1
00:00:01,070 --> 00:00:03,244
Viewers like you make
this program possible.

2
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000
Downloaded from
YTS.MX

3
00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,350
Support your local PBS station.

4
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000
Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

5
00:00:12,943 --> 00:00:17,120
In Zambia's Luangwa Valley...

6
00:00:17,155 --> 00:00:20,020
a future king was born.

7
00:00:21,435 --> 00:00:26,198
From season, to season...

8
00:00:26,233 --> 00:00:31,169
one year, to the next...

9
00:00:31,203 --> 00:00:35,932
he embarked on a journey
towards greatness.

10
00:00:38,866 --> 00:00:43,940
He already had the attitude
and behaved like royalty.

11
00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:55,055
Gradually he became fearless.

12
00:00:57,643 --> 00:01:01,578
Becoming stronger with each fight...

13
00:01:01,613 --> 00:01:04,374
more confident with each journey.

14
00:01:07,205 --> 00:01:11,519
He was a formidable contender
to the throne.

15
00:01:41,618 --> 00:01:47,072
From waters shrouded
in mystery, comes a story

16
00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:49,178
of an African leviathan.

17
00:01:51,663 --> 00:01:55,494
Every movement prehistoric...

18
00:01:55,529 --> 00:01:59,119
every contour otherworldly...

19
00:02:00,948 --> 00:02:04,986
...slowly rising
from the deep...

20
00:02:08,404 --> 00:02:11,959
...an old hippo bull.

21
00:02:11,993 --> 00:02:15,997
The years have taken their toll.

22
00:02:16,032 --> 00:02:21,382
His tired, cloudy eyes reflect
a brutal life hard-lived.

23
00:02:23,557 --> 00:02:25,075
He has seen it all.

24
00:02:28,355 --> 00:02:30,978
His maze of scars...

25
00:02:31,012 --> 00:02:35,500
skin-deep memories from ancient battles.

26
00:02:35,534 --> 00:02:38,192
But in his prime...

27
00:02:38,227 --> 00:02:43,611
this once-invincible bull
chose a path of war.

28
00:03:00,145 --> 00:03:05,046
This is the remarkable story
of his journey...

29
00:03:05,081 --> 00:03:10,914
that led to the ultimate battle
that crowned him king.

30
00:03:19,026 --> 00:03:24,065
A long, long time ago,
in Zambia's Luangwa Valley...

31
00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:26,585
where a mighty river is home

32
00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:32,384
to one of the largest
hippo populations in the world,

33
00:03:32,419 --> 00:03:35,284
the dry season had just begun.

34
00:03:39,633 --> 00:03:44,500
In the blistering heat, a hippo
pod was basking in the sun,

35
00:03:44,534 --> 00:03:49,298
and one female had separated
herself from the others.

36
00:03:53,509 --> 00:03:57,409
It was the day a future king was born.

37
00:04:00,274 --> 00:04:03,450
He took his first glimpse
of the outside world.

38
00:04:06,315 --> 00:04:10,836
The little newcomer drew
unwanted attention.

39
00:04:18,672 --> 00:04:21,433
His mother was well aware of the danger.

40
00:04:21,468 --> 00:04:23,987
She kept her calf close.

41
00:04:31,995 --> 00:04:34,791
But the crocodiles weren't
her only concern.

42
00:04:38,347 --> 00:04:41,488
A lion, in search of prey.

43
00:04:46,458 --> 00:04:51,325
Her calf, a perfect target.

44
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,018
And this young male
was heading straight for them.

45
00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:10,068
But something made him hesitate.

46
00:05:10,102 --> 00:05:13,278
The river belonged to another predator.

47
00:05:25,739 --> 00:05:29,190
It gave her time to hide the calf.

48
00:05:29,225 --> 00:05:31,538
But the lion braved the waters.

49
00:05:33,747 --> 00:05:36,405
While focused on finding the calf,

50
00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:39,511
the lion was facing a protective mother.

51
00:05:59,842 --> 00:06:03,121
His courageous mother saved his life.

52
00:06:15,651 --> 00:06:18,343
In those first few weeks,

53
00:06:18,378 --> 00:06:21,760
his mother kept him separate
from the main pod.

54
00:06:24,073 --> 00:06:26,938
This precious time together was essential

55
00:06:26,972 --> 00:06:29,078
in strengthening their bond.

56
00:06:35,567 --> 00:06:39,053
Recognizing his mother
once they joined the pod

57
00:06:39,088 --> 00:06:42,367
would be crucial for his safety.

58
00:06:42,402 --> 00:06:45,612
He would rely on her protection
for years to come.

59
00:06:47,890 --> 00:06:52,101
And then the big day arrived.

60
00:06:52,135 --> 00:06:55,207
His mother led him to the main pod.

61
00:07:00,454 --> 00:07:03,146
He was ready to join his family.

62
00:07:11,016 --> 00:07:15,400
Becoming part of the main pod
seemed to be a safe move

63
00:07:15,435 --> 00:07:17,160
with all-'round protection.

64
00:07:20,370 --> 00:07:23,270
But amongst these 3-ton giants,

65
00:07:23,304 --> 00:07:26,480
the calf was all the more vulnerable.

66
00:07:31,934 --> 00:07:36,456
Explosions of aggression
are common amongst hippos.

67
00:07:49,883 --> 00:07:53,473
But ironically, it was his father

68
00:07:53,507 --> 00:07:55,889
that was by far the biggest threat.

69
00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:08,695
When he went into battle with an opponent,

70
00:08:08,729 --> 00:08:12,146
razor-sharp tusks clashing,

71
00:08:12,181 --> 00:08:16,944
their brute force would
crush anything in their way.

72
00:08:28,404 --> 00:08:32,408
Calves often fall victim
to these brutal fights.

73
00:08:34,893 --> 00:08:40,347
Thankfully his mother
was protective and caring.

74
00:08:40,381 --> 00:08:43,315
But with the river shrinking
and the pod growing,

75
00:08:43,350 --> 00:08:46,146
tension would only rise,

76
00:08:46,180 --> 00:08:51,979
so becoming part of a crèche
provided a safe space.

77
00:08:52,014 --> 00:08:54,292
The youngsters stayed close together,

78
00:08:54,326 --> 00:08:58,572
surrounded by a few protective mothers.

79
00:08:58,607 --> 00:09:01,989
They spent their days basking in the sun,

80
00:09:02,024 --> 00:09:05,993
with not a care in the world.

81
00:09:06,028 --> 00:09:09,410
And that's when he got to meet
his new friends.

82
00:09:11,896 --> 00:09:13,380
The oxpeckers.

83
00:09:17,487 --> 00:09:20,214
Little birds that removed parasites

84
00:09:20,249 --> 00:09:23,735
and cleaned the hippos' wounds.

85
00:09:23,770 --> 00:09:26,013
But they often made things worse.

86
00:09:28,188 --> 00:09:30,570
To many, they became a nuisance.

87
00:09:32,917 --> 00:09:36,437
Every fresh wound was a reason for battle.

88
00:09:36,472 --> 00:09:37,887
They were out for blood.

89
00:09:45,308 --> 00:09:48,242
Getting rid of them
was mission impossible.

90
00:09:57,631 --> 00:09:59,978
Submerging was the only way.

91
00:10:03,913 --> 00:10:06,847
And when the river became too low,

92
00:10:06,882 --> 00:10:09,609
water cannons were brought to bear.

93
00:10:18,652 --> 00:10:22,173
An effective way to send a bird packing,

94
00:10:22,207 --> 00:10:24,002
but they would always return.

95
00:10:27,074 --> 00:10:30,837
Oxpeckers would be
his lifelong companions.

96
00:10:34,634 --> 00:10:37,119
As this dry season progressed,

97
00:10:37,153 --> 00:10:41,123
carmine bee-eaters made their entrance.

98
00:10:41,157 --> 00:10:45,334
With the river now low enough,
they were able to start nesting.

99
00:10:59,624 --> 00:11:02,627
While the birds added a splash
of much-needed color

100
00:11:02,662 --> 00:11:04,836
to the advancing drought,

101
00:11:04,871 --> 00:11:07,736
the calf grew into
a more confident youngster.

102
00:11:11,084 --> 00:11:13,638
He would stand his ground...

103
00:11:13,673 --> 00:11:17,849
and took on his first battles.

104
00:11:17,884 --> 00:11:19,886
He was learning to be bold.

105
00:11:22,958 --> 00:11:26,099
Sparring sessions prepared him
for the fights

106
00:11:26,133 --> 00:11:28,722
that were to come later in life.

107
00:11:34,659 --> 00:11:36,730
And he would lean on his mother

108
00:11:36,765 --> 00:11:40,665
to reach greater heights.

109
00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:43,081
Heights he could still only dream of.

110
00:11:52,504 --> 00:11:56,957
He already had the attitude
and behaved like royalty.

111
00:11:59,857 --> 00:12:03,067
Until the true king of beasts arrived.

112
00:12:05,517 --> 00:12:08,175
Being surrounded by lions

113
00:12:08,210 --> 00:12:10,868
quickly brought him back to reality.

114
00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:19,497
His attitude faded as fear took hold.

115
00:12:24,951 --> 00:12:28,264
The river was their haven.

116
00:12:28,299 --> 00:12:30,370
But the lioness could swim, too.

117
00:12:32,821 --> 00:12:36,514
A calf his size is easy prey for a lion.

118
00:12:38,896 --> 00:12:43,417
The big cat was surrounded by hippos.

119
00:12:48,181 --> 00:12:51,149
Her snarls were intimidating.

120
00:12:51,184 --> 00:12:56,085
But an adult hippo could easily kill her.

121
00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,433
In this river, she was just as vulnerable

122
00:12:59,468 --> 00:13:03,299
as he was on land.

123
00:13:03,334 --> 00:13:08,995
The lioness made a daring move,
so close to the hippos.

124
00:13:09,029 --> 00:13:11,825
her pride intently watching.

125
00:13:19,453 --> 00:13:22,111
She might have made it past the hippos,

126
00:13:22,146 --> 00:13:24,769
but crocodiles still lurked below.

127
00:13:28,186 --> 00:13:30,188
From the safety of the pod,

128
00:13:30,223 --> 00:13:33,019
the calf watched the saga unfold.

129
00:13:41,441 --> 00:13:45,065
The lioness was fortunate
to make it across alive.

130
00:13:50,968 --> 00:13:54,005
As the Luangwa River kept shrinking,

131
00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,974
more and more hippos congregated...

132
00:13:57,008 --> 00:13:59,735
and fought over every inch of space.

133
00:14:02,772 --> 00:14:06,673
The cruel reality of the drought hit hard.

134
00:14:06,707 --> 00:14:08,537
A feast had begun.

135
00:14:12,782 --> 00:14:15,302
Dead hippos attracted attention.

136
00:14:18,029 --> 00:14:20,238
It was the calf's first time

137
00:14:20,273 --> 00:14:23,414
to experience the dark side
of the dry season.

138
00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:32,078
When the hippos suffered,
the crocodiles thrived.

139
00:14:41,846 --> 00:14:43,952
With the river at its lowest,

140
00:14:43,986 --> 00:14:47,921
the hippos desperately searched
for food and space.

141
00:15:04,489 --> 00:15:08,942
The first blissful rain finally arrived.

142
00:15:08,977 --> 00:15:13,119
It brought relief to everyone in the pod.

143
00:15:13,153 --> 00:15:16,053
A moment to relax.

144
00:15:16,087 --> 00:15:20,195
Even the calf's father dropped his guard.

145
00:15:20,229 --> 00:15:24,095
A moment a challenger
had been waiting for.

146
00:15:39,386 --> 00:15:42,527
His father had to defend his throne.

147
00:15:42,562 --> 00:15:45,185
There could only be one dominant bull.

148
00:16:18,425 --> 00:16:21,428
It was an equal match.

149
00:16:21,463 --> 00:16:24,845
A fight like this ended in stalemate.

150
00:16:31,611 --> 00:16:35,546
His father did some serious
damage to his opponent,

151
00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:40,620
but the bull himself was nearing
the end of his reign.

152
00:16:51,251 --> 00:16:54,392
The season had turned.

153
00:16:54,427 --> 00:17:00,536
The Luangwa Valley transformed
into an emerald green paradise.

154
00:17:22,834 --> 00:17:26,010
The calf had made it
through his first dry season,

155
00:17:26,045 --> 00:17:30,118
and was now thriving,
with plenty of grass and space.

156
00:17:33,121 --> 00:17:37,677
Making it this far
was a significant victory.

157
00:17:37,711 --> 00:17:41,094
Many hippo calves don't survive
their first few months.

158
00:17:41,129 --> 00:17:44,891
For him, the future seemed promising.

159
00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:53,072
Throughout the different seasons,

160
00:17:53,106 --> 00:17:55,971
the calf remained close to his mother

161
00:17:56,005 --> 00:17:58,767
and was mostly by her side.

162
00:18:08,017 --> 00:18:10,503
Every time the rains returned,

163
00:18:10,537 --> 00:18:12,884
it meant the end of hardship.

164
00:18:17,820 --> 00:18:19,719
The cycle of the seasons

165
00:18:19,753 --> 00:18:22,170
saw him grow ever bigger.

166
00:18:36,391 --> 00:18:38,807
These periods of prosperity

167
00:18:38,841 --> 00:18:41,465
made the youngster more independent,

168
00:18:41,499 --> 00:18:44,675
which encouraged him to aim higher.

169
00:18:48,989 --> 00:18:52,821
Throughout the years, the calf
grew into an adolescent,

170
00:18:52,855 --> 00:18:55,582
gaining confidence and size.

171
00:18:59,655 --> 00:19:03,314
He followed his mother
from one pod to the next,

172
00:19:03,349 --> 00:19:05,627
and with his newfound bravado,

173
00:19:05,661 --> 00:19:09,562
he spent most of his time
sparring with his peers.

174
00:19:12,634 --> 00:19:17,880
Slowly his tusk force
grew bigger and sharper.

175
00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,334
He was a king in the making.

176
00:19:25,923 --> 00:19:28,339
Luangwa lay at his feet.

177
00:19:39,143 --> 00:19:42,388
Having walked these paths for centuries,

178
00:19:42,422 --> 00:19:46,702
the hippos of Luangwa
know its secrets to survival.

179
00:19:51,776 --> 00:19:57,851
His mother, too, had a lifetime
of experiences behind her.

180
00:19:57,886 --> 00:20:03,754
She knew how to survive here,
even during the worst droughts.

181
00:20:03,788 --> 00:20:07,206
But she was getting old and frail,

182
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,139
and had not given birth
to any more calves.

183
00:20:13,384 --> 00:20:16,180
So it was still just the two of them.

184
00:20:20,529 --> 00:20:25,534
Now as a subadult,
he no longer depended on her,

185
00:20:25,569 --> 00:20:29,676
but would stay with his mother
for as long as he could.

186
00:20:38,961 --> 00:20:42,102
Their bond seemed everlasting.

187
00:20:53,769 --> 00:20:58,084
But then, as the dry season
reached its peak,

188
00:20:58,118 --> 00:20:59,603
everything changed.

189
00:21:09,578 --> 00:21:11,477
His mother...

190
00:21:11,511 --> 00:21:13,824
prone and vulnerable.

191
00:21:23,937 --> 00:21:27,976
She desperately tried
to make it back to the river,

192
00:21:28,010 --> 00:21:30,323
but she had no strength left.

193
00:21:45,407 --> 00:21:49,998
His mother was facing a slow death.

194
00:21:50,032 --> 00:21:52,483
She had reached the end of her time.

195
00:22:25,861 --> 00:22:27,760
The next morning,

196
00:22:27,794 --> 00:22:32,592
the youngster stood by helplessly.

197
00:22:32,627 --> 00:22:34,145
His mother had died.

198
00:22:36,907 --> 00:22:42,291
He threatened the lions that
surrounded her but was ignored.

199
00:22:47,262 --> 00:22:49,368
Scavengers were circling.

200
00:22:52,957 --> 00:22:55,063
There was nothing he could do.

201
00:23:04,175 --> 00:23:09,802
He was frustrated and confused,
not knowing where to go.

202
00:23:39,832 --> 00:23:42,455
Wandering around aimlessly,

203
00:23:42,490 --> 00:23:46,114
he hadn't noticed the trap
he was walking into.

204
00:24:29,433 --> 00:24:31,021
That was a close call.

205
00:24:36,647 --> 00:24:39,926
He had no choice but to leave his mother.

206
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:58,669
Every opportunist, every predator...

207
00:24:58,704 --> 00:25:01,603
all made the most of this feast.

208
00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:09,956
From the river, he became a spectator

209
00:25:09,991 --> 00:25:14,167
to nature's primal display.

210
00:25:14,202 --> 00:25:18,896
The cycle of life played out
right in front of him.

211
00:25:22,624 --> 00:25:26,248
Each creature fought
for its right to feed,

212
00:25:26,283 --> 00:25:28,319
its right to life.

213
00:25:41,298 --> 00:25:45,302
Taking turns, predators
from both land and water

214
00:25:45,336 --> 00:25:49,202
took full advantage
of the death of a giant.

215
00:26:20,199 --> 00:26:24,755
His yawn was an outcry of
distress and desperation,

216
00:26:24,790 --> 00:26:27,033
but displaying his tusks

217
00:26:27,068 --> 00:26:31,141
was regarded as a direct
challenge by the dominant bull.

218
00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,252
Before he realized what he'd done,

219
00:26:39,287 --> 00:26:41,254
the dominant bull attacked.

220
00:27:00,273 --> 00:27:03,760
An excruciating grip
to oust him from the pod.

221
00:27:07,211 --> 00:27:11,181
The punishment for
his unintended insolence

222
00:27:11,215 --> 00:27:13,390
may have cost him his tail.

223
00:27:28,163 --> 00:27:31,028
The message was clear.

224
00:27:31,063 --> 00:27:32,685
He was no longer welcome.

225
00:27:35,619 --> 00:27:37,759
He could never return.

226
00:27:49,219 --> 00:27:51,531
The first night on his own.

227
00:28:01,714 --> 00:28:04,303
He was used to feeding in the dark,

228
00:28:04,337 --> 00:28:08,963
but this night was darker than usual.

229
00:28:08,997 --> 00:28:12,656
Without his mother,
it felt more dangerous.

230
00:28:14,831 --> 00:28:17,143
For good reason.

231
00:28:17,178 --> 00:28:19,663
Lions hunt at night.

232
00:28:24,668 --> 00:28:27,015
He was unsure of their intentions.

233
00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:39,407
This time, he wouldn't let them
come close.

234
00:28:43,825 --> 00:28:46,276
The lions' hunt had begun.

235
00:29:08,954 --> 00:29:10,852
Fortunately for him,

236
00:29:10,887 --> 00:29:12,509
they killed an antelope.

237
00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,447
He continued grazing...

238
00:29:19,481 --> 00:29:22,036
but kept a close eye on the lions.

239
00:29:54,758 --> 00:29:59,142
Anyone in his way was charged at.

240
00:30:00,626 --> 00:30:03,525
Now he had to fend for himself.

241
00:30:10,463 --> 00:30:13,328
The predators were in the middle
of a fierce battle.

242
00:30:24,995 --> 00:30:28,067
Maybe best to make a run for it.

243
00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:39,182
By daybreak,

244
00:30:39,216 --> 00:30:42,737
the young bull was desperate
to get back to the river.

245
00:30:45,395 --> 00:30:47,500
Having been evicted from his pod,

246
00:30:47,535 --> 00:30:49,433
he needed to find a new home.

247
00:30:51,919 --> 00:30:57,579
The bull in charge of this pod
immediately noticed his arrival.

248
00:30:57,614 --> 00:31:01,031
But the young bull was hoping
for acceptance.

249
00:31:18,221 --> 00:31:21,569
The dominant bull was not
going to make it easy.

250
00:31:40,519 --> 00:31:44,178
If he could show submission,

251
00:31:44,212 --> 00:31:46,801
the bull might allow him to stay.

252
00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,949
An important lesson in life...

253
00:31:56,984 --> 00:32:01,022
Giving in sometimes
gets you what you need.

254
00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,584
Although the young bull
was now accepted by a new pod,

255
00:32:11,619 --> 00:32:14,553
with this dry season persisting,

256
00:32:14,587 --> 00:32:17,832
he was forced to search
for food in daytime.

257
00:32:24,943 --> 00:32:27,911
There is a tree in South Luangwa

258
00:32:27,946 --> 00:32:31,121
that blooms when the drought
is at its worst.

259
00:32:45,860 --> 00:32:48,587
The fruit of the sausage tree.

260
00:32:53,281 --> 00:32:57,699
Not long ago, his mother
had led him to this place.

261
00:32:57,734 --> 00:33:01,013
A modest oasis in the grip of the sun.

262
00:33:06,708 --> 00:33:09,194
The African sausage tree,

263
00:33:09,228 --> 00:33:12,818
known here as the tree of life.

264
00:33:16,132 --> 00:33:21,102
The massive, solid fruit,
seemingly inedible,

265
00:33:21,137 --> 00:33:23,242
is the secret to survival.

266
00:33:40,708 --> 00:33:44,229
These fruits would help him get
through the toughest of times.

267
00:33:46,645 --> 00:33:50,752
But eating the enormous sausages
was not all that easy,

268
00:33:50,787 --> 00:33:52,651
especially for a grazer.

269
00:33:55,447 --> 00:33:57,932
It required a special technique.

270
00:34:00,624 --> 00:34:04,421
He had seen his mother master the art.

271
00:34:04,456 --> 00:34:06,423
Now it was his turn.

272
00:34:23,061 --> 00:34:25,166
Another year had gone by.

273
00:34:28,169 --> 00:34:32,104
And as always, the new wet
season brought salvation...

274
00:34:32,139 --> 00:34:34,555
and new experiences.

275
00:34:38,524 --> 00:34:43,011
A surprise for the young hippo bull.

276
00:34:43,046 --> 00:34:45,117
Elephants in his lagoon.

277
00:34:48,327 --> 00:34:52,745
Such an intrusion drew a crowd.

278
00:34:52,780 --> 00:34:55,300
And they weren't just after
an innocent swim.

279
00:34:58,510 --> 00:35:01,547
A yawn was supposed to be a threat...

280
00:35:01,582 --> 00:35:04,826
but was perceived as an invitation.

281
00:35:08,899 --> 00:35:12,040
A game of hide-and-seek ensued

282
00:35:12,075 --> 00:35:14,905
of gigantic proportions.

283
00:35:19,186 --> 00:35:22,775
Usually hippos and elephants
stay out of each other's way.

284
00:35:25,295 --> 00:35:28,160
But the elephants
deliberately gate-crashed

285
00:35:28,195 --> 00:35:29,920
the hippos' pool party.

286
00:35:33,338 --> 00:35:37,169
The elephants teamed up
to chase the hippos around.

287
00:35:42,347 --> 00:35:44,728
But they were way out of their depth.

288
00:36:01,607 --> 00:36:04,852
How can a 3-ton giant vanish

289
00:36:04,886 --> 00:36:06,267
just like that?

290
00:36:06,302 --> 00:36:10,375
For once, the hippos had the upper hand.

291
00:36:22,835 --> 00:36:25,597
The plentiful wet seasons are fleeting,

292
00:36:25,631 --> 00:36:28,703
and the inevitable dry times returned.

293
00:36:32,914 --> 00:36:35,400
But even the worst droughts
would eventually

294
00:36:35,434 --> 00:36:38,057
make space for the rains again.

295
00:36:44,616 --> 00:36:46,790
Years passed by.

296
00:36:51,278 --> 00:36:53,556
Nearly a decade later,

297
00:36:53,590 --> 00:36:57,870
the subadult had turned
into an adult bull.

298
00:37:05,568 --> 00:37:08,260
Together with a few fellow bachelors,

299
00:37:08,295 --> 00:37:10,745
he had found a new home in a lagoon.

300
00:37:13,334 --> 00:37:15,854
It wasn't deep, but rolling helped

301
00:37:15,888 --> 00:37:18,788
to keep their bodies moisturized.

302
00:37:18,822 --> 00:37:22,274
The muddy substance
formed the perfect sunscreen.

303
00:37:28,522 --> 00:37:32,526
Life here was peaceful,
but it wouldn't last.

304
00:37:41,086 --> 00:37:46,678
The rhythm of the seasons meant
change was the only constant.

305
00:37:46,712 --> 00:37:48,300
A few months later,

306
00:37:48,335 --> 00:37:50,923
the bull's lagoon had dried up.

307
00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:00,381
Everyone else had left...

308
00:38:00,416 --> 00:38:03,177
except for his constant
feathered companion.

309
00:38:07,595 --> 00:38:11,047
But then he received
an unexpected visitor.

310
00:38:13,221 --> 00:38:16,328
A leopard, searching for water.

311
00:38:21,506 --> 00:38:24,025
But the sun had soaked it all up.

312
00:38:29,376 --> 00:38:33,241
There was nothing left
but cracked, dry earth.

313
00:38:43,528 --> 00:38:46,185
There was no point in staying.

314
00:38:46,220 --> 00:38:49,430
He needed food and another place to live.

315
00:38:52,571 --> 00:38:55,160
Hippos depend on water.

316
00:39:01,304 --> 00:39:03,479
Desperate times were upon him.

317
00:39:16,423 --> 00:39:19,218
Nighttime.

318
00:39:19,253 --> 00:39:21,359
He knew where to go for food.

319
00:39:25,984 --> 00:39:28,469
Now that he'd become a large bull,

320
00:39:28,504 --> 00:39:31,576
he visited the tree of life more often.

321
00:39:43,657 --> 00:39:47,005
Enjoying the fruit, he was unaware

322
00:39:47,039 --> 00:39:50,629
he was being watched.

323
00:39:50,664 --> 00:39:54,633
An acquaintance from earlier,
also in search of food.

324
00:40:01,364 --> 00:40:04,643
Unlike him, she preferred meat.

325
00:40:08,854 --> 00:40:11,823
Silently, she approached a target.

326
00:40:15,758 --> 00:40:20,487
Recognizing the difference
between predators,

327
00:40:20,521 --> 00:40:24,283
he knew, to him, a leopard was harmless.

328
00:40:27,355 --> 00:40:29,841
She paid no attention to him,

329
00:40:29,875 --> 00:40:31,739
focused on her hunting.

330
00:40:45,235 --> 00:40:48,515
His curiosity got the better of him.

331
00:40:48,549 --> 00:40:50,689
What was she up to?

332
00:41:14,402 --> 00:41:18,579
Try staying unnoticed with
a giant herbivore on your tail.

333
00:41:25,137 --> 00:41:26,587
Busted.

334
00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:33,318
It turns out, hippos don't make
good hunting partners.

335
00:41:41,671 --> 00:41:44,674
After the thrill of the sabotaged hunt,

336
00:41:44,709 --> 00:41:48,885
the bull made it to the river by dawn.

337
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,854
Having lived in the lagoon
these previous months,

338
00:41:51,888 --> 00:41:54,442
he was new here.

339
00:41:54,477 --> 00:41:56,514
How best to make an entrance?

340
00:42:00,034 --> 00:42:01,519
Subtle.

341
00:42:04,349 --> 00:42:09,561
He stood on the edge
of a new phase of life.

342
00:42:09,596 --> 00:42:11,425
And with daybreak...

343
00:42:11,459 --> 00:42:13,013
came courage.

344
00:42:27,959 --> 00:42:30,720
He arrived with a splash.

345
00:42:39,349 --> 00:42:41,455
As the years went by,

346
00:42:41,489 --> 00:42:43,906
the Luangwa Valley remained his home.

347
00:42:48,186 --> 00:42:50,084
Another wet season.

348
00:42:50,119 --> 00:42:53,847
The bull had grown
in confidence and stature.

349
00:42:59,715 --> 00:43:03,270
He was no longer willing
to remain submissive.

350
00:43:13,729 --> 00:43:16,801
Now in possession of much bigger armory,

351
00:43:16,835 --> 00:43:19,838
he showed off his impressive tusks

352
00:43:19,873 --> 00:43:22,876
and was eager to put them to the test.

353
00:43:41,204 --> 00:43:44,069
A brief challenge, with no real winner.

354
00:43:44,104 --> 00:43:47,245
But it was a good start.

355
00:43:47,279 --> 00:43:50,455
His future seemed all the more promising.

356
00:43:55,011 --> 00:43:59,464
From season, to season...

357
00:43:59,498 --> 00:44:03,882
one year, to the next...

358
00:44:03,917 --> 00:44:08,093
he embarked on a journey
towards greatness.

359
00:44:10,889 --> 00:44:16,826
His shadow reflected
the size of his ambition.

360
00:44:16,861 --> 00:44:20,312
His wounds, signs of his bravery.

361
00:44:22,936 --> 00:44:25,352
Whichever path he chose,

362
00:44:25,386 --> 00:44:29,149
it would ultimately lead him to battle.

363
00:44:41,264 --> 00:44:45,268
He was growing into a formidable
contender to the throne...

364
00:44:47,995 --> 00:44:52,103
...though he was still no match
for a dominant bull.

365
00:44:56,901 --> 00:45:00,559
Gradually he became fearless.

366
00:45:03,252 --> 00:45:08,429
With each step, he got a little
closer to the end game.

367
00:45:08,464 --> 00:45:11,536
Becoming stronger with each fight...

368
00:45:11,570 --> 00:45:14,125
more confident with each journey.

369
00:45:17,266 --> 00:45:18,819
And whenever he was challenged,

370
00:45:18,854 --> 00:45:23,134
he'd respond in kind, audacious and bold.

371
00:45:30,866 --> 00:45:33,592
He was on the cusp of supremacy.

372
00:45:47,745 --> 00:45:53,129
And then, one fine morning,

373
00:45:53,164 --> 00:45:56,305
his transformation was complete.

374
00:46:01,068 --> 00:46:04,037
He radiated self-assurance.

375
00:46:11,596 --> 00:46:14,979
The potential of victory
drove him forward.

376
00:46:36,034 --> 00:46:41,522
A fully grown, impressive bull
entered the arena.

377
00:46:48,288 --> 00:46:52,602
The dominant bull immediately
responded to his arrogance.

378
00:47:15,315 --> 00:47:17,041
There was no stopping him.

379
00:47:21,010 --> 00:47:22,667
They sized each other up.

380
00:47:24,911 --> 00:47:28,535
He hadn't fought an experienced
bull like this before,

381
00:47:28,569 --> 00:47:31,055
but he had no intention of backing down.

382
00:47:34,679 --> 00:47:38,925
In hippo warfare, the first act
was a show of armor.

383
00:47:56,528 --> 00:48:01,119
He blatantly claimed
the territory already.

384
00:48:01,154 --> 00:48:03,984
A red rag to a bull.

385
00:48:07,885 --> 00:48:11,819
His opponent took the bait.

386
00:48:11,854 --> 00:48:16,031
On second thoughts,
he may have overplayed his hand.

387
00:48:25,281 --> 00:48:28,043
The dominant bull was merciless.

388
00:48:37,293 --> 00:48:38,950
He tried to escape...

389
00:48:38,985 --> 00:48:41,711
but the dominant bull
was hot on his heals.

390
00:48:56,312 --> 00:49:01,076
But in the face of sustained
conflict, he found his courage.

391
00:49:05,321 --> 00:49:07,841
Once those tusks clashed,

392
00:49:07,875 --> 00:49:10,257
they were both in for a long battle.

393
00:49:33,349 --> 00:49:35,524
He was getting the upper hand,

394
00:49:35,558 --> 00:49:39,286
forcing his opponent to retreat
towards the edge of the bank.

395
00:49:44,809 --> 00:49:47,777
But the dominant bull
wasn't giving up that easily.

396
00:49:58,512 --> 00:50:01,308
Both bloodied and exhausted,

397
00:50:01,343 --> 00:50:06,348
the older bull eventually admitted defeat.

398
00:50:44,075 --> 00:50:48,493
And that is how he became king.

399
00:50:53,291 --> 00:50:57,399
As the dominant bull,
he reigned for many years.

400
00:51:03,439 --> 00:51:06,615
He was admired by his calves...

401
00:51:06,649 --> 00:51:10,929
and always surrounded
by his harem of females.

402
00:51:16,625 --> 00:51:20,111
He was a protective and successful ruler.

403
00:51:30,363 --> 00:51:35,126
His fortunes rose and fell
throughout his supremacy.

404
00:51:41,408 --> 00:51:45,826
But now his fighting days are over.

405
00:51:48,139 --> 00:51:50,935
He is 35 years old,

406
00:51:50,969 --> 00:51:54,076
and no longer the ruler of a hippo pod.

407
00:51:56,768 --> 00:52:01,704
But it's been a life filled
with battles lost and won.

408
00:52:04,845 --> 00:52:09,471
A life whose unrivaled legacy
is forever reflected

409
00:52:09,505 --> 00:52:12,025
in the waters of Luangwa.