All language subtitles for Africas.Hunters.S02E03_English

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,

typically banding together
for strength in numbers.

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]

[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]

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]

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]

[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]