From what we eat to when we sleep, mothers are the glue that holds our families together; and in baboon society, the decisions Mom makes can mean life or death. This Mother's Day, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom pays tribute to a small group of females who dominate their troop in subtle but effective ways (isn't that just like a mother?!).

A young researcher spends an eventful year in Tanzania among the Viramba troop — 40 yellow baboons that exist on a knife-edge between life and death. Holly Carroll, through her unlimited and unrestricted access to these animals, challenges the notion that social position determines quality of life.

The troop's survival rests largely on the shoulders of the lowest-ranking member, Heshima. She knows where to find all the critical food spots, but her humble status means she's often pushed aside. Still, when the rains stop and food is scarce, it's Heshima that pulls through with a lifesaving discovery.

Meanwhile, the troop faces an existential crisis when the ladies fail to produce female heirs. Though dependable Heshima gives birth to a baby girl, and Kitovu, the alpha female, has one of her own after a marathon pregnancy, the future of the troop remains in doubt.

The drama intensifies as the baboons respond to a stalking leopard, and the teeth-gnashing males battle violently for mating rights. All the while, the Viramba females cope with the trials and tribulations of motherhood in a land of uncertainty.