All language subtitles for Tiger.Island.2026.S01E01.1080p.WEBRip.x264-CBFM_track3_[eng]

Deep in the monsoon forests of Nepal
there is one special place...

..where a river has shaped the land,
creating an island full of life...

..home to an icon
of the natural world...

..the Bengal tiger.

TIGER SNARLS

These secretive big cats are
notoriously difficult to film...

..but on this island, they're
starting to reveal themselves.

There's something really strange
about being on foot with a tiger.

And unlike in other parts
of their range,

here they can be filmed
from the air...

He is ginormous.

..making this one of the best
places in the world to

observe their behaviour.
Right there.

Now, for the first time,

an expert team are following
the tigers through the day...

Ooh, ooh, film, film, film,
film, film, film.

..and even into the night...

..capturing their hidden lives.

There are five cubs. No-one's ever
seen tigers do this before.

Close encounters...

Oh! She bite rhino.

..and greatest dangers.

TIGERS SNARL AND ROAR

Across Asia,
tigers have been making a comeback.

Here in Nepal,
in just over ten years,

their numbers have nearly tripled.

It's one of the conservation success
stories of the 21st century.

In the west of the country,
a forested island has become home to

one of the greatest concentrations
of tigers on the planet.

And now, a team of film-makers

and scientists are coming here
to study them.

So many tigers, using such
a small space,

and seemingly coexisting.

This is just such
an exciting opportunity.

Tigers' dense jungle homes

make following these big cats
a challenge.

But here, the team can use a fleet
of drones to film the tigers,

something that's never been
done before.

DRONES WHIR

Having three or four drones
in the air at once is going to be

a complete game-changer.

We're going to be able to stick
with our tigers for way longer.

With powerful zoom lenses,
the drones can track the tigers

from a distance
without disturbing them,

while an all-terrain vehicle
films from the ground.

This state-of-the-art
stabilised camera rig is going to

allow us to keep up with the tigers
as they roam around the island.

It gives us an opportunity
to see them at their level.

Leading the team are wildlife guides
and sisters

Sushila and Manju Mahatara.

Such an expert team with so many
different skills

to be able to understand
these specific cats.

This is a gold mine of information.

February. It's winter,
and the dry season.

Cooler temperatures mean
tigers are more active,

making this the ideal time
for tracking them.

As they enter tiger territory,

guide Sushila gives big cat
biologist Dan a safety briefing.

If we're walking today and we come
across a tiger with cubs,

or a rhino or an elephant
that's showing aggression,

what tools do we have
to protect ourselves?

We have two different things.

Flares won't harm a tiger,
but they should scare it off,

a potential life-saver
for the team.

You really have to have a healthy
respect for walking here on foot,

and you can't forget

that they're apex predators,
largest cats in the world.

And they have evolved,
they specialise in hunting animals

much, much bigger than us,

and it is by choice
that they don't take us,

because right now, there's probably
a tiger that's at least

aware of where we are.

You see how fresh that is?

Look at that.

That couldn't have been more than
a few hours ago.

An experienced tigress named Goma
lives in this area.

She has two cubs,
but the team are yet to spot them.

Dan is hoping to film them,
using remote cameras.

It's so spooky in here.

OK, this is the spot.
They've been drinking here.

You can see the front two paws.

Remote cameras provide
valuable information,

and should help to monitor Goma
and her young family.

We need to get out of here, I think.
100 metres deer calls,

and deer calls are a really good
sign that tigers are there.

Dan, Dan, we've got Goma.

She's heading in your direction.

OK, yeah, I can see the drone
right in front of me.

WHISPERS: She's right there.
I think she's gonna cross the road.

She's on the road, Dan,
she's on the road.

She's on the road, I can see her.

I can see her!

She's really close!

Hoo...

That was incredible.

She was so close to me.

Ooh, I'm shaking.

She's so much bigger than I thought
she'd be.

There's something really strange
about being on foot with a tiger.

The reason this is so important,
I think,

it just shows that tigers aren't...

..interested in us, they don't want
to hunt us,

she doesn't see us as prey,
and being that close to her

on the ground, it's just...
it feels really good to be able

to prove that, cos people
just have this idea

about them, they think that they're
predators that only want to attack

and want to kill.

She just wants to live her life.

Tigers typically prefer
to avoid contact with humans,

but attacks do happen.

In this region alone,

over 30 people were killed by
tigers in a recent five-year period.

Most victims are alone,
and bent over while foraging.

Attacks on people may be
the result of mistaken identity,

since in most cases,
the tigers don't eat their victims.

Goma's territory borders
several villages

and locals are allowed to bring
their livestock here to graze.

Do you think they...
Are they worried?

Yeah, I mean, they're used to it.

It's such a strange feeling being
so close to an adult female tiger.

You're told you shouldn't be
that close to an animal like that.

And they have this every day. Mm-hm.

To the west,
in the neighbouring territory,

lives Goma's daughter, Mala.

At four years old, she's a mature,
independent adult.

Cinematographer Anna and wildlife
guide Manju are following her.

Anna? Yeah.
Are you on them?

Yes. It's amazing, isn't it?
Yeah.

Mala is raising her first litter.

This is absolutely beautiful.

Her cubs are just three months old.

I wasn't sure if they were weaned
yet, but clearly not.

They're still suckling from mum, so
they've still got a long way to go.

I have never seen a cuter mass
of fur before.

We've got a tiger cub
pile-on here...

..and they have got
the milk zoomies.

You can see that their way
of playing is pretty feisty,

they're attacking each other.

They're smacking each other
across the face.

They're being classic siblings.

Aw!

Bit the other one on the bum.

Tiger cubs stay with their mother
for up to two years...

..relying on her for everything
until they can fend for themselves.

One of the cubs just rocked up
with something fluffy in its mouth

and it looks like a deer tail.

So they've definitely got a taste
for meat already, that is clear, but

at the moment it seems to be more
of just, like, a plaything for them.

Getting such an insanely
intimate view into their lives.

Only half of tiger cubs
make it to adulthood.

It's going to be a challenge
for Mala to keep her boisterous cubs

hidden away and safe.

Dan and Sushila are checking
the remote cameras

for any sign of Goma's cubs.

OK, 13 clips.

It's too foggy to see that one,
I can't see...

Oh! Oh!

Oh, my... That's the big...

Yeah, that's a male, right? Yeah.
That's a male.

That's interesting. Yeah.

Oh, he's huge! Yeah, he is.

Do you know who he is?

OK, if this male has moved into
this territory

and it's not the cubs' father,
those cubs are in major trouble.

Male tigers will kill cubs
that aren't their own.

Now on alert, Anna and the drone
team are tracking Goma.

Cinematographer Max is hoping
she'll lead him to her cubs.

There's a tiger right there.
There's a tiger right there. OK.

That's Goma just there.

OK, she's looking right at us,
she knows we're here.

TIGERS GROWLS

Look at the size of those
shoulder blades.

Goma likely weighs over 160kg,
yet she'd be no match

for a mature male,
one and a half times heavier.

She's just now cruising out
into the middle of the riverbed.

The size of those paws!

To see her this close
at ground level...

..you realise that these really are
the biggest cats on the planet.

She's the queen of this island
and she knows it.

To maintain her status as the owner
of this area, Goma must mark

her territory frequently.

It's a message to other tigers
to stay away.

And this is why - her two cubs.

At nine months old, they're bigger
and stronger than Mala's cubs,

but still entirely reliant on Goma.

Goma's priority is finding
enough food for these two

rapidly growing cubs...

..and Manju has just
captured her hunting.

She's moving so slowly. Yeah.

She definitely knows exactly
where to move and where to walk

so that deer can't hear her.

It's amazing seeing her go
through the grass like that.

She's...
Looks like a snake from above.

And I love the way she's just
walking a few steps, stopping,

and then she's looking out
and looking out.

Whoa! Whoa!

That was a really big chase.

I wasn't expecting her
to run so far.

She knew what the weak point was
and she just went for that,

and you could just see her tail
was going woof, woof, woof, woof.

It was just moving
in so many different directions

to keep her zig-zagging.

Oh, she's got it.

THEY CHUCKLE

They didn't even say thank you.

Yeah.

LAUGHS

With one cub dominating, the other
is missing out on this meal.

If one of the cubs
is more greedy than the other,

it could actually be
quite a big problem for Goma,

because this other cub needs
just as much energy and

if it's not getting it, then there's
a possibility it won't survive.

A fawn is barely a meal
for three tigers.

Goma needs to catch bigger prey,

to ensure that both her cubs get
enough to eat.

But in order to hunt, she must
leave them alone, even though

a male is on the prowl.

Following Goma upriver,
Max is joined by Sushila and Dan.

There, there, there, there, there,
there, there! She's in there.

She's in there.
Where, where, where? Sh-sh.

WHISPERS: Just tell me where.

Over there.

Let's switch off, please. Yup.

She's eating mud in front of us.

They do that to get minerals from...
It's almost like a salt lick.

Goma may also be doing this

to detect the scent of other tigers
in her territory.

She's going up.

Guys, she's up in the woods.
I think we can creep to this corner

and see if she, yeah,
has a go for these deer.

What do you think, yeah?

Moving slowly, OK? Yeah, yeah,
you don't want to scare the deer.

Is she going to...
Can everyone watch that?

Where Goma was? Yep.
To the other side.

Which side, who's running?

All the deer. Anyone see a tiger?
There's no tiger yet.

Ooh, film, film, film, film,
film, film, film!

She's there, she's there!

Wow!

So good. Wow!
Well, it's complete chaos.

She just suddenly burst across
this river and went for a deer.

It was a miss,
but the deer have now scattered,

she's in the long grass but, wow,
I don't think you ever see a...

Where, where, where, where? Another
tiger in the water! Another tiger!

Look! Look! Look! Where, in the
river? Yeah. I think it's the male.

That's the biggest danger
for young tiger cubs,

is males like that, because
in order for him to take over

this territory, which is maybe
what he's trying to do,

he has to kill her cubs
if they're gonna mate.

As night falls,

the team are forced to leave Goma
with the male in pursuit.

Keen to find out
what happened overnight,

Max is back on Goma's trail.

She's alone,
and seemingly distressed.

Goma's been on a mission moving
around the whole of the island.

TIGER CALLS

She's calling non-stop.

Goma's calls suggest
she's searching for her cubs.

Keep going.

Oh, there she is, stop, stop,
stop, stop! She's just there.

No, just don't move too much, mate.

She's really just there.

See? Do you see her?

What is clear, Goma has noticed Max.

GOMA ROARS

No, no, no, no, no.

OK. Stay still, stay still.

Stay still.

Goma's agitation is likely due
to the presence of the male,

spooking her and her young family.

One of her cubs has been seen
crossing the river...

She's approaching the road.

..and is now close to the village.

Goma needs to get the cub
back to the island,

but a desperate mother tiger
could be dangerous.

She is parallel with the road.

You should hold your position

and then they're likely
to cross back onto Tiger Island.

Bit worried - Tiger Island is
over there and this is the village.

There's a wedding happening
on this side.

And all of their friends and family
are there.

And perhaps that male
that's been scoping out,

searching for... She's there.
She's there.

Goma is crossing back to
her territory on the island.

Still no sign of the cub.

I think she's been spooked
by that male.

TIGER CALLS

I can hear her contact calling.

"Oof-oof," trying to get that cub
away from danger,

all the way back onto the island.

But she doesn't want to come
find it again herself,

because she's so exposed.

CONTINUES CALLING

She knows there's loads of people
on this side of the river.

She knows they can all see her,
but she's so desperate.

This is her worst nightmare.

This isn't tiger behaviour.

They are stalk and ambush hunters
that specialise in hiding.

Her whole evolutionary history
has perfectly formed her

to disappear and she is sitting
out in the open.

Oh! Her cub's coming!
Her cub's coming across!

Good news, guys.

Goma's cub has crossed the river
back to her.

They've gone into the jungle now.

Thank you, Dan.

That level of parenting,

how much she cared for that cub,

she was making everyone focus on her

so that the cub would have space
to come across by itself.

Concerned about Goma's other cub,

Dan and Sushila are heading
to the area they last saw it,

to check the remote cameras.

Mongoose. Oh, yeah.

What's this one?

Where's the other cub?

Two cubs!

She's really filling
the tank though.

This watering hole
is perfect for her.

She doesn't want to take the cubs
out into the open,

she wants to hide
in this tall grass.

There is one cub that took all
the food the first time, remember?

Yeah.

Definitely seeing the differences
between their personalities, right?

Yeah. The confident one
and the shy one.

The shy one is behind the mum.

Goma and her cubs are reunited
and safe for now.

But the male is still
roaming the island.

Male tigers cover big distances,
crossing the territories

of multiple females, trying to
father as many cubs as possible.

Here, they're more secretive
than the females,

possibly to avoid coming
into contact with other males.

When tigers meet,
fights can end in death.

The team are turning their attention
back to Mala,

who has the youngest
and most vulnerable cubs.

Dan and Sushila are taking
a closer look

at a recently abandoned nursery,
to see how she conceals them.

We know that Mala

and the cubs are really far away,

so this is such
a good opportunity to

check out the last place we saw them
all together.

Look at the tunnels.

Go inside? Yeah.

This is where Mala's cubs

have been going.

Yeah, it feels like we've kind of
come into their secret world, right?

Look at this.

So these tunnels go all the way
through here

and then...

..all this grass on top...

..that is what's covering the cubs.

Look at here.

This is Mama.

Deep, right? More big and deeper.

Hopefully, that's Mala, right? Mm...

Mala... Look at the distance
between them.

You don't think that could be
the new male?

It's not a good sign.

A male this close means Mala's cubs
are no longer safe on the island.

Manju and Anna are heading
to check on them.

Anna, Anna, the cubs are not
at the point.

The cubs might be having fun,
but they're exposed

and alone.

Mala's job as a first-time mum
must be so tricky here

because when she goes out hunting,

she's gonna have to leave
these three behind.

And they are clearly
totally defenceless.

That's quite worrying.
They're making

probably quite a lot of noise from
what it looks like they're doing.

If that other tiger wandered
into this area,

he'd probably hear them.

Yeah, it's really tough
seeing them on their own.

What if another tiger comes by?

I just want to see Mala back home
with them.

Now, you guys just stay safe
because Mum needs to find you.

The rest of the team are searching
for Mala.

Male tigers aren't the only threat
to her vulnerable cubs.

Just hold up here.

Look at the size of...that rhino.

With skin four centimetres thick,

the greater one-horned rhinoceros
weighs ten times as much as a tiger.

The last thing one of our mothers
would want is that bull rhino

going anywhere near the cubs
because they'll pick up the scent

of a tiger and then, you know,
it's head down and charge,

and, um, a two-ton
freight train like that

would just flatten anything
in its path.

It's very relaxed, it's not angry,

but you don't want to push it
with that animal.

Much more dangerous than a tiger.

It will charge
if it feels threatened,

whereas the tiger will probably just
saunter off.

Rhinos, they don't mess about.

If there's a problem,
they'll just trample it.

It's looking right at me, yeah.

It's looking right at me,
it's coming this way.

Um, OK, so, if...

OK, just be careful because
the rhino is coming this way.

I think we just stay still.
If you show panic,

these animals feel panic.

But it is coming towards us.

Do we need to go?

Um, I think we need to back away.

Yeah, I think we need to back away.

This is actually
a slightly dangerous situation.

Yeah.

Just slowly move.

Because...

it's an incredibly fast animal

and if it wants to,
it could be with us

incredibly quickly. OK... OK.

OK.

The guys are bringing
the vehicle over

just to make sure the rhino
walks away.

The sound of the vehicle is enough
to move the rhino away.

I know we're gonna be OK.

It's just, whoo...
Careful, calm, calm, calm.

There we go, off you go.

Off we go.

Hair-raising.

To the north, another rhino
is moving into the home range

of a third tigress, named Jugini.

The sisters suspect she may be
another of Goma's adult daughters.

She has three cubs
and has just made a kill,

which is attracting attention.

A rhino could easily trample the
cubs and seriously injure Jugini.

Oh!

Her cubs have fled, but Jugini
does not want to give up their meal.

Oh...

Rhinos are herbivores, but
they have a powerful sense of smell,

and often investigate strong scents.

Pushed off the kill, Jugini
and her cubs may have to go hungry.

Finding another meal this big
will be challenging.

The pressure to protect
and provide for cubs is relentless.

And in Mala's territory,

the greatest threat
a mother tiger can face

has just been spotted -
an adult male tiger.

I can't work out at the moment
whether he is displaying

hunting behaviour, or he's picked up
on the scent of Mala and her cubs.

If he finds the cubs,
he may try to kill them.

His cheek ruffs are so wide,

he's got this really big,
chunky neck.

He is very intimidating.

There's a cub nearby.

Cub nearby, cub nearby.

The cubs are within
a couple of hundred metres...

..and they've just scarpered,
but he is hot on the scent of them.

So it turns out he wasn't hunting
at all, he, well...

he was hunting for cubs, so...

Where are you going?

Oh! There's Mala!

Huh! Oh, sh... Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

TIGER GRUNTS AND SNARLS

ROARS AND SNARLS

The difference in size is huge.

She's clearly trying to keep him
away from her cubs.

SHE EXHALES SLOWLY

SNARLING

She looks like she's being entirely
submissive at the moment.

She's flat on the floor,

and he's sort of standing over her.

You can really see very clearly

how different their body shapes are

when they're this close together.

Mala is so much slimmer.

She's a lot smaller.

And her entire posture
has just changed,

I've never seen her look
quite like this before.

Her ears are almost pinned back.

LOW GROWLING

The stand-off continues
for several hours.

This big male has come in
all guns blazing.

But Mala has shown him
that she means business,

and if he's going to even attempt
to get to her cubs,

he's going to have
to go through her.

And at the moment, she's shown him

that that is going to be

a very, very difficult challenge.

What I'm worried about now

is that he knows that Mala

and her cubs live here.

But I'm just going to hold on
to the hope that Mala has shown him

that it's not worth
the risk for him.

She is feisty, and she will
fight back for her cubs.

I think it's going to be
a sleepless night for us,

and definitely a sleepless night
for Mala.

Our mission for this morning
was to relocate Mala,

to know that she is safe
and with her cubs.

But we've just found the male
from yesterday

and I currently can't
see Mala around.

But he is acting really strangely,

sort of pacing around.

Don't what he's up to.

But he's looking odd.

Looks like there's some blood

just in front of him.

I don't know if he's made a kill.

Aw, OK.

What's he got?

SHE GASPS

Manju, that's another tiger.

MANJU GASPS

Yeah.

Is it a cub?

Yeah.

No!

SHE SIGHS

SOFTLY: My God.

SHE EXHALES

That is horrible.

Just one?

Or is there more?

There is one more.

There's one more?

ANNA SIGHS

Oh, no.

Have you found the other one?
We don't know where it is.

He's been following her.

He found her and he thought,

"I'm not letting you go
until you take me to your cubs."

Then he... And she's inexperienced.

And she did.

We have to find the last one.

I hope that cub's alive.

Unsure whether Mala herself
has survived the male's attack,

the sisters are searching
her territory.

Oh.

Over the next four days,

the drone crew stays with Mala.

There's no sign of her third cub.

Oh, she looks thin.

MALA CALLS

This is awful.

MALA CALLS

She's calling?

Yeah, she's calling.

Oh, that's really sad.

She must not know that...

ANNA GASPS

SHE EXHALES SHARPLY

There's a cub!

Yes! Yes, Mala!

She's got one!

Yeah, she saved one! Yeah!

This is so great!

I can't believe it.

I...I really can't believe it.

At least she's got one. Mmm.

I was, like, 99.9999% sure

that there was no chance
that there would be

another cub alive, but...

..there is.

This cub is really scrawny,

but looks pretty healthy
other than that.

And it is bounding along.

It's got so much energy.

Oh, wow.

She's really far away now,

she's gone to the other side
of the island,

and she's just crossed over
the water.

Where are you lot off to?

Yeah, it's extraordinary, isn't it?

We've just managed to catch
the last glimpses

of Mala and this little cub

before they try and find
somewhere else safer to live.

If this male's
taken over the area,

then, yeah, she's not going
to just hang around

with this little baby with her,
is she?

Literally kneading extra milk out.
Yeah.

It's, er, nonstop nursing.

After the loss of its siblings,

this cub's chances
may actually have improved...

..as Mala will now be able
to give it all of her attention.

To the east, Goma has yet to catch
something big enough

to feed her whole family.

And her smaller female cub
especially needs a meal.

Manju and I can see some deer

and they're really not that far
away from her,

so I think this could be it.

Rob, are you still over her?

Yep, still on her.

Let's see.

Ooh! OK, so she has just gone
behind that bush there

and the deer are probably
15m in front of her.

So she's really - yeah -
she's really on them now.

She's closing in.

ANNA GASPS

And the deer have no idea. Yeah.

They really don't know
that she's there.

Oh. Oh, wow, there's us!

Just there.

There's us in the background.

She's staying super low.

SHARP CRY

Oh, she's going for it.
She's going for it!

I hope she's managed to get one.

Where...?

OK, so they ran...

Oh, oh, oh, she got one! She did?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's a big... Well done, Goma.

That's really big.

Yeah.

Finally, both of Goma's cubs
can feed properly.

Goma's hunting skills are key
to her success as a mother.

Keeping her cubs well fed means
they'll both be strong,

and soon, they'll learn to hunt
alongside her.

So, Goma is clearly taking
a well-needed rest

and her cubs just sat next to her.

But Goma's family is not alone.

Oh, there's three cubs,
there's three.

SOFTLY: No way.

No, four.

That is four. There's four cubs.

Manju, how many cubs does Goma have?

Two cubs. OK.

Nearby, the drones have spotted
another tiger.

It's Jugini.

Normally, mothers with cubs
avoid other tigers...

..but Goma appears to be
looking after Jugini's cubs.

I have filmed lions before. Mm-hm.

And because lions live in a pride,

they all work together and the mums
help each other... Mm-hm.

..with parenting
and looking after their cubs,

but from what I know, like,
tigers are completely solitary.

So maybe because this area
is so full of tigers,

this is something completely new.

Sharing parenting duties
could be a response

to the threat posed by males,

helping to keep the cubs safe
while one parent is busy.

ON RADIO: So, Dan, we have eyes
on both Goma as well as Jugini.

Goma has four cubs,

and Jugini is on her own.

AMAZED CHUCKLE

What is happening?

ON RADIO: We have eyes on five cubs
through Robbie's drone.

Five cubs.

There are five cubs.

So there are two adult
female tigers with cubs,

and one of them's looking after
all the cubs

while the other one's eating.

No-one's ever seen tigers
do this before.

I was about to say, "Tigers are
solitary big cats." Are they?!

I don't know any more.

HE SCOFFS

They're supposed to be
incredibly territorial.

Females do not cross paths
unless they absolutely have to.

They don't share cubs.

They don't share parenting duties.

All of this is unfolding
just 50 yards over there.

This is not what it says
in the textbooks.

You just don't imagine
that there's...

..things to learn still about

the most iconic animal
on the planet.

But there is.

And it's here.

Next time - as the heat rises...

THUNDER RUMBLES

..and the monsoon hits...

This is what these cubs
have to contend with...

THUNDER RUMBLES

..all the time.

..the cubs must learn to adapt.

Look at them. Wow.

So must the team,

as the tigers become more active
at night.

WHISPERS: She's coming towards us.

Whoa.

She's getting a bit
too close for comfort.

And a dominant male emerges...

He is the King of Tiger Island.

..looking to assert his authority.

He's headed straight
towards the cubs.

This is not good.

LOW GROWL