0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is...Deadly 360.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09The show that pits three of the world's deadliest predators
0:00:09 > 0:00:10against their prey.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Examining their hunting strategies and escape tactics...
0:00:14 > 0:00:17from every angle.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20By delving beneath the fur and the feathers
0:00:20 > 0:00:23we find out why a hunt succeeds...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and why they sometimes fail.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27One thing's certain -
0:00:27 > 0:00:31prey animals are anything BUT sitting ducks.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Their defensive strategies keep them alive.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39And push predators to the limits.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Prepare for Deadly 360.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48This is Deadly 360 mission control,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51where all of today's action and analysis takes place.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56From here we have access to some of the most enthralling hunts
0:00:56 > 0:00:59that have ever been caught on camera.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I've recreated three of the most exciting
0:01:01 > 0:01:06and analysed them from a variety of different angles and perspectives
0:01:06 > 0:01:08in true 360-degree style.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10The predators have to find and catch food
0:01:10 > 0:01:12or they just won't make it.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17In the wild, managing to survive is the greatest challenge of all.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I present to you...the big cats.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25In today's line-up, we look at the world's fastest land animal,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27the cheetah.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30A speed merchant who lives life at a rocket's pace.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35We also meet a group of lionesses - masters of group hunting
0:01:35 > 0:01:39who are not afraid to tackle prey twice their size.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41And in the forests of India,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45the magnificent tiger who uses stealth to track down prey.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50Three big cats, three very different hunting strategies, all deadly.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52They look invincible
0:01:52 > 0:01:55but there's a continual arms race going on in nature,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59which ensures that prey animals are always evolving spectacular ways
0:01:59 > 0:02:01of taking care of themselves.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Today's line-up of defenders
0:02:04 > 0:02:05includes the gazelle -
0:02:05 > 0:02:08an agile antelope with an incredible turn of speed.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14And the zebra, a true master of confusion with moves to match.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18And we analyse the deer's many moves for evasion and escape.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Three different prey, three different escape strategies
0:02:23 > 0:02:26to deny the most persistent of predators.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29I've introduced you to all of our contenders,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33now it's time to meet our first deadly duo going head-to-head.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Our first competitor is a cat that is a true athlete
0:02:39 > 0:02:43and complete speed freak. It's the cheetah.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45And up against it, is this...
0:02:46 > 0:02:48..the Thomson's gazelle.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53But which animal has the edge in the race for life?
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03We join the action just before the critical moment of impact.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07This is the cheetah at full speed, hurtling across the land
0:03:07 > 0:03:09at nearly 70 miles an hour.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12And the gazelle is twisting and turning at speed,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14certainly no easy meal.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17But up against this lightning hunter,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19it looks like the gazelle's met its match.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Even in a hunt like this, there are still lots of factors in play.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26To find out why a predator might succeed or fail,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30we need to wind back the action and build-up the entire hunt,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32right from the beginning.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36This hunt takes place in East Africa.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41In the savannah of the Masai Mara.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45This is one of the world's great wildlife hot spots
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and it's the typical habitat for the cheetah.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Open plains, shrublands, but also very high temperatures.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54These open grasslands, though,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58allow the cheetah to get a fantastic panoramic view of their prey
0:03:58 > 0:04:00before selecting a target.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03And where you find wide-open grasslands
0:04:03 > 0:04:05you find browsers and grazers,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08including small antelope called gazelles.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09Grazing in large herds,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13they flock to the grassy plains where the landscape's open,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16allowing them to feed on the short grass.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17We've set the scene,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20but how do these animals operate in this environment
0:04:20 > 0:04:22and what attributes do they have
0:04:22 > 0:04:25that tip the balance in their favour?
0:04:27 > 0:04:30First up, the cheetah has binocular vision,
0:04:30 > 0:04:35perfect for picking out gazelles up to three miles away.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Next, it's the cheetah's famous acceleration and its speed -
0:04:39 > 0:04:420 - 65 miles an hour in three seconds!
0:04:43 > 0:04:48And finally, its claws - curved, sharp, lethal.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52With all that to help it hunt, you'd think that our predator
0:04:52 > 0:04:54would have no trouble making a kill.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58But our prey also has some pretty nifty means of defence.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Gazelles can't match the speed of the cheetah
0:05:01 > 0:05:04but they can outrun them over long distances
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and that's down to their amazing stamina.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10They're also excellent escape artists
0:05:10 > 0:05:14with the ability to leap four and a half metres in a single bound
0:05:14 > 0:05:17and make sharp turns to outmanoeuvre the cheetah.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24So it's not going to be easy for any predator to pick off that prey.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28That's the background - let's get the hunt underway.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31The cheetah's spotted the herd of gazelles
0:05:31 > 0:05:34but there's a group of 60-plus individuals
0:05:34 > 0:05:36so first, it needs to select a target
0:05:36 > 0:05:39and the secret to that is in its eyes.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43The cheetah relies almost entirely on its vision
0:05:43 > 0:05:44to track down its prey.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48The fovea, the area at the back of the eye which gives focus,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50is much broader than our own.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56It gives them a panoramic view which is twice as wide as we can see.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59They also have an amazing amount of sharp focus,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and can see their prey as much as three miles away.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06In preparation for the chase, the cheetah absorbs oxygen
0:06:06 > 0:06:08into her body,
0:06:08 > 0:06:09through her large nostrils.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12They can increase their breathing rate
0:06:12 > 0:06:14up to 150 breaths per minute.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17That's more than double that of a professional athlete.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20OK, let's check out the start of the hunt.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23This acceleration is extraordinary.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Cheetahs have been clocked going from a standing start
0:06:26 > 0:06:28to 64 miles an hour in three seconds.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Look at this, it's spending as much as half of its time
0:06:32 > 0:06:34with all four feet off the ground.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36It's pretty much flying!
0:06:36 > 0:06:40This is a perfect opportunity to take a look at how it does it.
0:06:40 > 0:06:46The cheetah is much lighter for its size than any other cat.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50The reason for that is that the bones are longer, slimmer,
0:06:50 > 0:06:51and much more lightweight.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53The head's very small,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56it offers the absolute minimum of wind resistance
0:06:56 > 0:06:59and streamlines the animal as it drives forward.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Now let's look at its gait.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04It's proceeding in a series of leaps,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07almost extending its body into a horizontal shape.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11The way it does that is by having incredibly flexible joints,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14here at the hips and here at the shoulders.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18As it runs, the spine flexes almost like a bow,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21storing up elastic energy which retracts the feet back
0:07:21 > 0:07:23at incredible speeds,
0:07:23 > 0:07:25driving the animal forwards.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Let's see all of this in action.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Back to the hunt, and the cheetah's at full stretch.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Her temperature's rising to a staggering 40 degrees centigrade.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41If she doesn't make the kill in 300 metres or so,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43she'll overheat and that could be fatal.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Every extra second that the hunt lasts works in the gazelle's favour.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52It's dodging from side to side, zigzagging, which really helps it
0:07:52 > 0:07:54cos the cheetah goes in a straight line
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and this movement will put it off its stride.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58The longer it lasts
0:07:58 > 0:08:01the more the gazelle's endurance comes into play
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and that's all about its heart and lungs.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Let's take a closer look.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11OK, this is our gazelle.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13The windpipe is very large.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17This means that it can suck in much more oxygen into its body
0:08:17 > 0:08:18as it's running.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21That oxygen is than transferred to the blood
0:08:21 > 0:08:23and then powered around the body
0:08:23 > 0:08:25using this, its heart.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It's about double the size of other animals
0:08:28 > 0:08:31around about as big as this gazelle is.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35That's the engine that's going to keep this animal moving
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and that's the important thing.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40So, certainly not helpless.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Let's return to the action.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50With time now running out, the only way for her to succeed
0:08:50 > 0:08:52is to trip the gazelle,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55but to do this, she's got to get very close.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00This is really the crux point of the hunt.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03If she's miscalculated, she could easily receive
0:09:03 > 0:09:06a kick to the head, which could even prove fatal.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08It's the crucial moment.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13As the cheetah's in its final stride, she takes a swipe and...
