National Geographic: African Odyssey Page #3

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We're coming to the point

where he went in,

so we should see his

spoor pretty quickly.

It was up here.

He may still be in there.

Mark has seen him, Mark has seen him.

I should have marked the spot

where we lost him.

I didn't think of it.

We had him all that way.

For half the night

Delia and Mark try to get close enough

to the lion to dart him.

For three days the lion eludes them.

The crust on the sand is

bunched up ahead of the foot.

So the foot was falling quite quickly.

So you can see he was

a little bit concerned about us still.

He's here somewhere.

He's got to be here somewhere.

I wish I could find his spoor.

I just got to keep going.

I think maybe...

If we can get to that clearing

and get set up,

maybe we can attract him into it.

I don't know what good

it will do though.

I mean, he has to come up...

he has to be approachable.

Well, if we get a dart in him,

at least we can track him.

Yeah.

Frustrated in their pursuit,

they try to attract him

right up to the truck.

Ignoring Delia and Mark,

the lion trots by,

looking for his supposed rival.

Finally he realizes that the roars are

coming from the vehicle.

The lion focuses on Mark.

Head on, he presents an almost

impossible target for a dart shot.

In the twenty minute before

the drug takes effect,

the lion wanders off.

Mark follows his tracks to find him.

When lions are immobilized,

the stop blinking.

Salve keeps their eyes from drying out

We'll have to use a bigger bolt.

Delia and Mark whisper to avoid

upsetting other lions in the area.

Keep your eyes peeled.

We've got company here somewhere.

They're bound to come

over here and have a look.

Yeah, but he's fine.

I'm going to go get the

shotgun out here, Delia.

Okay.

Or you could get the dart gun.

Delia, look at the hyena.

Boy, feel the muscles in his neck.

Tooth eruption and wear help the

Owenses determine a lion's age.

He doesn't look like an old lion.

It will be interesting to compare

this measurement with the one

we took just a second ago.

Look at the size of that paw.

I can put both my hands together

and you can't see them underneath.

Mark, there's a lion right here.

Get to the car.

I'm going to back off.

If she comes in, I'll dart her.

She's probably going to find the male.

I think she has the male's scent.

Knowing that the pride

will soon break up,

Mark darts other lions to keep

track of as many as possible.

Collaring each lion

takes several hours.

As the night wears on,

Delia and Mark become

giddy with fatigue.

You've been wanting

to hit me in the nose all day.

You finally got here.

Mark, try to act like

a sophisticated scientist!

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