROWLS)

(GRUNTING)

He takes the plunge.

(ROARING)

(GROWLS HAPPILY)

Notch's relief is palpable.

He reinforces his brotherly bond.

(GROWLS HAPPILY)

But Chief can't relax.

(ANIMAL ROARS IN DISTANCE)

He knows that rival males are moving in.

(ANIMAL ROARING IN DISTANCE)

In the cool of night,

the adolescents are having

another much-needed hunting lesson.

Picking a target to focus on is key,

as important as deciding what to let go.

The chase is only part of the hunt.

Success depends on teamwork.

Some chase while others ambush.

But these adolescents haven't worked out their roles yet.

(LION ROARS)

The oldest of the lionesses

is apart from the hunters tonight.

But she does have company...

Notch, always the lover, not the fighter.

(GROWLS)

She's in estrus.

His gentle seduction works.

(GROWLS)

(ROARS GENTLY)

With the future so uncertain,

this could be his last chance to father offspring.

(LIONS GROWL)

In a heroic effort to keep rivals away from his family,

Chief is patrolling the far eastern boundary

of the Nsefu territory, 10 miles from the river.

(ROARING)

But in securing the pride's inland boundary,

he's left the river entrance

wide open.

Dawn brings strangers across the river.

Two young bachelors.

Fit and healthy males

who've recently left their own family.

They're taking their first steps as adults

and are on the lookout for mating opportunities.

These bachelors wouldn't stand a chance against the larger

Nsefu brothers, if they were together.

But the brothers are apart.

The young hopefuls listen for the roars of resident lions.

But all is quiet.

This territory seems too good to be true.

So far there's no sign of challengers,

and it's prime hunting ground.

(GROWLING)

Their confidence increases.

(ROARS)

These roars declare not possession of territory,

but availability.

And their urine leaves a distinctive odor,

a calling card full of seductive information.

They've timed their arrival perfectly.

All across the valley water holes are drying,

forcing herds of buffalo to congregate

and head for the river.

At this time of year

buffalo are the number one prey for lions.

Their arrival means lions from far and wide

will be closing in.

At the eastern edge of the territory,

Chief continues his boundary patrol.

His battles have left him wounded, and weary.

Days later, Chief still hasn't returned.

Notch and the pride are on high alert.

(LION ROARS IN DISTANCE)

The bachelors' distant roars are loud and clear.

Without his brother for back up, Notch stays silent.

The young female reacts differently.

(LION CONTINUES ROARING)

It's a big moment for her.

She's now fully in estrus

and is drawn towards the voice of a new male.

She's never been away from her family before,

but her desire to mate is strong.

Between sound and scent...

(LION ROARS) ...the directions are clear.

(LION ROARS)

(LION ROARS)

(GROWLS)

She's tentative.

These males are strangers.

It's most likely a first date for them all.

They're new to this, but their instincts kick in.

(GROWLS)

(LOW GROWL)

(ROARS)

(GROWLS)

The young female isn't here to stay.

This isn't a pride takeover,

but for these young bachelors, it's a start.

Change is in the air.

Weeks have passed

and there's been no sign of Chief.

Notch has never been apart from his brother for this long before.

He searches for him, listening for his familiar roar.

Without his brother and ally, Notch seems lost.

A second-in-command with no leader.

The rest of the pride is fragmenting.

(GROWLS)

The females have a kill,

but the adolescents are nowhere to be seen,

unusual when there's food in the offing.

They're probably disconcerted

by the sounds and smells of the new males in the area,

and are keeping a low profile.

With his brother gone and rivals on his doorstep,

this will be a true test of Notch's mettle.

In this time of uncertainty, Nsefu's oldest lioness

makes a monumental decision,

she sets off towards the two young males,

who are still at the outskirts of the territory.

(ROARING)

Theirs is a battle of sound and smell,

and the enemy has fallen silent.

The young bachelors sense

they're getting the upper hand.

The lioness may well be pregnant

from mating with Notch,

and if these two males stick around,

her cubs will be in grave danger.

She must do everything she can

to ensure their survival.

In a takeover,

the bachelors wouldn't hesitate to kill her cubs

unless she can convince them that they could be the father.

But mating with the enemy is the ultimate betrayal,

a vote of no confidence from the pride's oldest member.

A month has passed

and there's still no sign of Chief.

In the line of duty,

he ventured outside the safety of the park

and was killed.

Without its main leader, the pride is disintegrating.

Now, the most experienced lionesses are leaving, too.

Notch stands alone.

Having not eaten for days, he is hungry and thirsty.

(GROWLS)

But the river is full of dangers.

Alone he's more vulnerable than ever.

(GROWLS)

A buffalo stuck in the mud would usually be an easy meal,

it's one of the reasons this riverfront territory

is so valuable.

But he's lost his confidence

and is too nervous to approach.

