All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S01E04.European.Maneater.1080p.AMZN.-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb

THE AMAZON RIVER IS HOME TO A TERRIFYING
COLLECTION OF MAN-EATING MONSTERS,

AND IN THE DARKEST CORNERS
LURKS A DINOSAUR.

LEGENDS TELL OF AN EVIL SPIRIT
INHABITING AN ENORMOUS FISH.

LONGER THAN A MAN,
IT IS ENCASED IN THICK SCALES,

AND IT CRUSHES ITS PREY
WITH A TONGUE MADE OF BONE.

BUT WITH A BODY OF PURE MUSCLE,
ITS PRIMARY WEAPON IS RAW POWER.

I'M JEREMY WADE,
BIOLOGIST AND EXTREME ANGLER,

AND I'VE ENCOUNTERED
THIS CREATURE ONCE BEFORE.

HEY!

THAT TIME, I CAME OUT SECOND BEST,
BUT NOW I'M READY FOR THE REMATCH.

YES!

I'VE BEEN COMING TO THE AMAZON FOR 15
YEARS, AND A TALE I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES

IS THAT OF A FISHERMAN
GOING MISSING.

FAR FROM HOME, ON A REMOTE TRIBUTARY
OF THE AMAZON, SOMETHING HAPPENS.

PEOPLE TELL OF A CREATURE
LEAPING OUT OF THE WATER,

KNOCKING THE FISHERMAN
FROM HIS CANOE.

BUT WITH NO EYEWITNESSES, THE LIST
OF SUSPECTS IS SPECULATIVE AT BEST.

COULD THERE REALLY BE A MONSTER IN
THE AMAZON CAPABLE OF DOING THIS?

AND IF SO, WHAT KIND
OF BEAST COULD IT BE?

ANACONDA... CAIMAN... PIRANHA
ARE ALL CONVICTED KILLERS.

BUT IN MY TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD...
UGH! UGH!

I'VE CAUGHT SOME SUPERSIZED
FRESHWATER FISH

THAT ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE
OF DOING THE JOB.

IS THERE ONE MORE RIVER MONSTER TO ADD TO
THE LIST OF THE AMAZON'S USUAL SUSPECTS...

A CREATURE THAT HAS SOMEHOW
SLIPPED THROUGH THE NET?

THE STORY OF A CANOE FOUND FLOATING,
NOBODY IN IT, FISHERMAN DISAPPEARED...

THE AUTOMATIC ASSUMPTION FROM EVERYBODY
WAS THAT IT WAS A CAIMAN OR AN ANACONDA.

THOSE ARE
THE OBVIOUS CANDIDATES.

BUT I'VE BEEN DOING
A BIT OF THINKING,

AND I THINK ANOTHER ANIMAL
MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

AND WHAT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN...
IS ONE OF THESE.

NOW, I MEAN, THIS IS
A REAL ARMOR COAT, THIS,

AND IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S A SNAKE
OR SOME OTHER REPTILE.

BUT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS ACTUALLY
A FISH, AND THIS IS A BIG FISH.

THIS IS THE SKIN
OF AN ARAPAIMA FISH.

AND IF ITS SCALES
MAKE YOU THINK OF A DINOSAUR,

THAT'S BECAUSE THE ARAPAIMA
IS INDEED A DINOSAUR OF SORTS.

IT HAS SWUM IN THESE WATERS VIRTUALLY
UNCHANGED SINCE THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD.

THAT IS JUST A SINGLE SCALE
FROM THIS ANIMAL.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE,
BUT THEY GO A LOT BIGGER THAN THAT,

AND THE REASON I KNOW THAT IS...
THAT.

NOW, WHATEVER THAT CAME OFF, THAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS RIVER MONSTER.

ARAPAIMA HAVE BEEN CAUGHT
MEASURING UP TO 10 FOOT LONG,

MAKING THEM THE LARGEST FRESHWATER
FISH IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST RIVER.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, THEY HAVE
BEEN RELENTLESSLY OVERFISHED,

AND TODAY THEY ARE SO RARE, IT IS
FORBIDDEN TO CATCH THEM IN MOST AREAS.

HOWEVER,
THEY ARE POTENTIALLY FOUND

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTLESS THOUSAND MILES
OF RIVER THAT MAKE UP THE AMAZON BASIN...

AND I BELIEVE ARAPAIMA MAY BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR KILLING SOME OF THOSE MISSING PEOPLE.

MY MISSION IS TO INVESTIGATE THIS THEORY
AND SEE IF I CAN TRACK DOWN AND EVEN CATCH

ONE OF THESE POTENTIAL KILLERS.

I'VE BEGUN MY QUEST IN MANAUS,
THE WILD WEST FRONTIER TOWN

AT THE HEART
OF THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON.

I NEED TO KNOW
WHAT I'M DEALING WITH,

AND FOR THAT, I'M GOING TO VISIT SOME CAPTIVE
ARAPAIMA, AND I KNOW JUST THE PLACE.

NORMALLY, IN THE AMAZON, SEEING
ARAPAIMA LIVE AND CLOSE UP

IS PRETTY WELL IMPOSSIBLE, THERE'S
JUST SO MUCH WATER. IT'S PRETTY MURKY.

HERE'S THIS PLACE.

IT'S A BAR IN THE MIDDLE OF MANAUS, AND
THIS COULD BE JUST THE PERFECT PLACE

TO CHECK THEM OUT.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GET
EYEBALL-TO-EYEBALL WITH THESE THINGS.

IT REALLY IS PREHISTORIC-LOOKING,
LIKE STONE OR METAL OR SOMETHING

IN A REAL ARMOR PLATING.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT'S
VERY STRIKING ABOUT THIS FISH...

THEY ARE VERY ELONGATED.
THEY'RE QUITE CYLINDRICAL.

THAT IS JUST PERFECT DESIGN
FOR AN AMBUSH PREDATOR...

YOU KNOW,
SPEED OVER A SHORT DISTANCE.

ARAPAIMA ARE NATURALLY PREDATORY, ENGULFING
ANY FISH THAT FIT INTO THAT BONY MOUTH,

INCLUDING PIRANHA.

THEY WILL EVEN CONSUME BIRDS
AND OTHER ANIMALS,

SUCKING THEM DOWN
FROM THE WATER'S SURFACE.

AND THEN THEY'VE GOT
THIS VERY GRUESOME TECHNIQUE

FOR ACTUALLY FINISHING
THEIR PREY OFF.

THEY HAVE A TONGUE
WITH A PIECE OF BONE INSIDE IT,

AND THEY ACTUALLY USE
THAT BONY TONGUE

TO CRUSH THE SMALL FISH
AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH.

SO IT'S NOT A VERY PLEASANT WAY
TO GO, I'D IMAGINE.

THESE ARE PRETTY BIG FISH.

YOU KNOW, THAT MOUTH ISN'T
BIG ENOUGH TO SWALLOW A PERSON,

SO ANY STORIES LIKE THAT,
YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO DISCOUNT.

BUT IT COULD STILL
ACTUALLY KILL YOU.

THAT IS A VERY SOLID LUMP OF BONE WITH
AN ENORMOUS MASS OF MUSCLE BEHIND IT.

I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE RECEIVING
END OF ONE OF THESE THINGS.

IT HIT ME IN THE CHEST,
AND, NO EXAGGERATION,

I COULD STILL FEEL THAT
A MONTH AND A HALF LATER.

IT JUST BRUISED ME SO DEEPLY.

IT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND I WAS HELPING
A FRIEND OF MINE, A RESEARCH SCIENTIST,

WITH HIS CAPTIVE-BREEDING
PROGRAM FOR ARAPAIMA.

HIS LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO TAKE THE
PRESSURE OFF THE WILD POPULATION,

AND HE NEEDED TO CAPTURE HIS FISH
TO PAIR THEM UP WITH LIKELY MATES.

WE CAUGHT SEVERAL FISH ALREADY, AND
WEIGHED AND MEASURED THEM WITHOUT PROBLEM

WHEN I LET MY GUARD DOWN.

WHILE DRAWING IN A NET WITH
AN ARAPAIMA TRAPPED INSIDE,

THIS HARD-NOSED GIANT TURNED
FROM FISH INTO MISSILE.

FROM NOWHERE, I HAD 100 POUNDS
OF SOLID BONE SMASH INTO ME.

WEEKS LATER, A DOCTOR DESCRIBED MY
INJURY AS SIMILAR TO THE IMPACT

OF STRIKING THE STEERING COLUMN
DURING A CAR CRASH.

I'M NOT SAYING
THIS IS SOME MALIGNANT CREATURE

THAT WILL DELIBERATELY HUNT
AND EAT YOU.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE MOUTH
FOR IT.

BUT CORNER ONE OF THESE BEASTS, AND
IT WILL LAUNCH A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE.

IT IS THIS EVENT THAT MAKES ME BELIEVE THE
ARAPAIMA MAY BE THE KILLER IN QUESTION.

IF THESE FISHERMEN WERE HUNTING ARAPAIMA
OR ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT ONE IN A NET,

THIS ANIMAL
WILL VIOLENTLY DEFEND ITSELF.

JUST ONE THRASH
CONNECTING WITH THE HEAD

IS ALL IT WOULD TAKE TO KNOCK YOU
UNCONSCIOUS, LEAVING YOU AT THE MERCY

OF THE AMAZON'S SCAVENGING
RIVER MONSTERS.

IF I'M GOING TO INVESTIGATE THIS
THEORY, I NEED TO DEMONSTRATE

THAT MY EXPERIENCE
WASN'T A FREAK OCCURRENCE

AND ARAPAIMA DO HAVE THE POWER,
THE ABILITY,

AND EVEN THE INTENT
TO TAKE A FISHERMAN OUT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I NEED TO
PROVE THAT DESPITE OVERFISHING,

THERE ARE STILL ARAPAIMA OUT THERE
LARGE ENOUGH TO DO THE DAMAGE.

AND THE BEST WAY I CAN DO THAT
IS BY CATCHING A GIANT ARAPAIMA.

BUT AS I SET OFF ON MY MISSION,
LEAVING THE PORT OF MANAUS,

MY BOAT CAPTAIN TELLS ME THAT
IF I'M INTERESTED IN ARAPAIMA,

THEN I SHOULD DEFINITELY VISIT
ONE OF THESE FLOATING HOUSES.

SALTED ARAPAIMA USED TO BE A
MEAL ENJOYED ACROSS THE AMAZON.

BUT SINCE A BAN
ON COMMERCIAL FISHING,

A FEW ENTERPRISING RIVERINOS,
OR RIVER PEOPLE,

HAVE STARTED TO FARM THEM
IN PENS LIKE THIS

TO SATISFY THE DEMAND
FOR ARAPAIMA MEAT.

I'VE HEARD THESE ARAPAIMA IN THIS ENCLOSURE
HERE DO SOMETHING QUITE SPECTACULAR.

I'VE ARRIVED JUST AS THEY'RE PREPARING TO
FISH ONE OUT FOR THEIR OWN COOKING POT.

JEREMY, JEREMY.

ALEGRIA.
ALEGRIA, EH?

ALEGRIA.

SENHOR ALEGRIA,
WHICH MEANS "HAPPINESS,"

IS ABOUT TO TRY AND GET
AN ARAPAIMA OUT OF HERE.

THERE'S A FEW IN HERE.

AND HE SAYS
IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB.

IT CAN BE A WEE BIT INTERESTING.

I'M GOING TO ASK HIM
IF MAYBE I CAN HELP.

THERE ARE 30 FISH IN HERE, AND HE
SAYS THEY'RE JUST JUMPING EVERYWHERE,

AND, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE JUST HAVING TO DUCK.

YOU RISK GETTING HIT
BY THE HEAD.

AND THIS IS ABOUT THE SIZE
OF A BOXING RING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE HAVING 30 PEOPLE COMING
AT YOU AND JUST HAVING TO AVOID THEM.

RIGHT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST
PREPARE MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.

SUDDENLY, ALL MY OLD FEARS FROM
MY PAINFUL ENCOUNTER ARE BACK.

BUT IF I'M GOING TO CATCH AN
ARAPAIMA CAPABLE OF KILLING A MAN,

THEN I NEED TO FACE UP
TO MY FEAR.

AND IF THAT MEANS GETTING BACK INTO
THE WATER WITH ONE OF THESE BEASTS,

THEN THAT'S
WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

HAVING PREVIOUSLY HAD
A CRIPPLING PERSONAL ENCOUNTER,

I'M ON A MISSION TO SEE
IF I CAN ADD THE ARAPAIMA FISH

TO THE LIST OF AMAZON RIVER
MONSTERS WITH LETHAL POTENTIAL.

AND TO DO THAT, I NEED TO CATCH
ONE OF THESE GIANTS.

BUT BEFORE I TACKLE ONE IN THE
WILD, I NEED TO LAY THE GHOST

OF THAT EARLIER ENCOUNTER TO REST...
OH, I JUST TROD ON A FISH!

SO I'M HELPING THESE GUYS
NET A CAPTIVE ARAPAIMA.

AH, THIS IS T-T-T-T-THE... THIS
IS A BIT LIKE A BOXING RING.

IT'S ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.

THERE'S 35 FISH IN HERE
NEARLY AS BIG AS I AM.

IT'S A SIMPLE MATTER OF NETTING ONE,
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING

WHEN I TOOK THE FULL FORCE OF AN
ARAPAIMA HEADBUTT TO THE CHEST.

AND I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT THESE FISH
ARE PARTICULARLY VIOLENT WHEN CORNERED.

I'M WALKING FORWARD, WHICH MEANS ALL
THE VULNERABLE BITS OF ME BODY...

YOU KNOW, A BOXER WOULD BE
COVERING THEM UP.

OKAY,
THAT'S GOING WELL.

THEY'RE GONNA START JUMPING
ANY MINUTE, HE'S SAYING.

ANY MINUTE,
THEY'RE GONNA START JUMPING.

OKAY,
WE DIDN'T GET ONE.

GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE WHOLE THING AGAIN.

KNOWING WHAT'S COMING MAKES THE
SECOND ATTEMPT EVEN MORE DAUNTING.

I'M AFRAID.
"JEREMY IS AFRAID," HE'S SAYING.

I THINK THAT IS FAIRLY CLEAR
TO SEE.

HE'S SAYING THEY MIGHT BE A BIT TIRED
THIS TIME, SO THEY MIGHT... OH!

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WHEN
CORNERED OR TRAPPED BY NETS,

THE ARAPAIMA BECOMES
A FORMIDABLE FORCE OF NATURE.

WITH THE HELP OF THESE ARAPAIMA
FARMERS, I'M FINALLY HOLDING

ONE OF THESE INCREDIBLE FISH
IN MY ARMS.

LOOK AT THAT FIN.

AAH!

HEY!

MY FEAR HAS BEEN REPLACED
WITH A NEW RESPECT.

WE'RE GONNA LIFT IT UP.

MAYBE I'M NOW READY
TO FACE AN ARAPAIMA ON MY OWN.

NOW WE'RE GONNA
LET THE HEAD GO.

GONNA LET THE HEAD GO.

THIS IS THE... OOH!

THEY WANTED ONE TO EAT.
THAT ONE WAS TOO BIG.

THEY WANT TO GET
A SMALLER ONE.

I THINK I'M JUST GOING
TO LEAVE THEM TO IT.

OKAY.

NEVER, EVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE...

ALL THOSE FISH ABSOLUTELY CLEAN
OUT OF THE WATER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT JUST HAS TO BE,

YOU KNOW, THE EVIDENCE
THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

JUST IMAGINE THE DAMAGE A FISH COULD
DO THAT HAD THE SAME SOLID-BONE HEAD

BUT WAS MORE THAN TWICE
THE WEIGHT.

BUT SENHOR ALEGRIA ALSO INSISTS THAT
THEY SNEAK THROUGH HOLES IN THE NETS,

DISPLAYING A CURIOUSLY
UNFISHLIKE CUNNING.

COMBINE THAT WITH
THEIR SHEER MUSCULAR POWER,

AND YOU CAN EASILY SEE HOW DANGEROUS
THE ARAPAIMA BECOMES WHEN CORNERED.

NOW I KNOW
WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

BUT TO CATCH ONE, IT'S GONNA BE A COUPLE
OF DAYS BY BOAT TO ONE OF THE FEW PLACES

WHERE ARAPAIMA FISHING
IS STILL ALLOWED.

AFTER A DAY'S TRAVELING, WE STOP AT A
RIVERSIDE TOWN TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT
THE ARAPAIMA IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR ALL DISAPPEARANCES
ON THE AMAZON.

THIS RIVER HAS A FULL COMPLEMENT OF
KILLERS, AS I'M POWERFULLY REMINDED

WHEN ASKING AROUND
FOR ANY FISHERMEN'S TALES.

THIS MAN LOST HIS WIFE
TO A HORRIFYING ATTACK

BY THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUSIN
OF THE ALLIGATOR... THE CAIMAN.

JUST YARDS AWAY, HIS POOR DAUGHTER
COULD ONLY HELPLESSLY LOOK ON.

THIS GENTLEMAN'S WIFE
WENT FISHING.

ON HER WAY BACK, THE BOAT ACTUALLY
SORT OF WENT OVER THE TOP OF A CAIMAN.

AAH!

MAE! MAE!

MAE!

IT HIT THE CANOE, TIPPED HER INTO THE
WATER, AND THEN BASICALLY GRABBED HER.

MAE!

THE CAIMAN HAD ACTUALLY
DRAWN AWAY A LITTLE DISTANCE

BECAUSE OF THE COMMOTION
AND THE SHOUTING,

AND THEN HER DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GO AROUND
THE OTHER SIDE AND PULL HER TO LAND,

BUT THEY JUST TOOK SO LONG
TO GET HELP

THAT DESPITE RESCUING HER MOTHER
FROM THE CAIMAN, YOU KNOW,

SHE DIED OF HER WOUNDS
LATER ON.

IT'S ONE THING TO HEAR
SECONDHAND STORIES ABOUT...

PEOPLE BEING TAKEN
BY ANIMALS IN THE WATER...

YOU KNOW, ALL VERY DRAMATIC
FISHERMEN'S TALES.

BUT TO ACTUALLY HEAR
FROM SOMEBODY

WHO ACTUALLY SAW THEIR MOTHER,
YOU KNOW, TAKEN IN FRONT OF THEM

JUST REALLY BRINGS HOME JUST WHAT A...
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PLACE THIS IS,

PARTICULARLY
IF YOU'RE A FISHERMAN.

SOMETHING I'VE GOT TO REMEMBER IS
THAT IT'S NOT JUST DANGEROUS FISH

THAT YOU'VE GOT IN THE WATER,
BUT THERE'S A WHOLE ARRAY

OF OTHER NASTY,
DANGEROUS CREATURES DOWN THERE.

MY MISSION IS TO PROVE WHETHER
THE ARAPAIMA DESERVES A PLACE

ALONGSIDE THE AMAZON'S
UNDISPUTED FRESHWATER KILLERS.

AND AS I GO DEEPER INTO THE HEART OF
THE AMAZON IN SEARCH OF THIS FISH,

I ENCOUNTER THE OTHER CREATURES
THAT COME

WITH THIS INCREASINGLY
DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

BETWEEN 1918 AND 1924, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL
CATCH OF ARAPAIMA WAS "C," 7,000 TONS...

THE WEIGHT OF 20 JUMBO JETS.

THIS LED TO THE COMMERCIAL EXTINCTION
OF THE ARAPAIMA IN THE WILD.

FISHERMEN THAT HUNT
THE ARAPAIMA FISH,

HERE IN THE AMAZON, REGULARLY EXPOSE
THEMSELVES TO RIVER MONSTERS THAT HAVE NO NEED

TO PROVE THEIR DEADLY NATURE.

I'VE HEARD A TALE OF A KILLER
CAIMAN IN THESE WATERS,

SO I HEAD OUT AFTER DARK
TO SEE IF I CAN FIND IT,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
I'M THE ONE BEING WATCHED.

THERE ARE EYES
FOLLOWING MY EVERY MOVE.

I'M OUT AT NIGHT HUNTING CAIMAN.

THERE'S ONE IN THESE WATERS, APPARENTLY,
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MAN-EATING SIZE.

THEY SAY IT'S CLOSE TO 20 FOOT.

CAIMANS' EYES REFLECT MY FLASHLIGHT,
MAKING THEM EASY TO SPOT.

OH, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S
ONE, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE!

SEEING HOW MANY CAIMAN THERE ARE IN THESE
WATERS MAKES ME REALIZE THAT IT IS

AS MUCH THE COMPANY THE ARAPAIMA KEEP
THAT MAKES THEM SUCH RISKY PREY TO HUNT.

THEIR FEARSOME DEFENSES ALLOW THEM TO
SURVIVE IN THESE PREDATORY WATERS.

BUT ALSO, AS THE ARAPAIMA BECOMES
RARER AND RARER, IT IS PUSHED DEEPER

INTO THE LITERALLY UNCHARTED
REACHES OF THE AMAZON.

THIS IS WHERE THE DEADLY FORCES OF NATURE
LURK, CIVILIZATION IS LEFT BEHIND,

AND ALL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
IS, WELL, BEYOND REACH.

BUT IF I'M TO CATCH A GIANT ARAPAIMA
AND LAY MY OWN DEMONS TO REST,

THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FACE
THESE OTHER MONSTERS, AS WELL,

AS I ENTER THE DARK HEART
OF THE AMAZON.

BEING SUCH A RARE ANIMAL NOWADAYS,
LIMITED AND SUSTAINABLE FISHING

IS ALLOWED IN JUST A FEW LOCATIONS,
AND THIS IS WHERE I'M HEADED.

I'M AS FAR OFF THE BEATEN TRACK AS
POSSIBLE, IN SEARCH OF THOSE LAST PLACES

WHICH STILL PROVIDE SANCTUARY
TO MONSTERS.

BASICALLY, THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD
GET UP HERE USING THE MOTOR.

TOO MANY BRANCHES AND ROCKS
IN THE WATER.

SO WE'RE HAVING TO MANHANDLE THE BOAT
UP THIS... THIS VERY NARROW CREEK.

WE'VE ENTERED A PRISTINE,
MAGICAL WORLD,

HOME TO MANY MYSTERIOUS
JUNGLE CREATURES...

AND MAYBE... MAYBE...
THE LARGE ARAPAIMA I'M AFTER.

AGH!

GOODNESS ME,
THAT IS A FISH AND A HALF!

LOOK AT THAT!

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CAPARARI.

OOP.

RIGHT. I'M ACTUALLY VERY PLEASED
TO HAVE THIS FISH.

IT'S NOT THE ARAPAIMA I WAS AFTER,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST,

TO MY MIND,
SUCH A LOVELY-LOOKING FISH.

I MEAN, THE PATTERNING ON THAT
IS JUST WONDERFUL.

THIS BIZARRE CATFISH IS
A STRANGE MONSTER OF THE DEEP,

BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE ARAPAIMA IS AN
ELUSIVE GIANT THAT WON'T BE CAUGHT EASILY.

WITH THE WEATHER TURNING, IT'S
TIME TO RETHINK MY OPTIONS.

MAYBE I NEED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN
ADVISE ME WHERE EXACTLY IT'S BEST TO FISH.

AS I RACE AHEAD OF THE STORM,
DEEPER INTO THE JUNGLE,

I'M REMINDED OF THE LEGEND THAT TELLS
HOW THIS MONSTER FISH CAME INTO BEING.

PIRARUCU WAS THE SON OF AN INDIAN
CHIEF, KNOWN TO BE CRUEL AND ARROGANT.

HE WAS DISRESPECTFUL OF THE GODS, SO THE
HIGHEST GOD, TUPA, DECIDED TO PUNISH HIM.

HE ORDERED STORMS TO ATTACK
PIRARUCU ON A FISHING TRIP,

BUT PIRARUCU LAUGHED THEM OFF.

SO TUPA STRUCK HIM DOWN WITH LIGHTNING...
DRAGGED HIM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER,

AND TRANSFORMED HIM INTO A GIANT FISH...
THE ARAPAIMA, OR FIRE FISH,

ALTHOUGH, TO THIS DAY, BRAZILIANS
STILL CALL IT PIRARUCU.

IN THE WEST, WE HAVE LOST MUCH OF OUR
OLD REVERENCE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD,

BUT THERE ARE STILL
REMOTE TRIBAL PEOPLE

FOR WHOM REALITY AND MYTH
ARE ALMOST INTERCHANGEABLE.

THE TRIBES OF THIS REGION HAVE A
DEEP CONNECTION TO THE ARAPAIMA

AND ARE STILL ALLOWED
TO HUNT IT FOR FOOD.

SO IF I'M GOING TO TRACK ONE DOWN
AND LEARN FROM THE ANCIENT WAYS,

I'M TOLD THERE ARE NO BETTER
TEACHERS THAN THE MUNDURUKU PEOPLE.

I'M ON A MISSION TO CATCH THE
GIANT ARAPAIMA, OR FIRE FISH...

A FISH THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE
ON THE LIST OF RIVER MONSTERS

THAT CAUSE HUMAN FATALITIES
HERE IN THE AMAZON.

FROM EXPERIENCE BOTH PAST
AND PRESENT,

I KNOW JUST HOW POWERFUL
THIS CREATURE IS WHEN CORNERED.

TO PROVE THAT THERE ARE STILL
ARAPAIMA OUT THERE

THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH TO INFLICT A DEADLY
BLOW, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CATCH ONE.

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH ARAPAIMA
IN CAPTIVITY IS ONE THING,

BUT GETTING CLOSE TO THEM IN THE
WILD IS ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY,

PARTICULARLY NOW
THEY ARE SO ENDANGERED.

BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
FURTHER UP THIS AMAZON BACKWATER

WHO DO HAVE A VERY ANCIENT
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARAPAIMA,

AND I'M HOPING THAT WHEN I GET THERE, I'M
GOING TO FIND OUT AN AWFUL LOT MORE.

I'VE NOW BEEN TRAVELING
FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

IT FEELS LIKE I'M LIGHT-YEARS
FROM CIVILIZATION

WHEN I FINALLY TRACK DOWN
THE MUNDURUKU PEOPLE.

BOM DIA.

BOM DIA.

ALTHOUGH OFTEN DRESSED
IN WESTERN CLOTHES THESE DAYS,

THE MUNDURUKUS STILL RETAIN
THEIR CONNECTION TO WILDLIFE

AND TO THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS
OF OLD.

IT LOOKS LIKE I COULD BE HERE
AT THE RIGHT TIME.

A GOOD TIME IS RIGHT NOW
WHEN THE WATER'S DOWN

AND THE FISH
ARE ACTUALLY CONCENTRATED.

AHA-HA.

BUT LUNCH IS ON THE GO.

AND THIS FAR FROM CIVILIZATION, THE CREATURES
OF THE FOREST, LIKE THIS TARANTULA,

ARE AN EVERYDAY PART OF LIFE.

THAT IS A MONSTER.

THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER.

I HOOK UP WITH MANOEL, ONE OF
THE VILLAGE'S TOP FISHERMEN.

HE'S GONNA TAKE ME OUT TO SEE IF
WE CAN SPOT SOME WILD ARAPAIMA.

I WANT TO LEARN ALL I CAN
ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR

AND NATURAL HAUNTS
OF THIS RIVER MONSTER

IF I'M GOING TO GIVE MYSELF THE BEST
CHANCE OF CATCHING A GOOD-SIZED ARAPAIMA.

WHAT MANOEL HAS JUST TOLD ME
IS THAT TO FISH FOR ARAPAIMA,

THE ONE THING THAT
YOU REALLY NEED IS PATIENCE,

AND I'M REALLY,
REALLY GETTING A SENSE OF THAT,

JUST DRIFTING SLOWLY, SLOWLY,
WATCHING FOR THAT ONE SIGN

OF THE FISH COMING UP
TO THE SURFACE.

ARAPAIMA ARE AIR-BREATHERS...
AN ADAPTATION THAT ALLOWS THEM

TO LIVE IN THE OXYGEN-DEPLETED LAKES
THAT FORM IN THE AMAZON'S DRY SEASON.

BUT IT IS ALSO A VITAL CLUE
FOR FISHERMEN.

EVERY TIME THEY BREAK THE SURFACE,
THEY GIVE AWAY THEIR PRESENCE.

AND WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY
NOT AFRAID OR AT ALL SPOOKED,

YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE ACTUALLY QUITE
A GENTLE RIPPLE FOR SUCH A BIG FISH.

IT'S A SMALL SIGN, BUT IT
GIVES AWAY THEIR LOCATION.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT IT CAN BE
20 MINUTES OR MORE BETWEEN BREATHS,

SO PREDICTING WHERE THEY'RE GOING
TO COME UP NEXT IS NOT EASY.

SO, THERE YOU ARE ALL DAY UNDER THE
HOT SUN, AFTER THIS HUGE FISH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IS THAT
DOWN THERE, THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER

DIFFERENT RIVER MONSTERS
IN THE WATER.

I'M OFTEN IN LARGE,
METAL-HULLED FISHING BOATS,

SO COMING DOWN TO WATER LEVEL
IN THESE TINY CANOES

MAKES YOU FEEL VERY EXPOSED
AND VULNERABLE.

I'M BEGINNING TO APPRECIATE THAT
HOW YOU SEE THE NATURAL WORLD

ENTIRELY DEPENDS
ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

WE'VE BEEN PADDLING AROUND HERE FOR A
FAIR OLD WHILE, AND HE'S ACTUALLY SEEN,

POINTED OUT
A COUPLE OF FISH SURFACING.

BUT TO BE HONEST, I ACTUALLY
COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AT ALL.

I THINK I'VE GOT QUITE A WAY TO GO
UNTIL I PROPERLY GET MY EYE IN.

AS WE HEAD BACK TO THE VILLAGE,

MY GUIDE TELLS ME ABOUT ONE RIVER
MONSTER IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY FEAR.

IT'S CALLED THE COBRA-GRANDE...
THE BIG SNAKE.

I'VE HEARD
OF THIS MONSTER BEFORE,

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS
A MYTHICAL, OVERSIZED ANACONDA.

BUT I AM TOLD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE
HERE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN IT

AND THAT A NEARBY VILLAGE
HAD TO TOTALLY RELOCATE

BECAUSE THEY WERE SO TERRIFIED
OF THE BIG SNAKE.

MANOEL HERE HAS ACTUALLY SEEN A
COBRA-GRANDE, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY ON LAND,

SO I'M VERY KEEN
TO GET THE DETAILS OF THIS.

THIS SOUNDS TO BE MORE THAN
JUST A BIG ANACONDA.

THIS WAS A HUGE ANIMAL...
IMMENSE SIZE, GREAT BIG HEAD.

AND THIS THING WAS BLACK, RED, AND YELLOW,
AND IT WAS MISSING ITS TAIL, APPARENTLY,

WHICH IS AN ODD DETAIL.

BUT HE OBVIOUSLY HAD
A VERY GOOD LOOK AT IT.

THE SNAKE WAS JUST LYING THERE,
LOOKING OUT OVER THE WATER,

THESE EYES LIKE SEARCHLIGHTS, AND
APPARENTLY ITS HEAD JUST COVERED IN BEES...

JUST BLACK WITH BEES, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THE ANIMAL JUST NOT BOTHERED AT ALL.

SOUNDS FARFETCHED, BUT HE
ACTUALLY SAW THIS HUGE ANIMAL,

JUST DOWN THE BANK FROM HERE.

HE TELLS ME THAT A FEW
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE

SAW THE COBRA-GRANDE
VERY RECENTLY.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
NOT TO BE MISSED.

I DECIDE TO PUT MY ARAPAIMA
HUNT ON HOLD

TO SEE IF ONE OF THE AMAZON'S MOST
UNBELIEVABLE MYTHS IS, IN FACT, REALITY.

I'VE COME TO MEET THE MUNDURUKU PEOPLE TO
TRY AND CATCH THE AMAZON'S BIGGEST FISH.

BUT AS I'VE BECOME IMMERSED
IN THEIR WORLD AND MYTHS,

I'VE DECIDED TO PUT MY ARAPAIMA
HUNT ON HOLD, TO FOLLOW UP A LEAD

THAT MIGHT REVEAL ANOTHER VAST RIVER
MONSTER... THE COBRA-GRANDE, OR BIG SNAKE.

I'M ON MY WAY UP A NARROW, WINDING
CREEK IN THE MIDDLE OF FLOODED FOREST,

EXCEPT AT THE MOMENT,
THE WATER IS VERY, VERY LOW.

AND I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE THE HOLE WHERE
A COBRA-GRANDE IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE.

THIS IS THE GIANT SNAKE
WHICH, YOU KNOW,

I THOUGHT WAS JUST PURELY
A CREATURE OF MYTH.

BUT THEY SAID, "NO, NO,
WE ARE TAKING YOU TO A PLACE"

WHERE PEOPLE SAY THERE IS ONE
ACTUALLY THERE NOW."

I WAS INITIALLY SKEPTICAL, BUT
THEIR INSISTENCE IS INFECTIOUS.

IF ANYWHERE IS GOING TO BE
THE HOME OF A COBRA-GRANDE,

THIS PLACE CERTAINLY DOES HAVE
THAT KIND OF FEEL TO IT.

WE'RE HERE.

WITH THE AMAZON BASIN COVERING
SOME 2.7 MILLION SQUARE MILES,

THERE ARE, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, NEW
SPECIES WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED,

AND WHO KNOWS HOW BIG
SOME OF THESE ANIMALS MIGHT BE?

THEY SAID THAT THIS LINE HERE
IS A TRACK.

IF THIS ACTUALLY IS THE TRACK OF A
SNAKE, IT IS A BIG, HEAVY ANIMAL.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS
A SERIOUSLY LARGE TRACK

THAT IT'S ACTUALLY MADE
IN THE GROUND HERE.

ANACONDAS CAN REACH
AROUND 30 FEET.

IF THAT ISN'T A BIG SNAKE,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

BUT THE LOCALS SAY COBRA-GRANDE
IS FAR BIGGER THAN AN ANACONDA.

YES?

THAT DOES ACTUALLY LOOK
LIKE THE HOME OF SOMETHING.

JUDGING BY THE SIZE
OF THE HOLES THERE,

YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN
SOMETHING PRETTY LARGE.

SO, HERE WE'VE GOT
A BIT OF SHED SNAKESKIN.

LET'S JUST PICK A BIT UP.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THE INDIVIDUAL SCALES.

AT SOME POINT, QUITE A LARGE SNAKE
LAY HERE AND SHED ITS SKIN.

EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS QUITE UGLY,
THEY'RE SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATED

THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HERE TODAY,
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE VERY, VERY DEFINITE SIGNS

THAT SOMETHING LARGE
IS AROUND THESE PARTS.

IF I'M TO FISH FOR A GIANT ARAPAIMA, THEN
I WILL BE ENTERING THE HOME OF MONSTERS.

MAYBE I WON'T MEET
THE COBRA-GRANDE ON THIS TRIP,

BUT I'M FINALLY GRASPING HOW MYTH AND
REALITY ARE INTERTWINED FOR THESE PEOPLE.

I'M SURE I COULD SPEND A LIFETIME
LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE ARAPAIMA

AND THE CREATURES THAT SHARE
ITS MYSTERIOUS WORLD,

BUT IT'S NOW TIME TO PUT ALL I
HAVE GATHERED INTO PRACTICE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PLACE WHERE
THE TRIBESPEOPLE AROUND HERE

USED TO COME BEFORE A BIG
BATTLE TO FOCUS THE MIND,

PREPARE THEMSELVES MENTALLY
BEFOREHAND.

AND, UM... I GUESS, AS I'M LIKELY TO
NEED ALL THE HELP THAT I CAN GET,

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA FOR ME TO
JUST SPEND A FEW MINUTES HERE, AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT IF I'M GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
I NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT

A FISH THAT, FOR THE LOCAL TRIBES,
IS THE INCARNATION OF A WARRIOR.

MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
PREPARED, IT'S GAME ON.

IT'S JUST ME, MY GUIDE JOHNNY, AND OUT
THERE SOMEWHERE, A VERY BIG FISH.

I'M PUTTING INTO PRACTICE
THE THINGS I'VE LEARNT,

NOT JUST
FROM THE FISH IN CAPTIVITY

BUT ALSO THE WHOLE BUSINESS ABOUT LOCATING
THE FISH, SPOTTING THEM, PATIENCE,

YOU KNOW,
GRADUALLY WORKING CLOSE

SO THAT YOU'RE IN A POSITION
OF GETTING ONE ON THE LINE.

WITH THE WATER SO LOW IN THIS
LAKE, OXYGEN LEVELS ARE DEPLETED.

THE ARAPAIMA'S AIR-BREATHING PHYSIOLOGY
IS BOTH ITS STRENGTH AND ITS WEAKNESS.

IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE MILLIONS OF YEARS
BEFORE THERE WERE HUNTERS LIKE ME AROUND

SCANNING THE WATER'S SURFACE
FOR THAT TELLTALE CLUE.

I'M TOLD THERE IS ANOTHER
SMALL LAKE IN THE FOREST,

WHERE MODERN LINE FISHING
IS ALLOWED FOR ARAPAIMA,

AS LONG AS IT'S CATCH
AND RELEASE.

WE CAN'T TAKE THE CANOE THERE,
BUT WE CAN GO ON FOOT.

AND THE FACT THAT
IT'S TUCKED AWAY A LITTLE BIT,

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S GONNA BE SOMETHING
THAT I CAN GET A BAIT OUT OVER THERE.

YES! YES, YES, YES!

THAT'S A FISH.

I'VE HEARD TALES OF VARIOUS
AMAZON MONSTERS ON THIS JOURNEY,

SOME LEGENDARY, SOME
REAL, AND ALL DANGEROUS.

BUT THERE'S ONE CREATURE THAT,
DESPITE OVERFISHING,

I'D LOVE TO PROVE REALLY GROWS
TO MYTHIC PROPORTIONS.

IT'S THE ARAPAIMA... A FISH CAPABLE
OF KNOCKING A MAN FROM HIS CANOE

AND LEAVING HIM FOR DEAD.

BUT THE ONLY WAY I KNOW HOW TO PROVE
THESE MONSTERS ARE STILL OUT THERE

IS TO CATCH ONE, AND I'VE HEARD OF A LAKE
THAT MIGHT BE JUST THE PLACE TO DO THAT.

THIS LAKE LOOKS REALLY NICE,
ACTUALLY.

IT'S VERY QUIET.

LOTS OF SNAGS,
WHICH COULD BE INTERESTING.

I'M ACTUALLY USING...
A THING CALLED A CIRCLE HOOK.

NOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S JUST
NOT GONNA HOOK ANYTHING AT ALL.

THE POINT JUST COMING IN HERE... THAT'S
JUST NOT GONNA HOOK ON ANYTHING.

BUT, IN FACT, IF THAT'S THE FISH'S MOUTH...
WHAT HAPPENS IS IT JUST COMES...

AND TURNS... AND THERE IT IS...
RIGHT IN THE CORNER OF THE MOUTH.

OH!

There we go. That was one.

I just saw this red tail
come up.

Fraction of a second,
but I recognize it now.

That was an arapaima.

And what I've got to do is try
and quietly get into position

so I can actually put a bait
near that fish.

One thing that I learned from the tribespeople,
which is actually quite hard to do,

but I've just got to be patient.

YES! YES, YES, YES!

AH, YEAH!

THAT'S A FISH.
THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

OH, HE'S UP.

I CAN SEE THE FISH.

AS THE BATTLE WITH THIS ARAPAIMA
APPROACHES THE HALF-HOUR MARK,

I'M REMINDED THAT THE REBELLIOUS,
PROUD SPIRIT THAT INHABITS THIS FISH

EVEN REFUSED
TO SURRENDER TO THE GODS.

RIGHT.
IT'S GOT TO BE OUT.

THERE WE GO.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.
IT CAME OUT SO EASILY.

OKAY. WE'RE READY.

THERE IT IS.

LOOK AT THAT FOR A FISH.

LOOK AT THAT MASSIVE FEMALE ARAPAIMA...
ABOUT 150 POUNDS.

I FINALLY HAVE THE PROOF IN MY ARMS
THAT HUGE ARAPAIMA ARE STILL OUT HERE.

THIS IS A TRUE DINOSAUR
OF THE DEEP.

I NEED THIS FISH TO REGAIN ITS STRENGTH
AFTER OUR BATTLE BEFORE I RELEASE IT.

IF I PUT IT STRAIGHT BACK,
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ENERGY

TO SWIM TO THE SURFACE
TO TAKE A BREATH.

AND BEING AN AIR-BREATHER,
IT WOULD DROWN.

JUST THE HEAD A LITTLE BIT
UNDER THE WATER...

AND POINTING UP TOWARDS THE
BANK SO THAT IF IT DOES THRASH,

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IT CAN GO, IN THEORY,
WHICH IS NOT BACK INTO THE WATER,

ALTHOUGH THEY CAN
JUST DOUBLE 'ROUND 180 DEGREES.

EVEN AT THE END OF A LONG FIGHT, I CAN
STILL FEEL THE STRENGTH OF THIS FISH.

SO I CAN ABSOLUTELY IMAGINE THIS THING
BEING ABLE TO... OH, THERE WE GO.

THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GOOD,
THAT'S GOOD.

BOM.

THAT WAS THE FISH JUST HAVING
A BREATH, WHICH IS EXCELLENT.

IT MEANS THE FISH
IS NOT TOO TIRED OUT.

BUT, I MEAN, MAINLY,
THIS FISH IS JUST A BONY HEAD

WITH A BIG CYLINDER
OF MUSCLE BEHIND IT.

IF THIS FISH WASN'T TIRED OUT, I
DON'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO HOLD IT.

THAT'S GOOD.

NO, IT'S GONE.

WE WERE JUST WONDERING
IF IT HAD ENOUGH STRENGTH TO GO,

AND NO DOUBT ABOUT IT...
I JUST COULDN'T HOLD IT.

AND IN FACT, AT THE END
OF AN EPIC BATTLE ON THE LINE

BUT ALSO AN EPIC QUEST TRYING
TO FIND ONE OF THESE THINGS...

BUT, YOU KNOW, FINALLY FEELING THE STRENGTH
OF IT, ABSOLUTELY, I'M IN NO DOUBT NOW

THAT IF YOU WERE IN A SMALL FISHING CANOE
AND THAT THING HIT YOU UNDERNEATH,

IT WOULD EASILY UPEND THE CANOE.

AND THEN, IF YOU WERE
IN THE WATER AFTERWARDS

AND YOU GOT ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THAT HEAD,

MY GOODNESS, THAT WOULD
ABSOLUTELY TAKE YOU OUT.

MYTHIC AND REAL BEASTS SWIRL AROUND
ONE ANOTHER HERE IN THE AMAZON.

WHEN PEOPLE GO MISSING, THERE IS
USUALLY TALK OF GIANT SNAKES...

AND MAN-EATING CAIMAN.

I SET OUT TO SHOW THAT THE ARAPAIMA
IS AN UNDERESTIMATED FISH,

CAPABLE OF EXTRAORDINARY FEATS
OF STRENGTH.

IF CORNERED, TRAPPED, OR NETTED, IT
BECOMES A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT...

AN AIRBORNE MISSILE.

I KNEW I HAD TO OVERCOME
MY FEAR TO PROVE MY CASE.

I WENT BACK INTO THE WATER

AND CAUGHT AN ANCIENT SURVIVOR
THAT IS PART FISH, PART LEGEND,

AND ENTIRELY WORTHY
OF A DEADLY REPUTATION.

NOW, THIS
IS A REAL RIVER MONSTER.