All language subtitles for David.Attenboroughs.Wild.City.S01E05.1080p.WEB.h264-POPPYCOCK_track3_[eng]

(birds singing)

(peaceful music)

- [Narrator] The good,

- [Narrator] The good,

the bad,

the kind,

and the menacing.

Meet the neighbors who've carved
out territories

Meet the neighbors who've carved
out territories

in our neighborhoods,

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

on the streets,

and in our nature spots.

and in our nature spots.

Millions upon millions of
pint-sized organisms

Millions upon millions of
pint-sized organisms

live side by side with the human
residents of Singapore.

live side by side with the human
residents of Singapore.

From the heartlands to the
jungles,

these tiny residents live hectic
lives

these tiny residents live hectic
lives

that go almost entirely
unnoticed.

that go almost entirely
unnoticed.

But when lifespans are measured
in mere days and weeks,

But when lifespans are measured
in mere days and weeks,

their every action is urgent.

Here in the "Wild City's Secret
World."

(thunder rumbling)

(suspenseful music)

(wind rustling)

A new day in Singapore breaks

with the arrival of the
northeast monsoon.

with the arrival of the
northeast monsoon.

(rain pattering)

Strong winds and heavy rain
thrash the city

in the warm tropical air.

It's the setting for some common
and not-so-common scenes.

Feisty myna birds wised up to
these wet conditions

a long time ago.

The heavy downpour has sent
flying termites

crash-landing into puddles,

and the patrolling birds are
cashing in.

At this development site in the
center of the city,

At this development site in the
center of the city,

a band of squatters are getting
fired up by the downpour.

(whimsical music)

The ancestors of these banded
bullfrogs

traveled from Malaysia to
Singapore

traveled from Malaysia to
Singapore

a century and a half ago.

(frogs droning)

They adapted to life in the city

and have been here for so long
they're considered locals.

and have been here for so long
they're considered locals.

The bullfrogs usually hide in
the recesses and drains

around the empty apartments,

around the empty apartments,

but the rain triggers a
cacophony of croaks

signaling that love is in the
air.

(frog droning)

The female bullfrogs are looking

for the most attractive males to
be mating partners.

So the boys need to croak to
impress.

Sadly, for these suitors,

there are just not enough ladies
to go around.

there are just not enough ladies
to go around.

(dramatic music)

And the love lagoon quickly
descends

into a watery fighting pit.

into a watery fighting pit.

Male frogs inflate their bodies,

not to keep their heads above
water,

but to make themselves appear
bigger and more threatening.

But bulking up this way can make
doing battle

extremely difficult, especially
in the rain.

(quick classical music)

(quick classical music)

Most of the blows don't quite
land,

but the stakes are high,

and this will be a fight to the
end,

and this will be a fight to the
end,

even if they risk looking like
two angry beach balls

in the process.

In the end, the combatant with
the most stamina prevails

and the lady frog picks a
winner.

(frog droning)

(traffic rumbling)

After the storm passes,
Singaporeans break cover

and get on with their business.

(mop swishing)

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music)

At this MRT station,

an urgent mopping-up operation
is underway.

an urgent mopping-up operation
is underway.

These paper wasps have been
raising their young in a nest

These paper wasps have been
raising their young in a nest

amidst the hustle and bustle of
a busy street corner.

Tiny larvae are cradled inside
cells made of wood pulp.

But now the lives of the young
paper wasps

are in serious danger if the
adults don't act fast.

are in serious danger if the
adults don't act fast.

The rainstorm has flooded the
nest

(tense music)

(tense music)

and it's so heavy with
rainwater,

it threatens to collapse from
the extra weight.

If the nest falls,

If the nest falls,

the precious cargo of baby wasps
will be gone.

So all the adults are teaming up

for this emergency exercise.

for this emergency exercise.

The wasps suck the water from
the nest to spit it out.

