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(water splashing)
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The show, a breathtaking drama,
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the location,
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a river in Africa,
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the main protagonists, crocodiles,
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(dramatic music)
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supporting actors involved,
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everything Africa's wildlife has to offer.
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(dramatic music)
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The expansive stage of the Maasai Mara in Kenya
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is an ideal location for some stunning combats,
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heavyweight conflicts and touching family scenes.
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The show centers
(zebras barking)
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on the age, old theme
(cheetah growling)
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of the hunted and the hunters,
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life and death.
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(lively music)
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(vultures growling)
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But none of the other protagonists can match this one,
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the killer that comes out of the water.
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(water babbling)
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(lively music)
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Hardly any other region in Africa is home
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to a greater multitude of animals than the Maasai Mara.
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This region in the Southwest of Kenya
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is the land of the Massai.
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These are semi-nomadic pastoralists
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who live off their herds of cattle
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and are known to be excellent warriors.
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The Maasai Mara National Park lies in the Southwest of Kenya
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in East Africa and borders on the Serengeti in Tanzania.
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When the dry period begins in June
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in the Southern Serengeti,
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innumerable herds of wildebeest
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join up to migrate over 800 kilometers
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to the Maasai Mara,
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forever on the lookout for fresh pastures.
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During this migration, they have to cross several rivers.
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The greatest obstacle and one that has to be crossed
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is the Mara River.
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It flows from Kenya
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through the Maasai Mara region
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and continues on across the border
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into Tanzania and the Serengeti.
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At first sight,
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it may not look particularly threatening,
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and it is indeed the main artery
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that keeps the Maasai Mara alive.
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These heat sensitive hippos
(hippopotamus growling)
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rely completely on the river to secure their very existence
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in the Savannah.
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Nowhere else does the vegetation offer
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such a wealth of food for the elephants.
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Depending on their size,
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these pachyderms also require from 70 to 250 liters
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of drinking water a day
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and nowhere else can lions choose
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from such a well-stocked table provided they're ready
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to wait a bit.
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(lively music)
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The Mara River is the only river
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in this region that carries water all year round.
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Only here can the yellow-billed stork
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troll the bottom of the river shallows
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for an endless supply of fish.
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Only here can the heavy-hoofed animals of the Masaai Mara
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find drinking water in plenty.
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The banks are often crowded with wildlife
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for that very reason.
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That slip
(water splashing)
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could have ended in tragedy
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because for many animals, the Mara River that meanders
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for nearly 400 kilometers through the Savannah
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is the most hazardous river in the whole of Africa
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because of these fellows.
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Crocodiles spend the majority of their lives
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just lying around in that armored skins doing nothing.
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As cold blooded animals,
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they can only regulate their body temperature
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through their own activities.
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They have to enjoy extensive sunbathing sessions
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to enable them to carry out their sorties underwater.
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The webs between their toes on the rear feet
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help them to swim.
(water babbling)
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Their tail that makes up around half
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of their six meter length is what drives them
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but it can only work if the animals operating temperature
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has been reached.
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If it falls below 30 degrees,
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the reptile will return to land to warm up.
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Half submerged half above the water line
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is a popular position.
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That way one can keep warm
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and look as harmless as a large piece of wood
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but can mutate into an underwater torpedo in an instant.
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(dramatic music)
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At the moment, though, there is little prey to go for.
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So a more leisurely pace is perfectly acceptable.
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Walking along the river bed uses less energy
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than those powerful flicks of the tail.
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(dramatic music)
(water babbling)
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What looks like
(crocodile growling)
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boredom induced yawning is in fact temperature regulation.
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By opening its mouth,
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the reptile prevents its brain overheating.
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(water babbling)
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If it's still too hot, it moves into the water.
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A lunchtime dose underwater is only possible
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for a crocodile if the water is very warm.
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The geographical range of their existence
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is restricted to tropical
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and subtropical regions.
(birds chirping)
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They can't afford to waste too much energy.
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Most of the time throughout the year,
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they just wait ready to attack with their fearsome jaws
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containing more than 70 teeth.
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(birds chirping)
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Crocodiles share their habitat with hippos.
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(hippopotamus growling)
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In the Maasai Mara,
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there are especially large numbers of hippos.
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These socially orientated animals form small herds
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of up to 30 individuals.
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Underwater, these heavyweights even look elegant,
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thanks to the buoyancy effect of the water.
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Rather than actually swimming,
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they tend to walk under water.
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They spend most of the day in the water
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because their sensitive skin would crack
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in the intense summer heat.
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They can stay under water for up to five minutes
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before they have to come up again for air.
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(calming music)
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(water babbling)
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(water splashing)
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(hippopotamus growling)
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As a rule,
(water splashing)
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one older bull will live together
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with a group of females and their young.
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The animals are generally related
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and maintain friendly contact with one another.
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(soft calming music)
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As long as there is sufficient water in the river,
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there are no grounds for rivalry.
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(lively music)
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(elephant rumbling)
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Elephants also like to congregate around the Mara River.
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The smaller ones are best off keeping close to the adults.
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That way, they're less likely to become
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a crocodile's next lunch.
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Elephants
(elephant rumbling)
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are among the most socially orientated animals in the world.
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This little elephant has not yet learned
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how to use its trunk to drink with.
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That muscular appendage is still in the way.
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(birds chirping)
(water babbling)
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It takes a while
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for baby elephants
(elephant rumbling)
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to learn what useful tools their trunks are.
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The older adults can use their muscular trunks
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as a most versatile multi-tool.
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During meal times, it fulfills both the grab
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and the cutlery functions.
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This little one can't start learning a moment too soon
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even if it is fed by its mother's milk for many months.
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(elephants rumbling)
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In greetings,
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the trunk acts as a handshake appendage,
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and the mutual smells tell the other party
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the identity of the caller.
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(elephant rumbling)
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And if it's not quite long enough to scratch with,
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one can always use a termite hill.
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(elephant rumbling)
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This mother cheetah and her three almost fully grown young
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and two younger males have made their way down to the river.
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The brothers share the remains of the gazelle they caught.
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(birds chirping)
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(cheetah growling)
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But the female cheetah also has to get some fresh food in
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for the family.
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The youngsters follow her, hopefully.
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(suspenseful music)
(birds chirping)
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The brothers are so involved
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that they don't even notice the family.
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(cheetah growling)
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This one has been distracted.
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One youngster has discovered the hidden camera
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but the mother has her sights on something else.
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What is that thing that neither runs away nor attacks?
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(cheetah growling)
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(dramatic music)
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But what she has discovered does indeed runaway,
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she begins the hunt.
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(dramatic music)
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The hare can accelerate up to 70 kilometers an hour
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but the cheetah is even faster.
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This big cat can even reach speeds
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of 100 kilometers an hour over short distances.
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(dramatic music)
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Hares are famous for their zigzag running strategy
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but the cheetah is nearly as smart.
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(dramatic music)
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The big cap strategy is to cause the prey to trip up
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with a carefully aimed hit of the paw and yet...
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(dramatic music)
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Despite that particular failure, no other predator
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has such a high success rate as the cheetah.
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Half of its hunting sorties result in a catch.
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After hunting, the mother needs a long break
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to protect herself against overheating.
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The brothers also need time to recover.
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Full stomachs make one feel sleepy.
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It's not only the main stretch of the Mara River
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that is attractive to animals.
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It stagnant oxbows are a haven
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for thriving aquatic vegetation,
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which has a regular supply of fertilizer,
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thanks to the hippos.
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The ibises make use of the heavyweight creatures
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as platforms in their search for insects,
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some of which they find on the hippo's heads.
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The crocodiles are even better camouflaged here
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than in the clear waters of the main river.
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(frogs croaking)
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Out of an inaccessible sun's pit,
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the next generation is making its first moves.
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(hatchling growling)
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The female will have laid the eggs here three months ago
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in a nest made of sand and vegetation residues.
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The brooding temperature determines the sex
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of the young ones.
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In Nile crocodiles,
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the young will only be male
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if the eggs are maintained
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at a temperature of 32 to 35 degrees.
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Above or below that temperature range,
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the young will be female.
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The calls they produce while still
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inside the eggs appear to stimulate the brood.
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They all hatch at the same time.
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(hatchling growling)
(playful music)
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Hardly have they left their nest,
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when they are approached by a cavernous mouth.
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(hatchling growling)
(playful music)
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Just hatched and their short lives already at an end?
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But not a single scale will be damaged.
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Their mother heard them calling
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and is transporting them safely to the water.
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Female crocodiles are extremely caring mothers
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and keep a watchful eye on their young for quite a while.
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Early on, these miniature lizards demonstrate their talent
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of surprising their prey.
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A fully grown giraffe may not need to worry much
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about a crocodile,
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but the act of drinking is still quite awkward.
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It's not only the fact
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that they almost have to kneel down to drink.
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The animal has to apply considerable muscular effort
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to move its head downwards.
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Giraffes have a powerful tendon that keeps their head
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and neck upright when at rest.
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(bird chirping)
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The river and its green banks attract many giraffes.
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For a long time, it was felt that these animals
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had developed their long necks
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simply to give them unrivaled access to the higher leaves
268
00:14:50,500 --> 00:14:51,930
on the trees.
269
00:14:51,930 --> 00:14:54,170
However, they often eat vegetation
270
00:14:54,170 --> 00:14:55,313
at half their height.
271
00:14:58,530 --> 00:15:01,530
An alternative theory suggests that the long neck
272
00:15:01,530 --> 00:15:04,070
was used for a completely different purpose,
273
00:15:04,070 --> 00:15:07,853
to give the bulls an advantage when fighting over a female.
274
00:15:09,231 --> 00:15:11,981
(dramatic music)
275
00:15:13,510 --> 00:15:16,573
These two young bulls are merely practicing.
276
00:15:18,590 --> 00:15:21,133
They're gauging their strikes very carefully.
277
00:15:22,708 --> 00:15:25,458
(dramatic music)
278
00:15:29,550 --> 00:15:33,210
They live in loosely structured batchelor groups
279
00:15:33,210 --> 00:15:34,410
but later become loners.
280
00:15:36,946 --> 00:15:39,696
(dramatic music)
281
00:15:44,780 --> 00:15:48,000
If they then meet arrival during the mating period,
282
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,720
there'll be no consideration for the other.
283
00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,770
They will then apply a full power to their strikes
284
00:15:53,770 --> 00:15:55,440
and their rudimentary horns
285
00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,880
or ossicones become dangerous weapons.
286
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,440
The objective is to knock one's opponent of his feet.
287
00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,743
Many contests of this kind of left the loser dead.
288
00:16:07,490 --> 00:16:11,550
These two are not in any way intending to injure each other,
289
00:16:11,550 --> 00:16:14,793
let alone kill, but practice makes perfect.
290
00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:20,290
Afternoon in the Maasai Mara,
291
00:16:20,290 --> 00:16:24,200
not quite the ideal hunting time for the lions.
292
00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,030
This group of banded mongooses
293
00:16:26,030 --> 00:16:28,300
is quite safe to pass by.
294
00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:31,300
These diurnal animals go hunting as a group.
295
00:16:31,300 --> 00:16:34,263
The leader of the pack is one of the older females.
296
00:16:36,250 --> 00:16:40,250
Still time for a little nap before work starts in earnest
297
00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:41,563
in a couple of hours.
298
00:16:43,758 --> 00:16:45,580
(playful music)
299
00:16:45,580 --> 00:16:47,690
(mongoose giggling)
300
00:16:47,690 --> 00:16:50,770
The mongooses scour the terrain for beetles,
301
00:16:50,770 --> 00:16:52,816
larvae and other insects.
302
00:16:52,816 --> 00:16:54,620
(mongoose giggling)
303
00:16:54,620 --> 00:16:57,310
Now and again, they dig down a little to unearth
304
00:16:57,310 --> 00:16:59,587
a particularly tasty morsel.
305
00:16:59,587 --> 00:17:02,254
(playful music)
306
00:17:10,820 --> 00:17:12,610
Even if they go out as a group,
307
00:17:12,610 --> 00:17:15,143
each mongoose searches for itself.
308
00:17:17,230 --> 00:17:20,720
Occasionally, a mother and her young will dig together
309
00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,454
but normally mongooses hunt individually for food.
310
00:17:24,454 --> 00:17:27,121
(playful music)
311
00:17:32,260 --> 00:17:35,800
There are nevertheless close ties within the group
312
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,290
which will usually consist of three to four pairs
313
00:17:38,290 --> 00:17:39,741
and their young.
314
00:17:39,741 --> 00:17:43,260
(playful music)
(mongooses giggling)
315
00:17:43,260 --> 00:17:44,510
In the Maasai Mara,
316
00:17:44,510 --> 00:17:47,860
this results in groups of around 35 animals.
317
00:17:51,180 --> 00:17:54,014
Impala are seldom seen alone.
318
00:17:54,014 --> 00:17:56,180
(birds chirping)
319
00:17:56,180 --> 00:17:59,097
(impalas snarling)
320
00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:04,000
This very young male is still allowed to be in the herd.
321
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,470
The female is presumably its mother.
322
00:18:06,470 --> 00:18:09,150
Otherwise, these herds consist of females
323
00:18:09,150 --> 00:18:12,250
and a few of the older males who will fight each other
324
00:18:12,250 --> 00:18:15,117
for mating rights during the mating period.
325
00:18:15,117 --> 00:18:20,117
(impalas snarling)
(birds chirping)
326
00:18:20,350 --> 00:18:22,450
The dominant male will change
327
00:18:22,450 --> 00:18:25,420
from time to time at the top of the field.
328
00:18:25,420 --> 00:18:28,833
Outside the mating period, they graze peacefully together.
329
00:18:31,270 --> 00:18:33,890
In contrast to the wildebeest and zebras,
330
00:18:33,890 --> 00:18:37,630
impalas do not migrate outside the national park
331
00:18:37,630 --> 00:18:41,330
so the lions have always got a steady source of food.
332
00:18:41,330 --> 00:18:43,840
That's an important point because lions,
333
00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,750
in contrast to crocodiles,
334
00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:49,000
can't go without fresh food for long periods,
335
00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,600
especially when they have young.
336
00:18:51,550 --> 00:18:53,550
They may not be babies anymore,
337
00:18:53,550 --> 00:18:55,840
but they're not able to hunt for themselves
338
00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,473
and rely completely on the adults,
339
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:01,910
but it can take awhile
340
00:19:01,910 --> 00:19:05,207
before they actually manage to deliver the goods.
341
00:19:05,207 --> 00:19:07,790
(lively music)
342
00:19:11,510 --> 00:19:14,960
Lion are the only big cats that form a pride
343
00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,763
and maintain close social contacts.
344
00:19:19,610 --> 00:19:23,110
By contrast, the hippopotamus moves every evening
345
00:19:23,110 --> 00:19:27,520
from socially orientated family member to lone individual,
346
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,193
each grazing on its own.
347
00:19:30,540 --> 00:19:32,830
The hippos have to graze at night.
348
00:19:32,830 --> 00:19:35,220
Unlike the diurnal zebras,
349
00:19:35,220 --> 00:19:38,360
hippos would not survive extended grazing periods
350
00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:39,423
in the blazing sun.
351
00:19:40,386 --> 00:19:42,969
(lively music)
352
00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,010
The King of the Savannah
353
00:19:57,010 --> 00:19:58,090
still does not appear
(lion roaring)
354
00:19:58,090 --> 00:19:59,563
to be in a hunting mood,
355
00:20:02,380 --> 00:20:04,703
but soon he will set off on that errand.
356
00:20:10,260 --> 00:20:13,610
The animals in the Maasai Mara have to be constantly
357
00:20:13,610 --> 00:20:14,523
on the lookout.
358
00:20:15,482 --> 00:20:18,063
(lively music)
359
00:20:18,063 --> 00:20:21,063
(crickets chirping)
360
00:20:32,220 --> 00:20:35,330
The fact that hippos have skin that is so sensitive
361
00:20:35,330 --> 00:20:38,420
to the sun, making them night tunnel grazers
362
00:20:38,420 --> 00:20:40,580
maybe linked to their ancestors.
363
00:20:40,580 --> 00:20:42,806
They're related to whales.
364
00:20:42,806 --> 00:20:45,806
(crickets chirping)
365
00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,160
These massive creatures need not fear the dark.
366
00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:51,903
They have no predators.
367
00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:58,579
And anyway, the buffalo is busy with something else.
368
00:20:58,579 --> 00:21:01,579
(crickets chirping)
369
00:21:05,470 --> 00:21:07,820
It's in particular, the smaller hunters
370
00:21:07,820 --> 00:21:11,623
like the mongooses that rely on the cover of darkness.
371
00:21:13,067 --> 00:21:15,820
(crickets chirping)
372
00:21:15,820 --> 00:21:18,910
The hippo has to devour at least 40 kilograms
373
00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:20,960
of vegetation every night,
374
00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,043
which only accounts for 1 to 1 1/2% of its body weight.
375
00:21:26,457 --> 00:21:27,660
(crickets chirping)
376
00:21:27,660 --> 00:21:30,490
(lion growling)
377
00:21:30,490 --> 00:21:33,850
Lions and crocodiles will generally avoid each other
378
00:21:34,969 --> 00:21:37,969
(suspenseful music)
379
00:21:39,068 --> 00:21:40,140
(lion growling)
380
00:21:40,140 --> 00:21:40,973
generally.
381
00:21:42,910 --> 00:21:44,670
(lions growling)
382
00:21:44,670 --> 00:21:47,240
Lions will indeed protect their young
383
00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,750
or their dinner carcasses against crocodiles
384
00:21:50,750 --> 00:21:53,580
but don't normally consider them to be prey.
385
00:21:53,580 --> 00:21:57,716
Perhaps these lions were just after an adrenaline kick.
386
00:21:57,716 --> 00:22:00,299
(lively music)
387
00:22:01,141 --> 00:22:03,891
(birds chirping)
388
00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,430
A new day dawns and with it,
389
00:22:10,430 --> 00:22:13,958
the start of the greatest drama of the Masaai Mara.
390
00:22:13,958 --> 00:22:16,541
(lively music)
391
00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:23,513
The first wildebeest reach the river region.
392
00:22:24,667 --> 00:22:27,250
(lively music)
393
00:22:29,590 --> 00:22:33,993
Behind them is an 800 kilometer energy draining migration.
394
00:22:35,987 --> 00:22:38,570
(lively music)
395
00:22:43,670 --> 00:22:48,361
It's far greener here than in the overgrazed Serengeti.
396
00:22:48,361 --> 00:22:51,611
(wildebeests growling)
397
00:22:54,530 --> 00:22:55,830
In the Maasai Mara,
398
00:22:55,830 --> 00:22:59,010
the rain and drought periods are less extreme
399
00:22:59,010 --> 00:23:00,733
than in the Southern Serengeti.
400
00:23:02,230 --> 00:23:04,520
Heavy thunderstorms keep ensuring
401
00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,220
the supply of fresh water,
402
00:23:06,220 --> 00:23:08,280
which benefits the green vegetation
403
00:23:09,299 --> 00:23:10,260
(wildebeests growling)
404
00:23:10,260 --> 00:23:11,650
Before the animals embark
405
00:23:11,650 --> 00:23:13,950
on the most difficult part of their journey,
406
00:23:13,950 --> 00:23:15,290
crossing the river,
407
00:23:15,290 --> 00:23:19,350
they enjoy rest and take the edge off their hunger.
408
00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:21,810
They specialize in short grass.
409
00:23:21,810 --> 00:23:25,000
It replenishes itself relatively quickly
410
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,230
but is grazed to nothing in a short time,
411
00:23:27,230 --> 00:23:31,500
which is why these animals keep searching for new pastures.
412
00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:35,110
Their broad mouths, large incisors and mobile lips
413
00:23:35,110 --> 00:23:37,523
make them the perfect lawn mowers.
414
00:23:38,766 --> 00:23:42,600
(wildebeests growling)
415
00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:43,670
For some though,
416
00:23:43,670 --> 00:23:46,290
the luscious green came too late
417
00:23:46,290 --> 00:23:48,963
and it doesn't take long before they're discovered.
418
00:23:50,153 --> 00:23:52,010
(suspenseful music)
419
00:23:52,010 --> 00:23:52,843
(vultures growling)
420
00:23:52,843 --> 00:23:56,020
For the vouchers, wildebeests that die of exhaustion
421
00:23:56,020 --> 00:23:57,755
are a feast.
422
00:23:57,755 --> 00:23:59,835
(suspenseful music)
423
00:23:59,835 --> 00:24:02,167
(vultures growling)
424
00:24:02,167 --> 00:24:03,620
Ruppell's vultures
425
00:24:03,620 --> 00:24:07,103
specialize in large carrion such as wildebeest.
426
00:24:08,515 --> 00:24:11,490
(vultures growling)
427
00:24:11,490 --> 00:24:13,860
The marabou may be larger than them
428
00:24:13,860 --> 00:24:17,460
but the vultures sharp curved beaks are far superior
429
00:24:17,460 --> 00:24:20,654
both as meat cutting tools and weapons.
430
00:24:20,654 --> 00:24:23,404
(dramatic music)
431
00:24:25,829 --> 00:24:28,746
(vulture growling)
432
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,183
These feathered scavengers do not like sharing.
433
00:24:41,590 --> 00:24:44,783
Some are so involved in infighting, they forget to eat.
434
00:24:46,167 --> 00:24:48,504
(dramatic music)
435
00:24:48,504 --> 00:24:51,254
(birds chirping)
436
00:24:58,340 --> 00:25:01,740
But these quarrelsome creatures provide an important service
437
00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:03,470
to the Maasai Mara.
438
00:25:03,470 --> 00:25:07,360
By stripping carcasses often right down to the bare bones,
439
00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:10,851
they prevent the spread of epidemic disease.
440
00:25:10,851 --> 00:25:15,851
(vultures growling)
(dramatic music)
441
00:25:20,964 --> 00:25:23,490
When they're not fighting, Ruppell's vultures
442
00:25:23,490 --> 00:25:26,480
can devour as much as a fifth of their own body weight
443
00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:27,880
in one sitting.
444
00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,218
That can be one to two kilograms.
445
00:25:30,218 --> 00:25:33,880
(dramatic music)
(vultures growling)
446
00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,130
Having eaten their fill,
447
00:25:35,130 --> 00:25:38,096
they find taking off a bit cumbersome.
448
00:25:38,096 --> 00:25:40,846
(dramatic music)
449
00:25:42,364 --> 00:25:45,364
(vultures growling)
450
00:25:49,270 --> 00:25:51,550
Together with the first wildebeest,
451
00:25:51,550 --> 00:25:54,800
we see many zebras arriving in the Maasai Mara.
452
00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,570
Zebras eat the longer, tougher grass
453
00:25:57,570 --> 00:25:59,520
which opens up the way for the wildebeest
454
00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,130
to get to the shorter grass
455
00:26:01,130 --> 00:26:04,321
that's rich in nutrients.
(zebras braying)
456
00:26:04,321 --> 00:26:06,300
As compensation,
(water babbling)
457
00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:09,390
the enormous herds of wildebeest provide protection
458
00:26:09,390 --> 00:26:11,713
for the zebras against attackers.
459
00:26:13,190 --> 00:26:17,278
It's normally the zebras that go down to the river first
460
00:26:17,278 --> 00:26:19,060
(zebras barking)
461
00:26:19,060 --> 00:26:21,750
and they have been waiting for this moment.
462
00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:23,680
Crocodiles know from experience
463
00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,003
where the animals will cross the river.
464
00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:30,300
Driven by thirst,
465
00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:33,273
the exhausted travelers make their way to the water.
466
00:26:34,500 --> 00:26:36,540
As long as the crocs are moving,
467
00:26:36,540 --> 00:26:38,713
they will be detected in good time.
468
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,350
The lions have also taken up their positions
469
00:26:45,350 --> 00:26:47,723
and have already had a successful hunt.
470
00:26:55,450 --> 00:26:57,823
But it's not enough for the full bride.
471
00:26:59,561 --> 00:27:02,311
(lions rumbling)
472
00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,600
The lions know exactly which points
473
00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,290
on the river are the easiest
474
00:27:10,290 --> 00:27:12,863
for the zebras and wildebeest to cross.
475
00:27:16,256 --> 00:27:18,640
(lions roaring)
476
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,290
While some of the lionesses keep a watchful eye
477
00:27:21,290 --> 00:27:23,800
on the young, others are closely watching out
478
00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,764
for the arrivals by the river.
479
00:27:26,764 --> 00:27:29,431
(lions roaring)
480
00:27:32,260 --> 00:27:35,510
The lionesses, mostly mothers and daughters,
481
00:27:35,510 --> 00:27:39,243
sisters, aunts, and nieces form the hunting party.
482
00:27:44,230 --> 00:27:47,185
Crocodiles may not be quite as social
483
00:27:47,185 --> 00:27:50,023
but later they will need each other as well.
484
00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:00,793
More and more wildebeests gather on the opposite bank.
485
00:28:04,710 --> 00:28:08,280
They're facing the greatest challenge of their long journey.
486
00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,820
The steep banks alone that line the Mara in many places
487
00:28:11,820 --> 00:28:13,273
are hard to overcome.
488
00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:19,116
But the wildebeest have no choice.
489
00:28:19,116 --> 00:28:23,530
(water babbling)
(wildebeests growling)
490
00:28:23,530 --> 00:28:27,730
Down by the river, the life-saving herd becomes a liability.
491
00:28:27,730 --> 00:28:30,280
Hundreds of animals push their way forwards,
492
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,473
leaving no opportunity for escape.
493
00:28:33,970 --> 00:28:36,741
The underwater hunters are on their way.
494
00:28:36,741 --> 00:28:39,042
(water splashing)
495
00:28:39,042 --> 00:28:41,792
(water babbling)
496
00:28:44,014 --> 00:28:47,500
(wildebeests growling)
497
00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,573
There is simply no end to this sumptuous meal.
498
00:28:53,430 --> 00:28:56,030
The wildebeest are well-aware of the dangers
499
00:28:58,340 --> 00:28:59,790
but they have to get through.
500
00:29:01,580 --> 00:29:06,580
(water splashing)
(suspenseful music)
501
00:29:11,310 --> 00:29:14,840
The river literally puts obstacles in their way
502
00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,513
and those rocks are often deceptively slippery.
503
00:29:18,772 --> 00:29:23,772
(suspenseful music)
(water splashing)
504
00:29:24,410 --> 00:29:27,530
Once the first animals have dared to enter the water,
505
00:29:27,530 --> 00:29:29,773
there's nowhere to go but forward.
506
00:29:32,470 --> 00:29:35,710
The crocodiles, try to attack the open flanks.
507
00:29:35,710 --> 00:29:37,970
If they get too close to the thick of it,
508
00:29:37,970 --> 00:29:39,653
they're at risk themselves.
509
00:29:39,653 --> 00:29:44,653
(suspenseful music)
(water babbling)
510
00:29:54,350 --> 00:29:56,600
Now the wildebeests have to run the gauntlet.
511
00:29:59,060 --> 00:30:01,570
They have managed to reach the safety of the bank
512
00:30:02,870 --> 00:30:05,620
(dramatic music)
513
00:30:10,420 --> 00:30:12,013
but some didn't make it.
514
00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:19,290
The wildebeest summon their last reserves of strength.
515
00:30:19,290 --> 00:30:22,083
Their ability to leap is their only chance.
516
00:30:23,469 --> 00:30:26,510
(dramatic music)
517
00:30:26,510 --> 00:30:28,620
The safety of the individual lies
518
00:30:28,620 --> 00:30:30,313
in the sheer mass of the herd.
519
00:30:31,607 --> 00:30:34,357
(dramatic music)
520
00:30:35,380 --> 00:30:37,734
But the crocodiles are not alone.
521
00:30:37,734 --> 00:30:42,734
(dramatic music)
(water splashing)
522
00:30:44,270 --> 00:30:46,980
Once one of them has grabbed a wildebeest,
523
00:30:46,980 --> 00:30:49,280
it attempts to drag it under water.
524
00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:50,993
The other crocodiles will help.
525
00:30:52,094 --> 00:30:57,094
(dramatic music)
(water splashing)
526
00:31:10,710 --> 00:31:14,290
Each bite has the force of 2,000 kilos.
527
00:31:14,290 --> 00:31:16,173
Crocodiles are merciless opponents.
528
00:31:17,293 --> 00:31:22,293
(dramatic music)
(water plashing)
529
00:31:24,350 --> 00:31:26,780
And the animals that pass the first hurdle
530
00:31:26,780 --> 00:31:29,043
are faced with the next ambush.
531
00:31:30,350 --> 00:31:33,050
The lion attempts to immobilize the wildebeest
532
00:31:33,050 --> 00:31:34,613
by biting into its throat.
533
00:31:36,038 --> 00:31:38,788
(dramatic music)
534
00:31:41,310 --> 00:31:43,460
Even if they survive the river,
535
00:31:43,460 --> 00:31:45,360
they can still be trampled under foot.
536
00:31:47,026 --> 00:31:49,609
(lively music)
537
00:31:51,420 --> 00:31:53,010
The youngest wildebeest,
538
00:31:53,010 --> 00:31:56,260
born only a few months before in the Serengeti,
539
00:31:56,260 --> 00:31:58,630
are experiencing this terrifying migration
540
00:31:58,630 --> 00:32:00,430
for the first time.
541
00:32:00,430 --> 00:32:02,610
They need to get back up to strength
542
00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:05,273
but the track must go on.
543
00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:10,360
Driven on by the stressful experience,
544
00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:13,817
the animals quickly take control of their new terrain.
545
00:32:13,817 --> 00:32:16,400
(lively music)
546
00:32:18,410 --> 00:32:21,490
This large scale partnership of convenience
547
00:32:21,490 --> 00:32:24,370
will now separate into smaller herds
548
00:32:24,370 --> 00:32:26,850
until it's time to return to the Serengeti
549
00:32:26,850 --> 00:32:31,293
in two months time following well-trodden ancestral paths.
550
00:32:34,363 --> 00:32:35,360
(water babbling)
551
00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,650
The battle of the Mara is over for the time being
552
00:32:38,650 --> 00:32:41,600
and the vultures will finish what the crocodiles could not.
553
00:32:42,944 --> 00:32:45,395
(water babbling)
554
00:32:45,395 --> 00:32:48,118
(birds chirping)
555
00:32:48,118 --> 00:32:51,210
They're still living in the lap of a rare luxury.
556
00:32:51,210 --> 00:32:53,150
Even if a crocodile didn't manage to get
557
00:32:53,150 --> 00:32:54,500
its own wildebeest,
558
00:32:54,500 --> 00:32:57,960
there are plenty of fallen and drowned animals floating
559
00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:02,205
right past their noses.
(water splashing)
560
00:33:02,205 --> 00:33:04,330
After a few days, the carcasses are easier
561
00:33:04,330 --> 00:33:06,300
for the crocodiles to tear apart
562
00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:08,590
than the freshly killed ones.
563
00:33:08,590 --> 00:33:10,450
Despite their armory of teeth,
564
00:33:10,450 --> 00:33:13,940
crocodiles can't bite off bits of their prey.
565
00:33:13,940 --> 00:33:16,350
They have to rip them to pieces by shaking them
566
00:33:16,350 --> 00:33:17,953
from side to side.
567
00:33:17,953 --> 00:33:20,040
(water babbling)
568
00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,620
Even though they cooperated in the hunt,
569
00:33:22,620 --> 00:33:24,041
they do not like sharing.
570
00:33:24,041 --> 00:33:26,874
(water splashing)
571
00:33:35,550 --> 00:33:36,700
For the lions,
572
00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:38,830
the Riverside hunt is now over
573
00:33:42,464 --> 00:33:43,440
(lions rumbling)
574
00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,223
but the pride had a successful hunting trip.
575
00:33:50,540 --> 00:33:52,430
There's plenty for everyone.
576
00:33:52,430 --> 00:33:54,550
And even the chance for the youngsters
577
00:33:54,550 --> 00:33:56,690
to practice dismembering the kill
578
00:34:02,156 --> 00:34:04,906
(water babbling)
579
00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:10,583
and practicing the fatal bite to the throat.
580
00:34:17,836 --> 00:34:21,210
(lively music)
581
00:34:21,210 --> 00:34:24,700
For the youngest, it's all just a game.
582
00:34:24,700 --> 00:34:28,310
Their teeth are not yet powerful enough to tear the skin.
583
00:34:28,310 --> 00:34:30,110
They still need the adults for that.
584
00:34:31,102 --> 00:34:33,685
(lively music)
585
00:34:41,408 --> 00:34:44,680
(cubs rumbling)
586
00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:47,010
A full stomach feels good.
587
00:34:47,010 --> 00:34:49,923
Both the adults and their young feel playful.
588
00:34:51,003 --> 00:34:56,003
(cub rumbling)
(playful music)
589
00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:14,183
But this unconcerned rollicking can't last long.
590
00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:19,673
The adult lions know that if they leave the carcasses
591
00:35:19,673 --> 00:35:21,610
unattended for long,
592
00:35:21,610 --> 00:35:23,831
there will soon be nothing left.
593
00:35:23,831 --> 00:35:26,790
(playful music)
594
00:35:26,790 --> 00:35:29,620
So they drag them to a safe larder,
595
00:35:29,620 --> 00:35:30,770
a tough task,
596
00:35:30,770 --> 00:35:33,053
even for a fully grown lioness.
597
00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,393
Hunting and eating are thirsty work.
598
00:35:42,420 --> 00:35:45,770
Lions do not scoop up water with their tongues.
599
00:35:45,770 --> 00:35:49,500
The rough surface of the tongue binds the drops of water
600
00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:51,990
and that causes a pillar of water to follow
601
00:35:51,990 --> 00:35:55,858
through the adhesive action between the water molecules.
602
00:35:55,858 --> 00:35:58,525
(playful music)
603
00:36:03,806 --> 00:36:06,820
(dramatic music)
604
00:36:06,820 --> 00:36:09,160
The surface area of the Maasai Mara
605
00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,880
is a mere 10th of the size of the Serengeti
606
00:36:16,510 --> 00:36:18,570
and yet it provides sufficient food
607
00:36:18,570 --> 00:36:20,490
for both the new arrivals
608
00:36:20,490 --> 00:36:23,007
and the long established indigence.
609
00:36:26,980 --> 00:36:30,993
Most of the step zebras and wildebeests are migrants.
610
00:36:33,370 --> 00:36:35,683
These common tsessebe live here permanently.
611
00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:41,380
The males like to stand on raised hummocks
612
00:36:41,380 --> 00:36:44,950
to keep an eye on their territory and their females.
613
00:36:44,950 --> 00:36:47,340
Since both sexes look very similar,
614
00:36:47,340 --> 00:36:49,560
the females often copy this behavior
615
00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:52,023
to confuse male intruders.
616
00:36:52,023 --> 00:36:54,606
(lively music)
617
00:36:57,450 --> 00:37:01,290
Giraffes have an even better view of the surroundings
618
00:37:01,290 --> 00:37:04,243
which is why zebras like to stay close to the giraffe.
619
00:37:05,272 --> 00:37:08,642
(lively music)
620
00:37:08,642 --> 00:37:11,010
(zebras braying)
621
00:37:11,010 --> 00:37:13,060
In the searing mid-day heat,
622
00:37:13,060 --> 00:37:15,663
every unnecessary movement is avoided.
623
00:37:17,830 --> 00:37:21,676
Even the jackal can't summon the energy to hunt.
624
00:37:21,676 --> 00:37:24,343
(playful music)
625
00:37:26,613 --> 00:37:29,690
(hyenas giggling)
626
00:37:29,690 --> 00:37:31,553
The hyenas are no different.
627
00:37:32,815 --> 00:37:35,450
(playful music)
628
00:37:35,450 --> 00:37:37,050
Despite their reputation,
629
00:37:37,050 --> 00:37:40,123
hyenas are not merely dimmed scavengers.
630
00:37:43,590 --> 00:37:46,900
These youngsters will grow up into skilled hunters
631
00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:49,780
capable of attacking even large, hoofed animals,
632
00:37:49,780 --> 00:37:53,883
such as wildebeests or zebras individually or as a pack.
633
00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:59,813
But that time is still some way off.
634
00:37:59,813 --> 00:38:02,480
(playful music)
635
00:38:04,390 --> 00:38:07,530
Mother hyenas suckle their young for a year,
636
00:38:07,530 --> 00:38:09,958
longer than most other hunters.
637
00:38:09,958 --> 00:38:14,958
(playful music)
(birds chirping)
638
00:38:17,300 --> 00:38:20,920
Hyenas live in clans controlled by the females
639
00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,870
and with a clearly defined hierarchy.
640
00:38:23,870 --> 00:38:26,623
The mother will pass her role onto her cub.
641
00:38:29,750 --> 00:38:33,540
Common tsessebe are the preferred prey of hyenas
642
00:38:33,540 --> 00:38:36,213
but not in the merciless, mid-day heat.
643
00:38:37,890 --> 00:38:38,910
Nevertheless,
644
00:38:38,910 --> 00:38:40,980
even after the great migration,
645
00:38:40,980 --> 00:38:44,700
the drama of life and death is replayed over and over again
646
00:38:44,700 --> 00:38:45,993
in the Maasai Mara.
647
00:38:46,940 --> 00:38:49,380
(buffaloes growling)
648
00:38:49,380 --> 00:38:51,780
An African Buffalo has died
649
00:38:51,780 --> 00:38:54,580
and has not yet been discovered by scavengers
650
00:38:54,580 --> 00:38:57,200
Its companions tried to protect it.
651
00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:59,140
And it looks as if all of them feel the need
652
00:38:59,140 --> 00:39:02,020
to reassure themselves that their fellow buffalo
653
00:39:02,020 --> 00:39:03,253
really is dead.
654
00:39:04,170 --> 00:39:07,430
The herd is looking confused and disoriented.
655
00:39:07,430 --> 00:39:11,119
Perhaps the dead animal was a dominant, mature female.
656
00:39:11,119 --> 00:39:16,119
(buffaloes growling)
(suspenseful music)
657
00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:24,883
Related cows form a group with a very strict hierarchy.
658
00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:30,780
If a high ranking animal dies,
659
00:39:30,780 --> 00:39:33,833
the herd first has to reorganize itself.
660
00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,630
The saddle-billed stork is also a carrion-eater
661
00:39:39,630 --> 00:39:41,320
but it has to wait until others
662
00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:43,633
have ripped open the carcass.
663
00:39:43,633 --> 00:39:46,230
(dramatic music)
664
00:39:46,230 --> 00:39:49,233
The young tawny eagle is much better equipped.
665
00:39:54,390 --> 00:39:56,070
As pure vegetarians,
666
00:39:56,070 --> 00:39:59,753
elephants are most definitely not interested in carrion.
667
00:40:03,380 --> 00:40:05,900
In contrast to popular belief however,
668
00:40:05,900 --> 00:40:08,070
they do not only eat leaves,
669
00:40:08,070 --> 00:40:09,020
in the Savannah,
670
00:40:09,020 --> 00:40:13,090
they eat almost exclusively grass and lots of it.
671
00:40:13,090 --> 00:40:14,130
An adult elephant
672
00:40:14,130 --> 00:40:18,213
will devour 200 to 300 kilograms of vegetation a day.
673
00:40:19,498 --> 00:40:22,081
(lively music)
674
00:40:24,380 --> 00:40:27,980
They eat for as much as 17 hours a day
675
00:40:27,980 --> 00:40:31,039
but this does not stop them having a little tiff.
676
00:40:31,039 --> 00:40:33,622
(lively music)
677
00:40:37,882 --> 00:40:42,049
Even the babies try to work out how mommy does it.
678
00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,404
But this little one has chosen the wrong place.
679
00:40:49,404 --> 00:40:51,987
(lively music)
680
00:40:55,370 --> 00:40:57,810
Despite gorging themselves in this way,
681
00:40:57,810 --> 00:41:02,110
the adolescents need a long time before they're fully grown,
682
00:41:02,110 --> 00:41:04,780
not until they are 20 years old are the bulls
683
00:41:04,780 --> 00:41:07,553
in a position to take on other competitors.
684
00:41:09,620 --> 00:41:11,463
The herd is not alone.
685
00:41:13,700 --> 00:41:16,280
The rare hook-lipped rhinoceros
686
00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:19,870
is known to be one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
687
00:41:19,870 --> 00:41:21,800
(elephant rumbling)
688
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,900
This herd of elephants is relatively vulnerable
689
00:41:24,900 --> 00:41:26,930
because of the young calves.
690
00:41:26,930 --> 00:41:30,013
They're not able to run away very fast.
691
00:41:30,013 --> 00:41:35,013
(suspenseful music)
(birds chirping)
692
00:41:37,340 --> 00:41:39,130
The aggressive rhinoceros bull
693
00:41:39,130 --> 00:41:41,163
considers the elephants to be a threat.
694
00:41:42,532 --> 00:41:43,490
(elephant rumbling)
695
00:41:43,490 --> 00:41:46,040
But the lead cow wastes no time
696
00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:48,083
and is ready to protect her herd.
697
00:41:49,114 --> 00:41:54,114
(elephant rumbling)
(dramatic music)
698
00:41:57,400 --> 00:41:59,640
Even the rhinoceros is unlikely
699
00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:02,193
to take on a three ton heavyweight.
700
00:42:03,981 --> 00:42:06,731
(dramatic music)
701
00:42:08,425 --> 00:42:11,425
(elephant rumbling)
702
00:42:16,720 --> 00:42:18,930
The herd relaxes again.
703
00:42:18,930 --> 00:42:23,385
The younger ones are practicing contests for later life.
704
00:42:23,385 --> 00:42:25,968
(lively music)
705
00:42:30,900 --> 00:42:33,936
But they're back in someone's sites again.
706
00:42:33,936 --> 00:42:36,190
(birds chirping)
707
00:42:36,190 --> 00:42:37,120
(elephant trumpeting)
708
00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:39,360
The cows remain unperturbed.
709
00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:42,695
The young are safe as long as they are close.
710
00:42:42,695 --> 00:42:44,893
(lively music)
711
00:42:44,893 --> 00:42:48,120
(elephant trumpeting)
712
00:42:48,120 --> 00:42:50,810
As usual working out what a useful tool
713
00:42:50,810 --> 00:42:51,790
the trunk is,
(calf trumpeting)
714
00:42:51,790 --> 00:42:52,623
is fun.
715
00:42:53,809 --> 00:42:56,476
(playful music)
716
00:42:57,415 --> 00:43:00,650
(elephants rumbling)
717
00:43:00,650 --> 00:43:03,560
However peaceful the scene may appear to be,
718
00:43:03,560 --> 00:43:06,880
the elephant's face an uncertain future.
719
00:43:06,880 --> 00:43:10,550
Poachers are still keen on killing these majestic animals
720
00:43:10,550 --> 00:43:12,040
for their tusks.
721
00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:15,270
Every year, the population of African elephants
722
00:43:15,270 --> 00:43:17,183
drops by 8%.
723
00:43:18,565 --> 00:43:19,975
(elephant trumpeting)
724
00:43:19,975 --> 00:43:22,725
(birds chirping)
725
00:43:30,180 --> 00:43:31,520
Close to the Mara River,
726
00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:34,100
there are many smaller, woodland areas
727
00:43:34,100 --> 00:43:37,886
and the impalas love to retreat to these places.
728
00:43:37,886 --> 00:43:40,636
(birds chirping)
729
00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:45,880
One story higher up and the new based baboon
730
00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:47,879
keeps a watchful eye.
731
00:43:47,879 --> 00:43:49,730
(baboons growling)
(playful music)
732
00:43:49,730 --> 00:43:52,310
On the ground, it's fellow baboons are searching
733
00:43:52,310 --> 00:43:53,423
for titbits.
734
00:43:56,030 --> 00:43:59,633
The baboons dig in the ground for insects and roots.
735
00:44:03,466 --> 00:44:04,299
(baboons growling)
736
00:44:04,299 --> 00:44:05,850
To be able to ride piggyback,
737
00:44:05,850 --> 00:44:08,860
an infant has to be at least six weeks old.
738
00:44:08,860 --> 00:44:10,360
Until then, the babies cling
739
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,000
to their mother's furry underbelly.
740
00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:14,930
And once they are a year old,
741
00:44:14,930 --> 00:44:17,703
they have to fend for themselves.
742
00:44:17,703 --> 00:44:19,278
(playful music)
743
00:44:19,278 --> 00:44:22,350
(birds chirping)
744
00:44:22,350 --> 00:44:24,410
At an age of around three months,
745
00:44:24,410 --> 00:44:26,210
the young beginning to take an interest
746
00:44:26,210 --> 00:44:28,073
in each other and play together.
747
00:44:35,260 --> 00:44:37,373
The watchman issues of warning.
748
00:44:38,229 --> 00:44:41,229
(suspenseful music)
749
00:44:43,370 --> 00:44:44,803
The lion has no chance.
750
00:44:46,295 --> 00:44:49,295
(suspenseful music)
751
00:44:52,873 --> 00:44:55,090
The strong males hold their posts
752
00:44:55,090 --> 00:44:57,190
until the danger has passed,
753
00:44:57,190 --> 00:44:59,500
ready at a moment's notice to attack
754
00:44:59,500 --> 00:45:01,853
if the harem is jeopardized.
755
00:45:04,660 --> 00:45:08,560
He is a far more dangerous risk for the baboons.
756
00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:11,177
Leopards attack from an ambush.
757
00:45:11,177 --> 00:45:13,927
(birds chirping)
758
00:45:15,430 --> 00:45:18,433
The martial eagle has already found its prey.
759
00:45:19,939 --> 00:45:22,689
(birds chirping)
760
00:45:28,470 --> 00:45:30,910
It's still too hot for the leopard.
761
00:45:30,910 --> 00:45:33,963
Big cats do not go hunting until dusk,
762
00:45:36,030 --> 00:45:39,084
but they are already being watched.
763
00:45:39,084 --> 00:45:42,000
(birds chirping)
764
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:45,070
Raptors often stay close to larger hunters
765
00:45:45,070 --> 00:45:47,850
because there's a good chance that a successful hunt
766
00:45:47,850 --> 00:45:50,026
will leave something for them.
767
00:45:50,026 --> 00:45:52,776
(birds chirping)
768
00:45:54,996 --> 00:45:57,913
(leopard growling)
769
00:46:00,950 --> 00:46:04,319
But it's looking as if they will have to wait a bit.
770
00:46:04,319 --> 00:46:07,069
(birds chirping)
771
00:46:11,002 --> 00:46:13,750
(leopard growling)
772
00:46:13,750 --> 00:46:15,604
or will they?
773
00:46:15,604 --> 00:46:18,354
(birds chirping)
774
00:46:26,220 --> 00:46:29,203
No, this leopard has a rather different aim.
775
00:46:32,330 --> 00:46:35,450
He uses a secretion from an anal gland
776
00:46:35,450 --> 00:46:37,560
to mark out his territory.
777
00:46:37,560 --> 00:46:40,957
The powerful smell is a clear warning to rivals,
778
00:46:40,957 --> 00:46:42,567
"Keep your distance."
779
00:46:44,740 --> 00:46:46,440
(dramatic music)
(birds chirping)
780
00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:50,100
The black back jackals did not want to wait any longer.
781
00:46:50,100 --> 00:46:52,850
(dramatic music)
782
00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:55,420
But they're having a tough time
783
00:46:55,420 --> 00:46:57,833
keeping those annoying vultures at bay.
784
00:46:59,469 --> 00:47:02,469
(vultures chirping)
785
00:47:08,958 --> 00:47:11,791
(jackals barking)
786
00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,390
The moderately sized hunters are clearly outnumbered
787
00:47:17,390 --> 00:47:20,190
by the vultures and a fair amount
788
00:47:20,190 --> 00:47:23,938
of their freshly replaced energy gets used up again.
789
00:47:23,938 --> 00:47:26,688
(dramatic music)
790
00:47:29,527 --> 00:47:30,520
(jackal barks)
791
00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:33,300
Even a successful hunt in the Maasai Mara
792
00:47:33,300 --> 00:47:37,060
does not mean that the spoils are all one zone.
793
00:47:37,060 --> 00:47:37,893
Frequently,
794
00:47:37,893 --> 00:47:41,290
the jackals will have to relinquish their hard one carcass
795
00:47:41,290 --> 00:47:44,403
to larger hunters like lions and hyenas.
796
00:47:45,510 --> 00:47:49,080
Jackals, leopards, lions, cheaters,
797
00:47:49,080 --> 00:47:52,520
they all make sure that the life and death drama here
798
00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:55,520
is a continuous daily cycle.
799
00:47:55,520 --> 00:47:57,440
(dramatic music)
800
00:47:57,440 --> 00:47:59,110
Each of them has its own way
801
00:47:59,110 --> 00:48:00,650
to play the game
(vultures chirping)
802
00:48:00,650 --> 00:48:03,210
and each produces a slightly different
803
00:48:03,210 --> 00:48:05,313
often unexpected result.
804
00:48:06,542 --> 00:48:09,125
(lively music)
805
00:48:11,811 --> 00:48:15,410
(birds chirping)
(water babbling)
806
00:48:15,410 --> 00:48:17,530
But none of them plays the game
807
00:48:17,530 --> 00:48:21,963
in the same dramatic and unusual way as these animals.
808
00:48:22,870 --> 00:48:25,592
(water babbling)
809
00:48:25,592 --> 00:48:28,440
(suspenseful music)
810
00:48:28,440 --> 00:48:29,730
They're waiting for the day
811
00:48:29,730 --> 00:48:33,040
when once again they play the leading role
812
00:48:33,040 --> 00:48:35,613
in the greatest drama of the Maasai Mara,
813
00:48:36,528 --> 00:48:38,348
(suspenseful music)
814
00:48:38,348 --> 00:48:41,033
(birds chirping)
815
00:48:41,033 --> 00:48:44,510
(water babbling)
816
00:48:44,510 --> 00:48:47,543
the day of the wildebeest cross the river.
817
00:48:49,645 --> 00:48:52,270
(playful music)
(water babbling)
818
00:48:52,270 --> 00:48:53,240
Until that day,
819
00:48:53,240 --> 00:48:56,754
there will always be more modest roles to play.
820
00:48:56,754 --> 00:48:59,510
(birds chirping)
(playful music)
821
00:48:59,510 --> 00:49:02,260
(water babbling)
822
00:49:05,100 --> 00:49:08,010
Whether the prey is big or small,
823
00:49:08,010 --> 00:49:10,803
the director's instructions are always the same.
824
00:49:13,690 --> 00:49:16,550
Has this yellow-billed stork not noticed
825
00:49:16,550 --> 00:49:18,053
the living tree trunk?
826
00:49:19,439 --> 00:49:22,870
(playful music)
(water babbling)
827
00:49:22,870 --> 00:49:25,270
Or is that tree trunk still full up
828
00:49:25,270 --> 00:49:27,683
from its last wildebeest's supper?
829
00:49:28,788 --> 00:49:31,808
(playful music)
830
00:49:31,808 --> 00:49:32,860
(water babbling)
831
00:49:32,860 --> 00:49:34,483
Whichever way it goes,
832
00:49:35,430 --> 00:49:38,017
there's permanent tension in the air.
833
00:49:39,013 --> 00:49:41,680
(playful music)
834
00:49:48,010 --> 00:49:50,401
And whatever happens,
835
00:49:50,401 --> 00:49:55,401
(playful music)
(birds chirping)
836
00:49:57,300 --> 00:50:01,612
the result is not known in advance.
837
00:50:01,612 --> 00:50:04,279
(playful music)
838
00:50:15,231 --> 00:50:17,814
(lively music)
62187
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