0:00:02 > 0:00:05My name's Steve Backshall.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08And this is my mission to find the Deadly 60.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12That's not just animals that are deadly to me,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15but animals that are deadly in their own world.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20My crew and I are exploring the planet.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And you're coming with me every step of the way.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33This is the high savannah of Namibia.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37As far as the eye can see in every direction is endless miles
0:00:37 > 0:00:40of rugged wilderness.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Namibia sits on the south-western corner of Africa.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It's a dry, dusty landscape
0:00:46 > 0:00:50that's rammed full of some of the most fabulous animals on the planet.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54From the weird and wonderful to the downright dangerous.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59But we're after one particular kind of carnivore.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01The big cats.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04In particular, two of the most deadly.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Lions and leopards.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11They're turbo-charged, clever and cunning.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Armed and dangerous.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And they have to be. Food out here might look plentiful,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21but it has a serious kick to it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34And our first task is to try and find ourselves a leopard.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37This camouflaged killer has ultra-heightened senses,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and a super-hero's turn of speed.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Leopards hunt using stealth and cunning,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and they'll get to within about five metres of their prey
0:01:49 > 0:01:51before they'll even think of jumping at it.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Five metres is a bit closer than that tree there.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58To show you how difficult it is to get that close to prey,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01I'm going to take the role of a leopard,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and I'm going to stalk and hunt our crew.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Using a little bit of camouflage.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Like a leopard's spots, this camo-cossie
0:02:12 > 0:02:15should break up my outline and disguise my shape.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Best man win, eh? Good luck, Steve.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23That's cat. Grr!
0:02:25 > 0:02:30OK, I'm going to do a big circle around.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32See how close we can get.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38For a leopard and its prey, this isn't just hide and seek.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41It's life or death.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Leopards are master ambush hunters.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Their coat acts as the perfect invisibility blanket.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52And they crouch so low that they disappear in the long grass.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03What's more, they use every last bit of cover to get unbelievably close.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08A termite mound like this is a very easy way
0:03:08 > 0:03:10of obscuring yourself from your prey.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Rich, can you hear me? If you can, shout out.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Yes, Steve, loud and clear.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24OK. I look a lot better in those sunglasses than you do.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30Steve reckons that he looks a lot better in the sunglasses than I do.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- That means he can see us, boys. - It means he's close.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36But one careless move, a twig snaps, and the game's up.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38I think I can see the leopard!
0:03:38 > 0:03:41About 30 yards out there.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I'm so gutted.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45I recognise him.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And I'm still 20 metres short
0:03:48 > 0:03:52of where a leopard would launch its ambush. But that doesn't stop me.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54HE SHOUTS
0:03:54 > 0:03:57HE LAUGHS
0:03:57 > 0:04:02- Good job!- Come on!
0:04:02 > 0:04:04The sweaty leopard.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Now we know how difficult it is to stalk prey,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14it's time to seek out a wild leopard. And this is no easy task.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Leopards do most of their hunting at night,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23when their stealth and awesome eyesight
0:04:23 > 0:04:25give them a massive advantage.
0:04:28 > 0:04:34By day, their camouflaged coat helps them blend into the environment.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So even seeing one would be a huge achievement,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39let alone getting close.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43But we do have one secret weapon.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Come and meet Natasha.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49You all right there?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Natasha's been studying leopards for ten years,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and she knows of one cat that should allow us
0:04:53 > 0:04:57to get within filming range.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00So the cat we're going looking for is a totally wild animal,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but she's been caught at some stage in the past
0:05:03 > 0:05:05and now has a radio collar around her neck.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07And that's how we're going to find her.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12But a strong wind is making everything very jumpy.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16So approaching our leopard will be even harder today.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20But we're still going to give it a shot.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21This antenna is kind of like
0:05:21 > 0:05:26an old-fashioned radio or television antenna,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30and it's picking up a signal from the collar on our leopard.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32BEEPING
0:05:32 > 0:05:34And the beeps tell us she's somewhere close.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37She's now straight in the block, that direction.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41And I think we should maybe walk from here.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43- Sounds good to me.- Let's go for it.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49To approach a leopard on foot would be a sensational experience.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But we can't let our guards down for a second.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56The bush is full of potentially lethal creatures.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00This part of Namibia has many animals
0:06:00 > 0:06:04that can be a danger to people. Hyena, rhino and of course, lion.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09And it's quite a new thing for me,
0:06:09 > 0:06:14actually, going out deliberately walking to try and find big cats.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19It's very exciting, but a little bit scary as well.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24And we weren't alone.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28That's a white rhino track.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37We're right in the heart of big-game territory.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40And almost certainly being watched by our leopard.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45We've been walking for about an hour-and-a-half.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And it just seems like she's been getting further and further away
0:06:48 > 0:06:51from us, but all of a sudden, the beeps are clearer, stronger.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56She's close. From here on in, we're going into stealth mode.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03And we didn't have to wait long.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07- She's lying next to the termite mound, over there.- I see her!
