Original subtitles

[African music playing]

[narrator] Deep in Botswana's Okavango Delta lies an island.

It's a place of permanent water

and rich grazing.

Desirable territory for many.

In its shadows lurk Africa's most secretive big cats.

Here, three leopards are forced to share the same territory

and live an increasingly uneasy co-existence.

They are drawn together by the shifting seasons,

leading to tension,

drama,

conflict,

and tragedy.

The undisputed ruler of this territory

is the dominant male leopard, Buddha.

A five-year-old, sturdy individual in the prime of his life.

Moving in and out of Buddha's domain, is one of his females.

She specializes in climbing the tall ebony and Kigelia trees of Moremi.

[insects buzzing]

She's called Mosweo…

The Pale One.

Tipa, their three-year-old son, walks a dangerous line within his parents' territory.

According to leopard law, he should've moved on by now to fend for himself.

But he's still around.

Lingering between Buddha and Mosweo can only lead to trouble.

He seems blissfully unaware of his predicament.

But it is Mosweo's life that has undergone a dramatic change recently.

She has just given birth to two cubs.

[instrumental music playing]

And Tipa poses a potential threat to them.

Her litter emerges from her carefully-concealed den.

[growling]

She has fared well so far.

Her two cubs were born in a bountiful summer.

[birds singing]

Leopards are solitary creatures

and as a mother, Mosweo relies on all her skills to raise her cubs.

In general, leopard cubs' survival rate is below fifty percent.

The majority of losses happen during the cubs' first year of life

while the leopard mother leaves to hunt.

It's a harsh reality that leopards have to contend with every time they give birth.

Mosweo has no choice but to leave her cubs to find food.

From her last litter, Tipa is the only survivor.

He's an adolescent.

He still lingers near the den site,

familiar with his birth place,

frequenting the paths of his youth.

Up to now Mosweo has tolerated his presence in her territory.

[ominous music playing]

But the time has come for him to move on.

Mosweo is on the warpath.

She walks with purpose, her tail held high.

The time has come for her to sever the bonds between them forever.

[birds singing]

Mosweo marks her territory near his tree.

The hostility towards her son is plain to see.

Their relationship has degenerated into open conflict.

Tipa still bears the wounds from an earlier clash.

Even though he's now bigger than his mother...

as her son, Tipa remains relatively submissive.

Reluctantly, he leaves the area.

But unwisely, he'll continue to linger on the edge of his mother's territory.

As he moves into a neighboring woodland, he stumbles on a mortal enemy.

[crickets chirping]

The lions' scent carries, and he's alerted.

He needs to be careful.

His first few days in unfamiliar territory are dangerous

and he's extremely vulnerable.

Lions are the leopards' biggest threat.

Not only would they kill cubs,

but they'd tear Tipa limb from limb.

He has to skirt around them silently.

With the threat to her cubs dealt with,

Mosweo can now concentrate on the one thing she does best...

hunting.

[birds chirping]

She's an excellent climber.

She likes a good vantage point, 7 or 8m above the ground.

[suspenseful music playing]

The leopard is the only big cat that uses gravity to hunt.

Mosweo is an expert at it.

[leopard grunting]

This technique is quick, quiet and efficient.

But the impala alarm calls are a dead giveaway that a predator is operating in the forest.

The hyenas have heard the commotion.

She needs to hide the kill before they see her.

They hunt in packs.

They're strong, and aggressive.

Worse...

They are the number one killer of leopard cubs.

She cannot let them find her den.

[instrumental music playing]

[leopard panting]

In a risky move, she fetches the cubs, and leads them back to feed,

using the secret pathways she knows so well.

With such small cubs, she cannot move the carcass into the safety of a tree

since they cannot climb.

[birds calling]

Down on the ground, they're all exposed to danger.

Staying well-hidden is their only option.

This, is the realm of the leopard.

Camouflaged in the broken and dappled scrub

they can feed undisturbed, for a while.

[insects buzzing]

[leopard and cub growling]

[ominous music playing]

But the hyenas can smell the kill.

The circle around the scent tightens.

Mosweo has to act quickly and decisively.

She has a plan...

Get the hyenas to focus on her and draw them far away enough for the cubs to leave the kill.

Leopards constantly walk a fine line between safety and danger.

As solitary cats, they have struck a perfect balance.

But for a mother, this balance can mean sacrifice.

Let the hyenas have their prize.

[birds singing, insects buzzing]

For the powerful Buddha

life's a little different.

He's double the weight of Mosweo.

He's much stronger and much more confident.

But in the wet season, he has a worthy adversary.

[baboon barking]

[barking]

Baboons are strong and intelligent omnivores

and the troops are led by several big, dominant males.

[music intensifies]

[growling]

They are loud and active within the troop,

a marked characteristic of the species.

Sometimes they direct their collective aggression towards predators.

Their incessant barks stir Buddha from his rest, challenging him.

[baboon barking]

Arrogant in their approach, the troop moves noisily through the forest.

[baboon barking]

[insects buzzing, birds singing]

At first, Buddha slinks away from the taunting crowd.

[baboon barking]

[leopard growling]

[ominous music playing]

But the provocation becomes too much and he retaliates.

[baboons barking]

[baboon barking]

He confirms his hold as lord of this territory...

and then leaves.

[insects buzzing]

[thunder rumbling]

Dead Tree Island changes radically with the seasons.

It's one of the few places with permanent drinking water,

but in summer,

its herbivores rely on the rains for good grazing.

[instrumental music playing]

[lion growls softly]

The effects of these storms are felt across the Okavango and beyond.

[hippo grunts]

The result is a welcome flourish of green.

[upbeat music playing]

Fresh leaves, grasses and shoots sprout

and animals leave the forest and spread out into the surrounding floodplains.

This abundance of water and food

brings on the birthing season for impala,

one of the leopard's favorite prey.

It happens during a time guaranteed to supply the best in nourishment and protection,

minimizing the stress on the young, their mothers and the herd.

But the newborn impalas are highly vulnerable,

and face a variety of threats.

[ominous music playing]

The African rock python is another of Dead Tree Island's expert hunters.

Muscular coils squeeze the life from its prey, asphyxiating it.

It swallows the calf whole by extending its jaws, using specialized hinges.

[soft music playing]

The wandering impala herds provide a reliable source of food.

Mosweo has killed one during the night

and has hidden the fresh carcass in a thicket, where she feeds quickly.

To make this kill, she's had to leave her young alone, and vulnerable.

Now she needs to get back to the den.

[growls softly]

[soft calling continues]

As Mosweo approaches the den, she senses danger.

[growls softly]

Hyenas have been busy nearby.

[calls softly]

[soft calling continues]

Her gentle calls are low and don't carry far...

meant only for the ears of her cubs.

[calling softly]

Only one responds.

[birds calling]

[ominous music playing]

[soft calling continues]

[emotive music playing]

The nightmare of all mothers now falls on Mosweo.

[flies buzzing]

[calling softly]

Her calls seem desperate

and at the same time hopeful.

Her own flesh and blood has been taken from her in just one night.

She has no option but to move on.

In a leopard's life there is no time to mourn the dead.

The cub is growing and it needs meat in its diet.

[fly buzzing]

The wellbeing of this lone cub

now hinges on Mosweo's intimate knowledge of this area of the Okavango.

[birds singing]

[instrumental music playing]

The rains have stopped.

And all around Dead Tree Island the vegetation is beginning to brown.

The animals sense this.

Seasons determine behavioral patterns and each species responds differently.

Kudu males choose a suitable female, courting her with gallant displays.

Tipa lurks in the undergrowth.

He's strayed back into his original territory.

The kudu are distracted and oblivious to any threat.

[ominous music playing]

[music intensifies]

[kudu barking]

But Tipa's lack of experience is plain to see.

Perhaps he's still too young to realize he shouldn't expend energy on the unattainable.

Prey the size of a kudu is out of his league.

[instrumental music playing]

Flocks of queleas announce the onset of winter, the dry season.

[birds singing]

Many animals gravitate to the Dead Tree Island area for the permanent water.

This harsher season allows for at least one miracle...

The Kigelia tree blossoms to life.

It offers a precious winter treasure.

Flowers filled with nectar.

Baboons drink from the crimson chalice.

Tipa needs to be more flexible in his hunting strategy.

He has to learn to anticipate his potential prey's movements.

Baboons are messy eaters and soon the impala move closer

to feed on the flowers that carpet the ground.

He silently watches...

and waits.

He needs the impala to come to him.

[birds singing, insects buzzing]

[ominous music playing]

But the marauding baboon troop has singled out his tree.

He's not as powerful as Buddha.

They will not tolerate Tipa's presence.

If they catch him, they'll try to kill him.

[baboon barking]

[music intensifies]

He cannot risk a confrontation.

An injury may cost him dearly.

[leopard growling]

Mosweo watches from a safe distance...

keeping track of the conflict.

She follows Tipa's prey now.

Quietly, she begins her own hunt.

[rhythmic music playing]

She finds a tree ahead of the herd,

hoping that the flowers will draw the impalas beneath her.

Mosweo shows great patience.

She watches the antelopes' moves

and identifies her target.

This time, her signature high dive is off the mark.

[leopard grunting]

[emotive music playing]

With her cover blown, the impalas keep a watch on her.

[leopard growling]

Her annoyance is obvious.

So much energy wasted, for nothing.

But she has to keep moving.

She's out in the open and the baboons are still in the area.

But things only get worse.

The impala alarms have alerted the lions.

[insects buzzing]

Mosweo is forced to play a game of cat and mouse

to get back to her den, without giving its position away.

Tipa's reluctance to stay away from his mother's territory is causing chaos.

His blundering kill attempts have multiplied the pressure on her.

She is relieved to find her cub safe and well.

[African music playing]

She decides to move to a new den sight.

The lions were far too close for comfort.

Her remaining cub, now five months old, is showing her character.

She loves playing with her mother's tail.

It's a good test of reflexes.

Hidden in the dry grass, Mosweo rests,

regaining her strength before she starts hunting again.

For the moment, all is well with mother and cub.

They're secure in the new den.

[instrumental music playing]

Winter forces the elephants in from the surrounding desert.

Lechwe gather here too.

Water is their ally.

In these last pools they are safe from most predators.

They're larger than impalas,

but a big cat like Buddha should be able to pull them down.

[birds calling]

[music intensifies]

[wings flapping]

The lechwe turn and watch their attacker.

They take in his smell...

burning it into their brains for future reference,

making sure Buddha leaves the area.

[birds calling]

Within this changing season, Mosweo needs to move greater distances,

passing the open floodplains to find the cover she needs to hunt.

She's following the movements of her prey,

but so are the other predators.

Relocation for a leopard is always risky.

But she soon finds a tree in an area that she likes.

[insects buzzing]

From this vantage point

she can see the breeding herds of elephants steadily moving into the delta.

It's October now and the heat is intense.

The floods that brought life to the region, have almost all evaporated now.

Dead Tree Island draws the inhabitants of the Okavango closer

to the last remaining water.

[birds singing]

The last flooded pans now hold the fate of all these characters.

[lion roaring]

[roaring continues]

They're drawn together in one group

and the paths of the predators cross dangerously close.

[lion roaring]

[birds calling]

Tipa is the first victim of this heightened competition.

He's finally killed an impala

but doesn't get to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Stooping to petty theft,

the lions that have haunted his movements, now steal his food.

Tipa stares hungrily as the big male eats the ill-gotten gains.

The lion eats the bulk of the impala, and leaves.

Carefully, Tipa moves to reclaim his kill.

Finally, he can enjoy what remains, in peace.

Mosweo's cub is now at an age where she begins to explore further.

It's high time she learned how to climb.

[instrumental music playing]

A little unsure of herself, she attempts to reach some babblers.

She's small, and still vulnerable.

Even more so now that she's curious and able to venture out of hiding.

Especially when her mother's not around.

Mosweo is far off, hunting.

She doesn't often come to this part of the island

and she leaves her mark to enforce her presence.

She moves on to an open plain where two side-striped jackal are foraging.

In this season of hardship,

Mosweo takes advantage of any opportunity that presents itself.

Although not normally a prey item, the jackals quickly become a target.

[ominous music playing]

[music intensifies]

But the side-striped jackal is no fool and has an impressive turn of speed.

[jackal barking]

[jackal barking]

Irritated with her failure, she leaves her mark and moves on.

[jackal barking continues]

The jackal's barks are echoed by Vervet monkeys, chattering in the distance.

These alarm calls alert Mosweo.

They're coming from the direction of the den.

[monkey calling]

[calling and barking continues]

[Mosweo growling]

Mosweo treads lightly

as she moves closer to the place pinpointed by the monkeys.

[growling softly]

[monkeys calling]

She starts searching...

But what she finds, is shocking.

[growling]

Her cub has its back leg caught in a tree,

and its pelvis has been broken.

[emotive music playing]

[monkey calling]

Nothing she tries can help her last remaining cub.

No gentle nudge.

No affectionate encouragement.

Perhaps an invitation to a last game?

[emotive music continues]

[growling softly]

[growling softly]

[growling]

Her voice is almost pleading.

A last attempt, and the cub's leg is freed.

There is no more that Mosweo can do.

With all her remaining strength

the cub pulls herself to her final resting place.

But her mother has already decided to leave this traumatic scene behind.

[birds calling]

Mosweo seems to try to rub away her sense of loss.

Is this the way a leopard mourns?

The heat builds.

The rains are coming.

Buddha treads on new ground.

He is following an interesting scent.

One that he cannot help but find irresistible.

It comes from this leopard.

A new female has entered his territory.

She is larger and stronger than Mosweo

and she brings the promise of fresh genes to Dead Tree Island.

On the fringes, Mosweo watches with alarm.

Buddha’s senses trigger an uncontrollable need to cloak himself

in the new female's scent.

Hers is not any smell...

It is the perfume of a female in estrous.

Mosweo follows his footsteps.

His calls are low and clear.

But she knows he's not calling her.

What she smells is not appealing.

The scent of another female.

A rival.

Instinctively, Mosweo tries to mask any hint of her challenger's presence.

But she's too late.

[growling]

Buddha is already responding,

laying a path of enticement.

[growling]

The new female is quick to take up his invitation.

[instrumental music playing]

Mosweo retreats. Her efforts are futile.

[leopard growling]

The rival has found her prize.

She makes contact with Buddha.

[emotive music playing]

Mosweo leaves the place where she gave birth.

Perhaps to seek out another territory.

And a new partner.

[birds calling]

[thunder rumbling, rain falling]

The dry winter finally breaks.

[rumbling continues]

[crickets chirping, drops falling]

And the change in season coaxes Buddha to mate.

[leopards growling continuously]

[leopards growling]

A new era begins for the leopards of Dead Tree Island.

They mate for days, and by the end of it,

the new female will hold the seed of new cubs.

[leopard growling]

[dramatic music playing]

And so, tragedy gives way to hope.

And the way of the wild shows its warmer side.

Buddha is content that his job is done.

And with the onset of another fruitful season...

the legacy of Dead Tree Island's leopards

is secure.