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Narrator: The Ngorongoro crater
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00:00:06,206 --> 00:00:10,310
is an environment both beautiful
and unusual.
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00:00:14,514 --> 00:00:17,784
It contains an array of habitats
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00:00:17,784 --> 00:00:20,420
and a yearlong supply of water.
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00:00:24,091 --> 00:00:27,828
This ensures that it is always
teeming with life -
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00:00:27,828 --> 00:00:30,530
even at the
height of the dry season.
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00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:36,436
But this blessing
can quickly become a curse.
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Its closed-off nature
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has caused behavior unseen
anywhere outside of its walls.
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This is Ngorongoro crater,
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the cursed haven.
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40 million years ago,
"The Rifting" began.
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00:01:45,305 --> 00:01:48,308
When the Earth's crust
along Africa's eastern plain
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started to thin,
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a massive fault line formed.
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As the continent split apart,
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the land
on either side collapsed.
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00:02:05,258 --> 00:02:09,396
And lava thrust up
from within the earth,
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00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:24,311
Leaving a massive depression
of highlands and volcanoes -
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00:02:28,448 --> 00:02:30,784
The Great Rift Valley.
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00:02:47,701 --> 00:02:49,870
2.5 million years ago
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one of these volcanoes erupted.
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The Ngorongoro volcano was about
the same size as Kilimanjaro.
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Trapped lava from within the
base had nowhere to move,
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and the entire mountain
imploded,
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forming what is known
as a caldera.
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00:03:13,060 --> 00:03:17,831
For years it remained desolate
and uninhabited.
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00:03:17,831 --> 00:03:22,202
But as the fires settled
and the slopes cooled
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00:03:22,202 --> 00:03:26,706
vegetation started
to colonize the steep banks,
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00:03:26,706 --> 00:03:30,477
thriving off the rich soils
and moisture.
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00:03:33,747 --> 00:03:37,284
Herbivores followed
the flora over the rim,
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and down into the crater.
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00:03:48,428 --> 00:03:51,731
Soon after,
the carnivores followed.
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00:04:01,608 --> 00:04:03,643
With no incentive to leave,
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the animals have stayed here
ever since.
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00:04:08,381 --> 00:04:11,318
The result
is an oasis of wildlife
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known as the Ngorongoro crater.
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00:04:20,193 --> 00:04:25,065
Covering an area
of 125 square miles,
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the Ngorongoro crater
in Tanzania
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is the largest
intact caldera on earth.
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Today 25,000 large animals
make their home here.
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Among these
is the greatest concentration
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00:04:49,122 --> 00:04:51,458
of carnivores on the planet;
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00:04:54,661 --> 00:04:57,430
Some of the world's
oldest elephants,
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Largest grazers -
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And most charismatic birds.
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00:05:14,481 --> 00:05:16,483
And their desire to stay
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00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:21,621
is closely related to the
unusual layout of the land.
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00:05:29,296 --> 00:05:32,599
The Ngorongoro crater
has a range of habitats
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00:05:32,599 --> 00:05:36,836
within one consolidated arena.
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00:05:36,836 --> 00:05:40,006
From plains
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00:05:40,707 --> 00:05:44,110
to freshwater swamps,
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00:05:44,110 --> 00:05:46,112
soda lakes,
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00:05:47,847 --> 00:05:50,250
forests
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00:05:52,252 --> 00:05:54,221
and wetlands.
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00:06:18,311 --> 00:06:21,248
During Tanzania's dry season
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the crater's savanna
becomes frail and desolate.
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Each resident must embark
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00:06:28,455 --> 00:06:31,191
on a migration
within the crater walls
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00:06:31,191 --> 00:06:34,461
to reach its water source.
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00:06:34,461 --> 00:06:37,364
The wetlands
in the center of Ngorongoro
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provide generously
all year round.
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00:06:42,669 --> 00:06:44,471
Tempted to stay inside
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00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:47,140
because of its
permanent supply of water,
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the inhabitants rarely step
outside of the sheer walls.
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This has caused behavior
not seen
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in any other animals
on the planet.
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00:07:00,053 --> 00:07:02,489
Imprisoned
by their natural instincts
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they stay within this
amphitheater
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00:07:05,725 --> 00:07:08,695
even when it is
to their detriment.
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00:07:11,765 --> 00:07:15,468
Leaving the question
as to whether it is a paradise
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or a prison.
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Lions are the famed hunters
of the African savanna.
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00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:46,766
They are highly effective
pack predators,
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able to take on large prey
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due to their size and strength.
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But the Lions in the crater
are different.
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The dominant prides,
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unwilling to share
in the bounty of Ngorongoro,
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00:08:50,363 --> 00:08:55,201
have chased away all migrating
Lions that attempted to enter.
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Because of this,
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the Crater has caused
what is referred to as
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a genetic bottleneck,
limiting the gene pool.
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All of the crater Lions
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are descended from a single
isolated population.
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Generations of interbreeding
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have left these lions
more prone to disease.
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00:09:22,395 --> 00:09:25,365
Because of the consolidated
nature of the crater,
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00:09:25,365 --> 00:09:27,434
their natural survival instincts
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have become
their biggest detriment.
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00:09:32,105 --> 00:09:36,643
Years of holding onto the spoils
of Ngorongoro
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has taken its toll.
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00:09:43,783 --> 00:09:46,786
And this has caused
another inversion
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in the usual hierarchies
of the animal world.
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This is the only place
on the planet
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where Lions are not
the kings of the savanna.
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In Ngorongoro Lions scavenge
up to 80 percent of their food
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from the dominant hyena clans.
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The crater is home to 400
Spotted hyenas.
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00:10:27,627 --> 00:10:31,164
And here they are unmatched
for their size,
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power, and hunting efficiency.
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The crater hyenas
do not suffer from interbreeding
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as the Lions do.
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00:10:43,643 --> 00:10:45,812
Males are chased from their
birth group
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by the dominant females;
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this forces them
to reproduce elsewhere.
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The hyenas roam
the dry plains of the crater
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as the unexpected
rulers of an unorthodox domain.
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00:11:15,074 --> 00:11:17,677
Even in the depths
of the dry season,
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the Ngorongoro crater boasts
an abundance of residents.
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00:11:22,248 --> 00:11:24,350
And their desire to stay
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00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:27,787
is closely related
to the history of the land.
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00:11:31,357 --> 00:11:34,260
During the formation
of the Great Rift Valley,
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a surge of landscapes emerged.
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00:11:42,735 --> 00:11:44,804
As the ground broke apart,
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00:11:44,804 --> 00:11:48,408
a range of new environments
and species were born.
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The crater is a product
of this tectonic flux
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00:11:57,884 --> 00:12:01,154
and it has inherited some
interesting characteristics
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because of this.
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00:12:03,356 --> 00:12:07,160
As clouds scrape the top of the
montane forest on the rim,
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00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:11,264
moisture is continuously flushed
through the system.
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00:12:14,133 --> 00:12:17,337
As a result,
it creates its own climate
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separate from
the surrounding areas.
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00:12:40,193 --> 00:12:44,263
Even in the dry season when
everything else begins to wither
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00:12:44,263 --> 00:12:47,367
the crater forests
still flourish.
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00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:53,706
This dense greenery
is a result
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00:12:53,706 --> 00:12:57,110
of the unique
topography of the rim.
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00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:03,316
It is a forest haven, unhindered
by the changing seasons.
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00:13:49,595 --> 00:13:53,266
Every year
outside of the caldera walls,
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00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:57,403
tens of thousands of animals
migrate across the Serengeti
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to escape Tanzania's dry season.
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00:14:00,673 --> 00:14:03,576
But the crater animals
stay where they are.
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00:14:06,446 --> 00:14:09,148
They circulate
around the crater floor
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00:14:09,148 --> 00:14:11,684
every day on internal migrations
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00:14:11,684 --> 00:14:15,054
in search of grazing and water.
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00:14:21,227 --> 00:14:23,296
Though the cloud forests
on the rim
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maintain moisture
all year round,
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00:14:25,465 --> 00:14:27,633
during periods of drought
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00:14:27,633 --> 00:14:31,704
little of this trickles down to
the savanna on the crater floor.
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00:14:33,506 --> 00:14:36,309
And the majority
of the animals that live here
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are confined to endure
this scarce habitat.
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Wildebeest are restricted to eat
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00:14:50,556 --> 00:14:54,193
on the Ngorongoro crater's
savanna biome.
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00:14:56,629 --> 00:14:59,398
Their broad muzzle
and loose lips
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are adaptations
suited to rapid, bulk feeding.
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00:15:16,783 --> 00:15:19,819
They feast on grass that
responds well to grazing,
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trampling and manure.
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00:15:26,592 --> 00:15:29,128
They cannot graze
the grasses on the rim,
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which are too delicate to deal
with the wildebeest's
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00:15:31,697 --> 00:15:34,367
boisterous eating habits.
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00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:38,771
This keeps the wildebeest
on the dry plateau below.
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When rains are minimal,
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these shallow-rooted grasses
quickly stop growing.
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00:16:33,659 --> 00:16:36,095
The confined nature
of the crater
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means that the plains become
crowded wastelands
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with little moisture.
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00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,643
But wildebeest
need to drink daily.
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So they are limited to pastures
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00:17:02,455 --> 00:17:06,325
no further than 9 miles
away from water.
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00:17:13,799 --> 00:17:18,537
Every day they must embark
on a migration to the wetlands.
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00:17:41,127 --> 00:17:44,630
But they are not the only ones
caught in this unforgiving loop.
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Ngorongoro is also home
to 4,000 Grant's zebra.
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The two groups of animals
constantly feed
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as they move across the crater
floor every day to the wetlands
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in the search for water.
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00:18:23,502 --> 00:18:26,339
Where the wildebeest
prefer the shoots of new grass
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closer to the ground,
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00:18:28,808 --> 00:18:33,212
zebra enjoy the coarser,
taller stalks.
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00:18:34,547 --> 00:18:38,484
Zebra are known
to be pioneer grazers,
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moving over
a patch of earth first
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and cropping it down to a
size that other species
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including wildebeest, prefer.
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Moving in bigger mixed herds
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reduces an individual's chance
of being attacked
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00:19:15,521 --> 00:19:20,726
by creating an added distraction
from predators.
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00:19:20,726 --> 00:19:23,662
This makes traveling
in large numbers beneficial,
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00:19:23,662 --> 00:19:25,664
especially in the crater.
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00:19:37,676 --> 00:19:41,647
For the scavengers the dry
season is a time of opportunity.
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00:19:46,819 --> 00:19:51,524
Every life taken within the
crater is a chance to feed.
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00:19:57,163 --> 00:20:00,332
Golden jackals
stalk the grasslands,
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eating whatever they can,
when they can.
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00:20:16,816 --> 00:20:19,118
More adapted
to an arid lifestyle
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00:20:19,118 --> 00:20:21,220
than any other
species of jackal,
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00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:24,490
they owe their success to their
ability to live on anything
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00:20:24,490 --> 00:20:28,627
from fruit and berries
to rodents and carrion.
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They will eat
whatever food can be acquired
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with the least amount of effort.
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This is paramount in Ngorongoro
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where they have much competition
from some formidable foes.
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00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:08,000
In Ngorongoro,
hyenas have dominion over all.
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00:21:11,303 --> 00:21:16,408
Hyena clans exist
in strict hierarchies.
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00:21:16,408 --> 00:21:18,844
Social rank is fundamental
to the success
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00:21:18,844 --> 00:21:24,416
of their highly
coordinated hunting excursions.
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00:21:24,416 --> 00:21:29,121
And strength is the principle
that underlies the whole system.
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00:21:39,131 --> 00:21:43,669
Females are ranked according to
how many fights they have won.
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00:21:43,669 --> 00:21:47,573
In their world the most feared
is at the top.
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00:21:52,311 --> 00:21:55,548
Their ferocity makes them
formidable hunters.
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00:21:59,852 --> 00:22:03,656
The best fighters
have priority at carcasses.
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00:22:06,592 --> 00:22:09,028
And they are highly territorial.
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00:22:14,166 --> 00:22:19,371
They roam this unusual land
as distinctive emperors,
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00:22:19,371 --> 00:22:24,343
unrivaled for both their
strength and hunting efficiency.
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00:22:48,434 --> 00:22:51,804
For the scavengers the dry
season is a time of plenty.
