Big Cats 24/7

Man, on radio: Golden Boy chasing the cub.

Anna Dimitriadis: No, no, no, no.

Narrator: The Xudum pride's newest cubs are in danger from an intruder male lion.

Dimitriadis: If he isn't the dad, I cannot watch another cat kill a cub again.

Where the hell is Serami?

Narrator: The cubs' mum, Serami, is nowhere to be seen.

Dimitriadis: The cubs have literally zero protection right now.

[Cub squeals] Oh, it's just clinging on.

Greg Hartman: Oh, my word.

[Two thuds] Narrator: The Okavango Delta in Botswana... We are in a pristine environment right now.

Narrator: one of Africa's last wildernesses... The magnitude of life here is unparalleled.

Narrator: and it's a haven for Africa's big cats-- lion, cheetah, and leopard.

Big cat country.

Narrator: Armed with the latest filming technology, the "Big Cats 24/7" team is following individual big cats for 6 months... Buchanan: This is a unique opportunity to follow these cats round the clock.

Narrator: through the day... Rea Schulte to Brinke: I used to think I'd have a fair fight with a lion, not so sure now.

Narrator: and the night... Hartman: We've got the most sophisticated thermal imaging technology.

Narrator: capturing their behavior 24 hours a day.

I have never seen anything like this.

Epic!

[Insects chirping] This program was made possible in part by... and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

[Sighs] Buchanan: Hang on.

He's starting to move.

Starting to move.

[Birds chirping] [Cub whimpering] [Sighs] He is alive.

[Anna sighs] I feel like I can breathe.

I couldn't breathe then.

That was horrible.

What?

That is a roller coaster.

Buchanan: My God.

My heart leapt out my chest there.

I think it's OK.

It was... stunned and winded.

[Cub grunting] Buchanan: But... the danger's still here.

Narrator: The intruder male lion, known as Golden Boy, hasn't gone away.

Buchanan: If Golden Boy is not the father, it is in his interest to get rid of those cubs, to eliminate competition, to--to kill both of them.

Dimitriadis: Wait a second.

That is Serami.

She is coming back.

Narrator: First-time mum Serami has been absent for 36 hours.

[Cub squeaks] Dimitriadis: This is really, really dangerous.

Dimitriadis: Ah, OK.

Golden Boy... isn't doing anything.

[Flies buzzing] Hartman: Serami could have been very clever here and has fooled everyone, including me.

[Cubs squeaking] Hartman: Golden Boy, he may have mated with Serami, and that's making him think twice about these cubs.

Maybe they're his.

Hartman: That's crazy.

Unbelievable stuff.

Hartman: Sometimes the female lions will mate with multiple different males, only falling pregnant by one, just to fool them into thinking that the cubs are theirs.

[Serami grunts] All the males are like, "Oh, all those cubs are ours."

[Cub mews] Narrator: Female lions use this mating strategy when there are no dominant males controlling a pride.

Dimitriadis: Even if Golden Boy isn't the dad, he definitely thinks that he is, and I think that is what has saved them today.

A part of me is really hopeful that Golden Boy does stay and become the protector that Serami and her cubs need.

Narrator: With Golden Boy establishing himself in the north of the Xudum pride territory... Dimitriadis: Maybe Serami really does know what she's doing.

Narrator: Serami's cubs now have a better chance of survival.

[Cub mews] Dimitriadis: What an amazing morning.

[Birds chirping] Narrator: To the south of its 250-square-kilometer territory... the rest of the Xudum pride remains a formidable force... especially with so many cubs coming of age.

[Beep, Seetsele Nthowima speaks over walkie-talkie] [Beep, Buchanan speaks over walkie-talkie] Nthowima: [Walkie-talkie beeps] Nthomiwa: All the cubs are coming close to say hi.

These cubs, they're being raised and groomed by, let's say, the best lionesses in this whole Delta.

The Xudum lionesses are so formidable.

Seeing the cubs up close and personal like this really shows how much they've grown.

They were so small, and now they're the sizes of their moms.

Narrator: The eldest cubs are now 20 months old.

Buchanan: When they get to this stage, they should really be pulling their own weight and getting involved in the hunt, actively hunting big, potentially dangerous animals.

Narrator: For so many lions to survive together, it's crucial the oldest cubs start working with the rest of the pride to catch large prey.

It's a rapid...learning curve.

[Bird screeches] It's about everybody performing their role within the pride.

Everything's got a lot more serious now.

[Roaring] Nthomiwa: This type of fighting is different.

It's changed so much from when they were small.

[Roaring] You can see how intentional their moves are-- chasing, the stalking, attacking in the very specific places, like the neck.

This is the skill they would need to take down large prey that's running away.

[Growls] Narrator: There is one cub who should be leading the way.

[Lion grunts] Buchanan: Mathata here, he looks as if he could do with another 8 hours of bed.

He's huge now.

So we've known him for over a year and he has grown and grown, so much so that he's even got the start of a mane.

You can see his little mohawk.

That's 'cause he's a big, bad male lion.

So I think there's something kind of special about it.

Ha ha!

Mathata is 20 months old at the moment.

If you do draw a parallel developmentally, he's like a kind of... like a 15-year-old boy.

He looks grown up, but there's still a lot to learn.

[Mathata sneezes] Buchanan: He is boisterous, he's a bit of a troublemaker, but I think as he grows and develops, I think he can pardon all of those things in his personality to his advantage.

[Distant birds screeching] Nthomiwa: Wait.

One of the older cubs is getting up.

Narrator: Full of teenage bravado, they're setting their sights way too high.

Nthomiwa, chuckling: Oh, my goodness.

I've never seen them go for a giraffe before.

These cubs are crazy.

Ha ha!

There's no chance of catching it.

I can see Mathata.

He's right behind there.

Oh!

Wow.

He just tried to trip him.

Whoa!

That was close.

Narrator: A giraffe's stride is nearly 5 meters... traveling at almost 65 kilometers per hour.

Nthomiwa: It got away there.

Narrator: They're too fast for lion cubs.

Nthomiwa: I did not see that coming.

Attempting that was almost insane.

It was ludicrous, but still trying to understand the limits of what they're capable of, but--[chuckles]--these cubs are really, really fearless.

Buchanan, quietly: They've burned off a lot of energy running about after anything that moves.

[Normal voice] So I think, yeah... they're off to find some water.

We've got 20 lions, all literally digging around for a drink, all of them together.

Mathata is here.

Actually, Mathata is lending a hand, trying to just widen the access.

This is teamwork... and I think the same goes for hunting.

That requires teamwork from the mums and the bigger cubs.

Narrator: Mathata and the cubs have to learn to work with the pride if they're going to catch large prey.

Buchanan: So they have the skills and they have the strategy, but they're going to have to all work together.

[Nthomiwa and Dimitriadis speak on walkie-talkie] Exciting.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Dimitriadis: See who this is.

Wait a second.

Oh, wow.

Aw!

I cannot believe my eyes.

I can see Pobe... and I can see Bo.

Oh, I'm just so happy to see them.

Hi, guys.

We really missed you.

We haven't seen Pobe or Bo for weeks, and to be honest, I really wasn't sure we were ever gonna see them again because... this area just feels so sad.

It's such a sad place for her now--it's where she lost Kea-- but here she is.

She's so fearless.

She's not being pushed out by those leopards.

Wow.

And Bo.

What a beautiful young man he's become.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Rea, Rea for Anna.

Reatile Schulte to Brinke: Go ahead, Anna.

Dimitriadis: I've got Pobe and Bo right here.

Schulte to Brinke: What?

No way.

Narrator: It's been over a month since Bo's sister Kea was killed by a leopard.

Schulte to Brinke: It's quite the relief to see our cheetahs together.

He's quite a lot bigger than the last time I saw him.

I actually thought Bo was Pobe-- ha!--until we got closer now.

I said, "No, no, no, no."

Dimitriadis: He looks really healthy, too, so I think Pobe is probably keeping him well-fed.

He's got the most badass mum around.

Narrator: So far, Pobe has been doing all the hard work, feeding them both.

Dimitriadis: Last time, he wouldn't be involved really at all, so I want to see him start basically cooperating in hunts.

Narrator: Now 8 months old, it's time for Bo to perfect his hunting skills.

Bo is locked on something.

He's trying to get a good vantage point and clearly learning a few things from Pobe.

Schulte to Brinke: Bo has spotted some impala in this open field here.

He's getting just a little bit closer and he's off.

[Impala bleating] Impala running.

Go on, Bo.

[Impala snorting] Schulte to Brinke: It's over before it started.

He had the right idea in the beginning, trying to use the cover to get towards these impala, but the distance was just too big to cover.

[Impala snorting] Dimitriadis: Now he's lost and now he's-- now he's calling for his mom.

[Bo squeaking] Dimitriadis: Well, even though that didn't end in success, I think it's probably the most encouraging sign I've seen from Bo that he is starting to pick up on those hunting skills.

Narrator: Bo will need to become more confident, and improve his timing, if he's going to help Pobe.

Dimitriadis: He's got one-on-one tuition from his mum, and hopefully we'll see them hunting together.

[Flies buzzing] [Birds chirping] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Walkie-talkie beeps] Narrator: Brad and Tristen are with leopard mum Lediba and her cub.

[Lediba grunts] Tristen Woodward: Oh, it's adorable.

These two are really just all full of beans today.

This is the most I think I've seen them play.

The mum's really getting into it.

[Both growling] Woodward: Today's the first day I've actually seen Lediba come in just to interact with the cub and play and just kind of, you know, reaffirm their bond.

Normally, she only really comes and gets the cub when she's got a kill, so I think there's obviously feeling that this cub's old enough now that it needs to start learning.

Narrator: Now 7 months old, Lediba's cub is growing in strength and intelligence and is ready for the next stage of her development.

Woodward: By playing within and climbing trees or stalking and pouncing, Lediba's teaching this cub all the tools it needs to be a successful leopard.

There's no one else this cub can learn from.

It has to learn with Mum.

It doesn't have siblings.

It doesn't have other members of a pride.

Narrator: One-on-one lessons with Mum are crucial.

Looks like Lediba's called an end to class.

Narrator: But they don't last long.

Woodward: Time to go hunting.

[Engine turns over] A leopard's life is very solitary, and the hard thing for these cubs is, you know, something they got to get used to from day one.

Bestelink: This cub could be left here now for several days, waiting for Mum to come back, and then Mum has to call anywhere in this area, and the cub will pick it up and she'll find her.

It's a double-edged sword, that independence and that ability so young.

You can see it just being entrenched in them from such a young age out of necessity.

Chance to come down, explore a little bit.

At night, we have got hyenas here, so if she's on the ground and moving around, she's got to be super alert and super aware of what's going on around her.

Such a small thing, such a big world... so it fills me with a bit of anxiety, seeing a leopard cub so small on its own and wandering off into the forest.

[Thunder] [Birds chirping] The sun hasn't risen yet, and...that's Bo over there, Pobe over there.

[Distant animals chittering] Schulte to Brinke: Bo's looking very keen.

[Indistinct radio chatter] [Music intensifies] Schulte to Brinke: They're in quite the rush.

Going after a rabbit, a rabbit.

Pulled the trigger way too early there.

[Growling] I think it's a rabbit.

Not sure.

Whatever it is it's fighting back.

[Snarling] [Animal hissing] No way.

I can see its face now.

That's an African wildcat.

Incredible.

You don't see them too often.

Now we get a big cat interacting with little cat.

Narrator: African wildcats might look like domestic cats... Schulte to Brinke: Mum is in the background there.

She knows this is not food.

[Wildcat hissing] Narrator: but they're fierce predators.

Schulte to Brinke: Pobe is leaving Bo to figure this out himself.

[Wildcat hisses] You can see Bo now circling around, trying to find an opening where to attack.

It's great to see his hunting tactics kicked in... but unfortunately for him--heh!-- it's the wrong species.

It looks like Bo's done and might leave this little cat in peace.

