0:00:02 > 0:00:04This is Maya. She's just a few hours old.
0:00:04 > 0:00:09The newest arrival in Samburu National Park in Northern Kenya.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Maya's mum, Zadie, is a first-time parent.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17She must learn quickly,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21and guide Maya through the first vulnerable weeks of her life.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Planet Earth Live have sent a crew to follow them
0:00:24 > 0:00:27through the good times and the bad.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Right now, Maya and Zadie are separated from their herd.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36And surrounded by danger -
0:00:36 > 0:00:39hungry predators and the guns of poachers.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Maya and Zadie must find the herd.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46The family can help protect Maya
0:00:46 > 0:00:48and teach her how to be an elephant.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Maya faces many challenges.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Her greatest is to cross the flooded river that runs through her home.
0:00:58 > 0:01:04If she and her family get this wrong, it will be a disaster.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07This is Maya's story.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Maya is just moments old.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58She's frail, helpless
0:01:58 > 0:02:02and totally dependent on young first-time mum Zadie.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13This will be the hardest month of Maya's life.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Aside from feeding, she has two crucial needs -
0:02:27 > 0:02:33to be protected from danger and to learn about the world around her.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44A big, stable family can provide Maya with both.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50It can literally make the difference between life and death.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00But Maya and Zadie are alone.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07When Zadie went into labour, her family left her behind.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10They had to keep moving to feed.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The family are only a mile away,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22but to Zadie and Maya, it might as well be a million miles.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36They should be here, teaching Zadie how to be a mum.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53What Maya really needs is her first feed.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Like humans, an elephant's first milk is packed with vital nutrients.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It also kick-starts the baby's immune system.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Maya desperately needs to feed, simply to keep going.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31She's hungry, exhausted, vulnerable to the slightest infection,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34and at the point of collapse.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45But instead of feeding Maya, Zadie keeps searching for the family.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52If she doesn't start to look after Maya properly,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55the youngster will soon be in serious trouble.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Zadie has got one thing right.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14She came here - to Samburu.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It's May, and it's the rainy season.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25The grass is high and plentiful.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28There's more than enough food for everyone.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Thousands of elephants flood into the reserve
0:05:41 > 0:05:43to make the most of the feast.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04Pregnant females time giving birth to coincide with this bounty.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09For elephants, May brings something of a baby boom.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34But 20% of these babies will not live to see their first birthday.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36This is a dangerous world.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45Rain turns the river into a torrent and it's full of crocodiles.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Maya's safe - so far.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56But it looks like the family have already lost a calf.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Zadie's cousin Emily gave birth just last week.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Now her calf is missing.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13David Daballen from the charity Save The Elephants
0:07:13 > 0:07:16is worried for the calf's safety.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20We're looking for a young baby
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and we've found the rest of the group
0:07:22 > 0:07:25but, you know, no sign of the baby,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28so I'm a little concerned about that.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Emily is here, but not her calf.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40David fears the worst.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I suspect it could be lions.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54We have two massive males in this pack
0:07:54 > 0:07:58who are very, very specialised in killing young baby elephants
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and, you know, we have seen their tracks around this area.
0:08:03 > 0:08:09Save The Elephants have been working here for nearly 20 years.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12David knows the park well.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15He heads straight for the area where Emily and her calf were last seen.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23There's no sign of a calf.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Just a pride of very full lions.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Most lions are reluctant to attack elephants,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36but here in Samburu, some prides have specialised.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43A baby elephant can weigh nearly as much as a lion.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46A single kill can feed the whole pride.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Fearing the worst, David searches the area.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58He finds the one thing he really doesn't want to.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The remains of Emily's calf.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15It's part of nature for elephants to lose a baby,
0:09:15 > 0:09:21but this will be quite emotional for poor Emily to lose her first calf,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23which was only a few days old.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Elephants have very complex emotions.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35They respond to death just like us.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41For Emily, she'll be mourning for the calf she just lost.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Despite Emily's loss, little Maya and her mum Zadie
0:10:05 > 0:10:10will still be safer with the herd than they are out here alone.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Maya is just hours old...
0:10:19 > 0:10:22a tempting target for lions.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30And Zadie still hasn't given Maya her first essential feed.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Dehydration is a very real threat to her tiny new life.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42What Maya desperately needs is food and a chance to cool down.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Elephants use water holes to cool off in the heat of the day.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11As fun as this looks, there's a serious side to it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Samburu is close to the equator.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19The sun's rays can be lethal.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Elephant skin can be nearly four centimetres thick in places.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31But it still needs protecting.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36And mud is a very effective natural sunscreen.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54Working out how to walk on it can take some time.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16A waterhole is exactly what Maya and Zadie need.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19The day is getting hotter.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23Thankfully, in the rainy season, there's almost always water nearby.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Suddenly Zadie seems to turn a corner.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06She uses the water to cool them both off.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Maya comes to life.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42This time when Maya searches for milk,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Zadie gives her time to find the teat.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54At last Maya gets that first essential feed.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57This is the lifeline she needed.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07With her belly full, she finally has the energy
0:14:07 > 0:14:11to continue their search for the family.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16Elephants use low-frequency sound to communicate.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20The sound can travel for miles.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Zadie homes in on the herd.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It's a joyous reunion.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Maya finally gets to meet the herd.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51And they're all very excited to meet HER.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00These elephants will be Maya's security.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04They'll protect her and teach her.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11They all want to say hi and welcome her to the family.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22These relationships will last for life.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Now that Maya and Zadie are back with the herd,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Zadie doesn't have to cope on her own any more.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47Now, it's time for her first lesson in family politics.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55An older female from the herd, Annie, comes over for a look.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Zadie crouches back,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00a gesture of respect.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04In response, Annie holds her ears out.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07A greeting to mum and her baby.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18She sniffs and gently inspects Maya.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21It's how elephants get acquainted.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45And it seems that Maya's taken a shine to her.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49When Annie moves on, Maya follows.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Until Annie gently sets her straight.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Maya still has a lot to learn about family life.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15At least for now, she's safe.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23But life as an elephant is never easy.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25The family all look out for each other,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29but some dangers are beyond their control.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Samburu is a small reserve.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34The animals here are protected.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37But elephants are constantly on the move.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44And ivory poaching is at its highest level for decades.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54The areas between protected reserves are treacherous.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02The poachers are ruthless.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05The wardens trying to protect the elephants need to be heavily armed.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Maya's family's range takes them well outside
0:18:11 > 0:18:14the safety of the reserve.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19As a result, they're a small and depleted herd.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22THUNDER RUMBLES
0:18:22 > 0:18:28The oldest, wisest elephants have the most ivory.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31That makes them both prime targets for poachers
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and the animals the herd can least afford to lose.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39The herd relies on the collected wisdom of its elders to survive.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47When the elephants in Maya's herd were killed,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50their vast knowledge died with them.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02Around 70 elephant families use Samburu.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04None of them are entirely safe.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11In a herd three miles to the east,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Matriarch Sylvia still bears
0:19:13 > 0:19:16a life threatening injury from a poacher's gun.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24She has a week-old calf, Little Pinkfoot,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28who leads a carefree, well-protected life,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30with Sylvia as head of the family.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35But both their lives are in danger.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42The poacher's bullet left a serious wound that never completely healed.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Sylvia has a huge abscess on the side of her face.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53If the infection spreads, the blood poisoning could kill her.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Sylvia was heavily pregnant with Little Pinkfoot when she was shot.
0:20:21 > 0:20:26Elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal, 22 months.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31For all of that time, they're vulnerable and exposed.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39Incredibly, Little Pinkfoot was born fit and healthy.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45She even has the support of a big sister.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00But if Sylvia dies, Little Pinkfoot will almost certainly starve.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18The only answer is intervention.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26David decides that Sylvia needs treatment.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31The risks are immense for everyone involved.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Only recently,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40David's friend was crushed and killed during a similar operation.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47First, Sylvia must be tranquilised.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12It can take up to ten minutes for the drug to take effect.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20The dart falls out,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23but it's already delivered its payload of tranquiliser.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Thankfully, Little Pinkfoot's sister is at hand.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41But this could still go badly wrong.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Sylvia or her family could charge, and force the team to withdraw.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Sylvia could fall awkwardly.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Her huge bulk could restrict her ability to breathe.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59She could suffocate.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Worse still, she could fall on Little Pinkfoot, and crush her.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14At first things are looking good.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17But then Sylvia puts out a distress call.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19SYLVIA TRUMPETS
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Little Pinkfoot responds.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22She runs back to Sylvia
0:23:22 > 0:23:25and stands right underneath her three-tonne bulk.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36For her, being right under mum is the safest place in the world.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55David and the team try to flush Little Pinkfoot out with vehicles,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57but she just won't budge.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Eventually, David does the unthinkable.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09He risks his own life to save Little Pinkfoot's.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17If Sylvia goes down now, she could easily crush them both.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26But even Little Pinkfoot weighs 100 kilos.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Moving her takes force.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33The rest of the herd are wild with distress.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34They could charge at any moment.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Little Pinkfoot panics.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57The team have got to get her back to her sister's side.
0:25:01 > 0:25:07Thankfully, baby elephants instinctively follow large objects.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11So David uses his vehicle to lead her towards her family.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Once she's safe, the team can start their work.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32The abscess is huge.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36It will need to be drained and cleaned thoroughly.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43The team work as fast as they can to reduce the stress to Sylvia
0:25:43 > 0:25:45and the rest of the herd.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49A vet from the Kenyan Wildlife Service
0:25:49 > 0:25:52gives her a massive dose of antibiotics.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Thousands of elephants get shot every year.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Most die slowly and painfully.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Finally, the vet gives Sylvia an antidote
0:26:14 > 0:26:17to the tranquiliser to bring her round.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41But searching for her family, she heads off
0:26:41 > 0:26:44in the wrong direction.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54This time David uses his car to coax Sylvia towards Little Pinkfoot.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Eventually the family is reunited.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07It's a moment of joy.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11The flared ears and the body language say it all.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Without this emergency procedure,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20both Sylvia and Little Pinkfoot could easily have died.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33This herd is safe, for now.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Three miles west, Maya's doing well, too.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54She's a week old now.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Protected by a forest of tree trunk-like legs.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39For such huge and powerful animals, elephants are astonishingly gentle.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Tenderly, they lift her to her feet to feed.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51This is family life.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Safe, secure and strong.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00But there are still challenges ahead.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07The Ewaso Ngiro river is the life-blood of the reserve.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25The river will play a massive role in Maya's life.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27She'll make this trip almost daily.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42As an adult, she'll need to drink up to 150 litres of water a day.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Large males can drink up to 200 litres in under five minutes.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03For now, Maya just can't quite work out what she's supposed to do.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15But she'll be drinking milk from her mum for the next two years,
0:30:15 > 0:30:16so there's no rush to learn.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Zadie and the family
0:30:34 > 0:30:37are cautious with Maya at the river.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42She's taking her baby steps in a big and dangerous world.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53The river can flash flood,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56turning into a death trap in a matter of moments.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05The water is thick with mud and silt.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10Ewaso Ngiro means "Dark Water" in the Samburu language.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16It's also cover to hundreds of Nile crocodiles.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27These crocs are huge.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29They can take down fully-grown giraffes.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33A baby elephant would be easy.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39The elephants have to cross the river all year round.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43There's not enough food on one side alone to keep them going.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48But crossing takes skill, strength, and experience.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Maya's family choose to stay put.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Downstream, another herd have decided to take the plunge.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06They test the water, waiting to go.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36Euphrates, a wise old matriarch, leads her family out into the river.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43She knows that to reach the other side safely,
0:32:43 > 0:32:46they have to head slightly upstream, into the current.
0:32:57 > 0:33:03Watching from the shallows is a young group with no matriarch.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Three first-time mums, each with a calf about Maya's age.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Euphrates and her family safely reach the other side.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26The inexperienced young mums watch,
0:33:26 > 0:33:29then they decide to go for it.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Quickly, they're in too deep to get back.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24This is really, really bad.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28This is the problem of not having any proper leadership in their families.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42If they become separated, they could easily drown.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Oh, my God! One is gone!
0:35:18 > 0:35:22The mothers try in vain, but they can't contain all three.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24As they save one, another washes away.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34Oh, God! They're still going and the baby's gone.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Soon, all three are being swept downstream fast,
0:35:49 > 0:35:52through the crocodile-infested waters.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03The current's even too much for the mothers.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06They have to let their babies go.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29David can't see how they can possibly survive.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33- Oh, man, this is no good. - Let's go.- Let's go.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39You can hear the poor females.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44OK, Apo. No, no, no. Right, right.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47All the big females are running.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48Oh, God.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51OK, one baby's out.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Man, the other one is here, the other one is here.
0:36:55 > 0:36:56Wow!
0:36:59 > 0:37:03There are two babies actually here. Wow, they're really tough.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Come on, big females, come in!
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Oh, please don't move.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Oh, they're coming down. The females are coming down.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28I hope they will save them because they will get tired
0:37:28 > 0:37:30and if a croc grabs them, that's it.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36The poor mothers just don't know what to do.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39They have no way of lifting them out.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42And David can't even help.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Oh, come on, females, get in and save the babies!
0:37:53 > 0:37:54The riverbank is sheer
0:37:54 > 0:37:57and the babies are weak and terrified.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Oh, man! That is so relieving.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33It's so joyful to see all of them again, coming back together.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44I can't really remember having such a tense time
0:38:44 > 0:38:47in my life with all, you know,
0:38:47 > 0:38:49the experiences I have.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52I'm so glad they all made it, anyway.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01Oh, poor things.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07They are really crying.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11They've just had a nightmare.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Maya's moment to cross the river will come.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33But she's still just two weeks old.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36For now, Zadie and the rest of the family
0:39:36 > 0:39:38are keeping her safe and well.
0:39:56 > 0:39:57Maya has a lot to learn.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Her day starts at sunrise.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Elephants can travel long distances,
0:40:15 > 0:40:17but this is the rainy season.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19There's enough food in Samburu.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Maya and her family don't have to go far.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Maya learns the tastes and textures of the world around her.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42She's still drinking up to 11 litres of her mum's milk every day.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45This is just a chance to experiment.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49She's beginning to work out what she should and shouldn't eat.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59Adult elephants have the largest brain of all land animals.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Maya's brain is just a third of its adult size.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10It's still growing, and forging new connections.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17This is an essential time for learning and emotional development.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23And to learn, you have to explore.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33There are already a couple of other babies in the family
0:41:33 > 0:41:34to team up with.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44It's a good way to learn co-ordination and balance.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47It's a great way of building social bonds, too.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00Building good relationships is a vital skill.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Every elephant's survival depends on the strength of the herd.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Look out for your family,
0:42:07 > 0:42:09and they'll look out for you.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22A bit further north live two tiny tearaways...
0:42:25 > 0:42:27..Sky and Grace.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Their family is large and stable.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45A big family means there are lots of eyes to keep watch
0:42:45 > 0:42:47while they grow up at their own pace.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56They're about six weeks old
0:42:56 > 0:42:59and there are lots of exciting things to discover.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Not least, what to do with that thing
0:43:04 > 0:43:06in the middle of their face.
0:43:15 > 0:43:20At this stage, their trunk is more like a mischievous friend
0:43:20 > 0:43:21than a finely-tuned tool.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28That's no surprise when you realise
0:43:28 > 0:43:32it contains 100,000 muscles and tendons!
0:43:37 > 0:43:41Practice is essential, especially if you want to be just like mum.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57As adults, they'll use their trunks for all sorts of different tasks.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02For now, learning even the basics takes time.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29Further south, Maya has a different lesson to learn.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32The nuts of the Doum palm are delicious.
0:44:32 > 0:44:36But the trees can grow to 20m tall - well out of reach.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48That's where a bit of family know-how comes in,
0:44:48 > 0:44:53like teaming up with your baboon neighbours to get what you want.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03The nuts are very tough,
0:45:03 > 0:45:06and although the baboons can reach them,
0:45:06 > 0:45:10they can't get through their thick husk.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Once they've eaten what they can, the rest ends up on the floor.
0:45:34 > 0:45:39Zadie and the other adults pick up the baboons' cast-offs.
0:45:39 > 0:45:43Their powerful jaws and huge teeth crush the nuts,
0:45:43 > 0:45:47exposing their soft and nutritious centres.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05But elephants are very messy eaters,
0:46:05 > 0:46:08which means the baboons can finish off what's left.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30Zadie's cautious of the big males getting too close to baby Maya.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40But it's the rainy season. There's enough food for everyone,
0:46:40 > 0:46:42so things remain calm.
0:46:49 > 0:46:54May, in the Samburu reserve, is the time for a special annual event.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00All of the elephant families come together at the river.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14It's a spectacular gathering.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18It's Maya's first chance to learn a whole new dimension
0:47:18 > 0:47:20in elephant society.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24This will become a yearly pilgrimage for her.
0:47:24 > 0:47:28It'll play a very important role in her social life.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44As the elephants gather,
0:47:44 > 0:47:45youngsters trumpet and call,
0:47:45 > 0:47:48beckoning yet more families down to the river.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04The kids get together and learn how to socialise.
0:48:09 > 0:48:13Young males test their strength with a bit of gentle sparring.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21While others are just excited to be reunited with old friends.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44It's a time to relax, play, and make the most of the leisure time
0:48:44 > 0:48:47that comes with a season of plenty.
0:49:02 > 0:49:06Tight family structure and social bonds are everything.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09Elephants always look out for each other.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24Observations first made here in Samburu
0:49:24 > 0:49:27take our understanding of elephant relationships
0:49:27 > 0:49:29to a whole new level -
0:49:29 > 0:49:33revealing they'll even adopt the orphans of other herds.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44Grace's mum was part of a family that was almost totally wiped out.
0:49:46 > 0:49:48When her mother died, she was left alone.
0:49:50 > 0:49:54Luckily a big, stable family took her in.
0:49:54 > 0:49:55She's with them to this day.
0:49:59 > 0:50:05Even bereaved youngsters get a second chance at a happy family.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11Her adoption highlights the immense importance
0:50:11 > 0:50:12of social bonds to elephants.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30Back at the beach, the big bulls have turned up
0:50:30 > 0:50:33and there's only one thing on their mind -
0:50:33 > 0:50:35girls.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42They travel long distances to be here in May.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44They're searching for mates.
0:50:52 > 0:50:56Maya would have been conceived right here, almost two years ago,
0:50:56 > 0:51:00but today, she needs to keep well out of the way.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07These guys mean business.
0:51:19 > 0:51:23The bulls weigh up to six tonnes and stand four metres tall,
0:51:23 > 0:51:26well over twice the size of a female.
0:51:31 > 0:51:35But receptive females can attract more than one suitor.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52The males crowd each other to stay as close as possible.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02Once she's chosen, the couple start their courtship.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21Mating causes a real ripple of excitement through the herd.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40This is the end of the males' responsibilities.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43For the females, it's just the beginning.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58Every day, little Maya is growing more adventurous,
0:52:58 > 0:53:00moving away from mum to explore.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48Zadie is starting to let the family watch over Maya much more.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52It's good for both of them.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56It gives Zadie a chance to feed and keep her strength up,
0:53:56 > 0:54:00while Maya gets the full protection of the herd.
0:54:00 > 0:54:05They even let her suckle for comfort.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24And the more Zadie feeds, the richer the milk she produces.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28Maya is getting stronger by the day.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36It's the end of May.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41Maya has cleared all the hurdles of her first month.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45Now it's time for the biggest challenge of her young life.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57She must brave the hungry crocodiles
0:54:57 > 0:54:59and biting currents of the river.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12Most of the herd have already crossed.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14Maya and Zadie have to follow.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21But will Zadie make the right decisions?
0:55:21 > 0:55:24Get this wrong and she could lose Maya for ever.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43Maya struggles to keep her footing,
0:55:43 > 0:55:47as Zadie strides out into the surging river.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54In the middle, the current is strong.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57But Zadie uses her body to shield Maya.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08She's made the right choice
0:56:08 > 0:56:11and picked a spot where the river is wide, but shallow.
0:56:14 > 0:56:16Her first successful river crossing.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26With the help of her exceptional family,
0:56:26 > 0:56:29Maya has made it through the toughest month of her life.
0:56:32 > 0:56:36Zadie has proven to be a surprisingly good mother.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38And Maya a survivor.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47But for Maya, there's a challenging year ahead.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55She'll have to stay on the move through the harsh dry season,
0:56:55 > 0:56:56searching for food and water -
0:56:56 > 0:57:01a search that could easily lead her outside the reserve.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07But if the family can keep her safe, perhaps one day,
0:57:07 > 0:57:13like Zadie, Maya too will become an exceptional mother.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16She may even become the matriarch of the family,
0:57:16 > 0:57:19using her knowledge to guide the herd
0:57:19 > 0:57:21through an uncertain future.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25But that's a long way off.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29For now, she can rest assured that she's the tiny half
0:57:29 > 0:57:30of an amazing team.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41Since filming finished,
0:57:41 > 0:57:44Zadie and Maya have been spotted safe and healthy.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48They're inside the reserve, away from the danger of poachers.
0:57:51 > 0:57:52Zadie and her family
0:57:52 > 0:57:56continue to give Maya the care and support she needs.
0:57:56 > 0:58:01Somewhere out in Samburu, Maya's story continues.
0:58:10 > 0:58:14Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd