The Real Lion Queen

Filmmaker Herbert Bauer discovers the last remaining lioness of Liuwa in Zambia purely by chance when she steps out of myth and into his viewfinder. A remarkable bond develops between filmmaker and this lonely lioness that he calls Lady. Inspired by her resilience, African Parks and the Carnivore team at the Zambia Wildlife Authority decide to re-establish a viable pride in Liuwa. They build a shelter also known as a boma. They dart two males in a neighboring park and transport them to Lady's core territory. Lady considers both males but after a year, she's still not pregnant. To bolster the chances of establishing a pride, two young females are imported but their bond collapses when the males attack them once they're released from the enclosure. One bolts for the Angolan border, the other goes missing and is presumed dead when the scientists find her collar in a river. A helicopter rescue attempt is launched to find the other female before she crosses the Angolan border. Anxious to find females, the two male lions leave and walk to Angola in record time. Death waits for one of them in the form of an armed farmer. Of the five lions, now only three remain. The young female, now fully grown and in estrous finally mate with the male. Lady is excluded from this new romance but her involvement is vital. She can no longer produce a cub, but she can impart her survival skills. Unexpectedly, they hunt together. Lady steps into her leadership position with aplomb. The Kingdom is secured. Lions are back in Liuwa.