Original subtitles

(grumbling)

Bear grylls: Growing up on the savanna,

This calf will face many dangers.

(grumbling)

(grunt)

But a battle this big is incredibly rare.

(squeak)

Two evenly matched testosterone-fueled bulls.

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(trumpeting)

♪ ♪

No place for a baby.

(trumpets)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(roar)

(trumpeting)

(snap)

(grumbling)

(squeak)

One day the calf may have to fight like this.

(squeak)

But there are far more imminent threats.

(squeal)

A third of all calves don't make it

Through their first year.

Like all animals here,

His fate depends on the grass growing under his feet.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

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Grasslands cover a quarter of the land on the planet.

(grunt)

They support the largest animals

And the biggest herds to walk the earth.

Life on the these great plains may look easy...

But don't be fooled.

When conditions turn,

They can become some of the most volatile landscapes

On our planet.

(thunder)

A relentless cycle of flood...

Famine...

Freeze and fire.

And as our climate becomes more unpredictable...

It takes the animals of the grasslands to hell and back.

(squeal)

(growl)

♪ ♪

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(wind blowing)

Deepest winter on north america's great plains.

(grunting)

40 below...

And record snowfall.

Bison dig deeper for diminishing returns.

Dead grass with the nutrition of cardboard.

(grunting)

23 pounds of the stuff every day still isn't enough.

They're starving.

(groaning)

The calves are the most vulnerable,

And if the cold doesn't get them, another enemy might.

(wolf howling)

(bird squawking)

(howling)

♪ ♪

Winter is a wolf's ally.

A time to feed off the suffering of others.

♪ ♪

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These are the biggest wolves in the world.

And at 25 strong, they're one of the largest packs.

♪ ♪

Size matters when you hunt giants.

(bison grunting)

Ten times heavier and well armed,

The bison are stronger,

As long as they stand their ground.

But wolves create panic.

(howl)

♪ ♪

(grunting)

(bellow)

♪ ♪

Running for the woods is a mistake.

♪ ♪

Trees break their formation

And expose the weak.

♪ ♪

(barking)

(groaning)

♪ ♪

(bellowing)

Alone, a youngster is an easy target.

(bellowing)

(bellowing)

♪ ♪

(grunting)

But a mother will risk her own life to save her calf.

(wolf yelps)

(bellow)

(yipping)

(bellow)

♪ ♪

They must make it back to the safety of the herd.

♪ ♪

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But deep snow saps the bison's energy.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(bark)

Again, the calf is isolated.

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♪ ♪

Again, it's rescued.

♪ ♪

Now there's hope.

As long as the calf can stay hidden within the ranks...

♪ ♪

(wolf snarls)

(yip)

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(growling)

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(yipping)

While the snow remains, the bison get steadily weaker.

♪ ♪

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But on the grasslands,

Change is inevitable and often extreme.

♪ ♪

(grunt)

♪ ♪

By April, it's 100 degrees warmer

Than at the start of the year.

And a new danger is brewing.

♪ ♪

(thunder)

(thunder)

Grylls: Spring, and the start of storm season.

(rumbling)

North america's great plains are a hot spot

For some of the most intense thunderstorms on earth.

(rumbling)

Some mutate into supercells.

Monsters with the equivalent energy of 100 nuclear bombs.

(rumbling)

(rumbling)

(thunder)

(roaring)

Storms are becoming more frequent here.

(rumbling)

And in grasslands across the globe,

Weather patterns are increasingly erratic.

(thunder)

Here the rains are a month early and hitting hard.

(thunder)

(grumbling)

Over a year's worth of rain in just a couple of months.

(thunder)

Enough to transform the grasslands beyond recognition.

(elephant trumpets)

The worst flood in 50 years.

Four feet of water.

♪ ♪

Not a problem for the adults,

And plenty of fresh grass,

But a bit deep for a calf.

Luckily, he has a snorkel.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(squeal)

These floods may complicate things

A little in the short term.

But they'll revitalize life on the savanna.

♪ ♪

As the flood waters subside...

♪ ♪

...They reveal a flush of new growth.

♪ ♪

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And fuel a baby boom.

♪ ♪

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But this can be a dangerous place to take your first steps.

♪ ♪

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It's home to more large predators

Than anywhere else on earth.

(calf cries)

(yipping)

(calf cries)

(snort)

Many thomson gazelle fawns won't survive their first hour.

♪ ♪

(growl)

Their only hope is to hide.

♪ ♪

Mothers clean their newborns

To remove any scent,

But for this fawn

There isn't time.

♪ ♪

If mum stands guard, she'll blow its cover.

♪ ♪

She has no option but to walk away.

♪ ♪

(snort)

♪ ♪

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(snort)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

The cheetah's hunting instinct is triggered by movement.

A motionless fawn looks remarkably

Like a mound of earth.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

All it can do is stay down.

Stay still.

Hope someone else is spotted first.

(snort)

(snort)

♪ ♪

(snort)

♪ ♪

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Cheetahs are patient.

(snort)

But the fawn will need to suckle soon.

Worse still, the birth fluid is attracting flies.

♪ ♪

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(snort)

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(flies buzzing)

♪ ♪

(flies buzzing)

♪ ♪

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(snorting)

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(bark)

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(birds squawking)

A distraction!

And a narrow escape.

(snorting)

♪ ♪

(calf cries)

A waterbuck calf.

♪ ♪

One fawn's fate

Is another's fortune.

Surviving its first 24 hours

Is the greatest challenge the fawn will face.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Those that make it can enjoy growing up

On one of the most productive places on the planet.

♪ ♪

(snort)

♪ ♪

North america's grasslands support 3 million caribou.

♪ ♪

They journey up to 3,000 miles a year--

The longest land migration on earth.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

But on most of the continent,

Mega herds are a thing of the past.

60 million bison once thundered across these plains.

Hunting decimated numbers to just over 1,000 animals.

♪ ♪

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And bison are still rare today.

♪ ♪

Midsummer.

Time to fatten up before next winter.

(grunt)

But that's getting harder.

Temperatures here have risen

Three times more than the global average.

(flies buzzing)

And it's creating plagues of biting flies.

Each bison loses as much as a pint of blood every day.

♪ ♪

(buzzing)

(groaning)

And just when the bulls need to be at their strongest

To compete for mating rights.

(grunting)

(bellowing)

The winner will sire

Up to three quarters of next year's calves.

(bellows)

(bellowing)

As the young bison scrap...

An old bull watches on...

Waiting for the perfect moment to enter the arena.

Grylls: It's mating season.

(bellowing)

An old bull waits for a worthy challenger to emerge.

♪ ♪

(bellowing)

♪ ♪

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(grunts)

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Fresh to the fight, the old bull enters the ring.

(bellows)

(bellows)

♪ ♪

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The youngster is stronger,

But the old bull is more experienced.

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Targeting the flanks, he gains the upper hand.

(bellowing)

(bellowing)

The young rival retreats.

Mating rights secured...

...The old bull can enjoy the good times.

(bellowing)

But they won't last long.

(birds squawking)

♪ ♪

(grumbling)

The dry season begins.

From now on, life just gets tougher.

♪ ♪

Grass becomes less nutritious,

And elephants struggle to satisfy their huge appetites.

♪ ♪

Like so many grassland animals,

Their only option is to keep moving.

(birds chirping)

(grumbling)

(squeak)

♪ ♪

Elephants can walk over 100 miles a day

In their search for food.

And it can lead them into dangerous territory.

(grumbling)

♪ ♪

(bellows)

These lions specialize in bringing down large prey.

(trumpets)

(grumbling)

Still, it's risky, so they target the most vulnerable.

Older calves should be safe.

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

♪ ♪

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(grunts)

But bravado can be a dangerous thing.

(grunt)

♪ ♪

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(growl)

(squeal)

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(trumpeting)

(grumbling)

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(grumbling)

(grunt)

(growl)

(elephant screams)

♪ ♪

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(growl)

(grumbling)

There's nothing they can do but move on.

(grumbling)

♪ ♪

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As the sun robs the land of its water,

The dry season intensifies,

And rain becomes a distant memory.

♪ ♪

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Hippos suffer more than most.

(grunt)

He's spent the night grazing,

But now the climbing sun is a threat.

Hippos can quickly overheat.

He needs deep water and fast.

♪ ♪

There is one pool...

(grunt)

(bubbling)

...But it's occupied.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Each bull hippo normally commands

A territory of 200 feet.

(bellows)

♪ ♪

Now, 800 of africa's most bad-tempered animals

Are crammed together.

And as humans take more water for irrigation,

There's less room than ever before.

(grunt)

(grunting)

(grunting)

Somehow he's got to find a way in.

His life depends on it.

(bellowing)

Grylls: Out of water, this hippo would soon overheat.

But the water hole is already full.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(snort)

It may not look very inviting.

(grunt)

Oxpeckers ravage cracks in their delicate skin.

(chirping)

And 20 tons of waste a day has turned it into a cesspit.

♪ ♪

But this hell hole could save his life.

♪ ♪

If he's allowed in.

(grunting)

(bellowing)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(grunt)

This resident bull is bigger.

(snorts)

But the outsider is desperate.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Five tons of hippo clash.

Testing bulk...

Bite size...

And brute force.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

The outsider accepts defeat.

♪ ♪

(grunt)

He must venture into the unknown,

As the stranglehold of drought tightens.

♪ ♪

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The earth is parched

And the grass, tinder-dry.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Fires can sweep across the plains at 40 miles an hour.

And reach temperatures of 800 degrees.

♪ ♪

(lowing)

♪ ♪

Across africa, an area the size of half the united states

Burns every year,

And with a warming climate,

Wildfires are set to spread even further.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Some capitalize on the chaos.

♪ ♪

Rollers and bee-eaters pick off fleeing insects.

♪ ♪

Known as the undertaker bird,

Marabou storks clean up afterwards.

(screeching)

There's nothing left here for the grazers.

♪ ♪

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But the grass itself clings on...

Its deep roots untouched by the flames.

All it needs now is water.

Hamadryas baboons wait months for the rains to arrive.

(thunder)

But earth this dry

Needs more than a shower.

♪ ♪

This is one of the most drought-prone countries

In the world,

And it's getting worse.

As our climate changes, water shortages are sparking conflict

For animals and humans alike.

(barking)

One of the only water holes for miles.

(barking)

It provides enough water for this band of baboons

To survive the dry season.

♪ ♪

They're relatively strong in health and numbers.

♪ ♪

Further out on the arid plains, another band is thirsty.

♪ ♪

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With little to drink out here,

They're forced to the same water hole below the cliff.

But when two bands meet, it nearly always ends in violence.

♪ ♪

Females and babies are most at risk.

♪ ♪

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If the outsiders want to drink,

They'll have to fight.

(barking)

(barking)

Grylls: One water hole.

Two bands of baboons.

(barking)

The outsiders need to drink.

But the band at the water hole is stronger.

This is how wars begin.

(barking)

(barking)

(barking)

(barking)

(screeching)

The best survival strategy here is to form super bands.

Bigger than the opposition.

(screeching)

♪ ♪

(shrieking)

(screeching)

(barking)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(screeching)

The outsiders are forced to retreat.

(barking, screeching)

But not fast enough.

(screech)

These baboons use battles to steal females from each other.

(bark)

♪ ♪

The winners expand their ranks,

While the outsiders grow even weaker.

♪ ♪

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All they can do is bide their time and try again.

♪ ♪

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As the drought reaches its peak,

Famine becomes a harsh reality.

(grumbling)

Just a few months old.

Born at the wrong time.

♪ ♪

Mum couldn't produce enough milk.

♪ ♪

(grumbling)

♪ ♪

She regurgitates precious water,

Desperately trying to cool down and save herself.

♪ ♪

Then says her final goodbye.

♪ ♪

(grumbling)

Even at the best of times,

Surviving on the planet's grasslands

Is no walk in the park.

And as the dry seasons become

Even more extreme and unpredictable,

Only the strongest will have what it takes

To make it through.

(bellows)

Adaptability...

(grumbles)

Unfailing resolve...

(grunts)

And the hope that eventually better days will return.

♪ ♪

Six months older and born just before the wet season,

This calf had a stronger start.

(trumpets)

The matriarch has seen hard times before.

She knows how to lead her family through.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(trumpets)

(grumbling)

Enough water to go round until the rains return.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

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Surviving on the grasslands has never been harder.

Yet young and old,

This herd is still standing strong,

And hopefully will be for generations to come.

♪ ♪

Captioned by side door media services