Original subtitles

♪

Downloaded from YTS.MX

IN THE HEART OF AFRICA, A NEW ERA IS DAWNING.

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

RWANDA IS ABOUT TO WELCOME HOME LONG-LOST ROYALTY.

THIS IDYLLIC LANDSCAPE WAS ONCE THE HUNTING GROUND

FOR MIGHTY PRIDES OF LIONS...

UNTIL A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR RIPPED THROUGH THE COUNTRY,

KILLING CLOSE TO TWO MILLION PEOPLE

AND WIPING OUT ITS MOST ICONIC WILDLIFE.

EVEN THE REGAL LIONS VANISHED.

♪

THE WILDERNESS TURNED INTO FARMLAND...

AND THE PLAINS FELL SILENT...

UNTIL NOW!

[GROWLING]

♪

[BELLOWING]

♪

[SNARLING]

♪

[ROARING]

♪

AKAGERA, RWANDA'S LARGEST NATIONAL PARK.

IT'S A TAPESTRY OF HABITATS--

ROLLING MOUNTAINS RISE FROM SAVANNAHS

AND SPARKLING LAKES SUPPORT YEAR-ROUND LIFE

ON THE OPEN PLAINS.

FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF DECADES,

THE HERDS OF ANTELOPE HERE HAVE THRIVED

IN A WORLD FREE OF BIG PREDATORS.

WITHOUT THE PRESSURE OF LION PRIDES,

THEY'VE ROAMED THE PLAINS AND MARSHES UNHINDERED.

THIS IS EDEN FOR ANY HERBIVORE,

BUT THEIR PEACEFUL EXISTENCE IS ABOUT TO BE SHATTERED.

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

[HORN HONKS]

SEVEN LIONS HAVE JUST ARRIVED IN RWANDA!

[CATTLE LOWING]

THEY'VE BEEN HANDPICKED IN SOUTH AFRICA,

AND THEY'RE TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES

NORTH OF THEIR HOMELAND.

THEIR DESTINATION: AKAGERA.

THE HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL FORM A PRIDE...

AND RE-ESTABLISH THE LION POPULATION IN THIS LAND.

[CLATTERING]

IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL,

BUT FOR THE KING OF BEASTS,

THIS JOURNEY IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.

SUCCESS IN THIS NEW KINGDOM IS NOT GUARANTEED.

THIS IS THE STARTING GATE...

OF A RACE FOR SURVIVAL.

[TRUCK STARTS]

THE BEST WAY TO LURE A WILD LION INTO A STRANGE HABITAT

IS THROUGH ITS STOMACH.

[GROWLS]

SHEMA IS HESITANT...

BUT HUNGRY!

[GROWLING]

AT 11 YEARS, SHE'S THE OLDEST LIONESS HERE.

SHE WAS PICKED FOR HER EXPERIENCE.

BACK HOME, SHE WAS THE MATRIARCH OF A STRONG, HEALTHY FAMILY.

BUT THESE OTHER LIONESSES AREN'T HER SIBLINGS.

THEY'RE STRANGERS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FATE.

THE HOPE IS THAT SHEMA CAN PULL THEM TOGETHER AS A PRIDE.

LIONS ARE THE ONLY CATS THAT LIVE IN FAMILY GROUPS.

THEIR SUCCESS DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THEIR SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

A STABLE PRIDE OF LIONS IS MADE UP OF RELATED FEMALES

WHO HUNT AS A TEAM AND RAISE THEIR YOUNG TOGETHER.

BEFORE THEY CAN QUALIFY AS A PRIDE,

THEY WILL NEED TO BOND AS A SISTERHOOD...

AND ESTABLISH A HIERARCHY.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST HUNGER THAT UNITES THEM.

NEARBY THE TWO MALES AWAIT THEIR RELEASE.

♪

INDORO IS A 3-YEAR-OLD MALE...

A YOUNG BRAWLER WHOSE RIGHT EYE HAS BEEN BLINDED IN A FIGHT.

♪

HIS BROTHER, IZUKA, LACKS HIS EDGE...

BUT HE'S INDORO'S ONLY ALLY.

TO RE-ESTABLISH A LION COLONY IN RWANDA,

THE MALES WILL NEED TO BOND WITH THE FEMALES,

HUNT COOPERATIVELY AND BREED.

FOR THESE TWO YOUNG ROOKIES, THAT'S A TALL ORDER.

♪

[GROAN]

BINTI IS THE LAST TO EXIT.

[GROWLING]

STILL WEARING THE DARK SPOTS OF CHILDHOOD,

SHE IS THE YOUNGEST OF THE LIONESSES

AND THE MOST NERVOUS.

AT ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD, SHE'S THE LOWEST RANKING MEMBER.

[SNARLING]

TO SURVIVE, SHE'LL NEED THE SUPPORT

OF THE OLDER FEMALES,

BOTH AS HUNTERS AND AS TEACHERS.

IN A PRIDE BOUND BY BLOOD,

THESE LIONESSES WOULD EACH KNOW THEIR ROLE

AND THEIR PLACE.

[SNARLING]

BUT THIS RAGTAG BUNCH

ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT FROM SCRATCH.

♪

LIONS ARE NOCTURNAL, AND AS THE SUN SETS,

THEY FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO VENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN.

[ANIMALS HOWLING]

SHEMA WAS THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE,

AND NOW SHE'S FIRST TO LEAVE THE RELEASE SITE.

THE LOOSE-KNIT SISTERHOOD FOLLOWS.

IT'S A GOOD START.

SHEMA'S MATURITY MIGHT JUST HOLD THIS BAND OF STRANGERS TOGETHER.

THE BROTHERS ARE ALSO ON THE MOVE,

BUT THEY'RE DISORIENTED.

THEY'RE HEADING NORTH, AWAY FROM THE FEMALES.

IT'S THE WRONG MOVE.

[ANIMAL BARKING]

THEY WERE EARMARKED AS THE FUTURE KINGS OF AKAGERA,

BUT THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN.

NOTORIOUSLY LAZY, MALE LIONS RELY ON THE PRIDE LIONESSES

TO NAVIGATE...

AND BRING HOME THE BACON.

TOTALLY LACKING SURVIVAL SKILLS,

THESE TWO AREN'T READY TO MAKE IT OUT HERE ALONE.

[HYENA WHOOPING]

SHEMA FOLLOWS HER INSTINCTS SOUTH.

SHE'S HEADING TOWARDS HER FORMER HOMELAND

AT THE TIP OF AFRICA.

[CHATTERING]

SHE'S ABOUT TO HAVE HER FIRST BRUSH WITH THE LOCALS.

A GANG OF HYENAS RULES THIS TURF.

[YIPPING]

LIKE MOST OF THE LOCAL WILDLIFE,

THESE YOUNG MOBSTERS HAVE NEVER SEEN A LION BEFORE.

THEIR AMAZEMENT IS CLEAR--

THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT SHEMA IS A RIVAL.

[YIPPING]

[GROWLS]

BUT SHEMA HAS A LIFETIME OF HYENA CONTEMPT.

[YIPPING]

THE AGE-OLD RIVALRY RUNS DEEP IN HER VEINS.

SHE PAWS THE GROUND, DEPOSITING A TERRITORIAL SCENT MARK

FROM GLANDS BETWEEN HER TOES.

AS A LONE LIONESS,

THE GANG OF HYENAS COULD EASILY TAKE HER ON.

FOR NOW, THEIR IGNORANCE IS HER ONLY ALLY.

[YIPPING AND SHRIEKING]

FIVE MILES NORTH,

THE BROTHERS ARE STILL ON THEIR MISGUIDED JOURNEY.

YOUNG MALES USUALLY HAVE TO FIGHT FOR TERRITORY

WHEN THEY COME OF AGE...

BUT THESE LUCKY UPSTARTS HAVE BEEN OFFERED A NEW EMPIRE

AT NO COST.

AND THIS KINGDOM LOOKS PROMISING.

25 YEARS WITHOUT LIONS

HAVE ALLOWED LARGE HERDS OF IMPALA TO THRIVE,

UNCHECKED AND UNSUSPECTING.

[GRUMBLING]

LIKE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS,

THE USUALLY SKITTISH PREY ARE CLUELESS

ABOUT "PREDATOR PROTOCOL."

LUCKY FOR THEM, THE LIONS SEEM EQUALLY CONFUSED.

♪

THE BROTHERS HAVE THE WORLD AT THEIR FEET...

BUT THEY NEED TO GET A GRIP!

♪

IT'S DAY TWO IN AKAGERA, RWANDA.

WITH SHEMA AT THE HELM, THE FIVE LIONESSES

HAVE REACHED THE HIGH PEAKS IN THE SOUTH OF THE PARK.

IT'S THE END OF THE DRY SEASON

AND A RECENT WILDFIRE HAS SWEPT THROUGH,

SCORCHING THE LANDSCAPE AND EXPOSING ROCKY GROUND.

[URINATING]

THIS IS STRANGE NEW TERRAIN FOR THE LIONESSES.

THE PLAINS OF THEIR HOMELAND WERE FLAT, GRASSY SAVANNAHS...

WITH NO HIGH VANTAGE POINTS.

[GROANS]

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES

THEY CAN LOOK OUT INTO THE DISTANCE...

DOWN VALLEYS, PAST LAKES AND ACROSS A VAST WILDERNESS.

[ZEBRA BRAYING]

IT MAY BE ALIEN TERRITORY,

BUT THE TRUE BOUNTY OF THEIR NEW KINGDOM

IS SUDDENLY CLEAR.

♪

SHEMA LEADS THE LIONESSES ONWARD,

SEARCHING FOR NEW HUNTING GROUNDS.

♪

AS THE PLAINS OPEN UP IN FRONT OF HER, IT'S CLEAR--

THEY'VE ARRIVED!

♪

THE SPRAWLING MARSHLANDS ARE AN OASIS

FOR ALL THE PARK'S WILDLIFE.

♪

TWO GENERATIONS OF GRAZERS HAVE FROLICKED HERE...

WITHOUT THREAT...

BUT ALL THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

THE LIONS ARE BACK IN TOWN.

THE COOL WATER IS A WELCOME DRINK

AFTER THE BURNED-OUT MOUNTAINS.

[ZEBRA BRAYING]

THERE'S LUSH GRASSLAND AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

THE PREY ARE FAT FROM GRAZING...

AND BLISSFULLY UNAWARE OF THE DANGER IN THEIR MIDST.

A FAMILY OF WARTHOGS APPROACHES,

INTRIGUED BY THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS.

[GRUNTING]

IN THEIR SHORT LIFESPAN, THEY'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BEAST.

[GRUNTING]

[SNIFFING]

[BARKING]

THE ELDERS OF THE BABOON TROOP RAISE THE ALARM.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND MUCH LONGER,

AND A DISTANT MEMORY REARS ITS HEAD.

[SHRIEKING]

THIS IS NOW LION COUNTRY!

AND SHEMA'S GOING TO PROVE IT.

[BABOONS SQUAWKING]

AT 300 POUNDS, A FULL-GROWN TOPI

WOULD MAKE A GOOD MEAL FOR FIVE LIONESSES.

IT LOOKS LIKE EASY PICKINGS...

BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.

TOPI ARE THE FASTEST ANTELOPE IN AKAGERA.

THEY CAN REACH SPEEDS OF UP TO 50 MILES PER HOUR--

FASTER THAN ANY PREY THEY HUNTED BACK HOME.

IT WILL TAKE SKILL AND STRATEGY TO BRING ONE DOWN.

[SNORTS]

♪

THE TOPI IS SURROUNDED,

BUT HIS FLIGHT INSTINCT HASN'T KICKED IN.

♪

BINTI BREAKS EARLY, BLOWING SHEMA'S COVER.

♪

THE TOPI ESCAPES WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT.

IT'S A BIG FAIL.

THEY HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

TO PICK OFF PREY OBLIVIOUS TO DANGER...

BUT UNTIL THEY FORM BONDS AND HUNT COOPERATIVELY,

THE LIONESSES WILL GO HUNGRY.

ACROSS THE LAKE,

THE BROTHERS HAVE MADE IT DOWN FROM THE NORTH.

THEY'RE APPROACHING THE MARSHES FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE.

BUT THIS IS HIPPO COUNTRY!

[GRUNTING]

THESE 3-TON BEASTS RULE THE WATERWAYS,

AND THEY DON'T WELCOME VISITORS.

A TERRITORIAL BULL WILL TAKE ON ANY INTERLOPER...

AND THERE'S A BODY COUNT TO PROVE IT.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

FOR HUNGRY SCAVENGERS,

A HIPPO CARCASS IS A FEAST FIT FOR A KING...

BUT THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE MEAL.

THIS CANTANKEROUS CREATURE

IS THE DEADLIEST VEGETARIAN ON THE PLANET.

[SNORTS]

HE'S 40 YEARS OLD...

AND HE REMEMBERS THE SMELL OF A DANGEROUS PREDATOR.

[BELLOWS]

INDORO HAS ALSO PICKED UP ON A SCENT.

IT'S THE STENCH OF ROTTING FLESH...

AND HE'S HUNGRY.

BUT TO GET TO THIS FEAST, HE'LL NEED TO BRAVE THE HIPPO

AND NEGOTIATE THE MARSHY TERRAIN.

[GROANING]

HIS HUNTING SKILLS ARE SORELY LACKING,

AND HE WON'T TURN HIS NOSE UP AT A SCAVENGED MEAL.

BUT THE STICKY MUD IS A WHOLE NEW CHALLENGE.

ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN INDORO AND HIS FEAST

IS TWO INCHES OF TOUGH HIPPO HIDE.

[GROANS]

BUT THE MUD TURNS THE BIG CAT SKITTISH.

INDORO BACKS UP, DEFEATED.

IZUKA TRIES NEXT, BUT HE FACES THE SAME CONUNDRUM.

♪

THEY'RE TOO VULNERABLE IN THIS UNFAMILIAR MARSH.

THE BOYS WILL GO HUNGRY FOR ANOTHER NIGHT.

[GRUNTING]

THEIR BEST BET IS TO GO BACK TO BASICS--

FIND THE FEMALES AND LET THEM DO THE HUNTING.

[ROARING]

THE BROTHERS CALL INTO THE NIGHT TO ADVERTISE THEIR PRESENCE.

[ROAR]

[ROAR]

THEIR ROARS ECHO FOR MILES.

[ROARING]

IT'S A SOUND THAT HASN'T BEEN HEARD IN RWANDA FOR 25 YEARS.

[ROARING]

THREE MILES AWAY... SHEMA REPLIES.

[ROARING]

[DISTANT ROARING]

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT THEY CALL TO EACH OTHER...

AND IN THE MORNING, SHEMA SETS OFF TO HEED THEIR ROARS.

THIS TIME SHE TRAVELS ALONE.

SHE'S IN HEAT, AND THERE'S ONLY ONE DESTINATION.

♪

♪

[PURRING]

♪

SHEMA AND INDORO RUB HEADS.

IT'S A POSITIVE GREETING AND AN IMPORTANT MOMENT.

FOR SHEMA IT COULD MEAN A MATE...

AND FOR THE MALES, A USEFUL HUNTER.

♪

AS MATRIARCH OF HER OLD PRIDE,

SHEMA WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNG MALES.

AND TRUE TO FORM,

NOW SHE WASTES NO TIME IN SETTING OFF TO HUNT.

ONCE AGAIN, SHE HAS NO BACKUP,

BUT SHE'S HUNGRY ENOUGH FOR A SOLO ATTEMPT.

A YOUNG WATERBUCK IS A TANTALIZING MEAL.

BUT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST THE HUNTER.

♪

OUT IN THE OPEN, SHEMA'S GOT NO COVER TO MASK HER INTENTIONS.

♪

BUT THE INNOCENT WATERBUCK

DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE SMELL OF DANGER.

IT DOESN'T RUN.

TO SHEMA, THAT'S CONFUSING.

♪

SHE BACKS UP...

