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00:01Call the boy chasing the cover.
00:03No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:04The Cudum Pride's newest cubs are in danger
00:08from an intruder male lion.
00:11If he isn't the dad,
00:13I cannot watch another cat kill a cub again.
00:17Where the hell is Sarami?
00:19The cub's mum, Sarami, is nowhere to be seen.
00:24The cubs have literally zero protection right now.
00:28Oh, it's just clinging on.
00:31Oh, my word.
00:43The Okavango Delta in Botswana.
00:46We are in a pristine environment right now.
00:49One of Africa's last wildernesses.
00:52The magnitude of life here is unparalleled.
00:56And it's a haven for Africa's big cats.
01:01Lion, cheetah, and leopard.
01:05Big cat country.
01:08Armed with the latest filming technology,
01:11the Big Cats 24-17 is following individual big cats for six months.
01:19This is a unique opportunity to follow these cats round the clock.
01:23Through the day.
01:25I used to think I'd have a fair fight with a lion.
01:29Not so sure now.
01:31And the night.
01:32We've got the most sophisticated thermal imaging technologies.
01:38Capturing their behavior 24 hours a day.
01:42I have never seen anything like this.
01:45Epic!
01:46No.
01:57Mouth.
02:00No.
02:04A child.
02:06A child.
02:09Oh, man.
02:12A child.
02:14A child.
02:15It's not a horrible thing.
02:16Yeah, I got a kid.
02:26It's starting to move, it's starting to move, it is alive, I feel like I can breathe,
02:46I couldn't breathe then, that was horrible.
02:50What?
02:54That is a roller coaster.
03:08My God, my heart leapt out my chest there.
03:12I think it's okay, it was stunned and winded, but the danger is still here.
03:24The intruder male lion, known as Golden Boy, hasn't gone away.
03:30If Golden Boy's not the father, it is in his interest to get rid of those cubs, to eliminate competition,
03:37to kill both of them.
03:44Wait a second, that is Sarami.
03:49She's coming back.
03:52First time mum, Sarami, has been absent for 36 hours.
04:01This is really, really dangerous.
04:15Ah, okay.
04:18Golden Boy isn't doing anything.
04:26Sarami could have been very clever here, and has fooled everyone, including me.
04:35Golden Boy, he may have mated with Sarami, and that's making him think twice about these cubs.
04:41Maybe there is.
04:44That's crazy.
04:46Unbelievable stuff.
04:50Sometimes the female lions will mate with multiple different males, only falling pregnant by one.
04:57Just to fool them into thinking that the cubs are theirs.
05:02All the males are like, oh, well, there's cubs that are ours.
05:07Female lions use this mating strategy when there are no dominant males controlling a pride.
05:15Even if Golden Boy isn't a dad, he definitely thinks that he is, and I think that is what has
05:22saved them today.
05:25Part of me is really hopeful that Golden Boy does stay and become the protector that Sarami and her cubs
05:34need.
05:37With Golden Boy establishing himself in the north of the Kudumpride territory.
05:43Maybe Sarami really does know what she's doing.
05:47Sarami's cubs now have a better chance of survival.
05:54What an amazing morning.
06:05To the south of its 100 square mile territory, the rest of the Kudumpride has been abandoned by dominant males
06:14Big Toe and Madumo.
06:19Now the oldest cubs must step up.
06:26The land team, I'm with the pride here in the south.
06:32It's really great stuff.
06:34I'm just on my way there now.
06:44How the cubs are coming close to say hi.
06:48These cubs, they're being raised and groomed by, let's say, the best lionesses in this whole delta.
06:56The Kudum lionesses are so formidable.
07:01Seeing the cubs up close and personal like this really shows how much they've grown.
07:07They were so smart and now they're the sizes of their mums.
07:13The eldest cubs are now 20 months old.
07:17When they get to this stage, they should really be pulling their own weight and getting involved in the hunt.
07:24Actively hunting big, potentially dangerous animals.
07:31For so many lions to survive together, it's crucial the oldest cubs start working with the rest of the pride
07:39to catch large prey.
07:44It's a rapid learning curve.
07:51It's about everybody performing their role within the pride.
07:54Everything's got a lot more serious now.
08:00This type of fighting is different.
08:03It's changed so much from when they were small.
08:08You can see how intentional their moves are.
08:13Chasing, stalking, attacking in very specific places like their neck.
08:22This is the skill they would need to take down.
08:24You want large prey that's running away.
08:35There is one cub who should be leading the way.
08:40Matata here.
08:41He looks as if he could do with another eight hours in bed.
08:47He's huge now.
08:49So we've known him for over a year.
08:52And he has grown and grown.
08:56So much so, that he's even got the start of a mane.
09:00Can you see his little mohawk?
09:04That's because he's a big, bad male lion.
09:08So I think there's something kind of special about him.
09:13Matata is 20 months old at the moment.
09:16If you draw a parallel developmentally, he's like a kind of, like a 15 year old boy.
09:23He looks grown up, but there's still a lot to learn.
09:29He's boisterous. He's a bit of a troublemaker.
09:32But I think as he grows and develops, I think he can turn all of those things of his personality
09:36to his advantage.
09:38To be successful, you've got to be up for it. You've got to throw yourself into things.
09:51Wait, one of the older cubs is getting up.
09:59Oh, my goodness.
10:01I've never seen him go for a giraffe before.
10:03These cubs are crazy.
10:07There's no chance of catching it.
10:11I can see Matata. He's right behind her.
10:17Oh, wow.
10:19He just kind of trapped him.
10:24Whoa, that was close.
10:27A giraffe's stride is nearly five meters.
10:33Travelling at almost 40 miles per hour.
10:37I got away.
10:39They're too fast for lion cubs.
10:45I did not see that coming.
10:48Attempting that was almost insane.
10:52It was ludicrous.
10:54But still trying to understand the limits of what they're capable of.
10:58But the word for it, these cubs are really, really fearless.
11:10They've burnt off a lot of energy running about after anything that moves.
11:17So I think, yeah, they're off to find some water.
11:24The elephants have been digging here.
11:27There's a hole.
11:29We've got 20 lions all literally digging around for a drink.
11:35All of them together.
11:38Matata is here.
11:40Actually, Matata is lending a hand.
11:43Trying to just widen the access.
11:46This.
11:48This is teamwork.
11:52And I think the same goes for hunting.
11:55That requires teamwork from the mums and the bigger cubs.
12:03Matata and the cubs have to learn to work with the pride.
12:07If they're going to catch large prey.
12:13See, they have the skills and the strategy.
12:16But they're going to have to all work together.
12:26Cheetah team, cheetah team.
12:28Go, how's it?
12:30I'm sure, yes.
12:33Exciting.
12:45See who this is.
12:50Wait a second.
12:53Oh, wow.
13:01I cannot believe my eyes.
13:07I can see Paul Bay.
13:16And I can see Bo.
13:24Oh, I'm just so happy to see them.
13:26Hi guys.
13:28We really missed you.
13:30We haven't seen Paul Bay or Bo for weeks.
13:34And to be honest, I really wasn't sure we were ever going to see them again.
13:38Because this area just feels so sad.
13:42It's such a sad place for her now.
13:43It's where she lost Kea.
13:45But here she is.
13:47She's so fearless.
13:49She's not being pushed out by those leopards.
13:53Wow.
13:55And Bo.
13:55Bo.
13:57What a beautiful young man he's become.
14:04Rare, rare for Anna.
14:06Go ahead, Anna.
14:07I've got Paul Bay and Bo right here.
14:10What?
14:11No way.
14:14It's been over a month since Bo's sister, Kea, was killed by a leopard.
14:22It's quite a relief to see our cheetahs together.
14:28He's quite a lot bigger than the last time I saw him.
14:30I actually thought Bo was Bobby until we got closer now.
14:34I said, no, no, no, no, no.
14:37He looks really healthy too.
14:39So I think Bobby is probably keeping him well fed.
14:44He's got the most badass mum around.
14:50So far, Bobby has been doing all the hard work feeding them both.
14:55Last time he wouldn't be involved.
14:58Maybe at all.
14:59So I want to see him start basically cooperating in hunts.
15:05Now eight months old,
15:08it's time for Bo to perfect his hunting skills and contribute.
15:16Bo is locked on something.
15:20He's trying to get a good vantage point.
15:22He's clearly learning a few things from Bobby.
15:27Bo has spotted some impala in this open field here.
15:34He's getting just a little bit closer.
15:37And he's off.
15:42Impala running.
15:46Go on, Bo.
15:53It's over before it started.
15:55He had the right idea in the beginning,
15:56trying to use the cover to get towards these impala,
16:00but the distance was just too big to cover.
16:08Now he's lost and now he's calling for his mum.
16:20Well, even though that didn't end in success,
16:23I think it's probably the most encouraging sign I've seen from Bo
16:27that he is starting to pick up on those hunting skills.
16:35Bo needs to grow in confidence and improve his timing
16:40if he's going to help Bobby.
16:43He's got one-on-one tuition from his mum.
16:46And hopefully we can see them hunting together.
17:11Brad and Tristan are with leopard mum La Diba and her cub.
17:16Brad and Tristan are with leopard mum La Diba and her cub.
17:19Oh, that's adorable.
17:24These two really just are full of beans today.
17:38It's the most I think I've seen them play.
17:40My mum's really getting into it.
17:58Today's the first day I've actually seen La Diba come in just to interact with the cub.
18:03And play and just kind of, you know, reaffirm their bond.
18:08Normally she only really comes and gets the cub when she's got a kill.
18:12So La Diba's obviously feeling that this cub's old enough now
18:15that it needs to start learning.
18:21At seven months old, La Diba's cub is growing in strength and intelligence
18:28and is ready for the next stage of her development.
18:33By playing with it and planting trees, stalking, pouncing,
18:39La Diba's teaching this cub all the tools it needs to be a successful leopard.
18:44There's no one else this cub can learn from. It has to learn with mum.
18:47It doesn't have siblings. It doesn't have other members of her pride.
18:53One-on-one lessons with mum are crucial.
18:57Looks like La Diba's called an end to class.
19:00But they don't last long.
19:03Time to go hunting.
19:05A leopard's life is very solitary.
19:09And the hard thing for these cubs is, you know, something they've got to get used to from day one.
19:16This cub could be left here now for several days, waiting for mum to come back.
19:21And then mum has to call anywhere in this area.
19:24And the cub will pick it up and she'll find her.
19:28It's a double-edged sword.
19:29That independence and that ability so young, you can see it just being entrenched in them from such a young
19:36age out of necessity.
19:42Chance to come down, explore a little bit, play a little bit.
19:49Hello, my girl.
20:01Such a small thing, such a big world.
20:06Sort of fills me with a bit of anxiety.
20:09Seeing a leopard cub so small on its own, wandering off into the forest.
20:38I think having spent the whole day with these cats, I have not ever seen them quite so active.
20:44So I think it's going to be a busy night.
20:48I'm just going to switch over to the thermal camera.
20:50Going to be out of light in about five minutes.
21:04Greg, did you copy?
21:06Gordon, got it for Greg.
21:08We've got several airport here.
21:11I'll copy that, Gordon.
21:14I'll copy that, Gordon.
21:15Mattata and the eldest cubs are still trying to catch something big on their own.
21:23There are big meals and there are big meals.
21:28Hippos are serious.
21:31They are super dangerous.
21:33They possess huge sharp teeth.
21:38A lethal weapon that they can use to defend themselves.
21:45Hippos might be slower than giraffes, but they're far from easy prey.
21:52Adults are not interested, but the cubs are looking out.
21:56Oh, here they go.
21:58They're running.
22:02Chaos.
22:04There's no strategy here.
22:06Playing with fire.
22:10Oh, it's Mattata.
22:12It's Mattata.
22:14Oh, Mattata trying to trick the back end of females up on its back.
22:25Chasing giraffe, now chasing hippo.
22:29I suppose you want a lion cub to be king.
22:34You want them to sort of give it a go, but the cubs have to use their heads more than
22:42their legs.
22:45To catch something big enough for them all, Mattata and the cubs need to focus and work together with the
22:53whole pride.
22:55You don't get something to eat by just running about the place randomly.
23:15The sun hasn't risen yet, and that's Bo over there.
23:21Bobe over there.
23:26Bo's looking very keen.
23:29Can't wait a moment to see him.
23:32Oh, Ed.
23:40Boing in.
23:41Feeding a few sounds.
23:46Do you know what?
23:47Can't wait a week after him.
23:52Boing in.
23:53He didn't make the camera hit like this, though.aking
23:53a few shots. Go
23:53immediately out of the beach. Hey,
23:56colleagues. He's
23:56turning by a fixed share. Hi.
23:58I think it's a rabbit, not sure.
24:04Whatever it is, it's fighting back.
24:17No way!
24:18I can see his face now.
24:19That's an African wildcat.
24:24You don't see them too often.
24:28That is incredible.
24:38Now we get a big cat interacting with a little cat.
24:46African wildcats might look like domestic cats.
24:51Mum is in the background there.
24:53She knows this is not food.
24:56But they're fierce predators.
24:59Bob is leaving Bo to figure this out himself.
25:09You can see Bo now circling around, trying to find an opening where to attack.
25:17It's great to see his hunting tactics kicked in.
25:22But unfortunately for him, it's the wrong species.
25:29He looks like Bo's done and might leave this little cat in peace.
25:36He'll learn from this experience and his confidence will only just keep building up.
25:54Just popped onto a termite mound, having a little look around.
25:59Brad and Tristan are with leopard mum, Ladiba.
26:06Oh!
26:11What's going on there?
26:17I think she just called for the cub.
26:21I think she might be looking for the cub if she was trying to find her little girl.
26:32This really shouldn't take this long.
26:35It's an uneasy feeling of deja vu.
26:39It's a similar area to where she lost her first cub.
26:45Ladiba's male cub disappeared when he was three and a half months old.
26:51Ladiba, where's your baby?
26:55Come on, let's find her.
26:59There is a lot of wind around and it might be masking her calling.
27:06She starts roaring, it's not a good sign.
27:17She's very, very worried.
27:19She's trying to do everything in her power to find this thing.
27:29When you live in one of the greatest wildernesses in the world, you share it with some of the
27:34most dangerous and life-thrassling animals out there.
27:43It's one of the things about this place.
27:45It can turn from a happy day to a really tragic day in a split second.
28:04Yeah, the search has intensified now.
28:13She's actually trying to physically pick up the scent of this cub.
28:18Leopards have glands between their toes that leave an invisible scent trail.
28:32There's always a chance that she's wandered a little further than she should have.
28:37I just hope that she's taught that cub well enough to have avoided any potential threats
28:43and it's just sitting tight somewhere, hiding from this wind.
28:55This can't be another.
28:56This can't be another tragic story.
29:01Long day ahead, or if this is going to go on.
29:07Come on, big girl.
29:21Go to the Guardian, Santana.
29:23Santana, go ahead.
29:25I've got mums and cows by the floodplain, and I see a hues and a buffalo not far from them.
29:38Oh, wow. Gosh, so many of them.
29:45Hello, hello.
29:47That is quite some sight.
29:52At this time of year, Cape buffalo move through the Okavango Delta in their thousands.
30:00This is the perfect prey.
30:03If you are able to bring down a buffalo, that is not a snack.
30:10Each buffalo contains almost a million calories.
30:15This is the biggest meal possible, but it is the most dangerous.
30:23With razor sharp horns and weighing up to a ton.
30:30Buffalo also have safety in numbers.
30:34Buffalo are really aggressive.
30:36They will defend their young.
30:38They will defend themselves.
30:40They will defend the herd.
30:43The only way to bring one down is to work together as a team.
30:49If you can crack this, if you can hunt a buffalo and come away unscathed, this is the ultimate prize.
30:58Last year, the cows were a lot smaller and pretty defenceless against the buffalo.
31:03And I am curious to see how much they have learnt.
31:10I can see my tata.
31:18The cubs are needing the charge.
31:29I am loving the confidence that these cubs are showing right now.
31:45You know, tip of the hat to these cubs.
31:50Matata and his friend, they are the bravest of the whole lot.
31:54If something does happen after dark, those two are going to beat the heart of it.
32:02If this buffalo will be in the area tonight, one of them will definitely be invited for dinner.
32:15Anna, Anna for Gordon.
32:17Go ahead, Gordon.
32:20I hope you're ready for a big night, because I think it's going to be one.
32:24I think you might be right.
32:25They must be really, really hungry at this point.
32:30Greg and Anna are arriving for the night shift.
32:35Mums and cubs are walking straight towards...
32:39...a small group of buffalo.
32:45Matata is leading the charge.
32:49Matata wants buffalo for dinner.
32:55Anna, it looks like it's on here, eh?
32:57Yeah, it's looking very cheap.
33:00Closing in.
33:01Copy that, Greg. I'm getting the drone up now.
33:11Okay, I see them.
33:17They're going in, they're going off.
33:19Oh, okay. It's on, it's on, it's on.
33:24The whole pride is currently chasing.
33:28Matata and the cubs are finally working together with their mums.
33:33This buffalo is putting up an amazing fight.
33:41That is a huge buff.
33:43It is a battle.
33:47The lionesses and the cubs are working together here.
33:54Oh, it's down, it's down.
33:56Wow, they needed that.
33:58They really needed that.
34:03This bull will keep the whole pride fed for days.
34:15What's going on here?
34:17Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, hang on.
34:19One buffalo just come in.
34:23These buffaloes are coming close to the lions.
34:27Super dangerous.
34:35Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
34:38Whoa, they're right in there.
34:40This is crazy.
34:46Whoa, whoa.
34:47Holy smokes.
34:48These buffies do not want to let their comrade go without a fight.
34:54I think these cubs are going to get killed.
34:57Oh, yeah, one of the lions going to hammer.
35:04The buffalo is back up.
35:06This buffalo is not done.
35:07Oh, what?
35:08You got him by the snout.
35:10How was it like?
35:11Oh, the cub just got thrown.
35:27Absolutely unbelievable.
35:28There's cubs running all over the place,
35:30buffaloes running all over the place.
35:44They've saved it.
35:47The injured buffalo is being escorted out by his comrades.
35:52I mean, how's that for an unexpected turn of events?
35:57Man, what a battle.
36:04That is the most epic thing I've ever seen in my whole life.
36:11By a long way.
36:20Forget the cat's having nine lives.
36:22Buffaloes have nine lives.
36:26Even with the help of the experienced mums,
36:29buffalo are near impossible prey.
36:33They are absolute beasts,
36:36and they just don't give up without a fight.
36:43Matata and the rest of the pride need to recover quickly
36:46and try again.
36:50There are going to be some sore lions tomorrow,
36:55let me tell you.
36:57And not only sore, they're going to be very hungry.
37:22Diva's in another eppony.
37:24It's all frantically calling.
37:25There's no sign of this cub whatsoever.
37:27I'm just going to keep scratching around the periphery
37:30and see if there's any sign anyway.
37:34It's now been more than 24 hours...
37:40..since Ladiba's cub was last seen.
37:45She just doesn't stop calling.
37:47It's heartbreaking, really.
38:05Oh, s**t! It's the cub!
38:09You all are thinking out of nowhere.
38:17Little cubbies just bolted out of the tree line.
38:22Finally! I don't know where it's been hiding.
38:25Bloody naughty little thing, giving us all stress.
38:32Oh, Lord.
38:35Blackfords really do keep us on our toes.
38:45We've got a happy family again.
38:46Oh, that's adorable.
38:49We've got a happy family again.
38:55Brad is going to be very stoked about this.
39:00Bird, bird, bird, bird for Tristan.
39:03Go, Tristan.
39:05Ladiba has her cub, and they're coming towards you.
39:08Thank God for that. That's really good news.
39:10I can't believe she just came out of nowhere.
39:12Where the hell was she?
39:14Dude, I've got no clue, man.
39:17Yeah.
39:17She got up, called, cub-bombed in.
39:20So, yeah. Happy family. We're all moving now.
39:23Tell you what.
39:24That was my child.
39:25I would've got a seriously stern talking to.
39:41Rad's telling the cub off.
39:47Oh, it is good to have that little cub back.
39:56That cub must be getting quite adventurous.
40:00She's growing up a little bit and starting to explore.
40:02And learning fundamentals of being a leopard.
40:21Now walking straight towards quite a big herd of impala.
40:28Anna is with cheetahs Pobbe and Bo.
40:38I'm really excited to see how Bo does, because he's making really encouraging steps.
40:44But I want to see him put those techniques into actual action and to see them hunting together.
40:54Bo is yet to successfully contribute to a hunt.
41:03Okay, Pobbe is moving into the tree line.
41:08I think I'm going to stick on Bo, because he is just behind a tournament mound.
41:17You can see him just, like, glancing towards where Pobbe's gone.
41:25Pobbe is going to flush those impala out onto that floodplain.
41:31And Bo, he's got himself into the perfect position.
41:35If this happens and these impala run straight out in front of us,
41:41he's going to flank those impala.
41:45He's just got to know when to go and when to hold back.
41:53Oh, come on, Bo.
41:56Just wait, just wait.
41:59Stages set.
42:13Pobbe's ready to go.
42:18Impala going, they're going.
42:21Bo's running in, he's running in.
42:26Bo isn't as fast as Pobbe yet.
42:29Look at that speed.
42:31Go on, Bo.
42:31But he's driving the prey towards his mum.
42:36And Pobbe's in, he's in.
42:41Oh, the impala's stood up.
42:44Come on, Bo, get in there.
42:48This is ultimate teamwork.
42:54It's down, it is down.
42:57Wow.
42:59Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
43:02That was incredible.
43:05Bo, you absolute legend.
43:09And Bo did the right thing.
43:11He was just on the sidelines.
43:12And as soon as Pobbe chased the impala across, he came straight in.
43:17And he was blocking the impala.
43:19And without that block, I wonder if she would have got that impala at all.
43:22So that was a team effort.
43:29I feel like these two, working together, are going to be an absolute force to be reckoned with.
43:47Hello?
43:50There's actually no reason for him to come over here other than to just show off.
43:58It's funny looking back at Bo and how we first met him.
44:04He was once a really timid cub and he was always hiding behind his sister,
44:09Kia, who was definitely the more confident of the two.
44:14But he's finally starting to grasp the tactics of hunting.
44:20I think he's going to be a really strong and confident cheater.
44:27I think he's going to be a really strong and confident cheater.
44:42Look at them.
44:43Massive, full berries.
44:51I really can't believe that it's been over a year since we first started following Pobbe's story.
44:59Yes, she is an absolutely incredible huntress, but she's also a really fun and loving mum.
45:10And seeing how Nello, her adult cub, has progressed and now seeing Bo, her youngest,
45:20I think it just shows that she's got potentially an absolutely awesome and very strong dynasty
45:28developing, and long may it continue.
45:31I guess that's what it is for you.
45:50...the diva and the cub are back together.
45:53That's great.
45:55The diva's made a kill.
45:57Looks like it's a baby latchware.
46:08Really nice.
46:11To see them together again after giving me a heart attack.
46:18And looks like Mama's recognising that she's growing.
46:21She's teaching her the whole technical ability that she's going to have to master
46:26if she's going to survive as a leopard.
46:30This meal is a chance for Ladiba's rapidly growing cub
46:34to learn a skill unique to leopards.
46:38Keep your food off the ground, otherwise somebody takes it.
46:44To keep their food safe,
46:46leopards regularly drag one and a half times their own weight into the canopy.
46:52It's a hell of a feat for a leopard to get a carcass up that high into a tree.
46:58It needs a lot of leverage.
47:01It's got a bum right over the side of the branch like a seesaw,
47:05trying to counter the weight of the letcher with its own body weight,
47:08which is quite cool.
47:10It's got these back feet buried in and the whole body hanging over the side of this tree.
47:21Oh, she's almost dropped it.
47:23She's really battling to hold onto it.
47:31What are you doing?
47:38The Diva's just gone for a little drink, you know.
47:41Looks like mum's really giving the cub the lead.
47:45Normally when the cub's really small, the mother will open up the soft bits underneath the stomach.
47:50And this one's intact and mum is just letting her open it up for herself.
47:55She's putting the cub first in every situation she can
47:58and prioritising the cub's development over filling herself up.
48:03She really gives this cub the space to grow and learn in a safe environment.
48:11Less than half of leopard cubs make it to this age.
48:15But those that do are likely to survive to adulthood.
48:22It's a long journey ahead, but she's out of that incredibly vulnerable period.
48:27And it brings us to the point, the milestone of naming her.
48:34And the mother is La Diva, which means lagoon.
48:37So we're going to call her Noca, which means river.
48:53So mum has had a drink and she's just come back to the tree.
48:57She's now calling the cub.
49:00One thing to get up of the tree, but very difficult to get down.
49:04And see if she finds a way.
49:09Noca? Come on, you can do it.
49:19Skydiving out into a small tree.
49:25This cub is growing so fast and learning so quickly.
49:31It's a whole new world out there and Noca is capable of exploring it.
49:39This thing is a survivor and the Diva is a great mother.
49:44It just fills me with so much more confidence that this is going to be a happy story.
50:02Go then, go then for Greg.
50:03Yeah, Greg, go ahead.
50:05Looks like they're going again now.
50:06Roger that.
50:11Greg is on the move and Matata is kind of in the middle of the whole throng.
50:16He's got a real purpose.
50:21It's now been three days since the Kudum Pride had a meal.
50:26I'm amazed that these cubs still have energy.
50:28There has been a lot of cat calories burnt for no return.
50:34We have got lots of hungry lions here.
50:44I'm convinced that this is going to be a very busy night.
51:05My goodness, there's some buffalo in the distance.
51:09Yes, that's a lot of buffalo.
51:15We have got Matata and the other cubs.
51:18We've got Nossi, Mukosimugogo, a few other females.
51:22We also have one of the sub-adult males.
51:26Everyone is getting involved in this.
51:31There's lots of thick grass here, a lot of cover.
51:37Matata is moving in.
51:46Running, running, running.
51:50Look at Matata.
51:51Use the one there, right in the front.
51:56We've got cubs, mums, everyone joining in.
52:06There's one peeled off.
52:07Yeah, they're separating it.
52:08They're separating it.
52:09Wow, look at that.
52:11Wow.
52:17Every single one of them looks as if they're up for the challenge.
52:26Oh, one of the little ones is on its tail.
52:31They are so close.
52:33Unless the water can save this buffalo.
52:37Oh, they've let go of it.
52:38They have let go.
52:39That is a miraculous escape.
52:43Wisest thing it could have done is to get into the water.
52:48Buffalo will enter deep water to escape from lions.
52:56Oh, how did that get away?
52:59But the Kudum Pride cubs.
53:02Oh, my word.
53:03Okay, they're falling.
53:05Are not giving up.
53:09Oh, they're going to try again.
53:20Matata is here.
53:24One of the sub-adult males is on top.
53:27Matata's at the back leg.
53:35They've got him down.
53:37That is unbelievable.
53:41Oh, it's a pylon here.
53:42We've got the cubs in here.
53:45Everybody on top of this buffalo.
53:48Yeah, it's all over.
53:49There's no way this buffalo is getting back up.
53:59I cannot believe how involved the cubs have been in this buffalo hunt.
54:05I mean, Matata and the young female cubs are going to be ruthless, formidable, big game hunters, that's for sure.
54:13By successfully working together with the rest of the pride, Matata and the cubs have finally brought down a meal
54:22big enough for them all.
54:24Matata, you are the hero of the hour.
54:31He's still tiny compared to a buffalo.
54:34But he is prepared to get right under those hooves and do what it takes.
54:45He's got such a big character.
54:49He's boisterous, but with that boisterousness comes the boldness that a lion needs to succeed.
54:58When it comes to the ultimate prize, this is it.
55:03A buffalo, this is going to fill the stomachs of every single one of these lions.
55:07And Matata played a big part in that.
55:10.
55:47Let's get into these lions today, well I know where it is. Buffalo, I mean.
55:54It just sort of brought these lions to life.
56:00The last six months that they've had, it's been a rollercoaster of a ride.
56:06But the Kurum lionesses are a force you may reckon with.
56:09And these cubs are nearly reaching maturity and independence.
56:17To the north, we've seen new cubs being born to young lionesses that have mated with lions from the outside.
56:26I'm excited to see what Surami and the other lionesses in her sisterhood do next.
56:33It might be a little bit too soon to say that this is a breakaway pride.
56:37But I think we can say that we're potentially seeing the very beginnings of a new one.
56:47The life of a cat is never easy.
56:50It doesn't matter if you're a cub or the king of a pride.
56:56Change in the natural world is always a certainty.
56:59And now the real challenge begins.
57:07That's for Tristan.
57:10Good.
57:11Wild dog, I'm camp.
57:13I'm done.
57:16Wild dog, oh my god.
57:17He's going to get it right there.
57:26Unbelievable.
57:28These dogs would've just exploded through camp chasing an impala.
57:38There is no love lost between these two species.
57:44Cats and dogs don't get along.
57:48Wild dogs are the most successful predator in Africa.
57:52They've got a success rate of around 80%.
57:56The rivalry at the minute in the Okavango is so intense.
58:02This has just become a pressure cooker of predators.
58:06Next year, this place is going to explode.
58:23Continuing the legacy of Michael Moseley, simple science making a big difference to the nation's
58:28health.
58:28Just one thing on iPlayer, watch now.
58:30And all you need to know about the Financial World, Martin Lewis podcast on BBC Sounds.
58:36Listen now.
58:48You're welcome.
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