Predator's Playground - A Struggle for Life & Death | Free Documentary Nature

There is a place in Zimbabwe that some would call a paradise, a refreshing haven of relief. This place gives

life

to thousands, but don't be fooled because in every corner there is a threat and behind every shadow there is a danger. Here is the battlefield of a gladiator, yes, every one. The year when all the land dries up, the special spring offers a chance to survive, but seizing that opportunity risks a deadly price in this dry season: who will remain and who will fall in the place they call the

predator

s'

playground

. The mighty Zambesi forms Zimbabwe's northern border, but its shining thread says nothing of its hidden dramas.

Our story begins about 30 km south of this mighty river. There is a special place here. A spring that always flows bubbling from a dry river bed, never more than 2 inches deep. Fresh water flows downstream. for a kilometer before seeping back into the sand each dry season, when all the land around is parched, the spring becomes a

life

line, but while it has been the savior of many animals, it has also lured others to their

death

s. Large

predator

s have stalked this place for centuries. Today in these ancient sediments there are footprints of dinosaurs of a similar size that suggest that these beasts were carnivorous.

This place is still the

playground

of the super predators, the lions, but what makes this arena so dangerous to enter the steep sections of the river bed is almost 200 M long the quick exits are impossible pos of these sandy slopes is one of the most dangerous challenges for any animal to run in this arena of

death

the pliers reign supreme these sweet spring waters will still run through your rotting flesh this season more than 1,000 and buffaloes will depend of this Oasis as your daily source of water. The buffaloes will defend themselves at all costs with confidence in their numbers, their weight, their deadly horns and hooves, any Lon will have to think twice before facing these Bush tanks.

Thirst may be their driving force, but survival is the ultimate goal Two rival families of lions now dominate this area The Kavinga pride and the Mazunga pride 10 years ago A magnificent male Kavinga ruled this spring His favorite lioness Mara gave birth to him three cubs two males and one The small female named Sappi Sappi stayed close to her mother's side and as she grew she saw many hunts and learned many hunting techniques. Sappi soon discovered that buffaloes were formidable opponents, their deadly horns and incredible strength claiming or taking down many of her pride. Sappi in turn had two. own taxis a boy named Shuma and a girl named Moya 3 months later sappi's sister also gave birth to a boy named motto today they are beginning to develop as a successful hunt for some they become familiar with every corner in the spring at 9 years old old, there is no doubt that sapi with his distinctive gray nose, his hunting skills are honed and with each dry season, his offspring are learning more of his deadly chuma powers, his three and a half year old son is starting to be more independent, although He has much to learn in the art of patience.

She has the tenacity and will to take on the Giants. Her sister Moya, perhaps younger, but regularly participates in the Hunts. She still tends to stay out of the action this season. She needs to perfect herself. Hunting skills, then there are three-year MTO, which means fire. She has the true heart of a gladiator, but will her spirit make up for a small body in this dry season? Young Moto needs to take on a bigger role in the Chases. The rival. Mazunga pride. They are also growing in strength, the three adult lionesses have five cubs between them and are also protected by a formidable duo of brothers.

Dbo and Kutwa, the Mazunga pack, have the makings of a deadly attacking unit if they can work together like a team. The Kavinga pack have developed the cunning tactic of staying ahead of their rivals before climbing a pole in the branches providing each line with a perfect vantage point and, in the heat of the day, a cool place to rest from August to November, the wells of water from the interior dry up thousands of animals have no choice but to cheat this spring, the Mazunga and Kavinga Prides know this well and adapt to the dry season, so the stage is set on the next path: what Will the prey need to outcompete these groups of predators? who will remain standing and who will have fallen when the rains return it is morning in spring suddenly the blue sky turns gold and becomes clouded with dust it is a sign that heralds the arrival of one of the great spectacles of spring a herd of more than 400 buffaloes after the vigil of the long night the law of water urged the thirsty animals in the leader the senses are on high alert they test the nervous wind of the steep shoots above the spring the kavinga pride is also on high alert they They've been eating for days, this may be the best chance they've had in a long time, the scent of the Kavinga herd has been detected early.

The buffalos ponder the rashes driven by thirst, the giant beast pushes itself and, despite the presence of sapi and kavinga pride the leaders throw caution to the wind the herd begins to descend Steep Sandy shoots into the water he doesn't pass much time before the warning cries emerge from the resident troop of baboons this troop and their alarm calls are a constant irritation to the The lions, the buffaloes, react, create a pincer formation surrounding the cubs this morning, no They will stay a long time before leaving the spring. Zi has decided to chase the pack, perhaps looking for an opportunity for weakness without the support of the rest of her pack.

She won. She may not be able to kill, but her determination is evident with strength in numbers. It's the Buffaloes who have the advantage. Sappi is forced to withdraw. She was left behind in the spring. There are a trio of old Buffalo Bulls. These old males are known as dger boys. He may be too slow to keep up with the rest of the pride, but big cats watch out, these old warriors have titles in lion behavior. Young children spend their final years together. Wisdom is your last defense against attackers. It's a second chance for Sappi and the kavinga pride.

His best tactic is to try to lead the Dagger boys up one of the steepest sections here. The loose sand will hinder a quick escape. Sappi chooses his target. Chuma positions himself on the flank. Then Sappi begins the chase. the best method of the isolated dagger boy The way of defense is to attack, the old bull faces the head of the kavinga lion, climbing up the steep, he shoots, his hooves sink into the soft sand, the lines approach him strongly brute force and a twisting bucking action, the dger boy takes the fight to the king as the noise and excitement has attracted three females from the rival mazunga Pride against all odds this tough old tank survives he may get his tail bitten off but the lies come true they are forced to retreat the dger boy looks defiantly defeated the kavinga pride regroups they rest in the thick bushes of the bank they can't afford to miss opportunities like this they need to work out a successful team strategy it's a problem the younger members of The Pride clearly They still have no experience.

A herd of Impala that comes down to drink attracts the attention of Sapi and Shuma. The Cavas will have no advantage on the highest and hardest terrain. They need the Impala to be on the soft sand of the river bed to have any chance. . The Impala's hooves are narrow, sinking into the sand, but the lion's pores open and they will have the advantage, giving Chase his young Shuma. who starts the charge but attacks too soon, corny tries to back him up but it's too late zy sees a second impala at the spring and there's a head start, the young kudu are drinking too.

The Kuru are larger than the Impala and will give a greater return on the kinga's invested energy, sappi, quickly targeting a young male, the kurudu takes flight through the narrow gorge. It's perfect for sappi, but it's a death trap for the kudu that

struggle

s in the murky waters. sappi attacks sappi, she may have been alone in the hunt, but she joined him in the slaughter Moya together mother and daughter share the feast the mazunga pride is growing strongly the Cubs are beginning to learn the art of hunting today the young people are enjoying a game session and Impala go down to the spring love these muddy moments is the ideal time for the mazunga lions to take their tactical positions the happy pigs do not realize the danger it is the impala and the baboons who sense the threat the choreography of this hunt seems good the flanking strategy is clear a mazunga lioness takes a position on the side of the outbreak while from the base of the spring another begins the chase its first light The Pride Kavinga is alert a huge herd of buffalo arrives to take its drink early in the morning the cats were outwitted on the hunt the last time they felt the brute force of these animals but today an opportunity or a weakness could present itself sappi has found the perfect place hidden in the shade on the left bank of the Moya Moto spring and Shuma have taken up positions above her.

A lioness from the rival Mazunga pride is also taking an interest. The developing situation she is observing from the opposite bank is thinking about joining the kingas in the hunt or leading her own pride toward a possible slaughter. The resident baboons are anxious once again. The alarm calls put the buffaloes on alert. Some stragglers have been left behind. One of them seems injured, injured in a fight between the herd, perhaps it is Sapy again who leads the attack. The bull may be injured, but the speleologist's only hope of success is to surround it, harass it, and attack it from behind.

Sidoma clings to one leg, waiting. to anchor the bull, making it a little easier for the other lions to take him down a bit and his pride seems to tolerate the single female of the maces perhaps they understand that more numbers could work in their favor an inevitable fate seems to await the defeated Buffalo and his distraught Two other bulls hear bellowing. Can these reinforcements undermine the Lion's confidence? The game of predator versus prey is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. It seems likely that the wounded bull escapes, but the balance of power shifts once again.

The cavenas try to block him and chuma launches another attack sappi now seizes his opportunity and strengthens chuma's grip and now the dance of death is all about timing sappi waits for the perfect moment to deliver the killing blow suffocation's grip sappy is cutting the buffalo air supply this The bush tank is slowly starting to weaken the choking bull gives up once on the ground it's just a matter of time sappi releases his kill awaits the Kavinga Prides team tactics have made this a successful hunt this kill should increase their confidence in hunting and serve them well for the For the rest of the dry season, the lions eat their fill, but it is not long before the white-pouched vultures and then the leopard-faced vultures arrive, these Scavengers begin to break into your favorite feast, even with four bellies.

Sappi and the Pride of him are fiercely possessive of their prey, it seems chuma. controlled by a vulture that is not flying, he investigates further, a four-belly makes flight difficult, but when a mortal joins the attack, the vulture is forced to clumsily escape. Temperatures in the Zambesi Valley begin to drop in October, the need for water increases, only one herd is needed. of buffaloes drinking from the spring so the water miraculously drains after a few hours the spring flows

free

ly again. Tactical Advantage is turning towards the two Lion Prides. Evidence of their deaths is now scattered throughout the spring.

Young elephants are the most vulnerable. Now, but even the mighty buffalo are starting to weaken as the surrounding vegetation diminishes over the next 2 months, the Kavinga and Mazunga herds will have even more opportunities. The dry season depletes food and water is becoming scarce. Tempers are fraying within the buffaloes. Collective aggression is now the order of the day for the Cavs. These battles should serve as a reminder of how powerful and dangerous these buffalo can be. Dustin's noise has alerted Toad and the Pride to him. They come down from the trees and begin to stalk. their prey the Buffalo escape at first but not for long the threat of sappi and his pride is seen the Buffalo begin to leave the inexperienced youngsters Moto and Moya line up cough and try their luck it is a big mistake the tables are Now quickly the Buffaloes They have become the motto of the aggressors and now more have to escape.

Moya is in serious danger at the top of the bank. She bravely stands her ground in the

struggle

to rise from the outbreaks. A Buffalo falls injured. Two bulls loyally return to investigate. but he soon leaves the tragic scene. The Kavinga Pride may have failed in its hunt, but spring lives and breathes by its own rules. Today the cavas receive aeasy food. The prize Kavinga and Mazunga are not the only predators roaming here this Spring is also home to wild dogs. A pack this size needs to kill frequently to feed all its members. They prefer the coolness of dawn and dusk to hunt.

Their hunting strategies are legendary, but today the pack does not form a cohesive unit with just one dog. chasing the kudu the antelope escapes it resting on the river bed the dogs are caught napping a solitary buffalo comes down to drink its delicate limbs are vulnerable to the power of this formidable beast the dogs wisely leave the buffalo alone they don't have much time left To wait for their next opportunity, a herd of Impala begins to flow into Chase Begins with so many animals on offer. Dogs are practically guaranteed a meal. Speed ​​and endurance are the dog's great strengths.

It's not long before they run over their prey. They get shorter. work the carcass, stripping it to the bone and then regurgitating the prey for their young as the day warms, increasing numbers of impalas make their way to water the herd mazunga looks forward to it's impala rat season The mazunga take pride in attacking, they begin to position themselves at strategic flanking points, even the taxis. They join this hunt, but have little experience in timing, as it is always the baboons who give the first warning, spring breaks and the animals panic. The leading lion begins. The chase along the spring leads the Impalas towards the place where the ambushes have been prepared for the Mazunga pride.

The tactics of this hunt have worked perfectly Sappi and the Kavinga pride are also today after a meal and are under cover at the In spring, this time they focus on water pigs fleeing the threat. The pigs wander unknowingly past the hidden Cinga lions, but with a turn of lightning speed, Hogs Escape sappi has failed to direct the wild boars towards the slippery embankment where he would have had the advantage with the ineffective backing of his young Pride members. , such pursuits will always be fruitless. The four Lions need to work together using the topography of the spring to gain the advantage.

It is night and the Cinga Lions try a different tactic under the cover of Darkness. stalking a young elephant that is less of a threat than a buffalo, a scruffy hyena stands in the bow and bumps into the biggest fo of her. Pride kavinga lions do not tolerate hyenas. Confrontation is inevitable. The odds are against the hyena, but he cunningly retreats into a stormy thorn bush. By doing so he has made an attack from behind impossible and relying on his formidable jaws he defends himself after suffering a few bites. The herd wisely calls off the attack.

The hyena abandons the bush. thorny too soon the Lions launch another However, discretion in attack is the best part of courage. They retreat after Chuma is bitten on the neck. A hyena bite can become a fatal wound. The risk outweighs the reward in this conflict. Kavinga Pride's plan is to target young elephants that might stray from the herd. The older elephants know this, they are skittish when they approach the spring sappi and their girlfriend starts roaring. A tactic designed to spread panic among the pack. Works. A young man is separated alone from his protected mother. Fall C is a victim of the night strategy of caving. the morning light The bears witness an extraordinary scene the mother of the young elephant has returned she tries to regain life with her cough she repeatedly tries to lift the little elephant back to its feet The kavinga Pride look on with indifference little is known of the pain of animals, but Here perhaps is a moving example of the bond between a mother and her child.

Tired and exhausted, she finally gives up to rejoin the pack. We are at the beginning of November. The familiar sound of the ox beating announces the arrival of another herd of buffalo with months of dust. their throats now simply ignore the unmistakable smell of the kavinga LS. There are many young CSs here today. It is not long before the singular baboons raise their warning cries, but a fearful thirst delays the herd as they turn to leave the spring too late. this time the four lines of cinga acting are one they lead the Buffalo towards a very steep shot the cough takes the sappy a female buffalo perhaps her mother bravely sweeps her horns towards sappy and Moya but this only serves to wound the c returns a powerful bull to charge the lion kavinga but cunningly they place the cave between them it is the young Buffalo who bears the brunt of the Bull's brave attack the young Moto now takes the initiative stifles the cough today marks a timely milestone for the sun of sappi this It is the first time mortal has delivered the fatal blow sappi has achieved his goal his family is working together the kavinga pride has finally become a cohesive lethal unit in these last days of the dry season the temperatures in the Zambesi valleys hurt The heat and aridity make life unbearable The predator's job is easier now the prey need to walk long distances to find food they return exhausted in the spring it is more difficult for the elephants they need enormous amounts of food to feed their inefficient digestive systems the fate of This young bull abandoned by his tired mother is alone in Common Place and exhausted, she finally collapses, predators now rule the playground just when all energy seems exhausted, massive clouds gather at last, the long-awaited rains return like a great storm and spring begins to flood slowly the Valley's plant recovery and animal life begins spring has done its duty during this dry season the kavinga and the mazunga Prides must now travel beyond a field to eat they must follow to the buffalo herds deep into the lushness of the Zambesi Valley only the resident baboon troops remain awaiting the return of the great herds and their predators when the dry season arrives once again.

There is no excitement in this epic fight that unfolds in these lost wild places. It is about the survival and continuation of species whose lives intertwine as they have for so many years. years in this dry season, this place has saved the lives of thousands of animals, offered its life-giving water, hosted many dramas, seen many acts of bravery and witnessed the flow of eban tactics as Predator attempts to overcome the weight of prayers, now this place must rest, replenish and revive before it once again becomes the playground of the Predators.