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Summary: Read the latest news from the Earth Touch News site
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- Artist: Earth-Touch
- Copyright: Copyright Earth-Touch 2011
Podcasts:
Can bees do maths? Yes – new research shows they can add and subtract
Are sharks being attacked by killer whales off Cape Town's coast?
Romeo, the world's loneliest frog, finally has his Juliet
Rhino horn must become a socially unacceptable product in Asia
Eulogy for a seastar, Australia's first recorded marine extinction
The spectacled bear and its spectacular forebears
In British Columbia, a strange pattern in humpback whale behaviour raises the stakes for conservation
We've reached the end of our journey. After three years following the trials and tribulations of Botswana's Xakanaxa lion pride, we have decided to wave goodbye to these apex predators of the Okavango. For the series finale, cameraman Brad Bestelink recounts this fascinating journey from the emergence of the first cubs to altercations with rival prides and the disappearance of one of the dominant males. Brad's interview is complemented by some of the finest moments we've ever captured on film.
A frenzy of vulture activity confuses the pride as they search expectantly for a carcass to scavenge. Later, the lions head towards a baobab tree after a restful night. A monitor lizard wanders into the pride's territory and is eyed cautiously by the cubs.
The pride reunites after being temporarily separated following a journey into unfamiliar territory. Later on, the lions laze in the morning sun on the edge of Mboma Island. There are signs of affection between the two dominant males as the pride drinks from a small pool and a troop of baboons sounds the alarm after wandering too close to the lions.
In this week's episode, the crew catches up with the well fed pride resting in the afternoon shade. Later, the lions pick up the trail of the buffalo herd once more and begin stalking and positioning themselves in anticipation of the hunt. As the buffalo begin to leave the pride's territory, the cubs playfully scramble up a tree, oblivious to the difficult times that lie ahead. Finally, cameraman Brad Bestelink films the two males as they chase vultures off their kill.
In this episode, cameraman Brad Bestelink tracks the lions' movements into the northern reaches of Xakanaxa Island. In the next clip, a day in the bush starts with a leopard sighting and ends with another encounter with the lion pride as the sun goes down. Finally, Graham Springer films a solitary lioness as she keeps a watchful eye over several playful cubs.
The lion cubs take centre stage in this week's episode. After learning some important life lessons, the young lions enjoy rare bonding time with the dominant male.
The buffalo are on the move again in this episode and the lion pride follows the herd, moving deeper and deeper into the thick mopane forests. In our next clip, two hyenas quickly devour their spoils after stealing a leopard's kill, leaving the big cat to watch helplessly from the undergrowth. Finally, we rejoin the lion pride as it settles in to enjoy the warmth of the morning sun.
In this week's episode, a hunt is abandoned before it really begins when an unruly cub gives away the pride's position. Later, another hunt unravels when a lioness spooks a herd of impala. In our final clip, a more relaxed pride enjoys a lazy afternoon.