Episode 1 Wild Tales


Episode 1

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The world is full of amazing animal families.

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Tales of life and death happen every day.

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For the youngest members, growing up is tough, really tough.

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These stories recreate their roller-coaster lives, on Wild Tales.

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For this Wild Tales,

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we follow the fortunes of three fantastic animal characters.

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Rooney, the newest member of the meerkat team,

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is about to take his first bold steps out of the burrow.

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Leopard cubs Kumi and Siri

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have their first exciting adventures away from the den.

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And our little bear cub Yogi is in for a ride of a lifetime

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as he explores the wilds of Alaska.

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But where do we start?

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Well, you're about to find out.

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First, the Kalahari desert in Southern Africa.

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Home to our meerkat family.

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This is one of the most hostile places in the world,

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and if you want to do really well out here,

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you've got to work as a team.

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This is Dad.

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He's the top male.

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A bit like the David Beckham of the team.

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He's not the only one to take all the glory.

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Mum is his mate, and she's another star player.

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But everyone on the squad has a role to play.

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There's guard duty.

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There's attack.

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And they all help with cleaning.

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Dad and Mum are a bit of a new item.

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They've been together a year.

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And they've only got a 5-a-side team.

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Some meerkat teams can be up to 40-strong.

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Imagine that in the World Cup!

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For our meerkats, the bigger the family, the stronger the team.

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So if this lot want to stay in the Premier League,

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they need more players.

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Well, Dad and Mum haven't been wasting any time.

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Their team is about to grow in numbers,

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as Mum is heavily pregnant.

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So it won't be long before little Rooney makes his first appearance.

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Travelling 10,000 miles from Africa

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to the somewhat chillier climes of Katmai National Park in Alaska.

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It's late winter and there's very little sign of life.

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But a metre under the snow, Yogi and his two baby sisters

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are about to get their first glimpse of the outside world.

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They were born only three months ago

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and since then they've been snuggled up with mumma bear in her cosy den.

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They've been conserving their energy through the cold winter.

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But now it's time to wake up.

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At last spring has finally sprung.

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The cubs haven't even seen daylight yet.

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They just can't wait to get out.

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The little bears make their first tentative steps

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into the great outdoors.

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Wow! Look at all that snow!

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This is Yogi.

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After being in the den for so long, he wants to play in the snow.

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And he's not the only one.

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Yogi and his sisters will stick with Mum for their first three years,

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but it won't all be fun and games.

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It's a big bad world, and for these cubs,

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their early years will be the toughest of their lives.

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From now on, Yogi's fighting a battle for survival.

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The top priority for all bears is finding food.

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Especially for mumma bear.

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Producing milk to satisfy these hungry mouths

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drains her energy levels.

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Come on, Yogi, catch up!

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The cubs are starting to show their characters,

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Yogi's definitely the most adventurous.

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But this time he's bitten off more than he can chew.

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Whoops!

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There's a lot to learn about this new world

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and next stop is the beach,

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where Mum can find lots of food.

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But Yogi mustn't get too big for his furry boots

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as there are lots of dangers down there.

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Over in East Africa's Masai Mara,

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there are some more cubs exploring their new world.

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These two tiny tearaways are Kumi and Siri.

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They're leopard cubs, and at just three months old,

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these kitty-cats just love to play.

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Steady there, Kumi!

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Their favourite game at the moment is good old rough and tumble.

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It may look like fun, but playing like this is really important.

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It's a great way to learn the skills they need for when

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they grow up to be bigger cats. Like Mum.

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Hang on... Where is she?

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Ah, there she is.

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This is Mila.

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Kumi and Siri can easily recognise Mum, by her smell,

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her call and what she looks like.

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But, if you're not a leopard, its easy to mix up Mila

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with another big cat, the cheetah.

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It's only when you see them together you can spot the difference.

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The leopard has rosettes, whereas the cheetah has dots.

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If you're still unsure, check out the faces.

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The cheetah has two black tear-streaks running from its eyes

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to the corner of its mouth.

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Luckily, Kumi and Siri know how to tell the difference.

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Which is just as well, as they're including her in their latest game,

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catch the tail.

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Ow!

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For these guys, their time with Mum doesn't last long.

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Leopard cubs only have two years

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before they're expected to graduate into skilful hunters.

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And be able to look after themselves.

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Leaving the snowy mountains behind,

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Yogi and his sisters have made it to the beach.

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This is a very popular place with the bears,

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as there are lots of tasty morsels on offer.

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Mum's introducing her cubs to some breakfast barnacles.

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But with all that hiking

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Yogi's decided to go piggy-back, or make that bear-back.

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This is his first proper beach holiday.

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And its turning into a family outing,

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as down the other end of the beach...

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..is his dad. He is the top bear in this neighbourhood.

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But with other big bears roaming around,

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this is a really dangerous place for the cubs to be.

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In the bear world, if a big male isn't your dad,

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he just might eat you.

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As long as dad's in charge, Yogi and his sisters should be OK.

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But trouble is brewing.

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Another bear is coming to cause trouble for Dad.

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This is Ted, Dad's biggest rival.

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He ain't the sort of Ted-dy bear you'd want to take home with you.

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Just look at those claws.

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And those huge teeth!

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Ted's heading down to the beach,

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and he's pretty keen to knock Dad off his throne.

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This could mean a big fight.

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If Ted succeeds, Yogi and his family could be in real danger.

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Back in the Kalahari, Dad and Mum have gone into the burrow.

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The meerkat team has taken on more players.

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Mum's just given birth to four little babies,

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including our star player, Rooney.

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But at only a few days old, he's totally helpless.

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He can't even open his eyes yet.

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For now, Rooney and the other pups need to stay

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in the safety of the gang's underground burrow with Mum.

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With his pups to protect,

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Dad leaves the burrow to mark out his territory.

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By smearing his scent everywhere,

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he's telling other meerkats this is his patch. Keep out!

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But he's got his work cut out for him.

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His territory is over 1,000 acres.

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That's the size of 500 football pitches.

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Rooney can't wait to check out the team's home ground.

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In a few weeks, he'll be old enough to make his debut.

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But he'll have to leave the safety of the burrow, which could be dangerous.

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Back at leopard school,

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Kumi and Siri are learning as much as they can.

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For these guys, lessons are really important.

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The lesson for today is one of their favourites, hide and seek.

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It's a great way to get familiar with their new home,

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on the banks of the Talek River.

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Full of bushes, rocks and trees,

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it's the ideal setting for games of hide and seek.

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But right now, hiding is more important than seeking.

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It's time for Mum to head up to her favourite tree

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to spot what's up for dinner.

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And that means the cubs must hide away close to their den.

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And believe me, there's lots for them to hide from.

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Enemy number one has got to be the lion.

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As far as they're concerned,

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it's definitely a cat-eat-cat world out there.

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Laughing hyenas are second on the list.

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They may sound funny, but Kumi and Siri

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wouldn't be laughing if they bumped into these guys.

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They've even got danger lurking in their bed.

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River-bed that is!

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Crocodiles will make an easy snack of them if they get too close.

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You want to avoid those guys, Kumi!

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If they stay close to the den, they're safe.

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But they can't stay here forever. Something's up.

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Kumi hears a rumbling in the distance.

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Very soon, their whole world is about to change.

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10,000 miles away, Yogi and family hunt for barnacles on the beach,

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but they're careful not to get too close to Dad.

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Down at the other end of the beach, trouble is brewing.

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Dad's biggest rival, Ted, is strutting his stuff.

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It won't be long before he tries to knock Dad off his throne.

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And if he succeeds, then Yogi and the girls could be his next victims.

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With Mum, the cubs are blissfully unaware of what's going on.

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They're more interested in their own fighting match.

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But if these bears are going to grow up big and strong,

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they need to continue eating.

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Mum's got the perfect meal.

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Bear milk.

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Packed with goodness,

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mumma bear's milk provides three times as much energy as cow's milk.

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But feeding time isn't safe, as mumma bear can't defend

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Yogi and his sisters while she's on her back.

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At the other end of the beach, Dad's in big trouble.

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There's a stand-off as the two giant bears eye each other up.

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Dad is standing his ground.

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Ted moves in for the attack.

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There's a lot at stake here

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as the winner has control of this whole territory.

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Uh-oh, Ted means business.

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He's crashing through the water towards Dad.

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It's just like a wrestling match.

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Ted's knocked dad to the ground he's definitely got the upper hand.

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But can dad get back up?

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Only just. Ted's proved he's the strongest bear.

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Feeding time for Yogi and his sisters is definitely over.

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Mumma bear senses danger.

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Dad just stands there. He's completely exhausted.

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With daddy bear no longer running the show,

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Yogi and his sisters are in danger.

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Ted could easily attack and kill them.

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Mumma bear has no choice.

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She's got to take her cubs off the beach, and quickly.

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Rooney and the other pups are hiding in the burrow.

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But it won't be long before they can venture outside.

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Mum's been keeping them safe.

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But now its time for her to leave.

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Feeding four hungry pups has made her really hungry.

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She needs to stock up with tasty bugs and grubs.

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While mum's out foraging,

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one of the team steps in for baby-sitting duties.

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Meerkat baby-sitters are the tops.

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They're super-alert, always on the look-out for danger.

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This baby-sitter looks a little anxious.

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And with good reason.

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Rooney and the pups have decided

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to take their first steps out of the burrow.

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The first steps come from Rooney.

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Bold and curious, this youngster

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is just longing to explore this new world.

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The baby-sitter comes along to give little encouragement.

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Wow! So this is what the home ground looks like.

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Up to now, all they've known is the dark depths of the burrow.

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What a change this must be!

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Whoa! They look a bit wobbly on their feet.

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But it's hardly surprising, they're only toddlers.

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This must be such an exciting experience for Rooney.

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But at this age, meerkat pups are extremely vulnerable.

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No bigger than mice, there are a host of predators

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that would gobble them up for breakfast.

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And, unbeknown to Rooney,

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one of them happens to be heading this way.

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This is really bad news.

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Rooney's just getting to explore his new big wide world

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and already he's in danger.

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He's in the path of a rather large mole snake with a very big appetite.

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Kumi hears noises in the distance.

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Noises he's never heard before. What can they be?

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In her tree, Mum sees what causing the commotion.

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This is what Mila's been waiting for, for months and months.

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It's September, when over a million wildebeest

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migrate through the Masai Mara.

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An amazing spectacle, especially if you're a mother with hungry cubs.

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Kumi and Siri have fed on Mum's milk for the three months,

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but now they're ready for something more meaty.

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Time for Mila to come out her tree for some shopping.

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She can't take the cubs. They're way too small.

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Kumi and Siri have to stay at the den on their own.

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Imagine staying home alone when you're only three months old!

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But with no Dad or baby-sitter, Mum's got no choice.

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She and the cubs are really hungry.

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Luckily for her, the wildebeest

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have to cross the river right in front of her den.

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Normally leopards hunt at night, but with so much food on offer,

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Mila can try her luck in broad daylight.

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Leopards are great hide-and-seekers, and the riverbank offers

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perfect cover for Mila to creep up on the herd.

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She's got to get close but mustn't give the game away.

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The wildebeest go for it, they cross the river.

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Mila moves into a fantastic position.

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Got it! Job done! Wow!

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Well, that's dinner sorted.

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Back at the den, Kumi and Siri are getting peckish.

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But Mum's too far away to carry her shopping home.

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Weighing in at 40 kg, the wildebeest is almost as heavy as Mila herself.

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She can just about manage to drag it into a hiding-place.

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The cubs need all the food they can get,

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and if they want their first taste of wildebeest,

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they'll have to leave the safety of their den.

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And that could be very dangerous.

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The mole snake is getting ever closer.

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This is really bad news for Rooney and the other pups.

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It may not be venomous,

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but its nasty bite could easily kill a baby meerkat.

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The baby-sitter spots the danger and sounds the alarm.

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Meerkats to the rescue!

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The team return to intercept the snake.

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But are they too late?

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Working as a team,

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these guys know how to give a mole snake a hard time.

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Attacking from all angles,

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the team have turned the match to their advantage.

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It doesn't stand a chance. Its only option is to dive for cover.

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It's been an exciting day.

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They've made their first steps out of the burrow

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and seen their first big match.

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Mum's back so it must be time for some refreshments.

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Rooney and the youngsters had a very lucky escape.

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But will they be so lucky next time?

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With the kill stashed away,

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Mila's returned to the den to collect the cubs.

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If Kumi and Siri are to get their first meaty dinner,

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they've got to leave the safety of their den for the first time.

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It could be dangerous. It's broad daylight.

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If they bump into a hungry lion or hyena,

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it'll be curtains for the cubs.

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They're doing well so far with Mum leading the way.

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They're almost back to the spot where Mila hid dinner.

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But there's one final hurdle, or should I say cliff!

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Mila bounds up. But will the cubs find it so easy to follow?

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First up is Siri. Well done!

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And here goes Kumi.

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Oh, missed it!

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Without Mila to protect him, stuck at the bottom,

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he's is in real danger.

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He's gotta get up quick.

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Come on, Kumi. You can do it!

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Oh no, he's starting to get tired.

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Is he going to make it?

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With Ted on the prowl,

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Yogi and his sisters need to get away from the beach.

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Mumma's taking them up river.

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And there's another really good reason to head this way.

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It's early June, and this is when thousands of salmon migrate

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from the ocean to the Alaskan coastline.

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They're on a mission, to swim upriver and mate.

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Not all of them make it.

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The bears have worked out that this is the best spot to catch salmon.

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So it gets pretty crowded.

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Mumma can't risk going to the falls.

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With all those big bears up there,

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she can't be so picky and chooses her fishing spot further downstream.

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But this isn't without its own risks.

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Salmon fishing is difficult at the best of times,

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but with Yogi and the girls it's hard for her to concentrate.

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This river is really dangerous,

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and Yogi and the girls haven't even learnt to swim yet.

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One slip and the cubs could be swept away in an instant.

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Sadly, Mum's not having much luck with her fishing.

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In desperation, she tries to find a better fishing spot.

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The cubs have got to be careful. It's really rough out there.

0:26:280:26:33

With her attention focused on fishing,

0:26:340:26:37

mumma bear's taken her eye off Yogi and the girls.

0:26:370:26:41

Oh no, they're being swept away!

0:26:500:26:52

Mum's only just noticed but its too late.

0:26:540:26:57

They're being carried beyond her reach.

0:26:570:27:00

Phew! The girls have got back onto the shore. But where's Yogi?

0:27:050:27:10

Uh-oh, he's in deep trouble.

0:27:100:27:14

Next time on Wild Tales...

0:27:210:27:24

Will Yogi survive the rapids and live to see another day?

0:27:240:27:29

Will Rooney be able to stay awake for his first feeding lesson?

0:27:310:27:36

And will Kumi finally make it up the river bank?

0:27:380:27:41

Find out next time on Wild Tales.

0:27:410:27:45

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:27:480:27:51

Email [email protected]

0:27:510:27:54

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