0:00:28 > 0:00:33One of the Marsh Pride females had had cubs.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35But food is short
0:00:35 > 0:00:38and the cubs' future looks rocky.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Half Tail the leopard found a meal
0:00:40 > 0:00:43and showed her mastery of climbing.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47But her cub needed a few lessons.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55A soft landing - but growing up is painful!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Kidogo the cheetah
0:00:57 > 0:01:01could only watch as her cub had a more serious accident.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Despite the fall, the cub's leg was all right.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14But who knows what may happen to them next?
0:01:17 > 0:01:20And this week, guess who we've got!
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Fundi and her cubs
0:01:22 > 0:01:25have shown up at last.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28We must be quiet around these cats,
0:01:28 > 0:01:32but the temptation is to go "Whoopee!"
0:01:32 > 0:01:34We've looked everywhere for her.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38We had a tip this morning from one of the drivers
0:01:38 > 0:01:43that he'd seen a cheetah with two well-grown cubs about 9km away
0:01:43 > 0:01:47from where we last saw her almost two weeks ago.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52I haven't seen them walking, so I can't tell if the male's leg is bad
0:01:52 > 0:01:58but they look in good health and I'm really chuffed to see them back.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02CRANE CALLS
0:02:02 > 0:02:09When he did move, it was obvious that the injury to his back leg had all but cleared up.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11TWO-TONE RISING CALLS
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Not that this impressed the local crowned cranes!
0:02:20 > 0:02:25These showy birds have helped us more than once to find the cats.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30If they see a predator among them, they let the whole world know!
0:02:32 > 0:02:35CRANE CALLS
0:02:35 > 0:02:41The cubs have learned a lot in two weeks.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Now the gazelles are giving birth, they can put their skills to use.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Fundi ends the game, showing her cubs its practical conclusion.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04The cubs, though still playful, are taking life more seriously
0:03:04 > 0:03:07even than they did three weeks ago,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09especially when it comes to food.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19The female cub, having caught the hare,
0:03:19 > 0:03:24was not in the mood to share it with her mother or her brother.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31GROWLING
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Such a small prize is only enough for one cheetah.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Such kills will be the cubs' staple diet when they leave their mother.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Only after months of catching young and small creatures
0:03:53 > 0:03:58will they be able to deal with larger prey.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03Till then, selfishness is just another step towards independence.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09With all our frantic searching for cheetahs in the last two weeks,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12we now had one near our camp,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14though not one of our regulars.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18This is the adult male we've been seeing in the area,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22almost certainly the father of Kidogo's cubs.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28He's a loner and has only himself to cater for,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31playing no part in the rearing of his cubs.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34He also covers a massive area
0:04:34 > 0:04:39and his turning up so close to base was a chance we couldn't ignore.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49You might think life for a single male cheetah is a bowl of cherries.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55But, though bigger than the females, he still has to be careful of kills.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18A young impala - the perfect meal for a cheetah...
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and finger-food for a hyena.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The cheetah didn't even see the hyena coming,
0:05:32 > 0:05:37and faced with those powerful jaws, the kill wasn't worth fighting for.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48This is the Big Pride -
0:05:48 > 0:05:527 lionesses, 16 cubs and 4 males,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55the biggest pride I've seen.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57At first, you think,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01"How will I ever recognise individuals?"
0:06:01 > 0:06:04The key is to draw them,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06and that's what I've been doing.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09The thing to look for
0:06:09 > 0:06:11is the spot markings on the muzzle.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Every one has a different pattern
0:06:14 > 0:06:18which stays the same all its life.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23There are marks on ears, notches on noses and other characteristics
0:06:23 > 0:06:26which helps you recognise them.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30When you've done that, you can make sense of who,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34out of all these cubs, belongs to which female.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40Two of my favourite lionesses are Young Girl and her mother.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45The Old One, as I call her, is at least 12 and a grandmother,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47but still has cubs of her own.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55Each lioness helps to keep an eye on the cubs, which is just as well.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00At their age, there's mischief in almost everything they do.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10All these lionesses are related
0:07:10 > 0:07:15and grooming each other helps reinforce a feeling of togetherness.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23Co-operation is the key when it comes to raising all these cubs.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26A mother will suckle another's cubs,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29but only if she has enough milk for her own.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36But sometimes, none of them want to know.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40This little cub was after a meal from one of these lionesses.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52He didn't care whether it was from his mother, aunt or anybody else.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00No matter how hard he tried, no-one was in the mood to give him his way.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07The lionesses had other things on their minds,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10like where their next meal was coming from.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22Since I've been following the Big Pride, they've hunted at night.
0:08:22 > 0:08:28By dusk, all but one of the lionesses were ready to move off with the cubs.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33Why, I wondered, was this one being left behind?
0:08:39 > 0:08:45That night, the lionesses killed a zebra, and we watched them feed
0:08:45 > 0:08:48with our infrared cameras and lights.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53One of the Big Pride males
0:08:53 > 0:08:56had joined the feast,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59allowing the cubs to feed with him.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01All the cubs are his relatives,
0:09:01 > 0:09:06sired by himself or one of his three male companions.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11The lionesses were more wary.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Unrelated, they're viewed as competition for food.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29The big male must have eaten 30kg alone!
0:09:29 > 0:09:35In just two hours, the pride had picked clean the 200kg carcass.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The weather has done it again - in a big way!
0:09:51 > 0:09:58A hurricane-force wind swept through our camp, causing devastation.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Several tents damaged - a few, wrecked!
0:10:07 > 0:10:13One tossed over 70 metres through the air into the river -
0:10:13 > 0:10:16complete with tables and a metal bed.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Some contents were saved, most were a write-off.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40The rainfall eased toward the end of the week.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45That was good news for some of the other Mara residents!
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Because the water level's been so high,
0:10:49 > 0:10:55the crocodiles in the Mara have had to go without food.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Now, they're extremely hungry
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and ready to make up for lost time.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02The river's home to many crocodiles
0:11:02 > 0:11:06but only a few reach these gigantic proportions!
0:11:06 > 0:11:12The largest may measure over five metres and weigh nearly a ton.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16And such a monstrous animal needs a BIG meal!
0:11:19 > 0:11:24With the migration of wildebeest and zebra all but halted for weeks,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27pickings have been very lean.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32This week saw some movement from the pioneers of the migration.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Zebras usually venture north first.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40The price they pay for being first at the green banquet
0:11:40 > 0:11:45is to bear the brunt of the great reptiles' sharpened appetite.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12An adult zebra is formidable -
0:12:12 > 0:12:16immensely strong with a jaw-breaking kick
0:12:16 > 0:12:19and a bite that can easily take out an eye.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22The crocs bide their time,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26sizing up each as it passes.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35If they spot a young or a weak animal,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39they can put on a remarkable turn of speed.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58The vast majority brush past the deadly jaws unaware of danger.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04But for a few, the Mara river marks the end of their migration.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Once they've secured a meal,
0:13:24 > 0:13:30crocodiles are co-operative when it comes to feeding on it.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Smaller animals, who can't tackle a creature as large as a zebra,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38eat with their massive neighbours
0:13:38 > 0:13:40without dispute.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Half Tail and her cub
0:13:51 > 0:13:55have been at Fig Tree Ridge for two weeks.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58We'd found them there every day!
0:13:58 > 0:14:01We were wondering how long our luck would last!
0:14:09 > 0:14:15I couldn't imagine a more perfect resting place for our young leopard
0:14:15 > 0:14:18slumped in these ancient fig trees.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And for her mother, Half Tail.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29It wasn't just because they felt safe here
0:14:29 > 0:14:32that they liked this place so much.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35There was plenty for them to hunt.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40And both our leopards are always on the lookout.
0:14:45 > 0:14:51The cub's lucky that her mother's such an experienced hunter.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Impalas are her first choice,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58and fawns are perfect playthings for our fledgling huntress.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03But, like all youngsters, nothing holds her attention for long.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Half Tail was so relaxed,
0:15:07 > 0:15:13she carried the kill to the ground so the cub could feed more easily.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17On this particular morning,
0:15:17 > 0:15:23things couldn't have looked better - but the Mara is full of surprises!
0:15:26 > 0:15:30What's she seen now? She's obviously...
0:15:30 > 0:15:32GROWLING
0:15:34 > 0:15:38This means danger. She's obviously upset and she's moving ahead...
0:15:38 > 0:15:43to make sure the cub doesn't get into any trouble.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46The cub will hear and take cover.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50That's the problem!
0:15:50 > 0:15:53There's a couple of lionesses!
0:15:53 > 0:15:57This is REALLY dangerous for a leopard.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Of all predators, lions are their biggest threat.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05SHE ROARS
0:16:07 > 0:16:09ROAR
0:16:12 > 0:16:17Alerted by Half Tail's warnings the cub slipped safely away...
0:16:18 > 0:16:22..while Half Tail kept an eye on the lions.
0:16:24 > 0:16:31Only when she was certain they had gone did she dare collect her cub.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47But Half Tail's worries weren't over.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50A spotted hyena had heard the lions
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and came looking for food.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Hyenas aren't as powerful as lions,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58but they're more than a match for a leopard.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Half Tail hissed out a warning as the cub beat a hasty retreat.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20The hyena circled from downwind,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23testing the air for signs of a kill.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Half Tail ignored her larger rival.
0:17:26 > 0:17:32With no food to fight for, she could afford to hold her ground...
0:17:35 > 0:17:40..while the cub watched nervously from a safe distance.
0:17:45 > 0:17:52Half Tail's on the move. I'm sure it's because of the fright she got from the lions and hyena.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58Up till now, she's stayed at one location and she's been easy to find.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04But if she gets into this long stuff, it could be very difficult indeed.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06In fact, it's difficult right now!
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Keeping track of them in long grass is never easy.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16 Then, anticipation pays off.
0:18:16 > 0:18:22My hunch was that she was headed for Double Gorge or Leopard Gorge.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24This time, I was right.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31The cub immediately investigated the bushes for signs of other passers-by
0:18:31 > 0:18:37and appeared to spray mark like an adult leopard marks its territory.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43Half Tail sniffed carefully, checking for signs of other leopards.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52Leopards tend to avoid one another. Scent marking helps them do this.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57If there's a place for leopards,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59this is it.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Leopard Gorge is at the heart of Half Tail's territory.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09It's a wonderful daytime resting place for the leopards.
0:19:09 > 0:19:17As you can see, it's also a very safe place for her to leave her cub when she goes off to hunt.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Rocky outcrops are dotted with caves
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and Half Tail used them to hide her cubs
0:19:23 > 0:19:26during the early weeks.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28They both must know every crevice.
0:19:28 > 0:19:34The cub was obviously hungry and kept pestering Half Tail.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38By doing so, she might motivate her mother to hunt.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43In the meantime, she found plenty to amuse herself with.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59Despite the heat, the cubs seem to have boundless energy.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27I'm always amazed how daring and agile leopards are in trees,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30balancing on flimsy branches.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33One day, these games will be put to the test
0:20:33 > 0:20:37when birds or monkeys are snatched from the tree tops.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50The cub still seemed to be missing a playmate,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54but all Half Tail wanted was to be left in peace.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07Kidogo the cheetah and her cubs are full of fun
0:21:07 > 0:21:11despite the climbing accident of last week.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15The youngsters have tried to suckle several times a day,
0:21:15 > 0:21:21even though their mother's obviously not very happy about the idea!
0:21:21 > 0:21:26In fact, it's about time the cubs stopped this sort of thing
0:21:26 > 0:21:29as Kidogo often tries to tell them.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43A noticeable development this week has been the change
0:21:43 > 0:21:48in the male cub's character - his games have grown rougher
0:21:48 > 0:21:53to the point where his little sister is quite intimidated.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02He adopts the classic threat posture, hackles raised.
0:22:22 > 0:22:28Though they may stay together after they leave their mother - in about a year -
0:22:28 > 0:22:32these two will eventually go their separate ways.
0:22:38 > 0:22:45Meanwhile, the female eventually finds sanctuary with her mother.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Later in the week, I joined the night crew again
0:23:01 > 0:23:05as they followed the Big Pride on the hunt.
0:23:05 > 0:23:11Lions usually take large prey like zebra and wildebeest,
0:23:11 > 0:23:16so it was a surprise when they showed an interest in a herd of gazelles -
0:23:16 > 0:23:21animals they'd have little chance of catching in daylight.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24But this was the darkest of nights
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and the rules had changed.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01With such a small kill, it was a real free-for-all
0:24:01 > 0:24:06with every member of the pride - big and small - fighting for their share.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12In just ten minutes, nothing was left.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17With so many mouths to feed,
0:24:17 > 0:24:23the lionesses were, unusually still keen to hunt at daybreak.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34As they passed my car,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Young Girl spotted something up ahead.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42But I was more than a little surprised at her choice of target!
0:24:43 > 0:24:48Giraffes are killed by lions, but not that often.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Some of the other lionesses joined the hunt.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03But as the whole pride got closer to the bull giraffe,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05their interest seemed to evaporate.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09The giraffe couldn't have cared less!
0:25:23 > 0:25:26SHE GROWLS FAINTLY
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Elephants have little to fear from lions,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38especially from ones this small!
0:25:38 > 0:25:42It was a stand-off, but if anybody was going to give way,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45it was going to have to be the lions.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53They weren't moving off fast enough in this cow's opinion!
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Even elephants have a limit to their patience
0:25:56 > 0:26:01and faced with so many lions, they were feeling more than uneasy.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:26:08 > 0:26:13Frustrated and still hungry, the cubs and lionesses gave up
0:26:13 > 0:26:17and started to make their way back to cover.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Following them at a distance
0:26:19 > 0:26:24was the youngest lioness, who is more and more becoming an outsider -
0:26:24 > 0:26:26the outcast.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34The cubs seem totally unaware of any disharmony.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38They greet all the lionesses with their usual enthusiasm.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44But their mother is only interested in chasing off The Outcast.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50There are probably enough lionesses in the Big Pride already.
0:26:50 > 0:26:57They are basically saying, "Sorry, no room! We've got cubs to look after!"
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Although she's clinging on,
0:27:05 > 0:27:10The Outcast may eventually be forced to leave by her older relatives,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and that will be extremely tough on her.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Things are tough for the Marsh Pride.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Their territory - normally stuffed with game - is barren.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25And that's not good news for the newborn cubs.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30They're dependent on milk, not meat, for at least seven months.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36But if their mother doesn't find sufficient food, she will abandon them.
0:27:36 > 0:27:44The result of this food shortage is that the Marsh lions are forced to hunt anything at any time of day.
0:27:52 > 0:27:59Waterbuck are large, very alert antelope with a musky taste that puts them at the bottom of the menu.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07But whether they taste good or not is academic.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10You only need one look at the Marsh
0:28:10 > 0:28:14to see why the lions are having such a bad time.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19Whenever I've been here before, this area has been black with wildebeest.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21But now there's nothing.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25It doesn't look like there's a change imminent.
0:28:25 > 0:28:32That's not good news for the Marsh Pride or their cubs who lie hidden somewhere out there.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Subtitles by BBC Subtitling - 1996