♪

BUT THEN CHANGES HER MIND.

IT'S TOO GOOD A CHANCE TO PASS UP.

♪

[WATERBUCK WAILING]

♪

SHEMA HAS DONE IT!

SHE'S THE FIRST LION TO MAKE A KILL IN RWANDA IN 25 YEARS!

IT PROVES SHE CAN SURVIVE HERE, EVEN ON HER OWN.

MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, SHE'S PROVEN HERSELF TO A POTENTIAL MATE.

HER KILL WILL FEED THREE HUNGRY BELLIES

AND SOLIDIFY HER ALLIANCE WITH THE MALES.

[SNARLING]

THE BROTHERS ARE STARVING...

BUT IT'S NO FREE FOR ALL.

FEEDING IS ALL ABOUT HIERARCHY,

AND IT'S INDORO WHO TAKES HIS PLACE

AT THE TOP OF THIS FOOD CHAIN.

HIS ACTIONS CONFIRM THAT HE'S THE ALPHA MALE.

IZUKA MUST NEGOTIATE HIS PLACE AT THE MEAL.

[SNARLING]

[GRUMBLING]

SHEMA, THE BREADWINNER, MUST WAIT.

BUT HER CONTRIBUTION WON'T GO UNNOTICED.

[GRUMBLING]

FOR INDORO, AN ALLEGIANCE WITH A STRONG HUNTRESS IS ESSENTIAL.

HE CAN'T RELY ON HIS BROTHER FOR FOOD;

THEIR SIBLING BOND IS ONLY USEFUL

WHEN FIGHTING RIVAL MALES.

SHEMA HAS PROVEN HERSELF AS A GOOD PROVIDER,

AND SHE'S STILL IN HEAT.

TO INDORO, SHE'S IRRESISTIBLE.

HIS INSTINCTS DRIVE HIM TO FORM A PRIDE AND SIRE OFFSPRING.

SHEMA IS THE KEY.

♪

AT DAYBREAK, INDORO TAKES HIS NEW QUEEN

TO THE TOP OF THE HILLS,

LEAVING IZUKA TO FEND FOR HIMSELF.

HIGH ABOVE THEIR NEW KINGDOM

THEY FORGE A FUTURE GENERATION FOR RWANDA'S LION POPULATION.

♪

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEY WILL BE INSEPARABLE,

MATING UP TO 100 TIMES PER DAY.

♪

[GROWLING]

♪

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

FOUR DAYS LATER, THE COURTING COUPLE RETURN TO THE PLAINS.

THEY HAVE COMPANY.

THE OTHER LIONESSES HAVE ARRIVED.

INDORO REUNITES WITH HIS BROTHER.

HE'S FULL OF VIGOR AND SHOWING THE CONFIDENCE OF AN ALPHA MALE.

TOGETHER THE BROTHERS RALLY TO MEET THEIR VISITORS.

♪

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME...

ALL SEVEN LIONS COME TOGETHER ON THEIR NEW TURF.

THIS IS THE KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS IN RWANDA--

FIVE STRONG LIONESSES,

WITH A DOMINANT MALE AS MATE AND GUARDIAN.

BUT THEY STILL NEED TO BOND.

[GROWLING]

THEY WON'T BE A PRIDE UNTIL THEY HUNT AS A TEAM...

AND PRODUCE CUBS OF THEIR OWN.

TO THESE LIONESSES, A DOMINANT MALE IS HOT PROPERTY.

SUDDENLY SHEMA MUST FIGHT FOR HER PLACE IN THIS HIERARCHY.

SHE MOUNTS A YOUNG FEMALE, KAZI,

IN A DISPLAY THAT SHOWS SHE'S THE TOP CAT.

[PURRING]

[SNARLING]

IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH.

KAZI IS IN HEAT, TOO,

AND INDORO WILL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

TO PASS ON HIS GENES.

BARBS ON HIS PENIS TRIGGER HER OVULATION...

[GROWLING]

BUT THE PAIN ALSO TRIGGERS A HOSTILE REACTION.

[GROWLING]

INDORO IS SHOWING ALL THE HALLMARKS

OF A DOMINANT MALE...

THROWING HIS WEIGHT AROUND AND MATING REPEATEDLY.

THIS FREQUENT COUPLING MAXIMIZES HIS CHANCES

OF SIRING A NEW GENERATION.

ONLY ONE IN THREE ATTEMPTS IS SUCCESSFUL.

[GROWLING]

INDORO HAS COME OF AGE...

AND HE'S FORGING THE PRIDE DYNAMICS.

BUT JUST AS THE GROUP COMES TOGETHER,

SOMETHING CHANGES.

♪

SHEMA SETS OFF ALONE...

LEAVING THE LION POLITICS TO THE OTHERS.

A DEEP INSTINCT IS CALLING HER AWAY.

SURVIVAL ON HER OWN IS RISKY...

BUT OF THE SEVEN, ONLY SHEMA HAS PROVEN HERSELF AS A HUNTER.

HER DEPARTURE COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR THEM ALL.

♪

AS THE DOMINANT MALE,

INDORO GETS THE FIRST SHOT AT ALL THE FEMALES.

IT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE.

[GROWLS]

BUT WHEN HE'S NOT AROUND, IZUKA SNEAKS AWAY WITH KAZI.

[PURRING]

IT'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR A QUICK FLING--

HE'LL ONLY EVER GET THIS CHANCE WHEN HIS BROTHER LOSES STAMINA.

[PURRING]

[GROWLING]

[ROARING]

♪

IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE SHEMA LEFT THE REST OF THE PRIDE.

TEN MILES NORTH OF THE MARSH,

SHE'S FOUND THE PERFECT HABITAT TO STRIKE OUT ON HER OWN.

IT'S A HUNTER'S PARADISE--

FLAT GRASSY PLAINS AND AN ABUNDANCE OF PREY.

♪

[SNORTS]

♪

SHE SOUGHT IT OUT FOR A REASON--

THE SAME REASON SHE SET OUT ON HER OWN.

♪

SHE'S NO LONGER HUNTING FOR HER OWN SURVIVAL.

SHE'S CARRYING THE FUTURE HEIRS OF AKAGERA.

AND THAT'S AN HONOR SHE'LL KILL FOR.

THE IMPALA OF AKAGERA

ARE LARGER AND STRONGER THAN THOSE SHEMA HUNTED BACK HOME.

THEIR HORNS TOWER OVER THEM LIKE GREAT SPEARS.

♪

SHEMA IS UNDAUNTED.

SHE SITS TIGHT.

AS A LONER, HER ONLY OPTION IS AMBUSH.

♪

[IMPALA SCREAMING]

♪

SHEMA'S JAWS CLAMP DOWN ON THE IMPALA'S WINDPIPE,

SUFFOCATING HIM.

SHE DRAGS HER PREY TO THE SHADE.

HIS BROKEN HIND LEG SEALS HIS FATE.

[GROANING]

THE IMPALA ARE UNSURE HOW TO REACT.

[SNORTS]

THEY'VE NEVER WITNESSED A KILL BEFORE.

SHEMA'S ALSO IN OVER HER HEAD.

SHE UNDERESTIMATED THE STRENGTH OF THIS RAM.

[GROANING]

[GROANING]

ON THREE LEGS HE'S AT HER MERCY,

BUT SHE MUST STAY CLEAR OF HIS LETHAL HORNS.

SHEMA DELIVERS HER KISS OF DEATH.

SHE NO LONGER NEEDS TO SHARE HER KILLS,

BUT HUNTING ON HER OWN IS RISKY,

AND IT'S COME AT A VERY HIGH PRICE.

[SNORTS]

ONE SPEAR-SHARP HORN HAS FOUND ITS MARK

AND PUNCTURED HER LEG.

THE WOUND IS SMALL BUT DEEP,

AND HER MUSCLES ARE STILL HURTING FROM THE STRUGGLE.

HER BELLY'S FULL, BUT SHE'S BARELY ABLE TO WALK.

ALONE AND UNABLE TO HUNT, SHE'LL STARVE TO DEATH.

SHEMA'S FUTURE LOOKS BLEAK.

[THUNDER]

A FAMILIAR RUMBLE ECHOES

THROUGH THE ROLLING HILLS AND GRASSY PLAINS.

[THUNDER]

IT'S THE START OF THE RAINY SEASON.

IN RWANDA THE HEAVY RAINS LAST SEVERAL MONTHS--

FLOODING THE PLAINS AND CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE.

[THUNDER]

FOR THE SEVEN LIONS OF AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK,

THIS IS A MISERABLE TIME.

CATS NOTORIOUSLY HATE WATER.

BACK HOME, THE RAINY SEASON WAS DEFINED BY A FEW BIG STORMS.

[THUNDER]

THIS INCESSANT DOWNPOUR IS NOT WHAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR.

[BIRDS SINGING]

THE RAINS HAVE COME AND GONE,

AND THE LUSH PLAINS ARE RESTORED TO AN EDEN ONCE MORE.

THE LIONS HAVE SURVIVED THE WET

AND ESTABLISHED THEIR HOME IN THIS NEW KINGDOM.

SHEMA HAS NOT RETURNED...

BUT NEW BONDS ARE FORMING

BETWEEN THE REMAINING FOUR LIONESSES.

KAZI HAS TAKEN BINTI UNDER HER WING...

AND THE DYNAMICS OF A PRIDE ARE STARTING TO SHOW.

BUT THERE'S STILL ONE CRITICAL MILESTONE ON THEIR HORIZON--

TO QUALIFY AS A TRUE PRIDE,

THEY NEED TO HUNT AS A COORDINATED TEAM.

[GRUNTING]

IN A MATERNAL PRIDE, EACH LION LEARNS

A SPECIALIZED HUNTING ROLE FROM BIRTH.

THEY'RE EITHER A WING, WHO STALKS AND ENCIRCLES PREY,

OR A CENTER, WHO LIES IN AMBUSH TO TRAP IT.

[BUFFALO GRUNTING]

[GROWLING]

[GRUNTING]

THESE SIX LIONS KNOW THEIR ROLES.

THEY JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PULL TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

[GRUMBLING]

BACK HOME, BUFFALO WAS A STAPLE ON THEIR MENU...

BUT UNTIL THEY CAN SYNCHRONIZE THEIR HUNTING STRATEGY,

THEY'LL BE FORCED TO EAT HUMBLE PIE.

♪

ACROSS THE MARSH, SHEMA IS STILL KEEPING HER DISTANCE.

♪

IT'S BEEN TOUGH, BUT SHE'S A SURVIVOR...

AND NOW HER DAYS OF SOLITUDE ARE OVER.

SHE'S A SINGLE MOM TO THREE HEALTHY CUBS.

♪

GOING SOLO WAS A RISK, BUT SHE NEEDED TO FIND A SAFE HIDEOUT

TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER OFFSPRING.

AS FRAGILE NEWBORNS, SHE COULDN'T INTRODUCE THEM

INTO AN UNRULY GROUP OF NON-RELATED LIONS.

♪

RIGHT NOW, THEIR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON HER.

SHE MUST KEEP HER STRENGTH UP TO FULFILL HER MATERNAL ROLES.

♪

SHE NEEDS TO HUNT...

AND THAT MEANS LEAVING HER BABIES ALONE.

♪

[HYENAS WHOOPING]

[HYENA YIPPING]

SHEMA WAITS FOR NIGHTFALL FOR THE BEST CHANCE TO KILL.

HUNTING ON HER OWN, SHE HAS LIMITED OPTIONS.

SHE NEEDS TO AMBUSH...

AND SHE CAN'T PIT HERSELF AGAINST ANYTHING TOO BIG.

STAKING OUT A WARTHOG BURROW IS A GOOD PLAN.

SHEMA SITS UPWIND...

MAKING THE PIGS BOLT!

[GRUNTING AND SQUEALING]

[WARTHOG SQUEALING]

SHE'S RIGHT ON TARGET.

[SQUEALING]

SHE GOES FOR THE THROAT,

BUT THIS TIME HER PREY HAS LETHAL TUSKS IN FRONT.

