All language subtitles for Into.the.Wild.Colombia.Series.1.4of5.Warriors.of.the.Llanos.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.en

THE VAST GRASSLAND
OF THE COLOMBIAN LLANOS

IS A FICKLE AND
UNFORGIVING ARENA...

♪

A DUSTBOWL OF SAVAGE HEAT
AND PITILESS DROUGHT

THAT GIVES WAY TO
TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FLOOD.

JUST TO SURVIVE IS
A RELENTLESS BATTLE

WITH NO SECOND CHANCES.

♪

ONLY NATURE’S
MOST DETERMINED WARRIORS

CAN COMBAT THESE BRUTAL EXTREMES

AND SURVIVE A YEAR
IN THE LLANOS.

[THUNDER]

[CHIRPING]

♪

♪

♪

IT’S FEBRUARY, THE HEIGHT
OF THE DRY SEASON IN COLOMBIA.

AT 95 DEGREES, THE LAND
HAS BEEN LAID WASTE.

WINDS BLOW HOT AND DRY
ACROSS THE PLAINS.

THERE’S BEEN NO RAIN HERE
FOR THREE MONTHS.

MOST OF THE LAGOONS
HAVE DRIED UP,

WHICH IS BAD NEWS FOR
THIS HERD OF CAPYBARA,

WHO NEED DEEP WATER
TO SURVIVE THE HEAT.

♪

THEIR HOME IS AN ENDLESS BELT
OF OPEN TROPICAL GRASSLANDS

KNOWN AS THE LLANOS,

WHICH HARBORS MORE THAN
100 SPECIES OF MAMMAL

AND AROUND 700 SPECIES OF BIRD.

IT STRETCHES ACROSS 700 MILES,
FROM COLOMBIA TO VENEZUELA,

AND LIES SANDWICHED BETWEEN
THE ANDES MOUNTAINS IN THE WEST

AND THE ORINOCO RIVER
TO THE EAST.

BUT IT’S THE SEASONS THAT
REALLY SHAPE THE LLANOS,

AND THEY COME
IN TWO DRAMATIC EXTREMES:

[THUNDER]

A TORRENTIAL WET SEASON THAT
RUNS FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER,

AND A BRUTAL DRY SEASON
FROM DECEMBER TO MARCH.

TO LIVE HERE, ANY INHABITANT
MUST BE TOUGH ENOUGH

TO COPE WITH THE TWO EXTREMES
OF FLOOD AND DROUGHT.

HOW WELL THEY CAN HANDLE
THESE TWIN STRESSES

DETERMINES THEIR SUCCESS.

♪

♪

CAPYBARAS ARE THE WORLD’S
LARGEST RODENTS.

THEY’RE CLOSELY RELATED
TO GUINEA PIGS,

YET AT 140 POUNDS, THEY CAN GROW
AS LARGE AS A LABRADOR DOG.

THEY’RE SOCIAL CREATURES,

AND THIS ALPHA MALE LEADS
A MIXED-SEX GROUP

OF 15 ADULTS, PLUS THEIR YOUNG.

♪

HE’S LED THEM TO A LAGOON
IN SEARCH OF WATER.

BUT IT’S BONE DRY.

♪

CAPYBARA HERDS ARE TERRITORIAL,

AND THEIR TERRITORIES NEED
SCRUBBY HIGHER GROUND

FOR FORAGING,

AND A LAGOON FOR DRINKING

AND SEEKING REFUGE
FROM THE HEAT.

THE HERD TYPICALLY NEEDS TO
WALLOW FOR FOUR HOURS EVERY DAY

TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY
BODY TEMPERATURE

OF AROUND 100 DEGREES.

WITHOUT WATER AND
WITH FEW SWEAT GLANDS,

THEY CAN QUICKLY OVERHEAT.

♪

THEY MUST FIND WATER
THAT’S DEEP ENOUGH

TO SUBMERGE THEIR
TWO-FOOT-TALL BODIES.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO MOVE ON.

THE DOMINANT MALE LEADS THEM
THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY,

ACROSS THEIR GRAZING FIELDS,

AND OVER THEIR HIGHER
BUSHY BANKS

THAT PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER
DURING THE FLOODS.

♪

FOR SOME, THE DRY SEASON
HAS ALREADY TAKEN ITS TOLL.

[FLIES BUZZING]

IN THE 95-DEGREE HEAT,

A CAPYBARA CARCASS
HAS BAKED DRY.

THE HERD MUST FIND WATER SOON
OR THEY WILL ALL SHARE HIS FATE.

AMONG THE STRESSES
OF THE DRY SEASON,

OTHER LLANOS RESIDENTS SEE
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.

[CHIRPING]

ON A BANK OVERLOOKING
THE DRIED-OUT LAGOON,

AN OWL KEEPS WATCH
OVER THE PLAINS.

♪

UNUSUALLY FOR AN OWL, THIS MALE
IS ACTIVE BOTH NIGHT AND DAY.

AT ONLY 10 INCHES TALL
HE’S VULNERABLE TO PREDATORS,

SO HE’S ON HIGH ALERT.

♪

HE’S MADE HIS HOME ON
AN AREA OF HIGHER GROUND

WITH LITTLE VEGETATION...

GIVING HIM CLEAR VIEWS
OF APPROACHING PREDATORS

LIKE SNAKES AND RAPTORS.

WITH NO TREES TO NEST IN, THIS
MIGHT SEEM LIKE A STRANGE HOME.

BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY BIRD.

HE’S A BURROWING OWL...

♪

THE ONLY OWL SPECIES IN
THE WORLD TO LIVE UNDERGROUND.

THEY CAN DIG THEIR BURROWS
FROM SCRATCH,

BUT THIS MALE HAS MOVED INTO
AN ABANDONED ARMADILLO BURROW,

WHILE MAKING A FEW ALTERATIONS
OF HIS OWN.

HIS BURROW IS MORE
THAN JUST A SAFE PLACE

TO REST AND SHELTER.

BENEATH HIM, HIS MATE
HAS SPENT ALMOST A MONTH

INCUBATING THEIR FOUR EGGS.

NESTING UNDERGROUND KEEPS THE
EGGS AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE.

♪

BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

RAINS WILL ARRIVE
IN EIGHT WEEKS.

BEFORE THEN, THE BROOD
MUST HATCH, FLEDGE,

AND BE STRONG ENOUGH TO FLY
IN CASE THIS BURROW FLOODS.

TO BEAT THE COMING DELUGE,

THE EGGS NEED TO HATCH
ANY DAY NOW.

♪

[CHIRPING]

♪

IN THE RELENTLESS HEAT,

THE CAPYBARA HERD CONTINUES
ITS SEARCH FOR WATER.

THEY ARE DESPERATE FOR
THE RESPITE OF A DEEP LAGOON.

[SPLASH]

WITH HIS ACUTE HEARING, THE
DOMINANT MALE PICKS UP THE SOUND

OF SPLASHING WATER
JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY.

IT’S A LIFELINE FOR
OTHER THIRSTY RESIDENTS.

BUT THIS LAGOON ISN’T
THE SALVATION

THE HERD IS HOPING FOR.

IT’S FULL OF SPECTACLED CAIMANS.

AS LAGOONS DRY OUT,
FISH BECOME CONCENTRATED

IN THE REMAINING POOLS,
LIKE THIS ONE.

CAIMANS GATHER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE EASY PICKINGS.

THEY CAN GROW
UP TO EIGHT FEET LONG.

ALTHOUGH THE CAIMANS
COULDN’T TACKLE

THE MALE CAPYBARA’S
140-POUND HEFT,

THEY WOULD MAKE SHORT WORK
OF HIS OFFSPRING.

THE MALE CAN’T RISK TAKING
HIS HERD INTO THIS POOL.

THEY MUST MOVE ON ONCE AGAIN.

AFTER TWO HOURS IN THE HEAT,

THEIR SEARCH FOR A SAFE LAGOON
IS GETTING DESPERATE.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

OUT ON THE LLANOS,

THE CAPYBARAS CONTINUE
THEIR SEARCH FOR WATER.

♪

THE MALE HEARS SOMETHING

AND GOES AHEAD TO CHECK
IF IT’S SAFE.

♪

♪

FINALLY, SALVATION
FOR THE EXHAUSTED HERD.

BUT THEY’RE NOT
THE ONLY CAPYBARAS HERE.