He'll learn from this experience and his confidence will only just keep building up.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Bestelink: Just popped onto a termite mound.

Having a little look around.

Narrator: Brad and Tristen are with leopard mum Lediba, who left her cub last night to go hunting.

[Lediba calls softly] Bestelink: Ooh.

And what's going on there?

[Lediba calls] [Walkie-talkie beeps] I think she just called for the cub.

Think she might be looking for the cub.

She was trying to find her little girl.

[Lediba calling] Bestelink: This really shouldn't take this long.

It's an uneasy feeling of dj vu.

It's a similar area to where she lost her first cub.

Narrator: Lediba's other cub died when he was 3 and a half months old.

[Lediba calls] Bestelink: Lediba, where is your baby, hmm?

[Calls] Bestelink: Come on, let's find her.

[Lediba calls] There is a lot of wind around, and it might be masking her calling.

She starts roaring, it's not a good sign.

[Lediba calling more loudly] [Calls] Woodward: She's very, very worried.

She's crying, do everything in her power to find this thing.

[Calling] When you live in one of the greatest wildernesses in the world, you share it with some of the most dangerous and life-threatening animals out there.

[Calls] It's one of the things about this place.

It can turn from a happy day to a really tragic day in a split second.

[Heart-beating sound effect] Bestelink: The search has intensified now.

She's actually trying to physically pick up the scent of this cub.

Narrator: Leopards have glands between their toes that leave an invisible scent trail.

[Sniffs] Woodward: There's always a chance that she's wandered a little further than she should have.

I just hope that she's taught that cub well enough to have avoided any potential threats, and it's just sitting tight somewhere, hiding from this wind.

[Calling] Woodward: This can't be over.

This can't be another tragic story.

And nothing, not a hint, of just what's going on.

Come on, big girl.

[Calls] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Buffalo lowing] Buchanan: Oh, wow.

Gosh!

So many of them.

Hello, hello.

That is quite some sight.

Narrator: At this time of year, Cape buffalo move through the Okavango Delta in their thousands.

Buchanan: This is the perfect prey.

If you are able to bring down a buffalo, that is not a snack.

Narrator: Each buffalo contains almost a million calories.

Buchanan: This is the biggest meal possible, but it is the most-- the most dangerous.

Narrator: With razor-sharp horns and weighing up to a ton, buffalo also have safety in numbers.

Buchanan: Buffalo are really aggressive.

They will defend their young.

They will defend themselves.

They'll defend the herd.

Narrator: The only way to bring one down... [Buffalo snorting] is to work together as a team.

Buchanan: If you can crack this, if you can hunt a buffalo and come away unscathed, this is the ultimate prize.

[Buffalo lowing] Nthomiwa: Last year, the cubs were a lot smaller and pretty defenseless against the buffalo, and I'm curious to see how much they've learnt.

I can see Mathata.

[Lions roar] Nthomiwa: Oh, oh.

The cubs are leading the charge.

I'm loving the confidence that these cubs are showing right now.

If this buffalo will be in the area tonight, one of them will definitely be invited for dinner.

Anna, Anna for Gordon.

[Beep] Dimitriadis, on radio: Go ahead, Gordon.

Buchanan, on radio: I hope you're ready for it.

A big night, 'cause I think it's going to be one.

Dimitriadis, on radio: Think you might be right.

They haven't eaten for two days.

[Beep] Narrator: Greg and Anna are arriving for the night shift.

Dimitriadis: Mums and cubs are walking straight towards a small group of buffalo.

[Buffalo grunting] Mathata is leading the charge.

Hartman: Mathata wants buffalo for dinner.

Hartman, on radio: Anna, it looks like it's on here, eh?

The others are looking very keen and they're closing in.

Dimitriadis: Copy that, Greg.

I'm getting the drone up now.

[Beep] [Drone buzzing] Dimitriadis: OK, I see him.

Hartman, on radio: Oh, they're going in.

They're going now.

Dimitriadis: Ooh, OK.

It's on, it's on, it's on.

Dimitriadis: The whole pride is currently chasing.

Narrator: Mathata and the cubs are finally working together with their mums.

Dimitriadis: This buffalo is putting up an amazing fight.

[Buffalo grunting] Hartman: That is a huge buff.

It is a battle.

The lionesses and the cubs are working together now.

Dimitriadis: Oh, it's down, it's down.

Hartman: Well, they needed that.

They really needed that.

[Lions snarling] Narrator: This bull will keep the whole pride fed for days.

[Second buffalo grunting] Dimitriadis: Oh.

Hartman: What's going on here?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, hang on.

More buffalo just come in.

Hartman: These buffaloes are coming close to the lions.

Super dangerous.

Dimitriadis: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hartman: Wow!

They're right in there.

This is crazy.

Hartman: Whoa!

Holy smokes.

These buffies do not want to let their comrade go without a fight.

Dimitriadis: I think these cubs could get killed.

Hartman: Oh, yo!

One of the lions got hammered!

Hartman: The buffalo's back up!

This buffalo's not done!

Oh, what?

She's got him by the snout!

Dimitriadis: How is it alive?

[Gasps] The cub just got thrown!

[Lions snarling] Hartman: Absolutely unbelievable.

There's cubs running all over the place.

Buffaloes running all over the place.

[Lions roaring] Hartman: They saved it.

The injured buffalo is being escorted out by his comrades.

I mean, how is that for an unexpected turn of events?

Man, what a battle.

[Buffalo grunting] Hartman: That is the most epic thing I've ever seen in my whole life.

By a long way.

Aw, that was-- Forget the cats having 9 lives.

Buffaloes have 9 lives.

Narrator: Even with the help of the experienced mums, buffalo are near impossible prey.

Dimitriadis: They are absolute beasts, and they just don't give up without a fight.

Narrator: Mathata and the rest of the pride need to recover quickly and try again.

Dimitriadis: There are gonna be some sore lions tomorrow, let me tell you.

And not only sore, they're gonna be very hungry.

[Birds chirping] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Walkie-talkie beeps] Narrator: It's now been more than 24 hours... [Lediba calling] Narrator: since Lediba's cub was last seen.

[Calling] Woodward: She doesn't stop calling.

Heartbreaking, really.

[Calling] Narrator: After suffering the loss of one cub already, Lediba is refusing to give up.

[Birds chirping] [Calls] Woodward: [Bleep]!

It's the cub!

You all...we're thinking-- out of nowhere!

[Lediba grunting] Woodward: Little cubby's just bolted out of the tree line.

Finally.

I don't know where it's been hiding.

Bloody naughty little thing, giving us all...stress.

Whew!

Oh, Lord.

Leopards really do keep us on our toes.

Aw, that's adorable.

I got a happy family again.

Brad is going to be very stoked about this.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Bestelink, on radio: Brad, Brad for Tristen.

Woodward, on radio: Go, Tristen.

Lediba has her cub, and they're coming towards you.

Bestelink, on radio: Thank God for that.

It's really good news.

I can't believe she just came out of nowhere.

Where the hell was she?

[Beep] Woodward, on radio: Dude, I've got no clue, man.

I--yeah.

She got up, called, cub bombed in, so, yeah, happy family, all moving now.

[Beep] Bestelink: Tell you what, if that was my child, it would have got a seriously stern talking-to.

[Bestelink scoffs] Woodward, chuckling: Brad's telling the cub off.

Oh, it is good to have that little cub back.

That cub must be getting quite, um, adventurous.

She's growing up a little bit and starting to explore and learning fundamentals of being a leopard.

[Birds chirping] Dimitriadis: They're walking straight towards quite a big herd of impala.

Narrator: Anna is with cheetahs Pobe and Bo.

Dimitriadis: I'm really excited to see how Bo does because he's making really encouraging steps.

But I want to see him put those techniques into actual action and to see them hunting together.

Narrator: Bo is yet to successfully contribute to a hunt.

Dimitriadis: OK, Pobe is moving into the tree line.

[Pobe snorts] I think I'm going to stick on Bo because he is just behind the termite mound.

You can see him just, like, glancing towards where Pobe has gone.

Pobe is gonna flush those impala out onto that flood plain, and Bo, he's got himself into the perfect position.

If this--if this happens, and these impala run straight out in front of us, he's gonna flank those impala.

He's just got to know when to go and when to hold back.

[Whispers] Aw, come on, Bo.

[Exhales] Just wait, just wait.

Stage is set.

[Flies buzzing] [Bird chirps] Dimitriadis: Pobe's ready to go.

[Distant snort] Impala are going.

They're going.

Bo's running in, he's running in.

Narrator: Bo's finally agile enough to help... Dimitriadis: Look at that speed.

Go on, Bo.

Narrator: by driving the prey towards his mum.

Dimitriadis: And Pobe's in pursuit.

Ooh!

The impala is still up.

Come on, Bo, get in there.

This is ultimate teamwork.

It's down.

It is down.

Wow!

Wow, oh, wow, wow, wow.

That was incredible.

Bo, you absolute legend.

Bo did the right thing.

He was just on the sidelines, and as soon as Pobe chased the impala across, he came straight in and he was blocking the impala.

Without that block, I wonder if she would have got that impala at all, so... that was a team effort.

Narrator: Bo has just one more year of hunting with Pobe to perfect his skills before he has to go it alone.

[Dimitriadis sighs] Bo?

There's literally no reason for him to come over here, other than to just show off.

It's funny looking back at Bo and how we first met him.

He was once a really timid cub, and he was always hiding behind his sister Kea, who was definitely the more confident of the two, but he's finally starting to grasp the tactics of hunting.

I think he's gonna be a really strong and confident cheetah.

[Engine turns over] Look at them.

Massive, full bellies.

I really can't believe that it's been over a year since we first started following Pobe's story.

Yes, she is an absolutely incredible huntress, but she's also a really fun and loving mum.

And seeing how Neelo, her adult cub, has progressed and now seeing Bo, her youngest, I think it just shows that she's got potentially an absolutely awesome and very strong dynasty developing, and long may it continue.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Bird chirping] Really nice... to see them together again after giving me a heart attack.

And looks like Mum's recognizing that she's growing, where she's teaching her the whole technical ability that, uh, that she's gonna have to master if she's gonna survive as a leopard.

Narrator: This meal is a chance for Lediba's rapidly growing cub to learn a skill unique to leopards.

Keep your food off the ground, otherwise, somebody takes it.

Narrator: To keep their food safe, leopards regularly drag one and a half times their own weight into the canopy.

Woodward: It's a hell of a feat for a leopard to get a carcass up that high into a tree.

Needs a lot of leverage.

Oh, yeah, she's almost dropped it.

Yeah, she's really battling to--to hold on to it.

What are you doing?

Lediba's just gone for a little drink, you know.

Looks like Mum's really giving the cub the lead.

Normally, when the cubs are really small, the mother will open up the soft bits underneath the stomach, and this one's intact and Mum is just letting her open it up for herself.

She's putting the cub first in every situation she can and prioritizing the cub's development over filling herself up.

And she really gives this cub the space to grow and learn in a safe environment.

Narrator: Less than half of leopard cubs make it to this age, but those that do are likely to survive to adulthood.

Bestelink: There's a long journey ahead, but she's out of that incredibly vulnerable period and it brings us to the point, the milestone, of naming her, and, uh... the mother is Lediba, which means "lagoon," so we're going to call her Noka, which means "river."

So Mum has had a drink and she's just come back to the tree.

[Lediba grunting] She's now calling the cub.

One thing to get up in the tree, but very difficult to get down.

Let's see if she finds a way.

Well done.

Come on, you can do it.

Heh!

Skydiving out into a--into a small tree.

Woodward: This cub is growing so fast and learning so quickly.

It's a whole new world out there, and Noka is capable of exploring it.

This thing is a survivor, and Lediba is a great mother.

It just fills me with so much more confidence that this is going to be a happy story.

[Lediba grunting softly] [Walkie-talkie beeps] [Walkie-talkie beeps] Narrator: It's now been 3 days since the Xudum pride had a meal.

Buchanan: I'm amazed that these cubs still have energy.

There has been a lot of calories burnt for no return.

[Lions grunting] I am convinced that this is gonna be a very busy night.

[Drone buzzing] My goodness, there's some buffalo in the distance.

Yes, that's a lot of buffalo.

Buchanan: We have got Mathata and the other cubs, we've got Nosi, Mmakgosi, and Magogo, few other females.

We also have one of the subadult males.

Everyone is getting involved in this.

[Buffalo grunting] Buchanan: Running, running, running.

Hartman: Look at Mathata.

He is the one there, right in the front.

Buchanan: We've got cubs, mums, everyone joining in.

[Buffalo grunting] Buchanan: There's one peeled off.

Yeah, they're separating.

They're separating it.

Hartman: Wow, look at that.

Wow!

Buchanan: Every single one of them looks as if they're up for the challenge.

[Buffalo grunting] Hartman: Oh, one of the little ones is on its tail.

Buchanan: Oh, they are so close, unless the water can save this buffalo.

Oh, they've let go of it.

They have let go.

That is a miraculous escape.

Wisest thing it could have done is to get into the water.

Narrator: Buffalo will enter deep water to escape from lions.

Oh, how did that get away?

Narrator: But the Xudum pride cubs... Buchanan: Oh, my word.

OK, they're following.

Narrator: are not giving up.

Oh, they're gonna try again.

[Lion roars] Buchanan: Mathata's here.

One of the subadult males is on top.

Mathata's at the back leg.

Hartman: They've got him down.

That is unbelievable.

Oh, it's a pile-on here.

We got the cubs in there, everybody on top of this buffalo.

Buchanan: Yeah, it's all over.

There's no way this buffalo is getting back up.

Whew!

Hartman: I cannot believe how involved the cubs have been in this buffalo hunt.

I mean, Mathata and the young female cubs are gonna be ruthless, formidable big game hunters, that's for sure.

Narrator: By successfully working together with the rest of the pride, Mathata and the cubs have finally brought down a meal big enough for them all.

Buchanan: Mathata, you are the hero of the hour.

He's still tiny compared to a buffalo, but he is prepared to get right under those hooves and do--do what it takes.

He has got such a big character.

He is boisterous, but with that boisterousness comes the boldness a lion needs to succeed.

When it comes to the ultimate prize, this is it, a buffalo.

This is gonna fill the stomachs of every single one of these lions, and Mathata played a big part in that.

[Elephants grunting] [Birds chirping] Buchanan: What here?

Fly-by.

Oh... what's gotten into these lions today?

Oh, I know what it is.

Buffalo meat.

It just sort of brought these lions to life.

Nthomiwa: The last 6 months that they've had, it's been a roller coaster of a ride.

But the Xudum lionesses are a force to be reckoned with, and these cubs are nearly reaching maturity and independence.

Buchanan: To the north, we've seen new cubs being born to young lionesses that have mated with lions from the outside.

[Cub squeaks] Dimitriadis: I'm excited to see what Serami and the other lionesses in her sisterhood do next.

It might be a little bit too soon to say that this is a breakaway pride, but I think we can say that we're potentially seeing the very beginnings of a new one.

Nthomiwa: The life of a cat is never easy.

It doesn't matter if you're a cub or the king of a pride.

Change in the natural world is always a certainty, and now the real challenge begins.

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Woodward: Sets for Tristen.

Hartman: Oh, my God!

He's gonna get it right there.

[Engine turns over] Woodward: Unbelievable.

These dogs have just exploded through camp, chasing an impala.

Hartman: Ish, there's lions there.

Buchanan: There is no love lost between these two species.

Cats and dogs don't get along.

[Lion roars softly] Hartman: Wild dogs are the most successful predator in Africa.

They have got a success rate of around 80%.

Bestelink: Wow, the rivalry at the minute in the Okavango is so intense.

[Wild dogs yapping] This has just become a pressure cooker of predators.

Next year, this place is gonna explode.

[Lion roars]