0:00:02 > 0:00:04The world is full of amazing animal families.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Tales of life and death happen every day.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12For the youngest members, growing up's tough, really tough.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15These stories recreate their rollercoaster life -
0:00:15 > 0:00:18here on Wild Tales.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26We're following the stories of three fantastic animal characters.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Bill and Ben are two young lion cubs learning that
0:00:28 > 0:00:33not everything is what it seems, and they end up in deep water.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Eli the elephant's finding out that life's a real pain,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41and his sister Ebony can't even trust her neighbours.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Whilst Selkie is changing into something a bit more suitable
0:00:46 > 0:00:48as he comes towards the end of his beach time.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52So where shall we head first?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Hold on tight.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02First stop is the east African savannah.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05Last time on Wild Tales,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Bill and Ben's family were under attack from an angry mob of buffalo.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Our stars were in real danger of being trampled to death.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Did they make it?
0:01:19 > 0:01:22An uneasy silence hangs over the battlefield.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31There's no sign of Bill or Ben.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The pride has been scattered far and wide,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40and the buffalo leave the battlefield
0:01:40 > 0:01:42content with their day's work.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Dad Notch bellows out a colossal roar.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50He wants the pride back together.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Not far away, Bill and Ben are back with Mum.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04The brothers and a couple of smaller cubs have survived unscathed.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Amazingly, mum Bibi saved them.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14But buffalo do kill lions
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and, not surprisingly, there are some casualties.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Even the adults haven't escaped unharmed.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32One of the smallest cubs is missing,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34so the family return to the crime scene.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44It's not long before they find her, but sadly it's too late.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50More than 50% of lion cubs don't make it into adulthood -
0:02:50 > 0:02:53and this could easily have been Bill or Ben.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Growing up out here in the savannah is extremely tough.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01There will always be battles to overcome.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06At times like this, Bill and Ben's family
0:03:06 > 0:03:09need to regroup and stick together.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14And Notch needs to prove to the rest of the savannah crowd
0:03:14 > 0:03:15he's still boss.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31200 miles further south is the Amboseli game reserve.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Last time on Wild Tales,
0:03:33 > 0:03:38we left Eli's family celebrating the arrival of his sister, Ebony.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Eli realised he was not the only apple of Mum's eye.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47He was going to have to grow up fast and learn to find food for himself.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58There's mum Ella and, as usual, Eli is by her side.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01He's still sticking close. But where's Ebony?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Aha! Even closer!
0:04:07 > 0:04:08She'll grow up strong
0:04:08 > 0:04:14and fast as it's now Ebony, not Eli, who gets to have all of Mum's milk.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Now Eli has to find his own grub,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26he's lucky that the rainy season has brought an abundance of food.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30And liquid refreshment.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35This fantastic feast is just what he needs.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40These swamps play a big part in a young elephant's life.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44It's a great place to socialise, quench your thirst and generally
0:04:44 > 0:04:48splish and splosh about having fun!
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Elephants can slurp up to an incredible 200 litres a day.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57That's like drinking 400 bottles of Coke!
0:05:00 > 0:05:03This luscious swamp will be a great place for Ebony
0:05:03 > 0:05:05to test out her water wings.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Eli almost drowned crossing a river when he was Ebony's age.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18But it looks like his sister was born for swamp life.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24She's definitely won the "learning to snorkel" contest.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27By hanging out with Mum and watching the rest of the family,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Ebony can learn how to breathe through her trunk
0:05:30 > 0:05:32if the water gets a little too deep.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37And soon she'll be able to feed on the succulent plants
0:05:37 > 0:05:40on the water's edge, like the rest of the herd.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And just like Eli's doing.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49He'll end up with tummy ache if he's not careful.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54And without Mum to keep him in line, this could spell trouble.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04But Mum's just too busy with Ebony at the moment.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09There's no time to rest.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11The herd are off again and, even with legs as short as hers,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14she'll be expected to keep up!
0:06:26 > 0:06:314,500 miles north in freezing Scotland.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Last time on Wild Tales, we left Selkie feeling
0:06:34 > 0:06:36the full effects of a huge storm.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Mum was at the other end of the beach and Selkie was in danger
0:06:42 > 0:06:46of suffocating under a sand blanket.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Did he manage to tunnel his way out and find Mum?
0:06:55 > 0:07:00The day after the night before, and the beach is like a disaster zone.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08The storm was so fierce that many mums and pups have been separated
0:07:08 > 0:07:10and are busy looking for each other.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Did Selkie manage to find Mum?
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Well, this little one's on her own, and her mum still hasn't found her.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28But Selkie and Mum must have bumped into each other in the night.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31That thick layer of blubber saw him through the storm.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37With a bit of luck, the other pups will be found by their mums soon.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Selkie only feeds every six hours now,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46but after being on his own for nearly a day, he must be starving!
0:07:48 > 0:07:51However, Scottish storms aren't bad news for all the neighbours.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Not far away, an unusual group of treasure hunters
0:07:59 > 0:08:04are busy scouring the beach for goodies thrown up by the storm.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Like this kelp - a type of seaweed,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09which these red deer find absolutely delicious.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12It's full of goodness from the sea,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16but unlike Selkie, these lot won't get the chance to live out there.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22He's certainly not cut out for life on land, which is just as well,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25because Mum's milk won't last forever,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and she hasn't eaten for three weeks.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33So it won't be long before she'll have to go out to sea
0:08:33 > 0:08:35to do a spot of fishing herself,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38and that means leaving Selkie for good.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44So, for now, he'd better make the most of Mum's free meals,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46and stock up for a life on his own.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Bill and Ben's family are still recovering from the buffalo attack,
0:09:01 > 0:09:06and are lying low in some bushes having a well-deserved snooze.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Bill just won't leave his mum's side,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19and he certainly wants all the attention. Ben?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Well, as usual, he's putting his head in places where he shouldn't.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Dad Notch is busy marking his territory.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It's his pride, and he wants everyone to know about it.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46He can't be in more than one place at a time
0:09:46 > 0:09:50so he leaves a little bit of himself behind wherever he goes.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Male lions spray bushes throughout their home
0:09:54 > 0:09:57with their own personal aftershave.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00These whiffy beacons act as no-entry signs to warn off any intruders
0:10:00 > 0:10:02who fancy their chances.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Dads even rub their feet in it,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11and their footprints leave a smelly trail behind them.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Lions across the savannah do just the same thing.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22So if you're new to the area, you know who's the king of each family,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26and more importantly, which home is up for grabs.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33So Bill and Ben's territory is really worth protecting.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35And here's why.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40There's a constant supply of water,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43so all the animals have to come and drink here.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46That means Bill and Ben's family never have to look further than
0:10:46 > 0:10:49their front door to find food.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53The surrounding trees and bushes
0:10:53 > 0:10:56provide the family with shade during the hottest part of the day,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00and they also provide cover,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03so the family can see prey, without prey seeing them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08So it's really not a bad place to grow up.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Bill and Ben, you don't know how lucky you are.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The brothers will eventually have to leave this territory
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and find one of their own.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23But, for now they've got the best bodyguards in the area,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26giving them time to go and explore their ultimate home.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Eli's herd has left the swamp for pastures new,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42to graze on more juicy grass and flavoursome foliage from the
0:11:42 > 0:11:45savannah's all-you-can-eat salad bar.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55They can travel 60km a day to reach their favourite spots.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58That's a long way on foot.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Looking at Eli, let's hope they aren't wandering that far today.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Maybe all that overeating has taken its toll.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Who knows what he's been munching on?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16It could even have been something poisonous.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It can't be easy carrying two tones of weight on those legs, especially
0:12:22 > 0:12:24when you're feeling that ill.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Eli could really do with his mum's help and support now,
0:12:28 > 0:12:33but how can mum Ella manage a newborn baby and Eli?
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Ebony is so small that Mum must stick close by her,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41and Eli's doing his best to keep up.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46But Mum's not giving in.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51Her milk is completely out of bounds for Eli, even if he is ill.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56It's not easy being a mum of two.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07She's going to have to make sure that both Ebony and Eli can keep up.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Especially when they start to meet other families,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16cos getting lost in a jumbo crowd would be a disaster.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Hopefully, staying with the herd isn't too much of a struggle for Eli.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Back in Scotland, Selkie's drinking the last of Mum's milk.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Although he doesn't realise it yet.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Better drink up!
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Thanks to Selkie and all the other seal pups here,
0:13:53 > 0:13:58the beach is starting to look like a mass of heaving blubber.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02In just under three weeks, the pups have tripled in size.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04They aren't much longer than when they were born.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Their weight has gone sideways.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19This may be great for the pups, but not for the mums.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Selkie's mum has lost 65kg in just three weeks.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27That is extreme dieting!
0:14:27 > 0:14:30She's poured all her energy into
0:14:30 > 0:14:33fattening up our star for his life at sea.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38Seals can't run on empty and, all along the beach,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42mums have no choice but to leave their pups
0:14:42 > 0:14:44and return to the open ocean.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49And they won't be coming back.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54The youngsters can't follow,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58because they would freeze to death in the cold Scottish waters.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04They've got to wait for their waterproof fur to grow through
0:15:04 > 0:15:07before they leave the beach.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Poor Selkie's about to lose his mum for good,
0:15:24 > 0:15:25and he doesn't even know it.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34This is his last goodbye.
0:15:46 > 0:15:53And suddenly, at only 18 days old, Selkie is on his own for good.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Imagine that!
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Dawn is breaking on a new day in Bill and Ben's kingdom.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23When you're young, there's nothing better than exploring the garden,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25so our terrible two and their friends
0:16:25 > 0:16:27have wandered off to find some new mates.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34But their choice of buddy is less than ideal.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37It's a hippopotamus.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43These four-tonne barrels of brawn can run as fast as a racehorse,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47and have teeth that can puncture metal.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Hardly suitable playmates,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57but it looks like Bill's about to force this friendship.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Hippos out of water are about as dangerous as it gets.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Our explorer could be in real trouble.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29In the nick of time, he loses his lion's courage
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and retreats fast to the rest of the gang.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37And the hippo lumbers back into the marsh.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44As if by magic, the strange beast slips underground.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50So, Bill and Ben try their hand at some bird-watching.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55These jacanas seem to walk on water - and they're intriguing
0:17:55 > 0:17:59the brothers and their cousins.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Well, they are more their size,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and this has got to be worth investigating.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12He wasn't expecting that!
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Cats aren't very good at doggy paddle,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21and Bill's gotta get out in case that hippo gets too close.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26How embarrassing - and in front of all his friends.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Bill looks like a drowned cat!
0:18:40 > 0:18:43He won't be doing that again in a hurry.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Back in Amboseli, and Eli is still trailing at the back of the herd.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59He looks like he's on the mend, though,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02thanks to support from the rest of the family.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11At four years old, he still needs a helping hand - occasionally.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Unlike the youngest member of the herd.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Eli's sister Ebony is going from strength to strength.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26She's having a whale of a time.
