All language subtitles for Big.Cat.Tales.S01E02.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Jonathan: THERE'S SOMETHING
TRULY EXTRAORDINARY

ABOUT LIVING A LIFE
ALONGSIDE THE BIG CATS.

WE'RE JONATHAN AND ANGELA SCOTT

AND WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
THE LIONS, LEOPARDS,

AND CHEETAHS OF THE MASAI MARA
FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST BIG CATS TO US,
WE KNOW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.

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 INTIMATE STORY
OF THEIR LIVES.

♪♪

Jonathan: IN THE MASAI LANGUAGE,
MARA MEANS SPOTTED --

A LAND SPOTTED WITH WILD
ANIMALS, SPOTTED WITH BUSH,

AND OF COURSE,
DOMINATED BY ITS BIG CATS.

BUT FOR ME AS A FIRST-TIME
VISITOR IN 1974,

IT WAS ALSO VERY MUCH
ABOUT THE MASAI

AND THEIR COLORFUL REGALIA.

AND PARTICULARLY, THE WARRIORS

WITH THEIR SPEARS
AND SHORT SWORDS.

IT STIRRED MY BLOOD.

IT MADE ME TAKE A STEP BACK
IN TIME.

♪♪

[ CONVERSING IN MAA ]

♪♪

THE MASAI MARA IS MY HOME,
AND THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE.

WE LIVE WITH OUR FAMILIES HERE
ON DAILY BASIS.

THIS IS ALSO WHAT MAKES US
SPECIAL AS MASAI PEOPLE

BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF
THE RICHEST PLACES IN KENYA

WITH BIG CATS.

WE'RE PASTORALISTS.

BECAUSE WE DON'T KILL WILDLIFE
FOR FOOD,

THEY ARE ABUNDANT
IN EVERY SINGLE MASAI COUNTY.

IF WE ARE TO HUNT THESE WILD
ANIMALS FOR FOOD,

THERE WOULD BE
NOTHING EXISTING HERE,

BUT WE HAVE LEARNED TO COEXIST.

THAT IS VERY SPECIAL,
AND IT MAKES MY TRIBE,

MY CULTURE,
A VERY UNIQUE CULTURE IN KENYA.

[ SINGING IN MAA ]

♪♪

Angela: I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
WONDERFUL THINGS

ABOUT KNOWING A PLACE
AS JONATHAN AND I KNOW THE MARA,

IT GOES BEYOND
JUST UNDERSTANDING

FROM GOING TO "A" TO "B."

IT'S THAT PEELING OFF THE LAYERS
OF AN ONION,

IT BECOMES RICHER AND RICHER
THE MORE YOU KNOW IT.

Jonathan:
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING

THAT I REALLY VALUE
IS HAVING HAD THE GIFT

OF SPENDING
SO MANY YEARS IN ONE PLACE

BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE
ALL THE NUANCES,

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT SEASONS,

YOU SEE GENERATIONS OF LIONS
MOVING THROUGH THIS AREA,

AND LOOKING IN
MY REARVIEW MIRROR...

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY.

LOOKING IN
MY REARVIEW MIRROR...

I KNOW THAT --
I KNOW THAT SIGHT.

AND SEEING THAT BECAUSE, LET'S
FACE IT, I WAS A BACHELOR BOY.

I WAS JUST WANTING TO BE
ON MY OWN.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD
FIND SOMEBODY

WHO I COULD SPEND 14 HOURS
A DAY IN A VEHICLE,

AND I GOT IT RIGHT.

SHE'S IN THE BACK THERE.

COULD YOU IMAGINE
A MORE IDYLLIC SCENE?

I MEAN,
THIS IS THE VERY ESSENCE

OF WHAT ANGIE AND I LOVE.

PEACE AND QUIET,
CLOSE TO THE BIG CATS --

CATS THAT WE'VE WATCHED FOR YEAR
AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

Angela:
ASKARI IS SUCH A WONDERFUL MALE.

HE IS ACTUALLY QUITE DIFFERENT
TO MOST OF THE MALES

THAT WE'VE HAD
IN THE MARSH PRIDE.

HE REALLY ENJOYS BEING
WITH THE FEMALES AND THE CUBS

BECAUSE THE CUBS ABSOLUTELY
ADORE THIS INTERACTION.

YOU CAN SEE ASKARI ACTUALLY
ENJOYING IT AS MUCH AS THEY ARE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT SORT OF LOOK
IN HIS EYES

WHEN HE'S LOOKING
AT THE CUBS, OF CONNECTION.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE.

Jonathan: THIS IS AN AGE WHERE
THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH TO BE PLAYFUL

BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE TINY --

FIRST SIX WEEKS, THEY'RE
TUCKED AWAY IN THE BUSHES,

YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE CUBS.

SO THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO BE
WATCHING CUBS

AND PHOTOGRAPHING THEM
BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYFUL

AND THEY'RE VERY FOCUSED
ON EACH OTHER

AND FOCUSED ON THE MOTHERS.

BUT AS THEY GET OLDER,
THEY BECOME MORE SORT OF,

YOU KNOW,
SEPARATED IN THEIR AGENDA

AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

Angela:
MOJA, HE'S SUCH A STRONG,

MISCHIEVOUS, FUN LITTLE CUB.

HE'S MUCH BIGGER
THAN THE OTHER TWO.

HE'S ALWAYS THE ONE
LEADING THE PACK.

HE'S ALWAYS THE ONE TAKING THEM
OFF TO A BIT OF MISCHIEF.

♪♪

I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER ANIMAL
THAT IS SO POWERFUL.

IN OUR MYTHOLOGY, THEY ARE
THE EMBLEM OF STRENGTH

AND COURAGE AND FIERCENESS.

THERE'S NO OTHER ANIMAL

THAT I WOULD RATHER BE
WITH THAN THE LION.

♪♪

MANDELA, ONE OF OUR GUIDES,
HAS JUST FOUND MALAIKA,

SOUTH OF WHERE
SHE WAS LAST NIGHT.

SHE HASN'T FED YET,

SO WE'VE STILL GOT A CHANCE
OF GETTING THAT HIT.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO AGE
THE CATS,

YOU LOOK AT THEIR TEETH.

SO ON THE TIPS OF THE CANINES,
THEY GET WORN DOWN IN TIME.

AND WE THINK THAT SHE'S PROBABLY
MINIMUM EIGHT YEARS OLD.

ALSO LOOK AT THE TIPS
OF HER EARS.

THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT WORN,
A LITTLE BIT GREY,

A LITTLE BIT GRIZZLED.

AND SEE THE WAY SHE USES
THE LANDSCAPE -- SHE'S LIKE US,

SHE MAYBE GETS
TO A HIGH POINT.

WE LOOK FOR PREDATORS WITH OUR
GLASSES, SHE LOOKS FOR PREY.

♪♪

OH, SHE'S ALL FOCUS.

LOOK AT THE INTENSITIES.
WATCH THE EARS.

THE EARS TELL A STORY --
ALERTNESS.

AND THIS CHEETAH CAN SPOT
SOMETHING FROM 100 METERS

AS SMALL AS A BEETLE.

OKAY, WE'VE GOT A HERD OF
IMPALAS RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN.

THERE'S ONE THOMSON'S GAZELLE,
AS WELL.

NOW GENERALLY, SHE LIKES
A SOLITARY ANIMAL --

LESS EYES AND EARS TO PICK HER
OUT AS SHE MOVES TOWARDS THEM.

AND THEY'RE PRETTY BUSY EATING.

YOU SEE THERE'S ONE FEMALE THERE
JUST WATCHING, JUST LOOKING.

OKAY, SHE'S COMING
THROUGH THE BUSHES.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS
A CHEETAH THERE,

YOU'D NEVER SEE IT.

IF YOU WERE JUST SCANNING
THESE THICKETS.

AND SHE'S EDGING FORWARD
JUST SLIGHTLY --

LITTLE BIT BY LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS,
THESE IMPALAS,

THEIR EYES ARE ADAPTED
TO PICK UP MOVEMENT.

AND SHE CAN JUST --
I TELL YOU, FROM THAT POSITION,

SHE COULD JUST LITERALLY

COME FLYING OUT OF
THE STARTING BLOCKS.

LOOK.

♪♪

OH, SHE MUST HAVE PULLED UP.

PHEW! WOW.

I TELL YOU, JUST SUDDENLY,
BOOM, OFF SHE WENT.

SHE'S NOT AS BENT OUT OF SHAPE
BY THAT CHASE AS I THOUGHT.

SHE IS AN ATHLETE.

GOOD GIRL, MALAIKA!
YOU ARE A STAR!

BUT YOU'RE STILL HUNGRY.

THIS IS GONNA BE A COSTLY MEAL.

I MEAN, DAY THREE AND IT
COULD BE EVEN DAY FOUR

SINCE SHE LAST HUNTED.

YOU JUST REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT
IT IS TO CATCH FOOD.

IT ISN'T THAT EASY.

YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT THERE

AND JUST GRAB THINGS
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY WORK.

YOU GOT TO KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

AND EVEN THEN
YOU'RE GONNA MISS SOMETIMES.

WHAT'S SHE GONNA SAY
TO THE CUBS?

♪♪

Jackson: CLOUDY EYE AND ASKARI,
THE MALE IN THE MARSH PRIDE.

THEY'VE HAD A THING TOGETHER.

BASICALLY THEY ARE COURTING
AND THEY'RE MATING.

THE FEMALE WANTS TO JOIN
THE REST OF THE PRIDE.

NOT TODAY.

EVERY TIME SHE GOES,

CUT ON THIS SIDE,
CUT ON THIS SIDE.

AND SHE SAID, "HOW DO
I GET RID OF THIS MALE?"

AND SHE'S GOT ONE WAY --
GO UP THE TREE.

[ LAUGHING ]
AND SHE'S GOT UP THERE

AND HE'S LOOKING,
"SHOULD I CLIMB?"

I DON'T THINK THAT TREE
IS ENOUGH FOR TWO, THEREFORE,

HE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE
ON THE FLOOR

WAITING FOR HER
TO MAKE ANOTHER MOVE.

SHE'S KIND OF THINKING
SHE MIGHT COME DOWN.

I MEAN, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE
LIVING UP A TREE LIKE A LEOPARD.

SHE'S GOT TO COME DOWN.

AND WHEN SHE DOES,
HE WILL BE ALL OVER HER AGAIN.

NOW LOOK, SHE'S PEEING
FROM THE TOP.

PEEING ON HIS HEAD.

[ LAUGHING ]

OH, BOY.

LOOK, ASKARI SAYS,
"YOU'RE PEEING ON ME.

IT'S OKAY.

I STILL LOVE YOU."

[ LAUGHING ]

THERE'S NO WAY TO SCARE
THIS MALE AWAY

WHEN HE'S DETERMINED
FOR MATING.

AND SHE EVEN PEED ON HIS HEAD.

[ LAUGHING ]

THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF THE MATING.

IT'S JUST STARTED TODAY
AND IT WILL CONTINUE

FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

AFTER EVERY 15 MINUTES,
IT WILL GO AGAIN.

CLOUDY EYE HAD A MISCARRIAGE
RIGHT HERE.

AND WE KNEW IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF TIME BEFORE SHE START MATING.

MALES, WHEN THEY'RE READY
TO MATE,

THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE,
THEY'RE FIGHTERS,

AND THEY DON'T LET
THE FEMALE DO ANYTHING,

NOT EVEN TO EAT,
JUST MATING.

NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPEN.

I GUESS SHE'S GOING
TO JUMP OVER HIM.

LOOK.
AND HE'S ASLEEP.

HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THE GIRL IS COMING.

OH, SURPRISE, OVER.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

[ ROARING ]

THREE MONTHS AFTER THIS MATING,
THERE WILL BE NEW CUBS.

THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS

FOR THE EXPANSION
OF THE MARSH PRIDE.

A SURE WAY TO ESCAPE THE MADNESS
OF CITY LIFE,

ALL THAT NOISE IN YOUR HEAD,

JUST STOP AND SPEND TIME
WITH WILD ELEPHANTS IN THE MARA.

[ GRASS RUSTLING ]

JUST THE SOUND OF THEIR LEGS
AS THEY DRIFT THROUGH

THE LONG RED OAT GRASS.

[ GRASS RUSTLING ]

AND WHAT'S SHE LOOKING FOR?

SHE'S LOOKING FOR TINY
ACACIA SEEDLINGS

AND NICE CLUMPS OF GRASS.

AND SHE'LL PICK IT UP AND SHE'LL
JUST DUST THE SOIL OFF IT.

AND A LITTLE BABY LIKE THIS
IS LEARNING THE WHOLE TIME.

AND IT WON'T STRAY MORE THAN
A FEW METERS FROM ITS MUM.

MUM IS THE EPICENTER
OF THAT YOUNG ONE'S LIFE,

AND YOU CAN SEE,
STILL UNDER A YEAR OLD

BECAUSE IT CAN ACTUALLY TRAVEL
UNDERNEATH THE CHEST OF THE MOM.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO SUCKLE
'TIL SHE HAS A NEW CALF.

SO GENERALLY, EVERY TWO YEARS,
NEW CALF ARRIVES.

WHAT YOU TEND TO FIND IS WHEN
FOOD IS LIMITING FOR ELEPHANTS,

THEY BREAK DOWN
INTO SMALLER GROUPS.

BUT RIGHT NOW
THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD,

SO THE ELEPHANTS
CAN ACTUALLY JOIN TOGETHER.

AND YOU CAN TELL, JUST LOOKING
AT THESE ELEPHANTS,

I CAN TELL THIS
IS A HEALTHY POPULATION

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
ALL DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

YOU'VE GOT TINY CALVES
LESS THAN A YEAR OLD,

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT
MEDIUM-SIZE CALVES,

FOUR, SIX YEARS OF AGE.

AND EACH FAMILY HERD
HAS A MATRIARCH --

THE OLDEST FEMALE, HER SISTERS,
AND THEIR OFFSPRING.

MIDDLE OF THE DAY,

TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT
OF A MUD WALLOW OR A COOL DOWN.

[ ELEPHANT TRUMPETING ]

LOOK AT THEM ALL COMING IN.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WHAT AN AMAZING SIGHT.

[ ELEPHANT TRUMPETING ]

SOMEBODY'S SAYING, "BUTT OUT."

THERE'S ONE LITTLE ONE
RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT,

RIGHT IN THE MUD WALLOW.

AND THIS IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT,

IT'S NOT JUST PLAYFUL
AND A THING OF JOY,

IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR THE WELL
BEING OF THE ELEPHANT'S SKIN.

LOOK AT THIS TINY ONE.

AND THE LITTLE ONES ARE
REALLY PRONE TO OVERHEATING,

SO IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT

THAT THEY MAINTAIN
THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE.

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE GUY...

RUBBING HIS BOTTOM.

HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL?

♪♪

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE
OF AN ELEPHANT,

THERE IS SUCH WISDOM.

YOU JUST FEEL THE SENSE
OF SENTIENT BEINGS.

A CONNECTION
BETWEEN ANIMAL AND MAN,

WHICH REALLY GOES
BEYOND UNDERSTANDING,

BUT YOU FEEL IT
RIGHT IN YOUR BONES.

AND YOU JUST THINK TO YOURSELF,

"WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCE TO DO JUST THIS.

TO JUST BE IN THE PRESENCE OF
SUCH AMAZING ANIMALS."

♪♪

NOW, WHO COULDN'T SAY THAT
THIS IS VERY SPECIAL?

I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED.

I MEAN, HAVE THE WHOLE PRIDE
JUST RESTING UP

IN THE SHADE OF MY CAR.

OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE THE MOMENTS
I REALLY LIVE FOR.

WE'RE NOT DRIVING TO THE LIONS,

SO I DON'T FEEL IN ANY WAY
WE'RE DISTURBING THEM.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY COME TO US.

AND I CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE
THE PEACE AND THE TRANQUILITY

I FEEL WHEN
I'M GIVEN THESE MOMENTS.

SO NOW WE HAVE ASKARI AND MPOLE

WITHIN FOUR FEET OF MY CAR.

MALE LIONS HAVE SUCH LOVELY
RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.

EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT
BE BROTHERS, THEY DO SEEM --

THEY HAVE THAT EMPATHY
OF BROTHERS,

I SUPPOSE BECAUSE THEY SPEND
SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER,

AND THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT
TO EACH OTHER.

WHEN THE LIONS ARE THIS CLOSE,

YOU'RE OBSERVING THEM
IN YOUR SPACE,

AND SO THEY BECOME FAR MORE,
IF YOU LIKE, REAL TO YOU

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NOW REMOVED.

THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE,
THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN HERE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT IN THEIR ENERGY
AS THEY ARE IN YOURS.

AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE
THE LITTLE DETAIL

THAT YOU CAN'T AT A DISTANCE.

YOU CAN WITNESS
THE SIZE OF A PAW.

I REALLY DO FEEL SO BLESSED
WHEN I HAVE A DAY LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, YOU COULDN'T --
YOU JUST COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE

AS A LION LOVER,
WHICH IS WHAT I AM.

♪♪

Jonathan: OKAY, MALAIKA'S
LOOKING LIKE

SHE WANTS TO HUNT.

WHAT ARE HER OPTIONS?

THERE'S GAZELLE SCATTERED
ALONG THESE PLAINS.

SHE LOOKS THIN, THE CUBS ARE
HUNGRY, AND SHE WANTS TO HUNT.

LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF HER BODY,
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

THOSE CHEST MUSCLES,
THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS.

LONG LEGS, SMALL HEAD,
LOOKS LIKE A SPHINX.

IN SOME WAYS IT'S THE LEAST
CAT-LIKE OF THE CATS.

THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT
LIKE A GREYHOUND

IN TERMS OF THEIR BUILD,
AND THOSE LONG, THIN LEGS

THAT PROPEL THEM
ACROSS THE GROUND AT SUCH SPEED.

IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO A CHEETAH
WHEN SHE'S GOT CUBS,

THE SOUND OF HER PURRING --

OF THE MOTHER
AND THE CUBS PURRING,

THIS DEEP, DEEP RUMBLE.

AND LEOPARDS DON'T PURR,
LIONS DON'T PURR,

BUT OUR DOMESTIC CATS DO.

NO QUESTION,
THE CHEETAH'S A CAT,

BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT CAT
TO OUR OTHER BIG CATS --

TIGERS, JAGUARS,
LIONS, LEOPARDS,

THEY BELONG TO THE GROUP
THAT WE CALL PANTHERA.

THEY'RE THE ROARING CATS.

THEY REALLY ARE THE BIG CATS,

AND THE CHEETAH ACTUALLY
SPLIT OFF IN A DIFFERENT GROUP.

YOU CAN SEE BY EVERYTHING
THAT MALAIKA IS DOING,

SHE'S HUNGRY, BUT ALSO,
THERE'S STRATEGY GOING ON HERE.

BECAUSE SHE HAS PARKED HER CUBS
IN THIS AREA, LIKE,

IT'S A SEMI-CIRCLE
OF CROTON THICKETS.

AND SHE'S LITERALLY MOVING
AROUND IT

WHERE SHE ISN'T VISIBLE
TO ANYTHING OUT

ON THE OPEN PLAINS,
AND SHE'S JUST CHECKING.

SHE SITS, SOMETIMES FOR 5,

10 MINUTES JUST WATCHING WITH
THOSE INCREDIBLE EYES OF HERS.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY SMART
TO DO THAT

BECAUSE IF SHE JUST GOES WALKING
AROUND OUT IN THE OPEN,

GAZELLES, IMPALAS, WILDEBEESTS,
TOPI SEE HER, THEY ALARM CALL,

AND SHE MIGHT JUST AS WELL TURN,
AS SHE OFTEN DOES,

AND WALK AWAY BECAUSE SHE'S
BLOWN IT FOR THIS MASSIVE AREA.

♪♪

I DON'T KNOW HOW
MALAIKA DOES THIS.

I MEAN, I'M SITTING IN A CAR
ALL DAY,

I'M HAVING TO DRINK LITER
AFTER LITER OF WATER,

AND SHE'S SITTING OUT
IN THE OPEN

WITH THE SUN
BEATING DOWN ON HER,

AND SHE'S SOMEHOW MANAGING
TO KEEP COOL.

SHE'S SOMEHOW MANAGING
TO KEEP HER SANITY.

AND SHE WILL HUNT IN THIS KIND
OF TEMPERATURE,

BUT THE FACT IS,
SHE'S A SPECIALIST.

SHE CAN'T BE A LION
OR A LEOPARD.

TO SURVIVE IN THIS KIND OF
ENVIRONMENT,

SHE NEEDS TO BE
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAT,

AND THE CHEETAH
IS EXACTLY THAT.

IT'S A DAY-TIME CAT,
AND IT'S A CAT

LOOKING TO AVOID COMPETITION
WITH THE BIG GUNS.

♪♪

MALAIKA IS DEAD ON TARGET.

WE'VE GOT WILDEBEESTS
WITH TWO YOUNG CALVES.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN
WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.

NOW, SHE'S CAPABLE OF TAKING
A WILDEBEEST CALF,

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT,

BUT WHAT ABOUT
THE MOTHER WILDEBEEST?

SHE WILL DEFEND THAT CALF
WITH ALL OF HER ENERGY

AND WITH THOSE HORNS.

THIS COULD BE
A BIT OF A BATTLE...

BUT SHE'S DETERMINED,
SHE IS HUNGRY.

♪♪

NOW SHE'S GOT
THE FULL ATTENTION.

LOOK, HERE THEY COME.
HERE THEY COME.

HERE SHE'S COMING,
FLYING LIKE THE WIND.

♪♪

HERE SHE COMES.
LOOK, CLOSING IN, CLOSING IN,

SHE'S GOT THE CALF DOWN.

SHE'S GOT IT.
SHE'S GOT IT.

THE HERD HAVE GONE.

LOOK.

STRUGGLING TO PULL IT DOWN.

MUM'S GOT THE THROAT BITE.

JOB DONE.

GREAT WORK FOR MALAIKA.

GREAT WORK.

ON THIS OCCASION NO HAPPY
ENDING FOR THE WILDEBEEST.

BUT FOOD FOR OUR CHEETAHS.

VERY SMART MOVE
ON THE PART OF MOM.

SHE'S PULLING THAT KILL
INTO THE COVER OF THE BUSHES.

SHE DOESN'T WANT THE VULTURES
TO GIVE THE GAME AWAY,

TO ATTRACT LIONS OR HYENAS.

GET THE KILL TO SAFETY.

WE CAN SEE HOW HUNGRY
THE CUBS ARE.

AS MUM'S TRYING TO PULL IT
TO SAFETY,

THEY JUST WANT
TO GET STUCK IN.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING MALAIKA
FOR THREE DAYS,

FINALLY PAY DAY.

AND THESE WILDEBEESTS,
THEY'RE NOT PART

OF THE SERENGETI MIGRATION --
THAT COMES LATER.

THESE ARE PART OF
A LOCAL MIGRATION,

WHICH MOVE INTO THE MARA
AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

GREAT JOB FROM MUM.

WOW, MALAIKA REALLY,
REALLY DID IT TODAY.

AND BEST OF ALL,
SHE'S GOT IT TO COVER.

NOBODY SAW A THING.

NO LIONS, NO HYENAS,
NO VULTURES,

NOBODY TO STEAL THE KILL.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD THAT THE CUB
IS ACTUALLY

HOLDING THAT THROAT BITE.

THIS IS WHAT IT'LL HAVE TO DO
WHEN IT HUNTS FOR ITSELF.

AND I SAY, "HUNTS FOR ITSELF,"
OF COURSE,

IT'S GONNA HAVE
ITS BROTHER AS BACKUP.

THEY WILL HUNT TOGETHER.

THESE CUBS WILL REMAIN
WITH EACH OTHER FOR LIFE.

THE MOTHER WILDEBEEST
IS COMING BACK.

I THOUGHT SHE WOULD.

SHE KNOWS SHE'S LOST SOMETHING,

SOMETHING PRECIOUS, SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN WITH HER,

SIDE BY SIDE,
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO,

AND SUDDENLY IT'S GONE.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY WANTING
OUR BIG CATS

TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN THEIR HUNTING,

BUT IT'S AT THE EXPENSE
OF ANOTHER LIFE.

AND WHEN YOU WATCH HER --

A FEMALE LIKE THIS,
LOOKING DISTRESSED,

SEARCHING FOR HER YOUNG,
YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO HER,

BUT THIS IS THE ENDLESS CYCLE
OF LIFE AND DEATH

ON THE AFRICAN PLAIN --

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN
PREDATOR AND PREY.

♪♪

[ GRUNTING ]

Jackson:
THE BUFFALOES ARE COMING IN,

AND THIS IS NOT
VERY GOOD SITUATION

BECAUSE CHARM IS RIGHT THERE
WITH THE CUBS.

THE LITTLE CUBS ARE EXPOSED
RIGHT IN THE OPEN.

[ BUFFALO GRUNTING ]

OH, THERE HE GOES,
HE'S CHARGING, LOOK.

AND THE FEMALES
ARE GETTING NOW READY.

LOOK, THEY'RE ALL GETTING UP
WITH THE CUBS

AND THE CUBS ARE MOVING FAST.

THEY ARE GETTING OUT.

THEY REALIZE THERE IS
DANGER HERE.

LOOK AT THAT STANDOFF.

THERE'S ANOTHER BUFFALO COMING.

THEY'RE ALL COMING.
LOOK AT THAT.

♪♪

[ GROWLING ]

♪♪

ASKARI IS BECOMING AGGRESSIVE.

AS MUCH AS THE BUFFALOES
ARE GIVING THEM HASSLE

AND PUSHING THEM AWAY,
HE IS FIGHTING WITH HIS BROTHER.

HE STILL HAS TO DEFEND
THE FEMALE.

CLOUDY EYE IS IN HEAT
AND SHE'S MATING.

THAT LITTLE BIT OF PUSH SHOWS
THAT ASKARI

IS AT THE TOP
OF THE MARSH PRIDE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

TO SIRE NEW CUBS.

♪♪

THAT'S CLOSE.

LOOK AT THAT.

♪♪

RIGHT HERE WE'VE GOT
A BUFFALO WHICH DIED,

AND THE LIONS HAD A FEAST.

BUFFALOES ARE COMING TO REVENGE,

AND THINKING THEIR OWN
WAS KILLED BY LIONS,

AND IN AN ACTUAL FACT,
THEY DIDN'T.

THE BUFFALO JUST CAME
RIGHT AND DIED

AT THE HEART
OF THE MARSH PRIDE.

THEY ARE SMELLING
WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

AND LOOK, THERE'S ONE
MORE BUFFALO

WHICH IS HEADING
TO CHARM'S BUSH.

HE'S GOING RIGHT IN.

I BET HE CAN SMELL CHARM
RIGHT THERE AND THE CUBS.

THEY'RE REALLY DETERMINED
TO TRY AND FLUSH

THIS LIONESS OUT OF THERE.

THIS IS QUITE A HIGH LEVEL
OF STRESS.

IF THOSE BULLS COME AROUND,

THOSE BABIES WILL BE HISTORY.

AND CHARM IS JUST PRAYING
THAT THEY GO AWAY.

♪♪

YOU CAN SEE THAT BUFFALO
THAT'S GETTING AGGRESSIVE --

HE KNOWS THE LIONS
ARE HIS WORST ENEMIES.

THERE THEY GO.
HE'S CHASING.

♪♪

THIS IS A CONSTANT BATTLE
BETWEEN LIONS AND BUFFALO.

ALL THE TIME, THESE ARE ENEMIES

THAT ARE LIVING
TOGETHER FOREVER.

♪♪

Jonathan: BIG DAY TODAY.

I'VE JUST HEARD THAT ONE OF
OUR CREW HAVE FOUND BAHATI.

NOW, BAHATI IS ONE
OF OUR LEOPARDS.

WE FILMED HER LAST YEAR
WHEN SHE HAD TWO SMALL CUBS --

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

THOSE CUBS BECAME INDEPENDENT,

AND I'M TOLD SHE'S GOT
A NEW LITTER.

♪♪

AND "BAHATI" MEANS "GOOD LUCK,"
AND WHEN YOU'RE WITH HER,

YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE
IT'S GOOD LUCK.

♪♪

SO, WHERE'S -- OH, THERE
SHE IS, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.

♪♪

IT'S JUST LIKE MEETING UP
WITH AN OLD FRIEND

BECAUSE I LAST SAW BAHATI
ABOUT A YEAR AGO,

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

HER MOTHER WAS OLIVE,
HER MOTHER WAS BELLA.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE LEGACY
OF CAT HISTORY

THAT WE TAP INTO.

AND TO ME,
THAT'S THE FASCINATION.

THE MORE YOU SPEND TIME
WITH A CAT,

THE MORE YOU GET TO KNOW IT.

SO, SHE'S NOT JUST A CAT,

SHE'S NOT JUST A LEOPARD,
SHE'S BAHATI.

AND I'M JUST CHECKING HER TUMMY.

SHE'S BREATHING QUITE HEAVILY.

SHE'S IN THE SHADE, BUT I CAN
SEE THE BROWN TELL-TALE MARKS

WHERE THE SKIN IS FLATTENED,

WHERE THE FUR IS FLATTENED
AROUND HER TEATS.

SO SHE'S STILL
SUCKLING HER CUBS.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN
THE CUBS,

I CAN DEDUCE A COUPLE THINGS --
ONE, THEY'RE STILL SUCKLING.

TWO, IF SHE'S PREPARED
TO MOVE AROUND WITH THEM

RATHER THAN KEEP THEM
AT A DEN,

THEY HAVE TO BE BETWEEN TWO
AND THREE MONTHS MINIMUM,

MAYBE EVEN A BIT OLDER.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A LEOPARD
JUST PLUCKING THE FUR,

MAKING IT EASIER
TO GET TO THE MEAT,

BAHATI WASN'T HAVING
A BIG MEAL THERE.

MAYBE SHE WAS PREPARING THE WAY
FOR WHEN THE CUBS COME --

WHEN SHE CALLS THEM,
BRINGS THEM TO THE KILL.

SHE WANTS THEM TO BE ABLE TO EAT

AS MUCH AS THEY CAN
AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.

THE BIG THING IS,
WHEN WILL SHE GO AND GET THEM?

I ALWAYS FEEL WHEN I'M WITH
A LEOPARD IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE

BECAUSE, REALLY, THE WORLD
OF A LEOPARD IS A SECRET WORLD.

IT'S SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS.

IT'S JUST A DAPPLE COAT MOVING
SINUOUSLY THROUGH THE BUSHES.

BAHATI'S JUST MOVED TO THE EDGE

CLOSE TO WHERE THE KILL IS,
AND SHE'S CALLING.

[ CALLING ]I HAVE HEARD THIS SOUND.

IT'S A VERY SUBTLE SOUND.

AND THAT IS A CALL THAT'S ONLY
MEANT TO BE HEARD BY THE CUBS.

[ BAHATI CALLING ]

YEP, CUBS COMING.

BEAUTIFUL.

OH, I LOVE THESE MOMENTS.

YOU KNOW THAT GREETING,

ESPECIALLY AT THIS AGE

BECAUSE MUM LICKS THEM,

THE CUBS WANT TO PLAY WITH HER,
JUST THE BEST MOMENTS.

♪♪

AND OF COURSE, AT THIS AGE,
THEY'RE SO FOCUSED ON MUM,

SO YOU GET LOTS OF SOCIALIZING.

AND WITH A SOLITARY CAT
LIKE A LEOPARD,

THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT I JUST TREASURE.

♪♪

BAHATI'S SIX AND A HALF YEARS
OLD NOW.

WE'VE FOLLOWED THIS LINEAGE
OF LEOPARDS FOR 25 YEARS.

IT'S THAT INVESTMENT
IN KNOWING THESE ANIMALS,

IN CARING ABOUT THESE ANIMALS,
THAT MAKES US KEEP COMING OUT

EVERY SINGLE MORNING
THAT WE CAN.

♪♪

Angela: THEY SAY THAT LIONS
DON'T CLIMB TREES,

BUT WE HAVE THESE MOTHERS
JUST LOVING CLIMBING THIS TREE.

AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, IT IS AGONY

BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO SHOOT
THROUGH MY WIND SCREEN.

BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE TIMES
THAT YOU'RE JUST ENJOYING

BEING SO CLOSE,
UNABLE TO MOVE BACKWARDS,

BUT ENJOYING
SEEING THEM PLAYING.

AND IT'S A WONDERFUL THING
BECAUSE ACTUALLY THESE MOTHERS

ARE VERY YOUNG MOTHERS,

SO YOU GET THESE MOMENTS

WHERE THEY'RE JUST
FULL OF THE JOYS OF SPRING.

SO THEY JUST LOVE TO GAMBLE
AND PLAY WITH THE CUBS,

WHICH IS WONDERFUL FOR THE CUBS

AND OBVIOUSLY THE MOTHERS
ARE JUST LOVING IT.

THEY'RE USING THIS TREE,
I THINK, AS A SCRATCHING POST.

YOU KNOW, LIONS LOVE TO FIND
A TREE

WHERE THEY LEAVE MARKS
ON THE TREE BARK.

YOU KNOW, THEY CLEAN THEIR NAILS
A LITTLE BIT

AND STRETCH THEIR MUSCLES,
AND...

BUT ALSO, FROM THE VANTAGE POINT
SHE HAS UP THERE,

SHE'S ACTUALLY LOOKING
RIGHT DOWN INTO CHARM'S DEN.

SO THIS COULD BE INTERESTING.

WE'VE GOT BOTH THE MOTHERS
AND THE THREE CUBS

JUST WALKING STRAIGHT INTO

WHERE CHARM'S GOT
HER LITTLE TWO CUBS.

THIS IS THE VERY LAST THING
THAT, REALLY, SHE NEEDS.

AT THE AGE THAT MOJA AND BILLY,
AND SOLO ARE,

THEY'RE PLAYING QUITE ROUGH NOW.

I MEAN, AT FOUR MONTHS
THEY'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW,

THEY'RE BITING
INTO EACH OTHER'S NECKS

AND THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE IS
REAL, FULL-ON ROUGH, ROUGH PLAY.

AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR CHARM'S
TINY LITTLE ONES,

AND WE CAN HEAR
THE ODD ABSOLUTE SQUAWK.

[ CUB SQUAWKING ]

SO, CONTRARY TO WHAT
I WAS HOPING,

SHE IS ACTUALLY MOVING
ONE OF THE CUBS.

AS TOLERANT AS A LIONESS
AS CHARM IS,

I MEAN, THAT WAS QUITE
A MORNING FOR HER.

AND OBVIOUSLY, SHE JUST FELT
TOO MUCH TOO SOON.

BUT THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING
OF MANY INTERACTIONS,

SO IT'S NOT THE END OF THE GAME
BY A LONG SHOT,

BUT CHARM, IN HER WISDOM,
IN HER OLD AGE,

SHE KNOWS THEY'RE TOO YOUNG

TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED
INTO THE PRIDE.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY REALLY.

LIONS KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S
GOING ON IN THEIR TERRITORY.

I HADN'T EVEN SEEN
WHERE MPOLE WAS,

BUT AS SOON AS HE SAW CHARM
MOVING HER CUBS,

HE JUST POPPED UP
JUST TO INVESTIGATE,

SEE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.

AND SHE, THE OLD MAMA
THAT SHE IS, WASN'T CONCERNED.

I MEAN, NORMALLY FEMALES WOULD
BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED

SEEING MALES COME CLOSE
TO WHERE THEY HAVE THE CUBS,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
SHE RECOGNIZED HIM.

SHE WAS OKAY ABOUT IT.

AND CHARM HAS TUCKED HERSELF
IN THIS OLD, BROKEN-DOWN TREE,

WHICH WE CALL DAVE'S TREE.

IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO BE
ONE OF THE FAVORITE PLACES

OF THE MOTHERS
AND THE CUBS,

SO I DON'T THINK
SHE'S GONNA HAVE THAT MUCH PEACE

AND QUIET HERE, BUT FOR NOW,
THE CUBS ARE SAFELY TUCKED AWAY

IN ONE OF THE LITTLE NOOKS,

AND SHE CAN HAVE A COUPLE
OF HOURS' PEACE AND QUIET.

♪♪

Jonathan: BAHATI HAS TO MAKE
A DECISION NOW --

IS SHE GONNA WALK AWAY
FROM THAT CARCASS,

OR IS SHE GONNA TRY AND ACTUALLY
MOVE IT TO SOMEWHERE SAFER?

YOU SEE THE WAY
SHE LOOKS UP LIKE THAT?

SHE'S THINKING, "NEXT STOP,
GET THAT KILL UP INTO A TREE."

AND THE CUBS ARE PICKING UP

A LITTLE BIT
ON THAT NERVOUSNESS.

♪♪

BECAUSE UNLIKE THE CHEETAH
WHO HAS TO FEED AND MOVE OFF,

SHE CAN GET IT UP INTO A TREE

AND FEED AGAIN TOMORROW,
THE NEXT DAY.

♪♪

AND THAT'S A BIG ANIMAL.

SHE'S EATEN A LOT, BUT THERE'S
STILL PLENTY OF MEAT THERE.

♪♪

OTHER PREDATORS, HYENAS,

THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE
VERY SOON.

SEE?
CHECKING, LOOKING UP, THINKING,

"WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?"

SHE HASN'T GOT LONG TO ACT NOW.

THOSE CUBS ARE VULNERABLE.

♪♪

UP SHE GOES.

NOPE.

OKAY, NOW SHE'S GOT A PROBLEM

BECAUSE SHE'S GOT THE CUBS
IN A THICKET THERE,

TUCKED AWAY THERE,

BUT WITH THE KILL,

WITH THE SMELL OF THAT CARCASS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD,

IT'S ALSO THE SAFETY
OF THOSE CUBS.

♪♪

OKAY, SHE'S MAKING HER MOVE.

SHE'S HEADED FOR THE TREES.

SHE'S GOT TO DO THIS QUICKLY
BECAUSE SHE IS SO EXPOSED.

♪♪

OKAY, THE CLOCK'S TICKING.

SHE'S GOT ABOUT 35 MINUTES 'TIL
IT STARTS TO GET REALLY DARK.

AND SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE

THE LITTLE CUBS
WHERE THEY ARE NOW

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THE INTESTINE,

THE ABDOMINAL CONTENTS,
ALL THAT SMELLY STUFF

THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTE HEAVEN
FOR A HYENA,

IS WHERE THE CUBS ARE.

SO SHE'S GOT TO CHOOSE HERE
FAIRLY QUICKLY --

TRY AND GET THAT KILL UP
INTO A TREE IF SHE CAN.

SHE'S HAD THREE
OR FOUR ATTEMPTS NOW.

EACH TIME, IT'S BEEN TOO MUCH
FOR HER, JUST TOO MANY BRANCHES.

SOMETIMES THERE JUST ISN'T
THE RIGHT TREE.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

THEY'VE JUST HEARD THE LEOPARD.
THESE ARE THE GUINEA FOWL.

LEOPARDS
SOMETIMES KILL GUINEA FOWL,

AND THIS IS PAYBACK TIME.

THEY'RE LITERALLY GIVING BAHATI
THE BIRD.

THEY'RE SAYING, "WE SEE YOU,
MOVE ON."

BECAUSE IF OTHER ANIMALS --
HYENAS, LIONS HEAR THAT,

THEY KNOW SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

THEY COULD COME AND INVESTIGATE.

BOY, OH, BOY, THIS IS NOT A NICE
WAY FOR HER TO END HER EVENING.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

NEXT TIME ON "BIG CAT TALES"...

THEY'RE THREATENING
THAT LITTLE CUB.

Jackson:
RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE,

SHE'S COMING STRAIGHT
TOWARDS US.

Jonathan: I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

WOW
LOOK AT THAT!