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00:09The Okavango Delta in Botswana.
00:12We are in a pristine environment right now.
00:15One of Africa's last wildernesses.
00:18The magnitude of life here is unparalleled.
00:22And it's a haven for Africa's big cats.
00:28Lion, cheetah and leopard.
00:31Big cat country.
00:34Armed with the latest filming technology,
00:37the Big Cats 24-17 is following individual big cats for six months.
00:45This is a unique opportunity to follow these cats round the clock.
00:49Through the day...
00:51I used to think I'd have a fair fight with the lion.
00:55Not so sure now.
00:57...and the night.
00:59We've got the most sophisticated thermal imaging technology.
01:04Capturing their behavior 24 hours a day.
01:08I have never seen anything like this.
01:11Epic!
01:20The lions are running.
01:25Oh, it's gone. No.
01:27Oh, so close. So close.
01:31Ah, don't believe this.
01:34But I don't think any of them got anything, eh?
01:37No, there was a dust ball that it got lost in.
01:44Gordon and Setz are with the Kudum Pride mums.
01:47And they're 14 cubs.
01:49This is now a huge pride.
01:55We've got over 20 lions here.
01:58There's Naledi, Nasi, Makosimogogo, Mato and Sebi.
02:08It's a big pride and it's also a force you reckon with.
02:16The problem is, with so many lions hanging out together,
02:21that is a lot of louse to feed.
02:25The mums have banded together for safety,
02:28but now have a new challenge.
02:32I feel sorry for these girls.
02:35We haven't seen these lions get a significant meal in a few days.
02:41Lioness Sebi has more cubs to feed than any other mum in the Pride.
02:48Sebi is an incredible mum.
02:50To raise four cubs to this stage is no mean feat.
02:57But that little one, looking very skinny.
03:03He's definitely not getting enough to eat.
03:08Sebi's smallest cub is struggling.
03:13Every day that passes,
03:16that little cub's going to be getting weaker and weaker.
03:24Sebi's spotted something.
03:27The lions are up.
03:30I hope this time is a success.
03:40She's running, running, running.
03:44Go, go, go, go, go.
03:47Go, go, go, go.
03:53Sebi's running, lie empty.
04:00Sebi must catch a meal soon.
04:04Hard luck, boys and girls, that was a shame.
04:08If she's to keep herself and her cub alive.
04:13Sebi can't catch a meal quick enough.
04:16Tisbi's running.
04:26Tisbi's running, lie empty.ciae,
04:28the cat's
04:32running.
04:32to the north, I copy that, last one bird.
04:38Brad and Tristan are with Ladiba the leopard
04:41and her five-month-old cub.
04:46This cub looks like it's in good nick.
04:49It's happy, definitely looks in good shape.
04:55How beautiful is that?
05:02Brad, Brad Gordon, we've got a male leopard in a tree
05:05just at the edge of Ladiba's territory.
05:09This makes me anxious.
05:13They have such a high density of leopards in this area.
05:17If there's a male and he thinks that the cub is not his,
05:21there's a good chance that he'll kill them.
05:26Male leopards kill cubs that are not their own,
05:30so they can mate with the females.
05:33So keeping them on the move every four or five days
05:35to a new location is smart.
05:42I think this might be the new little kindergarten for a while.
05:50Ladiba must keep her cub well hidden.
05:53Nice thick forest with a lot of cover.
06:03At this time of year the floodplains of the Okavango Delta
06:07are at their fullest.
06:11Pushing all the big cats in the area closer together.
06:17I've managed to find another big male leopard.
06:22Starting to get seriously concerned.
06:26We just keep on finding male after male after male.
06:29And it's a big problem.
06:35It's now more challenging than ever for Ladiba to keep her cubs safe.
06:41Looks like mom is starting to snarl at the cub.
06:48That's their way of saying, OK, now you stay.
06:53Get used to your new home.
06:58The cub knows exactly what it means.
07:07Ladiba is heading off to hunt.
07:10It's amazing that they can communicate like that.
07:13Leaving her cub alone.
07:17Mom has to just trust that she's going to stay concealed.
07:38Hey, big girl.
07:42Gordon is with Sebe and the pride mums and cubs.
07:46They're looking hungry.
07:49Looks like it's going to be a busy night for them.
07:52They've got lots of little bellies to fill.
07:58Ready, watch it.
08:00To see if they can catch a meal,
08:02the team is deploying some brand new night vision equipment.
08:06This is a beast of a camera.
08:12The sun has set and the night is full of opportunities.
08:21I have never in my whole life seen this number of lions moving together,
08:27particularly at night.
08:28It's unreal.
08:32It looks like the lionesses can hear something in this tree line.
08:46This looks like Sebe.
08:49With four hungry cubs to feed,
08:53Sebe is taking the lead again.
08:56Gordon, we've got Sebe on our side moving through the tree line.
09:01This time, more of the mums are joining her.
09:06I've got the drone up quite high.
09:10If the lions can get close enough and outsmart them with teamwork,
09:15hopefully, they're going to win.
09:18Hunting in a group doubles a lion's chance of success.
09:23Sebe's done a big loop round.
09:25And if she can just sneak in,
09:29they're going to scatter.
09:30and they could very well head in the direction of the other lions.
09:41They're running.
09:47Yo, look at that.
09:54The lion's superior night vision and acceleration.
09:58Whoa, they've got it.
10:00Gives them the edge.
10:02Oh, my goodness.
10:04Mums, cubs,
10:06all spreading in.
10:10Given that it's such a small meal,
10:12split between this many lions,
10:14a little impala like that,
10:16it is less than the crust of a sandwich
10:19for each of them.
10:22It's really not going to go far.
10:25Sebe is only getting a few bites.
10:28When it gets to this point,
10:30when they're super hungry,
10:32it is every lion for themselves.
10:34And her cubs are getting nothing at all.
10:41Oh, my gosh.
10:43One of these cubs is trying to pull a piece of meat
10:45through the sub-adult male's legs.
10:55The mums must take priority.
10:58If they're not strong enough to hunt,
11:00no one gets fed.
11:02Sebe's little cub,
11:04he's in the toughest position.
11:05He's the smallest of this part of the pride,
11:09and he's less able to actually fight
11:11and get access to the food
11:12that he desperately needs.
11:19The adult lions have devoured the impala in minutes.
11:27The best chance they've got
11:29of everyone getting the food that they need
11:30is if they catch something big.
11:34To feed herself and her cub,
11:38Sebe must target larger prey.
11:41Zebra would go further.
11:43Buffalo would even further than that.
11:46But, yeah,
11:48Sebe's cub still needs to feed.
12:16Brad is on the trail of Ladiba.
12:19She's definitely hungry and hunting.
12:23Tristan is just a few hundred metres away.
12:27Got a big mile walker here.
12:28Not too sure who it is.
12:35It's not good.
12:39Let's hope the deeper
12:40he doesn't push too far across.
12:46This boy seems to be quite active,
12:49rubbing himself up against trees
12:51and scent marking.
12:53This unknown male
12:55is on the border of Ladiba's territory.
13:03This is a very high-stakes situation
13:05for Ladiba.
13:06It's where she lives,
13:07where she hunts,
13:09where her cub's growing up.
13:12Male leopards are extremely aggressive
13:14to females and their cubs.
13:16And if they aren't certain
13:18that they're the father,
13:19they will kill them.
13:30He's approaching a tree.
13:34Oh,
13:35I see another leaptop there.
13:38It looks like a female, eh?
13:41I don't recognise this girl.
13:45It's not Ladiba.
13:47Pushed together by the flood,
13:50competition amongst leopards
13:51is now fiercer than ever.
13:53This guy looks angry.
13:57You're...
13:58Oh, wow.
14:01To assert their dominance...
14:04He's just mumbling and grumbling
14:06and just giving these deep guttural noises
14:08that are, to be honest,
14:10quite terrifying.
14:11Males will sometimes attack females.
14:15She can hopefully just get out of it
14:17by hiding on the lighter branches.
14:23F***, he's just gone straight up to the top.
14:34That was insane.
14:46They must have fallen
14:47over ten metres out of that tree.
14:50And he just seems completely unfazed by it.
14:56With yet another male
14:58establishing himself in the area.
15:01Brad, Brad.
15:02This aggressive male
15:03is very keen to show everyone
15:05who's boss.
15:07Copy that.
15:10That's, uh...
15:11It's not a good sign.
15:15Ladiba will have to work even harder
15:18to keep herself and her cub
15:20safe.
15:24This is really, really scary
15:26for Ladiba.
15:36So, slightly to the left.
15:38To check on Ladiba's cub,
15:42Tristan is rolling into a night shift.
15:44I can't see anything in the trees.
15:47It makes me really
15:48quite worried, actually.
15:50But the cub
15:51is not where he left her.
15:56Ooh, wait.
16:03Well, that's a relief.
16:10Letford cubs are very, very
16:12strong climbers.
16:13This is one of their
16:13biggest adaptations
16:15and reasons for survival.
16:17Mum can leave them by themselves.
16:18They can climb up to the top
16:19of the tree very easily
16:21and get away from predators.
16:24These cats are very, very
16:26inquisitive at this age.
16:28After 24 hours alone,
16:30the cub
16:31is getting restless.
16:34It's like watching
16:34a toddler, basically.
16:36The world is their oyster
16:38and they, you know,
16:39just ready to explore,
16:40ready to learn.
16:44Just come down
16:45the backhand side
16:46of the tree.
16:49Out in the open,
16:51there's no hiding
16:52from predators.
17:00There's any number
17:01of dangers out here
17:03for a young leopard cub.
17:10Ooh, wait.
17:11Another leopard.
17:20Thank God for that.
17:22It's the deep bear.
17:28This cub obviously
17:29heard mum calling,
17:31ran off into the floodplain
17:33after her,
17:34very, very eager
17:35to meet mum.
17:38But it's going to be quite difficult
17:40to figure out
17:42where they're going to be going.
17:46My feeling is that
17:47it's probably going to go
17:48and find a new place
17:49to live.
17:50with so many male leopards
17:53in the area.
17:54She's going to move
17:54this cub through
17:55very, very thick terrain
17:56in an attempt
17:57to keep it safe
17:59and out of harm's way.
18:02Ladiba is now moving
18:03her cub
18:04almost every day.
18:07And stop.
18:10All right,
18:11so let's try and find them,
18:12shall we?