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00:22:55,874 --> 00:23:00,079
Tawny eagles are well-known
pirates of the savanna,
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00:23:02,047 --> 00:23:04,416
often intimidating others
off a kill
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00:23:04,416 --> 00:23:07,253
in order to enjoy it
for themselves.
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00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:15,327
Their keen eyesight
and rapid flight speed
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00:23:15,327 --> 00:23:17,730
ensure that they are
quick on the uptake
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00:23:17,730 --> 00:23:21,267
when the crater
claims an animal.
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00:23:34,346 --> 00:23:37,416
The flat, open nature
of the crater floor
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00:23:37,416 --> 00:23:39,251
provides ideal conditions
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00:23:39,251 --> 00:23:44,023
for another scavenger's
impeccable sense of sight.
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00:23:50,296 --> 00:23:54,433
Vultures soar on thermals
to look for carrion.
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00:24:00,806 --> 00:24:04,710
But the layout of the caldera
suits other birds too,
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00:24:07,046 --> 00:24:10,249
and not all of them favor
taking to the skies
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00:24:10,249 --> 00:24:12,718
in the search of food.
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00:24:17,489 --> 00:24:21,727
Secretary birds thrive in the
crater's barren grasslands
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00:24:21,727 --> 00:24:25,230
and this is because of the
structure of their body.
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00:24:27,333 --> 00:24:29,702
Secretary birds
prefer moving around
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00:24:29,702 --> 00:24:33,405
on their long powerful legs
over flying.
220
00:24:36,208 --> 00:24:40,713
They can move over 18 miles
a day in the search for food.
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00:24:45,351 --> 00:24:47,386
Unlike most birds of prey,
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00:24:47,386 --> 00:24:51,190
their favored method of killing
is not with their beaks
223
00:24:51,190 --> 00:24:52,791
but their legs.
224
00:24:56,729 --> 00:25:00,499
Using these powerful pistons
to stamp smaller prey,
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00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:04,169
they are efficient predators.
226
00:25:04,169 --> 00:25:07,072
And the desolate plains
of Ngorongoro
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00:25:07,072 --> 00:25:09,441
are the ideal hunting ground.
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00:25:17,816 --> 00:25:19,752
The open layout of the floor
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00:25:19,752 --> 00:25:23,288
is also important
for the crater's biggest bird.
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00:25:29,495 --> 00:25:32,664
Unable to fly,
Ostriches rely on their speed
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00:25:32,664 --> 00:25:36,201
to evade predators
like Lions and hyenas.
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00:25:40,172 --> 00:25:45,644
When they need to, they can
sprint over 40 miles an hour.
233
00:25:45,644 --> 00:25:49,248
But when there is no danger
around they do something else.
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00:25:51,417 --> 00:25:54,586
This dance
is an invitation to mate.
235
00:26:01,059 --> 00:26:04,296
Ostrich mating
precedes the rains.
236
00:26:04,296 --> 00:26:07,065
This is so that their chicks
will be born
237
00:26:07,065 --> 00:26:09,368
in the abundance of
the wet season.
238
00:26:11,270 --> 00:26:15,040
And they are not the only crater
birds joining in the ritual.
239
00:26:22,414 --> 00:26:25,484
Crowned cranes
eagerly await the rains.
240
00:26:26,485 --> 00:26:28,187
These elegant birds
241
00:26:28,187 --> 00:26:32,524
need permanent marshes
to make their nests.
242
00:26:32,524 --> 00:26:35,461
But once again,
the dry grass is the reason
243
00:26:35,461 --> 00:26:38,730
they have been drawn out
from their wetland homes.
244
00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:44,670
The crater floor is a prime
hunting ground for them.
245
00:26:47,806 --> 00:26:49,741
They are mixed feeders;
246
00:26:49,741 --> 00:26:54,713
eating anything from insects and
lizards to flowers and seeds.
247
00:27:01,487 --> 00:27:04,256
These short dry grasslands
248
00:27:04,256 --> 00:27:06,358
enable them
to use their long limbs
249
00:27:06,358 --> 00:27:10,229
to comb through the savanna
in search of smaller prey.
