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[relaxing music]

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Downloaded from
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Official YIFY movies site:
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malika: Many stories have
been told about my homeland

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of the untamed wilderness and
the amazing wildlife found

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within it.

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[gentle music]

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[chirping]

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but one legend is
greater than any other.

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We are the dominant
predator here.

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Our power shapes
the lives of all

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the other animals around us.

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But this is not the story
you've heard before, the tale

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of a cub born to be king.

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When people say we're
the king of the beasts,

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they don't know the
reality of a lion's life.

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The real ruler is the lioness.

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Not only do we take
care of the parenting.

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We also do most of the hunting.

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[dramatic music]

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we are the heart
of lion society.

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The future of the pride depends
on our strength and tenderness.

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But success is no birthright.

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It has to be earned.

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The journey from cub
to mother is long.

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It's a journey of
bitter struggle

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and unbreakable bonds, a journey
that very few ever complete.

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My name is malika.

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And this is my story.

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[inspirational music]

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[gentle music, birds chirping]

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in the world today, no more
than 30,000 of us lions survive.

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Nowhere are we more
abundant than here, my home,

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the kruger of south africa.

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This is my pride.

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And this is me in my prime.

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[low growl]

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our family growing
strong, our bellies full--

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good times.

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Just focusing on
what we do best--

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relaxing in the
shade, being lions.

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[fly buzzes]

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we spend 2/3 of our day
asleep, even longer if we can.

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But out here, the
peace never lasts long.

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A lion's life is so savage.

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Sooner or later,
your time comes.

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[dramatic music]

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[moans]

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[thuds]

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[gentle music]

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so now, here I am,
broken, wounded, alone,

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staring death in the face,
looking back on life,

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searching for the
strength to carry on.

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[heavy breathing]

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this might be where
my life story ends.

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But let me tell
you how it began--

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in a happier place.

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The first six weeks, it
was just the three of us--

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my mom, my brother, and me.

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I was born lucky to
a confident mother.

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All my food and water came
entirely from her milk.

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[yelps]

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my brother and I never went
hungry, never had any worries,

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just all the love and
attention two little lions

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could possibly need [purring]
as we grew up together.

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Even at this early age,
I was learning lion.

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[squealing, slurping]

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my mom would keep
me clean, massage

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my belly to help my digestion.

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And whatever she
did, I practiced

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on my brother,
simple acts passed

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down through generations.

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Safe in my tiny world.

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Little did I know, family life
was about to get complicated.

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At a month and a
half old, I just

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couldn't wait to meet my pride.

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We are the only cats that
live in extended families.

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So many aunts and cousins.

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I was in good company.

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[yelping, purring]

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we were six cubs in total, all
similar in age, all sharing

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adventures.

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That's how my mother
and her sisters grew up,

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too, bonded from birth,
[snarling] bonded by blood.

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There are no alpha
females in a pride.

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Lionesses share
parenting duties and even

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nurse each other's cubs.

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[flies buzzing]

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one big family.

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I was close to my aunts, and
they treated me like their own.

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This sisterhood has secured
our pride lands for centuries.

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My calling was to keep it that
way for future generations.

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But before a lioness can
defend her territory,

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she has to discover it.

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And I didn't need
any encouragement.

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My fortune would depend
on an intimate knowledge

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of my home range--

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how to hunt in the thick
woodlands, when it's

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safe to cross the
open grasslands,

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and where to find water in the
riverbeds that feed the land.

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But most of all, I had to get
to know the other animals.

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[inspirational music]

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[snarling]

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[elephant moans]

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naturally, a lion
has many enemies--

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the creatures we prey upon
and the other carnivores we

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compete with.

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We may be at the top of the food
chain, but I was just a cub.

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[howling]

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there's quite a few who
could have killed me.

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[gloomy music]

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hyenas are our
most bitter rivals.

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[yelps] suddenly, I
wasn't feeling so brave.

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[yelps] on my own, I
didn't stand a chance.

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[ominous music]

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without a pride for
protection, a lone lion is

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vulnerable, especially a cub.

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[lion growls] that's
where my father came in.

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His duty was patrolling
the perimeter, defending

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our pride from other animals.

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[birds chirp]

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and so I scampered
home unscathed.

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My father's greatest challenge
was fighting off other lions.

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Though he had my
uncle for backup,

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they were both growing old.

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The threat of invasion
was coming closer.

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And when outside males
take over a pride,

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they will kill any cubs
that are not their own.

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[lighthearted music]

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but a little lioness can't
afford to live in fear

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or to lie around.

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I needed to focus on growing
fast and learning quick.

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My mother was the
ultimate trainer.

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She knew life would
be full of fight.

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It was disguised
as fun, but that's

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how she sharpened my skills.

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My mother and her sisters still
play to keep on their game.

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[low growling] until I
was as fierce as them, I

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picked on someone my own size--

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[snarls] my sparring partners.

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Of the six of us, I was
definitely the toughest.

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But I still wasn't
killing it, so to speak.

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Becoming a great
hunter needs to be

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approached one step at a time.

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My first taste of meat--

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just like life, I
was ready to bite in.

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If I wanted to grow
strong, I had to fill up.

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But pretty soon, that
wouldn't be so easy.

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[gloomy music]

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by September, the
dry season took hold.

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Three months since
the last rains.

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The land became parched.

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Life got tough for everyone.

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And tempers begin to fray.

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[elephant roars]

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[growling]

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the only water was miles away.

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Animals left our
territory by the herd.

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00:16:20,105 --> 00:16:23,648
And when prey moves,
predators must follow.

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My mother and aunts were forced
to spend more time out hunting,

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more time away from us.

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Even my father had to
abandon his line of defense

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to help the hunt.

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Too young to join them, all
us cubs could do was sit tight

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and hope they
returned successful.

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[gentle music]

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the urge to explore
got the better of me.

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[ominous music]

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they say curiosity
killed the cat.

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But this time,
it's saved my life.

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[cub yelps]

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[snarls, whimpers]

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couldn't see what was happening,
couldn't do anything to help,

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but that day shaped
the rest of my life.

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[lion growls]

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[somber music]

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[hyenas yelp]

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by the time my mother and father
returned, it was too late.

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Only my brother was still
alive, but not for long.

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There was nothing my
mom could do either.

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No point in chasing.

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The damage was done.

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Our already struggling
pride was completely broken.

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A whole generation wiped out
in a single day, except for me.

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Hyenas may be our
mortal enemies.

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But for one animal to
thrive, others must die.

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It's not good or bad.

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It's just survival.

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So I had no one to
grow up with, no one

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to share my journey, the entire
pride's future resting on me.

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00:20:04,787 --> 00:20:06,662
[lions moaning, birds chirping]

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losing my brother and cousins
was devastating to our pride.

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00:20:34,901 --> 00:20:38,194
Though we deal in
death every day,

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we're not mindless killers.

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We're intelligent, sensitive,
and just like you, we grieve.

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As a young cub, I didn't
really understand.

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Maybe I thought I
could make things

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better, cheer everyone up.

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00:21:14,399 --> 00:21:17,525
But it turns out
grief takes its time.

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A month later.

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My pride still calling out.

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00:21:44,304 --> 00:21:47,096
My aunts had lost their cubs.

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00:21:52,395 --> 00:21:55,104
And my father
needed reassurance.

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00:21:57,358 --> 00:22:03,988
He knew his legacy was in
danger and that he was becoming

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too frail to defend our pride.

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00:22:09,829 --> 00:22:11,996
[moaning]

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00:22:20,798 --> 00:22:26,635
so it was up to us lionesses
to be stronger than ever

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00:22:26,763 --> 00:22:29,764
and carry the family
through these brutal times.

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00:22:40,777 --> 00:22:43,611
Male lions come and go.

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00:22:43,696 --> 00:22:48,032
They're transitory in our lives.

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00:22:48,159 --> 00:22:50,743
But the sisterhood is eternal.

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00:22:50,828 --> 00:22:53,287
[uplifting music]

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00:22:57,794 --> 00:23:02,463
our pride has held this same
territory for centuries.

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00:23:04,926 --> 00:23:08,636
And our legacy is handed
down from mother to daughter.

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00:23:14,727 --> 00:23:20,731
Now it was my turn to embrace my
power and to lead as a lioness.

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00:23:28,116 --> 00:23:30,991
I had the youth and
vitality to give

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00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,870
my family hope for the future.

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00:23:34,997 --> 00:23:36,789
[grunting]

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00:23:36,874 --> 00:23:38,082
[growls]

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it was hard not having any
cubs around for company.

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00:23:43,172 --> 00:23:47,758
But now I was an only
child with the attention

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00:23:47,885 --> 00:23:53,556
of the whole pride, giving
me the best possible chance.

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00:23:57,061 --> 00:23:59,562
[lighthearted music]

224
00:24:03,901 --> 00:24:06,777
if I was to live
up to my potential,

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00:24:06,863 --> 00:24:15,911
I had to pick myself up and
make the most of each day,

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00:24:15,997 --> 00:24:22,751
push the boundaries, be
fearless, and play hard.

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00:24:25,631 --> 00:24:35,473
With no other cubs around, the
adults had to be my playmates,

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00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,224
as well as my providers.

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00:24:40,396 --> 00:24:43,314
And when it came
to food, I always

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00:24:43,399 --> 00:24:45,566
tried to take the lion's share.

231
00:24:49,697 --> 00:24:51,697
I had quite the appetite.

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00:24:56,037 --> 00:24:59,205
Every day was a chance
to discover my strengths.

233
00:25:02,251 --> 00:25:05,753
And I was becoming malika--

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00:25:08,466 --> 00:25:14,220
adventurous, kind, and a habit
for hanging around in trees.

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00:25:19,685 --> 00:25:23,354
As my confidence grew,
the spirit of the pride

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was restored.

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00:25:32,156 --> 00:25:38,035
We were united again,
stepping down the road ahead.

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00:25:42,083 --> 00:25:46,627
And I was said to be right
at the center of the team.

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00:25:50,841 --> 00:25:51,715
Or so I thought.

240
00:25:55,388 --> 00:25:59,181
My father had been defending
our pride for over five years.

241
00:26:02,061 --> 00:26:07,606
Each day we grew
stronger, he grew weaker.

242
00:26:07,692 --> 00:26:10,734
The threat of a takeover
was inching ever closer.

243
00:26:10,861 --> 00:26:12,820
[gloomy music]

244
00:26:12,947 --> 00:26:17,616
and when new males appear, any
cubs from the old bloodline

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00:26:17,702 --> 00:26:19,034
become a target.

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00:26:27,837 --> 00:26:29,587
[grunting]

247
00:26:30,673 --> 00:26:34,466
five months old and I
was one fierce feline.

248
00:26:34,594 --> 00:26:37,094
[playful music]

249
00:26:37,179 --> 00:26:41,682
at least that's
how I felt inside.

250
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:45,060
Ok, so maybe it wasn't me
who hunted that giraffe.

251
00:26:48,608 --> 00:26:51,358
You need experience
to make a big kill.

252
00:26:57,867 --> 00:26:59,241
Far too much to finish.

253
00:26:59,327 --> 00:27:02,244
It was the perfect chance
to play with my food.

254
00:27:08,377 --> 00:27:14,715
Let my killer instincts
emerge, slowly.

255
00:27:22,975 --> 00:27:24,683
Luckily, my mother was patient.

256
00:27:30,524 --> 00:27:33,233
The more space she
gave me, the sooner

257
00:27:33,361 --> 00:27:35,110
I would become a real predator.

258
00:27:38,866 --> 00:27:41,700
But until that day,
I was still prey.

259
00:27:46,624 --> 00:27:48,415
My mom was scared for my safety.

260
00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:50,751
[ominous music]

261
00:27:59,887 --> 00:28:00,719
[snarls]

262
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:06,433
hyenas weren't
her greatest fear.

263
00:28:12,525 --> 00:28:15,943
For the past few weeks, a young
male had been venturing deep

264
00:28:16,028 --> 00:28:17,528
into our territory.

265
00:28:22,284 --> 00:28:27,579
She was clearly worried but
tried not to let it show.

266
00:28:27,707 --> 00:28:29,540
[growls]

267
00:28:29,625 --> 00:28:33,210
[gentle music]

268
00:28:33,295 --> 00:28:36,463
and as long as we were
together, I felt safe.

269
00:28:40,136 --> 00:28:41,969
My mother's touch
let me know I was

270
00:28:42,096 --> 00:28:47,099
doing ok and ready for
the next big lesson

271
00:28:47,226 --> 00:28:48,642
in becoming a hunter.

272
00:28:51,897 --> 00:28:54,481
[chirping]

273
00:28:58,487 --> 00:29:03,365
it's only when the sun sets
that a lion's day really begins.

274
00:29:11,667 --> 00:29:13,709
The air is cool.

275
00:29:13,836 --> 00:29:16,211
The light is low.

276
00:29:16,338 --> 00:29:18,589
We gain an edge over our prey.

277
00:29:22,428 --> 00:29:25,721
Few ever glimpse our
secret shadowy world.

278
00:29:31,386 --> 00:29:37,566
But our night vision is six
times better than your own.

279
00:29:37,693 --> 00:29:39,193
[howling]

280
00:29:40,905 --> 00:29:45,157
seven out of 10 kills are made
under the cover of darkness.

281
00:29:49,538 --> 00:29:57,795
My first time on a
hunt and I was ready.

282
00:29:57,880 --> 00:29:59,129
[growls]

283
00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:04,843
but, for some reason,
my mom decided

284
00:30:04,970 --> 00:30:07,095
first I should just watch.

285
00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:13,060
[grunts]

286
00:30:20,528 --> 00:30:22,486
used cover to get close.

287
00:30:22,571 --> 00:30:24,404
[energetic music]

288
00:30:30,913 --> 00:30:32,621
but the big lesson--

289
00:30:32,706 --> 00:30:35,541
hunting is hard.

290
00:30:35,626 --> 00:30:38,877
90% of attempts fail.

291
00:30:38,963 --> 00:30:42,130
And that's without
a cub tagging along.

292
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:48,679
[grass rustling]

293
00:31:01,527 --> 00:31:03,527
[yelping]

294
00:31:10,411 --> 00:31:12,327
it was going to be a long night.

295
00:31:15,165 --> 00:31:19,167
Then the pride joined
us, and the mood changed.

296
00:31:22,131 --> 00:31:25,716
If we didn't make a kill
every couple of days,

297
00:31:25,843 --> 00:31:27,175
we began to starve.

298
00:31:30,139 --> 00:31:36,310
I had taken food for granted,
never realized how hard it

299
00:31:36,395 --> 00:31:42,399
was to catch a herd of impala.

300
00:31:48,782 --> 00:31:53,869
I found cover and watched
as the pride took positions,

301
00:31:53,996 --> 00:31:56,079
saw how the
lionesses coordinated

302
00:31:56,165 --> 00:32:00,042
a hunt, how they worked
together to set a trap.

303
00:32:06,550 --> 00:32:10,010
Absorbed in the action,
I lost sight of my mom.

304
00:32:10,095 --> 00:32:12,304
[gloomy music]

305
00:32:38,123 --> 00:32:41,124
then something
spooked the impala.

306
00:32:41,251 --> 00:32:46,296
[growling] the ambush
had failed again.

307
00:32:50,719 --> 00:32:53,637
Or had it?

308
00:32:53,722 --> 00:32:54,846
My mother came out of nowhere.

309
00:32:54,932 --> 00:32:57,432
[dramatic music]

310
00:32:58,102 --> 00:33:00,227
[hooves thudding]

311
00:33:05,901 --> 00:33:07,442
[impala groans]

312
00:33:16,286 --> 00:33:18,996
but just because you make
the kill doesn't mean

313
00:33:19,123 --> 00:33:20,414
you get to eat first.

314
00:33:20,499 --> 00:33:22,499
[growling]

315
00:33:48,027 --> 00:33:49,568
my father and uncle.

316
00:33:52,364 --> 00:33:54,781
It's pretty typical
for males to muscle

317
00:33:54,867 --> 00:33:58,326
in on a female's hard work.

318
00:33:58,412 --> 00:34:03,874
But that night, they
seemed extra aggressive.

319
00:34:04,001 --> 00:34:08,128
[snarls] it was a sign.

320
00:34:08,255 --> 00:34:14,342
They were weak and hungry,
desperate to keep up strength.

321
00:34:14,470 --> 00:34:17,179
But I had to look
out for myself.

322
00:34:17,264 --> 00:34:20,682
I knew any hostility
towards me was just a front.

323
00:34:20,759 --> 00:34:23,310
[gentle music]

324
00:34:28,358 --> 00:34:32,027
I was my father's last
cub, the only chance

325
00:34:32,112 --> 00:34:34,237
to keep his bloodline alive.

326
00:34:39,411 --> 00:34:43,580
And once he was gone,
it would be me alone,

327
00:34:43,707 --> 00:34:46,291
fighting for every single scrap.

328
00:34:55,886 --> 00:34:58,136
The dry season passed.

329
00:34:58,222 --> 00:35:01,348
The rains arrived.

330
00:35:01,433 --> 00:35:06,019
The land flushed so green, I
barely recognize my own home.

331
00:35:06,105 --> 00:35:09,106
[lighthearted music, chirping]

332
00:35:11,318 --> 00:35:22,911
and with the transformation
came relief, even for my father.

333
00:35:23,038 --> 00:35:26,581
Though old, his love
for me never wavered.

334
00:35:29,628 --> 00:35:32,504
And the force of our
pride was unstoppable.

335
00:35:38,470 --> 00:35:41,012
It was time for the
family to relax.

336
00:35:44,226 --> 00:35:47,936
But for me, it was
time for adventure.

337
00:35:48,021 --> 00:35:50,230
[elephant groans]

338
00:35:53,986 --> 00:35:56,194
[trumpets]

339
00:36:04,454 --> 00:36:12,586
when the dry season came around
again, a whole year had passed.

340
00:36:17,259 --> 00:36:26,308
And I was almost fully grown,
but just a kid at heart,

341
00:36:26,393 --> 00:36:29,811
still liked hanging
out in trees,

342
00:36:29,897 --> 00:36:33,106
still just wanted to have fun.

343
00:36:33,192 --> 00:36:36,476
And luckily, my
mother was still game.

344
00:36:36,570 --> 00:36:39,112
[playful music]

345
00:36:57,132 --> 00:37:00,300
the older I got, the
harder she could play.

346
00:37:11,605 --> 00:37:16,107
When I tired her out, I
moved on to my aunts, who

347
00:37:16,193 --> 00:37:18,068
had a few rounds left in them.

348
00:37:28,247 --> 00:37:30,497
Not everyone was in
the mood for play.

349
00:37:32,668 --> 00:37:36,711
My uncle died a few months
before, leaving my father

350
00:37:36,797 --> 00:37:38,755
to deal with the
increasing pressure

351
00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:41,424
from invading males on his own.

352
00:37:44,638 --> 00:37:47,472
Nothing I could do to help--

353
00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:50,725
just save my own energy for
when the battle came to me.

354
00:37:55,107 --> 00:37:57,899
Ultimately, all us
animals out here

355
00:37:57,985 --> 00:38:01,069
are fighting for
the same thing--

356
00:38:01,196 --> 00:38:06,408
to protect our little patch for
the next generation to grow.

357
00:38:06,535 --> 00:38:08,493
[squawking]

358
00:38:10,664 --> 00:38:19,129
problem is, there is always
someone bigger who comes along

359
00:38:19,214 --> 00:38:21,464
and tramples on your plans.

360
00:38:37,190 --> 00:38:41,568
Often, the only solution is
to tackle the threat head on.

361
00:39:05,761 --> 00:39:09,429
When your family is on the
line, you do whatever you can.

362
00:39:12,601 --> 00:39:14,142
[lion snarls]

363
00:39:16,563 --> 00:39:19,105
[ominous music]

364
00:39:19,232 --> 00:39:24,069
but sometimes the stakes
are just too high.

365
00:39:24,196 --> 00:39:31,534
[growls] the outside
male was back,

366
00:39:31,661 --> 00:39:42,295
stronger, closer, and this time
with his brother for backup.

367
00:40:19,376 --> 00:40:24,212
I was frozen, paralyzed in fear.

368
00:40:24,297 --> 00:40:29,717
My mother did her best
to distract, leading them

369
00:40:29,803 --> 00:40:32,262
on to lead them away from me.

370
00:40:35,767 --> 00:40:37,267
But they would not relent.

371
00:40:39,980 --> 00:40:44,524
Too young to bear cubs,
I was of no value,

372
00:40:44,651 --> 00:40:49,696
just a remnant of my father's
bloodline they wanted gone.

373
00:40:49,781 --> 00:40:51,364
[snarls]

374
00:41:08,550 --> 00:41:14,095
as soon as they chased me
away, one of the brothers

375
00:41:14,181 --> 00:41:15,597
dealt with my father.

376
00:41:18,268 --> 00:41:20,560
The other set his
sights on my mother.

377
00:41:22,981 --> 00:41:25,482
She would have to
adapt to the new order.

378
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:27,692
[somber music]

379
00:41:32,282 --> 00:41:34,657
but my father's fate was sealed.

380
00:41:34,743 --> 00:41:37,160
[growling]

381
00:41:40,916 --> 00:41:55,345
[whimpers]

382
00:41:55,430 --> 00:41:58,723
after a life of
fighting, he was done.

383
00:42:02,812 --> 00:42:05,063
That was the last
time I saw him.

384
00:42:09,903 --> 00:42:11,110
There was no return.

385
00:42:17,285 --> 00:42:19,327
The moment the
brothers took over

386
00:42:19,412 --> 00:42:31,965
was the moment my childhood
ended, banished from my pride

387
00:42:32,092 --> 00:42:35,426
with no idea how I
would ever return.

388
00:42:42,852 --> 00:42:45,645
[somber music]

389
00:42:47,107 --> 00:42:56,531
exiled and exposed, without my
pride, my chances were slim.

390
00:43:00,078 --> 00:43:03,204
Our social nature means
we starve for contact.

391
00:43:07,210 --> 00:43:08,668
No more bodies for comfort.

392
00:43:12,048 --> 00:43:13,715
No one to share food.

393
00:43:20,974 --> 00:43:24,309
Wandering the wilderness,
I avoided the brothers

394
00:43:24,394 --> 00:43:30,148
by sticking to the no man's
land between territories,

395
00:43:30,233 --> 00:43:33,026
only to find hostility
from other prides.

396
00:43:42,454 --> 00:43:45,747
Nowhere was safe.

397
00:43:45,832 --> 00:43:47,457
Hunger was setting in.

398
00:43:56,926 --> 00:44:02,430
I had seen how hard it was
for a lion to hunt alone.

399
00:44:02,515 --> 00:44:05,642
And I had never even
made a kill before.

400
00:44:15,195 --> 00:44:17,195
No help to set an ambush.

401
00:44:21,076 --> 00:44:23,368
No help to run down prey.

402
00:44:29,959 --> 00:44:32,210
Everything was a long shot.

403
00:44:43,598 --> 00:44:47,809
In desperation, I made
a serious mistake.

404
00:44:47,894 --> 00:44:50,061
[panting]

405
00:44:53,817 --> 00:44:56,442
[ominous music]

406
00:44:56,528 --> 00:44:59,737
when the rhino
didn't run, it felt

407
00:44:59,864 --> 00:45:10,164
like a chance, a deadly one.

408
00:45:10,250 --> 00:45:11,958
But what choice did I have?

409
00:45:45,368 --> 00:45:48,953
I was lucky to
escape with my life.

410
00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:52,457
But if I didn't find
food soon, I would die.

411
00:45:56,504 --> 00:46:01,215
I had to learn to
think like a scavenger

412
00:46:01,301 --> 00:46:05,219
and follow the telltale
signs of carcasses.

413
00:46:08,683 --> 00:46:16,314
It was time to put self-respect
aside and fight for scraps.

414
00:46:16,399 --> 00:46:18,608
[gloomy music]

415
00:46:26,117 --> 00:46:28,326
but even they were
not easily won.

416
00:46:32,540 --> 00:46:38,503
The same clan of hyenas
that killed my brother,

417
00:46:38,630 --> 00:46:42,632
their pack could easily
overpower a single lion.

418
00:46:48,389 --> 00:46:57,522
I had to pick my
moment carefully, wait

419
00:46:57,649 --> 00:47:11,244
until my enemies had taken
their fill, then, finally,

420
00:47:11,329 --> 00:47:12,161
take mine--

421
00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:20,127
the last in line at
a beggar's banquet.

422
00:47:28,263 --> 00:47:30,596
Without my pride, I was nothing.

423
00:47:34,978 --> 00:47:40,565
And all the time, they
were so close but so far.

424
00:47:49,742 --> 00:47:55,580
Whenever I encountered the
brothers, I acted submissive.

425
00:47:58,793 --> 00:48:02,753
But they made it clear I was
an outsider in my own land.

426
00:48:05,508 --> 00:48:11,721
Someday, somehow, I
had to find a way back.

427
00:48:11,848 --> 00:48:14,599
My survival depended on it.

428
00:48:19,939 --> 00:48:20,897
[somber music, chirping]

429
00:48:28,907 --> 00:48:30,865
the months spent
in isolation were

430
00:48:30,992 --> 00:48:38,122
the hardest time in
my life, watching

431
00:48:38,249 --> 00:48:41,000
my own family from the outside.

432
00:48:54,682 --> 00:48:57,558
But there were glimmers of
hope that things could change.

433
00:49:00,063 --> 00:49:02,229
[uplifting music]

434
00:49:02,315 --> 00:49:04,357
one day, my mother
found the courage

435
00:49:04,442 --> 00:49:09,820
to come over and greet
me, the first affection

436
00:49:09,906 --> 00:49:11,572
I have felt in months.

437
00:49:16,371 --> 00:49:19,080
But the brothers
were always watching.

438
00:49:25,296 --> 00:49:29,507
If I wanted to be accepted,
I had to bide my time

439
00:49:29,634 --> 00:49:33,552
and find a way to earn my
place back within the pride.

440
00:49:54,117 --> 00:49:57,618
At night, the brothers
would go out on patrol.

441
00:50:03,167 --> 00:50:07,128
Once they were far
enough away, I snuck

442
00:50:07,255 --> 00:50:08,713
back to my mother and aunts.

443
00:50:18,057 --> 00:50:22,143
It was the middle
of the dry season.

444
00:50:22,228 --> 00:50:24,562
They needed to make a kill too.

445
00:50:30,528 --> 00:50:33,446
And I finally had the
experience to help.

446
00:50:40,079 --> 00:50:43,330
After my close call
with the rhino,

447
00:50:43,416 --> 00:50:47,293
I knew a badly planned
attack on such a large animal

448
00:50:47,420 --> 00:50:50,337
wasn't worth it.

449
00:50:50,423 --> 00:51:05,144
[growling, moaning]
so I hung back,

450
00:51:05,229 --> 00:51:06,979
waited for a better chance.

451
00:51:13,446 --> 00:51:17,406
When they failed,
I had another plan.

452
00:51:22,789 --> 00:51:27,124
It was time to put my climbing
and scavenging skill to use.

453
00:51:38,638 --> 00:51:44,225
Ok, so I wasn't as
nimble as a leopard,

454
00:51:44,352 --> 00:51:47,520
but good enough
to intimidate it.

455
00:51:51,150 --> 00:51:55,444
As I climbed higher,
the leopard fled.

456
00:52:04,247 --> 00:52:11,460
A little persistence and
a head for heights and I

457
00:52:11,587 --> 00:52:13,212
claim the leopard's kill.

458
00:52:27,687 --> 00:52:30,396
But the brothers had returned.

459
00:52:30,481 --> 00:52:31,313
[snarls]

460
00:52:37,655 --> 00:52:39,238
I had to cut and run.

461
00:52:44,620 --> 00:52:49,748
But as they fed off my
success, it gave me hope.

462
00:52:49,876 --> 00:52:53,669
Maybe this was how I could win
my way back into the pride.

463
00:53:04,348 --> 00:53:09,226
As the dry season turned into
a drought, I reached maturity.

464
00:53:12,023 --> 00:53:15,191
Sure enough, the brothers
grew more tolerant.

465
00:53:17,737 --> 00:53:24,909
Perhaps they saw my potential
as a hunter or even as a mate.

466
00:53:25,036 --> 00:53:29,705
Or maybe they just didn't have
the energy to chase me away.

467
00:53:29,832 --> 00:53:31,957
[gloomy music]

468
00:53:32,043 --> 00:53:36,629
it was too hot to do
anything, and famine

469
00:53:36,756 --> 00:53:38,172
was threatening our pride.

470
00:53:45,431 --> 00:53:52,019
Before things got worse,
it was time for me

471
00:53:52,104 --> 00:53:54,647
to become malika, the hunter.

472
00:54:01,530 --> 00:54:05,366
Even an old, lone buffalo
can be very dangerous.

473
00:54:09,121 --> 00:54:11,914
I began to stalk it.

474
00:54:11,999 --> 00:54:14,959
Then a strange thing happened.

475
00:54:15,086 --> 00:54:18,587
For once, I wasn't alone.

476
00:54:29,809 --> 00:54:34,311
Not only was I hunting with
my pride, I was the leader.

477
00:54:39,527 --> 00:54:43,028
And I'd made enough mistakes
to not mess this one up.

478
00:55:02,717 --> 00:55:06,719
When it came to the takedown,
it was my time to pounce.

479
00:55:06,804 --> 00:55:09,346
[uplifting music, moaning]

480
00:55:20,401 --> 00:55:24,028
quick, efficient, the
sisterhood working

481
00:55:24,113 --> 00:55:33,746
together with me at the center.

482
00:55:37,668 --> 00:55:41,170
More than enough to go
around, and we needed it.

483
00:55:43,716 --> 00:55:46,967
The brothers ate too.

484
00:55:47,053 --> 00:55:53,307
And this time, they had
to accept I was back,

485
00:55:53,392 --> 00:55:56,393
back at the heart of our pride.

486
00:56:00,775 --> 00:56:02,691
[birds calling]

487
00:56:05,112 --> 00:56:07,988
with all those lionesses
working together,

488
00:56:08,115 --> 00:56:10,157
we got through the worst
drought I can remember.

489
00:56:12,995 --> 00:56:16,705
Even so, none of us had
the strength to raise cubs.

490
00:56:19,460 --> 00:56:21,293
[thunder rumbles]

491
00:56:22,671 --> 00:56:28,967
then, finally, the rains broke.

492
00:56:29,053 --> 00:56:31,929
[uplifting music]

493
00:56:32,014 --> 00:56:34,181
[rain pattering]

494
00:56:51,200 --> 00:56:53,200
it barely stopped for weeks.

495
00:56:58,249 --> 00:57:00,958
But no one was complaining.

496
00:57:22,231 --> 00:57:24,273
The land was rejuvenated.

497
00:57:27,403 --> 00:57:45,502
It seemed more vibrant than
ever, teeming with life

498
00:57:45,629 --> 00:57:54,261
and full of opportunities
that we were ready to seize.

499
00:58:03,189 --> 00:58:06,648
But just when food and water
were no longer a problem,

500
00:58:06,734 --> 00:58:08,734
new challenges emerged.

501
00:58:13,199 --> 00:58:17,117
After the rains, all
attention turns to breeding.

502
00:58:23,125 --> 00:58:27,586
Males desperately
try to win a mate.

503
00:58:27,713 --> 00:58:30,714
It's the same old story
throughout the animal kingdom.

504
00:58:38,557 --> 00:58:43,227
They fight it out
amongst themselves.

505
00:58:43,354 --> 00:58:47,981
The females watch on, waiting
to see who comes out on top.

506
00:58:58,369 --> 00:59:02,037
The battles can get
so intense, sometimes

507
00:59:02,122 --> 00:59:04,706
it's best to leave them to it.

508
00:59:11,632 --> 00:59:15,425
Unfortunately, we didn't have
that option with the brothers.

509
00:59:18,264 --> 00:59:26,687
[snarls] we tried to appease and
integrate them into the pride,

510
00:59:26,814 --> 00:59:29,940
but there was an
underlying tension

511
00:59:30,025 --> 00:59:34,403
that we had to tiptoe around.

512
00:59:34,530 --> 00:59:43,412
The slightest wrong move and all
their frustrations boiled over.

513
00:59:48,586 --> 00:59:51,461
Though they were still young,
the constant aggression

514
00:59:51,547 --> 00:59:54,298
in their lives was
taking its toll--

515
00:59:58,304 --> 01:00:00,721
days spent recovering
from nights spent

516
01:00:00,806 --> 01:00:02,180
fighting with other males.

517
01:00:02,391 --> 01:00:10,606
[flies buzzing] to add insult to
injury, the king of the beasts

518
01:00:10,691 --> 01:00:13,692
were being tormented by
the smallest of foes.

519
01:00:18,574 --> 01:00:20,824
We were used to them.

520
01:00:20,951 --> 01:00:23,243
We just shook it off.

521
01:00:31,629 --> 01:00:37,215
I guess the brothers weren't
so tough as they made out.

522
01:00:37,343 --> 01:00:42,679
Honestly, they weren't
much use at all.

523
01:00:42,765 --> 01:00:44,681
But with no cubs
to protect, we were

524
01:00:44,767 --> 01:00:47,184
doing just fine without them.

525
01:00:54,860 --> 01:01:01,698
I was gaining a reputation
as one of the best hunters,

526
01:01:01,784 --> 01:01:03,533
and it was going to my head.

527
01:01:11,085 --> 01:01:14,461
After so much rejection,
the feeling of approval

528
01:01:14,546 --> 01:01:15,462
was addictive.

529
01:01:19,510 --> 01:01:23,428
They say pride
comes before a fall.

530
01:01:23,555 --> 01:01:26,098
But at the time, I
couldn't see it happening.

531
01:01:26,225 --> 01:01:28,183
[heart beat thumping]

532
01:01:35,109 --> 01:01:37,025
we set off stalking together.

533
01:01:42,032 --> 01:01:44,366
But I wanted this
one for myself.

534
01:02:00,843 --> 01:02:04,761
A zebra is a real prize.

535
01:02:04,847 --> 01:02:07,139
It takes everything to win it--

536
01:02:09,476 --> 01:02:15,230
strength, speed, and,
most of all, timing.

537
01:02:18,610 --> 01:02:19,651
Got to get close.

538
01:02:23,699 --> 01:02:24,531
Pick your moment.

539
01:02:29,705 --> 01:02:32,706
Then commit 100%.

540
01:02:32,791 --> 01:02:35,375
[ominous music]

541
01:02:41,341 --> 01:02:43,049
[yelping]

542
01:02:43,135 --> 01:02:45,719
[dramatic music]

543
01:02:46,722 --> 01:02:48,722
[snarling, squealing]

544
01:03:07,701 --> 01:03:13,997
another welcome
meal, interrupted

545
01:03:14,124 --> 01:03:16,500
by the usual unwelcome guests.

546
01:03:24,218 --> 01:03:25,592
[snarls]

547
01:03:27,930 --> 01:03:30,430
I wasn't putting
up with it anymore.

548
01:03:34,603 --> 01:03:38,313
I'd had enough of
those who just take.

549
01:03:38,440 --> 01:03:41,858
We all had.

550
01:03:41,944 --> 01:03:44,069
[bird chirping]

551
01:03:47,241 --> 01:03:49,783
still getting it
from all angles,

552
01:03:49,910 --> 01:03:53,453
the brothers were so battle
weary, something had to give.

553
01:04:04,883 --> 01:04:07,509
A lone but imposing male.

554
01:04:16,270 --> 01:04:17,102
[snarls]

555
01:04:20,899 --> 01:04:23,066
it should have been easy--

556
01:04:23,193 --> 01:04:24,526
two against one.

557
01:04:29,783 --> 01:04:34,119
But the new male
was so intimidating,

558
01:04:34,246 --> 01:04:36,705
only one of the brothers
was prepared to fight.

559
01:04:40,961 --> 01:04:42,961
He soon regretted that decision.

560
01:04:43,046 --> 01:04:45,589
[dramatic music, snarling]

561
01:04:55,976 --> 01:05:02,355
the brothers fled, tails between
their legs, never to return.

562
01:05:02,441 --> 01:05:04,983
[gentle music]

563
01:05:07,863 --> 01:05:12,449
whatever this new male was like,
he had to be an improvement.

564
01:05:15,537 --> 01:05:19,831
Right now, we didn't
really need his protection.

565
01:05:19,958 --> 01:05:20,999
We had that covered.

566
01:05:25,339 --> 01:05:28,840
Still, even the most
independent lioness needs

567
01:05:28,967 --> 01:05:30,300
a male for certain things.

568
01:05:34,097 --> 01:05:39,684
Finally, my chance to
become a mother had arrived.

569
01:05:39,811 --> 01:05:43,188
But fate had something
else in mind.

570
01:05:46,652 --> 01:05:48,902
[lighthearted music]

571
01:05:50,405 --> 01:05:55,158
for a few months after the
rains, my home felt like eden.

572
01:05:57,955 --> 01:06:01,039
The long drought
was long forgotten.

573
01:06:07,089 --> 01:06:10,548
And the brothers were
nowhere to be seen.

574
01:06:17,766 --> 01:06:20,183
The new male was
already displaying

575
01:06:20,268 --> 01:06:22,727
typical male lion traits.

576
01:06:25,399 --> 01:06:29,442
But, like my father,
he was gentle and warm.

577
01:06:34,491 --> 01:06:36,992
And over time, I
grew to like him.

578
01:06:49,840 --> 01:06:53,633
He followed me
like a shadow, part

579
01:06:53,719 --> 01:06:56,261
wooing me, part guarding me.

580
01:07:14,197 --> 01:07:17,532
And in the end, I
let him get close.

581
01:07:27,836 --> 01:07:31,254
It was the perfect time
to start a new generation.

582
01:07:39,931 --> 01:07:42,599
And that was where I left him.

583
01:07:52,277 --> 01:07:59,616
My place was back in the pride
where I would find the security

584
01:07:59,701 --> 01:08:01,242
and tenderness I needed.

585
01:08:07,334 --> 01:08:12,170
Best of all, my mother was
there to help as my own cubs

586
01:08:12,255 --> 01:08:14,005
began growing inside.

587
01:08:22,099 --> 01:08:26,226
Their father stuck around too.

588
01:08:26,311 --> 01:08:29,395
And his presence brought
stability to our pride.

589
01:08:32,859 --> 01:08:36,069
I couldn't rely on
him to stay forever,

590
01:08:36,154 --> 01:08:38,696
but I knew I had chosen well.

591
01:08:41,785 --> 01:08:45,578
His strong nature would
give my cubs the best

592
01:08:45,664 --> 01:08:47,288
roots from which to grow.

593
01:08:51,419 --> 01:08:56,381
In the meantime, it was
up to us lionesses to take

594
01:08:56,466 --> 01:08:57,465
care of business.

595
01:09:01,221 --> 01:09:05,723
So when we set out on the
prowl, it was business as usual.

596
01:09:13,567 --> 01:09:20,446
Though I'd seen a lot of lions
get hurt taking on buffalo,

597
01:09:20,532 --> 01:09:23,575
by then, I was
hunting for glory.

598
01:09:27,497 --> 01:09:31,708
If a cat has nine lives,
I still had a few left.

599
01:09:34,713 --> 01:09:35,420
[gloomy music]

600
01:09:35,505 --> 01:09:37,130
but I made a big mistake--

601
01:09:44,055 --> 01:09:46,264
forgot how much I
needed my pride.

602
01:09:53,440 --> 01:09:55,398
Thought I could
handle this alone.

603
01:10:06,328 --> 01:10:29,349
I lost sight of the
others, let my ego drive,

604
01:10:29,476 --> 01:10:33,311
didn't think about
my babies inside me.

605
01:10:33,396 --> 01:10:34,229
[snorts]

606
01:10:48,787 --> 01:10:53,706
if you deal in death
every day, eventually it

607
01:10:53,833 --> 01:10:55,708
comes back to bite you.

608
01:11:08,431 --> 01:11:11,307
Catching up to a buffalo
was the easy part.

609
01:11:15,021 --> 01:11:18,523
Finishing the job,
that's a different story.

610
01:11:29,828 --> 01:11:34,497
We get killed more often hunting
buffalo than any other prey.

611
01:11:40,839 --> 01:11:44,590
Taking on a 1,000-pound
beast on my own

612
01:11:44,718 --> 01:11:46,718
was a very dangerous move.

613
01:11:54,728 --> 01:11:57,353
Suddenly, I was a victim.

614
01:11:57,439 --> 01:12:00,440
[dramatic music]

615
01:12:11,369 --> 01:12:13,369
[snarling]

616
01:12:13,955 --> 01:12:14,704
[thuds]

617
01:12:14,789 --> 01:12:17,332
[hooves thudding]

618
01:12:31,097 --> 01:12:33,264
[somber music]

619
01:12:48,698 --> 01:12:52,992
broken, wounded, alone.

620
01:12:56,956 --> 01:12:59,457
For more than a
day, I barely moved.

621
01:13:02,253 --> 01:13:06,214
As the scavengers
began to circle,

622
01:13:06,341 --> 01:13:08,049
I tried to hide my weakness.

623
01:13:14,849 --> 01:13:23,106
I might last a
week without food,

624
01:13:23,191 --> 01:13:25,608
but only another
day without water.

625
01:13:35,495 --> 01:13:37,495
[hyena chattering]

626
01:13:40,834 --> 01:13:42,333
[snarls]

627
01:13:42,460 --> 01:13:43,292
[squawks]

628
01:13:43,420 --> 01:13:44,419
[whimpers]

629
01:13:47,799 --> 01:13:51,717
though the pain
was excruciating,

630
01:13:51,845 --> 01:13:54,053
my thirst was unbearable.

631
01:14:16,244 --> 01:14:19,495
After that, there was no plan.

632
01:14:19,622 --> 01:14:21,164
I could see no way out.

633
01:14:23,626 --> 01:14:25,168
It was just a matter of time.

634
01:14:28,423 --> 01:14:31,048
Days blurred into each other.

635
01:14:33,636 --> 01:14:35,428
I barely remember them passing.

636
01:14:44,689 --> 01:14:46,272
[fly buzzing]

637
01:14:55,408 --> 01:14:59,076
as I grew thinner,
scavengers drew

638
01:14:59,204 --> 01:15:05,666
closer, just waiting until I
couldn't fight back at all.

639
01:15:05,752 --> 01:15:07,293
[heavy breathing]

640
01:15:09,130 --> 01:15:10,630
[hyena laughing]

641
01:15:15,887 --> 01:15:18,054
[fly buzzing]

642
01:15:23,144 --> 01:15:26,270
very soon, I would be dead.

643
01:15:44,582 --> 01:15:46,165
[groaning]

644
01:15:48,086 --> 01:15:51,629
but something deep within
me wouldn't let go.

645
01:15:59,847 --> 01:16:03,307
Hope was growing inside.

646
01:16:03,434 --> 01:16:05,434
[uplifting music]

647
01:16:18,491 --> 01:16:21,450
a hope for the future
of my whole pride.

648
01:16:36,676 --> 01:16:38,259
[groaning]

649
01:16:39,637 --> 01:16:46,017
I heard a call, and I
knew this wasn't how

650
01:16:46,102 --> 01:16:48,060
my story was supposed to end.

651
01:16:58,906 --> 01:17:05,369
As long as there was
life left in my body,

652
01:17:05,496 --> 01:17:13,127
I would either find my
way home or die trying.

653
01:17:21,054 --> 01:17:23,346
[gentle music]

654
01:17:23,431 --> 01:17:26,307
I was too frail to
remember the journey.

655
01:17:45,703 --> 01:17:56,629
But with my last breath, I
made it back to my mother,

656
01:17:56,714 --> 01:17:57,713
back to safety.

657
01:18:03,429 --> 01:18:04,261
I was home.

658
01:18:09,102 --> 01:18:14,105
Though very weak, the pride
gave me a place to heal

659
01:18:14,190 --> 01:18:15,648
and kept hope alive.

660
01:18:23,825 --> 01:18:32,373
It took time to recover, but
slowly strength returned.

661
01:18:56,607 --> 01:19:01,652
Three months after nearly dying,
a whole new lease of life.

662
01:19:05,241 --> 01:19:09,076
I kept them hidden for
the first few weeks

663
01:19:09,162 --> 01:19:14,206
at the same riverbed
where I was born.

664
01:19:14,333 --> 01:19:17,752
Then it was time to
let them run free.

665
01:19:23,509 --> 01:19:27,303
My very own cubs,
just a month old.

666
01:19:31,142 --> 01:19:34,143
And just like me,
eager to explore.

667
01:19:34,228 --> 01:19:36,729
[lighthearted music]

668
01:19:47,825 --> 01:19:54,705
I found an even deeper love
than I had for my pride,

669
01:19:54,832 --> 01:19:57,124
a love only a mother knows.

670
01:20:10,264 --> 01:20:16,093
Sure, it was exhausting at
times, and I lost my patience.

671
01:20:16,145 --> 01:20:18,229
[low growling]

672
01:20:21,651 --> 01:20:28,030
but it never lasted long,
not with cubs that cute.

673
01:20:31,369 --> 01:20:33,661
I just remembered
what my mother did

674
01:20:33,788 --> 01:20:41,544
and let instincts guide,
tried to provide everything

675
01:20:41,629 --> 01:20:42,461
they needed--

676
01:20:44,966 --> 01:20:54,515
plenty of milk, a
guiding hand, and someone

677
01:20:54,600 --> 01:20:56,267
who will always be there.

678
01:21:01,440 --> 01:21:06,694
Life had a new purpose,
and so did my pride.

679
01:21:14,996 --> 01:21:17,413
We were growing
stronger by the day.

680
01:21:21,085 --> 01:21:25,713
My cubs became more independent,
and new ones arrived.

681
01:21:28,217 --> 01:21:34,013
The male stayed true,
guarding over our pride,

682
01:21:34,098 --> 01:21:36,849
while we lionesses
shared parenting duties

683
01:21:36,976 --> 01:21:41,562
and looked after all the
young in one big family,

684
01:21:41,647 --> 01:21:44,523
just like it was with
my brother and cousins.

685
01:21:51,240 --> 01:21:55,159
With so much care
and support, I was

686
01:21:55,244 --> 01:21:59,163
safe to do what I did best--

687
01:21:59,248 --> 01:22:00,873
provide for the pride.

688
01:22:01,000 --> 01:22:03,834
[energetic music]

689
01:22:03,961 --> 01:22:05,586
[rain pattering]

690
01:22:13,554 --> 01:22:14,511
[snarls]

691
01:22:22,897 --> 01:22:26,106
come rain or shine,
us multitasking

692
01:22:26,233 --> 01:22:28,525
moms were making a killing.

693
01:22:32,031 --> 01:22:33,906
[snarling]

694
01:22:33,991 --> 01:22:35,532
[yelping]

695
01:22:37,495 --> 01:22:41,664
putting food on the table
and showing old enemies

696
01:22:41,749 --> 01:22:46,543
who's boss, both night and day.

697
01:22:46,629 --> 01:22:47,461
[yelps]

698
01:22:56,764 --> 01:22:59,515
it's a good thing
there are plenty

699
01:22:59,600 --> 01:23:00,808
of new malikas in training.

700
01:23:00,893 --> 01:23:03,268
[music - lauren daigle, "you
say"]

701
01:23:03,396 --> 01:23:07,898
my pride has never
been stronger,

702
01:23:07,984 --> 01:23:11,318
its future never brighter--

703
01:23:11,404 --> 01:23:15,280
(singing) you say I am
loved when I can't--

704
01:23:15,366 --> 01:23:17,950
--with us lionesses
at the very heart.

705
01:23:18,077 --> 01:23:21,370
(singing) you say I am strong.

706
01:23:21,497 --> 01:23:24,665
You see, there's no
room for alphas here.

707
01:23:24,792 --> 01:23:27,167
(singing) you say I am held.

708
01:23:27,253 --> 01:23:33,799
The truth is, we are all
queens, all serving each other--

709
01:23:33,884 --> 01:23:35,426
(singing) oh, you say--

710
01:23:35,553 --> 01:23:38,012
--all standing as one.

711
01:23:38,097 --> 01:23:40,139
(singing) and I believe.

712
01:23:40,266 --> 01:23:44,184
As for me, well, I may be
young by your standards.

713
01:23:44,270 --> 01:23:48,439
But for a lioness,
I've lived a full life.

714
01:23:48,566 --> 01:23:50,649
(singing) I believe.

715
01:23:50,735 --> 01:23:53,185
Oh, I believe.

716
01:23:53,279 --> 01:23:56,822
Out here, every day is a battle.

717
01:23:56,907 --> 01:24:01,410
And that's not
changing any time soon.

718
01:24:01,495 --> 01:24:02,911
(singing) I believe.

719
01:24:02,997 --> 01:24:06,915
But lionesses are fierce.

720
01:24:07,001 --> 01:24:11,962
And you can bet we'll keep
fighting till the end.

721
01:24:21,515 --> 01:24:24,558
[uplifting music]