Original subtitles

Africa, home to some of the planet's most formidable and perfectly adapted

predators.

Armed with an arsenal of deadly skills, specialized weaponry, and intelligent

strategies, prey rarely sees them coming.

These. are Africa's deadliest assassins.

On the roof of Africa, a superbly adapted, high -altitude assassin stalks

Afro -Alpine meadows.

An Ethiopian wolf.

Up here, in the Bale Mountains, prey options are limited.

So these wolves have specialized in hunting their habitats most abundant

burrowing rodents

With a network of underground tunnels, Afroalpine rodents aren't easy to catch.

For this predator, speed and stealth alone won't get the job done.

A successful hunt also requires strategy.

She patrols the open plains, listening for any underground movement.

To catch subterranean prey, this crafty assassin utilizes a variety of

techniques.

On this hunt, she tries to flush her prey from their tunnels by scratching

pouncing at the burrow entrances.

Patiently, she waits for the paddock's rotor to scurry to another opening.

Not quite quick enough.

Another failed hunt doesn't mean she's blown her chances.

Up here, there may be as many as 8 ,000 rodents per square kilometer.

Another foraging grass rat, and this one has strayed too far from its burrow.

With her narrow muzzle, She snatches up her prey before it flees too deep

underground.

Weighing less than 120 grams, a grass rat isn't a big meal.

But it's not for her.

She has two pups that need feeding.

Despite being solitary hunters, Ethiopian wolves live in close -knit

groups.

Fully weaned at 10 weeks old, the pups rely on the adults in their pack for a

steady supply of solid food.

Games like tug -of -war and play -fighting help establish the siblings'

hierarchy within the pack.

A grass rat may be enough for the two assassins in training, but for their

mother, another alpine rodent is the real prize.

A giant mole rat.

Weighing nearly a kilogram, it is a more substantial meal for a fully grown

wolf.

Giant mole rats spend less than an hour a day foraging above ground, only

emerging in short bursts.

They rarely stray more than 10 centimetres from their burrows,

underground after every mouthful.

Leaving her pups, the female returns to her hunting grounds.

Her sense of smell is up to 100 ,000 times better than a human's.

Even from across the plain, she locks on to a potential target.

Without cover to conceal her, strategy is all important.

She times her advance carefully.

moving only when the mole rat returns underground to feed.

The mole rat sees her too late.

She's able to catch it before it flees too deep underground.

To survive in their remote mountain habitat, Ethiopian wolves rely on

tactics and cunning strategies.

And while these charismatic predators are only found in the Ethiopian

another assassin's reign of terror spans most of the continent.

At the height of the dry season in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, the struggle

survival intensifies as food and water grow ever scarcer.

During these harsh months, animals rely on what remains in the Luangwa River's

dried -up channels to quench their thirst.

Every day, large numbers of water -dependent animals like Cape buffalo and

impala make their way across the exposed riverbed to drink.

Out here, there is nowhere to hide.

Moving in groups minimizes individual risk, but it also draws the attention of

predators.

For Nile crocodiles, the dry season is a time of unprecedented opportunity.

Each day brings fresh convoys of thirsty prey.

But everyone knows that danger lurks in these murky waters.

Even the slightest ripple in the water sends the buffalo scatter.

The impala stay behind, but they are now on edge.

The ultimate ambush assassin, a Nile crocodile, can stay submerged for 15

minutes.

Able to go months without eating, the croc can bide its time and reset its

elsewhere.

In the dry season, thirst overrides fear.

But with an armor -plated predator watching the impala's every move, each

could be their last.

For thirsty impalas, every drink of the Luangwa River could bring them face to

face with an unseen assassin.

Sensing danger, this ram is on high alert.

Still, he is compelled to drink.

The hunt may be over, but the crocodile now has a problem.

A successful kill draws the attention of other hungry crocs.

He must now fight to keep his pride.

Clamping down on the impala with one of the strongest bite forces on the planet,

he tries to cling on.

But once in deeper water, a meal for one quickly turns into a feeding frenzy.

The assassin may have done all the hard work, but today he is only rewarded with

a small share of the spoils.

In the Serengeti, one of the planet's most iconic land mammal migrations is

underway.

1 .3 million wildebeests have embarked on their annual pilgrimage northwards in

pursuit of rain -ripened grass.

Perfectly adapted for long -distance traveling, an epic journey of up to 2

kilometers lies ahead of them.

But as the wildebeest chase the reins, they in turn are chased by predators.

With so many obstacles along the way, a quarter of a million won't live to run

the gauntlets again.

And many of them will meet their end in the jaws of one of Africa's most

ferocious feline assassins.

For these lionesses, The approaching herd signal the beginning of a brief

of plenty.

They must make the most of the opportunity before the wildebeest move

Scanning the herd, they look for any signs of weakness.

While one lioness hangs back, the other moves ahead to cut off the wildebeest's

escape route.

Working as a team, the lioness has increased their chances at success.

Her sister now in position.

She moves towards the herd.

With the wind working in her favor, the wildebeest can't smell her.

They are blissfully unaware that they are being stalked by not one, but two

ambush hunters.

Even in these open plains, a surprise attack can come from anywhere.

The lionesses approach the herd of wildebeest from opposite sides.

To better their chances, they need to get within 30 meters of their quarry.

Now flanked by two expert hunters the wildebeest have few options

If they flee from one they will run straight into the deadly claws

and jaws of the other

Plunging her 10 centimeter long canines into the wildebeest's throat, she cuts

off its airway.

Able to devour a quarter of their own body weight in a single sitting, a kill

like this goes a long way towards satiating their hunger.

And with the migration in full swing,

they will have plenty more opportunities to get their fill before the wildebeest

move on.

While the pilgrimage of wildebeest across the Serengeti is one of nature's

greatest spectacles, thousands of kilometers away, conditions are set for

another, even larger migration.

At the onset of winter, A shadow moves up South Africa's wild coast like an oil

slick.

This is the sardine run, the greatest biomass migration on Earth.

For the billions of tightly packed fish, their best chance of survival is to

move in unison.

They're being tracked by a squadron of aerial assassins.

Cape Gannet.

Like bullets, they rain down on the shore, hitting the water at 100

per hour.

A reinforced skull and air sacs under their skin cushion the immense impact of

their dive.

Their momentum gives the birds the element of surprise,

propelling them 10 meters below the

surface.

If the initial strike doesn't hit the mark, their nearly two -meter wings

fins.

They can swim as deep as 20 meters.

Diving deeper to escape the aerial onslaught, the sardines now face a

problem.

The big guns have arrived.

Sharks and dolphins.

The scent of blood and fish oil catches the attention of yet another silent

killer.

Cape fur seal.

The glittering sardines are fast, but not quick enough for these sleek, lithe

aquanauts of the deep.

But deep water hides deep trouble.

The seal doesn't know it yet, but he's being stalked by one of the planet's

deadliest assassins.

A great white shark.

At nearly six meters and weighing in at two tons, she's also known as the White

Death.

Special sensors on her snout pick up electrical pulses from muscle movement

small as one millionth of a volt.

A group of fast -swimming seals is an assault on her senses.

Seals have superb underwater vision, helping them spot prey or predators.

But the shark has a strategy.

She dives down deep where her cryptic coloration renders her invisible from

above and continues to track her prey as it swims along the surface.

until it's time to strike.

In the end, her 300 razor -sharp teeth sealed the deal.

Great white sharks may be solitary submarine specialists, but back on land,

Another assassin relies on some unlikely allies when hunting.

In the woodland savannas of South Africa, the southern carmine bee -eater

foolproof strategy for finding food.

For these small insectivorous birds, it's as simple as knowing who to follow

around.

As large animals mow through the grassland, they flush out hiding insects

bees, wasps, dragonflies and grasshoppers.

As they flee to escape the heavyweights, they fly straight into the path of the

hungry bee -eaters.

Lightweight and perfectly streamlined for hunting on the wing, they are fast

agile insect assassins.

And to dispatch prey armed with weaponry of their own, they use a specialist

technique.

Violently bashing the wasp against the hard surface not only stuns it, but also

helps the bee -eater remove its venomous stinger and flush out its toxins.

These clever little predators have even learned that catching prey is easier

when they catch a ride.

This warthog now doubles as a mobile perch from which to hunt.

The bee -eater's host may not derive any benefits from piggybacking these birds

around, but most take it in their stride.

As the summer draws to a close, the southern carmine bee -eaters leave South

Africa behind, migrating north to breed along Zambia's Luangwa River.

In

the

dry season, the receding water levels expose its cliff -like banks.

Monogamous breeding pairs set to work carving out tunnels up to a meter and a

half deep in which to lay their eggs.

But for these industrious little birds, life on the Luangwa River is anything

but rosy.

Out here, predators are always nearby.

An African fish eagle.

one of the continent's most formidable avian assassins.

With vision up to eight times better than a human, it can spot a fish below

water's surface from 200 meters away.

Unsurprisingly, fish eagles mainly feed on fish.

But in the Luangwa, the arrival of migrating bee -eaters transforms the

riverbanks into a brightly colored buffet.

Keeping its distance, the fish eagle first surveys its prey.

When hunting fast moving targets, timing is everything.

Missed.

But this assassin isn't giving up.

Striking with deadly accuracy, the fish eagle's persistence pays off.

Crushed by the eagle's five centimeter long talons, death is quick for the

Those lucky enough to escape quickly return to the breeding holes and

their maintenance work.

Weighing only 60 grams, a bee eater is a small meal.

But with 10 ,000 pairs lining the banks, the fish eagle has plenty of

opportunity to catch his fill.

And with no shortage of predators patrolling the riverbanks, the bee

troubles are far from over.

the breeding colonies have captured the attention of a cunning and cold -blooded

assassin.

For the Nile monitor, there is plenty of opportunity along the Luangwa River,

even during the dry season.

One of the continent's most voracious predators, it will prey on anything it

overpower.

It may not have sharp teeth, but a Nile monitor can deliver a painful, crushing

bite.

Even the fish eagle steers clear.

Slowly swaggering along, it makes its way down the riverbank.

If the monitor has got its timing right, there's no need to rush.

Under the right circumstances, this crafty assassin doesn't need speed or

stealth.

Today, finding a meal is as simple as knowing where to look.

To a Nile monitor, thousands of breeding southern carmine bee eaters means only

one thing.

Thousands of protein -rich eggs.

All the monitor has to do is find a way to reach their lofty burrows, a

challenge it is uniquely adapted to overcome.

As the bee -eaters continue their busy work, the monitor surveys them from

below.

looking for the best line of attack.

A Nile monitor is an exceptionally agile climber.

Using its powerful claws like grappling hooks, it easily scales a cliff -like

bank.

Flying its slender body down one of the narrow tunnels, it reaches the bee

-eater's precious eggs.

As the dry season progresses, many pairs will lose their eggs or their offspring

to opportunistic predators.

Equipped with unique skills and cunning strategies, Africa's assassins are

inescapable. even in the most extreme environments.

In the Namib Desert, the sun's scorching rays can be as deadly as any predator.

But for one ferocious arachnid, it is the perfect hunting ground.

The solar fuchsia's eight legs propelled across the desert floor at 16

kilometers per hour.

as it stalks a grasshopper weakened by the heat.

It may look like a hybrid between a scorpion and a spider, but the Tholifuge

a terrifying creature all of its own.

Using fan -like sensory organs on its legs, it tracks the grasshopper's

movement.

The solifuge may not be venomous, but it doesn't need to be.

Powerful jaws, up to a third of its body length, turn the grasshopper's

exoskeleton into pulp, while digestive enzymes liquefy its tissue,

which the solifuge then sucks up like a smoothie.

but it too is vulnerable in the blazing heat.

Digging a burrow is the best way to escape the sweltering sun and other

predators.

Once concealed, The only proof of the solifuge's handiwork is its victim's

scattered remains.

In the arid landscapes of West Africa, another desert assassin slinks silently

through the night.

A Saharan sand boa.

Little is known about this mysterious snake.

but it is perfectly adapted for hunting in its extreme environments.

It swims through the dunes as though through water, using the sand as an

invisibility cloak.

Disappearing below ground, it moves unseen as it stalks its prey.

With its poor night vision, a mouse hesitantly makes its way across the

It has no idea it is being stalked by an invisible ambush assassin.

All the Taharan sand boa must do now is wait patiently for the unsuspecting

mouse to scurry across its path.

The boa coils itself around its victim, squeezing it to death.

With extremely elastic jaw ligaments and a remarkably mobile skull, it is

perfectly adapted to consume prey wider than its own body.

While the Saharan sand boa strikes from below the surface of the sand, another

assassin has the benefit of a bird's eye view.

The Mahalisburg Mountains, South Africa.

More than 2 billion years old, they are home to a highly evolved aerial hunter.

The Varroa's eagle, more commonly known as the black eagle.

She scans the ground, searching for potential prey.

Thanks to a remarkable adaptation, very little escapes her notice.

She has infrared vision.

Even a perfectly camouflaged scrub hair is betrayed by the heat radiating from

its body.

Visible through the eagle, even through the vegetation,

She homes in on her prey's heat signature.

And once she's close enough, she launches her attack.

Even with her 2 .8 meter wingspan, she can pursue the hare through tight

corners.

Meal secured, she returns to her nest and her ravenous chick.

Gaining almost half its full body weight within just 30 days of hatching, the

chick feeds up to eight times a day.

Luckily, raising her demanding youngster is a responsibility she shares with her

lifelong mate.

To keep their chick from going hungry, they will need to make another kill.

Soon.

Daybreak.

And the bushfell reverberates with a familiar sound.

A flock of helmeted guinea fowl start their day foraging for underground

seeds and insects.

Out in the open, they're exposed to predators.

But moving as a group means there's more eyes to look out for potential threats.

Incredibly alert, they will raise the alarm and bolt at the first sign of

danger.

Today, it is the male black eagles' turn to hunt.

Nearly a kilogram lighter than a female, he is a faster, more agile flyer,

capable of locating prey from up to 3 .2 kilometers away.

Only able to fly very short distances, the guinea fowl's best option is to run

for cover.

Gaining altitude, the eagle ascends as high as 750 meters before diving after

its prey at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.

The guinea fowl may be fast, but up against this assassin, some are not fast

enough.

The immense impact of the strike severs its victim's spinal cord.

It's game over for this guinea fowl.

Tanzania's Great Ruaha River.

Its flowing waters are a lifeline for many animals, making it the perfect

hunting ground for predators.

Along its banks, an eastern tiger snake flitters in search of thirsty prey.

Its flickering tongue smells in stereo as it tracks the scent trail of its next

potential victim.

For this mouse, stopping for a drink can have deadly consequences.

Colorblind, the mouth cannot distinguish the vivid snake from its surroundings.

It may as well be up against an invisible enemy.

Not potently venomous, the tiger snake uses a dual strategy to secure at the

meal.

Coiling its muscular body around the struggling rodent, the snake constricts

victim while waiting for its venom to take effect.

With precision, unique adaptations, and specialist skill sets, Africa's

deadliest assassins are able to make the most of every opportunity.