All language subtitles for B.W.S06E02.Blue.Tongue.Skink.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

The Australian Outback

is home to a variety of
reptilian inhabitants.

And having an encounter
with one is often

a matter of finding yourself
walking in the right place

at the right time.

Today, we are exploring the
outlying borders of Meandarra.

A remote rural town that
boasts over 350 square miles

of pristine Outback.

The terrain is a rugged,
seemingly endless maze

of sparse and scraggly
underbrush, which

for the most part, is
incredibly unforgiving

when it comes to hiking.

So right now, we are out
exploring in some back country.

And we're searching for diurnal
species of snakes and lizards

right now.

King browns, bearded
dragons, sand goannas,

skinks of various sorts from the
blue tongue to the shingleback.

And this is a pretty
unique environment.

Very dry.

Look at this.

All of the branches
just break apart.

It is like a giant
tinderbox out here.

COYOTE PETERSON
To help aid

against the
environmental challenges,

we are exploring along
an experienced team

of animal specialists.

Lockie Gilding and Max Jackson
from Australian Wildlife

Encounters.

Working under
special permits, they

will be helping us navigate
the landscape as we attempt

to get a variety of
reptilian inhabitants

up close for the cameras.

Some good stuff to
flip over right here.

Guys, right here.

Look at this.
Look at this.

A snake.
You got a snake?

No, no, no!

It's a skink!

Looks just like a snake.

Look at that right there.
Where?

Nestled down
right in the crux of that log.

You see it?

I thought it was a snake
up over the top of that.

That is actually-- that's
a blue tongue skink.

Hold on.
You got a good shot on it?

Yep.

Now, they're not real fast,
but they will oftentimes give

you a great defensive display.

Let me see.

Hi, buddy.

Let's get you out of there.

Here we go.

Come this way.

Ope, it's getting
in the grasses.

Oh, no!

Wait.

Where'd it go?

OK, he's coming this way.

Hi, buddy.
Right here.

Look at it.
Look at that.

Look at that.

That is what they will do.

They will rear up their
heads and show you

that distinctive blue tongue.

That's incredible.

Look at that tongue.

All right, I'm
going to pick it up

and let's bring it over here.

Oh, without getting
it-- there we go.

Hi, buddy.

How are you?

Look at that lizard.

OK, here, back up a little bit.

Wow, this is great.

The blue tongue skink.

Now this is one of the
species I hoped we would

encounter here in Australia.

When it comes to
skink species, I

would say that this
is not only one

of the most common, but
also one of the most iconic.

The name, blue tongue
skink, you guys can

imagine where that comes from.

Let me sort of blow some
air in front of its nose

and see if I can get it
to stick its tongue out.

You guys ready?

And they use that
tongue-- there you go.

You see that?

Sensing my hand right now.

There you go.

Tasting my hand.

Turn a little bit so you
can see it there, Mario.

Not aggressive at all.

Look at that.

But oftentimes, when you
find them on the ground,

their first defensive posture is
to rear their body around, open

up that mouth and go [hisses].

Display that large blue tongue.

Now they're not venomous, but
that blue tongue is aposematic,

potentially warning a
predator that, you don't

know if I'm venomous or not.

And if I am and I bite you, it's
going to be a really bad day.

But this lizard is
completely harmless.

Now oftentimes,
here in Australia,

people will see these
reptiles in their backyard.

And they'll call Animal
Services and say,

I've got a snake in my backyard.

Somebody come and remove it.

But it's more likely a
skink than it is a snake.

And you can see why people
oftentimes misidentify them.

If I hold those legs
down to the side,

it looks just like
the body of a snake.

And even when they move
through the environment,

their general locomotion
that propels them forward

makes them look like a snake.

Here, I'm going to set
it down on the ground

and watch the way that
this reptile moves.

Are you ready?

Yep.

You got a good shot there?

I'm going to let it go.

Kind of just glides
through the environment.

Yeah.

And the scales are
incredibly smooth.

And because they're so smooth,
that allows them to easily

glide over the underbrush,
underneath logs, over rocks,

you name it.

These creatures are
constantly on the move.

Little nomads spending their
day searching for food.

Wow.

That is one really
awesome looking lizard.

Now one thing that's really
cool about this lizard species

is that they are ovoviviparous.

And what that means is that
they give birth to live young.

Now, the blue tongue
skink will give

birth to anywhere between
two and six baby skinks.

And do you guys know what
baby skunks are called?

Skinklets?

Actually, that
would be a really

good name for baby skinks.

But it's technically
called a litter.

I guess maybe if it's
a litter, like puppies,

maybe an individual
skinklet is called a pup?

I don't know.
I like skinklets.

I like skinklets better.

Let's officially
call them skinlets.

Can we talk about
those little back legs?

They're
pretty cute, aren't they?

Yeah, let's
take a look at those.

Let's see your legs, buddy.

Look at those little stumpers.

Now, they do have
really sharp claws.

And they're capable of climbing
up and over logs, rocks,

fit through narrow crevices.

They're opportunistic
omnivores, which

means they're always
on the move searching

for small little
insects, arachnids.

And sometimes, even
feasting on plants.

And look at the
length of this lizard.

A little over a foot long.

And this is about average
size for full grown adult.

And it's really hard to
distinguish between the males

and the females.

But typically, the males
grow just a bit bigger

than their female counterparts.

And look at that tail.

Short and stubby.

And this lizard is not
capable of dropping its tail,

like some lizard species.

And some species
of skink actually

store fat in their
tails, similar to that

of a gila monster.

And they will actually live
off of that fat during times

of drought and a
lack of food source.

That's interesting.

They have really large
ear holes on the back side

of their heads.

So I imagine they must
have great hearing.

And because their bodies
are so low to the ground,

I imagine they sense a lot of
movement in their environment.

So let's say something like
a dingo were to come across,

it could probably feel it
from quite a distance away,

and then be able to
scurry underneath a log

or into a burrow.

Oh, actually, you know what?

This skink has ticks on it.

I don't know if
you can see that.

Zoom in on the side
of its head there.

It has two ticks.

Is that
what that lump is?

Yeah, those are two ticks
stuck on the side of its head.

Actually, buddy, you
want us to help you out?

I can remove those
ticks for you.

Now, that is a parasite
on the reptile.

And actually, I'm
going to help you out.

I'm going to remove your ticks.

'Cause those ticks are just
feeding off of this animal's

blood right now.

Hold on a second.

Actually, Mario, can
you hold the skink?

Stick your hand out
here for a second.

Hold on to the skink.

I'm going to get a
multitool out of my bag.

Aw, poor little guy.

Got parasites on him.

OK, go ahead and
bring him back here.

Now, this is not going to
hurt the lizard in any way.

And actually, they
almost look like scales.

OK, I'm going to just
hold him down like this.

Might need
two hands on that.

Nope, I should be
able to get them.

This one right there
is a little tick.

Got it.

That's one.
I know, buddy.

I know.

I think he knows that
we're helping him out.

Oh, gosh.

That one's really in there.

Got it.

Oh, that's no good.

That's no good.

I got your ticks, bud.

Look at that.

All right, I'm
just going to flick

those off back into the wild.

Don't worry.

I won't flick them at you guys.

This way, please.

That way?

All right, ready?

There they go.

All right, that is
one happy skink.

Does that feel better now that
you don't have ticks on you?

Look at the coloration
of the eyes.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Golden on the outside and
that dark black pupil.

They have excellent
eyesight during the day.

And now the tongue is
starting to come out.

You guys noticing that?

That big, blue tongue.

And they're using that to
sense their environment.

They use that to help
detect chemicals which

helps them find their food.

Wow.

This was pretty awesome
coming across one

of the most iconic
lizard species

here in Australia,
the blue tongue skink.

I'm Coyote Petersen.

Be brave, stay wild.

We'll see you on
the next adventure.

The bizarre nature

of the blue tongue skink.

With its short stumpy
legs, snake-like movements,

and big blue tongue,
certainly classified

as one of the most
unique reptiles

we have featured on the
Brave Wilderness channel.

And while they are often
misidentified in Australia

for being snakes, it's important
to remember that these lizards,

despite their
aggressive display,

are only interested in
escaping human interaction

and should always be
considered harmless.

For anyone the
dreams of adventure,

there's arguably no
greater place on our planet

than the Australian Outback.

This vastly remote
stretch of wilderness

is the perfect
place to encounter

some of the country's most
recognizable animal species.

And if you are a
fanatic of reptiles,

this is your dream come true.

On this expedition, we're
traveling nearly 300 miles

from the sprawling
city of Brisbane

and out toward the sparsely
populated town of Meandarra.

From there, we'll
venture further

into the bush with
the hopes of tracking

down one of its largest
reptilian inhabitants,

the monitor lizard.

These ancient looking
reptiles are rather common.

However, they're
elusive nature, coupled

with perfectly
designed camouflage

can make them incredibly
difficult to find.

To aid in this
epic quest, we have

teamed up with two
of the country's

top reptilian enthusiasts.

Lockie Gilding and Max
Jackson, who own and operate

Australian Wildlife
Encounters know

these wild stretches of remote
territory better than anyone.

And their expertise when it
comes to locating monitor

lizards is unprecedented.

Working under their
special permits,

we have one collective
goal in mind,

do whatever it takes to track
down and safely catch one

of these phantom-like lizards.

So
Max, when it comes

to searching for monitors,
what is the telltale sign

that we're in the right area?

I mean, what are we
looking for right now?

The monitor lizard

is an iconic reptile
that has long

been on my wish list of
animals to feature on

the "Brave Wilderness" channel.

And this would be the
first time in my life

where that wish stood a
chance of coming true.

When I spring out of the
car to catch a monitor,

I'm going to need both hands.

So we're going to try
to get the initial catch

shot from my shoulder
instead of a handheld camera.

I just know that if I'm
fumbling around with a GoPro,

I stand a better chance
of actually being bitten.

Let me tell you what you don't
want to happen when working

with a monitor, for those
razor sharp teeth to slice

into your arm.

It will send you to
the hospital and you

will be getting stitches.

So we're going to the shoulder
cam on this one, guys.

All right,
man, you ready?

Let's do it.

It's monitor time.

Monitor right there.

Right there.

Turn the car around.

Yep, right back there
up on that edge.

This is it, guys.

OK, definitely monitor right up
on the edge of the road here.

There's a monitor on
the side of the road.

No way.

He dove--
he dove into here.

That's
right where he was going.

Man, what
happened, Coyote?

Well, we saw a small monitor,
another one about that big.

I mean, lightning quick.

We drove past it.

It actually stayed on the road.

And as we got close,
put its head up, whoosh,

just like that.

Got down into a burrow.

Not a chance of
catching that one.

Sprinted after that one.

COYOTE PETERSON
Did I

forget to mention that monitor
lizards are incredibly speedy?

In fact, for their
size, these lizards

are one of the fastest
reptiles in Australia.

And after witnessing the
speed of our first target,

I soon began to realize that
catching a monitor lizard

was going to be a
lot more difficult

than I had previously imagined.

Late afternoon was
creeping in as sharp beams

of sunlight cut through the
trees with a blinding effect.

I could feel the window of
lizard catching opportunity

beginning to close.

Yet, my hold on
hope remains strong.

- Oh, yeah.
- Right there.

Right there.
Slow down.

Slow down.

All right, let's go.
Everybody go.

Move slow.

Move slow.

OK, guys, we've got a monitor
just in front of the vehicle

here.

Going to approach slow.

Right now, it is just
holding its ground.

COYOTE PETERSON
In a flash,

the lizard sprang into action.

Keeping up with a monitor
lizard as it speeds

through tangles of
branches and briar patches

is virtually impossible.

And it was only a matter of
time before one of two things

happened.

Either the reptile
with dive into a burrow

and disappear out
of reach, or it

would retreat high
up into a tree, which

is exactly what this one did.

You see it?

Yeah,
it's up there.

Oh, I see it.

It's right here up tree.

Up a tree.
Right up the tree.

Right here.

COYOTE PETERSON
As I peered up

the trunk of the
towering tree before me,

only one thought
came to my mind.

Catch that lizard.

So as I have done before,
without a second of hesitation,

I began to scramble up the tree.

Careful.

You might make it jump.

He's going to jump

to this other section here.

He's at
the end of that branch

that your left hand's on.

He's at the end of that branch.

Man, I've got him.

But he is locked on to
the end of this branch.

Got him.

Nice catch.

Got it!

Yeah!

Woo!

That might be a most
epic catch of all time.

My only question is, how
am I going to get back down?

Hold on.

I'm going to put
it in my pocket.

Just kidding.

Hi, buddy.

All right, guys, I've
caught the monitor.

Now it's just a matter get back
down out of this tree with it

in my hands.

This is a bit of a precarious
scenario right here.

Careful.

Bit of a scrape on my--

on my man berries there.

Not a problem.

I have got the lizard.

Come on [inaudible].

Oh.

No, no.

I got it.

Ah!

Ow!

Easy.

Go slow.

Go slow.

Ah!

Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Yeah!

And that is how you climb
a tree to catch a monitor.

Whoa!

That was epic.
That was epic.

A bit out of the range here.

Oh, man.

That was amazing.

I told you guys
I was going all in

to catch one of these lizards.

Wow.

It's a sand monitor right there.

The Gould's sand monitor.

The quintessential goanna.

Let me catch my breath, guys.

Wow.

Man, get one more high five.

That was awesome.

That may be the fastest
I have ever climbed

a tree without branches.

And the thing that really
helped me with there

was all of the grippy bark
on the side of that tree

and the general arced angle.

Yeah, my arms are ripped
up, but it was absolutely

worth it to catch this reptile.

This is a sand monitor,
commonly known as a goanna.

And it is an ancient
looking creature.

I have dreamed about being able
to get one of these reptiles

up close for the cameras.

Now, they do get significantly
bigger than this.

But you can't really top
a catch of that magnitude.

Wow.

I just have to take
a second to absorb

in the beauty of this reptile.

Look at that skin.

Little tiny scales in all
that speckled patterning.

Now, I know in the past, I've
compared some lizard species

to dinosaurs.

And as we know, dinosaurs
evolved into birds.

And a lot of times you guys
call, but Coyote, lizards

aren't really dinosaurs.

No, they are not.

But they are so
similar in design.

Just look at the head
of that creature.

I feel like I'm looking at
a velociraptor right now.

That long neck and
those intelligent eyes.

And I'll tell you what.

These creatures are
intelligent, almost

problem-solving intelligent.

Now, all monitor lizard
species have a forked tongue.

That forked tongue helps them
navigate their environment,

and also to find and
detect their prey.

And when it comes
back into their mouth,

similar to a gila
monster, they have

what's called a Jacobson's organ
in the roof of their skull.

And as the tongue
runs over that organ,

it tells them-- almost like a
little computer-- your food is

this way or your food is
that way, or something

is getting close
in your environment

that you should flee from.

Typically, you won't find
sand monitors climbing trees.

They're terrestrial species.

But in an instance like that,
where it's evading a predator,

if a tree is the
best way to escape,

that's exactly where
it is going to go.

Wow.

Look at those front forelimbs.

Can you guys see those claws?

Razor sharp, almost like the
talons of a bird of prey.

And they have
grappled onto my arms

in several different places.

I'm actually really happy
that I wasn't sliced

up more than I have been.

These creatures are
voracious predators.

They will eat pretty
much anything.

They will eat small rodents,
they will eat insects,

arachnids, other lizards, eggs.

And they will even
eat dead animals.

So a lot of times, you
will see these lizards out

on the roadsides feeding
on dead carcasses.

Whether it be an
emu or a kangaroo,

that is fair game for
a creature like this

to just dig into those
guts and have a feast.

And this is one healthy lizard.

Let me turn it upright
like this for you

so you can see it's back.

And it is just holding
on to me about as tight

as I am holding on to it.

Look at that.

Locked in place.

And there is so much muscle
structure in the tail

and the center of
this animal's body.

This is a male, a young one.

They can grow substantially
longer than this.

I would say it's about
three feet in length

from the tip of its nose
to the tip of its tail.

Look at that coloration.

You see all the yellow speckling
along the sides of the legs,

and then that yellow
tip of the tail?

That's one way that you can
easily distinguish this monitor

as compared to some
of the other species

that are out here in the bush.

Excellent eyesight
under the light of day.

Excellent hearing.

Incredible speed.

This is an apex predator when
it comes to the reptiles that

can be found here in Australia.

So cool, guys.

Can you believe that we
actually caught a monitor?

I am beside myself right now.

And we have been working
long and hard today, the sun

is getting low in
the sky, it couldn't

be the more perfect
scenario to get this reptile

up close for the cameras.

Whoa!
I can't believe you guys.

I'd give you high
fives right now,

but I need both
hands on the lizard

to make sure that it doesn't
spin around and give me a bite.

But this truly is
one of the reptiles

we hope to get in front of
the cameras here in Australia.

And we finally did it.

I'm Coyote Peterson.

Be brave, stay wild.

We'll see on the next adventure.