1 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,080 Lions are the very image of majesty. 2 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,200 And, indeed, of Africa itself. 3 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,960 Their strength lies in the power of the pride, 4 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,840 their tight-knit family. 5 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,280 Lions have ruled the savannahs for millennia. 6 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,600 And yet, within the last 20 years or so, 7 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,760 their numbers have fallen by almost half. 8 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:09,280 Our team has spent two years following perhaps the most famous 9 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,760 lion family of all, the Marsh pride of Kenya's Masai Mara. 10 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,960 As we join them, the very survival of this great dynasty 11 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:21,400 is under threat. 12 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Their future depends entirely on the strength and determination 13 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,400 of one extraordinary leader. 14 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,880 Perhaps the most powerful in the history of the Marsh pride. 15 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,520 THUNDER RUMBLES 16 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,880 A lioness known as Charm. 17 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,400 The Masai Mara. 18 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,400 The pride have always thrived here through an alliance 19 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,480 between powerful alpha males to protect the family 20 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,240 and experienced females to raise the cubs. 21 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,440 But, for the first time in the pride's history, 22 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,520 this alliance has been shattered. 23 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:03,840 The family has been abandoned by all the adult males. 24 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:15,520 The survival of the pride now rests upon the shoulders of Charm 25 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,400 and her cousin, Sienna. 26 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,800 The only remaining adults. 27 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,200 If their young are to reach adulthood and the dynasty return 28 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:37,760 to full strength, they must now both protect and feed the whole family. 29 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,680 August. 30 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,160 Following the recent rains, it's a time of plenty. 31 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,720 The lions are surrounded by wildebeest 32 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,840 on their annual migration. 33 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,760 A quarter-tonne bull would make a good meal 34 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,960 for all ten of the pride. 35 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:27,920 WILDEBEEST SNORTS 36 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,520 But even though Charm is an experienced hunter, 37 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,000 most attempts end in failure. 38 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:14,400 Charm uses her hind legs to knock the wildebeest off-balance. 39 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:15,160 The smallest cubs won't be able to catch food for themselves 40 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,840 for another 12 months. 41 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,960 Their ever-growing appetites mean that Charm and Sienna 42 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,520 have to hunt around the clock. 43 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,240 The females are often forced to head out alone. 44 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:38,800 Tonight, it's Sienna's turn. 45 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:45,880 Sunrise. 46 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:56,520 Sienna is seriously injured. 47 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,400 She's too week to move. 48 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:11,320 A lone lion is always at risk of attack by buffalo, 49 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,160 hyenas, even other lion prides. 50 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:51,240 It's evening, and Sienna hasn't returned to her family. 51 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,040 Now, everything depends on Charm. 52 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:21,000 As night falls, Charm has no choice but to head out to hunt, 53 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,640 leaving the vulnerable cubs alone. 54 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,480 She's being trailed. 55 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:57,920 Hyenas. 56 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,480 They'll attack lone lions if they get the chance, 57 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,520 to steal any kill they make. 58 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,960 Charm must work fast before they find her. 59 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,760 CHARM GROWLS 60 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,560 They've tracked her down. 61 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:44,120 HYENAS SCREECH 62 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,120 On her own, she couldn't hold them off. 63 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,480 But another of the pride has been following Charm. 64 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,160 Her three-year-old daughter, Yaya. 65 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,120 The rest of the pride arrive. 66 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,600 To eat. 67 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:41,200 Yaya has stepped up to help defend the pride and feed her family. 68 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,680 Daughters stay with their mothers for life, and may eventually 69 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:00,480 have cubs of their own. 70 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,240 Yaya is not yet an adult, but as Charm's eldest daughter, 71 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,400 she's next in line to lead the pride. 72 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,720 Charm also has a three-year-old son, Tatu. 73 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,120 The beginnings of an impressive mane are a sign 74 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,640 of his approaching adulthood. 75 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:43,000 Like every adolescent, Tatu can't resist the chance 76 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,080 to test his growing strength. 77 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,960 Even against a two-tonne hippo. 78 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,720 But he's not the only young male in this pride. 79 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,360 His cousin, Red. 80 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:30,720 Over the last few months, the two of them have begun 81 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:32,480 to forge an alliance. 82 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,160 But even together, they're not really going to worry 83 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:40,320 an angry hippo. 84 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:51,040 Unlike their sisters, sons always leave their family 85 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,120 when they reach adulthood. 86 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:03,240 Their growing bond may enable them to leave as a powerful partnership. 87 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,360 Eventually, they'll fight other males to try and take over a pride 88 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:13,760 of their own. 89 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,920 But for the time being, they still need Charm 90 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,440 to look after them. 91 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:45,080 It's been four days since Sienna was attacked. 92 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,040 She's back on her feet. 93 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,360 But she's in urgent need of a meal. 94 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,720 She simply doesn't have the strength. 95 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,200 As they mature, young males begin to explore the boundaries 96 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,000 of the pride's territory. 97 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,200 Red has ventured out alone. 98 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,800 HYENA HOWLS 99 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,000 And blundered straight into the middle of the hyena clan. 100 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,640 HYENAS CHATTER 101 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:08,960 RED ROARS 102 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,280 He's trapped by over 20 of them. 103 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,040 The pack tries to wear him down. 104 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,600 This number of hyenas could kill him. 105 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,920 It's impossible to fight them all at once. 106 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,960 He can't keep them at bay for much longer. 107 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:44,760 He's tiring fast. 108 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,600 His ally, Tatu, has heard the commotion. 109 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,840 Now, the odds have changed. 110 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:32,040 Even for 20 hyenas, a pair of male lions 111 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,200 is too much to take on. 112 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,480 Red is lucky. 113 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:57,600 Tatu has saved his cousin's life. 114 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:45,440 After weeks of feeding on scraps, Sienna has grown strong enough 115 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,080 to try and rejoin her family. 116 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,560 She greets Charm first. 117 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,440 Even after being apart for so long, the bond between them 118 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,000 is still strong. 119 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,120 Yaya also welcomes Sienna back into the pride. 120 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:12,000 At last, Charm's family are back together. 121 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,600 Charm not only has her hunting partner back, 122 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,880 but another hunter is emerging. 123 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,600 Yaya is becoming a powerful lioness. 124 00:21:56,120 --> 00:21:58,440 She's learned how to stalk. 125 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:09,320 Stay low. 126 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,080 Approach silently. 127 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,240 And from downwind. 128 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:29,680 But the key to a successful ambush is not being noticed. 129 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,960 Now it's seen her, the wildebeest, with its sharp horns, 130 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:44,560 has the advantage. 131 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,200 But Yaya is learning. 132 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,480 Mother and daughter are starting to develop their partnership. 133 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,560 It's October. 134 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,960 The great wildebeest migration never stops. 135 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,880 And now, they're leaving the Masai Mara. 136 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,600 For Charm and her family, food is about to become 137 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,840 much more difficult to find. 138 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,720 The plains are now empty. 139 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,760 And, in search of food, 140 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,560 Charm leads the pride to the edge of their range. 141 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,720 Here, she finds another kind of prey. 142 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,040 Cattle, illegally brought into the lions' territory to graze. 143 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,680 An opportunity to feed her hungry family. 144 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,760 But hunting cattle can lead to disaster. 145 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:38,320 To protect their livestock, 146 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,400 herdsmen sometimes put out poisoned bait. 147 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,680 Lions can't tell when a meal is toxic. 148 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:09,480 A week later, Charm's one-year-old son is so ill he can hardly stand. 149 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:22,280 The whole pride are showing the signs of poisoning. 150 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,760 And Sienna is missing once again. 151 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:38,480 As the temperature climbs, the pride heads off to find shade. 152 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,640 But the struggling cub is too weak to follow. 153 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:00,040 Charm needs to stay with the rest of the pride. 154 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:37,000 Hours later, the cub still hasn't caught up with his mother. 155 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,880 And there's no sign of Sienna, either. 156 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:23,360 The next day, Charm returns to her son's side. 157 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:45,400 He's still very unsteady. 158 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,800 But his mother can't abandon the rest of the pride. 159 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,000 THUNDER RUMBLES 160 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:17,440 For the sake of the pride, Charm abandons her young cub. 161 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,320 The others are waiting for her. 162 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,120 They need her now more than ever. 163 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:30,480 She will never see her son, or Sienna, alive again. 164 00:31:56,080 --> 00:32:00,200 Despite her losses, there may still be a future 165 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,080 for Charm and her dynasty. 166 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:10,160 Her eldest cubs, Yaya and Tatu, have survived the poisoning. 167 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:45,520 Charm keeps the pride moving in a constant search for prey. 168 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:08,200 Catching enough food is hard, even with Yaya's help. 169 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,600 But Charm is relentless. 170 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:42,280 The younger members of the pride try to follow her example. 171 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,080 Even with little to hunt and the constant harassment 172 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:07,520 of hyenas, Charm's skill and experience as a leader 173 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:09,680 is keeping the pride alive. 174 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,360 A few weeks later, her efforts begin to be rewarded. 175 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:32,320 Tatu and Red are now over four years old, 176 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,880 ready to take the final step to adulthood. 177 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:45,440 It's time for them to leave the pride. 178 00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:10,920 For Charm, this is success. 179 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:19,040 They head out as a partnership, to battle other males, 180 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,760 to win a pride of their own, 181 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,160 and continue the family's bloodline elsewhere. 182 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,640 But Charm still needs to get the remaining four female cubs 183 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:37,520 safely to adulthood. 184 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:48,520 LION ROARS 185 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,320 LION ROARS 186 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:04,640 One early morning in May... 187 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:08,480 ..the roar of adult male lions. 188 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:21,440 Two new males, outsiders, are searching for a pride 189 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:23,440 to take over as their own. 190 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:26,840 LION ROARS 191 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:41,040 New males could bring the possibility 192 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,280 of a new generation of cubs. 193 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:01,800 But they could just as easily bring disaster. 194 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:22,320 Soon, the new males begin to impose their authority 195 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:23,880 on the Marsh pride. 196 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:29,560 Charm's youngest daughter is still too young to breed. 197 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:35,480 To the males, she's nothing more than another mouth 198 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:36,840 to share food with. 199 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,440 They don't want her in their pride. 200 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:00,280 Try as she might, Charm struggles to defend her daughter. 201 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:09,480 Even she is no match for an adult male. 202 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:16,000 Charm tries distracting them, 203 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,640 putting herself between them and her cub. 204 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:25,360 But it's no good. 205 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:36,640 If her daughter stays, the males will eventually kill her. 206 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:49,640 The cub has no choice but to leave. 207 00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:01,000 And the males don't stop there. 208 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:06,080 Every young cub is driven out. 209 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,960 Their future is uncertain. 210 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,800 There's nothing Charm can do. 211 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,520 Eight months ago, Charm's pride numbered ten lions. 212 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:44,040 Of them, only she and Yaya now remain. 213 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:35,240 The return of the wildebeest signals the end, at last, 214 00:40:35,240 --> 00:40:37,240 of the hard times. 215 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,880 Time for a new beginning. 216 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:10,240 Charm is starting the process of rebuilding the Marsh pride. 217 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:21,400 She and one of the males have separated themselves 218 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:23,560 from the rest of the group. 219 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:33,520 Females are only able to conceive once every few months. 220 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:40,040 For those crucial days, the male won't leave her side. 221 00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:10,720 Charm stays close to him to strengthen their bond. 222 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:19,320 If the male isn't certain any future cubs are his, 223 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:21,120 he will probably kill them. 224 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:46,200 Four months later. 225 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:00,920 Charm is alone, away from the pride. 226 00:43:08,720 --> 00:43:13,480 Over the last 14 months, her dynasty has faced ruin. 227 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,800 But now, there is new hope. 228 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:50,280 CUB MEOWS 229 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:52,360 Just two weeks old. 230 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:59,400 Charm gave birth away from the others. 231 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:04,000 Inquisitive and clumsy lions could be a threat to the newborns. 232 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,120 But her two cubs are still extremely vulnerable. 233 00:44:15,080 --> 00:44:18,880 Buffaloes seek out lion cubs and will kill them 234 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:20,560 if they get the chance. 235 00:44:25,360 --> 00:44:27,840 She shields them with her body. 236 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:36,200 Without her to protect them, the buffalo will trample 237 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:37,240 them to death. 238 00:44:58,680 --> 00:45:00,520 CHARM GROWLS 239 00:45:11,040 --> 00:45:14,840 Charm has forced the entire herd to back down. 240 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:28,440 CUB MEOWS 241 00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:43,480 Life is always dangerous for lion cubs. 242 00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:48,400 But these two have an experienced mother to look after them. 243 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:57,160 At last, Charm's pride is increasing again. 244 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:45,480 One male and one female. 245 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:53,920 And these cubs may soon be joined by more. 246 00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:14,000 Yaya has paired off with the other adult male. 247 00:47:21,880 --> 00:47:25,680 Soon, she too will have cubs. 248 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:27,680 Charm's grandchildren. 249 00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:58,080 Charm is taking her cubs to meet the rest of the Marsh pride 250 00:47:58,080 --> 00:47:59,760 for the first time. 251 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:08,800 Once their father has accepted the cubs, he'll defend them 252 00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:11,080 as fiercely as their mother. 253 00:48:20,920 --> 00:48:24,240 They are the future of his dynasty, too. 254 00:48:31,480 --> 00:48:35,240 Charm has been away from the pride since giving birth, 255 00:48:35,240 --> 00:48:37,600 and hasn't seen Yaya for weeks. 256 00:48:42,960 --> 00:48:47,680 Their bond has held through perhaps the hardest times 257 00:48:47,680 --> 00:48:49,800 in the pride's history. 258 00:48:56,240 --> 00:48:59,920 With her daughter pregnant and her son looking for a pride 259 00:48:59,920 --> 00:49:05,440 of his own, Charm's dynasty and the Marsh pride will live on. 260 00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:13,200 This extraordinary lioness has succeeded. 261 00:49:28,720 --> 00:49:31,360 To follow the story of Charm and her family, 262 00:49:31,360 --> 00:49:34,440 the Dynasties team travelled to the Masai Mara, 263 00:49:34,440 --> 00:49:37,320 one of these big cats' last strongholds. 264 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:41,840 The crew's aim is to immerse themselves in the lives 265 00:49:41,840 --> 00:49:45,200 of these powerful predators, following them closely 266 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:47,880 for over 400 days. 267 00:49:47,880 --> 00:49:52,680 But first, they need to master the tricky task of identifying 268 00:49:52,680 --> 00:49:54,640 each individual lion. 269 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:59,160 Every lion has its own unique set of whisker spots, 270 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:04,640 and put that together with coat colour, ear notches, nose colour, 271 00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:08,240 you can pretty much identify that lion. 272 00:50:08,240 --> 00:50:12,120 It would be really great if we could stick moustaches on them and glasses 273 00:50:12,120 --> 00:50:14,880 and hats, because that would make it a lot easier for everybody 274 00:50:14,880 --> 00:50:16,360 to understand who they were! 275 00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:24,520 After weeks of following the family for 12 hours a day, 276 00:50:24,520 --> 00:50:26,440 they're getting to know the lions. 277 00:50:30,040 --> 00:50:33,720 And the lions, it seems, are getting to know them, too. 278 00:50:42,440 --> 00:50:43,800 Well done. 279 00:50:43,800 --> 00:50:45,440 It was the closest I've ever been. 280 00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:48,320 She had her chin over the door. Yeah! 281 00:50:48,320 --> 00:50:50,800 I mean, my feet are within two feet of her. 282 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:54,720 She's big when she's that close. 283 00:50:56,000 --> 00:50:59,200 Before long, it becomes clear that each lion 284 00:50:59,200 --> 00:51:01,480 has its own particular character. 285 00:51:03,800 --> 00:51:06,680 On a long project like this, there's a real luxury, 286 00:51:06,680 --> 00:51:10,000 and the luxury is you get to know the individuals. 287 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:11,880 They are different to each other. 288 00:51:11,880 --> 00:51:13,640 Some sit and follow, others watch. 289 00:51:13,640 --> 00:51:16,240 Some are into everything, some are funny, 290 00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:18,520 some are really stupid, in a way. 291 00:51:18,520 --> 00:51:20,760 I mean, you can see the rest of the pride kind of rolling 292 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:25,040 their eyes as yet another male comes in and blows another hunt. 293 00:51:32,080 --> 00:51:33,520 You begin to care for them. 294 00:51:33,520 --> 00:51:35,720 You can't help it. 295 00:51:35,720 --> 00:51:38,200 Charm, she is what a lion should be. 296 00:51:38,200 --> 00:51:41,680 She's a provider, she's a mother, she looks after cubs 297 00:51:41,680 --> 00:51:43,880 that aren't her own, she's the matriarch. 298 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:46,320 She's the... She's the dame. 299 00:51:52,480 --> 00:51:55,480 The crew's attachment to the lions is what makes 300 00:51:55,480 --> 00:51:58,600 what happens next so hard to deal with. 301 00:52:03,480 --> 00:52:07,320 Poisoning is one of the biggest threats lions face 302 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:09,480 across Africa today. 303 00:52:21,240 --> 00:52:22,600 It can... 304 00:52:22,600 --> 00:52:26,080 It becomes very close to home when it's animals that you know 305 00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:27,440 so well, individuals. 306 00:52:27,440 --> 00:52:29,640 We know them really well now. 307 00:52:29,640 --> 00:52:31,440 It's, um, much more... 308 00:52:32,680 --> 00:52:35,240 Erm, you feel it much more. 309 00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:43,800 Soon after the pride leave him, emergency wildlife vets arrive 310 00:52:43,800 --> 00:52:46,320 to try and save Charm's youngest son. 311 00:52:50,120 --> 00:52:52,920 But the poison has no simple antidote. 312 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:00,800 The vets try to ease the symptoms. 313 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:05,160 All they and the crew can do now is wait in the hope he can recover 314 00:53:05,160 --> 00:53:06,880 and return to the pride. 315 00:53:09,320 --> 00:53:15,080 Eventually, it becomes clear nothing more can be done for him. 316 00:53:15,080 --> 00:53:18,640 This animal is in a very bad condition, a critical condition, 317 00:53:18,640 --> 00:53:22,840 and we think it's not going to make it. 318 00:53:22,840 --> 00:53:27,160 Across Africa, the need for teams like these is on the rise, 319 00:53:27,160 --> 00:53:30,680 treating wildlife after encounters with man. 320 00:53:32,160 --> 00:53:34,280 It's just entirely wrong, isn't it? 321 00:53:34,280 --> 00:53:35,400 Lions are so endangered. 322 00:53:35,400 --> 00:53:37,520 There are hardly any of them, really. 323 00:53:37,520 --> 00:53:39,760 This is one of the best places in the world. 324 00:53:39,760 --> 00:53:43,040 They're disappearing so quickly, and then this happens to them. 325 00:53:45,200 --> 00:53:48,160 Because of pressure on the land, of people. 326 00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:53,160 Conflict between humans and lions is increasing 327 00:53:53,160 --> 00:53:55,320 throughout the continent. 328 00:53:55,320 --> 00:53:59,920 Dr Shivani Bhalla is a Kenyan conservationist who has been working 329 00:53:59,920 --> 00:54:03,840 with lions and local communities for over a decade. 330 00:54:03,840 --> 00:54:08,360 So many people are surprised to hear that there's only about 20,000 lions 331 00:54:08,360 --> 00:54:09,480 left in Africa. 332 00:54:09,480 --> 00:54:12,400 There's less than 2,000 lions left in Kenya. 333 00:54:12,400 --> 00:54:14,360 They are disappearing so quickly. 334 00:54:16,880 --> 00:54:19,760 Lions don't have enough food and they don't have enough space, 335 00:54:19,760 --> 00:54:22,440 but communities also don't have enough grazing 336 00:54:22,440 --> 00:54:23,640 for their livestock. 337 00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:25,520 They also don't have enough space. 338 00:54:25,520 --> 00:54:28,480 We've got to try and understand both sides of the picture. 339 00:54:28,480 --> 00:54:31,840 Coexistence between people and lions is possible. 340 00:54:31,840 --> 00:54:34,320 Our strategy has been working with warriors, 341 00:54:34,320 --> 00:54:38,120 women, children, to really bring them on board and engage them 342 00:54:38,120 --> 00:54:41,160 in lion conservation, because they're the ones herding 343 00:54:41,160 --> 00:54:44,160 livestock every day, they're the ones coming into contact 344 00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:45,760 with wildlife every day. 345 00:54:47,520 --> 00:54:51,840 Community programmes have shown that lions can actually recover 346 00:54:51,840 --> 00:54:55,040 in areas where they used to be once, but then their numbers 347 00:54:55,040 --> 00:54:57,000 declined because they were being killed. 348 00:55:00,920 --> 00:55:05,040 And Sophie and John witness that power of recovery 349 00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:07,440 first-hand, here with Charm. 350 00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:11,360 Oh, wow! 351 00:55:11,360 --> 00:55:12,800 Well, that's that, I think. 352 00:55:12,800 --> 00:55:14,080 Today's the day. 353 00:55:14,080 --> 00:55:18,120 She's gone in there now to have her cubs, 354 00:55:18,120 --> 00:55:21,000 which is quite exciting, really. 355 00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:23,480 We're kind of living it with her, really, aren't we? 356 00:55:23,480 --> 00:55:25,200 It's about sharing that experience. 357 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:28,120 That's the whole point. That's why we're making the film. 358 00:55:34,560 --> 00:55:40,040 Over a year ago, the team set out to find a lion 359 00:55:40,040 --> 00:55:41,920 and to tell its story. 360 00:55:41,920 --> 00:55:46,800 And here we are, over a year later, and just there, 361 00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:51,560 where the camera's pointing, we've got Charm and two little cubs. 362 00:55:53,520 --> 00:55:56,240 She's had such a hard, hard year. 363 00:55:57,400 --> 00:56:01,600 I don't think any of us could've predicted a happier, better way. 364 00:56:01,600 --> 00:56:03,440 She's the most amazing lion. 365 00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:05,080 She's just incredible. 366 00:56:05,080 --> 00:56:09,640 And... It's the perfect ending, really. 367 00:56:13,280 --> 00:56:15,520 Lions are incredibly resilient. 368 00:56:15,520 --> 00:56:20,640 Given space, enough food and security, they can bounce back. 369 00:56:21,840 --> 00:56:26,440 The challenges facing lion conservationists are formidable. 370 00:56:26,440 --> 00:56:29,480 Indeed, unbelievable though it may sound, 371 00:56:29,480 --> 00:56:35,080 there is a real possibility that, before long, lions in the wild 372 00:56:35,080 --> 00:56:37,440 could disappear entirely. 373 00:56:38,560 --> 00:56:42,440 But if conservationists and the people who have to live 374 00:56:42,440 --> 00:56:47,320 alongside these great beasts of prey can work together, 375 00:56:47,320 --> 00:56:50,000 there is still a chance to save them. 376 00:57:01,920 --> 00:57:07,040 Next time - one of the last great families of painted wolves. 377 00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:11,360 An intense rivalry. 378 00:57:11,360 --> 00:57:16,000 Mother against daughter, each striving to rule. 379 00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:20,440 Who will triumph, and can they bring peace to these lands?