Sir David Attenborough’s latest BBC wildlife series, Kingdom, has stunned viewers with rare footage of animal behaviour — including a dramatic scene where a lion saves a pregnant hyena from a pack of wild dogs.
Filmed over five years in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, the series follows four rival carnivore families — lions, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs — revealing the complex dynamics of survival in one of Africa’s most untamed ecosystems.
Executive producer Mike Gunton said: “We could never have written a script like this — only nature could write it.” Among the standout moments are a wild dog pack rescuing a member from a crocodile’s jaws and a hyena cleverly hiding a stolen carcass underwater to mask its scent.
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Kingdom also shows tender scenes, such as newborn lion cubs opening their eyes for the first time. But the series doesn’t shy away from human pressures — from habitat loss to snare traps that devastate animal populations.
Scientific consultant Dr Matthew Becker of the Zambia Carnivore Programme said the footage provided valuable data on animal movements, diets, and survival strategies. “We got information we’d never have been able to get otherwise,” he said.
One moving sequence shows a three-legged wild dog reuniting with its pack after surviving a snare trap — a reminder of both the resilience of wildlife and the threats they face.
Producer Felicity Lanchester noted that human influence is reshaping these ancient rivalries: “Everything about these species has been shaped by millions of years of competition… Now, humans are changing that.”
Despite the challenges, the filmmakers hope Kingdom delivers a message of cautious optimism. Series editor Simon Blakeney summed it up: “It’s a challenge, but it’s not hopeless.”
