Sir David Attenborough’s new BBC series Kingdom has captured an extraordinary scene of a lion saving a pregnant hyena from wild dogs in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley.
Filmed over five years, the documentary follows four rival carnivore families — lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs — revealing their fierce struggles for survival. “We could never have written a script like this — only nature could,” said executive producer Mike Gunton.
The series, which also shows tender moments like newborn lion cubs and dramatic rescues, highlights human threats such as habitat loss and poaching.
Scientific consultant Dr Matthew Becker said the footage provided valuable data for conservation, noting: “We got information we’d never have been able to get otherwise.”
Despite the dangers facing Africa’s predators, the filmmakers say Kingdom carries a message of hope. As series editor Simon Blakeney put it: “It’s a challenge, but it’s not hopeless.”
