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Trek Spy On The Wildebeest
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This is the great |
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The story of Africa's |
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is captured by |
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Only cameras concealed in |
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could capture such intimate images. |
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Here, they spy on the moment the |
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Their greatest challenge on |
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The hidden cameras immerse us |
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experiencing the drama |
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They show what it's like |
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Wildebeest undertake |
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Their epic march creates a spectacle |
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Over one and a quarter million |
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participate in the migration, |
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but each individual has its own |
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The adult females |
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These yet-to-be-born calves |
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We will see how they overcome |
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whether from predators... |
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Hundreds of individuals were filmed |
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as it makes the most challenging |
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After crossing the Mara River, |
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the herds follow the seasonal rains |
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and head south to the lush plains |
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of Tanzania's Serengeti. |
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Here, volcanic soils create pasture |
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And it's here that wildebeest |
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on a journey that takes a year |
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Their appearance |
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For lush pasture is not the only |
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Africa's top predators are |
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Each February, |
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In just three short weeks, over |
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It's with this moment of birth |
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Delivery is quick, |
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Mother and calf |
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based on smell, taste and sight. |
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It's this relationship |
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This is his most vulnerable time. |
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Hyenas - they may |
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but for such easy pickings, |
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Vulnerable newborns |
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Other antelopes |
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but wildebeest calves must be ready |
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He has just minutes |
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Hyenas prefer the easy option, |
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and prey doesn't come |
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To survive, |
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Hyenas separate |
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In this way, |
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They hunt with both sight |
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The calf learns to use his legs |
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He's up and walking |
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It's not a moment too soon. |
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He faces his first deadly challenge. |
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He's already proving his strength, |
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few calves can outrun a hyena |
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And he's taken the first steps on |
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Danger past, |
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This begins the unbreakable bond |
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One that will last the whole journey |
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Tortoise-cam |
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used to film the calf's story. |
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Between them, they will record |
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Tortoise-cam's harmless appearance |
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lets him infiltrate the herd. |
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Protected by a hard shell, he's |
| 00:09:59 |
Helped by other |
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he will spy on the calf |
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Dawn brings no respite from danger. |
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Having young together helps |
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The mothers form nursery herds, |
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A territorial male attaches himself |
| 00:11:18 |
and drives out |
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Ousting the males creates |
| 00:11:29 |
within the super herd. |
| 00:11:39 |
The calf may sometimes |
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but having a male around |
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Lions are an ever-present danger |
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nomadic lions |
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As the male tries to keep control, |
| 00:12:21 |
To increase their chances, |
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One lioness stalks directly forward. |
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Her aim is to close the gap |
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Another attempts |
| 00:12:59 |
They will try to stalk to within |
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Lions find it hard to outrun |
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so every inch nearer |
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One lioness finds a target... |
| 00:14:12 |
the calf. |
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But the herd panics across her path, |
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and she spots a new victim. |
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Both calf and mother escape. |
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But in the chaos, the calf |
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He desperately needs to find her |
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But the mother is just one |
| 00:15:23 |
He checks every wildebeest he meets, |
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Without the herd, |
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and the lions are not far away. |
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The lions may be distracted now, |
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The birth of their cubs |
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The calf's smell is unfamiliar. |
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He will never be adopted |
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even if she has lost her own calf. |
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The herd drifts away. |
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His call is unique, |
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Vultures keep an eye on everything |
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They react quickly |
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Lions don't give up their kill |
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it's easier to take a more |
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But for some, |
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The vultures are used to this game. |
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They make their living |
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Time is on the vultures' side. |
| 00:18:13 |
He may be frustrated, |
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As the day heats up, the desire |
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This is a battle that vultures |
| 00:18:43 |
Lost calves are so desperate |
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they will attempt to befriend |
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Even zebra are better than nothing. |
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But there is no warm welcome here |
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Hyenas have now picked up |
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But a lone calf |
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Instinctively, he heads for |
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It may not be his herd, |
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but this was a fortunate move. |
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Zebras often tackle a threat |
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at full throttle, |
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By comparison, |
| 00:20:28 |
even if it means battling it out |
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Between them, they will quickly |
| 00:21:08 |
It's midday, and the lost calf |
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Even his reluctant companions |
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Starved of his mother's milk, |
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No calf below six months old |
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But there is still hope |
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The herd returns. |
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Whilst there is fresh grass to eat, |
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He searches again, |
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all adult wildebeest look the same. |
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Sound is a more reliable guide, |
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he can recognise his mother's call |
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A glimmer of recognition,** |
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but smell is the final confirmation |
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Remarkably, 95% of lost calves |
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Suckling reinforces the strong bond |
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Once more, the herd provides |
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especially against an old enemy. |
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Now, a lost eland calf |
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The wildebeest calf was lucky |
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Dung-cam, a camera modelled |
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is soon capturing some |
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Hyenas have devised a method |
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of their surplus food. |
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The eland calf is destined for |
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as are the remnants |
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Water not only hides the food, |
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but conceals the smell |
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Skull-cam is in dangerous company. |
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Hyenas spend the hottest |
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but this is also the time |
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when thirsty calves |
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They have no choice |
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Dung-cam takes up battle stations, |
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but a gorged and lazy hyena |
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Wildebeest have learnt to live |
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making the most of |
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But a calf is never |
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Hyenas can turn nasty at any moment. |
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But then |
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the wildebeest go on the offensive. |
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The mother, defending her calf, |
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The hyena has deadly enemies |
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This is the worst mistake |
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Hyenas will steal food from lions |
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This looks like revenge. |
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A lioness vents her anger too, |
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The war between lions and hyenas |
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Even for a whole pride, |
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It's late April, and the lush |
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and become a barren wasteland. |
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Dust devils whip the dust |
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A new and puzzling sight |
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As the choking clouds |
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the herd treks southwards |
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seeking greener pasture |
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Our spy-cams travel with them. |
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Meet dragonfly-cam. |
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Small and quiet, it can fly close |
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It tracks the wildebeest south |
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For higher views, |
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It can zoom into a detail |
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Ahead lies Lake Ndutu, |
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By now, the calf is used to being |
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but as the herd approaches the lake, |
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he is about to encounter |
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Lake Ndutu is a soda lake |
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Although the calf must be thirsty, |
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he has no alternative but to |
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The calf needs to hurry. |
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Too long in the water, |
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The calf's first experience |
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and he still has a way to go. |
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A mile across, the lake is |
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Fortunately, there are |
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and he's taken to swimming |
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Powerful strokes drive him forward. |
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Guided by his mother, |
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This ordeal by water |
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Having crossed the lake, |
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into new fresh pasture, where the |
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Grass-cam is there to greet them. |
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But it's natural grass |
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Replenished by these lush meadows, |
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there's even time |
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It's not only calves |
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Cheetahs are the fastest running |
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and one in every two of their hunts |
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For the calves, |
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But for all their speed, cheetahs |
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A cheetah cannot sustain top speed |
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Spotting the predator before he ran |
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In a few weeks, following the yearly |
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the calf's herd |
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They finally reach the acacia |
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It's taken the calf |
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Here, the calf will find |
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and good grazing |
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But here lurks Africa's |
| 00:36:10 |
Leopards are the stealth hunters |
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Masters of surprise, |
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But for a six-month-old cub, |
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The bird's distraction display |
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Today, the cub only manages |
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It will be at least a year |
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It's June, and midsummer madness |
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seems to have gone |
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This tree-rubbing |
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The thrashing of young saplings |
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helps stop the spread |
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The destruction inadvertently |
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As well as needing good pasture, |
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Simply waiting for a meal to arrive |
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is the lazy lion's approach |
| 00:38:19 |
It's just a matter of remembering |
| 00:38:26 |
The calf has every reason |
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The need for daily water |
| 00:38:51 |
The entire population drinks three |
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No longer dependent |
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the calf guzzles his fair share. |
| 00:39:17 |
Head down, |
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They sense danger. |
| 00:39:32 |
She isolates the calf, |
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..and dust creates |
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Only one in five hunts |
| 00:40:18 |
The trek moves on northwards |
| 00:40:28 |
The herd will soon arrive |
| 00:40:32 |
in the whole of Africa. |
| 00:40:37 |
The calm waters of the |
| 00:40:42 |
To capture the upcoming drama, |
| 00:40:44 |
the river has been staked out |
| 00:40:59 |
A new camera makes an appearance. |
| 00:41:05 |
Hippo-cam is designed to blend in |
| 00:41:27 |
Hippos can be aggressive, |
| 00:41:36 |
These are the biggest |
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Even Africa's biggest mammal |
| 00:42:01 |
Some are over 20 feet long |
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They may not have eaten |
| 00:42:12 |
But food is about to arrive. |
| 00:42:21 |
It's rush hour, and for a baboon, |
| 00:42:23 |
the traffic to the river |
| 00:42:35 |
It's best to look both ways! |
| 00:42:42 |
The crocodile's long hungry wait |
| 00:43:31 |
Wildebeest are always nervous facing |
| 00:43:37 |
who can blame them? |
| 00:43:39 |
For the calf, |
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but the confidence of others |
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If undisturbed, wildebeest can drink |
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As his confidence builds, |
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The herd is bewildered. Some have |
| 00:44:46 |
Even as the full horror unfurls, |
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there is great confusion |
| 00:45:04 |
And that was just the first attack. |
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300 hungry crocodiles |
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Wildebeest react differently |
| 00:45:33 |
Even the adults seem unsure of |
| 00:45:40 |
The calf's desire |
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overcomes any fear he may have. |
| 00:45:58 |
The crocodiles manoeuvre |
| 00:46:03 |
They are intelligent hunters, |
| 00:46:06 |
plotting their attack |
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A strike can happen at any time. |
| 00:46:43 |
Despite the carnage, |
| 00:46:46 |
They stampede back onto the plains. |
| 00:46:59 |
For the baboons, |
| 00:47:04 |
They might as well settle down, |
| 00:47:08 |
can take some time |
| 00:47:21 |
But crocodiles are co-operative |
| 00:47:31 |
The death roll breaks the prey |
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but aggression can spill over. |
| 00:47:52 |
The calf has survived |
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but as the river is |
| 00:47:59 |
tomorrow, |
| 00:48:13 |
Meanwhile, our tortoise-cam |
| 00:48:56 |
For tortoise-cam, |
| 00:49:06 |
And these bulls |
| 00:49:10 |
It's the rutting season. |
| 00:49:12 |
Three weeks of mayhem in which |
| 00:49:17 |
Not the time to be stuck |
| 00:49:37 |
It's a test of |
| 00:49:44 |
The winner returns to the females. |
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At this time, a collective madness |
| 00:49:54 |
The clashes can be quite violent. |
| 00:50:05 |
Each bull tries to round up |
| 00:50:13 |
The calf gets caught up |
| 00:50:15 |
as his mother |
| 00:50:25 |
It's a chaotic and confusing time |
| 00:50:38 |
During the rut, |
| 00:50:42 |
they're so charged up |
| 00:50:46 |
They have to stay on guard |
| 00:50:52 |
It's total pandemonium |
| 00:50:56 |
try to steal the females. |
| 00:51:04 |
They run through other males' |
| 00:51:07 |
scattering the herd |
| 00:51:17 |
Troublemakers |
| 00:51:27 |
For the calf, it must be a relief |
| 00:51:44 |
But for a male guarding females, |
| 00:51:49 |
Challengers are always on the prowl. |
| 00:51:57 |
The calf can only |
| 00:52:01 |
He soon becomes caught up |
| 00:52:08 |
The bull springs into action. |
| 00:52:18 |
He sees off his rival |
| 00:52:23 |
Matings are more successful in |
| 00:52:27 |
95% succeed. |
| 00:52:35 |
After all that activity, |
| 00:52:42 |
But dragonfly-cam is experiencing |
| 00:52:48 |
Its transmitter |
| 00:53:00 |
Dragonfly-cam refuses to die. |
| 00:53:03 |
It gamely tries to continue |
| 00:53:16 |
Even grounded, it keeps on filming. |
| 00:53:22 |
The rut has proved thirsty work. |
| 00:53:31 |
This time, |
| 00:53:37 |
Sensing danger, the calf holds back. |
| 00:53:41 |
But crocodiles still seem |
| 00:53:47 |
and other animals |
| 00:53:52 |
Guinea fowl seem remarkably happy |
| 00:54:11 |
A yellow-billed stork |
| 00:54:19 |
All the signals are reassuring. |
| 00:54:22 |
A baboon with young appears relaxed, |
| 00:54:24 |
even with a crocodile |
| 00:54:37 |
Wildebeest are highly tuned to the |
| 00:54:41 |
Apparently, |
| 00:55:05 |
But a glossy starling |
| 00:55:20 |
The calf takes his cue |
| 00:55:32 |
He can still stare death in the face |
| 00:55:40 |
A crocodile's low profile |
| 00:55:46 |
It isn't seen as a threat. |
| 00:56:13 |
Nose to nose, |
| 00:56:15 |
but the calf is still oblivious |
| 00:56:46 |
The teeth miss by inches. |
| 00:56:54 |
He may have escaped |
| 00:56:58 |
but his mother is not so lucky. |
| 00:57:07 |
Without her, the calf is doomed. |
| 00:57:15 |
But the croc can't keep his grip. |
| 00:57:27 |
The bond between mother and calf has |
| 00:57:34 |
but will it be enough to overcome |
| 00:57:38 |
In the next programme, the calf |
| 00:57:42 |
where he faces the greatest |
| 00:57:54 |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2007 |
| 00:57:58 |
E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk |
| 00:00:14 |
It began with the birth of a calf. |
| 00:00:19 |
He was soon faced with many dangers. |
| 00:00:34 |
The calf even crossed a soda lake. |
| 00:00:41 |
A variety of spy-cams |
| 00:00:46 |
These recorded his adventures |
| 00:00:53 |
They filmed him surviving an attack |
| 00:01:02 |
They even withstood |
| 00:01:07 |
They then staked-out |
| 00:01:14 |
..where Africa's biggest crocodiles |
| 00:01:25 |
This was his closest shave so far. |
| 00:01:28 |
Now, even greater tests await |
| 00:01:50 |
The Mara River in Kenya, the most |
| 00:01:56 |
It's late July and the march |
| 00:02:01 |
as it faces |
| 00:02:06 |
But there's no turning back. |
| 00:02:10 |
The wildebeest arrive |
| 00:02:13 |
a unified mob on a frantic mission. |
| 00:02:17 |
For the adults, |
| 00:02:22 |
For the calf, it's the biggest |
| 00:02:36 |
The crossing points are traditional, |
| 00:02:38 |
but that doesn't make them |
| 00:02:40 |
particularly when the river |
| 00:02:51 |
Ferocious rapids lie |
| 00:02:56 |
Each year, |
| 00:03:00 |
The calf faces |
| 00:03:08 |
It will be a major test, one |
| 00:03:18 |
A gazelle seems remarkably |
| 00:03:25 |
The calf waits but, for the herd, |
| 00:03:28 |
the gazelle's impulsiveness |
| 00:03:39 |
As the first ones leap, |
| 00:03:40 |
it's like pressure |
| 00:03:50 |
Mother and calf wait their turn. |
| 00:03:55 |
The front-runners leap wildly, |
| 00:03:57 |
a technique that probably scares |
| 00:04:05 |
But the same splashes also sound the |
| 00:04:18 |
The one that took the greatest risk |
| 00:04:26 |
Although nervous, |
| 00:04:28 |
the calf is pressurised by herds |
| 00:04:32 |
They force him to take the plunge. |
| 00:04:41 |
At six months old, he is strong |
| 00:04:46 |
but this will test his stamina |
| 00:04:58 |
The rapids lie just downstream. |
| 00:05:12 |
The teeming throng force the mother |
| 00:05:19 |
The pressure builds still more. |
| 00:05:24 |
The calf stumbles on hidden rocks |
| 00:05:40 |
Mother and calf are both |
| 00:05:52 |
The whole herd is |
| 00:05:57 |
Many retreat, |
| 00:06:02 |
For the calf and his mother, |
| 00:06:15 |
Briefly, he finds a foothold... |
| 00:06:25 |
Then, panic sets in. |
| 00:06:40 |
Crocodiles deliberately select |
| 00:06:46 |
Mother and calf |
| 00:06:50 |
The mother is grabbed... |
| 00:06:52 |
The calf is swept away. |
| 00:07:01 |
The current is so strong |
| 00:07:08 |
Only a rock stops their struggles. |
| 00:07:11 |
The calf, too, |
| 00:07:30 |
But the crocodile's hold is awkward. |
| 00:07:38 |
Reinforcements arrive. |
| 00:07:42 |
The crocodile is tiring |
| 00:07:51 |
Miraculously, the mother |
| 00:07:55 |
The calf |
| 00:08:07 |
The crocodile is exhausted. |
| 00:08:09 |
It has to let her go. |
| 00:08:33 |
Mother and calf |
| 00:08:48 |
Together, they make it ashore. |
| 00:08:52 |
Others are not so lucky. |
| 00:09:16 |
Every river claims its victims, but |
| 00:09:45 |
Cheetahs love |
| 00:09:49 |
There's plenty of space for hunting. |
| 00:10:10 |
The wildebeest will eat most |
| 00:10:16 |
The grass reacts by growing. |
| 00:10:19 |
The more grazing and |
| 00:10:21 |
the more it's stimulated to grow. |
| 00:10:28 |
But paradise comes at a price. |
| 00:10:31 |
As well as cheetahs, the migration |
| 00:10:43 |
Lions live here in higher densities |
| 00:10:51 |
And the days of the migration |
| 00:11:06 |
The wildebeest will stay here |
| 00:11:09 |
so the threat is something |
| 00:11:29 |
The middle of the herd |
| 00:12:01 |
This cheetah cub |
| 00:12:16 |
Like all youngsters, |
| 00:12:24 |
But his mother has work to do. |
| 00:12:42 |
The wildebeest have |
| 00:12:46 |
Thousands of gazelle |
| 00:12:51 |
Each kind of animal |
| 00:12:55 |
Thompson gazelles eat the shoots |
| 00:13:20 |
The long red-oat grass |
| 00:13:24 |
but it's too long |
| 00:13:31 |
Given the choice, |
| 00:13:33 |
wildebeest prefer pastures that |
| 00:13:41 |
The calf runs. |
| 00:13:47 |
But this time he is not |
| 00:14:14 |
Tortoise-cam investigates. |
| 00:14:31 |
This apparently harmless creature |
| 00:14:57 |
The cub is not old enough |
| 00:15:00 |
but it is risky for him |
| 00:15:03 |
He looks for his mother. |
| 00:15:07 |
There is plenty to be nervous about. |
| 00:15:13 |
These are halcyon days |
| 00:15:24 |
A ready-made meal is never far away. |
| 00:15:30 |
At this age, the calf makes |
| 00:15:38 |
Hyenas look for signs of weakness. |
| 00:15:43 |
Despite their reputation, |
| 00:15:47 |
But when someone else |
| 00:15:50 |
they soon sniff out an easy meal. |
| 00:16:12 |
Her cub is in mortal danger. |
| 00:16:23 |
But even for a hyena, |
| 00:16:25 |
a protective mother |
| 00:16:43 |
He looks for an easier option. |
| 00:16:49 |
Among the multitudes, there's |
| 00:17:08 |
When they reached the Mara, |
| 00:17:10 |
the population that peaked |
| 00:17:13 |
on the calving grounds has lost |
| 00:17:18 |
Most of those that died were calves. |
| 00:17:29 |
Black-backed jackals |
| 00:17:34 |
They are expert at snatching food |
| 00:17:40 |
They live on their wits, |
| 00:17:56 |
They also give other scavengers |
| 00:18:03 |
Like a gigantic living lawn-mower, |
| 00:18:08 |
across the plains, |
| 00:18:13 |
Here the calf will spend a |
| 00:18:21 |
With the herd staying in one place, |
| 00:18:27 |
Even a tree stump spies on |
| 00:18:52 |
Boulder-cam, was first used |
| 00:18:58 |
Now, it finds a new |
| 00:19:03 |
As always, the lions' first reaction |
| 00:19:09 |
But these cats are more |
| 00:19:25 |
One cub has taken to it |
| 00:19:46 |
Boulder-cam doubles up |
| 00:20:44 |
But then the mood changes. |
| 00:20:48 |
Boulder-cam captures |
| 00:20:53 |
of a stalking lioness. |
| 00:20:56 |
Every day, |
| 00:21:00 |
In the Mara, the river provides |
| 00:21:04 |
the herds can rely on. |
| 00:21:11 |
The calf joins the midday throng. |
| 00:21:24 |
Wildebeest must drink at least every |
| 00:21:39 |
This is a risky time for the calf. |
| 00:21:47 |
Nearby, tortoise-cam |
| 00:21:52 |
of a previous visitor to the river. |
| 00:21:59 |
The scavengers |
| 00:22:03 |
Carcasses can remain |
| 00:22:12 |
At the river's edge, |
| 00:22:28 |
For the calf, danger can come |
| 00:22:41 |
This is the perfect |
| 00:22:44 |
The prey are facing away |
| 00:23:15 |
It's chaos |
| 00:23:18 |
But there are plenty |
| 00:23:33 |
They panic onto the plain and, |
| 00:23:41 |
One is taken. |
| 00:23:44 |
Then another. |
| 00:23:49 |
Two kills, |
| 00:23:53 |
Mother and calf keep running. |
| 00:23:56 |
They can never be sure where |
| 00:24:18 |
Two carcasses |
| 00:24:30 |
The cubs' births have coincided |
| 00:24:49 |
But the Mara is so full of predators |
| 00:24:52 |
that existing cheek by jowl with |
| 00:25:07 |
If they are faced |
| 00:25:10 |
lions often avoid a confrontation. |
| 00:25:20 |
But these hyenas seem more intent |
| 00:25:25 |
and that seems to intrigue |
| 00:25:33 |
The victim is almost certainly |
| 00:25:56 |
The lions can't resist |
| 00:25:59 |
but it seems more |
| 00:26:14 |
Without further bloodshed, |
| 00:26:29 |
The weeks pass, |
| 00:26:30 |
and the calf is stronger and fitter |
| 00:26:34 |
But soon he must leave this |
| 00:26:40 |
back into Tanzania. |
| 00:26:49 |
He has survived the Mara's minefield |
| 00:26:53 |
but soon, he'll have |
| 00:27:02 |
His next challenge |
| 00:27:15 |
Hippo-cam is spying on one |
| 00:27:18 |
found along the length |
| 00:27:25 |
The hippo seem to accept the strange |
| 00:27:39 |
Unfortunately for the hippos, |
| 00:27:42 |
where wildebeest traditionally |
| 00:27:49 |
The herds are already massing |
| 00:27:59 |
Motivated by a common urge, the |
| 00:28:03 |
to form a giant army, |
| 00:28:10 |
For the calf, |
| 00:28:18 |
Hippos are noisy and intimidating, |
| 00:28:21 |
especially when their |
| 00:28:34 |
Undeterred, |
| 00:28:43 |
The mother and calf get their first |
| 00:28:51 |
But this blockade must be more |
| 00:29:10 |
Hippos are notoriously unpredictable |
| 00:29:14 |
and this pod |
| 00:29:38 |
Even the Thompson gazelles |
| 00:29:55 |
For the calf, the excitement |
| 00:30:04 |
Luckily, he has second thoughts. |
| 00:30:10 |
But this was just the |
| 00:30:14 |
Once they seem confident, |
| 00:30:22 |
The hippos' peace is shattered. |
| 00:30:36 |
They don't like |
| 00:30:47 |
The calf's turn arrives. |
| 00:30:52 |
He takes the plunge, |
| 00:31:10 |
The hippos are vanishing fast. |
| 00:31:22 |
They may be out of sight |
| 00:31:40 |
Their mood hasn't improved one bit. |
| 00:32:04 |
They discharge dung into the water. |
| 00:32:11 |
Like hidden depth charges, |
| 00:32:38 |
The swimmers |
| 00:32:46 |
The front-runners reach the shore, |
| 00:32:54 |
Another hippo even makes a grab |
| 00:33:00 |
But it escapes. |
| 00:33:03 |
In the turmoil, the calf |
| 00:33:07 |
He's been separated from his mother |
| 00:33:23 |
The hippo's anger hasn't subsided. |
| 00:33:30 |
The calf is nearly exhausted |
| 00:33:34 |
This is unusual behaviour. |
| 00:33:36 |
Hippos are supposed to |
| 00:33:44 |
But the hippo doesn't attack. |
| 00:33:53 |
Crocodiles aren't so merciful. |
| 00:34:10 |
But the calf had a good head start. |
| 00:34:18 |
He may have survived |
| 00:34:24 |
Wildebeest are disappearing |
| 00:34:33 |
The calf is separated and alone. |
| 00:34:56 |
There is only one way out |
| 00:35:07 |
He's back where he started |
| 00:35:20 |
A band of foraging mongooses |
| 00:35:45 |
Hating to be alone, lost calves |
| 00:35:52 |
Others have the same idea. |
| 00:35:57 |
This impala fawn |
| 00:36:05 |
Like the wildebeest calf, |
| 00:36:20 |
The young impala calls, |
| 00:36:31 |
But then something |
| 00:36:34 |
the meeting of two lost souls. |
| 00:36:51 |
The calf is curious. |
| 00:36:53 |
The fawn seems to think |
| 00:37:11 |
Then, the fawn hears a familiar |
| 00:37:21 |
This is normal behaviour. |
| 00:37:24 |
Impala deliberately leave |
| 00:37:28 |
when they move away to graze. |
| 00:37:30 |
Wildebeest calves are conspicuous |
| 00:37:33 |
and need to stay with the herd to |
| 00:37:44 |
The herd also shares sentry duties. |
| 00:37:48 |
Alone, |
| 00:37:54 |
This mother cheetah and her |
| 00:38:08 |
The calf takes the prudent option |
| 00:38:10 |
but one that proves irresistible |
| 00:38:26 |
He can now run like the wind. |
