Original subtitles

PEOPLE OFTEN DESCRIBE THE MASAI MARA

AS A GARDEN OF EDEN, OR GOD'S OWN COUNTRY.

I CERTAINLY WOULD CALL IT A KINGDOM OF PREDATORS,

IF NOT A KINGDOM OF LIONS.

NOW THIS PARTICULAR SPOT IS VERY SPECIAL TO ANGIE AND MYSELF

BECAUSE NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO, WE WERE MARRIED RIGHT HERE,

1,000 FEET ABOVE THE PLAINS.

NOW BEHIND ME, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE MARSH PRIDE TERRITORY,

THOSE SAME LIONS THAT WE'VE WATCHED FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS,

AND THE MIGHTY MARA RIVER.

AND ANY DAY NOW, WE'RE EXPECTING THOUSANDS,

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WILDEBEESTS AND ZEBRAS

TO STORM INTO THIS AREA

TO DELIVER THE GREATEST WILDLIFE SPECTACLE ON EARTH.

♪♪

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.

WE'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS

AND HAVE RETURNED DURING MIGRATION TIME.

THE LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.

WE'RE EXCITED TO CATCH UP WITH ALL OUR FAVORITE BIG CATS

TO SEE HOW MUCH LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THEM.

♪♪

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN CHANGE

BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE HERE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO,

EVERY MORNING, EVERY EVENING, WITHOUT FAIL,

WE COULD COME OUT HERE AND FIND THE MARSH PRIDE WITH THEIR CUBS,

AND RIGHT NOW, THEY JUST SEEM TO HAVE DISAPPEARED.

I KNOW, AND, I MEAN, THIS IS MIGRATION TIME.

I MEAN, THE LIONS SHOULD BE

LOVING THIS ABUNDANCE OF ANIMALS.

YEAH, 'CAUSE THIS, IN THE DRY SEASON,

IS THE HEART OF THEIR TERRITORY.

THEY SHOULD BE HERE.

NOW ONE THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE SIX WARRIORS,

THOSE SIX YOUNG MALES THAT WE THOUGHT COULD BE A DANGER,

THEY ARE NOW SITTING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

OF MARSH PRIDE TERRITORY.

FORTUNATELY, WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT, ACTUALLY,

THE MARSH PRIDE -- ALL FIVE FEMALES AND THEIR CUBS --

MOVED NORTH OF HERE.

THE MALES WENT WITH THEM,

AND THEY'RE NOW AT A PLACE CALLED LEOPARD GORGE,

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED NEXT.

♪♪

Angela: IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME IN THE MARSH

WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND THERE'S NO MARSH PRIDE.

I'VE REALLY, REALLY MISSED THEM.

WE WEREN'T HERE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY LEFT THE MARSH.

WE WEREN'T IN THE MARA.

SO FINDING THAT THEY'VE MOVED UP INTO THIS AREA,

WHICH IS NOT A GREAT AREA,

I'M SURE THAT WHEN THE WARRIORS CAME THROUGH THE MARSH,

THEY MUST'VE STARTED TO KILL SOME OF THE CUBS.

I MEAN, THERE WERE NINE CUBS WHEN WE LEFT.

WHEN NEW MALES COME THROUGH AND THEY START TO FIND THE CUBS,

KILL THE CUBS,

IT'S AN INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL TIME FOR THE FEMALES,

AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

THAT PROBABLY IS WHAT SPARKED THEM TO MOVE OUT.

THEY WERE RUNNING FROM THOSE YOUNG MALES.

SADLY, NOW WE ONLY HAVE FOUR, IT SEEMS.

THE FACTS ARE 50% OF LION CUBS DON'T MAKE IT,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE AS INVOLVED AS WE ARE,

IT'S... [ INHALES DEEPLY ]

YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOUGH BECAUSE IN MY HEART,

I SUPPOSE, I WAS HOPING WE'D COME UP HERE,

MAYBE FIND MOST OF THE CUBS HAD SURVIVED,

BUT THEY'VE LOST MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE CUBS,

AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHICH ONES THEY ARE.

Angela: AND HERE WE HAVE ONE OF THE OLDER ONES,

WHICH COULD BE MOJA, COULD BE SOLO.

AND AS FOR THE OTHER THREE...

...IT WOULD'VE BEEN LOVELY TO THINK

THAT MAYBE TWO OF CHARM'S CUBS SURVIVED.

I MEAN, THAT WILL HAVE BEEN HER LAST LITTER.

SHE'S GETTING SUCH AN OLD MAMA NOW.

BUT WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET HOME.

IT'S VERY EASY, ACTUALLY,

TO IDENTIFY LIONS IF YOU HAVE A CAMERA

BECAUSE YOU JUST TAKE A PICTURE OF A LION'S FACE,

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHISKER SPOT PATTERNS.

AND THEY NEVER CHANGE FROM WHEN THEY'RE TINY, TINY CUBS

TO WHEN THEY'RE OLD, LIKE THIS ONE.

I WAS JUST TAKING THIS NOW.

AND THEN WHEN WE GO HOME,

WE WILL COMPARE THAT LITTLE FACE

TO ALL OF THE OTHERS ONES THAT WE HAD EARLIER,

WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, AND SEE IF WE CAN MATCH THEM UP.

AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHICH OF THE FOUR ARE LEFT

OUT OF THE NINE, AND WHO'S WHO.

♪♪

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING LIONS FOR 40 YEARS,

AND YOU'D THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY FOR US

TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS.

BUT, ACTUALLY, IF YOU WANT TO BE CERTAIN

WHICH LION YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU LOOK FOR THEIR FINGERPRINT,

AND THAT, IN A LION, ARE THESE WHISKER SPOT MARKINGS.

SO HALF-TAILS, MISSING EYES, YOU KNOW, BROKEN TEETH,

A TORN EAR, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN FOOLED.

I'VE SEEN A ONE-EYED LION,

SEEN ANOTHER ONE-EYED LION 5 YEARS LATER,

THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME LION,

CHECKED THE WHISKER SPOT MARKINGS, AND IT WASN'T AT ALL.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK THE WHISKER SPOT MARKINGS

OF THE ORIGINAL NINE MARSH PRIDE CUBS

AGAINST THE FOUR THAT HAVE SURVIVED

AND TRY AND WORK OUT EXACTLY WHO'S ACTUALLY MADE IT,

AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL -- MOJA.

Angela: SO WE'LL JUST BLOW THIS UP.

YEP.

AND NOW YOU CAN SEE SO EASILY...

YEAH.

...ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE,

HE HAS THE TWO LITTLE DOTS...

-YEAH. -...AND THEN ONE SLIGHTLY DOWN

AND THEN ONE UP... -YEP.

...MAKING A VERY DISTINCT TRIANGLE.

YEP. SO LET'S CHECK THE OTHER ONE.

SO HE'S GOING TO BE VERY EASY TO I.D.

JUST STRAIGHTAWAY, YOU CAN SEE THE THREE LITTLE SPOTS.

THE TRIANGLE BEGINS HERE. -OKAY.

SO WE GOT THOSE TWO TRIANGLES...

-AND THEN THE DARK SPOTS. -...FOUR SPOTS THERE.

IT'S MOJA. WOW.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S TERRIBLY SAD

BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW THAT SOLO DIDN'T MAKE IT.

HE WAS THE OTHER LITTLE BOY,

AND HE WAS A GREAT CHARACTER AS WELL.

AND WHAT ABOUT HIS LITTLE SISTER?

LET'S CHECK.

SO THIS IS MBILI.

Jonathan: ON FURTHER ANALYSIS, ANGIE AND I DISCOVERED

THAT BOTH SOLO AND MBILI SADLY HAD BEEN LOST,

AND TRAGICALLY, BOTH OF CHARM'S LITTLE CUBS,

THE ONES WHO WERE DOING SO WELL INTEGRATING INTO THE PRIDE,

THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT EITHER.

SEE THAT MARKING IS SO, SO CLEAR HERE.

Jonathan: REMARKABLY, AGAINST ALL THE ODDS,

THREE OF CARLI'S FOUR CUBS,

THOSE TINY LITTLE NEWBORNS THAT WERE STRUGGLING

WHEN WE LAST SAW THEM, THEY'RE ALIVE AND DOING WELL.

FOR ANGIE AND ME, THE REALIZATION THAT

OVER HALF THE CUBS ARE NO LONGER WITH US

IS JUST SO HARD TO SWALLOW.

WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE MARSH PRIDE.

THEIR LOSS IS OUR LOSS, BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER

THAT THESE LIONS ARE INCREDIBLY RESILIENT.

THEY'VE FACED ENORMOUS PRESSURES IN THE PAST,

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A MARSH PRIDE.

THEY'VE ALWAYS PREVAILED.

♪♪

Jackson: WE GOT UP VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING

IN SEARCH OF OUR FAVORITE CAT.

WE FOUND MALAIKA RIGHT HERE.

WE CAME THROUGH RIVERS, SAVANNA, INTO OPEN GRASSLAND.

MEETING MALAIKA IS LIKE I'M MEETING A FRIEND.

EVERY TIME I LOOK WITH MY BINOCULARS AND SEE HER EYES,

SEE HER FACE,

SOMETHING ELECTRIC GO THROUGH MY BODY

BECAUSE SHE IS A VERY SPECIAL CAT.

WHEN YOU THINK THE LAST TIME I SAW HER ON A BIG HUNT,

BRINGING DOWN A MALE IMPALA,

I WAS WORRIED, YOU KNOW,

SEEING THE HORNS GOING THROUGH, BESIDE HER RIBS,

BESIDE HER BODY.

AND YET, SHE WAS NOT INJURED.

THAT, I TAKE MY HAT FOR MALAIKA.

SHE IS VERY CLEVER.

MALAIKA IS A VERY WISE CHEETAH.

SHE'S REALLY BROUGHT UP THESE CUBS REALLY WELL.

THE LAST TIME WE SAW MALAIKA,

THE CUBS WERE SO SMALL, JUST RUNNING AROUND,

JUMPING AROUND LIKE LITTLE KITTENS.

NOW LOOK HOW GROWN THEY ARE.

THEY ARE WHAT WE CALL SUBS,

AND CHEETAH SUBADULTS ARE BIG.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE THEY ARE THE SAME SIZE OF THEIR MOTHER,

AND THEN MALAIKA WILL START THINKING ABOUT PUSHING THEM OFF,

LEAVING THEM, AND STARTING AGAIN.

THESE TWO YOUNG CHEETAH MALES, MALAIKA SONS,

THEY WILL HAVE A CHALLENGE AHEAD OF THEM.

THEY ARE WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THE FIVE CHEETAH BOYS.

♪♪

THESE ARE NEW MALE CHEETAHS IN THE AREA.

THEY'VE JUST ARRIVED INTO THE RESERVE.

AND INCREDIBLE TO SEE FIVE MALE CHEETAHS TOGETHER.

CO-LEADERSHIP OF CHEETAHS HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS,

BUT FIVE IS VERY UNUSUAL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST THE MOST UNIQUE SITUATION

WE'VE GOT RIGHT HERE, AND I'VE WORKED IN THE MARA HERE

FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 30 YEARS IN THE FIELD.

FIVE IS A REALLY POWERFUL FORCE.

THEY KILL BIGGER ANIMALS, PREY THE SIZE OF A WILDEBEEST,

PREY THE SIZE OF A TOPI.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE BIG ANIMALS.

HONESTLY, THEY WILL KILL QUITE A LOT.

♪♪

NOW WE'VE GOT OUR CHEETAH BROTHERS,

AND WE GOT FOOD DELIVERY ON FOUR LEGS.

WILDEBEEST ARE COMING OVER THIS WAY.

SO WE JUST WANT A PERFECT LOCATION,

PERFECT POSITION WHERE WE CAN JUST STOP THERE

AND WAIT FOR THEM TO START MOVING IN.

♪♪

OKAY, THE WILDEBEEST ARE DOWN THERE.

I CAN SEE OUR OTHER TEAMS UP ON THE RISE.

WE'VE GOT WILDEBEEST OVER HERE.

OKAY, THERE THEY GO. THERE THEY GO.

♪♪

FLAT OUT!

♪♪

Jonathan: OH, HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.

♪♪

Jonathan: 40 YEARS IN THE FIELD,

FIVE CHEETAHS, ALL HUNTING TOGETHER.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

[ WILDEBEEST CRYING ]

♪♪

[ LAUGHS ] I MEAN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE MARA,

IT ALWAYS DELIVERS.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT IT IS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE.

BUT THIS? THAT WAS UNREAL.

I MEAN, JUST THE THRILL OF SEEING FIVE ADULT CHEETAHS

ON THE MOVE LIKE THAT. -I KNOW.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN... -NO.

...NEVER, EVER SEEN FIVE MALE CHEETAHS TOGETHER.

AND YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE SAY TO US SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW,

"DON'T YOU GET BORED?

DON'T YOU GET TIRED OF IT? SAME OLD THING?"

-IT'S WORTH WAITING 40 YEARS... -IT REALLY IS.

...JUST TO SEE FIVECHEETAHS TOGETHER.

AND BECAUSE CHEETAHS ARE SO ACTIVE IN THE DAYTIME,

THIS IS GONNA PAY DIVIDENDS.

THIS IS A STORY WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

OKAY. SHOULD WE GO OFF AND HAVE A COFFEE?

-ABSOLUTELY. -RIGHT.

BACK TO YOUR CAR, ME BACK TO MINE.

I'LL FOLLOW YOU. ISN'T THAT THE NORMAL WAY?

[ ENGINES START ][ CHUCKLES ]

♪♪

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Jackson: WE HAVE FOUND BAHATI.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE LEOPARD.

IT'S A HUGE BONUS

BECAUSE WE KNOW LEOPARDS ARE HARD TO FIND.

THESE ANIMALS HIDE. THEY GO INTO BUSHES.

THEY ARE VERY CAMOUFLAGED TO THE FOREST.

THIS LITTLE CUB IS BARELY 8 MONTHS OLD,

AND IT'S ALREADY TEMPTED TO HUNT.

HE'S ALREADY REALLY THINKING, "HOW COULD I GET THIS?"

FOR YOUNG BABY WARTHOGS, NOT VERY EASY.

THE MOTHER, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE, IS AN AMAZING, AMAZING FIGHTER.

TO GET THAT BABY WOULD BE VERY TOUGH.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU ARE SO YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED.

BUT SHE'S GOT TO TRY.

SO BAHATI IS SITTING, NOT EVEN INTERESTED.

SHE WANTS TO SEE HOW

THE LITTLE CUB IS GOING TO TRY.

MAY COME WITH A FEW BRUISES, MAY COME WITH A FEW INJURIES,

BUT THAT'S PART OF GROWING.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BRUISED

AND YOU HAVEN'T GOT ENOUGH CUTS,

YOU HAVEN'T GROWN YET IN THE LEOPARD WORLD.

BAHATI IS ON THE MOVE,

AND SHE LEFT HER CUB RIGHT THERE IN THE BUSHES.

AND LOOK HOW LEOPARDS BEHAVE, TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO CHEETAHS.

IF THAT WAS A CHEETAH, SHE WOULD BE VERY STRESSED

BECAUSE HER CUB HAS TO COME REALLY CLOSE.

BUT LEOPARDS ARE DIFFERENT.

THE CUB IS STARTING EVEN TO HUNT ON HER OWN.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO COME BACK

AND SEE THE LITTLE CUB HAS GROWN, HAS MADE IT.

WE KNOW BAHATI HAD THREE CUBS AT THE BEGINNING.

IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR THREE LEOPARD CUBS TO SURVIVE,

PARTICULARLY HERE IN THE MARA.

THE COMPETITION IS HIGH.

WE KNOW TWO CUBS HAVE SURVIVED, AND THE THIRD CUB IS MISSING.

IT'S VERY SAD TO SEE THE LITTLE CUB GO,

BUT IT'S BETTER OFF FOR THE SURVIVAL

OF THE TWO REMAINING CUBS.

BAHATI WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE THIS TERRITORY FOR HER CUBS,

AND IT COULD BE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES

THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY,

IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT QUEEN OF THE TALEK RIVER.

♪♪

Jonathan: WE'RE OUT THIS MORNING

LOOKING FOR THE TOPI PLAINS PRIDE.

NOW, THEY'RE THE NEIGHBORS OF THE MARSH PRIDE TO THE EAST,

AND, IN FACT, ACTUALLY, IT WAS FORMED

BY A BREAKAWAY GROUP OF YOUNG FEMALES

WHO WERE FORCED OUT OF THE PRIDE.

ANGIE WENT OUT EARLIER THIS MORNING

TO TRY AND GET A FIX ON THEM.

I CAN SEE HER DOWN THERE.

SHE'S GOT HER CAMERA OUT. THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

AMAZING. I CAN SEE TINY CUBS WITH THE MUM.

OH, THAT IS SO SWEET.

I MEAN, THESE ARE SOSMALL.

THEY'RE ABOUT THE SIZE THAT CHARM'S CUBS,

OUR MARSHLAND FEMALE, HAD WHEN WE WERE FILMING EARLIER.

AND I WOULD SAY MAYBE...

6 WEEKS OLD.

YOU CAN SEE THE WAY THE LIONESS

IS LICKING THE BOTTOM OF THAT LITTLE CUB.

SHE'S KEEPING IT CLEAN, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE WHEN SHE'S ANCHORED AT HER DEN,

BECAUSE THESE CUBS ARE SORT OF TOO SMALL

TO BE TAKEN ON LONG MOVES, THEN SHE NEEDS

TO KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT FROM BEING SMELLY,

FROM BUILDING UP SCENT BECAUSE, BELIEVE ME,

WITH HYENAS, WITH THAT NOSE OF THEIRS,

THEY WOULD TRACK DOWN LITTLE CUBS

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS AND KILL THEM.

AND IF YOU THINK AS TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

FOR THESE TWO LITTLE CUBS, THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BOTH BOYS

IS GOOD BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE BACKUP.

THEY'LL HAVE A BUDDY.

WHEN THEY'RE PUSHED OUT OF THE PRIDE,

THERE'LL BE TWO TO START OFF WITH,

AND YOU NEED A MINIMUM OF TWO MALES

TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON A TERRITORY.

WE CALL THIS FEMALE NOTCH BECAUSE ON HER RIGHT EAR,

THERE'S, LIKE, A V-SHAPED NOTCH.

IT'S TORN UP.

AND SHE'S A BIG FEMALE, TOO.

DURING THE MIGRATION,

THERE'S A MEAT TRAIN LITERALLY WALKING RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD,

IDEAL FOR A MOTHER WITH SMALL CUBS LIKE THIS

BECAUSE THE BETTER FED THE FEMALE IS,

THE MORE MILK SHE CAN PRODUCE.

MILK WILL BE THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF FOOD

FOR THE FIRST 2 TO 3 MONTHS.

IT'S SORT OF COMICAL BECAUSE NOTCH KEEPS ROLLING ON HER SIDE

INVITING THE CUBS TO COME AND SUCKLE,

AND THEY ARE HAVING NONE OF IT.

THEY'RE HAVING WAY TOO GOOD A TIME IN AND OUT OF THE TUNNEL,

CHASING EACH OTHER, BITING EACH OTHER.

IT'S LIKE, "YOU GOTTA BE JOKING. FOOD?"

THAT IS NOT THE PRIORITY.

IT JUST MAKES YOUR HEART SING

BECAUSE HAVING BEEN FOLLOWING THE MARSH PRIDE

AND SEEING THEM STRUGGLING WITH THOSE CUBS,

LOSING HALF THEIR CUBS, MOVING AWAY TO PROTECT THEM

FROM NEW MALES, AND THEN YOU SEE THIS --

THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW CYCLE IN THIS PRIDE

AND KNOWING THAT THIS FEMALE HAS GOT MARSH PRIDE GENES.

SO THIS IS A VERY HAPPY MOMENT,

[ CHUCKLES ] AND I CAN HEAR ANGIE CLICKING AWAY

BECAUSE SHE GOT HERE BEFORE US THIS MORNING,

AND SHE MUST HAVE JUST HAVE BEEN IN HEAVEN.

Angela: WITH THE MARSH PRIDE

HAVING MOVED UP TO LEOPARD GORGE,

I FELT A LITTLE LOST,

AND THEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS GLORIOUS MOTHER.

THERE'S AN ENERGY ABOUT LIONESSES.

THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MATERNAL INSTINCT,

MAYBE, BECAUSE I'M A MOTHER MYSELF.

IT'S JUST DIVINE,

AND I'M CONSTANTLY FASCINATED

ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS OF THE MOTHERS AND THE CUBS

STARTING AT THIS AGE, THIS TINY, TINY AGE.

♪♪

YOU REALIZE WITH LIONS, THEIR LEGACY WILL CARRY ON.

THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

♪♪

IT IS A REALLY CHILLY MORNING,

BUT THE THING THAT'S BRIGHTENING IT UP --

WE HAVE JUST FOUND A MOTHER CHEETAH

WITH THREE TINY CUBS.

I THINK THEY'RE NO MORE THAN ABOUT 8 WEEKS OLD.

AND ANY TIME YOU SEE CHEETAHS WITH LITTLE CUBS,

IT IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL TIME.

THEY LOOK SO SMALL AND VULNERABLE.

I MEAN, YOU WONDER, HOW DOES A MOTHER CHEETAH

EVER RAISE ANY CUBS AT ALL

BECAUSE SO OFTEN CHEETAHS HAVE CUBS,

YOU NEVER EVEN SEE THEM BEFORE THEY'VE LEFT THE DEN

BECAUSE THEY TEND TO LOSE SO MANY.

IN SOME PLACES, THE SERENGETI TO THE SOUTH OF HERE,

FOR INSTANCE, THE MARA'S BIG BROTHER,

ON THE OPEN PLAINS ENVIRONMENT,

MOTHER CHEETAHS ONLY RAISE 5% OF THEIR CUBS TO MATURITY.

WHERE THERE'S BETTER COVER, THEN THEY DO BETTER THAN THAT.

MAYBE 30%, 40% OF CUBS SURVIVE.

AND TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE,

THESE CUBS ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 8 WEEKS OLD.

SHE'S GOT THREE CUBS,

AND SHE COULD EASILY HAVE HAD FOUR TO SIX CUBS TO BEGIN WITH.

THEY HAVE BIGGER LITTERS THAN LEOPARDS OR LIONS

BECAUSE THEY LOSE SO MANY.

SADLY, ONE OF THOSE THREE LITTLE CUBS HAS BEEN INJURED.

APPARENTLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO,

A TAWNY EAGLE LAUNCHED AN ATTACK,

GRABBED IT WITH THOSE LONG TALONS,

AND SOMEHOW IT GOT AWAY OR THE MOTHER DEFENDED IT,

BUT YOU CAN JUST SEE IT'S REALLY STRUGGLING, REALLY SUFFERING.

IT'S TRYING SO HARD TO MOVE AROUND.

YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH IT WANTS TO PLAY

BECAUSE THE OTHER TWO, JUST BOUNCING OFF THE WALL.

THEY'RE HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE.

JUST BREAKS YOUR HEART TO SEE THAT LITTLE, TINY CUB.

I MEAN, IT'S STRUGGLING SO MUCH, WANTS TO JUST JOIN IN,

WANTS TO FOLLOW, BUT IT CAN'T DO IT.

EVERY TIME THE MUM TRIES TO MOVE AWAY

WITH THE CUBS FROM THIS ROCKY OUTCROP,

TWO OF THEM SCAMPER AFTER HER, AND THE OTHER ONE CAN'T.

IT IS SO SLOW. IT'S SO INCAPACITATED.

AND SO IT JUST CALLS THIS BIRD-LIKE CHIRPING SOUND,

A CONTACT CALL, A CALL FOR HELP.

[ CHIRPS ]

AND IT'S JUST AGONY TO WATCH BECAUSE, I MEAN,

IS THERE ANYTHING SWEETER-LOOKING

THAN A LITTLE CHEETAH CUB?

THEY ARE SO ENDEARING, AND IT'S SO DIFFICULT

TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST WANT TO REACH OUT AND HELP.

NOW YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.

IN THESE PROTECTED AREAS,

YOU HAVE TO LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE,

BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER.

AND TO SEE A MUM WITH LITTLE CUBS

IS SUCH A JOYFUL EXPERIENCE,

AND THEN YOU'VE JUST GOT THIS ONE TINY CUB

IN ITS OWN VERY PERSONAL BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.

♪♪

Jackson: LEOPARDS HIDE.

THEY ARE JUST FANTASTIC AT HIDING,

AND THEY CAN BLEND IN, DISAPPEAR.

THEY HUNT WITH STEALTH AND WALK LIKE SHADOWS.

IF THERE IS AN ANIMAL THAT IS FEARED IN OUR CULTURE,

IT'S A LEOPARD.

♪♪

BAHATI IS HUNTING, AND IT'S JUST THE MOST FANTASTIC MOMENT.

WE WERE WAITING, AND SHE'S JUST ABOUT TO GET INTO THE GRASS.

SHE'S RIGHT THERE. SHE GOT INTO THE GRASS.

THAT'S WHAT SHE NEEDS SO SHE CAN STEALTH, GO SO SLOWLY.

AND YOU SEE THE IMPALA RIGHT HERE.

AN IMPALA HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA.

NOW THE IMPALA IS MOVING TOWARDS IT.

[ Whispering ] WOW. THIS IS REALLY COOL.

IT'S FANTASTIC TO SEE THIS.

LOOK AT -- LOOK AT THE WAY SHE'S MOVING, SO SLOW.

LOOK AT THE WAY SHE'S STEALTH,

ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND ON HER BELLY.

THAT'S HOW STEALTH THE LEOPARDS ARE WHEN THEY'RE HUNTING.

I MEAN, A CHEETAH WILL JUST GO STRAIGHT FROM THERE,

BUT LEOPARD NEED TO BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE.

SHE IS GOING TO GO, AND -- AH!

SHE HAS BEEN SPOTTED.

[ SNORTS ]

NOW SHE HAS TO PRETEND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED,

AND SHE WILL WALK SLOWLY.

THAT IS ONE LUCKY IMPALA.

BAHATI IS ON THE MOVE.

SHE'S GONE HUNGRY AGAIN.

SHE HAS NOT CAUGHT ANYTHING.

AND WHEN LEOPARD ARE FEEDING MORE THAN ONE MOUTH,

THEY DON'T STOP.

SHE WILL LOOK FOR SOMETHING A LOT MORE SMALLER THAN THIS.

THESE ARE TOPI, AND THEY ARE MASSIVE.

THEY'RE BIGGER.

IF THEY CAN CATCH A SMALL BABY, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT GIVING UP TODAY.

SHE'S -- WE'VE BEEN ON THE RUN WITH HER THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE WILL TRY THIS.

HERE! SHE'S COMING! SHE'S COMING! WHERE?

SHE'S COMING. YEAH, SHE'S COMING. SHE'S RUNNING.

SEE? SHE'S COMING.MAN: She's running, running.

WOW. SHE'S RUNNING NOW.

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

NOW SHE'S AIMING FOR THE YOUNGSTERS NOW.

NOW THEY CROSS.

OH, OH, LOOK! A CROCODILE HERE! LOOK!

A CROCODILE CAUGHT A BABY! [ TOPI CRYING ]

OH, MY GOD.

♪♪

LOOK AT THAT.

SHE'S WAITING. OH, MISSED IT.

OH, GOODNESS. LOOK AT THAT!

WOW!

IS SHE GOING TO ATTACK SUCH A BIG ANIMAL?

LOOK AT THIS! WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

THAT IS INCREDIBLE!

AS THEY GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE, A CROCODILE ATTACKED.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO COME OVER HERE

TO TRY AND TACKLE THIS KILL HERE.

BUT WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO A CROCODILE?

LOOK. SHE'S COMING.

♪♪

SHE'S VERY CURIOUS.

SHE KNOWS SOMETHING IS THERE.

SHE CAN SEE THERE'S THE HORNS OF A TOPI.

I DON'T THINK SHE CAN DARE

GO AND TRY AND STEAL A KILL FROM A CROCODILE.

THIS IS A MASSIVE CROC.

BAHATI IS DETERMINED.

SHE NEED FOOD FOR HER AND HER LITTLE CUBS.

♪♪

Jonathan: THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 4,000 HIPPOS

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE MARA RIVER,

AND THEY SPEND MOST OF THE TIME EITHER SUBMERGED IN THE SHALLOWS

OR OUT ON THOSE SANDY BANKS.

THEY LOVE THOSE BIG, MEANDERING SANDY BEACHES

WHERE THEY CAN JUST LIE OUT.

AND THEN AT NIGHT, THEY LEAVE THE SAFETY OF THE RIVER

AND THEY HEAD OUT INTO THE OPEN GRASSLANDS.

THEY FEED ON GRASS.

THEY FEED MOST OF THE NIGHT, AND THEN, LIKE CINDERELLA,

THEY NEED TO BE BACK HOME, BACK IN THE WATER BY DAWN.

AND THEY HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE TAIL,

AND THEY SCATTER THEIR DUNG LIKE THAT.

THAT HELPS THEM TO MARK THEIR TERRITORY,

AND THEY ARE HUGECREATURES.

I MEAN, A BIG BULL HIPPO CAN WEIGH OVER 2 TONS,

AND THEY'VE GOT THESE MASSIVE

PERMANENTLY GROWING CANINE TUSKS.

THEY FIGHT WITH THEM -- TWO BULLS, FACE-TO-FACE,

JAWS 180 DEGREES SPREAD.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FEET OF A HIPPO,

THEY'VE GOT FOUR WEBBED TOES,

AND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACTUALLY MOVE ACROSS MUDDY GROUND

AND MOVE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER,

AND THEY'RE NOT GREAT SWIMMERS.

THEY DON'T LIKE FAST-FLOWING WATER.

IF YOU GET THIS RIVER IN TORRENT,

THE HIPPOS TRY AND KEEP TO THE SIDE.

THEY TRY AND KEEP TO THE QUIETER PLACES,

AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THE TIME

IS THEY'RE NOT SWIMMING.

THEY'RE WALKING ALONG THE BOTTOM.

THEY'RE SORT OF MOONWALKING.

AND THEY'VE GOT THOSE NOSTRILS,

WHICH THEY CAN CLOSE OFF AND SUBMERGE.

AND THEIR EYES ARE ADAPTED TO SEEING ABOVE AND BELOW WATER,

SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR NOSE UP AND HAVE THEIR EYES LOOKING OUT

AND THEIR EARS OUT AND BE ALERT TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM.

HIPPOS ARE LIKE MASSIVE EXCAVATING MACHINES.

THEY CREATE THESE PATHWAYS, WE CALL THEM HIPPO TRAILS,

LEADING FROM THE RIVER

UP ONTO WHERE THEY'RE GONNA FEED AT NIGHT ON THE GRASS.

AND YOU CAN SEE, THEY'VE JUST WORN THESE CHANNELS,

AND WHEN THE WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRA

ARE LOOKING FOR EXIT POINTS FROM THE RIVER

DURING THEIR CROSSINGS IN THE DRY SEASON,

THESE ARE PERFECT FOR THEM.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, LOOK.

THE HIPPOS HAVE RUBBED THE SIDE SMOOTH

WITH THAT BELLY OF THEIRS,

AND THAT DUNG IS THAT TAIL SCATTERING.

THIS IS HOW THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY SAYING,

"THIS IS MY PLACE. THIS IS ME COMING OUT OF THE WATER.

I'M OFF TO FEED."

♪♪

Jackson: WE ARE ON TOP OF RHINO RIDGE

AND WE FOUND OUR FIVE CHEETAH BOYS.

THEY ARE HERE TO CONTINUOUSLY MARK THEIR TERRITORY

AND CLAIM BIGGER TERRITORIES.

THIS ALL PURELY FOR SIRING MORE CUBS,

SO THEY'RE IN SEARCH OF FEMALES.

THEY ARE PATROLLING THE AREA.

THEY ARE COVERING MUCH, MUCH A WIDER RANGE

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ERADICATE COMPETITION.

ALL THE OTHER CHEETAHS, I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE

HOW INTIMIDATING IT WOULD BE,

SUCH A BIG COALITION OF FIVE YOUNG MALES.

EVEN THOUGH WE CALL THEM CHEETAH BROTHERS,

ACTUALLY, THEY'RE A COALITION FROM THREE DIFFERENT MOTHERS.

WELL, THAT CHEETAH HAS GONE REALLY TO THE TOP

BECAUSE THAT AREA HAS GOT A GOOD VIEW OF THE REST OF THE PLAINS.

THE CHEETAHS GO UP TREES BECAUSE THAT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO MARK.

AND THEY'RE NOT GOOD CLIMBERS.

[ CHUCKLES ] YOU CAN SEE THE WAY HE'S TRYING TO GO BACK.

HE SAYS, "SHOULD I JUMP OR SHOULD I GO BACKWARDS?"

HE'S KIND OF STRUGGLING.

THE CHEETAH'S CLAWS ARE DESIGNED FOR RUNNING, NOT FOR CLIMBING.

WHILE THE LEOPARD, WHICH IS A TREE-CLIMBING ANIMAL,

HAVE CLAWS LIKE A CAT, YOU KNOW, GOES RIGHT IN,

AND THEY CAN BE AT HOME UP A TREE,

BUT A CHEETAH IS NOT AT HOME UP THERE.

HE'S REALLY STRUGGLING TO COME DOWN.

WHOA! [ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

CHEETAHS DON'T CLIMB TREES LIKE A LEOPARD. [ LAUGHS ]

♪♪

YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE CHEETAHS HAS GOT A SATELLITE COLLAR

BECAUSE THE MARA CHEETAH PROJECT ARE TRACKING IT.

AND THIS TREE IS CLAIMED A LOT BY MANY SPECIES,

AND NOW IT'S CLAIMED BY THE CHEETAHS.

MARKING THE TOP IS KEY BECAUSE THAT FALLEN BRANCH

IS WHERE A LOT OF CHEETAHS WILL MARK.

OF COURSE, THAT IS A REALLY PRIDE POSITION

TO MARK AT THE VERY TOP, A TREE THAT IS ARCHED LIKE THAT.

ANIMALS KNOW HOW TO SHARE.

I WISH WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM

BECAUSE JUST SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T KNOW HOW

TO SHARE OUR PLANET WITH OTHERS.

♪♪

THIS TREE NOW, WHICH HAS BEEN CLAIMED

BY THESE CHEETAHS' COALITION,

THEY WILL CONTINUOUSLY NOW BE COMING HERE.

THIS IS IT.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR BOUNDARIES.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR HOME RANGE.

♪♪

[ GROWLING SOFTLY ]

WE'VE GOT THE TOPI PLAINS PRIDE.

THIS IS, BASICALLY, THE LARGEST PRIDE WE'VE GOT HERE.

THE FOUR LIONESSES THAT WE'VE GOT HERE,

THE MAIN, POWERFUL, DOMINANT FEMALES,

ORIGINALLY CAME FROM THE MARSH PRIDE.

WE CALLED THEM THE BREAKAWAY.

THEY BECAME INDEPENDENT.

THEY STARTED THEIR OWN LITTLE PRIDE.

I MEAN, FOUR LIONESSES IS PLENTY TO START A PRIDE.

TOPI PLAIN PRIDE HAVE GOT

TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MALE LIONS IN THE MARA.

THESE MALES CAME FROM THE SERENGETI.

IF YOU THINK OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MALES,

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE,

THERE IS NONE OTHER THAN BLACKIE AND LIPSTICK.

AND THEN THEY'VE GOT A FANTASTIC TERRITORY

WHERE SO MANY MIGRATORY WILDEBEESTS AND ZEBRAS

GO THROUGH, SO THAT'S REALLY FANTASTIC.

[ WILDEBEEST GRUNTING ]

THE BEST THING WITH A BIG PRIDE LIKE TOPI PLAINS

IS THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN.

THERE'S SO MUCH ACTIVITIES GOING ON -- LOTS OF PLAYING,

LOTS OF JUMPING, LOTS OF FIGHTING AMONG THE CUBS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL VERY IMPORTANT FOR GROWING UP.

THEY'RE TRAINING THEMSELVES HOW TO TACKLE,

HOW TO HOLD THE THROATS, HOW, EVEN, TO FIGHT THEMSELVES.

WHEN THE MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST IS OVER,

THEY WILL BE TACKLING BUFFALOES FOR FOOD.

THEY NEED THOSE STRENGTHS, THOSE SKILLS,

SO THE TRAINING OF THE CUBS IS KEY.

♪♪

Jonathan: WE'RE ON THE HUNT FOR OUR CHEETAH MUM

AND THOSE THREE LITTLE CUBS.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HOW THAT LITTLE ONE IS DOING,

THE ONE WITH THE INJURED BACK LEG.

I WOULD BE AMAZED IF IT SURVIVES.

LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I CAN SEE WE'VE GOT CARS UP AHEAD.

IT ISN'T OUR CHEETAH MUM.

IT'S A PRIDE OF LIONS.

AND, OF COURSE, EVERYWHERE IN THE MARA

IS AN OVERLAY OF TERRITORIES OF OUR DIFFERENT THREE BIG CATS.

SO LEOPARDS, LIONS, CHEETAHS,

THEY'RE ALL ACTUALLY MOVING IN SIMILAR AREAS,

TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF EACH OTHERS' WAY,

TRYING TO AVOID TROUBLE.

