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 > 0:00:10For the youngest members, growing up is tough,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13really tough.
0:00:13 > 0:00:18These stories recreate their roller coaster lives, here on Wild Tales.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26We're following the fortunes of three fantastic animal characters.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Kumi, our cheeky leopard cub is a year older, and he's much bigger,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35but is he still with mum?
0:00:35 > 0:00:39We'll find out if Yogi, our adventurous young bear cub,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42is a born survivor.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46And has our brave little meerkat, Rooney, escaped the clutches
0:00:46 > 0:00:48of the martial eagle?
0:00:48 > 0:00:50So where do we start?
0:00:50 > 0:00:54Well, you're about to find out.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00First stop is Katmai National Park in Alaska.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05When we last saw Yogi, he was following mum
0:01:05 > 0:01:07and his two sisters up Bootleg.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Climbing up a steep cliff with full tummies is a risky business at
0:01:11 > 0:01:15the best of times, but add to that being chased by a pack of wolves
0:01:15 > 0:01:18and you're really asking for trouble.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Since then, there have been no sightings of Yogi and the girls.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31They haven't even been back to any of their usual haunts.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33What could have happened?
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Did those wolves catch them?
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Hey, what's that?
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Oh, phew!
0:01:44 > 0:01:47It's Mumma Bear. And there's Yogi. He seems really well.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51But sadly, it looks like there are only two cubs.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53One of Yogi's sisters is missing.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57At this age, grizzly bear cubs will stick very close to mum.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01So if little sis isn't here, then it's pretty unlikely that
0:02:01 > 0:02:03she's alive.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05She must have been taken by the wolves.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14It's a real shame, but not a big surprise.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Out here in Alaska, only two out of three cubs
0:02:17 > 0:02:21survive to their second birthday.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26Their big challenge right now is to find enough food before winter.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31And it looks like they're in luck.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Mum's found a seal carcass.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37It's risky for Yogi and his sister
0:02:37 > 0:02:42to be out in the open like this, as predators could be nearby, but they
0:02:42 > 0:02:46can't pass up this opportunity to stock up on some tasty leftovers.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Time's ticking. Yogi and his sister only have a month before they have
0:02:54 > 0:02:56to go into hibernation.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59So once they finish this off, they'll still need more food.
0:03:07 > 0:03:1010,000 miles across the other side of the Atlantic, we're back in Southern
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Africa's Kalahari Desert.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19When we last visited our little meerkat Rooney,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21he and the whole team were in mortal danger.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26They were being attacked by a golden cobra and a martial eagle.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Their only choice was to dive for cover.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Now, at last, the coast is clear. So what's happened to the team?
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Have they all survived?
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Has little Rooney made it?
0:03:52 > 0:03:54There's dad,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57and mum's out too.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01There are some pups,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03but where's Rooney?
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Ah, there he is! Everyone's made it!
0:04:11 > 0:04:14But they've all got to stay on their guard as the eagle could be back.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Uh oh, what's happening now?
0:04:24 > 0:04:28The sky's full of birds. Hang on, they're only swifts.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Unlike eagles, they're not gonna gobble up a meerkat.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34But Rooney and the other pups don't know that.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37They've never seen swifts before.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Rooney's checking out mum and dad.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49They're not bolting for cover. Maybe there's nothing to worry about.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55And how about Aunty Mavis, who's on guard duty? She's still chirping.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We all know what that means in meerkat language.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00It means it's safe to stay out.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Thanks to his team, Rooney's starting to learn who he should
0:05:07 > 0:05:09and shouldn't be scared of, but friend or foe isn't the only things
0:05:09 > 0:05:14he needs to learn about to survive in the Kalahari league.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18There's also the desert itself.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Next stop is the Massai Mara in east Africa.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39Last time we visited our leopard family, Kumi and Siri were reunited
0:05:39 > 0:05:44with their mum Mila after a close encounter with a troop of baboons.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54A year has passed, and look at Kumi - he's really grown.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59But his sister's nowhere to be seen.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03For the past year, she's been missing.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07And it's a sad fact that less than 50% of leopard cubs
0:06:07 > 0:06:09survive to adulthood.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Many are taken by lions or hyenas.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15We've still got Kumi.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16He's a year older and is behaving
0:06:16 > 0:06:20like a real leopard now, relaxing in his favourite tree.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31He now looks very similar to his mum, Mila.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But there is a way to tell them apart.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38They've both got a black collar around their necks.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42But at the centre, each has a distinctive pattern of dots.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Kumi has four dots lined up, like they are on a dice.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Whereas Mila has five dots, which look a bit like a paw print.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00But right now, Mila is nowhere to be seen.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Kumi seems to be all on his own.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07It's most likely that Mila is pregnant, and when leopard mums
0:07:07 > 0:07:10get pregnant, they won't tolerate having the kids around.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Poor Kumi. Now he'll have to find his own territory to roam.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18But he's gotta be careful.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21He doesn't want to bump into any other leopards, including mum,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25or he could get chased away or even killed.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Yogi and his family are on the run again.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44They've just been pushed off their seal meal by a bigger bear,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48and with no home to go to, Mum has no option but to take
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Yogi and his sister up river.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52It's a place of bad memories for Yogi.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55On his last visit, he had a white-water rafting trip
0:07:55 > 0:07:57that he'd rather forget.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Oh, no, what's mumma bear gone and done now?
0:08:05 > 0:08:07There're loads of bears here.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13None of them seem to be paying the cubs any attention.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16They're just too busy trying to catch fish.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Over the last few weeks the salmon run has been gaining momentum.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28And now, at last, it's reached its peak.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30The rivers are overflowing with fish!
0:08:32 > 0:08:35And it looks like everyone's getting a mouthful.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Mumma bear should have more luck fishing this time.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Hey, the cubs are getting back in the water.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55I hope Yogi doesn't get swept away again!
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Boy, these guys have no fear.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00Ooh, this
0:09:00 > 0:09:04is getting really chilly, I think we should get out of here.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Where's that fish, mum?
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Wow, look at that! She's caught a whopper!
0:09:20 > 0:09:22The cubs are starving.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Hey! Yogi's nicked the best bit.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Now mum and little sis have to make do with the leftover's.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Mum's looking for her fair share but Yogi's not in a sharing mood.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Yum, sushi's great!
0:09:56 > 0:10:01This is Yogi's first taste of fresh fish and he's loving every mouthful.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04It's a nice change from stale seal!
0:10:08 > 0:10:13This is so tasty, mum's even licking the plate clean.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17The cubs are doing really well.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21They're growing bigger and stronger by the day.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25At last, Yogi and his family can enjoy a meal in peace.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Kumi's all on his own so now
0:10:38 > 0:10:41he's got to fend for himself, but is he up to the job?
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It's that rumbling sound again.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Kumi's heard it before so he knows what it means -
0:10:51 > 0:10:54the wildebeest are back.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02This is Kumi's big chance to put his hunting skills into practice.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Come on, Kumi, you gotta get a move on if you want
0:11:06 > 0:11:07to catch a wildebeest.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Further upstream, another leopard is getting in on the action.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It's Mila, Kumi's mum!
0:11:18 > 0:11:20She's heading into the long grass.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22It's the perfect cover.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27She's got a big herd in her sights.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Time to get even closer.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Wow! She's got one.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Well done, Mila!
0:11:48 > 0:11:52But she's a bit too exposed. She needs to get the kill to cover,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55before any lions or hyenas pick up on the scent.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02Back downstream, Kumi's lazing around.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Why isn't he going after some wildebeest of his own?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Surely he's hungry?
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Oh, look, at last he's heading towards the action,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17but he's also heading straight into Mila's territory.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22And if Mila's pregnant then she definitely won't want Kumi around.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29With the help of the team, Rooney's starting to get a good idea
0:12:29 > 0:12:31of who's who in the Kalahari.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36But friends and rivals aren't the only things he needs to learn about
0:12:36 > 0:12:38to survive in the desert league.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47It's midday and it's getting really hot out here.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51With temperatures soaring to 40 degrees, Rooney's starting
0:12:51 > 0:12:53to feel the heat.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56The desert heat can be a real killer
0:12:56 > 0:12:59so everyone here has their clever ways of keeping cool.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Time for Rooney to get back to base and find out how meerkats do it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15In the midday heat, our meerkat team like to stay out of the sun.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Today, they've chosen a big tree.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22This way they've got plenty of shade so they can all chill out together.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Oh, phew, Rooney's joined them!
0:13:30 > 0:13:32But he's still feeling the heat.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Rooney's dad has got a trick up his sleeve.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40He's covering them with sand.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48This is a great way to keep the kids cool, as the lower
0:13:48 > 0:13:50layers of sand are nice and chilled.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Even Rooney's having a little go at throwing some sand around.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06The sentry on duty, Uncle Bob, doesn't get any sand cooling therapy
0:14:06 > 0:14:09so he's finding it hard to stay awake.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Even with the noisy neighbours making a racket.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It's their friends from upstairs, the weaverbirds,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19and they've got their very own special way of beating the heat.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Their nest may look like a giant haystack, but it's more than just
0:14:30 > 0:14:31a load of straw.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35With air trapped in the thatch, it acts like a home-made
0:14:35 > 0:14:39air-conditioning system, staying 10 degrees cooler than the outside.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47In a few hours' time, the hottest part of the day will be over
0:14:47 > 0:14:51and then at last the meerkat team can get back on the pitch.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56Just as well as Rooney's got a very important training session coming up.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09After a fishy feast it's time eat some greens.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Mumma bear's brought the cubs to a new meadow.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Let's hope its safer than the last one they visited.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22With most of the big bears fishing for salmon they should be OK,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25at least that's what Mumma bear's hoping.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30There're no fishy feasts on offer here,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32but they can tuck into some salad.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Uh oh, what's this?
0:15:49 > 0:15:54It's a huge male, it's creeping up behind them and it could easily
0:15:54 > 0:15:57kill Yogi and his sister. They're making a run for it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Ooh! Where did Yogi go? Oh, he's OK!
0:16:13 > 0:16:17But they've still got a giant bear chasing after them!
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Boy, that bear looks grumpy!
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Poor Yogi's probably got indigestion,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36but with the season drawing to a close, he and his little sis have
0:16:36 > 0:16:41got to find more food if they want to make it through the harsh winter.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58With the hottest part of the day behind them,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Rooney and the team are back out on the pitch and ready for action.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06It's thirsty work being a member of Meerkats United, but Rooney doesn't
0:17:06 > 0:17:09have to worry about finding a glass of water round here.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Meerkats don't need to drink at all, as they can get all the water
0:17:17 > 0:17:19they need from juicy bugs and grubs.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25So far Rooney's been handed food on a plate by the adults,
0:17:25 > 0:17:31but today it's his big chance to see if he can fend for himself.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Ooh, what's this? A giant millipede making its way towards you Rooney.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Nice one Rooney, ooh, don't let it get away!
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Ah, there you go, good work for your first catch!
0:17:54 > 0:17:56And check this out, his next challenge
0:17:56 > 0:17:59is a trail of stinging ants!
0:18:02 > 0:18:08Mmm, it's a bit like eating your peas one by one, but these peas bite!
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Ouch!
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Poor Rooney, this foraging business
0:18:18 > 0:18:22can be pretty painful if you don't know what you're doing.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26And there's another surprise on the meerkat menu, with an even
0:18:26 > 0:18:28bigger sting in the tail!
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Back at the riverbank in the Massai Mara, Kumi's
0:18:39 > 0:18:45heading for the wildebeest herd, but now he's in mum's territory.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49If they meet, Mila could get really aggressive.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Careful, Kumi!
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Hold on a minute, he can hear something,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59it sounds like another leopard,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02what's he gonna do? Uh oh,
0:19:02 > 0:19:07it's Mila who's making all that noise.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Ooh, Kumi's on the move.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10But he's going straight towards Mila.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13What on earth is he thinking?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Oh, look at that!
0:19:20 > 0:19:22She seems pretty pleased to see him.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Wow, what a relief.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27The fact that she's being so friendly means there's
0:19:27 > 0:19:29no way she could be pregnant.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Kumi's not on his own after all.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40He's still just a big kitten who can't resist mum's home cookin',
0:19:40 > 0:19:42or should I say catchin'?
0:19:55 > 0:19:59But Kumi and Mila are walking straight towards danger,
0:20:01 > 0:20:06they don't know it yet, but a gang of lions are lying in their path...
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Yikes! Watch out, Kumi!
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Oh, no, the lions are on the move
0:20:16 > 0:20:21and they're coming this way, they must have picked up the scent.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29If they meet there's only one outcome...
0:20:29 > 0:20:31a dead leopard!
0:20:43 > 0:20:49Out here in Alaska, a lot can change in just a few weeks.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Autumn has arrived and Yogi and his family have got no time to waste.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58They've already grown a thicker coat, now they've just gotta eat
0:20:58 > 0:21:01as much as they can so they can make it through the cold winter.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09And up here in the mountains autumn brings one final fruity feast.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15The hills are carpeted with sugar-rich berries.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19For Yogi, this is like tucking into his favourite pudding.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24Some grizzlies will eat up to a 100,000 berries a day!
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Wow! Surely that's too much of a good thing?
0:21:28 > 0:21:33When they've had enough of berries, there's more rich pickings on offer.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Roots and tubers.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38But first a bit of digging is required.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Mumma bear's showing Yogi how it's done.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46Now pay attention, Yogi, I'm only gonna show you this once!
0:21:48 > 0:21:53Ooh, look, she's found a root, it doesn't look too appetising
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but it's just like a potato and full of energy.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Right, Yogi, you're turn!
0:22:06 > 0:22:08That's the way to do it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Good work.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Hey, mum's spotted something even tastier,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21it's a ground squirrel.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Where is it?
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Where'd it go?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43It's behind you!
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Tough luck, mum, it's back to the berries, roots and tubers then.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52At least they don't run away.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59But they've got no time to waste, it'll only be a few weeks before
0:22:59 > 0:23:02it gets too cold to stay outdoors.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06So, Yogi and his family have got to eat everything they can get
0:23:06 > 0:23:09their paws on, and quickly.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13This is their last chance to stock up before their long winter sleep.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17If they don't eat enough now, they just won't survive.
0:23:26 > 0:23:32So far, Rooney's feasted on bugs, grubs and even stinging ants,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36but has he got the guts to gobble up the next gourmet feast,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40the one with a seriously big sting in its tail!
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Dad's gonna show Rooney how to find one.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Like all good meerkat food, it's gonna take a bit of digging.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55What's he doing down there?
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Maybe I should have a look.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Wow! What is that thing?
0:24:07 > 0:24:11That, my furry friend, is a scorpion.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Armed with a pair of pincers,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16an armour plated body and, scariest of all,
0:24:16 > 0:24:23a lethal sting in that whip-like tail, most animals steer well clear.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Their venom is powerful enough to kill a child,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28you've been warned kids!
0:24:28 > 0:24:30But in the barren Kalahari,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34scorpions are a meaty feast, you've just gotta know how to handle them.
0:24:36 > 0:24:43And dad knows exactly what to do, ooh, and there he is, he's got it!
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Whoa! Where's he going with it?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49He needs to crunch through that lethal tail,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53fortunately, meerkats are immune to the worst of scorpion venom,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56but a sting can still be painful.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59He's done it, he's disarmed the tail!
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Now it's safe, it's Rooney's turn to practise handling a scorpion.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07But it's still got its pincers, so he's got to be careful.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Hey look at him go, he's chewing on that tail!
0:25:14 > 0:25:18He's munching everything down,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21though obviously pincers aren't his favourite part!
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Well done, Rooney, you've successfully
0:25:25 > 0:25:27tackled your first scorpion.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29He's proved himself yet again,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32but he's got plenty more challenges ahead.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47Kumi and Mila are on a collision course with a gang of lions,
0:25:47 > 0:25:52this is really bad news, if they meet Kumi wouldn't stand a chance.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55What's gonna happen?
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Oh, look, they've spotted the lions.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Run for your life, Kumi!
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Phew! Look at that, Kumi and Mila have escaped up a tree,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17but they're not out of the woods yet!
0:26:20 > 0:26:24This is terrifying, how's Kumi going to react?
0:26:24 > 0:26:29He's never encountered lions before.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Luckily for him, these big cats aren't so good at climbing trees,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35so for now he and Mila are safe.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Uh oh! The lion's calling in reinforcements.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Kumi's looking scared.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Should he make a dash for it, before the other lions get here?
0:26:57 > 0:27:02No, bad idea. Mila knows that they must hold tight,
0:27:02 > 0:27:07but Kumi isn't so experienced. If he loses his nerve
0:27:07 > 0:27:09he might try to jump.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Don't do it, Kumi!
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Next time on Wild Tales...
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Can Kumi keep his nerve as the lions carry on their siege?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25The meerkat team face
0:27:25 > 0:27:28real danger as a deadly snake moves in on their territory...
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Will Rooney be brave enough to step into the front line?
0:27:34 > 0:27:39And will Yogi and his sister make it through their first long winter?
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Find out next time on Wild Tales.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd