All language subtitles for Natures Perfect Partners BBC Natural World 2016 1080p HDTV x265 AAC EN Sub

In Galapagos, this majestic tortoise
is in a bit of discomfort.

He's got an itch he can't scratch.

The answer?

To partner up with a finch.

The finch pecks out all those
irritating ticks and grubs.

The bird gets a meal,

the tortoise gets relief.

Everyone's a winner!

There are times in life

when all you need is a little help.

It could come from
members of your own family,

or from some more unusual allies.

Across the natural world,

some extraordinary partnerships
between animals

are being discovered.

Whether it's a lion and a lizard...

..or a raven and a wolverine...

..no matter where they are
on the food chain,

many creatures have learned that
life can be a bit easier

when you find a perfect partner.

Out in the wild,
survival is paramount,

but even in this
pristine wilderness,

just staying clean
is a daily challenge.

One way is to enlist some help,

but that can depend on whether
there's mutual benefit.

Across Africa, hippos are considered
among the most dangerous of animals.

They can be unpredictable

and highly aggressive.

They certainly appear tough enough
to look after themselves.

But their impressive hides are prone
to irksome parasites.

Unable to pick up a stick
and scratch their own back,

they've gone into partnership.

Meet the barbel,

a hippo's best friend.

These graceful goliaths are trailed
by shoals of these loyal fish.

They even eat the droppings -
what a bonus!

Once in a comfortable spot
the barbels get to work,

nibbling away at all the hippo's
unwanted guests.

It's a bit like a spa treatment,

complete with facial,
full body exfoliation

and it seems to lull the hippos
into a kind of trance.

Thanks to the food stuck to the
hippos' teeth, the industrious fish

are able to feed on
exotic vegetation from the land,

which would otherwise
be out of their reach.

Timing and agility
are essential here.

It's a peculiar pairing,
but it seems to work.

The fish get a feast and the hippos
submit quite happily,

perhaps making us see these aquatic
curmudgeons in a different light.

Many creatures need help
with their personal hygiene.

Even in the depths of the sea

are fish which could
do with a bit of a once over,

but, at times,
finding the right cleaner

can require a little more effort.

For these jacks,

their skin parasites
are more than just annoying.

If not removed,
they can reduce their growth.

This specialist cleaner fish,
the wrasse, offers relief.

But the brightly coloured wrasse
is recognised by many other fish,

all wanting the same service.

It leaves the jacks with a problem

as there just aren't enough
cleaner wrasse go around.

So the jacks have to find
a more precarious solution.

At first glance, it seems an almost
suicidal option.

This is a silver tip shark
and could easily eat a jack.

But these sharks
have skin like sandpaper

and bumping into their flanks
helps scrape off unwanted parasites.

Soon swarms of jacks pursue the
sharks, all itching to have a go.

A dangerous game,
but perhaps one that's tolerated.

Could all this bumping around also
help to exfoliate shark's skin?

A case of you scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours.

Eventually, though,
the sharks have had enough

of being used as
mobile loofahs and they're off.

For the jacks,
they must be doubly relieved -

to be rid of their itches
and to be alive.

On the African savanna, another
animal is about to take a big risk.

He's very hungry and he knows where
there is guaranteed food,

but catching it will mean
getting up close and personal

to one of the
fiercest predators around.

After a hearty meal of wildebeest,

the lions are doing
their best to take a siesta.

But under the scorching hot sun,

they are surrounded by
irritating and relentless flies.

Step up Mr Lizard,

perhaps the
bravest cleaner in the world.

Lions do eat lizards, but having
already had a much larger meal,

they are unlikely to need dessert.

Still, best to be cautious as lions
can be notoriously short-tempered,

even if you're doing them a favour.

It takes a bit of courage and skill,

which not all the lizards possess.

Across the world,
their lizard cousins

have struck up a
similarly special relationship

with another type of lion.

The lava lizards of the Galapagos

rid their seal lion friends
of flies,

which can be ticklish nuisance.

Here, the busy cleaners appear a lot
less cautious and much more welcome.

Back on the savanna,

it seems that as long as the lizards
let the sleeping lions lie,

they will be rewarded
with a tasty snack.

How appreciative the lions actually
are of their fly-swatting efforts,

well, who knows?

Some animal partnerships go much
further than just cleaning.

When you need a bit of home help

or you're having a spot of bother
with your neighbours,

it can be worth
considering a lodger.

In the coral reefs is perhaps one
of nature's oddest couples.

This lugubrious goby has been
offered lodging from a shrimp.

The shrimp is the perfect homemaker,

always cleaning, digging extensions
and carrying out home improvements.

Yet its chosen lodger
seems rather lazy,

just hanging about and
occasionally getting in the way.

Despite first impressions,

the goby is, in fact,
crucial to this partnership

as the shrimp is almost
entirely blind.

The goby, on the other hand,
has excellent eyesight

and remains constantly alert.

So, when the shrimp is outside,

it continuously flicks
one of its antennae over the goby

to make sure it's still there
and the coast is clear.

The shrimp nips across to collect
food from a little patch of algae

that it knows is close to home.

However, if the shrimp wanders
too far there can be trouble.

That was an anemone it blundered
into and it beats a swift retreat.

For a moment,
it seems a little lost,

but the faithful goby finds it

and this devoted pair
are soon reunited.

This predator spells danger
for both creatures.

But the goby gives the signal

and both grateful landlord and
lodger retreat safely indoors.

Happy with that - that's the rent
sorted for another month!

Sharing a home can lead to living
on top of each other,

but for some creatures,
this can be a distinct advantage.

One such animal lives in
the rainforests of Latin America.

The famously slow-moving sloth.

Thanks to its damp fur,

it is able to employ the help of a
rarely celebrated organism - algae.

It helps the sloth blend in
to its green surroundings,

providing it with
a sort of living camouflage.

And the partnerships
don't end there.

The nutritious algae
attracts its own admirers -

insects like these moths,
who like to eat it.

But the moths are welcome lodgers
for the sloth

as they too bring their own
rather surprising benefits.

Once a week, their sloth landlord
sets off to the ground

at a pace a snail
would consider reckless.

He does this for his
weekly call of nature.

The female moths take this
opportunity to jump off

and lay their eggs
in the steaming dung.

Some hop back on
to their furry friend,

bringing with them a lovely
bit of sloth dung.

It's the perfect fertiliser
for the growing algae,

helping to keep the sloth the
right shade of green

and hidden from predators.

Perfect!

Some animals go to quite extreme
depths in their quest

to find a secure place to lodge.

A pearl fish is looking for
exactly that - a hidey hole.

This cumbersome oddball
could be the answer.

A rather strange looking lump
known as a sea cucumber.

It spends its days sucking sand in
through one end of its body,

extracting
anything nutritious from it

and passing what it doesn't want
out the other end.

It is the ultimate beachcomber.

OK, it's revolting, but could
this walking colon be a safe haven?

It seems it could and, strangely,

it prefers the 'back door'
to the front.

Any port in a storm...!

But the pearl fish is,
in fact, very clever.

Sea cucumbers are repulsive
to most predators,

meaning the crafty
lodger is safe inside.

In fact, it is such a comfortable
pad that, after settling in,

it is happy to share its home
with friends and family.

Now, time for a breath of fresh air!

Whether invited or not,

partnerships can involve
all kinds of diverse creatures.

Some of these creatures pair up
not with animals, but with plants.

In Madagascar, the baobab tree
is regularly pollinated

by the giant hawk moth.

But the tree also plays host
to another creature,

one which will kill a moth.

The mouse lemur,

one of the world's smallest
primates.

He drinks the sweet nectar
from the tree's flowers.

It's packed with sugary energy.

But he particularly
enjoys a meal of moth.

It seems the lemur
is doing the baobab no favours

by killing its moth pollinator
but, without knowing it,

this mini assassin is actually
performing the same role.

As he wrestles with the moth,
his fur becomes dusted with pollen.

Later, as he moves from
tree to tree,

this will spread across the forest,
helping other baobabs to grow.

So, in this relationship, the baobab
is surprisingly the ultimate winner.

On the other side of the world

is a partnership
which has knock-on benefits

for the most unlikely
of candidates.

This Sundarbans in southern Asia

are the largest tidal
mangrove forests in the world.

And a tiger reserve.

Mangroves are the only trees that
can exist in salty water.

They have roots which stick up like
snorkels sucking in oxygen

as they can't get enough
out of the thick mud.

But mangroves need more than this
to thrive.

Luckily, they have
found an ideal partner.

One which can only be seen
at low tide.

Millions of crabs.

Leaf-eating crabs and
fiddler crabs.

They make their homes here.

It's an ideal place for them

to create their labyrinth of
underground tunnels.

The tunnels are
vital for the mangroves.

At low tide they channel air
through the mud.

Also, crabs help nourish the trees.

The fiddlers recycle
the bacteria-rich mud,

releasing nutrients for the roots.

While, as their name suggests,

the leaf-eaters gather up
and digest the mangroves' leaves,

producing their own
natural fertiliser.

The crabs' burrows even help control
the saltiness of the swamp.

When mangroves take up water,
they leave the salt behind.

As the tide comes in, fresh seawater
floods the crabs' burrows

and dilutes the salty remains.

Less toxic mud allows
the mangroves to flourish.

Without their crab partners,
the Sundarbans just couldn't survive

and without the Sundarbans,

the tigers here
would also be in trouble.

Crabs helping to secure
the future of a tiger?

You have to admire these
sideways eco-warriors.

Protection is paramount
in the endless battleground

that is the natural world.

It could be a crucial warning call
in return for titbits...

BIRD CHEEPS

..but it always pays
to have someone to watch your back.

Surprisingly, though,
this protective friend

can sometimes be a creature you'd
expect to be your archenemy.

Normally, this venomous tarantula
would eat a small toad,

but here it is welcomed into the
protection of its lair.

It's not a personal thing,
it's purely business.

The toad offers a
useful service.

Pest control.

The spider's egg sacs
are infested with insects,

which the toad soon makes a meal of.

In return for
getting rid of the ants,

the tarantula offers very
effective security.

Screech owls
enjoy a dinner of toad,

which would normally
be easy pickings.

But the spider unleashes
a barrage of barbed hairs.

Like tiny vicious arrows, they soon
discourage the unwelcome intruder.

The coral reef,
thriving metropolis of the ocean.

With such a rich
and diverse habitat,

no wonder so many remarkable
partnerships have evolved.

These small, defenceless clownfish

seem to have picked
a tough place to live,

amongst the tentacles
of a sea anemone.

The anemone is armed with
paralysing stings -

stings that can kill a fish.

To avoid this fate,

the clownfish dance deftly
among the stinging tentacles.

They produce a special mucus

which, ultimately,
stops the stings from firing.

Very quickly,
the clownfish are immune.

They've effectively found
themselves a security partner

and turned the anemone
into their very own fortress.

It's an ideal one
for them to lay their eggs.

In return, the constant movement
of the fish

helps oxygenate the sea anemone -
a perfect reciprocal arrangement.

Keeping safe and secure

can be all about choosing
the right kind of neighbour.

These burrowing owls

have chosen to move into
a large estate in North America

known as 'Dog Town'.

It's a huge area
of underground tunnels

built by a community
of prairie dogs.

The owls have chosen
this rather rough-looking area

as it has a well organised
neighbourhood watch scheme.

The prairie dogs provide a free and
very sophisticated security system.

Members of their community take it
in turns to watch out for predators.

The lookout guard has different
calls for different threats,

threats to both
the dogs and the owls.

PRAIRIE DOG CHIRPS

PRAIRIE DOG CHIRPS

CHIRPING

The wise owl may be a myth,

but these earthbound head-turners
are a savvy bunch.

At times, survival can depend
on taking opportunities

when they come along.

Some creatures are better
at exploiting them than others

and often it's a case of how sneaky
you're prepared to be.

These capuchins live in one of
Brazil's most extreme landscapes,

where food is hard to come by.

So they have had to have learn
to be very resourceful.

They have spotted a
yellow rat snake,

a creature which can be dangerous
for young capuchins.

The capuchins all work together,

trying to make as much noise
as possible to scare off the snake.

Then they realise the snake
offers an opportunity.

It has found a Brazilian rodent
called a punare -

a potential meal for both
snakes and capuchins.

The punare has nowhere to hide.

Very soon, the silent hunting
technique of the snake has paid off.

Then, one of the capuchins
attempts something rather risky.

With hundreds of
backwards-facing teeth,

the snake is not going to
give up prey easily.

It was worth a go.

But the snake
has created an opportunity

for the quick-witted capuchins.

There's more than one rodent
up for grabs here.

The most experienced male
takes the lead.

Got it!

With a little help from the snake,

the capuchins have cleverly
scrounged themselves a meal.

Sneakily scrounging from
other animals is a smart move

and some creatures
have become expert at it.

Cowbirds have latched on to a much
larger animal than themselves.

They do so because
the movement the bison make

stir up hundreds of insects,
which the birds eat.

A good roll in the dust
throws up a decent meal,

but the tiny birds also
know when to keep out of the way.

Just as well, as the males can get
quite excited and aggressive.

Living close by and scrounging from
these big beasts

helps guarantee the birds' survival.

When the bison migrate,
the birds will follow.

These little birds even lay their
eggs in other birds' nests,

so their chicks are unwittingly
brought up by others.

They do this so they are not left
behind when the bison move on.

You have got to hand it to them,

these birds are more than just a bit
sneaky, they're ruthless.

In the icy forests of the Arctic,
are two very cunning scroungers

that have, surprisingly,
learned to work together.

RAVEN CALLS OUT

In this bitterly cold landscape,
a raven calls out.

RAVEN CALLS OUT

It's found its dinner, but it needs
another animal's help to enjoy it.

The wolverine.

The raven, a highly intelligent
bird, directs the ravenous wolverine

to the moose carcass it's found.

The moose is frozen solid - too hard
for the raven to break through.

The wolverine's powerful jaws

make short work of this frozen ready
meal, exposing the softer middle.

The raven will have to wait until
its partner has had its fill.

But it knows that patience
will eventually pay off.

The wolverine drags a chunk of
the carcass off into the forest.

But there are plenty of scraps left
for the raven.

And its friends.

What the wolverine can't manage
it will bury for a later date.

It's always useful to have extra
food in the freezer!

In the struggle for survival,

cooperation with a
completely different species

can be a way of
gaining a crucial advantage,

but some animals
have learned that working together

within their own family
is the key to success.

Elephants live in large groups
with strong social bonds.

This large herd in Kenya

is made up of several females
and their offspring.

Amongst the herd is an inexperienced
mother with a newborn calf.

She couldn't keep up with the herd,

but the grandmother of the calf
has stayed behind to help.

Meanwhile, the rest of the herd
reach the river.

The older calves are unceremoniously
encouraged to take the plunge.

You could call it tough love.

In her effort to catch up
with the others,

the new mother leads her baby
across a slippery mud pan.

It's not the best route
for a newborn.

Grandmother steps in to try and help
guide the calf across.

Having finally reached the river,

the young mother again chooses
a difficult route for her baby.

Oh, dear. He's now blocked by what,
for him, is an impossibly high bank.

But this is where being
part of a family pays off.

The herd see that he's struggling
and return to try to help him.

Everyone gets involved
in the rescue,

all trying to save the newborn.

They've done it, thanks to the
family working together.

Strong partnerships in this herd
will help the inexperienced mother

become better at caring for her
calf, giving both a brighter future.

Working together in family groups

is essential to the survival of
so many different species.

There's one animal which is famous
for its impeccable teamwork.

Ants function like
a highly-disciplined army.

Each is clear about its own role and
they all work for the same goal.

Nowhere is this teamwork
more important

than in the scorching heat
of the desert.

In the midday African sun,

very little can survive
the soaring temperatures.

But these silver ants have special
armoured skin which reflects light.

They can tolerate temperatures that
would kill any other land animal.

But even they can only survive
out here for a few minutes.

They are in a race to find food

while their predators
have gone to ground.

Only by working together as a team

do the ants stand a chance
of success.

They've found a victim of
heat stroke.

A potential meal.

But will they be able to
get it home

before being scorched themselves?

They are nearing their maximum
temperature.

A blistering 53 degrees Celsius.

Some can no longer take the heat.

They're running out of time.

They won't make it, not unless
they can do something drastic.

By biting off the legs
and antennae,

the ants stand a better chance of
getting their prey back to the nest.

With a final push, they've made it.

Sacrifices were made along the way,

but the team
fulfilled their mission.

From an army of ants
to nature's own special forces.

One of the most tactically
advanced family partnerships

in the natural world can be found
in the sea.

Killer whales.

The ocean's apex predator
takes teamwork

and problem-solving
to a whole new level.

They employ a range of
hunting strategies,

demonstrating high intelligence.

In the Antarctic, a pod of killer
whales stays close together

as they scour the sea
looking for prey.

There are several
potential victims here.

Although they are out of reach.

The solution
is highly complex teamwork.

Swimming in perfect formation,
they flick their tails in unison

and create a wave
that cracks the ice.

They regroup and assess the damage.

A more powerful wave is needed.

With the ice floe breaking up,

they can get a better look
at their target.

It's a crabeater seal. Quite
vicious. Not their favourite.

A Weddell seal
is far more manageable.

They unleash a powerful wave
with remarkable accuracy.

The seal is now
where the killers want it.

But there's still work to be done.

They need to grab their prey
by the tail,

while avoiding its snapping jaws.

Only then will they be able to
pull it down and drown it.

Side swipes create violent
underwater turbulence, a new tactic.

Blowing bubbles gives cover
for others in the team

to lunge at the seal's tail.

Somehow, the seal manages to
reach a tiny ice floe.

The killers could easily
grab it now.

But rather like a cat with
an injured mouse,

they seem to be enjoying the sport.

Yet again, the pod joins forces
to dislodge the seal.

Completely exhausted,

the seal hardly has the energy left
to pull itself to safety.

For the unfortunate seal,

it's game over...

..falling victim to, without doubt,

one of nature's most lethal
partnerships.

Throughout history,

partnerships have also existed
between animals and humans.

The majority of these
are rather one-sided,

with humans harnessing the skills
of wild animals for their own ends.

However, some special
relationships do exist

where an understanding between
animal and human

has developed which is
quite extraordinary.

Bottlenose dolphins make their way
to a shoreline in Brazil.

They have forged
a remarkable partnership

with the local fishermen here.

Large numbers of mullet come through
this area in the early summer.

The problem for the fishermen
is that the water is so murky

they can't see where to
cast their nets.

The dolphins drive the mullet
towards the fishermen

and even signal when to cast their
nets with their distinctive dives.

The fishermen claim they can even
tell the size of the school

and which way it is travelling

by the vigour and
direction of the dive.

The dolphins do all the hard work
herding the mullet,

much to the joy of the fishermen.

They can catch many kilos
of fish in this way.

The dolphins have no trouble
rounding up shoals of fish,

but picking off individuals
is more difficult for them.

It's here they benefit
from their fellow fishermen.

The nets panic the mullet,

forcing them to break formation.

As the fish make their bid
for freedom,

the dolphins seize their chance.

And they're not the only ones
to benefit.

One of the most extraordinary
partnerships between humans

and wild animals
can be found in East Africa.

It's a unique relationship,

which can be traced right back
to the 17th century.

This honeyguide bird
is calling out...

..not to other birds,
but amazingly, to humans.

Its intention is to lead a couple
of local Masai to a beehive.

Thanks to its acute sense of smell,
it's already found the hive,

but without human help it would
find it much harder to reach

the sweet honeycomb inside.

It becomes a game of
follow my leader.

As the honeyguide gets
closer to the prize,

it changes its call to let them know
they're getting warmer.

Here it is,

a hive well-hidden in a tree

and covered by hundreds
of African bees.

The boys use smoke
to help calm the bees.

Without this smoke, it would be much
more painful for either the locals

or the bird to get to the honeycomb.

The honeyguide bird is the only
wild animal

known to actually guide people
to food in this remarkable way.

These Masai know it's important to
keep up their part of the bargain.

The honeyguide bird
is rewarded with its share.

A guarantee that this unique
partnership can continue.

It's a measure of
the huge diversity

and enduring mystery
of the natural world

that these extraordinary
animal partnerships exist.

I mean, who would've thought it,
a bird helping out a tortoise...

..never mind a raven sharing dinner
with a wolverine?

It seems these relationships
are all about survival.

And without doubt,

having a partner,
some more perfect than others,

can make all the difference.