All language subtitles for y02

[narrator] In battle, some
animals sport sleek manoeuvres.-
They have this ability to turn
on a dime.

Jab, hook, uppercut,
all manner of techniques.

[narrator] Waging
dangerous dance-offs.

It's like dancing with
the cranes.

[narrator] And attacking
artful dodgers...

You don't want to get knocked
off the side of the mountain.

[narrator] Whether fighting
their own,

or they're an Apex Alpha...

Basically, if they can
catch it and kill it,

they will eat it.

[narrator] These fights are fast
and flexible. Every day,
everywhere, our planet is a battleground.

Turf wars,

food fights

and mating mayhem rage on

as animals outwit and
outmanoeuvre their own kind

in Battle of the alphas.

Every spring

the lazy, English countryside transforms

into an agility arena.

There's fur flying,
there's paws everywhere.

It's punching, it's jab.

It's a hook,
it's an uppercut.

Back fist, all manner
of techniques.

[narrator] There's a lot riding
on this matchup.

The right to mate is
on the line.

And this fight is not actually
between two males,

this is actually
the female saying,

"Oh no, we are not mating
right now."

It's ultimate female power.

[narrator] But how did it
come to this?

[squealing]

Well to start, she's the type
- who likes her space.
- Brown Hares
are solitary creatures.

They're much happier
on their own.

And the only time really
they seek company

is in the spring
when they want to mate.

[narrator] They learn
to fly solo from a young age.

Babies are called leverets,

a mom will have three to five
in each litter.

As soon as she gives birth
to them,

she will split up
her litter

and have them
in specific areas

and only ever go to feed
them once a day.

Having them all together

would increase their chances
of getting preyed upon.

[narrator] Beyond feeding,
there's not much maternal care.

A mom's life yoyo's between
boxing matches

and quickly raising
her litter.

Something astonishing is
that females can become pregnant

with another litter
when they're already pregnant.

But not only that, they also
can potentially have a litter,

some buns in the oven,

while they are taking place in
these boxing matches.

She is one tough cookie.

[narrator] By six months,

the leverets are fully grown

and have reached
sexual maturity.

That's when their love brawls begin.

It's springtime.
The testosterone is building up.

They're starting to get
into mating mode

and females who actually physiologically

don't come into estrus
quite as early as males do.

They are not interested.

And so it's kind of
a matter of not only,

"No, thank you. Not tonight,
honey. I have a headache."

It's, "Hi, honey.
You're going to have a headache

because I'm going
to punch your lights out

if you try and have sex with me
right now."

[narrator] This female is
on high alert.

Unlike smaller rabbits
that we think of in burrows,

these ones live out
on the plains.

Exposed to predators and
whoever else is out there.

[narrator] And there's
a lot out there,

including multiple suitors.

There's usually more
than one male

who's interested in mating
with a female,

so she may have to fight off
several suitors

at one time in a given day.

These fist fights in
the hare world

are really a result of quite
a big biological phenomenon,

and that is sperm
is cheap and abundant,

eggs are expensive and rare.

[narrator] Her ears
are standing at attention.

They're like satellite dishes.

They can actually rotate them in
all different directions.

And they're one of the most
important tools

for listening
for other predators,

but also for listening
for other hares as well.

[narrator] And she's using her
ears to send warning signals.

When their big, long,
flat ears

are laying flat on their body,
it's an aggressive sign.

It's essentially a way
for the hare to say,

"Stay away from me."

[narrator] This male doesn't
get the hint.

What's really clever
about this is

whilst the female is rebuffing
these males,

she's actually gauging which
male is the strongest,

which is in the best condition,
which one has the best genes.

And then and only when
she's ready to mate,

she will effectively say,
"You."

[narrator] Between
sparring matches,

courtship looks like an agile
game of tag.

Brown hares are incredibly fast,

in fact, they are the fastest
land mammal in Britain.

They can attain speeds
of up to 70 kilometres an hour.

And they're not just fast.

They have this ability to turn
on a dime,

to be able to switch directions
in an unpredictable way.

[narrator] Hares can run
at speeds of 37 body lengths
a second.

Trumping cheetahs that
can only achieve

23 body lengths a second.

To be able to run
at such speed, they've got
enormous feet.

And so when people say
they see hares boxing,

they'll also use their feet
as well,

which are really big,
incredibly powerful weapons.

So it's not only boxing,
it's kickboxing as well.

[narrator] The boxing match
ends in one of two ways,

either the male gets the hint
and backs off...

Or it can end like this.

Certainly, the female hare
is mightily impressive.

But let's give a shout out
to the males.

They're the ones
getting rebuffed.

Imagine just trying to
get lucky

and getting punched
in the face every time.

It's got to be tough.

Nobody likes to be rejected.

[narrator] All is fair
in love and war.

And for the nimble
brown hare,

love and war are
two sides of the same coin.

[dramatic music]

While Brown hares leave
their lightning-fast moves
on the field,

these strutting birds take
their battle
to the dance floor.

This is a dancing competition.

[narrator] Why the dance off?

When North America's Sandhill
Crane goes looking for love,

the stakes are high.

Because these birds
can mate for life.

So it's a really important
decision they have to make.

[narrator] When two males set
their sights on the same female

a boogie battle begins.

They don't fight to the death;

it's their killer moves
that matter.

It's like dancing with
the cranes.

They all do different things
to try to stand out,

the head held high,
wings out,

making themselves look tall,
jumping up as high as they can.

The Sandhill Crane has quite
a repertoire of dance moves.

They are assessing
each other.

They've got to look
in peak fitness

and that shows that
they're healthy.

They've got good genes.

It's not just about
looking good.

It's about dancing good.

It's almost like a kind of
70s disco floor

like Saturday Night Fever.

Showing off to females,
"Look how strong I am,

look how flexible
and manoeuvrable I am.

I'm going to be a great mate."

[narrator] Eyeing up
the competition,

things get interesting when
two males are evenly matched.

Don't forget these are
really big birds.

They can easily reach up
to five feet.

So using that height to make
themselves look as imposing

as possible,
spreading their wings out.

Quite often they'll drop
their bill

in a really aggressive,
gaping pose.

[narrator] Their intimidation
isn't just physical...

it's audible.

They use the sounds
as a means

of intimidating potential rivals.

They sound how you would imagine

a pterodactyl would have sounded.

They've got this beautiful
bugling rolling call

that sounds like a...

[rolling tongue]
A series of rolled Rs.

To show off
to the other males

that they're going to be
the better fit here

because look how amazing
I sound.

[narrator] When neither
bachelor backs down,

things escalate.

That's when the feathers
really get ruffled

and they have this procedure
called a ruffled bow.

They'll actually puff out
their neck feathers

and they'll do this aggressive
bow to the other male

and they do everything to make
themselves look as big

and as menacing as possible.

[narrator] When
the intimidation tactics fail,

this competition gets physical.

So when things really get
to the boiling point

they will actually jump out
in the air.

It's a move that's called
the jump rake,

and leap at the other male with
their feet first

to try to get them
right in their chest.

The toes are actually long,
and the claws are sharp.

All the time, the females watching,

seeing what's going on, saying,

"I wonder which male
I'm going to choose."

[narrator] Where the females
see suitors,

the males see red...

They've got that bright red
forehead crowned.

Those aren't feathers,
that's actually their skin.

But when they get really
excited or agitated,

it becomes more vibrant

and that really is that
red warning flag

that says this crane means business.

[narrator] Out-danced,
this rumba rumble is done.

Now the champion dancer and mat
need a place to nestle down,

but that's no easy task.

They can also be extremely
territorial and aggressive.

They may well use the exact
same territory each year.

It's important real estate.

That's where they find
their food.

That's where they're going
to raise those chicks.

So if you have a rival pair
crowding in on your home,

you have to do something
about it.

[narrator] And the only thing
worse than being attacked

by one of their own

is being attacked by
two of them.

The pair will work together

to defend their territory
from other rival pairs.

Of course, their amazing
repertoire of dance moves

are not just used between males
to fight for females,

male and female will use them
in concert

to protect their nesting territory.

They'll do lots of posturing,
lots of vocalization.

They'll pop out the neck feathers,

they'll spread out the wings,
they'll flare the red crown.

So they'll have all of these
signals to tell

the other pair,
"You need to leave."

[narrator] But if the intruders
don't take off,

things really kick-off.

If that pair does not
take the hint,

then it's a pair working together,

they will go after them
and they will jump rake at them.

The final nuclear option

involves the animal throwing up
its two-metre wingspan.

This jump rake is a high energy manoeuvre,

it only lasts two or three seconds,

and it may do a number
of times before it finally
beats its competitor.

The X-ers beating up on
the millennials.

That's what's happening here.

Those are the ones they know
how to work together.

They know how to dance together,
they know how to fight together.

But year on year, it will
get more and more difficult

as you get older
to hold that territory.

[narrator] For now,
the limber couple

can get back to their
own special slow dance.

[***]

Sandhill Cranes may have some
fancy fighting footwork,

but this nimble animal
is a battling balancing act.

High on a hill
stood a lonely goat.

A wild Ibex goat,
to be precise.

Stability is essential to
the Ibex,

living and fighting
high in the mountains,

up to 4500 metres
on rocky cliffs.

Fighting here takes nerve
and sure footing.

Ibex are impressively agile.

They often stay on slopes
that are typically

30 to 45-degree angles.

You have to be so smart
about your footing,

you don't want to get knocked
off the side of the mountain.

[narrator] They live on rugged
mountain slopes in Europe,

Asia and Africa, but these
animals aren't loners.

Ibex actually live in,

they call it sexually segregated populations.

Females and offspring hang out
at one place

and males hang out
somewhere else.

They try their best to be as
peaceful as possible

just because of the sheer danger
that they face every day.

[narrator] But each year before
the females come into season

these buds...

become arch-rivals.

Access to females
is determined by dominance.

The alpha male will be at
the top spot

and he will get the most access
to females

and the most possibility
for reproduction.

[narrator] In early winter,

as the breeding season approaches,

it's time to figure out
who is the alpha.

And this is how it's decided.

[***]

Males start to compete with
each other as part of their rut.

Just before mating season begins.

[narrator] But prior to getting physical...

Male Ibex will
size each other up,

they'll walk in parallel
to each other,

hold themselves up high.

They'll hold their horns up high,

just kind of showing each other,
you know, "This is how big I am.

This is how strong I am."

[narrator] Because
when the threats don't work,

the battles commence...

head-on.

Their prime weapon is
their horns.

They're not like antlers that
continue to regrow.

They have one set of horns
through their entire life.

Each year, another ridge appears
on these horns.

It's sort of like
the growth rings on a tree.

But you can also
look at their social status

and the types of interactions
that they've had

over their lifetime by looking
at their horns

because you'll see some damage
in there,

some older males will
probably have the tips of
their horns missing.

[narrator] Made up of a core
of bone

and covered by a layer
of keratin,

They can grow to over
a meter in length.

They impress the females,

make good back scratchers,

and are essential
for fighting and defence.

When an Ibex is preparing
to attack,

the entire posture
of the individual is
quite tensed up.

Their head will be low
and they will try to maintain

a very strong position
for any forces

that are about to come
their way.

Then they'll kind of raise up
on their hind legs

and they'll but each other
with their big, big horns.

[narrator] Where a prizefighter
would be knocked clean out,

Ibex seem resilient
to head trauma.

A clash between two Ibex heads
can be really loud.

It's enough to make you think

they are scrambling
their brains.

But the horns are attached to
the skull in such a way

that there is a buffer.

So that these immense blows
are actually not reaching

the delicate tissues of
the brain.

The Ibex will hit each
other right on the front
of their heads.

The sides are much more delicate,

so concentrating all the force
at the front of their brain

looks a whole lot worse than
it actually is.

[narrator] With tough skulls
for protection,

it takes tactics to win.

The Ibex will interlock horns
with each other

during these fights.

Any possible way to get
the advantage on your opponent,

even to tire out your opponent.

Not to mention that
you are on a mountainside

when all of this is
taking place.

[narrator] Even on these
treacherous terrains,

falls are extremely rare.

They're specially equipped
to avoid a deadly slip.

Their hooves are split
into two toes that can work independently.

This helps climbing steep inclines,

as they're able to grab onto
rock edges.

The outer edge of the toe
is hard for strength,

while the sole is soft
and rubbery,

which allows it to absorb
irregularities in the terrain.

Working a bit like
a suction cup.

If one individual can be
higher on the rock face,

this is a distinct advantage.

Positioning is huge.

He can just drop down
with the full force of his body.

And that gravity is going
to help him,

it puts the other one at
a greater risk

of falling off of the rock face.

[narrator] In battle, the best
defence is to be prepared

and look the competition
up and down.

Ibex have excellent eyesight.

Their horizontal pupil shape
gives them a panoramic view

of the habitat around them.

[narrator] When Ibex look down,

their pupils stay parallel
to the ground,

like a spirit level.

This means their view of the
world stays the same, no matter
how they move their head around.

Having a wide field of vision
is critically important,

not only for watching out
for predators,

but also watching out
for fellow Ibex

that are coming to knock you
off your game.

[narrator] These duels can last
for an hour.

Usually the way that this
ends, they're not too proud.

They are capable of determining,
"I've lost this fight.

I need to just back off
and I need to try another day."

[narrator] The loser may not be
too proud to walk away,

but the triumphant Ibex
isn't so humble.

You'll often see the winner
kind of, just really rubbing it
in, like,

"Hey, I'm the winner.
Remember that."

[narrator] No ifs ands
or butts,

the gravity-defying champion's
prize is to be first in line

to the fertile females.

Meaning he will get to mate
the most,

passing his genes on
to future generations.

[***]

All species fight
their own kind,

but for the top of every
food chain, there is no contest

this is an apex alpha.
[growling]

Don't be fooled.

This cat doesn't have a lazy
bone in its body.

The leopard is an amazing
apex predator,

and what just makes it stand
apart is not only its strength,

but as big as is
and as strong as it is,

it's so stealthy and agile.

Leopards are ambush predators.

They're in a prime perfect
position to strike

before the prey even realizes
the predator is there.

[narrator] They've got
stealth, agility,

explosive power
and herculean strength.

A combo that puts them firmly
at the top of the food chain.

Whatever crosses
their path is potentially
on their dinner table.

[narrator] This leopard
is hungry.

It hasn't eaten in days...

They eat a lot of calories
at once,

and then that's what
they'll live on for several days

until they get a little peckish.

[narrator] Every year
a leopard feasts on about

400 kilograms of meat,

that's equivalent
to more than 1000 steaks.

Leopards are not picky.

They have been seen feasting

on over 100 different kinds
of species,

things like deer, birds, snakes,
other mammals.

Basically, if they
can catch it and kill it,

they will eat it.

[narrator] As the hunt begins,

the leopard moves with confidence,

it doesn't have to worry about
being attacked,

it's the apex alpha here

and it's squarely focused on
finding its next meal.

An apex,
like the name implies,

is something that's at the top.

Nothing else is eating
a leopard.

[narrator] The hungry cat
scopes its target.

Its hunting strategy is built
on silence and stealth.

It's a silent killer,
but it also has an amazing
sense of hearing.

They can hear a mouse squeak.

That's important because
a leopard needs to listen out

for when prey items
are coming by

so that you can sit still quietly

and catch them off guard.

[narrator] They're listening
for prey 24/7.

They can hunt in the day,
they can hunt at night.

They're really flexible
and opportunistic.

And that is often the most
dangerous characteristic

of any creature.

[narrator] It slinks
undetected through the grass,

thanks in part to its coat.

They have these
round splotches on their fur.

These are called rosettes.
And what they help to do

is to play around
with shadow and light.

And they're able to allow that
leopard to blend into

a wide variety of settings.

[growling]

One of the things that really
helps them sneak on their prey
to pounce on them

is that amazing strength that
they have in those back legs.

They can jump really, really
fast and far.

The leopard is
an amazing athlete.

[narrator] The hungry cat
grabs its meal

and with laser precision,
lands a fatal blow to the neck.

The neck is snapped.

They bite and choke
and constrict.

All in the same millisecond,

they are so fast and swift
and deadly.

It's not easy to get
a killing bite

when both predator and prey
are moving,

it's like shooting an arrow
onto a moving target

[narrator] To hit that target,
they use a secret weapon.

Their whiskers.
Compared to other big cats,

the leopard's whiskers are much longer

and they play a critical role
in bringing down prey.

Each hair has up to
200 nerve cells

and is set in a special follicle

that contains a capsule
of blood.

When a whisker brushes against something,

the blood is pushed
in one direction or another,

amplifying the movement
like an extended sense of touch

This absolute precision
is what can guide

its razor-sharp teeth directly
to the jugular of its victims.

[narrator] Within seconds,
the alpha carnivore gets
the job done.

But its work isn't over yet.

Leopards don't eat their kills
right on the spot.

They like to take it
to somewhere

where they can enjoy it without
having to worry

about anybody else trying
to steal it from them.

Taking a prey item.

Sometimes that's twice
its size

and it's already a big cat
itself up these trees.

So going vertically,
fighting gravity.

Leopards are excellent climbers,

their tail affords them
a strong sense of balance

and their shoulder blades,
and the associated musculature

really helps them to grip on to
a tree and climb it effectively.

[narrator] But for dinner
with a view

every part of the leopard
must pull its weight.

Leopards have massive heads
and skulls,

and this allows for these huge,
strong jaws to evolve,

and this is a critical component

of their strategy
as apex alpha predators.

[narrator] While the triumphant
hunter wrangles its meal

to a branch where it can feast,

another leopard tries
to get in on the action.

But after all that work,

who can blame the leopard for
not wanting to share

its hard-earned prize!

Leopards are solitary creatures,

they enjoy their kills as
solitary killers.

[narrator] At the end
of an exhausting hunt

and a filling meal,

there's just one thing left for
- this agile predator to do.
- Cat
nap.

Ready for next time.

In battle, these animals
roll with the punches,

whether it's a dexterous dancer

a supple suitor,

a steadfast fighter

or a poised predator.

Because on the frontline,
an agile alpha has the edge.