00:00The African wild dog is the most successful hunter in Africa.
00:09Quick, agile and relentless, their attacks succeed 85% of the time.
00:16These high-speed pursuits have been very hard to film, until now.
00:21Two skilled motorcyclists record the drama of the chase, special cameras mounted on their
00:27bikes.
00:28Even through difficult terrain, they keep up with the Pungwe pack, one of the most formidable
00:33in Zimbabwe.
00:37And they track the development of 15 new pups as they hone their skills for the ultimate
00:42challenge.
00:46An assault on one of Africa's most powerful and dangerous prey species.
00:53The buffalo.
01:03A wild dog is not a hyena.
01:06It's a wiry, tough pack hunter that kills by means of attrition.
01:11It runs its prey to a standstill.
01:16But wild dog hunts are seldom witnessed from start to finish.
01:20They're hidden by speed, dust and a thick bush.
01:25So how can this behaviour be filmed effectively?
01:28With a device that's equally tough, agile and fast, a motorbike.
01:35From years of research use, the dogs are used to the motorbikes, so we could get a unique
01:39window into the hunting behaviour of Africa's most efficient, but least known apex carnivore,
01:45without impacting their natural behaviour.
01:50The zoom cameras will allow the filming bikes to stay back in the hunts without disturbing
01:55the animals.
02:09The Pungwe pack's alpha female is Loop.
02:12And she's responding to new sounds at the den site situated in the heart of Zimbabwe's
02:17Sarve Valley Conservancy.
02:20A new litter of pups.
02:42Fifteen youngsters emerge to see their world for the first time.
02:56They're the hunting future of the pack.
03:04Wild dogs have a very intricate social structure.
03:08There's much bonding to be done.
03:28Pups are cared for by any of the adults, and each gets to know the immediate surroundings.
03:33But for the moment, Loop will stay behind when the pack heads off to hunt.
03:41She needs meat to generate milk for this rabble, and the pack know it.
03:55The dogs are comfortable with the presence of motorbikes, as they have been used to monitor
03:59the packs for some time in the Conservancy.
04:01They pay them no attention.
04:15It's late afternoon, and the dogs begin stirring after their midday nap.
04:20Typically, hunts are carried out in the early mornings and early evenings, and the bikes
04:25need to be ready.
04:33Wild dogs lock into a hunt quickly, and when they smell prey, the pace explodes.
04:55Soon, the bikes are at 55km per hour, but they're still left behind.
05:05The pack have locked onto an impala, and they're wearing it down.
05:22But a moment of indecision costs them.
05:25A rare failure.
05:41Wild dogs are daytime hunters, but nights belong to the lions.
05:57The big male's roaring is heard at the den site.
06:09Lupe must keep her pups quiet.
06:12Lions hate competition.
06:13They'll hunt down and kill wild dog adults and pups.
06:24The alpha male, ten, ushers the unruly pups back into the den.
06:42One lioness is on patrol, coming alarmingly close to the den site.
06:49But something else is wandering in the dark.
06:55A distraction.
06:57Buffalo.
07:04Adult buffalo are too big for wild dogs, but they provide a lucky escape for the dog pack tonight.
07:19Wild dogs are not afraid of the dark.
07:24They're not afraid of the dark.
07:29Wild dogs are not afraid of the dark.
07:34They're not afraid of the dark.
07:39Early the following morning, the pack are on the scent of a prey favorite.
08:03Wildebeest.
08:08It's not long before they single out a target, and the chase picks up speed.
08:28The exhausted wildebeest uses a waterhole as a fortress.
08:56The bites must choose a target and follow.
09:16But the bush gets thicker.
09:38This is how wild dogs operate.
09:51Death is usually quick, and soon the meal is over.
09:57But the pups are not forgotten.
10:00As soon as the adults arrive at the den, meat is regurgitated for mum and for the pups as they start to eat solids.
10:22Hooded vultures pick up the scraps at any carcass.
10:29The pups' first vulture encounter is a little scary.
10:58The big bird isn't after the pups, it just wants a share of the spoils.
11:28The pups are not afraid of the dark.
11:38They're not afraid of the dark.
11:43The pups are now growing in stature, and their bond with mother loop is growing stronger.
12:11These pups will leave the den at two to three months of age.
12:15All the adult pack members look after them with food and babysitting duties.
12:25Now, at just one month old, the braver pups are already making themselves known.
12:55The December rains have thankfully arrived, bringing much life to the Saave Valley Conservancy.
13:45The pups are developing well and becoming truly active.
14:13Out of 15, 9 have survived.
14:18Typically, wild dog pup and adult mortality can be incredibly high, so this is a good survival rate for this new pack.
14:28After humans, lions are the greatest danger.
14:31And in some places, rabies can have a big impact too.
14:57The film crew locate the pack in the mapani trees, on the dogs or on patrol.
15:16Predators love the shade that the new leaves provide, and the pack is heading directly for these three male cheetahs.
15:46Carnivores instinctively hate competition.
15:51Any other meat-eater isn't tolerated.
16:16The dogs outnumber the cats, so the cheetahs give way.
16:40The hunt continues.
16:44Wildebeest have got the pack's attention.
17:03After the rain, the bush is thick. The bikes battle to get through.
17:08The drone picks up the pack.
17:37The cheetahs are on the move.
17:42The pack is on the move.
17:47The cheetahs are on the move.
17:52The pack is on the move.
17:57The pack is on the move.
18:02The cheetahs are on the move.
18:05The pack is on the move.
18:08The cheetahs are on the move.
18:11The pack is on the move.
18:14The cheetahs are on the move.
18:17The pack is on the move.
18:20The cheetahs are on the move.
18:23The cheetahs are on the move.
18:28They run for miles, wearing the prey down.
18:45The dogs gain on the tiring wildebeest as they try to catch their breath.
19:15With youngsters in the herd, the wildebeest move into thick thorn trees.
19:35Often, the only respite is in water.
19:40This wildebeest simply has to rest. But is this a wise move?
19:50The persistent dogs are by no means put off by water and eagerly surround the wildebeest.
20:10Alpha male 10 makes a brave attempt to reach the prize, but he's out of his depths.
20:38The pack surrounds the pan, but they're too impatient.
20:48They have hungry pups at home.
20:55The pack pause to catch their breath, but soon they're hunting again.
21:25An impala is quickly spotted, and they burst into action.
21:45The cheetahs are on the move.
21:50The cheetahs are on the move.
21:55The cheetahs are on the move.
22:00The cheetahs are on the move.
22:05The cheetahs are on the move.
22:10The cheetahs are on the move.
22:15The cheetahs are on the move.
22:20The cheetahs are on the move.
22:23The cheetahs are on the move.
22:26The cheetahs are on the move.
22:29The cheetahs are on the move.
22:32The cheetahs are on the move.
22:35The cheetahs are on the move.
22:38In spite of just coming off a long chase with the wildebeest, they now run the nimble impala into the ground.
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