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FASTER THAN A FORMULA ONE RACE CAR...
MORE THRUST THAN SPACE SHUTTLES' ROCKETS...
...AND MANEUVERS THAT PUT FIGHTER JETS TO SHAME.
THE FASTEST ANIMALS ON THE PLANET USE SPEED TO KILL.
HIGH-SPEED CAMERAS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART CGI
UNCOVER HOW THEY DO IT.
THE OPEN PLAINS OF THE SAVANNAH
ARE THE PERFECT PLAYING GROUND FOR SPEED.
BUT THIS PURSUIT OF PACE
HAS LOCKED BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY INTO AN ARMS RACE.
A WORLD OF ACTION IS HIDING
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
[GRUNTING]
COLOSSAL ARMIES MOVE ACROSS THE SAVANNAH...
THEIR MOVEMENTS DICTATED BY A GREATER POWER--
THE WEATHER.
THE SEASONAL CHANGES HERE ARE DRAMATIC
AND SET THE SCENE FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST SHOWCASES OF SPEED
ON THE PLANET.
FROM THE FAMILIAR BIG GUNS
TO THE UNEXPECTED
AND JUST DOWNRIGHT WEIRD...
EXPLOSIVE ACTION SLOWED DOWN 40 TIMES
EXPOSES THE DRAMA OF THIS ANCIENT BATTLEGROUND,
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
FOR THREE MONTHS A YEAR,
THE RICH VOLCANIC SOILS OF THE SOUTHERN SERENGETI
HOST A 5,000-SQUARE-MILE DINNER PARTY.
THE ANNUAL RAINS GIVE BIRTH
TO A CARPET OF DELICIOUS SHORT GRASS,
DRAWING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WILDEBEEST, ZEBRAS, GAZELLES,
AND OTHER ANTELOPE IN FOR THE FEAST.
BUT AT THIS BANQUET,
PREDATORS COME WITH DINNER PLANS OF THEIR OWN.
WITH BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY CONGREGATING HERE
YEAR AFTER YEAR,
THESE VAST, OPEN PLAINS HAVE PLAYED HOST
TO SOME INCREDIBLE EVOLUTIONARY EXPERIMENTS WITH SPEED.
THE FASTER THE PREDATOR RUNS FOR HIS DINNER,
THE FASTER THE PREY NEEDS TO BE FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
THOMSON'S GAZELLE ARE HIGHLY STRUNG.
YOU WOULD BE, TOO,
IF 10 MILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTIONARY DESIGN IN SPEED
WAS FOLLOWING YOU AROUND.
EACH EYE CAN SEE NEARLY 180 DEGREES.
BUT THEY HAVE TO BALANCE THEIR NEED TO EAT
WHILE TIMES ARE PLENTY
WITH THEIR NEED TO KEEP A LOOKOUT.
SURVIVAL HERE IS ALL ABOUT A HEAD START IN THE PACE RACE.
GAZELLES ARE FAST...
VERY FAST.
WHEN THEY'VE GOT A HUNGRY PREDATOR ON THEIR TAIL,
THEY'RE REACHING SPEEDS OF 50 MILES PER HOUR.
THEIR SLOWER-MOVING ANCESTORS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SURVIVE IN THIS MODERN SPEED-DRENCHED WORLD.
THEIR SECRET WEAPON?
TOENAILS.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOOF IN MODERN ANTELOPE--
ESSENTIALLY A MODIFIED TOENAIL--
HAS ENABLED THE BONES OF THE FEET TO STAY OFF THE GROUND.
STRUCTURALLY, GAZELLES NOW RUN ON THEIR TIPTOES,
FREEING UP THE REST OF THE FOOT BONES
TO BECOME A PART OF THE LEG.
AND THEY'VE TAKEN IT TO THE EXTREME.
WHAT WAS ONCE THE BONE BETWEEN THE ANKLE AND TOES
IS NOW AS LONG AS THE OTHER PARTS OF THE LEG,
INCREASING THEIR HEIGHT BY SEVERAL INCHES.
LONGER LEGS EQUALS LONGER STRIDE,
EQUALS GREATER SPEED.
AND WITH THIS NEW DESIGN,
THE LONGER BACK LEGS ARE ARRANGED
IN A PERMANENT SPRINTER'S CROUCH,
ALLOWING THE GAZELLE TO EXPLODE FORWARD WITH MAXIMUM THRUST,
WHICH IS PRETTY USEFUL WHEN THE FASTEST ANIMAL ON THE PLANET
IS ON THE PROWL.
THE CHEETAH IS UNDISPUTED KING OF SPEED,
HOLDING NATURE'S LAND SPEED RECORD
FOR 10 MILLION CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
IT REACHES TOP SPEEDS OF 75 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT ITS ACCELERATION IS WHAT'S TRULY IMPRESSIVE.
IT LEAVES MOST OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST SUPERCARS IN ITS DUST.
THE FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI OR McLAREN IS NO MATCH.
ZERO TO 60 IN THREE SECONDS--
OR JUST THREE STRIDES.
AERODYNAMICS AND A LIGHTWEIGHT FRAME
ENABLE THIS ASTONISHING ACCELERATION.
WEIGHING IN AT ONLY 125 POUNDS,
ITS MUSCLES DON'T HAVE TO CARRY MUCH WEIGHT,
TRANSLATING INTO ACCELERATION INSTEAD.
AND A SMALL HEAD, FLATTENED RIB CAGE AND SLENDER LEGS
MINIMIZE AIR RESISTANCE.
ONCE IT REACHES TOP SPEED,
UNIQUE DESIGN FEATURES SUSTAIN THIS SPEED.
THE CHEETAH HAS AN EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE SPINE,
AS WELL AS PIVOTING HIPS
AND SHOULDER BLADES THAT ARE NOT ATTACHED TO THE COLLARBONE.
THIS ALLOWS THE FRONT AND REAR LEGS
TO STRETCH FURTHER APART WHEN FULLY EXTENDED,
AND MOVE CLOSER TOGETHER WHEN THE FEET COME UNDER ITS BODY,
INCREASING THE CHEETAH'S STRIDE LENGTH TO AN AMAZING 25 FEET.
THE CHEETAH MOVES SO QUICKLY
TWICE DURING EACH STRIDE HAVING ALL FOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND
AT THE SAME TIME.
IN A HIGH-SPEED CHASE,
THE LONG, MUSCULAR TAIL WORKS AS A STABILIZING RUDDER.
EVEN ITS FEET ARE MODIFIED FOR SPEED.
UNLIKE OTHER CATS, CHEETAH'S FOOTPADS ARE HARD AND FLAT,
LIKE TIRE TREADS.
AND THEIR SHORT, BLUNT CLAWS DO NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY
LIKE LIONS AND LEOPARDS.
THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR GRIP,
LIKE THE CLEATS OF A TRACK SHOE.
THESE MODIFICATIONS PROVIDE THE CHEETAH WITH INCREASED TRACTION
IN FAST, SHARP TURNS.
OF COURSE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTOR TO DRIVE THIS SYSTEM.
THE CHEETAH'S ENLARGED NOSTRILS
ALLOW AN INCREASE OF AIRFLOW TO THE LUNGS.
THE RESPIRATORY RATE CLIMBS TO 150 BREATHS A MINUTE,
TWICE AS FAST AS HUMANS.
AND THE MASSIVE, STRONG HEART
RAPIDLY PUMPS THE OXYGENATED BLOOD TO THE MUSCLES.
BUT SPEED COMES AT A PRICE--
OVERHEATING IS A PROBLEM FOR ANY ANIMAL
TESTING THE LIMITS OF SPEED.
RUN TOO FAST FOR TOO LONG, AND YOUR BODY COOKS--
ESPECIALLY THE BRAIN.
THE RESULT--CHEETAH SPEED COMES WITH LIMITED RANGE,
AND THAT'S A WEAKNESS ITS PREY CAN EXPLOIT.
GAZELLES HAVE EVOLVED A WAY TO PREVENT THEIR BRAINS
FROM OVERHEATING.
WARM BLOOD FROM THE HEART IS COOLED
IN AN ENLARGED SINUS AREA
BEFORE IT GETS TO THE BRAIN.
A CHEETAH HAS TO STOP RUNNING WHEN ITS BODY--AND BRAIN--
REACHES 105 DEGREES.
BUT A GAZELLE CAN KEEP ITS BRAIN TEMPERATURE AT 105 DEGREES
EVEN IF ITS BODY TEMPERATURE RISES TO 109 DEGREES.
THIS ABILITY TO KEEP A COOL HEAD
ALLOWS GAZELLE TO SUSTAIN HIGH SPEEDS
FOR LONGER THAN THEIR NEMESIS, THE CHEETAH.
SIX SECONDS INTO THE CHASE,
AND THIS CHEETAH'S INSANE TOP SPEED
HAS ALREADY PUT IT ON THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL.
12 SECONDS, ITS HEART IS TAKING SERIOUS STRAIN,
AND ITS BRAIN TEMPERATURE IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE
TO THE MAXIMUM IT CAN HANDLE.
17 SECONDS, AND IT'S FORCED TO GIVE UP THE CHASE.
THIS CHEETAH HAS COVERED JUST UNDER HALF A MILE AT TOP SPEED,
ITS HEART AND BRAIN PUSHED TO THE ABSOLUTE LIMITS.
FIVE MORE SECONDS,
AND IT WOULD PROBABLY COLLAPSE MID-SPRINT,
AND BE DEAD BY THE TIME ITS BODY CAME TO A STANDSTILL
ON THE DUSTY PLAINS.
SO WHEN THE HEAT IS ON, IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMING.
CHEETAHS HAVE THE EDGE ON ACCELERATION AND TOP SPEED,
GAZELLES HAVE THE EDGE ON SUSTAINING THAT SPEED
WITHOUT OVERHEATING.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHO GETS A HEAD START.
THAT SPLIT-SECOND TIMING IS TESTED OVER AND OVER,
WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS...
DEPENDING, OF COURSE, ON WHOSE VIEWPOINT YOU CHOOSE.
SHARP TURNS AND HUGE LEAPS ARE DESPERATE ATTEMPTS
TO STAY OUT OF REACH LONG ENOUGH TO OUTLAST THE CHEETAH.
IT'S DOWN TO THE WIRE.
CAN THE CHEETAH'S SUPERIOR SPEED CLOSE THE GAP
BEFORE TEMPERATURE FORCES IT TO STOP?
ONE WRONG MOVE, OR A BIT SLOW OFF THE MARK,
AND THE SUCCESS FOR THE CHEETAH IS AN EPIC FAIL FOR THE GAZELLE.
BUT BEING THE FASTEST ANIMAL ON EARTH CAN BE A CURSE.
A CHASE LEAVES IT OVERHEATING,
AND ITS SMALL, AERODYNAMIC HEAD DESIGN
DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH ROOM FOR BIG TEETH OR STRONG JAWS.
IN CONTRAST, THERE'S ANOTHER PREDATOR OUT HERE
THAT LIMITS ITS SPEED TO SHORT BURSTS
AND HAS HUGE, MURDEROUS JAWS
WITH THE STRONGEST BITE ON THE PLANET.
THIS SERENGETI SAVANNAH SPEED FEST DOESN'T LAST LONG.
A FEW WEEKS,
AND THE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DISSIPATE INTO THIN AIR.
IT'S THE START OF THE LONG DRY SEASON.
THE WILDEBEESTS, ALONG WITH GAZELLES AND ZEBRAS,
MUST HEAD NORTH AGAIN,
WHERE THE GRASS IS NOT AS NUTRITIOUS,
BUT AT LEAST THE PERMANENT WATER SOURCES ON THE NORTHERN PLAINS
ARE MORE RELIABLE.
IT WON'T RAIN HERE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SEVEN MONTHS.
SPEEDY GETAWAY TACTICS TAKE A BACK SEAT.
AN EPIC ENDURANCE TEST AWAITS.
IT'S HIKE OR DIE.
FOR THE PREDATORS, THEIR FEAST HERE IS ALSO OVER.
THE GRASS IS NOW GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
WILDEBEEST LITERALLY FOLLOW THE STORM CLOUDS,
ZIGZAGGING THEIR WAY TO THE BLEAK HORIZON.
SURVIVING THE DRY SEASON MEANS HEADING NORTH,
AT ANY COST...
NO MATTER WHAT THE LANDSCAPE THROWS AT THEM.
THE INFAMOUS MARA RIVER IS THEIR GREATEST CHALLENGE.
THE WET SEASON RAINS HAVE TURNED THIS MUDDY, LITTLE STREAM
INTO A FRIGHTENING OBSTACLE.
DEEP BANKS CARVED BY ENDLESS WET SEASON FLOODS
STOP THE WILDEBEEST IN THEIR TRACKS.
THEY PROBABLY KNOW THERE'S MORE TO THIS RIVER
THAN MEETS THE EYE.
THE RAGING WATERS ARE THE LEAST OF THEIR WORRIES.
HERE BE MONSTERS.
LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE,
ANCIENT BEASTS ARE HUNGRY.
SOME HAVEN'T EATEN IN MONTHS.
AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT MIGRATION
IS A CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE
BOTH THEIR STEALTH AND THEIR ASTONISHING SPEED.
WITHIN A FEW DAYS,
ONE AND A HALF MILLION WILDEBEEST HAVE ARRIVED.
THEIR INSTINCTS DRAWING THEM ACROSS,
BUT THEIR SENSIBILITIES HOLD THEM BACK.
THEY SENSE MORTAL DANGER.
THEY MASS UP AGAINST THE BANKS IN EVER-INCREASING NUMBERS.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
IT'S A NUMBERS GAME.
JUMP IN WITH A MILLION OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS,
AND HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT THE STATISTIC.
THEY'RE DESPERATE TO GET THROUGH AS FAST AS POSSIBLE,
BUT WITHOUT SOLID GROUND UNDER THEIR FEET,
THEY'VE COMPROMISED THEIR SPEEDY GETAWAY TACTICS.
THE MASSIVE NILE CROCODILES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
FOR MONTHS.
SURPRISINGLY, THESE MASSIVE REPTILES
ARE FARSIGHTED UNDERWATER,
UNABLE TO FOCUS ON OBJECTS CLOSE BY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THE MASSACRE.
SENSORY PITS IN THE SCALES ALONG THE SIDE OF THE JAW
CAN DETECT VIBRATIONS IN THE WATER.
THEY CAN STILL HUNT IN EVEN THE DARKEST, MURKIEST RIVERS.
AMBUSH IN THE SHALLOWS IS THE CROC'S NORMAL STRATEGY.
MASSIVE MUSCLES IN THE HIND LEGS AND TAIL
LAUNCH THE CROC OUT OF THE WATER
AT AN INCREDIBLE 43 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT THEY NEED TO GET SERIOUSLY CLOSE TO STRIKE.
EYES, EARS AND NOSTRILS ON TOP OF THE HEAD
ALLOW IT TO REMAIN SUBMERGED, HIDDEN FROM VIEW,
EVEN IN ONLY A FEW INCHES OF WATER.
WITHOUT WARNING, IT EXPLODES OUT OF THE WATER,
HUGE JAWS CLAMPING DOWN
WITH A FORCE OF 3,700 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH--
BY FAR THE STRONGEST BITE OF ANY ANIMAL ON THE PLANET.
BUT HERE IN THE MARA,
THE SNEAKY, LIE-IN-WAIT TACTICS OF THE CROCODILIANS
ARE ABANDONED.
DINNER IS SERVED IN THE WATER,
AND THE PICKINGS ARE EASY.
ONE TOE IN THE WATER, AND YOU ENTER THE DANGER ZONE.
WAVE AFTER WAVE OF WILDEBEEST
CONTINUE TO CRASH DOWN THE BANKS.
MASS PANIC DRIVES THEM FORWARD,
AS INVISIBLE PREDATORS LAUNCH ATTACKS
IN THE DEEP, FAST-FLOWING WATER.
BUT EVEN REACHING THE SHALLOWS OF THE OPPOSITE BANK
IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU'VE MADE IT.
SOME CROSSING POINTS ARE TRAPS--
THE BANKS TOO STEEP FOR THE HOOFED ANIMALS TO CLIMB OUT.
THE ONLY ESCAPE IS BACK INTO THE DEADLY WATER.
THE WAVES OF WILDEBEEST SEEM ENDLESS.
DAYS BECOME WEEKS,
AND STILL THE FAT REPTILIAN MONSTERS ARE HUNTING.
SOME KILL WITHOUT EVER SHOWING THEIR FACES.
FINALLY, AS THE LAST STRAGGLERS OF THE HUGE HERDS
TAKE THE PLUNGE,
THE END IS IN SIGHT.
WITH ONE LAST BITE, THE SLAUGHTER ENDS.
THE SACRIFICE TO GET TO GREENER PASTURES HAS BEEN IMMENSE.
THOUSANDS OF WILDEBEEST ARE DEAD.
SOME DROWNED, SOME TRAMPLED,
AND OTHERS TORN APART BY THE MASSIVE NILE CROCODILES.
BUT THESE LARGE REPTILES ARE NOT THE ONLY RIVER HUNTERS
TO USE SPEED TO KILL.
WHERE THE WATERS RUN STILL, OR SPILL INTO SMALL LAKES,
THE SKIMMER HAS MORE SERENE METHODS TO ITS ***.
ITS BEAK IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
IN PROFILE, THE OVERSIZED LOWER MANDIBLE LOOKS STRANGE.
BUT FROM THE FRONT, IT IS POSITIVELY BIZARRE.
IT'S FLATTENED LIKE A PAIR OF SCISSORS,
DESIGNED TO SLICE THROUGH THE WATER AT HIGH SPEED
ON A FISH-FINDING MISSION.
THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT
WHEN FISH COME TO THE SURFACE TO FEED.
BUT FOR A FEW WEEKS A YEAR,
THEY'RE FORCED TO HUNT BY DAY.
THE DEMANDS OF PARENTHOOD MEAN EATING FOR TWO,
AND THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE NIGHT TO COPE.
LONG SCIMITAR-SHAPED WINGS ARE AERODYNAMICALLY DESIGNED
FOR FLYING LOW AND FAST, HUNTING BY FEEL.
CRUISING AT 40 MILES PER HOUR,
THEY DIP THEIR OVERSIZED LOWER MANDIBLE INTO THE WATER.
IF THE SUPERSONIC SUBMARINE BLADE TOUCHES A FISH,
IT INSTINCTIVELY SNAPS ITS BEAK SHUT.
IT'S A BLIND ASSAULT AT SPEED--
NEITHER SKIMMER NOR FISH KNOW WHAT HITS THEM,
UNTIL IT HAPPENS.
A SCISSOR MOVE CATCHES THE FISH SIDEWAYS IN ITS BILL.
FISH OUT OF WATER, AND IT'S ALL OVER.
THE SAVANNAH SEASON IS COMING FULL CYCLE.
WILDEBEEST ARE RESTLESS AGAIN.
THE PROMISE OF RAINS IN THE SERENGETI
PROMPTS AN EXODUS FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS.
THE HERDS, FAT WITH A NEW GENERATION
GROWING IN THEIR BELLIES, HEAD SOUTH.
BUT WHEREVER THEY GO, HUNGRY EYES ARE ALWAYS WATCHING.
LIONS ARE THE HEAVYWEIGHTS OF THE SAVANNAH--
THE LARGEST OF THE SAVANNAH CARNIVORES BY A LONG SHOT.
[GRUNTING]
BUT FOR SUCH HEAVY CATS,
THEIR BRUTE POWER TRANSLATES INTO SERIOUS BURSTS OF SPEED.
THEY NEED TO GET CLOSE.
THE WILDEBEEST CAN MATCH THE LIONS' 50 MILES PER HOUR.
AND THESE BIG CATS CAN ONLY MAINTAIN THIS TOP SPEED
FOR 300 FEET, UNLIKE CHEETAHS,
WHO CAN RUN EIGHT TIMES THIS DISTANCE AT FULL THROTTLE.
SAFETY IS IN NUMBERS.
THOUSANDS OF EYES KEEP A LOOKOUT
FOR ANY PREDATOR THAT CROSSES THE LINE.
WANDER AWAY FROM THE HERD, AND YOU MAKE YOURSELF A TARGET.
LIONS CAN USE THEIR BULK TO BRING DOWN ANIMALS
TWICE THEIR OWN WEIGHT.
LUNGING FOR THE THROAT, SHE BITES DOWN ON THE WINDPIPE,
MAINTAINING THE GRIP UNTIL THE WILDEBEEST STOPS MOVING.
DEATH BY SUFFOCATION...
AND THE MIGRATION FOR THIS WILDEBEEST IS OVER.
ANOTHER FAMILY OF HUNTERS ALSO MAINTAINS A TERRITORY
ON THE SAVANNAHS.
THE MORNING SUNSHINE GETS THIS GANG OF MEERKATS
OUT OF THEIR SIX-FOOT-DEEP SLEEPING CHAMBERS.
IT'S TIME TO EAT.
EVERY NIGHT THEY LOSE 5% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT
FROM SHIVERING, TRYING TO KEEP WARM.
THEY FORAGE COMMUNALLY,
BUT UNLIKE THE BIG, TAN CATS, THEY DON'T SHARE THEIR MEALS,
AND THEY HAVE TO WATCH THEIR BACKS.
THEY'RE NOT TOP DOG ON THESE PLAINS.
THEIR TOP SPEED IS 20 MILES PER HOUR--
IMPRESSIVE FOR AN ANIMAL THIS SIZE,
AND USEFUL FOR ESCAPING DANGER.
WHICHEVER MEERKAT IS BEST FED AT THE TIME
GOES ON SENTRY DUTY,
WHILE THE REST HUNT FOR FOOD.
MOST OF THEIR PREY IS FOUND UNDERGROUND.
THEY WILL DIG THEIR OWN BODY WEIGHT IN SOIL
IN SEVERAL SECONDS JUST TO GET A SMALL INSECT.
SHARP FRONT CLAWS ARE CURVED AND ACT AS SHOVELS,
SHOVELING TEN LOADS A SECOND.
AN EXTRA EYELID CALLED A NICTITATING MEMBRANE
ACTS AS A WINDSHIELD WIPER WHEN DIRT FLIES.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO CLOSE THEIR EARS
TO KEEP THE SAND OUT.
THEIR FARSIGHTED VISION IS OUTSTANDING,
THE DARK BAND AROUND THEIR EYES REDUCING GLARE
FROM THE AFRICAN SUN.
THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DEPTH PERCEPTION,
AND STRUGGLE TO FOCUS ON ANYTHING
WITHIN 20 FEET OF THEMSELVES.
THEY RELY HEAVILY ON SMELL.
BUT STICKING YOUR NOSE FIRST ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST APPROACH.
EXPERIENCED ADULTS QUICKLY BITE THE STINGERS OFF SCORPIONS
BEFORE EATING THIS NUTRITIOUS SNACK.
BUT THESE YOUNGSTERS DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE
THE SPEEDY STING IN THE TAIL YET.
INSTINCTIVELY GOING FOR THE FATTEST, JUICIEST PART,
THE STING TAKES THEM BY SURPRISE,
NAILING THEM EVERY TIME THEY GO IN FOR A KILLER BITE.
MEERKATS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO ALL SCORPION VENOM,
AND SOME ARE DEADLY.
THIS ONE CAN'T KILL, BUT ITS LIGHTNING-FAST TAIL
IS ABOUT TO GIVE THIS YOUNG MEERKAT AN EYEFUL.
A STING TO THE EYE WON'T LEAVE ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE.
IT'S JUST A PAINFUL LIFE LESSON.
BUT ONE THING THEY ARE BORN WITH
IS THE INSTINCT TO FLEE IN A FLASH
AT THE SHAPE OF DANGER FROM THE AIR.
ABOVE, A SOARING KILLER LOOMS.
MEET THE RAPTORS.
HOOKED BEAK, STRONG, SHARP TALONS,
AND KEEN EYESIGHT.
THE WORD RAPTOR MEANS SEIZE OR PLUNDER.
THE SPEED RECORD FOR SAVANNAH BIRDS OF PREY
IS AN ASTOUNDING 200 MILES PER HOUR,
HELD BY THE HIGH-ALTITUDE HUNTER,
THE PEREGRINE FALCON.
BUT THE LOW-ALTITUDE OPERATORS
DISPLAY A MANEUVERABILITY AT SPEED
EVEN OUR ULTIMATE FIGHTER PLANES CAN'T MATCH.
IT'S A WAR ZONE OUT THERE.
HEAVY HITTERS LIKE THE MARTIAL EAGLE,
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KNOCK AN ADULT MAN OFF HIS FEET,
TARGET SMALL ANTELOPE.
STEALTH BOMBER EAGLE OWLS
AND THE SUPERSONIC, LOW-ALTITUDE ATTACKS
OF THE YELLOW-BILLED KITES
TERRIFY THE LOCAL SMALL MAMMAL POPULATION.
THEY ALL HAVE EYE MUSCLES DESIGNED FOR RAPID FOCUS
AND A HIGH-RESOLUTION RETINA.
AND THE DISTINCTIVE BEAK CURVED AT THE TIP
WITH SHARP CUTTING EDGES
SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER BIRDS.
BUT THEY DON'T USE THIS BEAK TO KILL.
TALONS ARE THEIR LETHAL WEAPONS.
POWERFUL TOE MUSCLES LITERALLY CRUSH THEIR PREY TO DEATH.
SIMILARITIES TO THE GIANT KILLER CLAWS
OF THE JURASSIC ERA RAPTORS
ARE NO COINCIDENCE.
BIRDS ARE THE CLOSEST LIVING RELATIVES OF THE DINOSAURS.
THE EVOLUTION OF FEATHERS ENABLED THEM
TO OUTMANEUVER THE PTERODACTYLS
AND RULE THE SKIES IN OUR MODERN WORLD.
BUT ONE OF THESE HUNTERS HAS RETURNED TO EARTH
FOR ITS PREFERRED HUNTING GROUND.
PALE CHANTING GOSHAWKS HAVE MUCH LONGER LEGS
THAN THEIR RELATIVES.
FOR HUNTING, THEY PREFER OPEN GROUND FOR A RUNNING ATTACK.
GOSHAWKS' UNUSUALLY LARGE CLAW ON THEIR SECOND TOE
IS REMINISCENT OF THE CURVED TALONS OF THE VELOCIRAPTOR.
THEY CHASE THE SMALLEST MOVEMENTS
AND ONLY USE THEIR WINGS SPARINGLY.
FINGER-LIKE OUTER FLIGHT FEATHERS,
EACH ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED SEPARATELY,
ALLOW IT TO FLY AT STALLING SPEED,
AND ITS LONG, BROAD TAIL GIVES IT MANEUVERABILITY.
WITH THE BEST EYESIGHT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM--
EIGHT TIMES BETTER THAN HUMANS--
EVEN THE MOST CAMOUFLAGED INSECTS GIVE THEMSELVES AWAY
WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT.
A RUNNING JUMP LAUNCHES THE GOSHAWK, TALONS FIRST,
AT ITS TARGET.
THIS LOCUST FALLS TO KILLER SPEED.
BUT IT'S THE ARRIVAL OF THE MIGRATION
BACK ON THE SOUTHERN SERENGETI PLAINS
THAT BRINGS OUT THE BIG GUNS.
AND THIS TIME, AN EVEN BIGGER FEAST IS LINED UP.
THE HERDS ARE REPLENISHING THEIR LOST NUMBERS.
AND LIKE EVERYTHING THEY DO, THEY DO IT TOGETHER.
WILDEBEEST, GAZELLES AND ZEBRAS WAIT UNTIL THE RAINS
HIT THE SHORT GRASS PLAINS AGAIN BEFORE THEY GIVE BIRTH,
EVEN HOLDING THEIR UNBORN BABIES INSIDE UNTIL THEY GET HERE.
ABOUT 80% OF THE FEMALES GIVE BIRTH
WITHIN THE SAME TWO- TO THREE-WEEK PERIOD.
THE PLAINS ARE SOON TEEMING WITH BABIES.
AS ENDEARING AS THEY ARE,
IN THE PREDATORS' EYES, THEY'RE JUST AN EASY MEAL.
BUT THE OVERWHELMING NUMBERS CREATE A GLUT,
MEANING MORE CALVES CAN SURVIVE
THOSE VULNERABLE BUT CRUCIAL FIRST FEW WEEKS.
WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRA CALVES HANG WITH THE HERD FOR PROTECTION.
GAZELLE FAWNS HIDE IN THE GRASS, MOTIONLESS.
EITHER WAY, WITHIN MINUTES OF BIRTH
THEY MUST BE ABLE TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.
THESE ZEBRAS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF A PRECIOUS RESOURCE--
WATER.
BUT IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE,
PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
MOTHERS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
HAVE YOUNG CHARGES IN THEIR CARE.
AND THESE MOTHERS KNOW ALL TOO WELL
THE UNSEEN PREDATORS WILL TARGET THEIR BABIES.
THIS WATERHOLE IS THE PERFECT SITE FOR AN AMBUSH ATTACK.
LIONS.
THEY'VE BEEN SPOTTED.
BUT LIONS HUNT IN A PRIDE.
ONE WRONG MOVE DOESN'T MEAN ALL IS LOST.
PLAN "B" KICKS INTO ACTION--
CREATE CHAOS AND CONFUSION.
THESE ARE THE BIGGEST CARNIVORES IN AFRICA.
WITH TEAMWORK, THEY CAN TAKE DOWN ANIMALS
WEIGHING OVER 2,000 POUNDS.
BUT WHY PUNCH ABOVE YOUR WEIGHT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
DESPITE THE APPARENT CHAOS,
THEIR TARGET HAS ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN.
IT'S THE INVISIBLE MEMBER OF THE PRIDE WHO DOES THE DIRTY WORK.
SHE WAS LYING IN WAIT FROM THE GET-GO.
THIS CLOSE, HER SHORT BURST OF SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE.
[ZEBRA SQUEALS]
THE REST OF THE PRIDE DROVE THIS YOUNG ZEBRA
RIGHT INTO THE PERFECT AMBUSH.
USING THEIR POWER AND SPEED TO INSTINCTIVELY WORK TOGETHER
FOR A BLOODY, SINGLE-MINDED PURPOSE.
THIS BRUISER ON THE SAVANNAH DOESN'T BOTHER STALKING.
IN SPITE OF ITS REPUTATION
AS AN INFAMOUS AND EFFECTIVE SCAVENGER,
HYENAS KILL, RATHER THAN STEAL, MOST OF THEIR FOOD.
THIS MEAN MACHINE JUST STRUTS IN,
PURPOSELY NOT CONCEALING ITSELF,
JUST TO MEASURE UP ITS PREY.
THE YOUNG, THE OLD, THE SICK, THE WEAK.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
SPOTTED HYENAS ARE BUILT FOR THE CHASE
IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY THAN CHEETAHS AND LIONS.
IN A SPRINT THEY CAN REACH IMPRESSIVE SPEEDS
OF NEARLY 40 MILES PER HOUR,
BUT IT'S THEIR ENDURANCE SPEEDS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEIR RUTHLESS SUCCESS.
THEY CAN SUSTAIN SPEEDS OF 30 MILES PER HOUR
OVER A DISTANCE OF THREE MILES,
RUNNING DOWN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE SAVANNAH TO EXHAUSTION.
STRONG WELL-DEVELOPED NECK AND FOREQUARTERS
DWARF THE REST OF THEIR BODY,
GIVING THEM THEIR SINISTER SLOPED-BACK GAIT.
THESE MUSCLES FUEL THE STAYING POWER
IN A LONG DISTANCE RUN,
AS WELL AS PROVIDING THE POWER TO THEIR JAWS--
A BITE FORCE OF OVER 800 POUNDS--
MORE POWERFUL THAN THAT OF A LION OR A TIGER--
ALLOWS THEM TO CRUSH EVEN THE BIGGEST BONES IN THEIR PREY.
THEIR REMARKABLE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
CAN DISSOLVE LARGE BONES, AND EVEN TEETH, IN HOURS.
THE ONLY THING THEY CAN'T DIGEST IS HAIR.
THE MOTHER GAZELLE DESPERATELY TRIES TO DISTRACT THEM,
BUT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON A SURE THING--
HER BABY.
HYENAS OFTEN USE A TAG-TEAM APPROACH,
ROTATING IN AND OUT AS THEY CHASE DOWN PREY.
THE FRANTIC SPEED OF THE GAZELLES CONTRASTS SHARPLY
WITH THE MEASURED LOPE OF THE HYENAS,
SLOWLY BUT SURELY CLOSING THE GAP,
UNTIL TEAM HYENA TAKES CONTROL.
[HYENA SHRIEKS]
ONCE WITHIN JAW'S REACH,
IT'S GAME OVER FOR THIS YOUNG FAWN.
HYENA CLANS CAN NUMBER UP TO 80 INDIVIDUALS.
THEN THERE'S NOTHING ON THE SAVANNAH
THAT CAN STAND IN THEIR WAY...
NOT EVEN THE KING OF BEASTS.
BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE FIGHTING GOING ON
DURING BABY BOOMER MONTH.
THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND.
10 MINUTES AFTER BIRTH, WILDEBEEST CAN RUN,
AND WITHIN DAYS CAN KEEP UP WITH THE ADULT HERD.
IN THE PANICKY CROWDS ON THE SAVANNAH,
THIS YOUNGSTER HAS NOT ONLY LOST HIS MOM,
BUT HAS LOST HIS WHOLE HERD.
ANY LARGE MOVING OBJECT IN THE ABSENCE OF MOM--
EVEN LARGE PREDATORS.
BUT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO BE LOOKING FOR PARENTAL GUIDANCE.
LION INSTINCTS ARE TO CHASE AND KILL.
A SHORT BURST OF SPEED,
AND THE OUTSTRETCHED CLAWS OF THE YOUNG LIONESS
STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS.
BUT THEN SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAPPENS.
COULD BE THE FULL BELLIES OR THE CHILDLIKE CURIOSITY,
BUT THESE YOUNG LIONS DECIDE TO PLAY WITH THEIR FOOD
BEFORE KILLING IT.
EVENTUALLY, HUNGRY OR NOT, THE INEVITABLE HAS TO HAPPEN.
DESPITE ITS BRAVE BURSTS OF SPEED...
THIS WILDEBEEST CALF IS DOOMED BY PRIMAL FELINE INSTINCTS.
EVEN IN A TIME OF PLENTY,
THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESIST A FREE LUNCH.
THE SAVANNAH IS A VERITABLE PLAYING GROUND FOR SPEED.
PREDATORS LARGE AND SMALL EACH HAVE THEIR OWN APPROACH.
STEALTH.
STRENGTH.
TEAMWORK.
ENDURANCE.
BUT OF ALL THE SAVANNAH'S SPEED KILLERS,
THE CHEETAH STILL TAKES THE CAKE.
ON OCCASION, A BAND OF BROTHERS WILL EVEN WORK TOGETHER
TO TARGET LARGER PREY.
AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, IT'S A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.
THEY DON'T QUITE HAVE THE TEAM PLANNING AND COORDINATION
THAT LIONS HAVE.
AND THEIR LIGHTWEIGHT FRAME LACKS MUSCLE BULK,
MAKING THE TAKEDOWN TOUGH, EVEN DANGEROUS.
THE CHEETAH IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE FASTEST ANIMAL HERE
BY A LONG SHOT.
IT'S NATURE'S ULTIMATE SPEED DEMON,
ON THIS ANCIENT BATTLEGROUND
WHERE SPEED KILLS.