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The Makgadikgadi in Botswana,

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known as the great nothing.

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Here, islands of dry grass
are surrounded by a desert of salt.

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At first glance,
there appears no sign of life,

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beyond old footprints baked
hard into the ground.

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But this island is home to
a newly-crowned meerkat queen...

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called Maghogho.

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She's marked by a scar on her
right cheek.

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Her kingdom is at the limit of what
meerkats can endure.

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Temperatures can
reach 50 degrees Celsius,

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and it doesn't rain for months.

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Yet it's here that Maghogho must
learn to lead a meerkat family.

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She rules over her two sisters,

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Pretty and Dragonfly.

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And three males.

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Together they have seven new pups.

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The beginning of a dynasty.

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To raise pups in a land
as harsh as this,

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Maghogho will need to
rely on the strength of her family.

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But this group is small
and inexperienced.

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She needs to unite them as a team.

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Only then can she raise
these pups to adulthood.

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Only then
can she establish her dynasty.

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Meerkats are always
ruled by a queen.

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The most successful might command
a group of 30, with daughters

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and granddaughters to
inherit the land.

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But Maghogho is
just at the start of this journey.

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Now she's responsible for all
the key decisions for her group.

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This year,
there's little room for error.

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The dry season is proving
particularly intense,

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and food on the island is
running out.

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It's vital that the adults
support each other.

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Keeping watch over them all,
is Pretty,

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Maghogho's sister and closest ally.

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She scans the horizon for danger,

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allowing the others to safely
search for the food they need.

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Pretty is also mother to
two of the pups.

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Maghogho is mother to the
other five.

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This is very unusual.

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Normally queens don't allow other
females in their group to breed,

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because a lot of pups
need a lot of supervision.

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As queen,
it's not Maghogho's job to baby-sit.

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That's the role of the other adults.

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Right now they should be finding
the youngsters breakfast.

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But when food is this scarce,

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having so many pups is hard
for the group to look after.

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Even their father, the alpha male,
Thogo Tona is not prepared to share.

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One adult, however, is putting
the pups' hunger above his own.

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Boipuso...

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the most junior male of the group.

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He is the only one prepared to give
up his hard-won meals,

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even though they aren't his pups.

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Being a soft touch doesn't go
unnoticed.

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Now he can't get anything done.

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Maybe he can get Pretty to help,
two of the pups are hers.

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But Pretty is not at her
look-out post.

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She's not answering their calls.

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Even those of her pups.

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It's Pretty.

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Something is wrong.

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She can barely walk.

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Maghogho has witnessed this before.

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It has all the hallmarks
of a snake bite.

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There's a good chance that the
snake is still close by.

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Maghogho must act quickly to get
the pups as far away as she can,

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even though this means
leaving her sister.

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The only one to
stay behind is Thogo Tona.

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Meerkats' bonds run deep,

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in health and sickness.

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But there is nothing
he can do to help her.

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With food running out
and a snake on the loose,

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Maghogho's home no longer
feels secure.

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She has a difficult
decision to make.

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In the distance
there is another grassland.

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But reaching it will mean crossing
a salt pan over half a mile wide.

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It's dangerous, there are predators
and there's nowhere to hide.

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Maghogho must decide
if it's worth the gamble.

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She must lead and rely on the other
adults to guide the pups.

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This will be a real test

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of their teamwork.

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Coast clear.

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Maghogho decides to go.

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And the adults follow.

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But only one of her family has
waited for a pup.

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A jackal.

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The adults pick up speed.

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And don't look back.

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Stranded and alone,
the pup turns back.

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Maghogho and the adults may have
reached the other side,

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but the pups are nowhere to be seen.

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The family's inexperience has put
the youngsters in jeopardy.

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For one pup, it's already too late.

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Crushed in an eagle's talons.

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Maghogho must act now.

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She heads back to the island, alone.

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As dusk falls, there is still no
sign of the pups or Maghogho.

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The next morning.

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Maghogho has scoured the island.

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But has only found one pup.

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There is no sign of the others.

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Now the hope of her dynasty

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falls on this one remaining pup.

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Her family have let her down.

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If they are to succeed,

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they need to work together

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especially as they're entering
unfamiliar territory.

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This new grassland is very
different from their island.

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It stretches for miles,

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and here there may be
the promise of more food.

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Maghogho's first priority is to find
a safe place

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for her family to shelter.

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This abandoned burrow will be
the perfect den.

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It just needs
a bit of a spring clean.

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There are new neighbours.

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Not very welcoming.

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And there may be real dangers too.

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It's wise to be prepared.

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Maghogho chooses the hardest earth
to dig a long narrow tunnel -

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a deep bunker,
and last resort in an emergency.

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Meanwhile, Thogo Tona

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takes his pup out to find food.

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In this new place, it seems, finding
scorpions is a little easier.

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With the pup quietened, Thogo Tona
can worry about his own stomach.

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The scorpion is a good meal,

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but it takes a long time to chew.

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And by the time the pup has
finished,

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Thogo Tona has
disappeared off into the long grass.

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At last, a familiar shape.

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But, in fact, the pup is heading
away from his father...

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towards another meerkat family.

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Thogo Tona has made
a terrible mistake.

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These are rival meerkats,

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and they may kill intruders.

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The pup is naive to the danger...

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and instinctively follows the
strangers, as they lead him away.

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This is dangerous.

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Maghogho and her family
are trespassing in a rival kingdom.

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Her alarm call urgently gathers
the family together.

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But Thogo Tona is already taking
matters into his own hands...

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venturing deeper
into the rivals' territory.

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But he's not heading
towards his pup.

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He's stealing the rivals' pups.

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This is reckless.

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When the rivals return
to their burrow,

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they realise their pups are missing.

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And they're over with
Maghogho's family.

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Maghogho did not want this,
but now, thanks to Thogo Tona,

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she must lead her
family into battle.

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These high jumps are a show
of strength.

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But the rivals are not intimidated.

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The fight is short but decisive.

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The rivals have
got their youngsters back.

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And they still have Maghogho's pup.

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But this conflict is not over.

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Maghogho is still
trespassing on their land

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and they must drive her out.

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Maghogho's family have one
last line of defence.

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Her bunker.

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As the rivals' approach,
they have Maghogho's pup.

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Last in is Boipuso.

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The entrance is so narrow that he
can block it with just his head.

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Maghogho's pup makes
a dash for the bunker.

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Try as they might, the rivals can't
breach the bunker's walls.

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And they have left their pups
unattended.

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So, they decide to retreat.

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The battle over,
Maghogho's family are safe...

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and so is her pup.

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It was a close call.

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They survived because they stood
and fought together, as a team.

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But there is one member of the group

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who did not fight with the family.

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Thogo Tona.

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His unruliness is
a threat to the whole group.

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The family will not tolerate this...

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not least Boipuso and the other
adult male, Rra Lebadi.

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Maghogho joins the attack.

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Rra Lebadi might kill Thogo Tona.

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But remarkably,
Boipuso steps in to shield him.

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Thogo Tona is lucky.

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He's been spared.

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But his position
as the alpha male is over.

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Maghogho no longer wants him
as her partner.

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Now there is to be a new order.

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By scent marking Boipuso, she has
chosen him as the new alpha male.

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He's strong and loyal -

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exactly the sort of partner
she needs.

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Maghogho needs to build her dynasty,

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but she has only one pup.

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The rains are now two months late.

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Simply surviving at the moment
is a challenge.

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Each day, the search for food
takes longer and longer.

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Yet, there is hope.

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The wind is a sign of distant rain.

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But it also drives duststorms

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over the land.

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The group need to keep searching
for food.

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Duststorms can change
direction in a moment.

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Maghogho sounds the alarm.

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Time to take cover in their den.

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But the pup hasn't heard
the warning,

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and they can't hear his calls.

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As the duststorm
overwhelms the land...

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all you can do
is wait and hold your breath.

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Life here is fragile.

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Maghogho's last pup
did not survive the storm.

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The family could not protect him
from this, the harshest of lands.

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Without pups...

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there is no dynasty.

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00:34:43,570 --> 00:34:48,570
For another week, the rain clouds
gather and disappear.

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And then instead of dust,

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the winds bring a deluge of rain.

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00:35:16,690 --> 00:35:20,255
Over the course of just a few days,

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the Makgadikgadi turns green.

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Their world is reborn.

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Salt pans fill with water.

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To them,
flock visitors from miles around.

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Suddenly, a land that could barely
support a family of meerkats

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is filled with life.

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This is what Maghogho, and her
family, have been waiting for.

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They have hung on through
the bad times.

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And now they have the chance
to build the dynasty again.

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Two months later
and Maghogho is heavily pregnant.

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00:37:20,210 --> 00:37:26,250
In Boipuso, Maghogho has a loyal
and attentive partner.

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But she also needs food.

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Now, after rains,
the grass is littered with grubs,

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hatching from the wet earth.

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Being constantly hungry isn't the
only side-effect of being pregnant.

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Thogo Tona has
accepted his new role.

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He stands on sentry,

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allowing Maghogho

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and Boipuso the time to rest.

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But there is a new threat to the
dynasty's future,

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from within...

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00:38:37,330 --> 00:38:41,855
Maghogho's younger sister,
Dragonfly -

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the only other female in the group.

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She too is pregnant.

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The last time Maghogho allowed
one of her sisters to breed,

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there were too many
pups for the group to look after.

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She can't risk that again.

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00:39:17,810 --> 00:39:21,650
Dragonfly must be
evicted from the group.

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00:39:50,210 --> 00:39:56,455
In exile and alone,
Dragonfly will struggle to find food

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00:39:56,530 --> 00:39:59,930
and look out for danger.

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Maghogho is prepared
to sacrifice her sister,

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00:40:12,490 --> 00:40:17,090
to protect the unborn pups
she can feel moving inside her.

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00:41:19,010 --> 00:41:24,530
After three weeks,
Maghogho spots Dragonfly again.

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00:41:27,650 --> 00:41:31,050
But there is something
different about her.

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00:41:34,570 --> 00:41:36,810
She is no longer pregnant.

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00:41:39,250 --> 00:41:44,610
The stress of being alone has
taken its toll.

250
00:41:58,410 --> 00:42:01,490
Now, she is no longer a threat.

251
00:42:03,570 --> 00:42:09,450
And with a bow to her sister, she is
accepted back into the family.

252
00:42:25,490 --> 00:42:28,650
The timing is perfect.

253
00:42:40,690 --> 00:42:45,690
Maghogho has given birth
to four new pups.

254
00:42:55,930 --> 00:42:58,690
Three boys and a girl...

255
00:43:00,410 --> 00:43:02,370
maybe a future queen.

256
00:43:20,970 --> 00:43:24,970
These pups are the hope
for the future of this dynasty...

257
00:43:27,250 --> 00:43:31,290
and everything this family have
sacrificed so much for.

258
00:43:41,890 --> 00:43:45,535
Dragonfly may have lost
her own babies,

259
00:43:45,610 --> 00:43:49,775
but her instinct to protect her
sister's pups is strong.

260
00:43:49,850 --> 00:43:55,370
She still has milk, and even
feeds them as if they were her own.

261
00:44:02,290 --> 00:44:06,015
Now, with Dragonfly as baby-sitter,

262
00:44:06,090 --> 00:44:09,490
the rest of the family can
concentrate on feeding.

263
00:44:24,450 --> 00:44:28,775
And when Maghogho comes home,
she is greeted by a sister who is

264
00:44:28,850 --> 00:44:32,650
now the perfect support
for her and the pups.

265
00:45:10,250 --> 00:45:13,650
Maghogho has everything she needs...

266
00:45:15,250 --> 00:45:16,450
most.

267
00:45:18,890 --> 00:45:25,890
This is not her kingdom, and living
here is becoming more dangerous.

268
00:45:31,130 --> 00:45:33,855
The pups are starting to follow

269
00:45:33,930 --> 00:45:35,970
the adults out to feed.

270
00:45:42,130 --> 00:45:46,210
They are dwarfed by giants.

271
00:45:51,890 --> 00:45:54,170
And hiding among the herds...

272
00:45:56,650 --> 00:45:57,850
are predators.

273
00:46:21,650 --> 00:46:25,450
They would be only too happy
to snap up a pup.

274
00:46:34,530 --> 00:46:36,335
And to make matters worse,

275
00:46:36,410 --> 00:46:38,370
the rival group are back.

276
00:46:42,370 --> 00:46:45,250
Maghogho
and her family need to leave.

277
00:46:46,810 --> 00:46:48,455
She knows where to take them -

278
00:46:48,530 --> 00:46:53,570
the one place where there are
few predators and no rivals.

279
00:46:59,890 --> 00:47:04,490
Time to take a gamble
and return to her island.

280
00:47:07,410 --> 00:47:11,095
The last time they tried to lead
pups across this salt pan,

281
00:47:11,170 --> 00:47:13,535
there was chaos.

282
00:47:13,610 --> 00:47:17,335
Now she will have to trust that
her family can truly work

283
00:47:17,410 --> 00:47:19,490
together as a team.

284
00:47:44,570 --> 00:47:49,730
This time they stay close together,
with the pups in sight.

285
00:48:15,450 --> 00:48:18,570
Then, almost at the island...

286
00:48:22,570 --> 00:48:24,450
a final challenge.

287
00:48:27,930 --> 00:48:31,290
The far edge of the salt pan
is flooded.

288
00:48:34,570 --> 00:48:36,890
Meerkats are not swimmers.

289
00:48:54,530 --> 00:48:57,730
Luckily, it's only belly deep.

290
00:49:09,250 --> 00:49:11,810
Maghogho is home...

291
00:49:16,330 --> 00:49:19,010
back in her island kingdom...

292
00:49:20,810 --> 00:49:25,130
a sanctuary from predators
and rivals.

293
00:49:31,370 --> 00:49:35,455
She is now not just a queen but
a true leader,

294
00:49:35,530 --> 00:49:37,210
with a loyal family.

295
00:49:39,250 --> 00:49:42,050
And crucially, they are now a team.

296
00:49:51,530 --> 00:49:56,490
They are the pups' teachers
and protectors.

297
00:50:04,530 --> 00:50:09,490
And these pups have the space to
learn to fight...

298
00:50:12,970 --> 00:50:14,850
to hunt...

299
00:50:19,530 --> 00:50:21,330
and to bond.

300
00:50:23,290 --> 00:50:28,050
Everything they need to survive
this harsh land.

301
00:50:32,570 --> 00:50:35,215
The dry times will come again

302
00:50:35,290 --> 00:50:40,370
and Maghogho and her family
will face those times as one.

303
00:50:45,970 --> 00:50:48,170
They may be small...

304
00:50:49,370 --> 00:50:53,130
but together they are strong.

305
00:51:06,010 --> 00:51:11,770
At last, Maghogho has everything she
needs to continue her dynasty...

306
00:51:13,130 --> 00:51:14,330
for now.

307
00:51:26,690 --> 00:51:31,095
Botswana's Makgadikgadi
is the largest collection

308
00:51:31,170 --> 00:51:33,330
of salt pans in the world.

309
00:51:36,450 --> 00:51:39,615
It's an extremely harsh
and hot place.

310
00:51:39,690 --> 00:51:42,255
But in this vast landscape,

311
00:51:42,330 --> 00:51:46,495
the Dynasties team finds the real
challenge is getting close

312
00:51:46,570 --> 00:51:49,250
to an animal
little bigger than the squirrel.

313
00:51:52,850 --> 00:51:55,815
They have all the equipment
they hope will get

314
00:51:55,890 --> 00:51:58,970
cameras into the meerkats'
low-lying world.

315
00:52:00,290 --> 00:52:04,890
But filming Maghogho's family is
harder than anyone imagined.

316
00:52:14,450 --> 00:52:19,255
Meerkats can give any camera team
a run for their money.

317
00:52:19,330 --> 00:52:23,290
Luckily, experts are keeping
track of Maghogho's family.

318
00:52:24,850 --> 00:52:29,735
Local guide Villa knows
the challenge only too well.

319
00:52:29,810 --> 00:52:34,335
It's really, really difficult to
film these meerkats.

320
00:52:34,410 --> 00:52:37,935
Whenever the cameraman tries to
put his camera down

321
00:52:38,010 --> 00:52:40,615
so that he can start filming,
the meerkats just pass

322
00:52:40,690 --> 00:52:45,410
and yes, it was really, really funny
trying to keep up with them.

323
00:52:51,610 --> 00:52:55,375
But come the hottest part
of the day, not even the meerkats

324
00:52:55,450 --> 00:52:57,050
feel like running...

325
00:53:00,490 --> 00:53:02,055
and they take advantage

326
00:53:02,130 --> 00:53:03,650
of a new source of shade.

327
00:53:08,370 --> 00:53:10,055
One under your feet.

328
00:53:10,130 --> 00:53:13,490
Where did you come from?
You're literally on my shoe, buddy.

329
00:53:14,610 --> 00:53:17,855
Your friends. Follow your friends.

330
00:53:17,930 --> 00:53:21,375
It's an unexpected
problem for cameraman Ed.

331
00:53:21,450 --> 00:53:24,095
We're in a big open flat area,

332
00:53:24,170 --> 00:53:28,695
so some of the only shade is
under us, or under the camera,

333
00:53:28,770 --> 00:53:31,215
and it's a favourite spot
for the meerkats, especially

334
00:53:31,290 --> 00:53:33,735
the little pups to come
and catch a break from the heat.

335
00:53:33,810 --> 00:53:35,695
Ed, they're under your camera again.

336
00:53:35,770 --> 00:53:37,535
You've got to watch where you step.

337
00:53:37,610 --> 00:53:39,575
Every chance
they get at the moment they're...

338
00:53:39,650 --> 00:53:42,215
they're just running to our feet
and sitting on our feet.

339
00:53:42,290 --> 00:53:46,935
I mean, you can't film them
when they're underneath you,

340
00:53:47,010 --> 00:53:48,410
but they're super cute.

341
00:53:51,570 --> 00:53:55,410
Definitely not the best thing
for getting all the best shots.

342
00:53:58,130 --> 00:54:02,455
Over time,
the crew's persistence pays off

343
00:54:02,530 --> 00:54:06,450
and they begin to capture
the story of Maghogho's dynasty.

344
00:54:07,970 --> 00:54:11,335
By learning to predict
their extraordinary behaviour,

345
00:54:11,410 --> 00:54:15,170
despite being
used as part of the landscape.

346
00:54:17,890 --> 00:54:21,495
Sometimes the meerkats would use us
as vantage points.

347
00:54:21,570 --> 00:54:26,655
Just need higher ground where
they will have a much clearer view

348
00:54:26,730 --> 00:54:28,015
of their surroundings.

349
00:54:28,090 --> 00:54:32,010
There's no trees here
so we're a good substitute.

350
00:54:33,570 --> 00:54:35,015
They are really wild animals.

351
00:54:35,090 --> 00:54:39,815
You just need to give them space
and it's entirely up to that

352
00:54:39,890 --> 00:54:45,130
particular meerkat if they want to
use you as a vantage point.

353
00:54:46,890 --> 00:54:49,535
Spending everyday with
Maghogho's family,

354
00:54:49,610 --> 00:54:52,330
the crew can't help getting
attached.

355
00:54:59,010 --> 00:55:05,050
And that makes it all the harder,
when tragedy strikes.

356
00:55:13,290 --> 00:55:15,615
You feel the pain.

357
00:55:15,690 --> 00:55:17,770
Sometimes you just don't
want to look.

358
00:55:20,090 --> 00:55:27,090
You feel like you've lost part of
your family, it's just so painful.

359
00:55:33,690 --> 00:55:37,055
You spend all day with just a few
cute little animals

360
00:55:37,130 --> 00:55:39,375
that are happy playing on your feet,

361
00:55:39,450 --> 00:55:41,770
and living their lives, and...

362
00:55:43,090 --> 00:55:45,610
yeah, it's a bit sad.

363
00:55:48,090 --> 00:55:51,615
The crew witness
first-hand just how tough

364
00:55:51,690 --> 00:55:54,210
life can be in the Makgadikgadi.

365
00:55:59,930 --> 00:56:02,535
And even more so this year,

366
00:56:02,610 --> 00:56:04,970
as the rains are much later than
they expected.

367
00:56:13,210 --> 00:56:18,615
I just wish when I wake up
in the morning there will be water,

368
00:56:18,690 --> 00:56:20,095
there'll be so much life here.

369
00:56:20,170 --> 00:56:24,055
Because animals are dying,
there's no food,

370
00:56:24,130 --> 00:56:26,370
it's just so hot around here.

371
00:56:34,770 --> 00:56:38,530
Eventually, the rains do arrive.

372
00:56:53,090 --> 00:56:57,975
And the crew see how vital
this short period of plenty

373
00:56:58,050 --> 00:57:00,610
is to the meerkats' survival.

374
00:57:11,210 --> 00:57:14,330
Meerkats can cope for months
without rain...

375
00:57:17,010 --> 00:57:18,895
but as our climate warms,

376
00:57:18,970 --> 00:57:22,250
dry seasons may become ever
more extreme...

377
00:57:23,850 --> 00:57:27,775
making life harder
for Maghogho's family

378
00:57:27,850 --> 00:57:33,090
and all those who call this
remarkable place home.

379
00:57:34,305 --> 00:58:34,158
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