Six adults work relentlessly for
an hour

until one last drop that is
drawn

and the nest is finally drained.

and the nest is finally drained.

The crisis is averted.

Left undisturbed, the wasps can
get back

to their helpful role of preying
on insects

that humans consider pests.

(optimistic music)

As the rain clouds give way to
clear skies,

shoppers dash to the nearest or
newest mall,

and city gardens become the
hunting ground

and city gardens become the
hunting ground

of a fearsome predator.

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music)

Praying mantids are the snipers
of the insect world,

Praying mantids are the snipers
of the insect world,

patiently waiting for their
target to come into view.

Most mantid species only live
six months as adults,

Most mantid species only live
six months as adults,

so this female needs to feed

to build up the strength to
breed.

The praying mantis has three
small eyes and two bigger ones,

The praying mantis has three
small eyes and two bigger ones,

giving it deadly accurate
stereoscopic vision

similar to humans.

The mantis is one of few insects
that have

this kind of vision, which allow
it to judge the distance

between itself and its next
meal.

between itself and its next
meal.

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic musical sting)

(mantis crunching)

Mantids are such voracious
predators that hungry females

will even cannibalize the male
mantid during mating.

(birds singing)

(bright music)

Down by the bay, the supertrees
are a draw for tourists,

Down by the bay, the supertrees
are a draw for tourists,

but their encounters

with some of the garden's most
beautiful inhabitants

may be all too fleeting.

may be all too fleeting.

(inquisitive music)

Butterflies drink nectar from
flowers in the lavish gardens.

Butterflies drink nectar from
flowers in the lavish gardens.

On an island once famous for its
big cats,

this is the last of the tigers,

this is the last of the tigers,

the caterpillar of a plain tiger
butterfly.

the caterpillar of a plain tiger
butterfly.

(caterpillar scuffling)

It has one job to do in its life
as a caterpillar,

and that's eat.

Over the next few days,

it will devour many times its
body weight in leaf material.

The caterpillar will need every
bit of sustenance it can get

The caterpillar will need every
bit of sustenance it can get

to accomplish an incredible
physical transformation.

Well, that's if it doesn't
become the juicy meal itself.

(suspenseful music)

The plain tiger caterpillar
makes itself

as unpalatable as possible to
its predators.

Its cells are laced with toxic
compounds

it sources from eating milkweed.

it sources from eating milkweed.

Its tiger stripes aren't for
camouflage, either.

They warn off predators keen to
avoid a foul-tasting meal.

They warn off predators keen to
avoid a foul-tasting meal.

So this fantail wisely goes
looking

for a more agreeable lunch,

leaving the caterpillar to keep
piling on the weight

ahead of its metamorphosis.

ahead of its metamorphosis.

(birds singing)

A new day is abuzz with
commuters in the morning rush
hour.

(industrious music)

Over the last two centuries,

Singapore has transformed
forests and mangroves

Singapore has transformed
forests and mangroves

into a teaming metropolis.

Surprisingly, wildlife has
continued to thrive

in this urban setting.

A swarm of hungry dwarf
honeybees are hard at work

A swarm of hungry dwarf
honeybees are hard at work

early in the morning,

They're building a new hive
under the window

of a shop house right in the
middle of Chinatown.

(whimsical music)

A scout bee has just returned
from foraging

and she has good news to share
with the colony.

Her dance signals she's found a
source of nectar,

and the movements describe the
distance

and the direction to the food.

The information becomes encoded
in the tiny brains

The information becomes encoded
in the tiny brains

of the worker bees,

and they head off in search of
the prize.

(adventurous music)

Over 100 species of bees

are competing for food in
Singapore.

There's no (indistinct) flowers,
so the race is on.

There's no (indistinct) flowers,
so the race is on.

This time, the scout's
directions were spot-on,

and the swarm gorges on a feed
of pollen and nectar.

and the swarm gorges on a feed
of pollen and nectar.

Some of the pollen attaches
itself

to hairs on the bees' bodies.

to hairs on the bees' bodies.

When bees visit other plants,

pollen is passed on to the
reproductive parts of flowers.

pollen is passed on to the
reproductive parts of flowers.

This will develop into seeds
which spread and grow

into new plants, keeping
Singapore green.

into new plants, keeping
Singapore green.

(bees buzzing) (peaceful music)

(bees buzzing) (peaceful music)

And so the bees' food is payment
for services rendered.

It's an ancient form of trade

nurtured and developed over
millions of years

nurtured and developed over
millions of years

right here in Singapore.

Bukit Brown Cemetery is at first
glance

a peaceful contrast to the
bustling center.

a peaceful contrast to the
bustling center.

It is the final resting place

of almost 100,000 of the city's
early pioneers.

of almost 100,000 of the city's
early pioneers.

The last burial here was almost
50 years ago,

The last burial here was almost
50 years ago,

and since then, nature has
gradually

returned to the grave sites.

returned to the grave sites.

It's become a vibrant habitat.

And today, unsuspecting visitors
share the grounds

with an insect menagerie.

Assassin bugs and a multitude of
cricket species

Assassin bugs and a multitude of
cricket species

are out in force.

The cemetery provides them with
plentiful food and cover.

The cemetery provides them with
plentiful food and cover.

Crickets have powerful jaws,

and will eat decaying plants,
grass, fruits, fungi,

seedlings, and even meat.

seedlings, and even meat.

From afar, this patch of grass
looks like a cricket haven.

(ethereal music)

Up close, it's a minefield

full of spiders.

The web of the lawn wolf spider
is deceptively beautiful.

Bejeweled with raindrops,

this garden ornament has been
crafted with lethal intent.

The spider waits and feels for
disturbances on the web.

(ominous music)

A katydid, or bush cricket, has
landed

in a whole heap of trouble.

(dramatic musical sting)

(dramatic musical sting)

The katydid is bigger than the
spider,

The katydid is bigger than the
spider,

and its powerful kick is enough
to force a retreat.

But this is the spider's turf.

And as the katydid becomes more
entangled,

And as the katydid becomes more
entangled,

the spider is emboldened to move
in for the kill.

The wolf spider restrains the
katydid

with the help of long hairs on
its legs.

Then it paralyzes its victim

with an injection of strong
venom.

(contemplative music)

The spider retreats with its
prize.

A catch like this will sustain
it for weeks.

In the unseen world of this wild
city,

the cycle of life and death
advances at a relentless pace.

the cycle of life and death
advances at a relentless pace.

The cemetery is also a nursery

for an incredible diversity of
insect life,

including countless species
poorly known to science.

These praying mantis nymphs,
just minutes old,

These praying mantis nymphs,
just minutes old,

are from a species that has
almost certainly

never been filmed before.

Fresh from hatching, their
bodies are still soft

and their limbs weak, making
them vulnerable to predators.

(inquisitive music)

(inquisitive music)

They need time for their bodies
to harden

before they can venture off.

So in the warm air, they dance.

To the human eye, their
movements are a hypnotic show,

but to a predator, their swaying
motion

but to a predator, their swaying
motion

helps 'em disappear into the
foliage

as they shift in the breeze.

Even so, some of these mantid
babies

will not see the end of the day.

will not see the end of the day.

Danger lurks around every
corner,

and they will need every trick
they can muster

if they are to survive in the
forest.

Just like a new apartment hunter
seeking a high floor,

the praying mantids have eyes
for the top.

From this vantage point, those
that make it to adulthood

From this vantage point, those
that make it to adulthood

will become deadly hunters in
Singapore's forests.

(playful music)

At the other end of the day,

the city's residents head
outdoors to unwind.

Kent Ridge Park has many
attractions

for two- and six-legged
creatures,

for two- and six-legged
creatures,

(determined music)

and these stingless bees have
set up camp in a tree trunk.

and these stingless bees have
set up camp in a tree trunk.

As the temperature cools, worker
bees are returning home

As the temperature cools, worker
bees are returning home

from hazardous foraging trips

laden with precious nectar and
pollen.

But their work is not done yet.

(ethereal music)

There are over 60 species of
stingless bees in Singapore.

Compared to the orderly
honeycombs of common honeybees,

a stingless beehive is an utter
alien world.

a stingless beehive is an utter
alien world.

These spectacular structures are
made from propolis,

a waxy substance the bees
manufacture from the sap of
trees.

The queen bee gives out
instructions

by fanning her scent around the
hive.

She is the mother to every one
of the bees here.

She is the mother to every one
of the bees here.

Her larvae develop rapidly, fed
on a steady diet of pollen

by the never-resting worker
bees.

More pollen is stockpiled in
chambers for later use.

Nectar is turned into honey in
the bee's stomachs.

Nectar is turned into honey in
the bee's stomachs.

Storing large quantities of
honey

is a safeguard for leaner times,

but make one wrong move and the
bees can be trapped

but make one wrong move and the
bees can be trapped

in their own sticky food
reserve.

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

This worker won't survive his
dunking.

For bees, the sacrifice is
simply the price

For bees, the sacrifice is
simply the price

of ensuring that the next
generation

carry on the legacy of the hive.

(ethereal music)

At the iconic Gardens by the
Bay,

a steady stream of sightseers
are missing out

on one of nature's greatest
magic tricks.

Hidden within the foliage, a
plain tiger caterpillar

is about to undergo an
astonishing metamorphosis.

For over a week, she's been
binge eating,

For over a week, she's been
binge eating,

and now the dramatic changes
written into her DNA

are being switched on.

are being switched on.

She has secured herself beneath
a leaf

as the genetic instructions kick
in.

Her body begins to pulse

as a remarkable transformation
gets underway.

as a remarkable transformation
gets underway.

Over the last few weeks, she has
shed her skin five times.

Now she's about to undergo her
final molt.

What's underneath is no ordinary
skin.

It's a shield against the
outside world, a chrysalis.

Inside this capsule-like
chrysalis,

Inside this capsule-like
chrysalis,

caterpillar's body will
virtually dissolve

and transform as the final and
most extreme makeover occurs.

(ambitious music)

Across town, a forest reserve

attracts nature-loving residents
keen on some exercise

laced with adventure.

laced with adventure.

They'd have to get their noses
to the ground, though,

to notice a termite army

to notice a termite army

carrying out the forest's grunt
work.

From their base in a fallen log,

From their base in a fallen log,

the termites help break down
rotten wood

and turn over the soil.

This recycles nutrients through
the ecosystem,

keeping the forests of Singapore
lush and healthy.

keeping the forests of Singapore
lush and healthy.

Every few days a convoy must
leave

in search of fresh wood to feed
the colony.

And unbeknownst to the jungle
trekkers,

And unbeknownst to the jungle
trekkers,

the termites have chosen a
hazardous route

that takes them directly across
the cleared ground

of the walking track.

(tense music)

It's all the more dangerous
because termites need moisture.

But they must also isolate
themselves

from the elements to stay alive.

Their ingenious solution to
cross this parched walking track

is to build a tunnel.

(suspenseful music)

But the tunnel has been
breached,

leaving them stranded outside
their nest.

Time is of the essence.

If the termites can't repair the
damage quickly,

If the termites can't repair the
damage quickly,

much of the colony could perish
in the tropical heat.

(footsteps pounding)

(footsteps pounding)

It's a mighty task.

But these little guys and girls
are master builders

of the insect world, mixing mud
with saliva

of the insect world, mixing mud
with saliva

to cement their intricate
structures.

What makes their engineering
prowess even more remarkable

is that they are completely
blind.

is that they are completely
blind.

Larger worker termites do the
heavy lifting

while smaller soldiers are on
guard

to defend the construction site
from intruders.

They're armed with a potent
insect repellent

that sprays from the nozzles on
their heads.

Today, the termites are blessed
with good fortune.

They are barely touched by the
scorching sun,

and cooler temperatures buys
them the time they need

to finish the job.

Soon they can get back to their
main mission

Soon they can get back to their
main mission

of ferrying food to their
fast-growing colony.

(anticipatory music) (birds
singing)

Up in the forest canopy, another
bug is busy doing its best

Up in the forest canopy, another
bug is busy doing its best

to convince everyone that it's
not an insect at all.

It's possible this species of
leaf insect

is only found in Singapore.

is only found in Singapore.

By imitating tree leaves,

it's almost indistinguishable

from the foliage it calls home.

from the foliage it calls home.

This kind of deception is known
as mimicry,

This kind of deception is known
as mimicry,

and it's rife in Singapore's
insect world.

But even a near-perfect disguise
can be undone

by the most astute of predators.

(dramatic music)

Hornbills are making a comeback
in Singapore

after decades of absence.

after decades of absence.

These avian predators have
powerful binocular vision.

These avian predators have
powerful binocular vision.

The hornbill scans the foliage

The hornbill scans the foliage

looking for slight color
aberrations,

the smallest movement, a leaf
out of place.

One wrong move, and the game is
up.

One wrong move, and the game is
up.

(wings flapping)

(wings flapping)

(hornbill crunching)

(hornbill crunching)

And this time the leaf insect is
on the losing side.

It's a battle of strategy and
wits

played out over millions of
years.

played out over millions of
years.

(ethereal music)

(ethereal music)

On a lower branch, a jade tree
snail is oblivious

to the sacrifice of its insect
friend.

Like all snails, its eyesight is
poor.

It can only make out shady
areas,

or detect an approaching large
predator.

The jade tree snail is green by
name

and even greener by nature.

They help protect plants from
disease

by consuming fungi from bark and
leaves.

As the snail feeds,

it's wary of threats from above
and below.

(somber music)

Down in the leaf litter, an army
is approaching.

Giant forest ants grow to almost
three centimeters in length

Giant forest ants grow to almost
three centimeters in length

and are among the world's
largest ants.

They live in huge colonies of up
to 7,000 individuals.

They live in huge colonies of up
to 7,000 individuals.

They survive largely on honey
juice

secreted by aphids and scale
insects.

But that's not enough to sustain
this militia.

But that's not enough to sustain
this militia.

They also need to feed on flesh.

Today is a lucky day.

The ants come across a windfall.

(determined music)

(determined music)

A centipede has died.

The ant army immediately
mobilizes to move the carcass.

The ant army immediately
mobilizes to move the carcass.

Using their powerful jaws,

Using their powerful jaws,

the ants dissect the centipede
limb by limb.

The dismembered carcass is
carried

piece by piece back to their
nest.

Nothing living or dead goes to
waste

in Singapore's secret world.

(bikes rattling)

With the coming of night, the
denizens of the day rest

With the coming of night, the
denizens of the day rest

and Singapore switches gear.

and Singapore switches gear.

(mellow music) (people
chattering)

While diners across the city

sit down for their favorite
meals,

(frogs singing)

(frogs singing)

darkness-loving insects begin to
prowl out of sight.

(insects skittering)

(insects skittering)

A flat-back millipede craves for
a dinner

of decaying leaves,

(millipede scuffling)

while spiders wait for a meal to
come to them.

while spiders wait for a meal to
come to them.

(mysterious music)

They spin their webs in the
early hours of the evening

in preparation for a night's
hunting,

The St. Andrew's cross spider

can grow to over 10 centimeters
long.

This smaller one hasn't fed for
days.

A large bush cricket has become
entangled in its web.

The spider must move with
caution around such enormous
prey

is well over twice his size.

is well over twice his size.

The bush cricket struggles to
free itself

and the spider needs to make her
move now

before it gets away.

But the powerful cricket is too
large for the web to hold,

and the famished spider is left
to rue the feast

and the famished spider is left
to rue the feast

that got away.

(ethereal music)

In the nearby bushes, another
bush cricket sheds its skin.

Insects wear their skeleton on
the outside,

so as they grow, they must
periodically cast it off

to reveal a new coat of armor
beneath.

to reveal a new coat of armor
beneath.

As the old skin comes off, it
blocks its airways.

As the old skin comes off, it
blocks its airways.

It can't breathe until the
process is complete.

Finally, it's free.

Finally, it's free.

At this moment, it is soft and
vulnerable.

At this moment, it is soft and
vulnerable.

Darkness is no guarantee of
safety.

The bush cricket slips into the
undergrowth

to evade detection.

(frogs trilling)

(frogs trilling)

Dawn will soon break

and prompt a changing of the
insect guard.

This spells bad news for the St.
Andrew's cross spider

facing another day of hunger.

(moth fluttering)

Suddenly, a moth lands in the
web.

This time the spider doesn't
hesitate.

This time the spider doesn't
hesitate.

(dramatic music)

She wraps her prey in a cocoon
of fine silk

that will become a death shroud.

that will become a death shroud.

She airlifts it to a safe spot

where she can settle down to
feed at her leisure.

(birds singing)

A bright morning invites
visitors into the forest,

(tires crunching)

(tires crunching)

(engine purring)

and the daylight reveals

that wild boar have left their
calling card,

that wild boar have left their
calling card,

(whimsical music)

a pleasant surprise for this
dung beetle.

a pleasant surprise for this
dung beetle.

With specialized antennae,

he can smell the droppings from
far away.

he can smell the droppings from
far away.

Dung beetles need to roll the
droppings

into manageable-sized balls
while it's still fresh.

His future offspring will hatch
inside and use it for food.

He uses his specially evolved
hind legs

He uses his specially evolved
hind legs

to move the dung ball.

You can't muck around

when your nest is on the wrong
side of the road.

Traveling in reverse, the beetle
gets up a surprising speed.

But when you can't see where
you're going,

the trip is an accident waiting
to happen.

Across town, Gardens by the Bay
inspires

and educates people to
appreciate nature's wonders.

and educates people to
appreciate nature's wonders.

(graceful music)

Amongst the displays, a chapter
is being written

Amongst the displays, a chapter
is being written

in the insects' secret world.

After weeks of development,

the plain tiger's chrysalis has
now lost all its color,

the plain tiger's chrysalis has
now lost all its color,

about to reveal the fully-formed
butterfly within.

about to reveal the fully-formed
butterfly within.

(chrysalis rustling)

(chrysalis rustling)

(jaws clicking)

Her wings need to expand and
dry,

so she pumps liquid through the
veins in her wings

so she pumps liquid through the
veins in her wings

to shape them.

She tastes the air for the first
time

with her long proboscis.

Like a delicate straw,

she'll use it to drink nectar
from the city's flowers.

These new accoutrements are a
spectacular last hurrah

These new accoutrements are a
spectacular last hurrah

for this plain tiger butterfly.

For her time in the city will
soon end.

For her time in the city will
soon end.

If all goes well,

she will only live for close to
two weeks.

Just long enough to reproduce.

Time is precious, so she tries
out her wings.

Time is precious, so she tries
out her wings.

Her wings have set firm, and are
ready for flight.

Her wings have set firm, and are
ready for flight.

The plain tiger takes to the air

across the city that birthed
her,

across the city that birthed
her,

completing another turn in the
cycle

that defines the secret world of
Wild City Singapore.

that defines the secret world of
Wild City Singapore.

(majestic music)

(majestic music)

(musical flourish)

(musical flourish)

(musical flourish)