AND, OF COURSE, WHERE YOU'VE GOT LIONS,

WELL, YOU DO HAVE TROUBLE, CERTAINLY FOR OUR OTHER CATS.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

I MEAN, TO BE HONEST, LIONS, LEOPARDS, CHEETAHS,

THEY'RE JUST ALL A THRILL TO BE ABLE TO WATCH.

AND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, WITH SO MUCH FOOD,

LOTS OF PLAY FROM CUBS,

BECAUSE SOMETIME IN THE RAINY SEASON

WHEN THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION ISN'T HERE,

YOU SEE THE CUBS, ANY KIND OF CUBS,

LOOKING LISTLESS, NOT NECESSARILY THAT FULL.

BUT NOW, THEY CAN JUST PLAY AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PRIDE,

IMMEDIATELY, I'M THINKING TO MYSELF,

"THEY'RE DOING WELL," BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE.

YOU'VE GOT THE PROCEEDS HERE OF A CRASH

OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LITTERS.

BUT MY MIND'S ON OUR CHEETAH MUM AND HER THREE LITTLE CUBS

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT SHE'S UP AGAINST.

I MEAN, THE LIONS ARE LITERALLY COVERING THE LANDSCAPE,

AND THEY WILL BULLY OUR OTHER BIG CATS,

AND THEY ARE THE BIGGEST THREAT, ALONG WITH HYENAS,

TO YOUNG CHEETAH CUBS.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE,

IF OUR CHEETAH MUM MAKES THE WRONG MOVE,

COMES OVER THE HORIZON AND BUMPS INTO THIS LOT,

THOSE LITTLE CUBS, AS NIPPY AS THEY MIGHT SEEM,

COULDN'T POSSIBLY SURVIVE,

AND THE LITTLE INJURED ONE DEFINITELY

WOULD BE OUT OF THE PICTURE.

OUR LIONS ARE HEADED OFF, AND WE'VE JUST HEARD

THEY FOUND THE CHEETAH WITH THE THREE LITTLE CUBS.

LET'S GO AND TAKE A LOOK.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

[ RADIO BEEPS ]

OH, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

WE'VE GOT OUR CHEETAH UP HERE ON THIS HILL,

AND OUR LIONS RIGHT OVER HERE.

AND THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF PLACE

THAT THE LIONS WOULD HANG OUT IN THE DAYTIME

JUST TO TRY AND FIND SOME SHADE.

YOU SEE THE PROBLEM.

IN THESE OPEN ENVIRONMENTS, SHADE, COVER, ROCKY OUTCROPS,

PLACES WHERE YOU CAN HIDE CUBS,

PLACES WHERE YOU CAN LIE OUT, WHETHER YOU'RE A LION,

LEOPARD, OR A CHEETAH, ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE CHEETAH HAS GOT HER CUBS UP ON THIS HILL,

AND OUR LIONS ARE HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARDS IT.

♪♪

LOOK AT THIS CUB. WHAT IN HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?

THEY'RE COMING RIGHT UP HERE.

♪♪

I'M JUST HOPING AND PRAYING

THAT THE LIONS HAVEN'T SEEN THE CHEETAH CUBS.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE.

AND THEY'RE JUST FILING UP THROUGH THE ROCKS,

UP INTO THE THICKETS.

THEY JUST WANT SHADE.

BUT DUE TO COMPETITION AMONGST OUR DIFFERENT CATS

AND BECAUSE THESE ARE THE HEAVYWEIGHTS,

THEY WILL KILL CHEETAH CUBS.

THEY'LL KILL ADULT CHEETAHS.

NOT ONLY DOES IT SHOW YOU HOW TOUGH IT IS

FOR CHEETAHS TO RAISE THEIR CUBS,

BUT ALSO THAT WITHIN EONS OF COMPETITION

BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT CATS,

THEY'VE DEVELOPED STRATEGIES TO AVOID EACH OTHER.

OBVIOUSLY, IF THOSE LIONS HAD SEEN THE CHEETAH,

THEY WOULD'VE HARASSED HER, CHASED HER,

KILLED THOSE CUBS IF THEY COULD'VE.

BUT HOW SMART WAS OUR CHEETAH MUM TO STAY PUT?

DON'T PANIC. DON'T REVEAL YOURSELF.

IF THE LIONS HAVEN'T SEEN YOU,

DON'T JUST LOSE YOUR NERVE AND RUN FOR IT,

ESPECIALLY IF THE CUBS TRIED TO FOLLOW IN PANIC.

THAT WOULD BE THE END OF THE STORY FOR THEM.

BUT SHE DIDN'T. SHE HELD HER GROUND.

IT'S AT LEAST 3 DAYS NOW SINCE THAT LITTLE CHEETAH CUB

WAS ATTACKED BY THE EAGLE, SO EACH TIME

I SEE THEM AGAIN, IT'S A GREAT RELIEF

JUST TO SEE THAT WE DO STILL HAVE THREE CUBS.

BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW MOBILE IT IS.

WHETHER THERE'S ANY CHANCE THAT IT MIGHT RECOVER, WHO KNOWS?

BUT THE LITTLE CUBS ARE STAYING VERY CLOSE TO WHERE MUM IS,

AND GRADUALLY, SHE'S GONE FROM BEING INCREDIBLY NERVOUS,

INCREDIBLY VIGILANT, INCREDIBLY FOCUSED ON THE LIONS

TO GOING BACK TO JUST BEING MUM.

NEXT TIME ON "BIG CAT TALES"...

THIS IS THE GREATEST WILDLIFE SPECTACLE ON EARTH.

IT'S A DANGEROUS MOVE RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN.

ANY MOMENT, THEY WILL BOLT.