(BIRDS CHIRPING)
NARRATOR:
 In the middle of
Southern Africa,
 there's a vast uncharted
sea of golden grassland.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  Remote and wild,
it was once home to huge herds
 grazing the savannah.
 And predators lurking,
waiting to take their pick.
(BIRD SQUAWKING)
 But 30 years of civil war
 decimated the
abundant wildlife.
Now peace has returned to this
damaged yet beautiful Eden.
(ZEBRAS CALLING)
NARRATOR:  An extraordinary
band of conservationists
 is trying to restore
these grasslands
 to their former glory.
(LOW GROWL)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR:
 For over 100 years,
Zambia's Liuwa Plain
 was preserved by
the Lozi people
 as a royal hunting ground.
 Now a national park,
 it is one of the oldest
wildlife reserves in Africa.
 Its grasslands stretch for
over 1,400 square miles
 in the old kingdom of
Barotseland that straddles
the remote northwest frontier
of Zambia and Angola.
 Historically, lions were the
rulers of these plains.
 But not any more.
 Almost 30 years
of civil war
 in neighboring Angola
changed that.
 The effects of the war,
 which began after
independence in 1975,
 spilled over into Zambia,
 and Liuwa's lions
paid a high price.
 They were shot and their prey
killed for meat.
(GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  In the end, just one
solitary lioness survived.
 Liuwa's ecosystem
teetered on the edge.
(GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  Given time, nature
can usually heal itself.
 But replacing
the missing pieces
of the ecological jigsaw often
requires human intervention.
(ENGINE REVVING)
NARRATOR:
 Understanding what's going
on in an ecosystem this huge
 is the first challenge.
The solution is to concentrate
on the apex predators.
 In Liuwa, that now
means the hyena.
(HYENAS LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  Normally,
hyenas and lions
are mortal enemies,
 competing for prey.
But here the absence of lions
has allowed the hyenas
 to be the heavyweight
champions of hunting.
(HYENAS LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  If the food chain's
top carnivores are doing well,
 it normally means all
the animals are recovering.
 So the Zambian
Carnivore Program
 closely monitors
the apex predators
 to check on the health of
the whole ecosystem.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
NARRATOR:  It's 6:00 a.m.
A new day.
 The scientists' first task
is to find the predators.
 It requires a
head for heights.
 Large carnivores are elusive
 and range over thousands
of square miles
 so researchers track them
using radio collars.
(SENSOR BEEPING)
NARRATOR:  From the top of
the radio tower,
 it's possible to pick up
the signal from any collar
 within four miles.
For the last seven years, the
Zambian Carnivore Program
 has been studying hundreds
of individual predators
 and detailing their impact
on their prey,
 making this one of the most
comprehensive studies
of predation ever undertaken.
(WIND WHOOSHING)
NARRATOR:  Having got a rough
fix on a hyena
from the radio tower,
 senior researcher
Daan Smit heads out.
 This is a vast land
with no roads
 and few landmarks.
 It's parched and empty.
 There's a drought and
food is in short supply.
 Most of the great herds
of migratory prey
 are still way up north,
 where there is more
water and food.
 They will only come
south with the rains.
 Then, the rivers will
rise and flood the plains,
transforming Liuwa into a
green land of life and water.
 Following the wildlife
in the wet season
 becomes much more difficult
 so the scientists need
to gather as much data
now as possible.
 At ground level,
the range of Daan's receiver
 shrinks to one mile.
(BEEPING)
NARRATOR:
 Homing in on the target
takes trial and error.
(ENGINE REVVING)
NARRATOR:  Every day,
the scientists
seek out the predators.
 Daan takes pictures to
identify the hyenas
 and he records their
position and activity.
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
NARRATOR:  Liuwa's hyenas
are some of
the biggest in Africa.
 Having spent years in
the field with them,
 Daan thinks they're
misunderstood.
SMIT:  Some people
look at hyenas,
and...
Like they're the...
They still steal kills
and they...
They don't look pretty
like a lion or a cheetah.
Yeah, hyenas do have
a bad reputation
but I think
everybody who has...
Who has come to Liuwa
and has seen hyenas here,
you will...
Everybody will change their...
their opinion about hyenas.
NARRATOR:  While rarely
a threat to humans,
 hyenas are still
dangerous predators
 and shouldn't be approached,
except by experts.
 Daan knows that during
the heat of the day
 the hyenas aren't
in hunting mode.
 But later on, when
the sun goes down,
 it will be a
different story.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
NARRATOR:  In the cool
of the evening,
researcher Teddy Mukula
finds a small group of hyenas
emerging from the long grass.
He's been studying Liuwa's
hyenas for the last two years.
(HYENAS WHINING)
NARRATOR:  They look like
they're getting ready
to go hunting.
 Teddy will attempt
to stay with them.
 Hyenas are
much underrated.
(HYENA LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  Most people think
they're mainly scavengers.
 But they'd be wrong.
 The researchers have found
that Liuwa's hyenas
are highly efficient predators
 and the Zambian Carnivore
Program is working
to understand what impact this
has on the other animals here.
 Hyenas are so successful,
 they're the most common
large carnivores in Africa.
(HYENAS WHINING)
NARRATOR:  They have
complex societies
 based on status and
female dominance.
MUKULA: Hyenas have a great
social interaction.
You know,
they have just that
social interaction
that is really
unique from other
carnivores, and...
 Their hierarchy is very,
very highly respected.
 And, uh...
Everyone knows what
their place here...
They know what
they're supposed to do.
They know what they're
not supposed to do.
And they are just... They...
They look out for each
other very well, yeah.
NARRATOR:  And hyenas
are very inquisitive.
(ENGINE STARTING)
NARRATOR:  Luckily there
are better things to eat
than Teddy's tires.
 To understand a predator,
you have to see it hunt.
(THUNDERING)
NARRATOR:  But tracking hyenas
at night is a challenge.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
NARRATOR:
 The hyenas are stalking
a herd of wildebeest.
(THUNDER CRACKING)
NARRATOR:  An electrical storm,
a precursor to
the imminent rains,
 helps camouflage
their approach.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  Suddenly, the hyenas
give chase.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  Running at
35 miles per hour...
(INDISTINCT TALKING)
NARRATOR:
 It's impossible to keep up.
MUKULA:
Yeah.
MUKULA:
Yeah.
MUKULA:
Ah, (BLEEP).
NARRATOR:
 Teddy drives with one hand
 and tries to keep track of
the hyenas with the other.
 The hyenas target
adult wildebeest,
 often picking out
the old or the weak,
 and chasing them
to exhaustion.
(THUNDERING)
(HYENAS LAUGHING))
NARRATOR:  Success.
 The hyenas quickly pull the
wildebeest to the ground,
 devouring their prey
as fast as they can.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
NARRATOR:  With their
acute hearing, any hyenas
within five miles
 could hear the commotion
 and try to grab
a share of the kill.
 Observing hyena kills gives
a wealth of information
on what they eat,
 and how this affects
both clan and prey.
 By putting all this together,
Teddy's building up
a detailed picture of the
hyenas' role in the ecosystem.
(HYENAS LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  Whereas big cats
can leave up to 40%
of a carcass,
 hyenas eat their way
through skin and bone.
 In little over an hour,
 there will be virtually
nothing left.
(THUNDERING)
NARRATOR:
 With so much to do before
the rains finally arrive,
 keeping their bikes
going is essential.
 Teddy is teaching new
researcher Shadrach
 some field maintenance.
 In the middle of nowhere,
 you really don't
want to break down.
Yeah.
MUKULA:  We don't have
a mechanic to do this for us.
So what we do is,
we learn this ourselves.
We have to do this ourselves.
NARRATOR:
 The researchers spend
 long hours,
alone on their bikes
in the middle of the plains.
 Breakdowns can
attract attention
of the four-legged variety.
MUKULA:  The hyenas
are very inquisitive.
Very inquisitive and curious
at the same time.
 They can come as
close as possible.
They would want to
sniff your handlebars
while you're still
holding them.
And, uh...
Yeah, they've got teeth,
you just need to
be careful, yeah.
NARRATOR:
 The spare bikes
also need to be checked
because the team
is getting reinforcements.
SMIT:
So this year, we have
received probably...
NARRATOR:
 Jassiel M'soka is one
of the project's co-founders.
In 2009, he helped set up
the Liuwa Research Program.
 He's now a senior ecologist
 for the Zambian Department
of Parks and Wildlife
 based in Lusaka.
 But he returns to Liuwa
regularly to help out.
(INDISTINCT TALKING)
(ENGINE STARTING)
NARRATOR:  Jassiel heads
out onto the plains
to search for predators.
(VULTURES CAWING)
NARRATOR:  Circling vultures
lead the researchers
to a kill.
 A hyena is eating what's
left of a wildebeest.
 With almost no lions
to worry about,
 Liuwa's hyena numbers
are increasing.
 They're organized into
super clans up to 80 strong.
 This female is
from North Clan,
 one of five hyena
families in the study.
 She's a long way from
home, scavenging a kill.
M'SOKA:
This is a hyena that, uh,
we've known from before.
She's been in the study for
at least, uh, five years.
It's good to know that...
That it's still alive
and still in the study.
NARRATOR:  Jassiel knows
some of the hyenas so well,
 he can recognize them
by their markings.
 At about 150 pounds,
 this female is bigger
than the approaching male
 and she outranks him.
 The male will have to make
do with the leftovers.
(HYENAS LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  Jassiel and Shadrach
want to take a closer look
 at the remains of the kill.
 The hyenas here are wary
of people and back off.
 They collect samples
to gather data.
 There's not much left, but
teeth and hair samples
 will reveal the wildebeest's
age and condition.
 This carcass is
one of hundreds
 the researchers will study.
 Each provides clues to
the intricate dynamics
 of the ecosystem.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
 To be ranging so far into
another clan's territory,
 the North Clan
must be struggling.
 To find out why,
 Jassiel wants to take
a look at the clan's den.
 Hyenas rear their cubs
in underground dens.
 The area around
the den is communal
 and at twilight,
it's the centre
of the clan's social life.
 But the hunting adults of
the North Clan are out,
 still searching far
and wide for food.
 All the cubs can do
 is wait at the relative
safety of the den.
With the drought caused by
El Nino, this is a tough year.
 The researchers have
already discovered
 the drought's first victims.
 A neighboring den abandoned
with seven cubs dead inside.
 When times are tough,
 the mothers don't always
make it back to the den
 to feed their cubs.
 If the North Clan
adults don't return
in the next couple of days,
 these cubs will die.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
 The researchers head
back to camp
 to record the day's findings.
 It's 7:00 a.m.
 Project leader Matt Becker
is out surveying
 the grasslands'
eastern sector.
 Seven years ago,
Matt helped Jassiel
 set up the Carnivore
Research Program.
 He spots an old friend.
 She's Lady, the world famous
last lioness of Liuwa.
 Potentially as old as 16,
she's ancient for a lion
 but she's in remarkably
good shape.
 For nearly a decade,
 she lived all alone
on these vast plains.
(LIONS GROWLING)
NARRATOR:  Lions are the only
truly social cats.
 Lionesses typically
live together,
 raising cubs and
sharing kills.
 In the absence of
any other lions,
 Lady became so lonely
 that she started going
into the Liuwa field camp.
MATT BECKER:
 It was quite common to have
her come in to camp and just
 be hanging out at camp.
At a level that you wouldn't
typically be comfortable with
or, um, wouldn't
be wise for...
To have a lion
in that close a vicinity.
But she's just accustomed
to that. She, uh,
has never, um,
endangered anyone.
NARRATOR:  Out of respect,
the lioness became
known as Lady Liuwa.
You can't not find
her remarkable.
And, uh...
And that doesn't have
anything to do with
science or research
or conservation or anything.
It's just a remarkable animal.
NARRATOR:
 Liuwa is being protected
 and restored by the
African Parks Network.
 To cure Lady's loneliness,
in 2009,
 African Parks introduced
two males.
 But Lady failed to conceive
 so Matt's team worked
with African Parks
 to introduce a new lioness.
 They called her Sepo,
the local word for hope,
 as she'd hopefully kick-start
a new generation
 while learning from Lady.
 In 2013, in the thick
undergrowth by the camp,
 Sepo had three cubs.
 With Lady's help,
she safeguarded them
 from the hyenas and now
there's a glimmer of hope
 that lions might be
returning to the grasslands.
BECKER: Lady Liuwa's story
is... Is very emblematic
of the story
of Liuwa Plain in general.
Uh, something that, um...
Sort of renewal and recovery.
Uh, we now have in the
twilight years of her life
a, uh...
The first pride, um,
in over a decade in Liuwa.
And you can see them
interacting with her.
Even though they're not hers,
she is obviously the
matriarch of this pride.
She's a special lion,
and it's...
She really symbolizes what
Liuwa Plain is about.
NARRATOR:
 Being so few in number,
the new pride needs intensive
levels of care and monitoring.
 There's a problem.
 There are only three lions.
 Lady, Sepo and
one of the juveniles.
 Two youngsters are missing.
(ENGINE STARTING)
 They're not wearing
radio collars
 and they could be anywhere.
All the researchers will have
to keep their eyes peeled
 for the missing lions.
 Back at camp, Jassiel
heads out again
 to see if any hyenas
from the North Clan
 have returned to the den.
(ENGINE REVVING)
 Hyenas can easily range
30 miles a night
 looking for food.
If they made a kill, they
should have returned by dawn.
(ENGINE TURNS OFF)
NARRATOR:  The females
are back.
 At long last,
the cubs can suckle again.
 The cubs owe their survival
 to the richness of
their mother's milk.
 Hyena milk has some
of the highest levels
 of protein and fat of
any terrestrial mammal.
(CUBS WHINING)
NARRATOR:  Each female
only nurses her own cubs.
 This high-ranking female
 is one of the
leaders of the clan.
She gets the pick of the food
and produces richer milk.
 Her two cubs will grow
faster and bigger
 than the other cubs
in the clan.
 One day, they'll try to take
their turn to be the boss.
(HYENA WHINING)
NARRATOR:  Social interactions
teach the cubs
the clan's hierarchy.
(HYENAS WHINING)
NARRATOR:  Only high ranking
males and juveniles
 are allowed anywhere near.
(HYENA WHINING)
NARRATOR:  All other
lowly males have
to keep their distance.
 Jassiel photographs
each individual
 so the study can keep track
 of the changing fortunes
in the clan.
(ENGINE REVVING)
NARRATOR:  Back at base,
Jassiel reviews his data.
(CLICKING)
NARRATOR:  First, he needs
to identify the hyenas
from his photos.
Their spots are as individual
as a human fingerprint.
 But the study has over
300 hyenas in its database,
 so it requires
an eye for detail.
M'SOKA: This looks like
this could be the one.
Uh, this is Liuwa hyena 474.
Her nickname is "Bridget".
The sex says here
it's male, but...
It's got a female name,
and yet it's...
(LAUGHING)
A male.
So that tells you a lot
about sexing hyenas.
(HYENAS LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:  Females lead
hyena society,
 and it's very difficult
to tell the sexes apart.
 The females have
external genitalia
 that appears to be almost
identical to the males'.
 Hence the confusion.
(WHINING)
NARRATOR:  Having identified
his hyenas,
 Jassiel can update
the records.
 Thus the study builds up
a long-term picture
 of hyena survival,
reproduction,
 and their impact
on the ecosystem.
 The hyenas in
the study area
live in five competing clans.
 After two years in the field,
Daan is getting a picture of
the differences between them.
(REVVING ENGINE)
NARRATOR:  By using
the radio collars,
 and intensively watching
the same individuals,
 the researchers have
been able to see why
 the struggling North Clan
are having to range
 so far for food.
 The drought is drying up
 their already limited
access to water.
 And their prey
is staying away.
 The neighboring hyenas
are getting more powerful
 and they're squeezing the
North Clan's territory.
 Some of North Clan headed
east, two months ago.
 And they haven't returned.
 Three are wearing collars,
 but their signals
are out of range.
To keep track of the remaining
members of North Clan,
the scientists need to collar
another high ranking female.
(INDISTINCT TALKING)
NARRATOR:  Teddy finds their
target hyena cooling off.
 To collar this wild female,
they'll need to dart her.
 Daan gets the veterinarian
in position for a shot.
 Their target is the one
standing up.
 They circle the hyena first,
 so she gets used
to their presence.
(HYENA WHINING)
(SHOT FIRED)
NARRATOR:
 Bullseye.
The drug quickly takes effect.
 Project leader Matt
isn't far behind.
Copy that, we'll
hang back here.
Just let us
know when to come in.
(RADIO STATIC)
NARRATOR:  While working
on the sedated animal,
 there's little risk from
the rest of the clan.
 And there are no lions here.
 All attention is focused
on getting the job done
 as quickly, and with
as little discomfort
 to the animal as possible.
MAN: (FROM DISTANCE)
It's good but
just keep an eye on it.
NARRATOR:
 They cover the hyena's eyes
 to protect them from
dust and sunlight.
 Whilst unconscious,
carnivores can't control
 their own temperature well.
 So the team must
carefully monitor
 the hyena's vital signs
and keep her cool.
MUKULA:  It's, uh...
A very big moment
of uncertainty, because, uh...
 You... You are not
guaranteed of the outcome.
NARRATOR:
 Fitting the collar requires
a lot of careful adjustment.
 It must allow room for
the hyena to grow,
 but not be so loose that
it might get snagged.
MUKULA: Uh, thread.
NARRATOR:
 They take full advantage
 of the rare chance to check
on the hyena's health
 and gather more data.
 Analysis of the DNA
will tell them about
 interrelationships
in the clan.
 Height, length and teeth
help age the animal
 and provide a profile
of this member
 of the Liuwa population.
(SHUTTER CLICKING)
NARRATOR:  They secure
the collar.
(DEVICE BEEPING)
Just gonna back up,
just a little bit.
NARRATOR:  Dr Banda injects
the drug to revive the hyena.
And everyone quietly retreats
to allow her a calm recovery.
 Fifteen minutes later,
the hyena comes round.
 She's groggy, but she'll
sleep off any after-effects
before joining tonight's hunt.
BECKER: Everyone has a job,
everyone does it well,
and, uh,
the safety and
comfort of the animal
is of the utmost
importance, and so...
Um, that is about as smooth
as you could ask for.
BECKER:  Well done, guys.
That was a nice one.
(LAUGHING)
NARRATOR:
 For the next three years,
 the lifespan of the collar,
 the researchers will be able
to keep track of this hyena
 day and night.
 They'll follow the fortunes
of North Clan
and they'll get a better
picture of these hyenas' role
 in Liuwa's recovery.
 The female lopes off,
 unaware that her life
will now contribute
 to the annals of science.
 All the researchers have
their eyes peeled
 for Lady and Sepo's
two missing lion cubs.
 Teddy is searching the
southern part of the plain.
 He knows a spot where the
lions sometimes lay up.
 He finds a cheetah family.
 Their numbers also crashed
during the civil war.
 This mother is managing
to raise four cubs,
 a big litter for a cheetah.
 It's another sign that
the ecosystem is recovering.
 There's hyena here.
 But, so far, no young lions.
 For a man on a motorbike,
lions are dangerous.
 Teddy will never forget
the first time
 he was riding his bike,
and came across a lion.
MUKULA: When I come here in,
uh, November 2013,
I had run into a male.
And not knowing that
my fuel levels in the bike
were actually very low,
I stopped.
 Then the lion, you know,
became inquisitive.
And I was, like, literally
40, 50 meters away from him.
And I'm like, "Okay, now this
is the time to go."
And the moment I wanted
to start the bike,
and the bike couldn't start.
And I was like, "What?"
Eventually, I remembered and
I turned to the reserve tank.
Turned the knob to open up
the reserve tank.
And boom, there it was.
And I tell you,
my heart was like...
Oh, I was carrying it
in my hand.
(ENGINE REVVING)
NARRATOR:
 Teddy finds the thicket,
and his instincts prove right.
 But he doesn't want
to get too close.
 It's hard to tell
how many are in there.
 Eventually,
he's able to count five.
Papa Mike, Papa Mike
for Z City.
(RADIO STATIC)
MAN: (OVER WALKIE-TALKIE)
 Control, control, control.
(INDISTINCT TALKING)
(RADIO SPEECH)
MUKULA: The lions are back.
NARRATOR:  Lady and Sepo
are with all three juveniles.
 The pride is reunited.
(ENGINE REVVING)
 At base camp, the next
morning, the team assembles.
 They've got another
collar to deploy,
 but this involves
much higher stakes.
 It's Lady Liuwa's.
 Lady is a very old lion,
 so replacing her collar
will be a delicate operation.
BECKER: Because of her role
in the pride, we really need
to be able to find her
and follow her.
And make sure she
and the pride,
particularly as she ages,
and may not be as
adept of a hunter,
may potentially get into
some trouble with livestock.
We need to be able to...
To find, follow,
and hopefully,
avert any issues.
NARRATOR:  They find the lions
 sleeping off a kill.
 They're used to the vehicle
 and Matt's able to get
the veterinarian in close.
(SHOT FIRED)
NARRATOR:  It's an easy shot.
 Lady is the leader
of the pride.
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
NARRATOR:  So when
she lies down,
 her family initially
stays with her,
 which isn't ideal.
 As the vehicle
slowly approaches,
 the lions wander off.
 Matt parks the truck to
screen Lady and the team
 from the rest of the pride.
 They keep a close eye on
Lady's breathing
 and temperature.
 Lady's been limping,
 so they check her paws
for any signs of injury.
 Big pads dampen the sound
of a lion's approach.
 Long hooked claws grip
the fleeing prey
 and pull it to the ground.
DR BANDA: Hold that.
That's good.
Yes, that's good.
Okay, so I'll put
the bag here...
NARRATOR:
 Lions rely on powerful jaws
 to bite the throat
 and suffocate their victims.
 It's a cold morning
and it looks like rain.
 They have to keep Lady
warm and dry.
To support the basic shelter,
 a little improvisation
is needed.
 The vet doesn't want to
stress Lady's system
 by giving her any more drugs
 so they let the sedative
wear off naturally.
 Matt keeps a close eye
on Lady's recovery.
 The rest of the pride
becomes curious.
 They want to come closer,
 but they're unsure about
the plastic sheet.
(THUDDING)
(GROWLING)
NARRATOR:
 One cub builds up courage
 for a closer look.
The rubber foot on the camera
tripod is too tempting.
NARRATOR:  The commotion
wakes the old lady.
 She's not sure where she is.
 Matt won't leave her side
until she's fully recovered
and reunited with her family.
 Without the reversal drugs,
it could take hours.
 It stops raining and
the temperature rises.
 Matt gets a ringside seat
 as the pride re-joins Lady.
BECKER: You can see just
from the way they interact,
uh, Lady is a
very important member
of the pride, and, uh...
So it worked out as good as
anyone could have hoped.
I think when you look out,
and you see the pride,
um, despite all of
the issues, um,
it is a great feeling
that hopefully
lion recovery is
on the right track.
 If any lion could live a very
exceptionally long
 and rich life,
I think it would be Lady.
I just... I hope she has
many more years and
I know it's...
It's not forever but, uh...
It is hard to imagine
Liuwa without Lady.
(THUNDERING)
NARRATOR:  The long awaited
rains arrive.
(THUNDER CRACKING)
NARRATOR:  Quenched at last,
 Liuwa blooms into life.
 The plains throng
with wildebeest,
 zebra and their young.
 The study has found that
wildebeest numbers
 have nearly tripled.
 Liuwa is now home
 to the second largest
wildebeest migration
 in Africa.
 Carnivore heaven.
 For the coming months,
living will be easier
 for the North Clan hyenas.
(WHIMPERING)
NARRATOR:  In this time
of plenty,
 the cheetah family
will grow fat.
 With the years'
collaring finished,
 the scientists are now able
to follow all the action.
 Under their watchful eyes,
 one of the great success
stories in Africa
 will continue to unfold.
 The seasons change,
 the natural order
slowly restores,
 and Liuwa National Park
returns to its former glory.
♪♪
