Masters of the Savannah- Africa's Wild Dog Hunter Packs - Apex Predator Documentary
African Wild Dogs are one of nature's most fascinating predators, known for their exceptional teamwork, agility, and endurance. Follow their triumphs and disasters during this tough time of the year in the world-famous wildlife sanctuary, South Luangwa National Park in Eastern Zambia. The story begins with the birth of 16 pups, and follows them as they begin to hunt. The Wild Dog pack take on might beasts for survival including the formidable buffalo and wildebeest.
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AnimalsTranscript
00:00The African wild dog is the most successful hunter in Africa.
00:09Quick, agile and relentless, their attacks succeed 85% of the time.
00:16These high-speed pursuits have been very hard to film, until now.
00:21Two skilled motorcyclists record the drama of the chase, special cameras mounted on their
00:27bikes.
00:28Even through difficult terrain, they keep up with the Pungwe pack, one of the most formidable
00:33in Zimbabwe.
00:37And they track the development of 15 new pups as they hone their skills for the ultimate
00:42challenge.
00:46An assault on one of Africa's most powerful and dangerous prey species.
00:53The buffalo.
01:03A wild dog is not a hyena.
01:06It's a wiry, tough pack hunter that kills by means of attrition.
01:11It runs its prey to a standstill.
01:16But wild dog hunts are seldom witnessed from start to finish.
01:20They're hidden by speed, dust and a thick bush.
01:25So how can this behaviour be filmed effectively?
01:28With a device that's equally tough, agile and fast, a motorbike.
01:35From years of research use, the dogs are used to the motorbikes, so we could get a unique
01:39window into the hunting behaviour of Africa's most efficient, but least known apex carnivore,
01:45without impacting their natural behaviour.
01:50The zoom cameras will allow the filming bikes to stay back in the hunts without disturbing
01:55the animals.
02:09The Pungwe pack's alpha female is Loop.
02:12And she's responding to new sounds at the den site situated in the heart of Zimbabwe's
02:17Sarve Valley Conservancy.
02:20A new litter of pups.
02:42Fifteen youngsters emerge to see their world for the first time.
02:56They're the hunting future of the pack.
03:04Wild dogs have a very intricate social structure.
03:08There's much bonding to be done.
03:28Pups are cared for by any of the adults, and each gets to know the immediate surroundings.
03:33But for the moment, Loop will stay behind when the pack heads off to hunt.
03:41She needs meat to generate milk for this rabble, and the pack know it.
03:55The dogs are comfortable with the presence of motorbikes, as they have been used to monitor
03:59the packs for some time in the Conservancy.
04:01They pay them no attention.
04:15It's late afternoon, and the dogs begin stirring after their midday nap.
04:20Typically, hunts are carried out in the early mornings and early evenings, and the bikes
04:25need to be ready.
04:33Wild dogs lock into a hunt quickly, and when they smell prey, the pace explodes.
04:55Soon, the bikes are at 55km per hour, but they're still left behind.
05:05The pack have locked onto an impala, and they're wearing it down.
05:22But a moment of indecision costs them.
05:25A rare failure.
05:41Wild dogs are daytime hunters, but nights belong to the lions.
05:57The big male's roaring is heard at the den site.
06:09Lupe must keep her pups quiet.
06:12Lions hate competition.
06:13They'll hunt down and kill wild dog adults and pups.
06:24The alpha male, ten, ushers the unruly pups back into the den.
06:42One lioness is on patrol, coming alarmingly close to the den site.
06:49But something else is wandering in the dark.
06:55A distraction.
06:57Buffalo.
07:04Adult buffalo are too big for wild dogs, but they provide a lucky escape for the dog pack tonight.
07:19Wild dogs are not afraid of the dark.
07:24They're not afraid of the dark.
07:29Wild dogs are not afraid of the dark.
07:34They're not afraid of the dark.
07:39Early the following morning, the pack are on the scent of a prey favorite.
08:03Wildebeest.
08:08It's not long before they single out a target, and the chase picks up speed.
08:28The exhausted wildebeest uses a waterhole as a fortress.
08:56The bites must choose a target and follow.
09:16But the bush gets thicker.
09:38This is how wild dogs operate.
09:51Death is usually quick, and soon the meal is over.
09:57But the pups are not forgotten.
10:00As soon as the adults arrive at the den, meat is regurgitated for mum and for the pups as they start to eat solids.
10:22Hooded vultures pick up the scraps at any carcass.
10:29The pups' first vulture encounter is a little scary.
10:58The big bird isn't after the pups, it just wants a share of the spoils.
11:28The pups are not afraid of the dark.
11:38They're not afraid of the dark.
11:43The pups are now growing in stature, and their bond with mother loop is growing stronger.
12:11These pups will leave the den at two to three months of age.
12:15All the adult pack members look after them with food and babysitting duties.
12:25Now, at just one month old, the braver pups are already making themselves known.
12:55The December rains have thankfully arrived, bringing much life to the Saave Valley Conservancy.
13:45The pups are developing well and becoming truly active.
14:13Out of 15, 9 have survived.
14:18Typically, wild dog pup and adult mortality can be incredibly high, so this is a good survival rate for this new pack.
14:28After humans, lions are the greatest danger.
14:31And in some places, rabies can have a big impact too.
14:57The film crew locate the pack in the mapani trees, on the dogs or on patrol.
15:16Predators love the shade that the new leaves provide, and the pack is heading directly for these three male cheetahs.
15:46Carnivores instinctively hate competition.
15:51Any other meat-eater isn't tolerated.
16:16The dogs outnumber the cats, so the cheetahs give way.
16:40The hunt continues.
16:44Wildebeest have got the pack's attention.
17:03After the rain, the bush is thick. The bikes battle to get through.
17:08The drone picks up the pack.
17:37The cheetahs are on the move.
17:42The pack is on the move.
17:47The cheetahs are on the move.
17:52The pack is on the move.
17:57The pack is on the move.
18:02The cheetahs are on the move.
18:05The pack is on the move.
18:08The cheetahs are on the move.
18:11The pack is on the move.
18:14The cheetahs are on the move.
18:17The pack is on the move.
18:20The cheetahs are on the move.
18:23The cheetahs are on the move.
18:28They run for miles, wearing the prey down.
18:45The dogs gain on the tiring wildebeest as they try to catch their breath.
19:15With youngsters in the herd, the wildebeest move into thick thorn trees.
19:35Often, the only respite is in water.
19:40This wildebeest simply has to rest. But is this a wise move?
19:50The persistent dogs are by no means put off by water and eagerly surround the wildebeest.
20:10Alpha male 10 makes a brave attempt to reach the prize, but he's out of his depths.
20:38The pack surrounds the pan, but they're too impatient.
20:48They have hungry pups at home.
20:55The pack pause to catch their breath, but soon they're hunting again.
21:25An impala is quickly spotted, and they burst into action.
21:45The cheetahs are on the move.
21:50The cheetahs are on the move.
21:55The cheetahs are on the move.
22:00The cheetahs are on the move.
22:05The cheetahs are on the move.
22:10The cheetahs are on the move.
22:15The cheetahs are on the move.
22:20The cheetahs are on the move.
22:23The cheetahs are on the move.
22:26The cheetahs are on the move.
22:29The cheetahs are on the move.
22:32The cheetahs are on the move.
22:35The cheetahs are on the move.
22:38In spite of just coming off a long chase with the wildebeest, they now run the nimble impala into the ground.