All language subtitles for Wildlife Icons Series 1 Part 2 Meet the Meerkats 1080p

Narrator:
The mighty kalahari desert.

A scorched land where
only the toughest survive.

Even so, this
inhospitable expanse is home

To some of southern africa's
most appealing characters...

That rely on their wits
and teamwork to thrive.

For these remarkable desert
dwellers, family comes first.

Stretching over 350,000
miles

Across southern africa lies
an immense thirsty landscape.

The ancient kalahari desert--

As old as the african continent
and bone dry.

Here summer days regularly top
100 degrees fahrenheit

And rainfall is scarce.

But this isn't a typical desert.

The arid wilderness is dotted
with grasses and thorn trees,

Which suck moisture
from deep below the surface.

Animals live here too.

Like these sociable weavers,

Who build large communal nests
out of grass and twigs.

Group living in this harsh world
makes sense,

A strategy also adopted
by meerkats.

Resident families are as hardy
as they come.

Meerkats are a type of mongoose
measuring up to 12 inches

In length and weighing less
than two-and-a-half pounds.

They are carnivorous and eat
a variety of prey species,

Such as small reptiles, grubs,
scorpions and beetles.

They share their range

With equally tenacious
ground squirrels.

These neighbors have much
in common,

Not least their key
survival tactic.

While they look out
for each other on the surface,

Their secret to success
is going underground.

Here both species are insulated

From the elements
and can escape hungry predators.

From the safety
of interconnected burrows

They venture out to explore
the vast landscape.

For the highly social meerkats,

And those around them,
desert life is challenging

Every step of the way.

After many months of drought,

The kalahari is
at its most punishing.

Survival depends not only
on individual

And collective strength,
but also on a rare event.

Finally rain clouds
are building.

(thunderclap)

Dawn reveals water-filled
lake beds.

But these ephemeral pools
will soon soak away

Into the desert's parched sands.

A female meerkat is the first
to investigate

Her freshly watered world.

The land is cool and damp
this morning,

Full of possibility.

Soon other members
of her family follow.

After a cold night they warm up
in the early morning sun.

But even while sunbathing
they must be wary,

Ever on the look out
for predators.

And today there is extra reason
for this vigilance:

Pups.

These five youngsters
are barely three weeks old

And until now have been confined
to a protected life

In the burrow.

This is their first time out
in the big wide world.

For such tiny toddlers,
it's dangerous out here,

So they stay close
to the adults.

The pups will be weaned
in the coming weeks

And will have to fend
for themselves soon.

But for now mum's milk is their
main source of nourishment.

Without her they can't survive.

Meerkat society is matriarchal
and the dominant female

Gives birth to around 80 percent
of all new family members.

She is wearing a radio collar,

Which enables researchers to
keep track of her and her troop.

As the dominant male,
dad also plays an important role

In the family,
but has less influence than mum.

Although he's sometimes left to
babysit the playful infants...

Who are forming bonds that will
be important for their future.

The alpha mother has a lot
of responsibility.

She also has to look after
her older set of pups

Who are now teenagers...

As well as leading the adults
of the pack,

Most of whom are related.

There are about 20 meerkats in
this complex family hierarchy,

And they all help
with babysitting.

Just like human infants,

These little ones need constant
care and attention.

Protecting them from predators
is a full-time job.

Fortunately there's always
a sentry on duty.

Like any household,
there are chores to do

At the meerkat residence.

Maintaining the burrow entrance

Is crucial,
as it serves as their getaway

When danger strikes.

It's a job shared
by all the family,

Including one of the juveniles.

But some of the boisterous
teenagers have other ideas.

It looks rough,
but it's just play-fighting...

A favorite pastime
of these feisty little mammals.

The reason behind this behavior
is not fully understood.

It may have implications
for social ranking

And group cohesion,

As well as honing agility
and strength.

Mum makes an appearance,
but it seems

She is exempt from wrestling.

One of teenagers has got
his sibling in a headlock...

But soon he's at the bottom
of the pile.

Whatever the reason
for this rough-housing,

It certainly looks like fun.

Games aside,
the family is hungry

And they can't afford
to waste valuable hunting time.

This is the first time
the babies are joining

A foraging mission and mum is
aware of the perils facing them.

But the overnight rains promise
an abundance of food.

In a place where famine
often trumps feast,

She knows they must
take advantage

Of every opportunity.

Luckily she has
security measures in place.

Her large territory
is dotted with bolt holes,

Ensuring that the family

Is never far from cover,

Should one of their numerous
predators arrive.

She also has sentries posted
on elevated lookout points.

It's often the lower ranked
males that are put on duty.

They take their jobs seriously.

They have to.

The safety of the family
depends on them.

And today they're on high alert.

The youngest pups are extremely
vulnerable to predators.

This makes mum very nervous.

Danger could come
from anywhere at any time.

Being out in the open is a new
experience for the tiny pups,

Who call to the adults
and do their best to keep up.

This is a stressful time
for the family.

They need to teach the babies
how to find a meal

While making sure
that they don't become one

For something else.

Luckily there's an easy snack
up for grabs today.

The rain has triggered
the emergence of termites.

Driven by the need to mate
and create new colonies,

They take to the skies.

But often the termites
don't get very far...

Simply becoming a welcome bite
for the hungry meerkats.

Packed with protein,

The tiny insects make
a perfect breakfast.

Although this youngster
isn't sure

About eating the scaly wings.

Often the best way
to learn new skills

Is by watching your parents.

One of the most important
lessons

A youngster must learn
is digging.

It's one of the secrets to a
meerkat's success in the desert.

Adults have long claws,

Which make them
powerful diggers,

Shifting heaps of sand
in seconds.

A skill that the young ones
have yet to master.

The babies still have
a long way to go

Before they can forage
for themselves.

Even master diggers,
like this adult,

Sometimes need to work
incredibly hard to find food.

He excavates
with remarkable speed.

There's something enticing
hidden deep in the sand.

While digging, meerkats can
close their ears

To stop them being filled
with sand.

A useful trick
when you're tail deep in a hole.

Finally though,

The promise of his reward
is outweighed

By the effort required
to find it.

Meerkats are
in the precarious position

Of being both predator and prey
in the kalahari's food chain.

These skies are home
to a range of raptors.

None of these birds of prey
is more formidable

Than africa's biggest--
the martial eagle.

With a wing span of
up to eight feet,

Massively powerful talons and
incredible long distance vision,

This eagle is a meerkat's
worst nightmare.

But a meerkat's eyes are
specially adapted too.

They are surrounded by dark fur,
reducing glare and allowing them

To scan the sky for threats,

Even while looking straight
into the sun.

The sentry sounds the alarm.

(meerkat squealing)

The babies run for their lives.

Through vigilance and teamwork,

The gang have
outsmarted the eagle.

But the family is shaken.

Cautious reconnaissance
is done by all,

Checking that the threat
has gone.

The sentry's reassuring grunts
confirm the coast is clear.

The group is in
constant communication.

It's a compulsive paranoia
that keeps them alive.

Airborne threats come
in many shapes and sizes.

Including several species
of owls, buzzards,

And even smaller birds
of prey like kites.

The meerkats' territory extends
far across the desert,

Allowing them to forage
new areas regularly.

Mum knows just where to go
for the best pickings.

Calling the shots is hard work.

But being the boss
has its perks.

Her sister has caught
a large rodent.

And the alpha female wastes no
time in claiming it for herself.

Still nursing her pups, she
needs all the food she can get.

By taking her sister's meal,
she gains the sustenance

Of the rodent as well as saving
the energy it took to catch it.

She also re-asserts her position
of control over the mob.

Females usually
maintain dominance

For around two-and-a-half years,
and she is in her prime.

For the others the choice
is simple:

If you want to be part
of the gang,

You follow her rules.

But like all animals
living here,

The meerkats remain
at the mercy of the desert.

Some of the adults and older
pups investigate the carcass

Of a bat-eared fox.

But the youngsters won't go
anywhere near it.

Already covered in maggots,

This individual has been dead
for some time.

It is a grisly sight
that illustrates a harsh reality

Of life here.

In the kalahari,
survival is not a given.

The grim encounter
is soon forgotten

As the family gets on
with what they do best:

Looking for food.

One of the babies scores
a big grub from his aunt

And he can't contain
his excitement.

(squealing)

This substantial meal
keeps him occupied...

Giving mum a moment to enjoy
her favorite delicacy--

A juicy scorpion.

But it's not an easy meal
and tackling it requires skill.

By eating the poisonous sting
first she neutralizes the threat

Of its venom, while also
avoiding the large pincers.

After her meal,
mum leads the family

To one of their nearby bases.

Shade is vital for the meerkats
to avoid overheating

In the brutal african sun.

Everyone in the family needs
a bit of downtime.

And one of the teenagers seems
to be ill.

Her sister stays close.

Mum comes over
to take a look too.

But the lethargic youngster
appears to recover

As she gets caught up
in the family antics.

Their neighbors however,

Don't have time
for a midday break.

African ground squirrels
have abandoned life in the trees

To scratch a living out
on the desert floor.

Being mostly vegetarian,
there is no competition

With the meerkats for food,

Which allows them
to share territory.

Unlike the meerkats,
male and female ground squirrels

Live in separate groups,

Where dominance disputes
are typically settled

At lighting pace.

Ground squirrels eat a varied
diet of plants, seeds and roots.

They have to forage throughout
the day to get enough food.

This season brings one
of their favorite treats:

The young leaves
and juicy flowers

Of the devil thorn plant
have just emerged.

The flowers are a rare treat.

Ground squirrels can tolerate
high temperatures

And baking sun.

If they overheat they have
an ingenious solution:

They simply erect
their umbrellas.

This allows ground squirrels
to forage

Even in the hottest part
of the day,

When the meerkats are forced
to take a break.

As afternoon temperatures drop,

The meerkats are ready
to get moving.

With high metabolisms,
they have insatiable appetites.

Mum leads the pack out
for another session of foraging.

Her growing family has lots
of hungry mouths to feed,

So there's no time to waste.

Again she claims a free meal
from one of her gang.

But she won't share it
with her pup.

It may seem cruel,
but she needs the food

To produce enough milk
for all of her babies.

This "super mum" is simply
following her instinct--

To keep her whole family alive.

For this youngster, who is still
too young to fend for himself,

Hanging around behind his older
brother may prove more fruitful.

This time he is allowed
to share...

But this generosity won't last.

Soon there will be
no free lunches for the pups.

They'll have to find food
for themselves,

Which is hard work...

As their older brother
is demonstrating.

He can smell something delicious
beneath the surface,

But sometimes the tastiest
treats take some getting.

Eventually he finds it:
A fat grub.

For millipedes,
like many insects,

The rains signal that it's time
to look for a mate.

This baby doesn't know what
to make of it.

He's unsure how to tackle
such an intimidating meal.

Millipedes secrete a stinky,
distasteful substance

When threatened.

An unappealing prospect
to a youngster.

But if hungry enough,

Meerkats will eat certain
species of millipede,

Even though they often prove
to be a second-rate dinner.

One of the older, braver pups
gives the scaly creature a go.

But for the little ones,

These prehistoric looking
crawlies are downright menacing.

There are tastier options
on the kalahari's menu.

This meerkat youngster
has found a favorite meal.

He's caught the tail end
of what looks like a big worm.

It's actually a legless reptile,

Known as spade-snouted
worm lizard.

But he can't seem to get
his paws on the rest of it.

He's experienced enough
to solve the problem,

By changing his angle of attack.

It's a big meal.

His younger sibling has
also found a worm lizard.

But he's struggling
to get through it.

It's just too much
for the little meerkat.

By late afternoon,
the ground squirrels

Have also eaten their fill,
and take a moment

To enjoy a more
social pastime: Grooming.

This reaffirms the bonds
within the group.

It's also apparently
very relaxing.

While the ground squirrels
are slowing down,

The meerkat teenagers
are speeding up.

They have found a sandy ditch
that's the perfect arena

For some play-fighting.

The teenagers may have extra
energy to burn,

But the rest of the family
devote the remaining hours

Of the day to finding food.

This little one is confused
about what exactly is edible.

His dad's tail looks
just like a juicy worm.

Ants make a tastier snack.

But for the inexperienced,
catching them can be tricky...

Because ants bite back.

Some lessons in life
are painful.

Ants aren't
the only biting things

That these meerkats need
to worry about.

They have many
natural predators.

One such menace
is the cape cobra.

A baby meerkat is just the right
size to make an excellent meal

For this cold-blooded killer.

But the pack not only
has the advantage

Of strength in numbers...

Meerkats also have remarkable
immunity to snake venom

And can survive a bite that
would kill a fully grown man.

While foraging, meerkats search
for food in fallen trees

Used as hideouts by snakes.

This means their paths
often cross.

Heading home,
dad spots something in the sand.

A recently shed snake skin.

He investigates cautiously.

To him it reeks of danger.

But the pack tackles it
together.

Meerkats tread a fine line
between curiosity and caution.

Along with intelligence
and teamwork,

These attributes are
an effective defense

Against predators.

Meerkats are known
to mob snakes.

It is believed this discourages
the reptiles

From taking up residence in
the meerkats' living quarters.

Mum supervises as the older kids
pull the skin apart.

Eventually one of the pups

Plucks up the courage
to approach.

This is a vital lesson.

Learning that snakes
are dangerous and to be treated

With extreme caution could mean
the difference

Between life and death.

After a day of close calls,
it's time for the family

To retreat to the safety
of their burrow.

For the youngest pups,
their first outing

Has been an exciting

But challenging journey.

Learning how to be a meerkat
is tiring work.

They are so exhausted,
they can hardly stay standing.

It's been a momentous day
for the whole gang,

Full of vital lessons
and bonding experiences.

For mum it's a job well done.

Her growing family is well-fed
and home safe

After another grueling day
in the mighty kalahari.

Under the leadership
of a determined alpha female,

This meerkat troop is enduring
against the odds.

It's a tough existence,
lived out under the glare

Of the desert sun

And the gaze of predators.

Meerkats may be small
and vulnerable,

But they are tenacious
characters.

Together they are a force
to be reckoned with.

For this growing family,

Teamwork is not only keeping
them alive,

It is enabling them to thrive.

A gang of true
kalahari survivors.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)