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  • 5/31/2025

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00:00See you next time.
00:30Most of us would agree that a tiger is one of the world's most beautiful creatures.
00:42Sadly in the wild it's threatened with extinction, but fortunately it breeds very well in captivity
00:48as this little six-week-old cub proves.
00:51But is a tiger in a cage truly a tiger?
00:55I doubt it.
00:56To see the true essence and beauty of a tiger you have to see it in the wild.
01:02And that's what this remarkable film shows us.
01:26This is the story of a tigress in the heart of India and the challenges she faces while
01:43trying to raise a family.
01:47Even a tigress walks a tightrope between success and failure.
01:54So...
02:08I don't know.
02:38Our tigers lives in Kana National Park, in the forests of Kipling's Jungle Book, where dawn elephant patrols ensure this is one of the safest places for tigers in the world.
03:08Year after year, these forest guards, called Mahouts, have followed our tigers' success
03:38with a supply of crystal-clear water.
03:40The chief Mahout is called Bir Singh.
03:54Born and raised in these forests, he's guarded our tigress since he found her as a young cub in 1986.
04:01And despite her elusive nature, he's able to find her secret hideaways.
04:07He's named her Lakshmi, after the Hindu goddess of fortune.
04:19She's defended this territory for many years because it's the key to success, providing abundant prey and a safe hiding place for little cubs.
04:31For little cubs.
04:32Lakshmi's cubs are about nine weeks old.
04:56She's successfully raised several litters in the past and, at 12 years of age, is quite old for the demanding life of a wild tigress.
05:06Kittens of this age need regular supplies of mother's milk and lots of tender, loving care.
05:22Over the years, Lakshmi has proved herself a devoted mother, successfully looking after her litters of two or three cubs until raised to independence.
05:36Lakshmi is always alert to danger, and alarm calls warn that a predator is on the prowl.
05:57And the most dangerous predator of them all is a male tiger.
06:10This male is probably the father of Lakshmi's cubs, so is not a threat.
06:15And though he doesn't help raise the cubs, his defence of this territory is vital.
06:20If he ever loses his status as king of this part of the jungle, his conqueror may try to kill Lakshmi's cubs.
06:28And every young one is precious, so mahouts keep account of successes and failures.
06:43Male tigers tend to be very secretive, and they certainly don't like being followed.
06:49Males fight for territory so they can mate with several females.
07:14And females defend territory for the food they provide.
07:18Lakshmi's fertile meadows attract large herds of Cheetal, her favourite prey.
07:27Over the years, Lakshmi has hunted in every corner of her territory, and knows the lie of the land well.
07:43But Cheetal are alert and fast, so she must get close to them if she is to be able to feed the cubs.
07:50That's one of them, too.
07:51That's the second time she is the Who is to?
07:52Do you want to get close to them that fellow who has been poised?
07:55I don't know.
07:56Everything is a good friend.
07:57It is a good friend, but you can't get close to them if they are pregnant.
07:58I have a friend.
07:59I can't take close to them.
08:00I am sure it is.
08:01It is.
08:02It is all right, but you have to take close to them.
08:03Have a friend.
08:04I have a friend.
08:05Despite her years of experience and formidable acceleration, Lakshmi fails all too often.
08:32But with hungry cubs to feed, she never gives up.
08:37But langur monkeys are her curse, for they're known as the eyes of the forest.
08:47Like all the animals at Kana, langurs are at ease with the mahouts, but not with tigers.
08:54Monkeys make Lakshmi's life difficult by warning deer of approaching danger.
09:06Langurs actually attract deer by accidentally dropping food.
09:10But if they choose to feed on the ground themselves, they're vulnerable.
09:22The forest is a place where they're going.
09:31The forest is an animal.
10:07On her return to the cubs, she calls them from hiding, and, after her long absence, she comforts them.
10:28Contact between mother and cubs transfers scent, and might help Lakshmi find them if they get lost.
10:41Play is also important, and a dead langur makes a perfect toy.
10:46The cubs are not yet old enough to eat meat, but killing nessons can be fun.
11:00The cubs are growing fast, and need regular feeds, so Lakshmi encourages them over for a drink.
11:21Lakshmi has four teats, so there's no need for aggression at the milk bar.
11:33But the cubs are a little careless with mum's tender spots.
11:37Break.
11:48Raising three cubs is demanding, so Lakshmi's life is a relentless struggle to patrol her
12:10territory, find prey, and keep the family's hunger satisfied. Her task is never-ending, but as the
12:18elephants have young of their own to feed, midday is the time to end their patrol. The Mahouts live
12:27in the centre of the park, and since 1930, when Kana became a tiger reserve, the village has been
12:33the park's headquarters.
12:40The children are often taken out into the forest, and Bersing's son hopes one day to become
13:01a Mahout himself.
13:16Living in the heart of prime tiger habitat, these people respect and honour the big cats. In
13:22fact, they look upon the tiger as the guardian of the forest.
13:39The young elephants can enjoy a good feed from their mothers as they rest in the heat of
13:44the day.
13:56Lakshmi has little time to rest. Her cubs are growing, and she must hunt more frequently. If successful,
14:03she no longer takes the kill to the cubs, but encourages them to start exploring her territory
14:09by leading them to the kills.
14:11The cubs are about 14 weeks old now, and mature enough to tell that two are male and one female.
14:32They're big enough to eat meat, and aggressive enough to defend their corner of the carcass.
14:39The two brothers bully their sister, so they get first bite. And though Lakshmi allows the cubs
14:57to eat first, she also applies the laws of the jungle, if she wants a slice of the action.
15:27Lakshmi has proved her prowess as a mother many times, and two of her daughters share part of her territory.
15:46This particular daughter is known as the Churi female, after the valley she lives in.
15:52These rare meetings are tense, but amicable, though Lakshmi's cubs are nervous about the stranger.
15:59What do you think?
16:00What do you think?
16:01What do you think?
16:02What do you think?
16:03What do you think?
16:04What do you think?
16:05What do you think?
16:06What do you think?
16:07What do you think?
16:08What do you think?
16:09What do you think?
16:10What do you think?
16:11What do you think?
16:12What do you think?
16:13What do you think?
16:14What do you think?
16:15What do you think?
16:16What do you think?
16:17What do you think?
16:18What do you think?
16:19What do you think?
16:20What do you think?
16:21What do you think?
16:22What do you think?
16:23What do you think?
16:24What do you think?
16:25What do you think?
16:26What do you think?
16:27Once in a while, Lakshmi moves her cubs to where the deer haven't been alarmed.
16:38And because there's plenty to share, Lakshmi can live alongside her daughters in peaceful harmony.
16:57Lakshmi finds hunting simpler now, for it's the rutting season of the spotted deer.
17:13Rotting stags have mating on their minds and are less alert to danger.
17:43The deer is not going to be a good one.
17:57The deer is not going to be a good one.
18:03Let's go.
18:33Let's go.
19:03Lakshmi must avoid the thrashing antlers
19:13as she seeks the killing throat bite.
19:16Then the stag must be dragged to where she's hidden the cubs.
19:33She has to haul the stag to a shady place, hidden from other tigers.
19:49Then she can tell the cubs it's dinner time.
19:52Let's go.
19:54Let's go.
19:58Let's go.
20:00Let's go.
20:04Let's go.
20:05Let's go.
20:06At four months old, the cubs' appetites are growing,
20:34so Lakshmi provides much larger meals
20:37and always stays on guard when they're eating.
20:40But she leaves it to the cubs
20:42to learn how to get through the tough wrapping.
20:44Let's go.
20:45Let's go.
20:46Let's go.
20:47Let's go.
20:48Let's go.
20:50Let's go.
20:51Let's go.
20:52Let's go.
20:53Let's go.
20:54Let's go.
20:55Let's go.
20:56Let's go.
20:57Let's go.
20:58Let's go.
20:59Let's go.
21:00Let's go.
21:01Let's go.
21:02Let's go.
21:03Let's go.
21:04Let's go.
21:05Let's go.
21:06Let's go.
21:07Let's go.
21:08Let's go.
21:09Let's go.
21:10Let's go.
21:11Let's go.
21:12Let's go.
21:14Let's go.
21:15The smaller female cub seems content to wait her turn, leaving her brothers to make the breakthrough.
21:29The family's progress is checked each day by the Mahouts,
21:33and one of the advantages of Lakshmi's status as matriarch of the meadows
21:37is that she has permanent water in her territory,
21:40a place to cool off and play in the heat of midday.
21:44Water is attractive to other animals at Kana, too, like the Indian wild dog.
22:02Wild dogs are formidable predators and a real threat to the cubs,
22:07so Lakshmi is taking no chances.
22:14Just the sight of them makes the cubs nervous, instinctively sensing danger.
22:37Wild dogs sometimes occur in packs of 40 or more,
22:40and Lakshmi would have trouble defending her family against a pack that size.
22:49The dogs scour the forest for deer, which are their main prey,
22:53and the cheat will know it.
22:55The dogs' cooperative hunting creates confusion in the herd.
23:02Once a victim is singled out, sharp teeth and powerful jaws will do the rest.
23:06The dogs' cooperative hunting creates confusion in the herd.
23:15Once a victim is singled out, sharp teeth and powerful jaws will do the rest.
23:19I'll do the rest.
23:25The dogs gorge as much as possible before competition from scavengers becomes too intense.
23:55Vultures gathering in the trees are a dead giveaway to other hungry eyes.
24:25Reluctant to leave the cool of the pool, Lakshmi decides she just has to investigate.
24:40Even a tiger sees not too proud to scavenge.
24:45One or two wild dogs alone couldn't take on a tiger, and they have to retreat on her approach.
24:52Given half a chance, Lakshmi would try to kill them.
24:55The dog would try to kill them.
25:25Aaaaaaah!
25:29Aaaaaaah!
25:32Aaaaaaah!
25:34Aaaaaaah!
25:36Aaaaaaah!
25:37Aaaaaaah!
25:38Aaaaaaah!
25:39Aaaaaaah!
25:40Aaaaaah!
25:41Aaaaaah!
25:42Aaaaaah!
25:43Aaaaaah!
25:44Aaaaaah!
25:45Aaaaaah!
25:46Aaaaaah!
25:54With the cubs already well fed, Lakshmi decides to keep the booty for herself.
26:00There will be little left for the vultures waiting patiently above.
26:10For weeks the sun has been burning down from a cloudless sky.
26:14Now it's the hottest time of the year.
26:23With temperatures rising to more than a hundred degrees in the shade,
26:27life is uncomfortable.
26:30Daily patrols continue, but the elephants struggle in the heat.
26:35The grass has dried up, and driven by thirst, the cheetle are forced to the shrinking water holes.
26:43Normally dangerous places.
26:45But sometimes it's too hot, even for tigers.
26:47But sometimes it's too hot, even for tigers.
26:51Hmm?
26:52Hmm?
26:53Hmm?
26:54Hmm?
26:55Hmm?
26:56Hmm?
26:57Hmm?
26:58Hmm?
26:59Hmm?
27:01Hmm?
27:06Haaah!
27:11Michael?
28:42The rain creates problems for Lakshmi, not because she gets wet, her coat is too thick for that, but because the deer become concentrated into enormous herds.
28:54Many pairs of eyes make hunting more difficult.
29:02The monsoon isn't continuous, but comes in storms spread over three to four months.
29:09The rains bring new life to Kana. Forest and grassland flourish, benefiting Lakshmi's prey.
29:16The monsoon is not all good news for Lakshmi. Rain washes away her territorial scent marks.
29:35So she must expend extra energy patrolling and re-marking her boundaries.
29:47The cubs are now six months old and bounding with energy.
29:52But any parent knows this is also a mixed blessing.
29:56Oh my god.
29:57Yes, sir.
29:59Grrrr!
30:29Let's go.
30:59Idyllic days of carefree childhood will one day come to an end, but not yet, for the
31:08cubs still have months of fun to look forward to, with Lakshmi caring for them until they
31:14are at least two years old.
31:17Apart from the wild dogs, the only real threats that the family face are human poaching and
31:24marauding male tigers.
31:26Lakshmi can look to Kana's park guards living in the village for protection from poachers,
31:33but the Mahauts can't interfere with an aggressive male who wants to take over her territory,
31:38so even tigers should be afraid of the dark.
31:42With tigers at greater risk, teams of Mahauts step up their dawn protection.
32:12And in such a large national park, they have a lot of ground to cover.
32:17The Mahauts sweep through the forest looking for any
32:47signs of poachers and tigers.
32:50The muddy conditions make finding their footprints more likely.
32:53Bhir Singh is the first to find a tiger, a male, and he's been in a fight.
33:09Wounds on the head and mouth suggest the fight was fierce, so the Mahauts suspect he may be
33:14trying to take over the territory from the father of Lakshmi's cubs.
33:25Bhir Singh is worried that Lakshmi might have been injured in the fight, and his fears are realized.
33:33Lakshmi walks awkwardly, and the deep wound in her side was no doubt inflicted while defending her cubs.
33:40But where are they?
33:50A long search round the territory finds them again, and all are unhurt and in playful mood.
33:58They're about seven months old now, and the female cub still gets bullied by her big brothers.
34:05Despite her injuries, Lakshmi's devotion to her cubs is undiminished, and she remains on guard nearby.
34:32So long as she's able to lick the wounds clean, she should recover to full health.
34:40But the cubs are having too much fun to make this her pain.
34:44Though just playful contests, the injuries to their mother show just how valuable these lessons
35:10in self-defence might prove to be in later life.
35:14With the cubs in danger from the new male, Lakshmi takes them away from their usual territory.
35:35No doubt her years of experience lead her to believe he will not follow them into the hills around the meadow.
35:43And if he does, the dense cover will, hopefully, provide protection.
35:48For the young cubs, it's a different world, full of mystery and new adventures.
35:54Weeks later, the family are all still alive, the cubs fit and fat.
36:22But Lakshmi still seems to be in pain and is less tolerant.
36:27With Lakshmi injured,
36:57a dangerous male around, the family vanishes into the safety of the bamboo thickets. Lakshmi
37:03has never stayed away from her home patch for so long, and the Mahouts are concerned,
37:09and with good cause, for they find the most dramatic evidence that a new male is trying
37:15to take over.
37:15This huge male has been killed in a fight, and he was almost certainly the father of
37:28Lakshmi's cubs, a magnificent tiger, and in his prime, about eight years old and ten feet
37:35long. It must have been a violent battle, for there are several wounds over the body,
37:41and one of its canine teeth has been ripped out. The Mahouts intensify their efforts to
37:46find Lakshmi and the cubs.
38:04What they find is very disturbing.
38:07This cub is only a few weeks old, so not one of Lakshmi's.
38:25Tracks around the body prove it's been killed by a large male tiger.
38:37The cub's mother has stayed close by, and is very distressed.
38:48She's one of Lakshmi's close neighbors, and with such an aggressive male in the area, Lakshmi
38:53and the cubs are in grave danger. But when the Mahouts find their tracks nearby, they are hopeful.
39:00They are seeing finds an even fresher pug mark, and his hopes rise again. But there is what
39:16he dreaded finding most. Lakshmi has been in another fight, and has even worse injuries than before.
39:23Beersingh counts eight deep wounds. The battle to defend her cubs must have been horribly fierce.
39:30Beersingh counts eight deep wounds. The battle to defend her cubs must have been horribly fierce.
39:36Unable to hunt and provide for the cubs, she limps off unsteadily into the forest.
39:37Beersingh counts eight deep wounds.
39:38Lakshmi has been in another fight, and has even worse injuries than before.
39:41Beersingh counts eight deep wounds. The battle to defend her cubs must have been horribly fierce.
39:46Beersingh counts eight deep wounds. The battle to defend her cubs must have been horribly fierce.
39:51медatiews is also adverse, and initiate the body use force to defend her cubs.
39:57Nar Bematianron seesüidas and Vladimir Luthrat, taking Essaëcho in Manali's later
39:58and wants to defend her cubs. Unable to hunt and provide for the cubs, she limps off unsteadily
40:04into the forest. Beersingh decides to leave her in peace. He never sees her again.
40:09Beersingh decides to leave her in peace. He never sees her again.
40:12He never sees her again.
40:20Her fight was not in vain.
40:23The three cubs are still alive, but hungry.
40:26They still hope their mother will bring food,
40:29and every rustle is a noise of hope.
40:35At only a year old, their experience of hunting is limited,
40:39but driven by hunger, they try to imitate their mother's stalking as best they can.
40:45Perhaps instinct will do the rest.
41:09It becomes clear that the female cubs has learned more about the basics of stalking than her brothers.
41:37When hunger gets the better of the boys, they break cover too soon,
42:02and a vital chance of a meal is lost.
42:05Failure follows failure,
42:10and eventually the cubs' tracks lead up into the hills surrounding their home.
42:15No doubt they're looking for their mother.
42:17The mahouts follow, but lose the cubs in the broken terrain,
42:21and days of frantic searching follow.
42:23Weeks later, there are still no signs of Lakshmi and the cubs,
42:48and the mahouts, hot and tired, debate where they have looked and where else they might search.
42:56It's a depressing discussion, for they feel they have looked everywhere.
43:00With hope almost lost, they get a lucky break.
43:20An alarm-calling monkey indicates a predator, and they waste no time in starting a new search.
43:27The monkeys' calls should lead them to the spot, and there, after weeks of searching, is one of Lakshmi's cubs.
43:36The air scene recognizes her immediately.
43:47The spotty face markings confirm it's the female cub.
43:53The mahouts are so relieved to find one of the cubs alive and well,
43:56they name her Sundari, meaning, in Hindi, beautiful girl.
44:00There's no sign of her mother or two brothers,
44:11and the mahouts wonder how she survived without them.
44:15Scavenging, could be the answer.
44:17She's sitting near a leopard that has just caught a cheetal stag.
44:23Tigers and leopards are deadly competitors, with the tiger usually the winner.
44:28But this tiger is a little female cub, and a leopard, a large adult male.
44:36This could be dangerous.
44:38Sundari is in two minds.
45:00She's hungry, but the leopard is guarding its kill.
45:03Wrapped with indecision and irritated by the langers, she tries to chase them off.
45:24But she needs one or two climbing lessons from the leopard.
45:27Sundari decides to leave the leopard to its meal,
45:46and heads back to the meadows where she was born.
45:49She seems to walk aimlessly, but ends up in the territory of Lakshmi's oldest daughter,
45:59the Churi female, a half-sister to Sundari.
46:03But danger is close by.
46:06This family contains two huge male cubs of two years old,
46:12and confrontations such as this can be violent.
46:14But Sundari is naive, or is she driven by loneliness,
46:24missing the companionship of her family?
46:27The Churi female comes to investigate.
46:31She doesn't know who the stranger is.
46:34It's unusual for tigers to approach each other.
46:37They're loners and try to avoid contact.
46:39So Sundari is being provocative, and is in danger.
46:51But she's still very young, and in need of company.
46:56The outcome is in the balance.
47:02The Churi female is aggressive,
47:05but Sundari has the nerve to nose in even closer.
47:09Sundari decides to tough it out,
47:22and in the weeks that follow,
47:24the Churi family accepts her.
47:29She's a survivor in the hazardous world of the tiger,
47:33and in years to come,
47:34maybe she will raise as many cubs as Lakshmi.
47:37Her mother and two brothers have not been seen again,
47:42and the Mahalts don't know if they're still alive.
47:45But at least Lakshmi's daughters are out there in the meadows,
47:49raising cubs of their own.
47:51And the search for Lakshmi continues.
47:53With careful protection,
48:01there's hope that Lakshmi and her cubs,
48:04and all future generations of tigers,
48:07will be safe to live out their exciting and sometimes dangerous lives.
48:12And with unique places such as Kana providing secure havens,
48:19there is still hope that these wonderful cats
48:22will survive in the wild forever.
48:25With a darn good news for her,
48:27we shall be safe to run for now.
48:35The Love of the parlament
48:39and the World of значитs
48:40is experimented with poker and ever.
48:41The love of the world,
48:42we shall receive a lot ofë,
48:44we shall become one of the things that we believe in,
48:45and that we shall be safe to know.
48:46Through the world with the world,
48:46we shall build on the way
48:48and the path of the kingdom.
48:49And the power of the kingdom,
48:50we shall be safe to know.
48:51Here he is an opportunity for you
48:52to be safe to live out her mind.
48:53We have just been told that ten months after their disappearance,
49:08Naqshmi and her cubs have been found alive and well.
49:23For more information, visit www.fema.org