250
00:27:15,801 --> 00:27:18,103
Like everything else
in the crater,
251
00:27:18,103 --> 00:27:20,539
they need to make the migration
every day
252
00:27:20,539 --> 00:27:23,108
from the dry savanna
feeding grounds
253
00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:26,178
to the lush marshlands
in search of water.
254
00:27:41,793 --> 00:27:45,697
Raising young in these
conditions is no easy feat.
255
00:27:51,370 --> 00:27:54,506
Buffalo are the largest members
of their family
256
00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:59,278
and they require a lot of water
to maintain their massive bulk.
257
00:28:02,214 --> 00:28:04,116
But they too can only feed
258
00:28:04,116 --> 00:28:07,486
on the dry grasses
of the crater floor.
259
00:28:10,489 --> 00:28:13,525
Calves weigh just under 100
pounds at birth
260
00:28:16,028 --> 00:28:19,498
and are largely
defenseless until they mature.
261
00:28:21,333 --> 00:28:24,102
They are utterly dependent
on their mother's knowledge
262
00:28:24,102 --> 00:28:28,340
to survive
the long periods of drought.
263
00:28:28,340 --> 00:28:32,311
And they too must journey
between the crater's savanna
264
00:28:32,311 --> 00:28:34,980
and its marshes every day.
265
00:28:39,585 --> 00:28:41,587
Water is the driving force
266
00:28:41,587 --> 00:28:45,524
behind the continued occupancy
of the Ngorongoro animals.
267
00:28:50,128 --> 00:28:52,097
There are other areas nearby
268
00:28:52,097 --> 00:28:54,566
that support life
throughout the year,
269
00:28:54,566 --> 00:28:58,570
but their waters
are inaccessible to most.
270
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:03,709
The lakes of the Rift Valley
271
00:29:03,709 --> 00:29:07,312
are a product of aggressive
geological forces,
272
00:29:07,312 --> 00:29:10,682
and some have retained
inhospitable characteristics
273
00:29:10,682 --> 00:29:13,151
because of this.
274
00:29:15,554 --> 00:29:20,058
Before the Rifting,
there were no lakes in Africa.
275
00:29:20,058 --> 00:29:25,297
But as the earth was violently
reshaped, water began to settle.
276
00:29:26,665 --> 00:29:29,501
When the lakes
of the Great Rift Valley formed,
277
00:29:29,501 --> 00:29:33,605
much of the ground was covered
in lava and ash.
278
00:29:38,110 --> 00:29:40,445
As water
filtered through the ground,
279
00:29:40,445 --> 00:29:44,449
volcanic chemicals
were carried into the lakes,
280
00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:47,719
creating a hostile
aquatic world.
281
00:29:51,089 --> 00:29:55,394
Lake Natron lies at the foot
of Mount Ol Donyo Legai,
282
00:29:55,394 --> 00:29:58,764
60 miles
to the north of Ngorongoro.
283
00:30:02,167 --> 00:30:07,439
Its caustic waters are strong
enough to corrode human limbs.
284
00:30:09,307 --> 00:30:13,412
Only about 15 inches of rain
reaches it per year,
285
00:30:14,613 --> 00:30:17,182
much of which is 'phantom rain'.
286
00:30:19,418 --> 00:30:21,153
The water evaporates
287
00:30:21,153 --> 00:30:24,322
before it has even touched
the surface of the lake.
288
00:30:27,659 --> 00:30:31,530
As a result, the lake's waters
do not come from the sky,
289
00:30:31,530 --> 00:30:34,099
but rather
from under the ground.
290
00:30:37,869 --> 00:30:39,671
Little that comes into contact
291
00:30:39,671 --> 00:30:42,407
with the volcanic waters
survives.
292
00:30:44,176 --> 00:30:46,244
But a single-celled organism,
293
00:30:46,244 --> 00:30:49,481
visible only when magnified
a thousand times,
294
00:30:49,481 --> 00:30:52,184
thrives here.
295
00:30:52,184 --> 00:30:56,655
Spirulina platenisis flourish in
the carbonate-rich water,
296
00:30:56,655 --> 00:31:00,692
under high temperatures
and plenty of sunlight.
297
00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:02,527
Providing a source of food
298
00:31:02,527 --> 00:31:05,330
for one of the planet's
oldest birds.
299
00:31:52,377 --> 00:31:54,780
The flamingo's
specially adapted bill
300
00:31:54,780 --> 00:31:59,317
allows it to graze the upper
inch of the corrosive water
301
00:31:59,317 --> 00:32:01,653
and harvest the Spirulina .
302
00:32:07,459 --> 00:32:10,629
The heavy arch of the bill
allows great quantities
303
00:32:10,629 --> 00:32:14,266
to be sucked over fine hairs
inside their mandible,
304
00:32:16,101 --> 00:32:18,370
filtering out the food.
305
00:32:24,743 --> 00:32:28,780
These waters can sometimes
exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
306
00:32:47,365 --> 00:32:51,670
A flamingo's hard, featherless
leg is one of the few things
307
00:32:51,670 --> 00:32:54,406
that can withstand
the corrosive lake.
308
00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:08,386
This allows them to wade to the
mud flats right in the middle -
309
00:33:08,386 --> 00:33:13,692
And these are no more welcoming
than the surrounding waters.
310
00:33:13,692 --> 00:33:17,596
Temperatures are high,
winds are strong.
311
00:33:20,332 --> 00:33:23,101
Almost no vegetation survives,
312
00:33:23,101 --> 00:33:26,137
and movement
across the thick muddy terrain
313
00:33:26,137 --> 00:33:29,140
is impossible for most mammals.
314
00:33:33,745 --> 00:33:39,851
The mud flats also create the
harshest nursery on the planet.
315
00:33:39,851 --> 00:33:43,121
Using Lake Natron's volcanic
water as a moat
316
00:33:43,121 --> 00:33:45,657
against all
land based predators;
317
00:33:45,657 --> 00:33:48,727
the flamingos have made
the barren ground in the middle
318
00:33:48,727 --> 00:33:51,463
the ideal breeding site.
319
00:33:55,133 --> 00:34:00,438
This is the largest flamingo
breeding ground in the world.
320
00:34:00,438 --> 00:34:03,642
The land's unusual
and inhospitable nature
321
00:34:03,642 --> 00:34:07,445
has given them exclusive feeding
and breeding rights.
322
00:34:10,282 --> 00:34:13,285
But they are not the only
creatures that have adapted
323
00:34:13,285 --> 00:34:15,553
to withstand
the volcanic waters.
324
00:34:19,791 --> 00:34:22,093
The Alkaline tilapia.
325
00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:27,332
These fish live on the edge
of the hot spring inlets
326
00:34:27,332 --> 00:34:30,735
where the water reaches
100 degrees Fahrenheit.
327
00:34:32,437 --> 00:34:35,173
They have evolved
to endure the high temperatures
328
00:34:35,173 --> 00:34:37,409
and dense alkalinity.
329
00:34:39,144 --> 00:34:42,113
The only places in the world
that they occur
330
00:34:42,113 --> 00:34:45,717
are the soda lakes
of the Great Rift Valley.
331
00:34:48,386 --> 00:34:51,456
The landscape is harsh
and unyielding
332
00:34:51,456 --> 00:34:55,794
yet over time
life has adapted to survive.
333
00:34:58,263 --> 00:35:02,767
Thriving off the volcanic
hostility and unusual geography,
334
00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:05,537
the animals that live here
have learned to cope
335
00:35:05,537 --> 00:35:08,373
with the severe landscape
336
00:35:08,373 --> 00:35:11,977
and in return
they are provided with a haven.
337
00:35:13,712 --> 00:35:17,082
Because so few animals
can survive here,
338
00:35:17,082 --> 00:35:20,185
the inhabitants
of the Rift Valley soda lakes
339
00:35:20,185 --> 00:35:24,622
have their own sanctuary
crafted from lava and ash.
340
00:35:27,425 --> 00:35:30,495
The anomalous formation
of the crater highlands
341
00:35:30,495 --> 00:35:35,567
ensures that Ngorongoro
has water all year around.
342
00:35:38,069 --> 00:35:42,107
Outside of the caldera
the nearby Empakai crater
343
00:35:42,107 --> 00:35:44,743
remains full and luscious,
344
00:35:47,245 --> 00:35:50,615
regardless of the surrounding
changes in climate.
345
00:35:58,256 --> 00:36:02,327
Water moves from this basin
into Ngorongoro,
346
00:36:02,327 --> 00:36:06,164
feeding its wetlands
throughout the year.
347
00:36:06,164 --> 00:36:09,100
And this enables animals
to live here
348
00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:12,570
no matter how little
is provided by the rain.
349
00:36:24,482 --> 00:36:27,318
Every day the inhabitants must
make the walk
350
00:36:27,318 --> 00:36:29,320
across the crater's savanna
351
00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,523
to reach
its enduring water supply.
352
00:36:34,159 --> 00:36:36,327
This brings
the entire population
353
00:36:36,327 --> 00:36:38,063
of the crater together.
354
00:36:46,471 --> 00:36:49,607
Though they all have different
feeding requirements,
355
00:36:49,607 --> 00:36:52,210
every animal needs to drink.
356
00:36:56,448 --> 00:36:58,249
Throughout the day
357
00:36:58,249 --> 00:37:00,585
they spread to different sides
of the crater floor,
358
00:37:00,585 --> 00:37:04,522
but when it is time to get to
the water the entire range
359
00:37:04,522 --> 00:37:06,191
of the park's wildlife
360
00:37:06,191 --> 00:37:09,627
all funnel towards the marshes.
361
00:37:32,650 --> 00:37:34,586
The Ngorongoro crater
362
00:37:34,586 --> 00:37:39,524
is a sanctuary for Tanzania's
last few remaining Black rhinos.
363
00:37:45,663 --> 00:37:48,800
Even when the dry season
is at its harshest
364
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,136
they are provided with water.
365
00:37:57,709 --> 00:38:00,178
They are normally elusive,
366
00:38:00,178 --> 00:38:02,714
hiding within the forests.
367
00:38:02,714 --> 00:38:06,384
But they are drawn out to join
the rest of the residents
368
00:38:06,384 --> 00:38:09,754
in the search for
nourishment.
369
00:38:09,754 --> 00:38:13,658
The wetland is the life force of
the Ngorongoro crater.
370
00:38:15,660 --> 00:38:19,230
It ties together
all of the park's residents.
371
00:38:21,533 --> 00:38:23,401
It is the only reason
372
00:38:23,401 --> 00:38:27,438
that they can endure
the severity of the dry season.
373
00:38:33,778 --> 00:38:38,283
The Ngorongoro waters
support all stages of life
374
00:38:38,283 --> 00:38:42,620
from the youngest animals
to some of the planets oldest.
375
00:38:48,660 --> 00:38:51,596
It is a haven
for old elephant bulls
376
00:38:51,596 --> 00:38:53,431
that wander inside the crater
377
00:38:53,431 --> 00:38:56,367
for the safety
and seclusion that it offers.
378
00:39:01,306 --> 00:39:05,510
Elephants' tusks keep growing
their entire lives.
379
00:39:08,546 --> 00:39:11,482
By the time a bull
is 60 years old
380
00:39:11,482 --> 00:39:16,487
his tusks can reach a
combined weight of 260 pounds.
381
00:39:17,222 --> 00:39:19,123
As a result,
382
00:39:19,123 --> 00:39:22,427
the Ngorongoro elephants are
endowed with tusks of a size
383
00:39:22,427 --> 00:39:26,397
seldom seen
outside the crater walls.
384
00:39:52,523 --> 00:39:57,028
For the waterfowl,
the wetland is a constant home.
385
00:39:59,197 --> 00:40:04,335
Great white pelicans are bound
to the water throughout the day.
386
00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:09,474
In the morning
they will hunt for fish
387
00:40:09,474 --> 00:40:11,843
and for the rest of the day
388
00:40:11,843 --> 00:40:15,313
they will
socially bathe and preen.
389
00:40:19,117 --> 00:40:20,652
Their fishing techniques
390
00:40:20,652 --> 00:40:24,322
see them dependent
on the shallow warm waters.
391
00:40:27,692 --> 00:40:30,628
They are joined
by other birds on the hunt.
392
00:40:34,098 --> 00:40:37,101
The Yellow-billed stork's
odd shaped bill
393
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:41,172
is perfectly adapted
to fishing in drying rivers.
394
00:40:43,341 --> 00:40:46,377
As fish become trapped
in shallower pools,
395
00:40:46,377 --> 00:40:49,847
the storks use their feet
to stir up the muddy water
396
00:40:49,847 --> 00:40:53,418
before stabbing fish
with their sharp beak.
397
00:41:02,827 --> 00:41:06,097
They also have an intriguing way
of cooling themselves
398
00:41:06,097 --> 00:41:09,133
in the heat of the day -
399
00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:11,302
While standing around preening
400
00:41:11,302 --> 00:41:15,206
they will urinate on themselves
to cool their legs.
401
00:41:17,275 --> 00:41:19,277
As the urine crystallizes,
402
00:41:19,277 --> 00:41:23,281
the whitish colors act
as a screen to reflect the sun.
403
00:41:33,191 --> 00:41:37,595
For them water is a constant
source of food and nourishment.
404
00:41:53,644 --> 00:41:56,447
And the crater's wetlands
are a constant home
405
00:41:56,447 --> 00:41:59,083
for another far larger resident.
406
00:42:16,634 --> 00:42:20,471
For hippo to live comfortably
they need a water source
407
00:42:20,471 --> 00:42:23,775
that is deep enough for them to
submerge completely -
408
00:42:35,653 --> 00:42:39,190
And they also need
to be close to grasslands.
409
00:43:03,681 --> 00:43:07,351
These pools provide them
with the ideal home.
410
00:43:09,687 --> 00:43:13,558
This water haven is
the beating heart of the park.
411
00:43:16,127 --> 00:43:20,998
It supports and provides for all
of its residents all year round,
412
00:43:24,135 --> 00:43:26,504
and without
its dependable sustenance,
413
00:43:26,504 --> 00:43:29,707
life in the crater
would not be able to endure.
414
00:43:50,261 --> 00:43:54,365
The sheer 1,900 foot drop
of the caldera walls
415
00:43:54,365 --> 00:43:59,136
sever this landscape from the
surrounding areas in many ways.
416
00:44:00,505 --> 00:44:03,641
It has its own apex predators,
417
00:44:03,641 --> 00:44:06,143
a separate climate
418
00:44:06,143 --> 00:44:11,716
and a wealth
of habitats unseen outside.
419
00:44:11,716 --> 00:44:15,419
But what is on the face of it
a wildlife oasis
420
00:44:15,419 --> 00:44:19,991
may just be something closer
to a natural prison.
421
00:44:21,192 --> 00:44:23,261
Even at the height of drought,
422
00:44:23,261 --> 00:44:28,199
most animals stay and endure
the severity of the land.
423
00:44:29,667 --> 00:44:32,303
It is a constant home
for herbivores
424
00:44:32,303 --> 00:44:34,372
no matter how frail
425
00:44:34,372 --> 00:44:38,643
and overpopulated
the grasslands become,
426
00:44:38,643 --> 00:44:43,347
or how many predators roam
the enclosed amphitheater.
427
00:44:46,083 --> 00:44:49,854
Seduced by the temptations
of a yearlong water supply,
428
00:44:49,854 --> 00:44:54,091
abundant grazing and large
numbers of prey;
429
00:44:54,091 --> 00:44:57,161
the inhabitants were tempted
over the crater walls
430
00:44:57,161 --> 00:44:59,463
thousands of years ago
431
00:44:59,463 --> 00:45:03,467
and many of their descendants
have never left.
432
00:45:05,503 --> 00:45:08,539
Shackled
by the promises that it offers,
433
00:45:08,539 --> 00:45:13,277
their instincts for survival
keep them bound to Ngorongoro,
434
00:45:13,277 --> 00:45:16,547
even when this is
to their detriment.
435
00:45:18,549 --> 00:45:24,288
The life that endures here does
so according to its own rules.
436
00:45:24,288 --> 00:45:27,692
Produced by the hostility
of a volcanic environment,
437
00:45:27,692 --> 00:45:30,328
the Ngorongoro crater
438
00:45:30,328 --> 00:45:35,733
is both a generous habitat
and a dangerous trap.
439
00:45:35,733 --> 00:45:39,737
And each of its residents
has to navigate this boundary
440
00:45:39,737 --> 00:45:42,740
in the daily search for water.
441
00:45:42,740 --> 00:45:48,746
The result is an animal kingdom
like no other.
35604
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