1
00:00:06,924 --> 00:00:09,093
[purring]

2
00:00:09,927 --> 00:00:11,387
[soft growling]

3
00:00:15,475 --> 00:00:17,143
[growling]

4
00:00:23,483 --> 00:00:27,653
[Rashida Jones] Nothing captures
our imagination like a big cat.

5
00:00:28,613 --> 00:00:29,655
[growls]

6
00:00:34,994 --> 00:00:36,537
Magnificent,

7
00:00:37,288 --> 00:00:38,206
powerful,

8
00:00:39,082 --> 00:00:40,208
deadly.

9
00:00:40,291 --> 00:00:42,710
[growls]

10
00:00:44,295 --> 00:00:47,590
But as we get closer
to these elusive animals,

11
00:00:47,673 --> 00:00:50,468
we're discovering
another side to their lives.

12
00:00:52,178 --> 00:00:53,513
One more caring,

13
00:00:54,972 --> 00:00:56,307
collaborative…

14
00:00:56,390 --> 00:00:57,850
[roaring]

15
00:00:57,934 --> 00:00:59,519
…and resilient…

16
00:01:02,438 --> 00:01:04,273
than we ever imagined.

17
00:01:11,155 --> 00:01:15,576
There is far more to big cats
than meets the eye.

18
00:01:22,083 --> 00:01:24,085
[birds chirping]

19
00:01:30,341 --> 00:01:31,926
[chirping]

20
00:01:34,220 --> 00:01:36,139
[evocative music playing]

21
00:01:36,222 --> 00:01:39,684
Three months ago,
this lioness left her pride

22
00:01:40,685 --> 00:01:42,311
to give birth on her own.

23
00:01:43,563 --> 00:01:45,231
[purrs]

24
00:01:47,984 --> 00:01:49,944
[purrs]

25
00:01:52,613 --> 00:01:56,534
Young cubs are vulnerable,
especially to other lions.

26
00:01:58,661 --> 00:02:02,165
But now that they're a little bigger,
she's ready to return.

27
00:02:10,631 --> 00:02:14,385
Providing for a growing family
isn't easy as a single mom.

28
00:02:15,636 --> 00:02:17,555
She's having to hunt more often,

29
00:02:18,472 --> 00:02:22,852
and that means leaving her cubs
and heading out alone.

30
00:02:25,980 --> 00:02:29,609
On the open savanna, prey is easy to spot.

31
00:02:32,612 --> 00:02:34,030
But so is she.

32
00:02:34,113 --> 00:02:36,032
[suspenseful music plays]

33
00:02:41,495 --> 00:02:43,080
She must be patient.

34
00:02:47,585 --> 00:02:50,338
Big cats are more deadly after dark.

35
00:02:57,845 --> 00:03:02,141
With incredible night vision,
six times better than our own…

36
00:03:07,521 --> 00:03:10,191
lions have an advantage over their prey.

37
00:03:19,075 --> 00:03:24,413
Operating alone, she must get
as close as possible before she strikes.

38
00:03:34,507 --> 00:03:37,593
[dramatic music building]

39
00:03:37,677 --> 00:03:39,679
[intense, percussive music playing]

40
00:03:52,984 --> 00:03:53,818
[lion growls]

41
00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:10,209
Hunting at night,

42
00:04:10,293 --> 00:04:14,505
a single lioness
has almost as much success as a pride.

43
00:04:22,430 --> 00:04:25,099
The problem is holding on to her kill.

44
00:04:25,808 --> 00:04:27,810
[hyenas hooting]

45
00:04:29,061 --> 00:04:30,062
[lion growls]

46
00:04:30,146 --> 00:04:33,232
Lions are the biggest predators
on these plains.

47
00:04:34,775 --> 00:04:36,736
She can handle one or two hyenas.

48
00:04:37,862 --> 00:04:39,864
[hyenas shrieking]

49
00:04:42,033 --> 00:04:45,202
But a whole clan?
Now that's a different story.

50
00:04:49,999 --> 00:04:53,085
[lion growls]

51
00:04:55,254 --> 00:04:57,298
It's not just her kill at risk.

52
00:04:59,633 --> 00:05:00,718
It's her life.

53
00:05:00,801 --> 00:05:03,012
[hyenas shriek]

54
00:05:03,095 --> 00:05:06,599
[lion growls]

55
00:05:29,872 --> 00:05:33,042
But this lioness is not alone.

56
00:05:37,755 --> 00:05:39,715
Her family has found her.

57
00:05:43,302 --> 00:05:44,845
With them by her side,

58
00:05:45,721 --> 00:05:47,723
she's invincible.

59
00:05:49,016 --> 00:05:51,769
[thrilling music playing]

60
00:05:53,020 --> 00:05:55,481
[hyenas shriek]

61
00:06:17,837 --> 00:06:19,713
Fierce competition
on the savanna

62
00:06:19,797 --> 00:06:23,134
has forced lions
to do something extraordinary.

63
00:06:26,762 --> 00:06:29,682
They're the only big cats
that live in prides.

64
00:06:33,936 --> 00:06:35,980
Females do most of the hunting.

65
00:06:37,565 --> 00:06:39,150
[growls]

66
00:06:40,526 --> 00:06:43,362
The male's main role
is defending the family.

67
00:06:52,204 --> 00:06:56,000
As long as they stay strong,
the cubs should be safe.

68
00:07:01,297 --> 00:07:05,634
But peace never lasts long
in the world of big cats.

69
00:07:12,850 --> 00:07:18,147
Since the dawn of their evolution,
killing has been a way of life.

70
00:07:23,194 --> 00:07:27,323
Over ten million years ago,
deep in the forests of Asia,

71
00:07:28,365 --> 00:07:31,785
a new breed of predator began to emerge.

72
00:07:31,869 --> 00:07:33,871
[birds squawking]

73
00:07:35,372 --> 00:07:37,458
[ominous music playing]

74
00:07:45,299 --> 00:07:47,301
[suspenseful music plays]

75
00:07:52,348 --> 00:07:55,851
Today, the clouded leopard
provides a glimpse

76
00:07:55,935 --> 00:07:58,938
into how these early felines
may have lived.

77
00:08:14,495 --> 00:08:16,622
It's the smallest of the big cats…

78
00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,382
but the most agile.

79
00:08:36,058 --> 00:08:37,935
Short, muscular legs,

80
00:08:39,645 --> 00:08:41,313
super sharp claws…

81
00:08:43,732 --> 00:08:45,943
rotating ankle joints…

82
00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:55,202
and a counterbalancing tail
make them such good climbers.

83
00:08:57,496 --> 00:08:59,707
Even monkeys aren't safe.

84
00:09:16,015 --> 00:09:17,474
Relative to size,

85
00:09:17,558 --> 00:09:22,062
a clouded leopard also has
the longest canine teeth of any cat.

86
00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:25,899
A modern-day sabertooth.

87
00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:34,867
Over time, big cats
came down from the trees…

88
00:09:37,202 --> 00:09:40,164
grew larger and even more powerful.

89
00:09:43,125 --> 00:09:45,711
As they evolved and conquered new worlds,

90
00:09:46,295 --> 00:09:49,757
each cat adopted a camouflage
to give it an edge.

91
00:09:50,257 --> 00:09:52,509
[suspenseful music plays]

92
00:10:00,476 --> 00:10:04,063
Even the largest
can blend into the background.

93
00:10:07,858 --> 00:10:11,445
Tiger stripes
turn into tangled vegetation.

94
00:10:15,282 --> 00:10:19,078
A plain coat
helps a stalking puma disappear,

95
00:10:20,996 --> 00:10:23,123
even when there's nowhere to hide.

96
00:10:28,212 --> 00:10:32,966
The spots of a leopard mimic
the dappled shadows of open woodland…

97
00:10:35,344 --> 00:10:39,098
so it can set an ambush at close range.

98
00:10:47,064 --> 00:10:49,942
But camouflage
doesn't only help on the attack.

99
00:10:51,151 --> 00:10:53,404
It also helps in defense.

100
00:10:57,533 --> 00:11:01,620
A cheetah mom,
hiding away with her tiny cubs.

101
00:11:07,751 --> 00:11:13,173
Just ten days old,
this is when big cats are most vulnerable.

102
00:11:16,719 --> 00:11:21,348
Eyes barely opened,
totally reliant on Mom.

103
00:11:28,188 --> 00:11:32,401
Most big cats grow slowly,
developing at a similar rate.

104
00:11:35,863 --> 00:11:39,241
It'll be about nine weeks
before they move on to meat.

105
00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:43,746
Six months before they're fully weaned.

106
00:11:47,666 --> 00:11:49,334
And by around two years old,

107
00:11:49,418 --> 00:11:52,379
they will finally be ready to go it alone.

108
00:12:02,389 --> 00:12:08,312
It's a long and dangerous journey,
from helpless cub to deadly hunter.

109
00:12:09,354 --> 00:12:10,230
[shrieking]

110
00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:15,944
Especially
for the biggest cat of them all.

111
00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:21,909
[growling]

112
00:12:27,539 --> 00:12:31,251
This five-month-old tiger cub
is far from fully grown.

113
00:12:35,506 --> 00:12:39,134
But she's already figuring out
how to hunt in her forest home.

114
00:12:54,691 --> 00:12:57,444
She must learn to select a target…

115
00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:04,743
plan her approach…

116
00:13:08,038 --> 00:13:10,541
and execute her final attack.

117
00:13:18,298 --> 00:13:21,218
This time, her victim is just her brother.

118
00:13:26,765 --> 00:13:29,309
Stalking, pouncing,
and fighting each other

119
00:13:29,393 --> 00:13:32,187
is a safe way to sharpen skills.

120
00:13:32,813 --> 00:13:35,148
[growling]

121
00:13:38,986 --> 00:13:43,156
Besides, taking out your brothers
is just plain fun.

122
00:13:44,950 --> 00:13:46,451
[upbeat music plays]

123
00:13:56,295 --> 00:14:00,299
Play is a fundamental part of development
in all big cats.

124
00:14:09,016 --> 00:14:13,186
But some lessons
have to be learned the hard way.

125
00:14:22,905 --> 00:14:27,200
This six-month-old leopard cub
spends most of his time hanging out.

126
00:14:28,660 --> 00:14:29,494
With Mom.

127
00:14:37,753 --> 00:14:39,463
Though when she heads out hunting…

128
00:14:43,175 --> 00:14:45,260
he is safest staying put.

129
00:14:48,889 --> 00:14:50,891
But where's the fun in that?

130
00:14:54,269 --> 00:14:56,480
It's time for a little adventure.

131
00:14:57,898 --> 00:14:59,900
[jaunty music plays]

132
00:15:07,157 --> 00:15:09,368
Not the most confident descent.

133
00:15:19,544 --> 00:15:21,046
Better nail the dismount.

134
00:15:23,757 --> 00:15:24,883
[rustling leaves]

135
00:15:34,393 --> 00:15:37,354
A maturing cat
needs to push his boundaries,

136
00:15:39,272 --> 00:15:41,525
but he mustn't aim too high.

137
00:15:44,820 --> 00:15:46,363
Cape buffalo.

138
00:15:46,446 --> 00:15:49,032
[suspenseful music plays]

139
00:15:49,116 --> 00:15:52,160
One of Africa's most dangerous animals,

140
00:15:53,286 --> 00:15:56,164
with a reputation for killing cubs.

141
00:16:08,719 --> 00:16:10,137
A rookie mistake.

142
00:16:10,804 --> 00:16:12,973
[buffalo grunting]

143
00:16:13,724 --> 00:16:17,019
This is no time for honing hunting skills.

144
00:16:18,729 --> 00:16:20,772
It's time to learn how to hide.

145
00:16:20,856 --> 00:16:24,276
[ominous music playing]

146
00:16:30,198 --> 00:16:31,992
And when to run for your life.

147
00:16:33,702 --> 00:16:35,412
[buffalo grunting]

148
00:16:42,377 --> 00:16:44,254
One of nine lives gone…

149
00:16:48,216 --> 00:16:50,177
and still a lot to learn.

150
00:16:54,806 --> 00:16:56,224
And when Mom returns,

151
00:16:57,434 --> 00:17:00,270
it's time for one
of the toughest tutorials of all.

152
00:17:05,025 --> 00:17:07,694
A warthog, still alive.

153
00:17:09,863 --> 00:17:11,323
A grisly prospect,

154
00:17:12,657 --> 00:17:15,577
but a chance to practice the throat clamp,

155
00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:17,579
the big cats' killer bite.

156
00:17:18,622 --> 00:17:19,623
[grunting]

157
00:17:21,249 --> 00:17:23,627
[squealing]

158
00:17:28,632 --> 00:17:31,593
[somber music playing]

159
00:17:31,676 --> 00:17:33,386
When the cub struggles,

160
00:17:34,304 --> 00:17:35,555
the pro steps in.

161
00:17:40,602 --> 00:17:42,687
Big cats learn by copying Mom.

162
00:17:48,443 --> 00:17:50,112
When he strikes out alone,

163
00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:53,782
this young leopard needs all the skills
and experience he can get.

164
00:17:55,367 --> 00:17:59,079
This is why cubs
need so much time under Mom's watch.

165
00:18:17,305 --> 00:18:21,685
In the Okavango, the lioness
is settling back in with her pride.

166
00:18:26,022 --> 00:18:28,316
With rival lions all around,

167
00:18:29,234 --> 00:18:32,154
her cubs are safest
under Dad's protection.

168
00:18:36,533 --> 00:18:37,617
Until now,

169
00:18:37,701 --> 00:18:39,369
they've only eaten with Mom.

170
00:18:40,620 --> 00:18:43,748
Today, the cubs are dining with the king.

171
00:18:46,168 --> 00:18:47,752
He's much bigger up close.

172
00:18:51,423 --> 00:18:52,507
[snapping]

173
00:18:58,013 --> 00:19:01,474
Males take their fill
before they let the females feed.

174
00:19:07,189 --> 00:19:09,024
They're more tolerant of cubs.

175
00:19:11,151 --> 00:19:14,237
[growls]

176
00:19:14,321 --> 00:19:15,322
Up to a point.

177
00:19:32,005 --> 00:19:34,424
The lionesses do most of the parenting.

178
00:19:38,637 --> 00:19:41,306
And with Dad taking the lion's share,

179
00:19:41,389 --> 00:19:43,683
they need to head out hunting again.

180
00:19:55,737 --> 00:19:57,948
Prides can be over 40 strong.

181
00:19:59,532 --> 00:20:02,702
So maintaining relationships isn't easy.

182
00:20:02,786 --> 00:20:04,788
[dramatic music plays]

183
00:20:08,124 --> 00:20:13,088
Complicated social lives have led lions
to be the cleverest of all big cats.

184
00:20:13,672 --> 00:20:14,506
[growls softly]

185
00:20:24,057 --> 00:20:28,645
And that extra brainpower
also makes for one killer team.

186
00:20:29,771 --> 00:20:31,773
[dramatic music plays]

187
00:20:41,908 --> 00:20:45,870
During the hunt,
each lioness knows her role.

188
00:20:51,001 --> 00:20:53,962
The heaviest find a place to wait.

189
00:21:01,553 --> 00:21:05,098
Lighter, faster wingers encircle the herd.

190
00:21:13,732 --> 00:21:15,358
The trap is set.

191
00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:25,744
[snorting]

192
00:21:35,337 --> 00:21:38,256
The wingers charge in at 30 miles an hour,

193
00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,967
driving prey towards the ambush.

194
00:21:50,393 --> 00:21:51,561
If one misses…

195
00:21:56,191 --> 00:21:57,650
there's someone else waiting.

196
00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,322
[grunting]

197
00:22:04,407 --> 00:22:08,036
[suspenseful music rising]

198
00:22:11,122 --> 00:22:13,124
[rustling]

199
00:22:29,641 --> 00:22:30,975
[roars]

200
00:22:32,644 --> 00:22:34,562
[roars]

201
00:22:40,610 --> 00:22:44,155
During the day,
when the pride hunts as a team,

202
00:22:44,239 --> 00:22:46,449
they double their chances of success.

203
00:22:49,035 --> 00:22:50,662
Everyone gets a share.

204
00:22:52,872 --> 00:22:55,458
This is a sisterhood of equals.

205
00:22:57,669 --> 00:22:59,003
And though tempers fray…

206
00:22:59,087 --> 00:23:00,463
[growling]

207
00:23:02,340 --> 00:23:03,425
[growling]

208
00:23:03,508 --> 00:23:05,635
…they're usually kept in check.

209
00:23:10,098 --> 00:23:11,975
The pride is stronger together.

210
00:23:20,775 --> 00:23:23,319
But once again, Dad muscles in.

211
00:23:26,406 --> 00:23:31,578
It seems unfair, but it's critical
for the pride males to stay fighting fit.

212
00:23:32,245 --> 00:23:35,790
[growling]

213
00:23:38,501 --> 00:23:40,170
The threat of invasion

214
00:23:40,253 --> 00:23:41,838
is coming closer.

215
00:23:41,921 --> 00:23:43,131
[distant roars]

216
00:23:44,841 --> 00:23:48,428
Roaming males,
looking to take over the pride.

217
00:23:50,847 --> 00:23:52,432
And kill the cubs.

218
00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:56,102
[sinister music plays]

219
00:23:57,937 --> 00:24:02,442
To protect his family,
Dad needs all the strength he can get.

220
00:24:12,911 --> 00:24:16,831
Defending territory is vital
to a big cat's success.

221
00:24:22,879 --> 00:24:27,425
The world's largest wetland
may not seem ideal cat country.

222
00:24:33,973 --> 00:24:38,311
But it's home to the world's
greatest concentration of jaguars.

223
00:24:50,198 --> 00:24:55,537
Stout and muscular,
the pit bulls of the big cat world.

224
00:24:59,165 --> 00:25:00,542
Pound for pound,

225
00:25:00,625 --> 00:25:03,628
they have the most powerful jaws of all.

226
00:25:16,391 --> 00:25:17,976
This is his turf.

227
00:25:27,860 --> 00:25:31,614
Male jaguars
regularly scent-mark their territory.

228
00:25:40,915 --> 00:25:44,586
And they patrol on land and in water.

229
00:25:51,926 --> 00:25:53,469
Unlike most cats,

230
00:25:54,178 --> 00:25:56,389
jaguars are strong swimmers.

231
00:25:57,807 --> 00:25:59,809
[dramatic music plays]

232
00:26:12,905 --> 00:26:15,867
Males don't just guard a territory
for themselves.

233
00:26:17,368 --> 00:26:20,121
Several females have space within it.

234
00:26:26,169 --> 00:26:30,673
This one is in season,
and she's picked up his scent.

235
00:26:37,055 --> 00:26:39,849
[growling]

236
00:26:45,938 --> 00:26:48,316
They'll mate repeatedly
in the coming days…

237
00:26:49,734 --> 00:26:51,235
[growling]

238
00:26:51,778 --> 00:26:55,031
…making it likely he'll father her cubs.

239
00:27:01,329 --> 00:27:03,164
He needs to be sure,

240
00:27:03,247 --> 00:27:07,502
because rivals are always
looking for a chance to sneak in.

241
00:27:09,295 --> 00:27:11,297
[suspenseful music plays]

242
00:27:16,719 --> 00:27:19,597
A neighbor has crossed the threshold.

243
00:27:24,811 --> 00:27:26,896
Jaguars try to avoid fights.

244
00:27:28,356 --> 00:27:31,067
The risk of injury is too great.

245
00:27:35,446 --> 00:27:40,702
But when mating rights are at stake,
they're left with little choice.

246
00:27:47,625 --> 00:27:52,630
[growling]

247
00:27:54,090 --> 00:27:56,592
[intense music playing]

248
00:28:17,780 --> 00:28:19,782
The intruder is seen off.

249
00:28:21,534 --> 00:28:22,368
For now.

250
00:28:27,707 --> 00:28:32,545
The quest for territory
has forced big cats into extremes.

251
00:28:39,385 --> 00:28:43,347
Amur tigers
prowl the frozen forests of Siberia.

252
00:28:45,808 --> 00:28:49,979
Long, dense fur protects them
from the freezing temperatures.

253
00:28:53,399 --> 00:28:57,361
Indian leopards
slink through the backstreets of Mumbai…

254
00:29:00,364 --> 00:29:03,618
hunting stray dogs
and other domestic animals

255
00:29:03,701 --> 00:29:05,286
under cover of night.

256
00:29:09,290 --> 00:29:14,170
And one big cat even scales
the highest mountains in the world.

257
00:29:27,141 --> 00:29:29,018
Four thousand meters up.

258
00:29:30,978 --> 00:29:31,896
It's cold.

259
00:29:33,481 --> 00:29:34,607
The air is thin.

260
00:29:35,650 --> 00:29:38,194
The terrain is treacherous.

261
00:29:42,448 --> 00:29:47,411
But somehow,
this female snow leopard finds a way.

262
00:29:55,461 --> 00:29:59,507
Short forelimbs, extended hind limbs,

263
00:30:00,258 --> 00:30:03,094
and an exceptionally long tail

264
00:30:03,177 --> 00:30:06,472
give balance and agility
on rugged terrain.

265
00:30:13,896 --> 00:30:17,233
She can jump ten meters in a single bound.

266
00:30:46,262 --> 00:30:50,057
Broad, thickly-furred feet
work like snowshoes,

267
00:30:50,892 --> 00:30:53,978
preventing her
from sinking in deep drifts.

268
00:31:05,114 --> 00:31:06,949
There's so little to eat,

269
00:31:07,033 --> 00:31:11,454
she must range
over an area of 300 square miles.

270
00:31:18,002 --> 00:31:22,924
Snow leopards cover such vast distances,
they rarely meet.

271
00:31:25,885 --> 00:31:28,554
Instead, they communicate through scent.

272
00:31:55,623 --> 00:31:58,459
Despite the extreme challenges
of survival,

273
00:32:00,419 --> 00:32:04,882
this remarkable female
has managed to raise three cubs.

274
00:32:09,136 --> 00:32:10,304
[growling]

275
00:32:11,263 --> 00:32:14,392
For nearly two years,
they've depended on Mom.

276
00:32:17,061 --> 00:32:20,356
Now it's time
they start hunting for themselves.

277
00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:25,695
That's not easy here.

278
00:32:43,212 --> 00:32:47,299
But this young ibex
could offer one of the cubs a chance.

279
00:32:47,383 --> 00:32:49,385
[suspenseful music plays]

280
00:33:15,870 --> 00:33:18,581
Hunting at these altitudes is high risk.

281
00:33:20,166 --> 00:33:22,168
[rocks clattering]

282
00:33:22,835 --> 00:33:25,421
And the ibex just raised the stakes.

283
00:33:29,842 --> 00:33:31,010
Mom watches on.

284
00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:34,388
He needs to do this on his own.

285
00:33:40,644 --> 00:33:43,564
[suspenseful music plays]

286
00:33:53,365 --> 00:33:54,450
[snow leopard growls]

287
00:33:57,119 --> 00:33:58,245
So close…

288
00:34:00,247 --> 00:34:02,083
yet so far.

289
00:34:07,296 --> 00:34:09,256
It might look like a failure,

290
00:34:09,340 --> 00:34:12,676
but even a top predator
needs to know his limits.

291
00:34:16,222 --> 00:34:18,974
Up here, it could save his life.

292
00:34:30,319 --> 00:34:32,321
[wind rushing]

293
00:34:35,449 --> 00:34:38,494
Soon, these three cubs
will be on their own,

294
00:34:39,245 --> 00:34:41,664
relying on the skills
that they've learned.

295
00:34:44,291 --> 00:34:48,003
But one challenge they face
is beyond their control.

296
00:34:51,423 --> 00:34:55,678
The warming climate
is forcing these cold-adapted animals

297
00:34:55,761 --> 00:34:58,055
further up into the mountains.

298
00:35:00,391 --> 00:35:01,600
The higher they go,

299
00:35:02,351 --> 00:35:04,186
the less space there is.

300
00:35:09,984 --> 00:35:12,027
As wilderness disappears,

301
00:35:12,736 --> 00:35:16,574
it brings big cats
into conflict with humans.

302
00:35:20,578 --> 00:35:24,790
Seen as a threat
to both livestock and ourselves…

303
00:35:29,044 --> 00:35:31,839
hunted for trophies and body parts…

304
00:35:31,922 --> 00:35:35,009
[noble music playing]

305
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,181
big cats are persecuted
throughout the world…

306
00:35:48,355 --> 00:35:50,900
and being driven towards extinction.

307
00:35:57,531 --> 00:35:58,616
But there is hope.

308
00:36:06,165 --> 00:36:10,252
When we allow these majestic animals
a little space in our world,

309
00:36:11,086 --> 00:36:13,172
the results can be amazing.

310
00:36:17,426 --> 00:36:20,262
Fifty years ago, in these valleys,

311
00:36:20,346 --> 00:36:23,098
humans had wiped out much of the wildlife.

312
00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,107
But since hunting
and farming were banned here,

313
00:36:32,608 --> 00:36:35,319
guanaco numbers have steadily recovered.

314
00:36:42,076 --> 00:36:43,577
And when prey returns…

315
00:36:44,119 --> 00:36:46,538
[tense music playing]

316
00:36:46,622 --> 00:36:48,207
…predators follow.

317
00:36:56,048 --> 00:37:00,928
[squealing]

318
00:37:04,056 --> 00:37:07,643
Pumas, also known as mountain lions.

319
00:37:11,981 --> 00:37:14,358
They used to be so thin on the ground,

320
00:37:14,441 --> 00:37:16,568
they were assumed to be solitary.

321
00:37:20,739 --> 00:37:25,744
But now, there are more pumas here
than anywhere else in the Americas.

322
00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:31,792
And they're beginning to behave
in ways never seen before.

323
00:37:39,049 --> 00:37:40,718
[snarls]

324
00:37:43,053 --> 00:37:46,640
Pumas are coming together,
tolerating each other.

325
00:37:48,267 --> 00:37:50,352
Even those outside the family.

326
00:37:54,106 --> 00:37:57,151
And more surprisingly,
they're sharing their food.

327
00:38:00,904 --> 00:38:03,449
As this region becomes more wild,

328
00:38:03,532 --> 00:38:06,827
perhaps pumas are reverting
to their natural ways.

329
00:38:08,912 --> 00:38:13,667
The image of big cats
as lone assassins is being challenged.

330
00:38:15,961 --> 00:38:20,591
It turns out they're better team players
than we ever imagined.

331
00:38:39,651 --> 00:38:43,030
The cheetah
is the fastest of all big cats.

332
00:38:45,407 --> 00:38:47,826
Built for speed rather than power,

333
00:38:47,910 --> 00:38:50,287
it's also the most fragile.

334
00:38:55,709 --> 00:38:56,960
But by ganging up…

335
00:38:59,213 --> 00:39:01,548
they become a formidable force.

336
00:39:12,893 --> 00:39:14,311
A band of brothers.

337
00:39:15,604 --> 00:39:18,232
They don't coordinate their hunts
like lions.

338
00:39:20,234 --> 00:39:21,652
They play a numbers game.

339
00:39:29,576 --> 00:39:31,203
Each picks a target.

340
00:39:38,752 --> 00:39:40,087
Then moves in.

341
00:39:48,345 --> 00:39:50,180
The chase is on.

342
00:39:51,432 --> 00:39:53,767
[hooves clattering]

343
00:39:53,851 --> 00:39:59,064
[shrieking]

344
00:40:01,108 --> 00:40:04,570
[dramatic music plays]

345
00:40:22,921 --> 00:40:26,717
If one fails,
the rest are on to other opportunities.

346
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:28,135
[dramatic music continues]

347
00:40:31,263 --> 00:40:33,265
[squealing]

348
00:41:02,836 --> 00:41:05,797
Sooner or later, an attack will land.

349
00:41:11,428 --> 00:41:14,806
And where a single cheetah
struggles to kill a wildebeest…

350
00:41:15,516 --> 00:41:17,518
[dramatic music continues]

351
00:41:20,395 --> 00:41:21,688
[bleating]

352
00:41:24,483 --> 00:41:27,694
…combined power
is enough to bring it down.

353
00:41:53,762 --> 00:41:55,889
[somber music plays]

354
00:42:08,151 --> 00:42:12,573
Joining forces helps big cats
become more successful hunters.

355
00:42:16,577 --> 00:42:22,833
But for lions, strength in numbers
is even more important in defense.

356
00:42:36,221 --> 00:42:38,682
The Okavango cubs are carefree,

357
00:42:40,058 --> 00:42:42,477
unaware their lives are about to change.

358
00:42:46,898 --> 00:42:47,983
[distant growling]

359
00:42:49,484 --> 00:42:53,322
The sound that strikes fear
into every lion family.

360
00:42:55,616 --> 00:42:58,201
[distant growling continues]

361
00:43:01,747 --> 00:43:04,041
The roaming males are getting close,

362
00:43:05,917 --> 00:43:08,795
intent on taking over the pride.

363
00:43:20,682 --> 00:43:24,311
If they succeed,
the intruders will kill the cubs

364
00:43:25,062 --> 00:43:27,731
to bring the females back into season.

365
00:43:27,814 --> 00:43:29,232
[growls]

366
00:43:33,028 --> 00:43:35,530
The pride males try to intimidate.

367
00:43:36,490 --> 00:43:40,243
[roaring]

368
00:43:45,666 --> 00:43:48,585
But the intruders are not backing down.

369
00:43:48,669 --> 00:43:54,216
[distant roaring]

370
00:43:59,346 --> 00:44:00,806
[roaring]

371
00:44:02,808 --> 00:44:04,976
A fight is inevitable.

372
00:44:07,479 --> 00:44:10,649
The lionesses need to get their cubs
away from danger.

373
00:44:11,316 --> 00:44:18,115
[roaring]

374
00:44:20,075 --> 00:44:22,452
But their route to safety is blocked.

375
00:44:22,953 --> 00:44:24,955
[sudden music sting]

376
00:44:27,791 --> 00:44:30,377
These cats usually avoid water.

377
00:44:34,131 --> 00:44:35,132
With good reason.

378
00:44:39,428 --> 00:44:40,595
But there's no choice.

379
00:44:43,890 --> 00:44:45,183
No turning back now.

380
00:44:47,144 --> 00:44:50,522
[soft growling]

381
00:44:55,861 --> 00:45:01,950
[soft growling]

382
00:45:02,576 --> 00:45:05,620
[suspenseful music plays]

383
00:45:12,753 --> 00:45:14,671
The youngest struggle to keep up.

384
00:45:27,184 --> 00:45:28,518
Just a little further.

385
00:45:46,661 --> 00:45:49,706
Finally, with Mom leading the way,

386
00:45:50,332 --> 00:45:51,833
they make it to safety.

387
00:45:54,127 --> 00:45:56,129
[tranquil music plays]

388
00:46:11,603 --> 00:46:13,480
But not all have been so lucky.

389
00:46:16,149 --> 00:46:18,068
[somber music plays]

390
00:46:18,151 --> 00:46:19,820
One of the pride males.

391
00:46:21,613 --> 00:46:24,574
Protecting the cubs has cost him his life.

392
00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:33,083
Now, only their father survives.

393
00:46:33,875 --> 00:46:37,546
[emotional music playing]

394
00:46:37,629 --> 00:46:41,675
How long he can maintain his rule
remains to be seen.

395
00:46:49,641 --> 00:46:52,269
For now, at least, the cubs are safe…

396
00:46:55,772 --> 00:46:59,109
growing strong with the love
and protection of the pride…

397
00:47:05,782 --> 00:47:08,785
and a father
who'll defend them with his life.

398
00:47:12,372 --> 00:47:15,417
[emotional music rising]

399
00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:21,673
All big cats are born into a life
full of danger and drama.

400
00:47:28,138 --> 00:47:31,141
But as long as we give them
the freedom they need…

401
00:47:33,935 --> 00:47:38,273
these magnificent animals will live on.

402
00:47:39,608 --> 00:47:41,610
[soaring dramatic music plays]

403
00:47:47,782 --> 00:47:50,368
[closing theme music playing]