Original subtitles

Meet Malika, a young lioness at the top of her game.

An apex predator and part of a powerful sisterhood.

Some of the fiercest hunters in Africa.

But also a supportive group of gentle and loving mothers.

Malika is about to enter this unknown world of motherhood...

for the very first time.

Watch as her cubs, Issa and Nuru,

develop from the intimacy of the womb...

to their first magical moments in the world.

To keep them safe...

...in this wild corner of Africa,

will take courage...

...and the support of her own mom and the rest of her pride

as they rise to the challenges

of Growing Up Animal.

Just after first light,

Malika, a four-year-old lioness,

takes in the sights and sounds of the South African plains.

This large swath of open savanna...

is her family's hunting grounds.

This... is home.

Every day, Malika greets her family members with a head rub.

The lion equivalent of a hug.

She's the youngest in an affectionate sisterhood

made up of her mother, Ama,

her sisters, an aunt and a cousin.

Six lionesses in all...

with one male lion, the head of the pride...

...Bahati.

Lions are the only truly social big cats.

And Malika spends as much time as she can with her family.

Their unique closeness builds bonds that last a lifetime.

A quick snuggle from her loved ones means the world to Malika.

Especially now, she's carrying a secret.

Malika is pregnant.

Inside her womb, two new lives are beginning to take shape.

Issa and her brother, Nuru.

At seven weeks,

they're almost halfway through their 15-week journey to birth.

And it's a long road growing into the largest carnivore on land in Africa.

Protected by their mother's body,

they are blissfully unaware of the bumpy life that lies ahead.

But incredibly, it's not just Malika carrying a new generation of lions.

Her mother, Ama, is also pregnant.

Lions actually synchronize fertility cycles and births.

For newborn cubs, there's safety in numbers.

And rearing them becomes a real family affair.

But out here, there's no such thing as maternity leave.

When it comes time to hunt, Malika and Ama must take on their usual roles.

Malika's the pride's best stalker. Always front and center.

Ama and the other females flank out and melt into the tall grass.

Prey selected... they take up their positions.

Malika is silent...

precise.

She waits for the perfect moment to flush the target...

and drive it to Ama and an aunt, waiting in ambush.

The pregnant moms would love to eat first.

But Bahati has other ideas.

Unpredictable when he's hungry...

and grumpy at even the best of times.

The girls don't mind.

They want his muscle to protect them.

This is his reward for being the pride's bodyguard...

and he needs to keep his strength up.

This wildebeest hunt took place in broad daylight.

Usually, they hunt at night.

Daytimes are often spent lounging around.

But today, the afternoon sun is getting to Malika.

There must be someplace cooler.

Like all lions, Malika walks on tiptoes,

with heel and instep raised.

Soft pads on each paw act like cushions.

And fur, growing between each toe...

muffles the sound of her footsteps.

Malika's claws are super-sized versions of a domestic cat's.

And made from keratin, just like our own fingernails.

Sharp and strong, they're perfect for grabbing prey and holding on.

They're also pretty good for climbing.

And up here, at least there's a bit of a breeze for a hot mom to be.

Inside her, there's a lot going on.

At seven weeks old, Issa and Nuru are quickly developing into little lions.

Genetically, they are closely related to domestic cats.

But these kittens are more muscular and have a well-defined muzzle.

Issa's four paws, though tiny now,

will grow to be one of her most formidable assets.

And one day, she may climb a tree to escape the heat,

or keep watch over her home just like her mom.

Because there's always some trouble maker coming along looking to steal their prey.

This cheetah is trespassing.

Malika is first to react.

But it's time for Bahati to make his presence felt.

They won't see this guy again anytime soon.

The power of the pride has prevailed again.

Together, Malika, Bahati and the other females are an invincible force.

But when Malika comes to give birth, she will have to leave the pride

and rely on her own strength and courage,

to safely bring new lives into the world.

Two months later, there's an air of expectation on the African plains.

At 15 weeks, heavily pregnant Malika is now full-term.

It's quite a load she's carrying... but she's still got a job to do.

Every few days, she hunts with the family.

For lions, the bigger the hunting party, the more successful they are.

But with all this extra weight, she's slowing down.

And today, Malika feels uncomfortable.

A sign she's almost ready to give birth.

But she can't do it here, out in an open hunting ground.

For the first time in her life,

Malika must leave the safety and support of her family.

Her mother, Ama, already left three weeks ago...

to give birth somewhere out there.

It's the lion way.

The only place Malika can think to go is a rocky outcrop

at the very fringe of their territory.

