1 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,360 Here in the heart of Africa lives one of this great continent's 2 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,520 most extraordinary, yet misunderstood, animals. 3 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,600 Animals that only thrive through remarkable teamwork. 4 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,960 And through the strength and skill of their leaders. 5 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,200 Painted wolves, once known as Cape hunting dogs, 6 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,480 are one of Africa's most threatened predators. 7 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:55,560 Their packs require huge areas of territory in which to hunt. 8 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,000 But today, because of human pressure, 9 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,680 their world is shrinking fast. 10 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,720 And whereas, once, neighbours could live together in relative peace, 11 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,640 today, there's intense rivalry between them. 12 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,680 For more than two years, our team here in Mana Pools 13 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,080 in Zimbabwe have been following the fortunes of 14 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,520 one of the last great families. 15 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,840 We join them at a moment when competition between mother 16 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,640 and one of her daughters is boiling up, 17 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,800 threatening to not only shatter a long-established peace, 18 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,040 but to tear apart the whole family. 19 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,320 This is Tait, the family's ruling Queen. 20 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,520 She's a mother and a grandmother. 21 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,600 For years, she has used her position to keep the peace 22 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,840 within her sprawling family. 23 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,720 But Tait is now old. 24 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,440 Her powers are waning. 25 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,840 Tait still controls the very best hunting territory, 26 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,000 the rich lands on the banks of the Zambezi. 27 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,520 But she's surrounded. 28 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,840 To the east lie the dangerous lion pridelands. 29 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,240 To the south, forests full of hyena. 30 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:59,880 And to the west, a pack led by one of Tait's daughters, Blacktip. 31 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,680 For many years, Blacktip has lived in peaceful coexistence 32 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,040 with her mother. 33 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,040 Each with enough territory to survive. 34 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,360 But Blacktip's pack has grown huge. 35 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,280 It's now 30-strong. 36 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,080 For the first time, she needs more territory 37 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,240 if she's to feed her growing family. 38 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,800 Normally, a daughter would not invade her mother's territory. 39 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,280 THUNDER RUMBLES 40 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,920 However, with hyenas ruling to the south, 41 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,640 and humans having taken the hunting lands to the west, 42 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:11,280 Blacktip has no choice but to turn her sights east, 43 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,960 towards her mother's lands. 44 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:24,200 Where, after a morning's hunt, Tait and her pack are resting. 45 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,040 WOLVES PANT 46 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,760 THUNDER RUMBLES 47 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,080 ZEBRA SNORT 48 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:53,880 WOLVES YELP 49 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,960 Blacktip's pack outnumbers her mother's by more than two to one. 50 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,160 An ambush. 51 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:45,360 WOLF GROWLS 52 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:56,720 Against these odds, Tait is powerless. 53 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,200 Retreat is the only option. 54 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,360 This has now become Blacktip's territory. 55 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,800 A brief but bloody battle. 56 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,800 Tait and her pack are now homeless. 57 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,440 She retreats eastwards. 58 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,200 But this is dangerous country. 59 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,680 This river marks the boundary between her old territory 60 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,920 and the lion pridelands. 61 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,960 In her long life, Tait has explored every part of Mana. 62 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,160 She knows that this is too perilous a place to make a home. 63 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,680 Lions will search out and kill puppies, 64 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,120 and even adults, if they get the chance. 65 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,440 For now, it's the only place to hide. 66 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:11,320 But Tait must keep her family safe, well away from the 26 lions 67 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,080 that rule here. 68 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,920 LIONS GROWL 69 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,560 Three months have passed since Blacktip's takeover. 70 00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:00,760 And all these lands are now firmly under her control. 71 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,760 Blacktip's pack have spent a great deal of time scent-marking, 72 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,320 establishing their new territorial boundaries. 73 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,480 And Blacktip and her family have fed well on what 74 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,800 was her mother's lands. 75 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:31,080 But now, it's the dry season, and the landscape is changing. 76 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,520 The ground is dangerous for hunters who rely on speed. 77 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:49,680 Deep footprints left by elephants in soft mud have baked as hard as rock. 78 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,960 And a painted wolf putting a foot wrong could seriously damage itself. 79 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,160 The impalas' ability to leap over the worst of the potholes 80 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,240 now gives them an edge. 81 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,960 In these conditions, Blacktip's pack will find it hard 82 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:25,560 to feed themselves. 83 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,760 But the size and strength of the pack might enable 84 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,840 her to catch a totally new kind of prey. 85 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,240 A large male baboon is strong - almost twice the weight 86 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,680 of a painted wolf. 87 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,960 And armed with huge canine teeth. 88 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,680 BABOONS SCREECH 89 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:10,760 The great size of Blacktip's pack means the large males 90 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,720 can't defend their troop against them all. 91 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,160 BABOON SCREAMS 92 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,320 WOLVES WHINE 93 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:05,960 The meal has been hard-won. 94 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:16,400 But discovering this new possibility has come at just the right time. 95 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:22,600 Blacktip won more than just hunting lands in her battle to claim 96 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,240 Tait's territory. 97 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,360 She secured the safest place to raise puppies 98 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,440 in all of Mana Pools. 99 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,600 And, sure enough, Blacktip has a new litter of five hungry pups. 100 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,680 Their father is baby-sitting them today. 101 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:53,720 Everyone is impatient for the return of the hunting party. 102 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,080 While they wait, the pups discover that there's more to the world 103 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:03,880 than just their pack. 104 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,880 ELEPHANT BELLOWS 105 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:14,800 Strange giants. 106 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,280 There's no rest for Blacktip. 107 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:53,600 She not only leads the hunting trips, 108 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,800 but, as the alpha female, she's the only one 109 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,160 who breeds and provides milk for the pups. 110 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,040 It's not just milk. 111 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,200 They're already eagerly eating meat. 112 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:14,800 PUPPIES SQUEAK 113 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:24,440 Blacktip's hold on Tait's territory appears to be paying off. 114 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:37,280 It has been four months since Tait and her pack were forced into exile 115 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,840 here in the lion pridelands. 116 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:48,640 Compared to her home territory, there is not only more danger, 117 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,720 but there's much less prey. 118 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,960 Yet, remarkably, even here, Tait has managed to keep every 119 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,160 member of her pack alive. 120 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:17,960 But she is nowhere to be seen. 121 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,680 The rest of her family are waiting close to an abandoned 122 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:29,240 aardvark burrow. 123 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:33,880 And this is why. 124 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,360 Tait has spent the last three weeks hidden underground. 125 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:49,640 She has managed, against the odds, to produce her eighth litter. 126 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:06,040 Two tiny puppies emerge for the very first time. 127 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,200 PUPPIES SQUEAK 128 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,880 Honey badgers. 129 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:04,400 They are notoriously aggressive, and a danger to the pups. 130 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:05,760 BADGER GROWLS 131 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:14,360 Tait's youngest daughter, Tammy, has never seen one before. 132 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:17,880 But her instinct tells her to drive them away. 133 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,480 And this gives Tait the chance to get her pups 134 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,720 to safety underground. 135 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:49,720 This year, both Tait and Blacktip have produced far fewer puppies 136 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,280 than ever before. 137 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,400 Perhaps this is the first sign that the conflict between the two 138 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,160 packs is threatening the future of the entire family. 139 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:16,160 Twice a day, Tait has to lead her hunting party 140 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,160 on a risky journey... 141 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:25,240 ..to the banks of the Zambezi River, where the prey gather. 142 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,760 But it is also the very heart of lion territory. 143 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:06,080 She must sneak them into position undetected. 144 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,720 Then, it's in and out as fast as possible. 145 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,480 The pack need to work fast. 146 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,280 All that effort for a few mouthfuls of food. 147 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,160 The puppies will go hungry today. 148 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,320 And the pack has been dealt another blow. 149 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,800 Again, it's Tammy, Tait's youngest daughter, 150 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,320 who spots the problem. 151 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:37,960 Tammy's sister has fallen. 152 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,520 She has broken a leg stumbling into an elephant's footprint. 153 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,760 For most animals, this would be the end. 154 00:23:58,320 --> 00:23:59,600 LION ROARS 155 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,240 But the family won't just leave her to fend for herself. 156 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,560 Painted wolves, perhaps more than any other animal, 157 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,040 care for pack members who are old or injured. 158 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,680 Tait's family will protect and feed her while she herself 159 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,920 cannot join in the hunt. 160 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,360 The dry season turns to drought. 161 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,080 The great buffalo herds are on the move. 162 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,720 Food and water are becoming increasingly scarce. 163 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,640 All of Mana's inhabitants are now drawn towards the Zambezi 164 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,720 and the few pools that remain along its banks. 165 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,680 The drought also means that it's time for Blacktip 166 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:21,760 and her pups to leave their den behind. 167 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,200 For the pups, this is their first adventure. 168 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,640 Now the pups are old enough to follow the adults, 169 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,920 Blacktip can resume marking the new boundaries of her territory 170 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,280 to consolidate her takeover. 171 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:42,320 On the far eastern borders, Blacktip picks up a familiar scent. 172 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,560 It's old, but unmistakable. 173 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:49,840 Her mother. 174 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:56,080 This discovery has an extraordinary effect on Blacktip. 175 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,680 She can tell from this smell which direction Tait took. 176 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,120 Blacktip stops territorial marking, 177 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:11,720 and instead sets off in pursuit of her mother. 178 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,280 It seems that Blacktip is going to try and drive Tait 179 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:23,920 out of Mana once and for all. 180 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,400 But she's taking a huge risk by going into territory 181 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:44,880 she doesn't know. 182 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,040 Hyenas. 183 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,000 On moonless nights, the pack would normally rest up 184 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,520 somewhere safe until dawn. 185 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:17,280 But instead, Blacktip leads them, marching on into the gloom. 186 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,880 No-one wants to be the straggler in the dark. 187 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,960 The family bunch together much more closely at night. 188 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,080 HYENAS CHATTER 189 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,600 And now, 15 hyenas are tracking them. 190 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,000 Attack may be the best form of defence. 191 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,520 Blacktip thinks she's got the upper hand, 192 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,120 but she's let her pups get separated. 193 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,800 The puppy is lost. 194 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:31,840 Heads down, tails down, they seem to mourn. 195 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,520 For hours, they march in silence. 196 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,360 A solemn procession. 197 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:56,440 Despite her loss, Blacktip drives her pack on, 198 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:59,920 far beyond the boundary of Tait's old territory. 199 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:06,120 Tracking her mother into a place she's never been before. 200 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,000 Deep into the heart of the lion pridelands. 201 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,600 TRADITIONAL MUSIC 202 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:52,400 Tait, remarkably, has now managed to keep her pack safe from the lions 203 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,040 for eight months. 204 00:32:56,560 --> 00:33:00,320 Her injured daughter is on the mend. 205 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:03,600 The family have been protecting her while she recovers. 206 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:12,640 They only survive here by being on constant alert 207 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,320 for signs of danger. 208 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:21,040 And today, it is the wind that carries a warning. 209 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:28,200 Blacktip is coming. 210 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,600 Forewarned, Tait isn't going to risk an attack. 211 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,880 The pack turns tail and runs. 212 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,640 The temperature has reached 50 degrees. 213 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,760 Still, Blacktip pushes her pack on in pursuit. 214 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:26,520 They're closing in, less than a mile behind Tait. 215 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:59,280 But, finally, the heat is just too much. 216 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,800 Blacktip is forced to call a halt. 217 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,600 But danger is approaching. 218 00:36:44,720 --> 00:36:46,840 The pack are scattered. 219 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:56,320 And now, the lions will try to pick off the puppies. 220 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:13,120 There's only one adult with the pups. 221 00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:17,520 That won't be enough to save them. 222 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:30,200 But this might. 223 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:58,800 Buffaloes and lions are always in conflict. 224 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:08,520 To charge in alone is very unusual. 225 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,240 But it certainly saved the pups. 226 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:45,840 Blacktip and her pack have been halted in their tracks. 227 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:07,000 Blacktip's pursuit of Tait has exposed her family 228 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,400 to too many dangers. 229 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:10,960 Too many risks. 230 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:14,520 The pack are desperate to help. 231 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,960 But there is nothing they can do. 232 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,480 The pursuit of Tait is over. 233 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,160 Blacktip's pack run. 234 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,440 They run and run. 235 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:27,960 Mile after mile. 236 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:29,280 Puppies in tow. 237 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:34,840 All through the day. 238 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:36,320 All through the night. 239 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,760 All the way home. 240 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:45,360 The territory they stole, abandoned. 241 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:54,240 The conflict is over. 242 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:57,680 It cost too much. 243 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:27,880 Tait and her pack can already sense Blacktip's retreat. 244 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:33,800 For the first time since the beginning of the conflict, 245 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:35,600 they appear relaxed. 246 00:42:39,240 --> 00:42:42,360 Soon, their keen sense of smell will tell them 247 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:45,600 their stolen territory is no longer occupied. 248 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:59,000 It won't be long until it's time for Tait's pack to also go home. 249 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:05,280 But Tait will not be joining them. 250 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:11,320 For 7.5 years she's been their leader, 251 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:12,960 their matriarch. 252 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:23,280 And now, as their exile finally draws to a close, 253 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:26,880 she has ensured her pack still have a future. 254 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:31,760 A real chance to reclaim their old territory. 255 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:48,640 Before her pack could at last head home, 256 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:51,720 age finally caught up with Tait. 257 00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:57,520 Too old, too slow, she was no longer able 258 00:43:57,520 --> 00:43:59,520 to evade the lions. 259 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:07,040 Her alpha male refused to abandon her. 260 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:12,600 Together, they died in the pridelands. 261 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:24,400 Tait's pack are left leaderless. 262 00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:35,080 But the story doesn't end with Tait's passing. 263 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:50,160 Life-giving rains follow the drought. 264 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:23,640 Hard times are quickly forgotten in times of plenty. 265 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:37,600 And the story takes another twist. 266 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:46,840 On their way home, Tait's pack attract a band of roving males. 267 00:45:48,680 --> 00:45:53,160 And with these reinforcements, they not only reclaim some of Tait's 268 00:45:53,160 --> 00:45:59,280 old territory but also perform a ritual never witnessed before. 269 00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:00,880 WOLVES CALL 270 00:46:02,440 --> 00:46:07,600 With these haunting calls, they are choosing their new leader. 271 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:16,200 And the chance to continue Tait's bloodline. 272 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:36,680 Six months later, hidden away in a secluded part of the forest... 273 00:46:39,280 --> 00:46:42,920 ..a litter of seven tiny puppies. 274 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:53,600 They're born to Tammy, Tait's youngest daughter. 275 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:56,720 And now, heir to Tait's throne. 276 00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:04,200 With these new arrivals and the new males, 277 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:09,000 Tait's old pack has bounced back to 23 members. 278 00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:16,160 Tammy now leads a pack that is once again a force 279 00:47:16,160 --> 00:47:17,960 to be reckoned with. 280 00:47:29,840 --> 00:47:33,320 Back in the west, with the conflict long over, 281 00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:37,680 Blacktip has produced ten healthy puppies of her own. 282 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:50,960 Balance has finally been restored to Tait's dynasty. 283 00:47:57,480 --> 00:48:02,760 There are only 6,600 painted wolves left in the world. 284 00:48:05,440 --> 00:48:11,040 To date, we count 280 descendants from Tait's bloodline. 285 00:48:13,040 --> 00:48:17,760 Tait's contribution to the survival of this species is unparalleled. 286 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:23,120 Her dynasty feels secure. 287 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:27,080 For now, at least. 288 00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:59,040 Of all the animals featured in this series, 289 00:48:59,040 --> 00:49:02,840 painted wolves range over the greatest distances. 290 00:49:13,720 --> 00:49:17,640 To document the unfolding story of Tait and Blacktip, 291 00:49:17,640 --> 00:49:22,560 the team first needed to find them - and that required help. 292 00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:26,280 This film is essentially undoable without people 293 00:49:26,280 --> 00:49:28,160 who really know the dogs. 294 00:49:28,160 --> 00:49:30,120 Principally, Nick and Henry. 295 00:49:31,320 --> 00:49:33,240 Nick's been working with the dogs for years. 296 00:49:33,240 --> 00:49:35,520 Not only does he know how to track them incredibly well, 297 00:49:35,520 --> 00:49:39,520 but he also knows their habits and their behaviours. 298 00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:41,480 So, for 20 years I've been watching these dogs, 299 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:43,880 and when you're sitting on the ground and you've got them 300 00:49:43,880 --> 00:49:46,200 running around you and they're totally unfazed by you, 301 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:47,680 it's a great experience. 302 00:49:52,840 --> 00:49:57,280 Nick Murray can identify all of the 91 painted wolves 303 00:49:57,280 --> 00:49:59,520 that the team saw on the flood plains. 304 00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:04,440 But there's one individual that he knows better than any. 305 00:50:04,440 --> 00:50:10,960 We've been interacting with Tait for literally 10.5 years of her life. 306 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:13,200 With each successive letter that she has, 307 00:50:13,200 --> 00:50:16,680 we've got to know all of those dogs when they come out of the den 308 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:19,000 and spend time with them. 309 00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:23,120 Nick's knowledge of who is related to whom meant the team knew 310 00:50:23,120 --> 00:50:25,960 that it was Tait's own daughter who was challenging her. 311 00:50:27,600 --> 00:50:32,040 What was unfolding in front of camera was a family drama. 312 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:36,520 The crew not only have a team of trackers - 313 00:50:36,520 --> 00:50:40,120 luckily, the filming coincided with a research project. 314 00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:46,840 The reason for collaring the dogs is to aid our monitoring 315 00:50:46,840 --> 00:50:50,480 of the pack, because we're actually able to physically follow the dogs. 316 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:54,400 So we can record their movements, their territory size, 317 00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:55,960 where they're going. 318 00:50:55,960 --> 00:50:59,560 And that builds up a picture of their land use. 319 00:50:59,560 --> 00:51:03,760 In open landscapes, these collars can transmit for miles. 320 00:51:03,760 --> 00:51:07,640 But in the mixed habitat of Mana, the signal often struggles 321 00:51:07,640 --> 00:51:09,640 beyond 500 metres. 322 00:51:10,720 --> 00:51:14,080 This is where Nick and Henry's tracking skills really 323 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:15,960 come into play. 324 00:51:15,960 --> 00:51:20,160 Henry has been incredible on this, his tracking is unbelievable. 325 00:51:20,160 --> 00:51:24,080 Tracks are the key to the whole game, they tell their story. 326 00:51:24,080 --> 00:51:25,400 HE LAUGHS 327 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,920 And it's Henry's highly-tuned tracker senses that allow the team 328 00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:34,600 to capture the pivotal moment in the film. 329 00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:41,160 The team are tracking Tait's pack, when they drive through a pile 330 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:43,480 of droppings from the painted wolves. 331 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:48,080 I recognised the smell - which is Blacktip, not Tait. 332 00:51:49,080 --> 00:51:52,880 Blacktip's diet of baboons is enough for Henry to be able to tell 333 00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:56,200 the packs apart simply by smell alone. 334 00:51:56,200 --> 00:51:59,440 The team quickly switch from following Tait's radio 335 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:01,200 channel to Blacktip's. 336 00:52:01,200 --> 00:52:03,760 Right away, we had the very strong ping, ping, 337 00:52:03,760 --> 00:52:06,040 so we carried on down to the river. 338 00:52:08,480 --> 00:52:11,280 Sure enough, they were right there, which is an area 339 00:52:11,280 --> 00:52:12,880 they'd never been before. 340 00:52:12,880 --> 00:52:14,200 It was incredible. 341 00:52:15,720 --> 00:52:20,640 And then Henry noticed some lions approaching through the grass. 342 00:52:20,640 --> 00:52:23,840 Knowing that there are puppies in their pack, 343 00:52:23,840 --> 00:52:26,960 I just turned my head away from the scene, 344 00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:31,400 you know, I just didn't want to see, you know, the pups getting harmed. 345 00:52:33,680 --> 00:52:36,160 I just stayed with the lion, and suddenly this huge buffalo 346 00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:37,440 came into shot. 347 00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:46,480 I think what was amazing for me was to see the lions interact 348 00:52:46,480 --> 00:52:47,760 with the dogs. 349 00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:52,000 But to then catch a buffalo under the very same tree, 350 00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:53,960 that's just ridiculous. 351 00:52:55,280 --> 00:52:58,760 I tell you, I just, like, stood there dumbfounded, 352 00:52:58,760 --> 00:53:02,840 mesmerised, seeing the whole scene that was going on, 353 00:53:02,840 --> 00:53:05,320 it was like a dream, really. 354 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:08,760 To try to capture every aspect of the unfolding story, 355 00:53:08,760 --> 00:53:11,840 it was sometimes necessary to have five camera teams 356 00:53:11,840 --> 00:53:13,920 working simultaneously. 357 00:53:20,040 --> 00:53:25,800 We've got 52 cases of kit, Cineflex, a night thermal camera, 358 00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:27,600 and umpteen other things. 359 00:53:27,600 --> 00:53:29,880 It's very ambitious, what we're trying to achieve. 360 00:53:29,880 --> 00:53:33,880 Not wanting to miss a thing, our teams follow both packs, 361 00:53:33,880 --> 00:53:35,680 on the ground... 362 00:53:35,680 --> 00:53:36,800 ..and in the air. 363 00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:41,800 One ground team with Tait, the other with Blacktip. 364 00:53:43,840 --> 00:53:47,480 Employing the latest in unmanned aerial camera technology allows 365 00:53:47,480 --> 00:53:50,600 the crew to capture unique views as the pack go 366 00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,000 about their business undisturbed. 367 00:53:55,200 --> 00:53:58,160 To cover more ground, the crew bring in a helicopter. 368 00:54:00,160 --> 00:54:04,280 And as the days draw to an end, the latest ultra-high-definition 369 00:54:04,280 --> 00:54:06,960 lowlight cameras capture the action. 370 00:54:08,680 --> 00:54:11,680 Even when it's almost too dark to see. 371 00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:19,240 And, once complete darkness falls, the night team take over. 372 00:54:21,880 --> 00:54:25,520 A thermal camera can penetrate the darkness with no need 373 00:54:25,520 --> 00:54:28,640 for any artificial light. 374 00:54:28,640 --> 00:54:31,600 You know, to get those shots, it takes a lot of skill. 375 00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:35,120 And that is not our skill, that is our guides' skill. 376 00:54:35,120 --> 00:54:36,360 Oh, they're there. 377 00:54:39,240 --> 00:54:41,840 The yield of shots has got better and better on every shoot. 378 00:54:41,840 --> 00:54:44,840 On the last shoot, we were with them every day. 379 00:54:44,840 --> 00:54:48,680 And that's what's brilliant about being able to put true time in. 380 00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:51,200 And it's tough, actually, because you spend day in, 381 00:54:51,200 --> 00:54:53,720 day out with these animals for months and months and months, 382 00:54:53,720 --> 00:54:56,280 and their lives become very important to you and the story 383 00:54:56,280 --> 00:54:58,600 can be incredible, but it's actually quite an emotional 384 00:54:58,600 --> 00:55:00,840 roller-coaster to see what happens to them. 385 00:55:05,240 --> 00:55:09,320 This story of family rivalry only began because Blacktip was unable 386 00:55:09,320 --> 00:55:13,520 to expand her territory away from Tait, and was forced instead 387 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:15,800 to invade her mother's lands. 388 00:55:15,800 --> 00:55:19,200 You know, the biggest problem facing painted wolves today 389 00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:20,720 is habitat loss. 390 00:55:20,720 --> 00:55:23,640 Basically, they're running out of space. 391 00:55:23,640 --> 00:55:29,240 We have isolated national parks surrounded by human settlements. 392 00:55:29,240 --> 00:55:31,880 In the modern world, that means they're running across roads, 393 00:55:31,880 --> 00:55:35,520 they're hitting snares, getting poisoned. 394 00:55:35,520 --> 00:55:37,480 It's a tough world out there for them. 395 00:55:41,200 --> 00:55:47,040 70% of painted wolves actually live outside of the national park system. 396 00:55:47,040 --> 00:55:49,840 Their future is very bleak, it's not looking good. 397 00:55:52,280 --> 00:55:56,000 So, the wild dogs of the Zambezi valley are lucky, because these dogs 398 00:55:56,000 --> 00:56:00,520 can travel from park to park, through corridors. 399 00:56:00,520 --> 00:56:04,320 But that's not the case in most areas in Africa. 400 00:56:06,280 --> 00:56:09,160 If you came back in ten years' time, I think Tammy's descendants 401 00:56:09,160 --> 00:56:11,600 will still be around, battling it out against 402 00:56:11,600 --> 00:56:13,160 the lions and hyenas. 403 00:56:13,160 --> 00:56:16,000 It's a tough life, never mind the human conflict. 404 00:56:21,440 --> 00:56:26,600 Painted wolves individually may lack the nobility of a lion. 405 00:56:27,960 --> 00:56:31,600 But the subtlety of their communications 406 00:56:31,600 --> 00:56:34,840 and the complicity of their social organisation gives them 407 00:56:34,840 --> 00:56:37,880 a fascination all of their own. 408 00:56:37,880 --> 00:56:41,880 Surely, they deserve to hold their place alongside 409 00:56:41,880 --> 00:56:45,160 the great hunters of the African plain. 410 00:57:14,080 --> 00:57:15,520 Next time... 411 00:57:15,520 --> 00:57:18,760 A tigress struggles to rear her new family. 412 00:57:21,640 --> 00:57:24,040 Rivals are trespassing on her territory. 413 00:57:30,360 --> 00:57:33,320 Can she raise her cubs to adulthood?