0:00:15 > 0:00:19This the Namib Desert in southwest Africa.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28"Namib" means vast.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It's 1,600 kilometres long...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36..50,000 kilometres square.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41The Namib is the oldest desert on earth.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51It's the harshest place in the world for elephants to live.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04And 25 years ago, out of a herd of 80 desert elephants,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08poachers killed all but three.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Now large-scale poaching has ended.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21The herd is recovering and two young calves have just been born.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Their first six months will be critical,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31as each calf learns the secrets of survival
0:01:31 > 0:01:32among the searing sands.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59It's May, the cold, dry season in Namibia.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04In the Hoarusib valley, several families gather to feed.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07One mother is particularly hungry.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Four months ago, Broken Tusk had a new calf, Dusty.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15He's always after milk.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Dusty is Broken Tusk's first calf for eight years.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Desert elephants have only half as many calves
0:02:35 > 0:02:39as their savannah cousins and they may suckle for twice as long.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The family appear to enjoy their new member.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50ELEPHANT PURRS
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Dusty's relatives will do all they can
0:02:53 > 0:02:56to prevent him getting into any trouble.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Youngsters are even more welcome than usual
0:03:01 > 0:03:03because of a recent death in the group.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07This is Rosa, the oldest member.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12She's just lost her elder daughter,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15who died within days of giving birth.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20In her late 50s, she's unlikely to have any more calves.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Rosa is attempting something elephants don't normally do.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31She's trying to raise her dead daughter's son, Himba -
0:03:31 > 0:03:35she's adopted the orphan.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Luckily, she can give him milk
0:03:37 > 0:03:40because she's still feeding a seven-year-old daughter.
0:03:48 > 0:03:55Rosa's milk is vital because at two weeks, Himba can't cope with solids.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58He can't eat grass,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02so Himba is totally dependent on his grandmother.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The challenge is to guide the new youngsters safely
0:04:14 > 0:04:16through the next six months.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21By then, the two calves will have to be strong enough
0:04:21 > 0:04:25to endure the long treks that take desert elephants
0:04:25 > 0:04:27to their next source of food.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32For now, the leaders can let the calves play,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36but in a short time, they will guide the youngsters on journeys
0:04:36 > 0:04:38that will test them to the limit.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44The lead females take the herd on short trips
0:04:44 > 0:04:46into the surrounding hills to forage.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Exceptionally, the desert is in bloom.
0:05:16 > 0:05:22Any young born now are enjoying ideal conditions.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30A miraculous transformation has taken place.
0:05:37 > 0:05:43Five months ago, deluges in distant mountains unleashed torrents.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50For the first time in 30 years,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53the floods brought dried-up rivers back to life.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00The rivers create corridors dotted with waterholes.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21While they can,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Rosa and Broken Tusk search for food up and down the river.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35The adults can last four or five days without water
0:06:35 > 0:06:37but the calves must drink every day.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Himba is on a steep learning curve.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50He hasn't yet managed to fill his trunk.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52He drinks with his mouth instead.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Four-month-old Dusty has learnt by copying the adults.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03He can already fill his trunk.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26The older elephants can suck ten to fifteen litres
0:07:26 > 0:07:29into their trunks each time.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33They empty the contents straight down their throats.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Water alone won't keep Himba alive.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43To grow, he depends on milk, rich in fat and vitamins.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50The tiny orphan relies on the milk left over
0:07:50 > 0:07:52once Rosa's daughter has fed.
0:07:52 > 0:07:58At the same time, unusually, Dusty is on double rations.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02He's drinking milk from both his mother and his elder sister.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13As males, Dusty and Himba should grow faster and larger
0:08:13 > 0:08:16than their female relatives.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Dusty certainly has an appetite.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26If he sees his elder sister suckling her own calf,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29he'll try to prevent her.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32He's able to feed much more than Himba.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Dusty can look forward to drinking milk for years.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46At least one of his relatives is still suckling at the age of seven.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Rosa and Broken Tusk will do everything they can
0:09:03 > 0:09:06to give their offspring the best chance of survival.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12The small families need every extra member they can raise.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22At the moment, however, the calves keep this part of the herd
0:09:22 > 0:09:25tied to the water course and its dwindling pools.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Only ten kilometres away, there are other members of the herd.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Leading them is Left Fang, named after her plunging tusk.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53She too is raising a family but her calves are older.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05The adolescents can traverse more difficult terrain
0:10:05 > 0:10:07and they can undertake longer journeys.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24They travel constantly, from food to isolated food,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27pausing occasionally to take on water.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Unhindered by young,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Left Fang is free to seek out the individual plants
0:10:36 > 0:10:38that provide important carbohydrate
0:10:38 > 0:10:41and much-needed vitamins and minerals.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49To fuel their immense bodies,
0:10:49 > 0:10:53elephants spend some 16 hours out of 24 eating.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56They need food more often than water -
0:10:56 > 0:11:00up to 136 kilos every day.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Left Fang knows when each food is at its best.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12She has brought the others to browse on commiphora.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The woody shrub contains a sugary sap,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21the scented resin known as myrrh.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28She handles the tough stems with ease,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31wielding 40,000 muscles in her massive trunk.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Down below at the riverbed, Rosa and the others are still able to graze.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46But the grasses and flowers from the big flood won't last long.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57This year, there is so much food and water that, unusually,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01the desert elephants can spare energy to play and spar.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12A visitor arrives, unseen.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Initially, the herd remains oblivious to his presence.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26This is the first time the calves have ever seen such a large bull.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Dusty is alarmed.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38His relatives rush to reassure him.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Tiny Himba moves closer to Rosa.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58The big male leads a separate, solitary life.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02He appears only occasionally, when he wants to mate.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10He is looking for a receptive female.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32The mature bull shows all the signs of being in musth,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34the time when he is sexually active.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37But none of the herd is on heat.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45Suddenly he senses another male nearby, also in musth.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48He is at his most aggressive, so he gives chase.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51The newcomer doesn't want to fight,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54but the big bull will pursue him, to make sure.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10The group moves on, in search of richer vegetation.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18The tamarisk trees along the banks are too bitter and salty.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23The youngsters' constant thirst
0:14:23 > 0:14:26confines the hungry group to the narrow riverbed.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29In the hills above, where more food grows,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33the 50 degree heat is too much for the calves.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Left Fang and the others protect themselves with dust.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Elephants can't sweat.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50They seek out even the smallest hint of shade.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54What they do now was thought to be a myth.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04Every 20 minutes or so Left Fang's group spray themselves down.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10They're cooling the blood vessels that cover their ears.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18But up here, there are no springs or streams to provide water.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Remarkably, Left Fang's group are filling their trunks
0:15:23 > 0:15:25from hidden pouches in their throat.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29This has rarely been seen, and never filmed before.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38But the heat is drying them out.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41They are losing several litres of water an hour.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46The family won't be able to spend a second day up here.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57At last, night brings the animals respite.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34Dawn at the riverbed.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Rosa's surviving daughter is waking a sleepy Himba.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46He's basking in her attention, and the warmth of a new day.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54The seven-year-old aunt gently readies her nephew.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58She gives him a dusting of sunscreen.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03She can't feed him, but young females often mother small calves.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22As Himba is an orphan, his aunt's efforts are even more valuable.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Dusty is already up and raring to go.
0:17:48 > 0:17:49Along the riverbed,
0:17:49 > 0:17:55the elephants are finding it harder to locate palatable vegetation.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Rosa and Broken Tusk take the entire group
0:18:01 > 0:18:03off towards the nearby slopes,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06to look for the woody species they prefer.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Left Fang and her relatives are well fed and restored
0:18:21 > 0:18:24after a night high in the mountains.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28They are making straight for the river again.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Her family learn the routes from her.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47The older they grow, the more complex are their mental maps.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Theirs is the more typical life of a nomad.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Once at the river,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Left Fang's family makes up for the day in the desiccating sun.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21But with little suitable forage to be had, they won't stay.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27After a bout of friendly sparring,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Left Fang's family will set off again.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49On their way to distant food,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53they come across the corpse of another elephant.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01The bare skull lies separate from the skin-covered body.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10From the smell, Left Fang can probably recognise the remains.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20It is what is left of Himba's mother.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35The find fascinates them.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Himba was just a few days old when she died.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48His grandmother is the only mother he's ever known.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Elephants often linger, smelling and touching the bones.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It's one of the things that make them seem so human.