There must be someplace to hide up here...

far from other predators.

This is all new to Malika,

but something tells her this steep, scrubby terrain

is the right place to stay safe...

and have her cubs.

Small, but perfectly formed at 15 weeks,

Issa and her brother, Nuru, are now ready to arrive.

At three pounds each,

they're more than ten times heavier than newborn domestic kittens,

and fidgety for the outside world.

Kicking, even a bit of running,

Issa is already hardwired to test out her motion skills.

Her eyes won't open till a week after birth.

She will be blind, but not totally clueless.

She'll use her whiskers instead. They are her super sensors.

Through touch and vibration,

Issa can effectively see, even with her eyes closed.

And finally, she has developed a fabulous full coat of fur.

Unlike the golden adult lions,

cubs are born with subtle spots

camouflage to keep Issa and her brother Nuru hidden.

Because when they're born, they'll be defenseless

and will need all the help they can get.

It could happen at any moment.

Malika knows Issa and Nuru will soon make their grand entrance.

A new dawn shimmers across the rocky outcrop,

signaling a new beginning for Malika.

Issa and brother, Nuru are here.

Malika's soft side comes naturally.

This fearsome predator couldn't be more gentle.

These two fluff balls are now the center of Malika's world.

For now, Issa and Nuru won't do much except feed and sleep.

Out here, the odds are stacked against little lion cubs.

This new mom can't afford to let her guard down in the challenging days ahead.

Malika must stay put...

and do everything in her power... to keep them safe.

Three weeks later...

Issa and Nuru have come on leaps and bounds.

They've already doubled in size and weight.

And now, both cubs are walking with confidence.

So, it's time to explore.

Issa can't wait to see what's out there.

It's a good thing the cubs are still small enough to be easily retrieved.

As for Nuru, he just wants to bite into everything...

including his sister's ear.

All this rough housing is exhausting.

But a top-off from mom speeds recovery...

up to five times a day.

Malika's milk, rich in protein and fat,

keeps the cubs healthy and energized.

But to produce enough, she needs a good meal.

Despite being a new mother, she must also resume her role as hunter.

Whenever she does, she has to leave Issa and Nuru all alone,

with their tangled den as their only protection.

Rival prides, lone leopards and hyena clans could pick up their scent.

They'll need to stay hidden until they are stronger.

It could be another four or five weeks.

Far from ideal, but Malika's got no choice.

Normally, her family acts as her decoys and ambushers.

This time, she's on her own.

Busted!

There's plenty of prey here.

But the grass is too short to hide in.

Malika can't give up.

She's got to eat.

Her persistence pays off.

But she looks forward to the day when she can return to her pride.

Hunting as a team makes all the difference in the world.

Waiting for their mom's return, the savanna can be a scary place...

for two young cubs... all alone.

As night closes in, they rely on their super senses to stay alert.

A lion's eyesight is arguably their most important sense,

giving them razor-sharp vision, even in the dark of night.

Their sense of hearing is superb, too.

They can actually turn their ears in different directions

to listen to sounds all around them.

Malika's finally here.

The cubs are safe, and boy are they happy to have their mom back.

Malika's learning that looking out for her cubs

and taking care of herself is going to be a very tough balancing act.

At only six weeks old,

Malika gives Issa and Nuru a little more time to grow before returning home.

They need to be strong enough to keep up with the pride,

or risk being left behind.

But the cubs are growing fast,

and bursting with energy.

They think it's playtime all the time.

They've just mastered the basics of the moves they'll need as adults.

From walking to running, and even jumping.

And when they're not attacking mom, they're grappling with each other.

Nuru doesn't know when enough is enough.

But it looks like Issa's not one to back down.

Every day, they get more boisterous and noisy.

Malika's kept them safe by keeping them secret,

but now they're attracting attention.

Elephants don't like lions.

They can easily trample and kill the cubs... or charge Malika.

The cubs have never seen anything this huge.

They have no idea how to react.

Malika has to get them out of here.

A close call.

Hopefully, Issa and Nuru have learned a lesson.

Don't mess with giants.

But now, it's out of the frying pan, into the fire.

A large, battle-scarred lioness.

It could be bad news if she's from a rival pride.

But... it's no stranger.

It's Ama.

Malika's mother and the cubs' grandmother.

She's arrived to offer her daughter some support.

And Ama's brought three new cubs of her own.

Just three weeks older than Issa and Nuru.

It's perfect timing.

Issa needs friends to develop her social skills.

She has to learn how to live alongside other lions in a pride.

And grandmother Ama is here to help pave the way.

She's come to lead them all back home.

Issa, Nuru and their new friends

will face this important milestone together.

And Malika can't wait to return to her family.

But with so many little legs, it will take them all day to get there.

Home again.

Time to introduce the young cubs to the pride.

At last, a long overdue reunion with the sisterhood.

Malika greets everyone with an affectionate round of nuzzling.

The cubs join in the reunion.

They seem to be a big hit right off the bat.

After such a long journey, this crew of weary travelers is thirsty.

Time for the cubs to discover the pride's waterhole...

and it's host of unusual strangers.

Issa and Nuru aren't sure what these guys are up to.

And there's another huge beast around.

It's Bahati. Sauntering down to wet his whistle.

Issa and Nuru have never seen such a big lion.

Guess it's time to say hello... to dad.

Nuru's game...

...up to a point.

But Issa hopes to make more of an impression.

Male lions are temperamental and have little to do with raising cubs,

even their own.

That was a warning.

Bahati doesn't do daddy daycare.

Grandmother Ama is quick to comfort them.

They still have so much to learn.

But Ama and Malika are both here to guide them together, in the months ahead.

Four weeks later, Issa and Nuru are now three months old, and growing fast.

Their bodies are constantly changing.

And now they're teething.

Piercing canines emerged first.

Now, the last of their back teeth are coming through.

And gnawing on a stick helps distract from sore gums.

Sharp new teeth aren't great news for Malika either.

But Nuru isn't one to take no for an answer.

Malika will have to put up with this for at least another three months.

But it's not all bad news.

This is where one of the great strengths of the sisterhood reveals itself.

Any nursing mom can provide milk for any suckling cub.

Malika and Ama can share the duties.

Only a few species in the world are so selfless.

The pride has become a very special nursery.

Issa's confidence and curiosity are growing as fast as she is.

And just like Mom, she's taken to tree-climbing.

These paws are way cooler than she thought.

Her claws are already half the size of Mom's.

So great for gripping.

This is the perfect lookout.

Not far away, she can see mom acting strange.

Something has caught Malika's attention.

A warthog.

Once a stalker, always a stalker.

Ama's spotted the hog, too.

It's a hunt. Issa can't miss this.

There's no better way to learn

than watching Mom and the sisterhood do it firsthand.

Ama and a cousin take positions.

Everyone waits for Malika's cue.

They've done it.

The sisterhood's formidable teamwork in action.

But all the commotion has caught Bahati's attention.

He has a habit of rousing himself when there's a fresh meal to be had.

Issa is hungry, too.

But as a cub, her place is at the very end of the dinner line.

She should learn her place.

But Issa is Issa.

She tries joining her father at his feast.

No one else would dare.

Bahati recognizes a kindred spirit,

and he makes room for Issa.

She has won the total acceptance of her father.

And even better, this plucky little lioness

gets her first taste of meat.

Quite an accomplishment for someone so young.

Malika has quickly settled back into the daily life of the pride.

Issa hasn't forgotten the warthog hunt...

and takes every opportunity to watch Mom in action.

There's a lot to learn.

Lesson one. Perfect the approach.

To get close...

Issa must be silent, like her mother.

Lesson two. Stay low.

Be invisible.

Lesson three. Attack like her grandmother.

Nailed it.

Nuru finally gets a taste of his own medicine.

Now she wants something bigger, more challenging to ambush.

She chooses something they've never seen before.

A rhino.

It's not as big as an elephant...

so she thinks this might be the perfect chance to practice stalking.

But a rhino is a dangerous choice,

especially when this mother's protecting her own little ones.

But Issa is too young to understand the warning signs.

It's all completely fascinating.

Neither of them realize, they'll get trampled if they get too close.

Malika sees what's about to happen.

She's got to act quickly.

Her only chance is to distract the rhinos and lure them away...

using herself as bait.

If the rhino charges, Malika could be killed.

She desperately needs backup.

It's Ama and the sisterhood to the rescue.

They all breathe a sigh of relief.

Malika has saved her little ones

by putting herself in the line of fire.

This new mom is certainly proving to be her cubs' guardian angel.

After many months of hard work, it's clear,

Malika is mastering motherhood.

She has survived on her own for the very first time...

given birth all alone,

and learned the meaning of sacrifice and commitment.

Her feisty and fearless cubs, Issa and Nuru,

still have a lot to learn.

But they'll always have the unwavering support

and guidance of their mother,

grandmother, and the rest of the family.

And together, they will share the joys

and challenges of Growing Up Animal.