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Narrator: THE HIPPO.
OH, MY GOD!
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS ON EARTH,
WITH HUGE, POWERFUL JAWS AND ARMED WITH ENORMOUS TUSKS.
THEY'RE ONE ANIMAL YOU DON'T WANT TO ENCOUNTER IN THE WILD.
Backshall: OH [BLEEP]
THERE IS A HIPPO UNDERWATER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
Narrator: BUT ONE MAN'S ATTEMPTING TO DO SOMETHING
NO ONE HAS DONE BEFORE --
DIVE INTO THIS MONSTER'S LAIR TO SWIM
WITH THIS EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND TERRITORIAL ANIMAL.
STEVE, COME BACK. LET'S GO.
STEVE BACKSHALL IS A WILDLIFE EXPERT
WHO'S DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE.
HE'S NOW HEADING INTO THE DARKEST DEPTHS
OF THE WORLD'S RIVERS, LAKES, AND OCEANS,
MAKING IT HIS MISSION TO GO FACE-TO-FACE
WITH SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND FEARSOME CREATURES
ON THE PLANET.
Backshall: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT SNAKE!
Bestelink: YEAH, HE'S CHARGING! HE'S CHARGING!
HE WILL BE SWIMMING WITH MONSTERS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THE HIPPO IS ONE OF THE MOST FEARED ANIMALS IN AFRICA.
THE ZULU TRIBE BELIEVES THEY ARE BRAVER THAN LIONS.
ONE HUNTER, SPENCER TYRON, MET A PARTICULARLY GRISLY DEATH
WHEN A BULL HIPPO TURNED OVER HIS DUGOUT CANOE
AND BIT OFF HIS HEAD AND SHOULDERS.
STEVE BACKSHALL IS A BRITISH WILDLIFE EXPERT
WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE
EXPLORING THE PLANET AND ITS CREATURES.
HE'S NOW TRAVELED TO THE HEARTLAND OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
TO BOTSWANA AND THE OKAVANGO DELTA.
Backshall: THERE IS NO OTHER ANIMAL ON EARTH
THAT FRIGHTENS ME MORE THAN HIPPOS DO.
BUT WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
WE'RE GONNA LEARN ENOUGH ABOUT THEM
THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND A SAFE WAY
OF GETTING IN THE WATER WITH THEM,
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE SIMPLY NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Narrator: CROCODILES, LIONS, AND ELEPHANTS ALL ROAM FREE HERE.
OUR CAMP HAS NO WALLS OR BARRIERS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
AND, WELL, YOU CAN SEE HERE,
ANIMALS WALK RIGHT THROUGH CAMP.
THERE'S ELEPHANT DROPPINGS EVERYWHERE.
AND, YEAH, ALL SORTS OF CREATURES, INCLUDING LIONS,
JUST PARADE THROUGH HERE AT WILL.
BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING,
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS
ABOUT BEING OUT IN THE AFRICAN BUSH.
Narrator: BUT NOT EVEN THEY WOULD EVER MESS WITH A HIPPO,
WHICH LOCALS CALL SATAN'S PIG.
Woman: OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: HIPPOS ARE EXPLOSIVELY AGGRESSIVE,
AND ADULT MALES CAN FIGHT TO THE DEATH
OVER THE RIGHT TO BREED WITH FEMALES IN THE GROUP.
THEY'RE ALSO FIERCELY TERRITORIAL,
AND ANYONE COMING CLOSE TO THEM RISKS ATTACK, EVEN DEATH.
THIS LOCAL FISHERMAN WAS VERY LUCKY TO SURVIVE
WHEN HE WAS ATTACKED ON A RIVERBANK.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
HIPPOS ARE SO DANGEROUS,
IT MAKES THEM INCREDIBLY HARD TO STUDY IN THE WILD.
THERE'S STILL A LOT SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.
STEVE'S MISSION IS TO GET INTO THE WATER WITH THE HIPPOS
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR.
TO GIVE HIM THE BEST CHANCE
OF GETTING CLOSER TO THESE MONSTERS,
STEVE'S TEAMED UP WITH WILDLIFE FILMMAKER BRAD BESTELINK.
Backshall: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!
A LOVELY PART OF THE WORLD.
THE OKAVANGO DELTA HAS SOME OF THE CLEAREST WATER
IN WHICH HIPPOS CAN BE FOUND,
BUT LOCATING THEM WILL STILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR STEVE AND BRAD.
WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO START LOOKING OUT FOR
IN TERMS OF TRACKING THEM FROM THE AIR?
VERY DEFINED PATHS.
THEY SORT OF CARVE THEIR WAY THROUGH,
AND YOU'LL GET WHERE THEY MOVE, AND WE'RE AT A NICE SPOT.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HIPPO HIGHWAYS ACROSS THE DELTA.
HIPPOS SPEND THEIR DAYS IN THE WATER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
FROM THE SWELTERING HEAT THAT CAN SOAR TO OVER 100 DEGREES.
THEY ONLY EMERGE TO FEED AT NIGHT.
THERE'S A HIPPO THERE.
OH, SPOTTED!
LOOK AT THAT!
PERFECT! YES, YES, YES!
HE'S A LONER.
HE LOOKS PRETTY BIG, AS WELL, DOESN'T HE?
THAT WOULD BE A MALE, I'M GUESSING.
PROBABLY A MALE, YEAH.
A BULL HIPPO CAN WEIGH TWO TONS
AND HAS A FEARSOME SET OF TUSKS
IN A MOUTH THAT CAN OPEN 150 DEGREES.
TUSKS CAN BE NEARLY A FOOT IN LENGTH
AND ARE THEIR MAIN WEAPON
FOR ATTACKING RIVAL HIPPOS OR OTHER THREATS.
DESPITE THEIR HUGE BULK,
THEY CAN RUN AT NEARLY 20 MILES PER HOUR...
OH [BLEEP]
...EASILY FAST ENOUGH TO OUTPACE A MAN.
STEVE WANTS TO FIND A POD OF HIPPOS TO STUDY.
SEARCHING FOR THEM BY BOAT
WILL BE THE BEST WAY TO LOCATE THEM.
BRAD HAS SPENT YEARS TRACKING ANIMALS IN THE DELTA
AND KNOWS JUST HOW AGGRESSIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE HIPPOS CAN BE.
DO YOU THINK, IN THESE WATERS,
THAT THE HIPPOS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS THING?
YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WITH A HIPPO IS
YOU DON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE.
IF HE BITES YOU, THE CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GONNA BE IN PIECES.
THESE WATERS ALSO HOME TO ANOTHER LETHAL DANGER --
THE NILE CROCODILE.
BRAD HAS BUILT HIS CAREER DIVING AND FILMING THEM UNDERWATER,
BUT EVEN A CROCODILE ISN'T AS DEADLY AS A HIPPO.
IT'S BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS THING WE HAVE HERE.
OKAY.
A CROC IS NOT GONNA DO A LOT TO US IN A BOAT.
A HIPPO WILL BREAK US IN HALF, YOU KNOW?
IT'S JUST A BIG RISK, BIG ANIMAL.
BUT STEVE HOPES HIS EXPEDITION WILL REVEAL
VITAL NEW INFORMATION
ABOUT THE HIPPO'S UNDERWATER LIFE.
TO MINIMIZE THE RISK, HE'S BROUGHT ALONG A SUPPORT BOAT,
WITH HIS CAMERAMAN JOHNNY
AND BRAD'S RIGHT-HAND MAN, LAWRENCE.
THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY SIGNS OF HIPPO ACTIVITY.
JUST KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SEDIMENT.
AS SOON AS YOU START SEEING THE WATER DIRTY,
IT'S OFTEN THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND THEM.
IF THE PRISTINE WATER IS CLOUDED WITH SEDIMENT,
IT COULD MEAN A HIPPO IS CHURNING IT UP
AND IS CLOSE BY.
THE TEAM'S ALSO LOOKING FOR TINY BUBBLES OR WAVES
THAT ARE MADE WHEN THE HIPPO MOVES UNDER THE SURFACE.
I CAN HEAR SOMETHING UP AHEAD -- SOMETHING BIG.
IT'S ELEPHANTS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THIS YOUNG MALE HAS TAKEN HIMSELF UP ONTO HIGH GROUND.
HE'S STANDING UP TALL, BARING HIS TUSKS.
I THINK HE'S MAKING HIMSELF LOOK KIND OF PROUD AND CONFIDENT.
THAT IS AMAZING.
Narrator: THE DELTA IS ALSO HOME TO OTHER BIG, DEADLY ANIMALS --
LION...
RHINO...
AND CAPE BUFFALO.
BUT THE HIPPO IS AMPHIBIOUS
AND CAN REMAIN COMPLETELY SUBMERGED
FOR UP TO FIVE MINUTES,
SO YOU MIGHT NOT SEE IT COMING.
Backshall: FOR EVERY LARGE ANIMAL THAT WE'RE SEEING
AS WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THESE WETLANDS,
THERE'S BOUND TO BE 10 CROCODILES
AND PERHAPS 2 HIPPOS THAT WE DON'T SEE.
I THINK THAT'S THE THING
THAT'S GOT ME MOST FRIGHTENED ABOUT THIS, REALLY,
IS THE UNKNOWN.
IT'S WHAT'S LURKING OFF IN THE SHADOWS AT THE SIDE OF THE BOAT.
THIS IS VERY TYPICALLY THE KIND OF PLACE
THAT THEY'D WANT TO SIT.
IT'S JUST A BIT OFF THE MAIN DRAG,
JUST ON THE SIDE,
AND THEN THEY JUST GO UNDERNEATH THERE.
THEY HEAR US, AND THEY'LL SLIP UNDERNEATH.
Narrator: STEVE AND BRAD WANT TO ESTABLISH
WHERE THE HIPPOS MIGHT BE LURKING.
THERE'S A VERY EVIDENT HIPPO HIGHWAY HERE,
COMING OUT OF THE WATER AND HEADING UP THERE
TOWARDS GRASSLANDS, WHERE THEY'LL BE FEEDING AT NIGHT.
AND THERE ARE, DOWN HERE, LIGHT AREAS,
WHICH ARE FOOTPRINTS
OF THE ANIMAL COMING OUT OF THE WATER.
BUT EVEN MORE DEFINITIVE IS THIS.
AS THE ANIMALS COME OUT OF THE WATER,
THEY ARE DEFECATING
AND MOVING THE TAIL FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
PLASTERING THE DUNG ALL OVER THE TREES,
AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A TERRITORIAL MARKING.
Narrator: THE SIGNPOSTS PROVE THAT STEVE AND BRAD ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THEY'RE IN HIPPO TERRITORY.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SEVERAL HOURS
WITHOUT SEEING ONE.
STEVE THINKS IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT THE GARGANTUAN HIPPO
CAN REACH 16 FEET IN LENGTH YET REMAIN VERY WELL HIDDEN.
JUST WATCHING VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOMETHING BIG WE'RE GONNA SEE.
IT'S GONNA BE SMALL SIGNS.
IT'S GONNA BE MOVEMENT IN THE VEGETATION,
PERHAPS BUBBLES AT THE SURFACE.
[ ANIMAL GRUNTS ]
YEAH, LOOK.
YEAH, I DID HEAR THAT, YEAH.
BEHIND US, WASN'T IT?
[ HIPPO GRUNTS ]
Narrator: IT APPEARS TO BE A LONE BULL.
ONCE THEY REACH BREEDING AGE,
THEY'RE DRIVEN OFF FROM THE FAMILY GROUPS
BY THE DOMINANT MALE.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
IT WAS DEFINITELY AIMED AT US.
Narrator: THE SNORT IS A WARNING SIGN,
A THREAT FOR THE TEAM TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.
BUT STEVE WANTS TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH
TO PUT A CAMERA ON THE RIVERBED.
HE HAS TO GET THE TIMING JUST RIGHT.
HE'S HOPING THAT IF HE CAN GET IN WHILE THE HIPPO'S SUBMERGED,
IT WON'T SEE HIM FROM THAT DISTANCE.
IT'S DEFINITELY A BULL, STEVE.
IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS,
WE BETTER DO IT VERY CAREFULLY AND VERY QUICKLY.
GET READY TO GET IN AS SOON AS HE GOES DOWN.
OKAY, JUST TELL ME AS SOON AS HE GOES DOWN, BRAD.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
JUST WAIT UNTIL I KNOW WHERE HE IS.
WELL, THAT WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR.
THAT WAS A FULL-ON THREAT.
IT'S GOOD HE'S DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GET IN.
YEAH? YOU SURE?
I CAN SEE WHERE HE IS.
YEAH. GO FOR IT, STEVE.
THE BULL COULD EASILY VIEW STEVE'S PRESENCE
AS A CHALLENGE TO HIS TERRITORY
AND COULD CHARGE AND EVEN KILL HIM.
HE'S UP AGAIN.
JUST HOLD IT THERE. KEEP STILL.
HE'S WATCHING US EVER SO CAREFULLY.
THE SECOND HE GOES UNDER,
I'VE GOT TO DO THIS REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
STEVE, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT ENOUGH SPACE HERE.
IF YOU JUST GO SLOWLY AND DO IT NOW.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS
STEVE'S EVER DONE.
STEVE. STEVE.
STEVE, COME BACK. LET'S GO.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
IS HE COMING?
IS HE COMING?
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: THE HIPPO BULL SURFACED,
BUT IT'S KEEPING ITS DISTANCE FOR NOW.
STEVE'S GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO PLACE THE CAMERA.
Bestelink: OKAY. RIGHT THERE.
OKAY, STEVE, STICK IT DOWN THERE, DUDE.
STICK IT DOWN.
LET'S GET OUT OF THERE.
A HIPPO CAN MOVE THROUGH THE WATER
FASTER THAN ANY OLYMPIC SWIMMER.
IF IT DECIDES TO ATTACK, STEVE COULD BE KILLED.
STEVE, WE NEED TO MOVE.
HE'S LOOKING LIKE HE'S JUST GONNA REACT.
BETTER LEAVE THAT THING AND MOVE.
STEVE, GET READY.
HE'S GONNA REACT.
MOVEMENT IN THE WATER.
OKAY.
WOW.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
Backshall: WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY AS CLOSE AS I'D WANT TO COME
TO SWIMMING WITH A HIPPO LIKE THAT.
HE'S A LONE MALE, CLEARLY TERRITORIAL,
AND WITH A POINT TO PROVE.
AND, YEAH, I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO GET ANY CLOSER.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, I GUESS NOW WHAT WE DO IS LEAVE THAT IN PLACE
AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS, SEE IF HE GOES PAST IT
AND WE CAN GET A SHOT OF HIM UNDERWATER.
Narrator: THERE'S NOT MUCH KNOWN ABOUT WILD HIPPO BEHAVIOR UNDERWATER.
THE CAMERA MIGHT CAPTURE MATERIAL
THAT COULD HELP SCIENTISTS UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER,
BUT STEVE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MORNING
TO SEE ANY RESULTS.
THE TEAM HEADS BACK TO BASE CAMP.
BRAD BESTELINK AND HIS WIFE, ANDY,
ARE LOCAL WILDLIFE FILMMAKERS AND KNOW FIRSTHAND
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE AMONG THESE FEARSOME CREATURES.
YOU BOTH MUST KNOW THIS AREA
BETTER THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE.
WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN OF HIPPOS AROUND HERE?
I LOVE HIPPOS,
BUT I THINK MY MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
IS OBVIOUSLY THE BAD ONES.
PROBABLY MY MOST MEMORABLE
WAS HAVING A HIPPO PORPOISING AFTER THE BOAT
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO OUTRUN IT,
AND WE WEREN'T SUCCEEDING
WITH A TINY LITTLE 15-HORSEPOWER ENGINE,
AND THIS THING WAS GAINING ON US.
AND IT WAS JUST THAT TERROR OF KNOWING
THAT THERE'S THIS ENORMOUS, MASSIVE THING COMING FOR YOU
AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD FIND IT QUITE INTRIGUING
THAT THE BOTH OF YOU HAVE MADE A NAME FOR YOURSELVES
DIVING WITH 4 1/2-METER-LONG CROCODILES,
AND YET YOU BOTH CONSIDER HIPPOS TO BE FAR MORE OF A CONCERN.
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE WITH HIPPOS,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A HAPPY ENDING.
WITH CROCODILES, YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT YOU CAN SURVIVE IT.
CROCODILES ARE FAIRLY PREDICTABLE
IN THE WAY THEY BEHAVE UNDERWATER,
WHEREAS HIPPOS -- WE CAN'T BE SURE
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REACT TO A DIVER UNDERWATER.
A HIPPO WOULD BE SO FEARFUL
OF THIS BIG THING APPROACHING IT UNDERWATER
THAT IT IS JUST LIKELY TO ATTACK --
LASH OUT AND ATTACK.
YOU REALLY CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE.
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG CREATURE,
IF IT ATTACKS YOU, THE CHANCES ARE
YOU'RE GONNA DIE OR BE SEVERELY MAIMED.
WHAT KIND OF PLACE DO HIPPOS HAVE
IN THE KIND OF PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS HERE IN BOTSWANA?
IT SEEMS THAT HIPPOS ARE QUITE FEARED
BY THE GENERAL POPULATION.
THEY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE PREDATORS.
SO THEY'RE NOT VERY POPULAR. THEY'RE NOT VERY WELL-LIKED.
Narrator: BECAUSE WILD HIPPOS ARE SO DANGEROUS,
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EXTENSIVELY STUDIED,
BUT IN 1987,
SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED HIPPOS MAKE A RANGE OF SOUNDS
WHILE THEY'RE SUBMERGED UNDERWATER.
THE SOUNDS INCLUDING CLICKING, MUCH LIKE WHALES OR DOLPHINS.
ANIMAL ACOUSTIC EXPERT DEREK SOLOMON
HAS SPENT THE LAST DECADE
RECORDING THESE UNDERWATER VOCALIZATIONS.
Backshall: JUST KNOWING THAT THESE ANIMALS COMMUNICATE UNDERWATER
IN SUCH BIZARRE AND COMPLEX WAYS IS VERY EXCITING.
BUT WE STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
NONE WHATSOEVER.
I'VE PERSONALLY DONE QUITE A LOT OF RECORDING UNDERWATER.
WE KNOW THE SOUNDS.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT,
NOBODY KNOWS.
IT'S TOTALLY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD OF TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS
AND BRINGS US TO THE TIE-UP BETWEEN HIPPOS AND WHALES.
IN FACT, WHALES AND DOLPHINS ARE THE HIPPO'S CLOSEST RELATIVES.
ABOVE WATER, HIPPOS GRUNT AND BELLOW,
BUT THE CLICKS AND WHINES THEY MAKE BELOW THE SURFACE
ARE VERY DIFFERENT, RECEIVED AS VIBRATIONS
THROUGH THEIR JAWBONES AND THE FAT THAT SURROUNDS THEM.
DEREK'S BEEN RECORDING THESE UNDERWATER SOUNDS
AND PLAYING THEM BACK TO OTHER GROUPS OF HIPPOS,
BUT UNTIL NOW, HE'S ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO SEE THEIR REACTIONS FROM THE SURFACE.
STEVE WANTS TO BE THE FIRST
TO STUDY HOW THEY BEHAVE TO THE RECORDINGS UNDERWATER.
SO, DEREK, WHY HAS NO ONE TRIED TO PLAY SOUNDS
TO HIPPOS UNDERWATER WHILE FILMING THEM BEFORE?
BECAUSE THE HIPPO IS A HELL OF A SCARY ANIMAL.
IT HEADS MY LIST OF THE MOST DANGEROUS MAMMALS IN AFRICA.
MAYBE THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO EVER TRY
AND WORK OUT WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, BASICALLY.
STEVE'S DETERMINED TO FIND A GROUP OF HIPPOS
TO TRY THE SOUND EXPERIMENT ON.
BECAUSE HIPPOS ARE SO FIERCELY TERRITORIAL,
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A MORE COVERT APPROACH
TO OBSERVE THEIR REACTIONS.
BRAD'S ABOUT TO UNVEIL SOMETHING
HE'S BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR STEVE'S MISSION.
SO, THIS IS THE NEXT STAGE OF THE PLAN, THEN.
Bestelink: THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I THINK
THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE
OF SEEING THESE HIPPOS UNDERWATER.
WHAT IS IT?
IT'S AN UNDERWATER HIDE.
BASICALLY, WE WILL SUBMERGE IT SLIGHTLY,
AND, HOPEFULLY, YOU SHOULD CATCH A GLIMPSE OR TWO OF HIPPOS
THROUGH THESE WINDOWS.
IS THIS STRONG ENOUGH IF A HIPPO DECIDES TO GO FOR IT?
UM, I THINK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU THINK?!
DON'T GIVE ME THAT. [ LAUGHS ]
IF HE COMES UP AND HE ACTUALLY BUMPS IT,
HE'LL KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO MESS WITH.
IT'S JUST ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE
AND BEING ABLE TO PLACE THIS CORRECTLY.
YOU READY? ONE, TWO, UP. LET'S GO.
Narrator: NOW THEY NEED TO FIND A GOOD PLACE
TO POSITION THE UNDERWATER HIDE.
Backshall: THE HEAT TODAY IS PHENOMENAL.
IT'S RIGHT ABOUT 40 DEGREES.
SO THE THOUGHT OF BEING INSIDE THAT
IN THIS HEAT -- IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A SAUNA.
Narrator: BEFORE THE TEAM PLACES THE HIDE,
STEVE WANTS TO PASS BY THE SPOT
WHERE HE PUT THE CAMERA ON THE RIVERBED THE DAY BEFORE,
TO CHECK IF IT CAPTURED ANY UNDERWATER FOOTAGE OF A HIPPO.
NOPE.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
SO, THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS CAMERA WHATSOEVER.
Narrator: IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR STEVE.
HE'S HOPING THE HIDE WILL GIVE HIM BETTER RESULTS.
Narrator: STEVE AND BRAD ARE SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT PLACE
TO PUT THE UNDERWATER HIDE.
Steve: SO, BRAD, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POOL?
I THINK IT'S AN IDEAL SPOT.
Narrator: THIS LAGOON NARROWS INTO A CHANNEL.
ANY HIPPOS TRAVELING FROM POOL TO POOL
WOULD HAVE TO PASS THIS AREA.
OKAY. WE'RE GONNA GET STEVE IN HERE.
WE'RE GONNA FASTEN YOU DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, SO, THIS IS GONNA BE MY HOME FOR --
WELL, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, REALLY.
THE STREAM COMES THROUGH HERE,
AND IT FORMS A NATURAL BOTTLENECK,
WHICH MEANS THAT ANY LARGE ANIMAL
THAT'S MOVING DOWN THROUGH THIS WATER COURSE
HAS TO PASS AT LEAST PAST THAT WINDOW THERE.
I GUESS NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WAIT.
SO, I'LL SEE YOU GUYS AT SUNSET.
SHOULD WE COVER YOU UP?
YEP.
SO...
I'M INSIDE THE HIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY UNCOMFORTABLE.
Narrator: THE HIDE HAS BEEN RIGGED WITH CAMERAS
SO THAT STEVE CAN RECORD ANY HIPPO ACTIVITY HE SEES.
OKAY, STEVE, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE YOU, EH?
THANKS, MATE.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD LUCK, EH?
I CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF THE BOAT HEADING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE,
AND THE FISH ARE STARTING TO RETURN TO THE OUTSIDE.
[ SIGHS ]
I'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR NOW,
AND THE TEMPERATURE HAS GONE WAY UP.
WE'RE INTO THE 50s.
THERE'S LOADS OF WONDERFUL FISH SWIMMING PAST OUTSIDE, THOUGH.
BUT, AS YET, NO HIPPO.
I'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR A FEW HOURS NOW,
AND NOW I KNOW HOW IT MUST FEEL TO REALLY BE BURIED ALIVE.
THE TEMPERATURE IS NOW ABOVE 60 DEGREES.
IT'S LIKE BEING IN ONE OF THOSE TURKISH SWEAT BOXES.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE OUR STRATEGY.
IT'S ABOUT 6:00 NOW.
PRETTY SOON, I'LL START LOSING LIGHT,
SO I'LL PROBABLY CALL THE GUYS, GET THEM TO COME AND PICK ME UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ GROANS ]
Bestelink: [ Laughing ] GEEZ, YOU ARE SOAKED.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M BLAMING YOU FOR THIS, BRAD.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE.
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT SCENE IN "THE GREAT ESCAPE"
WHERE HE KEEPS GETTING SENT TO THE COOLER
AND HE JUST SWEATS?
THAT'S BEEN MY DAY.
CHEERS, BRAD.
[ SIGHS ]
I THINK THERE ARE BETTER WAYS THAT WE CAN USE OUR TIME.
I THINK WE CAN GET OUT, GET ONTO THE RIVER,
COVER SOME GROUND.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE OUR WAY.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
THE TEAM HEADS BACK OUT AGAIN TO LOOK FOR HIPPOS.
THEY WANT TO CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT
TO FIND OUT HOW THEY WILL REACT UNDERWATER
TO SOUND RECORDINGS OF OTHER HIPPOS.
THE TEAM'S BEEN SEARCHING FOR OVER THREE HOURS
WITH NO LUCK.
WELL, THIS REALLY DEMONSTRATES HOW HARD THIS IS GONNA BE.
I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF ALL,
IS JUST SIMPLY FINDING THE ANIMALS.
Narrator: WHILE THE TEAM SEARCHES FOR HIPPOS,
THEY CAN'T FORGET
THERE'S ANOTHER DEADLY CREATURE ROAMING THESE WATERS --
THE NILE CROCODILE.
THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS THAT THEY ARE IN THE AREA.
Bestelink: THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A BIG [BLEEP] CROC.
Backshall: THAT LOOKS LIKE A CROCODILE TAIL.
THERE'S A GOOD-SIZE CROCODILE
COMING IN AND OUT OF THE WATER HERE.
SO THIS COULD BE A BASKING SPOT.
COULD EVEN BE -- OH, LOOK AT THAT!
OH, THAT'S GREAT.
IMPRINTED IN THE SAND,
THE BELLY SCALES OF THE CROCODILE.
IT'S BEEN LYING RIGHT THERE, AND THEN THE TAIL --
ACTUALLY, THAT'S COMING THIS DIRECTION.
THAT'S GOING DOWN INTO THE WATER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRAD?
DO YOU THINK THERE'S A NEST HERE?
I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF A NEST
IN PROBABLY THIS AREA HERE.
THERE'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY HERE,
AND LOOKING AT THE RIDGES HERE, IN BETWEEN THE BELLY SCALES,
THEY'RE STILL REALLY, REALLY CRISP,
SO THESE PRINTS -- I MEAN, LOOK AT THAT THERE.
THAT IS VERY, VERY RECENT.
WITHIN HOURS, I WOULD SAY.
HAVE YOU FOUND SOMETHING?
THIS IS HARDER, AND THIS IS SOFT.
JUST DIG THIS JUST CAREFULLY INSIDE THERE.
I'VE GOT ONE. I'VE GOT ONE.
THAT IS...A CROC EGG.
FEMALE WILL PROBABLY HAVE LAID AROUND 40 EGGS IN HERE,
AND SHE'LL COME BACK UP HERE TO KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THEM
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING PREDATED UPON
BY THINGS LIKE MONITOR LIZARDS.
SO, ACTUALLY,
WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE,
'CAUSE SHE COULD WELL COME IN,
BUT IT DOES PROVE THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY, VERY ACTIVE POPULATION
OF ONE OF THE MOST FEARED PREDATORS IN THE WORLD
RIGHT HERE IN THE WATERS WE'RE GONNA BE TRYING TO SWIM IN.
YEAH, I KNOW. WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
THERE IS A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF CROCS IN THIS AREA,
SO WE JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL
WHENEVER WE ARE JUMPING IN THE WATER.
YEAH.
LET'S COVER IT ALL UP. JUST COMPACT IT NICE AND TIGHT.
AND THESE DRAG MARKS HERE -- YOU KNOW, SHE'S OVER TWO METERS.
AND SHE'S CLOSE BY, NO DOUBT.
SHE MUST BE CLOSE BY.
Narrator: THE TEAM CONTINUES SEARCHING FOR HIPPOS.
THEN, BRAD FINALLY SPOTS SOMETHING.
THERE HE IS.
Backshall: OH, MY GOD!
WELL, I SAW THE SPLASH.
MOVING OFF IN THAT DIRECTION THERE.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
THESE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN SO RARELY SEEN
AND FILMED UNDERWATER.
THERE'S A WHOLE PORTION OF THEIR LIVES
THAT WE SIMPLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
ANYTHING WE CAN GET IS GONNA BE PRETTY UNIQUE.
IT'S OKAY, BIG BOY.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A MALE.
YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT HEAD AND THE BULK.
BIG ANIMAL.
Backshall: THE BEST THING TO DO,
PARTICULARLY NOW THAT HE'S AT THE SURFACE
AND HE'S WATCHING US, IS JUST TO STAY HERE,
TO KEEP OUR DISTANCE, AND LET HIM GET USED TO US,
SEE THAT WE DON'T MEAN HIM ANY HARM,
AND THEN WE STAND A CHANCE OF PUSHING IN VERY, VERY CAREFULLY
AND TRYING TO GET OUR UNDERWATER SHOT.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
Narrator: RIGHT NOW, IT'S A TENSE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE BULL AND THE CREW.
AT ANY MOMENT, THE HIPPO CAN DECIDE TO GO FOR THE BOAT.
STEVE AND THE TEAM WILL HAVE TO BE READY TO GET AWAY
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY, HE SHOULD BE SURFACING ANY MINUTE.
LET'S JUST SEE WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY --
SEE HOW TOLERANT HE IS.
COME ON, BIG BOY. SHOW YOURSELF.
THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS.
YEAH, HE'S CHARGING, HE'S CHARGING!
YOU WATCHING?
THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS.
Narrator: THE BIG BULL IS ANGRY AND ON THE ATTACK.
IF HE REACHES THE BOAT,
HE COULD BITE IT AND ONE OF THE CREW RIGHT IN HALF.
Bestelink: HE'S CHARGING! YOU WATCHING?
THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS.
Narrator: A BIG BULL HIPPO IS ACTING FIERCELY AGGRESSIVE.
HE'S ON THE ATTACK
AND COULD REACH STEVE AND BRAD ON THE BOAT IN SECONDS.
YEAH, THIS GUY'S --
I THINK WE'VE REVVED HIM ENOUGH.
I DON'T THINK THIS GUY IS GONNA PLAY BALL ANYMORE.
Narrator: IT'S A CHILLING REMINDER FOR THE TEAM
ABOUT HOW UNPREDICTABLE HIPPOS CAN BE.
IF THEY FEEL THEIR TERRITORY IS BEING INVADED,
THEY CAN CHARGE IN AN INSTANT.
IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT ANIMAL
IN THE RIGHT LOCATION,
WITH IT IN THE RIGHT MOOD.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE.
Narrator: THIS CLOSE CALL HAS MADE STEVE REALIZE
WHY NO ONE HAS TRIED TO STUDY HIPPOS UNDERWATER BEFORE.
STEVE IS STILL DETERMINED TO SWIM WITH THEM.
HE WANTS TO GET AS CLOSE AS HE SAFELY CAN
AND NEEDS BRAD'S HELP.
IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS MISSION,
BUT BRAD HAS AGREED TO DIVE WITH STEVE TOMORROW.
BRAD'S RISKED HIS LIFE BEFORE TO FILM CROCODILES IN THIS AREA,
BUT IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME
TO TRY AND FILM HIPPOS UNDERWATER.
THE NEXT MORNING,
STEVE AND THE REST OF THE TEAM ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR DIVE.
THEY'RE HOPING TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT HOW HIPPOS BEHAVE UNDERWATER
WITHOUT COMING FACE-TO-FACE WITH ONE.
STEVE'S GOING IN WITH BRAD
AND HIS UNDERWATER CAMERAMAN, JOHNNY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
BRAD'S WIFE, ANDY, AND A DIVE SUPERVISOR
WILL BE KEEPING A LOOKOUT FOR HIPPOS AND OTHER DANGERS
ON THE WATER'S SURFACE.
THE WATER APPEARS CLEAR,
BUT THEY CAN'T RULE OUT THE PRESENCE OF CROCODILES.
THE THING IN THE DELTA IS BECAUSE THERE'S
THE POTENTIAL OF CROCODILES THAT COULD BE THERE.
IF WE ENCOUNTER A CROCODILE,
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY AN AREA THAT BITES,
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PUSH TOO CLOSE INTO IT.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BUMP IT BY MISTAKE OR TOUCH IT.
LET'S GET GOING.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
BESTELINK: Okay, everybody ready to go?
BACKSHALL: Here!
It's the impression made by a tail of a crocodile.
It could well be in this pool we're going into now,
so we'll have to keep our eyes peeled.
Narrator: IN CASE A HIPPO DOES APPEAR,
A CREWMAN LOADS UP THE ELEPHANT GUN
THAT'S KEPT ON THE BOAT AS A LAST RESORT.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
Steve, you see all the hippo tracks
in front of you there?
Got some lovely footprints.
Look at these!
THE SOFT SAND ON THE RIVERBED HOLDS CLUES --
TRACKS.
HIPPOS DON'T ACTUALLY SWIM.
THEY RUN ALONG THE BOTTOM.
They're absolutely massive.
They're like craters.
You can see how big the foot is
that's gonna have to create that.
These are whacking-sized animals.
Very eerie.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
ALTHOUGH ANDY HAS DIVED WITH CROCS SEVERAL TIMES,
SHE FEELS HIPPOS ARE OFF LIMITS TO DIVE WITH.
Crawford: I THINK BRAD COULD SEE THAT THERE AREN'T HIPPOS.
THEY WOULD HAVE POPPED THEIR HEADS UP BY NOW.
SO IT'S POTENTIALLY PRECARIOUS,
BUT THEY'RE WELL UNDER CONTROL.
Man: WOULD YOU SWIM WITH A HIPPO?
NO.
THERE IS NO DOUBT, I WOULD NOT SWIM WITH A HIPPO.
YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE,
BECAUSE IF THAT HIPPO IS A DANGEROUS HIPPO,
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEAD.
SO YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE A FABULOUS TIME
OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEAD.
AND, FOR ME, THOSE STATISTICS JUST AREN'T COMPELLING.
SWIMMING WITH A WILD HIPPO IS UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS.
BECAUSE IT'S SO UNPREDICTABLE,
AND THAT HIPPO DECIDES THAT IT DOESN'T LIKE YOU,
THEN IT WILL ATTACK.
YOU ABSOLUTELY -- THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN NEVER MOVE AS FAST AS THAT HIPPO CAN.
Oh, Jesus!
Oh, my God!
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
There is a hippo underwater right in front of me.
[BLEEP] THAT'S SERIOUSLY PROBLEMATIC.
Steve, come on, boy.
BACKSHALL: Oh, Jesus!
Oh, my God!
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
There is a hippo underwater right in front of me.
[BLEEP] I'M SORRY.
YOU SHOULDN'T SAY THAT ON CAMERA, BUT THAT'S...
Man: I SEE THE SEDIMENT'S STIRRED UP.
...SERIOUSLY PROBLEMATIC.
Narrator: IF THE HIPPO DECIDES TO ATTACK,
STEVE AND BRAD'S LIVES COULD BE IN DANGER.
BESTELINK: Best to leave it.
Steve, come on, boy.
Back to the edge.
I'm coming.
Johnny, are you all right?
ROGERS: Yeah, I'm with you.
All right, he's gone.
He's gone away from us.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm with you.
OKAY, LAWRENCE TAKE THE BOAT AROUND THIS WAY.
TAKE THE BOAT AROUND TO THEM THIS WAY.
THAT WAS...
TOTALLY SHOCKING.
UM...
WE JUST SWAM STRAIGHT INTO A HIPPO ON THE BOTTOM,
AND AS SOON AS IT CAME TO WITHIN A FEW METERS OF ME,
SHE JUST TURNED SIDE-ON
AND HEADED STRAIGHT OUT DOWN THAT WAY.
THAT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING.
JUST THE FACT THAT
SHE COULD BE IN HERE AND UNDERWATER
WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF IT WHATSOEVER FROM THE SURFACE
JUST SHOWS THAT THIS PLACE IS PEPPERED WITH HIPPOS
AND WITH ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL THINGS,
BUT...THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY FRIGHTENING.
SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD A LOOK AT US.
Backshall: I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF STAYING DOWN THERE.
LET'S JUST MOVE AWAY.
WELL, WE'VE JUST BECOME SOME OF
THE VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD
WHO'VE EVER BEEN IN THE WATER AND SWAM WITH HIPPOS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
I'VE DIVED WITH
SHARKS, CROCODILES, WHALES,
ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS,
BUT MY HEART RATE'S NEVER GONE UP LIKE THAT BEFORE,
WHEN THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE BROWN.
Oh, Jesus!
Oh, my God!
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
I WAS JUST -- DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN!
OH, MY GOD! SHE'S THERE!
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT.
Narrator: IT'S NOT A FEMALE.
IT'S A YOUNG BULL,
AND IT DOESN'T LIKE TRESPASSERS.
HE'S DISPLAYING WARNING SIGNALS
TO LET THE TEAM KNOW TO STEER CLEAR OF HIS TERRITORY.
THAT WAS OUR HIPPO.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MOVE AWAY GENTLY
AND JUST LET HIM BE.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
THE HIPPO'S ONLY ABOUT 100 FEET AWAY
AND COULD EASILY COVER THAT DISTANCE IN SECONDS.
STEVE AND THE TEAM HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW.
THANKS.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MOVE AWAY GENTLY
AND JUST LET HIM BE.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
I THINK HE'S COMING TO THE SURFACE,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HIS ESCAPE ROUTE IS.
THANKS.
SO WE JUST NEED TO MOVE OUT...
...AND GIVE HIM HIS SPACE.
Narrator: WILDLIFE EXPERT STEVE BACKSHALL
GOT CLOSER TO A HIPPO THAN HE EVER EXPECTED
WITHOUT BEING KILLED.
THE EXPERIENCE HAS MADE HIM MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER
TO UNDERSTAND THEM, DESPITE HOW DEADLY THEY ARE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
[BLEEP]
HIPPOS ARE EXTREMELY UNPREDICTABLE,
DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
THEIR AGGRESSIVE NATURE
HAS LIMITED OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THEY BEHAVE UNDERWATER.
BACKSHALL: Oh, Jesus!
Oh, my God!
[ RESPIRATOR HISSES ]
HE'S HOPING TO TRY A COMMUNICATION EXPERIMENT
WITH A GROUP OF WILD HIPPOS,
BUT SO FAR, HIS ATTEMPTS TO GET CLOSE TO THEM
HAVE TRIGGERED TERRITORIAL ATTACKS.
Bestelink: OKAY, HE'S CHARGING, HE'S CHARGING.
HE'S STILL SEARCHING FOR A POD TO STUDY,
AND TODAY'S HIS LAST CHANCE TO FIND THEM.
IT'S HIS FINAL DAY IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA.
I THINK OUR BIG LIMITATION SO FAR HAS BEEN
THAT WE'VE BEEN ENCOUNTERING HIPPOS ON THEIR OWN.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS TRY AND FIND
A BIGGER POD OF ANIMALS.
AND BRAD THINKS WE MIGHT FIND THAT DOWN SOUTH,
SO THAT'S GONNA MEAN A FAIR BIT OF TRAVELING.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: STEVE AND BRAD HEAD OUT
WITH ANIMAL ACOUSTICS EXPERT DEREK SOLOMON.
IF THEY CAN FIND A POD, THEIR GOAL IS
TO OBSERVE THEIR FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE UNDERWATER.
THIS TEST IS EXTREMELY RISKY.
NO ONE HAS FILMED IT BEFORE.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
WE HAVE A POD OF HIPPOS. FINALLY, WE HAVE A POD.
NOT JUST ONE ANIMAL. THERE'S FIVE, MAYBE EVEN MORE.
Narrator: STEVE PLANS TO PLAY RECORDINGS OF OTHER HIPPOS
TO THIS POD TO SEE HOW THEY'LL REACT.
BRAD HAS CONSTRUCTED A RAFT TO FLOAT SOME SMALL CAMERAS IN
AS A WAY OF RECORDING THEM
WITHOUT TRIGGERING ANOTHER ATTACK.
Bestelink: SO, THERE'S A NICE CURRENT GOING THROUGH.
IT'S QUITE DEEP.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY
POTENTIALLY TO START DRIFTING A CAMERA IN THERE
AND TRY SOME OF DEREK'S SOUND.
Narrator: BRAD FLOATS THE CAMERAS
TOWARDS THE HIPPOS DOWN THE CURRENT.
THE RAFTS ARE ATTACHED TO A FISHING LINE
SO THEY CAN GET THEM BACK.
JUST LET THE CURRENT TAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN.
THE HIPPOS SEEM TO BE TOLERATING THE TEAM'S PRESENCE.
Backshall: WHAT WAS THAT?
JUST KEEP THE LINE OUT OF THE REEDS.
HE'S STARING STRAIGHT AT THE FLOAT CAM.
AND IT'S NO MORE THAN A FEW METERS AWAY FROM THEM.
MUST BE GETTING SOME WONDERFUL UNDERWATER SHOTS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE HIPPO IS MORE CURIOUS,
RATHER THAN THREATENED BY THE RAFT-CAMERA TECHNIQUE.
THE HIPPO'S MOVING TOWARDS IT.
HE'S MOVING IN TOWARDS IT.
SEE THIS SMALLER HIPPO --
COULD WELL BE A FEMALE -- IS ACTUALLY SPYHOPPING.
SHE'S LIFTING A GOOD PORTION OF HER BODY
OUT OF THE WATER TO GET A BETTER LOOK
AT THE FLOAT CAM.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
LOOK AT THAT. PRACTICALLY STANDING UP.
AH, THIS MUST BE GETTING SOME AMAZING SHOTS.
STEVE WANTS TO SEIZE THE MOMENT
AND TRY THE SOUND EXPERIMENT.
[ HIPPO SNORTS ]
OH, MY WORD.
ONE OF THE MALES JUST POPPED UP
A METER AWAY FROM THE FLOAT CAM.
THE TYPICAL SOUND THAT WE HEAR ABOVE THE WATER --
THE HONK -- [ HONKS ] --
GOES UNDER THE WATER AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THEN THEY MAKE GROANS AND SQUEALS.
AND I THINK THE MOST AMAZING THING
IS THE CLICKS THAT THEY MAKE.
[ HIPPO CLICKING ]
DEREK PREPARES TO PLAY
HIPPO SOUNDS HE'S PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
TO THIS POD.
HE'S PLAYED BACK SOUNDS TO HIPPOS BEFORE,
BUT HE'S ONLY BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE THEIR REACTION
FROM UNDER THE WATER'S SURFACE.
HE'S NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEE HOW THEY BEHAVE
UNDER THE WATER UNTIL NOW.
RIGHT.
GOT AN UNDERWATER LOUDSPEAKER HERE.
THIS IS JUST GOING IN OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA PLAY SOME HIPPO SOUNDS
TO THESE ANIMALS AND SEE HOW THEY REACT.
[ MUFFLED SNORTING ]
[ HIPPOS SNORTING ]
Narrator: AS SOON AS THE SOUNDS ARE PLAYED,
THE HIPPOS DISAPPEAR.
THIS EXPLOSIVE EXHALATION OF BREATH
DEMONSTRATES THAT THE HIPPO WAS ALARMED
BY THE SOUNDS OF ANOTHER HIPPO POD.
THE TEAM CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY'VE GONE.
I'M GUESSING, HAS IT GIVEN THE IMPRESSION
THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ENORMOUS ALIEN POD OF HIPPOS
THAT'S COME IN HERE, TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE POOL.
AND THEY'VE NOW PUSHED OFF OUT OF THE WAY.
STEVE'S EXPEDITION IS NOW OVER,
AND HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HIS MISSION.
HE WAS UNDERWATER WITH ONE OF AFRICA'S
MOST NOTORIOUS AND DEADLIEST ANIMALS.
HE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HELP STUDY HIPPOS LIKE NEVER BEFORE,
AND FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, IT WAS REVEALED
HOW WILD HIPPOS RESPOND UNDERWATER
TO A POTENTIAL THREAT.
TO ACTUALLY HEAR THOSE HIPPOS COMMUNICATING UNDERWATER,
HOW MUCH IT SOUNDS LIKE WHALES.
AND CLEARLY
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THEIR LIVES.
Narrator: HIPPOS ARE NO DOUBT
ONE OF THE FIERCEST CREATURES ON EARTH,
BUT STEVE'S CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THEM
HAVE SHOWN HIM A WHOLE NEW SIDE TO THE MONSTER.
BACKSHALL: Oh, my God!
Backshall: I'VE GOT TO SEE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SIDE OF THIS ANIMAL,
AND IT'S ONE THAT MAKES ME THINK
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE LEARNED.
WHAT I'D LOVE TO DO WOULD BE TO COME BACK HERE
AND SPEND A REALLY GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME
JUST LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE, COMPLEX, SOPHISTICATED ANIMAL.