A Lion's Tale Planet Earth Live

This is Moja -

a five month old lion cub.

He and his single mum, Nyota, face the world alone

and these are the most critical weeks of his life.

It's May in Kenya's Masai Mara.

For lions, this is the hardest time of year.

Food is scarce.

Moja is starving.

Planet Earth Live have sent a film crew to follow the drama

as it happens.

If Moja is to make it, it will be down to his mum, Nyota.

She must provide him with enough food to keep him alive...

..and protect him from the dangers of life on the African plains.

LIONS GROWL

This is Moja's story.

At five months old, Moja still suckles.

But he can't survive on milk alone.

Every two days, he needs meat.

But in May, that's a problem.

THUNDER CRACKS

It's the rainy season...

..and prey is scarce.

Six weeks from now,

when the grass has grown tall enough to support them,

vast herds of wildebeest and zebra will begin to migrate here

from the Serengeti.

Until then,

times are hard.

Moja and Nyota are outcasts.

They live without the protection of a pride,

and in an area no other lions want.

What little game there is,

favours higher ground and richer soils -

areas controlled by the four rival prides that surround them.

Lion prides protect their territory fiercely.

If Moja or Nyota stray, they risk being killed.

With so little prey on her patch,

Nyota must hunt at every opportunity.

Neither she nor Moja have eaten for days.

Hunting takes energy and Nyota doesn't have much to spare.

So taking on an impala,

one of the fastest runners on the savanna, is a risk.

This time, it doesn't pay off.

If Nyota fails again, Moja could face starvation.

Just two miles to the south,

the Ridge Pride have secured one of the best territories

in the Masai Mara.

Even in the rainy season, there's plenty on the menu.

But it's important to pick the right prey. Some animals are too big.

HIPPO GRUNTS

HIPPO GRUNTS

Even the more manageable meals, still present a challenge.

Topi are known by locals as the policeman of the plains.

Incredibly alert and with amazing peripheral vision.

THEY SNORT AND GRUNT

Some animals are extremely fast.

Thomson gazelles can clock 50 mph.

Impalas are almost as quick,

but with the added advantage of safety in numbers.

Lions can run at 30 mph.

They prefer slower prey. And one animal is ideal.

Warthog.

WARTHOG GRUNTS

For the Ridge Pride with a team of hunters,

these are the perfect snack.

WATER SPLASHES

WARTHOG SQUEALS

Working together, means hunger here is at bay.

PRIDE GROWL CONTENTEDLY

Moja is still starving.

He hasn't eaten meat for a week.

Nyota needs to make a kill.

WARTHOGS GRUNT

Just the opportunity she's been waiting for.

A baby warthog.

WARTHOG SQUEALS

Normally, Nyota would share her kill with Moja.

But she's also weak from hunger.

If she starves any longer, she won't produce enough milk.

Lionesses need an average of five kilos meat a day.

The piglet is barely enough.

She eats every last piece.

Moja is left with nothing.

It seems tough, but Moja relies on his mum for everything.

If she doesn't survive these lean times,

Moja's life is also over.

Today, all he gets is milk.

Nyota needs to make another kill soon,

this time big enough for both of them.

The grass is growing taller every day.

But the migration is still weeks away.

Food is scarce.

The rain, relentless.

For Nyota and Moja's neighbours, the Ridge Pride, life is easier.

While the adults relax, the cubs and adolescents play.

But this isn't just fun and games.

It's where they learn how to be a lion.

THEY GROWL

Learning to stalk,

to hunt,

and honing their skills for the future.

It's part of family life.

Moja is missing out on these vital lion lessons.

He spends his days hidden away, while mum goes out to hunt.

But today, perhaps through desperation, is different.

He follows his mum out onto the plains.

The grass is now so tall,

that even scouting for prey is a challenge.

Elephants are too big a risk for a single lioness.

With little to choose from,

this is a bad time of year to be a warthog.

WARTHOG GRUNTS

WARTHOG SQUEALS

LION GROWLS

NYOTA PANTS

Moja approaches cautiously.

NYOTA CALLS MOJA

He's in luck. At last he gets a meal.

But all too soon, there's trouble.

HYENA YELPS

At this time of year, prey is scarce for everyone.

These hyenas are hungry too.

Nyota's warthog is a chance for an easy meal.

Hyenas live in clans of up to 80.

They can, and do, hunt for themselves.

But they're just as happy stealing other hunters' kills.

With so many in a clan, they'll even take on a pride of lions.

And a clan of hyena certainly wouldn't hesitate

to take on a single lioness and her cub.

If Nyota defends her kill, Moja's life will be in danger.

These hyena would easily kill him.

But he desperately needs to eat.

As dusk falls, Nyota must choose,

risk Moja's life by letting him stay and feed,

or leave her hard-earned kill to the jaws of the clan.

Next morning, the film crew returns to discover Nyota and Moja's fate.

First impressions don't look good.

The hyenas are still here and the warthog's carcass is stripped bare.

But was it just the kill they stole,

or was Moja harmed in the crossfire?

A safe distance away

both Moja and Nyota seem unscathed.

But how much did either of them get to eat?

In their no man's land,

hunger isn't the only threat Moja and Nyota face.

They're surrounded by the neighbours from hell.

It's not just the hyenas they need to be wary of.

One of the biggest threats to Nyota is other lionesses.

She's competition for their food and will not be tolerated.

Lionesses are the main hunters in most prides.

Fights are short but incredibly savage.

They could kill Nyota or chase her away,

leaving Moja exposed and vulnerable.

But Moja is in danger even by Nyota's side.

Not from females, but from nomadic males.

Lone males walk these plains

and if one was to find Moja he would kill him,

with the intention of fathering his own family with Nyota.

It's a harsh reality of lion life.

Males kill a quarter of all the cubs that are born.

This is Tamu, a single lioness,

and much like Nyota

she gave birth in a no man's land between surrounding prides.

Her cubs were extremely vulnerable to attack by nearby males,

wanting to father their own dynasty.

However much she tried to hide them away one male tried his luck.

In a brave attempt to save her young family,

Tamu chased him off.

But the fight wasn't without its casualties.

One of her cubs died within hours.

Unless Nyota can keep Moja safe, she risks losing him to any rogue male.

If Nyota was part of a pride, life would be different.

Just six miles north is the Acacia Pride.

There are eight cubs in this large, extended family.

And a visit from their dads is always a highlight.

These impressive males control two prides in the Masai Mara,

dividing their time between them.

Males play an active role in protecting their own cubs.

They want to make sure their own offspring survive.

The larger the pride, the stronger it is.

And a large pride demands a large territory.

One way to stake that claim is to roar.

THEY ROAR

The message is loud and clear,

we're together and we are strong.

Even the youngsters have a go.

Roaring binds the pride together.

And it's so loud, it warns off other lions for miles around.

Moja and Nyota don't make a sound.

The last thing they want is anyone to know where they are.

THUNDER RUMBLES

As May wears on, the rain persists.

The grass grows even taller.

Just weeks from now, the plains will fill with migrating animals.

But Moja must eat in the next few days, or he'll starve.

The trouble is, there's not much prey to choose from.

And mum Nyota is at a disadvantage.

She rarely risks hunting at night.

Lions are perfectly designed to hunt in the dark.

White fur under their eyes reflects light upwards,

and a reflective coating on the back of the eye

helps its light-detecting power.

They can see in almost total darkness.

It's their night vision that gives them the edge.

Their prey is hyper-alert,

and most species can run faster than lions, and for longer.

Lions are sprinters.

Their acceleration is awesome

but they need to get close before they strike.

Night is the perfect time for an ambush.

But for Nyota, hunting during the day is a much safer bet.

Yes, there are fewer hunting opportunities

but there's also less competition.

She simply can't risk a run-in with the surrounding prides.

The good news for Moja is she's made another kill.

The bad news is, Moja isn't here to eat it.

She tries dragging the warthog.

But it's not much smaller than she is,

and she's close to exhaustion.

Nyota has no choice, she leaves the kill to search for Moja.

It's a risky strategy.

Hyenas can sniff out a carcass from two and a half miles away.

If Nyota leaves the kill for long, she'll lose it.

The crew have an agonising wait,

hoping that mum and cub will get back in time.

Finally, there's movement on the horizon.

And with no sign of the hyena, Moja has a decent meal at last.

Nyota won't have to hunt again for a day or two.

And thanks to her determination,

Moja is gathering strength.

It's time for the important business, of play.

Like any toddler,

he occasionally steps out of line.

But when Nyota's away, Moja explores his world alone.

Playtime would be more fun and more valuable with other lions.

Moja is missing out on some important lessons.

Lessons his neighbours, the Acacia cubs are excelling in.

Playing hard makes these guys as tough as they come.

Any cub showing weakness is an easy target and quickly toughens up.

They'll take on anyone.

Whatever the consequences.

Having a strong pride has added advantages.

When a huge buffalo strays too close

it's time for the cubs to watch and learn.

Today buffalo's not on the menu. But the cubs show no fear.

Moja and Nyota would never confront such a large animal.

Without the backup of a pride, it would be suicide.

Lions and buffaloes are mortal enemies

and Moja could end up in the firing line.

Buffaloes will try to kill lion cubs at any opportunity.

They may be small now, but they'll be a threat in the future.

Cubs trampled to death.

But when a lone buffalo meets a pride

the tables are turned.

In these lean times for the lions...

..this is a meal worth fighting for.

Nyota could never take on a buffalo alone.

She needs smaller prey.

It's now been days since Moja last ate.

And as the rainy season wears on,

food is scarcer than ever.

But Nyota is determined and extremely patient.

She spends hours watching and stalking potential prey.

She even memorises every warthog den on her patch.

Eventually her patience pays off.

Another warthog, this time a huge male with deadly tusks.

She needs to get close before she attacks.

The bushes provide the perfect cover.

Mission accomplished.

Now she must protect her kill.

The boar is as big as she is.

It takes all her strength to drag it into cover.

It's slow and exhausting work.

A hidden island is the perfect place to defend her kill.

She calls Moja in to feast.

After the meal, a rare opportunity for mum and her cub to relax.

But time away from the kill is an open invitation to scavengers.

Within hours hyenas move in.

Not far behind...the vultures.

It won't be long before adult males get wind of the meal.

Putting Moja's life at risk.

Nyota has no choice.

She abandons the kill.

And leads Moja back out onto the plains.

Once again, they're exposed and vulnerable.

They need to find cover, and fast.

Over the next few days,

our crews watch as Moja and Nyota

head into enemy territory in search of food.

Bringing Nyota face to face

with females from the rival Paradise Pride.

There's little game left.

Competition for what remains is fierce.

Nyota's on the trail of a warthog.

Risking a close encounter with the pride proves she's desperate.

She's lucky the pride ignore her.

Unlucky that they claim her prize.

Yet again, Nyota and Moja go hungry.

Life as a single parent is never easy.

As Moja gets older, his demand for food will grow.

This puts ever more pressure on Nyota.

But there is hope.

Single lions can raise a family.

This is Joy.

A year ago,

she was part of one of the strongest prides in the Masai Mara.

She gave birth to four cubs

and the pride was going from strength to strength.

But then her life was torn apart.

Four determined young males were intent on taking over the pride.

If they succeeded they'd kill every single cub in the family.

Joy was forced to make a life or death decision.

Stay and risk losing her cubs,

or flee.

She fled, taking her own cubs,

and a much younger cub belonging to her sister.

Life on the run with five hungry mouths to feed seemed impossible.

For a while reports came back that they were eking a fragile existence

on the edge of her old pride's territory.

Then nothing.

No sign of Joy or the cubs.

Everyone feared the worst.

Against all the odds

the Planet Earth Live crew found Joy alive and well,

with three of her cubs.

As the cubs grow up, the more they can help and protect each other.

There are still dangers ahead.

But already they've beaten the odds.

Nyota does have a chance to get Moja through these critical weeks.

She just needs to find enough food to keep Moja alive

until the migration begins to arrive.

The neighbouring Acacia pride have an easier life.

This is prime territory for game, and for lions.

It's all about strategy.

The lionesses surround their target.

A herd of resident eland have strayed too close.

But a calf won't feed the pride for long.

Hunting takes up a lot of energy.

There are too many hungry mouths and not enough meat to go round.

Life can be a struggle, even for the most successful prides.

At least Moja's meals are only shared between two.

The grass is now so high Nyota uses a tree to search for prey.

Moja is getting weaker by the day.

Even climbing is a struggle.

Nyota spots a kongoni...

..one of the fastest antelopes in the Mara.

An almost impossible target even for a well-fed pride.

But it may be her last opportunity

to get Moja through the next few days.

The long grass helps cover her approach.

Finally, success.

This is the best meal the crews have seen Moja eat in over a month.

He and his mum feed uninterrupted for two days.

Finally Moja's belly is full.

And soon, there will be game everywhere.

Five months ago,

hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and other animals

had grazed these plains flat.

They moved on to graze in the Serengeti as they do every year.

Since then the grass in the Mara has been replenishing.

It's the end of May, the worst of the rain is over, the grass is tall.

One of the largest migrations on the planet is about to arrive.

Here, at last, the advance party, the very first of the zebra.

Crossing the river and into the lions' territory

signals the beginning of better times.

For the lions the famine is almost over.

This really is just the beginning.

On its way from the grasslands of the Serengeti

one of the greatest feasts on earth.

The Masai Mara will once again teem with life.

For Nyota and the other lions,

hunger will be a distant memory.

Moja has survived the hardest weeks of his life.

Thanks to the strength and determination of his mum.

In a pride, cubs usually leave when they're two.

Moja could stay with Nyota until he's four.

He needs that extra time,

to develop the hunting skills he'll need to go it alone

out on the open plains.

Eventually he will leave.

Like the males that once threatened his life,

he will be a nomad looking for a home.

Moja's ultimate goal will be to take over a pride.

But on his own he can't reign supreme.

Moja will need to team up and form a coalition.

Together they can overpower old and tired males

and father cubs of their own.

One day Moja could be king of his own dynasty.

Since filming finished,

Moja and Nyota are still doing well in their no man's land.

Moja is gathering strength.

His story continues.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd