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00:00:15,123 --> 00:00:16,803
(THUNDER CRACKS)

2
00:00:16,803 --> 00:00:19,203
TOM HARDY:
Predators across the planet.

3
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Unmatched in strength...
(ROARING)

4
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...speed, strategy,

5
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stealth...

6
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(GUANACOS CALLING)
...and teamwork.

7
00:00:30,483 --> 00:00:32,883
But staying on top is never easy.

8
00:00:36,923 --> 00:00:39,083
As the world around them changes,

9
00:00:39,083 --> 00:00:41,643
they must adapt faster
than ever before

10
00:00:41,643 --> 00:00:43,683
to maintain their rule.
(LION GROWLS)

11
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(ANIMALS GROWLING AND GRUNTING)

12
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In Tanzania's Serengeti,
a notorious brotherhood of cheetahs.

13
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(ZEBRAS SHRIEKING)

14
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They command
this vast hunting territory.

15
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But their status is under attack.

16
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Rivals are closing in.

17
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The battle is no longer
just to stay on top...

18
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(ZEBRA YELLS)
...but to stay alive,

19
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as they try to cling on
to their mighty alliance.

20
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(BIRDS AND ANIMALS CALLING)

21
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(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)

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(OSTRICH TRILLING)

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For the past six years,

24
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male cheetahs Luka and Kovu

25
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have held their territory here

26
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in the southern plains
of Africa's Serengeti.

27
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Kovu, with his scarred nose,

28
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is a cunning and meticulous hunter.

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The brains of the operation.

30
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While Luka, with his muscular frame,

31
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is a creature of brute strength.

32
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They're always at each other's
side...

33
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...but they're not brothers.

34
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They were born 80 kilometres apart.

35
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As young males, their paths crossed.

36
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And through many years learning
the rules of the savanna together,

37
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their unbreakable bond was forged.

38
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(BABY GAZELLE CALLS SOFTLY)

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While females are solitary,
male cheetahs band together.

40
00:03:03,843 --> 00:03:08,563
But Luka's raw power,
combined with Kovu's sharp mind,

41
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has made them a double act
like no other,

42
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seeing off all rivals
and dominating the largest prey.

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(ZEBRAS CALL IN ALARM)

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(GRUNTS)

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(GAZELLE SHRIEKS)
(GAZELLE GROANS IN PAIN)

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Now eight years old,

47
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the pair are fiercely territorial.

48
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The hunting grounds they hold

49
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are 50 square kilometres
of rolling savannah.

50
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There are rocky outcrops
for cover...

51
00:03:51,403 --> 00:03:53,203
pools to drink from...

52
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and every year
it floods with herds of zebra,

53
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wildebeest, and gazelle.

54
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They fiercely defend this territory
from neighbouring males,

55
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so any females that come here
are theirs alone to mate with.

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They are the epitome
of an apex predator,

57
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and the success
of the entire population

58
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relies on strong males like them

59
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mating, and passing on their genes.

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(PURRING)

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Luka and Kovu have become
masters of this game.

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But the rules of their world
are changing.

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It's August,

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and the Serengeti's dry season
is kicking into gear.

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(BIRD SQUAWKING)

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The sun scorches the grass,

67
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herds are heading north
to find water,

68
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and the predators that remain
are fighting over a shrinking
supply of food.

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But the twist of the knife

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is that, for three years, the region
has been plagued by drought.

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The dry season months
of June to October

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have been getting hotter and hotter.

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(GAZELLES CALLING IN ALARM)

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As Luka and Kovu's world
becomes a hostile tinderbox,

75
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guarding their patch
is more crucial than ever.

76
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So their rules are clear:

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intruders keep out, or be killed.

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But eight kilometres away...

79
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...at their territory's
western boundary...

80
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...there's been a breach.

81
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A gang of four powerful sons,

82
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led by their imposing mum,

83
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known as the Solaro family.

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They have swagger and strength
in numbers.

85
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Even the hyenas seem
to sense their power.

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(HYENA CALLING)

87
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Watching Mum stalk gazelle,

88
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the sons are fast learning
the ways of the hunter.

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(GAZELLES SHRIEK)

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(GAZELLES GRUNTING AND CALLING)

91
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(GAZELLE SHRIEKS)

92
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(CHEETAH GROWLS, BITES)

93
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For now, the four sons
remain at Mum's side.

94
00:07:10,883 --> 00:07:12,283
But any day now,

95
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this band of brothers
will leave as a coalition,

96
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to stake their own territory.

97
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(ANIMAL CALLING IN ALARM)

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There's no way Luka and Kovu
can allow the Solaro sons

99
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to share their patch.

100
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In this drought, there won't be
enough food to feed them all.

101
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But against four males,

102
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they'll be dangerously outnumbered.

103
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The one thing that could help them

104
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is far from here...

105
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...160 kilometres to the north,

106
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over rivers, and valleys...

107
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(GRUNTING)

108
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...a mega-herd of 1.5 million wildebeest...

109
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and zebra are on the move.

110
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The pregnant females need to
graze constantly to make milk.

111
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(GRUNTING)

112
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When the rains return,

113
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the plains
in Luka and Kovu's territory

114
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are where the sweetest grasses
will grow,

115
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so the herd must travel there.

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When the herds arrive, there'll
be enough zebra and wildebeest...

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(SNIFFS)

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...to feed all the cheetahs
across this region...

119
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...and no need for the Solaro sons
to encroach.

120
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(GRUNTING)

121
00:08:57,923 --> 00:08:59,483
But it's not that easy.

122
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Blocking the herd's path
like a slick, black serpent...

123
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...the Mara River.

124
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Steep banks...

125
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...deep water...

126
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...no way round.

127
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As the bankside swells with bodies,

128
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their migration may
have reached its limit.

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If the herd can't reach
the southern plains,

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Luka and Kovu won't just go hungry,

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they may face a turf war
with the Solaro brothers.

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But right now,

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the boys have a bigger problem...

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Smoke.

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(CHEETAH GROWLS)

136
00:10:00,044 --> 00:10:02,923
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

137
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TOM HARDY: The drought
has left the grass bone dry.

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It ignites with terrifying ease.

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Luka and Kovu
have seen wildfires before.

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They know they can spread
with devastating speed.

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(INTENSE MUSIC)

142
00:10:38,003 --> 00:10:40,083
As the heat rises,

143
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they can only watch
the inferno in disbelief.

144
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There's nothing they can do.

145
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They need to retreat to a safe haven.

146
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As the fire blazes unchecked,

147
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those who can't run, hide...

148
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(ALARMED HIGH-PITCHED CALLS)

149
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...while white storks descend

150
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to make a quick meal of the
insects escaping the blaze.

151
00:11:13,123 --> 00:11:14,883
(ALARMED HIGH-PITCHED CALLS)

152
00:11:18,003 --> 00:11:19,643
(STORKS SQUAWKING)

153
00:11:24,403 --> 00:11:28,963
The flames tear through the heart of
Luka and Kovu's hard-won territory.

154
00:11:29,683 --> 00:11:33,883
Everything they have worked for
may be about to slip away.

155
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By morning,
the fire's burned itself out,

156
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and their entire territory
is transformed.

157
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Just scorched earth remains.

158
00:12:07,403 --> 00:12:10,803
A hyena, singed
and blistered by the fire,

159
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slurps at a nest
of baked ostrich eggs.

160
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(CALLING SOFTLY)

161
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The mongoose emerge
to an empty landscape.

162
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The last of the gazelles have left.

163
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Until the rains return,

164
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this once-rich territory
will remain barren.

165
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The boys have no choice
but to abandon it.

166
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With no territory,

167
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finding food will be
a huge challenge.

168
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And their ability to attract females
is now near to none.

169
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They must try to find a new ground,

170
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but it's a crowded landscape.

171
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If they head east,

172
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they'll go beyond
the boundary of the grasslands,

173
00:13:02,763 --> 00:13:06,523
to where farmers kill cheetahs
to protect their livestock.

174
00:13:08,163 --> 00:13:11,643
So their only option
is to head west,

175
00:13:11,643 --> 00:13:14,563
deep into the Serengeti's heart.

176
00:13:15,283 --> 00:13:17,443
A place ruled by hyenas,

177
00:13:17,443 --> 00:13:19,683
lions and rival cheetahs,

178
00:13:19,683 --> 00:13:21,443
all vying for the same food.

179
00:13:24,843 --> 00:13:27,643
The duo's fate now rests
more than ever

180
00:13:27,643 --> 00:13:30,523
with the arrival
of the wildebeest and zebra.

181
00:13:32,803 --> 00:13:34,163
(GRUNTING)

182
00:13:36,043 --> 00:13:38,683
140 kilometres to the north,

183
00:13:38,683 --> 00:13:41,083
the herd calculates its next move.

184
00:13:45,163 --> 00:13:47,763
For their survival,
they need to cross.

185
00:13:47,763 --> 00:13:49,043
(HERD GRUNTING)

186
00:13:50,123 --> 00:13:52,963
But a flotilla of crocodiles
is lying in wait.

187
00:13:55,323 --> 00:13:58,243
They are the apex predator
of this water world,

188
00:13:58,963 --> 00:14:01,203
and they've not eaten for months.

189
00:14:05,083 --> 00:14:09,563
The elders who have run this gauntlet
before know timing is everything.

190
00:14:09,563 --> 00:14:11,403
(GRUNTING)

191
00:14:13,163 --> 00:14:15,363
There are no second chances.

192
00:14:55,163 --> 00:14:57,803
The wet rocks become a perilous slick

193
00:14:57,803 --> 00:15:00,203
that can snap legs and crack bones.

194
00:15:05,603 --> 00:15:08,003
The walking wounded limp to safety.

195
00:15:11,603 --> 00:15:13,443
Those too badly injured

196
00:15:13,443 --> 00:15:16,763
are defenceless against
the advancing crocodiles.

197
00:15:17,923 --> 00:15:20,403
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTS IN PANIC)

198
00:15:31,403 --> 00:15:34,763
But while the crocodiles
have their mouths full...

199
00:15:34,763 --> 00:15:38,123
...hundreds of thousands more
make it through.

200
00:15:40,363 --> 00:15:42,643
(HERD GRUNTING)

201
00:15:44,163 --> 00:15:47,883
With their noses to the wind,
they push on south.

202
00:15:50,763 --> 00:15:52,603
(GRUNTING)

203
00:15:58,683 --> 00:16:02,243
For Luka and Kovu,
these herds can't arrive soon enough.

204
00:16:04,483 --> 00:16:06,203
(WHOOSHING)

205
00:16:07,163 --> 00:16:09,043
It's now September,

206
00:16:09,043 --> 00:16:11,523
and the drought
is tightening its grip.

207
00:16:14,643 --> 00:16:17,723
Lions shelter from the midday sun...

208
00:16:18,443 --> 00:16:21,643
marauding hyenas patrol the plains...

209
00:16:22,443 --> 00:16:24,283
(GIGGLING AND SHRIEKING)

210
00:16:24,283 --> 00:16:27,043
...and the Solaro Family
are closing in,

211
00:16:27,043 --> 00:16:30,123
now skirting past
the scorched territory

212
00:16:30,123 --> 00:16:31,803
once held by Luka and Kovu.

213
00:16:37,003 --> 00:16:39,763
Oblivious to the threat
trailing them,

214
00:16:39,763 --> 00:16:43,203
the pair are now trying
to adapt to life on the move,

215
00:16:43,203 --> 00:16:46,363
as they continue searching
for a new home.

216
00:16:46,363 --> 00:16:48,123
(PANTING)

217
00:16:49,443 --> 00:16:52,163
Ordinarily,
they'd get the water they need

218
00:16:52,163 --> 00:16:53,603
from the prey they eat.

219
00:16:55,843 --> 00:16:59,323
But with hunting opportunities
so scarce,

220
00:16:59,323 --> 00:17:01,523
the boys are desperately thirsty.

221
00:17:04,123 --> 00:17:05,563
The problem is,

222
00:17:05,563 --> 00:17:08,843
the few watering holes
that haven't dried

223
00:17:08,843 --> 00:17:10,923
are now crawling with lions.

224
00:17:15,443 --> 00:17:20,083
There's no way the pride will share
this precious resource with cheetahs.

225
00:17:29,283 --> 00:17:32,283
Eventually, they reach
an unoccupied pool.

226
00:17:37,243 --> 00:17:39,843
But the drought
has impacted everything.

227
00:17:44,443 --> 00:17:49,003
A single drop is enough to tell Luka
that the water is putrid

228
00:17:49,003 --> 00:17:50,363
and not safe to drink.

229
00:17:53,323 --> 00:17:55,483
There's nothing for the boys here.

230
00:17:58,483 --> 00:18:00,083
(INTENSE MUSIC)

231
00:18:03,363 --> 00:18:05,843
Dust chokes the air...

232
00:18:08,123 --> 00:18:11,963
...and giraffes scour the trees
for the remaining green leaves.

233
00:18:15,283 --> 00:18:18,563
The duo's search for a new territory

234
00:18:18,563 --> 00:18:20,603
brings them to a barren plateau.

235
00:18:22,603 --> 00:18:26,483
There's no sign of the large gazelles
they would ideally hunt,

236
00:18:27,243 --> 00:18:29,123
but it's no time to be picky.

237
00:18:29,123 --> 00:18:32,923
These hungry boys will eat
whatever they can catch.

238
00:18:35,763 --> 00:18:38,363
Kovu senses there's food hiding here.

239
00:18:39,763 --> 00:18:42,083
(INSECTS CHIRPING)

240
00:18:42,083 --> 00:18:44,683
(SOFT SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

241
00:18:51,963 --> 00:18:53,523
(GRUNTING SOFTLY)

242
00:18:57,563 --> 00:19:00,483
They both scan the scrub,
searching for clues.

243
00:19:03,123 --> 00:19:06,923
The black stripes beneath their
eyes absorb the sun's glare,

244
00:19:06,923 --> 00:19:08,803
enhancing their vision.

245
00:19:13,723 --> 00:19:17,763
Their hunting instinct is triggered
by the slightest movement.

246
00:19:21,723 --> 00:19:23,523
So if the hare keeps still...

247
00:19:25,603 --> 00:19:27,483
...it could go unnoticed.

248
00:19:32,603 --> 00:19:33,763
Close call.

249
00:19:41,283 --> 00:19:43,403
But Kovu clocks it!

250
00:19:43,403 --> 00:19:45,483
(INTENSE DRAMATIC MUSIC)

251
00:20:09,683 --> 00:20:11,363
♪ MUSIC FADES

252
00:20:11,363 --> 00:20:14,483
Even a lightning fast hare
can't escape

253
00:20:14,483 --> 00:20:16,723
the fastest animal on land.

254
00:20:16,723 --> 00:20:18,843
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

255
00:20:22,046 --> 00:20:24,123
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

256
00:20:24,923 --> 00:20:26,523
(UPBEAT MUSIC)

257
00:20:38,443 --> 00:20:40,443
TOM HARDY: It's not much,

258
00:20:40,443 --> 00:20:43,763
but the hare is a lifeline
to keep Luka and Kovu going.

259
00:20:47,483 --> 00:20:50,683
And they'll need
all the energy they can get.

260
00:20:50,683 --> 00:20:55,523
Their journey has now led them to
within a kilometre of the Solaro family.

261
00:20:55,523 --> 00:20:57,243
(FLIES BUZZING)

262
00:20:59,043 --> 00:21:01,363
If their paths cross, it's bad news.

263
00:21:01,363 --> 00:21:02,883
(PURRING)

264
00:21:02,883 --> 00:21:05,443
Only if the migrating herds
arrive soon

265
00:21:05,443 --> 00:21:09,043
will there be enough food
to avert a bloody turf war.

266
00:21:14,003 --> 00:21:15,603
(HERD GRUNTING)

267
00:21:15,603 --> 00:21:18,923
The herds are now only
110 kilometres to the north...

268
00:21:20,403 --> 00:21:22,443
...but there's a snag.

269
00:21:24,083 --> 00:21:27,083
The fresh grass they're after
in the southern plains

270
00:21:27,083 --> 00:21:29,203
is triggered by the first rains.

271
00:21:30,843 --> 00:21:32,643
But the rains are late,

272
00:21:32,643 --> 00:21:35,923
so the herds have stopped
in their tracks.

273
00:21:37,523 --> 00:21:38,843
In previous decades,

274
00:21:38,843 --> 00:21:41,723
the wet seasons here
arrived like clockwork.

275
00:21:44,723 --> 00:21:46,963
But those days are a distant memory.

276
00:21:53,203 --> 00:21:57,243
For Luka and Kovu, it's a disaster.

277
00:22:01,323 --> 00:22:04,963
Walking north to intercept
the herds is not an option.

278
00:22:06,243 --> 00:22:08,243
They'd have to trespass dangerously

279
00:22:08,243 --> 00:22:10,563
through many rival
cheetah territories.

280
00:22:16,243 --> 00:22:17,923
They're running low on food,

281
00:22:17,923 --> 00:22:20,243
and their competition...

282
00:22:20,243 --> 00:22:21,523
...is closing in.

283
00:22:25,923 --> 00:22:28,163
(SOFT SENTIMENTAL MUSIC)

284
00:22:32,163 --> 00:22:34,963
Right now, the four Solaro sons

285
00:22:34,963 --> 00:22:36,483
remain at mum's side,

286
00:22:38,203 --> 00:22:40,363
absorbing her skills as a hunter.

287
00:22:40,363 --> 00:22:42,923
(CHEETAH'S SNORTING)

288
00:22:44,483 --> 00:22:47,203
She too is resigned to taking hares.

289
00:22:49,763 --> 00:22:52,803
But a single hare can't feed
five large cheetahs.

290
00:22:56,643 --> 00:22:59,643
Snatching it for herself
is a signal to her sons:

291
00:23:00,403 --> 00:23:02,403
it's time for them to leave

292
00:23:02,403 --> 00:23:04,523
and find a territory of their own.

293
00:23:09,603 --> 00:23:12,283
They're now old enough
to hunt for themselves,

294
00:23:12,283 --> 00:23:14,443
but in these extreme dry conditions,

295
00:23:14,443 --> 00:23:17,403
they won't last long
without mum's expertise.

296
00:23:21,003 --> 00:23:23,283
The hungry sons protest.

297
00:23:23,283 --> 00:23:24,803
(HIGH-PITCHED CALL)

298
00:23:24,803 --> 00:23:26,243
(GROWLING SOFTLY)

299
00:23:33,043 --> 00:23:34,643
Mum gives in.

300
00:23:39,123 --> 00:23:43,123
Their bony bodies reveal
that even this powerful family

301
00:23:43,123 --> 00:23:46,043
hasn't escaped
the grip of the dry season.

302
00:23:50,763 --> 00:23:53,203
Their cracked fur
is a sign of sickness.

303
00:23:56,723 --> 00:23:58,043
(HIGH-PITCHED CALL)

304
00:23:58,043 --> 00:24:02,963
Until the sons regain their strength,
Mum must continue to fend for them.

305
00:24:04,003 --> 00:24:07,563
But she won't be able to keep
them all fed for much longer.

306
00:24:07,563 --> 00:24:09,643
(OMINOUS MUSIC)

307
00:24:21,923 --> 00:24:24,603
The blistering October days tick by,

308
00:24:24,603 --> 00:24:26,483
squeezing the life from the land.

309
00:24:26,483 --> 00:24:28,523
(TRUMPETING LOUDLY)

310
00:24:28,523 --> 00:24:32,803
Thirsty elephants trudge through
on their long march to find water.

311
00:24:37,283 --> 00:24:41,523
Luka and Kovu are surviving
almost entirely on hares now.

312
00:24:47,643 --> 00:24:51,003
They end each sitting
by cleaning each other's faces.

313
00:24:52,043 --> 00:24:53,963
Not a drop of food can be wasted.

314
00:24:55,683 --> 00:24:57,643
It is a tender ritual they share

315
00:24:57,643 --> 00:25:00,803
to show their utter devotion
to each other.

316
00:25:03,483 --> 00:25:05,283
(INSECTS CHIRPING)

317
00:25:09,643 --> 00:25:11,923
But for the Solaro family,

318
00:25:11,923 --> 00:25:14,963
things have gone from bad to worse.

319
00:25:21,843 --> 00:25:24,163
Their sickness has intensified,

320
00:25:24,163 --> 00:25:26,963
and the skinniest son
is now a wasted figure

321
00:25:26,963 --> 00:25:29,283
of mere skin and bone.

322
00:25:30,763 --> 00:25:32,323
(PURRING)

323
00:25:45,163 --> 00:25:47,163
(FLIES BUZZING)

324
00:25:52,043 --> 00:25:55,283
Cheetah brothers share
an unbreakable bond.

325
00:25:56,603 --> 00:26:00,003
The thought of deserting him
is inconceivable.

326
00:26:08,083 --> 00:26:10,443
They must keep moving.

327
00:26:11,843 --> 00:26:14,443
But with every step,
he's getting weaker.

328
00:26:18,523 --> 00:26:22,803
The family wait patiently
for the sick brother to catch up,

329
00:26:22,803 --> 00:26:24,963
willing him on with their cries.

330
00:26:24,963 --> 00:26:28,083
(HIGH-PITCHED CRIES)

331
00:26:32,643 --> 00:26:34,763
Mum's tried to find food,

332
00:26:34,763 --> 00:26:37,163
but their slow progress
in these drought conditions

333
00:26:37,163 --> 00:26:39,043
has made hunting impossible.

334
00:26:40,923 --> 00:26:44,163
The whole family are slowly starving.

335
00:27:10,003 --> 00:27:11,643
(FLY BUZZING)

336
00:27:19,683 --> 00:27:22,443
There's nothing his mum
and brothers can do.

337
00:27:23,283 --> 00:27:26,563
For their own survival,
they must hunt.

338
00:27:29,483 --> 00:27:33,323
They've now no choice,
but to do the unthinkable,

339
00:27:33,323 --> 00:27:34,723
and leave him.

340
00:27:49,403 --> 00:27:51,123
Abandoned,

341
00:27:51,123 --> 00:27:53,083
the sick cheetah's fate...

342
00:27:53,083 --> 00:27:54,163
(FLIES BUZZING)

343
00:27:54,163 --> 00:27:56,403
...now rests in nature's hands.

344
00:27:57,443 --> 00:27:59,483
(HYENA HOWLS LOUDLY)

345
00:28:10,003 --> 00:28:11,323
(SHRIEKS)

346
00:28:15,283 --> 00:28:17,923
A kilometre away
in the neighbouring valley,

347
00:28:17,923 --> 00:28:21,683
fortune may have once again swung
in Luka and Kovu's favour.

348
00:28:23,403 --> 00:28:26,123
With the Solaros
weakened by sickness,

349
00:28:26,123 --> 00:28:28,803
their threat to the boys is fading.

350
00:28:28,803 --> 00:28:30,763
(PANTING)

351
00:28:32,723 --> 00:28:35,363
If they are going to take
a new territory,

352
00:28:35,363 --> 00:28:36,963
now is the time.

353
00:28:42,403 --> 00:28:43,883
(THUNDERCLAP)

354
00:28:45,243 --> 00:28:47,123
The tides have turned.

355
00:28:48,603 --> 00:28:51,723
Luka and Kovu
have defied the drought.

356
00:28:54,803 --> 00:28:56,483
And as December looms,

357
00:28:58,803 --> 00:29:00,403
salvation is on its way.

358
00:29:00,403 --> 00:29:01,963
(THUNDER RUMBLES)

359
00:29:14,563 --> 00:29:16,443
(RAIN PATTERING)

360
00:29:16,443 --> 00:29:19,763
Four weeks later than usual,

361
00:29:19,763 --> 00:29:22,603
fat raindrops bathe the land.

362
00:29:25,563 --> 00:29:27,203
(THUNDER RUMBLES)

363
00:29:29,443 --> 00:29:32,163
(SOFT SENTIMENTAL MUSIC)

364
00:29:38,483 --> 00:29:41,323
It's a welcome opportunity
for Luka and Kovu

365
00:29:41,323 --> 00:29:43,403
to clean their dusty bodies.

366
00:29:44,243 --> 00:29:46,723
(PURRING)

367
00:29:55,203 --> 00:29:58,403
The smell of the rain
drifts on the wind.

368
00:30:01,083 --> 00:30:03,243
50 kilometres to the north,

369
00:30:03,243 --> 00:30:06,643
the herds get the signal
they've been waiting for.

370
00:30:06,643 --> 00:30:07,883
(GRUNTS)

371
00:30:10,003 --> 00:30:11,443
Time to move south.

372
00:30:11,443 --> 00:30:13,643
(HERDS GRUNTING)

373
00:30:26,043 --> 00:30:28,123
Weeks pass...

374
00:30:30,043 --> 00:30:32,483
...and the storms become
more frequent.

375
00:30:33,523 --> 00:30:35,403
Streams flow,

376
00:30:35,403 --> 00:30:37,803
flowers bloom,

377
00:30:37,803 --> 00:30:39,883
and pools fill with water,

378
00:30:39,883 --> 00:30:42,243
attracting a dazzle of birdlife.

379
00:30:44,283 --> 00:30:47,563
The yellowed grass gives way
to a sea of green.

380
00:30:50,843 --> 00:30:53,683
And swarming across it
from every direction...

381
00:30:58,603 --> 00:31:01,003
...the mega-herd has arrived.

382
00:31:01,003 --> 00:31:03,563
(HERDS OF ANIMALS GRUNTING)

383
00:31:05,523 --> 00:31:07,683
Over a million wildebeest...

384
00:31:09,403 --> 00:31:12,123
...together with hundreds
of thousands of zebra,

385
00:31:12,123 --> 00:31:14,163
hartebeest and gazelle

386
00:31:14,163 --> 00:31:16,043
that have joined them to feed.

387
00:31:18,003 --> 00:31:19,763
By February,

388
00:31:19,763 --> 00:31:22,123
the cheetah's world is transformed.

389
00:31:25,083 --> 00:31:27,203
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

390
00:31:31,048 --> 00:31:33,123
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

391
00:31:34,563 --> 00:31:35,883
(SOFT HOPEFUL MUSIC)

392
00:31:37,803 --> 00:31:40,443
After months of hard struggle,

393
00:31:40,443 --> 00:31:44,643
Luka and Kovu's quest for a new
territory is almost complete.

394
00:31:45,723 --> 00:31:48,643
They've secured an area on the
edge of the short-grass plains

395
00:31:48,643 --> 00:31:51,203
that has everything they need,

396
00:31:51,203 --> 00:31:54,363
and it's within sight
of the advancing mega-herd.

397
00:31:57,083 --> 00:31:58,403
(GRUNTING)

398
00:31:58,403 --> 00:32:00,163
But there's a catch.

399
00:32:03,283 --> 00:32:06,523
Nomadic lions and hyena

400
00:32:06,523 --> 00:32:08,603
are also flooding into the area...

401
00:32:09,843 --> 00:32:12,883
...and patrolling the herds.

402
00:32:12,883 --> 00:32:14,323
(HYENAS GIGGLING)

403
00:32:14,323 --> 00:32:17,483
The boys' new patch
has an abundance of food...

404
00:32:18,483 --> 00:32:21,843
...but it also now has
more competition than ever.

405
00:32:21,843 --> 00:32:24,123
(HYENAS GIGGLING)

406
00:32:30,003 --> 00:32:31,963
Luka and Kovu must be smart.

407
00:32:32,643 --> 00:32:35,243
If the lions spot them
moving in on the herds,

408
00:32:35,243 --> 00:32:37,283
they'll be chased from the area.

409
00:32:38,483 --> 00:32:42,323
So they select their spot
and let the herds come to them.

410
00:32:48,763 --> 00:32:51,523
These boys are far more
than fast sprinters.

411
00:32:52,643 --> 00:32:55,323
They are patient
and calculating hunters.

412
00:33:08,203 --> 00:33:10,523
(OSTRICH TRILLS)

413
00:33:10,523 --> 00:33:13,843
Gradually, the herds edge closer.

414
00:33:18,043 --> 00:33:20,123
(ZEBRA HUFFS AND SNORTS)

415
00:33:27,443 --> 00:33:30,323
The duo needs to select
their target wisely.

416
00:33:30,323 --> 00:33:33,883
Wildebeest come armed
with sharp horns...

417
00:33:34,923 --> 00:33:37,883
...and zebras pack a lethal kick.

418
00:33:40,843 --> 00:33:45,083
Only the most fearless cheetahs
will risk hunting something so big.

419
00:33:52,443 --> 00:33:56,363
Perfectly in sync, they move in.

420
00:33:58,883 --> 00:34:00,363
(ZEBRAS CALLS IN ALARM)

421
00:34:07,123 --> 00:34:09,643
(HUFFING AND GRUNTING)

422
00:34:13,163 --> 00:34:14,483
They goad the herd,

423
00:34:14,483 --> 00:34:17,683
hoping a young or injured animal
reveals itself.

424
00:34:28,763 --> 00:34:32,363
A baby hartebeest
that arrived with the mega-herd;

425
00:34:33,043 --> 00:34:35,763
a worthwhile meal in Kovu's eyes.

426
00:34:35,763 --> 00:34:37,723
(DRAMATIC DRUMMING MUSIC)

427
00:34:43,963 --> 00:34:45,163
But it's not alone.

428
00:34:48,163 --> 00:34:50,923
It's mum wheels round
to fend off the attack.

429
00:34:53,083 --> 00:34:56,443
(MUSIC CRESCENDOS)

430
00:34:56,443 --> 00:34:59,803
(MUSIC FADES)

431
00:35:01,203 --> 00:35:05,283
Then through the dust,
Luka spies a young zebra;

432
00:35:05,963 --> 00:35:09,723
a sizable meal, and much
less risky than an adult.

433
00:35:09,723 --> 00:35:11,403
(ZEBRA SHRIEKING)

434
00:35:17,163 --> 00:35:19,083
The hunt is on.

435
00:35:23,003 --> 00:35:24,523
The herd splinters.

436
00:35:26,483 --> 00:35:28,963
(ZEBRA SHRIEKING REPEATEDLY)

437
00:35:30,083 --> 00:35:32,403
Luka just dodges the zebra's hooves.

438
00:35:44,203 --> 00:35:46,283
But the zebra is too strong.

439
00:35:46,283 --> 00:35:49,043
Luka is losing the battle.

440
00:35:50,683 --> 00:35:52,603
Then right when he's needed...

441
00:35:54,243 --> 00:35:55,963
...his wingman arrives.

442
00:36:03,363 --> 00:36:04,843
(ZEBRA WHIMPERS)

443
00:36:16,083 --> 00:36:17,403
(ZEBRA WHIMPERS)

444
00:36:18,683 --> 00:36:20,963
(CHEETAH GROWLS)

445
00:36:20,963 --> 00:36:23,243
It's a remarkable show of teamwork.

446
00:36:45,283 --> 00:36:48,803
Their risk of hunting large prey
is rewarded.

447
00:36:48,803 --> 00:36:50,363
(FLIES BUZZING)

448
00:36:52,043 --> 00:36:53,323
(CHEETAH EATING)

449
00:36:58,443 --> 00:37:00,043
By the time they finish,

450
00:37:00,043 --> 00:37:02,523
their bellies bulge like basketballs.

451
00:37:04,843 --> 00:37:08,323
Their strong stomachs will make
fast work of this feast,

452
00:37:08,323 --> 00:37:10,003
and in just 24 hours,

453
00:37:10,003 --> 00:37:12,203
they'll be ready to go again.

454
00:37:16,283 --> 00:37:18,323
(ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING)

455
00:37:22,883 --> 00:37:24,683
(INSECTS CHIRPING)

456
00:37:29,963 --> 00:37:31,283
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTS)

457
00:37:53,683 --> 00:37:58,283
The large area Luka and Kovu have
secured has everything they need.

458
00:37:58,283 --> 00:38:00,363
It's a prime territory,

459
00:38:00,363 --> 00:38:02,563
so the duo will work hard to keep it.

460
00:38:06,003 --> 00:38:10,923
Each morning they spray the termite
mounds in their patch with their scent.

461
00:38:10,923 --> 00:38:13,483
It works as a signpost,

462
00:38:13,483 --> 00:38:16,603
telling other males to "keep out".

463
00:38:18,163 --> 00:38:20,043
But on one mound,

464
00:38:20,043 --> 00:38:22,683
Luka is picking up
on a strange odour.

465
00:38:26,683 --> 00:38:29,203
It smells like an intruder
has been here.

466
00:38:31,723 --> 00:38:35,363
Any threat from a rival cheetah
must be extinguished fast.

467
00:38:39,923 --> 00:38:41,683
(SNIFFING)

468
00:38:41,683 --> 00:38:45,723
They've proved they are powerful
enough to secure a territory here.

469
00:38:45,723 --> 00:38:48,443
Now, they need to prove
they can protect it.

470
00:38:58,883 --> 00:39:02,083
And the bold trespasser
isn't even hiding.

471
00:39:09,963 --> 00:39:12,163
(MENACING MUSIC)

472
00:39:17,483 --> 00:39:21,163
Into formation, they advance.

473
00:39:21,163 --> 00:39:24,163
(MENACING MUSIC BUILDS)

474
00:39:27,083 --> 00:39:30,323
(HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEKS)

475
00:39:30,323 --> 00:39:32,403
But, at the last minute,

476
00:39:32,403 --> 00:39:35,003
the cheetah's identity becomes clear.

477
00:39:35,003 --> 00:39:36,483
(HIGH-PITCHED CALLS)

478
00:39:36,483 --> 00:39:39,723
The rival male is,
in fact, a female.

479
00:39:42,563 --> 00:39:44,883
(HIGH-PITCHED CALL)

480
00:39:44,883 --> 00:39:48,643
Despite her frosty welcome,
she wants to mate.

481
00:39:48,643 --> 00:39:50,163
(HIGH-PITCHED CALL)

482
00:39:51,723 --> 00:39:54,203
Female cheetahs are
notoriously choosy.

483
00:39:54,203 --> 00:39:56,283
(HIGH-PITCHED CALL)

484
00:39:57,883 --> 00:40:00,603
They only pick males
who are fit and strong.

485
00:40:01,803 --> 00:40:06,683
Staking this new territory confirms
the boys' healthy credentials.

486
00:40:08,723 --> 00:40:11,443
This female is clearly interested,

487
00:40:12,363 --> 00:40:15,403
even if Luka
is getting mixed signals.

488
00:40:15,403 --> 00:40:16,763
(CALLING SOFTLY)

489
00:40:19,083 --> 00:40:20,443
(CALLING SOFTLY)

490
00:40:30,003 --> 00:40:32,763
If she were to pick
one male over the other,

491
00:40:32,763 --> 00:40:35,203
it would fracture the boys' alliance.

492
00:40:38,643 --> 00:40:40,123
(CALLING SOFTLY)

493
00:40:40,123 --> 00:40:42,603
Luckily, a twist in cheetah biology

494
00:40:42,603 --> 00:40:45,683
means a single litter
can have multiple fathers.

495
00:40:48,483 --> 00:40:51,523
So, in the coming days,
Kovu and Luka

496
00:40:51,523 --> 00:40:54,083
can mate with her
and pass on their genes.

497
00:40:54,843 --> 00:40:56,323
(CALLING SOFTLY)

498
00:41:08,843 --> 00:41:11,163
Through their strength and teamwork,

499
00:41:11,163 --> 00:41:15,443
Luka and Kovu's formidable double-act
has defied fire and drought.

500
00:41:17,723 --> 00:41:20,243
But unknown challenges
still lie ahead.

501
00:41:21,843 --> 00:41:25,923
As the human population
around their grassland grows

502
00:41:25,923 --> 00:41:28,603
and space for cheetahs shrinks...

503
00:41:30,843 --> 00:41:33,603
...the boys succeeded
in their quest to mate.

504
00:41:34,923 --> 00:41:39,563
And now, a new generation is
stepping out onto the plains...

505
00:41:43,003 --> 00:41:46,403
...and fresh coalitions
are being formed.

506
00:41:50,643 --> 00:41:52,563
There is now no question

507
00:41:52,563 --> 00:41:56,003
that the cheetah's apex status
is guaranteed here

508
00:41:56,003 --> 00:41:58,323
for many years to come.

509
00:42:11,163 --> 00:42:13,083
(GAZELLE CALLS IN ALARM)

510
00:42:13,083 --> 00:42:15,283
TOM HARDY: Cheetahs...

511
00:42:15,283 --> 00:42:18,403
They're fast, they're powerful,

512
00:42:18,403 --> 00:42:20,883
but their existence is fragile.

513
00:42:20,883 --> 00:42:22,643
(ZEBRA SHRIEKING)

514
00:42:24,523 --> 00:42:28,003
Around 7,000 wild cheetahs
remain in the entire world.

515
00:42:31,963 --> 00:42:35,283
But in the vast expanse
of Tanzania's Serengeti

516
00:42:35,283 --> 00:42:38,003
lies one of their greatest
remaining strongholds.

517
00:42:45,883 --> 00:42:48,803
For almost 50 years,
the Serengeti Cheetah Project

518
00:42:48,803 --> 00:42:50,763
has studied the cheetahs here.

519
00:42:53,763 --> 00:42:56,763
By joining forces
with the project's scientists,

520
00:42:56,763 --> 00:42:59,803
the Predators film crew
were able to follow the lives

521
00:42:59,803 --> 00:43:02,923
of multiple groups of cheetahs
across the Serengeti.

522
00:43:02,923 --> 00:43:04,403
(SOFT CALL)

523
00:43:04,403 --> 00:43:07,443
And with the researchers' help,
the crew documented

524
00:43:07,443 --> 00:43:11,323
the story of a most
remarkable partnership...

525
00:43:11,323 --> 00:43:15,083
...male cheetahs Luka and Kovu.

526
00:43:17,803 --> 00:43:18,883
(WHIRRING)

527
00:43:18,883 --> 00:43:20,123
Stabilised rigs

528
00:43:20,123 --> 00:43:23,803
allowed the team to capture
the male's high-speed chases.

529
00:43:26,923 --> 00:43:29,083
Remote-controlled camera buggies

530
00:43:29,083 --> 00:43:32,723
provided an intimate window
into cheetah family life...

531
00:43:35,083 --> 00:43:39,403
...and miniature drones gave a new
perspective on the cheetah's world.

532
00:43:39,403 --> 00:43:40,603
(WHIRRING)

533
00:43:45,563 --> 00:43:49,283
But while Luka and Kovu's story
was one of success,

534
00:43:49,283 --> 00:43:53,083
life for Serengeti's cheetahs
is not easy.

535
00:43:54,683 --> 00:44:00,403
DENNIS: So there is around 300
cheetahs in the Serengeti ecosystem

536
00:44:00,403 --> 00:44:03,963
and also there's 3,000 lions...

537
00:44:03,963 --> 00:44:05,803
(ROARING)

538
00:44:05,803 --> 00:44:08,243
...as well as around 6,000 hyenas.

539
00:44:09,803 --> 00:44:15,163
And these other predators pose a
very high challenge to the cheetahs

540
00:44:15,163 --> 00:44:17,523
because they steal their kills

541
00:44:17,523 --> 00:44:19,603
and kill the cheetah cubs.

542
00:44:20,843 --> 00:44:25,523
That's why they have a very wide
range and this helps them to dodge

543
00:44:25,523 --> 00:44:28,883
or keep themselves away
from other predators.

544
00:44:31,643 --> 00:44:34,763
TOM HARDY: A cheetah's ability
to travel many kilometres each day

545
00:44:34,763 --> 00:44:37,243
to avoid conflict and find food

546
00:44:37,243 --> 00:44:40,723
is part of what's made them
such a successful predator.

547
00:44:43,923 --> 00:44:46,923
At over 14,500 square kilometres,

548
00:44:46,923 --> 00:44:51,443
the Serengeti National Park is a
vast wilderness for them to roam.

549
00:44:51,443 --> 00:44:53,763
So for the film crew,

550
00:44:53,763 --> 00:44:56,203
trying to follow the same
individual cheetahs here

551
00:44:56,203 --> 00:44:58,243
over many months was a huge task.

552
00:45:00,563 --> 00:45:02,523
Often for weeks at a time,

553
00:45:02,523 --> 00:45:07,403
the cheetahs would seem to completely
disappear into the landscape.

554
00:45:11,403 --> 00:45:14,443
So at this point,
it's basically a waiting game.

555
00:45:14,443 --> 00:45:15,843
(HIGH-PITCHED CALLING)

556
00:45:15,843 --> 00:45:18,883
TOM HARDY: The Serengeti Cheetah
Project must routinely monitor

557
00:45:18,883 --> 00:45:21,483
these wide-ranging cats
over this huge area,

558
00:45:21,483 --> 00:45:25,003
so they're devising a new way
to keep tabs on them.

559
00:45:25,003 --> 00:45:26,763
(HIGH-PITCHED CALLING)

560
00:45:26,763 --> 00:45:30,563
DENNIS: At the moment, I'm working
on deploying collars on cheetahs.

561
00:45:30,563 --> 00:45:34,883
These collars have the accelerometer
that can give us

562
00:45:34,883 --> 00:45:37,923
the activity patterns
of the cheetahs.

563
00:45:37,923 --> 00:45:41,723
KELVIN: GPS collars have never
been used before on cheetahs

564
00:45:41,723 --> 00:45:44,243
in the Serengeti National Park.

565
00:45:44,243 --> 00:45:46,483
So we can now track them

566
00:45:46,483 --> 00:45:50,283
and they will transmit locations
of where the cheetahs are.

567
00:45:50,283 --> 00:45:51,963
So it's a good step

568
00:45:51,963 --> 00:45:55,883
and we are really looking
forward to get good results.

569
00:45:55,883 --> 00:45:57,483
(TAPPING KEYS)

570
00:45:57,483 --> 00:46:00,363
TOM HARDY: But even with
these hi-tech advancements,

571
00:46:00,363 --> 00:46:04,043
the researchers still have
Mother Nature to contend with.

572
00:46:08,643 --> 00:46:11,843
By the time the crew catch up
with their cheetahs again,

573
00:46:11,843 --> 00:46:14,083
there's troubling news.

574
00:46:14,083 --> 00:46:15,123
(SOFT CALL)

575
00:46:15,123 --> 00:46:18,163
This time of year is hard for
all cheetahs, it's super-hot,

576
00:46:18,163 --> 00:46:22,083
the prey is not in the densities
that you get in the wet season.

577
00:46:22,083 --> 00:46:25,723
But this group specifically,
the mum was struggling to hunt.

578
00:46:25,723 --> 00:46:29,843
We've probably watched her make
sort of five or six failed hunts.

579
00:46:33,683 --> 00:46:36,403
Every time she fails,
she's losing a lot of energy,

580
00:46:36,403 --> 00:46:39,403
burning a lot of energy
that she's not replacing,

581
00:46:39,403 --> 00:46:42,563
and all of her four cubs
are getting pretty skinny.

582
00:46:42,563 --> 00:46:46,923
But this guy,
he is really, really suffering.

583
00:46:46,923 --> 00:46:50,043
He's lost loads of weight.
He's got wounds on his shoulders

584
00:46:50,043 --> 00:46:53,523
that suggest he's also had a
run-in with a hyena or something.

585
00:46:53,523 --> 00:46:57,603
He can barely walk, let alone run
away from hyenas if they come in.

586
00:46:59,243 --> 00:47:03,163
TOM HARDY: Cheetah's rarely
die from starvation alone.

587
00:47:03,163 --> 00:47:07,043
Their broad diet means they can
always find prey, however small,

588
00:47:07,043 --> 00:47:10,123
to make it through
even the toughest conditions.

589
00:47:11,843 --> 00:47:15,643
But when hunger is worsened
by illness or injury,

590
00:47:15,643 --> 00:47:17,923
it can be a death sentence.

591
00:47:20,723 --> 00:47:23,043
WILL: Yeah, he's really struggling.

592
00:47:23,843 --> 00:47:24,883
Poor little guy.

593
00:47:28,723 --> 00:47:30,083
(SOFT CALL)

594
00:47:30,083 --> 00:47:32,203
TOM HARDY:
The National Park's policy

595
00:47:32,203 --> 00:47:34,603
is to not intervene
with sick animals.

596
00:47:34,603 --> 00:47:37,243
Nature must be allowed
to take its course.

597
00:47:55,723 --> 00:47:58,163
As night falls, it becomes clear

598
00:47:58,163 --> 00:48:01,843
that the young cheetah's
sickness has progressed too far.

599
00:48:21,483 --> 00:48:24,803
TOM HARDY: Researchers
can't save every cheetah.

600
00:48:24,803 --> 00:48:28,083
But the good news is that data from
the GPS collars is shedding light

601
00:48:28,083 --> 00:48:32,003
on how scientists can protect
the entire cheetah population.

602
00:48:35,523 --> 00:48:38,923
DENNIS: This is the satellite
data that we have been getting.

603
00:48:38,923 --> 00:48:41,283
And you can see her movement.

604
00:48:41,283 --> 00:48:46,563
She made a straight line here,
going towards the villages.

605
00:48:46,563 --> 00:48:48,403
(BIRDS CHIRPING)

606
00:48:49,523 --> 00:48:53,763
TOM: What the collars reveal about
where the cheetah go is striking.

607
00:48:54,603 --> 00:48:57,963
KELVIN: The cheetah population have
been spending most of their time

608
00:48:57,963 --> 00:49:00,523
outside of the protected areas.

609
00:49:02,963 --> 00:49:05,523
TOM: The revelation that
the cheetahs regularly venture

610
00:49:05,523 --> 00:49:08,803
into farming communities
outside the protected park

611
00:49:08,803 --> 00:49:10,323
is hugely significant.

612
00:49:11,443 --> 00:49:13,443
(FARMERS HOLLERING)

613
00:49:15,243 --> 00:49:17,683
Hungry cheetahs occasionally
eat livestock.

614
00:49:18,723 --> 00:49:23,523
And to protect their livelihoods,
farmers retaliate by killing the cheetahs.

615
00:49:25,963 --> 00:49:29,083
SARAH:
We're very concerned about
what's happening to cheetahs

616
00:49:29,083 --> 00:49:30,603
outside the protected areas.

617
00:49:30,603 --> 00:49:33,083
When they come up against
the impacts of people,

618
00:49:33,083 --> 00:49:35,963
that's when you see
the population start declining.

619
00:49:35,963 --> 00:49:37,443
(CHEETAH CALLS SOFTLY)

620
00:49:38,323 --> 00:49:42,923
The cheetah population can't afford
to lose any from their numbers.

621
00:49:42,923 --> 00:49:47,083
SARAH: There's only around about
7,000 cheetahs left in the whole world.

622
00:49:47,083 --> 00:49:50,203
So they've suffered
a really drastic collapse

623
00:49:50,203 --> 00:49:53,123
over recent decades,

624
00:49:53,123 --> 00:49:56,283
with the populations
now only occupying

625
00:49:56,283 --> 00:49:59,443
around about 10%
of their former range.

626
00:50:00,923 --> 00:50:02,723
TOM:
With the GPS collars revealing

627
00:50:02,723 --> 00:50:06,523
the critical areas outside the
park where cheetahs are at risk,

628
00:50:07,363 --> 00:50:10,483
vital steps can now be taken
to protect them there,

629
00:50:12,723 --> 00:50:14,843
paving the way
for cheetahs and humans

630
00:50:14,843 --> 00:50:17,683
to share this land without conflict.

631
00:50:19,203 --> 00:50:24,083
KELVIN: This is why I play
my part in the conservation

632
00:50:24,083 --> 00:50:27,643
and protection of wildlife
and nature.

633
00:50:27,643 --> 00:50:29,443
(UPBEAT MUSIC)

634
00:50:31,803 --> 00:50:34,043
TOM: The researcher's work
is not only crucial

635
00:50:34,043 --> 00:50:37,283
to safeguarding
the Serengeti's cheetahs,

636
00:50:38,683 --> 00:50:41,323
but a reminder that
in this changing world,

637
00:50:41,323 --> 00:50:42,883
to protect wildlife,

638
00:50:42,883 --> 00:50:45,123
we must find ways
for people and predators

639
00:50:45,123 --> 00:50:47,763
to peacefully live
alongside each other.

640
00:50:56,563 --> 00:50:58,043
Next time...

641
00:50:58,043 --> 00:51:02,083
In the frozen wilderness of Canada,

642
00:51:02,083 --> 00:51:04,923
a new generation of polar bears

643
00:51:04,923 --> 00:51:08,323
battle hunger in the most
hostile environment.

644
00:51:08,323 --> 00:51:10,843
But as their world
starts to shift

645
00:51:10,843 --> 00:51:14,523
they will need to overcome
enormous challenges to survive.

646
00:51:14,523 --> 00:51:16,963
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