It's the territory of phantoms. Scrub- and woodland flank narrow
rivers that wind for kilometres through the African savannah. The gallery forests
of the Serengeti. These shadowy thickets next to
the open, burning plain ... ... offer unlimited niches
for rich animal life. This is the domain of a leopardess. In her realm she might be almost
invisible for days ... ... appearing out of nowhere,
to claim her tribute. For some denizens of the forest
she means - sudden death. Moving like a shadow ... ... she is the secret queen
of the gallery forest. The coolest time of day.
Just before sunrise. The leopardess has left
the bushland, for a few minutes of peace. Something her cub, playful at five
months like all young cats, is determined to interrupt. We are on the edge of a gallery
forest in the northern Serengeti. During the night the leopardess
hunted down a young eland. After her dawn rest she carries
the remains to safety. It's not easy to drag
a heavy weight between spindly olive branches. But they're the only trees here,
and every kill has to be protected. That's why leopards always prefer
areas with at least a few trees. And it soon becomes clear why
precautions are necessary. Job done, she descends ... ... leaving him to eat. But as so often with leopard cubs,
inexperience tells. He's grounded his breakfast. His mother's used to it,
and calmly serves herself. But her attention is distracted. This could get tricky
for the cub, too ... The cats don't realize the danger
till the last moment. This time it's higher in the tree
with more branches to brace it. The boy was lucky too ... ... and after half an hour his
mother feels safe to come down. The way down is head-first as ever. Now, in June, the brooks still
have plenty of water. But the grasslands beyond the thick
bushes will soon dry out. So this forest offers more than
cover: it attracts animals. From the largest ... ... to small, secretive ones
like this steenbok, that loves the nourishing buds
and soft leaves it finds here in abundance. There's the cautious bushbuck, spending most of its time
motionless in the undergrowth. A dik-dik hides in the shade,
all senses alert. But it needn't fear this hunter: the serval specialises in birds,
rats and insects. Though baby gazelles are sometimes
on the menu. A fully grown reedbuck is well
beyond its reach. But it still keeps an eye
on the mini-predator. There's plenty of prey in the grass
for this slender hunter. The reedbucks are not in danger.
But a predator is a predator! Another family is on the hunt ... ... alerted by the leaping serval. It's a caracal mother
with her young. This small, shy wild cat
with lynx-like ear tufts also prefers birds. The broken terrain,
and high species diversity, offer leopards excellent
hunting opportunities in the gallery forests. But any turn in the river can
reveal their feline arch enemies - lions. And any chance they get,
they'll attack a leopard. Leopard young are most at risk. But as long as his mother's with
him, he's most likely safe. There's plenty of time
for play-fighting. He needs the training, and she
seems to enjoy it - up to a point. But when she goes hunting, he must stay behind. A cub would just get in the way. Leopard territories in the
Northern Serengeti, stretching alongside
the brooks and rivers, are mostly smaller than
20 square kilometres. But being so narrow, they reach
far along the river. The leopardess will cover great
distances in her search for prey. Leopards hunt by day and by night, just like lions. And when she has young to feed,
there's little time for resting. In the late morning she moves off, patrolling areas she has abandoned
for some days. Soon she has spotted dik-diks. These shy little browsers live in
pairs, in small territories. Their senses are just as sharp as
the leopardess's. Any strange scent or
unexpected bird-call instantly attracts their attention. The thicket has multiple eyes and
ears to announce any predator - like a single great alarm system. She can't afford to let
any opportunity go by. But this time the warning worked. With so many animals on watch
it might be wiser to hunt at night. But the prey is easier
to find in daytime. Above her, Nubian woodpeckers
have chiselled a nest-hole, and are busy feeding their chicks. The birds don't interest her, but their tree could be
an excellent lookout point. The climb was worth it. Down beside the brook
she spots a reedbuck. No rush: reedbucks stay in place till they
sense the danger is past - or until it gets too close. But once they're spotted, this response can play into
the hunter's hands. Hugging the edge, skimming the shadows, she takes a long detour. For several minutes she'll
lose sight of her prey. But she has every reason to believe
that when she gets within range, it'll still be there. Unfortunately, the last stretch
would take her through water. A further detour. The reedbuck has sensed something. The vast majority of hunts
end in failure. But there's no sign of frustration.
And no question of giving up. The border between bush
and grassland creates many ecological niches. With abundant drinking water, these
are especially desirable habitats for many of the leopard's
prey animals. Impala antelopes eat grass
as well as leaves. Typical edge dwellers, they're at home both in the bush
and in grassland. They don't try to hide in the
thicket like other herbivores: instead females gather in herds
of up to a hundred. Impalas and leopards have regular
encounters close to the streams. But in the daytime, the big herds are a tough
proposition for the leopardess: too many eyes and ears. So the leopardess scans
for alternatives. Thomson's gazelles are among the
swiftest animals on the savannah. They prefer open habitats and rely
on speed in case of trouble. Leopards can't match their sprints. But when conditions are right,
she'll rise to the challenge. First she needs a good starting
position on the edge of the bush. One that offers cover
as long as possible. Now, it's all about timing
and patience. She'll wait until all the Tommies
are distracted. A gentle dip and a couple of
isolated bushes are all the cover she needs now. Most grazers have virtually
all-round vision. They're very sensitive to movement. Keeping all the gazelles
under observation, she moves in, step by step,
only when they are distracted. A stalk like this can last
for 30 minutes or more. The slightest mistake will
ruin her efforts. Finally, she's close enough - and all heads are down. The lashing hooves could deliver
a nasty blow. But she knows how to
deal with them. Attacks like these come
out of the blue for the herbivores near the brook. For the next few days, mother
and son will be well fed. She won't come back here soon, to give the prey time to forget
the trauma and settle. A week later the leopardess is
once more out with her son. He will soon know her territory
as well as his mother does. Protecting their young is a continuing challenge
for leopard mothers. She has learned one solution
from her own mother. Put him in an abandoned
warthog-hole. She has several such hiding
places in her territory. So wherever she goes hunting,
there's a safe haven nearby. The francolin is
a harmless neighbour. But you never know what might
turn up in the thickets. On his own he's not too keen,
to stroll far. A shady place next to the shelter
is all he needs. By now, in August, many of the
side streams have dried up. But these forays are still
worthwhile for the huntress. She knows where the water is. The open savannah is hot,
dry and hard. The grass has been chewed short, offering little nourishment
for these giants. The gallery forest beckons,
with shadow, and juicy leaves, and the last sources
of running water. The heat seems to be getting
to the pachyderms. Even the secretary bird
has to dash out of the way. The vibrations and the noise
can be scary for a little leopard. It's good to have
the warthog-hole nearby. His mother isn't worried
about the elephants. She's fixed on something else. Two steenboks grazing close by. In the dry season these little
antelopes often come into the bush. They too are in search of
juicy leaves. But the presence of the elephants
makes the steenboks extra aware and gives the leopardess away. Further effort would be
a waste of time. She won't catch them off guard now. Best to start again somewhere else. Like a shadow she moves to another
part of her territory where she hasn't been seen
for some time. Always looking for prey
unaware of her presence. This freshening wind may help her,
waving branches conceal movement; rustling leaves drown out
other sounds. And scents travel further. She's got wind of a reedbuck. Hard to find between
the dancing leaves. She lurks for minutes -
all senses straining. Only when the buck gets up,
can she see it. She doesn't even try
to follow through. The chance is gone. But she won't give up. There's plenty of other prey
in the bushland. And there's a cub,
waiting by his warthog hole. All morning she goes about
her daily business: a movement, a swirl of air - the presence of prey. She's down low - ready to strike. But any wrong movement
can give her away, since she has no visual contact. She mustn't stay away too long. With an impatient son. Time is gnawing at him. Early that afternoon
she sets out again. Like a ghost, without a sound,
searching the bush metre by metre. In this thicket, hunter and hunted can miss each other by centimetres. At last! Hours of work have brought
just a tidbit that she'll share with her son. For a leopard big prey
is the exception - and this is the rule. The son seems more delighted
by his mother ... than by her gift! But now ... he can play-practise his own hunt! Young leopards rarely see
their mother hunt. That means they can't copy
her behaviour. So his reactions
are purely instinctive. And those instincts clearly direct
his bite to the right place. By the end of September there's
little water left anywhere. Everything slows down. The leathery leaves of the ebony
bushes still shine a deep green But the brooks and pools are dry. Just a little grass is left. Time to move, to another
part of her territory. The family take a short-cut across
open grassland to a distant brook This country is empty,
bald and brown. Without cover, it's not ideal
for hunting! But it might serve ... ... for hunting practice! If only the real thing
was so playfully easy. Out here they're vulnerable. That suits the leopardess
not at all. Above all, she doesn't want to
encounter a lion, with her son in tow. Perhaps he senses, she's unsure. She spots a wart-hog hole
and routinely checks it out for a vulnerable piglet, or
its usefulness as a bolt-hole. The family that used this one,
is away. After a tiring walk they come to
a small side valley. Where there's still a trickle
of water and some fresh grass. In places the trees meet
overhead in a canopy. That's where the gallery
earns its name. In the twilight a pied kingfisher
seeks out the fish that have gathered in
the last few pools. The leopardess hasn't visited
this spot for months. She must get her bearings, and she must make sure there are
no unpleasant surprises. The sounds of fishing waterbirds tell her, this is
a healthy habitat. But other leopards - or lions - could have taken over
in her absence. So she carefully scans for
tell-tale scent marks. Exhausted by the long trek,
her cub needs rest. His mother needs to find him
a hiding-place so she can carry on hunting. She's quite happy to take over
this burrow from its rightful owners. With the boy settled,
she can go on her way. What can this part of
her territory offer? Vultures are proof that
food is nearby. However, there can be
unwanted side effects. It depends who else is here ... This needs a closer look. A leopard won't reject
others' leftovers. But she's always on her guard
against hyenas and lions, So she won't expose
her son to danger. The vultures have done a good job
on the zebra, but there's enough left. Unfortunately, the big carcass is
too heavy to be hauled up a tree. She doesn't mind vultures
or jackals. But there might be bigger,
unwelcome guests. So she takes in some fast food, nervously peering
over her shoulder. In October the first warthog litters are born Especially sensitive
to heat and cold, these babies now seek
their mother's shade. Over their first days, they spend
only minutes outside the burrows. This mother has chosen
zebras for neighbours, because, being taller, they are
better at spotting predators. But piglets can be annoying - and can get injured. So they should all keep a
respectful distance. As their mother makes
abundantly clear! For the leopardess, the arrival
of the piglets is an important signal. These new families will be helpful
to her family. A leopardess can't challenge
a warthog mother. And on the open savannah she has no real chance of getting
close to the young. Females don't take their baby
piglets far from the burrows ... ... so they can escape in a second
if trouble is brewing. A fully-grown warthog is a
formidable adversary. Leopards will avoid the sharp tusks
that can even beat off a lion. As the sun beats down
the young soon get too hot. Unable to regulate
their body temperature, they must return to the shady
burrow as soon as possible. With their attentive mother
never far from their side, there's nothing here
for the leopardess. But then chance lends a hand. The first babies of the season stir a lot of excitement
among the warthogs. With so many hogs together, too much curiosity can result in
violent defensive action from the mothers. Suddenly warthogs are chasing
each other everywhere - piglets have been killed
in such turmoil. Despite its mother
fighting furiously, this piglet has to run
for its life! It just makes it into the cover
of the bushland. This is a chance for
the leopardess - if she gets to the piglet first,
before the mother finds it. But she should avoid
the bad-tempered hogs. Unfortunately, the good grass has lured many of
them to the edge of the forest. There's no fooling around
with this lady. It's hard to say,
who's more stressed. Just this second the piglet
shows itself briefly. Back to hunting mode! The young one has left the bush
looking for mama. She must hurry now. But the little one is already back
with its mother. Not so easy now. But this time the leopardess
won't give up. Perhaps this is an inexperienced
mother, and could make a mistake. It's still early afternoon. Sometimes females leave their young
unprotected in their burrows when they go for an evening graze. So, there's hope yet. This has been a busy
and tiring day. Mother and piglet withdraw
for a well-earned rest. Once more, her hard work
went unrewarded - As so often when big cats hunt. A few weeks later. It's the short rainy season
at the end of October, and the grass is back
- in lashings. Herbivores can build up
their stamina and replenish their reserves. The rivers have filled up. Hippos have walked for kilometres
to reach these steaming pools. But it's a season of conflict
for warthogs. Nights in the highlands
can be very cold and mothers fight over holes
for their young. One will frequently try
to dislodge another. Without a safe hideaway, piglets can die of cold in these
chilly, rainy weeks. The holes become important meeting
points for the hogs ... And that presents fresh
opportunities for the leopardess. But there's no hurry. This is going to be a lucky dip. For weeks, grey clouds hang
over the highlands. Most days bring cold showers. The Leopardess takes the bad
weather in her stride, watching the mother warthogs
struggle to find shelter for their young. Warthogs don't have
permanent burrows, and now the competition for holes
is at its most intense: because the young of the previous
litter need accommodation too. Damp days are good days
for the huntress. She just has to find the right
burrow at the right time. This family group is still
looking for a hole, but the piglets are too well
protected by the adults. The rain has stopped. In the strong wind, a number of grazing mothers have
left their young in the burrows. But there are so many holes! And not every warthog
has left the field! An encounter with a tough hog
like this could end painfully! When it gets warmer, she'll have less chance of finding
an unprotected piglet. It's becoming a race against time
to check out all the possibilities. Each check is brief. Nothing here. Move on ... And finally: a warthog mother has abandoned
her young for too long. Now the leopardess must make sure
that the mother doesn't catch her! A disaster for the warthog family, is a couple of days' food for
the leopardess and her cub. It's a long trek back to her son, as he waits patiently in the
undergrowth beside the brook ... ... on another wet and
cold afternoon. But the downpours make
the grass grow - and that's why the warthogs give
birth at this inclement time. The young leopard doesn't mind
the weather - he's fine with the all the prey
mom brings home ... Unlike herbivores, the great predators have no fixed
season to give birth. Many cubs die young, so mothers can't afford to wait
for the next rainy season. They'll mate again
as soon as they can. For herbivores, on the other hand, a steady food supply
is more important - even if their young suffer
from the cold. Once a leopard cub is past
the first few months of life, even a deluge doesn't lower his
body temperature enough to harm him. She's relaxed: her son is safe And new-born herbivores will make
for easy hunting in the coming weeks. Mother and son now disappear
for months ... ... in the dense, green
gallery forest. Invisible phantoms
of the woodlands. But the adventure continues. The leopard family
face hard times ... ... and perilous encounters. The family grows larger ... ... and the older son must make
a long and dangerous journey to adulthood. Northern Serengeti. A quiet brook. Its banks are lined
with gallery forest. A confusion of waterways,
tangled undergrowth and tall trees that
covers kilometres. It's the home of a leopardess. She has brought up a son here. Now roughly a year old, he looks
almost like a fully grown leopard. But he's still playful
and boisterous. He's survived the toughest
and most dangerous months. Now he confidently explores
his surroundings, interested in everything. In late July the great wildebeest
migration crosses the border from Tanzania into Kenya, streaming
into the Masai Mara reserve ... ... and into
the leopardess's territory. Mother and son are on high alert. Wildebeest calves
are valuable prey. Not only for leopards. Lions hunt in the bush too. Big cats can take each other
by surprise here. All the big predators
are deadly rivals because they compete for
the same resources. Right now the leopard is
concentrating on her primary task. So is the lioness. At the last moment she senses,
something is wrong ... The lioness got there first. But
that may have saved the leopardess. She wouldn't win a
fight with a lion. Her son does the right thing,
slinking away unnoticed. Bad luck with the hunt, good luck
to emerge unscathed! No feast today. They make do with the remains
of an earlier kill. Even though they hunt together, the older her son gets, the less
she will tolerate him. Caring for him is hard work,
as he needs more and more food. When the cupboard is bare
- and they're on short rations - every sliver of bone counts. But for the next three months, there are enough successful
wildebeest hunts for the leopardess to feed herself and her son. And he spends much of his time high
in an tree, observing the scene, looking out for smaller prey. In September, when the migration
continues on its circuit, bringing the wildebeest back
towards the southern Serengeti, it's time for the leopardess
to return to local prey. An adult reedbuck is plenty of food
for two leopards. The male can eat
to his heart's content. Now a year and a half old,
he's an impressive young leopard, almost as big as his mother. If it were up to him, their relationship could continue
like this for ever. But the comfortable stay at Hotel
Momma will soon come to an end. She has a gentleman caller. An imposing figure
with the powerful neck muscles of an adult male in his prime. Males cruise their territories
covering those of multiple females, on the lookout for opportunities
to mate. Scent marks she's been spreading,
guide him. Around this time the leopardess
loses interest in her son, and often roams alone. She even loses interest in hunting. She could easily have crept up on
this hare from her cover in the bushes,
but she ignores it. She wanders through her domain for
days regularly spraying her scent. Changes are on the way
for the leopard family. And a few days later ... A rare sight: a leopard couple
in peaceful harmony. Leopards join leopardesses
only for a few days when the female is receptive. It's almost the only chance to see
an elusive male out in the open. In a glade of the gallery
forest they start mating. They'll mate frequently for days. Multiple couplings are necessary
to stimulate ovulation. So for a few days there's plenty
of action in the thicket. Her son is still at their base
near the river. He now has his mother's
last kill to himself. The mighty male mating with his
mother may well be his own father. The youngster is wise to
keep out of the way. His neighbours the grey-backed fiscals are not
thrilled by his presence here. He's gorging himself right next to
the brooding female on her nest! With these fiscals, the last brood
stay with the parents and help to raise
the next generation. That's why so many birds
are squawking around here. He's had enough. While he looks for a shady place
for an afternoon rest, the food delivery is picked up
again, undisturbed. He finds a secluded spot
on the cool bank of the brook ... ... while kilometres away
at a denser stretch ... his mother and her mate
are a taking a break. Leopard mating is not
a silent affair. In contrast to their
stealthy hunting. And they haven't finished yet. Not by a long way. The noisy honeymoon is audible
far and wide. And it draws the attention
of a lioness. What she hears is: two competitors. And they're distracted. The male takes a break. For a while it's quiet
in the forest. The lioness may lose track
for a moment. But it won't be silent here
for long. Are these bitten ears
still listening out? Since lions and leopards
hunt the same prey ... ... this could be just the moment
to be rid of a rival! That was close! For now, the honeymoon is over. At the end of October the rainy season once again
has its grip on the land. The great leopard male is far away,
patrolling his huge territory. His range covers those
of several leopardesses. He will keep moving, to find
one of them in oestrus. His task in life is to survive
and reproduce. But in weather like this even he
needs a bit of shelter. The downpour transforms the gallery
forests in just a few days. Used to crossing dry river-beds, this giraffe now encounters
deep pools. It looks like it needs a while
to think it over. This could be why. The crocodiles spent their dry
season in hollows in the riverbanks.
Now they're about again. But they're patient. A giraffe is a lot of work. The leopardess now spends
plenty of time alone. She still needs to look
after her son but he's beginning to fend
for himself. Leopards are loners. As the rain falls, tiny rivulets
fill up and merge. New waterways form day by day. Linking the different
branches of brooks, they become highways
for crocodiles. An irresistible scent
borne by the water tempts the ancient reptile
into a side-arm. A hippo has died here. A mountain of meat ... ... that the giant catfish
would love to share. But the hippo's skin is too tough. They'll have to wait. At first, even the crocodile
can tear off only a toenail. But it's better than nothing and his digestive juices will
soon get to work on it. And now, it's on a roll. The leopardess's territory now offers enough food
for mother and son. High water levels and rich
vegetation draw plenty of animals to the riverbank. The pools are cloudy from sediment
washed down from the banks. Water full of fish, frogs and insect larvae. The saddle-bill stork senses fishy
prey with its powerful beak, extra-attuned to movement. It can't expect to see prey
in this muddy brew. Each bird has its own technique
for fishing in the murky waters. The hamerkop seeks its victims
just below the surface ... Or... wherever there's the
chance of a delicacy. The little lesser-striped swallows
are busy collecting mud for the nests they build
under rock overhangs. Meanwhile, grey-headed kingfishers
have long been feeding young in their nests. And the Egyptian geese let their
chicks get on with it on their own. Everyone works with
their own tools ... ... and in the way that suits them. In the succulent green bushland ... ... the young leopard is surrounded
by feasting herbivores. The fig trees above all attract
fruit lovers in hordes ... ...like these African
green pigeons. That's nothing for him. But the tree is a great lookout
point, and a good place to rest. All around him, animals are enjoying the rich gifts
of the generous season. And that's not only true
of the herbivores. Insects offer an inexhaustible
supply of nourishment. And beyond the bush, on the
savannah grasslands... ...it's the high point of the
year for the ungulates, too. The impalas roam far and wide... With no shortage of grass... ...right now, they have no need to
venture into the dangerous thicket. The kori bustard just
wants attention. Specifically for females
to admire his mating plumage. Everywhere fawns and calves
take their first unsteady steps. This Thomson's gazelle comes into
the world in the heat of the day, when the predators are resting,
and won't be out. It'll spend the next few weeks
pressed against the grass, in an environment entirely
without cover. Impala mothers have another way
to deal with the same problem. At first they hide their young
in thick vegetation... ...leading them out
for short visits to the herd. On the return journey
she's on her own. There is no time to waste to get
the baby back to cover. For the young leopard these weeks
are a time of opportunity. But he still has a lot to learn. That fawn has disappeared, as
though swallowed up by the earth. He knows the baby must be
somewhere near. But the mother antelope knows
exactly where he is. The young leopard isn't paying
attention to the wind. Cleverly the mother tempts him
further and further away from the hiding place. He tries to cut her off.
But then a dik-dik gets in the way. No good. The experienced impala mother
is leaving the field. Now he'd need a huge amount of luck
to find the fawn. He knows better than to try. January. Four months on... The leopardess has hidden her new
arrivals in thick undergrowth... ...licked clean, with no scent - and little danger
they'll be discovered. She stays away as much as possible, so as not to betray
their hiding place. In the daytime she's
mostly out hunting. The two baby females are alone
most of the day. It's the perfect nursery. Utterly inaccessible,
completely inconspicuous. The branches pen the cubs
against the steep slope, like bars on a baby's cot. During the day the leopardess
may be kilometres away. In the late afternoon it's time
to look after her young. She doesn't follow
the winding river, but takes the direct route,
across the savannah. The last thing she needs
is someone following her. But today, the danger
is in front of her! The old adversaries are
out on the plains again. The leopardess is focussed
on her hungry cubs waiting for her in the thicket,
far away. It's late; she doesn't
want to waste time. Again, at the last moment her sharp
senses register the danger. Neither cat is a particularly
good runner, especially over long distances. They're too far apart for this
to become an attack. The leopardess runs. And the lioness chases. Just to make a point. The leopardess won't risk
returning to the nursery until her competitor
has left the scene. The next morning she's
safely in the hideout. After suckling the babies,
she licks them clean again, once more clearing their scent. The cubs are now ten days old. They have only just opened their
eyes and can still barely walk. But they are housetrained,
to poo outside. The trouble is, soiling outside the hideout
could betray its location. So, the mother moves
the babies regularly. When she grips them on the neck, the babies fall into a carrying
trance, so they won't struggle. She's in a hurry now. She wouldn't want to be caught
outside with her cubs. It's always possible the lioness
might still be around... With one done, she comes
back for the second. But this was a good hiding place - in fact it's quite tricky
to extricate the second cub. Finally she threads her
out of the thicket! She brings the young'un together
with her sibling. This time in the safety
of a warthog burrow. These holes are valuable
as half-way houses... ...where her young will be
invisible during the day. They become very elusive now,
disappearing for months in secret hiding places in the
gallery forest. These are the most dangerous weeks
for the cubs. Rain, cold and rival cats take
a heavy toll of young leopards. Three months later: the young family has survived
the critical period. Both cubs are healthy
and in good spirits. They're not used to open grassland
and are easily scared. The impala buck is uneasy as well. These are leopards! Up to now the cubs have spent
their whole life in the dense thicket
of the gallery. Now the leopardess takes them
to the old hunting grounds she's avoided since the sudden
end of her honeymoon. In the fissures of the
jagged river banks she knowns dozens
of places to hide, where her offspring will be safe. The terrain around the brook is an exciting adventure playground
for them. Irresistibly curious, they follow
their mother around their new home. There's so much to discover... But their mother knows: not every
neighbour is harmless. They should stay close. And the leopardess is always
on the lookout for trouble. For instance, baboons can be very aggressive
towards leopards. Strong males can spell
real danger for the cubs. Here, the monkeys haven't
noticed the leopards yet. And the cubs have no idea how to behave
towards their new neighbours. They're seeing these animals
for the first time. The baboons have young too... ...with her cubs in tow she'd
better keep her distance! Now the baboons have noticed
the leopards, some way off. She hurries to make space, so the
monkeys won't feel threatened. It's all a little much
for the cubs. A kilometre on, she calls a halt, and revives them with a healthy
dose of milk. They're being watched. Soon the cubs are back on form,
scampering around. A male leopard at the edge
of the forest is keeping them in his sights. The leopard mother is fully aware
of the intruder. Like all big cats, leopard males can be dangerous
to young that are not their own. She'll keep a close eye on him. As evening comes, the male
is still watching. Finally the female decides
to approach. The cubs don't seem to notice
her tension. This is her older son,
who survived on his own in familiar territory. He's anything but welcome! Any male in the vicinity
of her young is a threat. He is uncertain. Then something unexpected happens. One of the cubs simply goes up
to its older brother, who it's probably seeing
for the very first time! Intimidated by his mother, he daren't accept the youngster's
offer to play. He fears his angry mother but wants to stay in this
familiar environment. The second cub tries to win
a playmate, but mother is not amused! The adult son mustn't
make a mistake. The leopardess is uncertain, too. She breaks eye contact and, in a peace offering,
sits down. The cubs don't give up. Now the first one rejoins the game! A difficult moment for big brother. His mother could interpret
any movement as an attack. He must leave. She needs all her territory
for herself, to raise the new generation. The young male will spend
the following weeks, seeking a territory not claimed
by another male. He'll make it through by killing
small animals and is soon far away
from his home area. He must obey strict rules on
his way to independence. One is: stay clear of
hyenas and lions! There's no fooling
with a big lion... ...and the hyenas judge
the situation correctly. Not a good place
for a young leopard. He moves on. On his way he prefers areas that remind him of places
used by his mother. So he mostly follows thickets,
alongside brooks. It's harder for a young male
to find a territory than for a young female. Daughters are often tolerated
by their mother at the edge of her range. They may even take over
when she gets old. Sons, though, seek their
own hunting areas and at the same time
look for mates. They need to travel far enough
to meet unrelated females. They also have to conquer
big territories that cover many female ranges. All this makes it harder
for beginners. He may be trying for years, and many a hopeful youngster
never succeeds. He's distracted by a male impala... ...noisily trying to keep the
females in his territory under control. If males really fight, there can be an exhausted
or even wounded loser. It's worth waiting for the result. But here the challenger thinks
better of it pretty quickly, and the buck sees him off
before blood is drawn. Nothing here for him. His search for a new home
becomes an epic odyssey through the northern Serengeti. In the Masai Mara ebony brushland has spread over
huge areas in the past decades. That's why, though he is almost 20 kilometres
from the thickets of his youth the environment looks
very familiar to him. These bull giraffes can't seem to
settle their endless evening duel. They've been at it for hours. They're young, ardent,
and well matched. Older bulls are hardly ever
seen to fight and certainly not for so long! He's fascinated: strange creatures,
doing strange things... At dusk, many ungulates gather
in the open, sharing eyes and ears
to spot predators. The zebras seem to have picked up
on the mood of the giraffes! In the last rays of twilight
the animals settle down for the vigil of the night. Even the combative giraffes
call it a day. For the leopard this is the most
important time of the day. The herd of impala females
is too much of a challenge - But there are young bachelor males,
and old, weak bucks. They might wander carelessly close
to the edge of the brush. He may not yet have the massive
muscles of a fully-grown male, but by now, he's an experienced,
skilful hunter, and it could be time for his
first attempt at an impala. The bucks are heavier than he is,
and have sharp horns. But he can't ignore this chance. Perhaps he chose the wrong victim? But if this is a test,
he will pass. This triumph will boost
his confidence, and greatly improve his chances
of victory in the territorial disputes
that lie ahead. Many kilometres away, beside the brook that was his home
for so long: his mother is raising the twins as devotedly as she did
their brother. The two cubs are healthy
and strong. Once again, an impala
is secured in a tree. The youngsters dig in, but they're not especially hungry,
and they're in no hurry. Everything is fine. And even at this tender age each
spends plenty of time on its own. Leopard cubs play far less
together than young lions! When they grow up, they will be
loners like their mother. For a long time to come, she will
work hard for her family. If all goes well, her daughters may one day inherit
the realm of this leopardess. To become, in their turn, the elusive queens
of the gallery forest.
