1
00:00:06,881 --> 00:00:09,050
[purring]

2
00:00:09,884 --> 00:00:11,344
[soft growling]

3
00:00:15,432 --> 00:00:17,100
[growling]

4
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,610
[Rashida Jones] Nothing captures
our imagination like a big cat.

5
00:00:28,570 --> 00:00:29,612
[growls]

6
00:00:34,951 --> 00:00:36,494
Magnificent,

7
00:00:37,245 --> 00:00:38,163
powerful,

8
00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:40,165
deadly.

9
00:00:40,248 --> 00:00:42,667
[growls]

10
00:00:44,252 --> 00:00:47,547
But as we get closer
to these elusive animals,

11
00:00:47,630 --> 00:00:50,425
we're discovering
another side to their lives.

12
00:00:52,135 --> 00:00:53,470
One more caring,

13
00:00:54,929 --> 00:00:56,264
collaborative…

14
00:00:56,347 --> 00:00:57,807
[roaring]

15
00:00:57,891 --> 00:00:59,476
…and resilient…

16
00:01:02,395 --> 00:01:04,230
than we ever imagined.

17
00:01:11,112 --> 00:01:15,533
There is far more to big cats
than meets the eye.

18
00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,042
[birds chirping]

19
00:01:30,298 --> 00:01:31,883
[chirping]

20
00:01:34,177 --> 00:01:36,096
[evocative music playing]

21
00:01:36,179 --> 00:01:39,641
Three months ago,
this lioness left her pride

22
00:01:40,642 --> 00:01:42,268
to give birth on her own.

23
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,188
[purrs]

24
00:01:47,941 --> 00:01:49,901
[purrs]

25
00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:56,491
Young cubs are vulnerable,
especially to other lions.

26
00:01:58,618 --> 00:02:02,122
But now that they're a little bigger,
she's ready to return.

27
00:02:10,588 --> 00:02:14,342
Providing for a growing family
isn't easy as a single mom.

28
00:02:15,593 --> 00:02:17,512
She's having to hunt more often,

29
00:02:18,429 --> 00:02:22,809
and that means leaving her cubs
and heading out alone.

30
00:02:25,937 --> 00:02:29,566
On the open savanna, prey is easy to spot.

31
00:02:32,569 --> 00:02:33,987
But so is she.

32
00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:35,989
[suspenseful music plays]

33
00:02:41,452 --> 00:02:43,037
She must be patient.

34
00:02:47,542 --> 00:02:50,295
Big cats are more deadly after dark.

35
00:02:57,802 --> 00:03:02,098
With incredible night vision,
six times better than our own…

36
00:03:07,478 --> 00:03:10,148
lions have an advantage over their prey.

37
00:03:19,032 --> 00:03:24,370
Operating alone, she must get
as close as possible before she strikes.

38
00:03:34,464 --> 00:03:37,550
[dramatic music building]

39
00:03:37,634 --> 00:03:39,636
[intense, percussive music playing]

40
00:03:52,941 --> 00:03:53,775
[lion growls]

41
00:04:08,873 --> 00:04:10,166
Hunting at night,

42
00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:14,462
a single lioness
has almost as much success as a pride.

43
00:04:22,387 --> 00:04:25,056
The problem is holding on to her kill.

44
00:04:25,765 --> 00:04:27,767
[hyenas hooting]

45
00:04:29,018 --> 00:04:30,019
[lion growls]

46
00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:33,189
Lions are the biggest predators
on these plains.

47
00:04:34,732 --> 00:04:36,693
She can handle one or two hyenas.

48
00:04:37,819 --> 00:04:39,821
[hyenas shrieking]

49
00:04:41,990 --> 00:04:45,159
But a whole clan?
Now that's a different story.

50
00:04:49,956 --> 00:04:53,042
[lion growls]

51
00:04:55,211 --> 00:04:57,255
It's not just her kill at risk.

52
00:04:59,590 --> 00:05:00,675
It's her life.

53
00:05:00,758 --> 00:05:02,969
[hyenas shriek]

54
00:05:03,052 --> 00:05:06,556
[lion growls]

55
00:05:29,829 --> 00:05:32,999
But this lioness is not alone.

56
00:05:37,712 --> 00:05:39,672
Her family has found her.

57
00:05:43,259 --> 00:05:44,802
With them by her side,

58
00:05:45,678 --> 00:05:47,680
she's invincible.

59
00:05:48,973 --> 00:05:51,726
[thrilling music playing]

60
00:05:52,977 --> 00:05:55,438
[hyenas shriek]

61
00:06:17,794 --> 00:06:19,670
Fierce competition
on the savanna

62
00:06:19,754 --> 00:06:23,091
has forced lions
to do something extraordinary.

63
00:06:26,719 --> 00:06:29,639
They're the only big cats
that live in prides.

64
00:06:33,893 --> 00:06:35,937
Females do most of the hunting.

65
00:06:37,522 --> 00:06:39,107
[growls]

66
00:06:40,483 --> 00:06:43,319
The male's main role
is defending the family.

67
00:06:52,161 --> 00:06:55,957
As long as they stay strong,
the cubs should be safe.

68
00:07:01,254 --> 00:07:05,591
But peace never lasts long
in the world of big cats.

69
00:07:12,807 --> 00:07:18,104
Since the dawn of their evolution,
killing has been a way of life.

70
00:07:23,151 --> 00:07:27,280
Over ten million years ago,
deep in the forests of Asia,

71
00:07:28,322 --> 00:07:31,742
a new breed of predator began to emerge.

72
00:07:31,826 --> 00:07:33,828
[birds squawking]

73
00:07:35,329 --> 00:07:37,415
[ominous music playing]

74
00:07:45,256 --> 00:07:47,258
[suspenseful music plays]

75
00:07:52,305 --> 00:07:55,808
Today, the clouded leopard
provides a glimpse

76
00:07:55,892 --> 00:07:58,895
into how these early felines
may have lived.

77
00:08:14,452 --> 00:08:16,579
It's the smallest of the big cats…

78
00:08:24,837 --> 00:08:26,339
but the most agile.

79
00:08:36,015 --> 00:08:37,892
Short, muscular legs,

80
00:08:39,602 --> 00:08:41,270
super sharp claws…

81
00:08:43,689 --> 00:08:45,900
rotating ankle joints…

82
00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:55,159
and a counterbalancing tail
make them such good climbers.

83
00:08:57,453 --> 00:08:59,664
Even monkeys aren't safe.

84
00:09:15,972 --> 00:09:17,431
Relative to size,

85
00:09:17,515 --> 00:09:22,019
a clouded leopard also has
the longest canine teeth of any cat.

86
00:09:24,021 --> 00:09:25,856
A modern-day sabertooth.

87
00:09:31,487 --> 00:09:34,824
Over time, big cats
came down from the trees…

88
00:09:37,159 --> 00:09:40,121
grew larger and even more powerful.

89
00:09:43,082 --> 00:09:45,668
As they evolved and conquered new worlds,

90
00:09:46,252 --> 00:09:49,714
each cat adopted a camouflage
to give it an edge.

91
00:09:50,214 --> 00:09:52,466
[suspenseful music plays]

92
00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:04,020
Even the largest
can blend into the background.

93
00:10:07,815 --> 00:10:11,402
Tiger stripes
turn into tangled vegetation.

94
00:10:15,239 --> 00:10:19,035
A plain coat
helps a stalking puma disappear,

95
00:10:20,953 --> 00:10:23,080
even when there's nowhere to hide.

96
00:10:28,169 --> 00:10:32,923
The spots of a leopard mimic
the dappled shadows of open woodland…

97
00:10:35,301 --> 00:10:39,055
so it can set an ambush at close range.

98
00:10:47,021 --> 00:10:49,899
But camouflage
doesn't only help on the attack.

99
00:10:51,108 --> 00:10:53,361
It also helps in defense.

100
00:10:57,490 --> 00:11:01,577
A cheetah mom,
hiding away with her tiny cubs.

101
00:11:07,708 --> 00:11:13,130
Just ten days old,
this is when big cats are most vulnerable.

102
00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:21,305
Eyes barely opened,
totally reliant on Mom.

103
00:11:28,145 --> 00:11:32,358
Most big cats grow slowly,
developing at a similar rate.

104
00:11:35,820 --> 00:11:39,198
It'll be about nine weeks
before they move on to meat.

105
00:11:41,325 --> 00:11:43,703
Six months before they're fully weaned.

106
00:11:47,623 --> 00:11:49,291
And by around two years old,

107
00:11:49,375 --> 00:11:52,336
they will finally be ready to go it alone.

108
00:12:02,346 --> 00:12:08,269
It's a long and dangerous journey,
from helpless cub to deadly hunter.

109
00:12:09,311 --> 00:12:10,187
[shrieking]

110
00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:15,901
Especially
for the biggest cat of them all.

111
00:12:21,031 --> 00:12:21,866
[growling]

112
00:12:27,496 --> 00:12:31,208
This five-month-old tiger cub
is far from fully grown.

113
00:12:35,463 --> 00:12:39,091
But she's already figuring out
how to hunt in her forest home.

114
00:12:54,648 --> 00:12:57,401
She must learn to select a target…

115
00:13:03,157 --> 00:13:04,700
plan her approach…

116
00:13:07,995 --> 00:13:10,498
and execute her final attack.

117
00:13:18,255 --> 00:13:21,175
This time, her victim is just her brother.

118
00:13:26,722 --> 00:13:29,266
Stalking, pouncing,
and fighting each other

119
00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:32,144
is a safe way to sharpen skills.

120
00:13:32,770 --> 00:13:35,105
[growling]

121
00:13:38,943 --> 00:13:43,113
Besides, taking out your brothers
is just plain fun.

122
00:13:44,907 --> 00:13:46,408
[upbeat music plays]

123
00:13:56,252 --> 00:14:00,256
Play is a fundamental part of development
in all big cats.

124
00:14:08,973 --> 00:14:13,143
But some lessons
have to be learned the hard way.

125
00:14:22,862 --> 00:14:27,157
This six-month-old leopard cub
spends most of his time hanging out.

126
00:14:28,617 --> 00:14:29,451
With Mom.

127
00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:39,420
Though when she heads out hunting…

128
00:14:43,132 --> 00:14:45,217
he is safest staying put.

129
00:14:48,846 --> 00:14:50,848
But where's the fun in that?

130
00:14:54,226 --> 00:14:56,437
It's time for a little adventure.

131
00:14:57,855 --> 00:14:59,857
[jaunty music plays]

132
00:15:07,114 --> 00:15:09,325
Not the most confident descent.

133
00:15:19,501 --> 00:15:21,003
Better nail the dismount.

134
00:15:23,714 --> 00:15:24,840
[rustling leaves]

135
00:15:34,350 --> 00:15:37,311
A maturing cat
needs to push his boundaries,

136
00:15:39,229 --> 00:15:41,482
but he mustn't aim too high.

137
00:15:44,777 --> 00:15:46,320
Cape buffalo.

138
00:15:46,403 --> 00:15:48,989
[suspenseful music plays]

139
00:15:49,073 --> 00:15:52,117
One of Africa's most dangerous animals,

140
00:15:53,243 --> 00:15:56,121
with a reputation for killing cubs.

141
00:16:08,676 --> 00:16:10,094
A rookie mistake.

142
00:16:10,761 --> 00:16:12,930
[buffalo grunting]

143
00:16:13,681 --> 00:16:16,976
This is no time for honing hunting skills.

144
00:16:18,686 --> 00:16:20,729
It's time to learn how to hide.

145
00:16:20,813 --> 00:16:24,233
[ominous music playing]

146
00:16:30,155 --> 00:16:31,949
And when to run for your life.

147
00:16:33,659 --> 00:16:35,369
[buffalo grunting]

148
00:16:42,334 --> 00:16:44,211
One of nine lives gone…

149
00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:50,134
and still a lot to learn.

150
00:16:54,763 --> 00:16:56,181
And when Mom returns,

151
00:16:57,391 --> 00:17:00,227
it's time for one
of the toughest tutorials of all.

152
00:17:04,982 --> 00:17:07,651
A warthog, still alive.

153
00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:11,280
A grisly prospect,

154
00:17:12,614 --> 00:17:15,534
but a chance to practice the throat clamp,

155
00:17:15,617 --> 00:17:17,536
the big cats' killer bite.

156
00:17:18,579 --> 00:17:19,580
[grunting]

157
00:17:21,206 --> 00:17:23,584
[squealing]

158
00:17:28,589 --> 00:17:31,550
[somber music playing]

159
00:17:31,633 --> 00:17:33,343
When the cub struggles,

160
00:17:34,261 --> 00:17:35,512
the pro steps in.

161
00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:42,644
Big cats learn by copying Mom.

162
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,069
When he strikes out alone,

163
00:17:50,152 --> 00:17:53,739
this young leopard needs all the skills
and experience he can get.

164
00:17:55,324 --> 00:17:59,036
This is why cubs
need so much time under Mom's watch.

165
00:18:17,262 --> 00:18:21,642
In the Okavango, the lioness
is settling back in with her pride.

166
00:18:25,979 --> 00:18:28,273
With rival lions all around,

167
00:18:29,191 --> 00:18:32,111
her cubs are safest
under Dad's protection.

168
00:18:36,490 --> 00:18:37,574
Until now,

169
00:18:37,658 --> 00:18:39,326
they've only eaten with Mom.

170
00:18:40,577 --> 00:18:43,705
Today, the cubs are dining with the king.

171
00:18:46,125 --> 00:18:47,709
He's much bigger up close.

172
00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:52,464
[snapping]

173
00:18:57,970 --> 00:19:01,431
Males take their fill
before they let the females feed.

174
00:19:07,146 --> 00:19:08,981
They're more tolerant of cubs.

175
00:19:11,108 --> 00:19:14,194
[growls]

176
00:19:14,278 --> 00:19:15,279
Up to a point.

177
00:19:31,962 --> 00:19:34,381
The lionesses do most of the parenting.

178
00:19:38,594 --> 00:19:41,263
And with Dad taking the lion's share,

179
00:19:41,346 --> 00:19:43,640
they need to head out hunting again.

180
00:19:55,694 --> 00:19:57,905
Prides can be over 40 strong.

181
00:19:59,489 --> 00:20:02,659
So maintaining relationships isn't easy.

182
00:20:02,743 --> 00:20:04,745
[dramatic music plays]

183
00:20:08,081 --> 00:20:13,045
Complicated social lives have led lions
to be the cleverest of all big cats.

184
00:20:13,629 --> 00:20:14,463
[growls softly]

185
00:20:24,014 --> 00:20:28,602
And that extra brainpower
also makes for one killer team.

186
00:20:29,728 --> 00:20:31,730
[dramatic music plays]

187
00:20:41,865 --> 00:20:45,827
During the hunt,
each lioness knows her role.

188
00:20:50,958 --> 00:20:53,919
The heaviest find a place to wait.

189
00:21:01,510 --> 00:21:05,055
Lighter, faster wingers encircle the herd.

190
00:21:13,689 --> 00:21:15,315
The trap is set.

191
00:21:24,741 --> 00:21:25,701
[snorting]

192
00:21:35,294 --> 00:21:38,213
The wingers charge in at 30 miles an hour,

193
00:21:38,797 --> 00:21:40,924
driving prey towards the ambush.

194
00:21:50,350 --> 00:21:51,518
If one misses…

195
00:21:56,148 --> 00:21:57,607
there's someone else waiting.

196
00:22:00,277 --> 00:22:02,279
[grunting]

197
00:22:04,364 --> 00:22:07,993
[suspenseful music rising]

198
00:22:11,079 --> 00:22:13,081
[rustling]

199
00:22:29,598 --> 00:22:30,932
[roars]

200
00:22:32,601 --> 00:22:34,519
[roars]

201
00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:44,112
During the day,
when the pride hunts as a team,

202
00:22:44,196 --> 00:22:46,406
they double their chances of success.

203
00:22:48,992 --> 00:22:50,619
Everyone gets a share.

204
00:22:52,829 --> 00:22:55,415
This is a sisterhood of equals.

205
00:22:57,626 --> 00:22:58,960
And though tempers fray…

206
00:22:59,044 --> 00:23:00,420
[growling]

207
00:23:02,297 --> 00:23:03,382
[growling]

208
00:23:03,465 --> 00:23:05,592
…they're usually kept in check.

209
00:23:10,055 --> 00:23:11,932
The pride is stronger together.

210
00:23:20,732 --> 00:23:23,276
But once again, Dad muscles in.

211
00:23:26,363 --> 00:23:31,535
It seems unfair, but it's critical
for the pride males to stay fighting fit.

212
00:23:32,202 --> 00:23:35,747
[growling]

213
00:23:38,458 --> 00:23:40,127
The threat of invasion

214
00:23:40,210 --> 00:23:41,795
is coming closer.

215
00:23:41,878 --> 00:23:43,088
[distant roars]

216
00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:48,385
Roaming males,
looking to take over the pride.

217
00:23:50,804 --> 00:23:52,389
And kill the cubs.

218
00:23:53,056 --> 00:23:56,059
[sinister music plays]

219
00:23:57,894 --> 00:24:02,399
To protect his family,
Dad needs all the strength he can get.

220
00:24:12,868 --> 00:24:16,788
Defending territory is vital
to a big cat's success.

221
00:24:22,836 --> 00:24:27,382
The world's largest wetland
may not seem ideal cat country.

222
00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:38,268
But it's home to the world's
greatest concentration of jaguars.

223
00:24:50,155 --> 00:24:55,494
Stout and muscular,
the pit bulls of the big cat world.

224
00:24:59,122 --> 00:25:00,499
Pound for pound,

225
00:25:00,582 --> 00:25:03,585
they have the most powerful jaws of all.

226
00:25:16,348 --> 00:25:17,933
This is his turf.

227
00:25:27,817 --> 00:25:31,571
Male jaguars
regularly scent-mark their territory.

228
00:25:40,872 --> 00:25:44,543
And they patrol on land and in water.

229
00:25:51,883 --> 00:25:53,426
Unlike most cats,

230
00:25:54,135 --> 00:25:56,346
jaguars are strong swimmers.

231
00:25:57,764 --> 00:25:59,766
[dramatic music plays]

232
00:26:12,862 --> 00:26:15,824
Males don't just guard a territory
for themselves.

233
00:26:17,325 --> 00:26:20,078
Several females have space within it.

234
00:26:26,126 --> 00:26:30,630
This one is in season,
and she's picked up his scent.

235
00:26:37,012 --> 00:26:39,806
[growling]

236
00:26:45,895 --> 00:26:48,273
They'll mate repeatedly
in the coming days…

237
00:26:49,691 --> 00:26:51,192
[growling]

238
00:26:51,735 --> 00:26:54,988
…making it likely he'll father her cubs.

239
00:27:01,286 --> 00:27:03,121
He needs to be sure,

240
00:27:03,204 --> 00:27:07,459
because rivals are always
looking for a chance to sneak in.

241
00:27:09,252 --> 00:27:11,254
[suspenseful music plays]

242
00:27:16,676 --> 00:27:19,554
A neighbor has crossed the threshold.

243
00:27:24,768 --> 00:27:26,853
Jaguars try to avoid fights.

244
00:27:28,313 --> 00:27:31,024
The risk of injury is too great.

245
00:27:35,403 --> 00:27:40,659
But when mating rights are at stake,
they're left with little choice.

246
00:27:47,582 --> 00:27:52,587
[growling]

247
00:27:54,047 --> 00:27:56,549
[intense music playing]

248
00:28:17,737 --> 00:28:19,739
The intruder is seen off.

249
00:28:21,491 --> 00:28:22,325
For now.

250
00:28:27,664 --> 00:28:32,502
The quest for territory
has forced big cats into extremes.

251
00:28:39,342 --> 00:28:43,304
Amur tigers
prowl the frozen forests of Siberia.

252
00:28:45,765 --> 00:28:49,936
Long, dense fur protects them
from the freezing temperatures.

253
00:28:53,356 --> 00:28:57,318
Indian leopards
slink through the backstreets of Mumbai…

254
00:29:00,321 --> 00:29:03,575
hunting stray dogs
and other domestic animals

255
00:29:03,658 --> 00:29:05,243
under cover of night.

256
00:29:09,247 --> 00:29:14,127
And one big cat even scales
the highest mountains in the world.

257
00:29:27,098 --> 00:29:28,975
Four thousand meters up.

258
00:29:30,935 --> 00:29:31,853
It's cold.

259
00:29:33,438 --> 00:29:34,564
The air is thin.

260
00:29:35,607 --> 00:29:38,151
The terrain is treacherous.

261
00:29:42,405 --> 00:29:47,368
But somehow,
this female snow leopard finds a way.

262
00:29:55,418 --> 00:29:59,464
Short forelimbs, extended hind limbs,

263
00:30:00,215 --> 00:30:03,051
and an exceptionally long tail

264
00:30:03,134 --> 00:30:06,429
give balance and agility
on rugged terrain.

265
00:30:13,853 --> 00:30:17,190
She can jump ten meters in a single bound.

266
00:30:46,219 --> 00:30:50,014
Broad, thickly-furred feet
work like snowshoes,

267
00:30:50,849 --> 00:30:53,935
preventing her
from sinking in deep drifts.

268
00:31:05,071 --> 00:31:06,906
There's so little to eat,

269
00:31:06,990 --> 00:31:11,411
she must range
over an area of 300 square miles.

270
00:31:17,959 --> 00:31:22,881
Snow leopards cover such vast distances,
they rarely meet.

271
00:31:25,842 --> 00:31:28,511
Instead, they communicate through scent.

272
00:31:55,580 --> 00:31:58,416
Despite the extreme challenges
of survival,

273
00:32:00,376 --> 00:32:04,839
this remarkable female
has managed to raise three cubs.

274
00:32:09,093 --> 00:32:10,261
[growling]

275
00:32:11,220 --> 00:32:14,349
For nearly two years,
they've depended on Mom.

276
00:32:17,018 --> 00:32:20,313
Now it's time
they start hunting for themselves.

277
00:32:24,317 --> 00:32:25,652
That's not easy here.

278
00:32:43,169 --> 00:32:47,256
But this young ibex
could offer one of the cubs a chance.

279
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:49,342
[suspenseful music plays]

280
00:33:15,827 --> 00:33:18,538
Hunting at these altitudes is high risk.

281
00:33:20,123 --> 00:33:22,125
[rocks clattering]

282
00:33:22,792 --> 00:33:25,378
And the ibex just raised the stakes.

283
00:33:29,799 --> 00:33:30,967
Mom watches on.

284
00:33:32,677 --> 00:33:34,345
He needs to do this on his own.

285
00:33:40,601 --> 00:33:43,521
[suspenseful music plays]

286
00:33:53,322 --> 00:33:54,407
[snow leopard growls]

287
00:33:57,076 --> 00:33:58,202
So close…

288
00:34:00,204 --> 00:34:02,040
yet so far.

289
00:34:07,253 --> 00:34:09,213
It might look like a failure,

290
00:34:09,297 --> 00:34:12,633
but even a top predator
needs to know his limits.

291
00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:18,931
Up here, it could save his life.

292
00:34:30,276 --> 00:34:32,278
[wind rushing]

293
00:34:35,406 --> 00:34:38,451
Soon, these three cubs
will be on their own,

294
00:34:39,202 --> 00:34:41,621
relying on the skills
that they've learned.

295
00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:47,960
But one challenge they face
is beyond their control.

296
00:34:51,380 --> 00:34:55,635
The warming climate
is forcing these cold-adapted animals

297
00:34:55,718 --> 00:34:58,012
further up into the mountains.

298
00:35:00,348 --> 00:35:01,557
The higher they go,

299
00:35:02,308 --> 00:35:04,143
the less space there is.

300
00:35:09,941 --> 00:35:11,984
As wilderness disappears,

301
00:35:12,693 --> 00:35:16,531
it brings big cats
into conflict with humans.

302
00:35:20,535 --> 00:35:24,747
Seen as a threat
to both livestock and ourselves…

303
00:35:29,001 --> 00:35:31,796
hunted for trophies and body parts…

304
00:35:31,879 --> 00:35:34,966
[noble music playing]

305
00:35:36,717 --> 00:35:40,138
big cats are persecuted
throughout the world…

306
00:35:48,312 --> 00:35:50,857
and being driven towards extinction.

307
00:35:57,488 --> 00:35:58,573
But there is hope.

308
00:36:06,122 --> 00:36:10,209
When we allow these majestic animals
a little space in our world,

309
00:36:11,043 --> 00:36:13,129
the results can be amazing.

310
00:36:17,383 --> 00:36:20,219
Fifty years ago, in these valleys,

311
00:36:20,303 --> 00:36:23,055
humans had wiped out much of the wildlife.

312
00:36:29,437 --> 00:36:32,064
But since hunting
and farming were banned here,

313
00:36:32,565 --> 00:36:35,276
guanaco numbers have steadily recovered.

314
00:36:42,033 --> 00:36:43,534
And when prey returns…

315
00:36:44,076 --> 00:36:46,495
[tense music playing]

316
00:36:46,579 --> 00:36:48,164
…predators follow.

317
00:36:56,005 --> 00:37:00,885
[squealing]

318
00:37:04,013 --> 00:37:07,600
Pumas, also known as mountain lions.

319
00:37:11,938 --> 00:37:14,315
They used to be so thin on the ground,

320
00:37:14,398 --> 00:37:16,525
they were assumed to be solitary.

321
00:37:20,696 --> 00:37:25,701
But now, there are more pumas here
than anywhere else in the Americas.

322
00:37:28,037 --> 00:37:31,749
And they're beginning to behave
in ways never seen before.

323
00:37:39,006 --> 00:37:40,675
[snarls]

324
00:37:43,010 --> 00:37:46,597
Pumas are coming together,
tolerating each other.

325
00:37:48,224 --> 00:37:50,309
Even those outside the family.

326
00:37:54,063 --> 00:37:57,108
And more surprisingly,
they're sharing their food.

327
00:38:00,861 --> 00:38:03,406
As this region becomes more wild,

328
00:38:03,489 --> 00:38:06,784
perhaps pumas are reverting
to their natural ways.

329
00:38:08,869 --> 00:38:13,624
The image of big cats
as lone assassins is being challenged.

330
00:38:15,918 --> 00:38:20,548
It turns out they're better team players
than we ever imagined.

331
00:38:39,608 --> 00:38:42,987
The cheetah
is the fastest of all big cats.

332
00:38:45,364 --> 00:38:47,783
Built for speed rather than power,

333
00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:50,244
it's also the most fragile.

334
00:38:55,666 --> 00:38:56,917
But by ganging up…

335
00:38:59,170 --> 00:39:01,505
they become a formidable force.

336
00:39:12,850 --> 00:39:14,268
A band of brothers.

337
00:39:15,561 --> 00:39:18,189
They don't coordinate their hunts
like lions.

338
00:39:20,191 --> 00:39:21,609
They play a numbers game.

339
00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:31,160
Each picks a target.

340
00:39:38,709 --> 00:39:40,044
Then moves in.

341
00:39:48,302 --> 00:39:50,137
The chase is on.

342
00:39:51,389 --> 00:39:53,724
[hooves clattering]

343
00:39:53,808 --> 00:39:59,021
[shrieking]

344
00:40:01,065 --> 00:40:04,527
[dramatic music plays]

345
00:40:22,878 --> 00:40:26,674
If one fails,
the rest are on to other opportunities.

346
00:40:26,757 --> 00:40:28,092
[dramatic music continues]

347
00:40:31,220 --> 00:40:33,222
[squealing]

348
00:41:02,793 --> 00:41:05,754
Sooner or later, an attack will land.

349
00:41:11,385 --> 00:41:14,763
And where a single cheetah
struggles to kill a wildebeest…

350
00:41:15,473 --> 00:41:17,475
[dramatic music continues]

351
00:41:20,352 --> 00:41:21,645
[bleating]

352
00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:27,651
…combined power
is enough to bring it down.

353
00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:55,846
[somber music plays]

354
00:42:08,108 --> 00:42:12,530
Joining forces helps big cats
become more successful hunters.

355
00:42:16,534 --> 00:42:22,790
But for lions, strength in numbers
is even more important in defense.

356
00:42:36,178 --> 00:42:38,639
The Okavango cubs are carefree,

357
00:42:40,015 --> 00:42:42,434
unaware their lives are about to change.

358
00:42:46,855 --> 00:42:47,940
[distant growling]

359
00:42:49,441 --> 00:42:53,279
The sound that strikes fear
into every lion family.

360
00:42:55,573 --> 00:42:58,158
[distant growling continues]

361
00:43:01,704 --> 00:43:03,998
The roaming males are getting close,

362
00:43:05,874 --> 00:43:08,752
intent on taking over the pride.

363
00:43:20,639 --> 00:43:24,268
If they succeed,
the intruders will kill the cubs

364
00:43:25,019 --> 00:43:27,688
to bring the females back into season.

365
00:43:27,771 --> 00:43:29,189
[growls]

366
00:43:32,985 --> 00:43:35,487
The pride males try to intimidate.

367
00:43:36,447 --> 00:43:40,200
[roaring]

368
00:43:45,623 --> 00:43:48,542
But the intruders are not backing down.

369
00:43:48,626 --> 00:43:54,173
[distant roaring]

370
00:43:59,303 --> 00:44:00,763
[roaring]

371
00:44:02,765 --> 00:44:04,933
A fight is inevitable.

372
00:44:07,436 --> 00:44:10,606
The lionesses need to get their cubs
away from danger.

373
00:44:11,273 --> 00:44:18,072
[roaring]

374
00:44:20,032 --> 00:44:22,409
But their route to safety is blocked.

375
00:44:22,910 --> 00:44:24,912
[sudden music sting]

376
00:44:27,748 --> 00:44:30,334
These cats usually avoid water.

377
00:44:34,088 --> 00:44:35,089
With good reason.

378
00:44:39,385 --> 00:44:40,552
But there's no choice.

379
00:44:43,847 --> 00:44:45,140
No turning back now.

380
00:44:47,101 --> 00:44:50,479
[soft growling]

381
00:44:55,818 --> 00:45:01,907
[soft growling]

382
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:05,577
[suspenseful music plays]

383
00:45:12,710 --> 00:45:14,628
The youngest struggle to keep up.

384
00:45:27,141 --> 00:45:28,475
Just a little further.

385
00:45:46,618 --> 00:45:49,663
Finally, with Mom leading the way,

386
00:45:50,289 --> 00:45:51,790
they make it to safety.

387
00:45:54,084 --> 00:45:56,086
[tranquil music plays]

388
00:46:11,560 --> 00:46:13,437
But not all have been so lucky.

389
00:46:16,106 --> 00:46:18,025
[somber music plays]

390
00:46:18,108 --> 00:46:19,777
One of the pride males.

391
00:46:21,570 --> 00:46:24,531
Protecting the cubs has cost him his life.

392
00:46:30,037 --> 00:46:33,040
Now, only their father survives.

393
00:46:33,832 --> 00:46:37,503
[emotional music playing]

394
00:46:37,586 --> 00:46:41,632
How long he can maintain his rule
remains to be seen.

395
00:46:49,598 --> 00:46:52,226
For now, at least, the cubs are safe…

396
00:46:55,729 --> 00:46:59,066
growing strong with the love
and protection of the pride…

397
00:47:05,739 --> 00:47:08,742
and a father
who'll defend them with his life.

398
00:47:12,329 --> 00:47:15,374
[emotional music rising]

399
00:47:16,917 --> 00:47:21,630
All big cats are born into a life
full of danger and drama.

400
00:47:28,095 --> 00:47:31,098
But as long as we give them
the freedom they need…

401
00:47:33,892 --> 00:47:38,230
these magnificent animals will live on.

402
00:47:39,565 --> 00:47:41,567
[soaring dramatic music plays]

403
00:47:47,739 --> 00:47:50,325
[closing theme music playing]