White Lions - An Epic Battle for Survival | Free Documentary Nature

in South Africa's wild Bush Feld color is crucial blending in standing out all color has purpose to communicate hide distract an animal's color is key to its survival anything new or unusual is tested every moment most don't make it but sometimes nature throws up something determined to survive that's what's happening in this [Music] Wilderness only once in a generation do white lions appear here now two wild white Cups have been born can they [Music] [Music] survive the Kruger Wilderness is the jewel of South Africa a wildlife Paradise here Nature's rhythms run strong it's a place where prey can Thrive with Predators never far behind and here in a corner called timati nature is conducting a wild experiment spotted hyenas are the first to see something unusual in the grass [Music] she's only 4 months old but already looks toughened up by this hard Wilderness the hyenas will try to kill her but they don't see her better camouflaged mother even covered in dirt this CB stands out she looks nothing like other lion cubs her two older male cousins are a deep tny Brown the difference is clear next to her mother she is a white cub born in a tny pride both her mother and father carry the rare Jean that produces white Offspring and sometimes there can be more than [Music] one our CB has an identical sister this is a small Pride just two adult lionesses themselves sisters and their four Cubs they are a close affectionate family local Rangers have named the first White cup inani little fighter her sister is shinga little Hunter they have a fighting spirit and even take on their bigger cousins the males are stronger but these white cubs are feisty little lions [Music] they were discovered 3 months ago after emerging from their den they were as white as [Music] snow they had a Tony brother but he didn't survive his first crucial weeks their cousins are 2 months older so these white cats will always be The [Music] Underdogs but their high visibility may become their greatest challenge only three Cubs have survived to adulthood since white lions were first discovered here in 1975 the Tony Cub's mother may also carry the white jean Rangers call her Kana the pale one the white Cub's mother is matimba the powerful one from her and Kanya the Cubs will learn everything to survive and thrive [Music] here they just need to follow in their footsteps [Music] by October Kruger's long dry winter gives way to Spring rainstorms which reveal the Cub's true colors they are not albino but have a conditioned called luism in which which their bodies make very little pigment of any kind in all other ways they are just like any lion cup as they discover the world around them [Music] the Cub's birth comes at a critical time their father and defender of the pride has [Music] disappeared rival males may have killed him without a father to defend them the Cub's future is in Peril the two mothers have already detected Intruders who are attacking a nearby herd of buffalo one of their calves is D Buffalo will defend their young ferociously but this male lion doesn't fear them he has a brother to back him up and another brother to back him up these lions are nomads in search of a pride of lionesses to take over the three brothers are in their Prime not even a herd of buffalo can stop them but they will [Music] try Buffalo are huge powerful animals and they have the weapons to fight lions [Music] [Music] the Buffalo is dangerously close the Lions will strike again if they can these lions are 5 years old they are in Peak Fitness a strong Coalition like this is ready for its own pride and territory once again the buffalo clows in the lion spots an [Music] opportunity and is attacked himself [Music] now the Cal's mother moves in desperate to raise him up it's too late despite their epic battle the Cal is dead after this meal they will come for the Cubs the breeze is growing stronger the Cub's mother can smell the intruder's scent somewhere they're out there and recently they've been here too Kanya can detect the faintest [Music] scent some deep maternal Instinct directs the two mothers they must take their cubs away far from their approaching [Music] danger far from The Familiar mountains that overshadow their home deeper into unknown [Music] territory krugger Park is vast the size of New [Music] Jersey it's covered by a dense Woodland which supports great numbers of herbivores all of these species are adapted to the bush in their own special ways and all of them are prey for Lions Kruger is ruled by 2,000 Lions each Pride with its own distinct territory matimba and Kanya can only keep their four CBS alive if they stay out of these territories from now on this family must live in the shadows but wherever they go they will still leave signs behind one of the three Nomads is on their Trail he can smell their scent if the nads catch up and take over this Pride they will kill the Cubs that will bring the mothers back into estras so they will bear The norad's Offspring soon after rival predators are another lethal threat if the Cubs are found unattended by a Keeny leopard it will kill them hyenas will too predators don't want Rivals around in their first few days of Exile the white pride is still not far from home they soon find another lion group on a fresh kill they are close relations Lions do not willingly share their meals so the hungry white pride has a challenge this will be the Cub's first lesson in Lion politics and it will test them they face three adult females in one subadult male within an hour they creep into [Music] position a naive Tony cab is the first to approach matimba and Kanya know the first lesson in Lion politics is patience if shinga can't eat now she'll practice on her sister lesson number two don't be too patient with the other Lions distracted the two mothers Edge closer matimba stands her ground found and secures a feeding place the white cup inani tries the other [Music] side a harsh fact about lions is that the strongest eat first Cubs are lost to feed and in times of scarcity the first to die even a Cub's mother will not share until she's eaten her fi now shinga tries and finds a place beside her mother she gives the other Cubs courage despite being younger and weaker the white cubs are on the meal before their cousins and they will fight to keep their place their feistiness is a good sign just what a lion c needs to survive the little Hunter shinga can't squeeze in so she finds another way but her move angers the male it's a dangerous moment but mother sorts him out the Cubs are learning how body posture expressions and sounds influence other Lions especially when they give the wrong signal she still has plenty to learn for shinga it's not enough just to fill her belly she now wants to own this kill she's learned the final lesson a lion must fight for what it wants from her lofty Throne she is at least for now Queen of the beasts heavy rainclouds Mark the onset of Summer just in time for Elephants who need plenty of water until this river flows again they must dig to drink the empty River now comes back to [Music] life waterb thrive in Wetlands but even they are captivated by this spectacle from all around animals come to the river it gives wild dogs a chance to cool [Music] off but none enjoy it more than the [Music] elephants shinga and her sister are now 8 months old their Tony cousins 10 months this is unfamiliar territory for the two mothers they don't know the best hunting spots and the bush here is so dense it hides prey well they will see the white cubs before the Lions see them after weeks with little to eat the Cubs are skin and [Music] bones mother Lions do abundant weak Cubs but this mother [Music] Waits without better hunting the Cubs won't make it so the mothers lead their offspring in a New Direction back home to timati the desperate CB inani needs nourishment but mother's milk is drying up where when food runs this low Only The Strongest Will feed and there's no room for three the mothers know where they are going half a day's journey ahead is the favorite water hole for a huge herd of buffalo the strongest and meanest of lion prey to feed the Lions will have to get past the aggressive pools and a herd of horns a wounded Buffalo is an easier Target so long as the herd stays put he is safe but the large herd must move on to find food for all the lame Buffalo is Left Behind the injured Buffalo has survived the night but he's not alone anymore it's [Music] Kanya matimba is here too and cubs this is their first buffalo [Music] [Applause] hunt the older cup joins in the [Music] stocking matimba makes her move the Buffalo sees [Music] her the Buffalo is still too far from Shore against even an injured buffalo in water matimba loses their advantage she's weary but there's a bigger problem [Music] approaching [Music] the stalkers are now stalked [Music] [Music] themselves [Music] the elephant ensures that the Buffalo lives a little bit longer the spooked Lions need to regain their confidence and the initiative [Laughter] matimba moves to an attack position the Buffalo can't see her now she waits Kanya settles in full view of the Buffalo the Cubs are learning one lioness destructs the prey while the other waits to [Music] attack hours later the Buffalo changes position he doesn't see matimba nearby the Buffalo is too weak to fight the cops take it all in with the white C right in the action the mothers show the Cubs exactly what to [Music] do [Music] at last the starving Cubs can fill their bellies The Pride will eat through the night once again shinga the little Hunter bestrides her kill [Music] by morning most of the pride can eat no more only shinga still [Music] feeds the formerly white cup is so messy and smelly not even her mother accepts her greeting or her aunt or her [Music] cousin [Music] perhaps her sister will respond [Music] better not this [Music] time there are some animals more patient than Lions vultures hyenas when the pride moves to shade to rest then they make their move matimba tries to keep the Scavengers away but she will fail there are two many and she needs rest now it's the Hyena's turn this lion kill will feed many others that's the way it is here every animal plays a vital role in the lives of others this hyena is lactating she has Cubs with this kill the lions are feeding her cubs too with the risk of starvation now behind them the white pride can rest but the cost of resting means they'll have to hunt again much sooner their hard one meal will be devoured Before Sunset [Music] the hunting here may be easier but the mothers won't relax their Vigilant they keep their CBS moving every day a new location the white cubs are now 10 months old and they are becoming much more playful now everything's a target for [Music] fun their aunt Kanya is a playful teacher play will help the Cubs grow strong and develop their hunting skills [Music] hey [Music] Kanya never refuses an invitation to [Music] play as for matimba she w paes from guarding her [Music] family still Kanya always tries to lighten my Timber's Spirit the Cubs join in as matimba [Music] approaches [Music] [Music] spotted hyenas are searching for food they will Target Lions especially groups without males follow them and push them off their meals it's impossible not to spot the white cab on a zebra kill but can they overpower matimba and Kanya the hyenas move in the cabs are now old enough to learn how to confront hyenas so matimba takes them [Music] [Music] forward the aggressive atmosphere charges matimba by scuffing the ground she Stakes claim to this place and the zebra hill behind [Music] them the older tny Cub shows he's not [Music] frightened he doesn't intimidate the hyenas now all four cabs take them on [Music] [Music] matimba allows the Cubs to lead the [Music] confrontation the Cubs have done well but it's still a standoff now matimba shows them how to end the dispute a day like this turn turns a cup into a lion the three nads are securing their claim to this territory marking it well next they will secure the females and remove any Cubs in the way the mothers will try to avoid them but they will be alert to any [Music] opportunity the pride is heading to a water hole but today they're in for a [Music] surprise another lion a young male the pride is cautious but thirsty there's plenty of room but they'll need to walk past the mail he's not fully grown but he could still injure the Cs it's inani who tests him and decides to drink right beside him the this is a dangerous moment but his submissive posture signals he doesn't want a fight especially with matima still he's nervous he could [Music] attack the the young male is in poor shape thin with an undeveloped man a sign of a tough life since leaving his [Music] pride one day these male Cubs will have to leave this Pride this young male shows how hard it will be Kruger's hot summer days are a time to rest animals need to get out of the baking sun leopards take shelter up in the trees and lions beneath [Music] them only a pair of leopard cubs don't feel the heat they are full of life [Music] [Music] a the lion cubs aren't aware of the leopard in the tree only when she moves do they spot her and that gives them an [Music] idea [Music] [Music] he [Music] [Music] h it's now may the bush is turning color with the onset of autumn the CBS are now 11 months old they are strong and fit their mothers have raised them well with their greater strength they can now follow on Hunt they learn which animals are prey they watch their mothers every move [Music] [Music] [Music] for everything is fair game for these Lions even the tallest of [Music] prey they took the young giraffe and have dragged it under a bush out of sight from vultures for extra precaution the mothers bury anything with a strong Aroma but there's a good Breeze today the scent may not remain in this secluded spot and nads are not far away something is approaching a verid monkey sounds the alarm whatever it was seems to have gone the mothers feel it safe to return to their meal by dusk the Cubs have had their F now all they want is sleep but tonight there will be no sleep the mothers risk their lives to save their CBS it's one of the nomads he's looking for the Cubs he he charges again but matimba will not let him [Music] pass every second they stall him buys time for their CS if they keep this up the mothers won't survive the night and now his brother arrives and moves in on the giraffe kill that stops the attack the mothers have no chance against two males but the nomad's attention has shifted they'll settle for the giraffe kill the Cubs can wait now the two mothers have only one goal find their cubs and flee [Music] the powerful male could have killed them but their Brave defensive attack allowed their cops to escape their soft calls tell their cubs it's safe to come out the family is reunited they will leave the nomads to their stolen meal that will give them precious time to get away the brothers have had a full night of feeding these Lions aren't going anywhere by early morning the pride is 10 m away it's been a long night and a long year most mothers would have lost their CBS by now but these two remarkable lionesses have the knowledge and experience to keep them alive the family will travel far to escape the normad next time they may not be so [Music] [Music] fortunate [Music] by August the dry winter transforms the bush the grass dies back trees lose their leaves all this opens up the landscape an excellent time for Young Lions to have a hunting lesson [Music] the hunter must be patient quiet [Music] [Music] focused [Music] in these conditions a Tony colored lion can hide itself well not so a white lion the Kudo spot her and escapes lesson over for the next 3 months the white pride makes this place their [Music] home it's a good hunting spot every day new groups of animals come to drink Predators will be waiting for [Music] them the pride is not yet aware that other Hunters have arrived the three lion Brothers the nomads who attacked the white pride once before they came here to hunt but now they have sent of the white pride this is their opportunity to remove the Cubs their Roose announce their approach the mothers are quick to move the [Music] Cubs they're closing in nothing can stop them except Kanya and matimba the mothers leave their cubs to ward off the coming attack still the Cubs follow in minutes they meet the first [Music] male their submissive posture diffuses the male's aggression until his Brothers arrive the mothers are not their target the nads want the Cubs if they kill them it will bring their mothers back into East Us in just a few weeks so the next litter will come sooner and be [Music] theirs this is now a battle of Wheels the mothers to save their cups the males to Father their [Music] own there is no reply to her calls the mothers keep searching right through the burning hot day it's this Mother's determination that gives them the edge over the males they have more to lose [Music] finally a [Music] [Music] response the Cubs are safe [Music] the family has survived another [Music] attack it's now November new clouds usher in the wet season the bush bursts back to [Music] life the Cubs are growing larger and stronger by the day the white C s more visible than [Music] ever their curiosity is growing too especially when it comes to prey every new animal captures their attention but one creature is a complete puzzle the toris is well protected inside his hard shell the Cub has met his match it's shing's turn she can't help [Music] [Music] herself no har done the totis just needs to get back on his feet and make a fast [Music] getaway by December the white cubs are 18 months old the males 20 months they're little lions now their play looks more like proper hunting the pride has a giraffe kill but their meal is attracting attention hyenas an entire Clan hyenas don't fear just two female lions or CBS only adult males they see the white pride is vulnerable they move in if they can remove the lines for just half an hour they'll devour this entire [Music] giraffe [Music] in moves forward to confront them they're [Music] everywhere but the hyenas haven't met lions like matimba [Music] before matimba drives them off but they'll be back for the next month the hyenas are never far away shadowing The Pride waiting for them to bring down prey and then moving in with every meal at stake the pride has much to lose but today something's not [Music] right the hyenas have suddenly disa appeared the pride is left [Music] alone [Music] he The Pride made it through the night after escaping last night's attack they now reaffirm that their bonds the mothers and white cubs are unharmed but only one Tony male Cub is participating the other isn't responding he is injured with a puncture wound on his side one of the nomads got to him he would normally be running alongside the others full of energy his mother Kanya is aware something is wrong so too his brother he only moves deeper into the bush the Instinct of a wounded animal to [Music] hide his brother turns to their mother and invites her to play but for the first time Kanya refuses an hour later the ill CB can no longer sit up his conditions worsening his brother encourages him tries to get him up next shinga approaches now she's aware something's wrong the Cub is struggling his mother is there but there's nothing she can do still his brother tries [Music] again 10 minutes later the poor Cub has a painful seizure and then in just a few moments he's gone his family seemed to know this is the [Music] end they hold back unsure and then matimba and Kanya [Music] approach in some quiet way they understand this tragedy to their [Music] family inani moves in next [Music] and finally his brother his closest [Music] [Music] companion Kanya's cab was 20 months old when he died losing him is a profound blow the Cub's death comes with the onset of summer rains and a new cycle of Life taking hold across Kruger [Music] the rains allow a young Rhino to enjoy a mad wallo wogs Feast on tender grasses and giraffes new leaves none enjoy it more than newborn [Music] [Music] elephants [Music] it's been 2 months since Kanya lost her cab she's moved on with her surviving CB local Rangers have named him shik the Survivor he has grown much closer to the white cubs and is the perfect [Music] playmate [Music] [Music] [Music] oh Every Day presents new challenges to the white carbs they started climbing trees 6 months ago and they're still at it climbing is unusual for Lions shinga has plenty more to learn and inani isn't helping sometimes these CBS act more like leopards than Lions shinga found a taller [Music] challenge she's not as graceful as a leopard but she's getting [Music] there [Music] it's a Triumph her white coat isn't the only extraordinary thing about this liar it's the wet season now and the bush responds with a cloak of green it's bursting with life this is courtship time for one exciting bird the Red Crested [Music] Quan [Music] [Music] hun hunting in the thick summer Bush poses a big challenge but the Cubs long bouts of play have fine-tuned their senses they are ready to hunt right beside their [Music] mothers [Music] [Music] this hunt ends in Failure as most lion hunts do elsewhere vultures are having better luck tearing into an old Buffalo who died several days ago these birds only have to share their meal rather than hunt for it sometimes there can be hundreds on a carcass late comers must look for other opportunities after their failed hunt earlier in the day the white sisters are hungry and pestering their mother to hunt again then something catches their eye vultur who' spotted a leopard with a fresh kill a tall tree is the best place to keep it safe the Young Lions have learned that where there are vultures there's often an easy meal the leopard escapes the CBS spent their youth climbing trees now they have their reward she is not as graceful as a leopard but shinga gets what she wants now it's Kanya's turn it's not so simple for a full grown adult she can't climb like the Cubs but she can leap after all that her reward is one very thin leg it's shot's turn he now weighs as much as Kan can he lift all that weight up the tree he is as Nimble as a leopard and gets a choice cut of the [Music] meal a giraffe doesn't see this every day it's not clear who's more [Music] surprised one more Morel for Kan this tree climbing skill will serve shot well he won't have matimba or Kanya to hunt for him when he leaves the pride stealing leopard kills could help him survive the hard [Music] times [Music] it's now June a special date for the white pride the Cubs are 2 years old and almost fully grown they have survived all the perils and all the challenges of growing up wild they also have a new home range far away from the NORAD a place called [Music] cleri it's rich in [Music] game plenty for Hungry lions they took down a buffalo in the night but once again hyenas are on to [Music] them matimba won't have it inani is ready to take them on one hyena she can handle but a whole clan is a different kind of challenge inani moves to confront them she walks with confidence just like her mother no longer a cat right from the start she takes charge intimidating the hyenas she scuffs the ground claiming ownership of this territory like her mother once showed her the Cub has grown into a fine liar inani is so confident She lays [Music] down the hyenas take this for weakness and move forward they're coming from all sides 13 hyenas she lets them come and then it's her 10 the hyenas know this is not a lion they can get past this confrontation shows that the Cubs are now capable of fending for themselves protecting their food defending their pride at sundown the hyenas are suddenly spooked and [Music] flee it's a large male and is heading for the pride matimba moves to defend her family this male is new is not one of the NAD he calls a greeting not a threat matimba keeps up the aggressive defense moves forward to intimidate him he doesn't want a fight shinga is there to support her mother now the whole Pride moves up front with matimba the hyenas don't waste any time time to get back to their meal before the hyenas devour it matimba seems to know this maale is not like the others so she returns to her pride and the male follows her they are still on high alert but he isn't here to attack them he's here to wo them but first he will [Music] feed it will take some time before he wins their trust but this Pride now has a big adult male to help defend [Music] them by the time summer returns turns to krugger the new male has secured his place with the white pride Kanya is the first lioness to [Music] meet a new chapter is now beginning for the white [Music] pride matimba and Kanya's new Cubs will be arriving soon shot will set out on his own and shinga and Nani have a whole new life ahead of them the first white lions to reach maturity here in over two decades their life so far has been remarkable they began as scruffy little cubs and grew into Fine Young [Music] Lions for the past 2 years they struggled to survive Kruger's Fierce Wilderness and the challenges of their white coats but they have had two amazing lionesses looking out for them teaching them everything they know they've come through it all and are now strong and capable Lions white lions remarkable beautiful [Music] Wild

Channel: Free Documentary - Nature

Views: 1,621,320

Keywords: Free Documentary, Documentaries, Full documentary, HD documentary, documentary - topic, documentary (tv genre), nature documentary, Free Documentary Nature, Nature, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife, Animals Documentary, Animals, White Lions, White Lion Documentary, Lions, Lion Documentary, African Wildlife, Kruger National Park, Lion Cubs, BBC Documentary, national geographic

Id: mYkrHymFvtU

Length: 89min 33sec (5373 seconds)

Published: Sat Oct 07 2023