All language subtitles for Big Cats Small World 01

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Since ancient times,

three big cats have stalked
the face of Africa.

(SOFT DRAMATCI MUSIC)

As if by agreement,
they divided the land.

Leopards would tiptoe through
the forests.

Cheetahs would course
across the savannah.

And lions...

Well lions would go pretty much
wherever they pleased.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

On the shores of Botswana's
Gomoti River,

the cats have found all they need,
in one small world.

There's a tapestry of habitats here:

with woodlands to conceal
a leopard...

..plains for cheetahs to stretch
their legs...

..and drawn to the river,
abundant prey to feed a pride.

Three families now share
this small world...

..going about their lives...

..doing their best
to keep out of each other's way.

It's late spring, and these
cheetah brothers have a problem.

They're on a mission to mark out
the sweeping plains

they claim as their own.

But the Gomoti River cuts through
the heart of their territory.

The waterway makes life here
possible.

But it's also notorious
for hiding crocodiles.

Swimming is not
the brothers' strong suit.

And no one wants to be first
into a river full of crocodiles.

(SPLASHING)

Nothing gets in the way
of their mission.

They're leaving a message here.
One that sends mixed signals.

It warns other male cheetahs
to keep out.

But invites female cheetahs
to get in touch.

And it works.

Thanks to their efforts,

they've left a string of
single mothers across the land.

(SOFT MUSIC)

Like Phefo.

She gave up single life eight months
ago to raise her five cubs.

And every day since then,
she's kept them alive,

in a neighbourhood controlled
by more powerful cats.

In less than a year,
she'll leave them.

So in the coming months, she must
prepare them for life on their own.

(SOFT GRUMBLING)

She's most at home on these mounds
in the plains,

where she can detect prey,
as well as danger.

(DISTANT VOCALISATION)

(DISTANT VOCALISATION)

Phefo knows that voice.

(DISTANT VOCALISATION)

(VOCALISATIONS)

A veteran named Molelo also claims
this world as his own.

He's attuned to everything
that moves and breathes in it.

Stories of the territories
he's won and lost in his time

are etched into his face.

He arrived on the Gomoti
earlier this year,

and singlehandedly carved out
his domain.

It stretches from the river,
to the plains,

and to the woodlands beyond.

Now, he must work to hold onto it.

If he can't keep neighbouring males
out, Molelo stands to lose more

than just his home...

(BIRD CALLS)
(SOFT MUSIC)

Of all the cats here,

these sisters are the only true
owners of The World.

It's their birthright,

handed down through generations
of female ancestors.

They're a close family.

And while there's no hierarchy
between them,

they typically look to wise,
cautious Tshaba for guidance.

You'll know her by
the notch in her right ear.

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

Over the course of their lives,

they've seen males like
Molelo come and go.

He might not be the best looking.
But he's theirs.

And like him or not,
right now they need his protection.

Because on this late spring morning,
all of them,

are pregnant with his cubs.

In the woodlands nearby,

a leopard named Senatla keeps
half an eye on the plains below.

Senatla is new to the area.

He arrived here, looking
to start a family of his own.

He's come to the right place...

..these woodlands are full of female
leopards with the same ambition.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

But Senatla might get more
than he's bargained for.

He's by nature a solitary cat,

that must now spend the next
few days in her company.

(GROWLING)

(GROWLS)

This could get old quickly.

She'll want to mate repeatedly
every hour,

with no guarantee
she'll become pregnant.

Although female leopards are
persistent partners,

they're slow to conceive.

(GROWLS)

(MONKEYS YAPPING)

The pride!

They could attack the leopards,
if they see them.

(WARNING CRIES)

The pair heads for
a leopard's safe place.

Lions can't climb
to these dizzy heights.

Up here, out of sight,
they're out of harm's way.

Without these towering trees,

Senatla would struggle to share
his world with the lions.

They've had a lucky escape.

Impala antelope thrive in the space
between the plains

and the woodlands.

They're a cornerstone of this world.

So much so, that their biological
clocks keep time with the seasons.

A month ago, the ewes all gave
birth to this year's lambs.

It's a dangerous world for
the young ones, but with practice,

they'll soon be as fast and agile
as their parents.

Each herd is a collection
of sensors,

fine-tuned to detect predators.

They've pretty much got eyes
in the back of their heads.

And they need them.

Wherever they go,
there's a good chance

a cat is watching.

It's breakfast time.

This normally means Phefo must
find a herd of impala,

and painstakingly stalk close
enough to launch a chase.

This morning,
the herd is coming to her.

Phefo's name means, 'wind'.

In seconds, she'll go from zero
to the fastest creature on land.

(HOOVES CLATTER)
(LOW DRAMATIC MUSIC)

The plains give her all the space
she needs to run down prey.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MUSIC FADES, ENDS)

Phefo can never let her guard down.

They're exposed out here and the
kill will soon attract attention.

With her around, her cubs feel safe,

unburdened by thoughts of
their next meal, or staying alive.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Above the Gomoti, grey clouds hint
at a change of season.

Spring is moving into summer.

And Molelo has become a dad.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(CUB MEWS)

For the new mothers, siesta has
become a luxury of the past.

(CUBS SQUEAKING)

At this stage, Molelo is largely
an object of curiosity.

Better not wake the sleeping giant.

Although Tshaba is mother
to only three of the cubs,

she embraces them all, like her own.

The lionesses synchronised
their pregnancies.

Maybe it seemed like
a good idea at the time.

In a few weeks, they're swamped
by a dozen demanding tyrants.

They'll feed each other's cubs
as well as their own.

With 16 teats between them,

there's more than enough
to go around.

(ATTEMPTS AT HISSING/GROWLING)

The mothers have
their work cut out for them.

(SOFT GROWL)

It's going to take three long years
to turn this unruly mob

into useful pride members.

(SOFT MUSIC)

If anyone overthrows Molelo
before his cubs' first birthday,

there's a good chance
they'll kill them.

So, for the next year,
he has one job to do...

..keep his cubs alive,
by keeping intruders out.

Somehow, all alone, Molelo must do
the work of two males,

patrol his far-flung boundaries,

and be present to protect
his family.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Summer in these parts means rain.

But first, days of brooding skies.

(SOFT MUSIC)

Lions ruined his last date,

but Senatla has attracted
another admirer.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

This female tracked Senatla down
three days ago.

Since then,
they've been mating nonstop.

And he's ready to be
a solitary cat again.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

On the other hand, she's gone so far
as to leave her own territory

to pursue him... so she's not
letting him leave that easily.

There's no getting away.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

They need to find shelter,
that storm is coming.

(THUNDER RUMBLES LOUDLY)

When the summer rains fall,

they drench the world
and everyone in it.

(SOFT MUSIC)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

The rains will only last
a few short months.

In that time,
they'll transform the world,

and impact the lives
of all its citizens.

(MUSIC FADES, ENDS)

Molelo's had an eventful night.

He's been injured on patrol,
in a fight with neighbouring males.

He's seen them off, but not without
taking a few hits himself.

And now... another intruder.

The last thing he needs.

He can't quite make it out
through the drizzle.

(LOW, TENSE MUSIC)

It's the cheetah brothers on patrol.

They haven't seen him yet.

They're no contest for Molelo.

In fact,
he's serious trouble for them.

(LOW, TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)

These days,
he must pick his battles...

..and this morning
he gives them a pass.

(MUSIC FADES, ENDS)

Between thunderstorms,
the world sizzles.

(ELEPHANTS TRUMPET)

To escape the heat, elephant
families head to the Gomoti.

When you're this big, you're immune
to dangers that lurk in the water.

(LOW, TENSE MUSIC)

For everyone else,
there's a simple rule.

You can drink from the puddles...

..but beware of the channels
swollen by the rains.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

An ebony tree provides shelter
from the heat,

and a trunk to sharpen
growing claws.

It's been four months
since the first cubs were born.

In all that time,
they've mastered just one skill...

..the lion art of, 'the sleep'.

Growing up is hungry work, so Tshaba
and a sister have left to find food.

Some can't wait.

They're getting too old to suckle.

(SOFT GROWL)

(SOFT GROWL)

Her sisters can't get
back soon enough.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(SOFT VOCALISING)

(SPLASH)
(MUSIC ENDS)

A splash could be anything
in these rain-soaked plains.

They must move to drier ground.

After weeks of rain, narrow streams
crisscross the plains.

(SPLASH)

They've seen crocodiles
hiding in them before.

(SPLASH)

The cubs are too small
to leap across.

The only way to follow their
mothers, is through the water.

(SPLASH)

(HISSES)

(GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES)

They've all made it.

Except these two.

They're alone.

(SOFT CRY)

And now they're lost.

(SOFT CRY)

With 12 cubs,
it's easy to lose count.

But Tshaba soon realises
they're missing.

(SOFT SQUEAK)

And the pride goes back for them.

(SOFT VOCALISATION)

(SOFT VOCALISATION)
They hear her.

(GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES)

And soon they're back in the fold.

(SOFT MUSIC)

The world settles into summer and
the locals are joined by visitors,

like these carmine bee-eaters
from the north.

The birds need insects to feed
their growing chicks.

And they know just where
to find them.

At the feet of giants.

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

For the cheetah cubs
out on the plains,

they're a dazzling distraction.

Since distractions have become
a daily activity,

Phefo redirects their curiosity
to some serious learning.

(SOFT MUSIC)

As she guides them around this busy
corner of their home,

she teaches them what to hunt...

..and how to catch it.

(LOW, TENSE MUSIC)

(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Killing will come with practice.

Phefo also shows them what to avoid.

Male baboons are as menacing
as they look.

Their fangs could shred
a young cheetah.

Phefo doesn't intervene,
even when a cub loses his backup.

(HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAK)

He'll work this out on his own.

(HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAK)

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Now they've stumbled into trouble.

(LOW, TENSE MUSIC)

Lions will go out of their way
to kill cheetah cubs,

if they can catch them.

They must share their neighbourhood
with lions...

..and better the pride you can see,
than the one you can't.

Today, Phefo teaches them the most
important lesson of their lives.

Never, ever, get any closer
than this to a lion.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Her cubs have grown wiser and more
independent these past few weeks.

And Phefo's attention is
beginning to wander.

The cheetah brothers have left
an intriguing proposal here.

But she can't act on it yet.

Her 11-month-old cubs,
still need her for a while longer.

The rains are coming to an end and
with temperatures over 40 degrees,

the locals have retreated
to the woodlands.

This father-to-be
has been gathering spiderwebs

to hold his nest together.

There's no rest for him.

Nor in the canopy above him
for Senatla.

Asleep? Or just playing dead.

Either way,
he has a determined seductress.

It's hot, he's tired
and he's just not in the mood.

(GROWLING)

Once she conceives, she'll have
nothing more to do with him.

Perhaps that's reason enough for him
to oblige, this one, last time.

(GROWLING)

Being a stud in the leopard world,
is not all it's cracked up to be.

(BIRD CALLS)

On the far side of Senatla's
territory,

one of his courtships
has finally paid off.

This female is pregnant
with his cubs.

(CHIRPING)

She needs all the rest she can get.

And there's not much chance of
that among these forest creatures.

Birds hate leopards...

..and they make a point
of telling them that,

whenever they see them.

Her solitary days will soon be
a thing of the past

and once her cubs arrive...

..noisy birds will be
the least of her worries.

By summer's end,

Molelo is finally able to squeeze
in some time with his family.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

He's worked hard to keep them safe.

You'd think a little respect
would be in order.

(GROWLS)

If only they knew
what he did while they slept.

With Molelo nearby,

the mothers can relax,
and let off a bit of steam.

(GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES)

Their journey is far from over.

Many difficult months lie ahead,

before their cubs are safely
out of the woods.

Weeks pass,

and by the first full moon
of autumn,

there's a new roar
competing with Molelo's.

(DISTANT ROAR)

(VOCALISATIONS)

(BELLOWS)

Across the land,

lusty impala rams battle for
a little space to call their own.

For the next few noisy weeks,
they'll stake out

and jealously defend
their patch against rivals.

Then round up and mate
as many ewes as possible.

The herds are in peak condition.
There's no better time to breed.

Exhausted rams have only one thing
on their mind,

and it's not predators...

A gift for a hard-working mother.

(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

The ram is twice her size
and weight...

..but help is on the way.

They rehearsed this during summer,
on a lamb.

(MUSIC FADES, ENDS)

The ram's down, but not dead.

And now,
they've attracted attention.

These African wild dogs are equipped
to take down their own large prey.

(VOCALISING)

But they want the cheetahs' meal.

Phefo's still busy.

The cubs are going to have to deal
with the dogs themselves.

Most cheetahs would rather ditch
their kill,

than risk their lives defending it.

Not Phefo's family.

(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(MUSIC FADES, ENDS)

The dogs will have to wait
for the scraps.

The day's events are
a turning point for Phefo.

Her cubs have shown what they can do
when they're up against it.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

They don't know it yet,
but their mother will soon be gone.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

Phefo has kept all five cubs alive,
beyond their first birthday.

A rare achievement
for a wild cheetah.

There's not much more
she can teach them.

Before the season is out, she'll
slip away into her vast range,

to take up single life once again.

For the other cats on the shores
of the Gomoti, life goes on.

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