18:20Why does it have
18:21to be so difficult?
18:23Why can't filming
18:24leopards just be easy?
18:27Ladiba
18:28and her cub
18:29have vanished.
18:31Good luck, girl.
18:34I'm done.
18:36I'm done.
18:54I absolutely love
18:57this time of day.
18:59Anna is following
19:01cheetah mum Pobbe.
19:03It's when Pobbe
19:05is still
19:05touched up in bed
19:06and the cubs
19:07are just playing
19:08around her.
19:11Now six months old,
19:13her two cubs
19:14Good morning, Kieran Bo.
19:16are maturing fast.
19:23You can really see
19:25their little sibling bond.
19:29They don't have
19:30the support
19:31of a pride,
19:32but they've got
19:33each other.
19:34They love each other
19:35so much
19:35and that is
19:36really,
19:37really beautiful
19:38to see.
19:42Chloe's just being
19:43a classic
19:44little brother
19:45winding his
19:46little sister up.
19:48Kio's not having
19:49any of it.
19:50She's like,
19:50no,
19:50don't slap me
19:51in the face.
19:52Thank you very much.
19:55Cheetah cubs
19:56learn vital skills
19:57they need
19:58through play.
19:59You can see
20:00the way
20:00that they
20:01stalk each other.
20:04Practicing
20:05their hunting.
20:11Over the next
20:12six months,
20:13Kio and Bo
20:14will need
20:15to put
20:15these skills
20:16into action.
20:17They've definitely
20:18been watching Pobbe.
20:20and start
20:21to hunt
20:21alongside
20:22their mum.
20:23Things are
20:24going to start
20:24moving pretty
20:25quickly from
20:26here on out.
20:28They're not
20:29babies anymore.
20:43Set, set.
20:44Go, go,
20:45I'll copy.
20:46They're approaching
20:48a massive
20:49herd of buffalo.
20:50Easily the largest
20:51herd of buffalo
20:52I've ever seen.
20:53With the flood
20:54reaching its peak,
20:55the density
20:56of buffalo
20:57skyrockets.
20:58So this is
20:59one hell
20:59of an opportunity.
21:04Sebe and the mums
21:05are hunting
21:06for something
21:07big enough
21:07to feed themselves
21:09and all
21:10of their cubs.
21:12The desperation
21:12of the cats
21:13is very high.
21:15They're all
21:15very hungry.
21:16Cubs have been
21:17nagging their mums
21:18and these lionesses
21:19are feeling
21:20the pressure
21:20to provide
21:21for such a huge
21:22pride.
21:25Buffalo
21:26are powerful
21:28and aggressive
21:29prey.
21:31They're closing
21:32in on one
21:33of the most
21:34dangerous animals
21:35in the delta.
21:37But a one-ton
21:38bull will easily
21:40feed the whole
21:41pride,
21:42making it worth
21:43the risk.
21:53Tastes
21:53as hard.
21:55Oh my goodness
21:56me.
22:01My nest is
22:01right up
22:02the rump.
22:05Someone's
22:06clinging on
22:07like a fucking
22:08baronco.
22:10Jeepers
22:11creepers.
22:12Dealing with
22:13buffalo,
22:13you can't
22:13afford to
22:14make any
22:14mistakes.
22:16Oh,
22:16there's a little
22:16calf in there.
22:18Oh,
22:19that's just
22:20okay,
22:20we've got
22:20a buffalo
22:21moving in.
22:21Defending
22:22the calf.
22:24Oh,
22:25Seb,
22:25you've got
22:25a wallet
22:26by the bull.
22:31Back on the
22:32calf.
22:33Oh,
22:36that's game
22:36over.
22:40It's
22:40something,
22:41but a calf
22:42is far from
22:43enough to
22:44feed them
22:44all.
22:52Someone's
22:52getting beaten
22:53up.
22:54Hunger is
22:55turning the
22:56lions on
22:57each other.
23:01The dangerous
23:02place to be
23:02a lion cover
23:03around a
23:03small kill.
23:07I really
23:08feel for
23:09Seb's
23:09cub because
23:10he's really
23:10being pushed
23:11around and
23:12he's struggling
23:12to get his
23:13head in there.
23:17Oh.
23:20Seb's
23:21cub has a
23:21wound.
23:28Hey,
23:28Gordon,
23:29I can see
23:30Seb's
23:30cub,
23:31the one
23:31that's been
23:31looking very
23:33skinny.
23:34Looks like
23:34he has a
23:35wound on
23:36the left
23:36side of
23:37his ribcage.
23:39It looks
23:40pretty bad.
23:42Oh,
23:42gosh,
23:43that's not
23:43good.
23:46That injury
23:47on his side
23:48has picked
23:48that up,
23:49either during
23:50the buffalo
23:51hunt or
23:52in the
23:52aftermath.
23:54The cub
23:55is malnourished
23:56and now
23:58injured.
24:02If he
24:02doesn't get
24:03the food
24:03to help
24:04him recover
24:04and heal
24:05his wound,
24:06things could
24:07turn for
24:08the worse
24:08quite quickly.
24:15Seeing
24:15this cub
24:17in this
24:17condition
24:18is very
24:19hard to
24:19watch.
24:36with
24:37Pobbe as
24:38their
24:38teacher,
24:40cheetah cubs
24:41Kia and
24:41Bo are
24:42learning fast.
24:44Yeah,
24:44she's going
24:45to learn.
24:47Go,
24:48go,
24:48go.
24:49And she's
24:49got one.
24:54Oh,
24:54the cubs
24:55are going
24:56straight in.
24:59Pobbe
25:00didn't even
25:00need to
25:00cool them.
25:04The cubs
25:05already
25:05understand
25:06This is
25:07about fast
25:08food.
25:09We need
25:09to just
25:09eat and
25:10leave.
25:11That at
25:12meal times,
25:13time is
25:14of the
25:14essence.
25:15Meanwhile,
25:16Pobbe is
25:16just sat
25:16guarding.
25:18Now
25:19they're at
25:19risk of
25:20predators
25:21coming in
25:21to steal
25:22this kill.
25:25Of all
25:26the big
25:26cats,
25:27cheetahs
25:28are the
25:28most likely
25:29to have
25:29their meals
25:30stolen.
25:32What's
25:33really cute
25:33is that
25:34it looks like
25:35Bo is
25:36copying
25:38mum
25:39and there's
25:40also
25:41standing
25:41guard.
25:42It's
25:42basically
25:43adopted
25:43the exact
25:44same
25:45stance
25:45as
25:47Pobbe
25:47and
25:48it's
25:48looking out.
25:50Male
25:51cub
25:51Bo is
25:52finally
25:53taking
25:53lessons
25:54seriously.
25:55One
25:56of them
25:56is
25:56eating
25:57and one
25:57of them
25:57is
25:57standing
25:58guard.
25:59clearly
25:59learning
25:59really,
26:00really
26:00fast.
26:02These
26:03little
26:03cubs
26:05getting ready
26:06for the
26:06future.
26:12Bo is
26:13looking
26:13at
26:13something.
26:21Bo is
26:21crouching
26:22down a
26:22little bit.
26:24What is
26:25going
26:25on?
26:32Oh,
26:32there's a
26:33leopard,
26:33there's a
26:33leopard.
26:36Bo is
26:37going
26:37straight
26:38towards
26:38it.
26:43Really,
26:44really
26:44don't want
26:45her to
26:45get into
26:45a fight.
26:46This
26:46would
26:46not
26:47be
26:47good.
26:50This
26:50leopard
26:51could
26:51seriously
26:52injure
26:52an adult
26:53cheetah
26:54and
26:54kill
26:55a
26:55cub.
26:59Bo
26:59is
27:00just
27:00staring
27:01at
27:01this
27:01leopard.
27:02She's
27:03not
27:03going
27:03to
27:03let
27:03that
27:03leopard
27:04come
27:04anywhere
27:04near
27:05Kiambo.
27:06And
27:06also
27:06that
27:07meal.
27:12But
27:13Pobbe is
27:13not
27:13backing
27:14down.
27:20Leopards
27:21run
27:21away.
27:23Oh,
27:24my heart.
27:27That
27:28was a
27:28seriously
27:29lucky
27:29escape.
27:31Typically,
27:31a cheetah
27:32would run
27:32away from
27:33a leopard.
27:37I've
27:38got a
27:38feeling
27:38due to
27:39Kia
27:40and
27:40Bo
27:41being
27:41here,
27:42Bobby
27:43knew
27:43she's
27:43got to
27:43stand
27:43ground.
27:44She's
27:44got to
27:44take
27:45care
27:45of
27:45her
27:45cubs.
27:49Thanks
27:50to
27:50mum,
27:51the
27:51cubs
27:51have
27:51learnt
27:52a vital
27:52lesson,
27:53how to
27:54defend
27:54a meal.
27:55Cheetah
27:56cubs
27:56generally
27:57have such
27:58a tough
27:59start to
27:59life.
28:00But
28:01these
28:01two
28:02have
28:02the
28:03most
28:03incredible
28:04mum,
28:05who is
28:05just
28:05showing
28:06them
28:06the
28:06ropes
28:06every
28:07single
28:07day.
28:07With
28:09so
28:09many
28:10leopards
28:10in
28:10the
28:11area,
28:12Pobbe
28:12is
28:12going
28:12to
28:13have
28:13to
28:13be
28:13more
28:13vigilant
28:14than
28:14ever
28:15before.
28:26We
28:27have
28:27run
28:27into
28:28Ladiba.
28:31After
28:31vanishing
28:32with her
28:33cub,
28:34Greg
28:36has
28:36found
28:37leopard
28:37mum,
28:38Ladiba.
28:39Oh,
28:40man,
28:40the last
28:40few weeks
28:41have been
28:41very
28:41stressful
28:41because
28:42there's
28:42been
28:42so
28:42many
28:42males
28:43really
28:43threatening
28:43the
28:44area.
28:51Oh,
28:52gosh.
28:53Another
28:53one.
28:55Oh,
28:55my
28:55word.
28:56Big
28:56male
28:56leopard.
28:59This
28:59is
28:59Bungwe,
29:00and he's
29:01the
29:01dominant
29:01male
29:02in this
29:02area.
29:03He's
29:03fully
29:04mature,
29:04about
29:04seven
29:05years
29:05old.
29:08Oh,
29:09Ladiba.
29:12If
29:13the
29:13cub
29:13is
29:13nearby,
29:14this
29:14is
29:14super
29:15dangerous
29:15situation.
29:18Bongwe
29:19and
29:19Ladiba's
29:20territories
29:20overlap,
29:23but male
29:24territories
29:25are four
29:26times larger
29:27than
29:27females.
29:28Whoa.
29:30Wow.
29:32So
29:33interactions
29:34like this
29:35are rare.
29:37He's
29:37about double
29:37her size,
29:38and she's
29:38trying to
29:39push him
29:39off.
29:45It's
29:46working.
29:50This
29:51is
29:51insane.
29:56Ladiba.
29:57Ballsy,
29:58eh?
29:59Ladiba really
30:00can't afford
30:01to get injured
30:02here with
30:02a cub
30:03to protect.
30:11Absolutely
30:12unreal
30:13situation.
30:18What is
30:19going to happen
30:19here?
30:28Holy smokes,
30:29here comes
30:30the cub.
30:30Oh gosh,
30:31if
30:31Bongwe sees
30:32her,
30:32this could
30:33be the
30:33end.
30:38I cannot
30:39believe my
30:40eyes.
30:49Gosh,
30:49he's seen
30:50her.
30:55Oh my word,
30:55he's not
30:56reacting at
30:56all.
30:58There's
30:59only one
30:59reason why
31:00a male
31:00wouldn't
31:01kill a
31:01cub.
31:02Bongwe must
31:03be her
31:04father.
31:09That's
31:10amazing.
31:10Bongwe is
31:12dad for
31:12sure.
31:16That's
31:16cool.
31:17I'm
31:18stoked.
31:20Oh gosh,
31:21that is
31:21heart-ranging.
31:22I thought
31:22that it
31:22could have
31:22been trouble
31:23for that
31:24little
31:24cub.
31:24But now
31:26it looks
31:26like he's
31:27actually the
31:27defender.
31:29Fantastic.
31:30Go
31:31Bongwe.
31:33Although
31:33he'll play
31:34no active
31:35role in
31:35rearing his
31:36cub,
31:37Bongwe will
31:38challenge any
31:39intruder male
31:40leopards in
31:41the area.
31:42He's a
31:43formidable
31:44big male.
31:45So I
31:45mean, if
31:45there's any
31:46leopard that
31:46we wanted
31:48to be
31:49dad and
31:50to give
31:50us a
31:51sense of
31:51security for
31:52the cub,
31:52it's
31:53Bongwe.
31:57happy
31:58day is
31:58for
31:59everybody
31:59involved.
32:02What a
32:02magical
32:03little
32:03moment.
32:25here we
32:26are.
32:27Gordon has
32:28caught up with
32:29the
32:29kudum pride.
32:31We can
32:31see a
32:32cluster of
32:32lions over
32:33here.
32:35Sebi,
32:36Naledi,
32:37Matu and
32:38their cubs.
32:39But half of
32:40the mums are
32:41missing.
32:42They've split
32:43off from the
32:44rest of the
32:45pride.
32:46These cubs
32:47haven't eaten
32:48anything really
32:49in the last
32:50week.
32:50And these
32:51lions are
32:52beginning to
32:52feel the
32:53pressure.
32:54they were moving
32:55around with
32:56around 20
32:57plus lines.
32:58And if you
32:59don't catch
32:59something big
32:59like a
33:00buffalo,
33:01next best
33:01thing is to
33:02split up in
33:03smaller groups.
33:06Mum and cubs
33:07are up and
33:08they're moving
33:08off.
33:11Sebi's group
33:11is now so
33:12hungry,
33:13they're sacrificing
33:14safety in numbers
33:15to hunt on
33:17their own.
33:20Oh,
33:21and that one
33:22little cub,
33:23the skinny
33:23one,
33:24is fast asleep.
33:25He's been
33:26left behind.
33:29Hey,
33:29little guy,
33:30wake up.
33:36Desperate to
33:37find food for
33:38her cubs,
33:39Sebi is
33:40leading the
33:40hunt.
33:42She may
33:43even have
33:44called and
33:45all the cubs
33:45have just
33:45followed on,
33:46but this one
33:47probably just
33:48because he's
33:48so tired.
33:50He didn't
33:51get the memo.
33:59The saddest
34:00sight ever.
34:07See how his
34:08hip bones are
34:09sticking out.
34:13And he's
34:13starting to
34:14call.
34:21In this
34:22state,
34:23his call
34:24won't go far.
34:26He's
34:26able to
34:27breathe,
34:27so no one's
34:28going to hear
34:28him.
34:29They've gone
34:30too far away.
34:42not only is he
34:44tired,
34:45weak,
34:47underfed,
34:48injured,
34:49now he's
34:50alone.
34:53Okay,
34:54he's moving,
34:55but he's
34:56going the wrong
35:00way.
35:01The farther away
35:03he walks from
35:04where his mom
35:04left him,
35:05the less chance
35:06he has of her
35:07finding him if she
35:08comes back.
35:10With the flood
35:11concentrating predators
35:13in the area.
35:16There's leopards,
35:18hyena,
35:19other lions,
35:20and he needs
35:21his mom
35:22for protection.
35:25This wounded
35:26cub faces
35:27a race
35:28against time
35:28to reunite
35:30before nightfall.
35:32He's just
35:33completely
35:33defenseless.
35:47Really nice
35:48to see her
35:49as a cub.
35:52Ladiba and
35:53her cub
35:54are still
35:54in dad
35:55Bongwe's
35:55territory.
35:58Lots of
35:59playing,
35:59jumping
36:00at each
36:00other.
36:01It's just
36:01a fantastic
36:02scene to
36:03witness it.
36:06Too cute.
36:16Broad,
36:17Broad,
36:17Fortress.
36:20I've got a male
36:21leopard here.
36:21I'm walking
36:22straight towards
36:22Ladiba and
36:23the cub.
36:25Oh,
36:25.
36:26It's the
36:27aggressive
36:28young male
36:28that Tristan
36:29previously
36:30found in the
36:30area.
36:34With younger
36:35males like
36:35this that
36:36aren't fully
36:37established,
36:37they've got
36:38a lot to
36:38prove.
36:39This guy's
36:40main role
36:42is going to
36:43be finding
36:44a territory,
36:45finding females
36:46to breed with.
36:48He's going to
36:48really be pushing
36:49in a very
36:51aggressive way.
36:54If this male
36:55ventures into
36:56Ladiba's territory,
36:57he's just going to
36:59try and wipe out
37:00anything that isn't
37:01within his gene pool.
37:06What's that?
37:08Come on.
37:10This is Bongwe.
37:12really needs to
37:13make a big effort
37:15to push this male
37:15out of the area
37:16and keep Ladiba
37:18and his
37:19offspring safe.
37:27They're both big,
37:28they're both powerful,
37:29and if these two
37:31males come into
37:32contact,
37:33it'd just be an
37:33all-out war.
37:44Bongwe's thrown
37:45down the gauntlet.
37:46The chase
37:47is on.
37:52Running side
37:53by side
37:53allows leopards
37:55to size
37:55each other up.
37:59I have to admit,
38:00it looks very,
38:01very even.
38:02It's the last
38:03step
38:04before a fight.
38:11Bongwe's chasing
38:12over a ridiculous
38:13distance now
38:14and doesn't seem
38:15to be letting up.
38:20He is just
38:21pushing,
38:22pushing,
38:22pushing.
38:37looks like our
38:38boys won this
38:38battle.
38:40The other male
38:41is slowly moving
38:42away,
38:43and Bongwe is
38:43watching him
38:44move off
38:45and out of his
38:46territory.
38:47Bongwe has
38:48resolved the
38:49dispute
38:50without coming
38:51to blows.
38:52This is absolutely
38:53amazing for Ladiba.
38:55I mean,
38:55she's got a male
38:56that she can
38:56completely rely on
38:57to protect her
38:58territory and to
38:59protect her cub.
39:01Ladiba seems
39:02to know
39:03the right
39:03boys.
39:12I've been
39:13called in
39:14to take
39:15over the
39:15cheetah,
39:16Boba and
39:17her two
39:17cubs.
39:18This will
39:19be quite
39:20exciting
39:21because I
39:22haven't really
39:22had much
39:23time with
39:23the cheetahs.
39:26Cheetah cubs
39:28Kia and Bo
39:28are learning
39:29from their
39:29mum every
39:30day.
39:34Boba spotted
39:35some impala.
39:44She is stalking,
39:46using the glass
39:48as cover.
39:49Wow.
39:50That's incredible.
39:53I don't see her
39:54anymore,
39:55but I know
39:55she's in
39:56position.
39:57She's hiding
39:58behind her.
40:00A term
40:01at mount.
40:04Go,
40:04she's gone.
40:08She is
40:09super fast.
40:10You're
40:10insane.
40:20She got it.
40:22She got it.
40:28Oh,
40:28my goodness.
40:34Wow.
40:38Wait,
40:39she's letting
40:39it go.
40:40What?
40:43This is a
40:44big moment
40:45for these
40:45cubs.
40:47Kia has
40:48taken the
40:48leads.
40:51What's
40:52going on
40:52there?
40:56They are
40:57chasing it
40:58around
40:58because this
40:59is the
41:00first time
41:01they don't
41:01really know
41:01of what
41:02they are
41:02doing.
41:04Cheetah
41:05moms bring
41:05their cubs
41:06live prey
41:07to hone
41:08their hunting
41:08skills.
41:10Wow,
41:10look at Kia.
41:11She's really,
41:12really into
41:13it.
41:13She's hanging
41:14on to it.
41:15She's learned
41:16so much
41:16from my mom.
41:18She's just
41:18mimicking
41:19her.
41:23Oh,
41:23she's taking
41:23it down.
41:29Wow.
41:32Kia is
41:33holding on
41:34to its
41:34throat
41:34and
41:35suffocating
41:36it.
41:38She is
41:39going to be
41:39an exceptional
41:40cheetah
41:41when she
41:41grows up.
41:45Ah,
41:46wow.
41:49Like,
41:49I'm actually
41:50watching
41:50these cubs
41:52grow in
41:52real time.
41:55Hobi
41:55has helped
41:56her cubs
41:57reach an
41:57essential
41:58milestone.
41:59Oh,
42:00Hobi.
42:02I bet
42:03you are
42:03a proud
42:03mom today.
42:04You have
42:05ushered
42:06your cubs
42:06into the
42:07new
42:07age of
42:08maturity.
42:09tea.
42:16Sure.
42:25Nope,
42:26there he is.
42:29Gordon has
42:30been following
42:31Sebe's lost
42:32cub for more
42:33than six
42:34hours.
42:38It's going
42:38to be dark
42:39soon.
42:40And the
42:41night holds
42:41a whole
42:42set of
42:42other dangers.
42:44Especially
42:45for a cub
42:45on its
42:45own.
42:47Hmm.
42:56You did
42:56the right
42:56thing.
42:57Calling is
42:58the best
42:58policy.
43:03Okay,
43:03all you've
43:04got
43:05a warthog.
43:08So he's
43:09probably seen
43:09this warthog
43:10thinking maybe
43:10this is
43:11my next
43:12meal.
43:13But not on
43:14his own,
43:15that's for
43:15sure.
43:21this little
43:22lion's
43:22completely
43:23dependent
43:23on his
43:24mum.
43:24There is
43:25nothing
43:25that he
43:26could hunt
43:26on his
43:27own.
43:28Technically
43:28not in the
43:28condition
43:29that he's
43:29in at
43:29the
43:29moment.
43:39He's just
43:40disappearing
43:41off into
43:41the grass.
43:43Okay,
43:43let's catch
43:44up.
43:52Oh my
43:52goodness
43:53me.
43:53Yeah,
43:54look,
43:54there
43:54they are.
43:55Sebi up
43:55ahead.
43:58Okay,
44:00if he calls
44:01now,
44:01maybe she'll
44:02hear him.
44:04Come on,
44:05big four.
44:06Mommy!
44:10Mommy!
44:36happy days!
44:39There you go,
44:40little guy.
44:45there they
44:46are.
44:51In the
44:52nick of time
44:53as well.
44:53Just 20
44:54minutes before
44:55sunset.
44:57You can tell
44:58he's not
44:58leaving his
44:59mum's side.
45:00Look at
45:00that.
45:02That's
45:03perfect.
45:10Greg,
45:11do you
45:12copy?
45:12Gordon,
45:13go ahead.
45:14I'm going to
45:14sleep out here
45:15tonight.
45:16Somehow that
45:16little cup has
45:17reunited with
45:18its family.
45:19That's
45:20amazing.
45:22I'm just
45:23hoping that
45:23he's able to
45:24get at least
45:25something to
45:26eat soon.
45:35Greg and
45:35Gordon are
45:36sleeping out
45:37next to the
45:37lions.
45:41The lions
45:42are over
45:43there,
45:43maybe kind
45:44of over
45:44100 metres
45:45away.
45:45I'm out
45:46in the
45:46middle of
45:46the plains
45:47and just
45:49going to
45:49bed down
45:49for the
45:50night.
45:50This is
45:51the best
45:51place
45:51to be.
45:52I mean,
45:52right in
45:53the thick
45:53of it.
45:55Okay,
45:56good night
45:56lions.
45:59It might
46:00be
46:00night
46:00time,
46:01but not
46:02everyone's
46:03asleep.
46:36the lion cubs
46:38and they're
46:46all getting
46:47desperate,
46:48but Sebi's
46:48little cub,
46:49up.
46:49It's
46:50alive for
46:50death.
46:52Not just
46:52getting lost
46:53from Sebi,
46:54from his
46:55mum,
46:55but his
46:56body
46:56condition,
46:57he's
46:57weak,
46:58he's
46:58picked up
46:58an injury.
46:59When
46:59there's
47:00food
47:00available,
47:01it can't
47:01even
47:01fight
47:02its way
47:02to get
47:03access
47:03to the
47:03meat.
47:04It's
47:04like a
47:05downward
47:05spiral.
47:08Sebi
47:08is an
47:08amazing
47:09hunter,
47:11but he's
47:11on a
47:11losing streak.
47:12the last
47:12week has
47:13been
47:13tough
47:13for
47:14all
47:14of
47:14them.
47:22Gordon,
47:23Sebi
47:23is crossing
47:24the flood
47:24plain
47:24towards
47:25the
47:25tree
47:25line.
47:27I'm
47:27pretty
47:28confident
47:28she's
47:28seen
47:28something.
47:30Roger
47:30that,
47:30Greg.
47:31Hop
47:31at the
47:31draw
47:31nut.
47:34In
47:35a bid
47:35to feed
47:36her
47:36cub,
47:37Sebi
47:38is
47:38going
47:39it
47:39alone.
47:41There's
47:42a zebra
47:42right
47:42there.
47:43Right
47:43there.
47:47Just
47:48sneak
47:48it
47:48into
47:48that
47:49bush.
47:59This
48:00is
48:00close.
48:01This
48:01is
48:01intense.
48:16She's
48:17got
48:17it.
48:18My
48:18goodness.
48:20It's
48:21pretty
48:21astonishing.
48:22She did
48:22all of
48:23this
48:23on her
48:24own.
48:26Flippin'
48:27heck,
48:27that was
48:28mad.
48:36Sebi
48:36led
48:37the
48:37hunt.
48:38Amazing,
48:39one
48:39lioness
48:40on
48:40her
48:40own.
48:41Managed
48:42to
48:42take
48:42down
48:42this
48:42zebra.
48:46To
48:46this
48:47number
48:47of
48:47lions
48:47that
48:47is
48:47a
48:48sizable
48:48meal.
48:50She
48:51is
48:51the
48:51hero
48:51of
48:51the
48:52day.
48:56Sebi
48:57has
48:57provided
48:58for
48:58the
48:58whole
48:58group.
49:01Every
49:01single
49:01one
49:02of
49:02these
49:02lions
49:02has
49:03been
49:03hungry.
49:03This
49:04is
49:04the
49:04best
49:04meal
49:04that
49:04they've
49:04had
49:05in
49:05a
49:05week.
49:06And
49:06finally
49:07delivered
49:08the
49:08food
49:08her
49:09smallest
49:09cub
49:10needs.
49:13For
49:14Sebi's
49:14cub,
49:15that
49:15little
49:15one,
49:16he has
49:16literally
49:17been
49:17starving.
49:18This
49:19could save
49:20its life.
49:23We just
49:24see him
49:24sneaking in
49:26and almost
49:27read his
49:27mind.
49:28He's like,
49:28thank God.
49:30wants.
49:32Finally
49:32getting a
49:33good meal.
49:34I mean,
49:34that is
49:34just
49:36so good
49:37to see.
49:38We were
49:38really
49:39worried
49:39about
49:39the
49:39cubs.
49:41Everyone
49:42has
49:42finished
49:43eating,
49:44but
49:44Sebi's
49:45little
49:45male
49:45cub,
49:46he is
49:47tucking
49:48in.
49:50He's
49:51just
49:52refusing
49:53to leave
49:53the
49:53table.
49:54He's
49:55going to
49:55eat
49:56until
49:56he
49:56pops.
50:00Happy
50:00days
50:00for
50:01this
50:01cub.
50:06How's
50:07that,
50:08Amazing.
50:09Talk
50:10about
50:10unexpected.
50:11I know.
50:12Couldn't
50:12come a
50:13moment
50:13too
50:13soon.
50:14Through
50:15skill
50:16and
50:16determination,
50:18Sebi
50:18has done
50:19the
50:19seemingly
50:20impossible.
50:22Most
50:23cubs
50:23don't
50:24make it
50:24to their
50:24first
50:25year,
50:25and
50:25she
50:26raised
50:27four
50:28of
50:28them.
50:29And
50:29that
50:30has
50:30not
50:30been
50:30about
50:30luck,
50:31that's
50:31been
50:31about
50:32hard
50:33work,
50:33commitment
50:34to
50:34them,
50:34and
50:35just
50:35being
50:35an
50:36all-round
50:37pro.
50:39Yeah,
50:40they've
50:40survived
50:41against
50:41the
50:41odds.
50:48Cheetah
50:48team,
50:49cheetah
50:49team,
50:50there's a
50:50male leopard
50:50heading
50:51towards
50:51Boba
50:52and her
50:52cubs.
50:53What
50:54the
50:54hell?
50:59There
51:00is
51:00another
51:00cat,
51:01and
51:02Boba
51:03and
51:03the
51:03cubs
51:04have
51:04absolutely
51:05no
51:06idea.
51:12That
51:12is a
51:12leopard.
51:13That
51:13is a
51:13big
51:14male
51:14leopard.
51:20They're
51:20so close
51:21now.
51:22The
51:22leopard
51:23is
51:23literally
51:23here.
51:27and
51:28pulling
51:28the
51:28cubs
51:29are
51:30there.
51:34This
51:35is
51:35really
51:36not
51:36good.
51:42One
51:42moment
51:43they're
51:43just
51:44playing
51:44around
51:44and
51:45in
51:45the
51:45next
51:45breath
51:47they're
51:48basically
51:48at
51:49risk
51:49of
51:49death.
51:51You've
51:52already
51:52seen
51:53Boba
51:54put
51:54her
51:54life
51:55on
51:55the
51:55line
51:55for
51:55these
51:56cubs
51:57when
51:57it
51:57came
51:58to
51:58a
51:58leopard.
52:00So
52:01if
52:01this
52:01does
52:02escalate
52:02I
52:03have
52:03a
52:04strong
52:04suspicion
52:06she's
52:06going to
52:06be doing
52:07the
52:07exact
52:07same
52:08thing.
52:15The
52:15leopard
52:16is
52:16basically
52:16staring
52:18all
52:18day
52:18in
52:18the
52:19cubs.
52:24Oh
52:25he's
52:25coming
52:25down
52:25the
52:25hill
52:32He's
52:33creeping
52:33he's
52:34creeping
52:38He's
52:38heading
52:39straight
52:39towards
52:40Boba
52:40and
52:41her
52:41cubs
52:44this
52:45sounds
52:45bad
52:45situation
52:49It's
52:49really
52:50close
53:04Oh
53:04my
53:06is
53:06right
53:07next
53:07to
53:07the
53:07cub
53:08you
53:09right
53:09next
53:09to
53:09the
53:09cub
53:10I
53:11have
53:11no
53:11idea
53:23Move
53:24Boba
53:24move
53:24you need
53:26to
53:26move
53:26your
53:26cubs
53:29He's
53:30right
53:30behind
53:30you
53:30move
53:34Oh
53:34no
53:41no
53:41no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:42no
53:43no
54:12Transcription by CastingWords
54:13CastingWords