All language subtitles for Africas.Hunters.S03E02_English

NARRATOR:
For young Milo...

Born into the strongest pride in Luangwa,

But, as a tragedy strikes,

the pride's power
vanishes overnight.

Abandoned by his father...

Rejected by his mother...

Milo struggles to survive.

He must face his fears...

And his enemies...

To win back his mother's love.

But only the return
of his father

can ultimately secure the future of the pride.

a 20-strong family of lions
that lives in the

vast wilderness
of the Luangwa Valley

in eastern Zambia.

Leading the pride
are three males

known as the Punks.

Mohawk, Axel
and their brother Spike.

Between them,
these six-year-olds

have managed to carve out
an impressive territory.

It's their job,
like all male lions,

to protect
their pride from danger.

Their family is a large one...

nine fully grown lionesses
and six adolescent cubs.

And then there are
the latest additions.

Two months ago,
one of the lionesses,

five year-old Mopane,

gave birth to a female
called Poppy

and her brother, Milo.

They've been born
into the strongest pride

in the area,

so for them,
the future should be ensured.

Like most new-born cubs,
Poppy and Milo

live a carefree life.

[BOTH GROWLING]

Lions are truly social animals
and the cubs are inseparable.

Learning to interact
with other lions

is vital to their future lives
as part of a pride structure.

For some reason,
only one other female

had a cub this year,
but it died six weeks ago.

So, as the only young cubs
in this pride,

Poppy and Milo
get all the attention

from their aunts and cousins.

The family dotes on them.

But there's only
so much fun a cub can have

before it needs to find mum
for a meal of her rich milk.

It's October, and the temperatures in Luangwa

By mid-morning,
it's already

over 80 degrees Fahrenheit

and it's only
going to get hotter.

Despite the heat,
with new cubs around,

the pride
must always be on guard.

They have one enemy that'll not miss an opportunity

The leopard.

It's a close competitor
and adult lions

are a direct threat
to a leopard.

So it'll try to kill
a lion cub whenever it can.

Take them out early and
they won't be a threat later.

It's that simple for a leopard.

To keep the cubs safe,
the pride makes daily patrols

of its territory.

It's not long before Mohawk
and a female leopard

come face to face.

Mohawk means business.

If he catches the leopard,
he'll kill her.

The leopard uses

her superior
tree-climbing skills...

But she's not out of danger.

Mopane joins Mohawk,

and the two lions
have the leopard trapped.

They're too heavy
to climb up after her,

instead they'll make her suffer in the blazing sun.

Eventually, having made their
point

they head home.

This leopard escapes.

But she's got the message

Keep away from the new cubs.

The pride's home
is a large territory

spanning
over nine square miles.

It's a mosaic of woodland
and savannah

hosting a diverse mix
of species.

Anchoring it all
is the Luangwa River,

one of the largest
in Southern Africa.

Water is vital in a place
where summer temperatures

can top 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Luangwa is
one of the only

reliable water sources
for many miles...

Not just for the
Mwamba pride members

but, more importantly,
their prey.

Thirst forces grazers
and browsers

of all descriptions

right onto
the Mwamba's doorstep.

Access to water
and therefore prey

is what makes
this pride's territory

so valuable.

The pride specialises

in hunting some of
Africa's biggest prey.

Buffalo.

As the sun sets

and the temperature
begins to drop,

a cool breeze stirs the pride.

As they wake
and greet one another,

thoughts turn to food.

Milo and Poppy
grab the opportunity

for one last feed

before their mother
goes hunting.

The pride will leave
the youngsters alone

for the night.

The adults can sometimes
be gone

for 24 hours at a time,

so the cubs seem relaxed
as the pride leaves.

They must wait silently.

Hyenas and leopards
become more active

as darkness approaches,

so they retreat
to the safety

of deep vegetation.

They mustn't give away
their hiding place.

As night falls,

the beautiful, nocturnal world
of Luangwa emerges.

Despite the darkness,

the Mwambas are at their best
on these moonless nights.

The lions' prey is laid out
like a giant buffet.

The pride is on home territory and knows every bluff and ditch.

Thirsty prey that's travelled here from afar

won't know the ground
nearly so well.

The pride's target tonight
is Puku,

a strong and stocky antelope
nearly three feet high,

at the shoulder.

They're not large,

but an adult provides
over 150 pounds of meat.

It won't feed the whole pride,
but it'll help.

The pride spreads out.

