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NARRATOR:
In Zambia's Luangwa Valley...

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a future king was born.

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From season, to season...

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one year, to the next...

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he embarked on a journey
towards greatness.

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He already had the attitude
and behaved like royalty.

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♪

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Gradually he became fearless.

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Becoming stronger with each fight...

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more confident with each journey.

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He was a formidable contender
to the throne.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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♪

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NARRATOR: From waters shrouded
in mystery, comes a story

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of an African leviathan.

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Every movement prehistoric...

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every contour otherworldly...

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...slowly rising
from the deep...

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...an old hippo bull.

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The years have taken their toll.

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His tired, cloudy eyes reflect
a brutal life hard-lived.

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He has seen it all.

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His maze of scars...

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skin-deep memories from ancient battles.

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But in his prime...

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this once-invincible bull
chose a path of war.

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♪

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♪

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This is the remarkable story
of his journey...

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that led to the ultimate battle
that crowned him king.

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♪

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A long, long time ago,
in Zambia's Luangwa Valley...

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where a mighty river is home

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to one of the largest
hippo populations in the world,

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the dry season had just begun.

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In the blistering heat, a hippo
pod was basking in the sun,

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and one female had separated
herself from the others.

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♪

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It was the day a future king was born.

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He took his first glimpse
of the outside world.

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The little newcomer drew
unwanted attention.

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♪

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His mother was well aware of the danger.

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She kept her calf close.

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♪

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But the crocodiles weren't
her only concern.

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A lion, in search of prey.

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♪

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Her calf, a perfect target.

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And this young male
was heading straight for them.

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♪

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♪

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But something made him hesitate.

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The river belonged to another predator.

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♪

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[Lion growling]

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♪

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It gave her time to hide the calf.

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But the lion braved the waters.

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While focused on finding the calf,

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the lion was facing a protective mother.

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♪

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♪

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♪

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His courageous mother saved his life.

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In those first few weeks,

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his mother kept him separate
from the main pod.

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This precious time together was essential

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in strengthening their bond.

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♪

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Recognizing his mother
once they joined the pod

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would be crucial for his safety.

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He would rely on her protection
for years to come.

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And then the big day arrived.

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His mother led him to the main pod.

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♪

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He was ready to join his family.

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♪

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Becoming part of the main pod
seemed to be a safe move

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with all-'round protection.

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But amongst these 3-ton giants,

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the calf was all the more vulnerable.

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[Hippos grunting]

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Explosions of aggression
are common amongst hippos.

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♪

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♪

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But ironically, it was his father

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that was by far the biggest threat.

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♪

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When he went into battle with an opponent,

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razor-sharp tusks clashing,

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their brute force would
crush anything in their way.

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[Hippos grunting]

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♪

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Calves often fall victim
to these brutal fights.

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Thankfully his mother
was protective and caring.

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But with the river shrinking
and the pod growing,

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tension would only rise,

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so becoming part of a crèche
provided a safe space.

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The youngsters stayed close together,

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surrounded by a few protective mothers.

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They spent their days basking in the sun,

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with not a care in the world.

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And that's when he got to meet
his new friends.

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The oxpeckers.

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Little birds that removed parasites

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and cleaned the hippos' wounds.

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But they often made things worse.

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To many, they became a nuisance.

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Every fresh wound was a reason for battle.

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They were out for blood.

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♪

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[Oxpeckers screeching]

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Getting rid of them
was mission impossible.

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♪

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Submerging was the only way.

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And when the river became too low,

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water cannons were brought to bear.

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♪

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An effective way to send a bird packing,

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but they would always return.

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Oxpeckers would be
his lifelong companions.

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As this dry season progressed,

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carmine bee-eaters made their entrance.

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With the river now low enough,
they were able to start nesting.

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[Carmine bee-eaters chirping]

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♪

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♪

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While the birds added a splash
of much-needed color

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

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the calf grew into
a more confident youngster.

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He would stand his ground...

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and took on his first battles.

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He was learning to be bold.

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Sparring sessions prepared him
for the fights

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that were to come later in life.

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♪

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And he would lean on his mother

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to reach greater heights.

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Heights he could still only dream of.

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He already had the attitude
and behaved like royalty.

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Until the true king of beasts arrived.

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Being surrounded by lions

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quickly brought him back to reality.

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♪

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His attitude faded as fear took hold.

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♪

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The river was their haven.

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But the lioness could swim, too.

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A calf his size is easy prey for a lion.

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The big cat was surrounded by hippos.

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[Lion snarling]

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♪

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Her snarls were intimidating.

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But an adult hippo could easily kill her.

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In this river, she was just as vulnerable

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as he was on land.

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The lioness made a daring move,
so close to the hippos.

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her pride intently watching.

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♪

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She might have made it past the hippos,

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but crocodiles still lurked below.

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From the safety of the pod,

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the calf watched the saga unfold.

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♪

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The lioness was fortunate
to make it across alive.

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♪

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

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more and more hippos congregated...

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and fought over every inch of space.

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The cruel reality of the drought hit hard.

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A feast had begun.

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Dead hippos attracted attention.

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It was the calf's first time

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to experience the dark side
of the dry season.

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♪

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

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♪

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

186
00:14:43,986 --> 00:14:47,921
the hippos desperately searched
for food and space.

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♪

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00:14:59,277 --> 00:15:01,901
[Thunder crashing]

189
00:15:04,489 --> 00:15:08,942
The first blissful rain finally arrived.

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

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

192
00:15:16,087 --> 00:15:20,195
Even the calf's father dropped his guard.

193
00:15:20,229 --> 00:15:24,095
A moment a challenger
had been waiting for.

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00:15:24,130 --> 00:15:31,723
♪

195
00:15:31,758 --> 00:15:37,005
♪

196
00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:39,352
[Hippos grunting]

197
00:15:39,386 --> 00:15:42,527
His father had to defend his throne.

198
00:15:42,562 --> 00:15:45,185
There could only be one dominant bull.

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00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:53,435
♪

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00:15:53,469 --> 00:16:01,753
♪

201
00:16:01,788 --> 00:16:10,038
♪

202
00:16:10,072 --> 00:16:16,976
♪

203
00:16:18,425 --> 00:16:21,428
It was an equal match.

204
00:16:21,463 --> 00:16:24,845
A fight like this ended in stalemate.

205
00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:31,576
♪

206
00:16:31,611 --> 00:16:35,546
His father did some serious
damage to his opponent,

207
00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:40,620
but the bull himself was nearing
the end of his reign.

208
00:16:40,654 --> 00:16:42,725
[Thunder rumbling]

209
00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:51,217
♪

210
00:16:51,251 --> 00:16:54,392
The season had turned.

211
00:16:54,427 --> 00:17:00,536
The Luangwa Valley transformed
into an emerald green paradise.

212
00:17:00,571 --> 00:17:07,923
♪

213
00:17:07,957 --> 00:17:14,550
♪

214
00:17:14,585 --> 00:17:16,311
[Thunder crashes]

215
00:17:16,345 --> 00:17:22,800
♪

216
00:17:22,834 --> 00:17:26,010
The calf had made it
through his first dry season,

217
00:17:26,045 --> 00:17:30,118
and was now thriving,
with plenty of grass and space.

218
00:17:33,121 --> 00:17:37,677
Making it this far
was a significant victory.

219
00:17:37,711 --> 00:17:41,094
Many hippo calves don't survive
their first few months.

220
00:17:41,129 --> 00:17:44,891
For him, the future seemed promising.

221
00:17:48,860 --> 00:17:50,828
♪

222
00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:53,072
Throughout the different seasons,

223
00:17:53,106 --> 00:17:55,971
the calf remained close to his mother

224
00:17:56,005 --> 00:17:58,767
and was mostly by her side.

225
00:17:58,801 --> 00:18:07,983
♪

226
00:18:08,017 --> 00:18:10,503
Every time the rains returned,

227
00:18:10,537 --> 00:18:12,884
it meant the end of hardship.

228
00:18:12,919 --> 00:18:17,786
♪

229
00:18:17,820 --> 00:18:19,719
The cycle of the seasons

230
00:18:19,753 --> 00:18:22,170
saw him grow ever bigger.

231
00:18:22,204 --> 00:18:29,280
♪

232
00:18:29,315 --> 00:18:36,356
♪

233
00:18:36,391 --> 00:18:38,807
These periods of prosperity

234
00:18:38,841 --> 00:18:41,465
made the youngster more independent,

235
00:18:41,499 --> 00:18:44,675
which encouraged him to aim higher.

236
00:18:44,709 --> 00:18:48,955
♪

237
00:18:48,989 --> 00:18:52,821
Throughout the years, the calf
grew into an adolescent,

238
00:18:52,855 --> 00:18:55,582
gaining confidence and size.

239
00:18:55,617 --> 00:18:59,621
♪

240
00:18:59,655 --> 00:19:03,314
He followed his mother
from one pod to the next,

241
00:19:03,349 --> 00:19:05,627
and with his newfound bravado,

242
00:19:05,661 --> 00:19:09,562
he spent most of his time
sparring with his peers.

243
00:19:12,634 --> 00:19:17,880
Slowly his tusk force
grew bigger and sharper.

244
00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,334
He was a king in the making.

245
00:19:25,923 --> 00:19:28,339
Luangwa lay at his feet.

246
00:19:39,143 --> 00:19:42,388
Having walked these paths for centuries,

247
00:19:42,422 --> 00:19:46,702
the hippos of Luangwa
know its secrets to survival.

248
00:19:51,776 --> 00:19:57,851
His mother, too, had a lifetime
of experiences behind her.

249
00:19:57,886 --> 00:20:03,754
She knew how to survive here,
even during the worst droughts.

250
00:20:03,788 --> 00:20:07,206
But she was getting old and frail,

251
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,139
and had not given birth
to any more calves.

252
00:20:13,384 --> 00:20:16,180
So it was still just the two of them.

253
00:20:16,215 --> 00:20:20,495
♪

254
00:20:20,529 --> 00:20:25,534
Now as a subadult,
he no longer depended on her,

255
00:20:25,569 --> 00:20:29,676
but would stay with his mother
for as long as he could.

256
00:20:29,711 --> 00:20:38,927
♪

257
00:20:38,961 --> 00:20:42,102
Their bond seemed everlasting.

258
00:20:42,137 --> 00:20:47,729
♪

259
00:20:53,769 --> 00:20:58,084
But then, as the dry season
reached its peak,

260
00:20:58,118 --> 00:20:59,603
everything changed.

261
00:21:03,089 --> 00:21:09,544
♪

262
00:21:09,578 --> 00:21:11,477
His mother...

263
00:21:11,511 --> 00:21:13,824
prone and vulnerable.

264
00:21:13,858 --> 00:21:23,903
♪

265
00:21:23,937 --> 00:21:27,976
She desperately tried
to make it back to the river,

266
00:21:28,010 --> 00:21:30,323
but she had no strength left.

267
00:21:30,358 --> 00:21:37,848
♪

268
00:21:37,882 --> 00:21:45,373
♪

269
00:21:45,407 --> 00:21:49,998
His mother was facing a slow death.

270
00:21:50,032 --> 00:21:52,483
She had reached the end of her time.

271
00:21:52,518 --> 00:22:00,836
♪

272
00:22:00,871 --> 00:22:09,155
♪

273
00:22:09,189 --> 00:22:17,543
♪

274
00:22:17,577 --> 00:22:25,827
♪

275
00:22:25,861 --> 00:22:27,760
The next morning,

276
00:22:27,794 --> 00:22:32,592
the youngster stood by helplessly.

277
00:22:32,627 --> 00:22:34,145
His mother had died.

278
00:22:36,907 --> 00:22:42,291
He threatened the lions that
surrounded her but was ignored.

279
00:22:42,326 --> 00:22:47,227
♪

280
00:22:47,262 --> 00:22:49,368
Scavengers were circling.

281
00:22:52,957 --> 00:22:55,063
There was nothing he could do.

282
00:22:55,097 --> 00:23:04,141
♪

283
00:23:04,175 --> 00:23:09,802
He was frustrated and confused,
not knowing where to go.

284
00:23:09,836 --> 00:23:19,846
♪

285
00:23:19,881 --> 00:23:29,822
♪

286
00:23:29,856 --> 00:23:39,797
♪

287
00:23:39,832 --> 00:23:42,455
Wandering around aimlessly,

288
00:23:42,490 --> 00:23:46,114
he hadn't noticed the trap
he was walking into.

289
00:23:46,148 --> 00:23:54,743
♪

290
00:23:54,778 --> 00:24:03,407
♪

291
00:24:03,442 --> 00:24:12,105
♪

292
00:24:12,140 --> 00:24:20,735
♪

293
00:24:20,769 --> 00:24:29,398
♪

294
00:24:29,433 --> 00:24:31,021
That was a close call.

295
00:24:36,647 --> 00:24:39,926
He had no choice but to leave his mother.

296
00:24:43,136 --> 00:24:48,659
♪

297
00:24:48,694 --> 00:24:54,285
♪

298
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:58,669
Every opportunist, every predator...

299
00:24:58,704 --> 00:25:01,603
all made the most of this feast.

300
00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:09,956
From the river, he became a spectator

301
00:25:09,991 --> 00:25:14,167
to nature's primal display.

302
00:25:14,202 --> 00:25:18,896
The cycle of life played out
right in front of him.

303
00:25:18,931 --> 00:25:22,590
♪

304
00:25:22,624 --> 00:25:26,248
Each creature fought
for its right to feed,

305
00:25:26,283 --> 00:25:28,319
its right to life.

306
00:25:28,354 --> 00:25:34,843
♪

307
00:25:34,878 --> 00:25:36,880
[Crocodile hissing]

308
00:25:36,914 --> 00:25:41,263
♪

309
00:25:41,298 --> 00:25:45,302
Taking turns, predators
from both land and water

310
00:25:45,336 --> 00:25:49,202
took full advantage
of the death of a giant.

311
00:25:49,237 --> 00:25:56,900
♪

312
00:25:56,934 --> 00:25:59,316
♪

313
00:25:59,350 --> 00:26:00,766
[Lion growls]

314
00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:06,357
♪

315
00:26:06,392 --> 00:26:11,949
♪

316
00:26:11,984 --> 00:26:13,606
[Lion growling]

317
00:26:13,641 --> 00:26:20,164
♪

318
00:26:20,199 --> 00:26:24,755
His yawn was an outcry of
distress and desperation,

319
00:26:24,790 --> 00:26:27,033
but displaying his tusks

320
00:26:27,068 --> 00:26:31,141
was regarded as a direct
challenge by the dominant bull.

321
00:26:31,175 --> 00:26:36,525
♪

322
00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,252
Before he realized what he'd done,

323
00:26:39,287 --> 00:26:41,254
the dominant bull attacked.

324
00:26:41,289 --> 00:26:50,712
♪

325
00:26:50,747 --> 00:27:00,239
♪

326
00:27:00,273 --> 00:27:03,760
An excruciating grip
to oust him from the pod.

327
00:27:07,211 --> 00:27:11,181
The punishment for
his unintended insolence

328
00:27:11,215 --> 00:27:13,390
may have cost him his tail.

329
00:27:13,424 --> 00:27:20,742
♪

330
00:27:20,777 --> 00:27:28,129
♪

331
00:27:28,163 --> 00:27:31,028
The message was clear.

332
00:27:31,063 --> 00:27:32,685
He was no longer welcome.

333
00:27:35,619 --> 00:27:37,759
He could never return.

334
00:27:37,794 --> 00:27:43,489
♪

335
00:27:43,523 --> 00:27:49,184
♪

336
00:27:49,219 --> 00:27:51,531
The first night on his own.

337
00:28:01,714 --> 00:28:04,303
He was used to feeding in the dark,

338
00:28:04,337 --> 00:28:08,963
but this night was darker than usual.

339
00:28:08,997 --> 00:28:12,656
Without his mother,
it felt more dangerous.

340
00:28:14,831 --> 00:28:17,143
For good reason.

341
00:28:17,178 --> 00:28:19,663
Lions hunt at night.

342
00:28:19,698 --> 00:28:24,633
♪

343
00:28:24,668 --> 00:28:27,015
He was unsure of their intentions.

344
00:28:27,050 --> 00:28:36,266
♪

345
00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:39,407
This time, he wouldn't let them
come close.

346
00:28:43,825 --> 00:28:46,276
The lions' hunt had begun.

347
00:28:46,310 --> 00:28:53,801
♪

348
00:28:53,835 --> 00:29:01,360
♪

349
00:29:01,394 --> 00:29:08,919
♪

350
00:29:08,954 --> 00:29:10,852
Fortunately for him,

351
00:29:10,887 --> 00:29:12,509
they killed an antelope.

352
00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,447
He continued grazing...

353
00:29:19,481 --> 00:29:22,036
but kept a close eye on the lions.

354
00:29:26,419 --> 00:29:35,808
♪

355
00:29:35,843 --> 00:29:43,471
♪

356
00:29:43,505 --> 00:29:45,231
[Lion growling]

357
00:29:45,266 --> 00:29:54,723
♪

358
00:29:54,758 --> 00:29:59,142
Anyone in his way was charged at.

359
00:29:59,176 --> 00:30:00,591
[Hippo growls]

360
00:30:00,626 --> 00:30:03,525
Now he had to fend for himself.

361
00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,874
♪

362
00:30:06,908 --> 00:30:10,429
[Lion growling]

363
00:30:10,463 --> 00:30:13,328
The predators were in the middle
of a fierce battle.

364
00:30:13,363 --> 00:30:19,162
♪

365
00:30:19,196 --> 00:30:24,961
♪

366
00:30:24,995 --> 00:30:28,067
Maybe best to make a run for it.

367
00:30:28,102 --> 00:30:29,793
♪

368
00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:39,182
By daybreak,

369
00:30:39,216 --> 00:30:42,737
the young bull was desperate
to get back to the river.

370
00:30:45,395 --> 00:30:47,500
Having been evicted from his pod,

371
00:30:47,535 --> 00:30:49,433
he needed to find a new home.

372
00:30:51,919 --> 00:30:57,579
The bull in charge of this pod
immediately noticed his arrival.

373
00:30:57,614 --> 00:31:01,031
But the young bull was hoping
for acceptance.

374
00:31:01,066 --> 00:31:09,591
♪

375
00:31:09,626 --> 00:31:18,186
♪

376
00:31:18,221 --> 00:31:21,569
The dominant bull was not
going to make it easy.

377
00:31:21,603 --> 00:31:31,027
♪

378
00:31:31,061 --> 00:31:40,484
♪

379
00:31:40,519 --> 00:31:44,178
If he could show submission,

380
00:31:44,212 --> 00:31:46,801
the bull might allow him to stay.

381
00:31:46,835 --> 00:31:54,326
♪

382
00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,949
An important lesson in life...

383
00:31:56,984 --> 00:32:01,022
Giving in sometimes
gets you what you need.

384
00:32:01,057 --> 00:32:05,647
♪

385
00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,584
Although the young bull
was now accepted by a new pod,

386
00:32:11,619 --> 00:32:14,553
with this dry season persisting,

387
00:32:14,587 --> 00:32:17,832
he was forced to search
for food in daytime.

388
00:32:17,866 --> 00:32:24,908
♪

389
00:32:24,943 --> 00:32:27,911
There is a tree in South Luangwa

390
00:32:27,946 --> 00:32:31,121
that blooms when the drought
is at its worst.

391
00:32:31,156 --> 00:32:38,473
♪

392
00:32:38,508 --> 00:32:45,825
♪

393
00:32:45,860 --> 00:32:48,587
The fruit of the sausage tree.

394
00:32:53,281 --> 00:32:57,699
Not long ago, his mother
had led him to this place.

395
00:32:57,734 --> 00:33:01,013
A modest oasis in the grip of the sun.

396
00:33:01,048 --> 00:33:06,674
♪

397
00:33:06,708 --> 00:33:09,194
The African sausage tree,

398
00:33:09,228 --> 00:33:12,818
known here as the tree of life.

399
00:33:16,132 --> 00:33:21,102
The massive, solid fruit,
seemingly inedible,

400
00:33:21,137 --> 00:33:23,242
is the secret to survival.

401
00:33:23,277 --> 00:33:31,975
♪

402
00:33:32,010 --> 00:33:40,673
♪

403
00:33:40,708 --> 00:33:44,229
These fruits would help him get
through the toughest of times.

404
00:33:46,645 --> 00:33:50,752
But eating the enormous sausages
was not all that easy,

405
00:33:50,787 --> 00:33:52,651
especially for a grazer.

406
00:33:55,447 --> 00:33:57,932
It required a special technique.

407
00:34:00,624 --> 00:34:04,421
He had seen his mother master the art.

408
00:34:04,456 --> 00:34:06,423
Now it was his turn.

409
00:34:06,458 --> 00:34:15,639
♪

410
00:34:23,061 --> 00:34:25,166
Another year had gone by.

411
00:34:28,169 --> 00:34:32,104
And as always, the new wet
season brought salvation...

412
00:34:32,139 --> 00:34:34,555
and new experiences.

413
00:34:38,524 --> 00:34:43,011
A surprise for the young hippo bull.

414
00:34:43,046 --> 00:34:45,117
Elephants in his lagoon.

415
00:34:48,327 --> 00:34:52,745
Such an intrusion drew a crowd.

416
00:34:52,780 --> 00:34:55,300
And they weren't just after
an innocent swim.

417
00:34:58,510 --> 00:35:01,547
A yawn was supposed to be a threat...

418
00:35:01,582 --> 00:35:04,826
but was perceived as an invitation.

419
00:35:08,899 --> 00:35:12,040
A game of hide-and-seek ensued

420
00:35:12,075 --> 00:35:14,905
of gigantic proportions.

421
00:35:19,186 --> 00:35:22,775
Usually hippos and elephants
stay out of each other's way.

422
00:35:25,295 --> 00:35:28,160
But the elephants
deliberately gate-crashed

423
00:35:28,195 --> 00:35:29,920
the hippos' pool party.

424
00:35:33,338 --> 00:35:37,169
The elephants teamed up
to chase the hippos around.

425
00:35:37,204 --> 00:35:42,312
♪

426
00:35:42,347 --> 00:35:44,728
But they were way out of their depth.

427
00:35:44,763 --> 00:35:53,185
♪

428
00:35:53,220 --> 00:36:01,573
♪

429
00:36:01,607 --> 00:36:04,852
How can a 3-ton giant vanish

430
00:36:04,886 --> 00:36:06,267
just like that?

431
00:36:06,302 --> 00:36:10,375
For once, the hippos had the upper hand.

432
00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,517
[Thunder crashing]

433
00:36:14,551 --> 00:36:22,801
♪

434
00:36:22,835 --> 00:36:25,597
The plentiful wet seasons are fleeting,

435
00:36:25,631 --> 00:36:28,703
and the inevitable dry times returned.

436
00:36:28,738 --> 00:36:32,880
♪

437
00:36:32,914 --> 00:36:35,400
But even the worst droughts
would eventually

438
00:36:35,434 --> 00:36:38,057
make space for the rains again.

439
00:36:38,092 --> 00:36:44,581
♪

440
00:36:44,616 --> 00:36:46,790
Years passed by.

441
00:36:46,825 --> 00:36:51,243
♪

442
00:36:51,278 --> 00:36:53,556
Nearly a decade later,

443
00:36:53,590 --> 00:36:57,870
the subadult had turned
into an adult bull.

444
00:37:05,568 --> 00:37:08,260
Together with a few fellow bachelors,

445
00:37:08,295 --> 00:37:10,745
he had found a new home in a lagoon.

446
00:37:13,334 --> 00:37:15,854
It wasn't deep, but rolling helped

447
00:37:15,888 --> 00:37:18,788
to keep their bodies moisturized.

448
00:37:18,822 --> 00:37:22,274
The muddy substance
formed the perfect sunscreen.

449
00:37:28,522 --> 00:37:32,526
Life here was peaceful,
but it wouldn't last.

450
00:37:41,086 --> 00:37:46,678
The rhythm of the seasons meant
change was the only constant.

451
00:37:46,712 --> 00:37:48,300
A few months later,

452
00:37:48,335 --> 00:37:50,923
the bull's lagoon had dried up.

453
00:37:50,958 --> 00:37:58,241
♪

454
00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:00,381
Everyone else had left...

455
00:38:00,416 --> 00:38:03,177
except for his constant
feathered companion.

456
00:38:07,595 --> 00:38:11,047
But then he received
an unexpected visitor.

457
00:38:13,221 --> 00:38:16,328
A leopard, searching for water.

458
00:38:16,363 --> 00:38:21,471
♪

459
00:38:21,506 --> 00:38:24,025
But the sun had soaked it all up.

460
00:38:24,060 --> 00:38:29,341
♪

461
00:38:29,376 --> 00:38:33,241
There was nothing left
but cracked, dry earth.

462
00:38:33,276 --> 00:38:38,350
♪

463
00:38:38,385 --> 00:38:43,493
♪

464
00:38:43,528 --> 00:38:46,185
There was no point in staying.

465
00:38:46,220 --> 00:38:49,430
He needed food and another place to live.

466
00:38:52,571 --> 00:38:55,160
Hippos depend on water.

467
00:38:55,194 --> 00:39:01,269
♪

468
00:39:01,304 --> 00:39:03,479
Desperate times were upon him.

469
00:39:03,513 --> 00:39:09,899
♪

470
00:39:09,933 --> 00:39:16,388
♪

471
00:39:16,423 --> 00:39:19,218
Nighttime.

472
00:39:19,253 --> 00:39:21,359
He knew where to go for food.

473
00:39:21,393 --> 00:39:25,949
♪

474
00:39:25,984 --> 00:39:28,469
Now that he'd become a large bull,

475
00:39:28,504 --> 00:39:31,576
he visited the tree of life more often.

476
00:39:31,610 --> 00:39:37,547
♪

477
00:39:37,582 --> 00:39:43,622
♪

478
00:39:43,657 --> 00:39:47,005
Enjoying the fruit, he was unaware

479
00:39:47,039 --> 00:39:50,629
he was being watched.

480
00:39:50,664 --> 00:39:54,633
An acquaintance from earlier,
also in search of food.

481
00:40:01,364 --> 00:40:04,643
Unlike him, she preferred meat.

482
00:40:08,854 --> 00:40:11,823
Silently, she approached a target.

483
00:40:15,758 --> 00:40:20,487
Recognizing the difference
between predators,

484
00:40:20,521 --> 00:40:24,283
he knew, to him, a leopard was harmless.

485
00:40:27,355 --> 00:40:29,841
She paid no attention to him,

486
00:40:29,875 --> 00:40:31,739
focused on her hunting.

487
00:40:31,774 --> 00:40:38,470
♪

488
00:40:38,505 --> 00:40:45,201
♪

489
00:40:45,235 --> 00:40:48,515
His curiosity got the better of him.

490
00:40:48,549 --> 00:40:50,689
What was she up to?

491
00:40:50,724 --> 00:40:58,525
♪

492
00:40:58,559 --> 00:41:06,394
♪

493
00:41:06,429 --> 00:41:14,368
♪

494
00:41:14,402 --> 00:41:18,579
Try staying unnoticed with
a giant herbivore on your tail.

495
00:41:18,614 --> 00:41:22,618
♪

496
00:41:22,652 --> 00:41:25,103
[Crying]

497
00:41:25,137 --> 00:41:26,587
Busted.

498
00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:33,318
It turns out, hippos don't make
good hunting partners.

499
00:41:35,147 --> 00:41:41,637
♪

500
00:41:41,671 --> 00:41:44,674
After the thrill of the sabotaged hunt,

501
00:41:44,709 --> 00:41:48,885
the bull made it to the river by dawn.

502
00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,854
Having lived in the lagoon
these previous months,

503
00:41:51,888 --> 00:41:54,442
he was new here.

504
00:41:54,477 --> 00:41:56,514
How best to make an entrance?

505
00:42:00,034 --> 00:42:01,519
Subtle.

506
00:42:04,349 --> 00:42:09,561
He stood on the edge
of a new phase of life.

507
00:42:09,596 --> 00:42:11,425
And with daybreak...

508
00:42:11,459 --> 00:42:13,013
came courage.

509
00:42:27,959 --> 00:42:30,720
He arrived with a splash.

510
00:42:36,312 --> 00:42:39,315
♪

511
00:42:39,349 --> 00:42:41,455
As the years went by,

512
00:42:41,489 --> 00:42:43,906
the Luangwa Valley remained his home.

513
00:42:48,186 --> 00:42:50,084
Another wet season.

514
00:42:50,119 --> 00:42:53,847
The bull had grown
in confidence and stature.

515
00:42:53,881 --> 00:42:59,680
♪

516
00:42:59,715 --> 00:43:03,270
He was no longer willing
to remain submissive.

517
00:43:03,304 --> 00:43:05,824
[Hippo growling]

518
00:43:05,859 --> 00:43:13,694
♪

519
00:43:13,729 --> 00:43:16,801
Now in possession of much bigger armory,

520
00:43:16,835 --> 00:43:19,838
he showed off his impressive tusks

521
00:43:19,873 --> 00:43:22,876
and was eager to put them to the test.

522
00:43:22,910 --> 00:43:27,915
♪

523
00:43:27,950 --> 00:43:32,989
♪

524
00:43:33,024 --> 00:43:34,957
[Hippos grunting]

525
00:43:41,204 --> 00:43:44,069
A brief challenge, with no real winner.

526
00:43:44,104 --> 00:43:47,245
But it was a good start.

527
00:43:47,279 --> 00:43:50,455
His future seemed all the more promising.

528
00:43:55,011 --> 00:43:59,464
From season, to season...

529
00:43:59,498 --> 00:44:03,882
one year, to the next...

530
00:44:03,917 --> 00:44:08,093
he embarked on a journey
towards greatness.

531
00:44:10,889 --> 00:44:16,826
His shadow reflected
the size of his ambition.

532
00:44:16,861 --> 00:44:20,312
His wounds, signs of his bravery.

533
00:44:22,936 --> 00:44:25,352
Whichever path he chose,

534
00:44:25,386 --> 00:44:29,149
it would ultimately lead him to battle.

535
00:44:29,183 --> 00:44:35,189
♪

536
00:44:35,224 --> 00:44:41,230
♪

537
00:44:41,264 --> 00:44:45,268
He was growing into a formidable
contender to the throne...

538
00:44:47,995 --> 00:44:52,103
...though he was still no match
for a dominant bull.

539
00:44:52,137 --> 00:44:56,866
♪

540
00:44:56,901 --> 00:45:00,559
Gradually he became fearless.

541
00:45:03,252 --> 00:45:08,429
With each step, he got a little
closer to the end game.

542
00:45:08,464 --> 00:45:11,536
Becoming stronger with each fight...

543
00:45:11,570 --> 00:45:14,125
more confident with each journey.

544
00:45:17,266 --> 00:45:18,819
And whenever he was challenged,

545
00:45:18,854 --> 00:45:23,134
he'd respond in kind, audacious and bold.

546
00:45:23,168 --> 00:45:30,831
♪

547
00:45:30,866 --> 00:45:33,592
He was on the cusp of supremacy.

548
00:45:38,218 --> 00:45:47,710
♪

549
00:45:47,745 --> 00:45:53,129
And then, one fine morning,

550
00:45:53,164 --> 00:45:56,305
his transformation was complete.

551
00:45:56,339 --> 00:46:01,034
♪

552
00:46:01,068 --> 00:46:04,037
He radiated self-assurance.

553
00:46:04,071 --> 00:46:11,561
♪

554
00:46:11,596 --> 00:46:14,979
The potential of victory
drove him forward.

555
00:46:15,013 --> 00:46:21,951
♪

556
00:46:21,986 --> 00:46:28,958
♪

557
00:46:28,993 --> 00:46:36,000
♪

558
00:46:36,034 --> 00:46:41,522
A fully grown, impressive bull
entered the arena.

559
00:46:41,557 --> 00:46:48,253
♪

560
00:46:48,288 --> 00:46:52,602
The dominant bull immediately
responded to his arrogance.

561
00:46:52,637 --> 00:47:00,127
♪

562
00:47:00,162 --> 00:47:07,686
♪

563
00:47:07,721 --> 00:47:15,280
♪

564
00:47:15,315 --> 00:47:17,041
There was no stopping him.

565
00:47:21,010 --> 00:47:22,667
They sized each other up.

566
00:47:24,911 --> 00:47:28,535
He hadn't fought an experienced
bull like this before,

567
00:47:28,569 --> 00:47:31,055
but he had no intention of backing down.

568
00:47:34,679 --> 00:47:38,925
In hippo warfare, the first act
was a show of armor.

569
00:47:38,959 --> 00:47:47,692
♪

570
00:47:47,726 --> 00:47:56,494
♪

571
00:47:56,528 --> 00:48:01,119
He blatantly claimed
the territory already.

572
00:48:01,154 --> 00:48:03,984
A red rag to a bull.

573
00:48:07,885 --> 00:48:11,819
His opponent took the bait.

574
00:48:11,854 --> 00:48:16,031
On second thoughts,
he may have overplayed his hand.

575
00:48:16,065 --> 00:48:17,273
♪

576
00:48:17,308 --> 00:48:19,379
[Hippos grunting]

577
00:48:19,413 --> 00:48:25,247
♪

578
00:48:25,281 --> 00:48:28,043
The dominant bull was merciless.

579
00:48:28,077 --> 00:48:37,259
♪

580
00:48:37,293 --> 00:48:38,950
He tried to escape...

581
00:48:38,985 --> 00:48:41,711
but the dominant bull
was hot on his heals.

582
00:48:41,746 --> 00:48:48,960
♪

583
00:48:48,995 --> 00:48:56,278
♪

584
00:48:56,312 --> 00:49:01,076
But in the face of sustained
conflict, he found his courage.

585
00:49:05,321 --> 00:49:07,841
Once those tusks clashed,

586
00:49:07,875 --> 00:49:10,257
they were both in for a long battle.

587
00:49:10,292 --> 00:49:17,989
♪

588
00:49:18,024 --> 00:49:25,652
♪

589
00:49:25,686 --> 00:49:33,315
♪

590
00:49:33,349 --> 00:49:35,524
He was getting the upper hand,

591
00:49:35,558 --> 00:49:39,286
forcing his opponent to retreat
towards the edge of the bank.

592
00:49:39,321 --> 00:49:44,774
♪

593
00:49:44,809 --> 00:49:47,777
But the dominant bull
wasn't giving up that easily.

594
00:49:47,812 --> 00:49:53,128
♪

595
00:49:53,162 --> 00:49:58,478
♪

596
00:49:58,512 --> 00:50:01,308
Both bloodied and exhausted,

597
00:50:01,343 --> 00:50:06,348
the older bull eventually admitted defeat.

598
00:50:06,382 --> 00:50:15,771
♪

599
00:50:15,805 --> 00:50:25,160
♪

600
00:50:25,194 --> 00:50:34,617
♪

601
00:50:34,652 --> 00:50:44,041
♪

602
00:50:44,075 --> 00:50:48,493
And that is how he became king.

603
00:50:48,528 --> 00:50:53,257
♪

604
00:50:53,291 --> 00:50:57,399
As the dominant bull,
he reigned for many years.

605
00:50:57,433 --> 00:51:03,405
♪

606
00:51:03,439 --> 00:51:06,615
He was admired by his calves...

607
00:51:06,649 --> 00:51:10,929
and always surrounded
by his harem of females.

608
00:51:10,964 --> 00:51:16,590
♪

609
00:51:16,625 --> 00:51:20,111
He was a protective and successful ruler.

610
00:51:20,146 --> 00:51:25,220
♪

611
00:51:25,254 --> 00:51:30,328
♪

612
00:51:30,363 --> 00:51:35,126
His fortunes rose and fell
throughout his supremacy.

613
00:51:35,161 --> 00:51:41,374
♪

614
00:51:41,408 --> 00:51:45,826
But now his fighting days are over.

615
00:51:48,139 --> 00:51:50,935
He is 35 years old,

616
00:51:50,969 --> 00:51:54,076
and no longer the ruler of a hippo pod.

617
00:51:56,768 --> 00:52:01,704
But it's been a life filled
with battles lost and won.

618
00:52:04,845 --> 00:52:09,471
A life whose unrivaled legacy
is forever reflected

619
00:52:09,505 --> 00:52:12,025
in the waters of Luangwa.

620
00:52:12,059 --> 00:52:14,200
♪

621
00:52:17,203 --> 00:52:25,211
♪

622
00:52:25,245 --> 00:52:33,253
♪

623
00:52:33,288 --> 00:52:41,296
♪

624
00:52:41,330 --> 00:52:49,373
♪

625
00:52:49,407 --> 00:52:51,306
♪

626
00:52:51,340 --> 00:52:52,790
♪

627
00:52:52,824 --> 00:52:54,930
♪

628
00:52:54,964 --> 00:52:55,965
♪