Original subtitles

♪♪

[ Bison grunting ]

Narrator: Success in the wild often comes down to teamwork.

A team can carry out a cunning plan.

Alone, the odds are against you.

[ Hyena yelping ]

But with comrades in arms,

you can turn the tables.

It's simply smarter to work together to pull off

what you can't do all alone.

Good comrades can come in surprising forms.

An unlikely friend can ward off an enemy.

Sometimes it's the oddball ally

that can make life so much easier.

Whether it's by strength in numbers

or with that one perfect partner,

animals everywhere find that teamwork is the key to survival.

♪♪

[ Insects chirping ]

Narrator: Across Africa,

hippos are ranked among the most dangerous of animals.

They can be unpredictable, and eager for battle.

They don't often back down from a fight.

And yet, they do have a sensitive side.

It's their skin.

And when it comes to skin care, they need a little help.

Unable to pick up a stick

and scratch their own backs,

they've gone into partnership.

Meet the barbel, a hippo's best friend.

Often, a hippo is trailed by shoals

of these loyal little fish.

They even consume the hippo's droppings as they follow.

Once the hippos settle in a comfortable spot,

the barbels get to work nibbling away all the ticks

and other skin parasites.

It's a bit like a spa treatment,

complete with facial and full-body exfoliation.

It seems to lull the hippos into a kind of docile trance.

The barbels' service even includes dental hygiene.

Thanks to the food stuck to the hippo's teeth,

these industrious fish are able to feed

on exotic vegetation from land

which would otherwise be completely out of their reach.

It's a peculiar pairing,

but certainly seems to bring out the best in a hippo.

Many creatures have trouble with their personal hygiene.

Even in the depths of the sea,

there are fish who need help to keep clean.

Finding the right cleaner, though, can be a little dicey.

For these jacks, skin parasites

are more than just annoying.

If they're not removed,

they can interfere with the fishes' growth.

This specialist cleaner fish,

the wrasse, can offer some relief.

But the brightly-colored wrasse is recognized by many other fish

all wanting the same service.

There just aren't enough cleaner wrasse to go around,

and so the jacks have to find another solution.

At first glance,

it seems like they decide on an almost suicidal option.

This is a silvertip shark.

It could easily eat jack.

But the sharks have skin like sandpaper.

Bumping into their flanks helps scrape off unwanted parasites

and dead skin.

Soon, swarms of jacks pursue the sharks, all itching for a rub.

A dangerous game,

but perhaps one that's tolerated.

All this bumping around could also help exfoliate

the shark's skin -- a case

of "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

Eventually, though, the sharks have had enough

of all the skin-to-skin contact, and they're off.

For the jacks, it was a risky tactic,

but one that paid off.

Sometimes nature's partnerships

have to involve a certain degree of risk.

The sun beats down on the African savanna.

After a hearty meal of wildebeest,

the lions are taking an afternoon siesta.

At the height of the oppressive heat,

they're surrounded by irritating and relentless flies.

For one little creature, this offers an opportunity.

But it will take courage.

Lions do eat lizards,

but having already had a much larger meal,

they're unlikely to need dessert.

Still, best to be cautious,

as lions can be notoriously bad-tempered.

There's certainly no shortage of flies from the lizards

to choose from.

They hunt by sight,

and their sticky tongues help them hold onto prey.

Lions and lizards do each other a good deed.

One gets a measure of pest control,

and the other gets a feast.

Another remarkable partnership plays out in the warm waters

of a coral reef.

A grumpy-looking little fish,

a goby,

has been invited home by a shrimp.

The shrimp is the perfect housekeeper,

always cleaning,

digging extensions,

and carrying out home improvements.

Yet its chosen housemate seems rather lazy,

just hanging around

and generally getting in the way.

Despite first impressions, the goby

is very important to the shrimp,

who, it turns out,

is almost completely blind.

The goby, on the other hand,

has excellent eyesight,

and remains constantly alert.

So, when the shrimp is outside,

it continually flicks one of its antennae over the goby

to make sure the little fish is still there

and the coast is clear.

The shrimp nips out to collect some food

from a little patch of algae

not far from its front door.

It's when the shrimp wanders too far

that there's trouble.

That was an anemone it blundered into.

It backs off.

But caught by surprise, it has lost its way home.

The goby has seen the whole thing,

and in the shrimp's moment of panic,

it rushes out to guide the shrimp back to their burrow.

A predator spells danger for both partners.

The goby gives the signal, and together,

the odd little housemates retreat safely indoors.

Protection is paramount

in the battleground that is the natural world.

But sometimes that protection can come from an arch enemy.

Normally, this venomous tarantula

would eat a small toad.

But here, it's welcomed into the protection of its lair.

It's not out of the goodness of its heart.

The toad offers a useful service.

Pest control.

The spider's egg sacks are infested with ants.

The toad soon makes a meal of them.

In return for the toad's help,

the tarantula acts as a bodyguard.

Screech owls enjoy a dinner of toad,

which would normally be easy pickings.

But the spider unleashes a barrage of barbed hairs.

Like tiny, vicious arrows,

they soon discourage the uninvited intruder.

For some, living with another species is a good idea.

But for others, building partnerships

with their own kind is the secret to success.

Elephants live in large social groups

with several females and their offspring.

They rely on strong bonds within their community.

Among this herd in Kenya,

there's an inexperienced mother with a newborn calf.

They haven't been able to keep up with the rest of the herd.

But the grandmother of the calf has stayed behind to help.

[ Bird chirping ]

Meanwhile, as the rest of the herd reaches the river,

the older calves are encouraged to take the plunge.

In trying to catch up with the others,

the new mother leads the baby

across a treacherous mud pan.

This may be fine for her,

but she doesn't seem to realize

how difficult it is for the baby.

The grandmother steps

in to gently help guide the calf across.

Having finally reached the river,

the young mother again

chooses a difficult route for the baby.

He's now blocked by what, to him, is an impossibly high bank.

The other mothers in the herd

see that he's struggling and return to try and help.

Everyone gets involved, all trying to save the newborn.

One of the females is even on her knees

in a desperate attempt to get him out.

By working together,

they finally manage to rescue the exhausted calf.

This baby will have a village of elephants to help him grow up,

and to teach his mother how to keep him safe.

♪♪

Working in a team can make all the difference,

especially when it comes to hunting.

Within the seas of the Antarctic,

there is one species

whose superb teamwork has led them to become

one of the ocean's most devastating predators.

Killer whales.

They live in a group of extended family members.

Together, they have perfected

their cunning hunting strategies.

Working as a team, they set out searching for prey.

Killer whales do hunt other whales,

and they've spotted a minke.

In the Antarctic, minkes are usually found in small groups.

But they can also be solitary.

The killers quickly pop up on either side of their target.

[ Orca vocalizes ]

The minke tries to escape,

but in doing so seems to get disoriented.

The killers are not far behind, and are back on the chase.

But the minke won't give up easily.

It continues to swim for hours with the killers by its side.

It's a fast swimmer,

but its biggest defense is its stamina.

This doesn't deter the killers.

The work like a relay team,

regularly replacing the outriders with fresh swimmers.

Eventually, the minke tires,

and the battering and the biting begin.

The killers work together to try and flip the minke over.

If they can manage to keep its blowhole underwater,

it will drown.

One killer whale forces the minke's whole body

down below the surface.

Then the final strike.

The team drags the minke under for the last time.

And the killers can finally feed.

Survival can often be about opportunity.

But exploiting some good luck

can take collaboration as well as intelligence.

[ Monkeys chattering ]

These capuchins live in one

of Brazil's most extreme landscapes,

where food is hard to come by.

They live in a highly-organized social group,

and by working together,

they have become incredibly resourceful.

[ Monkeys screeching, chattering ]

They've spotted a yellow rat snake,

a creature which can be dangerous for young capuchins.

They all join in,

making as much noise as possible,

trying to scare off the snake.

Then they realize the snake offers them an opportunity.

It has found a Brazilian rodent called a punaré,

a potential meal.

The punaré has nowhere to hide.

Soon, the silent hunting technique

of the snake has paid off.

Then one of the capuchins attempts something rather risky.

With hundreds of backward-facing teeth,

the snake is not going to give up its prey easily.

It's not going to work.

But the snake's success

has given the quick-witted capuchins an idea.

They band together to try and catch a punaré themselves.

The most experienced male takes the lead.

[ Monkeys chattering ]

Got it.

[ Punaré screeching ]

Together, the capuchins

have successfully exploited an opportunity

and been rewarded with a tasty meal.

Teamwork doesn't have to be kept within a family.

Although it is rare, there are some animals

that join forces with a completely different species

when on a quest for prey.

In the seas of Indonesia,

banded sea kraits are on the prowl.

The venomous snakes scour the seabed,

searching for food.

Flicking their tongues helps them smell the prey.

Though lethal, they're too slow to catch fish

in a straight chase.

So they stalk the coral seabed in a steady search pattern.

The comb every nook and cranny of the coral

for unsuspecting fish.

And here, on these remote reefs, they do not hunt alone.

They have partners in crime --

shoals of yellow goatfish

and trevally.

They seek similar prey

and are ready to join in the chase.

More and more snakes and fish

join the intimidating hunting party.

The big fish scare the prey into the cracks,

where the sea snakes can catch them.

Anything that escapes the snakes will swim straight

into the mouths of the fish.

Everyone gets their cut in this raid.

When hunting in large groups, the spoils have to be shared.

But larger partnerships can also offer the greatest rewards.

These wolves in northern Canada

make up one of the largest

and most powerful packs in the world,

and they are setting out to hunt.

As such a large pack,

they can afford to take on the largest prey.

Even prey which is almost 10 times their weight --

Bison.

The bison will not stay long among the trees.

They are not safe here.

The wolves are closing in,

but their chance of ambushing

the bison in the woods has passed.

The bison are now in the open, and grouped together for safety.

The wolves will need to work as a team

if they're going to bring a bison down.

It's offense against defense.

The bison are armed and fierce.

They will be safe as long as they stick together.

The wolves up their game, harrying the herd,

a ploy to trigger a stampede

and split away one of the smaller bison.

The herd tightens into a defensive formation,

horns at the ready.

[ Bison snorts ]

[ Wolf growling ]

The wolves need a bison to break rank.

But the tables are turning,

and now the wolves have to retreat.

The pack focuses on the rear of the herd,

and the bison begin to panic.

A young bison falls behind, and the pack closes in.

The herd could come to the yearling's rescue,

but instead they seem to sacrifice it.

A stroke of luck for the wolves.

The bison are nowhere near the team the wolves are,

but in a way, they have another strategy that works.

Thanks to their polished teamwork,

the wolves will have food for days.

The hunt is over until next time.

Across the world in Africa,

where large herds of prey abound,

predators also work together.

Some individuals, though, can't resist an opportunity.

This hyena can smell food.

But she might be risking her life.

The kill has been made by a pride of lions,

but they are unwilling to share.

[ Lion growling ]

[ Hyena yelping ]

Bruised and bloody, she is lucky to have survived her mistake.

But she is not totally defeated.

She is a member of a large hyena clan.

She sends a call to arms out through the night.

[ Hyena calling ]

Reinforcements begin to gather.

Every adult within earshot responds.

If the clan can attack as one,

the hyenas stand a chance of challenging the lions.

[ Hyenas calling ]

[ Lion growling ]

It's a fierce confrontation.

Each is at full strength.

The lions are larger and stronger,

but the clan outnumbers the pride.

Eventually the lions are forced to retreat.

In this battle, it was the combined power

of the many working together that won the day.

[ Whales vocalizing ]

These bubbles and haunting calls are another ingenious way

to hunt involving remarkable teamwork.

These are humpback whales,

and they are here in the seas off Alaska

to harvest the herring bonanza.

Their strategy is quite extraordinary.

It's known as bubble-net feeding.

The lead whale dives first.

She is the bubble-blower.

It's her job to find the fish.

The rest follow in formation.

Each whale takes exactly the same position

in every lunge.

Once she's located the fish,

the leader blows a net of bubbles

that completely encircles the shoal.

[ Whales vocalizing ]

Another whale calls to synchronize the group.

Panicked by the eery sound

and the blinding bubbles,

the fish won't cross this fizzing curtain of air.

They are effectively trapped within the whales' bubble net.

Less than 100 of these Alaskan humpbacks

have learned how to hunt in this unique way.

It takes a high level of cooperation,

a sign of remarkable brainpower.

From one of the largest animals in the sea

to one of the smallest on land,

there is another very different animal

that has perfected the art of teamwork.

Ants function like a highly-disciplined army.

Each is clear about its own role,

and they all work for the same goal.

Nowhere is this teamwork more important

than in the scorching heat of the desert.

Very little can survive the soaring temperatures

under the midday African sun.

But these silver ants

have special armored skin which reflects light.

They can tolerate temperatures

that would kill any other land animal.

But even they can only survive out here

for a few minutes.

They're in a race to find food

while their predators have gone to ground.

Only by working together

as a team do the ants stand a chance of success.

They've found a victim of heat stroke,

a potential meal.

Will they be able to get it home

before being scorched themselves?

Tiny hairs on their back repel the sun's rays.

But time is ticking,

and they're nearing their maximum temperature,

a remarkable 127 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some can no longer take the heat.

They're running out of time.

They won't make it, not unless they

can do something drastic.

By biting off the fly's legs and antennae,

the ants stand a better chance of getting their prey back

to the nest.

With a final push, they make it.

Sacrifices were made along the way,

but the determined team fulfilled their mission.

Back in the Antarctic, killer whales

are about to demonstrate another

of their highly-coordinated hunting strategies.

The pod stays close together

as they scour the sea looking for prey.

There are several potential victims here.

But they are all out of reach.

[ Penguin squawks ]

The solution is highly complex teamwork.

Swimming in perfect formation,

they flick their tails in unison

and create a wave that cracks the ice.

They regroup and assess the damage.

A more powerful wave is needed.

With the ice floe breaking up,

they can get a better look at their target.

It's a crabeater seal.

Quite vicious. Not their favorite.

A Weddell seal is far more manageable.

They unleash a powerful wave with remarkable accuracy.

[ Seal calling ]

The seal is now where the killers want it.

But there is still work to be done.

They need to grab their prey by the tail

while avoiding its snapping jaws.

Only then will they be able to pull it down and drown it.

Sideswipes create violent underwater turbulence,

a new tactic.

Blowing bubbles gives cover for the others in the team

to lunge at the seal's tail.

Somehow, the seal manages to reach a tiny ice floe.

The killers could easily grab it now.

But rather like a cat with an injured mouse,

they seem to be enjoying their terrifying game.

[ Orca vocalizing ]

Yet again, the pod joins forces to dislodge the seal.

For the unfortunate seal, it's game over.

Whether you're a highly-trained killer

or more of a scavenger,

there are times when you just need a little extra help,

and enlisting a partner can make all the difference.

Nowhere is this more true

than in the icy forests of the Arctic.

♪♪

[ Raven cawing ]

Within this bitterly-cold landscape, a raven calls out.

It's found its dinner,

but it needs another animal's help to enjoy it --

the wolverine.

The raven, a highly-intelligent bird,

directs the ravenous wolverine to a moose carcass it has found.

The moose is frozen solid --

too hard for the raven to break into.

But for the wolverine's jaws, this is no problem.

It tears into this frozen dinner,

exposing the softer middle.

The raven's bill is more suited to leftovers.

It will have to wait

until its accomplice has had its fill.

But the clever bird knows

that eventually patience will pay off.

[ Raven caws ]

The wolverine drags a portion of the carcass

off into the forest.

There are plenty of scraps left for the raven.

And its friends.

[ Ravens cawing ]

What the wolverine can't manage now,

it will bury for a later date.

It's always useful to have extra food in the freezer.

Throughout history,

partnerships have also existed between animals and humans.

The majority of these are rather one-sided,

with humans harnessing the skills of wild animals

for their own ends.

However, there is one extraordinary exception

that appears to benefit both sides of the partnership.

It can be found in East Africa.

No one is sure how it first came about,

but it can be traced back to the 17th century.

[ Bird chirping ]

This honey guide bird is calling out.

Not to other birds, but, amazingly, to humans.

Its intention is to lead a couple of local Masai

to a beehive.

Thanks to its sense of smell,

the bird has already found the hive.

But without human help,

it would find it much harder to reach the honeycomb.

[ Boys conversing in native language ]

The honey guide signals to the boys

by flying from tree to tree.

It's an unusual game of follow the leader.

[ Bird chirping rapidly ]

As the bird gets closer to the prize,

it changes its call to let the boys know

they're getting hotter.

Here it is.

A hive well hidden in a tree,

and covered by hundreds of African bees.

The boys use smoke to help calm the bees.

Without this smoke, it would be much more painful

for either the boys or the bird to get to the honeycomb.

The honey guide bird is the only wild animal

known to guide people to food in this remarkable way.

The Masai know it's important

to keep up their part of the bargain.

The honey guide bird is rewarded

with the waxy comb, its favorite part.

A guarantee that this unique partnership will continue.

♪♪

We can only stand back

and admire the amazing relationships

that exist within the natural world.

Whether it's with teamwork

or a little give and take with another kind,

joining forces with others is a smart way to live.

In the daily struggle of finding food

and staying safe,

the perfect partner can elevate survival into success.

To learn more about what you've seen on this "Nature" program,

visit pbs.org.

♪♪