Original subtitles

Imagine a place

where the world's most endangered creatures can roam free.

ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

He's warming up his legs.

Oh - there he goes!

A vast wilderness,

brimming with the intimate dramas of its inhabitants...

LION ROARS

..as they take their first steps, learn to get along,

and confront their rivals.

In the shadow of Mount Kenya,

Ol Pejeta is one of the few untamed places left on Earth.

On Ol Pejeta, the wild really, really is the wild.

RHINO SNORTS

It's home to 13,000 animals...

Let's get ready to rumble!

..watched over by a dedicated team of rangers...

Just like you take care of your kids, these are our kids.

..who, every day, must decide if they should intervene

in a wild animal's life.

Oh, I would want to see who will win on this.

..or let nature take its course...

It's a tough call. It's a tough call, definitely.

..as these extraordinary creatures strive to survive in the wild.

He's up! There he goes.

Nice!

SINGING: Jambo Bwana by Them Mushrooms

# Mzuri sana

# Wageni mwakaribishwa

# Kenya yetu, hakuna matata... #

It's mid-afternoon in Ol Pejeta... SINGING CONTINUES

..and, in their own way, everyone is relaxing in the sun...

..including one elderly resident

who long ago mastered the art of taking it easy,

baboon Alan.

You see him hanging on the branches of trees

with his...a little bit belly out.

He's relaxed.

Known for his laid-back outlook,

Alan is alpha male of the Sweetwater troupe, one of five in Ol Pejeta.

Unusually in baboon society,

Alan has kept the peace as leader for several years.

Alan's troupe is quite unique.

A typical baboon troupe is led by the alpha male,

and this dominant male, on most occasions, is really assertive.

There's a lot of squabbles, there's a lot of disciplines,

you'll always hear squeals and cries

and a lot of fighting amongst each other.

Alan has nothing to fight for.

He has already commanded respect for the group.

Ranger James has known Alan for much of his long reign...

..and thinks he knows the secret to his success.

The fact that Alan has this very distinguishing tooth

could be an advantage of him over the other males.

You know, the tooth looks so scary.

He really can inflict injury

to anyone who is daring maybe try to overthrow him

or misbehave or something like that.

My opinion, I don't think he looks so handsome, but who knows?

In the baboon world, maybe he looks like something to the females.

One of the benefits of leadership is a personal harem.

Today, Alan is enjoying the attentions of Candy,

one of his favourites.

But while Alan's distracted, a stranger arrives...

BABOONS SQUAWK

..upsetting the usual peace and quiet in the troupe.

PANTING Stan.

Like many young males just coming of age,

Stan has left his own troupe to seek his fortune elsewhere.

Stan is a young, aggressive male who is a new challenge for Alan.

He will have to try to keep this male at bay.

There are a number of ways that an incoming baboon will have to...

To do when it comes to a new group.

If he is able to win the females' heart then he'll become accepted.

If there's so much opposition against him, maybe he has to fight.

Alan hasn't faced a serious challenge in a while.

SHRIEKING But Stan seems intent on muscling in on him and Candy.

GRUNTING

BARKING

PANTING ESCALATES TO ROARING

LOUD ROAR

SCREECHING

They're fighting each other.

Stan wants a piece of the mating rights.

GRUNTING

SINGLE BARK

Alan's seen Stan off - for now.

But with age catching up with him,

Alan's days as leader may be numbered.

Stan wants to show him by example, like,

"This is what I'm going to take over and is what I'm gonna do.

"I'll be the next leader."

Alan has to fight, and he really has to stand his ground.

Stan is really strong.

He's more muscular, he's got all this vigour and energy.

You think about a 30-year-old fighting a 70-year-old man.

Honestly, it's a big challenge.

Every day, across Ol Pejeta, young animals are reaching maturity

and testing the authority of their elders.

LOUD ROAR

Tricky, tricky... Youth or experience?

Quite a tricky, tricky subject.

Some teenagers in the wilderness

start becoming hot-headed.

YELPING

As animals are developing, so are their hormones.

You know, they have that perception that they're now strong

and they might try to beat up or mash up an adult.

LOW GROWLS

As animals are coming to maturity,

they want to act like the big strong males or females or whatever it is.

You know, they're trying to fit in to those big shoes,

but they still have quite a bit to learn.

So, sometimes they need to step back and kind of...

..be taught by the older ones

how to survive, how to hunt, how to feed or whatever it is.

It's that kind of a battle between thinking they know it all

versus needing to learn what they need to learn.

Two teenagers who have more to learn than most

are southern white rhinos Lucky and Harry.

They've spent a sheltered childhood together

in an enclosure protected from predators.

Lucky and Harry, they're pretty much best friends from childhood.

They are one month apart, so they are more like they are twins.

They've grown up together. They always together.

Lucky's larger in size.

This is a big deal and a big plus in the animal kingdom.

The bigger you are, you have more chances with the ladies,

compared to Harry, who is smaller in size.

They're in that transition stage

from being young boys to now teenage stage.

Their hormones are up, their testosterone's up...

It's really become a dilemma.

Harry and Lucky share their enclosure with ten females,

including their mothers, who have been chosen as potential surrogates

to help save their nearly-extinct cousins, the northern white rhino.

But now, at five years old,

Harry and Lucky are beginning to jeopardise the breeding programme.

LOW GROWL

GRUNTING Ranger Abraham is investigating.

What sort of behaviour has your team observed so far with them? OK...

They have become mature and now they want to mount. Ahh.

With the mother... Yeah. ..and also aunt and what have you.

Yeah.

Can see, na see that, so much interested.

Harry want to mount on her. Ah.

They are at the age where they're now ready to pair up. To mate, yeah.

The best idea going forward is to come up with a plan

to move out these young lads to the greater conservation area.

To protect the females,

it's time for these two teenagers to leave home.

Yeah, with five years, that's a good age.

Comparing it to humans,

it's like a young man who's just completed college,

so he's pretty much ready to go into the world

and it's about time now that they go and try to look for mates,

try and establish their own territory.

To survive in the wild, Lucky and Harry will have to grow up fast.

It's really going to be a big deal for them once they're going to be

introduced to the wilderness area.

For the first time, they are going to see

animals they have never seen in their life, like lions, elephants...

I'm hopeful that they are going to stick together,

because it's going to be them against the world.

MONKEYS SCREECH

This afternoon at the Sweetwater baboon troop,

Alan is in more need of his nap than usual.

He's been keeping an eye on challenger Stan

who has his eye on Alan's crown.

An important symbol of rank in baboon society are mating rights -

the most dominant male mates first.

Today, a young female has just come into season.

Jenny is sort of the upcoming star.

She has some real elegance

and charm that is really attracting every male of this troop...

..including the leader himself, Alan.

HIGH PITCHED SHRIEKS

LOW GRUNTING

After their first encounter,

Stan has grown in confidence.

Pushing ahead of Alan,

he claims Jenny before the leader.

INTENSE AGGRESSIVE SCREECHING

The biggest implication with Stan taking the female away from Alan

is that if he's not very careful Stan might lead to his downfall.

He really has to stand his ground.

Sensing weakness, Stan readies to establish his dominance.

BARKING AND HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING

This time, Alan backs down first.

It's really sad for Alan.

He's been the leader of the group for a long time

and I'm not sure now how he's going to work around this.

RASPING LOW GRUNT

Youthfulness brings strength

and sometimes strength is what is needed.

But in many cases

strength on its own might not be very sustainable.

ZEBRAS SNORT

When it comes to starting adult life

the young animal learns the harsh reality

that life is not as simple as they'd expected...

LOW GRUNT

..and there is so much that they need to learn.

The young animal now has to fend for itself.

DISTANT SCREECHING

You have to be alert at all times.

Everywhere you go, everything you do, it's a risk...

..from predators or territorial males.

There is no comfort zone here now...

..and experience is the best teacher.

Teddy and Freddy are two youngsters who still have

a lot left to learn.

Just a year old, they're teenagers in jackal years.

Steve has been studying the two brothers and their family.

It's a free adventure for me.

I don't have to pay anything to come here

and see how my jackals are faring.

I get to see how they live within a family. It's amazing.

HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING

John and Mary have seven pups.

Two are teenagers.

The other five are small pups,

about three or two weeks old.

Today is a big test for the two teenagers.

What happens within a jackal family is that the adults,

that is John and Mary,

will go out and try to hunt and look for food,

while Teddy and Freddy remain behind and look after the pups.

They will be like the nanny to the siblings.

PLAYFUL SQUEAKING

It's the first time Teddy and Freddy

have been left in charge of all five pups.

It's a big responsibility.

Jackals mate for life and only have one litter a year

so every pup is precious...

..but many are picked off by predators

in the first few weeks of life.

The main risk to these pups would be the lions,

lion cubs even might try to take advantage of the whole situation,

hyenas...

We have snakes

and also we have enemies from above,

such as the hawks, the eagles.

All these are looking to feed their families

and this would be a good opportunity.

EXCITED HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING

It's only been five minutes

and the teenage baby-sitters are already struggling to keep control.

Teddy and Freddy will wonder,

"What am I supposed to be doing at this point?

"Am I supposed to put my siblings to sleep?

"Am I supposed to play with them or do something with them?"

They look a bit clueless.

They don't know really

what they're supposed to be doing.

Unfortunately for them, their pups seem to be super and hyperactive.

It's like they've taken sugar.

They have a sugar rush

and they're really a headache now to Teddy and Freddy.

But, instead of actually looking after their siblings,

they'll actually try and bully their siblings,

which is mostly what teenagers will do.

I mean, my sister has done that to me,

so I would understand how their siblings are feeling

about Teddy and Freddy.

PLAYFUL SQUEAKING

Exhausted, Teddy and Freddy eventually give up

trying to keep the pups under control.

Now, where is Teddy and Freddy, honestly?

You'd expect the teenagers to be with their pups

but they are not to be seen.

It's actually very risky

because top predators such as a lion can come in and make them a meal.

Teenagers, teenagers...

In 1,000 acre predator-proof enclosure,

childhood is about to come to an abrupt end

for teenage southern white rhinos Harry and Lucky.

It's a big day for Harry and Lucky.

We are now pulling them out from their mother's comfort zone

and now out into the wilderness to be their own men

and live their own life now.

So far, Harry has lived in the shadow of his bigger, stronger

friend, Lucky, but life in the wild will be a shock for both of them.

Comparing them to humans,

these are naive young lads who are not streetwise at all.

Brought up in the rural areas,

now bringing them straight to the big city.

Personally, I'm a rural kid.

I think I relate very well with them.

The rangers start with the larger, more confident, Lucky.

We don't need all this convoy when we are approaching the animal,

because we don't want to spook it away.

That's why you're only having one vehicle going in,

that's the vet to dart the animal.

Then once the animal has been darted, he's going to call us in.

There are complications with any darting.

There is a lot of caution to be taken

when you're approaching these animals.

The vets get close enough to dart Lucky...

DART FIRES

..but before the sedative can take effect,

he disappears into the bush.

It's a problem because he might get strangled in between two branches

which is something we are very cautious about.

If left too long under sedation,

Lucky could develop potentially fatal breathing problems.

Is it dangerous if it doesn't get found?

In the wild, when one animal comes of age

it often means another finding their days at the top of the tree

are coming to an end.

At the Sweetwater baboon troop,

Alan seems powerless to stop young chalanger, Stan,

from taking over.

Once you're overthrown from your territory,

this is the worst part.

Comparing it to humans, it's like you have this family,

you've brought up your kids,

then, once you've grown old,

someone else comes and takes over.

Takes over your wife and your kids.

You lead a solitary life.

It's a very lonely life.

The only thing you have to prove of the life you've lived

is the scars that you have on your body.

But today, while Alan sits on the sidelines,

Stan's youth and inexperience as an alpha male are beginning to show.

SCREECHING

Stan is aggressive by nature...

..and can be a bully.

We see the way he addresses the other members of the troop,

biting and fighting everyone.

Females don't comprehend such a way of governance

because they have been used to a calm

sort of leadership from Alan.

Stan's aggressive attitude may be backfiring.

The females are seeing the need of joining hands

to stop Stan reaching to the top.

He has clearly shown in the way he's conducting himself

that if he takes the leadership role of the troop

then it's going to be a rough time for everyone.

A female, pushed too far, turns on Stan.

SCREECHING

Suddenly, more females are chasing him off.

Spurred on, Alan joins in.

It's been a hard lesson for the young Stan.

Driven out, he'll have to find another troop to accept him.

For now, Alan is restored to his rightful place.

It is a magical sight,

just watching all the positive energy

and love that is around Alan.

He's being surrounded by all these females,

infants are playing with him.

I think Alan is a good example of a leader.

He uses peace as a way of governing the troop.

It's just a simple way of just being loving and kind.

There is some other cool ways of solving conflicts

that Alan is teaching us,

that can be replicated to us as humans.

In the predator-proof enclosure,

the rangers have finally found rhino Lucky...

..collapsed in a bush.

He's still breathing but heavily sedated.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Weighing over a tonne,

Lucky's too heavy to be manhandled into the crate.

The only option is to reverse the effects of the tranquilliser,

wait for him to wake up...

..and coax him in.

Once the animal is about to be woken up,

the crate has to be very close

and we have to use very large ropes around it to push it in.

They are wondering what's going on, and they're really pissed off.

The worst case scenario is,

if it cuts off the ropes and turns on us,

it would break one's bones or would even be fatal.

INDISTINCT WHISPERING

It's really important that everyone plays their role

and we don't leave any room for error.

ENGINE RUMBLES INDISTINCT SHOUTING

It's quite intense. The adrenaline's pumping.

We are concerned for the animal,

and again for the welfare of the staff as well,

so it's quite an intensive activity.

Lucky is leaving the enclosure he's known all his life

to start the journey to becoming an adult wild rhino.

It is going to come out very aggressive and agitated.

Really, really agitated.

He's going to be quite wild.

You wouldn't want to stand in his way.

OK, go inside the vehicle.

RHINO GROWLS

Lucky isn't happy.

A good sign for the rangers.

That's the best characteristic of a survivor.

Yeah, we don't want him to be, like, lazy or sluggish.

We have released it and it is running

so it is out of range.

This is very much a boy becoming a man.

We are hopeful that he's going to find a mate and reproduce.

TRANQUILISER GUN CLICKS

Back in the enclosure,

the smaller, less confident Harry is almost ready

for his journey into the wild.

The rangers are releasing Harry in the same place as Lucky...

..though Lucky is now nowhere to be seen.

Unlike Lucky, Harry's first steps are uncertain.

I'm really, really worried about Harry.

He looks down and sleepy.

It's his first time out in the wild.

He'd had human touch,

so he still has our scent on him.

So it's really going to attract hyenas and other predators.

Change is difficult for everyone.

But again, it is inevitable, so you have to man up.

It's a big world that is not fair to anyone, so...

Yeah.

You have to get by, and in the wild it's survival for the fittest.

Coming of age often means having to leave the familiar comforts of home.

But not for jackals.

Steve is hoping to see signs that teenagers Teddy and Freddy

are improving at baby-sitting their younger siblings.

If Teddy and Freddy are going to raise the next generation...

INDISTINCT DIALOGUE

It's going to be disastrous.

I wish I can school them.

I'm not a jackal. HE LAUGHS

With both parents out late hunting, their next big test is bedtime.

They are putting one to sleep, the other is jumping off.

It's funny, actually, watching it.

One pup is proving more trouble than most.

There is one that is very, very naughty.

He's called Rick.

He is very, very, very, very demanding

because he always wants to be noticed.

I really don't envy Teddy and Freddy's work right now.

Especially if you're dealing with siblings

who are just super curious, super naughty,

always want to get out of the house and play out there.

They are honestly not aware of the lurking dangers in the wilderness.

Teddy and Freddy are old enough to understand the dangers.

But they seem too exhausted to care.

An enemy might find the perfect opportunity

to attack these pups,

and Teddy and Freddy will feel like the world has crumbled on them.

You know, unity is strength,

so if they are together, the hawks or the eagles

that are flying around might decide not to attack,

but if one tries to stray,

the hawk might take advantage of the situation,

and this might be kaput for him.

While most stick close to the den...

..one inquisitive pup is wandering off.

Rick is starting to grow more brave

and he goes off into the wilderness on his own.

It's like a baby crawling out of the house and just veering off.

It's dangerous.

Rick has strayed nearly 100 metres from the safety of the den.

His teenage brothers, unaware he's missing.

If an eagle swoops in,

there's literally nothing you can do.

If they don't find Rick before dark,

the chances of Rick surviving again are slim to none.

GEESE HONK

A week ago, rhinos Lucky and Harry

took their first steps into the wild.

The rangers usually check newly released animals are doing OK

but they haven't been able to find them.

Everyone is really concerned

because finding a white rhino has never been this challenging.

Now everyone is worried what could be the problem

or the worst-case scenarios.

While a spotter team take off to search from the air...

..Ranger Willie and the ground team are following up a possible

sighting of Harry, the smaller, less confident of the two rhinos,

and the one the rangers were most worried about after he was released.

Harry seems to have overcome his fears

and accepted his new life in the wild...

..but there's still no sign of the larger Lucky.

Time is of the essence.

If he's injured we don't know the extent of his wounds.

We're really worried.

BIRDS SHRIEK

Out on the savanna,

runaway jackal pup Rick has wandered far from the safety of his den...

Oblivious to the dangers.

Though older brothers Teddy and Freddy still haven't realised.

This is a typical example of how useless

Teddy and Freddy are in the family.

SHARP HIGH PITCHED CALL

With dusk approaching, predators are beginning to stir.

Ugh.

That changes the whole subject.

My guess is it's a tawny eagle.

Now, that's an enemy from above.

They are really opportunistic predators.

They have been rumoured to actually carry one into their nest.

It happens in an instant.

Back at the Den, Teddy and Freddy finally realise something is wrong.

HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING

FAINT SQUEAKING

CONTENTED SQUEAK

Rick is safe.

And for Teddy and Freddy, another important lesson learned.

The fact that they are not so good at this job,

will actually shape them to be better adults

because they might be reckless, they might be not so up

for the task, but I'm pretty sure it's shaping them in some way.

It might take a long time, but in the end,

they will mentally be good and also out there.

Search parties are still out looking for young

Southern white rhino Lucky.

The team has now extended the area to over 30 miles from where

he was released.

The spotters in the air catch sight of something

and guide in the ground team.

ALL WHISPERING

WHISPERS: He's there. Come.

Lucky is alive and well.

But he has stumbled into the territory of an older, bigger male.

And it seems he has been hiding in the bush ever since.

It's really a twist to the story.

We thought that Harry is the timid one who would go

out into the bushes to hide. But now it is Lucky.

Lucky, who was trying to show how dominant he is and how he is the man

and he is actually acting the opposite of what

he has been displaying.

Both rhinos have been found.

But for now, many miles apart, Lucky and Harry will have to face

the challenges of growing up in the wild alone.

It will be a relief if the two team up at some point

and form a coalition.

It's the best case scenario for them.

So is up to time. Time will tell.

LION ROARS

Every time the sun goes down, it becomes quite obvious that the

majority of the young ones are vulnerable.

They have not quite adapted to living on their own.

It is never safe. It is a wild place.

It is designed to be such because nature wants to prepare the

best genes.

You have to be a survivor.

But, just like when you first go to school, it is

scary at the onset until the animal gets used to some of the dangerous

and learns that it can actually survive on its own.

There is a big fight brewing here.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media