0:19:28 > 0:19:34She's turning into a real tough cookie - not afraid of anything.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45Mum's milk is like rocket fuel.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47It gives her so much energy
0:19:47 > 0:19:50that sometimes even Mum finds her hard to control.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53She's becoming a real handful.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00So much so that she's in danger of getting herself in some big trouble.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09After all, she's only tiny, and the herd is always on the move.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13But Ebony can't have fun all the time.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18With the herd moving on, she needs to keep up.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Oops! This is where family really counts.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Ebony's aunts are on hand to help her up.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34But not all elephants are this kind and helpful.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Ebony could easily bump into another herd,
0:20:36 > 0:20:38and some of them may not be so friendly.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44She needs to stick like glue to Mum as her family move on.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Bill and Ben have returned from their friend-making expedition
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and realized they're safer with their own sort.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Bill's recovered from his swim and, for now,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06he's staying put in the shade.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09But the pride hasn't eaten for days.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15These are some seriously hungry mothers.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18And they're top of their game.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21They've got zebras in their sights.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27But Ben's a bit too interested,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31as Team Simba disappear into the grass on a mission.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37This is hide-and-seek, lion style,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41and the team use every last blade of grass.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Each lioness has a job to do.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49They have to get as close as they can without being spotted.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53But they haven't spotted Ben.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Well, he's got to learn sometime.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Our star is just copying Mum.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14The adults creep closer and closer until they're just within reach.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Only the best can pick out a target through this stripy mass.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28But Ben just can't work it out.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's so confusing.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38He's spotted Mum in the grass and, with the trap set,
0:22:38 > 0:22:39it's a waiting game.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44They can't move a muscle or the zebra will be gone in a flash.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50But Ben wants a better look.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53He's got to stay put -
0:22:53 > 0:22:55but he's still moving.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Ben's blown the Simba family's cover,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06but he's gonna give it a go anyway.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15There's more chance of the zebra dying of laughter
0:23:15 > 0:23:16than Ben catching them.
0:23:16 > 0:23:22He's gonna be one seriously unpopular pussycat!
0:23:22 > 0:23:24He should have stayed at home with Bill.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Selkie's finally getting used to life without Mum,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47and he's nearly ready to leave the beach for his new home at sea.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54But before he does, he must go through a process called moulting.
0:23:54 > 0:24:00This is when seal pups shed their baby white fur for something...
0:24:00 > 0:24:02a little more fashionable.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07And it's time to get on the catwalk.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11This season's colours appear to be grey with a hint of cream,
0:24:11 > 0:24:12and black spots.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17There is no need to be fitted for this new outfit.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It comes made to measure - a seal-shaped wetsuit!
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It'll keep him a lot warmer,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25and is especially waterproof for spending months at sea.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32All the other seal pups are doing the same.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It's been one hairy journey.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45This is the last hurdle they have to jump before they hit the open ocean.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Now these lot can truly be called grey seals.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Their life on land is almost over.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Selkie really has changed beyond all recognition.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05He looks all grown up. He's now got to pluck up the courage
0:25:05 > 0:25:09to go down to the water's edge and say goodbye to this beach for ever.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It's just a matter of time now.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39Eli and Ebony's herd have arrived at the best feeding grounds in the area.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43The plains are full of different elephant families,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47all taking advantage of the lush grass.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Eli's so full he can hardly move.
0:25:58 > 0:25:59But where's Ebony?
0:26:02 > 0:26:04She has wandered off to another elephant family.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10And she's making friends with an elly her own age.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13But she's just too young to be away from Mum.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16What is she doing talking to strangers?
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Ebony needs to go home - but the new herd are blocking her in.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31She's trapped in a prison of legs and trunks.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35And without Mum's milk, she can't possibly survive.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37No-one will feed her in this family.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Back with Eli and the herd, Mum's noticed Ebony's missing.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51She calls the rest of the family to the front line.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55And the rescue mission begins immediately.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But will they get there in time?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Even if they do, will Ebony get out of this mess alive?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Next time on Wild Tales -
0:27:13 > 0:27:16will Ebony survive the biggest rugby scrum in Africa
0:27:16 > 0:27:20as mum Ella tries to steal her back from her jumbo kidnappers?
0:27:24 > 0:27:27How will Bill and Ben cope with teenage life in the big wide world,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and a new arrival in their family?
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And what will Selkie make of the open ocean?
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Plenty out there would like him...
0:27:35 > 0:27:37for breakfast.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Find out next time on Wild Tales.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:50 > 0:27:52E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk