All language subtitles for The Flood (2018)

The Flood

The Kalahari,

The Flood

the largest expanse
of sand on the planet.

At its center lies a
living, breathing miracle...

the Okavango Delta.

Each year, when the
land is at its driest,

distant rainfall fills
its veins once again.

The Great Flood is
the heartbeat...

transforming this land

into a wildlife paradise

like none on Earth.

It's the start of winter.

The land is dry.

The rivers have vanished
and the flood is yet to come.

Flocks of hungry quelea
scour the floodplains

by the thousands.

The grasses have
withered and died.

Now only their seeds
lie dormant in the dry sand.

The scramble for
food is underway.

These dry, unbroken
floodplains are the ideal

hunting grounds
for a cheetah...

especially a mother with
three growing cubs to feed.

Her cubs are completely
dependent on her for food.

An impala would
make the perfect meal.

But the cubs are
still too young to hunt.

They'll stay behind
to watch and learn.

She is a skilled hunter.

Approaching in silence,
she selects her quarry.

Impala horns can be lethal,

she cannot afford
to make a mistake.

Speed yes, but agility too.

These are the
cheetah's greatest assets.

It's a dangerous take down,

but she knows
precisely how to kill.

Her son is eager to help.

He is learning fast.

His sister is a
little less confident.

For now, feeding
her family is easy.

But when the flood comes,
it will be another story.

To survive in this dry season,
timing is everything...

and the leopard is to timing
as the cheetah is to speed.

Just when most plants
have withered and died,

that's when Kigelia
trees burst into life.

Their deep red flowers are
filled with sweet nectar.

Vervet monkeys are
enticed to drink

and they help
pollinate the trees.

In a land that
has grown so dry,

the juicy blossoms are
simply irresistible.

Soon, a velvet
carpet covers the ground,

drawing the impala
to join the feast.

And it's the impala that
this leopard is after.

She'll wait until
the monkeys leave.

There can be no witnesses.

Now is the time
to make her move.

Silently.

Stealthily.

The leopard's ambush is set.

All she must do is wait.

The impala have no idea
who's about to drop by.

The leopard is surely
the most cunning of cats.

Every year in the
highlands far to the north,

heavy rains fall.

From a trickle to a flow,

this is the Great Flood's
first pulse...

filling the veins and
arteries of this thirsty land.

It rejuvenates
the barren sands,

and brings the
promise of renewal.

This wave of water will
transform everything,

as a great oasis is born.

The scent of water
beckons on the wind,

drawing herds of grazers
back to their winter pastures.

For thousands of Cape buffalo,
the flood rolls out a green,

life-sustaining banquet.

Some travel many
miles to get here.

The resident
lions lie in wait.

For this travel-weary
mother, there is no rest yet.

Her calf now faces the most
perilous challenge of its life.

(snorting, growling).

(mooing, growling).

These young lions think
they have an easy meal.

(mooing, growling).

But the harder they try, the
harder this mother fights.

Backup is not far away.

That's one advantage
of living in a herd.

(mooing, growling).

Just in time, the other
buffalo rally to her cause.

Pick a fight with one and
you must fight them all.

The lions are outnumbered
and outmatched by a

herd that stands
shoulder to shoulder.

Together, this fortress of
buffalo cannot be breached.

And for now, mothers
and calves are safe.

Night and day, the flood's
fingers fill deeper and deeper

into the delta, spreading
out and feeding the land.

Channels, once empty,

now overflow with the
abundance of life.

As water and land
merge and become one,

a new world takes
shape beneath the surface.

Here, migrants find
a welcoming home.

Wild dogs revel in the
flood's healing waters.

The emerging swamp
makes a great playground.

But there's something
strange lurking here,

and they can't
resist investigating.

Not all that comes with
the flood is welcome.

For a giant rock python,
a wild dog pup would

make a tasty meal.

The wild dogs are
wary of this unknown visitor.

Although a pack this
big could take him on,

when in doubt, the
best approach is

to live and let live.

In the cold of winter,

the Great Flood has
saturated the land.

Now begins one of the
Okavango's greatest spectacles.

Swarms of tiny
insects fill the air,

midges and mayflies.

Their emergence is a
vital source of protein,

another generous gift
of the all-giving flood.

Even the Quelea forego
their usual diet of seeds.

Other insects are
drawn to the feast,

dragonflies and their
smaller cousins,

damselflies.

Over 100 different
species gather here.

The Okavango becomes
home to one of the biggest

concentrations of their
kind anywhere on Earth.

They are here not only
to feed, but to mate.

The male makes
the first move...

clasping his
partner behind her head.

She bends toward him
to receive his sperm.

They can remain locked in
their heart-shaped embrace

for hours.

The male will keep a firm
grip on the female until

she deposits their eggs,

and a new cycle
of life begins,

courtesy of the flood.

In just a few months, billions
of gallons of water engulf

what was a vast savanna.

As the flood reaches its peak,

only small islands
break the surface,

and dry land is
hard to come by.

There are some antelope
that thrive in wetlands.

Lechwe, with
their long hind legs,

can easily outrun any
pursuers in this swamp.

Other animals find
their own ways to adapt.

(trumpeting, rumbling).

But if you're a giant,
water is no barrier.

The flood brings new food,
and the elephant's needs

are greater than most.

They act as tree surgeons,
removing the weakest.

The sound of a fallen tree
rings out like a dinner bell.

All within earshot rush in,
and very little will be wasted.

In a few hours, only
a skeleton remains.

Sword Grass
chokes the waterways.

Keeping this in check
is another job for

the constant gardener.

An elephant can rip out
the grass by the root,

rinse it off, and
eat it by the ton.

The elephants' insatiable
appetites make them the

architects of the swamp.

By managing vegetation,
they direct the flow of water.

But underwater, even more
construction work is done,

and the hippopotamus is the
Okavango's greatest engineer.

Hippos are natural-born
earth-moving machines.

With their massive
lumbering bodies,

they reconstruct
the underwater world

simply by moving.

The flood's main arteries
are now deep channels,

and hippos are right at home.

They are the
masters of this realm.

Not even crocodiles
dare to challenge them.

Able to hold their breath
for up to five minutes,

hippos are perfectly
adapted to their workplace.

As they move in
search of food,

they bulldoze paths
through the vegetation.

(groaning, grunting).

Soon, there's a network
of hippo-sized highways

linking the larger rivers
to the smaller pools,

and the pools to
the floodplains.

Where these highways
lead, the water follows.

Hippos direct the flow,
creating the watery web

that shapes the entire delta.

On the flat open floodplains,
the water begins to slow.

Water lilies
thrive in the shallows.

They root in thick mud,
and their candelabra stems

reach for the sky.

The lily pads spread
across the surface,

fragile and paper-thin.

But for one special bird,
the pads are a floating home.

This is the 'lily trotter'.

With oversized feet, he
can skip across the water

from pad to pad.

But life in the swamp
is a delicate balance.

(rumbling, squawking).

His home is being
invaded by a giant,

one whose feeding habits
could wreck this world.

The flowers and lily pads
are of little interest

to this elephant...

it's the nutritious
stems and roots he's after.

To satisfy his appetite,

he'll yank out hundreds
of them in a day.

But this lily trotter
can't simply escape
to a different pond,

this is home and he
has a nest to protect.

He's a father who
takes his domestic
responsibility seriously.

His mate laid her eggs
and then she left the

rest up to him.

Now, he's a single parent
and a stay-at-home dad.

He's been tending his
floating nest for 21 days.

But today, he must
rise to a new challenge.

There's no
mistaking those legs.

His first chick is making a
somewhat awkward entrance.

Housekeeping is a priority.

To hide any evidence
of the new young one,

he removes the
shell from the nest,

breaks it up and sinks it.

Now he'll keep his first
chick safely tucked away.

It might take two more
days before his others hatch.

He just needs to
hold on tight.

This devoted
Dad now has two chicks.

He keeps a watchful eye on the
newly-hatched lily trotters as

they find their footing.

When you're only
two inches tall,

obstacles are everywhere.

Exploring this watery
world can be tricky.

A gap between the pads presents
a serious water hazard.

Try as he might, Dad is
only making things worse

while his chick struggles.

Desperate times
demand desperate measures.

That was a close call.

Taking both
chicks under his wing,

he'll keep them
out of trouble,

for now.

But even for a hard-working
Dad like this one,

a third chick will
be a real handful.

The Great Flood has
changed everything it touched.

The world has turned.

New creatures lurk in the
dappled light of the swamp.

Lions are no
longer in command.

They don't mind
getting their feet wet.

But with their
hunting grounds submerged,

they've lost their
usual advantages.

(snorting, mooing).

Perhaps it's better
to go after something

a little slower.

The lions try to
corner a lone hippo.

If he reaches deep water,
he'll be in his element,

and they'll be out of theirs.

He makes his move
before they can make theirs.

And he's safe.

The flood has brought
challenges and promise.

The only constant here
is constant change.

And even greater
changes lie ahead.

Four months after it began,
the flood is at its peak.

Billions of gallons of
water have now spilled

into the Kalahari.

Creating a vast wetland
that fans out for

thousands of square miles.

The Okavango
overflows with life.

Beneath the surface a whole
new world has taken root.

Secret gardens flourish.

Fish flit in
forests of lilies.

And even the largest residents
have all the space they need.

The Great Flood is the
gift that keeps on giving.

Crocodiles are
in their element,

waiting in the
shallows of the swamp.

Lions cautiously
navigate their now

unfamiliar territory.

To patrol what was
once all theirs,

they must cross the swamp.

These brothers
must stick together.

And watch each other's backs.

But they're entering a
place of unseen perils.

Today, they were lucky.

But now, they're
separated and alone.

Lions are no
longer kings here.

The flood has
changed all the rules.

The waters remain
high for several months.

But the Okavango
is an inland delta.

Countless channels meander
without ever reaching the sea.

Instead, after nurturing
the land and its creatures

the water slowly disappears,
captured by the summer sun.

In this land of
continual change,

it's time for the
next transformation.

Flashes of color sparkle
on the receding waters.

Countless carmine bee eaters

flock to the newly dried ground.

These summer visitors
are here to find mates

and start families.

They get to work
digging out their nests.

Once the foundations of their
seasonal city are laid out,

all attention
turns to courtship.

And with so many
rivals around,

first impressions
are everything.

Posturing with a prize
proves you can provide

if you can hold on to it.

It's every bird for himself
as males try to prove

they have the right stuff.

Finally, winners are declared

and matches are made.

But just as they're
getting down to business

in walks trouble.

An intruder slithers
into the city of carmines.

A monitor lizard, on the
lookout for eggs and chicks.

Rivalries are forgotten,
as the carmines form

a united front.

They'll do whatever
it takes to safeguard

the next generation.

Turning the
tables on the chancer,

they send him packing.

As the land begins to dry,
there are opportunities for

those who can seize
the tactical advantage.

Wild dogs work the
edge of the swamp.

They're a coordinated team,
with a cunning strategy.

Slowly they push the
impala to the water.

Until there's only
one place left to go.

The dog's trap is set.

Or is it?

They aren't the only ones
with eyes on this prize.

The dogs are
about to be robbed.

The crocodile holds fast.

But there's
strength in numbers,

and the pack
gains the upper hand.

Brains and dogged
determination wins out,

this time.

But the dogs must always
be on their game in this

constantly changing world.

This family is up early.

Even in paradise, it's the
early bird that gets the worm.

So they're off with the dawn.

Fresh delicacies emerge
as the channels dry out.

The falling water levels
reveal lilies and sedges.

It takes patience and hard work.

But it's worth the effort.

There's plenty of food
here for the whole troop

and the neighbors.

The patriarch
keeps a watchful eye.

Abundance can breed discord.

In a
growing baboon troop,

young males push their limits,

trying to fight their
way up the ranks.

It's up to the boss
to restore order.

The squabbling has
drawn unwelcome attention.

Internal tensions
are brushed aside.

Time for this family
to move on and find

somewhere safer to feast.

As the sun evaporates
the water from above,

the vegetation
siphons it off from below.

With falling water levels,

some residents
need to relocate.

A young male hippo
has outgrown his pool.

Out of his element, but he'll
trudge for miles if he has to.

He's just looking
for a place to live,

but he could be
wading into trouble.

This pool already has
a tenant, a big bull

and he doesn't
want a roommate.

The youngster will
have to keep looking.

Deep water is now
prime real estate,

worth fighting for.

Vast floodplains fill with
water when the Okavango

spills over its banks.

Creating rich breeding grounds

for a wide range
of aquatic life.

Now, as they begin to dry,

these hidden treasures
are exposed.

Open billed storks are
the first to flock in.

They have just the tools
to tackle another of the

flood's seasonal offerings.

With bills like nutcrackers,
they forage for snails

in the shallows.

Millions of small fish
that hatched out here

on the floodplains are
now leaving their nursery

for deeper waters.

Black egrets
arrive in hot pursuit.

These birds work undercover.

They form umbrellas
with their wings,

casting shadows that
mimic water lily pads.

The perfect place for
little fish to hide.

The illusion is fatal.

With attacks
coming from all sides,

the small fish
make their escape.

They crowd the edges of the
channels in long ribbons and

make their way upstream.

But up ahead,
others are waiting.

While large
fish wait in ambush,

shoals of small fish
run the deadly gauntlet.

And are picked
off, one by one.

Survival in the drying delta
is a game of hit and miss.

As the Okavango's main
channels start to run dry,

sand banks are exposed.

The perfect nesting
sites for African skimmers.

Nature has endowed them
with extended lower beaks,

perfect for
catching small fish.

Summer time on the delta
and the fishing is fine.

Synchronized squadrons ride
the air in perfect formation.

A skimmer's bill slices the
water until it encounters

a fish, then, snap!

Back at the nest,
the angler's partner

guards a precious secret.

Their newborn is
ready for its first meal.

Food must be passed
from beak to tiny beak.

If it's dropped the parents
can't pick it up from the sand.

This might take a while.

But Dad will persevere and
keep his grip on the groceries.

Even if it takes all day.

Finally!

Patience really is a virtue.

The sandbanks have become a
nursery for little skimmers.

And lots of busy new parents

are going through
the same routine.

Skim, catch,

feed, repeat.

The abundance of fish
is the receding flood's

parting gift to them all.

The Okavango's
once watery world

has disappeared into memory.

Evaporated into the sky above
or absorbed by the land below.

only small channels
and pools still remain.

What was
floodplain is now savanna,

covered with
succulent young grasses.

Herds of grazers move
in to enjoy the harvest.

The lions now
find solid footing.

They've returned, this
time with young cubs in tow.

With no swamp left for the
antelope to escape into,

the lions are
back in business.

The dry floodplains
are a lion's paradise.

(growling, zebra squeaking).

With food in abundance,
it's easy for a mother

to provide for her family.

She and her cubs
can eat their fill.

And in this time of plenty,

her pride will grow
ever stronger.

As the flood makes
its final retreat,

only permanent channels
in the north are still

flush with water.

Dense tangles of
papyrus line the banks.

The floating root beds sway
in the current and filter

nutrients from the water.

They also provide lodgings for
some very strange little fish.

Mormyrids have large brains
in their oddly shaped heads.

They send out tiny electrical
pulses to orientate through

their murky surroundings.

The young fish emit pulses
too small to be detected

by most predators.

But now, most of them have
matured and they are now

firmly on the
radar of bigger fish.

Catfish have picked
up their signals

and so begins one
of the Okavango's

largest feeding frenzies.

Massing in vast schools,
the catfish race along

the edge of the papyrus.

And gorge
themselves on mormyrids.

Egrets and eagles
are drawn to the fray.

Tiger fish hunt the
mormyrids from below

only to find themselves
targeted from above.

Even the hunters
become hunted.

No wonder it's chaotic, this
deadly spectacle is unequalled

anywhere on earth.

Temperatures are soaring,
now the Okavango's summer

heat reaches its peak.

The land is bone dry.

But the humidity
is rising too.

And the elephants know
there is rain on the horizon.

It's the perfect time for
their babies to be born.

And other elephants
are ready to mate.

Their hormones raging,

bulls in musth are
very aggressive.

They're spoiling for a fight.

(rumbling, roaring).

As the Okavango dries
out, tensions rise and

bull elephants compete
for the right to mate.

Sparring escalates
to full blown combat.

Once blood is drawn,
victory is declared.

Lightning storms herald
the approach of rain.

But with the land
still as dry as tinder,

fire is born.

Each year, vast swathes
of the Okavango burn.

The flames trigger the
next stage of the Okavango's

miraculous cycle.

Where giant
papyrus once dominated,

dry peat beds are
consumed in the inferno.

They release valuable nutrients

ready to be washed
back into the system,

when the rains arrive.

Relief is here.

The wheel keeps turning,
the cycle of wet and dry.

Holds sway over all
life in the Okavango.

Precious water
revives the thirsty land,

at least for a while.

Timing is everything.

Grasses and
flowers burst into life.

Insects flourish.

And a new generation of
carmine bee eaters has

fledged, right on time.

In this world of
feast and famine,

each seasonal change triggers
an intricate sequence of

miraculous events.

Soon the short
summer rains will end,

and the Okavango will be
dry for a few more months.

Until the cycle begins again,

with the return of
The Great Flood.

Captioned by Cotter
Captioning Services.