African Cats

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Every day in the heart of Africa,

amazing true stories happen

that no one ever sees.

Not so long ago on these plains,

two mothers battled forces

that sought to destroy them.

Only by showing extraordinary courage

would these mothers prevail.

A mighty river divides this land.

It marks the boundary

between two rival families of lions.

To the south lives the River Pride,

six lionesses and their cubs.

They're a close-knit family,

and rely on each other for comfort

and protection.

Layla is the oldest

and most experienced lioness.

She has just one cub,

six-month-old Mara.

Layla's age is starting to show.

A lifetime of hunting has taken its toll.

The cubs are fed and raised

by the lionesses,

but they are protected

by the pride's ruler,

Fang.

His broken tooth is a war wound

from a recent battle,

and a mark of his bravery.

He is the father of all of the cubs

and their defender.

To Mara, he's the best dad ever.

Fang keeps Mara and her mother safe,

and guards their pride lands,

rich lands that every year

host a great migration

a million strong.

Fang lets all other lions know that

he alone rules the southern kingdom.

North of the river

lives a very different cat,

the fastest creature on land,

a cheetah.

Sita's life is different from a lion's

in every way,

because she lives alone.

Sita has a secret.

Not long ago, she gave birth

in this grassy den to five cubs.

They are still blind, helpless

and totally reliant on their mother.

Sita is a single mother,

and with no pride to help her,

she must leave her cubs all alone

when she hunts.

Cheetahs may be the fastest animals

on land,

but hunting still isn't easy.

The Thomson's gazelles she favors

are almost as fast and very agile.

Sita is built for speed,

but has no staying power.

To have any chance,

she must sneak as close as possible.

Under 30 seconds before exhaustion.

It's now or never.

Success.

Sita's cubs will not go hungry today.

The river is a great bringer of life

to this wilderness,

but it can also be a deadly foe.

The surging rapids can carry

even the strongest lion to his death.

This is where dragons dwell.

The River Pride feeds on a dead hippo

washed up on the river's bank.

Crocodiles don't fear

the rulers of the land,

with one exception.

Fang.

Today, the pride's protector

has earned his keep.

A crocodile-infested river

does have one benefit.

It protects the pride from invasion

from the north.

The northern kingdom is ruled

by Fang's greatest enemy,

Kali.

And Kali is not alone.

He has four sons in their prime.

Together, they form

the most powerful force in this land,

one set on conquest.

Kali already rules the lionesses

of the north,

but he is not content with that.

He and his sons are driven

to expand their realm to the south.

lf he overthrows Fang,

he will kill Mara

and have new cubs of his own.

Kali is little Mara's greatest danger.

For now, the river is high,

a barrier that Kali will not cross.

But eventually, its waters will fall.

For Sita's five cubs,

living in their snug little home

seems like paradise.

The cubs are now old enough

For their first trip.

The gazelle herds have moved on,

and the family needs to catch up.

Sita quickly discovers

that herding cats isn't easy.

For Sita, it's time to cross

the open plains to find them food.

For the cubs, it's a huge adventure.

What an amazing first adventure.

Massive herds

still cross Fang's southern kingdom,

so food is plentiful for the River Pride.

Layla may be old, but she is

the most experienced hunter.

She knows the best place

to stage an ambush.

The lionesses hunt as a team.

With Layla leading,

they slowly begin to close the trap.

Despite her aging body,

Layla is determined to help the pride.

Hunting is always dangerous.

Layla and her sisters must eat quickly

if they are to get

the reward they deserve.

Fang, the protector,

demands the lion's share.

For Layla, the hunt is a disaster.

A zebra's kick has injured her further.

Staying fit is critical for a lioness.

The pride cannot carry a female

who is too weak to hunt.

Something's wrong.

Kali and his sons are on patrol.

Lions are Sita's greatest enemy.

A male is more than five times her size.

As a single cheetah, she would flee.

But with dependent cubs,

she must hold her ground.

She is totally focused on Kali.

Incredibly, she's goading him.

It seems insane, but it's a trick.

She's drawing him away from her cubs.

Kali tires.

It worked.

His son, however, is more determined.

Sita is risking everything.

Her speed has won the day, for now.

Her terrified cubs

are scattered and lost, in danger

until they're back with their mother.

Time is not on their side.

The dark will cloak other predators.

It's a mother's worst nightmare.

Hyenas have taken two of her cubs.

They're gone forever.

The season is changing

and the pride lands are drying.

The great herds are moving on

in search of greener pastures.

They may be gone for a year or more.

With the herds gone,

the River Pride will struggle

to find food.

Layla is exhausted by her injuries.

Mara tries to comfort her mother,

but there is little she can do.

With the herds moving on,

the pride must follow.

Layla cannot go on.

She needs rest so her body can heal.

Mara faces a terrible choice,

stay with her mother

or follow the pride.

Layla calls to the pride and to Mara,

begging them to wait for her.

But the pride must leave

in search of food.

They cannot jeopardize themselves

and the other cubs.

The pride moves

further and further away.

Layla forces herself to try and follow.

Mara stays with Layla,

but is in danger now.

Mother and daughter

have lost the protection of the pride.

Layla must find the strength

to catch up,

For the sake of her daughter.

Sita's cubs are growing in leaps

and bounds.

In their minds,

they're the fiercest hunters in the land.

Enemies approach.

Three cheetah brothers.

They may be fellow cheetahs,

but these brothers can be dangerous

for Sita's cubs.

They are the one foe

she cannot outrun.

The brothers back down,

but they have separated Sita

from her young.

Male cheetahs

will sometimes attack small cubs.

Incredibly, the cubs hold their ground.

They have their mother's spirit.

In this land, even bullies get bullied.

The lionesses are tired

After their long journey.

But cubs will be cubs

and siesta time is soon over.

New playmates are always welcome.

Luckily, he can't get the lid off.

Layla and Mara have braved

the long journey and finally caught up.

But their timing couldn't be worse.

The river has fallen.

The pride's protective moat has gone.

Kali sees his chance

to invade the southern kingdom.

Kali and his largest son cross

the crocodile-infested waters.

Fang senses the danger.

Sounding strong might deter an attack.

But Kali is not fooled.

Fang sees it's two against one.

His chances are slim.

Kali attacks.

Fang has no answer.

Kali's son threatens, too.

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