All language subtitles for Big.Cat.Tales.S01E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10

WE'RE JONATHAN
AND ANGELA SCOTT --

THE BIG CAT PEOPLE FROM KENYA.

WE'RE BASED IN THE MAASAI MARA,
WHICH HAS TO BE THE BEST PLACE

IN AFRICA TO SEE LIONS,
LEOPARDS, AND CHEETAHS.

IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN OBSESSED
BY THESE GREAT PREDATORS

FOR MOST OF OUR LIFE.

NOW WE WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORY
WITH YOU

TO REVEAL THE INTIMATE DETAILS

OF THE CHARACTERS
OF THESE DIFFERENT CATS

TO SHARE IN THE HIGHS AND LOWS
OF THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL.

I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT IF I HAD
JUST ONE DAY LEFT IN MY LIFE,

I WOULD SPEND IT RIGHT HERE
IN THE MAASAI MARA,

IN THE COMPANY
OF THESE AMAZING BIG CATS.

♪♪

THERE'S SOMETHING
TRULY EXTRAORDINARY

ABOUT LIVING A LIFE
ALONGSIDE THE BIG CATS.

THEY REPRESENT
SOME OF THE WORLD'S

MOST HIGHLY EVOLVED PREDATORS.

THE FAMOUS MARSH PRIDE OF LIONS
ARE PARTICULARLY SPECIAL TO US.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THEIR STORY
FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

WE'VE WATCHED THEIR CUBS
TURN INTO MOTHERS,

AND MOTHERS INTO GRANDMOTHERS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST BIG CATS TO US.

WE KNOW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.

CHARM.

ASKARI.

MOJA.

EACH A CAT WITH A STORY
OF ITS OWN.

BAHATI IS A LEOPARD WE'VE KNOWN
SINCE SHE WAS A TINY CUB.

WE KNEW HER MOTHER, OLIVE,
AND HER GRANDMOTHER, BELLA.

HER LINEAGE RUNS DEEP ALONG
THE BANKS OF THE TALEK RIVER.

CHEETAHS HAVE ROAMED THE MARA
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

WITH MALAIKA REPRESENTING THE
EPITOME OF PREDATOR EVOLUTION.

ALONGSIDE US IS OUR GOOD
FRIEND JACKSON OLE LOOSEYIA.

HE'S SPENT HIS LIFE IN THE MARA,

AND THESE CHARACTERS
ARE AS SPECIAL TO HIM

AS THEY ARE TO US.

JOIN US AS WE DRAW BACK
THE CURTAIN

ON THE RARELY SEEN DETAILS
OF THEIR LIVES.

--Captions by VITAC--
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

THE MARA'S ABOUT
1,500 SQUARE KILOMETERS.

THAT'S ABOUT 600 SQUARE MILES.

AND IT IS A PREDATOR'S PARADISE.

YOU WANT BIG CATS?

THIS IS THE PLACE -- LIONS,
LEOPARDS, AND CHEETAHS GALORE.

♪♪

AND IT'S PART OF
A MUCH BIGGER AREA.

WE CALL IT
THE MARA-SERENGETI ECOSYSTEM,

AND THE WONDER OF IT,
IN THIS DAY AND AGE --

NO FENCES, NOTHING TO BLOCK
THE MOVEMENT OF THE ANIMALS.

AND IN THE DRY SEASON,

WE WILL HAVE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS

MOVING FROM THE SERENGETI
INTO THE MARA.

♪♪

THIS IS THE MARA RIVER,
AND IT FLOWS ALL THE WAY DOWN

THROUGH THE MAASAI MARA
SOUTH INTO THE SERENGETI

AND ENDS UP IN LAKE VICTORIA.

AND IT ISN'T JUST IMPORTANT

TO THE RESIDENT ANIMALS
HERE IN THE MARA.

IT IS THE LIFEBLOOD
FOR THE MIGRATION

WHEN IT MOVES UP HERE
IN THE DRY SEASON.

THEY CAN ALWAYS FIND WATER HERE.

♪♪

IT'S DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE
TO PEOPLE THE HOLD

THAT THIS PLACE
HAS OVER ANGIE AND MYSELF.

YOU DON'T NEED WORDS
TO DESCRIBE THIS.

IT JUST RESONATES.

IT TOUCHES YOUR HEART.

AND THEN YOU ADD IN THE WONDER
OF ALL THOSE ANIMALS,

THE GREAT MIGRATION,
THE BIG CATS.

THERE'S JUST NOWHERE LIKE IT.

♪♪

WE CALL THIS PLACE
MUSIARA MARSH,

AND RIGHT NOW,
IT'S LION CENTRAL.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT
A NUMBER OF LIONESSES,

WE'VE GOT CUBS, WE'VE GOT
TWO MALES BEHIND US THERE.

IF YOU LOVE BIG CATS,
THEN THIS IS THE PLACE.

AND WE'VE BEEN WATCHING
LIONS HERE,

WELL, SINCE I FIRST
CAME HERE IN 1977.

♪♪

Angela:
DON'T YOU GET THE FEELING

THAT IT'S A REALLY HAPPY PRIDE?

I MEAN,
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME

FOR THE MARSH PRIDE RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
ALL THE FEMALES

REALLY LOOKING HEALTHY AND HAPPY

AND ALL GIVING BIRTH
AROUND ABOUT THE SAME TIME,

WHICH IS THE BEST THING
FOR A PRIDE.