0:09:13 > 0:09:15the gazelle's down, she's done it!
0:09:15 > 0:09:18But it's actually even more impressive than that.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23If we just rewind...and then watch it back in slow motion,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27it looks like the gazelle's legs have been taken out from under it
0:09:27 > 0:09:31but if we zoom in, you can see, the cheetah's sharp, hooked dew claw
0:09:31 > 0:09:35has actually slashed right into the tendons of the gazelle.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38It's left it with a really serious injury.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40The cheetah can now head in
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and with a bite to the throat, suffocate the animal.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47That is a perfect and successful hunt.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49If you were to start from scratch
0:09:49 > 0:09:52and design a mammal that was built for flat-out sprint speed,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56you'd come up with something that looked like a cheetah.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59All of those adaptations, that exquisite body shape
0:09:59 > 0:10:03mean they can be successful in as much as 50% of their hunts.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The gazelle's sharp manoeuvring, stamina
0:10:07 > 0:10:11and agility made sure he gave the cheetah the run-around.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But today, the cheetah's sensational speed,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18eyesight and hooked claws made sure she got the kill.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Now onto our next pair of hunters, locked in a battle for survival.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34It's the biggest of all the big cats - the tiger.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Reaching up to three and half metres and weighing in perhaps 300kg,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40they really are the heavyweight of the cat world.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44And up against it is this.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48The chital deer. Just like the gazelle, it's swift and agile
0:10:48 > 0:10:50and will be tricky to catch.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53But which has the edge in the race for life?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03We join the hunt at a critical time.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06The tiger's hurtling at full stretch towards the deer,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09closing down the gap with every enormous stride.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14These deer are in a race for their lives.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19So if we freeze the action at this crucial moment,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22who do the odds favour? The predator or the prey?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Well, to find out, let's take it back to the start
0:11:25 > 0:11:29and examine the hunt in forensic detail.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32First though, where are we?
0:11:32 > 0:11:35From the savannahs of East Africa we're now travelling
0:11:35 > 0:11:37to the hot, dry forests of central India.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40That means woodland and thicker vegetation.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42No use for a cheetah,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45but for the tiger, this is the perfect environment.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49It's the height of the dry season and temperatures are scorching,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52so hunting is difficult and dangerous.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And this is one of its favourite meals - the chital.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03The forests are fantastic feeding grounds for these deer.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They graze in large herds on the long grass and on the leaves.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12So, that's the location. Let's meet the animals.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15So, what are the tigers weapons?
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Well, firstly, its distinctive coat. Its black, white and orange stripes
0:12:20 > 0:12:23are perfect camouflage for stalking its prey.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Next is its power and strength, weighing up to 300kg
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and able to jump a whopping six metres.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36And let's not forget those teeth.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Long and pointed, they can pierce through flesh with frightening ease.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44All of this makes our predator a pretty scary prospect.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47What does our prey animal have to counter?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Well, this is a deer that will leap, lunge and lurch its way
0:12:50 > 0:12:52out of danger.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56And it may not have size or strength on its side, but it is fast.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01With its light frame, it can reach speeds of 40mph.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Add to this its incredible hearing and some lookouts
0:13:04 > 0:13:07up in the trees, and this is certainly not an easy meal.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10So we have two very different animals.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13But which one's going to come out top in this hunt?
0:13:13 > 0:13:14Let's find out.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21We join the hunt with the tiger already having spotted the deer.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25He's using his camouflage to stay hidden and out of sight.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29You might think that orange with black and white stripes
0:13:29 > 0:13:32isn't great camouflage, but you can hardly see him.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34He blends right into the grass.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37It's this cover that's crucial for the tiger.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43He weighs about six times as much as a cheetah,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46so he can't sustain a sprint over longer distances.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Getting as close as he can before springing an attack is vital.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But he doesn't just use stealth to stalk his prey,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55he also relies on his eyesight.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Like most predators, like the cheetah we saw,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00tigers have binocular vision.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03This is the part of their sight where the vision from each eye
0:14:03 > 0:14:05overlaps and it means that they're phenomenally good
0:14:05 > 0:14:08at judging distance and space and movement.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Really important when trying to creep up
0:14:10 > 0:14:13on prey that's as sensitive as these deer.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17The tiger's just 20 metres away,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19but being this close needs extreme care.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22If the tiger strays upwind of the deer,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24they'll smell him.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27It's so dry, that moving through this crackling grass
0:14:27 > 0:14:29is like walking on Corn Flakes.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32A nightmare when you're trying to keep quiet.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39The chital deer are always alert for the possible presence of a predator
0:14:39 > 0:14:43and maybe the most sensitive sense is their hearing.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Look at the size of their ears,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48they function like satellite dishes. They have one flicking forwards
0:14:48 > 0:14:52and the other flicking backwards, always listening out for a sound
0:14:52 > 0:14:53that could mean danger.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56How will our tiger have the element of surprise
0:14:56 > 0:14:59creeping up on these animals that are listening out for it?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Let's take a closer look at what's going on in his body.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07There are very few more dramatic spectacles
0:15:07 > 0:15:10than a tiger in full flight.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Everything about this animal just exudes muscularity.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19After all, a fully grown male could weigh three times more than I do.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's this muscular build that allows the tiger to spring
0:15:22 > 0:15:26from a standing start, giving it the advantage over its prey.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Massive muscles launch it forward at breakneck speed,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33accelerating up to 35mph in a matter of seconds.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37And every single leap, every bound,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40is going to put enormous stress on its skeleton
0:15:40 > 0:15:44so the bones are huge and a lot of that is down to shock absorption.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48It has that wonderful flexing gait.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51You can see the spine there is bending as it runs,
0:15:51 > 0:15:52the legs are extending out
0:15:52 > 0:15:55in quite a similar method to the cheetah.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57But if we compare the two,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01it's much more slender, much more fragile.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05In fact, the cheetah could be a tenth of the body weight of a tiger.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So, while the cheetah is built to be able to maintain its chase
0:16:10 > 0:16:12over several hundreds metres,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15all of this size, bulk, power,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18muscularity of the tiger comes with a price.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21If the chase isn't going to be over almost instantaneously,
0:16:21 > 0:16:25the tiger is simply going to have to give up.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Right, back to the hunt.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30This is the critical moment.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32One wrong move now and it's all over.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35The tiger edges slowly forward,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38but in doing so reveals his location.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42He's been detected by the monkeys and the deer. The alarm's raised.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Now everyone's on high alert.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Preparing for escape, the deer's body creates
0:16:48 > 0:16:50chemicals like adrenalin
0:16:50 > 0:16:54and the brain sends signals to the heart to start pumping more blood
0:16:54 > 0:16:57to the muscles so she's ready for her exertion.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59She's ready to go, the chase is on.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05The deer are off, bursting out of the blocks like sprinters.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Their fantastic acceleration
0:17:07 > 0:17:10gives them a split second head start over the tiger.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14The deer are capable of going from standing around feeding
0:17:14 > 0:17:18to 40mph in a matter of seconds. But how do they manage that?
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Most of the deer's propulsion is coming from its back legs.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24This is the where the muscle bulk is located.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27But also running down the back of those legs
0:17:27 > 0:17:29are springy elastic tendons.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Every time the deer lands, it stores up energy in those,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35which it then releases as it springs away.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Almost like a bouncing rubber ball. It's certainly very impressive.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Right, back to the hunt.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45We're now in the final moments of the chase
0:17:45 > 0:17:48and the tiger's flat out, using his massive strength and power
0:17:48 > 0:17:50to close the gap on the deer.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54He's covering enormous ground in a series of linked jumps.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00And each one of those leaps could be as much as six metres long,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03which is like me jumping the length of a small bus.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09As the tiger gets to within reach, the deer's speed and agility kick in
0:18:09 > 0:18:11and they pull away.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16At this critical point, the tiger doesn't have the stamina to keep up.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18His massive bulk and weight drags his speed down.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20He cannot catch the deer and has to resign.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27There are so many different variables to consider
0:18:27 > 0:18:30when you're looking at a tiger hunt. The wind, weather,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32surrounding vegetation, the prey animal.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36It's impossible to determine what the success rate will be.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39That can vary from 50% success, which is pretty good,
0:18:39 > 0:18:44right down to just 5% success and this time our tiger did not succeed.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48So, the tiger may have camouflage,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51power and super-sharp teeth...
0:18:55 > 0:18:59..but today, the deer's speed, athletic agility
0:18:59 > 0:19:02and keen hearing gave it the edge and left the tiger for dust.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11This is our last deadly duo locked in a battle for life or death.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16This is the iconic lion.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20It can approach the size of the tiger in terms of size,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23weighing as much as three men. And up against it is this.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25The unmistakable zebra.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30But which has the edge in the race for life?
0:19:30 > 0:19:33It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41So, once again, we pick up this hunt in the final stages,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45as the lions zip towards their prey.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47zebras are masters of confusion,
0:19:47 > 0:19:52but right now it looks like they're in serious trouble.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55OK, it's just about to leap.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58But by now, you know there's a lot more to a hunt
0:19:58 > 0:20:00than just the final strike.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01What are the hidden factors
0:20:01 > 0:20:04that influence what will happen in the next few seconds?
0:20:04 > 0:20:07To find out, we need to wind back to the start
0:20:07 > 0:20:09and dissect the hunt.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15First, though, where's this drama taking place?
0:20:15 > 0:20:19We're going back to the savannah of East Africa and to the Masai Mara
0:20:19 > 0:20:21but this time we're heading close to the Mara River.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27This is prime hunting territory for lions.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Lions are the most social of the cat family,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32living in prides of up to 40 animals.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Hunting is done together as a pride,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37but the lionesses do the majority of the hunting,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39being lighter and more agile.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41These areas of the savannah
0:20:41 > 0:20:44are alive with mammals like zebra.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Zebra live in large herds
0:20:46 > 0:20:50moving across the grasslands in search of food and water.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54But this dependency on water makes them vulnerable to predators.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57So, that's the scene set.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Let's have a look at some of our predator's attributes.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Firstly, the lion's power and strength.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Pretty handy when your prey is twice your size.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13Next, hunting in groups, using intelligent team tactics.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Add to that short, powerful jaws with fearsome crushing power
0:21:16 > 0:21:18and this is one top cat!
0:21:21 > 0:21:24It looks like we're dealing with a sophisticated hunter.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27How on earth can the prey stay out of this predator's clutches?
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Maybe a zebra's most valuable weapon
0:21:33 > 0:21:35is their black and white stripes.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Camouflage at its most confusing.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40And next, their speed.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43They can accelerate up to 35 miles an hour
0:21:43 > 0:21:46and have superior stamina over longer distances.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49And last, their hard-hitting hooves,
0:21:49 > 0:21:54delivering a punch that can injure and potentially kill an attacker.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57So our predator's going to find it pretty difficult
0:21:57 > 0:21:59to get anywhere near this prey.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Let's see what happens.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02We join the hunt.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06The lionesses have already spotted the zebra at the watering hole
0:22:06 > 0:22:08but they're keeping out of sight.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Much like the tiger, the lion is all about muscularity.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It needs the hunt to be short, sharp, decisive.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20If we look at the action from above...
0:22:21 > 0:22:23You can see the lionesses
0:22:23 > 0:22:25moving silently towards the zebra,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28taking up a horseshoe formation around it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30This is a perfect ambush.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32They're all experienced hunters
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and know instinctively where the other animals will be.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Now just look at this sinuous movement.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41The lioness is the master of stalking,
0:22:41 > 0:22:46perfectly adapted for creeping low along the ground.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48OK, let's see how it manages to do that.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51A lion's eyes are set high on its head,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54so even when it's crawling along on its belly, it can still see.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Just fantastic.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59If we go back to our aerial view,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01we can see their stalking skills
0:23:01 > 0:23:04have got them in an ambush position around the zebra.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08But although all the lionesses need to work together as a team to hunt,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10they only need one individual
0:23:10 > 0:23:12to bring down a zebra.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Let's think about what's going on here.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16The lion needs to get really close
0:23:16 > 0:23:19to allow its spring and acceleration to come into play.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23But look at the size of these zebras. This is a powerful animal.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26To bring one of these down, you need to be really strong.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30So what physical attributes does the lion have
0:23:30 > 0:23:31that makes all this possible?
0:23:31 > 0:23:34This is an animal that kills through brute force,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38and this skull is just massive.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43The most obvious thing to say about it is, it's incredibly heavy.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46That's because it has very, very thick bone,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49particularly here, encasing and protecting the brain,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51also here at the jaw.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54But when it comes to the final bite,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57it has these at its disposal.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Look at the size of those canine teeth.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02They're pretty much the size of my thumbs.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Very broad, long, and pointed at the end.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08This gives it the advantage that the lion can make a killing blow
0:24:08 > 0:24:10almost anywhere on its opponent.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12So with all that in mind,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14let's go back to the hunt.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19The lionesses are ready to strike.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Prepare for a masterclass in teamwork.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26In a split second, the lead lionesses take off,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29getting up to 35 miles an hour in seconds.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31But with the zebra now in motion,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34the lionesses have to pick one out on the run
0:24:34 > 0:24:36and that's not going to be easy.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43The zebra's distinctive black and white striped colouration
0:24:43 > 0:24:46looks dramatic, even beautiful, but believe it or not,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48it's one of its chief defences against lions.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50I'll show you how it works.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57A lion's colour vision is nothing like as good as our own.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00This is what a lion would see if looking at a herd on the horizon.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01It's pretty confusing.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04So for a start, these animals are much more likely
0:25:04 > 0:25:08to blend into the wavy lines of the grasses of their background.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10But it's much more than that.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Once a zebra herd starts a stampede,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16it's almost impossible for a lion to pick out an individual animal,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and that's a very important part of the lion's hunting strategy.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Let's see how this drama plays out.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The lionesses are in pursuit of the zebra.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33This senior lioness singles one out from the group and heads in on it.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37With the zebra isolated, its striped defence is useless
0:25:37 > 0:25:39and the lioness seizes her opportunity.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Ooh! That was nasty.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Let's just check that out again.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50OK, you can see now the lioness has chosen her target,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52but at the last second,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54it's a total miscalculation.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56It looks like she's heading for the rump, but instead
0:25:56 > 0:25:58she's ended up getting kicked
0:25:58 > 0:25:59and then trampled.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01This could be really, really serious.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Like all members of the horse family,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06zebras have phenomenally powerful kicks.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09They could easily fracture a lion's skull,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12perhaps cause an injury that could eventually kill them.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16So really, this time it looks like she's escaped pretty well.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Right, back to the hunt.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22While the first lioness recovers,
0:26:22 > 0:26:24another takes up the chase,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28coming in from a different angle.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30She blindsides the panicked, fleeing animal,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32engages her retractable claws,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35hooking into and holding onto the prey.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Now the difficult part. She has to use all her power and strength
0:26:39 > 0:26:40to overwhelm the zebra.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43But after just a few seconds,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47she's successful, and delivers her killer bite.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Although working together in a pride
0:26:53 > 0:26:55means food has to be shared at the end of the day,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59this is a much more effective way of catching prey.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03It's reckoned the odds are 1 in 3 if you're working together as a group
0:27:03 > 0:27:05and 1 in 5 when working alone.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08So ultimately, the pride is more successful.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10The zebra's defensive strategy
0:27:10 > 0:27:12of deceptive design,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15swift speed and a killer kick
0:27:15 > 0:27:16paid off initially.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20But with their incredible muscle power,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22lethal jaws
0:27:22 > 0:27:24and tactical teamwork,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27the lionesses were eventually successful.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35The big cats are probably the most iconic and exciting of all predators
0:27:35 > 0:27:38and whether they're killing in a flat-out foot race,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41from a silent ambush, or working together as a team,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44their predatory skills are simply not in question.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46That's all we've got time for.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Join us next time, as three more pairs of animals go head to head
0:27:50 > 0:27:53and we analyse the action Deadly 360 style.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:07 > 0:28:09E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk