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man plays with lions - Accepted into lion pride [full nature wildlife documentary]
this is a relationship that breaks every rule in the book
the moon some of the most dangerous predators on our planet
accepting a human into their midst
you get the feeling you been around them
located
it is taken Kevin Richardson years a patience and dedication
to build these unique bonds them
up but keeping predators in captivity
is fraught with difficulty them
introducing young lines to each other is proving unpredictable
there's a battle developing with the hyenas
a surprise arrival catches everyone unawares
and Kevin faces a race against time
to save the animals and the sanctuary where they live
lowered paid nothing more than to see
this place got and the animals in it
my life and soul
in hmm
this is the kingdom the white line 1730 acre private
wildlife sanctuary run by Kevin Richardson
up it's home to some other africans most dangerous
and rarest predators up
Black Leopards Haim's and lines
and this is one of the largest and most impressive brides in the park
the big games well
you
the family is headed by four males to Tony lines
roofie key and Siam and two white lines
Alex and Kaiser
but they are growing restless white lie in Kaiser
is challenging the other males for dominance Kevin fears 12 the might get
injured
so he's stepping in as peacemaker you
for me you alway and you
plans to the cinema shoulder is
its gonna shown a break my back it's an easy reach *** maturity
everything changed and
and he just became interested in one thing and that was
the woman he's just taken it upon himself to
be dominant over them all the time and he gets extremely aggressive
and unpredictable and this results in
extreme fighting between him and the other lines in this group
one lion s in particular
is the objective kaiser's affection ish ca
up the kingdom doesn't have the space or money for any new Cubs
and so all the females are given contraceptive implants
to prevent them from breeding but with the females not coming into season
it means the males can no longer act out their instinct to make kevin has noticed
this sometimes makes them tense
and frustrated and with kaiser's behavior worsening
Kevin needs to find him a new home sign a matter of Tom
before we'll end up with someone some line been killed in this group
I'm or exorbitant variables because allies gonna
office space hanging off and that's that's the reason why we're going to
have to
and moving on 38 lines live at the kingdom
all of them bred in captivity among them seven rare white lines
identical to their Tony relatives except for their coloring
but keeping so many big predators comes with a heavy price tech
I'm to run a pop of this nature you
looking in the region over roundabout
fifteen to twenty thousand dollars a month
and that's just maintenance anti-poaching patrols
stall keeping the electric fences clean initial magic pliers
you know feeding the lines watching the lines making sure that got
proper victory health care they've been detect
vehicle petrol pitching food it's a big job
people people don't realize what quantum Mr job it is taking on
looking off to lines
not just one line you know lot of mouths to feed
Kevin helped set up the kingdom in 2005
to house the production have a fictional movie following the story of a white
wines
he was in charge looking after all the animals on said
my
today the retired white lines that starred in the movie
live out their days here
alongside kevin's favorite lines from his former job at another park
0
the investor behind the movie also funds the kingdom
as Kevin deals with the daily challenges
meeting the needs the animals he now faces more pressure than ever
the private funding behind the sanctuary is running out
and the bills are piling up there are troubled times ahead
Kevin urgently needs to find a way for the kingdom to become financially
self-sufficient
there's a lot resting on the success of the film
if its popular it could provide enough funds to secure the kingdom's immediate
future
and buy time to find another way to fund the sanctuary
him if
if the phone you know for whatever reason %uh doesn't
get out there the consequences all
POC might have to shut down and we might be having to find
homes for 37 lines 2008 I in a
and arrest other you know the animals at love you
I'm but it would be all for naught while after work if
if that happened and
yeah contraband
begin to you mention that kevin also has his own growing pride to worry about
today wife mandy is taking their baby son Tyler to see the lines for the very
first time
but for the family the daily strain running the kingdom
is starting to take its toll
behind the scenes of the running apocalypse magnitude
and it's a constant worry for a because if we don't find in CHEM and keep things
going
what happens to the animals which is obviously came in my number one priority
up and with the battle for supremacy developing in another pride
it's time for Kevin step in again
youngsters Tristan zippo and ash are starting to feel the wrath
their fathers dominance the years ringing up
they're approaching the age when in the wild they would leave the Pride
and form one of their own Kevin needs to intervene before one of them is injured
I'm he has decided to remove them
and form a new pride with another group of youngsters bobcat
bandit and Gabby
if the introduction works it means there will be less risk
fighting today's real
big day we've got Justin and
panache finally leaving the next and coming to
reside with pocket and bandits group so it's a momentous day we've been doing
this over a couple weeks now
everything's looking good I'm I just don't know
this is the interesting thing about doing this kind of thing you never know
you can do it 10 times and I can go one way and then you get the 11 palm
completed it's a big responsibility
kevin's unique insight into the dynamics at the Pride
is key to a successful introduction but there's an added complication
old
Spani the high-yield
Spani was hand-reared alongside bob cat banded
and Gabby from just a few days old
this unusual pride defied the wisdom lions and hyenas are
arch-rivals and will attack each other at any opportunity
spiny has little idea how to behave around other hines
and if he is introduced to them now he is likely to be seriously injured
for his own safety he'll stay in the Pride where he knows how to behave best
lichen honorary life with the lines actually
he lives a pretty cool off he's one of the prague never very lazy
there by three social animals best of nights in fact in your
whether spiny accepts newcomers tristin
zippo Nash do is lie and pride remains to be seen
unit release them today see how it goes today
especially with bunnies the you know and
depending I goes by part 2 o'clock 2 o'clock the feeding Tom
it's all going well with them together if we suspect that it's a little bit
awkward and things on going so well
then we'll may be removed them and take them back helping Kevin
is his right hand man Rodney number con
the only other person to handle the animals at the kingdom in
one young lions are notoriously unpredictable
as they sort out their new hierarchy nervous tension can
easily turned to aggression when I fought like
I mean it makes a lot of noise and enter human being it seems very scary
but July ends with a thick skin and all that
just lalalalala they immediately
showing who's more dominant than the naked
good with one group deciding to lay low
for now it's a stalemate bobcat banded and Gabby
seized the chance to take sides with Kevin at the moment we're in a bit
apartheid
situation we've got this group including spiny spine is
on the periphery and myself and
the three newcomers and its segregation but it's gone really well
I'm really happy about it there's been a little bit of nice touching and
and that kind of interaction aggression from either side the two groups
soon banish their initial nerves and start to make friends
10
as they settle it spun Eastern to find his place in the Pride
enjoy funded hi you know one's
ok
but the new pride still has to pass the biggest test the ball
good
it's time for them to share their first meal and with excitement running high
no one knows how it will go up
it's dinner time for the new pride now nicknamed the terrible teams
I'm
for having only just moved in together
this is the first time they are being fed as a group
you
am to the relief of all initial squabble subside
and they soon work out there's enough to go around up
them and of course funny make sure that he gets the lion's share
them from
for now the Pride seem happy but in the next few weeks
Kevin hopes to more lines will join up
if they're accepted up
with the new pride settle
Kevin turns his attention to another problem
or is one of the lead stars in the white line movie
but with ORS acting days behind him
kevin is now facing a dilemma unlike all the other lines at the kingdom
he lives in tirely on his own
the only other member of his pride is cap
would
long walks through the reserve provide much needed companionship
but despite kevin's best efforts he is increasingly concerned that
for is lonely when the days go by
and I've had a busy week they realized that really is in the back monde
is all four because I know he definitely needs some love and attention
and all the lines a walk this must be
my favorite because I know how much he needs
this enrichment this is really important to him living as a bachelor
so you know when ABC's muzak
ok if you go for a walk we go for a walk in the gray areas
I try on take him out more than the others because they've got
you know each other's company thank you
Kevin realizes he's no substitute for the real thing
he needs to find for some lines suitors
but they will need to hold their own against this big male
you only two lionesses at the kingdom could fit the bill
Kasasa and 7d
might just have what it takes but Kevin knows it will mean splitting up one
happy pride
to form another that might fail there's no guarantee that Thor will accept them
and until the lionesses are given contraceptives
it's not a risk he's willing to take there's been a power struggle developing
in one of the hyena group
more hyenas live in a matriarchal society called the clan
when ruled by the females they use a complex range a body language in
vocalize asians
to communicate with each other and establish their social hierarchy
the mall
I'll to avoid conflict
males are lowest in the social rank out of the five units in this clan
female Gina is the head but her daughter
oslo is challenging Gina for supremacy and
what's up with you guys and nations
kevin is keeping a close eye on them I'm
but this morning he notices more strange goings-on
it said you licking never said
and it turns out for good reason
when what's going on with you on
Gina the matriarch the hyena clam is nowhere to be seen
Regina in the den
she's usually straight over the fence to greet Kevin
but not today was acting very strange I guarantee you something that and a
he's concerned so he goes to look for her in there underground am
and there's a big surprise in store ok
it like
3 stream
huge him
the first she said 3 K Chris
Corp I'm
such his keep
ok
it
this is amazing she for incall jean is a very good
effect for orange you could imagine
she pretty comes work ok
win hyenas breed in the kingdom just as in the wild
newborn cubs are sometimes cannibalized by rival adults
even their own siblings if this happens
surviving orphans are removed to the kingdom's nursery for safety
Kevin will need to keep a close eye on the clan
turned out to be an awesome day
for Kevin one of the biggest rewards a ball
is watching young animals mature into adults
and if those closest to his heart are two lionesses he rescued his cups
well here we have Megan Amy
probably to Linus is that I'll never have a better relationship with I love
affair started
pretty much eight years ago when mom abandoned them
hmm
they're probably weighing about 180 kilograms each
but the characters aside different although they've had the same upbringing
the same important
the same amount of love the same amount of discipline
Amy is a little bit more reserved sometimes can be petulant
make on the other hand is the most boisterous
outgoing fun-loving linus you'll ever come across
and that's why can go swimming in the river with her just full of confidence
if I go in there
she wants to go in there
Lions will usually try to avoid going in the water whenever they can
makes behavior challenges conventional this seems to be a sign of her
extraordinary confidence and Kevin
a big adult linus coming up rubbing it in your face
feeling tongue it's like at-grade sandpaper doing this
you Kant stop them from doing it because it's a way of showing affection sir
just going to injure the pain and I tell you something it's really worth it
kevin has worked with big cats for over 12 years
but he is faced criticism
some people believe he is taking too big a risk
with his own life yeah I get to criticize all the time for the way
I interact with the lines you know lot of people say do you really need to
interact with them
that intensely and you know exit sign the way I really know
kevin has devoted his life to most these lines since they were Cubs
he believes this is key to the success of his approach
by immersing himself in their lives
he can recognize their individual moods what they like
what they hate and where their boundaries lie
he refuses to interact with any lines he doesn't know
so Megan I know just those two unique
individuals that I can do this kinda thing with quite freely and
truly if I fell asleep in the same closure on a slick and sad
a few not that they would jump on the intron eat me when I'm sleeping
me up
you
in the wild numbers appliance across sub-saharan Africa
have declined dramatically today
estimate stand at around 25,000 eighty percent less than thirty years ago
and white lines are the rarest sight of all in the wild only found in a single
area of South Africa
kevin has been invited to discover just
why white my in numbers in their natural environment are facing such a battle for
survival
he is flying to the timber body nature reserve part of the Greater Kruger
National Park
which covers a vast wilderness area more than five and a half million acres
up between 2006 and 2010
only 11 white lines were born in the area only
three-year thought to have survived
up kevin is joined Ranger Patrick O'Brien and tracker
Albert BC to try and find them for the last three months
they've been lucky enough to have regular sightings at the white lines
near to their safari camp
they are keeping a close eye out for fresh tracks and spore
sniper Scott address and there in like
I'll
if they find them it will be the first time kevin is seen a white lie in the
while
yeah we know by now been
tracking the line for some time now we know it's the group that we looking for
occurs you can see the adult females and we can also see the Cubs were
just article around around the corner
albert's told us we should expected once a month
and a short while later kevin is rewarded with his first sighting up to
the rarest lines in the world
some
know since December the in Syria
and been moving around the camping seems to be reasons which is great for support
her yeah not everyday you want long
white lines carry a rare recessive gene
that inhibits the production of color in there for but they are not albinos
their pop ads and lips are pigmented
and often their eyes are bluish instead of the usual golden brown
this rare recessive gene
is carried by normal tiny lines in this region town yet
dynamic to the Sprint on to light
to brown females male yeah I am
his two-year consider to adult lionesses effect 63
talk between 7-8 years page one is the present moment
to a she's she's good at something about but several weeks now
four cups said you know texting to you
Tony might switch over sixteen sixteen in all
in to why cuts which are both emailed which approximately
14 fifteen-month-old
young lines both Tony in white have a tough time staying alive
as many as eighty percent of them died before they reach the age
to I'll one of the greatest threats to any youngster
is when a dominant male takes over a new pride and tries to kill the offspring
the rival I mean it just hide
difficulties for the white to serve our
we know mortality lines is haha that's correct
back to me in the fact that these on Sat May 22 14 month
you're done very well likely put these girls both of you must of course that's
very important
for the put in place the course which means that goes away staying upright
immigrate of course I saw the confrontational
pride for these two call staying in the prior just means that course it's going
to be great in future to see these two girls grow up and become adults
fantastic you mention coming yet
and to three years from now seeing this message adult white lines
on I'm gonna be back to %um delivery via
very impressive in captivity
White Lion numbers are higher than the wild due to breeding programs
but in their natural habitat Kevin believes their best chance of survival
is to conserve the dwindling Tony lion population
that carries the gene as United Kingdom several watch lines
work with and always just been maintaining that
we should be conserving the tourney gene in this area specifically
and you know when I was told that these cubs were born
our see I mean it this just goes to prove it
is tourneys carrying the gene you know the birth mother tourney and
that communicates that you know you don't have to be a a light linus
to produce Whitecaps nitsa weekly charts and maybe that
white units a lot more proven in them actually think it is
and even more reason to be protecting exact or knees in this area
exactly and that's what's important but the serious defect and this is the only
place
that though naturally stockpile the trip has given Kevin time to reflect on the
role
he'd like the kingdom the play in line conservation up
if you can transform the parts we can open to the public
he hopes it will help inspire people to fight for the protection lines in the
wild
but first
Kevin must find a way to fund the kingdom and he's about to find out
just how tough this will be
the premiere of the movie has finally arrived
as fearless as kevin is with big cats the glare of the spotlight
is enough to rattle his nerves I'm very anxious
because premieres on over wrecking as it is you got almost
wonder people coming to you watch that the full menu you want to be at your
most relaxed
I'm not at my most relaxed hun a bundle of nerves and
up got laid white so much alanine
d motivated and mom on spending
haven't slept a wink II and I for one yr
caned I'll
despite his initial trepidation
Kevin puts on a brave face for the press ok
foreign world to camp as a potential lifeline for the camp
they're hoping that the film does well in South Africa it could be released
global
leaving here in a line doesn't want to do something he doesn't
you better listen up
up over the next few days
the movie receives its first reviews cityok
yeah feel on fees and four to five they're good
but kevin has to wait to see if they are reflected in the box office takings
the proof is in the pudding the public
all the ones petals say with this movie stays our guys
so will help tons and we noon nerve-wracking times this weekend going
to be a little bit anxious
so wat united to see what the numbers of you
back with the big Kings pride
kevin is checking up on Kaiser he's determined to find him a new home
to put an end to the trouble he has been causing among the other males
but he just can't find anywhere that wants to take 'em
limelight cause obviously would like to find a really good home
so you've got to go into you know the details of
use this person along a day been involved
lines today have their Oct documentation
what's the facility like what is in close gonna be like
because he's really been used to a great life it could take months to find Kaiser
the kind of home where he will be safe for the rest of his days
in South Africa unscrupulous over breeding appliance by some parks and
zoos
means that there is no market for any surplus animals
some of them even end up being sold for what are called can't lie in huts
in which they are released only to be shot by trophy hunters
for now Kaiser is here to stay
with all the other enclosures at the kingdom fall there was no where else to
put in
it's an anxious time Kevin can only hope the big
King settle their differences and zoom
I'll
you
over in the nursery
lion cubs to move in by Etsy are fast approaching adolescence
0 they about grown the nursery enclosure
need to live with other line soon if they don't
the risk never learning to socialize as part of a pride
the I'm a firm believer in
in cradle to grave and for every animal
that you hand raise you really are responsible
for his destiny so if an animal
has been taken away for whatever the reason at a lifetime commitment
and you gotta really figure out what's going to happen with that animal when it
gets older
a fluent by Etsy
now have a big week ahead Rodney is taking them for the first to the series
phased introductions to what will be their new bride the so-called
terrible teens a full moon via Etsy or younger
so the introduction needs to be planned carefully to stop any serious fights
breaking out
lines establishing their hierarchy in a pride
both in the wild and in captivity will frequently injury each other
up
kevin is worried that the terrible teens may gang up on the young pair
so he's decided to split up the six-strong pried into two groups at
three
up first he will introduce my full moon via Etsy
to Tristan zippo and now sheep
brands across the street notoriously
aggressive especially when it comes to lines
the lies in bed at night but you know they speak a different language to us
maybe they'll know something that we don't an idea for Mumbai it's been small
and younger will just submit
if that happens fantastic if it doesn't
West conjure up another plan
good
nyse: well
been so nice and free the
despite kevin's initial anxiety the feisty young lines stay relaxed
much much better than I expected
really this is phenomenal like over some follow
you know acknowledgement that me know we
little bit we can you guys you three me too we younger
was really really good some new friends
it is so tempting to really small for my
with this group because it's gone so well but
in in all the years of experience realize one thing overconfidence is a
bad thing
and I just think we should whites probably another
102 introductions like best before release because it
they can almost no you into a false sense of security we think I
everything's kinda soon as you open this gate
it's a different story now there's a bigger test in store
more full moon via Etsy you're about to meet the
other more unpredictable half the terrible teens
up
the unruly trio bobcat banded and Gabby
are the oldest the terrible teens pride
they're about to meet Cubs move from in via Etsy
for the very first time good
they could easily gang up on the younger lines so for their safety
Kevin keeps my full moon via Etsy in the cage
but as the older lines approach
via Etsy makes a sudden an aggressive challenge
be nice be nice
by its you'd
I'll that
was really incredible interaction that went exactly opposite
Fort about the youngster to be a lot more submissive
and run on their backs and that these guys to try some aggression
show some authority was exactly the opposite
the youngsters came at them full integration and these guys are
completely passive
doing in a month over the next hour
Kevin waits patiently as the Lions sort out their differences
separated by the bars at the cage the
K so I think
I'm gonna do is let them all together they actually
we've done this a couple a times I'm there's hardly any interest
the line is really showing any for moderation is my Etsy
it's because is a bit nervous my phone was completely relaxed
these guys are not gonna do anything bad I think anything it's gonna come
aggression from the youngsters
these guys might give it a lot and thus gonna be all over
so I'm gonna gonna let them out be nice I got but for its ease initial bravado
quickly fades and he become submissive bobcat and bandit seize the chance to
gang up on the other line
and kevin is no choice but to break up the fight with pepper spray
shop stop stop stop stop stop
stop stop stop stop stop
I just gotta
hunch there would be okay to let them all out there will enjoy the moods
any special youngsters are being extremely submissive
so that's until
miss the band decided to pick on them
and what she started picking on the bob cat came in from behind right to defuse
the situation
with a little bit of help from a friend called pepper spray nice
I'm nice nice nice as an emergency backup
Kevin carries a can of pepper spray to stop dangerous fights breaking out
if he's caught in the middle an accidental bite from a line could
seriously injure him
it's extremely rare he ever needs to use pepper spray
and in this case it's Kevin that suffers the consequences
with the introduction between the full moon via Etsy
this happen the terrible teens a failure it's back to the drawing board
the process is going to be far more complicated than Kevin
thought in the meantime
my full moon via Etsy will need to go back to live in the nursery
in
and this isn't the only conflict in the kingdom that Kevin needs to resolve
he's received a call that to have genus Cubs have disappeared
junior the mall
as you can he wants to check up on gene has one remaining baby
shipping Angela Merkel it
but the matriarch is out at the den and appears restless
out the dead and kevin has no idea
that there's yet another surprise in store
three
she could
political future you look at it
disorder
must be a I can't even should
jean is remaining is still alive but her daughter oslo
has also taken up residence in the dead and given birth to more cups
Kevin believes it's likely oslo has killed and eaten her mother's Cubs
in a battle for superiority but despite this
for now Gina and Oslo seem to have settled their differences
hyena style painted
the head cheated
fighting worked with both mothers relaxed
Kevin hopes pieces finally been restored in the class
but the troops doesn't last long I'm
that's going on in yoga
a few days later two more Cubs
disappeared from the high Uniden and kevin is back to find
the
much goodness
matriarch Gina is avoiding the 10 again
not a good sign seems a little bit
calm and friendly and that's a bit worrying
because if she had a cab
should be a lot more cautious and
protective jean is not the only one behaving strangely
mister her daughter are slow and Mail Shenzi
are raising their tails a clear sign of aggression towards Kevin
these guys are shining signs of
little bit too much aggression and I think we should start popping out a ride
back in the den Kevin goes to look for the remaining cup
stick talks
now we space to the dilemma leave the curb under the care of its natural
mother in hope he survives
or remove him Steph
pins and chaos laptop
cop
speech esp
keep
host change Scott
ask Skype
Kevin reaches a decision if the card is to have any chance of growing up
he needs to take it away from the clan ok
the hard work I've hand raising the cob
now begins it's a 24/7 commitment
0 and with more mouths to feed
0 kevin is eagerly awaiting news the movie release
0
figures are in from the box office the it's not good news
they won't be enough to keep the kingdom up and running
and the animals safe
Kevin needs to find a new approach to raising funds
and fast in the park needs to be
I'm operating and basically paying for itself
in in about six months from now and if that
isn't the case ya a game it's going to be quite a battle to you
to you see very weak and kind of get funding from and
see if we can save it because our hate nothing more than to see
this place got in the animals and my life and soul
at home Kevin's wife Mandy is also starting to feel the strain
up
just finding the bell Inn between aggression men also working together
the capital working you know we work together we live together we do
everything
gated having to balance all of their sometimes that get a victory
he to add to the stress
they know that finding good homes for all of the big cats
would be near impossible the consequences for those who work at the
kingdom
and the animals could be serious
within is and my sis their way I'm the
like we are part of the family have done it and I think about what to do
do to me for for some reason no the land that taking away from me
or I'm taken away from them me too do
I don't know how to describe it
p
twelve years ago made a little peck two lines call to Napoleon
and the commitment was to really see them through to you
old age and accept basically a lifetime commitment and I'm not gonna throw in
the towel
just because we've got a couple a financial issues
the next few weeks will be crucial
time is running out for the Kingdom at the white line