0:21:23 > 0:21:2520 kilometres away,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Rosa's group is still hampered by the two young calves.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37Himba is hot, thirsty and above all, hungry.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42He won't be able to eat even grass till he's at least three months.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47At six weeks, he remains entirely dependent on his adoptive mother.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53His real mother would keep her son within trunk reach,
0:21:53 > 0:21:57in the shade of her body, and she would feed him every half hour.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Rosa must eat,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08as she is struggling to breastfeed two calves at the same time.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15The little calf is doing his best to stay near.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Himba needs 15 litres of milk each day.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51He manages to snatch only a few mouthfuls.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Rosa seems reluctant to suckle him.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04He's desperate for more.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Himba is completely confused.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Without milk, he won't last long.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28The calf's instinctive efforts to suckle lead only to rejection.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Now the undersized orphan looks frightened of Rosa.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39For some reason, the aged female can't make enough milk.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43She may not be finding enough food, or her teeth may be worn out.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52Himba can only trail beside her, hoping the supply will return.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12It's now August, two months on.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14At one of the few remaining wallows,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Dusty's family are playing excitedly.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Dusty has more than enough energy.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Himba has no strength to play.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48The others make the most of the plentiful water.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Normally, it would have vanished months ago.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58SPLASHING
0:25:00 > 0:25:02DUSTY TRUMPETS
0:25:07 > 0:25:10A few weeks later, there is a sudden change.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Searing blasts scorch the land.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23The usual wind from the south is giving way to winds from the east,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26across the blazing Kalahari.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37In a short time, the greenery in the inland oases will shrivel.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Rosa, Broken Tusk and Left Fang face life or death decisions
0:25:46 > 0:25:49that will affect their whole families.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54When should they leave? Where should they go?
0:25:54 > 0:25:59Which is the best course, with the lives of youngsters at stake?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Each leader will make a different choice.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34High on a plateau, Left Fang is the first to sense the threat.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38Her response will be swift.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43She will hurry her family towards cool and shelter down at the coast.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49There are no small calves to slow them down.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52They leave at once.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56This is no light undertaking.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Even though her family are all fit and well,
0:27:00 > 0:27:05the arduous journey will take at least five days.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Left Fang must gamble on her experience
0:27:15 > 0:27:19to guide her family across arid, strength-sapping terrain.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Down at the dry riverbed,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Himba is now so hungry he's chewing on thorn pods.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37CHEWING
0:27:46 > 0:27:49For Rosa, the choice of when to leave and where to go
0:27:49 > 0:27:51is not so simple.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00Try as he may, Himba can barely obtain any nourishment.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07His grandmother's milk is slowly drying up.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15He really needs his dead mother.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23But Rosa is still trying to suckle her daughter as well.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26In frustration,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Himba pushes the competition away.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37But he manages only a few extra drops.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46And his victory is short-lived.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Until the calf is stronger, the family are unable to move on.
0:29:01 > 0:29:07But the more Rosa feeds Himba, the less there is for her own daughter.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Rosa is caught in a dilemma.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Dusty's aunts are all over him with help.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41If he's too small to mount an obstacle, they give him a hand.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Broken Tusk will risk a long dash to safety
0:29:47 > 0:29:48but she won't leave
0:29:48 > 0:29:51until she's certain Dusty is up to the challenge.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04Left Fang's family are already 40 kilometres away now,
0:30:04 > 0:30:06two days into their journey.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Down river, the sand beneath the sun-baked surface is much cooler.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43This will help them endure the burning valleys, bare of shade.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32The elephants browse on occasional bushes.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35The thin vegetation
0:31:35 > 0:31:40gives Left Fang's family temporary relief from their hunger.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45Nearer the coast, there's water below and above ground.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49The smell draws other animals - prey and predators.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Baboons are opportunists.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07They'll eat small mammals or insects, eggs or even grass.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12They soon spot a chance.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24Newly-hatched chicks behind a pair of Egyptian geese.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32For all the birds' bravery, there's no contest.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Their attackers are ten times as heavy and much stronger.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Both parents try to head off the baby-snatchers,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53but they can't protect every gosling.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Finally, a thief seizes one.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21The parents try to locate any survivors.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26At least one got away.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31It's the youngest that are the most at risk in any species.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41By September, in the rapidly-drying interior,
0:33:41 > 0:33:46Rosa's family are reduced to the last spiny bushes.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55Himba is still too young to gain strength from the meagre fibres.
0:34:01 > 0:34:06Rosa herself is increasingly short of energy.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11The undernourished youngster gains little from his grandmother.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13The small amount of milk that remains
0:34:13 > 0:34:16has precious little fat and nutrients.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28The bones in his forehead are showing.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Himba is growing weaker and weaker.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48None of the others have the commitment a real mother would.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09The orphan's efforts to feed are increasingly in vain.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Rosa's attempt to save her grandson
0:35:27 > 0:35:32may be putting the rest of the family's lives at risk.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35He is so small, none of them can travel to better grazing.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Rosa knows where she wants to head to
0:35:43 > 0:35:45but the journey could kill Himba.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Their five-day march completed,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08Left Fang's family can enjoy the cooler surroundings
0:36:08 > 0:36:10of the coastal dunes.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19They're locating the foods they crave at this time of year.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24This makes their extraordinary journey worthwhile.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Here, lush tree foliage is within easy reach.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Left Fang's family can relax.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48With some plants, they love the roots.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52With dwarf palms, only found here,
0:36:52 > 0:36:55they particularly relish the tender bark.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Left Fang has made sure her family's needs are met.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24They are safe, watered and at full strength again.
0:38:00 > 0:38:05The family can regroup before their next great journey.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14BIRD SQUAWKS
0:38:35 > 0:38:38In the interior, Rosa is under pressure.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42She can smell rain upriver, over 100 kilometres away.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Fresh pasture might give her enough milk to restore Himba,
0:38:46 > 0:38:48but they need to reach it within days.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Dusty's family is on the move, too.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Broken Tusk seizes the moment.
0:38:57 > 0:38:58She knows an area
0:38:58 > 0:39:02where extremely rich food is about to become available.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17The coming 48 hours will face Dusty
0:39:17 > 0:39:20with the hardest test of his life so far.
0:39:40 > 0:39:46To reach the new food involves a marathon trek, 70 kilometres long,
0:39:46 > 0:39:50south, beyond a mountain ridge into the next major river valley.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16Further inland, Himba has barely moved from the river.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20The surrounding vegetation is no longer edible.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23They have to leave as soon as possible.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Rosa and her daughter know that if the infant doesn't get up quickly,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37he may become too weak to rise again.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46They want to keep him moving.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48They lead him towards a mud hole.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56The others wallow.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01They coat themselves in mud as a protection from the sun.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Himba has run out of strength.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Rosa and her daughter won't leave the calf
0:41:19 > 0:41:24but without food they can't stay at the waterhole any longer.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29Once more his family rally round to get him going again.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34It's all too much for Himba.
0:41:38 > 0:41:4370 kilometres south, Dusty is within sight of success.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56BIRDS SING
0:42:02 > 0:42:04BIRD WHISTLES
0:42:14 > 0:42:17After a whole day and two nights on the move,
0:42:17 > 0:42:19the longest Dusty has ever walked,
0:42:19 > 0:42:22his efforts are about to be rewarded.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34For a short time,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38a delicacy lies on the ground here.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41The ana trees are dropping their seeds.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44The pods are packed with goodness.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09For Dusty, milk from his mother and his older sister
0:43:09 > 0:43:12enabled him to reach fresh food.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19His family's unique double suckling strategy is paying off.
0:43:31 > 0:43:35Dusty's new-found stamina takes the pressure off the whole family.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53Back at the dry riverbed, as November comes,
0:43:53 > 0:43:56Rosa can still smell rain to the east.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01She's desperate to head there in search of fresh food.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12She has decided they must set out,
0:44:12 > 0:44:14despite Himba's weakened state.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Himba has collapsed, exhausted.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40Lying next to him, his aunt tries to rouse him.
0:44:42 > 0:44:47Without her help, his chances of getting up again are slim.
0:44:56 > 0:45:01Himba's aunt becomes increasingly concerned - frantic, even -
0:45:01 > 0:45:03as he fails to respond.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18The lack of milk is taking a cruel toll.
0:45:18 > 0:45:24Yet if they can lead Himba to a new grazing area, he might get more.
0:45:32 > 0:45:36Finally, the pair help him struggle to his feet.
0:45:44 > 0:45:50How long and how far the small calf can keep going, they do not know.
0:45:50 > 0:45:55Rosa and his aunt have ignored their own need to eat for too long.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Himba's weakness and their persistence
0:45:57 > 0:45:59have put their lives in danger.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Himba has not been seen since.
0:46:43 > 0:46:44At the coast,
0:46:44 > 0:46:49Left Fang's family are attracting attention from a male in musth.
0:46:51 > 0:46:56Fresh and cool, full of their favourite palms and bushes,
0:46:56 > 0:47:00Left Fang and her family are in prime breeding condition.
0:47:04 > 0:47:09And one of the females may even be carrying the herd's next calf.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18For the survivors of the poaching holocaust,
0:47:18 > 0:47:22each calf that lives helps rebuild this herd.
0:47:24 > 0:47:29Dusty is now strong enough to master the routes and routines
0:47:29 > 0:47:32that will continue down the generations.
0:47:47 > 0:47:52It's this knowledge and experience gathered over many lifetimes,
0:47:52 > 0:47:55combined with exceptional endurance,
0:47:55 > 0:47:59that is giving these elephant nomads their second chance.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:48:36 > 0:48:39Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk