0:00:13 > 0:00:17They care for friend and family like few other animals.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Like us, they feel emotion.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27They may even be aware of their own mortality.
0:00:27 > 0:00:33Yet there's still so very much we don't know about elephants.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Here in Northern Kenya, the Save the Elephants
0:00:37 > 0:00:41team is making extraordinary discoveries about their lives.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44They're facing big challenges.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48There's continuing conflict between people and elephants
0:00:48 > 0:00:52and the death of a bull called Mungu remains a mystery.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00The dry season arrived, bringing desperate times for all the elephants.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07A baby elephant called Breeze might not have survived.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15We'll follow these dramatic stories alongside the team,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19as they reveal the Secret Life Of Elephants.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Samburu lies in the arid north of Kenya.
0:01:42 > 0:01:48For over two months, the reserve has been in the grip of severe drought.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The elephants were forced to leave in search of water.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Now, the rains have come.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26The river is flowing through the heart of the reserve once again.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30The land is turning green and soon the elephants will be back.
0:02:34 > 0:02:40David Daballen is a field researcher with the Save the Elephants team.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44He's out looking for a very special baby elephant.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Breeze was born nine months ago.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Since her first day of life, David's watched her growing up.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05But her family, the Winds, left the reserve with the other elephants during the drought.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11It was a very worrying factor when Breeze left the park.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13She left when she was quite young
0:03:13 > 0:03:17and you know, she didn't have that experience of leaving the park.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23Outside the reserve, food can be hard to find and elephants risk conflict with people.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31David can only hope that Breeze makes it safely back.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41The research team are based at a field camp in the reserve.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Everyone is looking forward to the elephants coming back.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55The team's aim is to give elephants a future in Africa,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57through researching and protecting them.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton has studied elephants for over 40 years
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and he has a special interest in pioneering technology.
0:04:04 > 0:04:12I started in 1969 with simple devices that you put onto an elephant,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16and they bleeped, sent out a radio signal, and you could track it down.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Well, we still do that,
0:04:17 > 0:04:23but with GPS technology, we can now get the collar to receive signals
0:04:23 > 0:04:29from satellites that will pinpoint that elephant within ten metres.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30There we are...
0:04:30 > 0:04:31Today, there's news.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35The collars are showing that a few elephants are heading back to the reserve.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40There's Jerusalem, Anastasia and Neptune.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43- All of them are just in the park. - Fantastic.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Not all the elephants have collars,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49so the team need to see who else is with them.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Could Breeze and her family be back?
0:04:52 > 0:04:56David's heading out with Iain's daughter, Saba Douglas-Hamilton.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05She grew up in Africa and has a lifelong passion for elephants.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Out in the reserve, everything has changed.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15The elephants are back.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30Herd upon herd are converging on the reserve and they're making their presence felt.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51After such a long absence, Saba and David are delighted to see them.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Oh, look, we're getting all sorts of groups meeting up.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00All the elephants are given names and they need to work out who's here.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Look at this.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04All the elephants are back.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Look at the hardwoods, look at the flowers.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Wait, hold on, is that Ebony there?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11That is Ebony.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Just like people, each elephant has a unique personality.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19To understand their lives, the team get to know every one.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- It's like seeing old friends, isn't it?- Yep.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26There are some elephants here I haven't seen for a very long time.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32The herds of females are gathering here for the most important date in the elephant's calendar,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34the breeding season.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41But not every elephant will have made it through the drought
0:06:41 > 0:06:44and it's the youngsters that are most vulnerable.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49My big interest will be checking all the calves, how many survived
0:06:49 > 0:06:51and who did we lose here, that's very important.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56David hasn't found the calf he really wants to see, Breeze.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06David needs to intensify his search.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09He can recognise 600 individual elephants,
0:07:09 > 0:07:15but there's no sign of Breeze and her family, the Winds.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Over a third of baby elephants can die in their first year
0:07:19 > 0:07:24and all David can do is check the herds and hope Breeze makes it back.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Most of the females are back,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42but what about the big bulls?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Back at camp, there's a new way the team can find them.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49MOBILE PHONE BLEEPS
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Hah!
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Esidai, a collared bull elephant, has sent a text to Iain's phone.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- Where's he been? - Let me just get the Google up,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02have a look at this and see what he's been up to.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07Here we go, he's been wandering around in quite a wide-ranging pattern.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16Eight months ago, the team collared Esidai in a challenging darting operation.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Collar! I just need the collar, please!
0:08:23 > 0:08:27His collar sends a text when he enters or leaves the reserve
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and they can track his position on computer.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33He's lured back because there are lots of females and lots of food.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Yes, he's come back
0:08:35 > 0:08:38and he's roaming with a hungry heart, looking for ladies.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39- I bet he is.- Yes.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's a good sign, it means the boys are coming back, the big bulls.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45They will be. Why don't you go and look?
0:08:45 > 0:08:47I'd love to, he's probably with some other bulls.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- Now you know where to look. - Right, Archers Post.
0:08:59 > 0:09:05To find Esidai, Saba must travel to the extreme eastern edge of the reserve.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17David, do you copy? I've just come across four bulls,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19I've got Esidai here and his collar looks twisted.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24Esidai and the other bulls are six-tonne giants,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26the biggest land animals on earth.
0:09:32 > 0:09:38They're feeding, building their strength to be in peak condition for the breeding season.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Soon, they'll be ready to move in on the herds of females.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Now what we are seeing now is the larger bulls
0:09:47 > 0:09:51preparing themselves, readying themselves for that moment when everything switches,
0:09:51 > 0:09:57and their hormones start flooding through their bodies and they go and hunt for mates.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59They're on the top of that wave
0:09:59 > 0:10:01and it's about to break over the
0:10:01 > 0:10:05reserve, so it's going to be a very exciting time in the next few weeks.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12Since her childhood, Saba has had several close encounters with elephants.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18But working with big bulls is different.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23They can be extremely dangerous,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27especially in the breeding season.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31As Daniel Lentipo, a researcher on the team, found out.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33When the bull lost the fight
0:10:33 > 0:10:38we thought he was running away from us and he went and came on behind,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and attacked the car from the bumper,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42flipped it upside down three different times.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51This is what happened when Daniel's truck was attacked by a bull called Rommel.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Saba wants to hear about Daniel's terrifying experience
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and sitting inside the wrecked car brings it all home.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09So Rommel was fighting with Abe Lincoln, two big bulls,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and you were watching and then all of a sudden Rommel attacks you?
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- Yeah. - So you had tusks literally coming up here right behind your head?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Yeah, right, one of the tusks was hitting right here.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Oh, my God.
0:11:21 > 0:11:28It happened six years ago, but the horrific attack is still fresh in Daniel's mind.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31When the car hit on the ground, the whole windshield was gone
0:11:31 > 0:11:34and the whole glasses were covered into me and George
0:11:34 > 0:11:41and we were lying on the dashboard, knowing that any minute we're gonna to lose our lives.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46Daniel and the other researcher escaped by crawling out and climbing a tree.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51It's left Daniel extremely wary of big bulls
0:11:51 > 0:11:55and he's very much in awe of Rommel, the bull who attacked him.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59He's a legend, he's amazing cos I mean, what happens, none of our bulls
0:11:59 > 0:12:04ever attack the car, it's only Rommel.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09Rommel hasn't been seen for several years, the team think he might be dead.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15But Daniel's experience shows just how dangerous working with bull elephants can be.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36After the rains, Samburu is teeming with life.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52All the animals here are dependent on the river.
0:12:58 > 0:13:05The elephants come to drink every day, so it's a good place for David to look for Breeze.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21There are still a few families returning late to the reserve.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Suddenly, David sees the elephants he's been waiting for.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40It's his old friends, the Winds, led by matriarch, Harmattan.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49And just behind is her calf, Breeze.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59It's a huge relief.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Breeze has made it safely back to the reserve.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But the dry season has taken its toll.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14You know, Breeze, when they came back, she looked a little bit thin,
0:14:14 > 0:14:19but you know that's what we expect all the elephants to be looking like at dry season.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23But after coming back to the reserve she was doing very well,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27playing with the calves, so little Breeze has grown to be an elephant.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Breeze has really grown up.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38She now joins the older calves in their more boisterous games.
