1 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,840 TIGER ROARS 2 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,440 Tigers are the largest, most powerful, 3 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,640 and perhaps the most loved of all the big cats. 4 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:45,600 Yet, over the past century, their numbers have declined by 95%. 5 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,280 Our team has spent two years following one tigress 6 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,400 with her cubs, as she attempts to rear them. 7 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,200 Her problems come not just from the natural world 8 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,800 but from having to do so at close quarters with us. 9 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,440 Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in the heart of India. 10 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,280 A rich tropical jungle. 11 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,200 ANIMAL CRIES 12 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,200 MONKEYS SCREECH 13 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,680 At the base of this cliff... 14 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,120 ..a secret cave. 15 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:03,960 Hiding within is a tigress known as Raj Bhera. 16 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,680 Two weeks ago, she chose this cave 17 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,560 in which to give birth to her new family. 18 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,560 This is her daughter, Biba. 19 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,880 BIBA MEWS 20 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:40,040 And these are her first rather unsteady steps. 21 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:44,960 Biba has three brothers. 22 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,160 The four of them together are the next generation 23 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,960 of this tiger dynasty. 24 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,680 Raj Bhera is one of the most formidable predators on Earth. 25 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,560 But her cubs are vulnerable 26 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,720 and will remain so for the next two years. 27 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,800 It will take all her strength and skill as a mother 28 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,440 to protect and provide for them, 29 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,400 if she is to raise them to adulthood. 30 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,560 TIGER ROARS 31 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,960 BIRDS CHEEP 32 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:38,280 This forest has everything a tiger family needs. 33 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,600 Plenty of fresh water. 34 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,920 Dense thickets for concealment. 35 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,240 And open grasslands full of prey. 36 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,440 DEER CRY 37 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,360 DEER CRIES 38 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:27,360 After two hungry weeks confined to the den with her cubs, 39 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,080 Raj Bhera needs food. 40 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,360 She is an experienced hunter. 41 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,640 But her prey are always on high alert. 42 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,880 DEER CRY 43 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,560 Fortunately, she knows how to disappear. 44 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,720 VARIOUS ANIMALS CRY 45 00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:00,760 DEER CRY 46 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,800 Even with her experience, 47 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:17,960 most hunts end this way. 48 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:21,680 MONKEY CRIES 49 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,560 But now she faces a dilemma. 50 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,320 As evening draws in, 51 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,480 leaving the cubs unprotected in their den could put them in danger. 52 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:48,080 The night shift are already on the prowl. 53 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,520 A sloth bear. 54 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,200 TIGER CUB CRIES 55 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:08,320 CRYING CONTINUES 56 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,400 CRYING CONTINUES 57 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:27,560 It will kill cubs if it can find them. 58 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,720 CUBS CRY 59 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,480 RAJ BHERA GROWLS 60 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,000 SHE GROWLS 61 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,360 SHE GROWLS GENTLY 62 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,480 CUBS CRY 63 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,680 Once the den has been discovered, it's no longer safe. 64 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,760 She needs to move her family. 65 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,640 DAWN CHORUS OF ANIMAL CRIES 66 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,800 The family are safe at a new den. 67 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,320 An experienced tigress like Raj Bhera may know 68 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,760 half a dozen hideaways like this. 69 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,280 Even though she failed in her hunt, 70 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,560 the cubs are as hungry for milk as ever. 71 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,080 CUBS MEW 72 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,640 CUB MEWS 73 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,040 For a tigress to feed and protect 74 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,920 as many as four young is a relentless challenge. 75 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,000 CUBS CRY 76 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,920 It's unlikely that she will be able to raise them all. 77 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,760 And in India today, there are new pressures, 78 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,200 making it harder than ever to rear a family to adulthood. 79 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,960 Raj Bhera's territory is just big enough to support her cubs, 80 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:42,200 but she's surrounded by territories held by other tigers. 81 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,840 And all are encircled by human settlement. 82 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,520 BIRDS CRY 83 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,840 There are about 80 tigers in Bandhavgarh. 84 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,200 This is an unusually high density. 85 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,200 TIGER GROWLS 86 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,680 Competition for space is intense. 87 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:25,760 TIGER ROARS 88 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:38,680 Scarred faces are evidence of battles between rivals. 89 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,840 To keep her territory secure, 90 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:52,480 Raj Bhera regularly patrols its 12-mile-long boundary. 91 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,760 MONKEYS SCREECH 92 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,560 Each time she sprays, she's marking a line 93 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:08,920 that other tigers know they cross at their peril. 94 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,280 Territory marking in the midday heat is hard work. 95 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,600 She needs to cool off. 96 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:10,160 An amorous male peacock. 97 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,560 PEACOCK CRIES REPEATEDLY 98 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,880 PEACOCK CRIES 99 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,120 PEACOCK CRIES CONTINUE 100 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:53,600 PEACOCK CRIES 101 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,360 PEACOCKS CRY 102 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,640 PEACOCK CRIES 103 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,040 CUBS MEW 104 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,040 Every day, she has to strike an almost impossible balance... 105 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,200 ..dividing her time between hunting, 106 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,720 scent-marking her boundaries 107 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,840 and nursing her cubs. 108 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:07,000 For now, the demands of her young family must take precedence. 109 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:23,080 Her cubs have reached the stage when they start exploring. 110 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,440 Although even walking hasn't been completely mastered. 111 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,240 CUBS MEW 112 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:44,880 Differences between the cubs are beginning to appear. 113 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,320 The three brothers are caught up in a rough and tumble. 114 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,320 CUBS MEW 115 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,240 But their sister, Biba, holds back. 116 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,360 She is smaller and not as strong as her brothers. 117 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,960 And these differences will only become more apparent 118 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,680 as they grow older. 119 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,040 MONKEY CRIES 120 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,200 Two months later, 121 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,200 and the family have left the den for good. 122 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,440 The cubs are now strong enough to follow their mother. 123 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,040 She must now start on their education. 124 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,520 She shows them around her territory... 125 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:25,320 ..and most importantly, introduces them to a new diet... 126 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:28,840 ..meat. 127 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,480 The cubs have doubled in size, 128 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,160 so that she has to hunt even more frequently 129 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,680 to provide for their growing appetites. 130 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,240 Since the birth of her cubs, 131 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,760 Raj Bhera has not been able to patrol her territory 132 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,760 as regularly as she did. 133 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,760 And that has given a rival an opportunity. 134 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:29,080 This is Solo, Raj Bhera's adult daughter. 135 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,280 And she is trespassing on her mother's lands... 136 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,240 ..some of the richest in the whole of Bandhavgarh. 137 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,760 She may be unaware that Raj Bhera is hunting here. 138 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:01,240 Normally, adult tigers avoid each other... 139 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,720 ..because fights, even between mother and daughter, can be fatal. 140 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:22,120 But now, Solo appears to be testing her mother. 141 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,520 GROWLING 142 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,840 Faced with Raj Bhera's confident advance, 143 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:07,360 Solo immediately defers, rolling on her back like a cub. 144 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,920 She's not old enough or strong enough 145 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,760 to challenge for the territory... 146 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,280 yet. 147 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,000 Raj Bhera is still the ruler here. 148 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,040 But Solo has issued a warning. 149 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,800 With their territory secure, 150 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,760 the family can relax together. 151 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,120 The cubs are now spending more and more time 152 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:13,440 developing their coordination and agility. 153 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,360 And they do that through play. 154 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,120 A wild boar. 155 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,240 BOAR SNORTS 156 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,680 It could be on the menu of an adult tiger. 157 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,720 But one of the male cubs is being a little ambitious. 158 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,640 Perhaps not yet. 159 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,240 CUB HISSES 160 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,680 Winter arrives in Bandhavgarh. 161 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,040 DEER CRIES 162 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,560 The cubs are nine months old... 163 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,640 ..in their adolescence... 164 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,160 DEER CRIES 165 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,280 ..and the neighbours are beginning to take them more seriously. 166 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,000 CUB GROWLS 167 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,200 DEER CRIES 168 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:40,520 Raj Bhera has done well to keep all her cubs alive so far. 169 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:47,120 Typically, only 50% of tiger cubs survive to adulthood. 170 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,160 LOW GROWLING 171 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,880 But now, the family relationships are changing. 172 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,560 RAJ BHERA GROWLS 173 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,240 RAJ BHERA ROARS 174 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,160 She no longer lets the cubs eat first. 175 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,640 She has to teach them that one day 176 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,200 they will have to provide for themselves. 177 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:43,560 Once she has had her fill, her sons dominate the carcass. 178 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,520 It's only when they have finished 179 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,560 that their smaller sister, Biba, gets her chance 180 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,240 to feed undisturbed. 181 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:20,560 VARIOUS ANIMALS CRY 182 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:24,280 BIRD SQUAWKS 183 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,440 Alarm calls warn of an intruder. 184 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,240 This time, it's an adult male tiger. 185 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:45,200 He's a third bigger than Raj Bhera and much more powerful. 186 00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:55,360 This is the cubs' favourite water hole. 187 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,360 TIGER LAPS WATER 188 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,800 Mother and sons... 189 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,040 ..sleep off their meal. 190 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,160 But Biba heads off alone. 191 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,080 TIGER LAPS WATER 192 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,200 Adult male tigers sometimes kill cubs, 193 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,960 so to approach one is a huge risk. 194 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:26,560 TIGER GROWLS GENTLY 195 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,040 Unless, of course, he's your father... 196 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:34,920 ..the only male in the forest 197 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,920 who would never harm her. 198 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,520 Tiger fathers rarely meet their offspring... 199 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,360 ..and he doesn't seem keen to get acquainted. 200 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,960 But while he is patrolling the forest, 201 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:04,120 other males will keep away and the cubs will be safe. 202 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:24,840 For everything else, the cubs depend on Raj Bhera. 203 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,560 She still has to provide for the whole family. 204 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,320 BIRDS CHEEP 205 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:06,880 It's summer. 206 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:11,760 Over the next few weeks, 207 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,840 the searing heat will suck the moisture from the land. 208 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:35,200 Temperatures soar to over 45 degrees... 209 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:46,160 ..and Bandhavgarh has to endure the worst drought in a decade. 210 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,160 VULTURES SQUAWK 211 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,960 It's a good time to be a vulture. 212 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,760 The water holes in Raj Bhera's territory become magnets 213 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:10,600 for the park's thirsty inhabitants. 214 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,880 Normally, langurs spend most of their time 215 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,720 out of reach in the trees. 216 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:31,880 But during the drought, 217 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,200 they must risk crossing open ground to get water. 218 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,760 Once the braver adults make their move, 219 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,160 the rest of the troop follow. 220 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:16,920 Out of their comfort zone, they're nervous. 221 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,720 No danger here... 222 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,200 ..as far as she can see. 223 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,920 DISTANT ANIMAL CRIES 224 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:03,040 But you can't drink and watch all at the same time. 225 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:12,680 DEER AND LANGURS CRY 226 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,520 Here in the heart of Raj Bhera's territory, 227 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:58,040 these water holes become the focus of the family's life 228 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,000 throughout these driest months. 229 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:21,960 It's not just prey that are drawn here to the water holes. 230 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:27,600 A new trespasser. 231 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:11,480 It seems this tigress is wary of pressing her claim today. 232 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:15,640 But it's clear there are now more rivals 233 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,280 for Raj Bhera's hunting territory. 234 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:38,280 TIGER ROARS 235 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:42,360 And now, distant roars signal further trouble. 236 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,600 TIGER GROWLS 237 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:49,480 TIGER ROARS 238 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:56,160 Solo, Raj Bhera's adult daughter, is mating for the first time. 239 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:00,440 TIGERS ROAR 240 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:28,800 She will soon have her own family with new mouths to feed. 241 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:40,680 And it's not long 242 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:44,760 before she's back hunting deep in her mother's territory. 243 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:50,720 DEER CRY 244 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:01,480 She is poaching. 245 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:21,480 The year-old cubs are practising their hunting skills on each other. 246 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:30,120 Capturing prey requires power and agility... 247 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,360 ..as well as the skills of ambush and attack. 248 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:52,520 Their survival will depend on mastering the ability to kill. 249 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:56,280 BIRDS CHEEP AND SING 250 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,080 But for another eight months, 251 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,640 their mother must continue to provide... 252 00:37:07,240 --> 00:37:09,920 ..and she's having to work much harder now. 253 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,680 Even a kill as big as this won't last the family 254 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:19,560 more than a couple of days. 255 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:24,760 Her sons are the first to every meal... 256 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,640 ..and jealously guard their share. 257 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,720 Biba is forced to wait. 258 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:36,920 LOW GROWLING 259 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:46,760 TIGER ROARS 260 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,640 She will be lucky if she gets anything more than scraps. 261 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:24,440 Leaving her well-fed brothers behind... 262 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:26,000 LANGUR CRIES 263 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,480 ..Biba tries to hunt for herself. 264 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,760 She's watched her mother do this many times. 265 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:46,720 Stalk... 266 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:50,560 ..and drop. 267 00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:12,600 She has mastered the technique of becoming invisible. 268 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,040 But she doesn't yet have the size or strength to strike. 269 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:32,600 THUNDER ROLLS 270 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:39,800 Strong winds signal the arrival of the monsoon. 271 00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:48,760 RAIN LASHES DOWN 272 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:26,960 The abundance of water means 273 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:29,160 that for most of the forest's inhabitants, 274 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:31,680 the good times have returned. 275 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:42,360 But the monsoon is the worst time for Raj Bhera and her family. 276 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:48,440 Her prey are no longer dependent on the water holes. 277 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:55,320 They're now free to disperse throughout her territory. 278 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:05,440 They will be much harder for her to ambush. 279 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:19,880 A few weeks later, 280 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,320 near the western boundary of her lands, 281 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:24,000 there has been a fight... 282 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:29,840 ..and Raj Bhera is injured. 283 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:52,560 A serious injury to a mother tiger can mean starvation for her cubs. 284 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:23,800 Biba is invariably the last 285 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:26,000 to benefit from her mother's hunting. 286 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:31,800 She needs to fend for herself, and to do that, 287 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:35,640 she must find her own territory away from her brothers. 288 00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:02,720 But where can she go? 289 00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:12,080 Every other territory is already occupied. 290 00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:21,720 She's forced to search outside Bandhavgarh altogether. 291 00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:35,440 Her mother will never see her again. 292 00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:53,480 The male cubs are also going hungry. 293 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:18,280 They, too, are trying to fend for themselves. 294 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:34,760 The deer are too alert for novices. 295 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:36,160 DEER CRY 296 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:45,480 DEER CRY 297 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:53,000 With the demands of three adolescent male cubs 298 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,920 and increasing hostility from her rivals, 299 00:44:55,920 --> 00:45:00,480 Raj Bhera is facing the greatest ever threat to her dynasty. 300 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:05,640 She takes a drastic step 301 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:09,920 and leaves the safety of the park in the hope of easier prey... 302 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,280 ..cattle in the neighbouring villages. 303 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:24,440 THEY CHATTER IN OWN LANGUAGE 304 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:27,640 RAJ BHERA GROWLS 305 00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:33,680 For tigress and people, there is real danger here. 306 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:37,320 It's a conflict that Raj Bhera cannot win. 307 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:40,000 RAJ BHERA ROARS 308 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:52,320 THEY SHOUT IN OWN LANGUAGE 309 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:07,360 HORN BEEPS 310 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:09,880 SIREN WAILS 311 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:21,040 SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE 312 00:46:45,040 --> 00:46:47,640 DAWN CHORUS OF ANIMAL CRIES 313 00:46:47,640 --> 00:46:50,520 Dawn the next day. 314 00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:15,600 Raj Bhera. 315 00:47:31,960 --> 00:47:35,240 She was rescued by the park authorities 316 00:47:35,240 --> 00:47:40,240 and released back into her territory to rejoin her family. 317 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:05,160 Over the last two years, 318 00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:09,040 she's struggled to raise her cubs safely to this point, 319 00:48:09,040 --> 00:48:11,480 and although she's lost her daughter, 320 00:48:11,480 --> 00:48:14,040 her sons are on the brink of adulthood. 321 00:48:17,360 --> 00:48:20,440 Against the odds, she still has the chance 322 00:48:20,440 --> 00:48:24,080 to secure the future of her tiger dynasty. 323 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:49,280 A century ago, there were more than 100,000 tigers. 324 00:48:49,280 --> 00:48:52,200 Today, there are only 4,000, 325 00:48:52,200 --> 00:48:55,320 with 70% of them found in India... 326 00:48:57,680 --> 00:49:01,440 ..mostly in protected areas, such as Bandhavgarh. 327 00:49:06,560 --> 00:49:10,200 Indian conservationists, like Krithi Karanth, 328 00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:13,720 are concerned about the challenges facing these reserves. 329 00:49:17,480 --> 00:49:20,000 Unlike parks in Africa and the Americas, 330 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:22,360 parks in India are extremely small, 331 00:49:22,360 --> 00:49:24,040 so tiger populations 332 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:26,960 in these tiny parks are under huge pressure. 333 00:49:26,960 --> 00:49:29,640 There is a real danger 334 00:49:29,640 --> 00:49:32,920 that we could see this amazing cat go extinct. 335 00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:37,000 Bandhavgarh is home to over 80 tigers, 336 00:49:37,000 --> 00:49:40,160 but as director Theo Webb discovers, 337 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:42,000 they're not easy to find. 338 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:51,240 I just saw a tiger which turned out to be red sand. 339 00:49:51,240 --> 00:49:53,720 DRIVER LAUGHS 340 00:49:51,240 --> 00:49:53,720 I'm the stupid one today. 341 00:49:55,960 --> 00:49:59,160 Even the real thing is almost invisible. 342 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:01,840 So, right here is one of the problems 343 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:05,600 why we can't find tigers, because they're so well hidden. 344 00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:07,360 If you look in here, 345 00:50:07,360 --> 00:50:09,560 they are so well camouflaged, 346 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:12,280 especially in this dense undergrowth. 347 00:50:12,280 --> 00:50:16,800 Her stripes blend in exactly with the bamboo. 348 00:50:18,120 --> 00:50:20,680 It's almost impossible to see them. 349 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:28,080 Local guides have told the crew of a tigress they call Raj Bhera, 350 00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:30,240 who is expecting cubs. 351 00:50:30,240 --> 00:50:33,560 If they can find her, she will be the perfect tiger to follow. 352 00:50:35,520 --> 00:50:38,400 HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE 353 00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:40,360 MONKEY CRIES 354 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:43,400 The guides listen for other animals' warning calls. 355 00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:46,440 Monkey giving alarm. 356 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,520 That's a sign that the tiger's right there. OK. 357 00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:51,400 DEER CRIES 358 00:50:51,400 --> 00:50:54,160 The team can then home in on the tiger. 359 00:50:57,680 --> 00:51:00,240 So we've just come across this tigress. 360 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:04,000 We heard alarm calls, followed her here, 361 00:51:04,000 --> 00:51:07,040 and it could be our female that we've been looking for. 362 00:51:09,240 --> 00:51:11,880 We've done a comparison between two photos - 363 00:51:11,880 --> 00:51:14,920 one we know is her, and one of our sighting just now. 364 00:51:14,920 --> 00:51:16,160 They're looking similar. 365 00:51:16,160 --> 00:51:18,680 It's pretty much her. Yeah. 366 00:51:18,680 --> 00:51:20,360 It's Raj Bhera. 367 00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:27,080 But where is her den? 368 00:51:33,800 --> 00:51:39,200 A tigress will choose the most inaccessible place to give birth, 369 00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:41,640 impossible to follow in a vehicle. 370 00:51:45,600 --> 00:51:47,920 But the Forest Department have elephants 371 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:50,640 to help protect the animals against poachers. 372 00:51:51,760 --> 00:51:56,400 And while patrolling the forest, they also search for dens. 373 00:52:07,920 --> 00:52:12,640 Two weeks later, Raj Bhera's den has been discovered. 374 00:52:12,640 --> 00:52:14,800 She's chosen one of the most inaccessible spots 375 00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:16,960 in the whole park to make her den, 376 00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:19,040 which is kind of sensible if you're a tiger. 377 00:52:23,680 --> 00:52:27,760 Now they need to film the family without disturbing them. 378 00:52:29,880 --> 00:52:33,680 Cameraman John Brown positions a remote controlled camera 379 00:52:33,680 --> 00:52:35,320 away from the den. 380 00:52:37,680 --> 00:52:40,880 The specially designed tripod allows John 381 00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:44,440 to retreat even further to minimise disturbance. 382 00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:49,960 He's finally rewarded with an extremely rare view - 383 00:52:49,960 --> 00:52:52,240 cubs just a few weeks old. 384 00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:55,360 Today's been absolutely incredible. 385 00:52:55,360 --> 00:52:59,880 We've had a completely unique view into the life of tigers. 386 00:53:01,160 --> 00:53:04,520 It's been one of the most amazing moments of my career. 387 00:53:04,520 --> 00:53:06,600 I never thought we'd get it, actually, 388 00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:08,480 but I didn't tell anyone else that. 389 00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:20,240 Once the cubs leave the den, 390 00:53:20,240 --> 00:53:22,560 the family disappears into the forest. 391 00:53:25,040 --> 00:53:27,760 Now the crew have to switch to a new technique. 392 00:53:31,720 --> 00:53:36,800 Camera traps, used regularly by the park authorities. 393 00:53:36,960 --> 00:53:41,160 They stake out likely locations, including water holes. 394 00:53:53,520 --> 00:53:56,280 Plenty of the forest's inhabitants turn up... 395 00:53:58,680 --> 00:54:00,640 ..but no tigers. 396 00:54:02,480 --> 00:54:05,160 A few weeks later, Theo discovers 397 00:54:05,160 --> 00:54:07,880 that one of the camera traps has somehow become flooded. 398 00:54:10,320 --> 00:54:11,760 Wow. 399 00:54:14,960 --> 00:54:17,280 THEO LAUGHS 400 00:54:18,960 --> 00:54:21,600 Oh, my God. 401 00:54:18,960 --> 00:54:21,600 LAUGHTER 402 00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:27,280 Mystery solved. 403 00:54:30,440 --> 00:54:34,080 And at last, intimate shots of the cubs... 404 00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:37,960 ..and eventually, even of their father. 405 00:54:43,760 --> 00:54:45,640 For another nine months, 406 00:54:45,640 --> 00:54:48,840 the crew are able to follow the life of the family 407 00:54:48,840 --> 00:54:50,680 as the cubs grow up. 408 00:54:56,600 --> 00:54:58,880 But then, suddenly, they witness 409 00:54:58,880 --> 00:55:01,360 a very different side to the story. 410 00:55:01,360 --> 00:55:03,320 MEN TALK IN OWN LANGUAGE 411 00:55:03,320 --> 00:55:07,560 So, somewhere over here is our tiger. 412 00:55:08,600 --> 00:55:10,160 In order to find food, 413 00:55:10,160 --> 00:55:12,840 she's coming to these really risky areas 414 00:55:12,840 --> 00:55:16,400 to hunt cattle, dogs, whatever she can find. 415 00:55:16,400 --> 00:55:19,200 So this is really scary for her 416 00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:22,200 and, to be honest, for us as well. 417 00:55:23,240 --> 00:55:27,040 There is no other tiger reserve within 50 miles, 418 00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:29,400 so whenever a tiger leaves the park, 419 00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:32,440 it's inevitable that it will encounter people. 420 00:55:34,240 --> 00:55:36,520 RAJ BHERA ROARS 421 00:55:37,840 --> 00:55:40,400 The Forest Department take control. 422 00:55:42,520 --> 00:55:47,080 Raj Bhera is tranquillised and taken to safety... 423 00:55:50,160 --> 00:55:54,320 ..and next day, is returned to her territory. 424 00:55:54,320 --> 00:55:56,760 We've been filming this female for two years 425 00:55:56,760 --> 00:55:58,960 and we've got attached to her. 426 00:55:58,960 --> 00:56:02,680 You know, we've seen her with these two-week-old cubs, 427 00:56:02,680 --> 00:56:04,880 we've seen her lose one cub 428 00:56:04,880 --> 00:56:08,400 and now we've seen her outside the park. 429 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:10,760 This is the life of a modern tiger. 430 00:56:10,760 --> 00:56:13,640 It's not easy. It's not how it used to be for them. 431 00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:24,000 We need to create more space for tigers to move, breed and disperse. 432 00:56:24,000 --> 00:56:26,400 It is our responsibility to make sure 433 00:56:26,400 --> 00:56:29,600 that future generations of children, including my own, 434 00:56:29,600 --> 00:56:31,760 get to see tigers in the wild. 435 00:56:36,760 --> 00:56:41,680 All the animals we've seen in this series need space in which to live, 436 00:56:41,680 --> 00:56:46,240 and loss of space is a great threat to their survival, 437 00:56:46,240 --> 00:56:49,200 as it is to virtually all other species. 438 00:56:49,200 --> 00:56:52,280 We ourselves, one single species, 439 00:56:52,280 --> 00:56:55,040 have taken over vast tracts 440 00:56:55,040 --> 00:56:57,880 of the habitable surface of the planet. 441 00:56:59,320 --> 00:57:04,840 Surely we should allow those other creatures we share the planet with 442 00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:09,640 to retain some part of their ancient heritage.