There are plenty of targets...

But that also means
lots of eyes and ears

to sound the alarm.

Neither the pride
nor the puku

are distance runners,

both rely
on short bursts of speed.

So far, the pride
has not been detected.

They'll need to get
within 30 yards to succeed.

Lions have a top speed
of nearly 40 miles per hour,

but they can't
sustain it for long.

Once they launch their attack,
all the puku will flee.

Tonight, the puku were faster.

The hunt has failed.

Prey beats predator.

Like all lions,

the Mwambas are only successful 30 percent of the time.

But no matter.
A healthy pride like this

can go for bigger prey
to make up the shortfall.

And with this much prey
moving into their territory,

they'll have plenty
of opportunities

to hunt tomorrow.

By the time the pride returns,
the sun has already risen.

Mopane, the cubs' mother,
calls,

letting them know
it's safe to emerge

from their hiding place.

But her calls
are left unanswered.

Unaware,
the rest of the pride

settles down to rest.

Mopane heads for
where she left Milo and Poppy.

Her calls become
more distressed.

At night, Luangwa
is a dangerous place,

even for the king of the beasts.

Hyenas are always
on the lookout

for an unprotected cub.

And, of course,

the leopards are
also on the prowl.

The Mwamba pride lands

are home to five
fully grown adults.

Finally, after hours searching, Mopane returns to the pride...

But she only has
one cub at her side.

It's Milo.

One of the night's many dangers has taken Poppy.

Milo has lost
his only sibling and playmate.

He's lucky to survive,
but being the only cub left

in a pride has repercussions.

For the family,

Milo is now
an expensive investment.

It takes the same effort
to look after one cub

as it does two.

So lionesses usually
synchronise their breeding,

meaning mothers
can help each other

with the parenting duties.

Unfortunately,
without this help,

most single cubs
like Milo are abandoned.

In only a few hours,

the pride's attitude
towards Milo changes.

One of
the yearling's approaches...

But her play
has a hint of menace.

Affection
is turning to bullying.

Milo's world has been
turned upside down.

Those that once protected,
he now fears.

Even Mopane,
his own mother,

seems not to care,

doing nothing to intervene

as the yearling
toys with her cub.

Over the coming days,
the harassment is non-stop.

Milo can't seem
to get a moment's peace.

But even when Mopane
eventually intervenes,

it's clear their relationship
is unravelling.

As the days pass,
she becomes ever more distant.

Milo seems confused
by what's happening.

He slinks off,

finding safety
amongst the thorn brush.

For the first time
in his short life,

he's truly alone.

The loss of Poppy

is a turning point
for this pride.

It has the potential
to tear them apart.

For male lions,

the average time in charge
of a pride is only two years,

and the Punks have
already been the Mwamba males

for one and a half.

At six years old,

they're at their
fittest and strongest.

They're only going
to get weaker

as they grow older.

Their remaining window
of opportunity to pass on

their genes is shrinking.

So, with only one cub to show
for their efforts this year,

they're cutting their losses...

Abandoning the Mwamba pride
to find new females.

For Milo and the pride,
the loss of their protectors

is a disaster...

A pride that loses its males
will fragment,

leaving all its members
more vulnerable.

The Mwambas
are on borrowed time.

The Punks strike out
in the search for new females

to carry their line.

Their journey
takes them east,

across the river
that marks the edge

of the Mwamba's territory.

Leaving the safety
of a pride territory

rarely happens.

This is the land
of the Hollywood Pride.

It's a small pride
of four females.

Last year they were led
by a roaming male.

He sired three cubs,

but not one of them made it
through the wet season.

Axel,
the bravest of the Punks,

is first to venture
up the river bank.

In most cases,

wandering onto
another pride's turf

would be an extremely
hostile and dangerous act.

The leading cause of death
for male lions

is violent battles
over territories.

Initially the Punks are wary,
taking a cautious approach.

[ROARING]

They roar
to signal their arrival.

If there are other males about

they'll be met with
a confrontational reply.

The Punks
are ready for a fight.

But what comes to meet them
isn't a male.

It's a beautiful female...

And she seems pretty friendly.

Instead of a brawl,

they're welcomed
with open arms.

Having lost their cubs,
these four Hollywood sisters

are ready to start
a new family.

For that they need strong males,

both to sire and protect
any new cubs

that may come along.

And the Punks fit the bill.

So, all the females
are in full-on flirt mode.