0:14:46 > 0:14:53Harmattan has drawn on the experience of a lifetime to lead her family through the drought.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56But there's a new problem.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04As the herds gather,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07there are excited elephants and unruly bulls everywhere.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08HE TRUMPETS
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Harmattan must continue to protect her family.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Another herd comes charging into the river.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Harmattan takes evasive action.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38David can relax.
0:15:38 > 0:15:44With her mother's skilful leadership, Breeze has got through her most vulnerable months
0:15:44 > 0:15:48and she has every chance of a bright future.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55A mile away, there's another new arrival.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58A strange bull is chasing off another male.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Saba's straight on his trail.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10He's huge and Saba thinks she recognises him.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25A distinctive cut on his right ear confirms it.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27This is Rommel,
0:16:27 > 0:16:33the bull who six years ago nearly killed Daniel and wrecked a car.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Everyone thought he was dead, but he's back.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I think you should probably follow us in.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46There he is, look.
0:16:46 > 0:16:53He's the most dangerous elephant the team know and Saba needs to warn the others he's here.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55David, David.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57RADIO: Go ahead, Saba.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00You're not going to believe who I've just bumped into.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Who?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Rommel.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10OK, um, just make sure you keep your distance from Rommel.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Yeah, no, don't worry, I have no intention of getting too close.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21Saba isn't taking any chances and is leaving herself an escape route.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32Rommel has crossed the line and deliberately attacked people.
0:17:32 > 0:17:38He's like this rogue bull who just comes out of nowhere and turns the whole place upside down.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42We are all petrified of him, everyone is petrified of him.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I've never seen a reaction like that to a bull elephant.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We know all of the bulls in this area,
0:17:51 > 0:17:56we know all of the resident bulls and we are pretty familiarised
0:17:56 > 0:18:00with them, but Rommel is just, he's a whole different calibre.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04His head and neck are massive,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08he's built like a prize-fighter, with the aggression to match.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20There are bloody wounds on his face and trunk, it looks like he's already been fighting.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28There's only one thing on his mind, finding females.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32And knowing Rommel, he won't let anything get in his way.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Saba will have to be very careful.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55The reserve is now full of dozens of elephant families.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06Among them are the Native Americans, led by their matriarch, Mohican.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Her impressive tusks almost touch at the tip.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Things are about to get interesting for Mohican.
0:19:18 > 0:19:26Her streaming temple glands are a sign she's in season and soon she'll be ready to mate.
0:19:28 > 0:19:34A female in oestrus gives off a distinctive scent in her urine.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40Already, there are lusty young bulls on her trail and they're heading straight into the family.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51Mohican moves away from her herd and stops the bulls disrupting family life.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59She can't go too far.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03She has a two-year-old calf, who's relying on her milk.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09But the amorous bulls don't give her much time to suckle him.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11All the local bulls are closing in on her.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29As a matriarch, Mohican has a high rank in the reserve
0:20:29 > 0:20:34and these younger males are not the ones she'll want to mate with.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35ELEPHANTS SCREAMING
0:20:41 > 0:20:47She's making her intentions clear and waiting until the big bulls are here.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56There's bad news.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05A dead elephant has been reported outside the reserve.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Getting there now. About where it is.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Iain is a skilled pilot
0:21:19 > 0:21:21and the team are trying to find it from the air.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25We had a report yesterday, from the same warrior who described...
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Onesmas Kahindi has worked with Save The Elephants for 10 years.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33He investigates every elephant death.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- There, there, there, yes, right there.- They've found it.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39There's a carcass right there.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47It's another mysterious death and the team will have to look into it.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Every year, elephants are illegally killed by man.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Each pin represents an elephant poached for its ivory.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07In the 1970s and '80s,
0:22:07 > 0:22:12600,000 elephants were killed - over half of Africa's population.
0:22:12 > 0:22:18Numbers are slowly recovering but poaching is still a threat.
0:22:20 > 0:22:26Four months ago, the biggest bull in the area was killed in suspicious circumstances.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30That's Mungu all right, there's no question about it,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32M for Mungu, how very sad.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39The team knew Mungu well and this was a terrible loss.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Look at that.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Black ivory markets still exist
0:22:48 > 0:22:52and unfortunately they exist in countries that
0:22:52 > 0:22:57neighbour Kenya and very close to where we are right now.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03All elephants here are at risk when they step outside the protected reserve.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08But the big bulls are prime targets because of their huge tusks.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18To investigate the latest deaths, Onesmas must leave the reserve straight away.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36At the river, herds of elephants are gathering.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45The breeding season is well under way.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Young bulls are testing their strength.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08Mothers have to work hard to make sure their babies aren't caught in the turmoil.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Amongst the herds, David spots a calf in real trouble.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36A baby elephant, just a few weeks old, is badly injured.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40She has a very swollen front leg.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59She's called Miro and her mother, Chagall, is a bit of a loner.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03She's split away from her herd, the Artists,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06and this leaves her and her calf very vulnerable.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21A young elephant is having fun chasing egrets,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26but although Miro looks interested, she can't join in.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34She's missing out on playing and learning,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38which is vital to a baby elephant's development.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42This is a terrible time for the calf and her mother.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Chagall is doing her best to look after the crippled calf on her own.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07But when a big herd approaches, she's forced to leave the river.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Miro is clearly in pain
0:26:12 > 0:26:16and just keeping up with her mother is an ordeal.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24David knows that without immediate help,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27this injury could be fatal for little Miro.
0:26:47 > 0:26:53Iain has come out to see Rommel, the bull elephant with the worst reputation in the reserve.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Oh, my God, there he is.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I haven't seen him for four years.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05Four years ago, Iain tried to radio collar Rommel,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07but his neck was too big!
0:27:07 > 0:27:10So where he roams is still a mystery.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15I just feel so lucky that we're seeing him now.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19It's just wonderful, he'd been roaming and here he is,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23he's come to acquaint himself with our ladies in this park
0:27:23 > 0:27:24and to terrorise us.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29I think he's upsetting a lot of male egos right now -
0:27:29 > 0:27:31he's so big and fierce.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36Saba can see from his temporal glands and streaming urine
0:27:36 > 0:27:40that Rommel has entered the unique breeding condition of musth.
0:27:42 > 0:27:48It's almost like this super-surge of hormones where they're just flooded with testosterone
0:27:48 > 0:27:55and it brings them into this heightened state of sexuality and aggression, where they find females,
0:27:55 > 0:28:00mate them, guard them and if they are forced to fight, then they are ready to escalate.
0:28:03 > 0:28:08Charged with testosterone, Rommel is at his most dangerous.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11And he's letting every other bull know he's arrived.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Bulls have a very specific rumble that they make when they are in musth.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20What we can hear is just the tip of the iceberg and there's this huge
0:28:20 > 0:28:24infrasonic boom that goes rolling out across the plains.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27And it's making every elephant in the area know
0:28:27 > 0:28:32that there is a musth bull around and they have to be careful.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38Rommel is on a mission to find females in season,
0:28:38 > 0:28:41like Mohican of the Native Americans family.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47But the reserve covers over 100 square miles, so this could be a challenge.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51If you try to get yourself inside an elephant's head,
0:28:51 > 0:28:56you have to realise that their primary senses are touch, smell and sound.
0:28:56 > 0:29:03And so the way that a musth bull homes in on an oestrus female is precisely using those senses
0:29:03 > 0:29:09and, when you watch them, you'll see them constantly scenting the wind and listening,
0:29:09 > 0:29:15and then just literally homing straight in to their one target.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19Rommel has picked up a scent.
0:29:19 > 0:29:26But if there's a female in season around, every other bull will also be heading that way.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Rommel needs to get there first.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Onesmas is heading north.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56He's investigating the recent elephant deaths to find out if poaching is involved.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01You see this is where Esidai takes his migration route.
0:30:01 > 0:30:07From the collaring data, the team know that elephants from the reserve travel the same route.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11I think like an elephant and I have to act like one.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Just like an elephant, I have a mission and I have a purpose.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19I have to get to that carcass, no matter what circumstances it's in.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Onesmas is in Namunyak.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31He's hoping to get information from the Samburu people, who share this land with elephants.
0:30:33 > 0:30:40Poachers do operate here, but most people don't want elephants to be harmed.
0:30:40 > 0:30:45In fact, the Samburu have a deep respect for elephants.
0:30:50 > 0:30:55The herders gather from miles around at a dry river bed.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58They dig wells to water their precious livestock.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05But it's not just the livestock that benefit.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Elephants also dig in river beds when it's dry.
0:31:12 > 0:31:19But here the water is too deep for the elephants to reach, so the herders help them out.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24The Samburu people will always allow elephants to actually come and drink
0:31:24 > 0:31:29from the same wells and the argument is, they are part of the landscape
0:31:29 > 0:31:33and particularly for elephants, they are an important symbol within the culture.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41Herders cover vast areas and are often the first to hear about dead elephants or poachers.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45With time and trust, Onesmas has built an intelligence network.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47And it's about to pay off.
0:31:58 > 0:32:04Back in the reserve, David and Iain are looking for Miro, the little calf with an injured leg.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09She's resting with some other elephants under the shade of a tree.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15OK, we'll just wait until she comes into the open.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Ah, is it that small baby?
0:32:24 > 0:32:26- Yeah.- Oh, really, the tiny one?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- The tiny baby.- Oh, my God.- I know.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33What we do now is we assess whether or not we need to get Dr Chege...
0:32:33 > 0:32:35OK.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Miro's leg is worse than ever.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43Ah, poor little thing, look at that.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46The calf is quite skinny.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50Miro's struggling to walk and she's getting thinner.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Yes, it is swollen.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56I want to see how she puts her weight on it.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- It's blown up like a football. - Hmm.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02I wonder what happened?
0:33:02 > 0:33:07You know, David, I think we are going to have to get Dr Chege.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09It just doesn't look good enough.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10I agree with you.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Just like us, elephants feel deep emotion
0:33:13 > 0:33:16and the team can't let the calf and her mother suffer.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19The vet is her only hope.
0:33:24 > 0:33:29It's the end of the day and Rommel is closing in on his target.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32He's headed straight for a herd of females.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40It's Mohican, the matriarch in season.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45Rommel has tracked her scent halfway across the reserve.
0:33:46 > 0:33:51But another bull has got here first, a big male called Kofi.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Rommel makes his move.
0:34:12 > 0:34:17As the two giants size each other up, the tension rises.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24And it's Kofi who backs down.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36Rommel greets the family.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41To win them over, he needs to make a gentle approach.
0:34:48 > 0:34:53The whole herd seem fascinated by this enormous stranger.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04But Kofi isn't leaving -
0:35:04 > 0:35:09the allure of a female in season is just too strong.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15So far, it's Rommel who's proving to be a hit with the ladies.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20When he moves off, Mohican and the rest of the family follow him.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25But if Rommel isn't vigilant, Kofi could chance a mating with Mohican.
0:35:30 > 0:35:37For the next few days, Rommel will shadow Mohican day and night and he must be prepared to fight off Kofi.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Outside the reserve, Onesmas has vital new information.
0:36:14 > 0:36:21A Samburu herder reported gunshots, close to the dead elephant the team saw from the air.
0:36:21 > 0:36:26Onesmas needs to turn detective and find out if it was poached.
0:36:26 > 0:36:32Like the old English saying where "Dead men tell no tales",
0:36:32 > 0:36:35in my opinion, dead elephants tell a lot of tales.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43It's a big bull and the evidence points to a violent death.
0:36:43 > 0:36:48It did not die immediately, because you can see this little hollow on
0:36:48 > 0:36:53the ground is actually made by the knee rubbing on the ground.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57This elephant fought to survive, but his wounds were too great.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59If we walk around this way...
0:36:59 > 0:37:01The tusks have been hacked away -
0:37:01 > 0:37:04this elephant was definitely poached.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09Even more suspicious, there's the remains of a small fire nearby.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11Again, that hole there,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16gives a lot of information and it's clearly a spear wound.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18It's very, very sharp on the edge here
0:37:18 > 0:37:20and there are actually two of them.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24From his teeth, Onesmas can work out how old he was.
0:37:24 > 0:37:3026 centimetres and the width is eight centimetres.
0:37:30 > 0:37:37That elephant is 51 years, that's a big elephant.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41This was an impressive bull, in the prime of life.
0:37:41 > 0:37:47He should be in the reserve for the breeding season with the other bulls.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52His death is extremely worrying, as it was only a few months ago
0:37:52 > 0:37:57that Mungu, another huge bull, was illegally killed in the area.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02I am a little concerned that there might be a local outbreak of poaching now.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06We've got to be alert and when you get two
0:38:06 > 0:38:08coming up in quick succession,
0:38:08 > 0:38:12then you go into hyper alert and that's where we are right now.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17It's quite disappointing we are losing these big males
0:38:17 > 0:38:21at a very fast rate and sadly to poaching.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29Losing the big bulls would be a disaster for the Samburu elephants.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34The older, stronger males are the ones the females prefer to mate with.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36The team will need to take action.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51David has been joined by Dr Stephen Chege, a vet from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
0:38:52 > 0:38:57They're on their way to see Miro, the calf with the badly-injured leg.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Dr Chege needs to see if he can help her.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04So, which is the baby you're talking about?
0:39:04 > 0:39:10So, that's the baby, you see the big female, you see the baby just on the left?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Yeah, I can actually see the calf now.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Dr Chege's assessment isn't good.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17- It could be a wire snare. Not very clear from here.- Yeah.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21But highly suspect that it could be a wire snare.
0:39:21 > 0:39:27Wire snares are used for illegal game poaching, and cause terrible injuries.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32They need to examine Miro, but they can't do this with her mother around.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Chagall will attack anyone who gets close to her baby.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37It's a difficult dilemma.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38It's a risky business.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41What will happen if we do nothing?
0:39:41 > 0:39:44If we do nothing and it's a wire snare,
0:39:44 > 0:39:48- it will end up losing that part of the limb.- So it will die?
0:39:48 > 0:39:49It will certainly die.
0:39:49 > 0:39:56The team will have to anesthetise the calf and her mother. It's a huge risk.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59We have to be careful of the female falling on the calf.
0:39:59 > 0:40:04One way, the baby could die with the mama falling on it,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07the other way, the baby's dead for sure.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10So it's a risk that has to be taken.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21The team have never carried out such a difficult operation.
0:40:21 > 0:40:27But for Miro it's a matter of life or death and to save this elephant, it's a chance the team have to take.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Where are you guys?
0:40:34 > 0:40:38- RADIO: Just come along the middle, we are coming to get you there.- OK.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43David is in charge of the operation and team tactics will be crucial.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54So, David...I can see the calf.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01They've spotted Miro and her mother Chagall, who have joined some other elephants.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03We can stop here now, David.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05Let's just stop there.
0:41:08 > 0:41:09This is the target.
0:41:10 > 0:41:11HE FIRES
0:41:11 > 0:41:13ELEPHANT GROANS
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Tell everyone animal darted, keep watch.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20The elephants sense something's happened and start running.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22We should actually stop here.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27She's leaving, she's leaving.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38The team must split the other elephants away from Chagall.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41ELEPHANT ROARS
0:41:44 > 0:41:46She's going to go on her chest.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49But there's an unexpected problem.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Chagall looks like she's going to fall on her chest -
0:41:51 > 0:41:54an awkward position that could restrict her breathing.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56I need help now...
0:41:57 > 0:42:03Even worse, Miro is right next to her and could be crushed when she goes down.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07They try desperately to pull Miro away from her mother.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Let's try to push her mama!
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Now everyone rushes in to help.
0:42:11 > 0:42:18I want two people, to be the calf, OK, everyone, help. Let's be the calf.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24More people, can you be there?
0:42:28 > 0:42:32There's not enough manpower to push over three tonnes of elephant.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37Chagall's breathing could stop in minutes and now she's the one that needs urgent help.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Using a car and tow ropes is their best chance.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04The ropes have broken.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06The situation is now critical.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19Back at the river, bull elephant Rommel has got problems.
0:43:23 > 0:43:29Mohican, the female in season, is following a bull, but it's not Rommel.
0:43:30 > 0:43:35He isn't far behind but something's gone badly wrong.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Overnight, Rommel has lost one of his tusks.
0:43:43 > 0:43:51He could have been fighting and maybe lost because it's his rival, Kofi, who's got Mohican's attention.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58Breaking a tusk puts him at a serious disadvantage.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02Rommel isn't one to give up but his competition is building.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04THEY TRUMPET
0:44:09 > 0:44:12The reserve is now full of bulls
0:44:13 > 0:44:16and they're all throwing their weight around.
0:44:27 > 0:44:32Ultimately though, it's Mohican who will decide which bull she wants to mate with.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41Kofi tries a new technique,
0:44:41 > 0:44:47acting casual and posing with his trunk over one tusk.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Maybe it's working.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59Walking quickly away is a strategy to see if he'll follow.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01And Kofi is taking the initiative.
0:45:17 > 0:45:23Rommel's got the biggest reputation in the reserve but he isn't making the moves.
0:45:23 > 0:45:30With a broken tusk and added competition, his chances with Mohican seem to be slipping away.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41Out on the plains, the team are in trouble.
0:45:44 > 0:45:50They still need to treat baby Miro but first they must help Chagall, before her breathing stops.
0:45:52 > 0:45:53THEY CHATTER
0:45:56 > 0:45:58Some quick thinking is needed
0:45:58 > 0:46:03and Iain's years of field experience means he knows exactly what to do.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10Together, they attach stronger ropes to provide maximum leverage.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17It's got to be pulled that way.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24Miro is kept away, so there's no chance of her getting crushed.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29Iain reverses the car at exactly the right angle.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30OK, let's just push,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32push, push...push!
0:46:34 > 0:46:35OK, push.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38OK, fine. Well done, Iain, OK.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46Chagall's breathing has stabilised
0:46:46 > 0:46:48and water will stop her from overheating.
0:46:54 > 0:46:59Miro has also been sedated and Dr Chege can examine her foot.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10What, it's broken?
0:47:10 > 0:47:13It's not a snare, her leg is broken.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17I'll just get a syringe.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20I wanted to confirm if there's pus, anything like that.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23So what I'm doing is actually
0:47:23 > 0:47:27putting in an antibiotic to prevent any further infection.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31Infection in a fractured bone could be fatal.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35The antibiotics should save her life.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38In a young calf like this, it should heal very fast.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44ELEPHANT GROANS
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Miro is coming round.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57But she's totally confused.
0:48:02 > 0:48:07She heads for the nearest large object, thinking it could be her mother.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Chagall is given the antidote to her anaesthetic.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20But Miro is heading off in the wrong direction.
0:48:20 > 0:48:25This could be serious, a confused baby elephant could potentially run for miles.
0:48:29 > 0:48:30Iain tries to stop her.
0:48:35 > 0:48:40Chagall is up but she's walking away from her calf.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43Iain has a solution.
0:48:43 > 0:48:48What Iain is doing, he's trying to direct the calf to the mother, that's very good.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51Baby elephants don't have fully-developed senses,
0:48:51 > 0:48:56and Iain is tricking Miro into thinking that his car is another elephant.
0:48:56 > 0:48:57That's good enough.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07She just needs a final push in the right direction.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33Thanks to some quick thinking by the team,
0:49:33 > 0:49:36the operation has been a success.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42David did an excellent job, tactically.
0:49:42 > 0:49:47Always a risk involved, but one that paid off this time
0:49:47 > 0:49:49and worth taking.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54All our hearts was pumping, you know, just hoping this tiny calf,
0:49:54 > 0:49:58you know, the mother would not just sit on her, but all went very well.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02I feel very happy. They are all back in the wild, joined their family,
0:50:02 > 0:50:05and they are happy as they could be.
0:50:06 > 0:50:13This is a great team that can overcome many challenges in the field.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33It's dawn in the reserve.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45The team are all up early.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Onesmas is heading back to camp.
0:51:05 > 0:51:08Saba is out looking for her favourite bull elephant.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16Things are looking up for Rommel.
0:51:16 > 0:51:20He's seen off the competition, including Kofi.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27He now has Mohican all to himself.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33He's timed his advances perfectly
0:51:33 > 0:51:37because she's now probably at the peak of her oestrus.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43Something is definitely in the air.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46All the elephants are getting excited.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50THEY TRUMPET
0:51:57 > 0:52:02The courtship begins in earnest with Rommel closely following Mohican.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07At first, she moves quickly away.
0:52:15 > 0:52:20But she slows down and Rommel places his trunk on her back -
0:52:20 > 0:52:23a signal for her to stand still.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31Finally, Rommel gets his girl.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50THEY TRUMPET
0:52:50 > 0:52:54The whole herd are trumpeting and excited about the mating.
0:53:08 > 0:53:13For Mohican, the difficult days of being pursued by bulls have paid off.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20She's been mated by the biggest, toughest bull in the reserve
0:53:20 > 0:53:24and in nearly two years' time, she may have a new baby.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38Rommel has certainly impressed Mohican and the herd -
0:53:38 > 0:53:41they're following him away.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55Onesmas is back.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00The co-ordinates of the poached bull show just how close he died
0:54:00 > 0:54:03to Mungu, the other bull that was killed.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04There you go.
0:54:05 > 0:54:063km.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11This data will be passed to the Kenya Wildlife Service and could be vital
0:54:11 > 0:54:13to tracking down the poachers.
0:54:13 > 0:54:15A high chance that he was one of ours.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17Yes, he's got to be one of the ones we know.
0:54:17 > 0:54:21The sad deaths of these two mighty bulls shows how dangerous the areas
0:54:21 > 0:54:25outside the reserve can be for elephants.
0:54:25 > 0:54:30But the Samburu people who live here could be crucial to helping them.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34The nomadic herders are often first to find dead elephants,
0:54:34 > 0:54:38or hear if poachers are operating in the area.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43The Samburu could be the ideal guardians of the elephants.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46They believe elephants bring them real benefits.
0:54:50 > 0:54:53They burn elephant dung to ward off evil spirits.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02If these traditional values could be built on,
0:55:02 > 0:55:05it could help protect all Samburu's elephants.
0:55:06 > 0:55:11And there's no better place to start than the next generation.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19Amazingly, many local children never get the chance
0:55:19 > 0:55:22to see elephants in the wild.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33They could be the next generation of rangers, vets and elephant researchers.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41The team hope that if the people who share space with elephants
0:55:41 > 0:55:46come to love and value them, they'll want to protect them in the future.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00David is heading out to check up on Miro.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10It's been two days since she was treated
0:56:10 > 0:56:13and already she's looking better.
0:56:16 > 0:56:21Miro's walking has improved and she's keeping up with Chagall.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29With her mother's continuing protection,
0:56:29 > 0:56:33she now has every chance of a full recovery.
0:56:55 > 0:56:59The team believe that every elephant is important for the future.
0:57:00 > 0:57:06In the past months, they've seen calves like Miro and Breeze make it through difficult times,
0:57:06 > 0:57:09and there's new life to look forward to.
0:57:15 > 0:57:20By using pioneering technology and following individual elephant stories,
0:57:20 > 0:57:25the research team are making remarkable new discoveries.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29They've witnessed love for a newborn baby...
0:57:30 > 0:57:33..unprovoked violence,
0:57:33 > 0:57:35lusty males
0:57:35 > 0:57:37and heartbreaking grief.
0:57:38 > 0:57:45All the emotion and intelligence that shows just how like us they really are.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51My greatest hope for the elephants is that they will be allowed
0:57:51 > 0:57:54to continue their way of life,
0:57:54 > 0:57:56in harmony with man,
0:57:56 > 0:58:02and that people will increasingly become delighted
0:58:02 > 0:58:04by their knowledge of elephants,
0:58:05 > 0:58:11appreciating this separate, intelligent, sensitive creature.
0:58:16 > 0:58:20The Save the Elephants team will continue to watch their every move
0:58:20 > 0:58:22and keep them safe.
0:58:22 > 0:58:28Above all, they'll keep working to reveal the secret life of elephants.
0:58:48 > 0:58:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:51 > 0:58:54E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk