Sir David Attenborough’s new BBC series Kingdom has captured an extraordinary moment — a lion rescuing a pregnant hyena from a pack of wild dogs.
Filmed over five years in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, the documentary follows four rival predator families — lions, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs — revealing rare animal behaviour and the harsh realities of survival.
Executive producer Mike Gunton said: “Only nature could write a story like this.” Viewers also see wild dogs rescuing a packmate from a crocodile and a hyena hiding a carcass underwater to avoid rivals.
Narrated by Attenborough, Kingdom highlights human pressures such as habitat loss and snare traps, with insights from scientists at the Zambia Carnivore Programme. Despite the challenges, series editor Simon Blakeney said the message remains one of hope: “It’s a challenge, but it’s not hopeless.”
