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Support your local PBS station.

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- They travel hundreds of miles

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on paths carved
by their ancestors.

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They carry
irreplaceable knowledge,

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and they embody a world
of contradictions.

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[ Elephant trumpeting ]

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Breathtaking power
and remarkable sensitivity.

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With tusks each weighing
over 100 pounds,

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these special males have

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been nearly obliterated
by human greed.

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Fewer than 30 of these super
tuskers remain in all of Kenya.

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[ Elephant rumbles ]

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Three magnificent tuskers,
each on his own path,

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carry us into a world
rarely glimpsed.

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Highly social,

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even affectionate.

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Their alliances run deep.

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This is a brotherhood.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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- These tusks bear
34 million years of evolution.

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[ Elephant rumbles ]

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♪

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And etched into them
is a lifetime.

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For over half a century,

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this elephant,
known as Craig,

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has followed the tracks
of his ancestors.

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♪

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Tasks that reach the ground
are rare,

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but Craig is far more valuable
than the ivory he carries.

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He is a keeper of knowledge.

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He knows the migratory routes
carved by generations.

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He knows where to find food and
water when the land is parched.

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Tuskers like Craig are
guardians of an ancient lineage.

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This wise old tusker has
just survived a deadly drought.

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And now Kenya is green again.

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♪

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Elephants are pouring in
from miles around.

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[ Elephants rumbling ]

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♪

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Families are gathering
on the open plains of Amboseli.

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In this time of abundance,

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elephants can reunite
and renew their social ties.

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♪

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The grasslands are flush
with life

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and scattered reminders of those

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who couldn't hold on
until the rains arrived.

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No species escaped.

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Mothers lost young.

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Families lost matriarchs.

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For those who survived,

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this moment of celebration
holds the promise of new life.

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♪

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The springs and water holes
are full.

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For this immense gathering
of the matriarchy,

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it's a time of pure joy.

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♪

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The matriarchies, where
their sisters and daughters

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and young sons are the
cornerstone of elephant society.

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But they are only part
of the story.

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The rest are miles away
and well aware of the gathering.

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[ Elephant rumbles ]

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Elephant rumbles vibrate
through the air and ground,

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carrying messages from afar.

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Esau traveled through the night.

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At 33, this magnificent tusker
is not yet fully grown,

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but already His tusks
nearly touch the ground.

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They're a genetic gift
from his parents.

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He was born here in Amboseli,

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but he's here now
for only one reason.

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He is ready to mate.

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Esau is just entering
his breeding prime,

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and his hormones are raging.

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He is in must,
a heightened sexual state.

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♪

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Testosterone is surging
through his system.

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Pheromones stream
from his swollen glands,

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and he leaves a scent trail
of pungent urine.

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As impressive as he is,

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it's still years
before he'll reach his peak

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as a breeding male.

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While Esau broadcasts his
status, he listens for others.

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Through sound and scent,

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he's aware of a
much larger male to the west.

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On the far boundary of the park,

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another tusker is in must.

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♪

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At 44,
Pascal is in his breeding prime.

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He is massive,

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built like a tank with hulking
shoulders and stout tusks.

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♪

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His right ear was damaged
in a long ago battle,

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or so it's believed.

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♪

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He's been in Amboseli
for the past month

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searching for females
ready to mate.

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♪

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He's a highly successful male,
a favorite among the females.

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[ Elephant rumbles ]

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Few males would dare challenge
Pascal when he's in must.

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[ Elephants rumbling ]

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Pascal is at his peak.

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Miles away,
Esau will continue to monitor

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and keep a safe distance
from Pascal.

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Key to Esau's survival
is knowing his strength.

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He must pick his battles
carefully,

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because on this playing field,

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other males are also in must,
and they're looking for mates.

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They're listening.

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They're searching for scent.

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And they're pumped
with testosterone.

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♪

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At every moment,

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stories are playing out all
across the plains of Amboseli.

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This labyrinth of swamps and
savanna is a haven for wildlife.

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♪

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The swamplands of Amboseli
are fed by the waters

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from Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Africa's tallest peak sits just
across the border in Tanzania.

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This vast ecosystem contains
Amboseli National Park

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at its heart, but it spans
over 3,000 square miles,

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reaching across Kenya's border.

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Elephants depend on
this entire ecosystem.

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Grasslands alone aren't enough
to sustain bulls like Esau.

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They need woodlands
to support their massive bodies.

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To find them,
they travel well-worn paths

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that often lead
beyond protected areas.

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And sometimes those paths
cross invisible boundaries.

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Just across the border,
in Tanzania,

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trophy hunting is legal.

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With his hyper sense of smell,

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Esau is following
the scent trail of a family

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with several females.

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[ Elephants rumbling ]

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He'll check to see if any
of the females are in estrus,

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a time when they're
receptive to mating.

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This one has a youngster in tow.

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Kibo is 4 years old.

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He'll study Esau's every move.

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Females have only a two-day
window of peak fertility.

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She allows him to test her,

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and Kibo moves in
to catch the scent.

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Esau allows Kibo
to move even closer.

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This is how young males learn.

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This is how Esau learned.

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Despite his size,

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Esau is extremely patient
with the youngsters.

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But he's not so tolerant
of a nearby bull.

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It's the must manifesto
to maintain supremacy.

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[ Elephant trumpets ]

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Esau's performance
has inspired the boys.

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♪

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Even at this age,
they're hard-wired males,

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full of bravado and bluster.

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These boys
are building alliances

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that will serve them
on their journey ahead.

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Like Esau, they will face
a gauntlet of tests.

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[ Elephant trumpeting ]

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Searching for females
while fending off males,

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holding their place
in the hierarchy,

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all while simply surviving.

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♪

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Miles away, Pascal is also
searching for receptive females,

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but in this vast landscape,
they are few and far between.

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He won't bother checking
this young mother.

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She won't come into estrus
for a year or two,

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if her calf survives.

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The odds are tough
for male calves.

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1 in 10 won't make it
through their first year.

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Males grow faster
and need more milk.

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In times of scarcity,
many don't survive.

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Males who make it to 44, like
Pascal, are rare and precious,

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not only for their genes.

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The presence of an older male,

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no matter how brief,
is invaluable.

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Pascal can teach these boys
what their mothers can't.

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♪

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Play fighting
is key to male development.

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These boys are forming
their future peer group.

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It's a time to socialize
and bond.

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♪

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♪

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They challenge
and test their strength.

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♪

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Sizing up their opponents,

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they sharpen their skills
for the battles ahead.

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But elephant girls
are different,

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even as infants.

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She'll join in the game,

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but only for a moment.

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Then it's back to mom.

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♪

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00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,320
It will be years
before these teenagers

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experience their first must.

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For now, it's still just a game.

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00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,479
On the eastern boundary
of the park,

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Craig, one of Amboceli's
oldest and most revered males,

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is taking advantage
of the grasses.

201
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He's still thin
from the recent drought,

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but he's been putting on weight
since the rains arrived.

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Craig is considered
a super tusker,

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a rare giant whose tusks each
weigh more than 100 pounds.

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He's one of fewer than 30
in all of Kenya.

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00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:55,720
Like other tuskers,

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00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:00,240
Craig uses his ivory for
protection and to access food.

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00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,159
What should be an asset
became a liability

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00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,720
when hunters and poachers

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targeted bulls
with the largest tusks.

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Amboseli National Park
offered a safe haven.

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00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,359
It continues to be
a rare stronghold

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00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:27,480
where super tuskers
like Craig can still exist.

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00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,519
Craig is a living legend,

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00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:36,439
as is every tusker
following in his footsteps.

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00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:42,879
♪

217
00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,679
On the salt flats
by Lake Amboseli,

218
00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,320
another tusker has fulfilled
his mission.

219
00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,919
Pascal is following
a female with a crooked tail.

220
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She's at the peak of estrus,

221
00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,120
and they've been mating
for the past two days.

222
00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:05,840
But opportunistic males
are circling.

223
00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,759
Pascal guards her from behind.

224
00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,079
Until she falls out of estrus,

225
00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,480
he'll keep the other males
at bay.

226
00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,159
Pascal's mere presence
is so intimidating,

227
00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:27,039
a subtle gesture or a must
rumble is often all it takes.

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00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,520
[ Elephant rumbles ]

229
00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:38,079
[ Elephant rumbling ]

230
00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:42,559
But even the highest ranking
males do need to be cautious.

231
00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,039
Pascal's must cycle
is coming to an end.

232
00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,520
A younger male
at the peak of must

233
00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,520
could soon challenge him
and win.

234
00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:04,439
[ Elephant rumbling ]

235
00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,920
Esau has caught wind
of a competitor to the south.

236
00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:13,639
Even from a distance,
he can read the scent.

237
00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,480
The other male is also in must.

238
00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,120
Esau listens for further clues.

239
00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:30,159
♪

240
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,439
Adult males never take
fighting lightly.

241
00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,960
It can lead to injury
or even death.

242
00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:44,960
It's crucial to size up your
opponent to calculate the risk.

243
00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:52,039
As they approach, they assess.

244
00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:56,159
The other male has a
similar build, shorter tusks,

245
00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,519
but in good condition.

246
00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:06,360
♪

247
00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,319
♪

248
00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,439
If neither retreats,
there will be a fight.

249
00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:20,280
♪

250
00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,040
[ Elephant rumbling ]

251
00:20:42,120 --> 00:20:43,439
[ Elephant rumbles ]

252
00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,320
♪

253
00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,760
Esau claims victory
and the loser retreats.

254
00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,160
Esau trails him.

255
00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:05,919
A most amazing thing
has happened.

256
00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,920
Esau has forced the loser
out of must.

257
00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,040
It just shut off, like a faucet.

258
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,680
He's become submissive.

259
00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,879
To be certain,
Esau tests the defeated

260
00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,960
for signs of testosterone.

261
00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,039
Satisfied, he allows
the loser to retreat.

262
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:54,639
♪

263
00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,960
There's now one less male
to contend with.

264
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:03,359
♪

265
00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:05,879
To make sure there was
no damage,

266
00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,560
Esau checks his precious tusks.

267
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,279
Amidst the dramas of Amboseli,

268
00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:39,240
one ancient being stands tall
against the horizon.

269
00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,920
For nearly 500 years,

270
00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:02,320
she has borne witness
to life's ebbs and flows.

271
00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,159
She is home, shelter, shade,

272
00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,120
even sustenance.

273
00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,880
Creatures of the night
find calm within her thorns.

274
00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:41,959
Her trunk is worn smooth
by generations of elephants.

275
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:49,119
They leave, sent messages for
others on and all around her.

276
00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:53,840
She is a hub
of information and opportunity.

277
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:03,239
There's an order
in this natural world.

278
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:08,520
It is full of unlikely alliances
and hidden possibilities.

279
00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:18,959
For hundreds of years,

280
00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,959
this ancient acacia has
witnessed Amboceli's dramas,

281
00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,119
large and small,

282
00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:30,159
and the constant tide of
elephants as they come and go.

283
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:38,039
♪

284
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,439
Pascal is leaving the park.

285
00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:47,879
♪

286
00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,039
Despite his heft,

287
00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:54,559
he carefully avoids disturbing
the bones of another creature.

288
00:24:54,560 --> 00:25:01,079
♪

289
00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:06,919
Elephants display a remarkable
respect for both life and death.

290
00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:12,959
♪

291
00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,039
With must behind him
for another year,

292
00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,719
he heads east, on a journey

293
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,919
that will take him
from the safety of Amboseli

294
00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,680
into a landscape
that is rapidly changing.

295
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,720
Land is being reshaped
by human hands.

296
00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:39,759
What once belonged to wildlife
is falling prey to the plow.

297
00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:44,320
Highways are carved
across age-old elephant paths.

298
00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:53,720
♪

299
00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:59,959
♪

300
00:25:59,960 --> 00:26:05,159
Elephants are intelligent
and adaptable,

301
00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,920
but change is coming quickly.

302
00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:18,520
♪

303
00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,759
20 years ago,

304
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,720
this town was little more than
a cluster of Maasai homesteads.

305
00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,439
As it grows, it eats into land

306
00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,320
where Pascal's
ancestors once roamed.

307
00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,879
Within this rising sea
of human development

308
00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,359
is a fertile patch of land,

309
00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:46,919
a small but vital
sanctuary called Kimana.

310
00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,520
As long as the elephants stay
within this conservancy,

311
00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,040
they are safe.

312
00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,480
Pascal has returned
to this small oasis.

313
00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:02,920
No longer in must,

314
00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,920
his demeanor has changed
dramatically.

315
00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,320
Pascal is a highly social being,

316
00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,359
and he's come to convene
with friends,

317
00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:21,240
all of them males.

318
00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,320
[ Elephant rumbles ]

319
00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:32,879
If they were in must,

320
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,919
these males would avoid
one another

321
00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:39,239
or possibly engage in battle.

322
00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:44,520
But now they're tolerant,
even affectionate.

323
00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:52,840
These connections run deep,
some of them since childhood.

324
00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,520
They confirm their friendship
through rumbles

325
00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,479
and touch and subtle gestures.

326
00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:06,720
A glance. The flap of an ear.
The twist of a trunk.

327
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,520
They've even taken in
a young orphan.

328
00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:16,479
8-year-old Theo recently
lost his mother in the drought.

329
00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,439
By mentoring
and watching over him,

330
00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,839
this bachelor group
has become his family.

331
00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:42,760
♪

332
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:52,760
♪

333
00:28:52,880 --> 00:29:02,760
♪

334
00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:09,920
♪

335
00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:21,360
They move as a group,
a brotherhood 60 tons strong.

336
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,239
Just beyond this small
fever tree forest

337
00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,240
lies land that was once wild.

338
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,440
It's now a tomato plantation.

339
00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,839
With the encroachment of humans,

340
00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,879
the elephants are learning
to adapt.

341
00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,159
The elders are teaching
the younger males, like Theo,

342
00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:53,359
how to survive
in this shrinking landscape.

343
00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,519
But for now, they rest up.

344
00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,040
They have big plans for
the night.

345
00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,760
They wait until dark.

346
00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,919
With their extraordinary hearing
and sense of smell.

347
00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:17,480
Darkness gives them
the upper hand.

348
00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,560
[ Elephant rumbling ]

349
00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:38,720
♪

350
00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,360
It's well planned
and well coordinated.

351
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:46,959
But it's also risky.

352
00:30:46,960 --> 00:31:06,920
♪

353
00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:14,839
♪

354
00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,240
[ Dogs barking ]

355
00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:20,320
[ Men shouting, whistling ]

356
00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,640
[ Banging, fire crackling ]

357
00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:38,280
[ Elephant groans ]

358
00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:47,840
[ Elephant roars ]

359
00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,479
In clashes throughout Africa,

360
00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:56,079
elephants and humans
are lost every year.

361
00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,160
This time, no one was hurt.

362
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:10,480
Back in Amboseli,
Esau's luck has finally changed.

363
00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,440
He's found a female
at the peak of estrus.

364
00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:26,880
Her son naps, oblivious
to the events about to unfold.

365
00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:34,279
Of course, Esau's not the
only male to catch her scent.

366
00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,520
He needs to clear the stage.

367
00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,119
[ Elephant roaring ]

368
00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,759
There are multiple males
circling, hopeful.

369
00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,640
[ Elephant roars ]

370
00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:57,919
As Esau approaches,
he's exceptionally gentle,

371
00:32:57,920 --> 00:32:59,679
even as he blocks
the other males.

372
00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:01,520
[ Elephant rumbles ]

373
00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:08,640
She allows him closer.

374
00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:11,440
[ Elephant rumbles ]

375
00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:20,240
Lifting 6 tons and finding his
target takes remarkable skill.

376
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,439
Fending off interlopers
is another challenge.

377
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,840
[ Elephant rumbling ]

378
00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,080
Her calf stays close.

379
00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,240
[ Elephant rumbling ]

380
00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:47,239
Esau will stay with this female
for the next few days,

381
00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,640
guarding her from other males.

382
00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,240
[ Elephant roars ]

383
00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,240
The morning's events
have been very instructive.

384
00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:12,279
Young males practice endlessly,
building the skills

385
00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,960
they'll need
when they're old enough to mate.

386
00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:23,320
♪

387
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:27,719
Juveniles from other families
join in.

388
00:34:27,720 --> 00:34:31,719
This young teen is testing
the boundaries with a female.

389
00:34:31,720 --> 00:34:38,439
♪

390
00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,440
He sorely lacks Esau's decorum.

391
00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:47,519
Just as Esau did at his age,

392
00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,120
this 12-year-old
is taking his first steps

393
00:34:50,240 --> 00:34:52,120
towards independence.

394
00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:54,920
In the coming years,

395
00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,640
he'll wander farther
and farther from his family.

396
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,120
It's a dangerous time
for young males

397
00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:06,319
when they strike out
on their own.

398
00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:12,279
Lack of experience
and bad choices can be lethal.

399
00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:17,079
Eventually, they'll find
a group of bulls like Pascal's.

400
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,920
[ Elephant rumbling ]

401
00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:24,520
There's safety in the company
of experienced elders.

402
00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,759
♪

403
00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:34,039
Mature males like Pascal
provides stability and guidance,

404
00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:37,120
helping them adjust to life
outside the family.

405
00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:40,879
[ Elephant rumbling ]

406
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,439
With decades more experience,

407
00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:47,839
older males know
how to navigate the environment.

408
00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:50,760
This is critical
for a young orphan like Theo.

409
00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:58,119
♪

410
00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,239
Older bulls can help
keep younger males calm

411
00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:03,880
and help regulate aggression.

412
00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:09,320
Once they come into must,

413
00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,919
they'll leave their companions
to mate.

414
00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:16,319
But when must has passed,
they'll return.

415
00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:24,560
♪

416
00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:31,119
♪

417
00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:33,879
The dry season is moving in,

418
00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:39,359
and Amboseli's grasslands
have turned gold again.

419
00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:46,519
When the pendulum of seasons
swings, everyone must adapt.

420
00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:50,719
This expert survivor
has an advantage.

421
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:56,359
Her long roots help her reach
water buried deep underground.

422
00:36:56,360 --> 00:37:01,519
She has witnessed five centuries
of seasonal swings.

423
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,520
But in recent decades,

424
00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:06,039
the extremes have become
more pronounced.

425
00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,480
Dry spells are lasting longer.

426
00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:16,679
Now more than ever,

427
00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:18,959
the accumulated memories
and knowledge

428
00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:22,080
held by the elders is crucial.

429
00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:33,320
Kiba's family has remained
in Amboseli.

430
00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:37,639
At 4 years old,
he's still very dependent.

431
00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:39,559
It will be years
before he starts

432
00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,760
to venture off on his own.

433
00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:51,640
As the morning heats up,
his family heads to the swamps.

434
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:04,560
Last night, lions brought
down a cape buffalo.

435
00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:09,720
The scent of a fresh kill
is a magnet.

436
00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:28,359
As Kibo's family heads east,

437
00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,440
the feast is directly
on their path.

438
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:38,880
They are immediately agitated.

439
00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,240
[ Elephant trumpets ]

440
00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:52,319
Lions or hyenas
can take down a young elephant,

441
00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:55,920
but not when there's
a protective family.

442
00:38:56,040 --> 00:39:00,439
Still, this emotionally
complex species has been known

443
00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:03,320
to be troubled by a kill.

444
00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:06,040
Perhaps the carnage
is disturbing.

445
00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:12,319
Kibo is fascinated.

446
00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:15,480
He manages to get swept
up in the chaos.

447
00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:25,560
The females are
highly protective.

448
00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:31,320
[ Elephant trumpets ]

449
00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:34,479
A young mother makes
one final charge

450
00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:36,520
before the family moves on.

451
00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:42,520
Kibo will be under close watch
for years to come.

452
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,039
He still has much to learn.

453
00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,080
[ Elephants rumbling ]

454
00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:54,359
♪

455
00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:56,919
On the southern border
of the park,

456
00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:59,360
Esau is badly hurt.

457
00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:06,640
With dust,
he tries to soothe the pain.

458
00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,839
He survived a battle
with another bull,

459
00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:14,160
but the wound is serious.

460
00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:20,079
♪

461
00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:24,559
He's fallen out of must,
and his demeanor is now slower.

462
00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:33,559
♪

463
00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:36,320
He's headed
to his bachelor range,

464
00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:39,239
where he'll find the comfort
of companionship

465
00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,159
and familiar terrain.

466
00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:50,279
♪

467
00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:54,519
He's fighting the pain, but
the gash is becoming infected.

468
00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:59,919
♪

469
00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:03,959
With a serious injury
and highly coveted tusks,

470
00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:06,720
he's heading southward
to Tanzania,

471
00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,320
a country that allows
trophy hunting.

472
00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:14,879
♪

473
00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:17,119
Each time he crosses the border,

474
00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:20,440
his growing tusks
increase his risk.

475
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:26,160
But to Esau,
there are no borders.

476
00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:29,720
This is
where elephants have traveled

477
00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:31,919
for thousands of years,

478
00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,520
following the paths
of their ancestors.

479
00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:42,319
♪

480
00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:45,079
Craig has chosen
a different path.

481
00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:48,160
He remains on the outskirts
of Amboseli.

482
00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,120
In his older, wiser years,

483
00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:57,960
he no longer takes the risks
he did at Esau's age.

484
00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:04,759
Craig is still a viable breeder,

485
00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:08,520
but he didn't come into must
this year due to the drought.

486
00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:15,119
He lacks the physical bulk
of Pascal.

487
00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:17,439
It's harder to eke
out a living here,

488
00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:20,480
but it's far less risky
than raiding crops.

489
00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:27,159
Their distinct choices
reflect a deep intelligence

490
00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,520
and individuality.

491
00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:34,040
Like us, no two elephants are
exactly alike.

492
00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:39,479
Craig is a rarity.

493
00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:42,679
While so many tuskers have
been lost to the lust for ivory

494
00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:44,679
and human conflict,

495
00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:48,519
Craig has survived for
over 50 years,

496
00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:52,879
and he's sharing his wisdom.

497
00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:57,839
These young bulls have also
chosen to stay near Amboseli.

498
00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:01,120
Here, they have
a well-seasoned mentor,

499
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:03,920
and Craig has companionship.

500
00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:06,079
[ Elephant rumbling ]

501
00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:10,879
This wise old tusker
could live into his 60s,

502
00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:14,039
a remarkable feat
considering the threats

503
00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:16,120
facing these elephants.

504
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:23,520
Esau has crossed back to Kenya.

505
00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:28,679
He's only 33, but already
his future is fading.

506
00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:31,560
His wound is severely infected.

507
00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:36,240
Perhaps he's returned
to find help.

508
00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:40,120
Is it possible he knows

509
00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:43,920
that desperate measures are
underway to save his life?

510
00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:54,320
[ Elephant rumbling ]

511
00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:55,920
[ Dart gun fires ]

512
00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:10,880
Esau faces much more
than threat from infection.

513
00:44:13,040 --> 00:44:17,039
A satellite collar,
evidence of a scientific study,

514
00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:20,520
might be his only hope
of surviving trophy hunters.

515
00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:29,440
These magnificent tusks are
both a blessing and a curse.

516
00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:36,640
When Esau awakens,
his world will have shifted.

517
00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:12,119
With an unfamiliar weight
around his neck,

518
00:45:12,120 --> 00:45:15,040
Esau heads back
across the invisible line.

519
00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:21,879
Losing Esau would ripple
far beyond a single life.

520
00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:26,320
It would sever an ancient
lineage that is irreplaceable.

521
00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:33,479
Esau has crossed this border
for decades,

522
00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:36,119
as have thousands of elephants.

523
00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:38,440
But the rules have changed.

524
00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:45,959
To survive, elephants
must be able to migrate.

525
00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,039
On the far edge
of Kimana sanctuary,

526
00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:51,279
Pascal drinks from a stream

527
00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:54,640
that has served migrating
elephants for millennia.

528
00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:00,879
It's a favorite stopover
between Amboseli

529
00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:03,120
and the national parks
to the east.

530
00:46:03,240 --> 00:46:07,920
♪

531
00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:11,919
This very scene could have been
glimpsed a thousand years ago,

532
00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:15,439
but not if you widen your gaze.

533
00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:18,159
The stream lies
on the outskirts of a town

534
00:46:18,160 --> 00:46:22,160
that sits directly on
the elephants' migratory path.

535
00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:27,719
A highway has grown
from a footpath,

536
00:46:27,720 --> 00:46:32,520
and now vehicles hurtle across
Pascal's reach to Amboseli.

537
00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:38,319
Just beyond the stream,

538
00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:42,479
a corridor has been created
for elephants like Pascal.

539
00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:44,720
It funnels them
across the highway

540
00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:47,160
and past the encroaching farms.

541
00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:53,479
The corridor
is just 80 meters wide,

542
00:46:53,480 --> 00:46:55,959
flanked by electric fences.

543
00:46:55,960 --> 00:46:58,879
It's the last viable link
between Amboseli

544
00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:00,879
and the parks to the east,

545
00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:07,319
absolutely crucial habitat
for elephants and all wildlife.

546
00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:11,320
Big Life Foundation created
the fences as a buffer

547
00:47:11,440 --> 00:47:15,039
between humans and elephants
like Pascal,

548
00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:18,519
with high-voltage electricity
and speed bumps.

549
00:47:18,520 --> 00:47:23,439
This narrow corridor is
a lifeline for wildlife.

550
00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:28,560
Cameras offer proof that it's
working not just for elephants.

551
00:47:28,680 --> 00:47:40,519
♪

552
00:47:40,520 --> 00:47:44,319
This strange, severed
landscape is not the world

553
00:47:44,320 --> 00:47:47,920
Pascal was born
into 44 years ago.

554
00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:59,079
♪

555
00:47:59,080 --> 00:48:02,479
Pascal knows this land by heart.

556
00:48:02,480 --> 00:48:05,080
Every hill, every path.

557
00:48:09,480 --> 00:48:12,319
In the final blaze
of the dry season,

558
00:48:12,320 --> 00:48:15,480
he knows the best acacia tree
for shade.

559
00:48:20,240 --> 00:48:22,959
He knows where to find
the few small mudholes

560
00:48:22,960 --> 00:48:25,640
that won't dry up
if the rains are late.

561
00:48:28,440 --> 00:48:32,320
And now these younger males
know, as well.

562
00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:39,839
♪

563
00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:44,679
The day is hot,
but the rains will soon arrive.

564
00:48:44,680 --> 00:48:47,319
The elephants are well aware.

565
00:48:47,320 --> 00:48:50,559
They picked up its scent
from miles away

566
00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:52,919
and caught the rumble
of distant thunder

567
00:48:52,920 --> 00:48:55,319
through the soles of their feet.

568
00:48:55,320 --> 00:49:28,120
♪

569
00:49:28,240 --> 00:49:31,960
The rains have turned
Amboseli green again.

570
00:49:34,040 --> 00:49:37,320
Elephant families
are pouring back to the park

571
00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:40,519
to celebrate and reunite.

572
00:49:40,520 --> 00:49:46,679
♪

573
00:49:46,680 --> 00:49:50,559
Another year has passed,
and infants have turned into

574
00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:57,119
young boys with big bluster
and tiny tusks.

575
00:49:57,120 --> 00:49:59,839
Females are carrying new life.

576
00:49:59,840 --> 00:50:05,119
♪

577
00:50:05,120 --> 00:50:09,119
Craig is taking advantage
of the abundance.

578
00:50:09,120 --> 00:50:11,360
He'll soon turn 53.

579
00:50:14,360 --> 00:50:16,879
Flanked by his comrades,

580
00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:20,239
this venerable male
is sharing his wisdom.

581
00:50:20,240 --> 00:50:28,759
♪

582
00:50:28,760 --> 00:50:32,639
Pascal has returned to the park.

583
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:37,119
He's back in must and
is more impressive than ever.

584
00:50:37,120 --> 00:50:42,920
♪

585
00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:46,519
Amboseli is at its finest.

586
00:50:46,520 --> 00:50:50,640
Green and teeming
with elephant families.

587
00:50:52,840 --> 00:50:56,320
But it's missing one
crucial character.

588
00:50:56,440 --> 00:51:07,559
♪

589
00:51:07,560 --> 00:51:10,960
It's Esau, back from Tanzania.

590
00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:16,439
His tusks and his collar
are intact.

591
00:51:16,440 --> 00:51:18,280
His wound has healed.

592
00:51:21,640 --> 00:51:26,079
Each of these great tuskers
is a miracle of survival

593
00:51:26,080 --> 00:51:28,560
and a key to the future.

594
00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:34,559
Although they may not know it,

595
00:51:34,560 --> 00:51:41,319
their impact is profound,
and it's already taking shape.

596
00:51:41,320 --> 00:51:47,119
Because right now, somewhere
on the plains of Amboseli,

597
00:51:47,120 --> 00:51:52,079
growing and learning every day

598
00:51:52,080 --> 00:51:56,919
are the world's
next great tuskers.

599
00:51:56,920 --> 00:51:58,719
[ Elephant trumpets ]

600
00:51:58,720 --> 00:52:01,440
♪

601
00:52:03,720 --> 00:52:13,560
♪

602
00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:49,680
♪