Sexuality and Mating Strategies of Savannah Animals
The mating behaviors of African savannah animals are complex and varied. Species like lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs have developed unique strategies to overcome challenges in finding a mate. Male elephants become aggressive due to heightened testosterone, while female hyenas dominate their male partners. Leopards and giraffes face difficulties due to territorial separation, while lions engage in intense, drawn-out courtship rituals. Each species uses different approaches, from physical displays of strength to endurance and patience, to align and reproduce. In the savannah, mating is not just about dominance but involves intricate strategies and social behaviors adapted to their environment.
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00:00They can be sexy, gorgeous, even totally irresistible.
00:10But on the savanna, males are also unpredictable.
00:16They can be sensual, extremely desirable, true temptresses, but, oh, can they be complicated.
00:28If men come from Mars, and women from Venus, in nature, males and females also live on
00:34two different planets.
00:37But one fine day, or maybe one night, they'll have to cross paths.
00:42Because even here, it's hard to escape the irresistible urge to reproduce.
00:58Finding a soulmate on the savanna can sometimes seem like an uphill battle.
01:10So when lions and lionesses, male and female elephants, and leopards and leopardesses feel
01:15the irresistible urge to meet, they'll have to come up with some incredible strategies
01:20and accomplish some serious feats.
01:24Because here, males and females often live very far away from each other.
01:36Of all the species roaming these vast plains, elephants might have the hardest time getting
01:42their planets to align, because so many things separate them.
01:55They are sweet, sensitive, and curvaceous.
02:00Too bad they prefer living amongst themselves in a communal society, which, let's face
02:05it, is less than ideal when it comes to intimacy.
02:12The problem with large males is that they're often struck by must-periods, which, how should
02:22we put it, drives them a little crazy.
02:25Okay, it makes them impossible to be around.
02:37At 3.5 meters tall, weighing 5 tons, the large males are all muscle, 20,000 of which
02:45are in their trunk alone.
02:47So they've got quite the pedigree.
02:50Behind these dreamy measurements hide some very rowdy tusk fighters.
02:56During periods of sexual arousal, their testosterone levels explode, turning even the most peaceful
03:04elephants into brutish louts.
03:15They have to intimidate their rivals, make the savannah tremble with their trumpeting
03:19and tusk thrashing.
03:26If one of the two mastodons doesn't surrender, the duel can get ugly, and last to the death.
03:50The elephant cows go off on their own to escape these displays of power and protect their
03:55calves.
03:58So for an elephant bull on the savannah, opportunities to mate don't come along every day, especially
04:06since elephant cows are only fertile every four to six years.
04:13And to make matters worse, the timing is tight.
04:16Elephant cows are never in heat more than four or five days in a row.
04:24So when the time is right, this young bull in rut cannot miss his chance.
04:31But for now, the matriarch has no intention of letting him get close to the clan.
04:45He'll have to look elsewhere and manage by himself for a while.
05:00For territorial species, one who rarely roam from their domain, planetary alignment is
05:06a whole other story, especially when it comes to leopards.
05:18He is the perfect mix of power and grace, the raw beauty of a strong, well-built male.
05:28Who would tire of admiring that?
05:36Look at her.
05:38She's looking fine with her leopard print coat and smoldering eyes.
05:43Leopardesses are exquisite, feline, determined, and last but not least, they often make the
05:51first move.
06:09She looks dignified and determined, but this young leopardess is having a tough time.
06:20She's searching for a domain to settle down on, which means finding a male who will accept
06:26her onto his.
06:32But this is one demanding young lady.
06:35She's coveting the inheritance of a handsome male, and not just his genetic inheritance.
06:40No, what she desires more than anything is his land.
06:47As to raise her future cubs, a leopardess needs large hunting grounds and a strapping
06:51male to protect them from unwelcomed visitors.
07:00And this area might do the trick.
07:20Even though the day started off badly, it can still finish well, because without even
07:41knowing it, she's just set paw on a powerful leopard's vast territory.
07:48A Don Corleone of the Savannah, who rules over his lands like a true godfather.
08:00This young leopardess hasn't sensed his presence yet, but it shouldn't be long now.
08:12Unlike the beautiful solitary leopardess, in the spotted hyena kingdom, the females
08:16wear the trousers.
08:20The females all live together and manage just fine without the males.
08:29For them, a good male stays docile, nearby, and always available.
08:35In short, they want a submissive partner who waits patiently until the female decides it's
08:41time.
08:43At first glance, it's never easy to know if you're dealing with a female.
08:49They flaunt a pseudo-penis that's just as long as a male's.
08:53Their bottoms hang low, and they don't smell too good, which means they have it all when
09:00it comes to seduction.
09:08You got it.
09:09Leopard hyenas impose super-strict rules on their partner.
09:15All charged up on testosterone, the female is stronger than he is and has attributes
09:19that aren't exactly feminine.
09:31She's endowed with an erectile clitoris that closely resembles a penis.
09:38And to top it all off, she's even got a false pair of testicles.
09:43The males have to keep their cool in front of these dominatrices because madame is the
09:48one who decides when it's the right moment to mate.
10:01So to seize the opportunity and satisfy their urges, they'd better stay close and wait patiently.
10:15Sometimes long distances can make dating tough.
10:20This happens to be the case for giraffes, even though they're able to see love coming
10:24from afar.
10:33They're graceful, refined, so elegant.
10:39You've got to admit it, these long ladies with impeccable hairstyles really know how
10:45to keep their figure.
10:54With their endless necks and three little hairs on each ossicone, the males are easy
10:59to spot, which is actually quite practical since females can't stand them on a daily
11:06basis and would rather just steer clear.
11:09The males are always quarrelsome, and they're too fond of junk food.
11:21In fact, male and female giraffes don't frequent the same haunts and so have a beast of a time
11:28meeting each other.
11:30We've got to admit that they choose their food carefully.
11:33They enjoy eating the tenderest of leaves and love the wide variety of food the vast
11:38plains provide.
11:45But males prefer the hushed atmosphere of the undergrowth.
11:50They don't have little ones to look after so they can roam the dense forest without
11:54fear of predators.
12:01At five meters tall, plus 45 centimeters of tongue, a male can reach even the highest
12:08branches.
12:10And when it comes to food, picking at young shoots is not his thing.
12:15No, he's never a fussy eater and prefers quantity over quality.
12:29The females certainly won't make the first move.
12:32So if the males want to meet a sweetheart, they'll have to venture off their own playground
12:37and roam the savannah.
12:49In the meantime, and since there are no females around, these young stallions don't mind partaking
12:54in manly pleasures amongst themselves.
13:04When you're young and inexperienced, winning over a female is never easy.
13:11Not even for lions.
13:15It's a big challenge for these beginners whose families have kicked them out.
13:31It takes a strong, tough, strapping lion with an incredible mane to win over a lioness.
13:39But on the savannah, this type of male isn't easy to come by.
13:50The lionesses are splendid, proud, resourceful, and good hunters too.
13:57Life is so much sweeter when they're around.
14:01It's tough to get one of the highly sought-after positions in their pride.
14:17This young whippersnapper and his budding mane would love to get near the pride of lionesses.
14:25But he's not powerful enough yet to attempt a coup and overthrow the dominant male.
14:34And the lion king would never abdicate anyway.
14:42Chances of reproducing are slim for this young male because most lionesses won't be available
14:48for two more years, the time it takes for them to raise their young ones.
15:04But you never know.
15:06This old lioness is cub-free and could be in heat.
15:10So with some luck and far away from the pride, the young and disheveled lion might just get
15:16his chance.
15:24Not far from here, there are other males who'd also like to ascend to the throne in hopes
15:28of mating and reproducing.
15:33They're sexy, charming, and awfully attractive.
15:43How can you resist the call of their beautiful behind, the ultimate in seduction?
15:54Female baboons love large males with big pecs and nice biceps.
15:59But even though these heartthrobs make all the females swoon, they're very exclusive
16:04and only have eyes for their favorites.
16:15This male is so blasé.
16:18To seduce his highness, the young, less sexy courtesans don't beat around the bush and
16:23have to try their best to be persuasive.
16:40She has her ways, but he's got one thing in mind, keeping the lower-ranking males out
16:48of his court.
16:52And he's got the stature to command respect.
17:08Seducing a partner in this very hierarchical community is often a sizable task.
17:20And for those who live far away from each other, like cheetahs, the challenge is even
17:25more complex.
17:29Because the last representatives of this endangered species live nomadic lives in immense territories,
17:36males and females on their respective sides.
17:47With their mind-blowing curves, tiny waists, and polka-dot dresses, female cheetahs have
17:54what it takes to tempt.
17:56But these lonesome creatures are not easy to come by.
18:06These guys are real knockouts with their sexy swagger.
18:11Too bad there are fewer and fewer of them.
18:15So it really is complicated for male and female cheetahs to meet.
18:35This female cheetah hasn't yet found the male who will make her a mother.
18:41And it won't be easy, especially when you live on a territory that measures several
18:46hundred kilometers.
18:50She ventures into the unknown, constantly on the lookout, and often into hostile terrain.
19:06It's best to avoid clashing with the baboons.
19:09There are so many of them, and they've got very frightening canines.
19:29The female cheetah went deep into the swamps to try to escape her pursuers.
19:36Even though, like most felines, she doesn't like getting her paws wet.
20:07But the troubles aren't over yet for this young, solitary female cheetah.
20:13She'll have to keep walking and cover many kilometers before finding her soulmate.
20:19Meanwhile, at the other end of the savanna, a male cheetah is going his own way.
20:25Will they manage to cross paths?
20:37To align their trajectories and get a little closer to each other, male and female elephants,
20:51cheetahs, and giraffes will throw themselves into a serious treasure hunt.
21:07Each species has its own method, or romantic potion, for finding a partner.
21:15Some males perform astonishing feats to attract their partners.
21:21But for mammals, when hormone levels rise, it's usually the females who send out the signals.
21:37So the males better be paying attention.
21:44In order to be the first in line to seduce a female, a male elephant's senses have got to be sharp.
21:54And even so, the female elephants still have to send the right signals at the right time.
22:03So the elephants spend their time tuning their ears
22:09to capture the slightest little signals emitted by the females in heat.
22:15And they advance with their trunks held high.
22:21It's the best way to detect the heady aromas sent their way.
22:27This young female has to let everyone know she's reached sexual maturity
22:32by sending out chemical and acoustic messages.
22:36She just forgot the rule. No fooling around in front of the calves.
22:41The long-tusked matriarch is uncompromising.
22:46There's no place in her herd for an overexcited suitor.
22:52The lovebirds are just going to have to search for another dating site.
23:12But flirting isn't child's play for the hyenas either.
23:18And it's a real challenge for the males to get close to these amazons.
23:26But just because a female hyena's in the area doesn't mean it's all fun and games.
23:32At least not right away.
23:37How sweet and innocent this sleepy female hyena looks.
23:42So demure, in fact, that some males might be tempted to take advantage.
23:51Attracted by the odor, he would just like to check if this female is receptive.
23:58But he has to perform a courageous task and sniff her genitals if he wants to be sure.
24:10Be wary of still waters, though, because this sleeping beauty's canines are razor sharp.
24:19She doesn't seem too interested in this timid and cautious suitor.
24:25Males learn at a tender age that they should never idle too long around a female.
24:34And if they do, it's a good thing.
24:41Males learn at a tender age that they should never idle too long around a female.
24:51He should have been more careful.
24:58For others, the challenge of winning over a female can bring out their macho side.
25:17It comes as no surprise that amongst males it always comes down to a competition of size.
25:23They check each other out, challenge each other,
25:29and have a hard time putting up with other males who are bigger and stronger than they are.
25:35So there's only one thing to do to stand out from the crowd.
25:41Fight.
25:46The planet's tallest animal often only has one thing in mind,
25:52taking on his competitors to knock them out of the contest.
26:01And as is often the case, things quickly turn into a display of strength
26:07when they flex their muscles and swing those necks around.
26:16And of course, when a pretty female giraffe is around, they tend to show off.
26:26Because if she's in heat, she'll let the winner do the honors.
26:32Crowned with two ossicones weighing 13 to 14 kilos,
26:38the head of a giraffe is a bona fide bludgeon.
26:44He can outrun his rival with one powerful blow.
26:50But sometimes duels drag on forever, and there's neither winner nor loser.
26:56This female's in no hurry. She'll wait for the next fight.
27:07As head of a 35-square-kilometer hunting ground,
27:11he doesn't take on anyone. He simply waits for the females to come to him.
27:24It's all very well that he urinates all over the savannah so copiously to signal his presence.
27:30But a female leopard still has to pass through there and take interest in his sweet fragrance.
27:42The young leopardess ended up settling in this territory because the prey is so abundant.
27:56But before being interested in the landowner, she needs to build her strength back up.
28:12This time the approach is perfect, and the attack foolproof.
28:25The leopardess struck her prey before breaking its neck to paralyze and suffocate it.
28:42This leopard doesn't realize that a young sutress has already moved into his domain.
29:01After finishing her meal, she quickly detects the scent left by the landlord.
29:07He has watered the savannah so well that she's sure to end up finding him.
29:19Now it's her turn to disperse her urine and droppings. It's like an animal ID card.
29:25Her scents indicate her sex, her sexual state, and the physical shape she's in.
29:38The die is cast. Now she just has to hope that Mr. Leopard decodes the signals she's left for him.
29:44The die is cast. Now she just has to hope that Mr. Leopard decodes the signals she's left for him.
30:15Like leopardesses, lionesses don't miss their chance to spread their urine to signal that they're available.
30:21Like leopardesses, lionesses don't miss their chance to spread their urine to signal that they're available.
30:25But that doesn't mean they'll go with the first male to show up.
30:32Luckily for those males passing through, the youngest lionesses don't couple with the pride's dominant male.
30:38Luckily for those males passing through, the youngest lionesses don't couple with the pride's dominant male.
30:44He could be their father.
30:48And when they leave to frolic elsewhere, well, you could say that they're not too shy about it.
31:02This young lioness in heat has spotted three young lions, a coalition made up of brothers or close cousins.
31:08This young lioness in heat has spotted three young lions, a coalition made up of brothers or close cousins.
31:14Even if the size of their mane shows that they've reached sexual maturity,
31:20they're still lacking a little energy and experience.
31:27But that doesn't matter, because she is determined.
31:33She's got no time to lose. Her ostrich cycle is short and lasts less than a week.
31:45The one sporting the darkest mane is more powerful and determined than the others,
31:52which works out well since lionesses clearly prefer the dark and handsome type.
32:00For the other two lions who missed out, their time for copulating is yet to come.
32:08The dark handsome male is proud of his conquest, but he better not think it's a done deal.
32:22Lionesses love playing hard-to-get.
32:28Lionesses love playing hard-to-get.
32:34Lionesses love playing hard-to-get.
32:40Lionesses love playing hard-to-get.
32:47Lionesses love playing hard-to-get.
32:53This lady has decided to make foreplay last. And last.
33:08And last. A very long time.
33:17And last. A very long time.
33:32In an atmosphere full of pheromones and after hours of chase, some males have finally found their matches.
33:40So now it's time to delve into the heart of the matter.
34:00On the savannah, encounters between males and females can be quite eventful.
34:07Before hoping to seal the deal, male elephants, giraffes, baboons, and hippopotamuses
34:13will have to find a way to stand out from the crowd of overexcited suitors arriving from all four corners of the savannah.
34:27No male can resist the scent of a giraffe in heat. It's like a love potion.
34:37But there's only one way for him to appreciate this sweet nectar.
34:43That's right. He's got to taste her urine.
34:50This young female attracts the males like a magnet.
35:05It seems that this one isn't to her liking, though.
35:11So she'll string him along for a while.
35:17He's so taken by her hard-to-get game that he's literally drooling with excitement.
35:36If he perseveres, he might get what he wants in the intimacy of the undergrowth.
35:48Sniffing their sweetheart's genitals is also part of foreplay for other savannah giants, too.
35:58Because before getting carried away, they have to be sure of who the scent belongs to.
36:05The elephant cows have sent their pheromonal messages in due form.
36:20The problem is that they've dispersed them in all directions without a precise recipient.
36:26And as always, the crowds are lining up.
36:35They're all over the place.
36:50Some very excited young males have received the olfactive signals sent by this young female.
37:05But it's not by prodding her with their tusks that they'll be able to seduce her.
37:21Not surprising that elephant cows prefer elephant bulls in their prime,
37:27meaning those who are over 25 years old.
37:35They're more experienced and manage their sexual urges better.
37:47But what really drives these female giants crazy are the veterans' good manners.
37:54They know how to rub their ladies the right way and get on their good side.
38:01Maybe it's also to sweeten the pill, because their penis weighs over 30 kilos.
38:07It's time to get away from the group and carry out their rather dangerous and acrobatic affair.
38:38The slightest false move and he could break her spine.
38:44But she has learned to adjust her position, and he has become a real Don Juan.
38:51The slightest false move and he could break her spine.
38:57But she has learned to adjust her position, and he has become a real Don Juan.
39:07Who could have imagined that it would have taken so many years of practice
39:13for their respective planets to line up for less than a minute?
39:21The female hippopotamuses have found their own method to avoid getting crushed by their partner.
39:39To avoid any kind of dorsal complications, and feel lighter too,
39:46it's best to mess around in the water.
39:52But with this much weight, there's still a real risk of drowning.
40:07The master of this harem doesn't exude elegance, even less so when it comes to seducing his mates.
40:16His pickup techniques are basic and pretty routine.
40:22He starts by marking his territory.
40:28But contrary to the big cats who are happy to spray a few spurts of urine,
40:34this heavyweight delicately defecates under his sweetheart's nose.
40:40And his exploits don't stop there.
40:46The hippopotamus can also become quite boorish during copulation.
40:52He's careful of keeping his own head above water,
40:58but doesn't worry so much about how his partner is getting on.
41:04This thing keeps trying to come up for air,
41:10because she can't stay underwater for more than 15 minutes.
41:16But with 2 to 4 tons on her back, it can be hard for her to escape her lover's embrace,
41:22and she risks drowning to death.
41:28At the end of this task, Mr. falls asleep on the missus.
41:43On the other side of the savannah, the lion still has a long way to go with his rather prudish partner.
41:58The lionesses keep their suitors in suspense.
42:04You could say that they're the queens of foreplay.
42:10But once they decide to go for it, they'll make the frolicking last.
42:16And the pleasure will be endless.
42:22It usually pays off.
42:28It's the start of a long marathon for him, because lionesses are insatiable.
42:34They'll go at it every 20 minutes, up to a hundred times a day.
42:52Constant mating is the only way to trigger ovulation.
42:58Come rain or shine, nothing's going to stop these champions of endurance.
43:10And once they're ready to go, it's time to go home.
43:28Once this valiant partner is completely exhausted, she'll go find another one.
43:58After a long game of chase, two other planets have finally converged.
44:04The young leopardess is no longer all alone.
44:10She is cozied up to the elegant owner of the land she settled on.
44:16It's true that on the savannah, males have to be in tip-top shape.
44:32And that's quite the understatement when it comes to satisfying a leopardess.
44:38The leopardess doesn't beat around the bush to get what she wants.
44:46She's the one to make the first move.
44:56She's not about to let her new mate slip away.
45:02They're also able to copulate about a hundred times per day.
45:16The leopardess is the only one left.
45:22It's time for her to go home.
45:28It's time for her to go home.
45:34It's time for her to go home.
45:40But this approaching lioness clan could ruin everything.
45:56The threat is gone.
46:02Nothing should disrupt this intense honeymoon that will last for several days.
46:08The threat is gone.
46:14Nothing should disrupt this intense honeymoon that will last for several days.
46:39A few hundred meters away in hyena country,
46:45the males would love for their mates to be as affectionate.
46:51Their patience might pay off, and maybe they'll get what they want.
47:00Finally, what we love about the female hyenas
47:06is their unpredictable behavior, their dominating mistress quality.
47:12Males have to do more than just prove their submissive.
47:18They also have to show their acrobatic talents.
47:29After weeks of abstinence, it's time to do the deed.
47:35The lioness, whose standing is smaller and shorter than his sweetheart,
47:41still has some troubles ahead.
47:47Just when things are getting started, a new sizable problem arises.
47:53How to penetrate one penis with another penis.
47:59The male is attracting her pseudo phallus so that he's able to penetrate her.
48:05But he's got to accomplish some feats before he can slide his penis in.
48:19Once the act is consummated, the female shuns any kind of intimacy with this male.
48:30He would have liked to take a nice romantic bath with her,
48:36but she never intended to weigh herself down with a partner.
48:42Each of them will return to their own planet.
49:00In the large baboon community,
49:06males that are low in the hierarchy
49:12will have to prove their ingenuity if they want to mate.
49:19Unlike some, female baboons rarely get migraines
49:25when a male shows interest in them.
49:31But the male is not the only one.
49:38Unlike some, female baboons rarely get migraines
49:44when a male shows interest in them.
49:50Especially when they're so virile and well-built.
49:57When you're a young male and a bit of a weakling,
50:03you have to know how to wait for the right moment.
50:09But it always ends up coming along.
50:15The muscular males are fighting over the same female.
50:21So this might be his chance to capitalize.
50:37Meanwhile, she acts as if nothing is happening,
50:43as if she's not at the center of this conflict.
50:51This young sneak waited patiently
50:57for things to get out of hand.
51:03Now it's a done deal.
51:09The big male doesn't know where to turn anymore.
51:15Should he take on his rival
51:21or chase the reckless youngster
51:27who's making a move on his favorite mate?
51:33Poor thing.
51:40In fact, it just goes to show that when sex calls,
51:46there are all sorts of ways for everyone to get what they want.
51:57On the savanna, it takes a lot of energy and ingenuity
52:03to get close and connect.
52:09Some lose patience with the foreplay.
52:15The act itself was brief, and the love story often short-lived.
52:21When sexual arousal has worn off, when things have calmed down,
52:27then it's time to get serious.
52:33In nature, it's rare for animals to couple together
52:39in order to raise offspring.
52:43But some will try to live together anyway,
52:49to create a family or even a tribe,