Big Cats 24/7 Season 2 Episode 5 – New Beginnings reveals a time of dramatic change in the Okavango Delta as every big cat must adapt to survive.
The powerful Xudum lion pride is shifting its territory south, but a group of young, opportunistic lionesses has stayed behind in the north. The team makes an exciting discovery when one of these young females is found with new cubs. As a first-time mother, she faces a steep learning curve in one of Africa’s most dangerous landscapes.
Meanwhile, tragedy strikes Pobe the cheetah when a leopard attacks, showing just how fragile life can be for cheetah families. But hope soon returns when her three-year-old daughter Neelo is spotted thriving on her own in the wild.
For Lediba the leopard, survival means proving her strength. She reveals impressive hunting skills, but with growing pressure to catch larger prey, every hunt becomes more challenging.
In this powerful chapter of Big Cats 24/7, survival depends on resilience, adaptation, and the promise of new beginnings.
#BigCats247 #BigCats #WildlifeDocumentary #AfricanWildlife #OkavangoDelta
The powerful Xudum lion pride is shifting its territory south, but a group of young, opportunistic lionesses has stayed behind in the north. The team makes an exciting discovery when one of these young females is found with new cubs. As a first-time mother, she faces a steep learning curve in one of Africa’s most dangerous landscapes.
Meanwhile, tragedy strikes Pobe the cheetah when a leopard attacks, showing just how fragile life can be for cheetah families. But hope soon returns when her three-year-old daughter Neelo is spotted thriving on her own in the wild.
For Lediba the leopard, survival means proving her strength. She reveals impressive hunting skills, but with growing pressure to catch larger prey, every hunt becomes more challenging.
In this powerful chapter of Big Cats 24/7, survival depends on resilience, adaptation, and the promise of new beginnings.
#BigCats247 #BigCats #WildlifeDocumentary #AfricanWildlife #OkavangoDelta
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AnimalsTranscript
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00:09The Okavango Delta in Botswana.
00:13We are in a pristine environment right now.
00:16One of Africa's last wildernesses.
00:19The magnitude of life here is unparalleled.
00:22And it's a haven for Africa's big cats.
00:28Lion, cheetah and leopard.
00:32Big cat country.
00:35Armed with the latest filming technology,
00:38the Big Cats 24-17 is following individual big cats for six months.
00:46This is a unique opportunity to follow these cats round the clock.
00:50Through the day...
00:52I used to think I'd have a fair fight with a lion.
00:56Not so sure now.
00:58And the night.
00:59We've got the most sophisticated thermal imaging technologies.
01:04Capturing their behavior 24 hours a day.
01:09I have never seen anything like this.
01:12Epic!
01:22Mom.
01:25He's on the cob. He's on the cob.
01:29Come on, Bubba.
01:34Bubba's trying to swipe him there.
01:42Bubba's running away.
01:44He's running away on cue.
01:45He's running away on cue.
01:52I'm waiting for sleep
01:52Leopard has moved away.
02:01Cheetah, come down. Cheetah, come down.
02:07In the looks of things, it might be Kia.
02:12Yeah, that's Bo. I think the leopard killed Kia.
02:20Kia, Pobe's female cub, is gone.
02:25The size of Bo and Kia now, you assume they're safe.
02:33But, yeah, you never know what to expect.
02:42That's really unfair.
02:44Kia was the one that was always the most wild and boisterous
02:52and incredibly competitive, and she's gone.
02:59And now Bo isn't going to have his sister showing him what to do all the time.
03:07Cheetah team was a terrible loss.
03:12I don't think any of us expected this to happen today, but...
03:17Yeah, it is. It is tough.
03:23The leopard remains a threat.
03:28Pobe has no choice. To keep Bo safe, she must leave.
03:35It doesn't feel like to stay here, I don't think.
03:38So I want to give them some time alone.
03:51The news has reached camp.
04:04I don't know what to say.
04:07This is a horrible day.
04:20The team is working in 400 square kilometers of the Okovango Delta.
04:28Summer is approaching, and the flood is drying up.
04:35Aggressive intruder males have forced the Kudum Mams to retreat far to the south.
04:43But in the north...
04:45Oh, there they are.
04:47A splinter group of the Pride's youngest lionesses has remained and must survive on its own.
04:55Okay, girls.
04:57Gordon is following them.
04:59We've got the females without cubs trying to hunt zebra up here.
05:07This is going to get rather interesting.
05:13Whoa!
05:24That was close.
05:28The lionesses in front of me, they are around about three or four years old.
05:34And they've formed this little subgroup, or splinter of the Kudum Pride.
05:42They are the daughters of Bigto and Madumo.
05:45They're the sort of equivalent of carefree teenagers.
05:51They are the only ones that haven't moved out of the historic sort of heart of the territory,
05:57where all these intruder males are coming in.
06:01For any female with cubs, that is a concern.
06:06There's danger.
06:07There is threat to the cubs.
06:09For these cubless females, there's no threat or concern.
06:14They see them as an opportunity to breed, to have cubs, to be a mum.
06:19It will be really interesting to follow these females.
06:23If there is to be a split in the Kudum Pride, it could well happen with them.
06:33Gordon for Anna.
06:35Close by.
06:36I've just seen movement coming from the base of a termite mound.
06:41With no sign of Pobbe and Bo after the leopard attack, Anna is joining the lion team.
06:47I'm just going to check out who is there.
06:52Who is that?
06:58OK.
06:59That's a lioness.
07:00Is she a lion?
07:01What's she doing?
07:04Oh.
07:09Oh my God.
07:11She's got a cub.
07:13I can see a cub.
07:15No, there's two.
07:17There's two cubs.
07:18Oh wow.
07:19They are tiny.
07:23Oh, they're adorable.
07:25They're so small.
07:28Oh, they are so unsteady on my feet.
07:32They must be like two or three weeks old.
07:35I have never seen cubs this size.
07:40That is Cerami.
07:45I would recognise that tail anywhere.
07:47It's like slightly white and she's missing the tip.
07:53Well done Cerami.
07:56Oh, this is the best news.
07:59Cerami is the first of the splinter group lionesses to breed.
08:04As far as I'm aware, we don't know who Cerami has mated with.
08:11We've got intruder males running about left, right and centre.
08:18So, there's a high chance that one of those lions could be the dad of these cubs.
08:24But, which one it is, is anybody's guess.
08:31I don't know why she's chosen, here of all places, to den.
08:37It's really exposed.
08:39There's a high amount of traffic coming through because we've got water on both sides.
08:45It just doesn't really feel like the right place to have cubs that are only two or three weeks old.
08:53First time mum Cerami has a lot to learn.
08:58I can't imagine how difficult the next few weeks and months are going to be for her.
09:04So, I'm going to stick with her because I think it's going to be a tricky time.
09:18What have we got here?
09:21Yeah, guys, I've just picked up a cheetah.
09:23We're done by fishing a pan.
09:26It's a female.
09:28She has a dreadlock on her face.
09:30So, I think that this is actually Nelo, Pobbe's daughter.
09:38Nelo is from Pobbe's previous litter.
09:41She's been independent from Pobbe for about a year.
09:44And it's amazing.
09:47This would have been the toughest year for her.
09:49But she's looking really well.
09:52Pobbe may have lost Kea, but Nelo is proof of her previous success.
09:59Greg, Greg, Greg, Greg, for him.
10:01Ready, when you are.
10:03Copy that, huh?
10:05Look in front.
10:06We just found Nelo.
10:10It brings quite the joy to see Nelo.
10:13She's just a bit over three years old.
10:16Still very playful.
10:21Oh, she's playing with the elephant poo.
10:26It's really cool that Nelo still hangs around close to Pobbe here.
10:32This is where she grew up.
10:39She's definitely not had a meal.
10:42She'll be hoping to bump into any food here.
10:49Nelo looks to be on the move.
10:53Copy that, right?
10:56Nelo has just spotted a big group of Impalas.
11:10Very large herd of Impala here approaching directly to Nelo,
11:15who's at the top of a termite mound staring at them.
11:19I have a feeling Nelo is waiting for the majority of the herd
11:23to come past her before she makes her move.
11:26I'm going to send Mitch up with the drone.
11:30I think this could be the best chance Nelo will have today.
11:34It's crazy, the amount of Impala on the way.
11:38This might be it.
11:41I think they've picked up a scent there, started to run.
11:48Nelo's going for it.
11:52Awful tilt.
11:55She's trying to trip it.
12:00Plenty of dust just behind her.
12:17I've just grabbed her by the neck now.
12:34She's done it.
12:40She needs to relax, breathe, get the oxygen back in her body.
12:47She didn't just burst out, she waited, chose which Impala she wanted.
12:52She's clearly a very independent cheetah, very capable.
12:57Nelo's survival is not only about catching a meal.
13:03It's about keeping it too.
13:06Nelo's just dragging this Impala kill into the shade,
13:10which may help reduce vultures.
13:16She's had a great amount of this meal.
13:19She's going to be good for the next couple of days.
13:24It's amazing to see this young cheetah surviving and thriving here in the Okavango.
13:30Only 5% of cheetahs make it to this stage in life.
13:35Nelo is proof that Bobe is a fantastic mother,
13:38and there's still a lot of hope for both.
13:52Brad is searching for Ladiba the leopard and her five-month-old cub.
13:58Here, I've got her here.
14:00You have a beautiful view of everything around her.
14:08She's looking skinny again.
14:11It's been 10 days now since she's had a real sort of settled meal that she can really feed on.
14:17It's a stressful time.
14:20Dominant male leopard Vongwe remains in the area,
14:25providing stability for Ladiba.
14:28But her cub now needs two pounds of meat per day.
14:33Please, Ladiba, it's time to be successful.
14:37It's still too young to hunt,
14:39so Ladiba is under pressure to provide for them both.
14:49This is where she's drinking.
14:51It's a little seep.
14:53The flood is drying up,
14:55but this hole provides access to groundwater.
15:00She's got a bird.
15:03Obviously, she surprised a bird that was drinking,
15:06and a black-collared barber came out and she grabbed it.
15:12That's just remarkable.
15:13I've never seen a leopard deliberately kill something so small to eat.
15:18This is rare.
15:19Birds make up just 1% of leopard diets.
15:23Learning a lot about Ladiba's character.
15:29Her catching birds is probably enough to sustain her.
15:34But for the cub, she's going to be under increasing pressure to actually provide kills.
15:39And the pressure is going to melt.
15:42So, this is a win for her, but not for the entire family.
15:50Brad, Brad for Tristan.
15:53Tristan is with Ladiba's cub.
16:05Ladiba is returning empty-handed.
16:09Brad's going to start to follow these guys into the night and see what they get up to.
16:18Ladiba is just flat on the Tome of Mountain, above where the cub is.
16:27She's been really struggling.
16:29She's only been eating small things, not enough to give to the cub.
16:37The cub has come and joined, and you can see as she lies, there's a ring of heat around her
16:44paws and her nose and her face, and she's just slowly resting.
16:52I would never have guessed that leopards and cubs at that stage are that intimate.
16:59Quite an incredible thing to see.
17:05This is leopards at their best, and as far as I'm concerned, at their cutest.
17:26Greg, Greg for Anna.
17:28With Pobbe and Bo still missing, Anna is checking on new lion mum, Cerami.
17:35We are with a group of lionesses in really close proximity to the den.
17:42I'm on the way to you now. I'll be there in about five minutes.
17:45Some of the splinter group has joined her.
17:50How are they so close?
17:52How are they so close?
17:52Why are they so close?
17:56The cubs are with them.
18:01This is so bizarre.
18:05Normally, mums don't introduce their cubs to the rest of the pride until they're six to eight weeks old.
18:14Those cubs are still tiny.
18:17Cerami shouldn't be introducing her cubs to any other lions when they're this little.
18:24The only time that I would really expect there to be other lionesses around cubs this small would be if
18:31they also had cubs themselves and they were alloparenting.
18:33But these lionesses don't have any cubs.
18:39So this feels really dangerous.
18:43With so many intruder males in the area and no indication of who their father is, these cubs are vulnerable.
18:55Cerami is definitely doing things differently.
19:03My goodness me, I think the cubs are very hungry.
19:08At three weeks old, lion cubs should suckle every four to six hours.
19:16What? Something happened there that she didn't like.
19:20They tried to suckle from mum, but mum got uncomfortable and has left them.
19:27It's now almost 12 hours since the crew last saw the cubs feed.
19:32Going now to the auntie to try and suckle, and obviously auntie can't help them with anything.
19:39Cerami is the only mother in this group of females, so these cubs only have one possible suckling opportunity.
19:50Oh, goodness me, what the heck!
19:53This lioness is really not loving these cubs.
19:59Wow!
20:01This is another auntie who's growling at these cubs.
20:06What's wrong?
20:10There's absolutely no way in now.
20:14Cerami seems to want a break from her cubs.
20:19I feel for them. They're just waiting on the outskirts, waiting to just have a chance to drink.
20:24One of the cubs has got the nerve to come in here. He's trying to get close to mum.
20:30And this lioness is just fully aggro.
20:35And that just shouts inexperience.
20:38It shows to me that this lioness and the others have not had much time around cubs at all.
20:46With no other kudum pride mums to learn from.
20:49Come on, come on, cubo.
20:52All I want to see is a cub latch onto her teeth and drink.
20:56Cerami is struggling to find her feet.
20:59The cubs seem confused.
21:02I think these two cubs have been introduced to other female lions too early.
21:09And they may not be able to recognise which lioness is mum.
21:14And which of these lionesses is not.
21:20They don't know who mum is.
21:29She's just sneaking into this forest.
21:33Lediba has stashed her cub and is hunting again.
21:45This elephant's browsing here, making a hell of a noise.
21:48And she's kind of using that.
21:51Leopards will use distractions from other animals to get closer to prey.
21:57I don't know what she's seen, but it's something of interest.
22:02The only thing I can see is elephants.
22:08She's after monkeys.
22:09That's what she's after.
22:11After rabbits.
22:12Having still not caught anything big enough to share with her cub.
22:17This is how desperate she's getting.
22:19Lediba is going for something small again.
22:23She has climbed into the tree with all these vervets.
22:26And she was jumping from branch to branch in the treetops.
22:30Trying to catch a vervet out of a monkey out of a tree.
22:33Throwing her unbelievable agility.
22:35And frustration, I guess.
22:41Just chaos.
22:42Just chaos.
22:42Absolute chaos.
22:44It's not typical prey for her, but, you know, she's really, really hungry.
22:51Incredible climbing ability.
22:53You don't see it until these leopards are in full chase way up in the trees.
23:04She's just really going too extreme to have a go at anything she can.
23:08You don't see it.
23:21Tristan, Brad?
23:22Got a bit of a stalemate.
23:24Brad's camera is struggling in the fading light.
23:26It's a bit too dark, so we're going to switch to thermal imaging camera and just try to keep up.
23:30So he's calling in Tristan to help.
23:35Getting down?
23:42She's on the ground.
23:44Okay, cool. Copy that.
23:45Guys, I'm on the way.
23:56She's heading towards the forest.
24:02Oh, my God.
24:05The divas just managed to kill a monkey.
24:08It happened while we were rigging the thermal camera.
24:12It's very, very impressive.
24:15I've never actually seen a leopard catch one on the floor, though, before.
24:20So this is quite new to me.
24:24I think we're starting to really understand a lot more about this particular cat.
24:28It's just the first leopard that I've seen in this area that is so specifically focused on small prey species.
24:38We're learning. We're learning about the diva.
24:42I'm very, very happy for her, and it's a decent-sized meal.
24:47But I doubt the cubs will be able to get anything off this, and they're going to probably still be
24:52hungry tonight.
25:00At Cerami's den.
25:01These poor cubs have been trying their best to get a drink.
25:05His aunties have been showing a grip.
25:08Are you free to take over?
25:10Hey, Greg, copy that, yeah.
25:12We need to get more.
25:15Sets and Gordon are starting the night shift.
25:18I'll let you know how it goes in the morning.
25:23Oh, big yawn.
25:27Oh, it's so cute.
25:32The lionesses stare up and looks like they're going to look for some food for the evening.
25:38Cerami must leave the cubs unprotected to go hunt.
25:43She's looking a bit skinny.
25:46And that's not good for her or the cubs.
25:49So getting something to eat tonight won't do her.
25:52And the cubs some good.
25:57Riverdale.
25:59Woo-hoo!
26:09Hey, Gordon.
26:11The lionesses are stalking towards some lechway in the floodplain.
26:17Okay, yeah.
26:18I've got them.
26:20Adapted to water, even experienced lions struggle to catch lechway.
26:26The lionesses are split into two years of two.
26:31This is an example of lions working together, using stealth, but also using strategy.
26:44Oh, this is amazing.
26:51She is up to her knees at the moment.
26:54To walk through the water without being detected is a real challenge.
27:05Oh, ****.
27:07They're going for it.
27:09Oh, panic.
27:10Panic amongst all of these lechway.
27:13The strategy is to push the lechway into the oncoming lionesses.
27:21They really went for it.
27:23Teased from way too far.
27:27But it was a good attempt.
27:28But Sarami is not giving up.
27:32Look at that.
27:34She's just like a crocodile flying away there.
27:38She is completely submerged in the water.
27:42She's up to her chin.
27:45As long as she can hear there's lechway moving around her, there's no vision to move.
27:53I'm impressed.
27:54This is pure maternal determination.
28:01Oh, lion running, running, running, running, running.
28:04Oh, one of them's in the water.
28:07Oh, my God.
28:08She's got a goose.
28:09She's got a goose.
28:13Crazy, crazy, crazy.
28:15Oh, my word.
28:17In all the commotion, Sarami has got nothing.
28:22A goose will barely feed one of them.
28:27I've lost everyone.
28:29They've crossed all of the water yet again.
28:34But in a place where we can't follow.
28:37Well, looks like this is it for tonight.
28:49Gordon, Gordon for Greg.
28:52After losing the lionesses in the night.
28:54We might do a loop up towards the den.
28:57Copy that.
28:58Gordon and Greg.
28:59Where are you? Where are you?
29:01Are searching for them.
29:04Oh, wow.
29:06This is really quite interesting because we've got one of Bigtou Madumo's daughters with a strange male.
29:15It's one of Sarami's splinter group.
29:18He is a big boy.
29:21He's a blondie.
29:23I'm going to call him Golden Boy.
29:27Because of his mane.
29:33A male and a female hanging out like this can only mean one thing.
29:37That they're a courting couple.
29:40That they're going to mate.
29:42Golden Boy is the latest intruder male making himself at home in the Khudum Pride territory.
29:50As sad as it is to think that Bigtou Madumo's time at the top is coming to an end.
29:55In many ways it's exciting because there are other males that are going to step in that will become the
30:01pride males of the Khudum Pride.
30:04Someone like him.
30:05He might be a rising star.
30:07He certainly looks as if he's made from the right stuff.
30:11But Golden Boy's presence.
30:13Big, strong, handsome.
30:15It's obviously working on this female.
30:17Could be a danger to Sarami's cubs.
30:21If he's not their father.
30:38The Diba is high up in an ebony tree that's fruiting.
30:43To feed her cub, La Diba's changing her tactics.
30:48Fruiting trees play such a big role in this area.
30:51Ebony fruits full of sugar, lots of protein.
30:56And when they're dropping their fruits, everything is utilizing.
31:01There's a herd of impala rams that are making their way down, picking up the fallen fruit.
31:06Between them and the Diba.
31:09She's using the fruit as bait.
31:13And that focused activity from an ebony tree to ebony tree is a pattern that these leopards have figured out.
31:20To conserve energy, leopards often wait for prey to come to them.
31:26I haven't seen La Diba jump onto an impala from a tree yet.
31:32Let's hope she doesn't injure herself.
31:34And let's hope these impala get to her tree.
31:37La Diba's taking a risk to catch larger prey.
31:42It's just a waiting game.
31:57It's now 1.15 in the afternoon.
32:00Over six hours have passed.
32:02She's been in this tree the whole time.
32:06And just patience, patience, patience.
32:10La Diba's still eyes fixated on the impalas coming down the tree line towards her.
32:20Oh, we've got a single ram.
32:22He's now closest that we've had to her.
32:28This ram is completely unaware of La Diba and the tree above him.
32:37My heart is pounding under my chest right now.
32:42She must be eight, nine meters off the ground.
32:47It's about positioning so she doesn't impale herself on those horns.
32:52A mistake here could be fatal.
32:56He's directly underneath her.
33:00Come on, do a little bum wiggle.
33:03Here we go.
33:17No way.
33:29Unlucky.
33:30Unlucky.
33:31Unlucky.
33:32Sorry, Michael.
33:34I feel so sorry for her.
33:37She needed that.
33:39I spent all that time waiting.
33:44La Diba moves on empty-handed.
33:48You know, it's dangerous doing something from that height.
33:51If she falls weirdly or something happens, it could spell the end for her.
34:05The den was moved a little bit further to the east.
34:10Greg has found Cerami, who's moved her cubs closer to the flood.
34:23So, our new lion mum and her cubs with a couple of the lionesses.
34:29Just resting in the shade.
34:31Being nearer the water is cooler for the lionesses.
34:35My goodness gracious me.
34:37But Cerami's siblings are still stopping the cubs from suckling.
34:43Oh, .
34:44Oh my word, no, this is not good.
34:47And resting here exposes them to a new danger.
34:53A weak elephant is a potential prey for a lion.
34:57So, elephants do not like to share any space with lions.
35:05Saming tells me that those little lion cubs do not have the legs on them to outrun an elephant.
35:11This is a particularly dangerous situation for the cubs.
35:17This family of elephants outmatches Cerami and the other lionesses.
35:25Okay, our mums are pulling out.
35:27They're leaving the cubs behind.
35:29There's nothing that Cerami can do here against elephants.
35:36Oh my goodness, he just threw a branch.
35:41Very aggressive behaviour from the elephant.
35:44Elephants have been known to kill lion cubs.
35:48Oh, the cubs are super scared.
35:53The lionesses look like they want to charge in and push the ellies.
35:59Okay, one cub has run into this tall grass.
36:05But there's one cub who's completely isolated.
36:09What?
36:11Oh, get out of there little cub.
36:16Nerves of steel from the lion cub.
36:22Went straight past the cub.
36:27My jungle hat.
36:29That is nuts.
36:33There's the cub.
36:34Okay, cubby is up.
36:35Oh, these cubs are doing the right thing.
36:38The cub's instinct to hide is kicking in.
36:43Don't cry now, little lion cub, because now you're going to draw attention.
36:46Yeah.
36:50Just one angry elephant with one foot and there goes your lion cub.
37:02Cubs are somewhere in this tall fire grass.
37:15Yes.
37:15Yes.
37:16The ellies are moving away.
37:20I think the danger is past.
37:26That was so close.
37:27That was so close.
37:30People think that lions are in charge on the African savannah, but that is not the case.
37:37Elephants are in charge.
37:38Oh, my God.
37:54Unbelievable.
37:56What a roller coaster of an afternoon for these cubs.
38:00Such survivors.
38:04Oh, finally.
38:07So good.
38:08Both of the cubs are having a drink.
38:11This is what the cubs need.
38:15That's fantastic.
38:19It's really surprising and amazing to see that these cubs have such strong survival instincts.
38:25To move away from the elephants and knowing what to do in the time of extreme danger.
38:32At this age, every day is a victory.
38:35So today was a victory, but only just.
38:39Let's go first.
38:56Yeah.
38:58Brad is looking for Ledeba the leopard.
39:01Let's go.
39:16I heard all this commotion on the edge of the floodplain, and I've got Sarami and her sisters on a
39:22kill and a whole bunch of ahinas trying to steal it from me.
39:28Leaving her cubs at the den, Sarami and the splinter group have finally caught a meal.
39:34These lionesses must have killed us early hours of the morning.
39:38And now they're being mobbed.
39:42There's an interesting equation to these kind of interactions.
39:45It's based on weight.
39:47Three hyenas weighs the same as one lioness.
39:49We've got four lionesses here, so we'll need twelve hyenas before a real battle starts.
39:57Despite their immaturity, these young females are keeping their food.
40:03Part of the tactic of hyenas is making a huge racket.
40:08And essentially it's calling to arms.
40:11And if there's any hyenas within the earshot of this, they're going to come in.
40:16I hope they hold on to it.
40:18Sarami's really been struggling, and she's a new mom.
40:21And if she doesn't get fed, her milk will start to dry, and that's not good for her cubs.
40:27They just mustn't fall for the intimidation.
40:33Don't. Don't do that. Go.
40:35You see, the minute one pulls away from the rest of the tribe, those hyenas just see the weakness.
40:40They just target her. It's amazing. You know, they'll walk within a couple of meters and literally just stand.
40:46I mean, if I was a lioness, I wouldn't be liking this.
40:52Mmm, the hyenas are getting ballsy.
40:57Here we come.
41:05The lions are starting to move away, led by our new mum.
41:12Finally outnumbered, the lionesses are leaving, but with full bellies.
41:18Sarami at least had a decent feed.
41:21And food for Sarami means more milk for her cubs.
41:32Bird for Tristan.
41:34It's been two weeks since the team saw Ladiba catch a large meal.
41:38Looks like this girl's definitely just going on a bit of a...
41:41March today.
41:44Okay, copy that.
41:52Ladiba's just seen some impala.
41:59Looks like she's going to go and try hide in the long grass and get into a position where she
42:04can ambush.
42:07This is pretty much do or die now.
42:16Ladiba must feed her cub.
42:18Just lost complete visual.
42:20But I mean, if I can't see her, I doubt impala can see her. So she's planned this so, so
42:24well.
42:50She got one.
42:52Come on!
42:54Come on!
42:54You are an absolute beauty!
42:59Ladiba did it!
43:02Weighing nearly 150 pounds.
43:05Unbelievable.
43:07An impala ram will feed Ladiba and her cub for several days.
43:11Amazing, amazing, amazing.
43:14It's so good for her.
43:17The cub for her is the best possible way to end the day for the t-birth.
43:24These impalas have such big horns.
43:29And it looks like it's managed to just clip her slightly.
43:32But she looks fine, luckily.
43:34But yeah.
43:36Oh, she just used all of her abilities to the max there.
43:40Hid, waited for the impala to come to her, and now she's got an amazing meal for her family.
43:45What a superstar.
43:48Very keen on keeping this kill as hidden as possible.
43:59Ladiba's calling properly now, so this cub's got to be in here.
44:08Oh, hello.
44:10The cubby's arrived.
44:13Going in for a cuddle.
44:19It's always really nice, just seeing the family really nice and seeing how happy they are together.
44:29Mum gets to give this cub a little treat.
44:36Looks like we're all on the move now.
44:38Mum's taking the cub into the kill.
44:47This cub's got a long way to go, and a lot of things to learn, and that's what Ladiba's going
44:54to be trying to teach it.
44:57But the most important thing right now is that it gets a good meal and continues to grow.
45:06And mum's managed to provide that today.
45:21Greg has picked up Golden Boy, the latest intruder in the area.
45:27His mails are just in the flood plain south of Kudu Crossing.
45:31He's been joined by his coalition partner.
45:35So, pretty close to where the den is.
45:38This is a mature coalition of males.
45:41We don't know them very well, but they are starting to become quite a lot more present in the Kudun
45:47Pride territory.
45:48They're resting close to Cerami's den.
45:53Greg, Greg, I've got them.
45:56Yep.
45:58That is Golden Boy.
46:01They are only about 150 metres from the last nine locations of Cerami.
46:07He had two new cubs.
46:09So, this feels really dangerous.
46:12If neither male is the father, the cubs are in danger.
46:21The cubs are here, but Cerami's not, and she hasn't been seen at the den for 24 hours now.
46:31And I'm getting fairly stressed because if Golden Boy and his coalition partner catch scent of these two cubs,
46:39there is a very big chance it's going to kill them.
46:44Ow!
46:51I'm having issues getting this thermal camera going.
46:54Two hours have passed.
46:57Cerami is still not back.
46:59The cubs are still on their own.
47:01I have a feeling there's something wrong with one of the cables.
47:04I've already called them to camp, so they're bringing a replacement, but...
47:07I'm just stressed that something's going to happen.
47:10Anna's coming.
47:11Golden Boy's on his way.
47:13Did you say that Golden Boy's coming now?
47:15With the thermal camera out of action...
47:18I'm just going to have to use this for the moment, I think.
47:20Anna's using her spotting scope instead to locate the males.
47:24Oh my god, they're walking straight this way.
47:28No, no, no.
47:32Stay there cubs, don't move.
47:38Oh my.
47:42They're only like 30 metres from the den at this point.
47:49I can see some lechway.
47:52Oh, please be distracted.
47:56OK.
47:57They are looking in the direction of the lechway at the moment.
48:02Oh, OK, I've just lost them behind a tailwind mound.
48:06Anna, Anna for Mitch. We approach with the new thermal camera.
48:11That's true.
48:12Nice. We're in.
48:13We're in. Thank you.
48:18OK, we're back in action.
48:23What's up, Ben?
48:27Great, OK.
48:31These cubs are bulletproof.
48:38They're losing away.
48:42They are moving away.
48:45I cannot believe that.
48:48Those cubs have had such a lucky escape.
48:53Sir Amin used to come back because that was way too close for comfort.
48:59What is that?
49:08How'd I have for Greg?
49:10Go ahead, Greg.
49:11Night shift is ending.
49:13I've got Golden Boy and his coalition partner heading in the direction of Surami's den here.
49:18No, no, no.
49:20But the two male lions have circled back.
49:25Oh, ****.
49:26That is, that's Golden Boy.
49:27He's going straight towards the den.
49:29Gonna have to stick on the thermal.
49:31Anna has no time to switch to her daylight camera.
49:36Oh, my gosh, little guys.
49:39This is gonna be potentially tragic.
49:43We have no idea who Dad is.
49:45If the father is not Golden Boy, this could be the end of these little cubs.
49:51If he isn't the dad, I cannot watch another cat kill a carburetor.
49:58They're just at the base of that little tree.
50:02Okay, Golden Boy is coming towards the den here.
50:07They're not hidden. They're completely obvious.
50:13What the hell is Surami? The cubs have literally zero protection right now.
50:20Golden Boy is gonna see these cubs in a second.
50:40Golden Boy is gonna see these cubs in a second.
50:47Rarely see cubs this small.
50:50The cubs are panicking.
50:52One of the cubs is heading behind the trunk.
50:55The other cub is shuffled off, up the trunk of this tree.
51:00What's going on with him?
51:08I don't know if it's curiosity, or he actually does want to cause harm.
51:15One cub is hiding.
51:18But Golden Boy is following the other.
51:32No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
51:40The fact that that cub is so small might be the biggest blessing,
51:46because it's managed to get itself all the way up on the tree,
51:49and that's the one place that Golden Boy can't get,
51:54because it's far too big to get up there.
51:57The cubs have escaped danger again.
52:04He's pulled back.
52:07Goodness gracious, I was not expecting that.
52:10I thought he was gonna munch them.
52:14The fact that he didn't go for them,
52:17I think he could be the dad.
52:21And if so, that means that intruder males really are infiltrating
52:27Dickard and Pride.
52:28Night team, night team, do you copy?
52:30Gordon is joining Anna and Greg.
52:33Oh, my gosh.
52:36Quite the situation.
52:39What is gonna happen here?
52:42The one at the bottom is calling for the one who's at the top of the tree,
52:47which is encouraging it to come down.
52:53He looks so vulnerable up there.
52:58I just worried.
52:59Oh, it's just clinging on.
53:03Oh, little guy, that's a long way to fall.
53:10Come on.
53:11Come on, you're so close.
53:17It'll just be so low on energy as well,
53:20because we've not seen their mum feeding them recently.
53:24Aw!
53:25What?
53:30Oh, there we go.
53:33Ah?
53:36What's up?
53:59Transcription by CastingWords
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