IN THE PARCHED LANDSCAPE,
SEVERAL CAPYBARA HERDS

HAVE ABANDONED
THEIR USUAL TERRITORIES

TO SEEK REFUGE IN THIS
LIFESAVING LAGOON.

THERE ARE MORE THAN
A HUNDRED ANIMALS HERE,

AND THEY ALL SEEM TO BE
IGNORING ONE ANOTHER.

♪

CAPYBARA HERDS ARE
FIERCELY TERRITORIAL

AND WOULD NEVER
NORMALLY TOLERATE

THEIR NEIGHBORS
GETTING THIS CLOSE.

BUT IN THE DESPERATE DRY SEASON,
AN UNSPOKEN TRUCE BREAKS OUT,

AND THESE PUGNACIOUS RODENTS
TOLERATE OTHERS

INVADING THEIR PERSONAL SPACE.

THEY MUST ALL NOW RELY ON
THIS LAGOON TO KEEP THEM COOL.

AND THEY MAKE THE MOST
OF THE WATER...

AND THE MUD.

WITH FINE HAIR,
CAPYBARAS’ SKIN BURNS EASILY

IN THE POWERFUL SUN,

SO A THICK COATING OF MUD
IS COOLING AND PROTECTIVE.

♪

ALL THESE ANIMALS
WILL NOW STAY CLOSE

TO THE SAFETY OF THE LAGOON,

UNTIL THE FIRST SIGNS THAT
THE WET SEASON IS ON ITS WAY.

♪

[CHIRPING]

BELOW THE GROUND,
THE OWLS’ EGGS REMAIN COOL.

A TINY CRACK MARKS THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW LIFE.

♪

♪

IN THEIR FIRST HOURS,

THE CHICKS ARE COMPLETELY
HELPLESS IN THE BURROW.

♪

MEANWHILE, THEIR FATHER
IS HARD AT WORK,

TIRELESSLY BRINGING FOOD
FOR THE MOTHER

AND THEIR FOUR HUNGRY CHICKS.

THE CHICKS MUST BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO LEAVE THE NEST

WITHIN TWO WEEKS SO THEY CAN
FLEDGE BEFORE THE RAINS COME.

BUT FOOD IS SCARCE
IN THE DRY SEASON,

AND THE EFFORTS OF A LONE HUNTER
MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

TO KEEP THEM ALL ALIVE.

HE WILL HAVE HIS WORK
CUT OUT FOR HIM.

♪

BY MARCH THE CAIMANS’ LAGOON
HAS RAPIDLY DRIED OUT.

♪

ONLY A FEW MUDDY PUDDLES LINGER.

♪

THEY’VE EATEN THE LAST
OF THE FISH.

SO, RATHER THAN BATTLING
THE ELEMENTS--

A FIGHT THAT CAN’T BE WON--

THIS CAIMAN HAS SURRENDERED
HIMSELF TO THE DRY SEASON.

HE BURIES HIMSELF IN THE MUD

AND ENTERS A STANDBY MODE
CALLED ESTIVATION.

HE LOWERS HIS METABOLISM TO COPE
WITH THE LACK OF FOOD,

AND THE MUD HELPS HIM CONSERVE
WATER AND KEEP COOL.

UNLIKE HIBERNATION, ESTIVATION
CAN QUICKLY BE REVERSED...

SO ANY ANIMAL IN THE LLANOS
MUST WATCH WHERE IT TREADS.

♪

BUT FOR NOW, THE ONLY WAY
FOR THIS CAIMAN TO SURVIVE

IS TO LIE DORMANT.

♪

IT’S BEEN FOUR WEEKS SINCE THE
BURROWING OWL CHICKS HATCHED.

[SCREECH]

♪

TO STAY ON SCHEDULE
AND BEAT THE RAINS,

THEY’RE STARTING TO EXPLORE

BEYOND THE SAFETY
OF THEIR BURROW.

♪

THE PARENTS STAND GUARD
OVER THE NEST ENTRANCE.

♪

THE COAST IS CLEAR.

[SCREECHING]

THEY SIGNAL FOR THE CHICKS
TO EMERGE.

[SCREECHING]

ONE BY ONE THEY APPEAR.

BUT TWO ARE MISSING.

[SCREECH]

[SCREECH]

DESPITE THEIR FATHER’S
BEST EFFORTS,

ONLY TWO CHICKS HAVE SURVIVED
THE DEATH OF THE DRY SEASON.

[SCREECH]

BUT THE SURVIVING SIBLINGS
ARE QUICKLY GAINING CONFIDENCE

IN THIS EXCITING NEW WORLD.

♪

ON THESE FIRST STEPS
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE,

ADULT FEATHERS ARE STARTING
TO APPEAR ON THEIR WINGS,

AND THEY CAN EVEN FLY
IN SHORT BURSTS.

♪

[SCREECH]

AS THEIR FATHER RETURNS
FROM A HUNTING TRIP,

THE CHICKS DASH OVER
IN HOPE OF A MEAL.

[SCREECHING]

BUT THERE’S NOTHING THIS TIME.

[SCREECHING]

LEAVING THEIR MOTHER
TO STAND GUARD,

HE HEADS OFF AGAIN,
AND THE CHICKS WATCH HIM GO.

♪

THERE’S MORE TO
THIS HEAD BOBBING

THAN JUST PLAYFULNESS
AND CURIOSITY.

[SCREECH]

OWLS CAN’T MOVE THEIR EYES
IN THEIR SOCKETS;

THEY’RE FIXED IN POSITION.

SO TO BUILD AN ACCURATE PICTURE
OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS

THEY MUST MOVE THEIR HEADS.

AS THEY WAIT FOR THEIR FATHER,

A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE GRASS
CATCHES THEIR EYE.

[SCREECH]

♪

IT’S A CHANCE TO PRACTICE
THEIR HUNTING SKILLS.

♪

GOT IT!

♪

NO, THAT’S A TWIG.

♪

HOW ABOUT THIS?

♪

PERHAPS NOT.

♪

MAYBE THIS TIME?

NO, THAT’S A PIECE OF DUNG.

THESE EARLY ATTEMPTS TO HUNT
MAY SEEM HOPELESS,

BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT STEPS
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND IN THE WEEKS TO COME
THEY’LL LEARN A SECRET

THAT’S HIDING IN THE DUNG.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON
THESE LITTLE BIRDS

NEED TO LEARN RIGHT NOW

IS TO ALWAYS BE VIGILANT.

THERE ARE MANY ANIMALS HERE

THAT WOULD ENJOY A BURROWING OWL
FOR BREAKFAST.

AND CHICKS THAT CAN’T FLY YET
ARE AT EVEN GREATER RISK.

♪

THE APLOMADO FALCON LIVES
THROUGHOUT SOUTH AMERICA,

INCLUDING ON THE FLAT PLAINS
OF THE LLANOS.

PERCHED IN A TREE
MORE THAN A MILE AWAY,

THIS FEMALE’S EXCELLENT EYESIGHT
CAN SPOT THE SMALLEST MOVEMENTS

FROM GREAT DISTANCES, BOTH
IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

♪

THE BURROWING OWL PARENTS
RAISE THEIR ALARM CALL,

SENDING THE CHICKS
DUCKING FOR COVER.

[CHIRPING]

THE FALCON’S BEEN RUMBLED,

AND ALL THE OWLS ARE
SAFELY UNDERGROUND.

SO SHE FOCUSES
HER EFFORTS ELSEWHERE.

THIS CRESTED BOBWHITE QUAIL
IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS

AND HAS NOWHERE TO HIDE.

♪

IT’S A LUCKY ESCAPE
FOR THE OWL CHICKS

AND A WIN FOR THE FALCON.

THE QUAIL IS A BIGGER PRIZE
THAN A BURROWING OWL.

♪

ANY TIME SPENT ABOVE GROUND
IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER

FOR THE OWL CHICKS,

BUT WITH EACH DAY THEY GROW
A LITTLE STRONGER

AND ARE MORE PREPARED FOR
THE RAINS THAT WILL SOON ARRIVE.

[SCREECH]

BAKED MUD BEARS THE SCARS
OF FIVE MONTHS WITHOUT RAIN.

GRASSES HAVE WITHERED.

THOUGH THE CAPYBARAS ARE SAFE
IN THEIR LAGOON, THEY’RE HUNGRY,

AND THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES
ARE RUNNING DANGEROUSLY LOW.

[THUNDER]

BUT BY APRIL THE AIR IS HEAVY,

AND THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTH
BRING MOISTURE TO THE LLANOS.

RAIN IS ALREADY FALLING

IN THE HIGH ANDES MOUNTAINS
TO THE WEST.

WATER FROM THESE PEAKS DRAINS
EASTWARDS IN MOUNTAIN STREAMS.

THESE GATHER PACE AND VOLUME,

BEFORE BURSTING ONTO
THE PLAINS OF THE LLANOS.

AS THE SWOLLEN RIVERS
REACH THE GRASSLANDS,

FINALLY THE RAINS ALSO ARRIVE.

[THUNDER]

THE DELUGE SEES THESE RIVERS
BURST THEIR BANKS.

[THUNDER]

WATER INUNDATES
THE LOWLAND PLAINS,

DRENCHES THE SHRUBLAND,
AND REPLENISHES THE LAGOONS.

♪

THE GRASSLANDS FLUSH GREEN
WITH NEW GROWTH,

AND WATER HYACINTHS BLANKET
THE SURFACE OF SEASONAL PONDS.

THE LLANOS IS REJUVENATED.

CAIMAN EMERGE FROM THE MUD
REVITALIZED.

THEY NOW CRUISE THE FLOOD LANDS
WITH RENEWED VIGOR.

BUT FOR THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS

THERE WILL BE NEW
CHALLENGES TO FACE,

BOTH FOR SEASONAL VISITORS
WHO ARRIVE

TO MAKE THE MOST
OF THIS ABUNDANCE

AND FOR HARDY RESIDENTS
LIKE THE CAPYBARA

WHO HAVE SURVIVED
THE DRY SEASON.

THE RAINS HAVE TRANSFORMED
THEIR WORLD.

THE SMALL HERD HAS LEFT
THE LARGE LAGOON

AND RETURNED TO RECLAIM
ITS OWN TERRITORY,

WHERE A BOUNTY OF FOOD
IS NOW AVAILABLE.

THEY ROAM HALF A MILE EVERY DAY,

EACH CHOMPING ITS WAY

THROUGH AS MUCH AS SIX POUNDS
OF FRESH FOLIAGE.

SO MUCH CHEWING TAKES
A HUGE TOLL ON THEIR TEETH,

BUT THEY GROW CONTINUOUSLY TO
MAKE UP FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR.

THE FEMALES HAVE GIVEN BIRTH
TO NEW LITTERS,

TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE GLUT
OF FRESH FOOD.

THE ADULTS IN THE HERD ALL TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YOUNG,

LOOKING OUT FOR PREDATORS

AND CORRALLING THEM
AWAY FROM DANGER.

THIS MOTHER SUCKLES
HER OWN LITTER OF FOUR,

BUT ALSO NURSES OTHER BABIES
BELONGING TO HER HERD-MATES.

THIS ALLOWS EACH FEMALE
UNINTERRUPTED TIME TO GRAZE,

WHILE ENSURING ALL
THE BABIES ARE FED.

A ROAMING BACHELOR TRIES TO
SURREPTITIOUSLY EASE HIMSELF

INTO THE HERD
TO PROCURE SOME FEMALES.

BUT THE ALPHA IS WISE
TO HIS TRICKS

AND IS HAVING NONE OF IT.

[BARKS]

THE CHASE IS ON.

WITH A SHORT BURST
UP TO 20 MILES PER HOUR,

HE DRIVES THE INTRUDER OFF.

♪

THE BACHELOR WILL HAVE TO TRY
HIS LUCK WITH ANOTHER HERD.

HIDDEN NOW AMONG THE GREENERY,

THE OWL PARENTS’ BURROW
STANDS SILENT AND EMPTY.

BUT NOT FAR AWAY,

THE TWO FULLY FLEDGED CHICKS
HAVE MADE IT.

♪

THEY’VE GROWN LARGE ENOUGH
AND STRONG ENOUGH

TO FLY AWAY FROM
ANY FLASH FLOOD.

AND THEY’VE FOUND
THEIR OWN BURROW

IN THEIR NEXT STEPS
TO INDEPENDENCE.

BUT THEY WILL SOON NEED
TO EXPLORE FURTHER AFIELD,

BEYOND THEIR PARENTS’ FAMILIAR
TERRITORY AND ITS EASY PICKINGS,

IN SEARCH OF PARTNERS
OF THEIR OWN.

♪

DURING EACH FLOOD CYCLE,

THE RIVERS DEPOSIT VAST AMOUNTS
OF SEDIMENT ALONG THEIR BANKS.

OVER TIME, NATURAL LEVEES BUILD,

WHICH PROVIDE IDEAL CONDITIONS
FOR TREES TO TAKE ROOT,

RESULTING IN RIVERS FRINGED
BY LONG, THIN GALLERY FORESTS.

EACH YEAR THE FOREST FLOOR
FLOODS WITH RAINWATER

AND SPILLOVER FROM THE RIVERS.

ABOVE, A FLUSH OF PINK AND WHITE
ARRIVES IN THE FOREST CANOPY.

THREE SPECIES OF EGRETS

THAT WERE DISPERSED ACROSS
THE PLAINS IN THE DRY SEASON

NOW CONGREGATE
AMONG THE BRANCHES.

THEY’RE JOINED BY A SQUADRON
OF PECULIAR-LOOKING ANHINGAS,

SPOONBILLS,

IBIS, AND HERONS...

CREATING DENSE COLONIES
HERE TO BREED.

WHEN PARENTS AREN’T BUILDING
NESTS OR INCUBATING EGGS,

THEY FORAGE IN THE GRASSLANDS
SEARCHING FOR FISH AND FROGS

TO FEED THEIR DEMANDING BROODS.

THESE GREAT EGRET CHICKS
EAGERLY WAIT

FOR THEIR PARENTS TO RETURN.

THE MOTHER REGURGITATES
HER CATCH.

WITH SO MUCH FOOD AVAILABLE,

THESE VORACIOUS YOUNGSTERS
WILL GROW

TO MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES
THEIR HATCHING WEIGHT

IN FEWER THAN TWO WEEKS.

LEFT ALONE FOR EXTENDED
PERIODS OF TIME,

THE CHICKS HAVE
THEIR OWN STRATEGY

FOR ENSURING THEY GET THE BEST
OF THE FOOD ON OFFER.

GREAT EGRETS LAY THEIR EGGS OVER
THE COURSE OF A WEEK OR SO,

SO NEST-MATES ARE
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AGES

AND DIFFERENT SIZES.

THE OLDER CHICKS TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THEIR SIZE

TO PICK ON THEIR
YOUNGER SIBLINGS.

FEWER BEAKS TO COMPETE WITH

MEANS THEY’RE FIRST
IN LINE FOR FOOD

AND RECEIVE A GREATER SHARE.

BUT WHEN THEIR MOTHER RETURNS,

SHE MAKES NO EFFORT
TO INTERVENE.

FOR THE YOUNGEST,

ITS BULLYING SIBLINGS HAVE CUT
ITS LITTLE LIFE SHORT,

AND IT JOINS THE SCATTERED
REMAINS OF THE FALLEN BELOW.

[THUNDER]

THROUGHOUT WET SEASON,

MORE THAN 70 INCHES OF RAIN
CAN FALL...

AND BY JULY, THE FLOODPLAINS LIE

UNDER NEARLY EIGHT INCHES
OF WATER.

THEY’RE NOW COVERED
IN VAST, FLOATING CARPETS

OF WATER LETTUCE THAT ATTRACTS
SWARMS OF NEWLY EMERGED INSECTS.

THEY’RE A NUTRITIOUS FEAST
FOR THOSE ABLE TO WALK ON WATER.

WATTLED JACANA ARE
PERFECTLY EQUIPPED.

THIS 10-INCH MALE HAS TOES
THAT SPAN OVER 7 INCHES.

THEY DISTRIBUTE
HIS WEIGHT EVENLY,

ALLOWING HIM TO ELEGANTLY CRUISE

THE FLOATING VEGETATION
WITHOUT SINKING.

UNLIKE MANY ANIMALS
WHERE MALES ARE TERRITORIAL,

IT’S FEMALE JACANAS THAT STAKE
OUT A PATCH AMONG THE WETLANDS.

THIS FEMALE WILL PROVIDE EGGS

FOR UP TO FIVE DIFFERENT MALES
THAT MATE WITH HER.

BUT HER CHILDCARE
RESPONSIBILITIES

END WITH LAYING.

SHE ABANDONS THE MALES, WHO WILL
INCUBATE HER EGGS FOR A MONTH,

AND THEN RAISE THE CHICKS ALONE
AS SINGLE FATHERS.

[SQUAWKING]

[PEEPING]

STRAIGHT FROM THE EGG,

THE CHICKS FOLLOW THEIR FATHER
OUT ONTO THE WETLANDS.

[PEEPING]

HE TEACHES THEM WHERE TO FIND
THE TASTIEST INSECTS,

BUT EVEN THE BEST STUDENTS
SOMETIMES STRAY.

♪

[PEEPING]

♪

THIS FATHER HAS LOST HIS BROOD.

♪

THE LONG GRASS OF THE LLANOS

IS NO PLACE FOR
VULNERABLE YOUNGSTERS.

[SQUAWKING]

AS EVER, HUNGRY CAIMANS
LURK NEARBY.

[SQUAWKING]

THE FATHER FRANTICALLY
CALLS TO HIS CHICKS.

[SQUAWKING]

IN DESPERATION, HE TAKES
TO THE AIR FOR A BETTER VIEW.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

STILL NOTHING.

♪

[PEEPING]

AT LAST, ONE CHICK RETURNS
HIS FATHER’S CALLS.

THE FATHER HOMES IN,

AND THE CHICKS HEAD STRAIGHT
FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS FEATHERS.

♪

[THUNDER]

MIDWAY THROUGH THE WET SEASON,
FLOODING IS AT ITS PEAK.

[THUNDER]

BY LATE JULY, THE EGRET CHICKS
HAVE BEGUN TO TEST THEIR WINGS;

THEIR PARENTS WON’T SUPPORT THEM
MUCH LONGER.

[SQUAWKING]

BUT WHEN YOU LIVE ABOVE WATER,

LEARNING TO FLY
IS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL.

THE THICK FOLIAGE THAT WAS
PERFECT FOR NESTING IN

IS HAZARDOUS FOR
AN UNSTEADY JUVENILE

LOOKING FOR A CLEAR FLIGHT PATH.

♪

BUT THE WATER BENEATH HOLDS
EVEN GREATER DANGERS

FOR THESE NOVICE FLYERS.

♪

♪

[SQUAWKING]

FOR CAIMAN WHO ENDURED
THE DRY SEASON ENTOMBED IN MUD,

THE FLEDGING MONTHS
OF JULY AND AUGUST

ARE THE BOOM THAT
FOLLOWS THE BUST.

YOUNG CAIMAN MAKE THE MOST
OF A SEASONAL BOUNTY

OF SMALL FISH
AND AQUATIC INSECTS.

BUT ONCE THE REPTILES GROW
MORE THAN SIX FEET LONG,

THEIR NINE-INCH JAWS
CAN FEAST ON EGRET CHICKS.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY
TO GO AROUND.

[SQUAWKING]

♪

NOTHING GOES TO WASTE
ON A CAIMAN’S DINNER PLATE.

♪

ANOTHER EGRET CHICK FALLS
AND IS QUICKLY SPOTTED.

♪

THE CAIMAN IS FAR MORE
STREAMLINED IN THE WATER

THAN THIS TANGLE
OF WINGS AND LEGS.

♪

WITH ALL THE STRENGTH
IT CAN MUSTER,

THE CHICK HAULS OUT
TO HIGHER GROUND...

♪

JUST IN TIME.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

BY AUGUST, THE HEAT AND DAMP
OF THE WET SEASON

BRINGS THE PERFECT CONDITIONS

FOR INSECTS TO MULTIPLY
IN THEIR MILLIONS.

♪

FOR ONE ANIMAL
IN THE GALLERY FOREST,

THIS EXPLOSION IS BOTH
A BLESSING AND A CURSE.

♪

A SOLITARY CREATURE
SNOOZES IN THE SHADE.

♪

BUT SOMETHING IS
INTERRUPTING HIS NAP.

♪

THIS IS A GIANT ANTEATER...

♪

AND HE’S COVERED IN TICKS.

♪

THEY’RE A HAZARD
ALL OVER THE LLANOS,

AND A WARM, SLEEPING TARGET
IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

♪

TICKS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE
BODY TEMPERATURE OF THEIR HOST.

♪

THEY SINK THEIR SHARP JAWS
INTO THE ANIMAL’S FLESH,

BEFORE SUCKING
ITS NUTRITIOUS BLOOD.

THEY CAN CLING ON FOR WEEKS.

AS THEY GORGE ON BLOOD,

THEIR BODIES EXPAND
UP TO 600 TIMES IN SIZE.

AND THEY’RE REALLY IRRITATING!

ROUSED FROM HIS SLUMBER,
HE SETS OFF IN SEARCH OF A MEAL.

HIS SENSITIVE NOSE LEADS HIM
STRAIGHT TO AN ANTS’ NEST.

WITH FOUR-INCH-LONG CLAWS,

HE CAREFULLY BREAKS A SMALL HOLE
IN THE MOUND,

REVEALING THE ANTS BENEATH.

BUT WHEN YOU CAN’T OPEN
YOUR MOUTH WIDER THAN A STRAW,

YOU NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER
STRATEGY TO REACH YOUR MEAL.

SO THE ANTEATER HAS
A TWO-FOOT-LONG STICKY TONGUE

THAT PROBES DEEP INTO THE NEST
AND DRAWS UP ANTS.

HE HAS NO TEETH, SO HIS STOMACH
IS SIMILAR TO A BIRD’S GIZZARD.

IT HAS HARDENED FOLDS THAT
CONTRACT TO GRIND UP HIS MEAL.

BUT HE HAS TO BE QUICK;
THESE ANTS PACK A PAINFUL BITE!

WALKING ON HIS KNUCKLES
TO KEEP HIS CLAWS SHARP,

HE VENTURES OUT
INTO THE WET SAVANNA

IN SEARCH OF MORE THAN
35,000 ANTS AND TERMITES

HE NEEDS TO EAT EVERY DAY.

♪

AT SIX MONTHS OLD, THE JUVENILE
BURROWING OWLS HAVE REALIZED

THAT LIVING NEXT DOOR
TO THEIR PARENTS ISN’T IDEAL.

THEY’RE NOW THREE MILES
FROM THE BURROW

IN WHICH THEY WERE BORN.

ON A HIGH BANK THEY’VE JOINED
OTHER JUVENILE OWLS

WHO WILL SOON LOOK FOR
THEIR OWN TERRITORIES.

AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS,
IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY,

THE SIBLINGS APPEAR NERVOUS
AND HYPERVIGILANT.

SO FOR NOW THEY SEEK SAFETY
IN NUMBERS AT A COMMUNAL BURROW,

AND THEIR NEW ALLIES JOIN
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

[SCREECHING]

♪

THEY WILL SOON BE
OLD ENOUGH TO BREED,

WHICH MEANS THEY’LL
NEED A BURROW.

THEY USE THE SECURITY
OF EXTRA EYES

TO PRACTICE THEIR
RENOVATION SKILLS...

♪

TAKING IT IN TURNS
TO BE THE LOOKOUT.

BUT IT CAN BE UNPLEASANT IN THE
KICKBACK OF AN EXCAVATING OWL.

♪

DOING THE DIGGING IS DEFINITELY
THE BEST OPTION.

♪

♪

AND THIS SENTRY HAS HAD ENOUGH.

♪

♪

BY NOVEMBER, THE RAINS
HAVE BLOWN THROUGH

AND THE WET SEASON DRAWS
TO A CLOSE.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER THREE MONTHS

BEFORE THE LAKES
BEGIN TO DRY OUT

AND THE CAPYBARA ARE FORCED
TO MOVE AGAIN.

FOR NOW, THE HERD GROWS FAT
IN THE SAFETY OF ITS LAGOON.

[CHIRPING]

AND THE OWL SIBLINGS
HAVE FINALLY PARTED WAYS

IN SEARCH OF THEIR
OWN TERRITORIES.

ONE HAS SECURED A BURROW
AND IS COURTING A MATE,

READY FOR ITS FIRST
ATTEMPT TO BREED.

THE TRIALS OF THE DRY SEASON

WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN
ONCE MORE.

ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE REAPED
THE BENEFITS OF THE RAINS

AND FATTENED UP WHILE
THE GOING IS GOOD

WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENDURE
THE COMING YEAR.

[CHIRPING]