Lioness: Throne of Power (Full Episode) | Regime of the Queen | Nat Geo Animals

♪ ♪ NARRATOR: The male lion. (growling) In his prime, he can span 11 feet in length, weigh up to 550 pounds. .

. (roar) and pack a roar that can be heard up to five miles away. (roar) He is the undisputed king of beasts.

But there's another power behind the throne. ♪ ♪ Weighing in at 300 pounds. .

. (growling and snarling) the lioness combines both speed and power. (growl) She's faster.

. . more agile.

. . and more deadly.

And on the savanna, the lioness is queen. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Southern Africa. Over 750,000 square miles of temperate grassland.

Home to hot summers and arid winters. . .

and thousands upon thousands of lions. (thunder) During the rainy season, grass on the savanna grows tall and thick. .

. providing food for herds of migrating animals. .

. (lowing) and creating the perfect cover for ambush hunters. (lowing) (snorting) ♪ ♪ During this time of plenty, a lioness can stalk her prey entirely unseen.

A wildebeest and her baby pause in the open grassland. They seem to sense something is wrong. The grass obscures their view of the predator stalking nearby.

. . until it is too late.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The wildebeest struggles against the inevitable. Although she outweighs the lioness, she cannot defend herself against the big cat's weapons. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One-inch-long claws dig into her flesh like grappling hooks.

And four canine teeth penetrate two inches into her skull, anchoring together predator and prey. Usually, the lioness kills by knocking down her prey and clamping on its throat. But this time, she opts for a more personal technique.

Hanging on to the wildebeest, she covers its mouth with hers. Huge nostrils allow her to breathe, while her victim suffocates, staring into the eyes of its killer. Death is all in a day's work for the lioness.

She has a family to feed. And today that family eats well. Even some of the cubs get a taste.

(low growling) With meals like these, the youngest lions get a good start in life. It will take 18 months before they can hunt for themselves. The pride will look out for them until then.

Lions are the only big cats that live in prides. Females in a pride share a family bond. Mothers, sisters, and daughters may live together for their entire lives.

♪ ♪ The pride's males come from outside, exiled by their family upon reaching adulthood. ♪ ♪ The males defend territory. .

. (snarling) And father all the pride's cubs. But they rarely hunt for themselves.

Their giant mane makes them obvious to prey. So the job of finding dinner belongs to the pride's females. (crying) (zebra braying) An experienced hunter chooses her prey carefully.

Timing is everything. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A lioness can only run at her top speed for about 300 feet. ♪ ♪ So she has to make it count.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (braying) (snorting) Once she gets a chokehold, her family joins the kill. (groaning) Every hunt tests their ability to work together. (low growling) (low growling) A full-grown lioness needs 12 pounds of meat a day.

(growling) And she can eat four times that much. (snarling) The pride must kill often to keep their bellies full. ♪ ♪ (lowing) At daybreak, a young mother-to-be looks for breakfast.

♪ ♪ Unlike lions, cheetahs do most of their hunting alone. ♪ ♪ She is the world's fastest mammal, but her pregnancy is slowing her down. ♪ ♪ She uses stealth to inch closer to her prey.

. . ♪ ♪ before she puts her speed to use.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She misses her target. (panting) ♪ ♪ She'll have to settle for easier prey. ♪ ♪ That doesn't work out either.

Soon she'll get desperate. Then, an opportunity. A wildebeest calf has lost its mother.

♪ ♪ Without her protection, it won't last long. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Despite her hunger, the cheetah takes the time to hide her kill before she eats, hoping the lions won't find it. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The cheetah is not the only predator sharing this land with the lions.

As day turns to night, another predator emerges from the cover of darkness. The leopard. This stealth predator lives most of his life alone.

Stalking his prey with large, padded paws. . .

and slow, cautious movements. . .

he is virtually invisible to prey. . .

before he strikes. (snarling) He may be an efficient killing machine. (yelp) However, making the kill is just half the battle.

(snarling) He's also got to keep it. (growling) (growling) (chattering) The hyenas celebrate their win. But they've forgotten that even at night, this land belongs to the lioness.

(snarl) (chattering) NARRATOR: Just as the hyenas settle in to enjoy their stolen meal, the lioness emerges from the darkness and makes a claim of her own. (growling) (shrieking) (shrieking) But the hyenas don't give up that easily. (yipping) (yipping) The leopard leaves the two of them to fight it out.

He senses something else tempting on the horizon. ♪ ♪ A female leopard offers to quench a different appetite. She is in heat and ready to mate.

♪ ♪ Leopards may generally prefer a solitary existence. (growling) But when the time comes to breed, they will stay together for up to six days. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (growling) They'll mate, wander, and mate again.

. . ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ .

. . copulating every 15 minutes.

(growling) Their wandering takes them near an impala herd. For once, the leopards are not interested in hunting. Their mating cries frighten the antelope.

They can hear their ancient enemy, but nothing is chasing them. The herd scatters, confused. Some run so close to the mating leopards that they trigger the predatory instinct.

Unable to resist, the lovers latch on to the same prey. Sharing dinner does not come easily to these loners. (growl) ♪ ♪ After one last show of strength, the male leopard allows the female to enjoy a portion of the kill.

. . sort of.

Only time will tell if the rest of their collaboration will be as fruitful. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Elsewhere on the savanna, another family is off to a successful start. ♪ ♪ This cheetah mother has given birth to a litter of healthy cubs.

Too small to crawl, they are entirely dependent on their mother. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She'll keep them hidden in her lair for up to eight weeks. Here, they have some protection from the savage nature of the savanna.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Not all babies have the luxury of a comfortable lair. This topi calf has to be on its feet minutes after its born. The topi mother hides all remains of the birth as quickly as she can.

Newborn calves are particularly vulnerable to predators. . .

predators like a mother cheetah. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She needs the energy this meal provides. Raising baby cheetahs to adulthood comes with many challenges.

NARRATOR: Lions are capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 miles an hour, and can take down prey as large as a giraffe. They are the savanna's top predator. However, there are times even lions may be subject to attack.

This pregnant lioness searches for a safe and secure den to give birth. Her newborn cubs will be born blind and defenseless. They'll be vulnerable to other predators who may see a chance to kill future competition.

♪ ♪ Fortunately, this lioness belongs to a pride whose territory contains many secure denning spots. She'll keep her newborn cubs hidden for six to eight weeks, protecting them from the threats outside. ♪ ♪ Secure denning spots aren't the only advantage to living in a pride.

Once the cubs are old enough to leave the den, they'll join the other pride cubs and their mothers in a group called a creche. For cubs, the creche provides plenty of playmates. (growling) (chattering) For mothers, the creche provides protection for the pride's young.

(growling) (yipping) ♪ ♪ The cubs feed from any of the pride's mothers. And the mothers defend any of the cubs against attack. (growling) (wildebeest lowing) (hyenas yipping) (hyenas yipping) And there's another advantage.

Mothers can leave their cubs behind when they need to make a kill. . .

. . .

ensuring the best hunters can continue to bring home the bacon. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hunting is a female lion's specialty. Her fur coat blends in with her surroundings, giving her an edge when stalking prey.

. . before she unleashes her power to take down the kill.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (lowing) (growling) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (calf cries) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (mewing) ♪ ♪ Not all lions have the good fortune to live in the comfort and security of a pride. At the edges of a pride's territory may live many individual lions who have not been so lucky. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Most are young males.

When male cubs reach sexual maturity, they must leave the pride of their birth. Their fathers begin to see them as competition and refuse to tolerate their presence. (hyenas chattering) These exiles hope to take over a pride and father offspring of their own.

To do so, they often kill lion cubs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ If lionesses already have cubs, they're unable to mate. Killing existing cubs brings the females back into heat.

Roaming males may kill a quarter of all lion cubs. To protect themselves against outside threats, lionesses instinctively respond viciously to any invading lion. .

. including other lion cubs. NARRATOR: While their mother was hunting, these two little cubs wandered off and accidentally crossed into another pride's territory.

(growling) Often, trespassing cubs are killed on sight. But these lionesses hesitate. (crying) They seem to sense something familiar.

(roaring) Nearby, the mother calls for her lost cubs. (roaring) (snorting) When food is scarce, surplus female lions may be forced out of a pride. They become nomads.

The bonds between mothers and exiled daughters disappear over time. But they aren't all gone yet. There's definitely something familiar about these cubs.

(crying) (snarling) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Meanwhile, the lost cubs' mother picks up their scent and follows the trail into terrible danger. (growling) The pride may have spared the cubs, but the mother's presence will not be tolerated. (growling) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (mewing) (growl) (mewing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (growling) ♪ ♪ The cubs are led away, lucky to have escaped their ordeal alive.

♪ ♪ Their good fortune continues. Their mother brings them to a fresh kill. As cubs grow, their curiosity and adventurous spirit grows with them.

In the shade of a tree, a leopard takes a break from the sun. Her two cubs explore excitedly. She has less energy.

Feeding two rambunctious cubs means she must kill more often. For now, she's happy to leave them to play with her leftovers, while she gets a bit of a break. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ During the rainy season, up to 50 inches of rain drench the African savanna.

♪ ♪ For this cheetah mom, the rain helped her sneak up on her prey. But while her hunt was successful, another challenge lies ahead. A passing herd of wildebeests have drawn the attention of lions.

Normally, the cheetah would simply disappear in the face of a more powerful enemy. But today the stakes are too high. Her cubs are hidden nearby.

If the lions find the cubs, they'll kill them. They have no tolerance for competitors. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The cheetah mother desperately tries to distract the lions.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Risking death, she buys precious time for her little ones to escape. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But she can't save them all. ♪ ♪ She has no time to mourn the loss.

She races to save the two she has left. Until they get away from the lion pride, they are all in danger. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NARRATOR: The forest offers a place for a cheetah mother to rest and keep a watchful eye over her two living cubs.

Their playful interactions seem oblivious to the dangers around them. (crying) At four months old, they are old enough to eat meat. As one of them attempts to nurse, mom makes it clear-- the time for milk is over.

From now on, they'll survive on an all-meat diet, which means she'll need to provide twice as much. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ As dawn rises, she attempts to do just that. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She caught an impala, and there's plenty to share.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (bark) She starts calling her cubs for breakfast. (bark) But they are nowhere to be seen. (barking) Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

♪ ♪ They may be hungry, but there's another powerful instinct at work. One goes straight for the throat, preparing for the day he's the one doing the killing. But as tempting as it is to practice, the cheetahs must eat quickly.

Vultures have already started circling. They'll tip off bigger predators. And they can't risk a face-off with another killer.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (chirping) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ As the dry season begins, predators must change their hunting strategies. No longer do herds gather in the plains. Now they gather at the water.

In the early dawn, three female lions approach a local watering hole. Two grown adults and one young one-- a novice. Hunting strategies must be taught to each member of a pride.

Today the novice will learn a new skill. The ambush. (call) Executing the perfect ambush requires perfecting one skill-- patience.

Two hours go by. (low growl) Then three. And then a sound.

(braying) Thirsty zebra. They stop to assess the risk before going further. If there is any sign of danger, they will flee.

Every hunter must keep completely still. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Finally, thirst beats fear. The lions must hold just a few more minutes to spring the trap.

(drinking) But then. . .

(fluttering) (growling and barking) the novice jumps the gun. . .

(barking) ♪ ♪ (barking) (barking) . . .

and blows the whole thing. But this wasn't a waste of time. It's training for the youngster, and therefore the entire pride.

As prey grows scarce, they need to learn new skills. And next time, they might make the kill. The lions aren't the only ones learning new skills.

♪ ♪ Two leopard cubs eagerly climb on a leftover carcass. ♪ ♪ Their noise attracts some unwanted attention. And there's not much time to escape.

While mom desperately tries to hide the carcass, the cubs make a run for it. ♪ ♪ NARRATOR: The leopard must make her next moves carefully. The lioness has caught the scent of the kill in the air.

But she's not quite sure where it is yet. . .

giving the leopards just seconds to melt into the forest. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Their camouflage keeps them invisible. They escape silently while the lioness can only wonder when she'll find her next meal.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Another lioness faces down a different kind of threat. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Exiled from her mother's pride, the lone mother represents a tempting target for these nomadic males. They are eager to mate.

And if they can kill her cubs, they may get their way. (growl) (growling) She knows the threat, even if her cubs don't seem to understand yet. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (growling) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (growling) ♪ ♪ The mother launches a ferocious defense.

(growling) (growling) She's outnumbered. (growling) While one distracts her, the other slips past. ♪ ♪ (snarling) ♪ ♪ (roaring) She's managed to convince them she's not interested.

But it comes at a cost. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ For cubs without the protection of a pride, death is common. ♪ ♪ Her last remaining cub may not live to see adulthood.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Life in a pride comes with its own costs. (mewing and low growling) The bigger the pride, the bigger the appetite. ♪ ♪ And as the migrating herds leave the savanna, the pride must face off.

. . against more dangerous prey.

(bellowing) Only the most powerful prides can hunt the mighty and dangerous buffalo. It weighs up to 1,500 pounds, providing enough meat to feed every member of the pride. .

. if they can survive the attempt. (growling) (grunting) These fierce animals kill more lions than any other prey species.

♪ ♪ A loner offers the best chance of success. But even a loner is no sure thing. (grunting) (grunting) (grunting) The lionesses work together to exhaust their prey.

(grunting) (bellowing) (grunting) (grunting) (grunting) But the final blow requires the power of one of the big males. (snarling and grunting) The bull takes several minutes to throttle. And for now, the pride may feast.

Tomorrow they will start again. And the queens will once again prove that this land is theirs to rule.