Rare footage reveals survival secrets of Africa’s top predators

Rare hyena behavior has been caught on camera, including an expectant mother trying to steal food from wild dogs and outsmarting rivals by hiding a stolen carcass underwater to mask her scent.

These are just some of the remarkable animal behaviors on display in the BBC’s new wildlife documentary series Kingdom, which follows the lives of four rival carnivore families over the course of five years.

Scenes include poignant moments where animals face threats from pitfall traps to brutal ambushes and fierce territorial battles.

Executive producer Mike Gunton said, “We could never write a script like this, only nature could write this script.”

​Behind the scenes, the Zambia Carnivore Program is working to protect these animals.

​​The team tracked four families of animals – leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and lions – in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, capturing rare moments and revealing the complex dynamics of life in one of Africa’s wildest regions.

Viewers will watch five-day-old lion cubs open their eyes and dramatic scenes such as a pack of wild dogs saving one of their own from the jaws of a crocodile, shown for the first time in the Kingdom.

Other wild animals such as elephants and baboons also feature in the new series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

“Everything about these species has been shaped by millions of years of competition with each other,” said series producer Felicity Lanchester. “Now…people are changing that,” he added.

Filmmakers and scientific researchers in the region collaborated behind the scenes, as the images are a valuable source of data informing conservation strategies.

Zambia Carnivore Program CEO and the series’ scientific advisor, Dr. “We got a lot of information about topography, nutrition, movement, births and deaths that we wouldn’t have otherwise had,” said Matthew Becker.

The biggest threat facing these large carnivores is habitat loss; Trapping and a declining prey base also play a role. Wire traps or snares are often set for wildebeest (both for food and for illegal trade), but many large mammals fall victim to bycatch.

These pressures are changing herd sizes, diets and survival strategies, according to Dr Becker. A single event can have knock-on effects affecting dozens or even hundreds of animals.

​​In one scene, a wild dog that lost its leg in a trap reappears. Despite his injury, the birthing bag welcomes him back and allows him to eat his share and continue the hunt.

​​For those who are not so lucky, the Zambia Carnivore Program exists to protect them. The organization, along with other local groups, removes traps, protects sanctuaries, and provides law enforcement with information on the illegal ivory and bushmeat trade.

Referring to the protection focus of the series, Dr. “Ultimately this is a message of optimism in the face of some pretty worrying trends,” Becker said.

​​According to producers, its inclusion in wildlife programs is now inevitable.

The external forces acting on these creatures are clear, and series like Kingdom can shed light on their need to be protected.

Speaking about preservation, series editor Simon Blakeney said: “It’s a challenge but not a hopeless one.”

Kingdom starts on Sunday at 18:20 GMT on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.