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THE NAMIB...
ONE OF THE OLDEST, DRIEST,
AND MOST INHOSPITABLE DESERTS ON EARTH.
BUT STILL, LIFE EXISTS.
IN AN UNFORGIVING LAND,
ONE REMARKABLE MAMMAL RELIES ON TEAMWORK TO SURVIVE.
MEERKATS STAND AROUND 11 INCHES TALL,
BUT THEY DO SO SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER.
LIVING UNDER THE CONSTANT THREAT OF PREDATORS
AND DURESS OF THE DRY SEASON,
THIS LITTLE FAMILY WILL BE TESTED TO THEIR LIMITS.
BUT WILL THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE LIFE IN THE NAMIB?
MEET THE MEERKATS.
THIS WILY GANG IS A TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY OF FIVE.
HEAD OF THIS MINI MOB IS FOUR-YEAR-OLD FEMALE OLIVIA.
SHE'S BEEN THE CLAN'S LEADER FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
BEING THE BOSS HAS ITS ADVANTAGES,
CHIEF AMONG THEM ARE BREEDING RIGHTS.
EVERY DOMINANT FEMALE HAS A DOMINANT MALE BY HER SIDE,
AND OLIVIA'S MATE IS MASON.
HE'S THREE YEARS HER SENIOR
AND FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF HIS LEADING LADY.
IN MEERKAT SOCIETY, COOPERATION IS KEY TO SURVIVAL.
THREE SUBORDINATE ADULTS ASSIST OLIVIA AND MASON.
BILL AND TED ARE BROTHERS FROM THE PAIR'S FIRST LITTER,
AND CHLOE IS OLIVIA'S SISTER.
IN OTHER REGIONS OF AFRICA,
GROUPS CAN HAVE AS MANY AS 50 MEMBERS.
BUT THIS TINY FAMILY LIVE IN AN AREA
WHERE DEADLY PREDATORS KEEP NUMBERS DOWN.
LAST YEAR THE GROUP SUFFERED ITS HEAVIEST LOSSES.
NEARLY HALF THE CLAN WERE CLAIMED BY THE DESERT
AND ITS ARMY OF ANIMAL ASSASSINS.
FOR A MAMMAL THAT RELIES ON SAFETY IN NUMBERS,
THE LOSS HAS LEFT THE FAMILY DANGEROUSLY LOW ON MEMBERS.
GROUPS THIS SMALL RISK EXTINCTION.
OLIVIA AND HER CLAN MUST INCREASE THEIR NUMBERS
IF THEY ARE TO SURVIVE THE DIFFICULT YEAR AHEAD.
NAMIBIA IS A LAND OF EXTREMES.
A PLACE OF UNTOLD BEAUTY AND UNIMAGINABLE HARDSHIPS.
THE COUNTRY LIES ON THE SOUTHWESTERN EDGE
OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
STRETCHING FOR ALMOST 1,000 MILES ALONG THE COASTLINE
IS THE NAMIB...
WHERE ONE OF THE DRIEST DESERTS ON EARTH
MEETS THE GREAT ATLANTIC OCEAN.
IN THE NAMIB, TEMPERATURES REGULARLY EXCEED
104 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
AND RAINFALL CAN BE LESS THAN AN INCH PER YEAR.
THE SEA MISTS THAT DRIFT INLAND ARE THE DESERT'S LIFEBLOOD.
TO SURVIVE THE ARID CONDITIONS,
BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS HAVE HAD TO DEVELOP UNIQUE ADAPTATIONS.
THE ANCIENT WELWITSCHIA PLANT,
OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A LIVING FOSSIL,
LOOKS LIFELESS, BUT BENEATH THE SURFACE,
LONG ROOTS TAP INTO DEEP GROUNDWATER.
IT'S SO SUPERBLY ADAPTED TO LIFE HERE,
A SINGLE PLANT MAY SURVIVE FOR UP TO 2,000 YEARS.
THESE AFRICAN DESERT ELEPHANTS HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY ENDURANCE.
SMALLER IN BODY SIZE THAN THEIR SAVANNAH COUSINS,
THEY HAVE PROPORTIONATELY LONGER LEGS AND BIGGER FEET
THAT ENABLE THEM TO WALK UP TO 45 MILES IN A DAY TO FIND WATER.
AND THE GEMSBOK, A TYPE OF ANTELOPE,
ARE ALSO UNIQUELY ADAPTED.
THEY CAN SURVIVE FOR UP TO A YEAR WITHOUT A DRINK.
UNDER THE CONSTANT DURESS OF DESERT LIFE,
MANY GROUPS RELY ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THEIR LEADERS
TO SEE THEM THROUGH.
THE FORTUNES OF MANY DEPEND UPON THE DECISIONS OF A FEW.
WHAT LITTLE RAIN THE NAMIB DOES GET
COMES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
BUT WINTER IS APPROACHING,
AND THE INHABITANTS WILL BE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS.
AS THE DESERT GROWS DRIER, FOOD WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY SCARCE.
OLIVIA AND HER LITTLE GANG ARE UP EARLY,
ON THE HUNT FOR A BITE OF BREAKFAST.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN HEAD OFF, THEY MUST FIRST WARM UP.
MEERKATS ARE THE UNAPOLOGETIC SUN-WORSHIPERS OF THE NAMIB.
THEIR MORNING RITUAL REVOLVES AROUND
RESETTING THEIR INTERNAL THERMOSTAT
AFTER THE COLD DESERT NIGHT.
FOR AN ANIMAL THAT WEIGHS LITTLE MORE THAN TWO POUNDS,
EVERY OUNCE COUNTS.
MEERKATS CAN LOSE UP TO 5% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT OVERNIGHT
JUST STAYING WARM.
SUNBATHING IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO HEAT UP
WITHOUT USING ANY MORE ENERGY.
SHORTER FUR AND DARK SKIN ON THEIR BELLIES
ACT LIKE A SOLAR PANEL TO ABSORB THE SUN'S RAYS.
BALANCING ON TWO FEET FOR LONG PERIODS
CAN TAKE ITS TOLL ON TINY LEGS.
FORTUNATELY, MEERKATS HAVE A WAY OF LIGHTENING THE LOAD.
THEIR LONG TAIL WORKS AS A TRIPOD
TAKING WEIGHT OFF TIRED TOES.
ONCE THE GROUP HAS WARMED UP,
DOMINANT FEMALE OLIVIA ISSUES THE MARCHING ORDERS.
HER "LEAD CALLS" INSTRUCT THE GROUP
IT'S TIME TO SET OFF IN SEARCH OF BREAKFAST.
THE FAMILY WILL SPEND THE DAY FORAGING
IN ONE SMALL PATCH OF THEIR 800-ACRE TERRITORY.
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS JOINING THE HUNTING PARTY TODAY.
WHILE THE REST OF THE CLAN SCOUR THE DESERT
FOR MEERKAT DELICACIES,
OLIVIA'S SISTER CHLOE WILL STAY AT HOME TO GUARD THE FORT.
LAST YEAR THE GROUP WAS LEFT IN TURMOIL WHEN THEIR MOTHER DIED.
WITH THE POSITION OF TOP CAT VACANT,
TENSIONS BETWEEN THESE COMPETING SIBLINGS RAN HIGH
AND EVENTUALLY ERUPTED INTO A VICIOUS BATTLE.
FOR WEEKS THE SISTERS FOUGHT FOR THE COVETED CROWN
UNTIL FINALLY OLIVIA EMERGED THE VICTOR.
BUT THE UNRESOLVED TENSIONS ARE NOT THE REASON
CHLOE HAS REMAINED AT HOME TODAY.
THE REAL REASON RESTS A FEW FEET BELOW HER.
SECRETED UNDERGROUND IN THE GROUP'S DEN
ARE OLIVIA'S LATEST LITTER OF PUPS.
MEERKAT BURROWS ARE A COMPLEX LABYRINTH OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS
WITH SEVERAL SLEEPING CHAMBERS
AND DOZENS OF DIFFERENT ENTRANCES...
AN ASSUMINGLY SAFE PLACE TO HIDE VULNERABLE PUPS.
BUT NO BURROW IS 100% PREDATOR-PROOF.
AND MOLE SNAKES OFTEN SEEK REFUGE
FROM THE BLISTERING SUN IN TUNNELS.
IN AN UNGUARDED BURROW, PUPS CAN EASILY FALL VICTIM.
IT'S FOR THIS REASON
OLIVIA'S GANG RARELY LEAVE THEIR YOUNG UNATTENDED.
WHILE THE REST OF THE FAMILY FILL THEIR BELLIES,
THE ON-DUTY BABYSITTER IS FORCED INTO AN ALL-DAY FAST
LOOKING AFTER THE YOUNG.
SOME SUBORDINATE FEMALES GO ONE STEP FURTHER.
OFTEN A FEMALE MEERKAT WILL TAKE OVER THE NURSING
OF THE DOMINANT PAIR'S PUPS.
SOME ARE EVEN ABLE TO DO THIS
EVEN IF THEY HAVE NEVER GIVEN BIRTH.
IT'S CALLED SPONTANEOUS LACTATION.
SHARING THE TASK OF RAISING YOUNG
ALLOWS OLIVIA TO CONSERVE HER ENERGY.
IT GIVES THE TROOP THE BEST CHANCE
OF INCREASING THE CLAN'S NUMBERS.
AND IF THINGS GO WELL,
SHE MAY HAVE AS MANY AS FOUR LITTERS THIS YEAR.
WHILE BABYSITTER CHLOE WAITS FOR THE HOURS TO WHILE AWAY,
THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS ARE ONLY JUST GETTING UP.
GROUND SQUIRRELS LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH MEERKATS,
OFTEN OCCUPYING THE SAME TERRITORIES
AND OCCASIONALLY SHARING THE SAME BURROWS.
THIS ROWDY BUNCH MAY BE HYPER,
BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY HARMLESS TO MEERKATS.
AS VEGETARIANS, THEY ARE NEITHER A THREAT NOR COMPETITION
FOR THE GANG.
IN FACT, THEY PROVIDE QUITE A USEFUL SERVICE.
WHEN THEY'RE NOT BEING SIDETRACKED,
GROUND SQUIRRELS HELP BUILD BURROWS.
THEY DO THE TUNNELING, AND THE MEERKATS MOVE IN.
BUT FOR NOW, DOMESTIC DUTIES SEEM TO BE THE FARTHEST THING
FROM THEIR MINDS.
DISTRACTED BY THE NEIGHBORS' HIGH JINKS,
CHLOE FAILS TO NOTICE THE APPROACH OF A RIVAL MEERKAT.
THIS IS A ROVER, A SUBORDINATE MALE
WHO HAS TEMPORARILY LEFT HIS FAMILY GROUP
IN PURSUIT OF UNRELATED FEMALES.
IN LAYMAN'S TERMS,
ROVERS ARE THE UNDENIABLE DON JUANS OF THE DESERT.
BUT ROVING IS A RISKY BUSINESS.
SUBORDINATE MALES OFTEN HAVE TO TRAVEL
ACROSS RIVAL TERRITORIES ALONE.
AS HE BRAVELY APPROACHES THE BURROW,
THE ROVER LEAVES HIS UNIQUE CALLING CARD.
SCENT MARKING IS THE MEERKATS' WAY
OF ADVERTISING THEIR PRESENCE AND STAKING OUT TERRITORY.
GLANDS AT THE BASE OF THE TAIL EXCRETE A PUNGENT SECRETION,
WHICH LINGERS LONG AFTER THE INTRUDER HAS LEFT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY,
IT TELLS THE FEMALE THERE'S AN UNRELATED MALE IN THE AREA.
ALL OF HIS ADVERTISING PAYS OFF.
CHLOE GETS THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.
ABANDONING HER DUTIES,
SHE LEAVES THE PRECIOUS PUPS UNGUARDED.
WHILE THE COUPLE GET BETTER ACQUAINTED,
UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, TROUBLE IS HEADING THEIR WAY.
THIS IS A BLACK-BACKED JACKAL.
HE'S UP TO NO GOOD.
THOUGH JACKALS GET MUCH OF THEIR FOOD FROM SCAVENGING,
THEY ARE ALSO SKILLED HUNTERS
AND POSE ONE OF THE DEADLIEST THREATS TO MEERKATS.
IF THIS PREDATOR PICKS UP THE PAIR'S SCENT
OR THAT OF THE PUPS,
CHLOE'S DATE COULD END IN DISASTER.
THE JACKAL EDGES CLOSER TO THE CLAN'S DEN.
THE REST OF FAMILY ARE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS
TO THE DRAMA UNFOLDING AT THEIR BURROW.
OLIVIA HAS LED THEM TO AN AREA FULL OF THEIR FAVORITE FOODS--
INSECTS, LIZARDS AND SCORPIONS.
TODAY FROGS ARE ON THE MENU,
SO THE FAMILY ARE IN NO RUSH TO GET HOME.
WITH THE JACKAL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE DEN,
THERE'S NOTHING CHLOE CAN DO TO PROTECT THE PUPS NOW.
THIS TIME,
THE WAYWARD BABYSITTER CATCHES A LUCKY BREAK.
THE JACKAL PASSES BY
AND THE BURROW REMAINS UNDISCOVERED--FOR NOW.
WITH THE DANGER PAST,
THE ROVING MALE WASTES LITTLE TIME
PICKING UP WHERE THE COUPLE LEFT OFF.
BUT SOMEHOW THE MOMENT HAS PASSED.
THE GANG IS RETURNING FROM THEIR HUNT.
MEETING THE IN-LAWS IS A TRICKY AFFAIR AT THE BEST OF TIMES,
BUT THIS FIRST ENCOUNTER IS FAR FROM IDEAL.
DESPITE CHLOE'S WILLINGNESS TO ENTERTAIN HER GUEST,
GROUPS ARE RARELY TOLERANT OF SUCH TRESPASSERS.
AND DOMINANT MALE MASON IS LEADING THE CHARGE.
RAISING THEIR TAILS AND KICKING OUT THEIR BACK LEGS,
THE CLAN LAUNCH INTO WHAT IS KNOWN AS A WAR DANCE.
MEERKATS WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH
IF NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR TERRITORY.
FOR MASON, THE STAKES ARE ESPECIALLY HIGH,
BECAUSE HE IS DEFENDING HIS POSITION AS TOP MALE.
AS SOON AS THE INTRUDER IS RUN OFF,
MASON LAYS DOWN HIS OWN SCENT.
HE IS RE-ESTABLISHING THE BURROW AS HIS PROPERTY
AND SENDING HIS OWN STRONG MESSAGE,
"ROVERS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE."
OLIVIA HURRIES BELOW GROUND TO CHECK ON THE PUPS.
WITH HER SISTER OUT OF SIGHT,
CHLOE ATTEMPTS TO SLIP BACK TO THE BURROW UNDER THE RADAR.
CARRYING THE SCENT OF A RIVAL MALE COULD SPELL TROUBLE,
BUT FORTUNATELY FOR HER,
OLIVIA IS BELOW GROUND TENDING TO HER PUPS.
FOR NOW, CHLOE HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT,
BUT IF SHE FALLS PREGNANT, THINGS WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT.
TWO WEEKS LATER, THE DRY SEASON BEGINS TO TRANSFORM THE DESERT.
IN THE SHIFTING SANDS OF THE NAMIB,
FORTUNES ARE CHANGING.
THE INHABITANTS ARE FINDING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT
TO SOURCE ENOUGH FOOD TO SURVIVE.
OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS,
ANIMALS HERE HAVE EVOLVED SUBTLE BUT OFTEN CRUCIAL ADAPTATIONS
TO GIVE THEM THE EDGE IN SUCH A HARSH ENVIRONMENT.
THE LONGER LEGS OF DESERT ELEPHANTS
GIVE THEM AN ADDED HEIGHT ADVANTAGE
WHEN FEEDING ON TALL TREES.
JUST LIKE MEERKAT GROUPS,
NAMIB ELEPHANT HERDS REMAIN MUCH SMALLER THAN THOSE
IN OTHER REGIONS OF AFRICA.
THEIR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON THEIR ABILITY
TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH
THIS DIFFICULT DRY SEASON.
FOR THE MEERKAT CLAN,
THAT CHALLENGE IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.
BUT FOR NOW THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
OLIVIA'S PUPS ARE ABOUT TO MAKE THEIR WAY ABOVE GROUND
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
FEMALES CAN HAVE UP TO SEVEN PUPS IN A LITTER,
BUT THIS TIME THE FAMILY WELCOMES
ONLY THREE NEW ARRIVALS.
TWO BROTHERS, JACK AND ANDREW, AND THEIR LITTLE SISTER LILY
TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE FAMILY.
IT'S BOTH AN EXCITING AND AN ANXIOUS TIME FOR THE GROUP,
FOR PUPS THIS SIZE CAN ATTRACT THE WRONG SORT OF ATTENTION.
THE HARSH REALITY IS,
ONE IN EVERY FOUR PUPS WILL NOT MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD.
BUT AT JUST THREE WEEKS OLD,
THE YOUNG ARE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE
OF THE DANGERS THAT SURROUND THEM.
FOR NOW THEY RELY SOLELY ON THE ADULTS
FOR THEIR PROTECTION AND FOOD.
WHILE THE OTHERS KEEP WATCH,
OLIVIA GIVES HER YOUNGSTERS A FINAL FEEDING
BEFORE SHE LEADS THE GANG OFF ON THEIR DAILY FORAGE.
IT'S VITAL SHE REGAINS THE WEIGHT SHE LOST
AFTER HER 70-DAY PREGNANCY.
BUT HER PUPS ARE STILL TOO SMALL
TO JOIN THE MAIN TROOP ON THE HUNT.
THEY WILL STAY BEHIND AT THE BURROW FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR SO
UNTIL THEY ARE RESILIENT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE ADULTS.
TODAY IT'S MASON'S TURN TO BABYSIT.
THE REST OF THE CLAN SET OFF TO THE EASTERN EDGE OF THEIR RANGE.
EACH DAY THEY FORAGE IN A DIFFERENT PATCH
TO ALLOW PREVIOUSLY PLUNDERED LAND TO REGENERATE.
THE CLAN WILL SPEND UP TO EIGHT HOURS HUNTING EVERY DAY,
AND MEERKATS ARE PERFECTLY DESIGNED FOR DIGGING.
THEIR POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL AND ACUTE HEARING
ENABLE THEM TO FERRET OUT PREY HIDING BENEATH THE SAND.
THEY HAVE LONG, RIGID CLAWS WHICH ACT LIKE SHOVELS,
AND A SECOND TRANSPARENT EYELID WORKS LIKE A WINDSHIELD WIPER
TO KEEP THEIR EYES FROM GETTING CLOGGED.
WHILE MOST HAVE THEIR HEADS BURIED IN THE SAND,
ONE MEMBER OF THE GANG ACTS AS SENTRY
SCANNING THE SURROUNDING AREA FOR DANGER.
THE DARK PATCHES AROUND THEIR EYES WORK LIKE SUNGLASSES
TO REDUCE THE GLARE OF THE AFRICA SUN.
WITH A STEADY BLEEP, THE SENTINEL'S CALL
REASSURES THE REST OF THE CLAN THE COAST IS CLEAR.
MEERKAT ADULTS HAVE OVER 30 DIFFERENT CALLS
EACH WITH THEIR OWN MEANING.
[MEERKAT CALLING]
IN AN AERIAL EMERGENCY,
MEERKATS WILL OFTEN TAKE REFUGE UNDERGROUND
IN ONE OF THE COUNTLESS HIDEY-HOLES
WITHIN THEIR TERRITORY.
ALL OF THE ADULTS HAVE DETAILED KNOWLEDGE
OF THE PRECISE LOCATION OF UP TO 1,000 OF THESE HIDEOUTS.
THE GROUP WILL RARELY STRAY MORE THAN INCHES
FROM A BOLT HOLE AT ANY TIME.
KNOWING WHERE TO HIDE FROM AN AIR ATTACK
CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
BUT UNDERGROUND SHELTERS CAN'T SAFEGUARD AGAINST ALL PREDATORS.
THE CAPE COBRA IS ONE OF THE MOST VENOMOUS SNAKES IN AFRICA.
A SINGLE STRIKE FROM THIS PREDATOR CONTAINS ENOUGH VENOM
TO KILL SIX MEN,
AND UNDETECTED THEY COULD EASILY AMBUSH AN UNSUSPECTING MEERKAT.
WHEN A SENTINEL SPOTS THE SINISTER SHAPE IN THE GRASS,
HE SOUNDS THE SNAKE ALARM.
[MEERKATS GROWLING]
IT'S THEIR CUE TO BAND TOGETHER AND FORM AN AGGRESSIVE MOB.
SPARRING LIKE BOXERS, MEERKATS CONTINUALLY BOB THEIR HEADS
AND KEEP ON THE MOVE TO AVOID THE COBRA'S DEADLY STRIKE.
BARING TEETH AND USING SPIT CALLS,
THEY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE PREDATOR AWAY.
FINALLY THE COBRA RETREATS, AND THE MEERKATS WIN THE DAY.
AT THE BABYSITTING BURROW,
DOTING DAD MASON IS HAVING AN EASY TIME OF IT.
IT'S CLEAR HIS YOUNG ARE ENJOYING THEIR NEWFOUND FREEDOM.
PLAY FIGHTING ISN'T ONLY FUN,
IT HELPS THE YOUNGSTERS DEVELOP COMBAT SKILLS
THEY'LL NEED IN LATER LIFE.
WHILE THE BOYS PLAY ROUGH AND TUMBLE,
LITTLE LILY TRIES HER HAND AT DIGGING.
SHE HAS YET TO LEARN WHAT'S EDIBLE AND WHAT'S NOT.
BUT THOSE LESSONS WILL HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL SHE'S STRONG ENOUGH TO FORAGE WITH THE ADULTS.
FOR NOW, A MORNING AT THE BABYSITTING BURROW
IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO TIRE THE YOUNGSTERS OUT.
A WEEK LATER, THE PUPS' LAZY DAYS AT THE BURROW
COME TO AN END.
AT A MONTH OLD IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO JOIN THE ADULTS
ON THEIR FIRST HUNTING TRIP.
WHILE THE BROTHERS ARE RARING TO GO,
THEIR SISTER LILY NEEDS A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO LEAVE HOME.
IT'LL TAKE TWO MONTHS OF DESERT SCHOOLING
BEFORE THE PUPS LEARN TO FORAGE FOR THEMSELVES.
IN TIME THEY'LL BE TAUGHT HOW TO TACKLE DEADLY SCORPIONS,
BUT FOR NOW, THEIR CHAPERONES START THEM OFF
WITH SAFER SOLIDS.
AS THE REST OF THE GROUP TEND TO THE YOUNG,
DOMINANT MALE MASON KEEPS WATCH.
WITH VULNERABLE PUPS IN TOW,
IT'S CRUCIAL TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR DANGER.
IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE HIS VIGILANCE PAYS OFF.
OVERHEAD, A PREDATOR CIRCLES IN SEARCH OF PREY.
MASON SPOTS THE TELLTALE SILHOUETTE IN THE SKY.
IT'S A TAWNY EAGLE.
MEERKATS HAVE REMARKABLE LONG DISTANCE VISION.
THEY CAN SPOT SOME BIRDS OF PREY OVER A MILE AWAY.
HE WATCHES THE EAGLE'S EVERY MOVE.
BUT RATHER THAN BOLT AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE,
MEERKATS CLEVERLY MAKE A RISK ASSESSMENT.
ANY CLOSER AND MASON WILL RAISE THE HIGH URGENCY ALARM CALL
THAT WILL SEND EVERYONE HURTLING FOR COVER.
BUT WHILE THE GANG ARE DISTRACTED
BY THE THREAT FROM ABOVE,
THEY FAIL TO NOTICE AN EVEN MORE MENACING PRESENCE.
THE JACKAL IS BACK AND HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON THE GROUP.
MASON SPOTS THE INTRUDER
AND SOUNDS A LOW-PITCHED GLOBAL ALARM CALL.
[MEERKAT CALLING]
THE GANG IMMEDIATELY BAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE PUPS
AND PRESENT A UNITED FRONT.
[MEERKAT CALLING]
AS THE JACKAL MAKES A MOVE, THE GROUP RUNS FOR COVER,
TAKING REFUGE IN A SLEEPING BURROW.
IT'S POTENTIALLY A VERY WISE MOVE ON THE MEERKATS' PART.
UNLIKE A SINGLE ENTRANCE BOLT HOLE,
THE NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS AND CHAMBERS
OF A SLEEPING BURROW
MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE JACKAL
TO PINPOINT THEIR POSITION UNDERGROUND.
BUT JACKALS ARE PATIENT PREDATORS,
SO THE GROUP ISN'T OUT OF DANGER YET.
IF SHE CAN FIND THEM, SHE WON'T HESITATE TO DIG THEM OUT ALIVE.
WORSE YET, NOT EVERYONE HAS MADE IT TO SAFETY.
LILY HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND.
THE JACKAL HASN'T SEEN HER,
BUT SHE'S COMPLETELY ALONE AND VULNERABLE.
DISORIENTED AND UNSURE OF HER SURROUNDINGS,
LILY IS LOST, WANDERING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
SHE'S TOO YOUNG TO KNOW HOW TO FIND HER WAY TO SAFETY.
[MEERKAT CALLING]
USING A LOST CALL, SHE CRIES OUT TO THE GROUP.
IT'S A DISTRESS CALL THAT HELPS THE ADULTS LOCATE MISSING PUPS.
BUT LILY'S CRIES ARE FUTILE.
WITH A JACKAL ON THEIR DOORSTEP,
THERE IS NO WAY THE GROUP CAN COME TO HER RESCUE.
THEY ARE TRAPPED BELOW GROUND.
LATER THAT EVENING,
THE GROUP FINALLY EMERGE FROM THEIR HIDEOUT.
THEY WAIT FOR THEIR LITTLE LILY TO RETURN.
BUT AS THE LIGHT SLOWLY FADES, SO, TOO, DOES ANY HOPE
THAT THEIR LOST PUP WILL MAKE IT HOME.
IF THE JACKAL HASN'T CLAIMED LILY,
THE FREEZING DESERT NIGHT WILL.
IN A GROUP THIS SMALL, EVERY MEMBER COUNTS.
THEIR LOSS WILL BE FELT ALL THE MORE.
WITH EVERY PASSING WEEK, THE NAMIB GROWS MORE INHOSPITABLE.
AS THE DRY SEASON TIGHTENS ITS GRIP, DESERT SOILS TURN TO DUST.
A MATRIARCH LEADS HER FAMILY IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WATER.
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HER ANCESTORS,
SHE KNOWS JUST WHERE TO SEARCH.
ELEPHANTS NORMALLY DRINK EVERY DAY,
BUT THE DESERT ELEPHANT CAN GO UP TO FOUR DAYS
WITHOUT DRINKING.
EVEN IN THE DRY SEASON, WATER STILL FLOWS,
BUT DEEP UNDER THE DESERT SAND.
AND SHE KNOWS WHERE TO FIND IT.
ELEPHANTS ALSO ARE ADAPTED TO STORE WATER.
BEHIND THEIR TONGUE IS A SPECIAL SACK.
IT'S AN AREA USED PARTLY FOR COMMUNICATION
OF THEIR LONG-RANGE DEEP CALLS.
BUT THE POUCH IS ALSO ABLE TO HOLD OVER 10 QUARTS OF WATER.
[SLURPING]
THE MATRIARCH'S KNOWLEDGE ONCE AGAIN PROVES VITAL.
IN TIMES LIKE THIS,
THE EXPERIENCE OF LEADERS CAN CHANGE THE FORTUNES OF A GROUP.
A MONTH LATER, THE GROUP HAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT PART
OF THEIR TERRITORY.
THE CLAN KEEP SEVERAL SLEEPING BURROWS ACROSS THEIR HOME RANGE
AND MOVE BETWEEN THEM REGULARLY.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR NEW HOME,
THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES IN THE GROUP.
OLIVIA IS PREGNANT.
AND SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.
CHLOE IS ALSO CARRYING PUPS.
BUT HER PREGNANCY THREATENS THE VERY LIVES
OF OLIVIA'S UNBORN LITTER.
SUBORDINATE FEMALES LIKE CHLOE WILL KILL THE PUPS OF A DOMINANT
IF THEY THEMSELVES ARE PREGNANT.
THEY DO THIS TO GIVE THEIR OWN LITTER
THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
OLIVIA IS GOING TO HAVE KEEP A VERY CLOSE WATCH ON HER SISTER.
BEING PREGNANT PLACES MASSIVE DEMANDS ON BOTH THEIR BODIES.
FINDING ENOUGH FOOD HAS NEVER BEEN SO CRUCIAL.
OLIVIA SPOTS A SIZABLE MEAL.
BUT SCORPIONS RARELY GIVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT.
THEY ARE NOTHING, IF NOT SURVIVORS.
WHEN FOOD IS SCARCE, THEY CAN SLOW THEIR METABOLISM
TO AS LITTLE AS ONE-THIRD THE TYPICAL RATE.
THIS ALLOWS SOME SPECIES TO SURVIVE ON JUST A SINGLE INSECT
IN AN ENTIRE YEAR.
THE PARABUTHUS IS ONE OF THE MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.
THEIR TAIL HOLDS ENOUGH NEUROTOXIC VENOM
TO KILL A CHILD.
MEERKATS, HOWEVER, ARE IMMUNE TO THE SCORPION'S DEADLY STING.
NONETHELESS, IT'S A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE BEST AVOIDED.
KEY TO DISARMING THIS TRICKY CUSTOMER
IS CRUNCHING ON THE TOXIC TAIL.
BUT OLIVIA HAS MORE ON HER PLATE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR.
CHLOE WATCHES FROM THE WINGS.
IN A GLARING ACT OF DEFIANCE,
SHE MAKES A DIRECT CHALLENGE FOR THE BOSS' BREAKFAST.
OLIVIA ASSERTS HER AUTHORITY.
IN A FIERCE SHOW OF DOMINANCE, SHE ATTACKS HER SISTER.
IT'S A BRUTAL BEATING.
BUT OLIVIA HAS LITTLE CHOICE.
HER UNBORN LITTER MUST COME FIRST.
IN THE INTEREST OF PROTECTING HER OWN PUPS,
SHE BANISHES HER SISTER FROM THE CLAN.
EXHAUSTED FROM THE ORDEAL, CHLOE CRAWLS TO AN UNUSED BOLT HOLE.
BATTERED AND BRUISED, SHE COLLAPSES AT THE ENTRANCE.
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF HER FAMILY,
HER UNBORN PUPS STAND LITTLE HOPE OF SURVIVAL.
LATER THAT EVENING,
THE REST OF THE GROUP RETURN TO THEIR SLEEPING BURROW EARLY.
IN THE DISTANCE, STORM CLOUDS GATHER.
THIS COULD BE THE BREAK IN THE DRY SEASON
ALL THE DESERT DWELLERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
A BARKING GECKO SERENADES THE NIGHT.
IN NAMIBIA, HIS CALL ANNOUNCES THE END OF DAY
AND THE CHANGEOVER TO THE NIGHT SHIFT.
[GECKO BARKS]
WHILE OTHERS TAKE IT AS THEIR CUE
TO BEGIN THEIR NIGHTLY FORAGE,
HIS MOTIVATIONS ARE TO FIND A MATE.
THE LARGEST OF THE AFRICAN RODENTS SHUFFLES BY.
NOT QUITE THE FEMALE THIS GECKO HAD IN MIND.
PORCUPINES ARE SOLITARY FEEDERS.
GIVEN HER SIZE AND IMPRESSIVE ARMORY,
SHE'S WELL-EQUIPPED TO BRAVE THE COLD, DARK NIGHT ALONE.
SIX FEET BELOW THE GROUND, THE MEERKAT GROUP HUDDLE TOGETHER.
WITH OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES PLUMMETING TO SUBZERO,
SHARING HEAT HELPS KEEP THEIR TINY BODIES WARM.
AT LAST THE GECKO FINDS SOME COMPANY.
BUT ELSEWHERE, EVICTED FEMALE CHLOE
WILL HAVE TO ENDURE THE FREEZING COLD NIGHT ALONE.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE SHE'LL SURVIVE TILL MORNING.
THREE DAYS LATER AND STILL THE HEAVENS FAIL TO DELIVER.
THE DESERT SKIES ARE FULL OF FALSE PROMISE,
AND CLOUDS DRIFT BY WITHOUT SPILLING A DROP.
AND THERE'S MORE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ONE LONE FEMALE.
STILL BEARING THE SCARS OF HER EVICTION,
CHLOE EMERGES FROM HER SOLITARY BOLT HOLE.
AS SHE TRIES TO WARM HER TINY FRAME IN EARLY MORNING LIGHT,
HER FLAT STOMACH REVEALS A TRAGIC TRUTH.
CHLOE HAS LOST HER LITTER.
IT'S LIKELY THE STRESS OF THE EVICTION WAS TOO MUCH
FOR HER LITTLE BODY TO COPE WITH.
BEING ALONE, HER OWN CHANCES OF SURVIVAL
ARE DRASTICALLY REDUCED.
IT'S MID NOVEMBER AND THE LONG AWAITED RAINS ARE DUE.
OLIVIA AND HER FAMILY ARE FARING WELL.
HER DECISION TO MOVE THE GROUP CLOSER TO WATER
HAS SEEN THEM THROUGH THE WORST OF THE DRY SEASON.
THOUGH MEERKATS CAN GET ALL THE MOISTURE THEY NEED
FROM THEIR FOOD, WHEN PICKINGS ARE SLIM,
IT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO FIND WATER.
BUT WATER ATTRACTS ALL OF THE DESERT ANIMALS.
THE JACKAL IS BACK AND LURKING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE.
THE BOYS' USUAL GAMES MAY HAVE TO WAIT.
THE LAST TIME SHE SHOWED UP, THE BROTHERS LOST THEIR SISTER LILY.
BUT TODAY THE JACKAL HAS OTHER CONCERNS.
LESS THAN A MILE AWAY, FIVE HUNGRY CUBS CALL OUT.
HER LITTLE ONES ARE NO MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS OLD
AND STILL COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON HER FOR FOOD.
[JACKALS YELPING]
THE MOTHER SHOULD HAVE A MATE TO HELP HER PROVIDE FOR HER YOUNG,
BUT THE DESERT CLAIMED THEIR FATHER,
LEAVING HER TO FEND FOR THE CUBS ALONE.
ABANDONING HER YOUNG FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IS NOT IDEAL,
BUT SHE HAS NO OTHER OPTION.
SHE HAS HARDLY EATEN IN DAYS,
AND HER YOUNG WILL NOT SURVIVE MUCH LONGER WITHOUT FOOD.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
THERE'S ONE PLACE SHE KNOWS OFFERING RICH PICKINGS.
JACKALS MAY TRAVEL MORE THAN 18 MILES
BETWEEN DESERT AND COASTAL AREAS
WHEN RESOURCES INLAND ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.
ONCE A YEAR, CAPE FUR SEALS GATHER HERE
FOR THE BIRTHING SEASON.
24 DISTINCT COLONIES LINE THE SHORES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST,
EACH ONE WITH UP TO 100,000 SEALS.
IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THE COLONY GATHERS HERE.
THESE WATERS ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD FEEDING GROUNDS.
THE COLD BENGUELA CURRENT THAT FLOWS FROM THE ANTARCTIC
PROVIDES A STEADY STREAM OF NUTRIENTS
WHICH SUPPORTS VAST SHOALS OF FISH.
[BARKING]
FOR THOSE WILLING TO BRAVE THE HOSTILE COLONY,
IT'S A UNIQUE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.
THE JACKAL MOTHER CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHES.
CAPE SEALS ARE FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR YOUNG.
RISKING HER LIFE, SHE RUNS THE GAUNTLET.
SHE SNATCHES A STILLBORN SEAL
AND LEAVES WITH THE TROPHY SHE CAME FOR.
HAVING TRAVELED 10 MILES TO GET TO THE COAST,
IT'LL TAKE HER THE BEST PART OF THE AFTERNOON
TO RETURN TO HER PUPS.
BUT THEIR LONG WAIT WILL SOON BE OVER.
THOUGH IT MAY APPEAR SHE HAS RETURNED EMPTY-HANDED,
JACKALS FEED THEIR YOUNG REGURGITATED MEAT.
THIS STRATEGY SAFEGUARDS THE MOTHER
HAVING HER FOOD STOLEN BY OTHERS,
AND THE PARTIALLY PROCESSED FOOD
HELPS THE CUBS DIGEST THE PROTEIN.
THEY WILL ALL HAVE FULL TUMMIES TONIGHT.
AT LAST THE SKY SEEMS WILLING TO RELINQUISH THE RAINS,
AND THE WET SEASON FINALLY ARRIVES.
IT SEEMS THE LONG WAIT MAY BE OVER
FOR THE REST OF THE INHABITANTS, TOO.
OLIVIA AND HER FAMILY WATCH AS THE STORM GATHERS MOMENTUM.
HERE EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING.
RAIN IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY,
NOT A SINGLE DROP WILL BE WASTED.
IN A FEW SHORT DAYS
THE THUNDERSTORM TRIGGERS A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION.
THE MEERKATS FIND THEMSELVES IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.
FOR YOUNG JACK AND ANDREW,
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE WITNESSED
THIS SIDE OF DESERT LIFE.
THE NAMIB IS TREATED TO AN EXPLOSION OF GROWTH AND COLOR.
SEEDS THAT HAVE LAIN DORMANT FOR MONTHS, AND SOMETIMES YEARS,
BLOSSOM INTO LIFE.
MANY ANIMALS TIME THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR YOUNG
TO COINCIDE WITH THIS PERIOD OF ABUNDANCE.
ALL WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BRIEF TIME OF PLENTY.
THE MEERKATS HAVE REAPED THE REWARDS OF THE WET SEASON.
THEY'VE PRODUCED ANOTHER LITTER.
FOUR HEALTHY PUPS TAKE THEIR PLACE AMONG THE FAMILY.
THIS TIME, THE YOUNGSTERS HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD TO CHOOSE FROM
AND ARE TREATED TO A BUFFET OF BEETLES.
THOUGH IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL YEAR,
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.
MASON SPOTS TROUBLE.
IN THE DISTANCE,
AN UNKNOWN MEERKAT MAKES A STEALTHY APPROACH.
GROUP SIZE PLAYS A KEY ROLE
IN DEFENDING AND WINNING NEW TERRITORY.
GANGS ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO SUPPRESS
THEIR NEIGHBORS' NUMBERS.
THEY WILL TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY THEY CAN
TO KILL EACH OTHER'S YOUNG.
IF THIS IS A SCOUT FROM A RIVAL GROUP,
THE CLAN MUST DEFEND THEIR PUPS.
THEY RACE TO CARRY THE YOUNGSTERS TO SAFETY.
IT'S A SOUND TACTICAL MOVE.
BELOW GROUND, THEY CAN BARRICADE THE LITTER IN
AND DEFEND THE ENTRANCES FROM ATTACK.
ONE BABYSITTER STAYS BEHIND TO GUARD THE YOUNG
WHILE THE REST OF THE GROUP HEAD OFF TO INTERCEPT THE INTRUDER.
OLIVIA LEADS FROM THE FRONT LINE.
AS SHE APPROACHES, IT BECOMES CLEAR
THE UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.
IT'S EVICTED FEMALE CHLOE.
RISKING ANOTHER BRUTAL BEATING,
SHE'S BRAVELY ATTEMPTING TO REJOIN THE GROUP.
SHE ADOPTS A LOW STOOP AS A SIGN OF SUBMISSION.
CHLOE IS ADMITTING DEFEAT
AND PLEADING TO BE LET BACK INTO THE CLAN.
SEEING THE DANGER HAS PASSED,
THE PUPS CAN BE LED OUT OF HIDING.
IT'S CLEAR CHLOE IS NO LONGER LOOKING TO CHALLENGE OLIVIA
FOR HER POSITION AS TOP CAT.
AFTER BEING APART FOR MONTHS,
THE CLAN REAFFIRM THEIR CLOSE-KNIT BONDS
WITH A BOUT OF SCENT MARKING.
SAFELY BACK IN THE FAMILY FOLD,
CHLOE'S LONG ORDEAL IS FINALLY OVER
AND THE WHOLE GANG ARE REUNITED ONCE MORE.
IN A DESERT AS UNFORGIVING AS THE NAMIB,
THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL SEEM IMPOSSIBLY SMALL.
BUT EACH REMARKABLE RESIDENT HAS FOUND A UNIQUE WAY TO SUCCEED.
SOME DEPEND ON LEADERS,
OTHERS LIVE IN GROUPS,
AND ONE TENACIOUS MAMMAL RELIES ON TEAMWORK TO SURVIVE.
THE FAMILY HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE GRUELING DRY SEASON
AND HAVE DOUBLED THEIR NUMBERS.
FOR OLIVIA AND HER CLAN, THE FUTURE CAN NEVER BE CERTAIN,
BUT TOGETHER THEY STAND THE BEST CHANCE
OF SURVIVING LIFE IN THE NAMIB.