0:00:02 > 0:00:04The world is full of amazing animal families.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Tales of life and death happen every day.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09For the youngest members, growing up is tough.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15Really tough. These stories recreate their rollercoaster lives.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Here on Wild Tales.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25We're following three fantastic animal characters.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Cara, the caribou calf, gets caught in a rut...
0:00:29 > 0:00:33with huge males fighting all around her.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Newky, the African wild dog pup
0:00:39 > 0:00:42is growing up fast.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45And it's all getting a lot tougher.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And Hugh. Well, it's getting colder.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53But it's still not cold enough to head back over the ice.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59So, where do we start?
0:01:01 > 0:01:03First up, we're in the tundra.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Where Cara faced the mother of all river crossings
0:01:09 > 0:01:12and ended up in one heck of a tight spot.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23Cara's still struggling to find some way past that rock.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26She needs to get out and catch up with Mum.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30But she's getting tired and that current is so strong.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34This is a powerful river.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38It's even taken down full-grown adults.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43It's incredible that Cara's got this far.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Just one more push.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55She breaks free.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Now, it's just one last stretch to go.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04But it's still not easy.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Come on, Cara!
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Finally, she's made it.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Back on dry land.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Cara rejoins her mum.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Safe at last!
0:02:25 > 0:02:28For now, things get a little easier.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32The mosquito season soon comes to an end,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36and the super herds start to break up.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Cara gets a well deserved chance to feed.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45And for the next month it's a feeding frenzy!
0:02:47 > 0:02:52With Cara putting on weight, ready for the ultimate test.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57All the running she's done so far,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01has just been training for the big event.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The great migration to the wintering grounds.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Summer has turned to autumn.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13It's about to get really cold up here.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Once again, the herds get bigger
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and the caribou head south.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Cara's got a vast marathon of a journey ahead of her.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Where they're going, there should be enough food to last all winter.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37But they're nowhere near there yet.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49It's over to the Arctic now.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Where summer brought an end to the ice and snow.
0:03:54 > 0:04:00It got way too hot for these guys, but Hugh finally found relief...
0:04:02 > 0:04:09In a small patch of snow. A reminder that things could only get better.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Finally, the weather has changed.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18A welcome cold front is moving in -
0:04:18 > 0:04:22the start of a new season.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Hugh and his sister are following mum.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33She needs to get out and start hunting seals as soon as possible.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36So she takes them to where the first ice will form.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41But, it's nowhere near thick enough yet.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Hugh and his sister stick close.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52And mum can smell something up ahead.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It smells like food,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58but there could be males too.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Hugh can just about smell it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08But he's got no idea what that new smell is.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15Even in this wilderness, there are still a few isolated communities.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20And with humans comes rubbish.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28This dump has already attracted a few males.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33It's a 24-hour, polar bear fast food joint.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36You wouldn't think the world's largest carnivores
0:05:36 > 0:05:38needed to raid bins.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Mum is still on the way.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46But Hugh won't be able to go in and feed,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49until the big guys have left the table.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03It's over to Botswana next.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Where Newky settled in to a new den.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And the weather took a real turn for the worse.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Months have passed since we were last here,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36and now this whole place has changed.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And Newky's changed too.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46He's now the same size as the adults,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50with the same distinctive painted coat.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53But he's not an adult yet.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58He's a teenager, still technically a pup.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Taking every opportunity to play.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Eventually, mum and dad decide it's time for food
0:07:22 > 0:07:27and they all ship out - pups and all.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Now that Newky's a lot bigger, he can travel
0:07:30 > 0:07:35just as far as the adults. So the pack is no longer tied to one place.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41All of their meals will be drive-thrus from now on,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44shipping out as soon as the eating's done.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48They'll cover their entire home range to look for prey.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Newky's more than fast enough,
0:07:54 > 0:08:00to tag along on the hunts, but he's still too young to fully take part.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08He's got a lot to learn, and the whole of the Okavango
0:08:08 > 0:08:11is one huge wild dog classroom.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21With the biggest lesson starting right now.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27He's run into a fence that stretches for hundreds of miles,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29marking where wilderness ends,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33and domestic herds, like cattle, begin.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40It was set up to keep human activity out of the Okavango.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49The adults know this place is dangerous.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53But Newky's never seen the fence before and he doesn't know
0:08:53 > 0:08:57that when dogs have crossed in the past, they haven't returned.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Mum and dad start to lead the pack away.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07But Newky and the other pups are a lot more interested
0:09:07 > 0:09:10in what's on the other side.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Will Newky be tempted to go across?
0:09:13 > 0:09:18And in this case, will curiosity kill the dog?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Cara is still on the move.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33There's just no let-up - this is the big one.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37The great autumn migration south.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42It's a journey Cara's never made before and everything is different.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Including the males.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49These guys are having a really bad hair day.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Their new antlers have been growing underneath a furry skin,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55called velvet.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01And as it falls off, it reveals the tough bone underneath.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05They're getting frisky, spoiling for a fight.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Cara's about to get caught up in something big.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17It's the rutting season, when males fight it out
0:10:17 > 0:10:20for the attention of the females.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30It's like a boxing ring out there and Cara has front row seats.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32BING!
0:10:33 > 0:10:35THEY GRUNT
0:10:38 > 0:10:41They're really going for it.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Remember, these guys are essentially reindeer.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47That's Rudolph fighting out there!
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Boy, can they throw a punch.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00Those males can really "rut" their stuff.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06A lull in the fighting gives Cara the chance to take it all in.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11And that was just round one!
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Cara stays out of the way,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19but the males aren't interested in her.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25It's the adult females they're after,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27including Cara's mum.
0:11:27 > 0:11:33Like males everywhere, these guys are just showing off for the ladies.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37It all proves which male is the strongest,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and all the ladies like a good, strong male.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43But not even the rutting season
0:11:43 > 0:11:45slows down the pace of the migration.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56It's a constant slog for Cara.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11In Botswana, Newky's facing a serious dilemma.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17He's itching to get across to the other side of the fence.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Whereas the adults just want to get away.
0:12:21 > 0:12:27On the other side are cattle with armed guards.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Wild dogs won't really go after cows,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37but the guards can't take any chances.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40And if Newky crosses, he could face a bullet.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46He needs to stay on the right side.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48And eventually...
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Dog-sense prevails.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Newky leaves.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Followed by the other pups.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01They head off with the adults to find prey.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Newky's right there, up front.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07He's growing up.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Now that he's no longer tied to the den,
0:13:10 > 0:13:14it's all starting to get a lot tougher.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19The dogs can easily cover 50 miles a day in their search for food.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22And while Newky might look scrawny,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25underneath he's like a marathon runner...
0:13:28 > 0:13:30With unbelievable stamina.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Eventually, the pack finds what it's looking for...
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Impala. It's the first time Newky's ever seen these guys -
0:13:40 > 0:13:42a type of antelope.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48But he instinctively knows to keep quiet and stay with the pack.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Mum and dad lead the way.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57And at this stage, Newky gets to ride up front.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03It's his first proper hunt
0:14:03 > 0:14:07and it's all about to kick off, big style.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10He needs to keep his cool.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23In the Arctic, Hugh and his sister have arrived at the dump.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27But the males are still there.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Hugh is gagging to get in there.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34But mum's not taking any chances with these guys.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Eventually, they call it a day.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43And with the threat gone,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46mum strolls in for a free meal.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50She's still a little on edge -
0:14:50 > 0:14:52those males could come back.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59But at least for now, these guys will get to eat in peace.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Of course, it's only rubbish.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09And burnt rubbish at that. But it's a whole let better
0:15:09 > 0:15:13than what mum's had this summer. Hugh and his sister tuck in.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18They're in junk food heaven.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24But pretty soon, Mum finishes up and leaves.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Hugh and his sis would rather stay here and pig out all day,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32but it's not up to them.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Mum leads them on towards the ice.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40She wants to get out there and find some real food.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44But the ice still isn't ready.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Patience, Hugh.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48You'll just have to wait!
0:15:56 > 0:16:00In Botswana, Newky's right up in the thick of it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02It's his first proper hunt,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06and for now, he's neck and neck with mum and dad
0:16:06 > 0:16:10as they stalk the impala.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Suddenly, it all breaks loose.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19The adults go in for the chase.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23At this point, Newky is forced
0:16:23 > 0:16:27to hang back from the action with the other youngsters.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29He's close enough to see the chase,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33but he's not experienced enough yet to fully take part.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39For the adults the prize gets closer and closer.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41And back here with Newky,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44the adrenaline must be pumping.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55With the prey taken down the adults jump right in,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58bolting down the food as fast as they can.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03Newky is still some distance away, but he's getting closer.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07The pups will get priority at the kill.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09But only if they can get there
0:17:09 > 0:17:13before the adults have completely cleared the table.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15At this rate,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19will there even be any food left when Newky finally arrives?
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Cara has survived the rut unscathed and it's now winter.
0:17:32 > 0:17:39That's two solid months of walking. A 400-mile trek.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42The males left after the rut, and the females are alone.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50Cara's grown up a lot and she's stopped drinking mum's milk.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54But it's her first winter and she still needs her around.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01By travelling south, Cara has avoided the worst of the weather.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04This might look bad, but believe me,
0:18:04 > 0:18:09if Cara had stayed up north, it would be a lot tougher right now.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15The herd tread carefully.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23Their feet are extra wide to spread their weight with a non-slip grip.
0:18:24 > 0:18:30Eventually, Cara and mum wander onto the wintering grounds.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Along with the rest of the herd.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35It's a whole new experience for Cara.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37It's really cold.
0:18:37 > 0:18:43But hollow outer hair acts as a thick insulating blanket,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45keeping her warm.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Her biggest problem is all that snow cover.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54In the summer grounds she had plenty of grass to eat,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57but what's she gonna eat round here?
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Cara must be starving after such a long journey.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03With no more free feeds from mum,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06she'll need to eat as much as she can.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09But why's she followed mum
0:19:09 > 0:19:13all this way, if there's nothing here to eat?
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Hugh and his sister stick close to mum,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25close to the ice.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30It's got colder and the ice has got thicker.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33But it's still got some way to go.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38Mum needs to be ready to head out as soon as the freeze really kicks in.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43But she can't afford to get too close.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48This is polar bear central -
0:19:48 > 0:19:53full of males, all of them waiting for the ice to form.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It's the only time of year, that these guys ever just hang out.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03And while most of the time they just chill,
0:20:03 > 0:20:09every now and then, it's polar bear wrestling time.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16There are no prizes here like there were for the caribou.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20This is just play fighting.
0:20:21 > 0:20:26But it all looks pretty serious to Hugh and his sister.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31These young males are in the prime of their lives.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Of course, now, Hugh is safe with Mum.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45But he's growing up fast,
0:20:45 > 0:20:49and it won't be that long, before he's taking part himself.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Newky and the pups finally arrive at the kill.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Just in time!
0:21:04 > 0:21:09There's still food left over.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12The adults let the youngsters in to feed.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Things are a lot tougher for Newky these days,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18but he, at least, gets to eat.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23When he's finally stuffed,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27the whole family get straight back on the move.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33A kill site can soon attract the wrong sort of crowd -
0:21:33 > 0:21:35lions or hyenas.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40The dogs need to get away fast.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Eventually, they're far enough away to settle down.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Newky and the pups are still a little too cocky
0:21:56 > 0:21:59after all that preferential treatment.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Mum and dad decide to bring them down to earth.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20There's a lot of head-bowing and tail-wagging,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24as the parents reassert their authority over the pack.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Once everybody's fallen into line,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Newky gets some well deserved shut-eye.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41He's growing up so fast.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45And a few months from now, he'll become an adult,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48leaving his teenage years behind.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Mum's got a new litter of pups on the way,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57and they'll soon get all the attention.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00It's all about to get even tougher for Newky.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05How will he cope when he loses his top dog status?
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Hugh and his sister are sitting out the cold,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18waiting for the big freeze.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It's way down below zero now.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24But while mum's happy to just sit it out and wait,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28some of the young males aren't so patient.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33They're keen to find out first hand if the ice is thick enough.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36So far so good!
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Slowly, now.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Oooh!
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Oh, dear!
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Spreading your weight can sometimes help.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Woah!
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Perhaps these guys were a little hasty.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54They'll learn.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Hugh and his sister have got mum to tell them when the time's right,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and she knows better than to storm out before
0:24:05 > 0:24:07the sea has completely frozen up.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10She waits, and waits
0:24:10 > 0:24:14and eventually, the time has come.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20The males are already long gone, as Hugh and his sister are led out
0:24:20 > 0:24:23over freshly-frozen ice,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26back to their old home.
0:24:29 > 0:24:35Our cubs are about to get their first taste of an Arctic winter,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38with no den to hide in this time.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42They might think they've known cold, but that was nothing.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48It's about to get very, very cold indeed.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Is Hugh really ready for all that?
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Cara's new home is similar to that of the bears -
0:25:03 > 0:25:05covered in snow.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09It doesn't look as like there's anything to eat or drink.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14You're probably wondering why mum brought Cara all this way,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17but first impressions can be misleading.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Caribou will eat snow when they're thirsty.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23But, Cara, be warned.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27This place is also a public toilet.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Watch out where you eat!
0:25:30 > 0:25:35Of course, snow isn't enough to fill Cara up,
0:25:35 > 0:25:41but there are plants underneath the snow and mum can sniff them out,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44even when the snow is five feet thick.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Digging with her hooves reveals a seasonal bounty called lichen,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52a bit like moss.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Thankfully, Cara has taken a bit of a liking to lichen,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02which is a good job as it's on the menu for the rest of the winter,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05breakfast, lunch and dinner.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Unfortunately, there is a big problem with this stuff.
0:26:11 > 0:26:17It takes a lot of energy to find and doesn't give a great deal back.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20But that's where mum's antlers come in.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23They're not just for decoration.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28She just waits for a caribou to dig out a good patch of lichen.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31And then fights them for it.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36It's winner takes all in this game.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Cara and her mum get plenty of food,
0:26:40 > 0:26:45without all the effort of digging it up themselves.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49But food is by no means their biggest problem.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52There are dangers lurking nearby.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56If Cara goes down to the woods today,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00she'll be sure of a big surprise.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Something is moving amongst the trees,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06with big eyes - all the better to see you with,
0:27:06 > 0:27:11and big teeth - all the better to eat you.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Next time on Wild Tales...
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Will Cara stay away from the woods?
0:27:30 > 0:27:33How will Newky cope when he's no longer a pup?
0:27:34 > 0:27:39And what will Hugh think of the winter weather?
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Find out next time on Wild Tales.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:51 > 0:27:53E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk