Ep 2. The Crater Lions

In the second episode of season 15 of Nature, titled The Crater Lions, viewers are transported to a remote corner of Africa where they are introduced to a pride of lions living in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. This extraordinary natural wonder, formed by a collapsed volcano, is home to a vast array of wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, hippos, and giraffes, as well as the highest concentration of lions anywhere on the planet.

The Crater Lions follows the lives of the Ngoitokitok pride, one of several prides that call the crater home. Led by a fearsome male named Kali, the Ngoitokitok pride is comprised of three females and their cubs. Over the course of the hour-long episode, viewers are treated to an intimate look at the daily struggles and triumphs of these majestic felines as they navigate the challenges of life on the African savanna.

The episode opens with a breathtaking aerial shot of the crater, its lush grasslands and shimmering lakes stretching out as far as the eye can see. Against this backdrop, we are introduced to Kali and his family. The pride's newest members, a litter of six cubs, are just over six weeks old and still finding their footing in their new home. With their eyes open for the first time, they begin to explore their surroundings, play-fighting and tussling with one another as they gain strength and coordination.

As the cubs grow older, they learn valuable lessons about life on the savanna from their mothers. In one particularly poignant scene, one of the lionesses teaches her young how to hunt, demonstrating the intricate teamwork and careful planning necessary to bring down prey in the wild. We see the cubs cautiously stalking a group of gazelles while their mother and aunt lie in wait, poised to strike. When the moment comes, the adult lions leap into action, bringing down one of the gazelles with a combination of strength, speed, and strategy.

Of course, life on the savanna is never easy, and danger is always lurking around the corner. The Ngoitokitok pride faces myriad challenges as they struggle to survive in the harsh environment of the crater. For one thing, food is scarce, and the lions are forced to compete with other predators for a limited supply of prey. At one point, we witness a tense standoff between the Ngoitokitok pride and a rival group of lions, as the two prides vie for control of a fresh kill.

But perhaps the greatest challenge facing the Ngoitokitok pride is the threat posed by humans. As the episode makes clear, the lions of the crater are facing unprecedented pressure from the encroachment of human settlements and the expansion of industry. We see footage of cattle herders grazing their livestock on the savanna, driving the wild game away and leaving the lions with fewer and fewer options for food. We also learn about the devastating impact of poaching, as lions fall victim to traps and snares set by illegal hunters.

Despite these challenges, the Ngoitokitok pride soldiers on, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. The episode ends on a note of hope, as the cubs grow ever more confident and the adults continue to navigate their complex social lives. Through it all, the lions of the Ngorongoro Crater stand as a testament to the enduring power and beauty of nature, and the importance of protecting vulnerable species from the threats of the modern world.