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Unbelievable Moments From Nature - Narrated by David Attenborough | BBC Earth
Unbelievable Moments From Nature - Narrated by David Attenborough | BBC Earth
BBC Earth
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2:59:55 · May 20, 2026
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A
kilometer
from
the
surface,
beyond
the
reach
of
the
sun.
Translating…
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1
/1159
0:04
A kilometer from the surface, beyond the reach of the sun.
0:14
A giant black void, larger than all the rest of the world's habitats combined.
0:25
There's life here.
0:28
But not as we know it.
0:41
Alien-like creatures produce dazzling displays of light.
0:58
Nearly all animals need to attract mates and repel predators.
1:05
This language of light is
1:07
so widespread here that these signals are probably the commonest form of communication on
1:14
the entire planet.
1:17
And yet, we still know little about them.
1:44
Hunters illuminate themselves and by doing so, attract inquisitive prey.
2:02
>> This is Fangtooth.
2:06
It has the largest teeth for its size of any fish.
2:12
There are pressure sensors all over its head
2:15
and body which can detect anything moving in the surrounding water.
2:26
It's the midnight zone's most ferocious fish.
2:32
But prey use light as a distraction.
2:39
A decoy of luminous ink.
2:51
Down here in this blackness creatures live beyond the normal rules of time.
3:06
Siphonophores are virtually eternal.
3:09
They repeatedly clone themselves.
3:13
Some eventually growing longer than a blue whale.
3:41
Down here it snows.
3:52
Continuous clouds of organic debris drift slowly down from above.
4:05
This is food.
4:07
And a whole variety of filter feeders depend on it.
4:24
Jellyfish.
4:24
And delicate sea cucumbers.
4:45
The 1% of marine snow they miss eventually settles on the sea floor.
5:19
Over millions of years,
5:21
it forms a layer of mud up to a kilometer thick.
5:30
It's an empty plane that covers half the surface of our planet.
6:00
>> The deep seabed may at first appear lifeless.
6:06
But, it's home to a unique cast of mud dwellers.
6:14
The sea toad.
6:18
It is an ambush predator with an enormous mouth and infinite patience.
6:36
This fish has been living for
6:38
so long here that its fins have changed into something more useful.
6:55
Feet.
6:55
They help it shuffle about on the seafloor.
7:18
The flapjack octopus.
7:26
It hovers just above the surface of the mud
7:28
as it delicately sifts through it searching for worms.
7:36
But, it can jet away at the first sign of danger.
7:47
>> In the underwater forests of northern Japan,
7:52
the residents of this sunken wreck are waiting for the summer temperatures to reach
7:57
16° C.
8:11
That, for some, is the time for mating.
8:28
A kind of giant wrasse called a copper dye.
8:39
This is a male.
8:45
And in female terms, he's particularly handsome.
8:57
He's a meter long and weighs 15 kilos.
9:04
Much larger than the diminutive female.
9:11
And he is ready to breed.
9:16
He attempts to mate with her
9:19
and with any of the other dozen
9:21
or so females that live in his territory whenever he gets the chance.
9:42
>> But females from around 10 years old take little notice of his advances.
10:15
This is because when any large female reaches a critical body size,
10:21
she can begin a dramatic transformation.
10:41
>> >> Over just a few months, particular enzymes inside her body cease to work.
10:50
And male hormones start to circulate.
10:57
>> >> As time passes, her head expands and her chin gets longer.
11:07
A she has changed into a he.
11:21
And with this comes a change in temperament.
11:30
The old male who all the females here is challenged to a face-off.
11:44
The more bulbous the head, the more it intimidates an opponent.
12:16
>> >> The territory has a new ruler.
12:32
Only the largest females transform themselves in this way.
12:41
But the change enables them to have more mates,
12:45
so they will have many more offspring carrying their genes.
12:55
But a new male can't afford to be complacent.
13:00
Inside the body of every cuckoo bee female,
13:05
there is a new male in waiting.
13:30
>> Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
13:34
For millions of years, this remote speck of land has been ruled by crabs.
13:46
Their ancestors came from the sea,
13:49
but most have now adopted a land-based existence.
13:51
>> >> Given there are so many of them, they get along relatively harmoniously.
14:09
They're the gardeners and caretakers of a tiny crab utopia.
14:19
Once a year, they must all return to the sea to breed,
14:22
and the march of the red crabs is one of the greatest natural spectacles
14:28
on Earth.
14:40
There are 50 million of them.
14:49
It's an event that has brought the island worldwide fame.
15:05
But in recent years, millions of red crabs haven't managed to reach the sea.
15:16
An invader has occupied this island.
15:22
Yellow crazy ants.
15:25
They escaped from visiting ships and with no predators to control them,
15:30
they have now created fast super colonies in the forest.
15:40
When migrating red crabs march into their territory, the ants attack.
15:46
Squirting acid into the crabs' eyes and mouths.
16:00
The crabs have no defense.
16:06
Blinded and confused, they're doomed.
16:21
Humans brought these ant invaders here and now humans are having to control them.
16:31
Isolated communities may evolve for millions of years in relative peace.
16:38
But when new challenges arrive, they can struggle to cope.
16:45
Of all the species that have become extinct in recent years,
16:49
around 80% have been islanders.
16:54
This tiny poison arrow frog is carrying his tadpole piggyback.
16:59
It hatched on a leaf
17:00
and now he's taking it to a pool in a bromeliad high up in
17:04
the branches.
17:06
The tadpole wriggles off.
17:09
He may have half a dozen babies,
17:11
each of which he puts into its own tiny pool.
17:23
>> He makes regular tours of all his nurseries, checking on his tadpoles welfare.
17:37
This youngster is hungry
17:39
and tells him so by nibbling his legs
17:41
and vibrating against his body.
17:49
But the male can't feed the tadpole himself.
17:52
He needs help.
18:03
He has to find a female.
18:15
There she is.
18:22
He calls.
18:33
And she follows.
18:41
He has to lead for only he knows exactly where he deposited each tadpole.
18:49
This one is now very hungry indeed.
18:57
He calls to the female encouragingly.
19:05
She jumps in, perhaps to assess the situation.
19:13
Out she comes without having done what's required, so he keeps calling.
19:19
In she goes a second time.
19:22
This time she produces food for the hungry tadpole.
19:26
An infertile egg.
19:39
There.
19:39
Out she comes.
19:40
A mother and father embrace.
19:55
Baby has its dinner.
20:08
They're setting off on the greatest overland trek made by any animal.
20:36
But wherever grass eaters travel predators lie in wait.
20:48
>> >> Here they are.
20:50
Arctic wolves.
20:59
They must seize their chance while the caribou pass through their territory.
21:39
>> >> The wolf runs at the herd trying to flush out the weak
21:43
or the slow.
21:53
>> >> A calf is separated.
22:03
>> >> At full tilt, 60 km an hour, the wolf is just faster.
22:16
But the calf has stamina.
22:48
Only a few weeks old, and this calf's will to survive is remarkable.
22:59
And it needs to be,
23:01
for these young caribou have now started the journey that will last a lifetime.
23:10
Forever chasing the seasonal growth of the grass on which they depend.
23:24
Like all grassland creatures,
23:25
they are at the mercy of these unpredictable but ultimately bountiful lands.
23:37
Grass can survive some of the harshest conditions on Earth.
23:42
Flood, fire, and frost and still flourish.
23:56
So, it is the grasslands provide a stage for the greatest gatherings of wildlife
24:02
on planet Earth.
24:05
This fire ant has reached the edge of her known world.
24:14
Her way forward has now become blocked by the rising waters.
24:25
She's one of many
24:27
and in a few minutes their underground home will be submerged.
24:38
Forced to evacuate, workers and soldiers try to save the larval young.
24:46
As their nest floods, the colony seems to be doomed.
24:58
>> >> But from chaos comes order.
25:04
>> >> The fire ants band together, each locking legs with its neighbors.
25:11
>> >> They're building a living raft.
25:17
Each ant is covered in fine hairs that trap air against its body.
25:27
As the raft forms,
25:28
this air creates a cushion for them all to float on.
25:35
>> >> This is the power of the colony.
25:39
By working together, they've become unsinkable.
25:47
>> >> And no one gets left behind.
26:03
>> >> Pulled from the shallows, the colony is now at the mercy of the flood.
26:13
Holding tight to the larvae
26:15
and keeping their queen hidden at the center of the raft,
26:19
the colony drifts into deeper water.
26:28
Where they're vulnerable to fish that now swim through the flooded forest.
26:40
Those that lose their grip must get back to the safety of the raft.
26:44
Now, a few females appear.
26:51
They're much bigger than the males.
26:55
And warming will take them longer.
26:59
She releases a scent, a pheromone, that attracts the males.
27:05
They outnumber her a hundred to one.
27:11
To speed her own return to activity, she will absorb the heat from them.
27:24
>> >> Intoxicated by her scent, the males compete for her, wrapping themselves around her.
27:48
>> >> She now has hundreds of males on top of her, making mating near impossible.
27:55
But she has a way of weeding out the men from the boys.
28:02
She'll make a daring ascent of the nearby cliff.
28:09
She barges her way through the crowd to get to the rock face.
28:25
>> >> As she climbs, only the strongest, fittest males can keep up with her.
29:05
>> >> She's made it to the top.
29:07
Only a few of her suitors have managed to rise to the occasion,
29:12
and she may reward them all, the rare and wonderful golden frog.
29:17
It does have a voice, but it's not loud.
29:28
Individual males set up their territories beside the river,
29:32
and then wait for females to turn up.
29:35
And since good positions for the territory are not common,
29:39
they may have to hold them against intruders.
29:44
And here one comes.
29:48
Just in case his call is inaudible,
29:50
he makes his message clear with a wave.
30:00
And his rival waves back.
30:05
He repeats his message so there's no misunderstanding.
30:19
But rival is not deterred.
30:23
Well, that makes things perfectly clear.
30:30
Another arrives.
30:31
Perhaps at last this is a female.
30:48
>> No, it's another male.
30:51
So, there will have to be a wrestling match.
30:58
That should teach him.
31:02
And his rival signals submission by keeping his head down.
31:33
Now, where are those females?
31:40
And here she is.
31:43
She is pure unblemished gold and much bigger than he is.
31:54
A finch.
31:57
>> >> A female.
31:59
Its ancestors doubtless were blown here by storms many centuries ago.
32:05
Like most finches, they feed on seeds, nectar, and insects.
32:12
>> >> But there's little food of any kind on Wolf.
32:18
And since they aren't strong enough flyers to leave the island,
32:21
they've had to find food from a very unusual source.
32:29
They depend on another of the island's inhabitants.
32:39
>> Nazca boobies.
32:46
Every day these seabirds commute between the island
32:50
and their fishing grounds out in the open ocean.
32:56
Each time a pair meet, >> >> they renew their bond.
33:02
And then catch up with the neighbors.
33:11
Now is the time to hop into action.
33:42
Blood.
33:42
They are vampire finches.
33:50
These little birds have become one of the world's newest species.
34:00
He cuts the quill of a large flight feather and the blood flows.
34:09
>> >> The sight of it attracts the attention of others.
34:18
Blood is very nutritious.
34:21
Worth fighting for.
34:37
>> >> So, with this never-ending supply of food,
34:39
the vampire finches can flourish on an island where otherwise they could not survive.
34:51
>> >> Why the boobies don't object?
34:54
Nobody knows.
34:58
Perhaps the finches behavior started
35:01
when they helped the boobies to remove parasites from their plumage.
35:08
Maybe the boobies think that the little vampires are still providing a service.
35:14
Who can tell?
35:18
In just 3 weeks,
35:19
half a million calves are born on these ash-rich plains.
35:26
That's 24,000 a day.
35:30
A thousand an hour.
35:36
Calves stand up within a few minutes of being born.
35:43
Though some need a little more time to find their feet.
36:00
But a mother won't let her calf suckle until it's mastered a few physical
36:15
skills.
36:15
Walking.
36:15
Trotting.
36:15
And running.
36:26
Wildebeest calves must run if they're to stay alive.
36:46
For these plains also support the greatest assembly of hunters on the planet.
36:56
Each species has its own special hunting technique.
37:01
But all have the same aim.
37:06
To make the most of this brief super abundance of life.
38:09
>> >> Only one in 10 wildebeest calves will survive to adulthood.
38:16
But that is enough to maintain the million strong herd of wildebeest.
38:22
And the planet's highest density of predators.
38:29
A little red flying fox.
38:35
>> >> Their ancestors flew here,
38:37
traveling along the chain of volcanic islands that links Asia to Australia.
38:46
But their huge wings would stretch from their fingers to their toes make it
38:51
difficult for them to walk
38:52
or take off from the ground.
38:56
So, when they want to rest, they hang upside down in trees.
39:25
But the bats have to drink every day.
39:31
And they do so on the wing.
39:45
They swoop just low enough to wet their bellies
39:48
and then back in their roosts,
39:50
they will suck out the water.
39:59
Each evening, 10,000 of them come here.
40:15
Not all of them return.
40:20
Every 2 m of river, there is a crocodile.
40:28
They were here long before the bats.
40:36
Survivors from Australia's prehistoric past.
41:14
These dramas have been taking place for millions of years.
41:23
>> >> Aerial agility versus patience and deadly speed.
41:48
Australia's forests are hostile places in which to make your home.
41:58
St.
41:59
Andrews Beach is one of the most crowded on the planet.
42:03
And so holding a territory here is a constant battle.
42:11
This bull elephant seal holds the mating rights to 60 females.
42:21
For 2 months, he's guarded this stretch of beach.
42:26
Unable to feed, he's losing 10 kilos a day.
42:31
And he's exhausted.
42:37
But other bulls are lying around waiting their chance.
43:50
Rubber, 15 cm thick, is protection against the cold,
43:55
but not from the impact of a four-ton opponent.
44:28
>> He holds his ground and forces the intruder back out to sea.
44:42
Life in the Antarctic is harsh indeed.
44:46
But all these creatures come here
44:48
because the Southern Ocean is one of the richest on Earth. 3 weeks ago
44:54
>> >> these mile-wide sandbars didn't exist.
45:00
>> >> In another 3 months, they'll be back under water.
45:06
But now, they provide a crucial opportunity for giant river turtles.
45:15
>> >> They've been coming here at precisely this time of year for generations.
45:26
50,000 of them,
45:28
a quarter of the world's population.
45:35
They're all here for one reason.
45:38
>> >> But their window of opportunity is short.
45:41
So, timing is everything.
45:48
>> >> Scaling the 3-m high banks will take this female higher
45:53
and drier than she's been for months.
45:59
>> >> She's come here to lay her eggs.
46:04
But others have beaten her to it.
46:17
>> >> The early arrivals have already claimed nearly every inch of the beach.
46:23
And there are still many more turtles to come.
46:32
Wherever she turns, the space is taken.
46:44
>> >> But being fashionably late does have an advantage.
46:52
Had she arrived earlier,
46:54
her eggs might have been dug up by those searching for somewhere to lay.
47:05
She's found her spot.
47:13
Settling down, she lays nearly a hundred eggs.
47:22
Burying them keeps them safe from predators, and the warm sand incubates the clutch.
47:37
They must hatch before the river rises again and floods the sand bar.
47:46
Any turtles that lay after her may have left it too late.
47:57
>> >> Hopefully, she has got her timing right.
48:14
Two months on and the hatchlings emerge into the world.
48:29
They were laid at the perfect time.
48:33
Hundreds scramble for the river just as the water starts to rise.
48:40
Those still to hatch aren't so lucky.
48:43
A baby North American painted turtle.
48:46
It and the rest of its clutch have only just hatched.
48:51
But it's late in the year and the chill of winter has already begun.
48:56
If the hatchlings clambered out of their hole now,
48:59
they would find nothing to eat.
49:01
So, they stay where they are.
49:09
The temperature will fall to minus 10°.
49:15
Ice crystals grow around the babies and even inside their bodies.
49:21
But their tissues are protected by a kind of antifreeze.
49:27
This would kill any mammal or bird.
49:34
They remain in this deep freeze for up to 6 months.
49:45
But spring comes at last.
49:54
>> >> The ice melts around them and eventually within them.
50:07
Slowly they begin to come to life.
50:28
It takes quite a time for them to become fully functional,
50:31
but eventually they're ready to face the outside world.
50:47
So, by allowing their bodies to cool, they have avoided the hard times.
51:05
With the arrival of spring, their parents are now preparing to breed again.
51:16
The male courts the female by gently strumming her cheeks with his long claws.
51:27
And she responds.
51:35
Cold blood is clearly no barrier to affection.
51:39
In fact, reptiles can conduct
51:41
as complex and as sensitive a courtship
51:44
as many a mammal.
51:49
Off the south coast lies by far the biggest of them.
51:59
Tasmania.
51:59
And that has its own special marsupial.
52:05
One that seldom appears until after dark.
52:11
The Tasmanian devil.
52:19
Many predators inhabit a territory packed with prey,
52:23
but here there's nothing like that for them.
52:36
Each may travel for miles night after night,
52:39
prepared to eat anything it can find, dead or alive.
52:53
The shoreline is a good place to search.
52:57
There might be some small creatures to catch here,
52:59
or maybe something that the tide has brought in.
53:13
The carcass of a wallaby has been washed ashore.
53:24
Tasmanian devils can eat 40% of their body weight in one session,
53:29
and they have hugely powerful jaws.
53:32
They tackle everything, even bones.
53:40
>> >> Back at the den, there are other hungry mouths.
53:51
Our two youngsters are 6 months old.
53:56
They still rely on their mother's milk.
53:59
But they're feeling peckish.
54:05
There must be something solid they could find for themselves
54:09
while they're waiting for a drink.
54:18
Is this food?
54:28
That possum smells tasty.
54:33
But it's a little high up.
54:38
This looks more promising.
54:51
That's nice.
54:52
A giant stick.
54:56
Not bad for a first go.
55:04
Their mother will protect and feed these youngsters for another 3 months.
55:10
Their survival is important to her, but also for us.
55:16
Because these are one of the last devil families in the world.
55:27
Tasmanian devils are now endangered.
55:31
Found in only a few places,
55:33
such as this remote islet off the coast of Tasmania.
55:46
The oceans around Southern Asia are also feeling this pressure.
55:58
These seas feed billions of people around the world.
56:06
For many fishermen here, their catch is their only source of livelihood.
56:17
And there is one fish here that they prize above all others.
56:32
The whale shark.
56:40
It swims slowly, gently harvesting the plankton.
56:47
It's almost 20 m long, the largest fish in the world.
56:58
They are also under threat.
57:03
Like many shark species in Asia,
57:05
populations have declined by more than half in recent years.
57:26
They are an easy and valuable catch.
57:36
>> But here there is a respect for the seas and their inhabitants.
57:44
>> >> Whale shark hunting has now been banned across Indonesia's waters.
57:53
This whale shark plays a different part in the lives of these fishermen.
58:02
They feed him and the relationship seems to bring joy to both parties.
58:10
And with this new protection has come something truly remarkable.
58:28
>> >> Whale sharks from far away are seeking out these fishermen.
58:34
And in these safe waters there is a chance for their numbers to increase.
58:43
And maybe one day other shark species will be protected, too.
58:56
The people here have made a simple but extraordinary choice.
59:03
Fishing in a way that is sustainable for themselves and the animals.
59:14
>> >> Caring for wildlife is surely our shared responsibility.
59:21
Across this vast continent and across the world,
59:25
it is decisions like these
59:28
that are key to protecting the planet's most precious diversity.
59:40
And now the snakes are on the alert.
59:44
This is the best feeding opportunity they will get all year.
60:04
On flat ground, a baby iguana can outrun a racer snake.
60:10
But others are waiting in ambush.
60:40
Another hatchling has its first glimpse of a dangerous world.
61:43
>> A snake's eyes aren't very good, but they can detect movement.
61:50
So, if the hatchling keeps its nerve, it may just avoid detection.
63:26
>> A near miraculous escape.
63:35
The lucky survivors could begin learning the unique way of life demanded by this
63:40
hostile island.
63:45
Wolves.
63:45
These in northern Canada are the largest
63:47
and most powerful in the world
63:49
and they are setting out to hunt.
63:55
The pack is 25 strong,
63:57
a sign that the prey they are seeking is formidable.
64:09
These bison are even bigger than their southern cousins
64:13
and the largest land animals in North America.
64:17
For generations, wolves and bison here have been shaped by their battles with each
64:21
other,
64:22
making each the most impressive of its kind.
64:28
The bison will not stay long among the trees.
64:31
They're not safe here.
64:39
The wolves are closing in,
64:41
but their chance of ambushing the bison in the woods has passed.
64:45
Their prey are now in the open and grouped together for safety.
64:52
The wolves will need to work
64:53
as a team if they're to make a kill.
65:00
They circle the herd trying to unsettle it and split it up.
65:04
But the bison are armed and dangerous.
65:06
They will be safe as long as they stick together.
65:15
>> The wolves up their game, harrying the herd,
65:18
a ploy to trigger a stampede and split away one of the smaller ones.
65:25
The bison form a defensive circle around their young, horns pointing outwards.
65:36
>> >> The wolves need a bison to break rank.
65:45
But the tables are turning, and now the wolves have to retreat.
65:52
The pack focus their attention on the rear of the herd,
65:55
and the bison begin to panic.
66:32
>> >> A young bison falls behind.
66:41
Even this yearling dwarfs the wolves.
66:52
Running head down, the herd's only thought is escape.
67:00
A stroke of luck for the wolves.
67:16
>> The kill will feed the pack for several days.
67:19
But then, they will have to resume the chase.
67:24
Their cover blown, escape seems impossible.
67:38
>> >> But these particular fish have a unique ability.
67:56
>> >> They are flying fish.
68:20
>> >> With an extra thrust from their tails, the flying fish get airborne once more.
68:34
>> >> With a good wind, they can glide for hundreds of meters.
68:55
>> >> But this is just what the frigate birds have been waiting for.
69:04
When frigate join the hunt,
69:05
the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
69:33
>> >> If the flying fish get too much lift,
69:36
they become easy prey for the frigate.
69:53
>> >> If they dive to evade attacks from above,
70:01
they could fall into the mouths of the dorado.
70:36
>> >> Mantids will eat anything that moves, including other mantids.
70:59
Time to leave.
71:11
This tiny insect is now open to attack from predators lurking in the undergrowth.
71:27
Whether an individual mantis survives or not is partly a matter of chance.
71:37
Whether it's spotted by a predator.
71:46
Whether it turns right or left.
71:59
So far it's luck has held.
72:03
But this hungry jumping spider is still in pursuit.
72:12
A mantis is born with exceptional eyesight.
72:16
But a spider's is even better.
72:24
Although this young mantis can't yet fly,
72:26
its long forelegs evolved to catch prey give it reach.
72:59
>> There seems to be no escape.
73:08
But this mantis has a surprising line in self-defense.
73:15
Kung fu, praying mantis style.
73:30
Of course, it's all bluff.
73:33
Trying to look bigger and confuse its enemy.
73:39
But it's got away with it.
73:50
Just staying alive for its first few hours is a significant accomplishment for a
73:56
newly hatched insect.
73:59
But there's still a long way to go.
74:02
With a bit of luck, in 2 months' time,
74:04
it will be as big and beautiful as this orchid mantid.
74:20
Or maybe not.
74:23
After all, mantids are cannibals.
74:30
However, there are plenty more where that one came from.
74:36
At this time of year, polar bears, on average,
74:40
succeed only once in 20 hunts.
74:48
If the hunter is skinny, like this one, that may not be often enough.
75:01
All she can do is keep trying.
75:43
>> >> To prevent her scent betraying her,
75:45
she makes a wide sweep to get downwind of the seal.
76:01
Getting close.
76:25
She's now right behind the seal.
77:11
>> Incredibly, she caught the seal underwater.
77:21
It's only small, but even so, it's blubber alone will contain 100,000 calories,
77:27
enough to sustain this bear for a week.
77:41
And in that time, she might even catch another.
77:54
But this can't go on forever.
77:56
As summer continues, temperatures are rising.
78:00
Each hunt requires more energy, draining the bears of their reserves.
78:12
Kenya, famous for its big cats, the supreme hunters.
78:30
>> >> Cheetahs specialize in hunting at speed.
78:34
Though fast, they're fragile creatures built to sprint after small prey.
78:40
They don't have the strength
78:42
or weight of a lion to bring down larger animals.
78:47
This male is different.
78:49
He doesn't hunt alone.
78:51
He's learned that there is strength in numbers.
79:08
But here, there are not just two, but three cheetahs.
79:13
A band of brothers.
79:21
They have changed their tactics
79:23
and by doing so have taken their prey by surprise.
79:28
They have learned that working together, they can bring down large prey.
79:38
An ostrich.
79:40
A bird that towers over a cheetah and is more than twice as heavy.
79:46
It can't fly to escape danger,
79:48
but it can lash out with a deadly kick.
79:53
A female, unaware as yet of any danger.
80:02
Even with three of them, this is still highly risky.
80:06
If one gets injured, the other two couldn't hope to tackle such large prey.
80:19
On the other hand, if they get it right, the rewards are huge.
80:33
The male has spotted one of the brothers, but only one.
80:37
It's not too worried.
80:52
Then suddenly, there are three.
81:05
The female is slower to realize the danger, and the cheetahs switch targets.
81:36
It takes the combined effort
81:38
and weight of all three brothers to bring down this powerful bird.
81:42
Even now, the ostrich could land a fatal kick.
81:53
So far, the brothers are winning.
81:56
Ostriches have yet to find a way to foil such tactics.
82:01
Food is so hard to find this far north
82:04
that a wolf pack must search hundreds of square kilometers
82:07
if it's to be successful.
82:10
And success means raising the next generation.
82:19
To do that here, the wolves must work together.
82:26
So, the young are raised not only by their parents,
82:30
but by their aunts and uncles, as well.
82:38
Together, they try to ensure
82:39
that each pup reaches near adult size before the snow returns.
82:48
A growing pup needs more than just a few lemmings.
82:54
The wolves need bigger prey, and to catch that,
82:59
they must hunt as a pack.
83:23
Adult hares may be easy to spot, but they're far from easy to catch.
83:30
They run at 60 km an hour.
83:39
To catch one, the wolves work as a team.
84:24
>> >> One of them gets close enough to bite the hare's tail.
84:31
>> >> But a hare can change direction in an instant.
84:43
If it can continue to sidestep and it may ultimately outlast them.
85:02
Finally, it gets away.
85:17
For the next hare, the whole pack gives chase.
85:36
Now numbers count.
85:40
The lead wolves keep up the pace.
85:42
Others run on either side so the hare can't change direction.
85:54
A tiny meal for the whole pack.
85:56
Even when more sea lions arrive,
85:59
they can't seem to break down the sardines' coordinated defenses.
86:22
>> With a shoal this big, the sea lions need to isolate a smaller,
86:26
more manageable group of fish.
86:33
But with so few predators, the fish still have the advantage.
86:43
All the sea lions can do is keep the sardines at the surface
86:47
and wait for others to join them.
87:17
Tuna.
87:17
Their arrival changes everything.
87:17
Tuna attack from below, cutting off the sardines' escape route down to deeper water.
87:32
Next to appear, shearwaters.
87:35
Excellent flyers, but also surprisingly agile underwater.
87:43
With so many predators attacking from all sides,
87:46
the advantage starts to shift away from the sardines.
88:10
>> >> As the fish pack ever tighter,
88:13
their shoaling strategy now makes it easier for the hunters.
88:41
Copper sharks.
88:43
They've scented blood in the water.
88:52
>> >> Surprisingly perhaps, the predators never attack one another.
88:56
They work together to corral the ball of fish,
89:00
taking turns to grab a mouthful.
89:11
Common dolphins.
89:16
As the shoal gets ever smaller,
89:18
each sardine scrambles desperately to hide in the middle.
89:23
But now, there's no escape.
89:44
>> >> A Bryde's whale finishes off the feast.
89:49
Tons of sardines devoured in less than an hour.
89:56
During the dry season,
89:58
over half a million tons crowd onto this remote atoll in the Indian Ocean.
90:12
>> Their chicks are still in their dark juvenile plumage.
90:20
They vary in age.
90:30
Whilst the more advanced chicks take to the air, others aren't quite ready yet.
91:03
>> >> Those just starting to learn to fly use the shallow lagoon
91:08
that occupies the center of the atoll
91:10
as their training ground.
91:14
It's difficult for some of them to stay aloft for long.
91:42
Giant trevallies.
91:56
Usually, they are solitary hunters,
92:00
but about 50 of them have come here from neighboring reefs attracted by this
92:05
abundance of potential prey.
92:15
The fledglings stay out of the water if they can.
92:20
They even drink on the wing.
92:40
If the trevally are to catch one now, they have to up their game.
92:55
So, there is a fish here
92:57
that amazingly has a brain capable of calculating the air speed,
93:03
altitude, and trajectory of a bird.
93:37
>> >> The time comes
93:38
when every fledgling has to take to the air
93:41
and collect food for itself.
94:07
>> Their parents lead them to the training grounds.
95:45
>> >> If they are to survive, they must learn quickly.
95:58
>> After a month of practicing over the lagoon,
96:01
the youngsters start to leave and take their chances out over the open sea.
96:07
But leopards are the most versatile of all the big cats,
96:11
adept at finding cover in the most unpromising places.
96:33
The steep walls of the cully are now her cover for an ambush.
96:42
The male puku is close enough, but he's too big to tackle.
96:49
She needs to slip past him without being seen.
97:03
If he spots her, he'll blow her cover.
97:25
Slowly does it.
97:36
To succeed here, she needs to find prey grazing close to the edge,
97:42
or better still, in the cully itself.
98:36
>> Frustration.
98:36
Success would have staved off hunger for a week.
98:43
But while there's prey around, there's hope.
98:49
Peeking over the top is a risk,
98:52
but it's the quickest way to find a new target.
99:31
A burst of speed of 65 km/h
99:34
and it's all over in less than 6 seconds.
99:48
>> Except it isn't.
99:58
Dazed and disorientated, the impala makes a miraculous escape.
100:04
The Namib desert, one of the most exposed places on Earth.
100:15
As the sun climbs high, everybody takes cover from the extreme heat.
100:24
Everybody except the hot rod ants.
100:34
As others take refuge, their day is just beginning.
100:42
Cleaning out the nest.
100:51
The sand can reach a scorching 70° The ants' long legs raise their bodies
100:58
above the surface where it's 10° cooler.
101:05
But if they stand still, they will fry.
101:11
They must keep moving or risk the same fate as their quarry,
101:15
the creatures that have collapsed from heat stroke.
101:20
Too deeply buried, but a good place to cool off.
101:26
Foraging decisions must be fast.
101:29
Too big.
101:38
Perfect.
101:38
Back to the nest before they also die.
101:47
But they've strayed into a minefield.
101:56
Each of these strange cone-shaped pits is a death trap.
102:05
With a brutal predator at its center.
102:11
Here lie antlion larvae, tiny ambush predators with venom-filled pincers.
102:39
Some ants managed to escape.
102:42
But the antlion has other tricks.
102:45
Flinging sand into the air, it creates an avalanche.
102:55
In this cone of death,
102:56
the walls are so angled that the sand slips beneath the ants' feet.
103:05
As boulders rain from the sky, escape seems almost impossible.
103:56
>> >> Phew.
103:56
>> Not much remains of the porpoise after the whales are through with it.
104:05
Killer whales don't just target prey smaller than themselves.
104:11
Off the coast of California,
104:13
a gray whale and her baby are in serious danger.
104:24
Once again, computer images give the underwater view of an extraordinary hunt.
104:31
The gray whale calf is just a few weeks old.
104:35
It's following its mother north towards the summer feeding grounds in Alaska.
104:41
They've reached Monterey Bay, where a deep trench cuts in from the sea.
104:50
As they move beyond the trench wall, the gray whales lose their cover.
104:58
Out in the bay, the killer whales are listening for that telltale sound,
105:02
the breathing of a gray whale.
105:11
Immediately, their behavior changes.
105:14
The killers close ranks like a hunting wolf pack.
105:29
The killer whales have caught up with the mother and calf.
105:33
And now the chase is on.
105:38
The grey whales try to outswim their attackers.
105:44
Fast swimming pushes up the grey whales breathing rate.
105:48
A breathless calf is easier to catch.
105:52
The killers work as a team.
105:55
Their first goal is to separate the baby from its mother.
106:03
>> >> The grey whale mother is a formidable adversary.
106:07
She could seriously harm a killer whale with just one slap of her massive
106:11
tail fluke.
106:21
One of the attackers pushes between mother and calf.
106:46
>> >> The strategy is working.
106:48
The grey whales are forced apart.
106:55
With the baby separated, the killer whales change strategy.
106:59
Now their goal is to drown the calf.
107:12
>> >> For sea lions to venture into deep water here is very dangerous indeed.
107:16
It's much safer to stay in the shallows if they can.
107:49
>> In one or two places,
107:50
channels enable the whales to get really close to the beach.
107:54
Those are the dangerous spots.
108:25
To get off the beach, the killer has to thrash its body.
108:34
No other whale deliberately beaches itself in this way
108:37
or has perfected this method of getting back to the sea.
108:57
As long as the sea lions stay well up the beach,
109:00
you might think they would be safe.
109:02
But the hungry whales are very daring.
109:19
>> Now, several of the whales are hunting in a group.
109:44
That sea lion is keeping just ahead of one of the whales,
109:47
but was caught by another it probably hadn't seen.
110:57
This is savage beating may be to separate hide from flesh.
111:06
The army ant.
111:11
This may look like a ball of a million individuals, but make no mistake.
111:17
The colony acts as one.
111:22
A superorganism with a sensory system of 2 million antennae.
111:29
A skeleton made from the living bodies of workers.
111:37
A defense system of soldier ants.
111:41
Ready to act at any sign of danger.
111:46
A digestive system processing piles of food deep inside.
111:54
Even a coordinated system for dealing with all the waste.
112:02
These are insects that by working together transcend individual size.
112:10
The colony can search the entire jungle.
112:15
And flush out its wildlife.
112:25
Each day it sends out a silent probe into the forest in quest of
112:30
food.
112:38
It doesn't use scouts like other ants.
112:45
Instead, a vast search party pushes into virgin territory.
112:55
Seeking out the signs of anything alive.
113:10
>> They spread out along a 10-m front, sweeping across the forest floor.
113:19
To find prey, the ants must first touch it.
113:24
The irony is that this,
113:26
the most successful hide-and-seek player in the forest, is almost completely blind.
113:34
It distinguishes the living only by their movement.
113:41
As long as an animal remains still, it is safe.
113:48
But the slightest twitch will give it away.
113:56
>> >> Within seconds, the prey is pinned down.
114:02
Within minutes, it's torn apart at its joints.
114:10
The more the prey struggles, the more the ants engage.
114:19
Right across the raid front,
114:21
prey of all sizes are driven from their hiding places.
114:29
Even wasps must abandon their homes when the ants arrive.
114:38
Everything alive in the path of the raiders overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
114:48
It's called Darwin's bark spider, and the female has a remarkable strategy.
115:13
>> >> Like a real-life spider-woman,
115:16
she sprays strands of silk in one long continuous flow.
115:25
The threads fan out like a sail
115:27
and drift on air currents blowing across the water.
115:32
Every few seconds, she crimps the strands together to stop them spreading too widely.
115:41
The breeze will do the rest,
115:43
blowing the threads into a single line and a 25-m bridge.
115:51
Now, she must reinforce her bridge because her web will hang from it.
116:01
But, there's something bouncing the line at the other end.
116:06
Another Darwin spider is trying to take advantage of her hard work.
116:18
She must deal with the intruder head-on.
116:25
The cut line is an inconvenience, but no more than that.
116:32
With hooks on the tips of each leg, she gathers in the thread.
116:41
It won't go to waste as she'll eat it later.
116:52
When it's all reeled in, she sprays again.
116:58
Out streams another 25 m bridging line.
117:10
How a spider no bigger than a thumbnail can produce
117:13
so much silk so quickly has baffled scientists.
117:21
And it's no ordinary silk.
117:24
It's the toughest natural fiber on the planet, tougher than steel.
117:31
And it needs to be tough to span the wide river.
117:37
With the bridge taut and the ground anchor in place,
117:41
it's time to construct her trap.
117:56
These spiders can build the world's largest orb webs up to 2 m wide.
118:05
A few hours from the first spray of bridging line, the job is done.
118:15
Now her strategy is simple.
118:18
Sit and wait.
118:39
And there's one final bout of silk production, shrink wrapping her food for later.
118:51
A sally Lightfoot crab.
118:56
One of thousands of shore crabs just waiting for their moment.
119:03
Every day they gather on the tropical shores of Brazil.
119:10
Waiting for the tide to go out.
119:21
Which exposes their feeding grounds.
119:25
Seaweed covered rocks 100 m from the shore.
119:39
Getting there is a race against the tide.
119:49
They leap from rock to rock.
120:05
These crabs seem to be afraid of the water.
120:21
And for good reason.
120:35
The moray eel.
120:39
The chain moray is a specialist crab hunter.
120:49
Its blunt teeth can easily grip and crush a crab shell.
120:59
It's the crab's deadliest enemy.
121:12
But the crab's feeding grounds are still a long way off.
121:22
They must press on.
121:53
>> >> Halfway.
121:53
>> >> But their enemy has other ideas.
122:02
Crossing the land to reset the ambush.
122:16
To feed, the crabs must keep going.
122:25
But nowhere is safe.
122:31
An octopus, also a crab killer.
123:00
>> The crabs make a dash for it.
123:29
>> >> Made it.
123:39
Risking life and limb to graze on these seaweed pastures.
123:48
But in 2 hours time, when the tide starts to turn,
123:53
they will have to run the gauntlet all over again.
124:10
It's July in the deserts of Nevada in the western United States.
124:17
The hottest time of the year.
124:33
Bands of wild horses, mustang,
124:35
are converging on one of the last remaining water holes around.
124:45
Now, water not only offers them the chance to drink,
124:49
it can also bring power.
124:55
If a stallion can control access to water,
124:58
he will have secured mating rights to the entire herd.
125:03
So, stallions try to dominate these pools, fighting off rivals who venture too close.
125:21
A stranger.
125:24
He's traveled 15 km to be here
125:27
because the pools where he's come from have already dried up.
125:34
With him come his females.
125:39
If he can't provide them with water,
125:41
they will leave him for the white stallion who already dominates this pool.
125:56
So, he will have to fight.
126:59
>> >> There is everything to lose.
127:02
A broken leg or a shattered jaw would mean a slow and painful death.
127:28
>> >> A missed kick and it's all over.
127:33
The new arrival has won.
127:38
And his prize is more than just a chance to drink.
127:42
He has provided for his herd and in the process stolen his rival's females.
127:49
The white stallion's rule is over.
128:08
>> >> These males are the troop leaders.
128:12
They hold all the power here.
128:25
Joining them is every young male's ambition.
128:33
To be accepted into this elite is the path to privilege,
128:37
but it's a dangerous journey.
128:57
The youngster decides to follow.
129:01
At first, he has enough sense to keep his distance.
129:05
These males are twice his size.
129:19
>> >> The low-ranking chimps retreat before the troop leaders arrive at the water hole.
129:33
>> >> Dominant males have a highly stressful life
129:35
as they constantly squabble to protect their position.
129:43
The youngster can't take his eyes off them.
129:58
This is his chance to get himself noticed.
130:02
If he can impress even one of the big males with a show of
130:05
strength,
130:06
he might just be accepted into their ranks.
130:22
His best attempt at a macho display has certainly caught their attention.
130:33
But they are not impressed.
130:45
>> >> In fact, this drumming means they're getting rather angry.
130:53
AND THEY ATTACK.
131:00
>> >> THE YOUNGSTER IS NOT QUICK ENOUGH.
131:13
>> >> HE GETS A SHORT,
131:14
SHARP lesson about how hard it can be to break into this close-knit gang.
131:22
He's lucky to escape with just an injured hand.
131:35
>> >> For the moment, he's neither big enough nor strong enough to be
131:39
taken seriously by the troop leaders.
131:46
>> >> Without status, he will never enjoy the privileges of the best food
131:50
or the attention of females.
131:54
Losing its fear of humans has enabled one animal to spread into cities everywhere
132:00
and in huge numbers.
132:10
Pigeons are by far the most successful urban bird.
132:21
>> Here in Albi in the south of France,
132:23
the pigeons come to the river to bathe.
132:26
They need to preen their flight feathers, clean off the city dust,
132:32
and cool themselves down.
132:54
But death lies in wait.
132:59
A predator that has taken advantage of the very thing
133:02
that has led to the pigeon's success.
133:06
Their lack of fear.
133:11
As the pigeons bathe, oil from their plumage flows downstream and is detected.
133:28
A monstrous wels catfish.
133:33
Introduced here just 40 years ago, they have proliferated,
133:40
virtually exterminated the local fish stocks, and they've now developed a taste for pigeon.
133:51
Their eyesight is poor,
133:53
so they use their barbels to sense the movements of their victims.
134:53
>> >> This is a radical new hunting strategy for what is normally a
134:57
bottom-dwelling fish.
135:14
After a thousand years of living in this city,
135:17
pigeons are now having to learn to avoid a fish.
135:25
A lone Grevy's zebra.
135:30
He weighs close to half a ton
135:33
and could go for three days without drinking.
135:42
Like the macaques, his forebears were refugees from the advancing Sahara.
135:52
The land is scrubby and dry.
136:00
But this stallion has claimed it as his own.
136:05
He's been waiting for visitors.
136:09
Female visitors.
136:19
If they like his territory, they might stay a while.
136:28
It's his first chance to mate for a very long time.
136:46
Hardly a success.
136:49
Perhaps his visitors are looking for a more impressive partner.
136:56
>> >> There's another setback.
137:00
The females were being followed.
137:02
A posse of young males.
137:05
Everyone a rival.
137:13
It's time to separate the men from the boys.
137:41
>> >> And one by one, the stallion sees them off.
138:08
>> >> The females had ring side seats.
138:13
And his prowess has not gone unnoticed.
138:24
Machismo gives way to gentleness.
138:44
Around here, you have to take every opportunity.
138:47
Be it for food, for water, or for mates.
139:02
Female Grevy's are a fickle bunch.
139:05
The herd have decided to move on.
139:09
All of them.
139:12
The stallion may never see them again.
139:16
But there's a chance that one is now carrying his foal.
139:26
>> >> In a far corner of Southeast Asia lies the Coral Triangle.
139:35
>> >> A cluster of the richest coral reefs in the world.
139:45
>> >> Undersea cities crammed full of life.
139:55
As in any crowded there is fierce rivalry for space, for food,
140:11
and for a partner.
140:14
But, the reef is also a place full of opportunity.
140:32
>> >> A cuttlefish.
140:50
It specializes in hunting crabs.
141:02
But, a large crab is a dangerous quarry.
141:14
It has powerful claws.
141:19
The cuttlefish, however, has a remarkable talent.
141:29
Its skin contains millions of pigment cells,
141:32
with which it can create ever-changing colors and patterns.
141:46
And that, apparently, hypnotizes the crab.
142:12
>> A cuttlefish may be clever, but a shark is bigger.
142:18
And it eats cuttlefish.
142:23
Time to disappear.
142:41
Back to the hunt.
142:45
A new target, but the same mesmerizing technique.
143:05
For those that manage to establish themselves in these bustling undersea cities,
143:11
there can be great rewards.
143:20
This is a poison dart frog.
143:24
Males raise their young in a very special way.
143:31
A father will place each one of his tadpoles in its own tiny pool
143:36
of water.
143:38
This is one.
143:40
Nice and safe.
143:45
He might have up to five other tadpoles.
143:51
But he needs to remember where he put each one of them.
143:57
This one isn't doing so well.
144:01
His tiny puddle has all but dried out.
144:05
The tadpole will die unless its father can find a better place for it.
144:13
If dads are good for one thing, it's piggyback rides.
144:28
Fathers are no bigger than a human thumbnail,
144:31
but this enables them to get to places that others can't.
144:37
This could be perfect.
144:45
The only problem is that there's no food here.
144:51
Fathers need help.
144:59
Somewhere in this forest is mom.
145:21
A female could do something a male cannot.
145:28
But first, dad must lead his partner to their hungry tadpole.
145:48
>> And mother deals with the problem.
145:53
She lays a single unfertilized egg.
146:05
And her tadpole gets a much needed meal.
146:12
For the next 6 weeks, parents continue their rounds,
146:16
an extraordinary test of teamwork and memory.
146:23
Sailfish, 3 m long, are closing in on prey.
146:34
They will only use just enough energy to make their kill.
146:39
Never wasting a fin stroke.
146:46
Nearly 100 sailfish have surrounded a single school of baitfish.
146:50
It's very rare to see so many of these hunters in one place.
146:58
To herd their prey, the predators raise their huge dorsal fins.
147:20
A mistimed strike by one sailfish could fatally damage another,
147:25
but each continually changes its color from blue to striped to black.
147:30
That warns its companions of its intentions and also confuses the prey.
147:39
As the shoal is driven nearer the surface,
147:41
it comes within the range of the seabirds.
147:59
>> >> Out here in the open ocean, there is nowhere for the baitfish to hide.
148:46
Sailfish live a high-octane life.
148:51
To survive, they must find prey daily.
148:55
So, their entire existence will be spent on the move.
149:05
And many animals here choose the simplest option of all.
149:11
Staying hidden all day and only venturing out in the cool of the night.
149:25
As darkness falls, animals appear from seemingly nowhere.
149:37
>> And among them inevitably are hunters.
149:57
One of the most voracious nocturnal predators is also one of the hardest to
150:06
see.
150:06
This mysterious creature hardly ever appears on the surface of the dunes.
150:17
But there are signs on the sand that can give it away.
150:35
It lives only here where the sand grains are
150:37
so perfectly dry and polished
150:39
that they flow almost like water.
150:45
It's no bigger than a ping pong ball.
150:52
A golden mole.
150:55
It's totally blind.
150:57
But there's nothing to see underground anyway.
151:06
Instead, it has superb hearing.
151:11
Its entire head acts as an amplifier that picks up vibrations through the sand.
151:17
So, to locate prey on the surface of the dune, it has, paradoxically,
151:22
to thrust its face into the dune.
151:35
>> Termites, not easy to catch when you're blind.
151:42
Far better to go into stealth mode.
151:46
Once below the sand, it can detect the slightest movement.
151:54
Allowing it to strike with pinpoint accuracy.
152:06
Well, most of the time.
152:21
It can travel a kilometer a night in search of its dinner.
152:27
And right now, it has just detected its main course.
152:33
Little wonder it's sometimes called the shark of the dunes.
152:40
Lizards, for the most part, are not known for being caring parents,
152:45
but there are exceptions.
152:47
It's spring in the woodlands of North America, and American robin is nesting,
152:52
warming her eggs with the heat generated by her own body.
152:58
And below, on the forest floor,
153:00
a five-lined skink is warming her cold-blooded body by basking in the sunshine,
153:07
so that she can do the same thing.
153:18
She has a nest below the log.
153:26
It can get quite chilly in these woodlands,
153:28
and she warms her eggs by transferring to them the heat
153:32
that she's collected from the sun.
153:47
She takes just as much care of her eggs as the robin does.
154:01
A month later, and her eggs are hatching.
154:17
The robin's eggs have hatched, too.
154:20
Her nestlings are helpless and need constant feeding.
154:25
The young skinks, however, are already capable of finding food for themselves.
154:39
Within a day or so,
154:40
they've left their mother and are independently exploring the woodland floor for themselves.
154:53
Back in the Australian rainforest,
154:56
this weaver ant fortress sits at the heart of a rich territory.
155:06
Hunting parties go out to gather food to fuel their growing numbers.
155:21
>> Some canopy caterpillars are not killed, but farmed by the ants.
155:27
They exude a sugary secretion that the ants collect.
155:32
In return, the ants mount a guard to protect the caterpillar wherever it goes.
155:43
But, a successful colony inevitably attracts enemies.
155:53
This jumping spider's body shape resembles that of an ant.
156:02
A disguise good enough to fool these nursery guards.
156:12
It's after one of the colony's most valuable assets, the grubs.
156:20
In a colony numbering tens of thousands, a single grub is an insignificant loss.
156:29
But, the rich territory of a successful colony draws more destructive enemies.
156:44
Raiders from a neighboring weaver ant colony looking to expand their own empire.
157:01
Invaders are quickly spotted.
157:07
The guard releases pheromones to alert the rest of the colony.
157:14
They stream out of the nest to defend their home.
157:34
>> >> If the home defenses fail, the colony will be wiped out.
157:43
Some of the defenders deploy their most potent weapon.
157:47
They squirt formic acid.
157:56
The stingy liquid halts the invaders in their tracks.
158:04
And now the home guard can go on the offensive.
158:36
Home and territory are secure once again.
158:41
A colony may lose many workers in defense of its home,
158:46
but their sacrifice helps safeguard the next generation.
158:54
It's now midsummer, and the sun is shining at full strength.
159:02
The increasing warmth is the cue for an Atlantic lobster to start on a
159:07
long journey.
159:08
She spent the winter 250 m down, far beyond the reach of the storms.
159:15
But, it was cold down there, and now she needs to find warmer water.
159:20
So, she's marching towards the shallows.
159:24
They, however, are 150 km away.
159:34
After a month of walking, she finally arrives at her favorite sandbank.
159:41
But, she's not the first here.
159:43
Dozens of other lobsters have already dug themselves homes in the sand,
159:47
and they don't intend to surrender them to newcomers.
160:24
Size counts for everything in these battles.
160:27
The new arrival is in urgent need of a pit,
160:30
and since she weighs a hefty 7 kilos,
160:33
she stands a good chance of getting one.
160:50
She's won.
160:56
These battles continue for the next 2 months, and they're crucial.
161:00
For the females must have both shelter
161:03
and warm water if they're to raise their young.
161:07
For the last 7 months,
161:09
each of these females has been carrying around about 20,000 fertilized eggs.
161:14
But their task is approaching its end.
161:17
The warmth of the shallows is speeding the eggs' development.
161:24
Two more months and the eggs are ready to hatch.
161:46
>> >> At first, they're not very good at swimming.
161:50
But within a few minutes,
161:52
the babies are able to set off in a purposeful way.
162:01
This is one of them.
162:02
From the purposeful way in which he's walking,
162:04
it's clear that the search for prey has started.
162:06
The other members of the team are not far away.
162:15
They've been steadily following the monkeys for about 20 minutes, looking for an opportunity.
162:25
The technique they'll almost certainly use is
162:29
that one of them will be driving the colobus ahead of him,
162:33
then there will be others
162:34
that go up on either side who are the blockers who won't make any
162:38
attempt to catch the monkeys,
162:40
and then there are chasers who go
162:42
and grab at the monkey
162:43
if they can,
162:43
and finally, there's one male who will go up ahead and ambush it,
162:49
so uh bringing the whole trap close.
162:56
The The are now getting alarmed.
163:01
A driver is going up to prevent the group from settling
163:03
and to drive them towards an area where they're more easily trapped.
163:29
That's That's one of the blockers that's now widely come ahead of the Colobus.
163:32
He's halfway up the tree now.
163:35
He's deliberately making himself conspicuous.
163:44
Now it looks as though they're all in position.
163:46
The drivers gone them up, the blockers have gone up.
163:48
And now the one is going to make the ambush and close the ring,
163:52
he's gone up too.
163:53
The Colobus are very lucky they escape now.
164:10
>> >> They've got one.
164:20
>> >> The hunters are tearing it apart.
164:24
Everyone and the hunters in the trees
164:26
and the spectators on the ground are screaming with excitement.
164:48
>> >> And now the kill is brought down
164:51
so that the females
164:52
and others can share it.
165:12
And there's the reward for that long chase,
165:15
the divided body of a Colobus monkey.
165:21
These blood-stained faces may well horrify us,
165:26
but we might also see in them the face of our long-distant hunting ancestors.
165:33
And if we are appalled by that non-violence and bloodlust,
165:40
we might also see in that, too, perhaps,
165:43
the origins of the teamwork that have, in the end,
165:49
brought human beings many of their greatest triumphs.
165:53
This is the South African dwarf chameleon, a male in full courtship costume.
166:04
This, somewhat less colorful, is a female.
166:13
She is not welcoming his advances.
166:23
As her mood darkens, so does her skin.
166:48
She's driven him away.
166:50
But why?
166:58
There is a reason.
167:02
She's pregnant.
167:04
Her home, the South African Cape, can get quite cold.
167:08
So, instead of laying her eggs on the ground as most chameleons do,
167:13
she retains them within her body
167:15
and warms them by seeking out the sunniest places
167:18
and sunbathing.
167:21
Now, they're ready to emerge alive.
167:33
Producing babies in the branches might seem to be a risky business,
167:38
but the membrane enclosing each one will stick to a twig
167:42
if it hits one.
167:46
And when at last the babies disentangle themselves,
167:49
they immediately deploy their formidable chameleon grip.
168:48
>> >> By the time they're properly dried out,
168:51
the babies are as much at home in the branches as their mother.
169:22
Out here on the sand flats, there is safe accommodation for some.
169:36
A family of saddleback clown fish have found an excellent home.
169:44
The tentacles of this carpet anemone can kill.
169:51
But the clown fish are immune to the poison.
169:59
So they can shelter from danger.
170:07
In return, the fish keep the anemone clean of debris.
170:16
As with all clown fish, the family is ruled by a big female.
170:23
Her white face marks her out as the boss.
170:31
The diminutive male has to prove his worth.
170:35
So he works tirelessly removing debris and generally keeping on top of the housework.
171:02
>> >> His greatest challenge is to find a safe place where the boss
171:07
can lay her eggs.
171:12
>> >> But, there's nothing solid here for the female to lay them on.
171:21
A nearby shell could be the solution.
171:34
If only he can move it to the protection of the anemone.
171:47
Too heavy.
171:52
Besides, it has a mind of its own.
171:58
Hermit crab.
172:09
But, out here, twice a day, the anemone is swept by tidal currents,
172:15
and they bring in new opportunities.
172:20
An old plastic bottle.
172:27
Perhaps this will do.
172:36
>> Not heavy enough.
172:50
A coconut shell.
172:57
>> >> It looks just right.
172:59
But it's a long way from home.
173:20
And he can't move it by himself.
173:35
So, the pair now work together.
174:19
>> >> A little adjustment to the anemone's tentacles in order to clear a
174:23
space for it.
174:27
And the shell is tucked in.
174:35
The female lays.
174:37
A safe nursery at last.
174:56
>> >> He has proved himself worthy to father her young.
175:00
And he fertilizes them.
175:06
>> >> Now, he will meticulously tend the eggs.
175:17
Keeping them clean and healthy until they hatch.
175:21
In 10 days time. 60 million tons of snow now blanket this herd's territory.
175:45
Pushing through deep snow is exhausting work.
175:48
And the bison are now slowly starving.
175:58
Just keeping warm saps huge amounts of energy.
176:08
Their thick coats can insulate them down to minus 30° C.
176:13
It's now minus 40.
176:17
The only thing that will keep them alive is buried beneath a meter of
176:22
snow.
176:28
And that's a problem shared with a surprising neighbor.
176:49
The food of the fox six is also deep beneath the snow.
177:05
The survival of both creatures depends on getting through to the ground.
177:15
For the bison, it will be a matter of brute strength.
177:24
Massive neck muscles enable them to shovel 5 tons of snow a day.
177:35
Their lightweight neighbor needs more precision.
178:05
The bison have reached their goal.
178:08
A mouthful of withered grass.
178:14
And where the bison have dug, the fox now spots an opportunity.
178:28
Every footstep counts.
178:33
But he mustn't break through.
178:40
Yet.
178:40
He listens carefully to pinpoint his target.
178:49
It's moving.
179:11
A vole.
179:15
Small, but a hundred times more nutritious than a mouthful of dried grass.
179:27
To get through the winter on these prairies, sometimes brain beats brawn.
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