ONE GOOD HEAD-BUTT COULD MAIM HER.

BACK IN THEIR DEN, SHEMA'S CUBS AWAIT THEIR FIRST SOLID MEAL.

[FLIES BUZZING]

THERE ARE MIXED REACTIONS--

ONE CUB DIGS IN WHILE ANOTHER SEEMS DAUNTED.

[PURRING]

FOR SOME, MOTHER'S MILK IS STILL THE MEAL OF CHOICE.

IN RWANDA, SHEMA MEANS "PRIDE," AND FOR THIS PROUD LIONESS,

HER THREE CUBS ARE THE FIRST GENERATION

OF A NEW BLOODLINE IN AKAGERA.

SOON THEY WILL JOIN FORCES WITH THE OTHERS...

AND CEMENT THE FOUNDATIONS OF A TRUE MATERNAL LION PRIDE,

WITH INDORO AS THEIR KING.

SHEMA HAS PLAYED HER ROLE AND MADE HER MARK

IN RWANDA'S HISTORY.

[PURRING]

NOT FAR FROM SHEMA'S NURSERY,

THE REST OF THE LIONS ARE SET FOR THEIR OWN VICTORY.

♪

HUNGER HAS SPED UP THEIR LEARNING CURVE...

AND THEY'RE FINALLY WORKING AS A UNIT.

♪

THE IMPALA ARE STILL LARGELY IGNORANT

OF THE PREDATORS IN THEIR MIDST.

THEY HAVEN'T LEARNED MUCH FROM THEIR MISTAKES.

THE FLEDGLING PRIDE HAS THEM SURROUNDED.

KAZI IS AN EXPERT WING.

SHE COMES IN FROM THE BLIND SIDE.

THE BROTHERS TAKE THE OPPOSITE FLANK.

♪

[GROANING]

THE IMPALA NEVER STOOD A CHANCE.

TEAMWORK INCREASES THE SUCCESS RATE.

[SNORTING]

WHEN THERE'S A STRATEGY, EVEN AN AMATEUR CAN MAKE A KILL.

♪

[WAILING]

BINTI TAKES DOWN A YOUNG WATERBUCK.

IT'S HER FIRST SOLO KILL.

UNDER KAZI'S GUIDANCE, SHE'S FINALLY COME OF AGE.

BUT SHE'S STILL THE LOWEST RANKING FEMALE...

AND HER GLORY DOESN'T LAST LONG.

THE MALES LAY CLAIM TO HER PRIZE.

THE LEADERS ALWAYS EAT FIRST.

THIS IS LION LAW.

[GRUMBLING]

[GROWLS]

TO THEM, THE LAST DYING BLEATS OF THE WATERBUCK

ARE NOTHING MORE THAN THE DINNER BELL.

THE LIONS' INSTINCTS ARE TAKING OVER.

THE FEMALES ARE HUNTING SUCCESSFULLY.

THE MALES HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE,

ESTABLISHED A HIERARCHY AND PRODUCED CUBS.

♪

THEY ARE A PRIDE...AT LAST!

♪

ONE YEAR AGO, SEVEN LIONS ARRIVED IN RWANDA.

STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER,

THEY WEATHERED THE STORMS...

FORGED RELATIONSHIPS...

AND SIRED CUBS.

A YEAR AGO, THIS EDEN WAS INCOMPLETE...

MISSING A CRUCIAL LINK IN ITS DELICATE ECOSYSTEM...

ITS MOST ICONIC SPECIES EXTINCT, ALMOST FORGOTTEN.

AND THEN THEY ARRIVED...

A RAGTAG BUNCH MADE UP OF MISFITS AND LONERS.

OUT OF THEIR DEPTH AND LOST IN THE WILDERNESS,

THEY ROSE TO THEIR CHALLENGES AND MASTERED THEIR NEW KINGDOM.

[SCREAMING]

♪

THESE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN,

SYMBOLS OF BALANCE, POWER AND COURAGE,

HAVE COMPLETED THE CIRCLE OF LIFE...

AND RESTORED THE PRIDE OF A NATION.

♪

♪