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Explore diverse ecosystems, witness the behavior of magnificent creatures, and gain insight into conservation efforts around the globe.
Whether you're a nature enthusiast or simply curious about the wonders of wildlife, these expertly crafted documentaries promise to educate, inspire, and entertain.
Follow now and embark on a journey to discover the beauty and complexity of our planet’s natural heritage.
:
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• Wildlife is suffering.
Wildlife on planet Earth is under siege from all sides, facing down habitat loss and the impact of climate change. Some of the biggest threats to wildlife include illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
•
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AnimalsTranscript
00:00Forward momentum. Chasing the rains. Fleeing from predators. Or battling the terrain.
00:15A never-ending journey to track the shifting promise of fresh grass.
00:21Build a beast on the migration. Live life in fast forward. It's an epic spectacle.
00:31Vast distances and uncountable numbers. But the big picture is deceptive.
00:40The real drama unfolds close up.
00:44This is Neo's first trip. So now it's personal.
00:54Neo with a thousand miles to cover. Facing enemies intent on killing him.
01:03Crossing treacherous waters.
01:06Neo is the one in a million. Who will either live or die to fulfill his destiny.
01:23The wildebeest migration in East Africa has no real beginning or end.
01:28It's not a set route. But a relentless nomadic wandering. Around an area roughly the size of Denmark.
01:39The impetus to move is food and water. And because rainfall is erratic, the movement pattern echoes this.
01:49Thirst steers them across many rivers.
01:51And during the dry winter, the herds head north, close to the Mara River.
01:55They're only permanent water when the rains stop.
02:00But right now, it's the rainy season. And the herds spread across the southern grass plains of the Serengeti.
02:09Today is Neo's birthday. Neo's birthday is a special day for the Serengeti.
02:17Today is Neo's birthday.
02:24He's not fully out, but the clock starts.
02:30Neo and mum will never be more vulnerable than in these precious first minutes.
02:37Survival as a newborn depends on Neo hitting developmental milestones.
02:42A strong neck is a promising start.
02:53With mum's encouragement, Neo finds his feet.
03:00Briefly.
03:04Now his goal is coordination.
03:06Mum greets her baby son.
03:13As she cleans him, she learns his unique scent, as he learns hers.
03:18Smell is how they will recognize each other if they ever get separated.
03:26And Neo's eyes are open to the world.
03:28Smell is how they will recognize each other if they ever get separated.
03:36And Neo's survival right now depends on them sticking together.
03:40It's a race to stand, but this vital imprinting will save Neo's life more than once.
04:01Everything he needs to know about being a wildebeest, he'll learn from mum.
04:13She's his cheerleader, his defender, and his guide.
04:23Only three minutes old and he's up.
04:31Through determination and the evolutionary wizardry that makes
04:34wildebeest offspring the most precocious of any antelope.
04:42A newborn that walks with robust lungs and legs that have the same bone to muscle ratio as an adult.
04:55And now that he's vertical, his instinct is to nurse.
05:01But the herd is leaving and it's more important to keep up.
05:21Mum has a final target for her newborn.
05:26To run.
05:31Life as a wildebeest has started.
05:41Neo is born on the short green grass in the south,
05:45but he was conceived eight months earlier, many kilometers away.
05:50A place much more dry and loud.
05:54The air vibrates.
05:58It's the time of the rut and from horizon to horizon,
06:02territorial bulls recruit females onto their turf to graze and ultimately to mate.
06:15It's easy to spot the males.
06:18They exhibit a frantic urgency.
06:21Yet very little of this activity involves the actual mating.
06:26It's more about chasing and herding females and fighting off competing males.
06:34The humming chorus of excited bulls works its magic.
06:40Because it's this sound that stimulates the cows to mate.
06:45Because it's this sound that stimulates the cows and brings them into Easter simultaneously.
06:55The annual rut is the biggest mass mating event on the planet.
07:02Along with Neo's mum, 500,000 females conceive in this three week peak.
07:07But by comparison, the females seem quite disinterested in the whole affair.
07:15It's the males who do all the work.
07:19They remain vigilant to fight off intruders bent on stealing their prized possessions.
07:25Bulls are so pumped up with hormones during the rut,
07:29some of the females can't get enough of it.
07:34They're so pumped up with hormones during the rut,
07:36some give up resting and sleeping completely.
07:50A bull smells when a cow is in heat.
07:52And a moist nose improves his ability to sort through different odours.
07:58He also curls his lip back in the Flehmen position
08:02to take air onto a specialist scent organ that detects sex pheromones.
08:18Despite the energetic preamble, the mount is quite low key.
08:22And short.
08:25Probably because it's often done on the move.
08:33When the females don't stop, or even slow down,
08:37the poor males just have to do their best.
08:43The males may have the enthusiasm, but the females hold the power.
08:48So success depends entirely on the willingness of the females to be detained.
09:00This guy has a bit of work to do on his vocals.
09:10Their melodious mating ritual clearly works.
09:14Evidence of its success is overwhelming.
09:20Eight months later, like clockwork, along with Neo,
09:24a quarter of a million new tan-coloured flanks pepper the plains.
09:32Mums synchronise their birth to coincide with the rains
09:36and the green flush of fresh grass in the south.
09:41The most nutritious grazing on their entire journey.
09:45Perfect to provide rich milk for growing calves.
09:53At one week old, even the calves experiment with the lush carpet of greens.
10:03With their blunt muzzles, flexible lips and wide rows of incisors,
10:07wildebeests are designed to crop these short, map-forming grasses.
10:13There's plenty for everyone, because while the rain falls,
10:17there's constant new growth to compensate for heavy grazing.
10:25Neo's only a day old, and mum keeps him close.
10:31As a newborn, his instinct to follow is strong, but indiscriminate.
10:36So Neo is drawn to any large, moving object.
10:40While he's so tiny, mum must ensure that she's the first thing Neo sees.
10:48It's one of the wildebeest wonders that most of the calves
10:52are born within a three-week period.
10:56That's 500 newborns a day.
11:00It's a clever anti-predator strategy,
11:04keeping most of them safe.
11:10It's difficult for a predator to pick a single target among the thousands.
11:24Difficult, but not impossible.
11:29Alone, a calf has no chance against a cheetah.
11:47Straying from mum and the herd is a death sentence.
11:53A harsh, but vital lesson for Neo.
11:59Another first for Neo.
12:03Rain.
12:07Thunderstorms are an almost daily occurrence through the wet season,
12:11but they're deeply significant for the wildebeest,
12:15as the aerial beacons that trigger the entire migration.
12:20It's a strange sensation, getting wet,
12:24but the drops taste nice enough.
12:38Neo watches mum and the other calves
12:42as they move through the wet.
12:46Neo watches mum for her reaction.
12:50She's even more eager to graze.
12:58The short grasses in the south are special.
13:02New growth explodes after every shower.
13:06And it's this fresh flush, rich in protein,
13:10which the wildebeest crave, and why they chase every new rainstorm.
13:16The wildebeest themselves play a vital part
13:20in this grass bonanza.
13:24Their heavy grazing further stimulates growth,
13:28and with their trampling and depositing manure,
13:32they actively create and maintain their habitat.
13:40But rain is the critical cog in this food factory.
13:45Without water, shallow roots expose the southern grass's fickle nature.
13:53Green blades wither to dry husks almost overnight,
13:57devoid of nutrients,
14:01prompting the mass exodus away from the plains.
14:05Only rain keeps the grass green.
14:09While the living is easy,
14:13the herds make the most of it,
14:17even grazing through the night to bulk up.
14:29Neo's too tiny for grass,
14:33but the perfect fit for his umbrella.
14:39When Neo is five days old,
14:43he takes his first journey to the marsh.
14:47The rains keep these ephemeral pools brimming
14:51with fresh water.
14:55Adjacent to the plains,
14:59it's a convenient watering hole for the thirsty hordes.
15:04Neo's led to a shallow pan
15:08where it's safe for the calves to drink,
15:12wide open and easy for mums to spot oncoming danger.
15:18The adults navigate the deeper water.
15:22All wildebeest have to drink every two days,
15:26so this vital water right next to their food
15:30limits the distances the herds have to cover
15:34when the calves are so young.
15:39Five days has made a big difference to Neo.
15:43He brims with confidence and curiosity.
15:47With typical youthful energy,
15:51he's desperate to stretch his legs.
15:55He's not afraid of the cold,
15:59and he's not afraid of the rain.
16:03He's not afraid of the cold,
16:07and he's not afraid of the rain.
16:21It's time to claim his newfound independence,
16:25as long as it's okay with mum.
16:31With thousands of thirsty mouths to accommodate,
16:36as one group of wildebeest moves off,
16:40another pours in to take its place.
16:48There's an enemy in their midst.
16:56Hidden in the tall grass,
17:00the lioness settles right next to the herd.
17:06When she's still,
17:10she's invisible.
17:26She wants an easy target.
17:30An adult wildebeest is much heavier than she is,
17:35and she has claws that can pierce and even kill her.
17:43A calf is best,
17:47but difficult to spot tucked next to their mums.
17:51Panic scatters the herd.
17:59As one, the mothers gallop the calves back to the plains.
18:13The lioness seems uninterested in her kill.
18:18Another opportunity.
18:24It's Neo.
18:28He didn't leave with a rest,
18:32and he's too young to know he's in danger.
18:36Irresistible to the lioness.
18:40But Neo's not alone,
18:44and that changes everything.
18:48Mum will face this enemy for both of them.
18:58Neo's not alone,
19:02and that changes everything.
19:07Neo's not alone,
19:11and that changes everything.
19:23The route home takes them right past the lioness.
19:31But now Neo's prepared.
19:35With mum's guidance, he knows the lioness means danger.
19:41And when mum runs, he runs.
19:46And when mum runs, he runs.
20:04When wildebeest calves stand next to their mothers,
20:08it's easy to see why these bearded ladies of the savannah are so valuable.
20:16Calves disappear.
20:20They're undetectable to predators.
20:26This subtle vanishing act is why it's crucial that calves learn to shadow their mothers.
20:32Wildebeest youngsters aren't hidden away like other antelope babies,
20:36and their precociousness makes them conspicuous.
20:40But behind their hairy veils,
20:44mothers keep their offspring safe.
20:58Neo and mum practice following skills.
21:04He's improved a lot,
21:09keeping his distance at her side, and even stops in sync.
21:31The ambush comes out of nowhere.
21:36Two cheetahs.
21:46But mum is on the attack,
21:50and immediately in pursuit when the first cheetah keeps chasing Neo.
21:58For a second time, it looks as if it's all over.
22:02But 150 kilograms of maternal fury
22:06is the game changer.
22:14Mum's not letting her son die today.
22:24And now Neo knows what to do.
22:29And rejoin the herd.
22:53Childhood doesn't last forever.
22:57The seasons stop, and the herds begin the journey
23:01away from their southern pastures for another year.
23:09There's nothing left to sustain them here.
23:15Dead grass transforms the plains into a dust bowl,
23:19and the marsh pans degenerate to unpalatable soda lakes.
23:24Rain is now falling on the long grass further north, and they must follow.
23:36But the females anticipated this change,
23:40and the months on the plains prepared them and their calves for their trek.
23:48Neo is a sturdy three-month-old.
23:52He no longer has the sooty face of a baby calf
23:56and sports his darker adult coat and little devil horns.
24:06And they're off.
24:10Millions tuned into the same restless impulse to move.
24:15Now their awkward body shape makes sense,
24:19because it's their heavy-fronted design
24:23that allows them to cover such vast distances day after day
24:27in their easy, loping canter.
24:31A bull neck and tall shoulders aren't pretty,
24:35but they're key to the wildebeest's perseverance.
24:40Even marathon runners have to rest some time,
24:44and after two days on the trot,
24:48a river is a vital pit stop.
24:56There's always high energy at the first river crossing.
25:00Water, sand, and sandstone
25:04are the main sources of energy.
25:08Water offers relief from the sun,
25:12an opportunity to wash off the dust and pesky flies,
25:16and most of all, a drink.
25:22But a killer lives here.
25:28The most terrifying of all wildebeest enemies,
25:32because of his ability to disappear.
25:38First, eventually overcomes fear.
25:46They remain on high alert.
25:50It only takes a quarter of a second
25:54for a crocodile to launch right out of the water.
26:08They're lucky. This was just a recce.
26:12Death is a steep price to pay for a drink of water.
26:22Miss.
26:26But there's nowhere for the herd to escape to.
26:30It's backed up all the way up the bank.
26:35Thousands of wildebeest waiting to drink.
26:41Now the leaders are forced into enemy territory
26:45by the surge of bodies from behind.
26:49Third time unlucky.
26:57They lose a herd member.
27:05Mercifully, it's a quick death.
27:10But the brutal attack shocks the herd into action.
27:14The priority changes.
27:20It's the perfect time to cross while the enemy is distracted.
27:26They'll return for a drink later.
27:30The blood sacrifice is paid for a safe passage.
27:38Neo can't wait.
27:42It's quite different from the gentleman he's used to.
27:46Waves make it difficult to breathe.
27:52But he's not alone.
27:57Mom wants to cross immediately while the sheer numbers keep them safe.
28:09It's a gentle, shallow river that still almost covers Neo.
28:13Swept along by the energy of his herd mates,
28:17Neo's first crossing is a success.
28:25Although separate groups of wildebeest
28:29reach the river's edge,
28:33it's still a long way to go.
28:38Although separate groups of wildebeest
28:42reach the rivers at different times,
28:46they use very specific crossing points,
28:50which is why there's excessive bottlenecking.
28:54They choose a narrow section and cross as fast as possible
28:58to limit the time they're exposed in the water.
29:02A tight formation has the same benefit in the water
29:07to make it difficult for a predator to separate one from the bunch.
29:15It lasts the morning,
29:19but Mom and Neo's herd crosses without further incident.
29:37Over the next few weeks,
29:41the movement pattern repeats itself
29:45as wave after wave of wildebeest push ever northwards.
29:51River crossings follow time drinking
29:55and grazing on the long grass plains.
30:01The yellow patches may look unappetizing,
30:05but this grass is drought-resistant and reliable through the dry season.
30:13They've done well.
30:17Neo and Mom are only two days away from their winter pastures
30:21and their ranks have swollen.
30:25Herds converge in their thousands for one final hurdle,
30:29the Mara River.
30:34The Mara River is the muscular body of a young adult.
30:38He's going to need it for his upcoming swim.
30:50And where the herds gather, predators wait.
31:04The lioness follows in plain sight.
31:08She wants the wildebeest to see her.
31:22She's at a massive disadvantage.
31:26The hordes are retreating.
31:30It's way too late for an ambush attack.
31:36This calls for something less subtle.
31:48A stampede.
31:52There's always profit to be made from panic.
31:57One cow bolts away from the herd.
32:03A fatal mistake.
32:07The rest of the herd rallies.
32:11They can't help the cow, but if they stick together,
32:15they limit the damage.
32:19In an emergency,
32:23the compulsion to herd
32:27is one of the wildebeest's greatest strengths.
32:31But accidents happen.
32:35Life changes in an instant.
32:39And without warning, there's a crisis.
32:44Neo is in pain.
32:48It's difficult to move.
32:56His leg twisted badly
33:00when he sprinted away from the lion.
33:04A wildebeest with a limp is a broken thing.
33:10Neo can barely walk, let alone run.
33:20Mom is worried.
33:25Mom has an impossible choice.
33:29Stay with Neo or catch up to the herd.
33:37Neo's injury turns them both into targets.
33:43But if she abandons him now,
33:47she's condemning him to death.
33:52Her best option is to keep moving them closer to the others.
33:56But every moment, they slip farther behind.
34:08If Neo can rest and heal, he may have a chance.
34:12But it means spending the night alone.
34:16Her encouragement spurs him,
34:20but he's finished.
34:25But it means spending the night alone.
34:29Her encouragement spurs him,
34:33but he's finished.
34:55But it means spending the night alone.
35:11She makes her decision.
35:15Now her son comes first.
35:25By morning, 10 kilometers ahead of Mom and Neo,
35:29the first of millions arrive at the Mara River.
35:35It takes days for everyone to cross.
35:39The Mara is a unique challenge.
35:43Deep water and steep banks distinguish it from every other crossing.
35:47So the herds gather to build their numbers and confidence.
35:55They get a running start at the shallow end,
35:59but the sand bank drops off sharply,
36:03and they hit the deep end.
36:07When they lose their footing, they lose their speed.
36:11Forced to swim for the opposite bank, the wildebeest are sitting ducks.
36:15These river monsters don't have to hide.
36:19They can target anyone.
36:23Water is their realm.
36:39But there's another challenge.
36:44A rip current drags the swimmers off course,
36:48tripling their time in the water
36:52and offering the worst possible exits.
37:06Panic drives them forward without thought.
37:14And the hordes keep on coming,
37:18cannon fodder for the enemy.
37:30The wildebeest's hardwired tenacity
37:34is both a blessing and a curse.
37:38Some individuals are crushed and trampled in the chaos,
37:42but the same stick-at-it-ness
37:46gets others out of impossible situations.
37:52Despite the hardship, most make it across.
37:57There's something infectious to overcoming adversity in a team,
38:01and wildebeest epitomize this.
38:15Eight kilometers back,
38:19the wildebeest make their way through the swamp.
38:24Eight kilometers back, far from the mayhem,
38:28Neo is making progress.
38:32A good night's rest and mum's slow pace has helped a lot.
38:42But someone has noticed their isolation.
38:46And the rocking pattern of Neo's limp
38:50is a green light to attack.
39:02Certainly worth investigating.
39:10One hyena isn't a serious threat.
39:15It shouldn't interfere with mum's plan to rejoin the herds in the next few days.
39:25Neo can run, but he can't maintain it.
39:39Mum makes it clear they don't want company.
39:45Back to the mission.
39:49Get Neo well and catch up to the herd.
39:53It takes three days,
39:57but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest
40:01which is the wildebeest herd.
40:07It takes three days,
40:11but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest
40:15which is the wildebeest herd.
40:20It takes three days, but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest
40:24waiting to cross the Mara River.
40:28They're both frantic with thirst,
40:32so mum initiates the move to the water.
40:44But there's a problem.
40:50It's too dangerous to drink or cross now,
40:54and mum warns the others.
40:58She can only keep Neo safe in a crowd,
41:02so she'll wait for reinforcements to mob the crocodile.
41:12But Neo's desperate. His mouth burns.
41:16So mum rallies the herd around him to let him drink.
41:30With the herd at critical mass, they dive in.
41:34But the river is no different today.
41:38The current is still furious.
41:46Hampered by his weak leg,
41:50Neo battles to keep up.
41:56It's a cruel irony that such a narrow crossing
42:00is such an epic struggle.
42:04Programmed to follow like sheep,
42:08today's herds face exactly the same pitfalls.
42:13Exits are jammed in the panic to leave the water.
42:17With nowhere to go, wildebeest clamber over each other,
42:21injuring comrades that block the way.
42:29Still they press on, driven by a stubbornness
42:33that's unrelenting.
42:37Spindly legs that look ready to snap
42:41carry most safely to the grass.
42:45Five meters from shore,
42:49Neo loses his battle against the current.
42:53But mum doesn't give up on him.
42:57With no thought of her own safety,
43:01she turns against the herd.
43:06Swims back across the river
43:10to find her son.
43:16Crushed in the frenzy downstream,
43:18it doesn't look good for Neo.
43:28Mum's bravery goes unnoticed.
43:33All around her, individuals are wrapped up in their own survival.
43:43It's her final act as a mother.
43:47In the great scheme of things,
43:51it's just one more death,
43:55a mere statistic.
43:59But a precious bond of mother and son
44:03is broken forever.
44:08A precious bond of mother and son
44:12is broken forever.
44:16And life goes on, driving forward the only way they know.
44:43Only the tail-enders see the back of the river.
44:53There's no mourning for the dead.
44:55A few lives are sacrificed for the many.
44:59It's a survival strategy that's worked for millennia.
45:16This year's carcasses are abandoned at the river.
45:25But one heart still beats here.
45:33And perseverance is in Neo's very DNA.
46:00Water washes away more than dust and grime.
46:06It's a new start.
46:08And his focus is to find mom.
46:18He can't see her in the pile, and he doesn't pick up her scent.
46:30A wet nose won't change things.
46:33He will never smell her again.
46:50He has to rely on the strength within.
46:59Mom's lessons kept him out of danger and taught him to keep moving.
47:08She did her job well.
47:10Her determination and feistiness shine through her son.
47:18He knows what to do.
47:21Find the herd.
47:24He won't let her down.
47:49And so, when Neo rejoins the herd, it's not the end.
47:54Like the migration, his story and his journey continues.
47:59He can't predict his fate, but he can meet it at a gallop.