| 00:38:29 |
The cheetahs are too slow |
| 00:38:31 |
to catch up |
| 00:38:38 |
Across the river, the wildebeest |
| 00:38:46 |
The mother returns |
| 00:38:58 |
She hesitates. |
| 00:39:02 |
Then she makes a brave decision. |
| 00:39:13 |
She crosses back to the other side. |
| 00:39:58 |
Crossing alone |
| 00:40:01 |
The crocodiles |
| 00:40:14 |
The cheetahs seem game |
| 00:40:17 |
even though the mother |
| 00:40:26 |
The calf hears her call. |
| 00:40:35 |
Once more, the two are together. |
| 00:40:47 |
Another herd appears. |
| 00:40:52 |
Adult wildebeest show no |
| 00:40:57 |
so mothers and calves are instantly |
| 00:41:17 |
At one-year-old, the cheetah's cub |
| 00:41:22 |
but she still enjoys |
| 00:41:29 |
The calf likes |
| 00:42:22 |
Play is good practice for hunting. |
| 00:42:25 |
The mood can change very quickly. |
| 00:42:31 |
Nearby are the mother and her cub. |
| 00:42:34 |
The Mara supports a lot of cheetahs! |
| 00:42:44 |
The others spot them. |
| 00:42:53 |
The tiny cub is vulnerable |
| 00:42:55 |
and the pair are acting |
| 00:43:04 |
The cub is nervous. |
| 00:43:06 |
Such encounters are rare and it's |
| 00:43:30 |
The mother sounds a warning. |
| 00:43:36 |
She yelps in distress. |
| 00:43:42 |
The cub runs for his life. |
| 00:43:57 |
It's a stand-off |
| 00:44:02 |
Neither seems to know |
| 00:44:09 |
A reprieve. |
| 00:44:15 |
It may be that these cheetahs |
| 00:44:19 |
from the new arrival |
| 00:44:24 |
Anyway, |
| 00:44:36 |
The calf and his mother |
| 00:44:37 |
have settled back into the herd |
| 00:44:40 |
Migration happens in waves |
| 00:44:45 |
For those yet to leave, |
| 00:45:18 |
Because of the rich pasture, |
| 00:45:20 |
around half a million wildebeest |
| 00:45:24 |
at some point on their journey. |
| 00:45:26 |
Back in the midst of the herd, |
| 00:45:28 |
the calf relies on safety |
| 00:45:34 |
Predators make daily assaults. |
| 00:45:37 |
Their days of easy hunting |
| 00:45:46 |
As many as six lionesses may work |
| 00:46:03 |
While the grass is long, |
| 00:46:19 |
The lion that has stalked closest |
| 00:46:30 |
One misses, |
| 00:46:40 |
She's got one. |
| 00:46:42 |
It's a zebra. |
| 00:46:44 |
Lions seem to prefer them |
| 00:46:56 |
The productivity of the Mara |
| 00:47:02 |
The mother and calf |
| 00:47:08 |
The whole vast herd |
| 00:47:42 |
The cub copes with the deluge |
| 00:47:55 |
Although the rain |
| 00:47:58 |
it also triggers mass movement. |
| 00:48:01 |
The herds are leaving the Mara. |
| 00:48:17 |
They mass once more |
| 00:48:26 |
They have arrived at the most |
| 00:48:54 |
Opposite them |
| 00:48:57 |
and the water below |
| 00:49:11 |
There are few more difficult |
| 00:49:14 |
but year after year, |
| 00:49:16 |
the wildebeest choose this place as |
| 00:49:26 |
A gazelle is the first |
| 00:49:35 |
She reaches the notorious wall |
| 00:49:40 |
but pays the price. |
| 00:49:55 |
Zebra are the next |
| 00:49:59 |
And wherever they go, |
| 00:50:14 |
Once the crossing is underway, |
| 00:50:18 |
the herd's impulse to join in |
| 00:50:24 |
The urge to migrate is so strong, |
| 00:50:31 |
Mother and calf once again |
| 00:50:41 |
The mother leaps, the calf follows. |
| 00:50:58 |
The calf is now a strong swimmer, |
| 00:51:03 |
but hundreds of wildebeest |
| 00:51:20 |
In front stands |
| 00:51:24 |
and still they keep coming. |
| 00:51:46 |
For the calf, |
| 00:51:52 |
The zebra are the first |
| 00:52:01 |
They're the favourite |
| 00:52:04 |
but their kick can be crippling. |
| 00:52:19 |
Mother and calf |
| 00:52:24 |
The crocodile finds |
| 00:52:35 |
But many more crocodiles |
| 00:52:46 |
The calf is singled out. |
| 00:52:58 |
Missed! |
| 00:53:06 |
But the danger is not over. |
| 00:53:09 |
The calf and mother |
| 00:53:14 |
The build-up |
| 00:53:21 |
And crocodiles |
| 00:53:43 |
The calf |
| 00:53:51 |
Others fall. |
| 00:53:57 |
He follows. |
| 00:54:04 |
The crocodile tries again |
| 00:54:07 |
but the calf |
| 00:54:14 |
He gradually works his way |
| 00:54:27 |
Yet more wildebeest are arriving. |
| 00:54:35 |
They use each others' bodies |
| 00:54:53 |
And still they keep coming. |
| 00:54:59 |
The calf is being pushed |
| 00:55:13 |
Then, suddenly, the pressure eases. |
| 00:55:18 |
The bottleneck has an opening. |
| 00:55:22 |
The calf finds it. |
| 00:55:30 |
The pressure |
| 00:55:38 |
The calf and mother make it |
| 00:55:51 |
The mother tries again, |
| 00:55:55 |
So near yet so far. |
| 00:55:59 |
The calf slips. |
| 00:56:03 |
He struggles to get up. |
| 00:56:16 |
He finds his feet... |
| 00:56:23 |
..and manages to reach the top. |
| 00:56:26 |
His mother is there to greet him. |
| 00:56:42 |
Mother and calf have survived |
| 00:56:45 |
some of the most challenging |
| 00:56:50 |
They will now travel south, |
| 00:56:52 |
back to the short-grass plains |
| 00:56:58 |
It was here that the calf was born |
| 00:57:01 |
and it was here |
| 00:57:10 |
And, on these plains, |
| 00:57:15 |
They too are destined |
| 00:57:18 |
one that has been made |
| 00:57:22 |
Undoubtedly, the greatest |
| 00:57:25 |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd |
