Those teenage years are just one right of passage after another.
You might be gawky, or awkward, or insecure.
And it's just as hard for a cheetah on the African plains.
Check out how these two cheetah sisters cope with their coming of age.
REESE: The grasslands of Southern Africa.
Home to a hunter with a unique super power.
Cheetah.
The fastest predator on land.
With a slender body,
long limbs, and highly flexible spine,
this incredible athlete is the "Queen of Speed."
This is the story of two young cheetah sisters
facing the greatest challenge of their lives.
They must learn to channel their speed
to hunt big game.
To survive, they'll need to work together.
These cheetah sisters are 18 months old...
with a tough path ahead.
Their bond, crucial now to their future
was forged as they grew up.
They were born into a litter of five cubs.
Together they spent their days playing...
learning...
and exploring their world.
By the time they were five months old,
they began to learn the most critical lesson of all.
How to hunt.
Their mother brought them small impala so they could practice.
The sisters try to catch...
to bring down prey.
And crucially to make the suffocating bite to kill.
The cheetah cubs are vulnerable.
Lion predation and disease took their toll.
By the time they were a year old,
the sisters were the only ones still alive.
And their world was about to change, yet again.
One day, out of nowhere,
two adult males arrived on the scene to woo their mother.
It was a frightening time for the sisters.
But a right of passage every cheetah cub must face.
Males can tell a fertile female by sniffing her urine.
And when a cheetah mother gets pregnant,
she abandons her cubs.
This was the day that marked the beginning
of the end of the sisters childhood.
Now, at 18 months old,
these hardy sisters are facing the world alone.
Unless they can hunt big game soon,
they will starve.
But it's a dangerous business.
And they lack experience.
Without guidance, it's not obvious
what makes a good target.
It's tough being a teenage cheetah.
But these gutsy girls keep trying.
This time, it's impala that catches their attention.
A prize this size would feed them for fours days.
The male impala are twice a cheetahs weight,
and armed with weapons two feet long.
A mistake... could be lethal.
Right now, they have a golden opportunity.
These males are gathered for their annual rut.
In constant battle for the right to mate.
So, they are exhausted...
and distracted.
The impalas top speed is 50 miles per hour.
But a cheetah can hit almost 70.
Her power is in her acceleration.
But she can only sprint for 30 seconds.
A brave attempt, but they peaked too soon.
Getting every stage of the hunt right is a complex challenge.
But they are learning from their mistakes.
Cheetahs must eat every four to five days to survive.
So giving up isn't an option.
This time, they stalk closer.
Getting within a few hundred feet of their prey is key.
And so is teamwork.
The sisters set their trap.
The hunt is on.
As the prey is flushed towards her,
the second sister takes up the chase.
They close in.
On his feet, the impala is still a threat.
Finally, all their hard graft and persistence has come good.
By harnessing their unique power,
they've overcome their greatest challenge
and can now fend for themselves.
Together, these fierce speed queens have finally come of age.
Uh, such beautiful animals.
Getting that belief in yourself and gaining confidence,
that's what growing up is all about.
These big cats totally nailed it.
Walk tall, fierce queens.