1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,000 movie info: XVID 624x352 25.0fps 699.6 MB /SubEdit b.3945 (http://subedit.prv.pl)/ 2 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,280 Most of us would agree that a tiger is one of the world's most beautiful creatures. 3 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,640 Sadly, in the wild, it's threatened with extinction. 4 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:50,360 But, fortunately, it breeds very well in captivity, as this little cub proves. 5 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:55,880 But is a tiger in a cage truly a tiger? I doubt it. 6 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:01,240 To see the true essence and beauty of a tiger, you have to see it in the wild. 7 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,440 And that's what this remarkable film shows us. 8 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:12,360 (ANIMAL AND BIRD CALLS) 9 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,720 This is the story of a tigress in the heart of India 10 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,600 and the challenges she faces while trying to raise a family. 11 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,840 Even a tigress walks a tightrope between success and failure. 12 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,560 Our tigress lives in Kanha National Park, 13 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,440 in the forests of Kipling's "Jungle Book", 14 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,360 where dawn elephant patrols 15 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,120 ensure this is one of the safest places for tigers in the world. 16 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,320 Year after year, these forest guards - called mahouts - 17 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,240 have followed our tigress's success in defending this prime territory, 18 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:40,000 an area of meadows and jungle with a constant supply of crystal-clear water. 19 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,120 The chief mahout is called Bir Singh. 20 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,040 Born and raised in these forests, 21 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,440 he's guarded our tigress since he found her as a young cub in 1986. 22 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:04,760 And despite her elusive nature, 23 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,320 he's able to find her secret hideaways. 24 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:19,600 He's named her Lakshmi, after the Hindu goddess of fortune. 25 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,680 She's defended this territory for many years because it's the key to success, 26 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,600 providing abundant prey and a safe hiding place for little cubs. 27 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,960 Lakshmi's cubs are about nine weeks old. 28 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,120 She has successfully raised several litters in the past, 29 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:06,040 and at 12 years of age is quite old for the demanding life of a wild tigress. 30 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,000 Kittens of this age need regular supplies of mother's milk 31 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,760 and lots of tender, loving care. 32 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,280 Over the years, Lakshmi has proved herself a devoted mother, 33 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:34,840 successfully looking after her litters of two or three cubs 34 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:37,280 until raised to independence. 35 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,880 Lakshmi is always alert to danger, 36 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,240 and alarm calls warn that a predator is on the prowl. 37 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,360 The most dangerous predator of them all is a male tiger. 38 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:15,440 This male is probably the father of Lakshmi's cubs, so is not a threat. 39 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,160 Though he doesn't help raise the cubs, his defence of this territory is vital. 40 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,760 If he ever loses his status as king of this part of the jungle, 41 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,200 his conqueror may try to kill Lakshmi's cubs. 42 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:30,880 Every young one is precious, 43 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,200 so mahouts keep account of successes and failures. 44 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,360 Male tigers tend to be very secretive. 45 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,160 They certainly don't like being followed. 46 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,480 (ROARING) 47 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,800 Males fight for territory so they can mate with several females. 48 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,600 Females defend territory for the food they provide. 49 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,640 Lakshmi's fertile meadows attract large herds of chital, 50 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,320 her favourite prey. 51 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:40,040 Over the years, Lakshmi has hunted in every corner of her territory 52 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,840 and knows the lie of the land well. 53 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,440 But chital are alert and fast, 54 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:51,160 so she must get close to them if she is to be able to feed the cubs. 55 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,240 Despite her years of experience and formidable acceleration, 56 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,680 Lakshmi fails all too often. 57 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,160 But with hungry cubs to feed, she never gives up. 58 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,080 But langur monkeys are her curse, 59 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,440 for they're known as "the eyes of the forest". 60 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,680 Like all the animals at Kanha, langurs are at ease with the mahouts. 61 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:53,520 But not with tigers. 62 00:08:54,680 --> 00:08:58,720 Monkeys make Lakshmi's life difficult by warning deer of approaching danger. 63 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,360 Langurs actually attract deer by accidentally dropping food. 64 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,160 But if they choose to feed on the ground themselves, they're vulnerable. 65 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:24,720 0n her return to the cubs, she calls them from hiding 66 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,440 and, after her long absence, she comforts them. 67 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,880 Contact between mother and cubs transfers scent 68 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,840 and might help Lakshmi find them if they get lost. 69 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,560 Play is also important, and a dead langur makes a perfect toy. 70 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,040 The cubs are not yet old enough to eat meat, 71 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,800 but killing lessons can be fun. 72 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,320 The cubs are growing fast and need regular feeds, 73 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:21,720 so Lakshmi encourages them over for a drink. 74 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,800 Lakshmi has four teats, so there's no need for aggression at the milk bar. 75 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,080 But the cubs are a little careless with Mum's tender spots. 76 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,360 (SHE GROWLS) 77 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,280 Raising three cubs is demanding, 78 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,640 so Lakshmi's life is a relentless struggle 79 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,080 to patrol her territory, find prey and keep the family's hunger satisfied. 80 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:20,200 Her task is never-ending, but as the elephants have young of their own to feed, 81 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,320 midday is the time to end their patrol. 82 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,080 The mahouts live in the centre of the park. 83 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,560 Since 1930, when Kanha became a tiger reserve, 84 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,600 the village has been the park's headquarters. 85 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:57,960 The children are often taken into the forest. 86 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:02,840 Bir Singh's son hopes, one day, to become a mahout himself. 87 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,240 Living in the heart of prime tiger habitat, 88 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,520 these people respect and honour the big cats. 89 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,640 In fact, they look upon the tiger as the guardian of the forest. 90 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,120 The young elephants can enjoy a good feed from their mothers, 91 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:45,560 as they rest in the heat of the day. 92 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,440 Lakshmi has little time to rest. 93 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,160 Her cubs are growing and she must hunt more frequently. 94 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,640 If successful, she no longer takes the kill to the cubs, 95 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,440 but encourages them to start exploring her territory by leading them to the kills. 96 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,360 The cubs are about 14 weeks old now 97 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,680 and mature enough to tell that two are male and one female. 98 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:35,600 They're big enough to eat meat 99 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,320 and aggressive enough to defend their corner of the carcass. 100 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:51,880 (SNARLING) 101 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,280 The two brothers bully their sister so they get first bite. 102 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,280 And though Lakshmi allows the cubs to eat first, 103 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:04,000 she also applies the laws of the jungle if she wants a slice of the action. 104 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:25,080 (SHE GROWLS) 105 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,760 Lakshmi has proved her prowess as a mother many times. 106 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,280 Two of her daughters share part of her territory. 107 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:53,200 This daughter is known as the Churi female, after the valley she lives in. 108 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,280 These rare meetings are tense but amicable, 109 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,920 though Lakshmi's cubs are nervous about the stranger. 110 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:38,080 Once in a while, Lakshmi moves her cubs to where the deer haven't been alarmed. 111 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,920 Because there's plenty to share, Lakshmi can live alongside her daughters 112 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:44,360 in peaceful harmony. 113 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,800 Lakshmi finds hunting simpler now, 114 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,080 for it's the rutting season of the spotted deer. 115 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:15,920 (DEER BARKS) 116 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,200 (RETURNS CALL) 117 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,720 Rutting stags have mating on their minds 118 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:32,920 and are less alert to danger. 119 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:16,120 Lakshmi must avoid the thrashing antlers as she seeks the killing throat bite. 120 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,240 Then the stag must be dragged to where she's hidden the cubs. 121 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,480 She has to haul the stag to a shady place hidden from other tigers. 122 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,400 Then she can tell the cubs it's dinner time. 123 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:57,680 (LAKSHMI CALLS) 124 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,760 At four months old, the cubs' appetites are growing, 125 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:40,080 so Lakshmi provides much larger meals and always stays on guard when they're eating. 126 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:45,040 But she leaves it to the cubs to learn how to get through the tough wrapping. 127 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,360 The smaller female cub seems content to wait her turn, 128 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,120 leaving her brothers to make the breakthrough. 129 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,200 The family's progress is checked each day by the mahouts. 130 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,200 One advantage of Lakshmi's status as matriarch of the meadows 131 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,360 is that she has permanent water in her territory. 132 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:45,320 A place to cool off and play in the heat of midday. 133 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,480 Water is attractive to other animals at Kanha, too, 134 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:03,200 like the Indian wild dog. 135 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,040 Wild dogs are formidable predators and a real threat to the cubs, 136 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,000 so Lakshmi is taking no chances. 137 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,920 Just the sight of them makes the cubs nervous, instinctively sensing danger. 138 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:41,560 Wild dogs sometimes occur in packs of 40 or more. 139 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:46,000 Lakshmi would have trouble defending her family against a pack that size. 140 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,120 The dogs scour the forest for deer, which are their main prey, 141 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:56,280 and the chital know it. 142 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,360 The dogs' co-operative hunting creates confusion in the herd. 143 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:20,440 Once a victim is singled out, sharp teeth and powerful jaws will do the rest. 144 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,120 The dogs gorge as much as possible 145 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,840 before competition from scavengers becomes too intense. 146 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:11,240 Vultures gathering in the trees are a dead giveaway to other hungry eyes. 147 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,840 Reluctant to leave the cool of the pool, 148 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,200 Lakshmi decides she just has to investigate. 149 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,680 Even a tigress is not too proud to scavenge. 150 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,560 One or two wild dogs alone couldn't take on a tiger. 151 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,160 They have to retreat on her approach. 152 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,080 Given half a chance, Lakshmi would try to kill them. 153 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:07,480 (D0G HOWLS) 154 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:59,440 With the cubs already well fed, Lakshmi decides to keep the booty for herself. 155 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,000 There will be little left for the vultures waiting patiently above. 156 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:14,200 For weeks, the sun has been burning down from a cloudless sky. 157 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,400 Now it's the hottest time of the year. 158 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,800 With temperatures rising to more than 100 degrees in the shade, 159 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,040 life is uncomfortable. 160 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:34,440 Daily patrols continue, but the elephants struggle in the heat. 161 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,560 The grass has dried up and, driven by thirst, 162 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,000 the chital are forced to the shrinking waterholes - 163 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,000 normally dangerous places. 164 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,280 But sometimes it's too hot even for tigers. 165 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,280 (CRACK 0F THUNDER) 166 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,040 Relief is on the way. 167 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,640 It's mid-June and clouds are already gathering. 168 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:13,720 In only a matter of days, Kanha will be swamped by the monsoon. 169 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:20,080 (THUNDER ROLLS) 170 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,240 The rain creates problems for Lakshmi. 171 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,360 Not because she gets wet - her coat is too thick for that - 172 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:53,160 but because the deer become concentrated into enormous herds. 173 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:57,640 Many pairs of eyes make hunting more difficult. 174 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,160 The monsoon isn't continuous, 175 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,920 but comes in storms spread over three to four months. 176 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,120 The rains bring new life to Kanha. 177 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,760 Forest and grassland flourish, benefiting Lakshmi's prey. 178 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,880 The monsoon is not all good news for Lakshmi. 179 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:34,840 Rain washes away her territorial scent marks, 180 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:40,240 so she must expend extra energy patrolling and re-marking her boundaries. 181 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,000 The cubs are now six months old and bounding with energy. 182 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,840 But any parent knows this is also a mixed blessing. 183 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,560 Idyllic days of carefree childhood will one day come to an end. 184 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:11,680 But not yet, for the cubs still have months of fun to look forward to, 185 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:16,120 with Lakshmi caring for them until they are at least two years old. 186 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:22,120 Apart from the wild dogs, the only real threats that the family face 187 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,120 are human poaching and marauding male tigers. 188 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:32,680 Lakshmi can look to Kanha's park guards living in the village for protection from poachers. 189 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,360 But the mahouts can't interfere with an aggressive male 190 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,680 who wants to take over her territory. 191 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:42,320 So even tigers should be afraid of the dark. 192 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:12,480 With tigers at greater risk, teams of mahouts step up their dawn patrols. 193 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,480 And in such a large national park, they have a lot of ground to cover. 194 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:49,400 The mahouts sweep through the forest looking for any signs of poachers and tigers. 195 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,320 The muddy conditions make finding their footprints more likely. 196 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:08,560 Bir Singh is the first to find a tiger, a male, and he's been in a fight. 197 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,400 Wounds on the head and mouth suggest the fight was fierce. 198 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,080 He may be trying to take over the territory 199 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,760 from the father of Lakshmi's cubs. 200 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,800 (BIR SINGH TALKS ON RADIO) 201 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:32,360 Bir Singh is worried that Lakshmi might have been injured in the fight. His fears are realised. 202 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:34,760 Lakshmi walks awkwardly, 203 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:39,920 and the deep wound in her side was no doubt inflicted while defending her cubs. 204 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:42,720 But where are they? 205 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,360 A long search round the territory finds them again. 206 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,880 All are unhurt and in playful mood. 207 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,600 They're about seven months old now. 208 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,960 The female cub still gets bullied by her big brothers. 209 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,680 Despite her injuries, Lakshmi's devotion to her cubs is undiminished 210 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,840 and she remains on guard nearby. 211 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,600 So long as she's able to lick the wounds clean, 212 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:39,960 she should recover to full health. 213 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:44,520 But the cubs are having too much fun to notice her pain. 214 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:06,680 Though just playful contests, 215 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:14,000 the injuries to their mother show just how valuable these lessons might prove in later life. 216 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,480 With the cubs in danger from the new male, 217 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:36,080 Lakshmi takes them away from their usual territory. 218 00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:41,280 No doubt her years of experience lead her to believe he will not follow them 219 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,000 into the hills around the meadow. 220 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,880 If he does, the dense cover will hopefully provide protection. 221 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,840 For the young cubs it's a different world, 222 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:54,760 full of mystery and new adventures. 223 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:22,600 Weeks later, the family are all still alive, the cubs fit and fat. 224 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:27,080 But Lakshmi still seems to be in pain and is less tolerant. 225 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,840 With Lakshmi injured and a dangerous male around, 226 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:02,280 the family vanishes into the safety of the bamboo thickets. 227 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:06,680 Lakshmi has never stayed away from her home patch for so long. 228 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,320 The mahouts are concerned, and with good cause, 229 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:15,920 for they find the most dramatic evidence that a new male is trying to take over. 230 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:25,920 This huge male has been killed in a fight. 231 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:29,720 He was almost certainly the father of Lakshmi's cubs. 232 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:35,640 A magnificent tiger and in his prime, about eight years old and ten feet long. 233 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:38,680 It must have been a violent battle. 234 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:43,800 There are several wounds over the body and one of its canine teeth has been ripped out. 235 00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:48,480 The mahouts intensify their efforts to find Lakshmi and the cubs. 236 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,280 What they find is very disturbing. 237 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:14,600 This cub is only a few weeks old, so not one of Lakshmi's. 238 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:29,400 Tracks around the body prove it's been killed by a large male tiger. 239 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:43,600 The cub's mother has stayed close by and is very distressed. 240 00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:53,280 She's one of Lakshmi's neighbours, and with such an aggressive male in the area, 241 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:55,960 Lakshmi and the cubs are in grave danger. 242 00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,640 But when the mahouts find their tracks nearby, they are hopeful. 243 00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:28,080 Bir Singh finds an even fresher pugmark and his hopes rise again. 244 00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:31,560 But there is what he dreaded finding most. 245 00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:41,440 Lakshmi has been in another fight and has even worse injuries than before. 246 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,200 Bir Singh counts eight deep wounds. 247 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:49,920 The battle to defend her cubs must have been horribly fierce. 248 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:01,440 Unable to hunt and provide for the cubs, 249 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:05,240 she limps off unsteadily into the forest. 250 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:11,120 Bir Singh decides to leave her in peace. 251 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:14,560 He never sees her again. 252 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:22,560 Her fight was not in vain. 253 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:25,960 The three cubs are still alive but hungry. 254 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:29,120 They still hope their mother will bring food. 255 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,480 Every rustle is a noise of hope. 256 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:39,280 At only a year old, their experience of hunting is limited. 257 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:44,280 But driven by hunger, they try to imitate their mother's stalking as best they can. 258 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:47,280 Perhaps instinct will do the rest. 259 00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:36,480 It becomes clear that the female cub has learnt more about the basics of stalking 260 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:38,560 than her brothers. 261 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:02,080 When hunger gets the better of the boys, they break cover too soon 262 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:05,240 and a vital chance of a meal is lost. 263 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:13,880 Failure follows failure. Eventually, the cubs' tracks lead up into the hills. 264 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:16,880 No doubt they're looking for their mother. 265 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:21,040 The mahouts follow, but lose the cubs in the broken terrain, 266 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:24,000 and days of frantic searching follow. 267 00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:48,760 Weeks later, there are still no signs of Lakshmi and the cubs. 268 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:51,560 The mahouts, hot and tired, 269 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:55,520 debate where they have looked and where else they might search. 270 00:42:56,280 --> 00:43:00,720 It's a depressing discussion, for they feel they have looked everywhere. 271 00:43:17,440 --> 00:43:20,320 With hope almost lost, they get a lucky break. 272 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:24,720 An alarm-calling monkey indicates a predator. 273 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:27,680 They waste no time in starting a new search. 274 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:31,120 The monkey's calls should lead them to the spot. 275 00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:36,280 There, after weeks of searching, is one of Lakshmi's cubs. 276 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:46,640 Bir Singh recognises her immediately. 277 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:51,880 The spotty face-markings confirm it's the female cub. 278 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:56,200 The mahouts are so relieved to find one cub alive and well, 279 00:43:56,680 --> 00:44:01,240 they name her Sundari, meaning, in Hindi, "Beautiful girl". 280 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:11,520 There's no sign of her mother or two brothers, 281 00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:14,680 and the mahouts wonder how she's survived without them. 282 00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:22,000 Scavenging could be the answer. She's sitting near a leopard that has just caught a stag. 283 00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:26,480 Tigers and leopards are deadly competitors, 284 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:28,840 with the tiger usually the winner. 285 00:44:29,560 --> 00:44:32,640 But this tiger is a little female cub 286 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:36,080 and the leopard a large adult male. 287 00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:38,120 This could be dangerous. 288 00:44:57,240 --> 00:44:59,160 Sundari is in two minds. 289 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:03,640 She's hungry, but the leopard is guarding its kill. 290 00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:12,320 Racked with indecision and irritated by the langurs, 291 00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:14,720 she tries to chase them off. 292 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:27,640 But she needs one or two climbing lessons from the leopard. 293 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,960 Sundari decides to leave the leopard to its meal 294 00:45:46,640 --> 00:45:49,360 and heads back to the meadows where she was born. 295 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:54,560 She seems to walk aimlessly, 296 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:00,120 but ends up in the territory of Lakshmi's oldest daughter, the Churi female, 297 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,200 a half-sister to Sundari. 298 00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:05,880 But danger is close by. 299 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:11,600 This family contains two huge male cubs of two years old, 300 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:14,880 and confrontations such as this can be violent. 301 00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:24,280 But Sundari is naive, or is she driven by loneliness, 302 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:26,760 missing the companionship of her family? 303 00:46:28,240 --> 00:46:30,360 The Churi female comes to investigate. 304 00:46:31,120 --> 00:46:33,200 She doesn't know who the stranger is. 305 00:46:34,280 --> 00:46:37,000 It's unusual for tigers to approach each other. 306 00:46:37,040 --> 00:46:39,680 They're loners and try to avoid contact, 307 00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:44,080 so Sundari is being provocative and is in danger. 308 00:46:49,400 --> 00:46:50,800 (SHE SNARLS) 309 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:54,960 But she's still very young and in need of company. 310 00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:58,560 The outcome is in the balance. 311 00:47:00,160 --> 00:47:01,800 (SNARLING) 312 00:47:03,240 --> 00:47:08,480 The Churi female is aggressive, but Sundari has the nerve to nose in even closer. 313 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:12,680 (GROWLING) 314 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:16,040 (AGGRESSIVE SNARLING) 315 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:21,800 Sundari decides to tough it out. 316 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:26,720 And in the weeks that follow, the Churi family accepts her. 317 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:32,440 She is a survivor in the hazardous world of the tiger, 318 00:47:33,240 --> 00:47:37,200 and, in years to come, maybe she will raise as many cubs as Lakshmi. 319 00:47:38,760 --> 00:47:41,760 Her mother and two brothers have not been seen again. 320 00:47:42,360 --> 00:47:44,640 The mahouts don't know if they're still alive. 321 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:50,360 But at least Lakshmi's daughters are out there in the meadows, raising cubs of their own. 322 00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:53,480 And the search for Lakshmi continues. 323 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:03,720 With careful protection, there's hope that Lakshmi and her cubs 324 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:06,720 and all future generations of tigers 325 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:12,240 will be safe to live out their exciting and sometimes dangerous lives. 326 00:48:14,800 --> 00:48:18,880 And with unique places such as Kanha providing secure havens, 327 00:48:19,720 --> 00:48:22,400 there is still hope that these wonderful cats 328 00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:26,240 will survive in the wild for ever. 329 00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:07,680 We have just been told that ten months after their disappearance, 330 00:49:08,160 --> 00:49:13,240 Lakshmi and her cubs have been found alive and well.