Coalitions don't fight
over breeding rights.

So, Spike,
Mohawk and Axel

mate with all the females.

It's an epic affair...

Every 20 minutes
for four days.

They may seem ready
to have cubs,

but these females
are playing their own game.

Although they're mating,
they won't get pregnant.

They're in false oestrus,
a survival mechanism

to prevent unknown males

from fighting with them
or their family.

They're deliberately behaving

as if they were ready
to have cubs.

This manipulates the males
into being less aggressive.

Mating might also help
create a bond with the Punks

and entice the brothers
to stick around,

forming a lasting pride
with the sisters.

But there is a trade-off.

Now the sisters will
have to share their food

with the punks.

The Hollywood pride's territory is rich in prey.

Impala...
Kudu...

And warthogs.

They're the only members
of the pig family

to feed predominantly
on grass.

But they have a hard time

bending down low enough
to graze.

Horny kneepads
help them shuffle about

on their knees instead.

This female has
eight-week-old piglets,

just emerged from their den.

Their first excursion is already attracting attention.

One of the Hollywood sisters
has spotted them.

But have they spotted her?

They have!

It's over quickly.

But she won't get
to keep it for long.

Mohawk is quick to muscle in.

Unlike the lioness,

he's too large to hunt
smaller prey.

His body isn't designed to move with speed and agility.

For that,
the males rely on the females.

The Hollywood lioness
forfeits her prize.

So, under sufferance,

the females will put up
with sharing their kills

in return
for the Punks' protection.

The Punks
are settling in nicely.

Five miles away,
for the Mwamba lionesses,

things are going
from bad to worse.

They've lost their males,

they've got six adolescents
to feed

who are too inexperienced

to be much help
with the hunt,

and they have a
young cub, Milo,

who's struggling
to keep up.

The dry season should be
the time of plenty for lions.

With game concentrated
around water,

hunting should
be at its easiest.

But they're failing
to make enough kills

to feed the
16 remaining members

of the pride.

Everyone is hungry,

and soon Mopane won't have enough milk for Milo.

If she goes
five days without food

her supply will dry up.

To feed everybody,

a pride this size
should be catching these...

Buffalo.

The biggest,
meanest grazers in Africa.

Weighing over
twelve hundred pounds,

with a hide-like armour

and horns that are designed
to impale and flip a lion...

They're not
to be underestimated.

Lionesses might have
speed and agility,

but to bring down buffalo

they need the weight
and power of the Punks.

It's a common misconception
that male lions don't hunt.

They do.

But only
when the prey demands it.

With their bigger bulk,

male lions can help
drag down buffalo,

enabling the lionesses
to move in for the kill.

So, the Mwamba lionesses
are really missing the Punks.

Despite repeated attempts
to hunt buffalo,

they can't manage
to bring one down.

But in their desperation
for a meal

that will feed
the entire pride,

they have to try again.

Clouds form as evening comes.

It's time
to go hunting once more.

The younger members
of the pride

seem to want reassurance
from their mothers.

In preparation for the hunt,

Mopane takes Milo
to a hiding place...

An ominous throwback
to the loss of his sister.

As the light fails,

the pride switches
into hunting mode.

They spread out
looking to separate

a likely victim.

They manage
to single one out...

But he's a huge,
well-armed bull.

They can't seem
to get close enough,

held back by swinging horns.

Even with
inch-and-a-half long claws,

they fail to penetrate the hide

They can't hold on.

The buffalo escapes

to the safety
of the marsh.

Unsuccessful,
the pride goes to bed,

hungry once more.

Dawn breaks to find Milo
still alone in the brush.

With the pride needing
to hunt the entire night,

this is becoming all too common.

With no siblings his own age,

he lacks a vital part
of any lion's development...

Play.

The rough and tumble
of play fights helps predators

learn to tackle prey.

All Milo has to wrestle with
is a stick.

But it offers
little resistance.

He must also learn
to be vigilant,

keeping his eyes and ears
open for danger.

And there are few things
as dangerous

to a young lion cub as this.

The leopard watches,
intently...

Just waiting for her moment.

Luckily, the pride returns from the hunt

With this many
lionesses about,

the leopard
won't try anything...

For now...

But as Mopane and the pride spend more time away hunting...

And their relationship
with Milo

becomes more distant...

The more chances
the leopard will have.

October is Luangwa's
hottest month,

but change is coming.

It hasn't rained since May,
but the skies are darkening.

The drought is about to break.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

The rains are welcomed
by most animals,

but not the lions.

Water and new shoots
are now everywhere,

so their prey is no longer
concentrated at the river.

For the Mwambas,
whose males have been AWOL

for nearly a week,

catching enough food
is already difficult.

Now it's going to get harder.

It's been days
since the pride last ate.

And Mopane's milk
will soon run dry.

If they're to survive,

they need to lure back the Punks as soon as possible

and start bagging
some buffalo.

So, the pride takes a huge risk.

Led by Mopane,
they travel east,

in search of the males.

They'll have to
cross the river

and enter the
Hollywood pride lands.

If Milo can't keep up,
he'll be abandoned.

Despite the rains,
the river's still shallow.

They're lucky.

But deep water
isn't the main danger.

These are croc-infested waters.

Huge numbers patrol the river
seeking opportunity.

These are Nile crocodiles.

At over 16 feet,

they're amongst the largest
crocodiles in the world.

They may not have
eaten for weeks,

just waiting
for a chance like this.

There's little time
for table manners.

Some of the
most powerful jaws

in the animal kingdom

clamp down
on slippery hippo flesh...

Then, with muscular tails,

they spin on their axis
and twist off a mouthful.

Regardless of the danger,

the pride must
cross the river.

But someone's
been left behind...

Milo.

Keenly focused,
the lionesses forge ahead.

The whole family is on edge.

Milo is petrified.

He's never seen water
like this before.

And Mopane doesn't seem to care.

[WHIMPERING]

Perhaps this is the moment
their bond is finally broken.

[WHIMPERING]

But something draws Mopane back.

[WHIMPERING]

It's now, or never.

But the worst possible thing
he can do is stop.

[MILO WHIMPERING]

Bravely he ventures on...

It's getting deeper.

Milo must swim
if he's going to make it.

The croc moves in
for the grab...

[GROWLING]

But Mopane's growl
sends it on its way.

An external threat
to her cub

has triggered
her maternal instincts.

Perhaps this
will rekindle their bond.

Having survived the river,
the pride has a new hurdle.

The huge riverbank looms ahead.

It's barely passable
for the adults.

For Milo, it's impossible.

Once again,
he's left behind.

But this time Mopane
hasn't forgotten him.

Gently,
she carries her cub to safety.

After the drama
of the river crossing,

mother and cub immediately
settle down to nurse.

An intimacy and tenderness
has returned.

Mopane's change in behaviour
towards Milo

instantly seems to ripple
through the rest of the pride.

They're already
treating him differently.

One of the yearlings

initiates the
"greeting ceremony."

Head rubbing and raised tails

are a lion's way of showing
they mean no harm.

The family's bond
has kept the pride together,

but they still need
the males' hunting abilities

and protection
to ensure it succeeds.

That's what brought them
across the river

[GROWLS]

Mopane sends her call out
into the Hollywood territory.

A lioness's call can carry
more than a mile.

If the Punks hear her,
they should respond.

The trespassing lionesses

won't risk venturing farther
into enemy territory.

So, the Mwamba's wait here instead.

Night begins to fall.

It seems as though their efforts to find the Punks

As the sun rises, it's time
to reluctantly head for home.

But a familiar sound

cuts through
the still morning air.

It's Mohawk.

And flowing closely behind
is Axel.

It's been a week
since the lionesses

have seen their males

and they greet them
with great affection.

Then, last but not least,
Spike also returns.

After spending some time

with the four
Hollywood beauties,

perhaps the Punks have decided
that the Mwambas

have better odds
when hunting.

With the family reunited,
they can cross the river,

back into Mwamba territory.

With the support that the reformed pride brings,

and devote all her attention
to Milo.

With regular suckling,
he's growing strong.

And the rest of the pride

are also seeing changes
for the better.

The Punks' power

has helped them
bring down a buffalo...

Giving them the big meal
they've been missing.

The pride gets
the best feed it's had

since the males left,

enjoying full bellies
for the first time in a week.

And there are other signs
the family is back on track.

The lionesses
seem receptive once more.

It's been a trying week.

Abandoned by their males,
the Mwamba pride

has overcome hunger...

Fear...

And rival females.

For Milo,
the loss of his sister

and rejection by his mother

could have meant
his time was up.

But the plucky young cub
has a bright future ahead.

And Soon, Milo will have a gang of cousins to play with.

At last, the future
of the pride seems secure.