(SQUAWKING)

As the sun rises, Notch looks on

as other mouths devour what could have been his.

But he's not concerned about the crocodiles.

Across the river, others have come to claim the buffalo.

(ROARS)

(LIONS ROAR)

It's a huge pride, 22 lions strong.

Three big males rule

and all the females have cubs.

They're a tough, cohesive gang.

Even the crocodiles know who's boss.

The males get first feeding rights on the feast.

(ROARS)

It's clear who's in charge here.

Notch keeps his presence hidden.

With such a large family of their own,

taking over the Nsefu pride is not on their agenda.

These males are no direct threat to Notch.

(GROWLS)

(GROWLS) (HISSES)

Belly full, but reluctant to relinquish the carcass to the crocs,

the largest male displays an impressive show of strength.

All Notch can do is watch.

It's a hollow reminder of what life used to be.

(HISSING)

(LION GROWLS)

(WIND HOWLS)

(GROWLS)

As the dry season takes hold,

more and more animals descend into the Nsefu territory.

The plain is restless.

(CHITTERING)

(LION GROWLS AND ROARS)

(GROWLS)

More rival males.

(TRUMPETING)

(GROWLS)

This pair, twice the age

and double the weight of the young bachelors,

are in the heart of the Nsefu territory,

and are making themselves at home.

(GROWLS)

The two nomads are seasoned brawlers.

They've fought their way through

other lion territories for years.

And are afraid of nothing.

One glimpse of this battle-hardened duo

tells the younger pair all they need to know.

(GROWLS)

Their stay in the Nsefu territory is over.

These interlopers are a serious threat.

(GROWLS)

Not only for Notch, but to all his offspring.

With no sign of roars or scent marks,

the big males are full of confidence.

Already they're claiming this land as their own.

(GROWLING)

(THUNDER CRACKING)

For the next few weeks Notch lies low.

The other Nsefu pride members,

now dispersed, follow suit.

The buffalo continue to keep the two interlopers well fed.

In such high numbers,

there will always be injured and sick individuals,

providing plenty of opportunities

for the two large males.

Even if not every hunt is a success.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Storm clouds gather,

and finally the weather turns.

(THUNDER CRACKS)

The arrival of rain changes everything.

The interlopers' larder begins to move on.

Unaware that there is an opportunity

to take over a pride here,

the hunters leave their calling card,

and depart with the herds.

(THUNDER CRACKS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(GRUNTING)

(SNORTING)

The Nsefu pride is still fragmented,

but the change in season brings a change in mood.

Peace returns to the Nsefu territory.

So, too, does the pride's confidence.

(ROARS)

One of the mothers breaks the silence.

(ROARING)

It elicits just the response she hoped.

One by one,

the pride returns.

The lions reaffirm their bonds,

the vital glue that keeps the family united

even after weeks of separation.

Only Notch is alone,

unaware that his pride has reunited.

He shares none of their confidence.

(TRUMPETING)

(BELLOWING)

(LOWING)

(ELEPHANT TRUMPETS IN DISTANCE)

He scours the land for scraps, a lost soul

without his brother, or his pride.

(TRUMPETING)

Where once he feared nothing,

he's now easy to chase away.

(ELEPHANT TRUMPETING)

His outlook is bleak.

In the river, the crocodiles have a feast.

The carcass of an elephant, enough meat to feed 100 mouths

for several days.

Desperately hungry, Notch is drawn in by the smell of food.

Only the most foolhardy lion would brave

crocodile-infested waters.

But he's got nothing to lose.

Sensing movement, and more fresh meat,

the crocs close in.

(GROWLS)

(GROWLS)

He's not going to be pushed around by reptiles.

(GROWLS)

(ROARS)

The strong smell of the carcass

and the commotion in the river

attracts a lioness.

She's one of the Nsefu pride.

And she's not the only one watching the drama.

(LOWING)

A family of elephants has come to investigate.

But Notch isn't interested in them.

He's hasn't seen a member of his pride for three weeks.

Both are wary.

(GROWLS)

(GROWLS)

Slowly Notch seems to let down his guard,

but she doesn't stay.

Notch is alone once more.

But seeing the female gives him a glimmer of hope.

(ROARS) He gives it one last shot.

(ROARING)

Slowly but surely familiar faces appear.

Led by the lioness, Notch's family returns.

(GROWLS)

The pride that he spent three years protecting

is firmly back by his side.

(ROARS)

(ROARS)

(ROARING)

He no longer has his brother,

but he has the support of his whole family.

(ROARING)

Without Chief by his side,

Notch's days as head of the Nsefu pride

are surely numbered.

(ROARS)

But his story is one of success.

He is the father of many,

and still the king of this patch of Luangwa Valley.

(ROARS)

Time is running out,

but his reign is not over yet.

(MUSIC PLAYING)