Original subtitles

Jonathan: THERE'S SOMETHING TRULY EXTRAORDINARY

ABOUT LIVING A LIFE ALONGSIDE THE BIG CATS.

WE'RE JONATHAN AND ANGELA SCOTT

AND WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE LIONS, LEOPARDS,

AND CHEETAHS OF THE MASAI MARA FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST BIG CATS TO US, WE KNOW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS.

ALONGSIDE US IS OUR GOOD FRIEND JACKSON OLE LOOSEYIA.

HE'S SPENT HIS LIFE IN THE MARA AND THESE CHARACTERS

ARE AS SPECIAL TO HIM AS THEY ARE TO US.

JOIN US AS WE DRAW BACK THE CURTAIN

ON THE INTIMATE STORY OF THEIR LIVES.

♪♪

Jonathan: IN THE MASAI LANGUAGE, MARA MEANS SPOTTED --

A LAND SPOTTED WITH WILD ANIMALS, SPOTTED WITH BUSH,

AND OF COURSE, DOMINATED BY ITS BIG CATS.

BUT FOR ME AS A FIRST-TIME VISITOR IN 1974,

IT WAS ALSO VERY MUCH ABOUT THE MASAI

AND THEIR COLORFUL REGALIA.

AND PARTICULARLY, THE WARRIORS

WITH THEIR SPEARS AND SHORT SWORDS.

IT STIRRED MY BLOOD.

IT MADE ME TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME.

♪♪

[ CONVERSING IN MAA ]

♪♪

THE MASAI MARA IS MY HOME, AND THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE.

WE LIVE WITH OUR FAMILIES HERE ON DAILY BASIS.

THIS IS ALSO WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL AS MASAI PEOPLE

BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE RICHEST PLACES IN KENYA

WITH BIG CATS.

WE'RE PASTORALISTS.

BECAUSE WE DON'T KILL WILDLIFE FOR FOOD,

THEY ARE ABUNDANT IN EVERY SINGLE MASAI COUNTY.

IF WE ARE TO HUNT THESE WILD ANIMALS FOR FOOD,

THERE WOULD BE NOTHING EXISTING HERE,

BUT WE HAVE LEARNED TO COEXIST.

THAT IS VERY SPECIAL, AND IT MAKES MY TRIBE,

MY CULTURE, A VERY UNIQUE CULTURE IN KENYA.

[ SINGING IN MAA ]

♪♪

Angela: I THINK ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS

ABOUT KNOWING A PLACE AS JONATHAN AND I KNOW THE MARA,

IT GOES BEYOND JUST UNDERSTANDING

FROM GOING TO "A" TO "B."

IT'S THAT PEELING OFF THE LAYERS OF AN ONION,

IT BECOMES RICHER AND RICHER THE MORE YOU KNOW IT.

Jonathan: I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING

THAT I REALLY VALUE IS HAVING HAD THE GIFT

OF SPENDING SO MANY YEARS IN ONE PLACE

BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE ALL THE NUANCES,

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT SEASONS,

YOU SEE GENERATIONS OF LIONS MOVING THROUGH THIS AREA,

AND LOOKING IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR...

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY.

LOOKING IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR...

I KNOW THAT -- I KNOW THAT SIGHT.

AND SEEING THAT BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, I WAS A BACHELOR BOY.

I WAS JUST WANTING TO BE ON MY OWN.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD FIND SOMEBODY

WHO I COULD SPEND 14 HOURS A DAY IN A VEHICLE,

AND I GOT IT RIGHT.

SHE'S IN THE BACK THERE.

COULD YOU IMAGINE A MORE IDYLLIC SCENE?

I MEAN, THIS IS THE VERY ESSENCE

OF WHAT ANGIE AND I LOVE.

PEACE AND QUIET, CLOSE TO THE BIG CATS --

CATS THAT WE'VE WATCHED FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

Angela: ASKARI IS SUCH A WONDERFUL MALE.

HE IS ACTUALLY QUITE DIFFERENT TO MOST OF THE MALES

THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE MARSH PRIDE.

HE REALLY ENJOYS BEING WITH THE FEMALES AND THE CUBS

BECAUSE THE CUBS ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS INTERACTION.

YOU CAN SEE ASKARI ACTUALLY ENJOYING IT AS MUCH AS THEY ARE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT SORT OF LOOK IN HIS EYES

WHEN HE'S LOOKING AT THE CUBS, OF CONNECTION.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE.

Jonathan: THIS IS AN AGE WHERE THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH TO BE PLAYFUL

BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE TINY --

FIRST SIX WEEKS, THEY'RE TUCKED AWAY IN THE BUSHES,

YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE CUBS.

SO THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO BE WATCHING CUBS

AND PHOTOGRAPHING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYFUL

AND THEY'RE VERY FOCUSED ON EACH OTHER

AND FOCUSED ON THE MOTHERS.

BUT AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY BECOME MORE SORT OF,

YOU KNOW, SEPARATED IN THEIR AGENDA

AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

Angela: MOJA, HE'S SUCH A STRONG,

MISCHIEVOUS, FUN LITTLE CUB.

HE'S MUCH BIGGER THAN THE OTHER TWO.

HE'S ALWAYS THE ONE LEADING THE PACK.

HE'S ALWAYS THE ONE TAKING THEM OFF TO A BIT OF MISCHIEF.

♪♪

I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER ANIMAL THAT IS SO POWERFUL.

IN OUR MYTHOLOGY, THEY ARE THE EMBLEM OF STRENGTH

AND COURAGE AND FIERCENESS.

THERE'S NO OTHER ANIMAL

THAT I WOULD RATHER BE WITH THAN THE LION.

♪♪

MANDELA, ONE OF OUR GUIDES, HAS JUST FOUND MALAIKA,

SOUTH OF WHERE SHE WAS LAST NIGHT.

SHE HASN'T FED YET,

SO WE'VE STILL GOT A CHANCE OF GETTING THAT HIT.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO AGE THE CATS,

YOU LOOK AT THEIR TEETH.

SO ON THE TIPS OF THE CANINES, THEY GET WORN DOWN IN TIME.

AND WE THINK THAT SHE'S PROBABLY MINIMUM EIGHT YEARS OLD.

ALSO LOOK AT THE TIPS OF HER EARS.

THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT WORN, A LITTLE BIT GREY,

A LITTLE BIT GRIZZLED.

AND SEE THE WAY SHE USES THE LANDSCAPE -- SHE'S LIKE US,

SHE MAYBE GETS TO A HIGH POINT.

WE LOOK FOR PREDATORS WITH OUR GLASSES, SHE LOOKS FOR PREY.

♪♪

OH, SHE'S ALL FOCUS.

LOOK AT THE INTENSITIES. WATCH THE EARS.

THE EARS TELL A STORY -- ALERTNESS.

AND THIS CHEETAH CAN SPOT SOMETHING FROM 100 METERS

AS SMALL AS A BEETLE.

OKAY, WE'VE GOT A HERD OF IMPALAS RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN.

THERE'S ONE THOMSON'S GAZELLE, AS WELL.

NOW GENERALLY, SHE LIKES A SOLITARY ANIMAL --

LESS EYES AND EARS TO PICK HER OUT AS SHE MOVES TOWARDS THEM.

AND THEY'RE PRETTY BUSY EATING.

YOU SEE THERE'S ONE FEMALE THERE JUST WATCHING, JUST LOOKING.

OKAY, SHE'S COMING THROUGH THE BUSHES.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A CHEETAH THERE,

YOU'D NEVER SEE IT.

IF YOU WERE JUST SCANNING THESE THICKETS.

AND SHE'S EDGING FORWARD JUST SLIGHTLY --

LITTLE BIT BY LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS, THESE IMPALAS,

THEIR EYES ARE ADAPTED TO PICK UP MOVEMENT.

AND SHE CAN JUST -- I TELL YOU, FROM THAT POSITION,

SHE COULD JUST LITERALLY

COME FLYING OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS.

LOOK.

♪♪

OH, SHE MUST HAVE PULLED UP.

PHEW! WOW.

I TELL YOU, JUST SUDDENLY, BOOM, OFF SHE WENT.

SHE'S NOT AS BENT OUT OF SHAPE BY THAT CHASE AS I THOUGHT.

SHE IS AN ATHLETE.

GOOD GIRL, MALAIKA! YOU ARE A STAR!

BUT YOU'RE STILL HUNGRY.

THIS IS GONNA BE A COSTLY MEAL.

I MEAN, DAY THREE AND IT COULD BE EVEN DAY FOUR

SINCE SHE LAST HUNTED.

YOU JUST REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO CATCH FOOD.

IT ISN'T THAT EASY.

YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT THERE

AND JUST GRAB THINGS WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY WORK.

YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

AND EVEN THEN YOU'RE GONNA MISS SOMETIMES.

WHAT'S SHE GONNA SAY TO THE CUBS?

♪♪

Jackson: CLOUDY EYE AND ASKARI, THE MALE IN THE MARSH PRIDE.

THEY'VE HAD A THING TOGETHER.

BASICALLY THEY ARE COURTING AND THEY'RE MATING.

THE FEMALE WANTS TO JOIN THE REST OF THE PRIDE.

NOT TODAY.

EVERY TIME SHE GOES,

CUT ON THIS SIDE, CUT ON THIS SIDE.

AND SHE SAID, "HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS MALE?"

AND SHE'S GOT ONE WAY -- GO UP THE TREE.

[ LAUGHING ] AND SHE'S GOT UP THERE

AND HE'S LOOKING, "SHOULD I CLIMB?"

I DON'T THINK THAT TREE IS ENOUGH FOR TWO, THEREFORE,

HE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE ON THE FLOOR

WAITING FOR HER TO MAKE ANOTHER MOVE.

SHE'S KIND OF THINKING SHE MIGHT COME DOWN.

I MEAN, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE LIVING UP A TREE LIKE A LEOPARD.

SHE'S GOT TO COME DOWN.

AND WHEN SHE DOES, HE WILL BE ALL OVER HER AGAIN.

NOW LOOK, SHE'S PEEING FROM THE TOP.

PEEING ON HIS HEAD.

[ LAUGHING ]

OH, BOY.

LOOK, ASKARI SAYS, "YOU'RE PEEING ON ME.

IT'S OKAY.

I STILL LOVE YOU."

[ LAUGHING ]

THERE'S NO WAY TO SCARE THIS MALE AWAY

WHEN HE'S DETERMINED FOR MATING.

AND SHE EVEN PEED ON HIS HEAD.

[ LAUGHING ]

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE MATING.

IT'S JUST STARTED TODAY AND IT WILL CONTINUE

FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

AFTER EVERY 15 MINUTES, IT WILL GO AGAIN.

CLOUDY EYE HAD A MISCARRIAGE RIGHT HERE.

AND WE KNEW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SHE START MATING.

MALES, WHEN THEY'RE READY TO MATE,

THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE, THEY'RE FIGHTERS,

AND THEY DON'T LET THE FEMALE DO ANYTHING,

NOT EVEN TO EAT, JUST MATING.

NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPEN.

I GUESS SHE'S GOING TO JUMP OVER HIM.

LOOK. AND HE'S ASLEEP.

HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE GIRL IS COMING.

OH, SURPRISE, OVER.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

[ ROARING ]

THREE MONTHS AFTER THIS MATING, THERE WILL BE NEW CUBS.

THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS

FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE MARSH PRIDE.

A SURE WAY TO ESCAPE THE MADNESS OF CITY LIFE,

ALL THAT NOISE IN YOUR HEAD,

JUST STOP AND SPEND TIME WITH WILD ELEPHANTS IN THE MARA.

[ GRASS RUSTLING ]

JUST THE SOUND OF THEIR LEGS AS THEY DRIFT THROUGH

THE LONG RED OAT GRASS.

[ GRASS RUSTLING ]

AND WHAT'S SHE LOOKING FOR?

SHE'S LOOKING FOR TINY ACACIA SEEDLINGS

AND NICE CLUMPS OF GRASS.

AND SHE'LL PICK IT UP AND SHE'LL JUST DUST THE SOIL OFF IT.

AND A LITTLE BABY LIKE THIS IS LEARNING THE WHOLE TIME.

AND IT WON'T STRAY MORE THAN A FEW METERS FROM ITS MUM.

MUM IS THE EPICENTER OF THAT YOUNG ONE'S LIFE,

AND YOU CAN SEE, STILL UNDER A YEAR OLD

BECAUSE IT CAN ACTUALLY TRAVEL UNDERNEATH THE CHEST OF THE MOM.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO SUCKLE 'TIL SHE HAS A NEW CALF.

SO GENERALLY, EVERY TWO YEARS, NEW CALF ARRIVES.

WHAT YOU TEND TO FIND IS WHEN FOOD IS LIMITING FOR ELEPHANTS,

THEY BREAK DOWN INTO SMALLER GROUPS.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD,

SO THE ELEPHANTS CAN ACTUALLY JOIN TOGETHER.

AND YOU CAN TELL, JUST LOOKING AT THESE ELEPHANTS,

I CAN TELL THIS IS A HEALTHY POPULATION

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ALL DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

YOU'VE GOT TINY CALVES LESS THAN A YEAR OLD,

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT MEDIUM-SIZE CALVES,

FOUR, SIX YEARS OF AGE.

AND EACH FAMILY HERD HAS A MATRIARCH --

THE OLDEST FEMALE, HER SISTERS, AND THEIR OFFSPRING.

MIDDLE OF THE DAY,

TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A MUD WALLOW OR A COOL DOWN.

[ ELEPHANT TRUMPETING ]

LOOK AT THEM ALL COMING IN.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WHAT AN AMAZING SIGHT.

[ ELEPHANT TRUMPETING ]

SOMEBODY'S SAYING, "BUTT OUT."

THERE'S ONE LITTLE ONE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT,

RIGHT IN THE MUD WALLOW.

AND THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT,

IT'S NOT JUST PLAYFUL AND A THING OF JOY,

IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE ELEPHANT'S SKIN.

LOOK AT THIS TINY ONE.

AND THE LITTLE ONES ARE REALLY PRONE TO OVERHEATING,

SO IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT

THAT THEY MAINTAIN THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE.

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE GUY...

RUBBING HIS BOTTOM.

HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL?

♪♪

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ELEPHANT,

THERE IS SUCH WISDOM.

YOU JUST FEEL THE SENSE OF SENTIENT BEINGS.

A CONNECTION BETWEEN ANIMAL AND MAN,

WHICH REALLY GOES BEYOND UNDERSTANDING,

BUT YOU FEEL IT RIGHT IN YOUR BONES.

AND YOU JUST THINK TO YOURSELF,

"WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE TO DO JUST THIS.

TO JUST BE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH AMAZING ANIMALS."

♪♪

NOW, WHO COULDN'T SAY THAT THIS IS VERY SPECIAL?

I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED.

I MEAN, HAVE THE WHOLE PRIDE JUST RESTING UP

IN THE SHADE OF MY CAR.

OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I REALLY LIVE FOR.

WE'RE NOT DRIVING TO THE LIONS,

SO I DON'T FEEL IN ANY WAY WE'RE DISTURBING THEM.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY COME TO US.

AND I CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE THE PEACE AND THE TRANQUILITY

I FEEL WHEN I'M GIVEN THESE MOMENTS.

SO NOW WE HAVE ASKARI AND MPOLE

WITHIN FOUR FEET OF MY CAR.

MALE LIONS HAVE SUCH LOVELY RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.

EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT BE BROTHERS, THEY DO SEEM --

THEY HAVE THAT EMPATHY OF BROTHERS,

I SUPPOSE BECAUSE THEY SPEND SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER,

AND THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO EACH OTHER.

WHEN THE LIONS ARE THIS CLOSE,

YOU'RE OBSERVING THEM IN YOUR SPACE,

AND SO THEY BECOME FAR MORE, IF YOU LIKE, REAL TO YOU

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NOW REMOVED.

THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN HERE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT IN THEIR ENERGY AS THEY ARE IN YOURS.

AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE LITTLE DETAIL

THAT YOU CAN'T AT A DISTANCE.

YOU CAN WITNESS THE SIZE OF A PAW.

I REALLY DO FEEL SO BLESSED WHEN I HAVE A DAY LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, YOU COULDN'T -- YOU JUST COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE

AS A LION LOVER, WHICH IS WHAT I AM.

♪♪

Jonathan: OKAY, MALAIKA'S LOOKING LIKE

SHE WANTS TO HUNT.

WHAT ARE HER OPTIONS?

THERE'S GAZELLE SCATTERED ALONG THESE PLAINS.

SHE LOOKS THIN, THE CUBS ARE HUNGRY, AND SHE WANTS TO HUNT.

LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF HER BODY, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

THOSE CHEST MUSCLES, THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS.

LONG LEGS, SMALL HEAD, LOOKS LIKE A SPHINX.

IN SOME WAYS IT'S THE LEAST CAT-LIKE OF THE CATS.

THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE A GREYHOUND

IN TERMS OF THEIR BUILD, AND THOSE LONG, THIN LEGS

THAT PROPEL THEM ACROSS THE GROUND AT SUCH SPEED.

IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO A CHEETAH WHEN SHE'S GOT CUBS,

THE SOUND OF HER PURRING --

OF THE MOTHER AND THE CUBS PURRING,

THIS DEEP, DEEP RUMBLE.

AND LEOPARDS DON'T PURR, LIONS DON'T PURR,

BUT OUR DOMESTIC CATS DO.

NO QUESTION, THE CHEETAH'S A CAT,

BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT CAT TO OUR OTHER BIG CATS --

TIGERS, JAGUARS, LIONS, LEOPARDS,

THEY BELONG TO THE GROUP THAT WE CALL PANTHERA.

THEY'RE THE ROARING CATS.

THEY REALLY ARE THE BIG CATS,

AND THE CHEETAH ACTUALLY SPLIT OFF IN A DIFFERENT GROUP.

YOU CAN SEE BY EVERYTHING THAT MALAIKA IS DOING,

SHE'S HUNGRY, BUT ALSO, THERE'S STRATEGY GOING ON HERE.

BECAUSE SHE HAS PARKED HER CUBS IN THIS AREA, LIKE,

IT'S A SEMI-CIRCLE OF CROTON THICKETS.

AND SHE'S LITERALLY MOVING AROUND IT

WHERE SHE ISN'T VISIBLE TO ANYTHING OUT

ON THE OPEN PLAINS, AND SHE'S JUST CHECKING.

SHE SITS, SOMETIMES FOR 5,

10 MINUTES JUST WATCHING WITH THOSE INCREDIBLE EYES OF HERS.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY SMART TO DO THAT

BECAUSE IF SHE JUST GOES WALKING AROUND OUT IN THE OPEN,

GAZELLES, IMPALAS, WILDEBEESTS, TOPI SEE HER, THEY ALARM CALL,

AND SHE MIGHT JUST AS WELL TURN, AS SHE OFTEN DOES,

AND WALK AWAY BECAUSE SHE'S BLOWN IT FOR THIS MASSIVE AREA.

♪♪

I DON'T KNOW HOW MALAIKA DOES THIS.

I MEAN, I'M SITTING IN A CAR ALL DAY,

I'M HAVING TO DRINK LITER AFTER LITER OF WATER,

AND SHE'S SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN

WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN ON HER,

AND SHE'S SOMEHOW MANAGING TO KEEP COOL.

SHE'S SOMEHOW MANAGING TO KEEP HER SANITY.

AND SHE WILL HUNT IN THIS KIND OF TEMPERATURE,

BUT THE FACT IS, SHE'S A SPECIALIST.

SHE CAN'T BE A LION OR A LEOPARD.

TO SURVIVE IN THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT,

SHE NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAT,

AND THE CHEETAH IS EXACTLY THAT.

IT'S A DAY-TIME CAT, AND IT'S A CAT

LOOKING TO AVOID COMPETITION WITH THE BIG GUNS.

♪♪

MALAIKA IS DEAD ON TARGET.

WE'VE GOT WILDEBEESTS WITH TWO YOUNG CALVES.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.

NOW, SHE'S CAPABLE OF TAKING A WILDEBEEST CALF,

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT,

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MOTHER WILDEBEEST?

SHE WILL DEFEND THAT CALF WITH ALL OF HER ENERGY

AND WITH THOSE HORNS.

THIS COULD BE A BIT OF A BATTLE...

BUT SHE'S DETERMINED, SHE IS HUNGRY.

♪♪

NOW SHE'S GOT THE FULL ATTENTION.

LOOK, HERE THEY COME. HERE THEY COME.

HERE SHE'S COMING, FLYING LIKE THE WIND.

♪♪

HERE SHE COMES. LOOK, CLOSING IN, CLOSING IN,

SHE'S GOT THE CALF DOWN.

SHE'S GOT IT. SHE'S GOT IT.

THE HERD HAVE GONE.

LOOK.

STRUGGLING TO PULL IT DOWN.

MUM'S GOT THE THROAT BITE.

JOB DONE.

GREAT WORK FOR MALAIKA.

GREAT WORK.

ON THIS OCCASION NO HAPPY ENDING FOR THE WILDEBEEST.

BUT FOOD FOR OUR CHEETAHS.

VERY SMART MOVE ON THE PART OF MOM.

SHE'S PULLING THAT KILL INTO THE COVER OF THE BUSHES.

SHE DOESN'T WANT THE VULTURES TO GIVE THE GAME AWAY,

TO ATTRACT LIONS OR HYENAS.

GET THE KILL TO SAFETY.

WE CAN SEE HOW HUNGRY THE CUBS ARE.

AS MUM'S TRYING TO PULL IT TO SAFETY,

THEY JUST WANT TO GET STUCK IN.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING MALAIKA FOR THREE DAYS,

FINALLY PAY DAY.

AND THESE WILDEBEESTS, THEY'RE NOT PART

OF THE SERENGETI MIGRATION -- THAT COMES LATER.

THESE ARE PART OF A LOCAL MIGRATION,

WHICH MOVE INTO THE MARA AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

GREAT JOB FROM MUM.

WOW, MALAIKA REALLY, REALLY DID IT TODAY.

AND BEST OF ALL, SHE'S GOT IT TO COVER.

NOBODY SAW A THING.

NO LIONS, NO HYENAS, NO VULTURES,

NOBODY TO STEAL THE KILL.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD THAT THE CUB IS ACTUALLY

HOLDING THAT THROAT BITE.

THIS IS WHAT IT'LL HAVE TO DO WHEN IT HUNTS FOR ITSELF.

AND I SAY, "HUNTS FOR ITSELF," OF COURSE,

IT'S GONNA HAVE ITS BROTHER AS BACKUP.

THEY WILL HUNT TOGETHER.

THESE CUBS WILL REMAIN WITH EACH OTHER FOR LIFE.

THE MOTHER WILDEBEEST IS COMING BACK.

I THOUGHT SHE WOULD.

SHE KNOWS SHE'S LOST SOMETHING,

SOMETHING PRECIOUS, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WITH HER,

SIDE BY SIDE, FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO,

AND SUDDENLY IT'S GONE.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY WANTING OUR BIG CATS

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR HUNTING,

BUT IT'S AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER LIFE.

AND WHEN YOU WATCH HER --

A FEMALE LIKE THIS, LOOKING DISTRESSED,

SEARCHING FOR HER YOUNG, YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO HER,

BUT THIS IS THE ENDLESS CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

ON THE AFRICAN PLAIN --

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN PREDATOR AND PREY.

♪♪

[ GRUNTING ]

Jackson: THE BUFFALOES ARE COMING IN,

AND THIS IS NOT VERY GOOD SITUATION

BECAUSE CHARM IS RIGHT THERE WITH THE CUBS.

THE LITTLE CUBS ARE EXPOSED RIGHT IN THE OPEN.

[ BUFFALO GRUNTING ]

OH, THERE HE GOES, HE'S CHARGING, LOOK.

AND THE FEMALES ARE GETTING NOW READY.

LOOK, THEY'RE ALL GETTING UP WITH THE CUBS

AND THE CUBS ARE MOVING FAST.

THEY ARE GETTING OUT.

THEY REALIZE THERE IS DANGER HERE.

LOOK AT THAT STANDOFF.

THERE'S ANOTHER BUFFALO COMING.

THEY'RE ALL COMING. LOOK AT THAT.

♪♪

[ GROWLING ]

♪♪

ASKARI IS BECOMING AGGRESSIVE.

AS MUCH AS THE BUFFALOES ARE GIVING THEM HASSLE

AND PUSHING THEM AWAY, HE IS FIGHTING WITH HIS BROTHER.

HE STILL HAS TO DEFEND THE FEMALE.

CLOUDY EYE IS IN HEAT AND SHE'S MATING.

THAT LITTLE BIT OF PUSH SHOWS THAT ASKARI

IS AT THE TOP OF THE MARSH PRIDE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

TO SIRE NEW CUBS.

♪♪

THAT'S CLOSE.

LOOK AT THAT.

♪♪

RIGHT HERE WE'VE GOT A BUFFALO WHICH DIED,

AND THE LIONS HAD A FEAST.

BUFFALOES ARE COMING TO REVENGE,

AND THINKING THEIR OWN WAS KILLED BY LIONS,

AND IN AN ACTUAL FACT, THEY DIDN'T.

THE BUFFALO JUST CAME RIGHT AND DIED

AT THE HEART OF THE MARSH PRIDE.

THEY ARE SMELLING WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

AND LOOK, THERE'S ONE MORE BUFFALO

WHICH IS HEADING TO CHARM'S BUSH.

HE'S GOING RIGHT IN.

I BET HE CAN SMELL CHARM RIGHT THERE AND THE CUBS.

THEY'RE REALLY DETERMINED TO TRY AND FLUSH

THIS LIONESS OUT OF THERE.

THIS IS QUITE A HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS.

IF THOSE BULLS COME AROUND,

THOSE BABIES WILL BE HISTORY.

AND CHARM IS JUST PRAYING THAT THEY GO AWAY.

♪♪

YOU CAN SEE THAT BUFFALO THAT'S GETTING AGGRESSIVE --

HE KNOWS THE LIONS ARE HIS WORST ENEMIES.

THERE THEY GO. HE'S CHASING.

♪♪

THIS IS A CONSTANT BATTLE BETWEEN LIONS AND BUFFALO.

ALL THE TIME, THESE ARE ENEMIES

THAT ARE LIVING TOGETHER FOREVER.

♪♪

Jonathan: BIG DAY TODAY.

I'VE JUST HEARD THAT ONE OF OUR CREW HAVE FOUND BAHATI.

NOW, BAHATI IS ONE OF OUR LEOPARDS.

WE FILMED HER LAST YEAR WHEN SHE HAD TWO SMALL CUBS --

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

THOSE CUBS BECAME INDEPENDENT,

AND I'M TOLD SHE'S GOT A NEW LITTER.

♪♪

AND "BAHATI" MEANS "GOOD LUCK," AND WHEN YOU'RE WITH HER,

YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE IT'S GOOD LUCK.

♪♪

SO, WHERE'S -- OH, THERE SHE IS, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.

♪♪

IT'S JUST LIKE MEETING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND

BECAUSE I LAST SAW BAHATI ABOUT A YEAR AGO,

AND WE'VE KNOWN BAHATI SINCE SHE WAS A TINY CUB.

HER MOTHER WAS OLIVE, HER MOTHER WAS BELLA.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE LEGACY OF CAT HISTORY

THAT WE TAP INTO.

AND TO ME, THAT'S THE FASCINATION.

THE MORE YOU SPEND TIME WITH A CAT,

THE MORE YOU GET TO KNOW IT.

SO, SHE'S NOT JUST A CAT,

SHE'S NOT JUST A LEOPARD, SHE'S BAHATI.

AND I'M JUST CHECKING HER TUMMY.

SHE'S BREATHING QUITE HEAVILY.

SHE'S IN THE SHADE, BUT I CAN SEE THE BROWN TELL-TALE MARKS

WHERE THE SKIN IS FLATTENED,

WHERE THE FUR IS FLATTENED AROUND HER TEATS.

SO SHE'S STILL SUCKLING HER CUBS.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN THE CUBS,

I CAN DEDUCE A COUPLE THINGS -- ONE, THEY'RE STILL SUCKLING.

TWO, IF SHE'S PREPARED TO MOVE AROUND WITH THEM

RATHER THAN KEEP THEM AT A DEN,

THEY HAVE TO BE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE MONTHS MINIMUM,

MAYBE EVEN A BIT OLDER.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A LEOPARD JUST PLUCKING THE FUR,

MAKING IT EASIER TO GET TO THE MEAT,

BAHATI WASN'T HAVING A BIG MEAL THERE.

MAYBE SHE WAS PREPARING THE WAY FOR WHEN THE CUBS COME --

WHEN SHE CALLS THEM, BRINGS THEM TO THE KILL.

SHE WANTS THEM TO BE ABLE TO EAT

AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.

THE BIG THING IS, WHEN WILL SHE GO AND GET THEM?

I ALWAYS FEEL WHEN I'M WITH A LEOPARD IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE

BECAUSE, REALLY, THE WORLD OF A LEOPARD IS A SECRET WORLD.

IT'S SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS.

IT'S JUST A DAPPLE COAT MOVING SINUOUSLY THROUGH THE BUSHES.

BAHATI'S JUST MOVED TO THE EDGE

CLOSE TO WHERE THE KILL IS, AND SHE'S CALLING.

[ CALLING ]I HAVE HEARD THIS SOUND.

IT'S A VERY SUBTLE SOUND.

AND THAT IS A CALL THAT'S ONLY MEANT TO BE HEARD BY THE CUBS.

[ BAHATI CALLING ]

YEP, CUBS COMING.

BEAUTIFUL.

OH, I LOVE THESE MOMENTS.

YOU KNOW THAT GREETING,

ESPECIALLY AT THIS AGE

BECAUSE MUM LICKS THEM,

THE CUBS WANT TO PLAY WITH HER, JUST THE BEST MOMENTS.

♪♪

AND OF COURSE, AT THIS AGE, THEY'RE SO FOCUSED ON MUM,

SO YOU GET LOTS OF SOCIALIZING.

AND WITH A SOLITARY CAT LIKE A LEOPARD,

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST TREASURE.

♪♪

BAHATI'S SIX AND A HALF YEARS OLD NOW.

WE'VE FOLLOWED THIS LINEAGE OF LEOPARDS FOR 25 YEARS.

IT'S THAT INVESTMENT IN KNOWING THESE ANIMALS,

IN CARING ABOUT THESE ANIMALS, THAT MAKES US KEEP COMING OUT

EVERY SINGLE MORNING THAT WE CAN.

♪♪

Angela: THEY SAY THAT LIONS DON'T CLIMB TREES,

BUT WE HAVE THESE MOTHERS JUST LOVING CLIMBING THIS TREE.

AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, IT IS AGONY

BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO SHOOT THROUGH MY WIND SCREEN.

BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT YOU'RE JUST ENJOYING

BEING SO CLOSE, UNABLE TO MOVE BACKWARDS,

BUT ENJOYING SEEING THEM PLAYING.

AND IT'S A WONDERFUL THING BECAUSE ACTUALLY THESE MOTHERS

ARE VERY YOUNG MOTHERS,

SO YOU GET THESE MOMENTS

WHERE THEY'RE JUST FULL OF THE JOYS OF SPRING.

SO THEY JUST LOVE TO GAMBLE AND PLAY WITH THE CUBS,

WHICH IS WONDERFUL FOR THE CUBS

AND OBVIOUSLY THE MOTHERS ARE JUST LOVING IT.

THEY'RE USING THIS TREE, I THINK, AS A SCRATCHING POST.

YOU KNOW, LIONS LOVE TO FIND A TREE

WHERE THEY LEAVE MARKS ON THE TREE BARK.

YOU KNOW, THEY CLEAN THEIR NAILS A LITTLE BIT

AND STRETCH THEIR MUSCLES, AND...

BUT ALSO, FROM THE VANTAGE POINT SHE HAS UP THERE,

SHE'S ACTUALLY LOOKING RIGHT DOWN INTO CHARM'S DEN.

SO THIS COULD BE INTERESTING.

WE'VE GOT BOTH THE MOTHERS AND THE THREE CUBS

JUST WALKING STRAIGHT INTO

WHERE CHARM'S GOT HER LITTLE TWO CUBS.

THIS IS THE VERY LAST THING THAT, REALLY, SHE NEEDS.

AT THE AGE THAT MOJA AND BILLY, AND SOLO ARE,

THEY'RE PLAYING QUITE ROUGH NOW.

I MEAN, AT FOUR MONTHS THEY'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW,

THEY'RE BITING INTO EACH OTHER'S NECKS

AND THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE IS REAL, FULL-ON ROUGH, ROUGH PLAY.

AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR CHARM'S TINY LITTLE ONES,

AND WE CAN HEAR THE ODD ABSOLUTE SQUAWK.

[ CUB SQUAWKING ]

SO, CONTRARY TO WHAT I WAS HOPING,

SHE IS ACTUALLY MOVING ONE OF THE CUBS.

AS TOLERANT AS A LIONESS AS CHARM IS,

I MEAN, THAT WAS QUITE A MORNING FOR HER.

AND OBVIOUSLY, SHE JUST FELT TOO MUCH TOO SOON.

BUT THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF MANY INTERACTIONS,

SO IT'S NOT THE END OF THE GAME BY A LONG SHOT,

BUT CHARM, IN HER WISDOM, IN HER OLD AGE,

SHE KNOWS THEY'RE TOO YOUNG

TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE PRIDE.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY REALLY.

LIONS KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR TERRITORY.

I HADN'T EVEN SEEN WHERE MPOLE WAS,

BUT AS SOON AS HE SAW CHARM MOVING HER CUBS,

HE JUST POPPED UP JUST TO INVESTIGATE,

SEE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.

AND SHE, THE OLD MAMA THAT SHE IS, WASN'T CONCERNED.

I MEAN, NORMALLY FEMALES WOULD BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED

SEEING MALES COME CLOSE TO WHERE THEY HAVE THE CUBS,

BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE RECOGNIZED HIM.

SHE WAS OKAY ABOUT IT.

AND CHARM HAS TUCKED HERSELF IN THIS OLD, BROKEN-DOWN TREE,

WHICH WE CALL DAVE'S TREE.

IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE FAVORITE PLACES

OF THE MOTHERS AND THE CUBS,

SO I DON'T THINK SHE'S GONNA HAVE THAT MUCH PEACE

AND QUIET HERE, BUT FOR NOW, THE CUBS ARE SAFELY TUCKED AWAY

IN ONE OF THE LITTLE NOOKS,

AND SHE CAN HAVE A COUPLE OF HOURS' PEACE AND QUIET.

♪♪

Jonathan: BAHATI HAS TO MAKE A DECISION NOW --

IS SHE GONNA WALK AWAY FROM THAT CARCASS,

OR IS SHE GONNA TRY AND ACTUALLY MOVE IT TO SOMEWHERE SAFER?

YOU SEE THE WAY SHE LOOKS UP LIKE THAT?

SHE'S THINKING, "NEXT STOP, GET THAT KILL UP INTO A TREE."

AND THE CUBS ARE PICKING UP

A LITTLE BIT ON THAT NERVOUSNESS.

♪♪

BECAUSE UNLIKE THE CHEETAH WHO HAS TO FEED AND MOVE OFF,

SHE CAN GET IT UP INTO A TREE

AND FEED AGAIN TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY.

♪♪

AND THAT'S A BIG ANIMAL.

SHE'S EATEN A LOT, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF MEAT THERE.

♪♪

OTHER PREDATORS, HYENAS,

THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE VERY SOON.

SEE? CHECKING, LOOKING UP, THINKING,

"WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?"

SHE HASN'T GOT LONG TO ACT NOW.

THOSE CUBS ARE VULNERABLE.

♪♪

UP SHE GOES.

NOPE.

OKAY, NOW SHE'S GOT A PROBLEM

BECAUSE SHE'S GOT THE CUBS IN A THICKET THERE,

TUCKED AWAY THERE,

BUT WITH THE KILL,

WITH THE SMELL OF THAT CARCASS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD,

IT'S ALSO THE SAFETY OF THOSE CUBS.

♪♪

OKAY, SHE'S MAKING HER MOVE.

SHE'S HEADED FOR THE TREES.

SHE'S GOT TO DO THIS QUICKLY BECAUSE SHE IS SO EXPOSED.

♪♪

OKAY, THE CLOCK'S TICKING.

SHE'S GOT ABOUT 35 MINUTES 'TIL IT STARTS TO GET REALLY DARK.

AND SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE

THE LITTLE CUBS WHERE THEY ARE NOW

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE INTESTINE,

THE ABDOMINAL CONTENTS, ALL THAT SMELLY STUFF

THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTE HEAVEN FOR A HYENA,

IS WHERE THE CUBS ARE.

SO SHE'S GOT TO CHOOSE HERE FAIRLY QUICKLY --

TRY AND GET THAT KILL UP INTO A TREE IF SHE CAN.

SHE'S HAD THREE OR FOUR ATTEMPTS NOW.

EACH TIME, IT'S BEEN TOO MUCH FOR HER, JUST TOO MANY BRANCHES.

SOMETIMES THERE JUST ISN'T THE RIGHT TREE.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

THEY'VE JUST HEARD THE LEOPARD. THESE ARE THE GUINEA FOWL.

LEOPARDS SOMETIMES KILL GUINEA FOWL,

AND THIS IS PAYBACK TIME.

THEY'RE LITERALLY GIVING BAHATI THE BIRD.

THEY'RE SAYING, "WE SEE YOU, MOVE ON."

BECAUSE IF OTHER ANIMALS -- HYENAS, LIONS HEAR THAT,

THEY KNOW SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

THEY COULD COME AND INVESTIGATE.

BOY, OH, BOY, THIS IS NOT A NICE WAY FOR HER TO END HER EVENING.

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

NEXT TIME ON "BIG CAT TALES"...

THEY'RE THREATENING THAT LITTLE CUB.

Jackson: RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE,

SHE'S COMING STRAIGHT TOWARDS US.

Jonathan: I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

WOW LOOK AT THAT!