Category
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AnimalsTranscript
00:00 (dramatic music)
00:02 She's known as Nzuri.
00:07 Speed queen of the Serengeti.
00:15 Zero to 100 kilometers an hour in under three seconds.
00:24 (chicken clucking)
00:27 Nothing is faster.
00:33 Head to toe, she's designed for this.
00:43 An oversized heart pumps huge amounts of blood.
00:46 (dramatic music)
00:49 Floating shoulder blades, a rudder like tail,
00:59 and a stride of almost seven meters.
01:15 Often, her feet don't touch the ground.
01:18 Speed is her superpower, but it's also her curse.
01:27 Sometimes, being fast isn't enough.
01:35 (lion growling)
01:42 (dramatic music)
01:45 In the dry season, catching prey is easy
01:50 on these open grasslands.
01:52 Keeping it is the problem.
01:58 (chicken clucking)
02:03 (dramatic music)
02:07 (dramatic music)
02:10 That's why she's eating quickly,
02:19 before the inevitable thieves arrive.
02:24 She has no defense against a hyena or any large predator.
02:33 That's the trouble with being a specialist.
02:38 Speed is all she's got.
02:42 And now, that's a problem.
02:47 (dramatic music)
02:50 (chicken clucking)
02:55 As a solo operator, she can't afford to get injured.
03:05 (chicken clucking)
03:07 (lion growling)
03:19 (chicken clucking)
03:22 (lion growling)
03:27 (lion growling)
03:33 (chicken clucking)
03:36 She'll usually back down.
03:45 (chicken clucking)
03:52 Protect the speed.
03:57 Use it again.
04:01 (chicken clucking)
04:04 (dramatic music)
04:13 But time after time, it's the same routine.
04:31 Her hard work and someone else's benefits.
04:34 (chicken clucking)
04:43 That's Unzuri's life in a nutshell.
04:59 (chicken clucking)
05:02 When she does eat, it's against the clock.
05:12 Every bite is a choice between hunger or danger.
05:25 (dramatic music)
05:28 (chicken clucking)
05:40 (dramatic music)
05:43 Vultures, individually, not much of a problem.
06:01 (chicken clucking)
06:04 But together, a real threat.
06:27 (dramatic music)
06:30 A standoff.
06:35 But she can't risk injury.
06:43 (chicken clucking)
06:57 (lion growling)
06:59 It takes discipline to walk away.
07:09 Right now, she has extra motivation to be careful.
07:25 (chicken clucking)
07:27 It's no longer just about her safety.
07:29 Four energetic fluff balls rely on her entirely.
07:38 As mother, she's both protector and provider.
07:44 Though the cubs are oblivious to mom's stress.
07:49 Playtime is all important.
07:53 (chicken clucking)
07:55 As a first time mom, this burden of responsibility
07:59 is new and disruptive.
08:00 A game changer for how and when she hunts.
08:05 While she's with them, she can keep them safe.
08:14 But the trade off is no food.
08:21 And it's been two days since she brought home a carcass.
08:24 They have to eat.
08:27 But when she hunts, they're alone, exposed and vulnerable.
08:34 Trapped in a catch 22,
08:39 Nzuri decides to take the cubs with her.
08:43 She can keep an eye on them and the hunt.
08:51 The double is a lesson.
08:52 (dramatic music)
09:20 Her four trainees copy her every move.
09:24 The Tommy gazelle needn't worry.
09:35 Nzuri's set her sights lower.
09:37 Small but fast.
09:48 Only Nzuri is faster.
09:51 Dinner, if she can keep it.
10:03 No scavengers yet, but they'd better hurry.
10:14 (birds chirping)
10:17 She'll take whatever cover she can find.
10:31 (birds chirping)
10:40 (cubs grunting)
10:43 Nzuri doesn't eat immediately.
10:47 She first checks the coast is clear.
10:50 The approaching thunderstorm may hold off any scavengers.
10:59 Instinctively, the cubs eat quickly.
11:05 It's rare to enjoy a meal together in peace.
11:10 (cubs grunting)
11:13 Trouble.
11:17 And it's not just after their meal.
11:29 Hyenas kill the competition.
11:34 (thunder rumbling)
11:37 The first rains are a distraction,
11:47 but also a portent.
11:50 She abandons the carcass to get the cubs to safety.
12:03 (cubs grunting)
12:05 Every day she keeps them alive as a mini victory.
12:10 In the Serengeti, only 5% of cheetah cubs
12:22 survive to 18 months and independence.
12:25 Her youngsters are only five weeks old.
12:32 So that milestone is a long way off.
12:35 It's also the start of the rainy season,
12:43 and her troubles are about to get a lot worse.
12:46 Here, rain heralds one of the most spectacular
13:01 transformations on the planet.
13:03 A healing balm for the thirsty earth.
13:20 (rain pattering)
13:23 Right on cue, the multitudes appear,
13:36 following the clarion call of rain.
13:39 (cubs grunting)
13:50 (cubs grunting)
13:52 The wildebeest come for the food.
13:54 The flush of green shoots that push up
14:00 after each thunderstorm.
14:01 (thunder rumbling)
14:09 Females especially rely on these sweet, short grasses.
14:18 High in calcium and magnesium,
14:21 vital for their milk supply when they begin to carve.
14:24 In a few short weeks, 750,000 new lives
14:38 swell the ranks of millions.
14:40 And Nzuri's world morphs into a grassland buffet.
14:47 (cubs grunting)
14:50 But she's not the only hungry mouth here.
14:57 Lion prides follow the migration,
15:11 and now they roll onto Nzuri's home turf.
15:15 (dramatic music)
15:18 And more hyena clans move onto the grassland
15:23 at carving time for their share of the feast.
15:26 What was her space before is now a predator's battleground.
15:40 (dramatic music)
15:44 (cubs grunting)
15:46 Hunting just got a lot more dangerous.
16:11 Nzuri's got to avoid the lions and work quickly.
16:14 In these crowds, her cubs could be trampled.
16:39 Now to unleash that superpower.
16:42 Denied.
17:05 Too much distraction.
17:09 (dramatic music)
17:11 Her speed alone doesn't work.
17:18 She sees the hyenas infiltrate the crowds,
17:30 crashing headlong into the herds.
17:32 (dramatic music)
17:35 She must find a target on the periphery and chase.
17:43 She wants the calf.
17:54 But she's cut off again.
18:01 (dramatic music)
18:03 It's tough hunting solo.
18:09 One last attempt.
18:19 (dramatic music)
18:22 But she can't run too far from the cubs.
18:33 It's different for the hyenas.
18:38 They work as a team.
18:40 This clan brought down an adult.
18:48 (cubs giggling)
18:51 Near impossible for a single mom.
18:53 And the lions just muscle their way in anywhere they like.
19:18 Too many predators.
19:20 She'd better get the cubs out of harm's way.
19:22 She knows a place.
19:29 An island of cover in a sea of grass.
19:37 She'll hide them here.
19:47 Once the cubs are stashed, she can return and hunt.
19:51 This marsh is ideal.
19:58 A low-lying catchment area for the endless grasslands.
20:02 This is where the herds will gather to drink.
20:07 But right now, the family has it all to themselves.
20:14 (cubs squeaking)
20:17 No one will know they're here.
20:19 As long as her four explorers stay put.
20:29 Unzuri notes the exact location so she can find them again.
20:39 (cubs squeaking)
20:42 Then it's straight back to the wildebeest.
20:52 She's got to make a kill.
20:53 She'll collect the cubs once she has a carcass to share.
20:58 But Unzuri isn't the only one who knows about this marsh.
21:08 (cubs squeaking)
21:11 The lioness has brought the family.
21:18 Their bellies are full after the wildebeest feast.
21:25 They're here to drink and rest.
21:29 And they don't tolerate intruders.
21:38 (cubs squeaking)
21:41 (dramatic music)
21:44 Straight back into hunting.
21:48 Without the cubs, it's easier to focus.
21:58 Easier to run.
22:06 (cubs squeaking)
22:09 No luck.
22:21 And now the wildebeest mums close ranks
22:26 to protect their calves.
22:28 She's got to try and shake one loose.
22:34 (cubs squeaking)
22:37 But she's not rugged like a hyena.
22:55 There it is.
23:04 In the thick of things as usual.
23:06 And it looks like the hyena's chasing her.
23:12 But it's not after Unzuri.
23:34 It's locked on a calf.
23:35 All the clumsy running is intentional
23:43 to separate the calf from its mother.
23:45 It's a brilliant strategy.
23:53 An easy takedown without her speed.
24:00 (cubs squeaking)
24:02 Unzuri's been away too long.
24:11 It's time to fetch the cubs.
24:13 When Unzuri sees lions in the marsh,
24:25 she knows it's bad news.
24:28 Her cubs are in serious danger.
24:30 She calls them frantic.
24:47 No answer.
24:49 They're not where she left them.
24:55 (cubs squeaking)
24:58 And she knows lions kill cheetah cubs.
25:14 (cubs squeaking)
25:17 (dramatic music)
25:21 (cubs squeaking)
25:24 But she's too late.
25:49 (cubs squeaking)
25:52 Unzuri can't stay.
26:11 The lionesses will kill her too.
26:18 (cubs squeaking)
26:20 But all is not lost.
26:22 Grief, joy, and fear locked in the same moment.
26:28 And they're still in danger.
26:35 Unzuri must get these two away.
26:48 Her siblings aren't coming.
26:50 It's just the two of them now.
26:51 And Unzuri's got a real challenge to find a new den.
26:59 The marsh is out of bounds.
27:03 She's bullied on the grasslands,
27:06 exiled to the margins by her enemies
27:09 without a safe place in this world.
27:17 Unzuri is running out of places to hide the cubs.
27:20 She has one option left, a home in no man's land.
27:35 Shilled den in the transition forest,
27:46 where there's enough dense foliage
27:48 to conceal them from the lions.
27:50 Right now, her priority is keeping these two alive.
28:00 They're safe, but hungry.
28:04 Tomorrow, she'll face the challenge of hunting
28:08 in this brand new area.
28:11 (birds chirping)
28:13 It's no gentle morning for Unzuri.
28:34 The herds are on route to the marsh.
28:40 A call to action for her to hunt.
28:42 The wildebeest are forced to move
28:55 through this woodland zone to reach water.
28:57 It's not the ideal location for sprinting.
29:02 There are too many obstacles, but plenty of opportunities.
29:06 (lion growling)
29:10 She can't follow them all the way,
29:12 even though it's far easier to run down there.
29:15 The lions have claimed this zone.
29:24 And no wonder, it's the ideal home base.
29:36 (lion growling)
29:39 No need to hunt.
29:40 Food comes to them.
29:42 As the only reliable drinking water all year round,
29:57 the marsh is a critical pit stop
29:59 from the surrounding grasslands.
30:06 This bounty of water draws the wildebeest in
30:09 and confines them to a single spot,
30:12 a natural trap for the lions.
30:16 (dramatic music)
30:30 (lion growling)
30:32 And it's an endless supply of fresh meat.
30:43 Because when one group leaves,
30:49 there are plenty more ready to take their place.
30:53 (dramatic music)
30:56 (lion growling)
31:07 Banzuri must hit them in these woodlands
31:12 between the hyena plains and the lion marsh.
31:15 (lion growling)
31:18 She only has one play, run, catch and eat.
31:32 As usual, she expects speed to deliver on cue.
31:40 (dramatic music)
31:43 Her best option is to share the wildebeest's path
31:51 through the forest.
31:52 It's her clearest racetrack.
31:54 No need to hide, she'll outrun them.
32:04 (dramatic music)
32:09 (lion growling)
32:12 The wildebeest are fast.
32:15 They can punch through the tangled branches.
32:30 (dramatic music)
32:35 (lion growling)
32:37 She can't crack it.
32:41 Every chase saps energy.
33:02 She has to rest.
33:03 (lion growling)
33:06 But her safe zone is breached.
33:22 Is the lioness after the cubs?
33:30 (dramatic music)
33:33 Banzuri could never take her on.
33:45 But the lioness is after something else.
33:53 (birds chirping)
33:55 The same herd.
34:01 Hidden from view, watching and waiting.
34:09 The lioness can't sprint like Banzuri can.
34:16 She has to move right next to her target.
34:20 (lion growling)
34:22 It's a completely different way to hunt.
34:28 Her prey doesn't know she's there.
34:31 Banzuri responds instinctively.
34:36 While the lioness's success depends on patience and timing.
34:41 (guns firing)
34:48 (lion growling)
34:50 Watch and learn.
34:59 (lion growling)
35:15 (lion growling)
35:18 A perfect ambush.
35:22 Banzuri's desperate for a kill
35:31 and her spontaneous run and gun method isn't working.
35:34 This woodland obstacle course demands a new strategy.
35:42 (dramatic music)
35:45 (lion growling)
35:52 Now that they're in a routine, it's easy to find the herds.
35:58 She's set up for an ambush with a bit more space to run.
36:11 The calf is an ideal target.
36:13 Timing is crucial.
36:21 She's got to pounce before they join the rest of the herd.
36:25 Too late, the opportunity's lost.
36:39 But for the first time, she doesn't break cover.
36:44 The rest of the herd don't know she's there.
36:46 She can try again.
36:50 She waits till the wildebeest settle.
36:57 In the woodland, she can sneak closer undetected.
37:08 (lion growling)
37:11 The stakes couldn't be greater.
37:17 It's day four without food.
37:20 She's got to provide a carcass or the family will starve.
37:25 Instead of running in, she's playing chess.
37:31 (lion growling)
37:34 She'll set herself up ahead of the herd to attack.
37:43 (lion growling)
37:52 (dramatic music)
37:55 The perfect position.
38:06 (lion growling)
38:17 (lion grunting)
38:20 Patience.
38:23 But she needs the calf even closer.
38:42 (lion growling)
38:45 This kill is worth it.
38:50 A zebra blows her cover.
38:59 But she's on it.
39:03 (zebra grunting)
39:07 (lion growling)
39:10 Epic takedown.
39:13 Today, they'll feast.
39:18 Food at last.
39:30 And Zuri grabs a few quick bites and then resumes guard duty.
39:37 (lion grunting)
39:39 This meal is too important to lose.
39:41 It's a great triumph for her.
39:48 She aced a brand new technique in a challenging hunting zone.
39:51 She tried something different and it worked.
39:57 (lion growling)
40:06 Being a parent is all about adapting
40:08 to changing circumstances,
40:10 but she must keep the momentum going.
40:13 It's still a long road to get the cubs to adulthood.
40:17 Real success depends on her repeated effort day after day.
40:25 (dramatic music)
40:33 (fire crackling)
40:35 Fueled by the fresh meat,
40:41 Zuri heads back to the grassland.
40:43 She'll test the new method on her home turf,
40:49 where she faces the same challenges as before.
40:52 But she's learned to be cautious.
41:03 Far better to wait for the perfect opportunity
41:05 than to rely on pure pace.
41:08 She's found a great hiding place for an ambush,
41:21 but there are no calves.
41:22 Even with her perfect position,
41:31 she's not strong enough to bring down an adult.
41:33 For any takedown to work,
41:41 she's limited to a smaller target.
41:43 But following the maternal herds exposes her.
41:48 There's no chance of a surprise ambush.
41:55 She needs a different game plan.
41:59 (cubs grunting)
42:02 Identify a target and separate it from the rest.
42:06 No distractions, she locks on.
42:27 (dramatic music)
42:30 A second kill in as many days,
42:47 and another technique under her belt.
42:50 (dramatic music)
42:56 (cubs grunting)
42:58 What a difference a year makes.
43:03 The cubs grow up fast.
43:06 They're a powerful coalition.
43:09 And Zuri's challenges haven't disappeared.
43:18 She still fights enemies.
43:20 (dramatic music)
43:23 She still faces danger.
43:30 She's just a far more confident and flexible hunter
43:40 with more solutions to offer
43:44 and a backup team who'll fight by her side.
43:49 (dramatic music)
43:52 Just one final fear to conquer, the marsh.
44:05 The best watering hole around is still working its magic,
44:12 drawing in the herds.
44:17 And as before, the lions have dibs on this hunting zone.
44:21 But this year, and Zuri's got support.
44:32 As a trio of cheetahs,
44:35 they have an equal chance of making a kill here.
44:38 (cubs grunting)
44:40 And Zuri's plan is to investigate the herd.
44:56 First, identify an opportunity, then run.
45:00 But one cub is lagging behind,
45:06 and it'll take a team of three
45:08 to pull down a full-grown wildebeest.
45:10 Something spooks the herds.
45:19 Her missing cub, late to the party.
45:31 He can't resist the chase.
45:36 Running is in his genes.
45:37 It's a great effort, but it's disorganized.
45:54 The wildebeests scatter.
45:58 (cubs grunting)
46:00 But when Zuri's learnt, there's opportunity in chaos.
46:19 (cubs grunting)
46:21 Speed, a surprise target.
46:35 (cubs grunting)
46:41 And support, a killer combination.
46:47 (cubs grunting)
46:49 It's her biggest takedown ever,
46:51 in the zone she once avoided.
46:54 And every success teaches her cubs
46:59 the lessons she's mastered,
47:01 about flexibility and compromise.
47:04 Their future on the Serengeti is assured.
47:11 (gentle music)
47:14 Good job, Mum.
47:19 (cubs howling)
47:21 (gentle music)
47:24 (dramatic music)