0:00:32 > 0:00:39Welcome to the Masai Mara in Kenya, one of the best places on Earth for watching wildlife.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Six months ago,
0:00:41 > 0:00:46we came to see some of those most charismatic creatures, the big cats.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Every week for six weeks we tracked two groups of lions,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53two families of cheetah
0:00:53 > 0:00:58and a mother leopard and her cub as they went about their business.
0:01:00 > 0:01:07The drama of their lives proved so compelling that we've come back for an update.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11First, let's look at some magical moments from September.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Among my personal favourites of all the cats
0:01:45 > 0:01:48is this beautiful lady.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54Kidogo here is one of two cheetah mothers we followed during autumn,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58and when we first found her, she had in tow two tiny cubs.
0:02:02 > 0:02:08Kidogo, whose name means "small" in Swahili, was an amazing character.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Sleek, light and sharp-witted, she was almost certainly very young.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Her cubs were probably her first,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22and it was clear from Kidogo's own behaviour
0:02:22 > 0:02:26that there was a great deal of kitten left in her.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51While we made Big Cat Diary, I spent most of my time with this family,
0:02:51 > 0:02:57and so could appreciate the subtle changes in Kidogo, especially her hunting technique.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05At first, she didn't take it seriously,
0:03:05 > 0:03:11but as the cubs grew more demanding, she developed her ability to select a suitable target.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17This was more so once the Thomson's gazelles started giving birth.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Kidogo often had a choice:
0:03:28 > 0:03:32to search for the fawns, which she could be sure to catch,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35or to go for a territorial male,
0:03:35 > 0:03:40who, though more difficult to catch, would make a much bigger meal.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Her choice is made.
0:05:07 > 0:05:14The effort of the chase paid off with a meal to last her family at least two days.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Cheetahs, although magnificent hunters, are delicately built.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22They often lose their kills
0:05:22 > 0:05:24to hyenas, lions or even vultures.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29So Kidogo had to drag her kill to cover as fast as possible.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Perhaps surprisingly, that cover
0:05:37 > 0:05:40was sometimes one of our cars.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47All our cats were extremely used to vehicles,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51and despite our efforts to keep a respectable distance,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Kidogo and her cubs would often seek us out.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00They even used our cars as a playground and a climbing frame.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Once, I was watching Kidogo's cubs perfect their climbing
0:06:22 > 0:06:24when a terrible thing happened.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39The little female had caught her leg in a hole,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and now was left hanging.
0:06:41 > 0:06:47I was in a panic. There was nothing I could do with Kidogo there.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49It would cause her dreadful upset.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54But my instinct was to dash over and try to help the youngster.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06Her brother didn't understand the problem, and thought it was a game.
0:07:15 > 0:07:21Fortunately, my immediate dilemma was answered by the cub herself.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27But even though she managed to pull herself up into the tree,
0:07:27 > 0:07:32I felt sure her leg would be permanently damaged by the fall.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38The wait for her to pluck up courage to come down again
0:07:38 > 0:07:40was horribly tense.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Unbelievably, and to my very great relief,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00she immediately started charging around again,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03with no sign of damage to the leg.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11One very notable development over the weeks
0:08:11 > 0:08:14was the male cub's character change.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17His games grew continually rougher,
0:08:17 > 0:08:21to the point where his sister was intimidated.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27He adopted the classic threat posture, hackles raised.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42The cubs were getting to the age when they'd start learning to hunt.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53By the last week, Kidogo's attitude to hunting had sharpened greatly.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58Perhaps it was the influence of the two ever more hungry mouths to feed.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Once her attention was fixed on a potential meal,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15she was concentration personified.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57Rarely had we seen her phenomenal turn of speed better illustrated.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07She never even touched the gazelle,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10which tripped and damaged a leg.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16The lack of a killing bite was not brutality,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19but an essential life-lesson for her cubs.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24This was the first time
0:10:24 > 0:10:27they'd been left to kill their prey.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32The male's instinct and ability were remarkably efficient.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34As we left Kidogo and her family,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37the future looked optimistic.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47On our return, our hopes for Kidogo and her cubs have been realised.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Here she is, in all her glory, only last week.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56With her, two very healthy, lively cubs.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02They couldn't be in better shape.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Though they've grown,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09both the male and female cub are still full of fun.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15It seems, too, that much of the overt aggression has gone from the male's play.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Cheetahs, perhaps more than any other big cat,
0:11:25 > 0:11:30continue to depend on their mother, often for well over a year.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34This has as much to do with learning how to avoid danger
0:11:34 > 0:11:37as it does catching food.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Kidogo's young are no exception,
0:11:43 > 0:11:48and, though able to assist with hunting, they're not independent.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58It's still usually down to their mother to initiate a hunt.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06With the dry conditions that have prevailed over the last few months,
0:12:06 > 0:12:12there's little cover to help Kidogo in her stalk towards her target.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Though Kidogo tripped the impala,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39she leaves it to her now very competent cubs to finish the job.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02During the chase, however, Kidogo badly sprained her ankle,
0:13:02 > 0:13:08further proof of the fragility of these high-specification predators.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12The survival of these cats still hangs in a delicate balance.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16A simple sprained ankle can mean failure
0:13:16 > 0:13:22for a hunter, like a cheetah, operating at the limits of its physical capabilities.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Kidogo should get over that leg injury,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29but we'll continue to chart her progress.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Our other cheetah mother, Fundi, had older cubs when we found her,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38but then, as now, she gave us a run-around!
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Six months ago, Fundi and her two ten-month-old cubs
0:13:44 > 0:13:48proved very difficult to keep up with.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52One of the reasons they proved so elusive
0:13:52 > 0:13:56was the hassle they were getting from hyenas
0:13:56 > 0:13:58and other large predators.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13The hyenas were only after scraps, but were unwelcome nonetheless.
0:14:19 > 0:14:25The cubs were always looking for a chance to hone their hunting skills.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29If any more vulnerable creatures came their way,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31they gave them a lot of stick.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36This was an aardwolf, a small type of hyena which eats termites.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53A bat-eared fox isn't a common item on cheetah menus,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56but it was good target practice!
0:15:03 > 0:15:07In fact, the cheetah could easily outrun the fox,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and was more interested in the chase than a meal.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21Once, the cubs even took on one of their greatest adversaries,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23the hyena.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25But, in this case,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28a young, solitary one.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50Perhaps surprisingly, even a male baboon could move the cheetahs on.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55But the baboon DOES have longer canine teeth than the average lion.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03Fundi was always a cheetah that preferred to hunt in thick cover,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06and time and again, she and her cubs
0:16:06 > 0:16:11would disappear for days, leaving us to piece together their adventures.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24On our return to the Mara, Fundi continues to prove elusive.
0:16:24 > 0:16:32We have heard, though, that she and her now-independent cubs are doing well and keeping to thick cover.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Clearly, she hasn't changed very much.
0:16:36 > 0:16:43While we recorded their every move, the big cats simply ignored us and got on with business as usual.
0:16:43 > 0:16:50But producing Big Cat Diary, getting the pictures on screen within a week of recording them,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53required a revolutionary approach to film making.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59During our stay in the Mara, six film crews followed the action,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02over 11,000 man-hours in the field.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07We covered 45,000 kilometres, got stuck 420 times
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and had 360 punctures.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17We shot over 80km of videotape during the day
0:17:17 > 0:17:19and at night.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27The results were edited in the field to become the Big Cat Diary.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33All of that effort went into producing images like these.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36This was one of two prides of lions we followed
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and was known as the Big Pride.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41With seven females,
0:17:41 > 0:17:4417 cubs and four adult males,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47it was truly a very big pride indeed!
0:17:48 > 0:17:51With so many mouths to feed,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54we thought they'd be struggling,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57but this was a very efficient hunting unit.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Their territory contained a plentiful supply of food,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06and with so many mature females to gather it, the cubs flourished.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12However, they hunted almost entirely in the hours of darkness.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15It increased their chances of success
0:18:15 > 0:18:19and it avoided conflict with the many Masai people
0:18:19 > 0:18:23who shared the same area with their cattle by day.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Under cover of complete darkness,
0:18:27 > 0:18:32their hunting trips were revealed with our special night cameras.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Even nimble-footed species, like gazelle, were caught by surprise.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11But though highly skilled, the Big Pride were not infallible.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Even for such a powerful hunting force, a buffalo is a challenge.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32The Big Pride were, however, prepared to have a go.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50They rarely went a whole night without success,
0:19:50 > 0:19:55and of all the big cats we watched, these did seem the king of beasts.
0:20:12 > 0:20:20This was a lion pride at the very height of its fortunes. With plenty of food and a stable territory,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23even the big males tolerated the young cubs.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Up to a point, that is.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Though occasionally argumentative,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54there was little tension between these lions,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56considering their number.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03The adult males had, at best, three years to ensure
0:21:03 > 0:21:07that their progeny would survive to reproduce.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11As things were, they looked to have a rosy future,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13for the time being, at least.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21It's exceptional for so many cubs to survive.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Usually, about half die in their first year.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28But if these cubs were the picture of health,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31the situation was quite different elsewhere.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38The other group we followed in the autumn were these, the Marsh Pride.
0:21:38 > 0:21:44Unlike their counterparts on the hill, survival for them was harder.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51At first glance, the marsh territory looked to be lush and healthy.
0:21:53 > 0:22:00But unseasonably wet weather meant the expected numbers of migratory wildebeest hadn't reached the Mara
0:22:00 > 0:22:05and animals were spoilt for choice when looking for drinking water.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09So the Marsh Pride had to attack anything within reach,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13regardless of their chances of success.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23All too often, the result was failure.
0:22:33 > 0:22:40Animals that shared the marsh territory regardless of conditions were wart hogs.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44But though they may be fairly small,
0:22:44 > 0:22:50they're alert, and those little legs can go at tremendous speed.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Time after time,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38the Marsh Lions' hunting failed.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Even when they did secure a meal, it barely whetted their appetite.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49As if the lack of prey wasn't enough,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53the Marsh Pride had trouble with their social life.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57An invading male attempted a takeover.
0:24:57 > 0:25:03If he overpowered the females, he'd almost certainly kill or chase off the cubs.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42The Marsh females' victory was short-lived.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47With renewed confidence, the invading male drove home his attack.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10The dispute resulted in confusion and a split in the Marsh Pride.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14We never saw several members again.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27On the rare occasion when the females secured a larger meal,
0:26:27 > 0:26:32tensions ran high as each lion argued over its share.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44In such poor times,
0:26:44 > 0:26:50newcomers, even distant relatives, were a threat to meagre supplies.
0:26:50 > 0:26:56An injured lioness, probably an old pride member, looked for support from the others.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Under the circumstances,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19the weak were a liability and had to be chased away.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Lions have to be pragmatists.
0:27:31 > 0:27:37The fittest must survive to have a chance of producing further generations.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42That is why the Marsh females were so defensive of their territory.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Despite the hardship,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48several of them had given birth.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53Cubs conceived in better times were born to three adult lionesses.
0:27:53 > 0:27:59Completely helpless, dependent on their mothers for milk,
0:27:59 > 0:28:04these cubs could have little concept of their uncertain future.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22There were so many things that would affect their chances,
0:28:22 > 0:28:27but the single biggest threat lay in the extraordinary weather.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31RUMBLE OF THUNDER
0:28:31 > 0:28:34During our stay last September,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38we were deluged by incredibly heavy rain.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Trying to film was a nightmare.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47Our vehicles got stuck over and over again.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58For the cats, the cooler days meant they could hunt in comfort.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03But this made little difference to the Marsh lions.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06With lush grazing everywhere,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10the usual herds coming to the marsh to drink were absent.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21The weather is still influencing these lions' lives,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24but now for the better.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29Since we left in the autumn, it has been unseasonally dry.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33This has forced thousands of wildebeest and zebra into the marsh.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37The change in the weather came at just the right time.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41The sudden shift from rain to drought
0:29:41 > 0:29:46has spelt disaster for some creatures, but not this pride.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51The cubs we watched in the autumn, who seemed so vulnerable,
0:29:51 > 0:29:54are a great success story.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02Just as their mothers were reaching the point of having to abandon them,
0:30:02 > 0:30:08game flooded into their territory and it's remained ever since.
0:30:08 > 0:30:14The result - a fine troupe of cubs, now six months old and growing fast.
0:30:18 > 0:30:23In addition to the three litters born last September,
0:30:23 > 0:30:26there are some new arrivals.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33The youngest cubs are just beginning to explore,
0:30:33 > 0:30:38and provide irresistible playmates for their older cousins.
0:31:00 > 0:31:06The whole pride now is clearly more relaxed than when we last saw them.
0:31:06 > 0:31:12All the tension which grew out of the food shortage has evaporated.
0:31:14 > 0:31:20The five females rarely have to travel more than a kilometre from the nursery to hunt.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24Frequently, they're shadowed by the older cubs.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30Unlike the big pride, who still hunt mainly at night,
0:31:30 > 0:31:35the Marsh females are having tremendous success through the day.
0:31:36 > 0:31:43Their territory is in the heart of the game reserve, so they're undisturbed by people on foot.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48The heat of the day forces the wildebeest into the marsh.
0:31:48 > 0:31:55The lions simply have to position themselves along their path.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Though two females are visible,
0:32:02 > 0:32:06the grass around the wildebeest conceals a further three.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Meals like this are now a regular occurrence.
0:32:30 > 0:32:36If this weather lasts, things look good for the Marsh Pride.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40The marsh is strikingly different from the autumn.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44The land all around is incredibly arid,
0:32:44 > 0:32:49forcing thousands of animals to come in search of water,
0:32:49 > 0:32:54illustrating why this is such important territory for the lions.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58The third species of cat we followed is a leopard -
0:32:58 > 0:33:03a female, called Half Tail for obvious reasons, and her cub.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Most leopards are very shy.
0:33:05 > 0:33:12But Half Tail was remarkable in her complete indifference to humans and their cars.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17She was also very active by day - an obvious advantage for filming.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20On this occasion,
0:33:20 > 0:33:24she had her sights set on a pair of fighting impala.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30Leopards can't sprint over great distances like a cheetah.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33They rely on stealth and concealment.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50That her target was preoccupied with a squabble
0:33:50 > 0:33:55gave her the freedom to approach much more rapidly than usual.
0:34:09 > 0:34:16Having closed the distance, Half Tail once again illustrated her mastery of stealth.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21Every time the gazelle lifted its head, she froze.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25But once she felt certain she wasn't being watched,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29she inched forward in a display of powerful restraint.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31In this way,
0:34:31 > 0:34:37leopards creep up to within a metre of their prey before being detected.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52HOARSE BARK
0:34:56 > 0:34:58She was unlucky.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02An alarm bark from another impala alerted the herd.
0:35:02 > 0:35:08Half Tail could only leave with as much dignity as she could muster.
0:35:13 > 0:35:18When a leopard is stalking, it keeps its tail close to the ground.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21When relaxed, it holds it high.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23But with Half Tail,
0:35:23 > 0:35:29this didn't produce the visible signal of indifference, as intended.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34Moving blatantly through the grass, she produced a ripple of alarm.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36MONKEY BARKS
0:35:36 > 0:35:42Vervet monkeys have a specific alarm call to say a leopard is near.
0:35:52 > 0:35:57One reason Half Tail was so active during the day
0:35:57 > 0:36:00was that she was hunting for two.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03When we first started to chart her progress,
0:36:03 > 0:36:08her six-month-old cub relied on her completely for food.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17The little female cub, despite being mobile, was very vulnerable.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Leopards are powerful predators, but no match for a lion or hyena.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Indeed, in 12 years,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Half Tail has only successfully reared two other cubs.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34Whenever hyenas did turn up in search of food scraps,
0:36:34 > 0:36:39we really did fear for the cub's safety.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49With the cub hiding in the grass,
0:36:49 > 0:36:55Half Tail distracted the hyenas until they grew bored and left.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06The bond between mother and daughter
0:37:06 > 0:37:08was incredibly close.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11And though beyond the point of weaning,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16the cub was still receiving regular milk meals.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25Leopards invest a huge amount of care and effort in rearing cubs.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30Even so, this little cat had a very slim chance of survival.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37About three weeks into our stay,
0:37:37 > 0:37:41Half Tail managed to kill an adult male impala.
0:37:41 > 0:37:46And in true leopard style, took it into the safety of a large tree.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Though requiring a monumental show of strength,
0:37:50 > 0:37:55this ensured that the meal was safe from prowling hyenas and lions.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59However, there was a risk that Half Tail may lose her meal
0:37:59 > 0:38:02to a scavenger from above.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15By dragging the kill into the densest part of the foliage,
0:38:15 > 0:38:19she and her cub were able to gorge on it for several days.
0:38:25 > 0:38:30Tree climbing comes as second nature to a young leopard.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35But getting down again demands a little more practice.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59As the cub grew,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02she was left for longer periods alone in the gorge.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06But far from staying hidden, she practised her hunting technique.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11It was the agama lizards which proved to be a favourite target.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01And when Half Tail returned from a fruitless hunting trip,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05she came in for a bit of stick from her cub.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17FIERCE GROWLING
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Gradually, these games became rougher and more high-spirited.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26They also served to hone the little female's hunting skills.
0:40:26 > 0:40:32It wasn't unusual for Half Tail to initiate a chase with her cub.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37Further proof of the special nature of their relationship.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Such a bond is vital for the cub,
0:40:40 > 0:40:45who should stay with her mother for a year or more.
0:40:45 > 0:40:52The lessons of independence which require such skill and precision, take a long time to learn.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59One such life lesson
0:40:59 > 0:41:02occured towards the end of our trip in the autumn.
0:41:02 > 0:41:08Half Tail had killed a hare and given it to her cub to feed on.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12But within minutes,
0:41:12 > 0:41:16the hyenas homed in on the smell of fresh meat.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Half Tail, afraid for her cub's safety, moved in closer.
0:41:28 > 0:41:33But the little cub saw her mother's approach as a threat to the meal
0:41:33 > 0:41:37and warned her off in no uncertain terms.
0:41:48 > 0:41:53She was oblivious of the danger that she herself was in.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56Preoccupied by the scuffle,
0:41:56 > 0:42:01the cub overlooked the approaching hyenas until the very last minute.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Safe from the hyena's crushing jaws,
0:42:18 > 0:42:23she could eat in peace, leaving her mother to fend off the intruders.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31SHE GROWLS
0:42:44 > 0:42:50But eventually, the pressure got too much, even for Half Tail.
0:43:13 > 0:43:18After a stand-off of over an hour, the hyenas drifted away.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23But both leopards stayed in the trees until much later that evening.
0:43:24 > 0:43:30Leopards are much more successful when they hunt at night.
0:43:30 > 0:43:35This didn't stop Half Tail making the most of every opportunity.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43After a couple of failed attempts,
0:43:43 > 0:43:49she decided to conceal herself on a rocky slope and wait.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54With Half Tail completely hidden,
0:43:54 > 0:43:58animal after animal brushed within metres of her.
0:43:58 > 0:44:03She could explode into action at any moment.
0:44:16 > 0:44:21The kongoni calf only just managed to escape Half Tail's attack.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39As we prepared to leave,
0:44:39 > 0:44:43the cub, though developing quickly, still had a great deal to learn
0:44:43 > 0:44:51and would depend on Half Tail for food and protection for some time to come.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01It's taken us a while to catch up with Half Tail again.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03Hardly surprising!
0:45:03 > 0:45:07There she is, perfectly camouflaged, sleeping in the tree.
0:45:07 > 0:45:12Indeed, if there was any cat that we felt had a secure future,
0:45:12 > 0:45:14it was Half Tail.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17We couldn't have been more wrong.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21Just after Christmas, and during our absence,
0:45:21 > 0:45:25Half Tail suffered a potentially mortal blow.
0:45:25 > 0:45:32She was discovered with an arrow sticking through the top of her nose and into her mouth.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35A vet was called immediately
0:45:35 > 0:45:40and, with difficutly, Half Tail was sedated to remove the arrow.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43Naturally fearful,
0:45:43 > 0:45:48Half Tail complicated matters by taking refuge in a hole.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Within minutes, the operation had been completed.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17Only time could tell if Half Tail would survive.
0:46:17 > 0:46:22And our most recent pictures of her, recorded less than a week ago,
0:46:22 > 0:46:24speak for themselves.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Half Tail has made a 100% recovery.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31And she barely has a scar to show for her ordeal.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35To add to our relief and our delight,
0:46:35 > 0:46:40Half Tail's cub is also doing very well.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43At one year, she's almost fully independent.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46And, apart from her tail,
0:46:46 > 0:46:49looks very much like her mother.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56She now hunts for herself much of the time,
0:46:56 > 0:46:59and has adopted all the feline grace
0:46:59 > 0:47:02of her kind.
0:47:12 > 0:47:16She's lost something of the kitten in her.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20She's less inclined to burst out into bouts of play.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23But she's lost none of her charm.
0:47:25 > 0:47:31From time to time, the two of them are still getting together.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Sometimes it's to share a meal,
0:47:34 > 0:47:38sometimes simply to be close to each other.
0:47:38 > 0:47:45A further illustration of the special relationship between a mother leopard and her cub.
0:47:52 > 0:47:57This is a real success story for Half Tail,
0:47:57 > 0:47:59who, despite the hardships,
0:47:59 > 0:48:04has now raised a third cub in a little over 12 years.
0:48:07 > 0:48:14It is such a privilege to share the fortunes and the problems of these magnificent cats.
0:48:14 > 0:48:20Theirs is a story that has no ending, but it is a great story.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23Subtitles by BBC Subtitling - 1997