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Yes, I see her.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12She's just perked up her head, and looked round at us.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14There's a termite mound,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18and a small, dark, feline shape at the bottom looking at us.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24With its acute hearing rendered useless by the rustling grass,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28our leopard's really wary.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32And suddenly, she's gone. Melting away into the undergrowth.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Do you know what it is? It's this day. It's very, very windy.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37We were saying, with all the other animals,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39they've lost this vital sense of hearing.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41She's decided that she's just not comfortable,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44so she's turned around and she's run off.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47A fleeting glance of a leopard on foot is a good start,
0:07:47 > 0:07:52but I'm confident, if the wind dies down, we can do better.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56So, while Natasha tries to keep tabs
0:07:56 > 0:07:59on our leopard, it's the perfect time to see what else we can find.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07I've got a nice little mantis here. I just absolutely love them.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10This is about as mean as predators get.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14He's just stood there, going, "I'm a twig.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17"Don't look at me, I'm a twig." Genius!
0:08:19 > 0:08:21But we're in search of bigger prey,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24and a cave entrance littered with bones
0:08:24 > 0:08:28provides an irresistible opportunity to explore.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31And, with the chance that our leopard has been here,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34I just have to look inside.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Wow. This is a properly eerie place.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And this cave isn't empty.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Just sitting quietly in the corner up here is a porcupine.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52He's watching me very closely, but what I really don't want is for him
0:08:52 > 0:08:57to back up and charge me with those quills.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01That's the weapon that he'll use to drive off animals as big as lions.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09He's great! OK, let's leave him be.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22The wind has dropped, and Natasha has found our leopard.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28This is Natasha's car. Let's see what the news is.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30What's the story?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Serious story.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35She must have literally had, just before I found her,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38a two or three hour - I can't think it was any less -
0:09:38 > 0:09:40run-in with an adult female warthog.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43The warthog has escaped down a hole.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47And our leopard is on a stake-out.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50So it's far too dangerous for us to approach on foot.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52She got up and she hissed at me.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Warthogs may be food for leopards, but they're far from defenceless,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01with fierce tusks.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05In fact, warthogs can and do kill leopards.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Our leopard is playing a deadly game.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Yes, yes, yes!
0:10:16 > 0:10:20The leopard is sat probably 15 or 20 metres away from us.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22And, although she's so close,
0:10:22 > 0:10:29her sandy, spotted coloration just disappears in amongst these grasses.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31And it's just sat up.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37She's moving.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39ENGINE STARTS
0:10:39 > 0:10:42We're just moving forward slightly so we can see her.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44It's started raining.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45Look at that! Oh, my goodness.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50That is so beautiful.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53It's our first clear look at the leopard.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56And we can see the warthog's blood on its fur.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04There's a den there, at the base of that termite mound,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07and she's going in! She's going in!
0:11:13 > 0:11:15No.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Just can't seem to make up her mind.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23It just shows how difficult life is for a predator here.
0:11:23 > 0:11:29Everything they might want to eat has tusks, horns, hooves.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Just imagine what it would be like if every single time
0:11:32 > 0:11:36you wanted to have a meal, you had to put your life at risk.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40That's effectively what's happening for this leopard here.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43If that warthog is still alive, it's still a mortal danger to her.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47And yet, it's just another day
0:11:47 > 0:11:50in the life of one of Africa's top predators.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54This stand-off could go on for hours, even days.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59The light, and our time, is running out, and kit is beginning to die.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02But our leopard isn't done yet.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06THUNDER RUMBLES
0:12:09 > 0:12:12That is proper lightning.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Mark, she's right down here, and looking straight at me.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24And coming out into the open.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27I do not believe this.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30This is Africa's most elusive, most secretive cat.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Just wandering around,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36trying to figure out what her next move's going to be.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I have never seen anything like this in my life.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45If she gets any closer, guys, don't move a muscle.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Knowing that she's perfectly capable of springing into the back
0:12:51 > 0:12:55of our truck in an instant certainly heightens the nerves.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59She's closer than any of us had ever dared hope.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Well, we've just seen one of the most elusive, cunning,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17shy, secretive cats in the world,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21stalking around us out in the open in a full-on electrical storm.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25It's something that none of us are going to forget in a hurry.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29And the leopard has to go on the Deadly 60.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31What do you reckon, guys?
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I'd say thumbs up.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Thumbs up.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Amazing.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47This camouflaged killer is the ultimate ambush hunter.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51With stealth and cunning in bucket loads, the leopard can stalk
0:13:51 > 0:13:55a vast range of prey at all times of day or night.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Silent, scintillating, deadly.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06So one phenomenal animal down, time for grub and some shut-eye.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10We're sleeping out in the bush so that we're close to the action,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14but so that the action can't get too close to us, earlier today
0:14:14 > 0:14:18we built a protective thorn wall called a boma. This will keep out
0:14:18 > 0:14:21the hyenas, and the big cats, but it can't keep out everything.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25What is this here? Look at that!
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- It's a long horned beetle.- Is it?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Well, the boma can keep out the lions, but not the bugs.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Sleep tight, everyone.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Thanks, Steve.- I think I'll sleep in the car, Steve.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Yeah. I don't think everyone's going to sleep tight.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52It's about 2am and I have just been woken up by the sounds
0:14:52 > 0:14:58of a spotted hyena calling just off in the distance that way.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03It's very exciting and a little bit spooky knowing that just beyond
0:15:03 > 0:15:09the walls of our boma there could be almost anything wandering about.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10THROATY PURR
0:15:10 > 0:15:15There's a lion! There's a lion calling in the distance that way.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18It's quite a way away
0:15:18 > 0:15:22but they can travel huge distances in the night.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26No reason why it couldn't come past here.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Before I know it, the new day has arrived and bleary-eyed,
0:15:32 > 0:15:37it is time to find the lions we heard last night.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41It's going to be a seriously long day.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44But after hours of searching,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46we hit gold.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Oh, look, look, look at that!
0:15:56 > 0:15:59It's hard to believe when they're yawning in the shade
0:15:59 > 0:16:06that lions are Africa's most impressive, most fearsome carnivore.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09But this is how they spend most of their day,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11just kind of lazing around.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13At night, it's a very different story,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16as they start getting up and going to hunt.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21In fact, now, as the sun is going down, that might be about to happen.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29Look at this one just looking straight at us.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Ever heard the phrase, "the jaws of death"?
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Well, here they are.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45It's like flicking a switch. They started moving with total purpose.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47They are even starting to vocalise.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51I have a feeling it's hunting time.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Dusk is business time.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59We need to stay hot on our hunters' tails.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Look at that!
0:17:09 > 0:17:13That is some purpose.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17It looks like they have spotted something.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20There are a couple of warthog off to our left
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and...
0:17:22 > 0:17:24our lions have spotted them.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28This is the perfect time for things to start happening.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32The warthog are getting closer. They don't realise.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34This one's moving with purpose.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44It's going to happen.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Right now!
0:17:46 > 0:17:49One down... No, he got away.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50He got away!
0:17:56 > 0:18:00The warthog just scattered in different directions
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and one over there, unfortunately,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06has just met its end in a thicket over there.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08The others all escaped.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15That would have to be one of the quickest,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20most completely perfect hunts I think I have ever seen.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26Small prey like that can be killed with one swipe of a powerful paw.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28LIONS GRUNT AND ROAR
0:18:32 > 0:18:36One is carrying what is left of the carcass over there, I think.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Although they do hunt together, once it comes down to actually feeding
0:18:44 > 0:18:48there is very much a system of seniority over who gets to eat.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Dead in a matter of seconds, eaten in a matter of minutes.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56And that is certainly not enough to fill them all up.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00One of these animals can eat almost half of my body weight...
0:19:00 > 0:19:02THEY GROWL
0:19:04 > 0:19:06..in one go.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Wow!
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Just the way their disposition changed
0:19:14 > 0:19:18from lazy and doing nothing to all action just like that,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21that is what makes lions so deadly.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25A pride of lions will take on a snack, like that warthog,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29if the opportunity arises but they do need larger meals
0:19:29 > 0:19:33which takes a lot more preparation.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Here, teamwork is the key.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Whilst one lioness stalks directly towards the pray,
0:19:40 > 0:19:45others sneak around to cut off any possible escape routes.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49With the trap set, it is a waiting game.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54One false move on the zebra's part and the chase is on.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Teamwork allows them to kill prey much bigger than themselves...
0:20:04 > 0:20:08..providing enough food to feed the new recruits.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Well, they have finished off that warthog
0:20:20 > 0:20:25and now they are heading off, to find something else to eat.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30I'm not that worried because tonight we have a unique opportunity
0:20:30 > 0:20:33to get closer to a lion than I ever have before.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38In fact, closer than it is humanly possible to get close to a lion
0:20:38 > 0:20:40without getting eaten.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Tonight is my chance to dance with the devil
0:20:44 > 0:20:48and come nose to nose with a lion.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52To do that, we are meeting up with Natasha and her team.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56We've got to fit a radio collar to one of the young males
0:20:56 > 0:20:58before it leaves the pride.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01First, we need to catch him.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07We are in the bush, just after dusk
0:21:07 > 0:21:10with the most unholy racket going on in the background.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15These speakers are playing the sounds of spotted hyenas.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21Those sounds are just the kind of thing that will excite lions
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and attract their interest and bring them in.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Better get back in the car.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Our white light torches would scare off the lions.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39They're more likely to put up with this red light.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46This is incredibly spooky
0:21:46 > 0:21:48but somewhere just off there in the darkness
0:21:48 > 0:21:50are those same lions
0:21:50 > 0:21:55that brought down that warthog in a matter of seconds.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56It is quite a scary thought.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00All of a sudden, I do feel very vulnerable.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Got some very bright eye shine over there. Look, look.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18The first eye shine of lion just beyond this bush.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22And there are more ghostly shapes out in the darkness.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25There's three more lions just off to the left of us.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Just going to see if one of them is our male.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30One just there.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33That is very close.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34That is a lioness.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Who's that? Who's that there?
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Oh!
0:22:39 > 0:22:42He looks like he means business.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45So, our vet is ready with the tranquilliser dart.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48It is time to close in on our target male.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54With all our attention focused in front,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57we hadn't noticed the lioness stalking our truck.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05- She's eyeing us up, right behind us. - How close is she?
0:23:05 > 0:23:0810 metres. Eight metres.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Is she still coming?
0:23:12 > 0:23:13ENGINE STARTS
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Mark, I'm watching. If she gets closer...
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Just tell the guys what you're doing.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23She is way too interested for comfort.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Mark, I'm not going to let her get anywhere near you.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31We are just going to move forwards.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36We now know how it feels to be stalked by a lioness.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40It makes you suddenly aware of how vulnerable we are.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51This is really freaky. It is like those two were stalking us.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58We've got a clear line of sight to the male. It's now or never.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11The tranquilliser was a direct hit.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15It will take a few minutes to work. He doesn't know what is going on.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18He hasn't run away, so we can keep tabs on him,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22make sure he doesn't go anywhere dangerous. When he goes down...
0:24:24 > 0:24:26The male has just fallen asleep
0:24:26 > 0:24:31so moving in close to him is going to be very dangerous.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33We just need to move carefully now.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36We haven't got long before he wakes up again
0:24:36 > 0:24:41and with the other lions stalking the shadows, we have to work fast.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45OK, everyone, very, very quiet.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53This is the first time
0:24:53 > 0:24:57in my life that I have ever touched a lion.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01I can feel its breathing, feel its heart beating.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06You can still...
0:25:06 > 0:25:12See, he is kind of yawning, still a little bit awake.
0:25:12 > 0:25:19But I have to show you the size of those incredible feet.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23They almost seem to belong to a completely different animal.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Look.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32That is a phenomenal weapon.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38The warthog we saw earlier on would probably have been killed
0:25:38 > 0:25:40by a single swipe of this paw.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Larger prey would have to be brought down by being suffocated
0:25:44 > 0:25:46by hanging on to the windpipe.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Really, I can't think of a single animal in the world
0:25:50 > 0:25:53that has a greater range in prey size than lions.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57They will take anything from an insect right up to an elephant.
0:25:57 > 0:26:03I mean, that is just the most phenomenal amount of power.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I'm so nervous doing this even
0:26:08 > 0:26:11though he is asleep.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12His eyes...
0:26:12 > 0:26:15a deep, deep amber.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19The lion's eyesight is about six times more powerful than ours
0:26:19 > 0:26:24and definitely at night it is far, far keener which allows him
0:26:24 > 0:26:26to be so good at hunting at night.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31I'm still quite nervous because the other two lions are quite nearby.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34But the last thing I just want to show you...
0:26:35 > 0:26:36..is those teeth.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43That is one of the most extraordinary sets of canines
0:26:43 > 0:26:47that you will see anywhere in the animal kingdom.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Natasha and her team give our lion a quick check-up
0:26:53 > 0:26:55before they fit his new radio collar.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58The antidote is in
0:26:58 > 0:27:01and it will be an hour or so before he starts to rouse.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05We will leave him now to wake up in his own good time.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Before we go,
0:27:07 > 0:27:12I think the last thing we have to do is put lions on the Deadly 60.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15What an awe-inspiring creature.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Awesome as an individual, unbeatable as a team.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The lion kills with a cuff of its super-strong paw
0:27:26 > 0:27:29or a throttling bite from its powerful jaw.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35King of the cats, the lion rules.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Next time on Deadly 60 -
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Crikey! ..This one's matched it even more...
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:04 > 0:28:07E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk