All language subtitles for natures perfect partners PBS nature s34e15 EN_Subtitles01.ENG

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[ 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.

♪♪