National Geographic African Odyssey

en
00:00:08 Two American scientists,
00:00:09 Delia and Mark Owens, have lived dream
00:00:12 many people share
00:00:14 the opportunity to
00:00:21 Alone in the vast
00:00:24 they studied brown hyenas and lions.
00:00:28 They made unique discoveries
00:00:32 which helped them
00:00:34 for the conservation needs
00:00:38 Unavoidably,
00:00:43 Get to the back. Get to the back.
00:00:47 After seven years in the Kalahari,
00:00:50 Delia and Mark returned home to
00:00:53 graduate degrees at the
00:00:55 where they organized their
00:00:59 ...keep a lot of different skulls.
00:01:00 Yeah.
00:01:01 They also wrote a best-selling book,
00:01:04 About their experiences,
00:01:07 into conflict with
00:01:10 When the book was excerpted in
00:01:13 and condensed in READER'S DIEST,
00:01:15 Delia and Mark became
00:01:18 They were welcomed as returning heroes
00:01:20 in Delia's hometown
00:01:22 Thank you for coming by. Hello.
00:01:24 Thanks for coming by.
00:01:25 Good to see you.
00:01:26 Thank you.
00:01:28 What's this one about?
00:01:30 Well, it's about what it was like to
00:01:33 and then come back to this.
00:01:40 Now their lives
00:01:42 and the research it requires.
00:01:45 After four years in the United State,
00:01:48 and a National Geographic film crew
00:01:52 Their fortunes over the next year
00:01:55 that face conservationists
00:02:40 When Delia and Mark Owens first
00:02:44 They began with only
00:02:46 That'll do it.
00:02:47 Later, as the scope
00:02:50 the Frankfurt Zoological Society
00:02:52 provided them
00:02:54 and an airplane for radio tracking.
00:02:56 We've got pins here.
00:02:58 Oh, really? No more nails?
00:03:00 No more nails. A brand new prop.
00:03:04 I mean it's virtually a new airplane.
00:03:08 Now they pick up their vehicles
00:03:11 It's 700miles to the Kalahari.
00:03:13 Delia has to drive it without Mark.
00:03:16 ...you don't have any gauges
00:03:21 All right.
00:03:22 Yep.
00:03:23 Drive safely. Have a good trip.
00:03:25 I'll see you up there. Bye, bye, love.
00:03:33 Remember, I'll be flying
00:03:35 not up there by Friday night.
00:03:37 Right. Okay. Friday night.
00:03:49 It's seen 11 years since the Owenses
00:03:53 There, in a
00:03:56 the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
00:04:01 Delia and Mark first began
00:04:07 Mark's flight will take four hours.
00:04:11 Delia's drive will take four days.
00:04:23 Leaving the last settlements behind,
00:04:25 Delia runs all day
00:04:28 when they first entered the Kalahari.
00:04:31 It was almost exactly 11 years ago
00:04:33 that we came down this track
00:04:37 And we wanted to find a wilderness
00:04:39 that had not been
00:04:43 a free, open place that was like
00:04:47 We wanted to identify the conservation
00:04:51 and then be able to
00:04:54 of how it should be saved.
00:04:56 During their last years in the
00:05:01 Mark knows that the animals
00:05:03 have continued
00:05:06 My mixed feelings are, I think,
00:05:11 loving the Kalahari
00:05:14 and knowing it as we know it,
00:05:16 and yet understanding
00:05:19 in terms of threats to its survival.
00:05:23 And we're coming back to see
00:05:25 that future generations
00:05:27 come to love the area
00:05:36 The Owenses made their camp
00:05:40 Slight depressions support islands
00:05:43 from the searing sun and wind.
00:06:15 Oh, great! Success.
00:06:23 There's Deception Valley.
00:06:26 Does it ever need rain.
00:06:30 First time we came here it
00:06:32 was covered with springbok
00:06:34 and beautiful green grass.
00:06:40 Many scientists yearn
00:06:43 But only a miniscule few ever succeed
00:06:49 To get started 11 years ago,
00:06:53 all their possessions
00:06:57 Their early research won the respect
00:07:01 from the National Geographic Society.
00:07:04 Other grants then helped them conduct
00:07:07 hyenas and lions ever
00:07:11 At the same time,
00:07:15 conflicts with the Botswana government
00:07:17 conflicts that would eventually
00:07:23 As Delia nears their former
00:07:26 she wonders it has been
00:07:38 How you doing? You made it huh?
00:07:40 Yeah.
00:07:41 I did too. How you doing?
00:07:44 I got stuck in the mud.
00:07:46 Did you really?
00:07:47 It wasn't that bad a thing.
00:07:49 You would have gotten right out,
00:07:52 Guess what I have.
00:07:53 What?
00:07:54 A complete stereophonic sound system.
00:07:55 For calling the lions?
00:07:56 To call the lions.
00:07:58 Well, that will be fun.
00:08:00 We can play that tonight...
00:08:01 I also have a male and female mating.
00:08:02 Mating. That's...
00:08:03 Well, well, well.
00:08:17 I wondered how I'd mind the dust
00:08:24 but it looks bloody beautiful,
00:08:27 Oh, it looks great. It looks great.
00:08:30 It really does.
00:08:31 I mean how could you
00:08:35 Oh, I tell you.
00:08:36 With great relief they find
00:08:39 They can begin their work immediately.
00:08:43 The dry season is beginning,
00:08:45 and as grasses on the riverbed
00:08:47 antelope will disperse
00:08:50 making it much harder for
00:08:52 I was saying
00:08:55 it feels great to get back.
00:08:57 But then you look out.
00:08:59 It really looks so bleak. I was just...
00:09:01 We've got to start looking for
00:09:04 Yeah, because the lions
00:09:06 I mean, very quickly.
00:09:07 Yeah.
00:09:13 A last storm sweeps the dry river
00:09:32 Dawn brings the zoologists
00:09:40 Mark will try to locate
00:09:43 as Delia pursues him on the ground.
00:09:49 It's amazing that
00:09:52 the same lions use the
00:09:54 and even new lions
00:09:57 use the same trees again.
00:10:05 Mark, do you see him?
00:10:07 Negative, love.
00:10:11 Mark searches a tree island
00:10:15 Kalahari lions are likely to lie up
00:10:34 Did you see him?
00:10:35 It looks thick from the ground,
00:10:40 I may be wrong
00:10:41 but I think that may be what
00:10:45 when we were up there trying
00:10:48 I think he came out on the opposite
00:10:52 We'll have to take another
00:10:57 Tracking the lion takes
00:11:00 so they spend the night
00:11:03 I love this Swiss army knife.
00:11:04 You can't open it unless you split it.
00:11:05 Here, you want me to do it?
00:11:06 Yeah, you open it.
00:11:07 Which one? This one?
00:11:09 That one...
00:11:11 The woman's a genius.
00:11:14 Brute force.
00:11:20 Mark is up before dawn.
00:11:27 He and Delia reason
00:11:30 may feel challenged by the sound of
00:11:44 I don't believe this.
00:11:48 It's actually worked.
00:11:55 We ought to sit down
00:11:57 because he's looking at us.
00:11:59 Yeah, we know we don't want to
00:12:01 now that he's here.
00:12:02 Yeah, let's just sit down and not move.
00:12:05 Male lions roar to establish claim
00:12:08 and sometimes fight to the death
00:12:12 This lion searches for the intruder.
00:12:15 Now Delia and Mark will try to get
00:12:18 and collar him with
00:12:21 Then he can be tracked systematically
00:12:24 social contacts, and prey selection.
00:12:33 The lion has left the river plain.
00:12:36 They follow his tracks called spoor.
00:12:40 We're coming to the point
00:12:41 so we should see his
00:12:44 It was up here.
00:12:46 He may still be in there.
00:12:53 Mark has seen him, Mark has seen him.
00:13:25 I should have marked the spot
00:13:26 where we lost him.
00:13:31 We had him all that way.
00:13:35 For half the night
00:13:36 Delia and Mark try to get close enough
00:13:53 For three days the lion eludes them.
00:14:02 The crust on the sand is
00:14:05 So the foot was falling quite quickly.
00:14:08 So you can see he was
00:14:12 He's here somewhere.
00:14:18 I wish I could find his spoor.
00:14:21 I just got to keep going.
00:14:32 If we can get to that clearing
00:14:34 maybe we can attract him into it.
00:14:36 I don't know what good
00:14:38 I mean, he has to come up...
00:14:42 Well, if we get a dart in him,
00:14:44 Yeah.
00:14:46 Frustrated in their pursuit,
00:14:48 they try to attract him
00:14:53 Ignoring Delia and Mark,
00:14:56 looking for his supposed rival.
00:15:08 Finally he realizes that the roars are
00:15:26 The lion focuses on Mark.
00:15:40 Head on, he presents an almost
00:16:11 In the twenty minute before
00:16:14 the lion wanders off.
00:16:18 Mark follows his tracks to find him.
00:16:26 When lions are immobilized,
00:16:30 Salve keeps their eyes from drying out
00:16:39 We'll have to use a bigger bolt.
00:16:41 Delia and Mark whisper to avoid
00:16:48 Keep your eyes peeled.
00:16:51 They're bound to come
00:17:02 Yeah, but he's fine.
00:17:07 I'm going to go get the
00:17:10 Okay.
00:17:13 Or you could get the dart gun.
00:17:26 Delia, look at the hyena.
00:17:33 Boy, feel the muscles in his neck.
00:17:37 Tooth eruption and wear help the
00:17:41 He doesn't look like an old lion.
00:17:51 It will be interesting to compare
00:17:56 we took just a second ago.
00:18:00 Look at the size of that paw.
00:18:02 I can put both my hands together
00:18:06 Mark, there's a lion right here.
00:18:11 Get to the car.
00:18:14 I'm going to back off.
00:18:17 She's probably going to find the male.
00:18:19 I think she has the male's scent.
00:18:27 Knowing that the pride
00:18:29 Mark darts other lions to keep
00:18:37 Collaring each lion
00:18:40 As the night wears on,
00:18:42 Delia and Mark become
00:18:45 You've been wanting
00:18:49 You finally got here.
00:18:52 Mark, try to act like
00:19:04 We have three lions darted.
00:19:07 Another pride.
00:19:10 One adult male and two young females,
00:19:15 Nights like this bring Delia
00:19:19 Using radio collars
00:19:21 they will spend many other long
00:19:29 They plot lion movements
00:19:32 Through such painstaking work,
00:19:35 unlike lions observed elsewhere,
00:19:37 prides in the Kalahari disband
00:19:39 and individual lions
00:19:43 1,500 square miles in search of food.
00:19:47 Their movements present a
00:19:50 Hunters and ranchers
00:19:52 in the Owenses study group when they
00:19:59 The Kalahari is so dry
00:20:02 must obtain all their
00:20:05 The prey, in turn, get their moisture
00:20:07 leaves, and grasses.
00:20:11 Mark, look at... If we sit tight,
00:20:19 They circle a carcass several times
00:20:25 to make a mistake that the lions
00:20:28 because lions often kill brown
00:20:35 This is such a rare opportunity.
00:20:38 I mean most people living in Botswana
00:20:42 They're so rare and they're
00:20:46 that usually they run off
00:20:56 For the size that they are,
00:21:01 Yeah. We've actually seen them pick up
00:21:05 and walk three of four-miles with it
00:21:08 the communal den as they often do.
00:21:13 The Owenses were the first to
00:21:16 have a very complex social structure.
00:21:19 At the communal den related hyenas
00:21:22 and even adopt each other's orphans.
00:21:26 When we first began our study
00:21:29 the odd sighting suggested
00:21:34 Yet they lived in a clan
00:21:36 why they were social.
00:21:38 And then one night we followed
00:21:42 from her small den into
00:21:47 It provides a haven for the cubs
00:21:50 from the duty of protection.
00:21:52 They move from one of these
00:21:55 and we don't know which one of these
00:22:03 There are no fresh bones in this.
00:22:05 So often a zoologist's
00:22:09 The den is empty.
00:22:12 To anybody else this just looks
00:22:16 But to us this is just so many...
00:22:22 and hard nights of
00:22:25 and exciting nights of watching hyenas
00:22:29 This place means so much to us.
00:22:31 It may take weeks to discover
00:22:34 but research continuity is crucial.
00:22:38 It took the Owenses
00:22:40 that clan members share a communal den
00:22:43 That observation opened doors
00:22:45 of understanding to previously
00:22:53 From time to time Delia and Mark fly
00:22:56 a town of native huts
00:23:02 Here they can pick up
00:23:04 and send off manuscripts
00:23:09 This is the Crocodile Farm.
00:23:11 Water is so precious in the Kalahari
00:23:13 that they always arrive weighed down
00:23:28 Maun Office Services is their
00:23:32 It receives and stores mail for
00:23:36 I found it. I've given it to him.
00:23:37 Whenever you get a minute,
00:23:40 Okay. Behind you is a box
00:23:43 And a big box after it.
00:23:48 What was the date on that?
00:23:51 Oh, her Look.
00:23:54 Oh, golly. Okay, wait a minute.
00:23:57 Hey, Tony.
00:23:59 Why don't you join us?
00:24:00 I've got something in the oven.
00:24:03 Now this is a birthday card
00:24:05 I know it.
00:24:08 Yep, and it's fat.
00:24:09 What? It's fat?
00:24:10 It's fat.
00:24:11 She usually sends vitamin pills.
00:24:13 Oh, look. Pictures of home.
00:24:14 That's fantastic.
00:24:16 Oh, that's great.
00:24:18 Cut off as they are
00:24:21 these bundles of mail
00:24:25 Through letters they share in
00:24:38 Back at camp again,
00:24:41 still hoping to find some of the
00:25:09 The cubs seem to sense
00:25:15 Delia and Mark have
00:25:18 They can tell by the tag in her ear
00:25:20 that she is one of the
00:25:24 The lion's whisker
00:25:29 Here's one of our old friends.
00:25:31 There's just a shard
00:25:33 just a pin with a little bit of
00:25:38 Mark, do you know who this is?
00:25:41 Happy?
00:25:42 This is Happy.
00:25:50 I can't believe it.
00:25:52 What a story behind her.
00:25:56 One reason we called her Happy is
00:25:59 more males than any other female.
00:26:02 She'd from one male to the other.
00:26:05 I can't believe it. She's a beauty.
00:26:08 Oh, you old bag, you.
00:26:11 Finding Happy is an important link
00:26:14 She helps them learn how prides
00:26:20 Her presence in the same area
00:26:23 the riverbed habitat
00:26:29 Roger, ready to copy.
00:26:31 To Mark Owens, a telex from...
00:26:33 Back at camp, Mark gets a call from
00:26:40 Okay. Well, we've got a problem.
00:26:43 We received a telex message by radio
00:26:49 in the capital has rejected our
00:26:54 which, of course, we need to carry
00:26:57 So we're going to fly off to Gaborone
00:27:02 is and try to sort it out.
00:27:04 It's obviously most disturbing.
00:27:07 Before returning to the Kalahari,
00:27:10 government officials and had been
00:27:16 Delia and Mark would not
00:27:21 The Botswana government would
00:27:39 The trees at their camp had sheltered
00:27:43 and shaded them from
00:27:48 While they lived here,
00:27:51 and developed plans that they hoped
00:27:54 in the Kalahari for future generations
00:28:00 As soon as we entered
00:28:04 You have until 5 o'clock to get out
00:28:07 And I said, Well, what about our camp?
00:28:09 And he said,
00:28:11 the law will take its course.
00:28:13 We just feel like we've been
00:28:16 And it was like somebody had died.
00:28:20 like someone very close to us had
00:28:32 A few days later, friends of
00:28:35 to pick up their research data
00:28:41 I believe this is
00:28:44 I can't imagine that any good could
00:28:48 Mark and Delia being restrained.
00:28:51 They're so dedicated and they have
00:28:54 and the people so much at heart.
00:29:01 The Botswana government
00:29:04 Owenses any reason for their expulsion,
00:29:07 but almost certainly it concerned
00:29:11 die-off of wildebeest in the Kalahari.
00:29:16 In 1979 at the beginning of a long
00:29:19 Mark had discovered thousands of
00:29:25 In long drought periods these antelope
00:29:36 Instinct, perhaps,
00:29:39 of water to the north.
00:29:44 But now herds of cattle are
00:29:51 Disregarding the impact on wildlife,
00:29:55 has built fences because some
00:29:59 that wildebeest can infect cattle
00:30:03 The wildebeest were cut off.
00:30:06 As they traveled north,
00:30:26 Thousands died on the fences.
00:30:35 Following the scent of water,
00:30:38 pushed on around the end of the fences
00:30:41 from overgrazing by villagers cattle.
00:30:52 By the time the wildebeest
00:30:55 many were too exhausted to continue.
00:31:03 Survivors had to trek 50 miles
00:31:07 and woodlands where they could graze
00:31:13 Day after day hundreds more died.
00:31:20 Although wildebeest
00:31:22 foot-and-mouth disease to cattle,
00:31:25 villagers were told
00:31:27 wildebeest mix with their herds.
00:31:32 Since 1979 more than
00:31:38 Only 30,000 remain.
00:31:48 Horrified by the disaster,
00:31:49 Delia and Mark alerted
00:31:53 When little was done,
00:31:54 they wrote articles and a book
00:32:02 For a year Delia
00:32:06 Although the government would
00:32:09 the Owenses would decide that,
00:32:13 they could no longer be
00:32:18 We came to Africa to find a chunk of
00:32:22 a wilderness that was untouched,
00:32:25 a wilderness that we could protect
00:32:31 and devising a conservation program.
00:32:34 Besides losing the science,
00:32:38 and what was our reason for working.
00:32:41 And we wanted so badly
00:32:43 I just hope it won't now be lost.
00:32:46 I can't think of anything else
00:32:50 personally as the
00:32:52 and I just hope that...
00:33:01 I hope the world won't let it pass.
00:33:20 Delia and Mark are determined to
00:33:23 conserve wildlife in Africa.
00:33:25 They ask themselves
00:33:29 Okay. Search for a new study site.
00:33:32 It's fairly depressing as to
00:33:37 limits to us for a variety of reasons.
00:33:38 Mozambique has a civil war going on,
00:33:42 And similarly
00:33:45 in the north is torn with civil strife.
00:33:47 We've been warned not to go to
00:33:51 over here that are
00:33:53 There are supposed
00:33:55 So we basically are limited
00:33:59 and the country that seems to
00:34:09 Delia and Mark set out
00:34:12 Botswana's neighbor to the north.
00:34:15 Zambia's largest national park,
00:34:22 They begin their quest at Ngoma,
00:34:26 There they will discover wildlife
00:34:33 Delia and mark learn about the park
00:34:35 from chief game warden, Ray Mwenifumbo.
00:34:37 They are looking for a research site
00:34:40 and where animals are
00:34:44 What's the poaching pressure like?
00:34:45 Poaching and the human encroachment
00:34:49 I'm having right now.
00:34:50 Of course, these are not very big
00:34:54 I think I'm handicapped more my being
00:34:59 enough funds to operate, you know.
00:35:01 I'm running... this park is
00:35:04 almost the size of Scotland.
00:35:07 And I've got one vehicle myself
00:35:09 and my senior ranger there has
00:35:12 You've got two vehicles
00:35:13 For the whole park.
00:35:14 Now, for me to drive from here to
00:35:18 it takes more than a month.
00:35:21 Right now I have only about 81
00:35:25 That's just peanuts.
00:35:27 You've got how many?
00:35:28 Eighty-one.
00:35:29 For the entire park.
00:35:31 Definitely the staff need not
00:35:35 strictly speaking, this vast area.
00:35:37 Zambia is committed to protecting
00:35:40 but faces severe economic problems.
00:35:43 The population is doubling
00:35:46 As land is cleared, wildlife
00:35:50 Commercial poaching destroys animals
00:35:53 that could be a renewable resource
00:35:59 Many conservationists believe that
00:36:02 only if people who live near the parks
00:36:09 Ray Mwenifumbo suggests that the
00:36:13 to learn what the villagers think.
00:36:21 Boys watch from a respectful distance
00:36:29 At this point we are very naive
00:36:32 How do you think we could help?
00:36:34 We want to see practical things
00:36:39 at least see the need
00:36:44 We would like to see that the
00:36:49 Yes, we get benefits on national level
00:36:52 but the ordinary person like me
00:36:56 In particular the people
00:36:59 the district should benefit much.
00:37:03 Have you spoken to the government
00:37:07 Not at all. At present they are only
00:37:10 interested in looking
00:37:13 but not the local people.
00:37:16 We are nothing to them.
00:37:19 The Owenses know that the government
00:37:22 to share tourist
00:37:26 But this important reform has
00:37:32 This is this lion. He's the one
00:37:35 Yes.
00:37:36 Pictures in their book help Mark
00:37:38 and the villagers establish common
00:37:42 You see we could get very close
00:37:44 They would walk up to us.
00:37:45 Is this the same lion?
00:37:46 This is this cub, Bimbo.
00:37:50 And he walked up and
00:37:53 Were they tame, the lions?
00:37:55 No, no. they were wild lions.
00:38:02 But these lions would come into camp
00:38:06 Wild lions. Hard to believe.
00:38:09 Maybe the lions of Botswana
00:38:13 No, these lions have never been hunted
00:38:16 That's the difference.
00:38:18 Those lions in Botswana can be
00:38:20 Oh, yes.
00:38:24 Delia and Mark are perhaps
00:38:26 ever to visit Shezongo village,
00:38:28 reason enough for a celebration.
00:39:12 The dancing goes on for hours.
00:39:15 For seven years in the Kalahari
00:39:20 at home with animals
00:39:23 This moving evening is
00:39:30 Deep within the wilderness
00:39:33 there is an especially lush area,
00:39:35 unvisited in recent years because
00:39:39 They make this area their goal.
00:39:43 Along the way they find seas of grass,
00:39:45 but curiously the vegetation seems
00:39:57 The few antelope they do see
00:40:09 This is like and Eden with
00:40:13 And You know, I just more or
00:40:18 we were driving down this last stretch
00:40:21 Everything we've seen has been wild.
00:40:23 I know. We've only seen a few animals
00:40:26 And there's grass to be eaten and
00:40:43 Then, a chance encounter with a
00:40:47 But still I kept thinking,
00:40:49 there must be more;
00:40:51 There should be more.
00:40:53 And on the elephant I promise you,
00:40:55 here you would drive and you'd see two
00:40:56 in an afternoon elephant.
00:40:58 Is that right?
00:40:58 Three years ago?
00:40:59 Three years ago.
00:41:02 of the park was really heavily poached
00:41:04 for ivory and the elephant actually
00:41:06 Now they're going for the lesser
00:41:09 We've got the commercial meat,
00:41:11 but poaching's hand
00:41:14 Are the poachers coming in with trucks
00:41:15 No, it's all by foot. But you see,
00:41:17 you get two or three guys come into
00:41:19 and they'll set up a camp,
00:41:21 And then they will just shoot,
00:41:23 And they will cut up the meat
00:41:25 And then once a week,
00:41:27 you will get 10, 12, 15 chaps coming
00:41:30 with bicycles. Quick movement,
00:41:33 Unless something drastic is done
00:41:36 we are not going to have any wildlife
00:41:42 Still hoping to find
00:41:44 Delia and Mark plunge ever deeper
00:41:49 Oh, oh.
00:41:50 Their route is often blocked
00:41:55 We shouldn't have to go far west
00:41:58 before we cut north.
00:41:59 But you know I think
00:42:00 what we're going to have to do decide
00:42:01 go maybe a few kilometers
00:42:03 because pretty soon this is not
00:42:06 We have to decide...
00:42:07 if we gonna go west
00:42:08 Well, we have to get away from these
00:42:13 before we can do anything
00:42:15 But we can't go back now.
00:42:19 Okay.
00:42:26 Mark, I don't think you can get
00:42:28 Trust me.
00:42:37 Mark!
00:42:39 Forging on toward their river goal,
00:42:41 Delia and Mark face one difficulty
00:42:44 Do you see anything, Mark?
00:42:45 What?
00:42:46 Do you see anything?
00:42:47 No.
00:42:49 So what do you think we did wrong?
00:42:51 Well, the only thing I can think of is
00:42:54 I mean we branched right when
00:42:56 Because this track hasn't matched
00:43:00 It can take all day to drive around
00:43:06 In four days they travel just 50 miles
00:43:10 See that little cut in the bank there?
00:43:21 A tourist camp burned out by poachers,
00:43:26 abandoned now because
00:43:30 It doesn't look like the camp
00:43:33 I mean the mud daub and so forth
00:43:37 had been done very long ago.
00:43:47 This is heavy duty stuff, you know.
00:43:51 Yeah. If we have a camp here, we have
00:43:56 And at the airplane and at the boats
00:44:02 The sight of the burned-out camp
00:44:11 A poacher's tracks add a sense
00:44:16 Mark, just don't follow those spoor,
00:44:18 Just come on back because I'm worried
00:44:21 and you're in there alone. Over.
00:44:25 Yeah, I'm following them right down
00:44:27 right up the stream bed.
00:44:30 Deeply discouraged, but too far
00:44:34 Delia and Mark push on to the river.
00:44:37 They had hoped this might
00:44:41 Oh, wow! It's beautiful.
00:44:45 Oh, man.
00:44:45 Look at it.
00:44:49 Oh, God.
00:44:52 Wow, what a spot.
00:45:18 What the hell is that thing?
00:45:20 We've made it to the river,
00:45:21 It's either for drying fish
00:45:29 I don't see any fish bones.
00:45:31 It's a meat-drying rack. It's poaching.
00:45:33 I can smell the meat on it.
00:45:35 I mean this is just about the most
00:45:37 I've seen in a long time.
00:45:39 The whole bloody park is being
00:45:44 Really.
00:45:48 At least they can't use it
00:45:53 We should burn this.
00:45:54 They need to know that somebody
00:46:09 At least they'll have to go to more
00:46:11 they want to dry the meat.
00:46:14 Their frustration and anger mount
00:46:16 as they discover more and more
00:46:27 In some areas elephant skulls litter
00:46:37 You can stand in this spot and
00:46:42 I think it's despicable;
00:46:44 I think it's a tragic commentary
00:46:48 of world conservation that his sort
00:46:52 And I just keep wondering
00:46:53 when the world is going to wake up
00:46:58 Mark's frustration is fueled
00:47:02 one hundred thousand elephants in
00:47:08 They are being destroyed for their
00:47:12 coffee table decorations,
00:47:16 The fashion that leads people
00:47:19 and wear it contributes
00:47:22 of these magnificent creatures.
00:47:30 Distressed by what they have seen,
00:47:34 They have been told that
00:47:36 is still an untouched wilderness.
00:47:40 They make a flying reconnaissance.
00:47:49 That's beautiful river!
00:47:50 Yeah, a beautiful river.
00:47:52 We can work this habitat, too.
00:47:54 Especially along the river channels
00:47:58 It looks very possible in terms
00:48:02 and I think I'll be able to spot
00:48:08 It's fantastic country.
00:48:11 Yeah. This place is full of animals.
00:48:13 Full of what?
00:48:14 Full of animals.
00:48:15 Yeah. Look for lions.
00:48:18 People have said this
00:48:20 I believe it.
00:48:22 It needs work. They don't know
00:48:25 It needs quantitative work.
00:48:38 Did you tell them we saw lions?
00:48:40 We saw lions three females
00:48:46 What have I got? Soot on my nose?
00:48:50 Only one track leads down
00:48:54 Delia will drive it alone.
00:48:59 and when he lands,
00:49:07 My forlorn little Boo.
00:49:12 I don't know what happened, Mark.
00:49:14 Listen, I couldn't have done it
00:49:16 I think it's beautiful.
00:49:19 See, the trailer's in line.
00:49:20 It was perfect.
00:49:24 So I climbed out of there in a hurry.
00:49:25 I believe. You came out lie
00:49:31 You can check the gear oil...
00:49:32 Yeah, I can grease the drive train,
00:49:35 check the springs.
00:49:38 I'm sorry.
00:49:45 I think I'll have a Perrier water
00:49:49 and shrimp cocktail served
00:49:56 And then what shall we have?
00:50:02 There she goes!
00:50:27 What a difference as
00:50:31 These animals have not yet learned
00:50:35 But North Luangwa Park,
00:50:37 for lack of manpower and resources,
00:50:41 It could go the way of Kafue in
00:50:45 together with
00:50:48 commits greater resources
00:51:14 Paradise for Delia and Mark is a place
00:51:17 where the lions are unconcerned
00:51:20 Never see a desert lion up this time
00:51:26 She's really used to us now, Mark.
00:51:34 Look at the puku across the river.
00:51:37 This place excites me.
00:51:40 It really does.
00:51:44 It's good to be watching lions again.
00:51:50 I think maybe we've found a home.
00:51:55 Here is a place where two research
00:51:59 of their lives and hope
00:52:07 I want to get in the water.
00:52:09 All right, come on.
00:52:20 Watch and all.
00:52:24 There's more water here than
00:52:28 I think we should get some soap...
00:52:29 If we can't be happy here, I don't
00:52:34 Well, this is great. You could
00:52:39 Can you imagine living next to water?
00:52:43 And without people?
00:52:45 And a lot of game.
00:52:47 Oh, man! You know the thing is
00:52:50 there's a lot here to work with,
00:52:54 It's a place where you can sort of
00:52:58 Delia and Mark Owens started out
00:53:02 with a passion for wildlife,
00:53:04 with extraordinary pluck,
00:53:06 and with the hope that they could make
00:53:08 contribution to the preservation
00:53:12 They stood up for conservation and
00:53:17 The was been hard,
00:53:21 but still they hold steadfast