Showdown: Intruding Male Lions Threaten Young Males of the Xudum Pride

Lions, leopards and cheetahs are threatened across their ranges. Man-made factors are driving their declines - from habitat loss to poaching. But in the Okavango, all three species are thriving due to the protection that this unique place offers.

Leopards spend a lot of time up trees, with some of them even hunting from above. What’s less common is seeing lions and cheetahs up in the branches. But in the Okavango Delta, all three of these big cats are taking advantage of an aerial position - and there are various theories as to why they do it.

As lion numbers rise, the competition for food becomes fierce. A lioness risks her life to feed her five cubs and Xudum’s newborn leopard cubs face a deadly threat.