0:00:27 > 0:00:31Last week, Half Tail the leopard
0:00:31 > 0:00:33killed an adult male impala.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36But hiding such a feast
0:00:36 > 0:00:39was a bit of an uphill struggle!
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Our night crew found the remnant of the Marsh Lions.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48The infrared cameras revealed
0:00:48 > 0:00:51that they're still having a rough time,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54but, on this occasion, with hyenas.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Hyenas caused Fundi the cheetah and her cubs
0:00:58 > 0:01:00a lot of grief.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04During this encounter we noticed the male cub
0:01:04 > 0:01:06had an alarming limp.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10We didn't know how his back leg had been hurt.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Maybe a thorn or a rough game with his sister.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Whatever the cause, a leg injury
0:01:17 > 0:01:22is serious for a cheetah that depends on speed for survival.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25The hassle got too much for the cheetahs.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30They disappeared, leaving us with a search on our hands.
0:01:32 > 0:01:39Getting up at 5.00 every morning sounds like hell, but you have to
0:01:39 > 0:01:41to find the cats.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45It's worth it to meet such beautiful creatures.
0:01:45 > 0:01:52Every day last week we looked for Half Tail and her cub and found them along Fig Tree Ridge. Brilliant!
0:01:52 > 0:01:59But each morning it's as if you've wiped the slate clean. You don't know what you'll see or who you'll find.
0:01:59 > 0:02:05The weather has been kinder this week, with dry, bright mornings.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10One of the reasons a dawn search is so important for our success
0:02:10 > 0:02:14is that a lot of the animals, not just the cats,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17are still active and out of cover.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22As the day heats up they seek shade, and spotting them is a nightmare!
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Kidogo and her cubs
0:02:30 > 0:02:32are doing well.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Each morning we find them huddled against the chill. It can be nippy.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43It's in this first hour of the day
0:02:43 > 0:02:48that family things - grooming and, sometimes still, suckling - happen.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57But milk is not a significant part of the cubs' diet any more.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06With an increasing need for meat,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Kidogo is constantly on the lookout for a meal.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16Over these three weeks we've seen a shift in Kidogo's hunting style.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21At first, she gave the impression she wasn't taking it very seriously,
0:03:21 > 0:03:26often attempting hunts in very difficult situations
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and often missing as a result.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32But now, her attitude seems to have changed.
0:03:38 > 0:03:45On every hunt this week, including this, of some Thomson's gazelles, she seemed to weigh the odds
0:03:45 > 0:03:50and only continued the stalk if they seemed in her favour.
0:03:54 > 0:04:01Ideally, she's looking for a small group or single animals - fewer eyes to spot her approach.
0:04:01 > 0:04:08Despite her blistering speed, she doesn't attack unless she's within 30 metres of her target.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But when the moment's right, she gives it everything.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Even after the chase, her thoughts are with her cubs.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45She can't settle
0:04:45 > 0:04:48till she knows they are safe.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57Because Kidogo stands a good chance of losing her kills
0:04:57 > 0:04:59to other predators and scavengers,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02she's keen to hide them as quickly as possible.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Sometimes, the best hiding place is under one of our cars.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Frustrating for Alan Hayward,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27but a graphic illustration
0:05:27 > 0:05:30of how habituated these cats are to vehicles.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35We try hard to keep a respectable distance from these animals,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39but, more often than not, they seek us out.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Kidogo's cubs like a game of chase around a car.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52They even use my bonnet as a climbing frame!
0:05:52 > 0:05:56From our point of view, it's a privilege
0:05:56 > 0:06:01to be treated with such indifference by a truly wild animal.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13We've been lucky to find Half Tail and her cub
0:06:13 > 0:06:16on an almost daily basis.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20At times I've gone months without seeing a leopard.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26The young female is getting bigger and bolder by the day.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Gone is the wariness and uncertainty of earlier months.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35Just how Half Tail lost part of her tail is something of a mystery.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39It happened when she was four years old.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44My guess is a fight with baboons or a lucky escape from a lion attack.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49But the stump still provides her cub with a tantalising plaything.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53GROWLING
0:06:55 > 0:07:02Despite twenty years watching leopards, I've only seen them hunt successfully half a dozen times.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07Impala are prime targets, particularly the males.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12They often feed among the acacia thickets where leopards seek cover.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Leopards like to creep incredibly close -
0:07:25 > 0:07:28two or three metres from their quarry.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Just when you feel sure Half Tail is bound to strike,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49she tries to edge even closer.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58But so often, that one extra step is one too many...
0:08:01 > 0:08:04..forcing Half Tail to give up.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16The two big male lions have been busy.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21The decision to cross the river and stay on the escarpment plain worked
0:08:21 > 0:08:25when they caught up with a female in heat.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33We don't know if she's part of the resident pride or passing through.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37But the big males obviously didn't care.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Goldenmane made the first approach
0:08:48 > 0:08:52and, as is typical in the early stages of lion courtship,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56the lioness instantly played hard to get.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It's not surprising that the female's wary.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10She has to hold back a natural feeling of discomfort
0:09:10 > 0:09:15at having a 200-kilo killing machine in VERY close contact.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32But it was Goldenmane who should have been worried!
0:09:41 > 0:09:45It may look as though the lioness over-reacted,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49but male lions often get a smack in the face after dismounting!
0:09:51 > 0:09:55And no sooner had she given him a beating,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57than she starts to flirt again!
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Lion courtship is a pretty intense activity.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05For the first 24 hours of her coming into heat,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07 a female mates every 15 minutes!
0:10:07 > 0:10:11She may remain receptive for over four days,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15so the total number of couplings may be several hundred!
0:10:17 > 0:10:22This may seem like an inordinate amount of mating for one litter.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26It's been estimated that lions mate 3,000 times
0:10:26 > 0:10:30for every one cub that survives to be a year old.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40On day two of the lion courtship,
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Martyn Colbeck was there at dawn to record the happy couple,
0:10:45 > 0:10:50to find that Blackmane, Goldenmane's brother, had taken over duties!
0:10:50 > 0:10:55This is normal behaviour, especially when the males are related.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The bloodline of any resulting cubs
0:10:58 > 0:11:00is more or less the same -
0:11:00 > 0:11:04regardless of which male is the true father.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Morning to you. We've found these lions...
0:11:26 > 0:11:34On day three, the lion crew was back, fully expecting to find Blackmane and Goldenman
0:11:34 > 0:11:37in close attendance with the lioness.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43It appeared that Goldenmane had taken over again from his brother.
0:11:47 > 0:11:53After a closer look, it became obvious that this wasn't Goldenmane,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57but a new male none of us had seen before.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01We have absolutely no idea what he was doing here -
0:12:01 > 0:12:04other than taking advantage of the situation!
0:12:06 > 0:12:10We can only assume that our two big males
0:12:10 > 0:12:15were lying exhausted in the bushes and didn't notice the interloper!
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Not that the female seemed to mind!
0:12:21 > 0:12:25By day four, the boys were back!
0:12:26 > 0:12:31Goldenmane had, once again, taken his place by the female.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34albeit in a somewhat lethargic mood.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47It's because lion courtship can be so chaotic
0:12:47 > 0:12:52that this female may not be pregnant, even now.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Only when she's certain of full support
0:12:55 > 0:12:59from faithful pride males, will she conceive.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Meanwhile,
0:13:01 > 0:13:06she'll continue to convince them that she's worth hanging around for.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23We've pitched our Big Cat Diary camp as close as we can
0:13:23 > 0:13:25to the action.
0:13:25 > 0:13:32For the six weeks of our transmission, 40 people are living under canvas or African skies.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36All the trappings of TV production are in the Masai Mara
0:13:36 > 0:13:40so programmes can be transmitted within the week.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Last Friday, we had a stroke of luck.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50A Marsh lioness had produced three cubs in a dense thicket.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I've rarely seen cubs this small.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03They're usually hidden until they're at least a month and a half old.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12These are about three weeks old. Their eyes have only recently opened.
0:14:36 > 0:14:42There ARE times when she'll have to leave the cubs to go and hunt.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Left alone, they're incredibly vulnerable.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50It's unlikely they'll ALL survive.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55Over the next three weeks, we'll keep a close eye on them.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03I've spent a lot of time with Kidogo's family,
0:15:03 > 0:15:09thoroughly enjoying being close to these bundles of high energy.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13But, on Monday morning, a dreadful thing happened.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19CUB MEWS
0:15:19 > 0:15:25The female had caught her leg and was left hanging. I was in a panic.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30I could do nothing - it would dreadfully upset Kidogo.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34But my instinct was to dash over and try to help the youngster.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38SHE MEWS PITIFULLY
0:15:38 > 0:15:43He brother didn't understand and thought it was a game.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Fortunately, my immediate dilemma was answered by the cub herself.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09Even though she'd managed to pull herself up into the tree
0:16:09 > 0:16:14I felt sure her leg would have been permanently damaged by the fall.
0:16:18 > 0:16:24The wait for her to pluck up the courage to come down was horribly tense.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Unbelievably, no sooner was she down than she was charging around
0:16:55 > 0:16:57with her brother,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59with no sign of damage to her leg!
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Despite her accident, the cub is absolutely fine now.
0:17:12 > 0:17:19Unlike me! Every time either cub goes near a tree, I have palpitations!
0:17:19 > 0:17:24They're both in very good shape - getting fitter and faster.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Their future looks very bright.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33At dawn on Sunday, we found Half Tail
0:17:33 > 0:17:37about to stash an impala carcass in a Balinites tree.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58They've got to be careful with it revealed like that,
0:17:58 > 0:18:04as birds of prey - eagles, vultures - might spot it and try and feed on it.
0:18:11 > 0:18:17Now that Half Tail's got her kill safely up the tree, they can feed at leisure.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19It's safe from hyenas
0:18:19 > 0:18:23and even a lion might have difficulty getting up there.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27The problem is, she's got the cub
0:18:27 > 0:18:33who now, nice and full, is very active and just wants to play.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58The cub's taking the safe way down.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06No sooner had they climbed down,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09than an unwelcome visitor moved in.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Half Tail was there in a flash.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31Even though the cub and Half Tail have eaten plenty of meat,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35they haven't finished with that kill yet!
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I've never seen something like that!
0:19:40 > 0:19:45By the look of it, that cub's got a few lessons to learn yet
0:19:45 > 0:19:49before it's a really competent climber!
0:20:08 > 0:20:13We decided to stay with Half Tail throughout the night.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18By using our infrared lights and cameras,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22we were able to watch our leopards without disturbing them.
0:20:22 > 0:20:28Early in the night, Half Tail catnapped in the tree with her kill.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32But her cub was far less relaxed, stranded up an acacia
0:20:32 > 0:20:35where she had fled from hyenas.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Hyenas have a remarkable sense of smell,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44immediately moving in on the kill.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48But Half Tail could afford to ignore her powerful competitors.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59The hyenas scoured the ground for scraps from the leopard's larder.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Eventually, the last hyena wandered off
0:21:17 > 0:21:22allowing Half Tail and her cub to leave the safety of the trees.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34It was pitch black outside.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39But our infrared cameras let us share the leopards' reunion.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19At dawn next morning, I thought things couldn't be better for our leopards.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43It's wonderful to see this side of leopards
0:22:43 > 0:22:48because we so often think of them as solitary and anti-social.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51But you see a mother and cub playing
0:22:51 > 0:22:55and you realise that they've got a huge range of behaviour.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Half Tail likes playing just as much as her cub!
0:22:59 > 0:23:04Leopards always remind me of an overgrown house cat.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08They're the most "cattyish" of our three big cats.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Both our leopards are full of meat
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and they're just enjoying themselves. There are no hyenas around
0:23:33 > 0:23:36and so they can relax.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45By storing their kills in trees,
0:23:45 > 0:23:50leopards have the leisure of being able to eat it over a number of days,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53something a cheetah can't do.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Now that Half Tail's finished eating,
0:24:17 > 0:24:22the little cub's obviously decided it can have the chance to feed.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27Leopards tend to feed separately. One feeds then rests,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29then the other one.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35It's very important that they gorge themselves as best they can
0:24:35 > 0:24:40because they never know when they'll hunt and feed again.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52This week, we've conducted a massive search to find Fundi and her cubs,
0:24:52 > 0:24:57our other cheetah family that went missing last week.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02On Friday, we followed up a tip that some cheetah cubs had been spotted.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06To our surprise, they'd been seen 25km away.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- TANIA:- I believe they're to the left of where we are now.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14If we headed a bit more south, it looks empty...
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Even though we'd been told roughly where to look,
0:25:18 > 0:25:24we still had to apply our usual fieldcraft to track the cheetahs.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- But not all the clues were useful. - That wildebeest's old.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I don't think it means much.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35We're coming right over now.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38There they are!
0:25:38 > 0:25:42We've got to be really sure these are Fundi's cubs.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Simon to Keith or anybody else, I can see the cheetahs.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Simon, reading you loud and clear.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54We've found these cubs and it would be great if you could identify them.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58If you've got the drawings, we'd be able to tie it down.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04They're gonna be heading down into this riverine forest
0:26:04 > 0:26:06so we'd probably better get in soon.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11If you could keep them in view till I get there, that would help.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18OK, hold it there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22IN SWAHILI
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Well, they're the same age.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30This could be them.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35This could be them.
0:26:40 > 0:26:47The difficulty is that I haven't seen Fundi's young for quite a few days.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51I did make some sketches back at base camp
0:26:51 > 0:26:56of some of the more distinctive features of Fundi's cubs' faces.
0:26:56 > 0:27:01I'm just going to try and match those against the marks on these.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07No, no, no.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11No, the markings aren't matching.
0:27:11 > 0:27:17The male cub of Fundi's had very distinctive marks above his eyes.
0:27:17 > 0:27:22The female had a very distinctive little V mark next to her right eye.
0:27:27 > 0:27:33So we've got these two male cubs without an adult who will have a hard time of it
0:27:33 > 0:27:37and we still don't have Fundi's cubs. The search goes on.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Subtitles by BBC Subtitling - 1996