♪♪

Jonathan: SO, IT'S NO
COINCIDENCE THAT WE'VE GOT

SO MANY LIONS
IN THIS LITTLE AREA,

BECAUSE THIS IS THE HEART
OF THE MARSH PRIDE TERRITORY.

AND WHEN I SAY THE HEART,
IT'S WHERE THEY FEEL SAFEST.

IT'S THE NURSERY GROUND.

IT'S THE BREEDING CENTER.

AND THE MALES ARE HERE, TOO --
VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT'S GOING ON,

BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR FIRST
GENERATION OF CUBS, TOO.

THESE MALES ARE
THE NEW PRIDE MALES.

THEY'VE ONLY BEEN HERE
FOR MAYBE SIX MONTHS,

AND SO THE BONDING PROCESS
BETWEEN THE FEMALES

AND THE MALES
IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE UNLIKE THE FEMALES
WHO LIVE TOGETHER

AND WHO ARE RELATED,

THESE FEMALES AREN'T RELATED
TO THESE MALES.

SO, IN SOME WAYS,

IT'S A QUESTION
OF GETTING TO KNOW THE MALES.

♪♪

[ LAUGHS ]
HE DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT.

OKAY, SO HOW ARE THOSE CUBS
GOING TO DO?

YOU SEE THE WAY WITH
THE MALES -- ONE OF THEM MOVES,

THEN THE OTHER ONE
WANTS TO FOLLOW.

THEY WANT TO STAY TOGETHER.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SEE A LOT
WITH LIONS --

YOU'RE SAFER
WHEN YOU'VE GOT BACKUP.

♪♪

GO ON, LITTLE ONE.

YOU GOING TO BE BRAVE?

YOU CAN DO IT.

YES!

MADE A MUCH BETTER JOB OF IT
THAN THE ADULT.

THERE SHE GOES.

OH, NICE.

OH.
OH, DEAR, DEAR, DEAR.

YOW.
OKAY.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER --
JUMP IT, CRAWL THROUGH IT.

ONE TO GO.

HE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE IT.

IN YOU GO.

OH, RIGHT ON YOUR TUMMY.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

OKAY, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

RIGHT NOW, THE MARSH PRIDE
JUST LOOK INCREDIBLE.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.

AND THAT, FOR ANGIE AND ME,
IS THE FASCINATION

OF WATCHING THESE BIG CATS --

ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING,
AND WATCHING CREATURES

THAT WE KNOW
AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR FRIENDS.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT?

THE KEY TO WORKING
WITH BIG CATS IS TEAMWORK.

SO WE'VE PREPPED ALL OUR FRIENDS
AMONGST THE DRIVERS

AND THE GUIDES TO FEED US
BACK INFORMATION

ON WHAT THE BIG CATS ARE DOING.

NOW, THERE'S ONE PERSON
WHO'S CRUCIAL TO THIS OPERATION,

AND HIS NAME
IS JACKSON OLE LOOSEYIA.

Jackson:
HEY, JOHNNY, ANGIE.

Jonathan: HEY. THIS IS TOUGH
FOR AN OLD MAN

GETTING IN
AND OUT OF THE CAR.

WELL, WELL, WELL.
WELCOME TO THE MARSH.

Jackson: I AM A MAASAI
LIVING IN THE MAASAI MARA.

THIS IS MY HOME.
THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.

THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THESE CATS
FOR ALL OF MY LIFE,

SINCE THEY WERE CUBS.
THEY WERE PLAYING --

THEY WERE LITTLE BABIES
WITH THEIR PARENTS.

WE HAVE LIVED WITH
THESE ANIMALS.

WE UNDERSTAND THEM.

WE, AS THE MAASAI PEOPLE,
WE LOVE THEM.

WE PROTECT THEM.

BECAUSE IT'S OUR TREASURE.

AND TODAY, I'M GOING TO
INTRODUCE YOU

TO A VERY SPECIAL CAT.

THIS IS A CHEETAH THAT
I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME --

MALAIKA.

SHE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
WAKING UP OF THE CUBS

BY LICKING, YOU KNOW?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

TELLING THEM THAT,
"YEAH, IT'S TIME TO GET UP."

THE CUB IS LOVING MUMMY,

AND THE MOTHER
IS DOING THE SAME.

THEY WOULD SPEND THEIR FIRST
18 MONTHS WITH THEIR MOTHER

AND THEN THEY WILL BE
INDEPENDENT.

AND THEY HAVE TO SPEND
THEIR ENTIRE LIFE ALONE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT BOND.

NOW THE CUBS ARE UP
BEFORE EVEN THE MOTHER.

WOW.

THEY HAVE THE LITTLE ROUGH NECK
FOR CAMOUFLAGE PURPOSES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT
LITTLE BABY THERE

AND YOU LOOK AT THE GRASS
UP THERE,

IF THE CUB SITS RIGHT TUCKED IN,

IT JUST LOOKS LIKE
A LITTLE MOUND OF GRASS.

WE KNOW MALAIKA KILLED
A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

SHE WENT AT NIGHT -- BAM --
KILLED SOMETHING.

AND TODAY, TWO DAYS AFTER,

SHE PROBABLY WILL BE THINKING
ABOUT FOOD AGAIN.

THAT'S WHY SHE'S UP -- LOOKING.

YOU SEE THAT BITE
ON THE NECK THERE?

PRACTICE.
THEY'RE PRACTICING, TOO.

SAYING, "IF YOU ARE A PREY,

IF YOU ARE TOMMIE,
THAT'S HOW IT'LL GRAB YOU."

♪♪

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
MORE THAN ONE CUB IN A LITTER

IS THAT THEY ENTERTAIN
ONE ANOTHER, THEY PLAY TOGETHER,

THEY HELP STRENGTHEN
THOSE MUSCLES,

BECAUSE JUST IMAGINE ONE CUB.

SHE WAS SO BORED TRYING
TO PLAY WITH HER MOTHER.

SHE'S GOT OTHER THINGS IN MIND

WHILE THE CUBS ENTERTAIN
AND JUST RUN AROUND.

♪♪

CHEETAHS ARE RUNNERS.

THEY RUN VERY, VERY FAST,
AND THEY NEED THE POWER.

LOOK AT THEIR FRONT LEGS
AND THEIR BACK LEGS.

BOTH OF THEM ARE MUSCULAR
AND POWERFUL.

WHEN THEY ARE RUNNING, THEY HIT,

AND THEY NEED THOSE MUSCLES
TO HOLD AND HIT AND TRIP

THE ANIMAL AT SPEEDS OF
UP TO 100 KILOMETERS AN HOUR.

♪♪

Jonathan: LEOPARD ARE LIKE GOLD,
BUT BOY, OH, BOY, THEY'RE TOUGH.

YEAH, SO THIS IS
THE OLARE ROCK LUGGER.

INTERMITTENT WATER COURSE.

THERE'S STILL SOME POOLS
OF WATER.

IT'S BEEN VERY DRY.

AND THE LEOPARDS LOVE THESE.

THEY'LL WALK DOWN THROUGH
THE LUGGER ITSELF

OR UP AMONGST THE BUSHES,

AND THEY'LL HAVE
THEIR CUBS TUCKED AWAY

SOMETIMES IN THOSE BUSHES OR IN
AMONGST THE ROOTS OF A TREE.

AND THERE'S SOME BEAUTIFUL
BIG FIG TREES UP HERE, TOO,

WHICH THE LEOPARDS LOVE.

JUST WANT TO CHECK ALONG HERE.

CROTON BUSHES, ROCKS, TREES --
PERFECT LEOPARD COUNTRY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES.

BUT TOUGH COUNTRY TO WORK,

BECAUSE, AS ALWAYS
WITH LEOPARDS,

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY.

YOU'RE TRYING TO SORT OF
ALWAYS THINK LIKE THEM.

WHERE WERE THEY LAST WEEK?

WHERE WILL THEY BE NEXT WEEK?

WHERE ARE THE FAVORITE PLACES
THEY COME FOR THEIR CUBS?

OH, MY GOODNESS.

THERE SHE IS.

EVEN JUST A FEW MOMENTS
IN THE COMPANY OF A LEOPARD --

IT'S GOLD.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES
YOU'VE SEEN THEM,

THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL.

YOU SEE HOW CAREFUL SHE'S BEING?

HERE COME THE CUBS!

ACROSS THE GAP.
GOING TO JOIN HER.

SHE'LL PROBABLY MOVE
THE MINUTE IT GETS TO HER.

WOW.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL CAT.

NOW THE CUBS ARE
JUST HOLDING TIGHT.

MUM'S GONE AHEAD.

SHE'S GONE UP TO THE KILL.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME
TO BE ACTUALLY MOVING.

THIS IS GREAT STRATEGY ON
THE PART OF THE OLARE FEMALE,

BECAUSE IT'S VERY HOT,
QUARTER PAST 2:00,

THE SUN IS OVERHEAD STILL,
AND SO THE LIKELIHOOD

THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS
FROM LIONS OR HYENAS IS MINIMAL.

WOW.
WHAT A TREAT.

YOU SEE, LEOPARDS DON'T LIKE
FEEDING TOGETHER.

SO ONE CUB HAS GONE UP,
THEY'LL ROTATE,

AND IT'S PLUCKING THE FUR
FROM THIS BUSHBUCK

SO AS IT CAN FEED ON THE RUMP.

AND SEE HOW THE MUM --
SEE HOW OLARE IS JUST CONTENT

TO LIE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE
TO GUARD THE CUBS.

SHE'S ALL EYES AND EARS
IN CASE DANGER IS PRESENT.

HYENAS, WITH THEIR
INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL,

COULD PICK UP
THE SCENT OF THAT KILL.

THAT IS GOLD -- TO SEE MUM
AND THE TWO CUBS,

BECAUSE AS THE CUBS GET OLDER,
THE GREETINGS ARE PERFUNCTORY.

THEY'RE MORE INDEPENDENT.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN AGENDA.

SO TO SEE OLARE WITH BOTH
CUBS -- AH, I'M IN HEAVEN.

♪♪

BUT BOTH CUBS, I CAN SEE,
HAVE HAD A GOOD MEAL ALREADY.

THAT'S A BIG KILL --
A FEMALE BUSHBUCK.

PROBABLY KILLED IT LAST NIGHT.

♪♪

AND THIS IS THE SECRET WORLD
OF THE LEOPARD.

THIS IT THE WORLD
THAT YOU SO RARELY SEE.

IN MY FIRST YEAR
IN THE MARA,

I SAW TWO LEOPARDS -- ONE JUST
A FLASH OF SPOTS AT NIGHT.

SO YOU PUT IN THE TIME,
AND YOU GET THE REWARDS.

AND JUST CONTRAST
THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR

WITH THE WORLD OF THE LION,
WITH THE SOCIAL CAT,

WHERE THERE'S MULTIPLE FEMALES
LIVING TOGETHER.

THIS IS A SINGLE MUM
LOOKING AFTER TWO CUBS

AND DOING INCREDIBLY WELL.

♪♪

YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, 40 YEARS,
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS --

THESE INCREDIBLE MOMENTS
WITH BIG CATS.

AND FOR ME, TOP OF THE PILE,
ICING ON THE CAKE,

FOR EVERY VISITOR
WHO COMES ON SAFARI,

IT'S THIS CAT RIGHT HERE.

♪♪

Angela: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
ABSOLUTELY MAGIC MORNINGS,

WHEN YOU ARRIVE
AND THE PRIDE IS ALL TOGETHER.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW RARE
THIS ACTUALLY IS.

WE HAVE OUR TWO MALES HERE --

ASKARI, THE ONE THAT WE CALL
"SOLDIER,"

IS THE ONE DIRECTLY
IN FRONT OF ME.

AND THE ONE SLIGHTLY AWAY
FROM THE REST OF THE PRIDE,

WE'RE CALLING HIM MPOLE MPOLE,
WHICH MEANS "SLOWLY, SLOWLY."

THE CUBS ARE A LITTLE
BIT WARY OF HIM.

HE JUST DOESN'T LIKE
TO BE MESSED WITH AT ALL.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE FEMALE,
YOU KNOW,

BROUGHT THE CUBS
VERY GENTLY TO HIM,

HE'S JUST NOT ENGAGED AT ALL.

WHEREAS ASKARI,
HE'S JUST GOOD OLD DAD.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE FEMALES,

THEY TEND TO GRAVITATE
TOWARDS THIS MALE.

IT'S QUITE UNUSUAL, ACTUALLY,
BECAUSE MALES ON THE WHOLE,

THEY TEND TO KEEP THEMSELVES
ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE PRIDE.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY AT THE MOMENT

TO HAVE LION CUBS OF THIS AGE
TO BE OBSERVING.

IT'S THE BEST AGE OF ALL
BECAUSE THEY NEVER STOP.

THAT LITTLE MALE CUB
IS COMPLETELY FEARLESS.

HE'S GETTING DISCIPLINED
BY THE MALE.

HE'S NOT PERTURBED AT ALL,

AND HE'LL JUST GO BACK
AND BACK AND BACK.

THEY'RE CONSTANTLY TUSSLING,
RUNNING, PLAYING,

INTERACTING WITH THE MOTHERS,

TRYING TO INTERACT
WITH THE MALES.

AND YOU SLOWLY --
AS YOU'RE WATCHING THEM,

YOU BEGIN TO NOTICE

THAT THEY HAVE VERY,
VERY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

THEY HAVE TWO LITTLE BOYS
AND ONE LITTLE GIRL.

THE BROTHER AND SISTER ARE
A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFIDENT

THAN THE SINGLE MALE.

THE SINGLE MALE CUB
IS A LITTLE SMALLER

AND DEFINITELY SHYER,
MORE NERVOUS.

I MEAN,
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT NOW,

WHEN THEY'RE ALL JUST
SO HAPPILY PLAYING TOGETHER.

THEY'RE SUCH A CENTRAL PART
OF THIS STORY

THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO NAME THEM

SOLO FOR THE LITTLE,
SINGLE MALE CUB,

AND THEN THE BROTHER AND SISTER,
MOJA AND MBILI.

MOJA MEANS "FIRST,"

AND, OF COURSE,
THAT WOULD BE THE MALE CUB.

AND MBILI,

WHICH IS QUITE A SWEET NAME
FOR THE LITTLE FEMALE.

YOU KNOW, A LION PRIDE,
IT'S A VERY MATRIARCHAL THING.

SO REALLY, ONCE FOLLOWING
THE FEMALES, THE MALES --

THEY COME AND THEY GO.

WE'VE SEEN MANY DIFFERENT MALES
WITHIN THE MARSH PRIDE,

AND THEY'RE ALL SO DIFFERENT.

EACH TIME WE GET A TAKEOVER
AND NEW PRIDE MALES COME IN,

IT'S A TRANSITION, AND SOMETIMES
A VERY SAD TRANSITION

BECAUSE YOU LOSE THE CUBS
AT THAT POINT.

BUT THEN, LIKE NOW,

I FEEL THERE'S A COMPLETELY
FRESH BEGINNING, YOU KNOW?

THE MARSH PRIDE LAST YEAR
HAD A VERY, VERY TOUGH YEAR.

BUT NOW, WONDERFUL TWO NEW MALES
HAVE COME IN,

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE FEMALES
ARE HAVING BABIES,

AND IT DOES FEEL LIKE THIS
WONDERFUL, FRESH START FOR THEM.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
A PARTICULARLY EXCITING YEAR

FOR THIS PRIDE.

♪♪

Jackson:
MALAIKA IS ONE OF THE BEST
HUNTERS WE HAVE IN THE MARA.

SHE IS STRONG, SHE IS VERY
POWERFUL, AND SHE'S VERY CLEVER.

RIGHT NOW -- LOOK -- SHE'S GOT
SOMETHING IN MIND UP THERE.

SHE'S LOOKING VERY HARD.

WHAT MIGHT BE RIGHT HERE?

MALAIKA HAS BEEN MOVING
FROM ONE MUD MOUND TO ANOTHER.

AND THE REASON
WHY SHE LIKES MOUNDS

IS THEY'RE A GOOD VANTAGE POINT
WHEN SHE SITS UP HIGHER ABOVE,

AND SHE CAN TAKE --
BE ACCURATE.

SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN TO HUNT.

AND NOW SHE LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S LOOKING...

AT SOMETHING, AND SHE IS MOVING.

SHE'S LOCKED ON SOMETHING.

♪♪

NOW, THE IMPALAS ARE SAYING,

"OH, WHY ARE YOU
ALL BACKING AROUND US?"

IF THEY HAD A BRAIN,
THEY WOULD RUN AWAY.

WE ARE NOT HERE FOR
JUST A GAME DRIVE.

WE'RE HERE TO WITNESS
SOMETHING SPECIAL --

MALAIKA HUNTING.

♪♪

AFTER HOURS AND HOURS OF SITTING
HERE IN THE BAKING SUN, FINALLY.

I CAN JUST SEE HER MOVEMENT.

SHE'S WALKING WITH
REALLY SLOW STEPS.

AND EVERY MOVEMENT OF THE LEG
THAT SHE TAKES,

IT IS REALLY MEANINGFUL.

THE ONLY THING THAT
I'M WORRIED IS THE CUBS.

IF THE CUBS DECIDE,
FOR ONE WAY TO ANOTHER,

"WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW MUM,"

THAT WILL BE THE END
OF THIS ATTEMPT.

LET'S POSITION THE CAR.
QUICKLY.

WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW
HOW SHE'S GOING TO STRIKE.

THE THING IS, WE NEED TO BE
IN THE BEST POSITION POSSIBLE

WHEN ALL THESE ANIMALS
ARE RUNNING --

RIPPING TOWARDS US.

THAT IS THE GOAL.

♪♪

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT,

AND SHE'S SO, SO CLOSE.

♪♪

NOW SHE GOES UP AGAIN,
AND NOW --

ALRIGHT, THERE SHE GOES.

THERE SHE GOES.
SHE'S GONE NOW.

SHE'S LOCKED ON.

♪♪

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
FANTASTIC RUNS WE HAD.

REALLY GOOD.
BUT SHE MISSED IT!

SHE GOES HUNGRY AGAIN.

NOW, YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE,
ON TOP OF THIS PLACE,

THERE WOULD BE
OTHER PREDATORS LOOKING.

SHE NEEDS TO GO BACK
IMMEDIATELY TO GO AND SUPPORT

AND MAKE SURE THE CUBS ARE SAFE.

LOOK AT HER GO.

BUT WHAT AN AMAZING,
AMAZING RUN!

♪♪

Jackson:
QUITE A NICE PLACE TO BE.

WE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR OLARE
AND HER LITTLE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, THIS LEOPARD
LIVES IN THE FOREST.

OLARE KNOWS WHERE TO LIVE.

AND IF I WAS A LEOPARD,

I WOULD BE RIGHT HERE...

IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE

HIDING AWAY FROM
OTHER PREDATORS.

OH, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!

THERE HE IS.

THERE'S A NEW CUB UP HERE.

RIGHT HERE.

IT'S REALLY GOOD
TO SEE THE MOTHER,

BUT IT'S BETTER TO SEE THE CUBS.

AND THIS IS NDOGO.

THIS IS THE SMALLEST
OF OLARE'S CUBS.

IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

DIFFERENT TO THE LIONS
AND CHEETAH,

LEOPARDS ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS,

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS CUB
IS NOT WITH THE BROTHERS.

BUT LOOK, THERE'S A BABOON
VERY CLOSE --

BIGGEST THREAT
FOR THIS LITTLE CUB.

HE MUST STAY CALM.

I'M QUITE WORRIED, YOU KNOW.

BABOONS WILL KILL FULL,
GROWN-UP LEOPARDS,

AND THAT LITTLE CUB
IT WILL JUST RIP INTO PIECES.

THERE'S MORE.
THERE'S MORE.

IF YOU THINK OF
THE BABOONS BEING --

IT'S NUMBER-ONE MAIN ENEMY
IS A LEOPARD.

IF THEY FIND A BABY LEOPARD,
THEY WILL KILL IT

TO ELIMINATE THE ENEMY
MUCH EARLIER ON.

THIS LITTLE CUB IS SO SCARED
NOW IT'S GOING UP.

IT'S GOING ALL THE WAY --
OH, THIS CLEVER CUB.

IT'S GONE TO THE VERY,
VERY TOP OF THE BRANCHES.

IF A BIG MALE BABOON
GOES UP THERE,

HE'LL JUST HISS AND HISS,
AND THAT PROBABLY WILL TRIGGER

THE MOTHER
TO COME QUICKLY FOR HELP.

[ MONKEYS CHIRPING ]

YEAH, THAT'S VERVET MONKEYS.
LISTEN.

THERE'S ANOTHER LEOPARD
OUT HERE.

LET'S CHECK.

KEEP IT LOW.

COMING RIGHT AT US.

[ BIRDS AND MONKEYS CHIRPING ]

THAT IS WHAT I MEAN.
ISN'T IT FANTASTIC?

A BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG MALE LEOPARD.

WOW.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

THIS IS NDOGO'S OLDER BROTHER,
JASIRI.

HE KNOWS WHERE
THE LITTLE CUB WAS,

AND HE'S NOW ACTUALLY CALLING
FOR THE LITTLE BROTHER.

HEAR HIM?
HEAR HIM?

[ LEOPARD CALLING ]

SMELLING WHERE HE WAS.

HE IS SEARCHING FOR OLARE
AND HIS TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS.

HE'S INDEPENDENT.
HE'S ALMOST FULL GROWN.

BUT EVERY SO OFTEN, HE COMES
AND JOINS THE FAMILY.

HE STILL LIKES TO BE
WITH THE MOTHER.

♪♪

TO SEE ONE LEOPARD AT ALL
IS VERY EXCITING,

BUT TO SEE A FAMILY
WOULD BE VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

♪♪

Jonathan: THIS IS CHARM.

SHE'S A VERY DISTINCTIVE --
A BIG LIONESS.

SHE'S THE OLDEST FEMALE
IN THE PRIDE --

11 TO 12 YEARS OF AGE.

THERE'S SO MUCH WISDOM THERE,

AND WE KNOW
SHE'S GIVEN BIRTH TO CUBS.

AND BY THE LOOK OF IT,

SHE'S HEADED BACK TO WHERE
SHE'S HIDDEN THEM.

OH, FANTASTIC!

MY FIRST PROPER VIEW
OF CHARM'S CUBS.

THEY LOOK LIKE
LITTLE TEDDY BEARS --

THEIR EYES ARE OPEN,
LITTLE ROUNDED EARS.

AND EVEN AT THIS AGE,
THEY'RE SORT OF, YOU KNOW,

WRESTLING WITH EACH OTHER,
LITTLE BITES --

PROPER LIONS.

SHE JUST STOPPED THERE
FOR A MOMENT, JUST PAUSED.

SO SHE'S CAUTIOUS --
JUST LOOKING INTO THE DEN,

"IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

IS EVERYTHING AS I LEFT IT?"

AH, THERE WE GO, LOOK.

CHARM'S LIFTED HER LEG UP
AND, BOY,

THOSE TWO CUBS
ARE JUST RAVENOUS.

THEY ARE GETTING STUCK
INTO THE MILK.

WOW.
THAT WAS MAGICAL.

ANOTHER WONDERFUL MOMENT,

ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE LIFE
OF THE MARSHLANDS.

♪♪

OKAY, WE GOT A GOOD ANGLE NOW.

SO TWO YOUNG, MALE LIONS
AND MORE THAN A DOZEN HYENAS.

AND THESE LOOK TO ME
LIKE A COUPLE OF YOUNG MALES,

ALMOST CERTAINLY NOMADS.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED
OUT OF THE PRIDE

IN WHICH THEY WERE BORN --
2 TO 3 YEARS OF AGE.

BUT IT'S FASCINATING TO SEE
A SITUATION LIKE THIS

BECAUSE I THINK
THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK,

WELL, NO CONTEST --
LIONS AGAINST HYENAS?

BUT HYENAS IN THESE BIG CLANS --

I MEAN, SOME OF THE CLANS
OF HYENAS ARE 50 STRONG.

AND YOU CAN FEEL THE BALANCE
OF POWER JUST SHIFTING

'CAUSE AS THE LIONS
BECOME FULLER,

AS THEY'VE EATEN
MORE OF THAT CARCASS,

THEY WILL BE MORE LIABLE TO
ACTUALLY GIVE WAY TO THE HYENAS,

AND THE HYENAS WILL SENSE THAT.

THEIR TAILS WILL COME UP,
THEY'LL START TO WHOOP,

THEY'LL CLOSE IN,
AND OFF THE LIONS WILL GO.

PEOPLE TEND TO THINK OF HYENAS
AS SCAVENGERS,

BUT ACTUALLY THEY ARE
POWERFUL PREDATORS.

THEY PROBABLY KILLED
THE WILDEBEEST AT NIGHT.

ALONG COME TWO MALES
LOOKING FOR A FREE MEAL.

THEY TOOK IT FROM THE HYENAS.

AND IN THE MEANTIME,
THEY'LL SORT OF PICK OFF

THE BITS
THAT THEY CAN GET IN THERE.

THEY'RE VERY BRAVE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK HYENAS

ARE SORT OF
RATHER COWARDLY ANIMALS --

NOT AT ALL.
THEY'RE BOLD, THEY'RE BRAZEN.

YOU SEE, HE JUST CAN'T BEAR
TO LET GO OF THE CARCASS.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE LEFT THERE
FOR HIM NOW.

THERE'S THIS WONDERFUL, LIKE,

YOU COULD SORT OF CALL IT
A FEEDING SUCCESSION

BECAUSE THE LIONS HAVE HAD
A FAIR BIT OF MEAT FROM THAT.

IT'S JUST BONES, IT'S SKIN,

AND THAT'S WHERE THE HYENA
THEN TAKES OVER

BECAUSE IT CAN ACTUALLY
CRUNCH UP THOSE BONES,

IT CAN CHEW THROUGH THAT SKIN,

AND SO, IN THE END, VERY LITTLE
WILL BE WASTED OF THAT CARCASS,

SO THERE'S A LOVELY SUCCESSION.

♪♪

WE GOT THE WHOLE TEAM
OUT AT THE MOMENT

LOOKING FOR THE OLARE FEMALE.

WE'VE GOT WORD THAT TWO
OF THE CUBS HAVE BEEN SEEN.

BUT IT'S PRETTY THICK,
AND IF MUM'S NOT WITH THEM,

THEY MAY STAY SORT OF TIGHT,
YOU KNOW?

THEY'LL BE LESS KEEN
TO MOVE AROUND.

BUT THERE'S SOME NICE,
LITTLE OPEN PATCHES,

SO WE MAY JUST CATCH
A GLIMPSE OF THEM

AS THEY MOVE THROUGH HERE.

♪♪

YEAH.

YOU CAN JUST SEE THE BUSHES
MOVING AROUND.

OH, HERE, LOOK!
WOW.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR TWO BOYS --
OLARE'S CUBS --

JUST HAVING THE TIME
OF THEIR LIVES.

IT'S COOL, IT'S A GREAT TIME
FOR THEM TO BE PLAYING,

AND OF COURSE, THEY'VE GOT
THIS SHROUD OF CROTON BUSHES

TO CONCEAL THEM FROM DANGER.

THEY'RE SO QUICK AND AGILE.

AND LITERALLY, MUM'S AWAY
AND THE CUBS ARE AT PLAY.

AND THIS IS VERY,
VERY TYPICAL.

YOU CAN FIND THE CUBS
WITHOUT THEIR MUM.

SHE MAY BE OFF TRYING TO HUNT,

AND SHE'S VERY CONFIDENT
WHEN THEY'RE THIS BIG

JUST OF LEAVING THEM
TO THEIR OWN DEVICES.

JACKSON HAS NAMED THE TWO CUBS,

SO ONE,
THE BIGGER ONE, MKUBWA --

SWAHILI FOR "BIG" --

AND THE LITTLE ONE, NDOGO --
MEANS "SMALL."

AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE
THE DIFFERENCE.

IN FACT, IF THIS WAS LIONS,

I WOULD THINK THESE TWO CUBS
CAME FROM DIFFERENT LITTERS.

THEY STILL SEEM TO JUST LOVE
PLAYING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND THE SMALLER ONE, NDOGO,

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO SORT OF FEEL
BULLIED BY HIS BIGGER BROTHER.

AT THIS AGE, THERE'S JUST
SO MUCH SOCIAL INTERACTION.

AND THAT'S A HUGE CONTRAST
BETWEEN THE LIFE

THAT THESE LEOPARDS
WILL LIVE AS ADULTS.

I THINK, OFTEN, PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE HOW LUCKY THEY ARE

WHEN THEY GET A GLIMPSE
OF A LEOPARD.

SO MUCH OF WHAT THEY DO
IS HIDDEN FROM THE HUMAN EYE.

MKUBWA IS GOING TO BE
QUITE A HANDFUL,

I MEAN, HE IS A BIG LEOPARD
BY ANYBODY'S STANDARDS.

AND WHEN HE IS FULL GROWN,

THIS IS GOING TO BE
A MASSIVE LEOPARD --

MAYBE 60, 70 KILOS.

AND HE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR THAT TERRITORY.

HE WILL HAVE TO FIGHT
OTHER LEOPARDS.

HE WON'T LOOK LIKE THIS --
THOSE BEAUTIFULLY UNMARKED EARS,

THAT UNSCRATCHED-UP FACE.

HE WILL HAVE A FACE
FULL OF CHARACTER.

RIGHT NOW, THE CHARACTER OF
THIS LEOPARD IS MISCHIEVOUS,

LITTLE BIT CHEEKY,
VERY CONFIDENT.

♪♪

OLARE IS A SINGLE MUM,

SO HER JOB IS
TO RAISE THOSE CUBS,

TO PROVIDE FOR THEM,
TO MAKE KILLS FOR THEM,

TO FEED THEM, TO PROTECT THEM.

AND THE MALE'S JOB,
THE TERRITORIAL MALE,

IS TO KEEP OTHER MALES
FROM COMING IN

BECAUSE, REMEMBER, WITH ALL OF
THESE CATS BESIDES THE CHEETAH,

MALES WILL KILL CUBS
THAT THEY HAVEN'T SIRED.

INFANTICIDE IS THE NORM
AMONGST CATS.

♪♪

TALK ABOUT BIG CAT LEGACY --

WE'VE GOT OLARE,
THE MUM LEOPARD,

WE'VE GOT OUR OLDEST SON,
JASIRI,

AND THE TWO YOUNGER CUBS.

JASIRI IS INDEPENDENT,

BUT HE STILL HANGS
AROUND THE TERRITORY.

HE HASN'T BEEN GIVEN THE PUSH
YET BY HIS FATHER.

AND HE IS BIG.

I MEAN,
HE IS BIGGER THAN MUM NOW.

BUT WONDERFUL JUST TO SEE
ALL FOUR TOGETHER.

AND THE FACT THAT, ACTUALLY,
THE TWO YOUNGER CUBS,

THEY'RE NOT FRIGHTENED
OF JASIRI,

AND HE WILL SOMETIMES
INTERACT WITH THEM.

♪♪

ON A DAILY BASIS, THESE LEOPARDS
ARE DEALING WITH LIONS,

WITH BABOONS,
WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS

THAT THREATEN THE LIVES
OF THEIR CUBS.

SO YOU GET A MORNING LIKE THIS,
YOU JUST RELISH IT,

YOU CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF
THESE EXTRAORDINARY CREATURES.

♪♪

OVER THE YEARS,
THE MARSHES CHANGED.

THERE'S LESS THICKETS
THAN THERE USED TO BE,

LESS PLACES WHERE THE LIONS CAN
LIE UP AND PARTICULARLY,

AVOID CONTACT WITH THESE --
WITH THE BUFFALO.

ONE OF MALE LIONS LYING,

HE'S JUST NOTICED
THE BUFFALO COMING IN,

OTHERS RUNNING IN
FROM THE RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO
IN THIS SITUATION?

DO YOU HOLD TIGHT AND TRY
AND INTIMIDATE THE BUFFALO

OR DO YOU TURN TAIL AND RUN?

IF HE RUNS, HE'S GOING TO RUN
RIGHT TOWARDS

WHERE THE MUMS ARE
WITH THE CUBS.

THE BUFFALO DON'T EVEN KNOW
THEY'RE THERE YET.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS
THEY CAN SMELL LION.

I TELL YOU,
THOSE THREE LITTLE CUBS...

AND THIS IS A BAD POSITION
BECAUSE IT'S SO OPEN HERE.

IF THERE WAS A THICKET
THAT THE LION CUBS

COULD JUST BURROW INTO --

THERE'S JUST NO COVER
FOR THEMSELVES HERE.

OKAY, THE MALE'S TURNING.

BUT THE TROUBLE IS,
THAT'S GOING TO DRAW THE BUFFALO

IN BEHIND HIM.

THEY'LL WANT TO PUSH HIM OFF.

I'LL BE. LOOK.

SO POWERFUL, THOSE BUFFALO.

LOOK AT THEM TROTTING IN.

THESE ARE THE HEAVY-DUTY BOYS.

WHAT ARE THE LIONESSES
GOING TO DO?

OH, THERE THEY GO.

HERE GO THE LIONESSES.
LOOK!

THERE THEY GO WITH THE CUBS --
TAKING NO CHANCES AT ALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK
AT THOSE BUFFALO --

THEY LOOK LIKE WEARY, OLD MEN,
LIKE THEY CAN BARELY MOVE.

BUT DON'T BELIEVE IT.

THEY CAN PICK UP PACE,

THEY CAN KICK LIKE
A BUCKING BRONCO,

AND THEY CAN SLAM THEIR HORNS
INTO THE GROUND

AND JUST KILL A CUB
[SNAPS FINGERS] LIKE THAT.

OKAY, NOW, LOOK,
THAT'S GOING TO LEAD THEM IN.

SEE THE FEMALE?
THIS IS THE PREGNANT FEMALE.

THAT'S THE LAST THING
SHE NEEDS...

IS TO HAVE BUFFALOS CHASING HER.

AND MAYBE THAT'S ENOUGH
FOR THE BUFFALO, YOU KNOW?

"OKAY, FINE, WE'RE THE ONES
IN CHARGE HERE, YOU MOVE ON."

OKAY, BUFFALO COMING RIGHT
BEHIND MPOLE.

LOOK, LISTEN.

[ BUFFALO GRUNTS ]

WELL, MPOLE MEANS
"SLOWLY, SLOWLY,"

BUT RIGHT THERE,
OKAY, QUICK, QUICK.

♪♪

OH, NO!

THE BUFFALO ARE GOING RIGHT
TOWARDS THE BUSH

WHERE CHARM IS
WITH THE LITTLE BABIES.

♪♪

OH!

THE BUFFALO HAVE SURROUNDED
CHARM'S DEN.

THEY CAN SMELL
THOSE LITTLE CUBS.

THEY CAN SMELL LION.

♪♪

THAT WAS SUCH A CLOSE CALL.

JUST GOES TO SHOW
THE EXPERIENCE OF CHARM.

SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO STAY
STILL TO SAVE THOSE CUBS.

SHE DIDN'T DARE MOVE.

THE REST OF THE PRIDE
HAVE SCATTERED.

LET'S JUST HOPE
THOSE CUBS SURVIVE.

BUT KNOWING BUFFALO,
THIS ISN'T OVER YET.

Jonathan:
NEXT TIME, ON "BIG CAT TALES"...

MALAIKA IS DEAD ON TARGET.

Angela: SHE IS ACTUALLY MOVING
ONE OF THE CUBS.

Jackson: SOME OF THEM
WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES.

Jonathan: HERE SHE COMES, LOOK!
CLOSING IN!