Original subtitles

India, a Land of powerful extremes.

The wet season is A time of plenty.

When there's water, life Is good for everyone.

But for three months a year

These plains become a Blistering, arid wilderness,

And every creature walks a fine Line between life and death.

Survival means holding out Until the monsoon rains return.

But what if the rains fail?

A mother bear and Her two young cubs

Must find a way to outlast the Crushing indian dry season.

But, even if they can,

Will they just be leaping from The frying pan into the fire?

May on the indian plains;

Almost the end of a Three-month hot, dry season.

Ambling through this Jagged and barren landscape

Is a remarkable creature.

Bibi is an eight-year-old Sloth bear.

She's out in the swelteringheat Searching for breakfast.

Standing three feet Tall at the shoulder

And weighing in at 200 pounds,

She's just 2/3 the size of A female american grizzly

But she's strong for her size.

She's easily able to Turn over large rocks

And even small boulders.

This morning, she's Looking for insects,

Which make up most of her diet.

Sloth bears are normally Solitary and forage at night,

But bibi is out in the day

For a very particular She's a mother.

Eight months ago, at the end Of the last monsoon season,

She gave birth to twins.

They were born naked and blind,

And each weighed only one pound.

She nursed them and kept them

In the safety of a cave For the first two months.

Once they were old enough,

They began venturing Out with their mother

Into her territory During the day.

Sloth bears can be extremely Aggressive and territorial.

By avoiding going out at night,

Bibi reduces the risk of Running into other sloth bears,

Particularly adult males Who could easily kill a cub.

The family's daytime forays

Also lessen the chance of Running into larger predators

Like tigers and leopards,

And even bigger Danger to her infants.

Bibi is raising her cubs In the daroji reserve

In the indian State of karnataka.

Along the coast runs The western ghats,

A vast ridge of mountains

That directly influences The weather far inland.

From may to september,

The mountains capture Moisture-laden winds

Coming from the arabian sea,

Forming clouds that burst Inland during the monsoon.

These annual rains are a Lifeline in a landscape

Dominated by deciduous Scrub and thorn forests,

Which for the rest of the Year lies dry and parched.

In this harsh environment,

Bibi has chosen a great Place to base her family.

Her one square-mile Home range is centered

Around a small clearing With rocky outcrops.

With groundwater Close to the surface,

It's a fertile oasis even now,

Towards the end Of the dry season.

It's a refuge that Hasn't gone unnoticed

By other mothers on the plains.

These bonnet macaques Live here year-round

So they and their infants know The best spots to find food.

Using their sensitive fingers, They explore everything.

They stuff their cheek Pouches with leaves,

Grasses, fruits and insects.

This allows them To carry their meal

To a safe place to enjoy later,

And also keeps their hands Free for a quick getaway,

Which is often necessary.

Dining al fresco makes them Easy targets for predators.

Bibi is no threat To the monkeys,

She's more gatherer than hunter.

After the last monsoon,

The family made the most Of the fruiting trees.

More than 3/4 of their Diet was this delicacy.

But by may the fruit Has almost disappeared.

Luckily for bibi, during Lean times she can adapt.

She and her cubs specialize In eating ants and termites.

At this time of year 90% of their diet

Is made up of these Abundant insects.

Termites are a highly Specialized form of cockroach.

Social animals, they Live in vast colonies,

Sometimes millions strong.

Their nests can Exist far underground

And can be as hard as concrete.

They're made from feces,

Soil and partly Digested plant material,

Glued together with saliva.

Not an easy barrier for Any animal to get past.

What's more, the ground Here is covered in boulders.

So, how's a hungry bear To find the termites,

And then get at them?

Fortunately for Bibi and her cubs,

Sloth bears have a Technique for that.

They're equipped with An acute sense of smell,

And can detect termites Three feet underground.

Once bibi finds the entrance,

Even 100-pound rocks Aren't much of a problem.

But now that she's uncovered The nest, she has to open it.

Three-inch, curved Claws on her front paws

Are perfectly shaped

For digging through Rock-hard termite nests.

With these formidable Tools, a hairless snout,

And long, flexible lips,

She can access a rich food Supply that others can't.

Blowing off the dirt,

She sucks up the bugs Like a vacuum cleaner.

By watching their mother,

Her young cubs learn exactly How to do it for themselves.

Sloth bears are so well Adapted to this diet

That they're missing Their two front teeth,

So they can suck and Snuffle more efficiently.

They can even close Their nostrils on demand

To stop insects from Crawling into their nose.

There doesn't seem to Be anything slothful

About these sloth bears.

At just eight months old, the Cubs aren't yet strong enough

To lift the large rocks Or dig for themselves,

But bibi will Supplement their diet

By nursing them for at Least another four months.

So as long as There's enough food,

Bibi can provide all The milk her cubs need.

Bibi's foraging doesn't help Only her and her offspring.

Other species loiter to take Advantage of what she uncovers.

It helps birds like The grey francolin,

And the painted spurfowl,

Which make the most of Any leftover termites.

The loose soil also Provides other benefits.

Bibi's churned-up dirt Makes the perfect bath.

The dust removes parasites And absorbs excess oil.

It's a technique Used by many birds

The world over to keep their Wings in good condition,

Which in turn helps them Escape from predators.

Having healthy wings Primed for flight

Isn't the only reason birds

Keep their feathers Looking their best.

It's breeding season, and Males know that females

Go for a bird with Natty plumage.

For a peacock, it's All about the tail.

And a tail this grand needs A lot of looking after.

It takes more than an Occasional dust bath.

The national bird of india

Spends 50% more time Preening than other birds.

Not surprising, when His glamorous train

Can reach over five feet long.

Having the best tail, In the best condition,

With the most eyespots,

Is the key to success With the ladies.

Microscopic structures On the feathers' barbs

Shimmer with Spectacular iridescence.

Males position themselves In relation to the sun

To make sure their feathers Look as impressive as possible.

If his feathers Meet with approval,

A male can win a harem Of up to five females.

But while it's a great Courtship strategy,

Standing out can also Attract unwelcome attention

From the competition.

During mating season, Males gather together

In an area known as a lek, Where they vie for the females.

Within the lek, each male Has his own, small territory.

And it's annoying When the neighbors

Start trespassing on your turf.

No self-respecting Peacock is going to share.

Keeping it clear of intruders Can be a full-time job.

Having successfully Defended his patch,

Now all he needs is The females to turn up.

As may turns to june, The monsoon rains

Should soon arrive.

The midday heat now Touches 90 degrees.

The cubs have learned from mom

And are starting to Search for their own food.

But in the shadows of the rocks

Where they're foraging Hides a deadly surprise.

Scorpions, equipped With vice-like pincers,

Venomous stings and Lightning-fast,

Aggressive reflexes.

More than 100 different Species are found in india,

Including some of the most Venomous in the world.

Although this one's venom

Isn't likely to Kill an adult bear,

It could deliver a painful Sting to a young cub.

Bibi knows to steer Clear of scorpions,

But her cubs haven't learned Which creatures to avoid.

Their soft snouts probe The nooks and crannies.

Thankfully this Scorpion isn't deadly,

But a painful pinch has just Delivered an important lesson.

Frightened, they run Straight for their mother

And both climb on board.

Sloth bears are the only bears

That routinely carry their Offspring on their backs.

It's a behavior developed

To help the cubs Save precious energy,

And allows bibi to protect Them from predators,

Big and small.

Out of harm's way, the Family retreats to its cave

On the edge of the clearing.

Since she gave birth Here eight months ago,

This cave has been The family home.

It still provides safety And relief from the heat

While they wait for the rains.

By the end of june, the Rains still haven't arrived.

Drought is setting in.

It's a real threat To the peacocks;

But they have more than Just their own survival

To think about.

They must pass on their genes While there's still time.

Peacocks have a limited Window for mating.

If they don't breed In the next few weeks,

They won't breed at all,

And will have to Wait until next year,

If they survive that long.

This male is in his prime.

He has successfully fought Off the competition,

And preened himself To perfection.

But does he understand the Basic principles of courtship?

First, pick your target,

Preferably one That's not a rock.

Choosing an animal is better,

But maybe not a mongoose,

Or a monkey.

At last, he's on The right track.

But turning his back on her

Might be sending The wrong signal.

Looks like romeo has Blown his chance.

He's got to get this Right, and soon.

Most peacocks lose their tail Feathers by the end of august,

So time is running out.

With the relief of The monsoon still

Nowhere to be seen,

Trees and plants are Starting to wilt;

And, with them, the last of The macaques' food supply.

These mothers need To be well fed

To produce milk For their infants.

Like all mammals, without Enough to eat themselves,

Their supply will dry up.

And in the 90-degree heat, Without its mother's milk,

A nursing infant will Almost certainly die.

In times of drought, 80% of These babies will starve.

Although young females inherit

Their mother's position In the troop's hierarchy,

All the infants scuffle To assert their dominance.

Even at this young age, Social rank is all-important.

When food is scarce, Animals higher up the ladder

Have better access to The finite resources.

Being at the top Of the hierarchy

Still doesn't necessarily mean

You have the pick of the food.

Bibi and her cubs are here too,

Scouring the ground for insects.

Bears, macaques And peacocks alike

Search for what's Still available.

-on the far side of the clearing, -despite the wait for rain,

Another species has A schedule to keep.

This is a colony of Baya weaver birds.

And these peculiar-looking Structures

Are the early stages of Their intricate nests.

The males alone do the weaving.

They tear long, thin strands From leaves and grasses,

Then carefully thread And knot them together

Into the foundations Of their complex nests,

Anchored in the branches.

They will make more Than 500 separate trips

Back and forth to create Their tubular masterpieces.

All this activity is

To impress a watching female.

She has the perfect Vantage point

From which to choose a partner.

Flapping his wings, each Male vies for her attention.

She carefully inspects Both building-sites.

She needs to choose The structure

Most likely to Provide a secure home

For her precious clutch Of up to four eggs.

It needs to be high Enough off the ground,

And on the thinnest Possible branch,

To be safely out of Reach of predators.

Yet the nest and branch Must also be strong enough

To withstand the monsoon Storms, if they arrive.

She chooses one that's Been perfectly executed.

This male's attention to Detail has won him the girl.

Now that he's got a mate,

He needs to hurry up and Finish the construction.

Rain or no rain, this Female will lay her eggs

Within the next few weeks.

As june turns to july,

The monsoon is now more Than a month overdue.

The baking sun is Transforming the landscape.

Any residual water is gradually Being sucked from the earth.

The ground buckles and breaks.

Dry and parched, these Plains are fast becoming

A harsh wasteland.

Even bibi's clearing Is starting to dry out.

But it's still a magnet forother Animals seeking sanctuary.

An old female ambles Slowly into the area.

She's blind in one Eye, and her scars

Tell the tale of a Tough and eventful life.

It's always a Fight for survival.

Sloth bears can live -well into their 20 -s,

And life is hard For this old-timer.

Nearly blind, she Must rely solely

On her sense of smell To search for food.

There are ants Under this cactus,

But she can't quite reach them.

She's hungry and exhausted.

In the relentless heat,

Today everything is Just too much effort.

Bibi and her cubs Return to the clearing

From foraging nearby.

They immediately catch the scent

Of the intruder in their patch.

But bibi needn't be worried.

Female bears rarely Attack each other's cubs

And, with her failing health, This old lady is no threat.

They can peacefully Share the clearing

And the food it provides.

There's another reason For bibi to relax.

This elderly female is Actually her mother.

Their home ranges overlap,

And she's been coming to The clearing for years.

It's the old female Who taught her daughter

How to find food in This precious place,

Just as bibi is now passing

This knowledge on To her own cubs.

In years when the monsoon Rains fail completely,

This handed-down wisdom Could mean the difference

Between life and death.

But even in the oasis Of the clearing,

Groundwater is now Harder to find.

Without water to drink,

None of these bears Will make it through.

If the monsoon Doesn't arrive soon,

Bibi might have to make A difficult decision.

Leaving her small Sanctuary could give her

The chance to find food And water elsewhere.

But it's a risk.

The land beyond the boundaries

Of her home range is an unknown.

Over recent years, Increasing human population

Has led to significant Habitat loss

And forest fragmentation Across india.

It's a huge problem For all sloth bears.

Their numbers are declining as They struggle to find a safe,

Secure place to live that Will provide all they need.

So, leaving their home And everything they know

Could put bibi's cubs At much greater risk.

For now, she decides they're Better off staying put.

But if the rains don't come,

Her clearing won't remain Asafe haven for very much longer.

The next day, the Wind has picked up.

It could be a sign that The weather is changing.

But right now, it's Causing problems

For some of the animals In the clearing.

Peacocks struggle with Their outrageous tails.

The prime male managed to mate

With a harem of three peahens.

His tail has worked its magic,

But it now shows signs Of wear and tear.

It's been two months Since the baya weavers

Started to build their nests,

But not all of Them have survived.

The weaker structures Have been blown down,

While others stand Unfinished and abandoned.

But those that have survived Are nearly complete.

Their entrance tunnels have Been painstakingly elongated

To deter potential Predators such as snakes.

The female made The right choice.

Her mate's nest has Withstood the wind.

Inside, the female makes sure

The nest chamber is just right.

She'll soon lay her Eggs, which will take

Just over two weeks to hatch,

So she can't take any chances With the preparations.

In a normal year, The monsoon rains

Would already have triggered An explosion of insects,

Enough to provide their chicks

With all the food They need to survive.

But without the rains There are fewer insects,

Which means their Chicks will starve.

All their hard work Could prove futile

If the rains don't come soon.

As the days without Rain drag on,

Life for everyone is reduced To the bare necessities.

With the easy targets Already picked over,

Bibi and her cubs must Now spend 10 hours a day

Looking for food, twice As long as normal.

In the macaque troop, Hunger makes tempers flare.

Male adults vie for dominance.

They must fight Repeatedly to determine

Their position in the hierarchy.

The higher up they are,

The better their access to The dwindling food supplies.

So, despite risk of injury,

Winning this fight could be Vital to the male's survival.

As quickly as it started, The fight is over.

This male has secured his Rights to the limited rations.

A new hierarchy is In place, for now,

And no one has been Seriously injured.

For some, the extended Drought is of little matter.

This is a male Peninsular rock agama.

He gets all the Moisture he needs

From the insects in his diet,

So he's untroubled By the lack of rain.

Which means he can concentrate

On another key to Finding a mate.

As with all males that Live in this clearing,

That takes work.

He's already traded-up his Usual dull brown coloring

To spectacular black And yellow stripes,

His outfit for the Breeding season.

Now, just like the Peacocks and baya weavers,

He has to impress His potential mate.

First off, get her attention.

Push-ups are a good start.

She's intrigued.

But the one thing that Will really make him

Stand out is his bravery.

To demonstrate just how Fearless he is, he needs to get

To the highest possible Point in his territory.

Just to get there will Be a challenge in itself.

It's 10 yards away, No walk in the park

When you're less than a foot Long, and most of that is tail!

And you never know Who you'll run into.

Long sharp claws And a rough tail

Help him grip the Sheer rockface.

Finally, he makes it to the top,

Where he stands in all His glory for all to see.

And this is the point of His courtship strategy.

Utter bravado.

He knows, and, more Importantly, she knows,

That his bright Colors could easily

Draw the attention of aerial Predators, like raptors.

By perching high up Here he's saying,

In effect, "Bring it on."

And, just in case she's Missed his manly indifference

To danger, he has one More trick up his sleeve.

A costume change!

Male agamas can rapidly Dial up their color

From yellow to red And back again.

It's like announcing, "Here I am; come and get me!"

Boldness and style, What's not to like?

She's fallen for his charms.

He can now return to lower Ground, and seal the deal.

Now that they've Mated, the female agama

Must join the wait For the monsoon.

Rainwater will loosen the soil,

Making it easier for her to Dig a safe burrow for her eggs.

While the agama lizard's Brave display won him a mate,

It could have easily Ended in disaster.

When times are tough, Predators are always

On the look-out for An easy opportunity.

But others are on The look-out too.

The macaques have seen the Danger, and protest loudly.

Their piercing alarm Calls warn the troop,

And other animals nearby.

A leopard.

Leopards normally hunt by night,

But the prolonged drought is Making everybody desperate.

Even in the relative Safety of their cave,

Bibi's cubs are nervous.

Leopards and tigers Are the only predators

Large enough to Prey on the family,

But the leopard would be foolish

To take on a Full-grown mother bear.

At around 80 pounds, it is Less than half bibi's weight,

And would likely Suffer serious injury

If it got anywhere near Bibi's slashing claws.

The cubs are a different Matter, so bibi stands guard.

Sloth bears normally Come out at night.

But to keep them away from the Usually nocturnal leopards,

Bibi specifically chooses

To take her cubs Out during the day.

This change in behavior is Particularly important now.

At 10 months old the cubs Have grown to 90 pounds,

And are too big for bibi to Carry them both to safety.

If they need to escape, they'll Have to run for themselves.

A leopard in broad daylight, However, is conspicuous,

And there are too many eyes

Around the clearing for Him to be a real threat.

But he'll be back, waiting For the animals here

To grow weaker as the Monsoon failure drags on.

And he's not the only Danger in the clearing.

Two male sloth Bears have arrived,

Looking for any Food they can find.

At 300 pounds, males Weigh about 1/3 more

Than females like bibi,

With power and Aggression to match.

This could be disastrous For bibi and her cubs.

Male sloth bears are Known to kill infants

To try to bring their Mothers back into oestrus.

Bibi can sense the Tension in the air.

She keeps her cubs At a safe distance.

And a good thing too.

With their sharp claws And large canine teeth,

Spats like this can turn Deadly at the best of times.

With drought forcing Hungry and stressed animals

Into ever-smaller areas, More fights will break out.

It is now late july,

And the rains are more Than two months late.

It's crunch time for bibi.

Even in a good year,

1/3 of all sloth bear Cubs won't survive.

And this is not a good year.

But things are about to change.

Clouds.

Bringing first a few drops.

Then more.

And finally, a torrent of water.

The monsoon rains have arrived.

They inundate the landscape,

Bringing plants and animals Back from the brink.

It's a last-minute Reprieve for all.

Over the coming weeks, Themonsoon will transform the area,

From dry and dusty, To lush and verdant.

Trees flourish in the rainfall,

Bursting with Flowers and fruits.

Insects emerge and Reproduce in their millions,

Enough for all the Birds, and bears,

To feed on in the coming months.

The feast that follows The famine is here,

And not a moment too soon.

From the edge of starvation,

The spurfowl and Francolin have made it

Through the long dry season,

And their chicks now Begin to put on weight.

The baya weavers have Defended their nest,

And extended the entrance Hall still further.

They now have a family of their Own to protect and support.

It's the females' turn To put in the hard work,

Catching insects to Feed their chicks.

The rains have made Finding food much easier,

And the male occasionally Helps out too.

Groundwater appears, flowing In streams across the rocks.

Pools transform the Clearing once again

Into a life-saving oasis.

It draws in bears And other animals

From all across the area.

Where the cubs were once At risk from other bears,

Now it's different.

With so much food And water to be had,

Even the males Tolerate each other.

For bibi, the arrival of The monsoon marks a victory.

She has ensured her Cubs have survived

The toughest season She's ever known.

She's taught them

Which bears to avoid and when,

Which animals to steer clear of,

And, most of all, Where to find food

When the going gets tough.

Bibi will look after her Cubs for another nine months,

Until the start of The next monsoon.

Thanks to her guidance,

The cubs have had the best Possible start to life,

And are well-prepared for When they must leave her

And set out on their own.