Elephants

NARRATOR: THIS VAST, UNSPOILED WILDERNESS IS THE SETTING FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST ELEPHANT MIGRATIONS IN THE WHOLE OF AFRICA, A SPECTACULAR ANNUAL EVENT THAT HAS RARELY BEEN FILMED BEFORE.

LIZ BONNIN: BELOW US, AROUND A THOUSAND ELEPHANTS ARE COMING TOGETHER FROM ALL OVER NORTHERN KENYA IN THE MOST CRUCIAL GATHERING OF THE YEAR.

NARRATOR: THIS HUGE MASS OF ELEPHANTS MIGRATE INTO KENYA'S SAMBURU RESERVE, IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MATE.

THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

NARRATOR: AND AS THEY DO SO, A SPECIALIZED TEAM OF SCIENTISTS AND FILMMAKERS WILL FOLLOW THEIR EVERY MOVE.

I'M SHAKING.

I'M LITERALLY SHAKING.

[GRUNTING] NARRATOR: SATELLITE COLLARS ALLOW THE TEAM TO KEEP TABS ON INDIVIDUALS.

LIZ: WE CAN TRACK THIS ELE'S MOVEMENT IN REAL TIME.

NARRATOR: BY FOLLOWING THIS EXTRAORDINARY EVENT MINUTE-BY-MINUTE, THE TEAM WILL REVEAL NEW INSIGHTS INTO THEIR COMPLEX SOCIAL LIVES.

[TRUMPETS] THEY WILL WITNESS THE CHALLENGES THESE ANIMALS FACE AS THEY SEARCH FOR FOOD, BRAVE DANGERS... MAX: AND THE LIONS ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN US AND THEM.

NARRATOR: ...AND BATTLE TO WIN THE RIGHT TO MATE.

[BOTH TRUMPETING] WE'LL BE WITH THEM ON THEIR DRAMATIC JOURNEY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

NARRATOR: KENYA, EAST AFRICA, AND SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE... 64 SQUARE MILES OF RUGGED HIGHLANDS, MIXED FOREST, AND DRIED GRASSLAND.

FOR THE NEXT MONTH, THE TEAM WILL BE BASED HERE, IN THE ARENA FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST ELEPHANT GATHERINGS ON EARTH.

RIGHT NOW, ALL ACROSS NORTHERN KENYA, DOZENS OF ELEPHANT FAMILIES ARE LEAVING THEIR HOME TERRITORIES.

TRIGGERED BY THE ANNUAL RAINS AND THE PROMISE OF FRESH NEW VEGETATION... [ELEPHANT GROANS] FAMILY GROUPS, LED BY THEIR MATRIARCHS AND LONE MALES, WILL JOURNEY UP TO A HUNDRED MILES TO GET HERE.

ARRIVING EN MASSE, THIS HUGE GATHERING IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MATE, BUT TIME IS LIMITED.

IN 21 DAYS, THE ELEPHANTS WILL HEAD BACK TO THEIR HOME RANGES... [HYENA CACKLING] SPREADING OUT AGAIN ACROSS NORTHERN KENYA.

THE TEAM IS BASED AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF "SAVE THE ELEPHANTS," A KEY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN THE VERY HEART OF THE RESERVE.

NARRATOR: HAVING STUDIED THE ELEPHANTS HERE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, THE RESEARCHERS KNOW MANY INDIVIDUALS BY NAME.

[TRUMPETS, SNORTS] LIZ: THAT LEFT EAR, IT'S INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE, IT'S SO JAGGED.

VERY JAGGED.

NARRATOR: SCIENTIST LIZ BONNIN WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH ELEPHANT EXPERT SABA DOUGLAS-HAMILTON, ANALYZING SATELLITE TRACKING DATA AS IT COMES INTO CAMP.

USING THIS INFORMATION, THE TEAM WILL HEAD OUT EACH MORNING TO TRACK THE ELEPHANTS AS THEY ENTER THE RESERVE.

AROUND 50 ELEPHANTS ARE CURRENTLY FITTED WITH COLLARS... AND THE LATEST DATA SUGGESTS THAT THE NUMBERS COMING INTO THE RESERVE NOW COULD BE THE HIGHEST IN 5 YEARS.

TO STUDY THIS UNIQUE MIGRATION, THE TEAM IS GOING TO FOLLOW TWO DISTINCT GROUPS.

ELEPHANT EXPERT AND WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN BOB POOLE WILL FOLLOW THE BIG BULLS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR A MATE.

THESE MALES, WITH THEIR LARGE TUSKS, ARE A PRIME TARGET FOR POACHERS.

THIS GATHERING IS AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK UP ON THEIR STATUS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN MAX HUG WILLIAMS WILL FOLLOW A SPECIAL GROUP OF YOUNG ELEPHANTS, ALSO AFFECTED BY POACHING... A HERD OF ORPHANS WHERE EVERY ADULT MEMBER HAS BEEN KILLED.

[SQUEAKS] NARRATOR: WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED LEADER, THESE YOUNG ORPHANS' LIVES ARE IN CONSTANT DANGER.

THEIR BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL IS TO LINK UP WITH AN OLDER, WISER HERD.

AND SUCH A LARGE GATHERING OF ELEPHANTS COULD BE JUST THE OPPORTUNITY THEY NEED.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE SATELLITE TRACKING DATA SHOWS ELEPHANT FAMILIES MAKING THEIR WAY TO SAMBURU FROM ALL OVER NORTHERN KENYA.

WITH PLENTY OF FAMILY GROUPS NOW IN THE RESERVE, THE BIG LONE BULLS ARE ALSO BEGINNING TO ARRIVE.

DRIVEN BY THE URGE TO MATE, THESE IMPRESSIVE ANIMALS CAN TRAVEL NON-STOP DAY AND NIGHT FOR A HUNDRED MILES.

NOW THEY HAVE A BIG CHALLENGE: NOT ONLY MUST THEY FIND A FEMALE IN ESTRUS, BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY MUST FIGHT RIVAL BULLS FOR THE RIGHT TO MATE... [TRUMPETING] AND EVERY MALE IS EQUALLY DETERMINED TO WIN.

[GROWLS] AS MALES TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE, THIS MASS GATHERING REALLY IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO FIND A MATE.

IT'S ALSO THE IDEAL CHANCE FOR SCIENTISTS TO GAIN VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MAGNIFICENT BULLS.

RIGHT NOW, THE LIVE DATA SHOWS THAT ONE OF THESE FEW REMAINING BIG TUSKERS IN THIS PART OF AFRICA IS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE GATHERING.

RARELY SEEN IN THE RESERVE IS A LEGENDARY 45-YEAR-OLD BULL ELEPHANT CALLED MATT.

SABA: HE'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE RESERVE, SO HE'S COMING IN ANY MINUTE.

[LIZ GASPS] AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR BULL?

I THINK WE'VE--WE STARTED COLLARING HIM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, AND HE'S JUST THE MOST FANTASTIC MALE, REALLY BEAUTIFUL IVORY.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING BECAUSE HE'S SOMEBODY WE DON'T SEE VERY OFTEN, BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, HE'S NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND WITH, 'CAUSE HE'S NOT USED TO PEOPLE.

HE'S BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME UP HERE IN THE NORTH, ABOUT 50 KILOMETERS FROM HERE AND NOW HE'S JUST HAD A MAJOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

NARRATOR: MATT'S TRAVELING FROM HIS TERRITORY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MATTHEWS RANGE AND HEADING SOUTH, STRAIGHT FOR THE GATHERING.

MOVING MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL, HE COVERS THE LAST 30 MILES IN JUST OVER A WEEK.

THE LATEST DATA SHOWS HE'S NOW RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE RESERVE.

SO IF YOU LOOK HERE, YOU CAN SEE HOW FAST HE'S BEEN MOVING.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT'S SO AMAZING.

HE'S JUST STREAKING STRAIGHT DOWN TOWARDS SAMBURU, WHICH I RECKON INDICATES THAT HE'S IN MUSTH.

NARRATOR: MUSTH IS A STATE OF HEIGHTENED AGGRESSION DURING WHICH A BULL'S DESIRE TO MATE IS AT ITS GREATEST.

[GROANING] FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEIR BODIES ARE FLOODED WITH THE MALE SEX HORMONE TESTOSTERONE, IN SOME CASES, AS MUCH AS 60 TIMES MORE THAN NORMAL.

IN THIS HEIGHTENED STATE OF AROUSAL, THEY ARE PRIMED TO DO TWO THINGS: MATE OR FIGHT.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS] IT'S A TIME WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR MOST UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS.

[TRUMPETS] MATT'S ARRIVAL IN THE RESERVE MEANS THE OTHER BULLS NOW HAVE SERIOUS COMPETITION.

BUT JUST HOW EASY WILL IT BE FOR HIM TO ASSERT HIS DOMINANCE AND FIND A SUITABLE MATE?

USING THE INFORMATION FROM MATT'S SATELLITE COLLAR, WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN BOB POOLE HOPES TO FIND OUT.

BOB ON RADIO: GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD WITH THE COORDINATES.

OK, NORTH ZERO DEGREES, 34 MINUTES 28 SECONDS.

EAST 37 DEGREES, 71 SECONDS.

YOU GOT THAT?

BOB: PERFECT.

WE'LL GO STRAIGHT THERE.

THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

OVER.

LOOK, HAVE FUN.

THERE WE ARE ON THE RIVER, AND HE'S JUST THERE, SO... LET'S GO FIND A MUSTH BULL.

A BIG MUSTH BULL.

NARRATOR: BOB GREW UP IN KENYA AND HAS BEEN AROUND ELEPHANTS ALMOST HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

EVEN SO, THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CLOSE TO A BULL OF MATT'S STATURE, BUT NOT TOO CLOSE.

BOB: IT'S A BIG MALE ALL BY HIMSELF.

IT'S GOT TO BE MATT.

NARRATOR: AFTER HIS LONG JOURNEY, THIS IS MATT'S LAST CHANCE TO REST BEFORE HE BEGINS HIS NONSTOP SEARCH FOR A MATE.

BOB: HE MUST HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE HOT AND DECIDED TO TAKE A BREAK UNDER THE ONLY TREE AROUND.

MAY BE NICE FOR HIM TO GET OUR SCENT, AND SO I'LL GO UPWIND A LITTLE BIT SO HE CAN SMELL WHO WE ARE, AND THEN WE'LL JUST TAKE IT REALLY NICE AND SLOW 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THIS ELEPHANT AND WE WANT TO SORT OF MEET ON PEACEFUL TERMS.

DON'T MIND US.

YOU ARE SPECTACULAR.

WOW.

MAGNIFICENT BULL.

NARRATOR: IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR BOB TO CONFIRM THAT MATT IS INDEED IN MUSTH.

BOB: OH: THERE'S THE DRIBBLE.

LOOK AT THAT.

OK. NARRATOR: URINE DRIBBLING IS A CLASSIC SIGN OF A BULL'S INCREASED SEXUAL AROUSAL AND AGGRESSION.

[MATT GROWLING] BOB: NOW WHAT'S HE DOING?

HE'S ON THE MOVE.

IT APPEARS--HE'S COMING.

OH, NO.

[MATT TRUMPETS] BOB: THAT'S A MUSTH BULL FOR YOU.

HE'S NOT QUIT.

COME ON, MATT.

DUDE, WE'RE GONNA BE BUDDIES, AREN'T WE?

JEEZ, THAT GAVE ME A-- I'M SHAKING.

I'M LITERALLY SHAKING.

THAT WAS A--WHEW.

NARRATOR: OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, BOB WILL NEED TO TREAD VERY CAREFULLY, USING ALL OF HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO STAY CLOSE TO MATT.

AT BASE CAMP, DATA FROM THE SATELLITE COLLARS REVEALS EXCITING NEWS.

IT SHOWS THAT AMONG THE ELEPHANTS ARRIVING, A HERD OF YOUNG ORPHANS WELL-KNOWN TO THE SCIENTISTS ARE ALREADY IN THE RESERVE.

LIZ: MAX, IT'S LIZ.

I'VE GOT COORDINATES FOR YOU-- NORTH 0.33 DEGREES, EAST 0.47.

SO, WILSON, I THINK WE NEED TO GO LEFT.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO THE SATELLITE DATA, THE CREW HONES STRAIGHT IN ON THE GROUP.

MAX FILMED THIS HERD 5 YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE FAMILY WAS DECIMATED BY POACHERS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S SEEN THEM SINCE.

MAX: IT MAKES THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK STAND UP WHEN YOU THINK, LAST TIME I WAS FILMING THESE GUYS, THEY WERE IN THE PERFECT FAMILY, AND NOW THEY'VE BEEN REDUCED TO THIS ORPHAN GROUP.

NARRATOR: AS A RESULT OF THE IVORY TRADE, THIS HERD LOST ALL 7 ADULT MEMBERS, LEAVING THESE YOUNGSTERS WITH NO MOTHERS, NO LEADER, AND NO ADULTS TO PASS ON THE VITAL KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.

ACROSS AFRICA, IVORY POACHING IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, WITH ONE ELEPHANT KILLED, ON AVERAGE, EVERY 15 MINUTES... A TOTAL OF 30,000 A YEAR.

BY TAKING OUT ADULTS WITH THE LARGEST TUSKS, POACHERS ARE DEPRIVING HERDS OF THEIR MOST EXPERIENCED AND IMPORTANT MEMBERS, DISRUPTING THE ELEPHANTS' CLOSE-KNIT SOCIETY, AND LEAVING YOUNGER, INEXPERIENCED ELEPHANTS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

NOW IN THIS AREA OF NORTHERN KENYA, ALMOST ONE IN 5 HERDS ARE ORPHAN HERDS.

THIS ONE IS LED BY A YOUNG, 13-YEAR-OLD FEMALE CALLED HABIBA.

MAX: GETTING UP THIS CLOSE AND SEEING HABIBA, LOOKING INTO HER EYES, YOU HAVE TO THINK WHAT SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH IN HER SHORT LIFE AND HOW SHE'S HAD TO GROW UP SO QUICKLY.

NARRATOR: NORMALLY, THE MATRIARCH IS AT LEAST TWICE HABIBA'S AGE, BUT AS THE OLDEST REMAINING FEMALE, THE WHOLE FAMILY NOW LOOK TO HER FOR GUIDANCE.

BARELY A TEENAGER, SHE LACKS THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO KEEP HER HERD SAFE.

THESE MOTHERLESS HERDS LIVE LIFE ON A KNIFE EDGE.

JUST ONE WRONG DECISION CAN BE FATAL, AS ANOTHER ORPHAN GROUP DISCOVERED ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEIR NAIVE LEADER DECIDED TO CROSS A RIVER WHEN IT WAS IN FULL FLOOD, A HUGE ERROR IN JUDGMENT THAT PUT THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG CALVES IN DANGER.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING] THIS FAMILY WAS LUCKY-- THE CALVES WERE WASHED ASHORE-- BUT IT'S A REMINDER OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT AN OLDER, EXPERIENCED LEADER IS.

HABIBA HAS A LOT ON HER PLATE.

SHE HAS THE HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OF KEEPING HER HERD SAFE, AND SHE IS ALSO A FIRST-TIME MOTHER TO ZAWADI, WHO'S ALREADY PROVING QUITE A HANDFUL.

MAX: THIS LITTLE CHARACTER IS GONNA GIVE US HEART ATTACKS, I THINK, BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS DISAPPEARING OFF ON HIS OWN.

EVEN WITH THE SHORT TIME WE'VE SPENT WITH HIM, YOU CAN JUST SEE WHAT A CHARACTER HE IS.

NARRATOR: ZAWADI'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A TROUBLE-MAKING TODDLER.

HE'S ONLY A YEAR OLD AND COMPLETELY RELIANT ON HABIBA.

[TRUMPETS] [TRUMPETS] NARRATOR: FOR A FIRST-TIME MOTHER WITH NO HELP OR GUIDANCE, KEEPING ZAWADI SAFE IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

MAX: I SUPPOSE HE'S HAD TO GROW UP FAST IN A FAMILY LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, HIS MUM IS SO YOUNG, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE GROUP IS SO YOUNG, SO HE'S PROBABLY JUST BEEN LEFT TO HIS OWN DEVICES, AND I THINK HABIBA'S REALLY GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIM BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR SOMEONE THAT SMALL TO GO WANDERING OFF ON HIS OWN.

NARRATOR: THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOR HABIBA AND HER SON ARE CRITICAL.

THEIR BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL IS TO BE TAKEN UNDER THE WING OF AN OLDER, EXPERIENCED FAMILY.

IT'S UNUSUAL FOR A HERD TO ACCEPT UNRELATED ELEPHANTS, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN, AND THIS LARGE GATHERING IS THE ORPHANS' BEST CHANCE.

IN 14 DAYS, THIS MASS OF ELEPHANTS WILL START TO DISPERSE, SO UNTIL THEN, MAX WILL FOLLOW THIS GROUP'S EVERY MOVE.

AT THE TOP OF ELEPHANT SOCIETY, BIG MALES IN MUSTH ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE, ROAMING DAY AND NIGHT IN SEARCH OF FEMALES.

ARMED WITH MATT'S LATEST COORDINATES, BOB HEADS OUT EACH DAWN TO FOLLOW THE BIG BULL'S EVERY MOVE.

WHEN HE EVENTUALLY FINDS HIM, HE'S ALREADY WITH A LARGE GROUP OF FEMALES...

BUT THERE ARE OTHER YOUNG, FIT MALES HERE LOOKING FOR A CHANCE TO MATE.

MATT NOW HAS COMPETITION.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING] BOB: OH, HO HO HO!

HERE WE GO.

[TRUMPETING] BOB: YOU TAKE THE BIGGEST, STRONGEST TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL ON THIS PLANET, AND THEN YOU GIVE HIM THIS INFUSION OF TESTOSTERONE, AND HE JUST BECOMES THIS FORCE OF NATURE THAT JUST IS UNPARALLELED.

THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT CAN COMPARE WITH A MUSTH BULL.

NARRATOR: NONE OF THE MALES HERE ARE A MATCH FOR MATT, BUT IF HE MEETS A BULL OF EQUAL SIZE, THE RESULT COULD BE VERY DIFFERENT.

BULLS ARE PREPARED TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR THE RIGHT TO MATE.

PUMPED WITH TESTOSTERONE AND IN FULL MUSTH, IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME TO ENCOUNTER A BULL.

BOB: MATT COMING UP RIGHT BEHIND US, AND I THINK...

IT'S TIME TO GO.

HE ALWAYS GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF A FRIGHT WHEN HE COMES AT US LIKE THAT.

NO.

WE CAN'T TAKE OUR EYES OFF MATT.

NARRATOR: THESE YOUNG BULLS MAY NOT BE A REAL THREAT TO MATT, BUT AS MORE ELEPHANTS ENTER THE RESERVE, THE COMPETITION WILL GROW.

THE TEAM HAS PICKED UP THE SIGNAL FROM THE COLLAR OF ANOTHER BIG BULL COMING IN FROM THE WEST.

HE'S A 28-YEAR-OLD MALE CALLED EDISON, AND SABA AND LIZ HEAD STRAIGHT OUT TO MEET HIM.

LOOK AT HIM.

I MEAN, FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

THERE IS SUCH DETERMINATION IN THE WAY HE'S WALKING, IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE HE'S GOT HIS MIND ON ONE THING AT THE MOMENT.

HE'S PICKED UP A SCENT OF AN ESTRUS FEMALE.

HE'S PICKING UP HER CALL.

THAT MEANS HE'S IN FULL MUSTH, ISN'T HE?

TAKING A LITTLE SNIFF THIS WAY?

HE'S COMING.

OH, HE'S COMING.

HE'S COMING.

DON'T YOU MOVE YOUR THING.

DON'T MOVE.

DON'T MOVE.

SABA-- DON'T MOVE.

HA HA HA!

THAT WAS AMAZING.

HA HA HA!

I AM COMPLETELY GIDDY.

THAT WAS AMAZING.

NARRATOR: UNLIKE MATT, EDISON IS MORE FAMILIAR WITH VEHICLES AND TAKES A MORE CURIOUS THAN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.

LIZ: I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE.

PHEW!

THRILLING.

AHH... NARRATOR: WITH EDISON IN THE RESERVE, THERE'S NOW SOME REAL COMPETITION FOR MATT, AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR HIM TO FIND A MATE.

AT BASE CAMP, THE COLLAR DATA FROM HABIBA AND THE ORPHANS REVEALS SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION] SABA, WHAT IS YOUR MOVEMENT DATA REVEALING ABOUT YOUR ORPHAN HERDS IN SAMBURU?

SABA: IF YOU JUST LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE HABIBA, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THAT SHE'S BECOME EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE, RESTRICTING HER MOVEMENTS TO LARGELY WITHIN THE RESERVES.

YOU KNOW, WHERE SHE KNOWS WHERE SHE FEELS SAFE IS INSIDE THE RESERVES, AND SHE'S JUST KEEPING HER MOVEMENTS VERY SMALL AND CERTAIN.

NARRATOR: HABIBA'S BEING REALLY CAUTIOUS, BUT, NEVER VENTURING FAR, THIS MAKES IT LESS LIKELY SHE WILL ENCOUNTER ANOTHER HERD WILLING TO HELP THEM...

BUT THE TRACKING DATA DOES REVEAL AN ENCOURAGING SIGN.

WITH AROUND 10 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE ELEPHANTS BEGIN TO DISPERSE, A LARGE, MATURE HERD IS HEADING TOWARDS OUR ORPHANS.

THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF FAMILY THEY COULD LEARN FROM.

AS MAX WAITS FOR THE OTHER HERD TO ARRIVE, HE JOINS HABIBA AND THE ORPHANS IN THE SHADE.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

IT'S BOILING HOT, AND FOR YOUNG CALVES, IT CAN BE REALLY DANGEROUS.

SUNSTROKE AND DEHYDRATION COULD EVEN KILL A YOUNG BABY, SO IT'S VITAL THAT SHE BRINGS THEM INTO THE SHADE.

NARRATOR: AS HABIBA'S FAMILY ENJOY SOME RESPITE FROM THE HEAT, THE MORE EXPERIENCED HERD HEADS STRAIGHT FOR THEM.

THIS MIGHT BE THE CHANCE THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

THE MATRIARCH APPROACHES THE ORPHANS... [TRUMPETS] NARRATOR: BUT INSTEAD OF SHARING THIS VITAL SHADE, THE INCOMING HERD FORCES THEM OUT INTO THE BLISTERING SUN, NOT THE REACTION THEY'D HOPED FOR.

MAX: MOST OF THE OTHER FAMILIES ARE MOVING INTO THE SHADE, BUT HABIBA AND OUR LITTLE GROUP OF ORPHANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.

NARRATOR: IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE FOR HER FAMILY TO REST, HABIBA'S FORCED TO LEAD THEM ACROSS THE RIVER...

BUT HERE, THEY'RE CONFRONTED WITH ANOTHER HERD... AND AGAIN FACE REJECTION.

MAX: THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THAT BULL IS ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN HABIBA, BUT YET HE'S STOPPED OUR ENTIRE FAMILY IN THEIR TRACKS.

I MEAN, THIS TINY BULL IS BULLYING AROUND OUR LITTLE FAMILY OF ORPHANS, AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PASS UNTIL HE MOVES ON... AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT OUR YOUNG FAMILY OF ORPHANS ARE REALLY LOW IN THE PECKING ORDER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'S JUST STILL SO YOUNG TO BE A MATRIARCH.

NARRATOR: IT'S NOT TOO LONG NOW BEFORE THE GATHERING WILL DISPERSE AND THE ELEPHANTS HEAD BACK OUT OF THE RESERVE, WHICH MEANS THE TIME LEFT FOR HABIBA TO FIND A HERD WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM IS RUNNING OUT.

TIME IS TICKING FOR MATT, TOO, AS HE CONTINUES HIS SEARCH FOR A MATE.

HIS COORDINATES SHOW JUST HOW HARD HE'S BEEN LOOKING SINCE HE ARRIVED.

HE'S BEEN MOVING BETWEEN DIFFERENT HERDS ALMOST 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK NONSTOP WITHOUT ANY LUCK.

FOR MATT TO SUCCESSFULLY MATE, HE NEEDS TO FIND A FEMALE IN ESTRUS IN THE 3 TO 5 DAYS SHE'S ABLE TO CONCEIVE.

BOB: THE WAY THAT THE ELEPHANTS CAN KNOW WHAT STATE OF ESTRUS THE FEMALE IS IN IS THROUGH THEIR URINE, SO SHE'LL URINATE FOR HIM.

NOW, YOU SEE WHAT MATT'S DOING THERE WITH HIS TRUNK.

HE'S TESTING THE GROUND WHERE SHE WAS.

HIS NOSTRILS ARE WIDE OPEN.

NARRATOR: BUT IT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.

THE LEVELS OF HORMONES IN HER URINE TELL MATT THAT SHE ISN'T READY TO MATE.

BOB: MATT'S MOVING ON.

HE DIDN'T REALLY LIKE WHAT HE SMELLED THERE, I GUESS.

SHE DID HER URINATION, AND THEN SHE MOVED OFF JUST A FEW FEET TO SORT OF, LIKE-- "IS HE GONNA BE INTERESTED?"

YOU KNOW, AND, UH, WOW, HERE'S ANOTHER BULL COMING, NOT--NOT A BIG BULL, BUT HE IS GONNA COME IN NOW, AND I BET YOU SHE BACKS AWAY.

YEAH.

SEE, THERE SHE IS.

SHE'S LIKE, "NO, NOT INTERESTED IN YOU PAL.

YOU ARE A PIPSQUEAK."

NARRATOR: AN ELEPHANT'S TRUNK IS NOT ONLY THE LONGEST NOSE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE.

BELIEVED TO BE 5 TIMES KEENER THAN A BLOODHOUND'S, IT DETECTS EVEN THE SMALLEST CHANGE OF HORMONE LEVELS IN URINE.

BACK AT BASE CAMP, A VISITOR IS USING HIS INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL IN A MORE POIGNANT WAY.

A BULL CALLED JAEGER HAS FOUND A COLLECTION OF TRACKING COLLARS... ALL OF WHICH BELONGED TO ELEPHANTS KILLED BY POACHERS.

HE GENTLY MANIPULATES AND SMELLS EACH COLLAR, BUT THERE'S ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT HOLDS HIS INTEREST.

LIZ: IT'S HUGELY EMOTIVE TO WATCH THIS ELEPHANT BEHAVE IN THIS WAY.

HE RECOGNIZES WHO THESE COLLARS BELONGED TO.

HE IS INHALING MEGABYTES OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHO THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE, AND IT'S EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL TO WATCH THIS... NARRATOR: WE CAN'T, OF COURSE, KNOW WHAT HE'S THINKING, BUT HIS BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS HE'S DEEPLY AFFECTED BY WHAT HE'S FOUND.

LIZ: AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW INCREDIBLY EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT THESE ANIMALS ARE.

THEY REMEMBER, THEY RECOGNIZE YEARS AFTER ELEPHANTS PASS AWAY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY GRIEVE THE DEAD, AND THEY OFTEN MANIPULATE THE SKULLS AND THE BONES OF THE DEAD, BUT I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

NARRATOR: JAEGER FINALLY LEAVES THE CAMP, HAVING SPENT OVER HALF AN HOUR WITH THE OLD COLLARS.

[TRUMPETS] NARRATOR: A MILE DOWN RIVER, CAMERAMAN MAX IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH HABIBA AND HER YOUNG CALF ZAWADI, AS THE SATELLITE DATA SHOWS SHE IS LEADING HER LITTLE FAMILY INTO LION TERRITORY.

MAX: THERE'S A PRIDE OF LIONS JUST IN THIS SALT BRUSH YOU CAN SEE JUST BY THE BUSH THERE, AND THIS IS PERFECT LION HABITAT.

THEY LIE IN HERE WAITING TO AMBUSH PREY, AND THEY'RE JUST OPPORTUNISTS WAITING FOR A CALF STRAYING AWAY FROM THEIR MOTHER.

OH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

NARRATOR: ACROSS AFRICA, LIONS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HUNT ELEPHANTS.

LIKE THIS PRIDE IN BOTSWANA, THEY TARGET YOUNG AND VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, SEPARATING THEIR VICTIMS FROM THEIR FAMILY, AND USING STRENGTH IN NUMBERS TO MAKE A KILL.

[TRUMPETING] MAX KNOWS THE DANGER LITTLE ZAWADI MIGHT BE IN.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT BE A PRIDE THAT I KNOW, AND THERE'S ABOUT 7 OF THEM, SO IF IT'S THEM, THEY'RE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THESE CALVES, AND A--A LION-- IN SAMBURU, IS VERY LITTLE GAME AROUND-- THEY HAVE TO BE OPPORTUNIST.

IF THEY SEE A CALF STRAY AWAY FROM ITS MOTHER, THEN IT'S FAIR GAME.

THEY'LL BE ONTO IT BECAUSE THIS PRIDE HAS GOT A LOT OF MOUTHS TO FEED.

HABIBA IS JUST 50 METERS THAT WAY, AND THE LIONS ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN US AND THEM.

NARRATOR: HABIBA AND THE ORPHANS ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THE DANGER.

MAX: WILSON, WILSON, [INDISTINCT].

WILSON, THEY'RE HERE.

THE LIONS ARE JUST IN THIS CLEARING.

I JUST SAW A FEMALE SLINKING BEHIND THIS TREE, AND HABIBA IS LITERALLY 50 METERS OVER THERE, AND THIS LION'S NOW MOVING THAT WAY.

[TRUMPETS] MAX: I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT LIONS HERE SOMETIMES TAKE ELEPHANTS, BUT TO SEE THEM SO CLOSE TO THIS REALLY VULNERABLE FAMILY, I MEAN, THEY'RE A GROUP OF BABIES, AND IF EVER THERE WAS A SCENARIO WHERE A LION COULD GRAB AN EASY MEAL, IT'S WITH THIS LOT.

ZAWADI, HE'S VENTURING OFF ON HIS OWN, WHICH IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

THE LIONS ARE JUST BETWEEN HERE AND HIM.

[ELEPHANT ROARING] NARRATOR: OUT OF NOWHERE, A MUSTH BULL CHASING A FEMALE FROM ANOTHER HERD CHARGES INTO THE SCENE RIGHT BETWEEN THE LIONS AND ZAWADI.

MAX: THIS FEMALE ALMOST CAME TO US FOR PROTECTION, AND HE VIRTUALLY MOUNTED US AS WELL AS HER.

NARRATOR: IN AN EXTRAORDINARY TWIST OF FATE, THE LIONS ARE FLUSHED OUT INTO THE OPEN, AND ZAWADI'S LIFE IS SAVED.

PHBBB... NARRATOR: THIS TIME, THEY WERE LUCKY, BUT IT'S A REMINDER OF THE RISKS THAT LEADERLESS ORPHANS FACE EVERY DAY.

WITH MATT ON CONSTANT MOVE DAY AND NIGHT, BOB HAS TO FIND HIS LATEST LOCATION EACH MORNING.

THE MOST RECENT DATA, ALREADY AN HOUR OLD, POINTS TO AN AREA OF THICK BUSH JUST A FEW MILES FROM CAMP.

IN SUCH DIFFICULT TERRAIN, BOB NEEDS ALL HIS TRACKING SKILLS TO WORK OUT WHERE MATT'S MOVED TO SINCE HIS LAST KNOWN POSITION.

YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE THERE'S BEEN AN ELEPHANT.

I MEAN, THAT'S VERY CLEAR.

THE GRASS HAS BEEN TRAMPLED DOWN.

MATT IS A MASTER OF HIDING IN THICK BUSH.

I COULD GO WALKING UP ALL THROUGH THIS STUFF LOOKING FOR HIM, BUT IT WOULD BE KIND OF SILLY 'CAUSE BY THE TIME I SEE HIM, HE'S SO CLOSE TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, IF HE WANTED TO, HE'D STEP ON ME LIKE THAT.

SO MATT COULD BE ANYWHERE IN HERE.

IT'S THICK BUSH AGAIN.

WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES OPEN.

WE DON'T WANT TO COME ROUND A BUSH GOING TOO FAST AND SUDDENLY BUMP INTO HIM.

YOU KNOW, THIS GUY, YOU KNOW, COULD PUMMEL US, SERIOUSLY.

HA HA!

[TRUMPETS] BOB: WELL, WE'VE JUST FOUND MATT GUARDING A FEMALE.

NARRATOR: THE FACT HE'S GUARDING HER SUGGESTS THIS FEMALE'S IN ESTRUS AND READY TO MATE.

HE NOW HAS TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER BULLS GET TO HER FIRST.

BOB: AND HE'S PUSHING OTHER BULLS AROUND.

NOW YOU SEE THE ACTION HAPPENING.

HOO, THIS IS FUN, FOLLOWING MATT AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOT HAVING HIM DO ANYTHING AND SUDDENLY HE'S IN FULL SWING HERE.

THIS IS REALLY TIGHT QUARTERS FOR US AND MATT TOGETHER, BUT THE ACTION IS ON.

WHERE'S MATT?

THERE HE IS.

[ENGINE STOPS] CLEARLY, THIS FEMALE IS READY OR JUST ABOUT TO BE READY, ENOUGH THAT MATT'S WILLING TO GUARD HER.

UP TILL NOW, WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN MATT TAKING SUCH A KEEN INTEREST IN MATING, AND FINALLY AFTER ALL THESE DAYS, HE IS, BUT MATT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WANTS TO MATE.

NARRATOR: THE YOUNGER MALES ARE VERY INTERESTED, TOO.

BOB: AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT ON MATT.

SEE, THESE GUYS RETREATING RIGHT NOW MEANS MATT'S PROBABLY PUSHING THIS WAY.

CAN YOU SEE MATT?

NARRATOR: AS MATT STARTS TO SEE OFF THE COMPETITION, BOB GETS CAUGHT IN THE ACTION.

[TRUMPETS] BOB: WE'VE GOT STUCK.

YEAH.

IT'S STUCK.

IT IS.

I JUST--I CENTERED MYSELF ON A LOG.

WE GOT TO HURRY, GUYS.

JUST GOT TO WINCH OURSELVES OVER THIS LOG.

LET'S JUST TAKE THIS STUFF HERE FOR NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

WE CAN GO.

UH!

WHEW.

THAT WAS A LITTLE INTENSE, YOU KNOW?

TRYING TO GIVE MATT SOME SPACE, AND THEN WE WERE STUCK.

HA!

LUCKILY, MATT WENT THE OTHER WAY.

NARRATOR: MATT HAS FAR MORE PRESSING CONCERNS THAN THE CREW'S JEEP RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GOT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 BULLS FOLLOWING THE FEMALE WITH MATT RIGHT BEHIND HER.

NARRATOR: WITH SO MUCH COMPETITION, MATT CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF HER FOR A SECOND.

I MEAN, WE'VE WATCHED THE ACTION BUILDING EVERY DAY, AND FINALLY, IT'S REALLY GETTING SERIOUS.

THIS IS GREAT ACTION.

NARRATOR: THESE YOUNG MALES AREN'T BIG ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE MATT DIRECTLY, BUT THEY'RE CRAFTY.

THE MOMENT HIS BACK IS TURNED, A YOUNG BULL GRABS HIS CHANCE AND CHASES AFTER THE FEMALE.

MATT COULD BE ABOUT TO LOSE THE CHANCE HE'S WORKED SO HARD TO GET.

[GROWLING] [TRUMPETING] BOB: MATT TOOK HIS EYE OFF THE BALL FOR A MINUTE, AND HE ALMOST LET ONE OF THESE OTHER BULLS MATE THAT FEMALE... AND I DON'T THINK HE WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE MATT WAS COMING IN FULL BORE AND MANAGED TO PUSH HIM OFF.

MATT CAN REALLY MOVE WHEN HE HAS TO.

NARRATOR: WITH SO MANY BULLS AROUND, THE FEMALE WON'T STAND STILL LONG ENOUGH TO MATE.

MATT'S ONLY CHANCE IS TO LEAD HER TO A SECLUDED SPOT AWAY FROM THE COMPETITION.

THE SATELLITE COLLARS HAVE ALLOWED THE TEAM TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON INDIVIDUAL ELEPHANTS... AND THE MORE TIME THEY SPEND WITH THEM, THE MORE THEY'RE FINDING OUT ABOUT THEIR COMPLEX DAILY LIVES.

LIZ HAS JUST RECEIVED NEWS OF SOME EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOR HAPPENING CLOSE TO CAMP.

AS SHE ARRIVES ON THE SCENE, SHE CAN BARELY BELIEVE HER EYES.

A GROUP OF ELEPHANTS ARE GORGING THEMSELVES ON WEAVER BIRD NESTS, NESTS THAT, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, ARE CERTAIN TO BE FULL OF EGGS AND EVEN CHICKS.

FOR AN ANIMAL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO FEED SOLELY ON PLANTS, THIS IS ASTONISHING BEHAVIOR, AND IT'S NEVER BEEN FILMED BEFORE.

AS THE ELEPHANTS MOVE ON, LIZ EXAMINES THE DEBRIS LEFT BEHIND-- EGG SHELLS SCATTERED EVERYWHERE AND DEAD CHICKS.

THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH DECIMATED QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF THE POPULATION OF WEAVER BIRDS HERE.

NARRATOR: THEIR BEHAVIOR RAISES A COMPELLING QUESTION.

LIZ: WHAT THE ELEPHANTS ARE LIKING ABOUT THESE NESTS-- WHETHER IT IS JUST THE FOLIAGE, THE VEGETATION, OR WHETHER THEY'VE ACQUIRED A TASTE FOR EGGS OR CHICKS OR BOTH.

NARRATOR: THE ANSWER IS NOT YET CLEAR.

WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE TO LEARN ABOUT AN ANIMAL WE THINK WE KNOW SO WELL.

OUT IN THE RESERVE, BOB CONTINUES TO TRACK MATT'S PROGRESS.

FINALLY, HE AND HIS CHOSEN FEMALE HAVE FOUND SOME PRIVACY.

SHE IS 18-YEAR-OLD LEPIDOPTERA, A FEMALE IN HER PRIME.

ALREADY AN EXPERIENCED MOTHER OF 3, SHE IS AN IDEAL MATE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE'S FINALLY SHOWING INTEREST IN MATT, SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING HIM IN HIS TRACKS.

AT LAST, STRENGTH, EXPERIENCE, AND PERSISTENCE HAVE PAID OFF, AND MATT HAS SUCCESSFULLY MATED.

IN 22 MONTHS FROM NOW, IF ALL GOES WELL, LEPIDOPTERA WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A CALF THAT COULD CARRY MATT'S LEGACY INTO THE FUTURE.

[TRUMPETS] BOB: THE BEHAVIOR NOW IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

LOOK AT HER.

SHE'S SO, SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS, STANDING NEXT TO MATT, AND SHE'S CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT AND TOUCHING HIM.

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.

ALL THE ELEPHANTS ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

[TRUMPETS] NARRATOR: TRACKING MATT'S EVERY MOVE HAS ALLOWED BOB TO WITNESS JUST HOW A DOMINANT BULL GOES ABOUT CHOOSING A MATE.

RATHER THAN JUST RUSHING IN, HE'S SEEN HOW THEY USE THEIR INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FEMALE AND HOW TENDER AND SENSITIVE THEY CAN BE WHILE ALSO USING THEIR REMARKABLE STRENGTH TO WARD OFF OTHER MALES.

BOB: HERE'S THIS MAGNIFICENT BULL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE LAST OF HIS KIND, YOU KNOW, OF THAT SIZE IN AFRICA, AND YOU SEE HIM PASSING HIS GENES ON, AND YOU JUST THINK, "WOW.

THAT IS SO COOL THAT I WAS HERE FOR THAT."

WHEN THAT CALF IS BORN, THEY'LL KNOW WHO THE FATHER WAS.

NOW, THAT IS SO AMAZING, I'M JUST--I'M THRILLED RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: SADLY, MAJESTIC, DOMINANT BULLS LIKE MATT ARE INCREASINGLY RARE.

[TRUMPETS] NARRATOR: JUST 5 YEARS AGO, OVER 30 LARGE TUSKERS, KNOWN TO SAVE THE ELEPHANTS, VISITED THE RESERVE.

THIS YEAR, DUE TO POACHING, THERE WERE ONLY 4.

AS THE BIGGEST TUSKER IN THE REGION, MATT'S LIFE IS AT RISK EVERY DAY... ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT HE HAD THIS VITAL CHANCE TO PASS ON HIS GENES.

ALREADY, THE LATEST TRACKING DATA SHOWS THAT THIS YEAR'S GATHERING IS COMING TO AN END.

THE MOVEMENT DATA IS SO CLEAR.

I MEAN, NOT ONLY CAN YOU SEE THE--THE MUSTH BULLS DROPPING OUT OF MUSTH, MOVING AWAY, BUT THE FAMILIES ARE ALSO DISPERSING.

SABA: NOW IT'S GETTING A LOT DRIER.

THERE'S NO MORE SURFACE WATER.

THEY HAVE TO GO OUT, SO YOU'RE-- YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THIS DISPERSAL NOW.

THE LAND IS DRYING UP, AND THE ELEPHANTS ARE PARTING.

NARRATOR: WITH THEIR CONSTANT NEED FOR FOOD AND WATER, THE ELEPHANTS MUST NOW BEGIN THEIR LONG JOURNEY HOME, BACK ACROSS NORTHERN KENYA.

LIZ: AND, OF COURSE, WHEN THEY'RE AWAY FROM THIS PROTECTED AREA, THEY ARE FACING A WHOLE GAMUT OF THREATS.

WE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW-- YOU ALWAYS SEE THEM GO WITH A BIT OF A HEAVY HEART.

CERTAINLY, AN ANIMAL LIKE MATT, EVERY TIME HE GOES, I WONDER WHETHER WE'RE EVER GONNA SEE HIM AGAIN.

NARRATOR: WITH ONLY 9 DAYS OR SO LEFT UNTIL MOST OF THE HERDS DISAPPEAR, TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR HABIBA AND HER FAMILY TO FIND HELP...

BUT HER COLLAR TELLS US SHE'S HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF A WELL-ESTABLISHED HERD.

ITS LEADER IS AN EXPERIENCED, 50-YEAR-OLD TUSKLESS MATRIARCH.

THIS COULD BE THE ORPHANS' LAST CHANCE TO BE ACCEPTED BY ANOTHER FAMILY BEFORE THE GATHERING ENDS.

MAX: AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER YOUNGSTERS HERE, SO IT WOULD BE SO NICE TO SEE ZAWADI INTERACTING WITH ANOTHER GROUP.

ZAWADI'S JUST WANDERED UP TO ANOTHER BABY.

HA HA!

HE GOT PUT BACK IN HIS PLACE A BIT, A BIT OF A NUDGE, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE ALMOST PLAYING WITH THESE OTHER YOUNGSTERS, WHICH IS SO LOVELY TO SEE.

IF HABIBA CAN ASSOCIATE WITH AN OLDER FEMALE, SHE'LL LEARN SO MUCH.

NARRATOR: AND THEN SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAPPENS.

AS THE HERD HEADS OFF, THE ORPHAN HERD LEAVES WITH THEM, BOTH FAMILIES NOW MOVING AS ONE.

AGAINST ALL ODDS, IT SEEMS THAT THE ORPHANS HAVE FINALLY FOUND A GROUP WILLING TO TAKE THEM ON.

MAX: THIS IS SO NICE TO SEE BECAUSE THIS TUSKLESS FEMALE IS NOW LEADING NOT ONLY HER FAMILY, BUT ALSO HABIBA.

SHE'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HERD WITH ZAWADI, AND FOR SOME REASON, OUR RAGTAG GROUP ARE BEING TOLERATED.

THIS IS WHAT ELEPHANT SOCIETY SHOULD BE LIKE, AND I JUST HOPE THAT SOME OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IS RUBBING OFF SO SHE CAN LEAD THIS LITTLE ORPHAN GROUP WISELY IN THE FUTURE... AND I SUPPOSE IT'S NOT JUST HABIBA WHO'S LEARNING HERE BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE, THERE'S ZAWADI SPARRING WITH SOMEONE A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN HIM, BUT THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

EVERY SINGLE MEMBER IS LEARNING FROM OTHERS IN THE GROUP, AND ZAWADI NOW HAS SOME SPARRING PARTNERS, AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR A YOUNGSTER LIKE HIM BECAUSE IF HE'S EVER TO BECOME A MAJESTIC BULL LIKE MATT, THEN HE NEEDS TO LEARN THE ROPES IN A FAMILY GROUP... AND ONE DAY, HE MAY WELL GROW UP TO BE THE SIZE OF MATT AND BE HAVING KIDS OF HIS OWN.

NARRATOR: DESPITE EVERYTHING THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, THE ORPHANS HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE SUPPORT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

AS THE NUMBER OF ORPHAN HERDS INCREASES, SCIENTISTS ARE DISCOVERING THAT ELEPHANTS ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO ADAPT, AND WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IS HOW AN INTELLIGENT, SOCIAL SPECIES IS LEARNING TO RESPOND TO THE NEW CHALLENGES IT FACES.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE HAS BEEN THE SETTING FOR A REMARKABLE GATHERING.

USING THE DATA FROM THE SATELLITE COLLARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE FOR OURSELVES HOW YOUNG, ORPHAN HERDS ARE COPING WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR MATRIARCHS... HOW BULL ELEPHANTS FIND MATES TO PASS ON THEIR GIANT LEGACY... AND WE'VE WITNESSED INCREDIBLE, NEW ELEPHANT BEHAVIOR.

WHILE WE STILL DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THESE MAJESTIC ANIMALS, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN REVEALS AN ASTONISHING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND A REMARKABLE CAPABILITY FOR COMPASSION AND KINDNESS.

THESE ELEPHANTS ARE FINDING WAYS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND PRESERVE THEIR UNIQUE AND COMPLEX SOCIETY.

IT'S THIS THAT GIVES HOPE FOR BULLS LIKE MATT AND FAMILIES LIKE OUR ORPHANS, THAT THEY MIGHT CONTINUE THIS AGE-OLD GATHERING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.