1
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,048
- Lions coming into
the kill, yeah, Baz?
2
00:00:07,049 --> 00:00:08,508
- Yeah.
3
00:00:08,509 --> 00:00:11,178
- The cheetahs have finally
made a successful kill.
4
00:00:13,388 --> 00:00:15,807
But there’s an
uninvited dinner guest.
5
00:00:16,767 --> 00:00:18,268
She’s not sure.
6
00:00:20,395 --> 00:00:21,479
Right now, they’re
just trying to eat
7
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:22,898
as fast as they can.
8
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:29,488
Here she comes.
9
00:00:32,783 --> 00:00:37,913
[♪ theme music playing]
10
00:00:43,961 --> 00:00:49,383
The Serengeti, ground zero for
one of nature’s biggest events.
11
00:00:52,886 --> 00:00:55,388
There are just
wildebeest everywhere;
12
00:00:55,389 --> 00:00:57,557
they just go onto the
horizon in every direction.
13
00:00:59,768 --> 00:01:01,435
This is my first
time in Tanzania during
14
00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:02,813
the Great Migration.
15
00:01:03,647 --> 00:01:05,523
This has got to be one
of the natural world's
16
00:01:05,524 --> 00:01:07,109
most epic spectacles.
17
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,236
Triggered by the rainy season,
18
00:01:10,237 --> 00:01:12,864
over two million
animals are on the move.
19
00:01:18,287 --> 00:01:21,123
Followed by thousands
of hungry predators.
20
00:01:23,250 --> 00:01:25,794
I’m here to film the
fastest of them all.
21
00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:28,422
Now is the best time of
year to film Cheetah.
22
00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,382
They're gonna be making the
most of this endless supply of
23
00:01:31,383 --> 00:01:33,719
food that is just walking
right through their territory.
24
00:01:36,179 --> 00:01:38,932
But this doesn’t mean
their lives are easy.
25
00:01:39,933 --> 00:01:43,811
Globally, the cheetah
population has fallen by 90%
26
00:01:43,812 --> 00:01:45,188
in the last century.
27
00:01:51,403 --> 00:01:55,448
I want to understand why
it’s so hard for the fastest
28
00:01:55,449 --> 00:01:57,576
land animal on the
planet to survive.
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00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,878
It’s estimated only
300 cheetah live here,
30
00:02:08,837 --> 00:02:11,256
and I’ve got just four
weeks to find them.
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I’m gonna need some help.
32
00:02:14,176 --> 00:02:17,137
Expert wildlife guide
Baz Kessy drives our truck.
33
00:02:18,138 --> 00:02:21,391
From this vehicle, I’ll use
my drone and long lens camera.
34
00:02:22,976 --> 00:02:26,063
In a second vehicle are
Denis Mollel and Tom Walker.
35
00:02:27,648 --> 00:02:30,650
They’re the world’s best team
for filming high-speed hunts
36
00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:32,736
using a gyro-stabilized camera.
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00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:39,784
This herd of zebra,
38
00:02:39,785 --> 00:02:42,620
they're all standing very
alert and all staring sort of
39
00:02:42,621 --> 00:02:43,996
towards that direction.
40
00:02:43,997 --> 00:02:46,749
So, we're kind of using all
of their eyes to triangulate the
41
00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:48,460
position of the thing
that they're looking at.
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00:02:51,838 --> 00:02:54,257
Must be over there somewhere.
43
00:02:55,967 --> 00:02:57,260
[Tom] Bertie, do you copy?
44
00:02:57,719 --> 00:02:58,886
[Bertie] Yeah, go ahead.
45
00:02:58,887 --> 00:03:00,638
- We’ve found a
mom with two...
46
00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,432
...very small cubs on this side.
47
00:03:02,891 --> 00:03:03,934
- Okay, copy that.
48
00:03:05,310 --> 00:03:06,936
Well, that is very,
very exciting news.
49
00:03:06,937 --> 00:03:09,772
Our other car has found a
mother cheetah with two very,
50
00:03:09,773 --> 00:03:11,190
very small cubs.
51
00:03:11,191 --> 00:03:12,858
Which is not something
that you see often,
52
00:03:12,859 --> 00:03:14,277
so we're gonna go
check them out.
53
00:03:15,487 --> 00:03:18,865
95% of cheetah cubs don’t
survive to adulthood.
54
00:03:21,368 --> 00:03:24,955
Their biggest threat is being
killed by lions and hyenas.
55
00:03:26,373 --> 00:03:27,916
Okay, I’ve got it,
yeah, here’s good.
56
00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,753
So, cheetah moms
keep them hidden.
57
00:03:36,007 --> 00:03:37,675
Oh, my word.
58
00:03:37,676 --> 00:03:39,136
The cubs are tiny.
59
00:03:41,596 --> 00:03:44,099
They’re just these little balls
of fluff at the feet of mom.
60
00:03:45,976 --> 00:03:47,977
I can just see the tops
of them bouncing every now
61
00:03:47,978 --> 00:03:49,521
and again above the
height of the grass.
62
00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:10,375
They are so small.
63
00:04:11,585 --> 00:04:13,002
You can see their
coat pattern is completely
64
00:04:13,003 --> 00:04:14,253
different to moms’.
65
00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:15,963
They’ve got
really dark sides,
66
00:04:15,964 --> 00:04:18,008
and then a grey, silvery, top.
67
00:04:18,341 --> 00:04:20,384
The theory is that that
coloration makes them look like
68
00:04:20,385 --> 00:04:21,887
a Honey Badger.
69
00:04:22,262 --> 00:04:25,055
A ferocious little animal
that have big, sharp teeth,
70
00:04:25,056 --> 00:04:27,267
sharp claws, and a
really nasty attitude.
71
00:04:28,852 --> 00:04:30,770
The thinking is if the cubs
look like honey badgers,
72
00:04:30,771 --> 00:04:33,774
maybe big predators’ll
leave them alone.
73
00:04:37,861 --> 00:04:39,863
But they’re teeny tiny, they
can’t be more than a month old.
74
00:04:42,073 --> 00:04:44,617
Which means that mom’s got
a tough task looking after
75
00:04:44,618 --> 00:04:45,911
them and feeding them,
76
00:04:48,955 --> 00:04:50,372
‘cause if she
wants to go and hunt,
77
00:04:50,373 --> 00:04:52,083
she has to leave
them by themselves.
78
00:04:59,424 --> 00:05:01,718
I think she’s spotted
some prey on the horizon.
79
00:05:15,357 --> 00:05:17,192
Oh, there’s the gazelle, yeah.
80
00:05:20,445 --> 00:05:23,573
Gazelles have a top speed
of 50 miles per hour.
81
00:05:25,534 --> 00:05:27,869
Cheetahs can
sprint close to 70,
82
00:05:28,745 --> 00:05:31,039
but they can only sustain
it for a short distance.
83
00:05:33,875 --> 00:05:37,504
Every time the gazelle turns,
she freezes.
84
00:05:46,930 --> 00:05:48,348
[Denis Mollel] This cheetah
knows what she’s doing.
85
00:05:53,770 --> 00:05:55,689
- She’s just trying to close
that gap before she sprints.
86
00:06:02,195 --> 00:06:03,613
It’s a stalking master class.
87
00:06:10,745 --> 00:06:13,622
She needs to get
within 30 yards undetected
88
00:06:13,623 --> 00:06:14,958
to have any chance.
89
00:06:18,837 --> 00:06:20,922
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
90
00:06:23,425 --> 00:06:25,093
She’s gonna explode any second.
91
00:06:33,977 --> 00:06:37,188
[drone propellers whirring]
92
00:06:42,819 --> 00:06:45,572
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
93
00:06:48,325 --> 00:06:50,452
She's faster than the drone,
look at her go.
94
00:06:58,543 --> 00:07:00,169
She got it, she got it!
95
00:07:00,170 --> 00:07:01,462
[Baz] Okay.
96
00:07:01,463 --> 00:07:02,797
[Bertie] It’s almost
as big as her.
97
00:07:05,967 --> 00:07:07,760
She was so patient
in that stalk,
98
00:07:07,761 --> 00:07:10,429
she was just closing the gap,
closing the gap, and I thought,
99
00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:12,264
she's gotta go, she's gotta go.
100
00:07:12,265 --> 00:07:15,726
But she knows she has to get
really, really close because,
101
00:07:15,727 --> 00:07:18,562
although she's the world's
fastest land animal,
102
00:07:18,563 --> 00:07:20,606
these gazelles are
still very quick.
103
00:07:20,607 --> 00:07:22,816
She got within the critical
distance and then stamped
104
00:07:22,817 --> 00:07:24,026
on the accelerator,
105
00:07:24,027 --> 00:07:26,571
and I cannot believe how
fast these cheetahs are.
106
00:07:28,907 --> 00:07:31,534
Today she’ll be able to
make milk for her cubs.
107
00:07:34,871 --> 00:07:36,831
But not all hunts
are successful,
108
00:07:37,832 --> 00:07:40,627
and every time she leaves
them, she takes a risk.
109
00:07:43,129 --> 00:07:47,300
No wonder only 5% of young
cheetahs make it to adulthood.
110
00:07:51,262 --> 00:07:53,889
The challenges cheetahs
face in this vast landscape
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00:07:53,890 --> 00:07:55,767
don’t stop there.
112
00:08:00,563 --> 00:08:01,605
To understand more,
113
00:08:01,606 --> 00:08:03,400
we need to catch up
to the migration.
114
00:08:13,785 --> 00:08:15,911
But following in the
footsteps of these cheetah
115
00:08:15,912 --> 00:08:17,664
magnets has its downsides.
116
00:08:19,124 --> 00:08:21,042
Oh, come on.
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00:08:22,502 --> 00:08:26,213
I suppose behind every
great migration is an even
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00:08:26,214 --> 00:08:28,007
greater pile of wildebeest dung.
119
00:08:30,927 --> 00:08:32,512
That is gonna stink.
120
00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,651
After a few hours of searching,
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00:08:47,652 --> 00:08:49,320
there’s movement
away from the herd.
122
00:08:52,574 --> 00:08:53,532
Well, this is unreal,
123
00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:56,578
we've got a group of three
adult male cheetah all together.
124
00:08:58,079 --> 00:09:01,457
It’s often said that lions
are the only social large cat,
125
00:09:01,458 --> 00:09:03,418
where adults form groups,
126
00:09:03,543 --> 00:09:06,628
but that's not exactly
true because male cheetahs
127
00:09:06,629 --> 00:09:08,798
do form groups,
and they're called coalitions.
128
00:09:10,091 --> 00:09:12,342
Once fully grown,
males leave their mothers;
129
00:09:12,343 --> 00:09:14,304
they typically remain
with their brothers,
130
00:09:14,763 --> 00:09:16,139
forming a coalition.
131
00:09:16,765 --> 00:09:18,725
Ha-ha, they’re trying to
jump on top of each other.
132
00:09:20,477 --> 00:09:23,188
Together, they can defend their
territory from rival males,
133
00:09:23,980 --> 00:09:25,856
and hunting as a team,
134
00:09:25,857 --> 00:09:28,109
they should be able to
take down bigger prey.
135
00:09:30,111 --> 00:09:31,488
- Think we saw these
three last year.
136
00:09:32,197 --> 00:09:33,363
We followed them around a lot,
137
00:09:33,364 --> 00:09:34,907
but they weren’t
very good at hunting;
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00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:36,493
but they were quite young, so.
139
00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:38,620
- Hopefully, they’ve
had some practice.
140
00:09:40,622 --> 00:09:43,500
Male cheetahs tend to have
shorter lives than females.
141
00:09:45,085 --> 00:09:47,670
Fights with lions and
other males can be deadly.
142
00:09:49,589 --> 00:09:51,508
And even their prey
can be dangerous.
143
00:09:53,301 --> 00:09:54,343
Tom, just as a heads up,
144
00:09:54,344 --> 00:09:56,096
there’s a herd of
zebra ahead of them.
145
00:09:56,721 --> 00:09:58,181
Going to see that.
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00:09:59,766 --> 00:10:02,894
Three male cheetahs make a
formidable group of predators,
147
00:10:03,978 --> 00:10:05,814
but zebra are no easy target.
148
00:10:06,940 --> 00:10:08,942
One kick could be lethal.
149
00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:20,829
There’s definitely some
Zebra stallions in there.
150
00:10:23,039 --> 00:10:25,333
Gotta pick their target wisely.
151
00:10:33,550 --> 00:10:37,178
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
152
00:10:39,389 --> 00:10:40,682
Okay, they're going.
153
00:10:47,063 --> 00:10:48,439
[Bertie] Here they go,
here they go.
154
00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:54,529
As the herd scatters,
155
00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:56,656
the coalition look
for a vulnerable target.
156
00:10:58,158 --> 00:11:00,034
Youngsters should
be an easier option.
157
00:11:02,579 --> 00:11:04,080
Foal’s Mom’s blocking!
158
00:11:07,959 --> 00:11:09,669
- Got it?
- Don’t know.
159
00:11:17,302 --> 00:11:18,845
- Well, be careful of the
zebra’s kick, cheetah.
160
00:11:19,762 --> 00:11:21,514
Get that to the face,
and that’s lights out.
161
00:11:24,726 --> 00:11:26,561
Oh, and the rest of
the herd slotting in.
162
00:11:29,731 --> 00:11:31,191
And the cheetah have given up.
163
00:11:32,025 --> 00:11:33,985
That’s game over.
164
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,486
That was unreal; they all
just slotted in right behind
165
00:11:36,487 --> 00:11:37,738
the mom and foal.
166
00:11:37,739 --> 00:11:39,448
[Baz] Yeah.
167
00:11:39,449 --> 00:11:42,452
Yeah, they can use their
kicks to keep the cheetah away.
168
00:11:46,164 --> 00:11:48,707
- You know, this just
goes to show, you know,
169
00:11:48,708 --> 00:11:50,251
hunting for cheetahs
is not easy,
170
00:11:50,627 --> 00:11:52,212
even if you’re three big males.
171
00:11:53,129 --> 00:11:55,380
You know the prey is
very, very challenging,
172
00:11:55,381 --> 00:11:57,716
and today the
might of the zebra,
173
00:11:57,717 --> 00:11:59,635
their herd defense, their kicks,
174
00:11:59,636 --> 00:12:01,720
they were enough
to keep the cheetah from
175
00:12:01,721 --> 00:12:03,223
getting one of their babies.
176
00:12:08,561 --> 00:12:11,188
An injury to one of the
coalition would put all of
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00:12:11,189 --> 00:12:12,649
them in jeopardy.
178
00:12:14,984 --> 00:12:17,237
Some risks just
aren’t worth taking.
179
00:12:23,326 --> 00:12:26,454
Life is full of tough
decisions for these cats.
180
00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:33,753
[thunder]
181
00:12:35,964 --> 00:12:38,424
The migration might be the best
time of year to film cheetahs,
182
00:12:39,509 --> 00:12:40,969
but it comes with
its challenges.
183
00:12:42,470 --> 00:12:43,679
So, with the rains on the way,
184
00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:46,765
we need to be able to
film in rain or shine.
185
00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:48,183
With a normal camera,
if it starts raining,
186
00:12:48,184 --> 00:12:50,227
you’re in big trouble,
you get drops on the lens,
187
00:12:50,228 --> 00:12:52,187
and you can’t film,
but on Tom's camera,
188
00:12:52,188 --> 00:12:54,106
he’s got a very
special bit of equipment
189
00:12:54,107 --> 00:12:55,357
that solves that problem.
190
00:12:55,358 --> 00:12:56,817
It's called a rain spinner.
191
00:12:56,818 --> 00:12:58,068
Gonna show you how it works.
192
00:12:58,069 --> 00:13:00,238
So, Tom, if you can turn it on.
193
00:13:05,159 --> 00:13:06,869
Okay, you ready, Tom?
194
00:13:07,412 --> 00:13:09,454
Here we go.
195
00:13:09,455 --> 00:13:12,207
Oh, it’s completely clear.
196
00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:13,959
Ho, ho, it works so well.
197
00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,378
Right.
198
00:13:17,130 --> 00:13:19,424
My solution is a
lot less high-tech.
199
00:13:20,216 --> 00:13:22,509
I mean, drones, famously,
aren’t very good in the rain.
200
00:13:22,510 --> 00:13:25,053
They tend to fall out the sky
because the electronics melt.
201
00:13:25,054 --> 00:13:27,097
So, what I’ve basically spent
the last couple of hours doing
202
00:13:27,098 --> 00:13:31,977
is filling up all the little
vents and holes with silicon,
203
00:13:31,978 --> 00:13:34,104
in the hope that that
makes it waterproof.
204
00:13:34,105 --> 00:13:35,731
Only, I'm not gonna be
chucking any water on this
205
00:13:35,732 --> 00:13:37,692
‘cause I'm not sure
if it's gonna work,
206
00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:38,943
but fingers crossed.
207
00:13:45,742 --> 00:13:46,825
The next morning,
208
00:13:46,826 --> 00:13:48,618
we track down the
migration along their
209
00:13:48,619 --> 00:13:50,705
900-mile round trip.
210
00:13:54,876 --> 00:13:56,878
And we find some new faces.
211
00:14:01,174 --> 00:14:04,510
Oh wow, it looks like a
mother with two big cubs.
212
00:14:07,930 --> 00:14:10,849
This is very exciting
because cubs of this age are
213
00:14:10,850 --> 00:14:12,435
great fun to follow.
214
00:14:13,269 --> 00:14:15,271
They’re really bouncy,
really playful,
215
00:14:15,855 --> 00:14:19,024
and most interesting to me
is that this is the age they
216
00:14:19,025 --> 00:14:20,777
really start to learn
to hunt from mom.
217
00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:24,362
They’re still slightly smaller
than mom and growing out the
218
00:14:24,363 --> 00:14:27,033
last traces of their
silvery neck fluff.
219
00:14:38,961 --> 00:14:40,630
Ha, ha, ha, morning play time.
220
00:14:43,174 --> 00:14:45,009
The cubs are in full stalk mode.
221
00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:56,938
Oh, they’re chasing
the cattle egrets.
222
00:15:05,029 --> 00:15:06,446
This playing might
look like fun,
223
00:15:06,447 --> 00:15:08,074
and I’m sure it
is a lot of fun,
224
00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:12,453
but it is all training for
their high-speed chases.
225
00:15:14,497 --> 00:15:16,915
In just a few months,
the cubs will be expected
226
00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:18,417
to make kills on their own.
227
00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,342
[cheetah call]
228
00:15:27,343 --> 00:15:29,345
Hear that?
229
00:15:30,471 --> 00:15:31,681
That's mom calling the cubs.
230
00:15:32,849 --> 00:15:34,433
Playtime is over.
231
00:15:35,852 --> 00:15:37,770
Mom’s going to show
them how it's done.
232
00:15:43,985 --> 00:15:46,736
Adult zebra and wildebeest
are too big for this young
233
00:15:46,737 --> 00:15:48,156
family to hunt.
234
00:15:49,031 --> 00:15:51,450
But there are also
lots of gazelle fawns.
235
00:15:52,577 --> 00:15:57,081
Small and slow, they make
ideal prey for beginners.
236
00:16:03,171 --> 00:16:06,549
The cubs should watch and learn
how their mom selects a target.
237
00:16:19,562 --> 00:16:21,564
But this cub didn’t
get the memo.
238
00:16:26,194 --> 00:16:27,986
Is that the cubs
chasing the zebra, Baz?
239
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:29,488
[Baz] Yeah,
that’s the cub.
240
00:16:31,157 --> 00:16:33,242
- Oh, the cub’s
chasing the zebra.
241
00:16:34,994 --> 00:16:36,454
Ha, ha, chaos.
242
00:16:37,788 --> 00:16:39,749
Wildebeest and Zebra
flying everywhere.
243
00:16:49,425 --> 00:16:51,135
The cub is regretting
its decision.
244
00:16:54,931 --> 00:16:56,432
Oh, the Zebra’s
chasing the cub now.
245
00:16:59,227 --> 00:17:00,519
Tables have turned.
246
00:17:02,396 --> 00:17:03,856
Run, run, run.
247
00:17:05,107 --> 00:17:06,567
Oh-ho, Zebra right behind him.
248
00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:16,827
Oh, that is so good.
249
00:17:21,332 --> 00:17:23,708
Maybe not the
lesson mom intended,
250
00:17:23,709 --> 00:17:25,211
but a lesson, nonetheless.
251
00:17:32,843 --> 00:17:36,054
All that action has attracted
the attention of another
252
00:17:36,055 --> 00:17:37,598
species on the Serengeti.
253
00:17:46,065 --> 00:17:47,984
- Seems like we've got a lot
of cars on the way, Baz.
254
00:17:48,526 --> 00:17:49,694
- Yeah.
255
00:17:51,279 --> 00:17:54,364
- I love seeing people spend
their money and their time
256
00:17:54,365 --> 00:17:57,159
getting close to
nature, but this,
257
00:17:58,661 --> 00:18:00,787
when there's so many
vehicles surrounding the
258
00:18:00,788 --> 00:18:03,374
cheetah mother and cubs,
can't be a good thing.
259
00:18:04,542 --> 00:18:07,335
- Yeah, it’s hard for the
cheetah itself because she
260
00:18:07,336 --> 00:18:09,255
cannot see the prey.
261
00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,552
[Bertie] Why do you think
these cars drive so close
262
00:18:15,553 --> 00:18:18,097
to the animals and so
many of them at once?
263
00:18:18,556 --> 00:18:20,223
- Well, I think it’s a
lack of education for the
264
00:18:20,224 --> 00:18:21,767
drivers or knowledge,
265
00:18:22,935 --> 00:18:26,564
the park roads need to be 25
meters away from the animals,
266
00:18:27,565 --> 00:18:28,607
but the tourists,
267
00:18:28,608 --> 00:18:30,108
they want to do the
selfie or they want to do
268
00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:32,278
picture they want to do but
they are using their phone.
269
00:18:33,112 --> 00:18:35,948
So, it encouraged people
to drive very close.
270
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:41,536
- You know, I do feel, in a way,
271
00:18:41,537 --> 00:18:44,873
guilty watching this because
I feel like in our shows,
272
00:18:44,874 --> 00:18:48,418
we give people maybe an
unrealistic expectation of
273
00:18:48,419 --> 00:18:50,378
what they're gonna see and,
274
00:18:50,379 --> 00:18:52,590
and how close they're going
to get because we're using
275
00:18:52,715 --> 00:18:56,676
incredible technology that
means we will get the viewer in
276
00:18:56,677 --> 00:18:58,887
a place that they could
never be with, with,
277
00:18:58,888 --> 00:19:00,514
with their eyes in real life.
278
00:19:01,140 --> 00:19:02,308
And I understand for these,
279
00:19:02,433 --> 00:19:04,309
these guides they're
under so much pressure to
280
00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:06,269
deliver in a
short space of time,
281
00:19:06,270 --> 00:19:08,230
find the animal, get
close to the animal.
282
00:19:10,274 --> 00:19:12,817
Tourism is a
crucial source of funding
283
00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:14,278
for many protected areas.
284
00:19:16,864 --> 00:19:20,700
But key to watching wildlife
responsibly is to put the needs
285
00:19:20,701 --> 00:19:22,495
of the animals first.
286
00:19:23,996 --> 00:19:26,915
- When I have my own clients
or maybe I take someone on,
287
00:19:26,916 --> 00:19:30,627
on safari, and I explain myself
why we are not gonna go very
288
00:19:30,628 --> 00:19:32,087
close to the animal,
289
00:19:32,088 --> 00:19:33,964
they real understand
it very easy.
290
00:19:35,174 --> 00:19:36,925
[Bertie] Cubs should
eat every day,
291
00:19:36,926 --> 00:19:39,053
but tonight they’ll go hungry.
292
00:19:43,808 --> 00:19:46,352
It’s time for the cheetahs
to bed down and hide,
293
00:19:47,311 --> 00:19:49,647
as lions and hyenas
come out to hunt.
294
00:20:01,325 --> 00:20:04,245
In the morning, we find
the same mom and cubs.
295
00:20:05,496 --> 00:20:06,706
Baz, is that her there?
296
00:20:07,206 --> 00:20:08,374
- Yeah.
297
00:20:12,628 --> 00:20:14,338
[Tom] She’s stalking,
obviously it’s dark,
298
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:16,048
but yeah, she’s stalking.
299
00:20:16,799 --> 00:20:18,925
[Bertie] The pressure
to feed the family is pushing
300
00:20:18,926 --> 00:20:20,428
her to take risks.
301
00:20:22,388 --> 00:20:24,265
Well, mom and the two
cubs are on the move.
302
00:20:27,685 --> 00:20:29,394
They’re on the move first thing.
303
00:20:29,395 --> 00:20:31,146
It’s still pretty dark,
304
00:20:31,147 --> 00:20:33,690
which means there’s gonna be
a lot of other bigger predators
305
00:20:33,691 --> 00:20:34,859
active right now.
306
00:20:35,693 --> 00:20:37,278
So, she must be hungry.
307
00:20:42,241 --> 00:20:43,659
Okay, mom’s spotted something.
308
00:20:51,834 --> 00:20:54,628
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
309
00:21:01,051 --> 00:21:02,093
Yeah. She’s got it.
310
00:21:02,094 --> 00:21:04,054
- Yeah. She’s got it.
- She’s got it.
311
00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,976
What’s really interesting
is that she gave the cubs no
312
00:21:09,977 --> 00:21:12,896
opportunity to practice
hunting with this gazelle.
313
00:21:12,897 --> 00:21:14,564
She’s killed it straight away.
314
00:21:14,565 --> 00:21:17,485
‘Cause she just needs to stop
this thing making any noise.
315
00:21:19,487 --> 00:21:21,696
There's gonna be a lot of big
predators, a lot of hyenas,
316
00:21:21,697 --> 00:21:24,658
lot of lions still active,
still moving around.
317
00:21:27,620 --> 00:21:29,121
She's dragging the kill,
318
00:21:29,872 --> 00:21:31,707
and it looks like
into longer grass,
319
00:21:32,875 --> 00:21:34,960
and that’ll be to make
it harder to spot.
320
00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:43,469
And the cubs look ravenous.
321
00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:51,393
And on cue, I can hear lions.
322
00:21:52,061 --> 00:21:53,812
[distant roar]
323
00:21:53,813 --> 00:21:56,398
[Bertie imitates sound]
324
00:21:57,316 --> 00:21:58,609
Over there somewhere.
325
00:22:02,029 --> 00:22:03,863
The cubs are feeding,
326
00:22:03,864 --> 00:22:06,700
but mom is constantly
head up, scanning.
327
00:22:11,539 --> 00:22:13,374
- I can see hyena,
straight ahead there.
328
00:22:14,416 --> 00:22:15,918
- You can see hyenas?
- Yeah.
329
00:22:22,633 --> 00:22:24,844
- Hyenas incoming, yeah.
- He’s coming this way.
330
00:22:31,934 --> 00:22:33,435
- I wonder if she’s seen it.
331
00:22:34,937 --> 00:22:38,232
[Bertie] Hyenas are known to
scavenge other predators’ kills.
332
00:22:42,194 --> 00:22:44,446
Oh, it’s a big hyena.
333
00:22:45,364 --> 00:22:46,573
Mom has a big problem.
334
00:22:46,574 --> 00:22:48,117
[Baz] Yeah.
335
00:22:48,450 --> 00:22:51,286
[Bertie] Their thousand pound
per square inch bite force
336
00:22:51,287 --> 00:22:53,205
means they
can crush bones.
337
00:22:54,456 --> 00:22:57,209
- If hyena want to get it,
he gonna get it.
338
00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:03,966
[Bertie] This hyena’s close.
339
00:23:04,633 --> 00:23:05,885
What are you gonna do, mom?
340
00:23:07,845 --> 00:23:09,722
Are you gonna fight or
are you gonna run away?
341
00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:15,978
Mom and the cubs all looking.
342
00:23:19,815 --> 00:23:21,065
Mom’s up, mom’s up.
343
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:22,401
She’s going towards the hyena.
344
00:23:24,069 --> 00:23:25,529
Go on, mom.
345
00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:31,118
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
346
00:23:40,878 --> 00:23:42,254
- Yeaaah!
347
00:23:43,547 --> 00:23:45,049
Nice job, mom.
348
00:23:50,638 --> 00:23:52,848
Yeah, these cheetahs are
built for speed, not fighting,
349
00:23:53,724 --> 00:23:56,560
so all she can do is kind of
push and bluff the hyena away,
350
00:23:57,227 --> 00:23:59,145
‘cause if they were to
get into an actual scrap,
351
00:23:59,146 --> 00:24:01,190
the hyena is much bigger,
it’s much more powerful.
352
00:24:04,485 --> 00:24:06,820
The strategy is to just
to keep this hyena away,
353
00:24:07,154 --> 00:24:08,989
so that the cubs can
feed on the kill.
354
00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:16,914
[distant hyena calls]
355
00:24:17,039 --> 00:24:18,916
You can hear lots of
hyenas out this way.
356
00:24:19,792 --> 00:24:21,669
All cackling, all laughing
357
00:24:23,337 --> 00:24:24,671
Mom’s actually very lucky;
358
00:24:24,672 --> 00:24:26,172
the other hyenas they
sound like they’re on a
359
00:24:26,173 --> 00:24:27,549
kill of their own.
360
00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:32,137
Lions that way as well.
361
00:24:37,059 --> 00:24:38,851
Well, I don’t
quite believe this,
362
00:24:38,852 --> 00:24:42,772
Mom has successfully defended
her kill from this hyena,
363
00:24:42,773 --> 00:24:45,024
and she might have
gotten lucky that more hyenas
364
00:24:45,025 --> 00:24:46,944
didn’t come in,
365
00:24:47,069 --> 00:24:49,822
but she showed some
pretty amazing aggression,
366
00:24:50,489 --> 00:24:51,991
to say, "Get away
from my kill."
367
00:25:00,290 --> 00:25:04,502
Mom was able to provide today,
but soon the cubs will have to
368
00:25:04,503 --> 00:25:05,838
learn to hunt for themselves.
369
00:25:16,140 --> 00:25:18,726
As the day heats up, we
find the male coalition,
370
00:25:19,518 --> 00:25:20,811
scouting for prey.
371
00:25:24,106 --> 00:25:26,858
They’ll jump from one
lookout to the next until they
372
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:27,985
find a target.
373
00:25:36,285 --> 00:25:37,910
Compared to the
cheetah mothers,
374
00:25:37,911 --> 00:25:39,621
they take a fearless approach.
375
00:25:45,669 --> 00:25:47,254
But it's not without risk.
376
00:25:48,964 --> 00:25:50,381
[Tom] There’s a
lion under the tree,
377
00:25:50,382 --> 00:25:51,884
they may bump into it.
378
00:25:54,094 --> 00:25:55,262
- Copy that, thanks.
379
00:25:58,932 --> 00:26:00,767
These boys look like they
wanna climb this tree,
380
00:26:00,768 --> 00:26:02,894
but what they don't
know and we know,
381
00:26:02,895 --> 00:26:04,480
is that there's a lion
at the base of it.
382
00:26:06,482 --> 00:26:07,608
They're about to
get a big shock.
383
00:26:16,450 --> 00:26:17,868
Lion’s up.
384
00:26:18,952 --> 00:26:20,079
Woah.
385
00:26:22,372 --> 00:26:23,665
Oh, big male.
386
00:26:26,293 --> 00:26:28,212
1, 2, 3, 4 male lions.
387
00:26:29,004 --> 00:26:31,256
Ho, ho, that was a bit of
a shock for those cheetah,
388
00:26:31,882 --> 00:26:34,426
but fortunately, the
lions have not pursued.
389
00:26:37,888 --> 00:26:39,306
Did you see them
all just going woah!
390
00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,350
- Yeah, I saw them spook.
391
00:26:42,059 --> 00:26:45,479
- Yeah, they're like we
are checking out, goodbye.
392
00:26:48,190 --> 00:26:50,400
There are just
300 cheetahs here,
393
00:26:51,026 --> 00:26:52,986
but over 3,000 lions.
394
00:26:55,781 --> 00:26:58,075
In a fight with these bigger,
stronger predators,
395
00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,079
the cheetahs would
have no chance.
396
00:27:12,005 --> 00:27:13,966
The coalition’s search
for food continues.
397
00:27:16,385 --> 00:27:18,636
I really hope to see
them succeed before our
398
00:27:18,637 --> 00:27:20,055
time runs out.
399
00:27:31,233 --> 00:27:33,360
Cheetahs’ lives are much
harder than I thought,
400
00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:36,947
even inside the protection of
the Serengeti National Park.
401
00:27:39,575 --> 00:27:42,285
The pressure to survive
can drive cheetahs to roam
402
00:27:42,286 --> 00:27:44,037
outside the protected area...
403
00:27:44,580 --> 00:27:45,914
Cool spot.
404
00:27:46,707 --> 00:27:49,251
...where they face other
problems from human activity.
405
00:27:50,043 --> 00:27:51,420
Thanks, Baz.
406
00:27:52,671 --> 00:27:54,297
Hello, hello.
407
00:27:54,298 --> 00:27:56,132
I meet up with
Kelvin Munisi from the
408
00:27:56,133 --> 00:27:57,759
Serengeti Cheetah Project.
409
00:27:58,218 --> 00:27:59,510
- Oh yeah.
- Always ready.
410
00:27:59,511 --> 00:28:00,511
- Good morning.
- Good to meet you, man.
411
00:28:00,512 --> 00:28:02,680
I want to find out
how his research helps
412
00:28:02,681 --> 00:28:04,057
tackle these challenges.
413
00:28:06,727 --> 00:28:09,062
It’s not long before we
see some familiar faces.
414
00:28:11,273 --> 00:28:13,482
Kelvin, this mother
and cubs, this family,
415
00:28:13,483 --> 00:28:15,026
is actually a family
we've been following.
416
00:28:15,027 --> 00:28:16,277
Do you, do you know her?
417
00:28:16,278 --> 00:28:19,030
- Yes, we do know her,
and she is called Adora.
418
00:28:19,031 --> 00:28:20,699
- Adora?
- Adora, yeah.
419
00:28:21,199 --> 00:28:22,700
[Bertie] And do you know
how many litters she's had
420
00:28:22,701 --> 00:28:23,701
in her life?
421
00:28:23,702 --> 00:28:25,287
[Kelvin] So, this is
her second litter.
422
00:28:25,621 --> 00:28:27,748
The first litter
she had was in 2020,
423
00:28:28,415 --> 00:28:32,001
and that didn’t go so well,
‘cause she lost all her cubs.
424
00:28:32,002 --> 00:28:33,002
- Oh no.
425
00:28:33,003 --> 00:28:35,212
- Yeah, yeah, it’s sad,
and last year we actually
426
00:28:35,213 --> 00:28:37,006
found her with five cubs.
427
00:28:37,007 --> 00:28:38,424
{\an8}- Five?
- Yeah, yeah.
428
00:28:38,425 --> 00:28:39,842
{\an8}- So, she’s only got
two now, so she,
429
00:28:39,843 --> 00:28:41,595
{\an8}she's lost three of
her cubs this litter?
430
00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,012
- Yes, she has lost
three of her cubs.
431
00:28:43,013 --> 00:28:44,598
- Oh, that's so sad.
432
00:28:45,182 --> 00:28:48,726
I guess that's the reality of
living in a landscape packed
433
00:28:48,727 --> 00:28:50,394
full of predators that
are bigger than you.
434
00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:52,229
- Predators. Yeah, exactly.
435
00:28:52,230 --> 00:28:54,482
Yeah. She’s actually a good mom.
436
00:28:54,483 --> 00:28:57,735
For a cheetah with five cubs
to remain with two cubs uh,
437
00:28:57,736 --> 00:29:01,406
it’s, it’s still a good mom in
such a harsh environment.
438
00:29:03,909 --> 00:29:05,744
[Bertie] Kelvin’s
field work has two parts.
439
00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:09,623
First, he maps where each
cheetah is roaming,
440
00:29:11,667 --> 00:29:15,544
and then, he needs to collect
their DNA in the least
441
00:29:15,545 --> 00:29:17,089
invasive way possible.
442
00:29:18,757 --> 00:29:21,384
So, you spend a lot of time
staring at cheetahs hoping that
443
00:29:21,385 --> 00:29:22,760
they’re gonna do a number two?
444
00:29:22,761 --> 00:29:23,844
- Yeah, yeah.
445
00:29:23,845 --> 00:29:24,929
[laughs]
446
00:29:24,930 --> 00:29:26,682
Yes. Yes.
447
00:29:30,894 --> 00:29:33,522
- Kelvin she's, she’s
squatting down there.
448
00:29:34,356 --> 00:29:35,439
- Oh yeah, yes.
449
00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:36,774
- Is she gonna go
to the bathroom?
450
00:29:36,775 --> 00:29:38,067
She’s pooping, she’s pooping.
451
00:29:38,068 --> 00:29:40,111
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brilliant.
452
00:29:40,112 --> 00:29:43,072
- Kelvin, usually when I’m
working with scientists filming
453
00:29:43,073 --> 00:29:45,866
their amazing work, I offer
to help and get involved,
454
00:29:45,867 --> 00:29:49,496
but I think on this occasion
I’m good, it’s all you.
455
00:29:49,871 --> 00:29:51,665
- You should leave it to the
professional poo collectors.
456
00:29:51,790 --> 00:29:52,790
- Yeah.
457
00:29:52,791 --> 00:29:54,626
[laughs]
458
00:30:00,382 --> 00:30:01,632
I think he's got it.
459
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:03,134
Yeah, he's got it.
460
00:30:03,135 --> 00:30:05,594
I've never been so
excited about locating a
461
00:30:05,595 --> 00:30:07,347
wild animal's poo.
462
00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:09,808
All in the name of science.
463
00:30:15,814 --> 00:30:19,358
It may not be glamorous,
but Kelvin’s work is critical
464
00:30:19,359 --> 00:30:20,902
in monitoring
cheetah territories.
465
00:30:23,697 --> 00:30:25,740
[Kelvin] We are
going to extract DNA,
466
00:30:25,741 --> 00:30:30,120
so that we can establish how
diversified is the gene pool.
467
00:30:30,537 --> 00:30:33,956
This can tell us how connected
the cheetah population are
468
00:30:33,957 --> 00:30:36,250
from Serengeti population,
469
00:30:36,251 --> 00:30:38,420
all the way to the
Masai Mara population,
470
00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:40,880
and also other
protected areas within the
471
00:30:40,881 --> 00:30:42,548
Eastern Africa landscape.
472
00:30:42,549 --> 00:30:44,843
[Bertie] Mixing these
groups is vital,
473
00:30:45,302 --> 00:30:47,678
but it’s becoming more
difficult for cheetahs to move
474
00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:50,599
as humans build farms
and towns in their path.
475
00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:54,643
- The solution is
reducing human activities on
476
00:30:54,644 --> 00:30:57,146
the wildlife
corridors so that we can
477
00:30:57,147 --> 00:31:00,399
increase connectivity
between these small populations
478
00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:01,902
that we do have.
479
00:31:02,778 --> 00:31:04,987
[Bertie] Kelvin hopes
this information can be used to
480
00:31:04,988 --> 00:31:08,158
manage land in a way
that supports cheetahs.
481
00:31:09,201 --> 00:31:12,037
Connecting territories
and giving them the space
482
00:31:12,162 --> 00:31:13,705
they need to survive.
483
00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:24,799
The next morning,
484
00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:26,927
we find the male
coalition again.
485
00:31:34,726 --> 00:31:36,644
They’re with a
herd of wildebeest,
486
00:31:36,645 --> 00:31:40,022
and it looks like this
could be the chance to hunt
487
00:31:40,023 --> 00:31:43,610
they’ve been waiting for,
but they’re not the only ones.
488
00:31:44,945 --> 00:31:47,196
There are the boys.
There’s the wildebeest.
489
00:31:47,197 --> 00:31:48,907
There’s a bunch of
lions over there.
490
00:31:50,492 --> 00:31:52,077
This could be chaos.
491
00:31:54,746 --> 00:31:55,789
Yeah, Tom, we’ve got the boys,
492
00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:57,791
they’re about 300 meters
from a herd of wildebeest,
493
00:31:58,208 --> 00:32:00,043
with lions nearby as well.
494
00:32:04,631 --> 00:32:06,424
So, we've got this big
herd of wildebeest,
495
00:32:06,925 --> 00:32:09,009
and the boys are on
this side of the herd.
496
00:32:09,010 --> 00:32:11,011
What they don't know is
that there's a pride of lions
497
00:32:11,012 --> 00:32:12,722
on the other side that
we passed coming here.
498
00:32:14,224 --> 00:32:16,268
So, if they choose to run
into that wildebeest herd,
499
00:32:17,394 --> 00:32:19,688
I think they might get
a really nasty surprise.
500
00:32:22,732 --> 00:32:24,651
Stay down, boys, stay down.
501
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,988
You do not want to pick a
fight with a bunch of lions.
502
00:32:32,659 --> 00:32:34,160
Do you think they’ve seen them?
503
00:32:34,161 --> 00:32:36,246
- No.
- They’re very close
504
00:32:43,712 --> 00:32:45,005
- All the wildebeest are running.
505
00:32:50,385 --> 00:32:51,761
Whoa. Big boys.
506
00:33:01,980 --> 00:33:04,024
Look at the size of
that dude on the right.
507
00:33:06,401 --> 00:33:08,737
Oh, my word, he is beautiful.
508
00:33:09,404 --> 00:33:11,281
Look at his mane
blowing in the wind.
509
00:33:19,497 --> 00:33:21,540
Well, the cheetah boys
got very lucky there.
510
00:33:21,541 --> 00:33:23,375
That pride of lions
has not spotted them,
511
00:33:23,376 --> 00:33:24,878
and they’re heading
off that way.
512
00:33:28,757 --> 00:33:30,466
But they’ve lost their
element of surprise;
513
00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:32,343
the wildebeest herd
are really spooked
514
00:33:32,344 --> 00:33:34,012
‘cause of the lions.
515
00:33:39,476 --> 00:33:42,312
We’ve yet to see the coalition
have a successful hunt.
516
00:33:48,151 --> 00:33:49,903
They can’t wait any longer.
517
00:34:00,330 --> 00:34:02,082
Looking for a target.
518
00:34:20,058 --> 00:34:22,060
Okay, they’ve spotted a calf.
519
00:34:26,439 --> 00:34:27,481
They’re moving
through the herd,
520
00:34:27,482 --> 00:34:28,983
kind of looking around
with their heads up.
521
00:34:28,984 --> 00:34:30,067
They aren’t going fast.
522
00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:31,318
They’re looking for a target,
523
00:34:31,319 --> 00:34:33,988
but it’s just too dense with
all the herd running together.
524
00:34:33,989 --> 00:34:35,782
It's a very dangerous
thing to run into.
525
00:34:37,284 --> 00:34:40,202
Picking the right target
at the right time is a matter
526
00:34:40,203 --> 00:34:41,955
of life and death.
527
00:34:49,796 --> 00:34:52,632
They’ve spotted
a big wildebeest.
528
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:56,511
It's a yearling.
529
00:35:03,393 --> 00:35:04,978
Ah, it's gone
back into the herd,
530
00:35:05,562 --> 00:35:07,188
great herd defense.
531
00:35:08,565 --> 00:35:09,690
Okay, they’ve switched targets.
532
00:35:09,691 --> 00:35:11,525
They’ve found another one.
533
00:35:11,526 --> 00:35:13,403
- You still have it?
- Yeah.
534
00:35:13,737 --> 00:35:15,196
- He’s coming in front.
535
00:35:20,619 --> 00:35:21,911
Still got it?
536
00:35:32,130 --> 00:35:34,215
- I think he’s got it.
537
00:35:38,595 --> 00:35:40,555
Well, that wildebeest
put up a very good fight.
538
00:35:45,477 --> 00:35:48,021
Finally, they can enjoy
a well-earned meal,
539
00:35:49,814 --> 00:35:53,526
but a successful hunt doesn’t
always lead to a full belly.
540
00:36:02,535 --> 00:36:04,203
Lions coming into
the kill, yeah, Baz?
541
00:36:04,204 --> 00:36:05,705
[Baz] Yeah.
542
00:36:08,333 --> 00:36:10,502
[Bertie] There’s three
of them and one of her.
543
00:36:13,630 --> 00:36:15,006
She's not sure.
544
00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:17,926
Surely, they’re not
gonna fight her for it.
545
00:36:18,551 --> 00:36:20,302
- If those guys
they realize it’s not safe,
546
00:36:20,303 --> 00:36:21,970
they will walk away.
547
00:36:21,971 --> 00:36:23,639
[Bertie] So right now
they’re just trying to eat as
548
00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:25,100
fast as they can.
549
00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,610
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
550
00:36:41,199 --> 00:36:43,076
She takes the kill.
551
00:36:44,703 --> 00:36:47,496
And that is why it is very
hard to be a cheetah round here.
552
00:36:47,497 --> 00:36:48,622
[Baz] Uh huh.
553
00:36:48,623 --> 00:36:50,207
[Bertie] You do all
that work and then a lion
554
00:36:50,208 --> 00:36:51,793
steals your food.
555
00:36:54,587 --> 00:36:57,298
And now these boys are gonna
have to hunt all over again.
556
00:36:58,967 --> 00:37:00,510
Back to square one.
557
00:37:03,805 --> 00:37:06,140
The competition
from bigger predators is
558
00:37:06,141 --> 00:37:07,600
relentless for cheetahs.
559
00:37:11,938 --> 00:37:14,107
But giving up isn’t an option.
560
00:37:28,747 --> 00:37:30,331
[Tom] Bertie, do you copy?
561
00:37:31,124 --> 00:37:32,082
- Yeah, go ahead.
562
00:37:32,083 --> 00:37:33,292
[Tom] Clearly
rain’s coming,
563
00:37:33,293 --> 00:37:34,753
so we’re gonna put
the rain spinner on.
564
00:37:35,462 --> 00:37:36,712
- Okay, copy that.
565
00:37:36,713 --> 00:37:38,381
I’ll switch to the
wet drone as well.
566
00:37:42,135 --> 00:37:45,305
[thunder and rainfall]
567
00:37:49,184 --> 00:37:50,476
Despite the rain,
568
00:37:50,477 --> 00:37:52,395
the coalition stick
with the herd.
569
00:37:54,564 --> 00:37:56,733
Good luck out there,
little drone.
570
00:38:07,327 --> 00:38:09,787
So, it’s started
pouring with rain,
571
00:38:09,788 --> 00:38:12,290
and the cheetahs are still
hunting, so the show must go on.
572
00:38:17,212 --> 00:38:19,088
They’re just marching
straight into the rain.
573
00:38:23,009 --> 00:38:24,677
And the drone is still flying.
574
00:38:28,181 --> 00:38:30,724
The storm completely
changes the dynamic between
575
00:38:30,725 --> 00:38:32,727
predator and prey.
576
00:38:34,604 --> 00:38:36,981
The wildebeest stand with
their backs to the rain;
577
00:38:38,191 --> 00:38:40,985
they aren’t looking
out for the cheetahs,
578
00:38:41,861 --> 00:38:44,072
and they can’t hear them either.
579
00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:46,199
Okay, they’re coming
up to the wildebeest.
580
00:38:46,658 --> 00:38:48,076
It is pouring with rain.
581
00:38:48,201 --> 00:38:50,078
Come on, drone.
Hang on.
582
00:38:53,122 --> 00:38:55,249
[Bertie] With the
threat of lions gone too,
583
00:38:55,250 --> 00:38:57,669
the odds have tipped in
the coalition’s favor.
584
00:38:58,503 --> 00:39:00,088
[Tom] Okay,
check one, two, three.
585
00:39:08,930 --> 00:39:10,723
[Bertie] Okay, front
cheetah has a target.
586
00:39:14,853 --> 00:39:16,855
Okay, increasing
speed here, we go.
587
00:39:18,940 --> 00:39:20,567
Cor, they are flying.
588
00:39:36,249 --> 00:39:38,001
Wildebeest is turning
around to fight.
589
00:39:40,545 --> 00:39:41,963
Careful with the horns.
590
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:45,800
Back up’s arriving.
591
00:39:47,677 --> 00:39:49,387
All three boys on
the wildebeest.
592
00:39:50,138 --> 00:39:51,681
Hang in there, drone.
593
00:39:55,393 --> 00:39:56,853
They’ve brought it down.
594
00:39:56,978 --> 00:39:58,520
Oh, my word!
595
00:39:58,521 --> 00:40:00,148
It spun around and
was trying to fight the
596
00:40:00,273 --> 00:40:01,565
one off and if it,
597
00:40:01,566 --> 00:40:03,567
if that male cheetah
had been by itself,
598
00:40:03,568 --> 00:40:05,528
I don't think it
would have got it.
599
00:40:06,195 --> 00:40:08,531
And all in pouring rain.
600
00:40:09,198 --> 00:40:10,783
That was crazy.
601
00:40:13,995 --> 00:40:15,245
The drone’s still flying,
602
00:40:15,246 --> 00:40:16,872
I’m gonna bring it home
before it falls out the sky.
603
00:40:16,873 --> 00:40:18,333
[Baz] You should.
604
00:40:19,584 --> 00:40:21,836
- It survived.
Well done, wet drone.
605
00:40:22,712 --> 00:40:24,922
It’s the first time a
cheetah hunt has been filmed
606
00:40:24,923 --> 00:40:26,341
in the rain like this.
607
00:40:26,841 --> 00:40:30,011
I didn’t know if this drone
could survive, but it has,
608
00:40:30,637 --> 00:40:32,721
and we managed to
capture some pretty
609
00:40:32,722 --> 00:40:34,140
extraordinary behavior with it.
610
00:40:35,183 --> 00:40:38,311
Cheetah hunting as a team,
in torrential rain.
611
00:40:43,316 --> 00:40:45,442
Even under the cover
of the rainstorm,
612
00:40:45,443 --> 00:40:48,237
taking down a wildebeest
is incredibly dangerous
613
00:40:48,905 --> 00:40:50,740
for these cheetahs.
614
00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:54,452
I’m relieved to finally
see them get a meal,
615
00:40:55,995 --> 00:40:59,456
and to know they can have
a few days' rest before they
616
00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:01,542
have to do it all over again.
617
00:41:07,048 --> 00:41:10,759
Capturing this iconic face-off
between cheetahs and wildebeest
618
00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:12,679
is something I’ll never forget.
619
00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:19,059
As my time here
comes to an end,
620
00:41:19,060 --> 00:41:21,062
there’s someone I
want to check in on.
621
00:41:25,108 --> 00:41:26,526
We’ve got mom,
622
00:41:28,027 --> 00:41:30,196
but the big question is,
where are the cubs?
623
00:41:32,365 --> 00:41:35,201
Come on, little cubs,
please be still alive.
624
00:41:41,165 --> 00:41:42,542
The cubs are here.
The cubs are here.
625
00:41:50,591 --> 00:41:52,927
Well, that is a very,
very big relief.
626
00:41:54,721 --> 00:41:56,097
The cubs have made it,
627
00:41:56,389 --> 00:41:58,307
and they look very
happy and healthy.
628
00:42:00,727 --> 00:42:01,893
They actually look
like they’ve turned into
629
00:42:01,894 --> 00:42:03,895
absolute little terrors.
630
00:42:03,896 --> 00:42:06,189
They’ve got so much
energy now, charging around,
631
00:42:06,190 --> 00:42:07,817
jumping on mom.
632
00:42:09,444 --> 00:42:11,529
And they’ve grown up so
much since we saw them,
633
00:42:12,321 --> 00:42:14,156
you know, they’re
starting to lose their
634
00:42:14,157 --> 00:42:16,242
dark black sides.
635
00:42:16,701 --> 00:42:18,911
I can see their little adult
spots are coming through.
636
00:42:33,051 --> 00:42:35,218
You know cub survival
rate in cheetahs is really
637
00:42:35,219 --> 00:42:36,219
not very good.
638
00:42:36,220 --> 00:42:38,723
95% don’t make it to adulthood.
639
00:42:39,682 --> 00:42:40,682
But these two little ones,
640
00:42:40,683 --> 00:42:42,392
they’ve made it through
one of the most dangerous
641
00:42:42,393 --> 00:42:44,228
periods of their lives,
642
00:42:44,854 --> 00:42:46,647
{\an8}and they’ve got an amazing
mom looking after them.
643
00:42:47,065 --> 00:42:49,150
{\an8}So, I’m pretty hopeful
they’re gonna make it.
644
00:42:57,450 --> 00:43:00,953
{\an8}[♪ inspirational music playing]
645
00:43:08,586 --> 00:43:11,713
[♪ inspirational music playing]
646
00:43:11,714 --> 00:43:13,673
I've always thought
of Cheetah as being
647
00:43:13,674 --> 00:43:16,219
this super-fast,
untouchable, top predator.
648
00:43:16,928 --> 00:43:18,638
It turns out I’ve
had it all wrong.
649
00:43:19,347 --> 00:43:22,225
And the threat of lions and
hyenas is just relentless here.
650
00:43:23,392 --> 00:43:25,645
Human activity is adding
to their struggles.
651
00:43:28,773 --> 00:43:31,609
While it's very easy to be
impressed by the male coalition,
652
00:43:32,110 --> 00:43:34,112
it's the females
that I'm most in awe of.
653
00:43:34,695 --> 00:43:36,905
{\an8}You know, the fact that they
can raise any cubs in this
654
00:43:36,906 --> 00:43:39,282
{\an8}landscape is a
testament to the incredible
655
00:43:39,283 --> 00:43:40,785
{\an8}mothers we’ve followed.
656
00:43:41,786 --> 00:43:44,162
{\an8}I’ll never forget watching
these cheetahs grow up,
657
00:43:44,163 --> 00:43:46,916
{\an8}learning from mom,
gaining their survival skills,
658
00:43:47,375 --> 00:43:49,000
{\an8}so that with a
little bit of luck,
659
00:43:49,001 --> 00:43:51,294
{\an8}they can take on
whatever the Serengeti has
660
00:43:51,295 --> 00:43:52,839
{\an8}in store for them.