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In a place defined
by blistering heat -
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00:00:11,778 --> 00:00:16,183
a desolate
white wasteland dominates.
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00:00:19,152 --> 00:00:24,291
Scattered oases on its margins
attract thirsty herds.
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00:00:27,728 --> 00:00:29,796
All life is driven
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00:00:29,796 --> 00:00:34,635
by the back and forth search
for food and water.
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00:00:47,748 --> 00:00:52,753
This is the continual
ebb and flow of Etosha;
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00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,092
The Great White Place.
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00:01:00,060 --> 00:01:10,103
♪♪
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00:01:10,103 --> 00:01:15,075
♪♪
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00:01:15,075 --> 00:01:25,118
♪♪
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♪♪
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00:01:30,090 --> 00:01:38,098
♪♪
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00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,271
As day breaks
in Etosha National Park,
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00:01:44,271 --> 00:01:48,308
a Black backed jackal quenches
his thirst at a waterhole.
15
00:01:52,779 --> 00:01:55,482
The little scavenger is
vulnerable to attack
16
00:01:55,482 --> 00:01:57,718
by bigger predators,
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00:01:57,718 --> 00:02:01,088
and is always wary.
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00:02:03,523 --> 00:02:04,758
After a drink
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00:02:04,758 --> 00:02:07,527
he wastes no time in moving on.
20
00:02:12,733 --> 00:02:14,501
As he exits
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00:02:14,501 --> 00:02:17,604
a flock of Helmeted
guinea fowl quickly emerges.
22
00:02:21,108 --> 00:02:24,111
They'd make
a good meal for the jackal,
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00:02:24,111 --> 00:02:26,446
and have been waiting
in the surrounding bush
24
00:02:26,446 --> 00:02:29,016
keeping a safe distance.
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00:02:32,252 --> 00:02:34,187
With the coast clear
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00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:37,224
they take their opportunity to
drink from the only water source
27
00:02:37,224 --> 00:02:39,659
for miles around.
28
00:02:42,496 --> 00:02:45,198
Their home is in Namibia,
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00:02:45,198 --> 00:02:47,367
in south west Africa.
30
00:02:51,471 --> 00:02:56,343
It's a country dominated by
baking heat and parched sands
31
00:02:56,343 --> 00:02:59,713
and renowned
for its natural beauty.
32
00:03:01,515 --> 00:03:07,120
In the north,
one national park stands out.
33
00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,425
At just under
8,800 square miles,
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00:03:11,425 --> 00:03:15,662
Etosha is as big
as the state of New Jersey.
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00:03:17,731 --> 00:03:19,800
Around a quarter of it
is covered
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00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,736
by a vast barren expanse -
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00:03:22,736 --> 00:03:25,105
where nothing grows.
38
00:03:27,808 --> 00:03:30,410
Known as the Etosha salt pan,
39
00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:32,779
it was once a saline lake.
40
00:03:36,383 --> 00:03:40,153
But 2.5 million years ago,
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00:03:40,153 --> 00:03:44,357
changes in the environment
gradually desiccated it,
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00:03:44,357 --> 00:03:49,096
leaving behind soil too salty
for plants to survive.
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00:03:52,566 --> 00:03:54,568
This is the extreme
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00:03:54,568 --> 00:03:58,271
of a park defined
by unforgiving conditions.
45
00:04:03,810 --> 00:04:08,482
Annual rainfall averages
a mere 10 inches.
46
00:04:14,221 --> 00:04:16,256
In the peak of summer,
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00:04:16,256 --> 00:04:18,291
temperatures
can reach a staggering
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00:04:18,291 --> 00:04:21,361
117 degrees Fahrenheit.
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00:04:32,672 --> 00:04:37,377
All life here runs to a rhythm
fueled by water.
50
00:04:50,257 --> 00:04:52,792
To the south of the salt pan,
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00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:56,596
waterholes are scattered
throughout the dry veld.
52
00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,338
These act as the driving force
of the park,
53
00:05:05,338 --> 00:05:09,743
directing the movement
and survival of every species.
54
00:05:12,479 --> 00:05:14,514
Without these oases,
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00:05:14,514 --> 00:05:18,451
life would cease to exist
in this barren land.
56
00:05:22,122 --> 00:05:25,425
But water
isn't the main concern here;
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00:05:26,826 --> 00:05:28,195
food is.
58
00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:35,802
During the dry season,
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00:05:35,802 --> 00:05:39,272
the animals concentrated
around Etosha's waterholes
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00:05:39,272 --> 00:05:42,642
deplete all available food -
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00:05:42,642 --> 00:05:45,245
forcing them
to travel further afield
62
00:05:45,245 --> 00:05:47,247
in search of sustenance.
63
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,424
All lives here revolve
around this constant movement
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00:05:57,424 --> 00:06:00,227
between food and water.
65
00:06:07,167 --> 00:06:09,236
For the birds, the to and fro
66
00:06:09,236 --> 00:06:11,438
starts with mornings
at the waterhole.
67
00:06:19,613 --> 00:06:23,350
Before long, large flocks
join the guinea fowl.
68
00:06:26,753 --> 00:06:31,157
Cape turtle-doves spend most
of their time alone or in pairs.
69
00:06:33,093 --> 00:06:34,828
But they congregate in flocks
70
00:06:34,828 --> 00:06:37,697
to drink in the morning
and evening.
71
00:06:38,832 --> 00:06:40,700
Drinking side by side
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00:06:40,700 --> 00:06:44,237
means more eyes
on the lookout for predators.
73
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,249
Other small species
have a strategy
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00:06:56,249 --> 00:06:58,585
to avoid the imposing crowds.
75
00:07:02,255 --> 00:07:05,992
A Fork-tailed drongo
drinks on the wing.
76
00:07:21,174 --> 00:07:23,176
Pied crows on the other hand,
77
00:07:23,176 --> 00:07:25,378
are given plenty of space.
78
00:07:32,552 --> 00:07:35,689
Their bigger frames
and mean looking beaks
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00:07:35,689 --> 00:07:38,291
keep the others at bay.
80
00:07:45,231 --> 00:07:48,301
The pair of Namaqua sand grouse
behind them
81
00:07:48,301 --> 00:07:52,405
may have flown as far as 40
miles to quench their thirst.
82
00:07:55,208 --> 00:07:58,311
The crow
is unlikely to attack them,
83
00:07:58,311 --> 00:08:00,113
but at half its size,
84
00:08:00,113 --> 00:08:02,349
they dare not get too close.
85
00:08:06,286 --> 00:08:07,721
Across the waterhole,
86
00:08:07,721 --> 00:08:10,223
a more threatening Gabar goshawk
87
00:08:10,223 --> 00:08:11,691
isn't here to drink.
88
00:08:13,426 --> 00:08:16,229
But the bird of prey
isn't hunting either.
89
00:08:21,768 --> 00:08:25,105
Remarkably it's eating
blades of grass.
90
00:08:28,708 --> 00:08:30,677
He's having trouble
regurgitating
91
00:08:30,677 --> 00:08:33,747
pellets of indigestible
hair and bone.
92
00:08:37,550 --> 00:08:40,520
And the only green grass
for miles around
93
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,990
will help trigger a purge
of his digestive tract.
94
00:08:59,372 --> 00:09:02,675
While the early birds take their
turn on the water's edge,
95
00:09:04,644 --> 00:09:08,548
a terrapin soaks up the warmth
of the steadily rising sun.
96
00:09:11,184 --> 00:09:13,553
Despite the lack of rain,
97
00:09:13,553 --> 00:09:16,322
there's always
water available here.
98
00:09:19,359 --> 00:09:22,061
The natural spring
rises to the surface
99
00:09:22,061 --> 00:09:25,331
from the rocky substrate
deep below ground.
100
00:09:28,034 --> 00:09:32,305
It gives this largely aquatic
creature a home in a dry land.
101
00:09:34,307 --> 00:09:36,142
While he warms himself,
102
00:09:36,142 --> 00:09:39,245
the day's business begins
to unfold around him.
103
00:09:42,215 --> 00:09:46,085
It's not long before
the larger animals arrive.
104
00:10:16,649 --> 00:10:20,420
Throughout the park
animals seek out waterholes;
105
00:10:23,823 --> 00:10:26,726
Beginning their day
with a drink.
106
00:10:35,401 --> 00:10:39,806
The enticing water excites
even the most nervous kudu.
107
00:10:47,180 --> 00:10:50,250
Herds of Impala soon join them,
108
00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:03,096
As do thirsty zebra.
109
00:11:14,107 --> 00:11:18,678
Kudu spend most of their time
in the safety of cover,
110
00:11:18,678 --> 00:11:23,216
relying on camouflage to escape
the attention of predators.
111
00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:35,428
A mature kudu bull's horns
112
00:11:35,428 --> 00:11:38,164
can grow as long as five feet,
113
00:11:38,164 --> 00:11:40,633
the longest of any antelope.
114
00:11:52,512 --> 00:11:54,747
These two evenly matched bulls
115
00:11:54,747 --> 00:11:57,450
may soon compete
for the right to mate
116
00:11:57,450 --> 00:11:59,519
with the females between them.
117
00:12:02,689 --> 00:12:06,593
But for now their only concern
is satisfying their thirst.
118
00:12:28,581 --> 00:12:31,284
As the largest land mammals
on the planet,
119
00:12:31,284 --> 00:12:34,387
African elephants
have nothing to fear.
120
00:12:39,192 --> 00:12:41,260
And in a league of giants,
121
00:12:41,260 --> 00:12:44,430
Etosha's elephants
stand out above the rest.
122
00:12:48,201 --> 00:12:51,104
They are the biggest
on the continent.
123
00:12:54,374 --> 00:12:57,744
And these big bodies
build up quite a thirst.
124
00:13:02,649 --> 00:13:07,120
Elephants drink up to
60 gallons of water a day.
125
00:13:10,256 --> 00:13:14,293
The herd's matriarch
determines when they will drink,
126
00:13:14,293 --> 00:13:16,596
and leads her clan to water.
127
00:13:20,667 --> 00:13:23,269
With over 50 years of experience
128
00:13:23,269 --> 00:13:28,808
she's developed intricate maps
of Etosha in her mind.
129
00:13:28,808 --> 00:13:31,678
She's able to pinpoint
the closest waterhole
130
00:13:31,678 --> 00:13:35,815
up to 31 miles away.
131
00:13:35,815 --> 00:13:39,786
This is the ultimate tool
for surviving in the desert.
132
00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:46,659
The herd consists
of the matriarch's offspring
133
00:13:46,659 --> 00:13:48,661
and her grandchildren.
134
00:13:51,097 --> 00:13:53,866
Still clumsy with their trunks,
it takes a while
135
00:13:53,866 --> 00:13:58,604
for the babies to assert control
over these awkward appendages.
136
00:14:32,638 --> 00:14:34,273
An elephant's trunk
137
00:14:34,273 --> 00:14:37,477
has two finger-like projections
at the tip,
138
00:14:37,477 --> 00:14:40,346
allowing for maximum dexterity.
139
00:14:46,786 --> 00:14:49,756
These trunks
are their livelihood,
140
00:14:49,756 --> 00:14:53,159
allowing them to drink
by sucking up the water,
141
00:14:55,428 --> 00:14:58,498
and snorting it out
into their mouths.
142
00:15:12,245 --> 00:15:16,516
Soon the babies will show expert
control of their long snouts,
143
00:15:16,516 --> 00:15:18,484
just like their elders.
144
00:15:22,555 --> 00:15:26,626
Elephants are vigilant mothers.
145
00:15:26,626 --> 00:15:30,363
They never let their calves
wander far from their side.
146
00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:39,839
And surrounded
by their enormous family,
147
00:15:39,839 --> 00:15:43,342
calves need not fear
the park's predators.
148
00:15:51,651 --> 00:15:54,754
Under the care
and guidance of the herd,
149
00:15:54,754 --> 00:15:58,457
they will gradually learn
the routes to water themselves.
150
00:16:17,176 --> 00:16:20,613
Impala lack the elephants'
size advantage
151
00:16:20,613 --> 00:16:23,349
and are more
vulnerable to attack.
152
00:16:26,452 --> 00:16:28,454
But with many members,
153
00:16:28,454 --> 00:16:31,157
they always
have eyes on the lookout
154
00:16:31,157 --> 00:16:35,595
that allow a pair of young males
to indulge in distraction.
155
00:16:38,097 --> 00:16:41,300
They size each other up
in a game of strength.
156
00:16:45,304 --> 00:16:48,741
This practice prepares them for
the world of serious competition
157
00:16:48,741 --> 00:16:50,209
that awaits them.
158
00:16:52,612 --> 00:16:56,682
But if they hope to challenge
a big ram like this,
159
00:16:56,682 --> 00:16:59,352
hey have some growing up to do.
160
00:17:02,688 --> 00:17:06,058
With no territory
or mates to be won yet,
161
00:17:06,058 --> 00:17:09,195
they're not fully committed
to the contest.
162
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:15,501
As the day moves on,
163
00:17:15,501 --> 00:17:18,104
hunger takes the place
of a sated thirst
164
00:17:18,104 --> 00:17:20,206
for the animals
at the waterhole.
165
00:17:36,088 --> 00:17:38,758
With the dry season's
tightening grip,
166
00:17:38,758 --> 00:17:42,228
the land surrounding
the waterhole is exhausted
167
00:17:42,228 --> 00:17:44,463
of good quality fodder.
168
00:17:48,601 --> 00:17:50,536
To find enough to eat,
169
00:17:50,536 --> 00:17:54,473
the herds must disperse away
from this center of activity.
170
00:18:00,413 --> 00:18:02,248
In their own time,
171
00:18:02,248 --> 00:18:05,618
they all head off
to begin their search for food.
172
00:18:19,632 --> 00:18:21,734
For the young suckling kudu,
173
00:18:21,734 --> 00:18:25,137
sustenance is always on hand.
174
00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:29,675
But the rest of the herd
175
00:18:29,675 --> 00:18:32,611
must leave the sanctuary
of the water to eat.
176
00:18:37,383 --> 00:18:39,685
He carefully follows,
177
00:18:39,685 --> 00:18:43,322
ears pricked and always alert.
178
00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,069
The elephants follow
the lead of the matriarch,
179
00:18:57,069 --> 00:18:58,704
who heads west.
180
00:19:04,377 --> 00:19:06,078
In the search for food
181
00:19:06,078 --> 00:19:09,582
her experience
will once again prove crucial.
182
00:19:10,649 --> 00:19:12,218
Heading the wrong way
183
00:19:12,218 --> 00:19:15,154
could take the elephants
onto the sprawling salt pan,
184
00:19:15,154 --> 00:19:18,124
where there is
no sustenance to be found.
185
00:19:18,124 --> 00:19:19,759
Here they would face a choice
186
00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:23,396
between two
equally unattractive options.
187
00:19:25,731 --> 00:19:27,433
Turn around
188
00:19:27,433 --> 00:19:31,170
or face the 30 mile trek
to the other side
189
00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:33,506
under the beating sun.
190
00:19:38,744 --> 00:19:40,813
To the south of the salt pan
191
00:19:40,813 --> 00:19:45,184
there is sustenance available to
those who know where to find it.
192
00:19:54,827 --> 00:19:57,229
This giraffe
has spent the morning
193
00:19:57,229 --> 00:20:00,232
feeding on the leaves
of acacia trees.
194
00:20:04,503 --> 00:20:06,539
At more than 16 feet tall,
195
00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:10,242
giraffe are adapted to take
advantage of a feeding niche
196
00:20:10,242 --> 00:20:11,744
few others can -
197
00:20:12,845 --> 00:20:15,181
at the tops of trees.
198
00:20:20,519 --> 00:20:23,255
They can go
several days without drinking;
199
00:20:23,255 --> 00:20:25,758
getting the moisture they need
from their food.
200
00:20:31,097 --> 00:20:34,333
But in the height of winter,
when the park is driest,
201
00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:38,571
even Etosha's hardiest
vegetation like the acacia,
202
00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:42,074
has little to offer
in the way of moisture.
203
00:20:45,644 --> 00:20:48,147
So this giraffe
must also strike out
204
00:20:48,147 --> 00:20:50,683
across the park's barren lands,
205
00:20:50,683 --> 00:20:54,353
though his is a quest for water.
206
00:21:05,831 --> 00:21:08,767
While cows
stick together in herds,
207
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:11,270
this bull cuts a lonely form
208
00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:13,472
in the stark landscape.
209
00:21:17,243 --> 00:21:20,579
There is little for him
here in the grasslands
210
00:21:20,579 --> 00:21:23,215
except the promise
of a satisfying drink
211
00:21:23,215 --> 00:21:24,750
on the other side.
212
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,098
But some are far more at home
on the grasslands than him.
213
00:21:48,474 --> 00:21:51,577
Gemsbok thrive away from water
214
00:21:51,577 --> 00:21:54,713
and are among
the most iconic species
215
00:21:54,713 --> 00:21:56,682
of the African desert.
216
00:22:06,358 --> 00:22:08,060
Their bodies are well designed
217
00:22:08,060 --> 00:22:10,596
to cope
with the harsh conditions.
218
00:22:13,699 --> 00:22:18,337
They too
can go days without drinking -
219
00:22:18,337 --> 00:22:22,141
and are even more independent
of water than the giraffe.
220
00:22:24,510 --> 00:22:28,380
Their kidneys have evolved
to conserve water,
221
00:22:28,380 --> 00:22:32,618
by concentrating their urine
to minimize water loss.
222
00:22:36,789 --> 00:22:41,360
This allows them to travel far
across Etosha's flat grasslands,
223
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:43,229
feeding as they go.
224
00:22:56,842 --> 00:22:59,345
These flats border the salt pan
225
00:22:59,345 --> 00:23:01,647
and have shallow, saline soils.
226
00:23:03,515 --> 00:23:06,485
Only the hardiest
desert grasses survive.
227
00:23:08,721 --> 00:23:14,693
This small herd follows the lead
of its alpha male.
228
00:23:14,693 --> 00:23:19,431
With his guidance and their
ability to range far from water,
229
00:23:19,431 --> 00:23:23,002
they can subsist
mainly on these grasses.
230
00:23:27,740 --> 00:23:29,742
But for the park's elephants
231
00:23:29,742 --> 00:23:31,477
things are different.
232
00:23:42,421 --> 00:23:45,691
A pair of bulls is
making the trek across Etosha's
233
00:23:45,691 --> 00:23:47,593
dry, open land.
234
00:23:59,805 --> 00:24:03,142
They scrape what sustenance
they can from the grass,
235
00:24:03,142 --> 00:24:06,378
but it's not enough to give them
the hundreds of pounds
236
00:24:06,378 --> 00:24:08,614
they need in a day.
237
00:24:12,184 --> 00:24:14,286
Now, during the dry season,
238
00:24:14,286 --> 00:24:16,355
elephants must drink daily
239
00:24:16,355 --> 00:24:20,059
and prefer to remain within
two and a half miles of water.
240
00:24:22,227 --> 00:24:24,730
But they may travel
more than 10 miles
241
00:24:24,730 --> 00:24:28,367
to find the trees they need
to satisfy their hunger.
242
00:24:32,738 --> 00:24:36,608
While Etosha's elephants
may be the biggest in the world,
243
00:24:36,608 --> 00:24:38,377
they have a handicap
244
00:24:38,377 --> 00:24:41,513
that stands testament
to their dry environment.
245
00:24:48,387 --> 00:24:51,590
Almost half of the elephants'
tusks in Etosha
246
00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:54,493
are fractured or broken -
247
00:24:54,493 --> 00:24:58,430
the highest rate
of any elephant population.
248
00:25:00,632 --> 00:25:05,204
This is directly related
to the area's low rainfall.
249
00:25:07,806 --> 00:25:11,577
It may be due to fighting over
water sources;
250
00:25:11,577 --> 00:25:15,647
or the tusks weakening
due to dehydration
251
00:25:15,647 --> 00:25:18,217
but the most likely explanation
252
00:25:18,217 --> 00:25:21,353
is the lack of nutrients
in the elephants' food.
253
00:25:29,828 --> 00:25:33,165
These bulls must cross
this foreboding land
254
00:25:33,165 --> 00:25:35,734
to reach more suitable fodder.
255
00:25:44,243 --> 00:25:49,214
As they travel
the day gets hotter and hotter.
256
00:25:57,322 --> 00:26:02,060
For a herd of Zebra the heat is
becoming almost unbearable.
257
00:26:27,786 --> 00:26:30,722
Many of the mares are pregnant
258
00:26:30,722 --> 00:26:33,392
and will give birth
in early summer
259
00:26:33,392 --> 00:26:36,595
when rains give their young
the best chance at survival.
260
00:26:40,499 --> 00:26:44,102
It will be this particular
mare's second birth.
261
00:26:46,605 --> 00:26:49,675
Her current foal
is around a year old.
262
00:26:52,177 --> 00:26:55,180
To prepare herself
for the new arrival,
263
00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:57,282
she's started to wean him.
264
00:26:59,284 --> 00:27:02,387
She needs to conserve her milk
and energy.
265
00:27:05,357 --> 00:27:09,261
The herd would usually spend
almost all day grazing
266
00:27:09,261 --> 00:27:12,231
to maintain their health.
267
00:27:12,231 --> 00:27:13,765
But the temperature has risen
268
00:27:13,765 --> 00:27:16,802
above
a hundred degrees Fahrenheit
269
00:27:16,802 --> 00:27:19,638
and the heat paralyzes them.
270
00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:23,475
Tied to the waterhole,
271
00:27:23,475 --> 00:27:26,778
they avoid activity at all costs
272
00:27:26,778 --> 00:27:31,283
and it's all they can do
to wait out the worst of it.
273
00:27:32,818 --> 00:27:36,522
But the heat may be
a blessing in disguise.
274
00:27:39,157 --> 00:27:42,394
Even the strongest of animals
are rendered weak
275
00:27:42,394 --> 00:27:46,231
by the severity
of Etosha's climate.
276
00:27:46,231 --> 00:27:51,003
The zebra are unaware
of a male lion in the grass.
277
00:27:54,206 --> 00:27:56,375
But he has no interest in them.
278
00:27:58,510 --> 00:28:02,114
The midday sun
has drained his energy too.
279
00:28:07,519 --> 00:28:10,656
He can't even muster
a flick of his tail.
280
00:28:13,592 --> 00:28:15,394
He will wait until dusk
281
00:28:15,394 --> 00:28:18,196
when his eyesight is
better than the zebras'
282
00:28:19,765 --> 00:28:22,267
and when the heat
has dissipated.
283
00:28:33,245 --> 00:28:34,813
At this time of year
284
00:28:34,813 --> 00:28:38,650
all animals must take advantage
of what's on offer.
285
00:28:42,654 --> 00:28:44,623
Scavengers like the jackal
286
00:28:44,623 --> 00:28:48,460
rely largely on carrion
from predator kills.
287
00:28:52,097 --> 00:28:54,800
But when there's
no carrion to be had,
288
00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,570
he's adept at making the most
of his dry environment.
289
00:29:03,542 --> 00:29:05,410
He's an omnivore
290
00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,747
and will eat
almost anything he can find,
291
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:10,949
including termites.
292
00:29:19,291 --> 00:29:22,761
Although not his meal
of first choice,
293
00:29:22,761 --> 00:29:26,598
he has no qualms about digging
into the pile of insects.
294
00:29:32,371 --> 00:29:34,506
He's constantly alert.
295
00:29:40,779 --> 00:29:44,216
For there are always those
looking to take advantage
296
00:29:44,216 --> 00:29:47,519
of the success of others.
297
00:30:03,335 --> 00:30:07,172
A pair of northern Black
korhaans skulks nearby,
298
00:30:09,608 --> 00:30:11,343
Eager to get their fill.
299
00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:26,124
The jackal would happily change
his meal from insects to birds.
300
00:30:27,659 --> 00:30:30,128
So the korhaans
keep their distance.
301
00:30:42,307 --> 00:30:46,445
As much as 30 percent of their
diet can consist of plant matter
302
00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:48,680
like grass seeds.
303
00:30:50,549 --> 00:30:55,420
And Etosha's grasslands
have seeds in plenty,
304
00:30:55,420 --> 00:30:58,490
so these birds
survive in high numbers.
305
00:31:02,828 --> 00:31:08,600
Males defend display territories
of 2000 to 3000 square feet,
306
00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,737
and compete
for the attention of females.
307
00:31:16,641 --> 00:31:21,379
For the korhaans, males will
fight for territory come summer
308
00:31:21,379 --> 00:31:23,281
but for now
309
00:31:23,281 --> 00:31:26,551
they settle with calling loudly
to advertise their presence.
310
00:31:35,260 --> 00:31:38,396
For some in Etosha,
the battle for dominance
311
00:31:38,396 --> 00:31:42,267
is a more constant concern.
312
00:31:42,267 --> 00:31:46,471
A pair of Gemsbok males
battles for rank and territory.
313
00:31:49,708 --> 00:31:52,377
In a land where food is scarce,
314
00:31:52,377 --> 00:31:55,781
it's a huge investment
of energy for both.
315
00:32:05,624 --> 00:32:09,194
The cause of the aggression
is not far away -
316
00:32:10,762 --> 00:32:12,464
a tiny waterhole.
317
00:32:14,566 --> 00:32:17,769
Access to water
is a prize worth fighting for.
318
00:32:19,471 --> 00:32:21,139
Gemsbok usually get
319
00:32:21,139 --> 00:32:24,609
most of the moisture they need
from their food,
320
00:32:24,609 --> 00:32:27,712
which includes tubers
and wild melons
321
00:32:27,712 --> 00:32:30,682
dug from below ground.
322
00:32:30,682 --> 00:32:35,086
But at this time of year
these are in short supply,
323
00:32:35,086 --> 00:32:39,057
so even Gemsbok must drink.
324
00:32:40,125 --> 00:32:42,360
This small sunken waterhole
325
00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,330
attracts herds
from far and wide.
326
00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:50,869
A family of warthogs
is here too,
327
00:32:50,869 --> 00:32:54,706
trying unsuccessfully
to escape the beating sun.
328
00:32:57,642 --> 00:32:59,578
Over the years
329
00:32:59,578 --> 00:33:03,682
Etosha's animals have dug deeper
and deeper into the sands here
330
00:33:03,682 --> 00:33:06,484
to access
the little available water.
331
00:33:08,453 --> 00:33:11,423
There's enough to satisfy
the Gemsbok for now.
332
00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:18,730
Soon enough
they all resume their grazing,
333
00:33:20,732 --> 00:33:25,704
covering ground to find enough
quality grass to get by.
334
00:33:28,707 --> 00:33:34,179
For the giraffe, desperate times
call for desperate measures.
335
00:33:34,179 --> 00:33:39,284
His journey to water
is sapping vital energy
336
00:33:39,284 --> 00:33:44,823
and out here he must go
to unusual lengths to eat.
337
00:33:44,823 --> 00:33:48,159
When you're built
for feeding in the treetops,
338
00:33:48,159 --> 00:33:52,497
grazing at ground level
is a tall order.
339
00:34:23,194 --> 00:34:27,699
For two elephant bulls, the
day's journey has been worth it.
340
00:34:31,136 --> 00:34:32,737
Like the giraffe
341
00:34:32,737 --> 00:34:36,141
they rely largely on
Etosha's trees for sustenance.
342
00:34:40,679 --> 00:34:43,782
They've arrived
in a stand of woodland,
343
00:34:43,782 --> 00:34:47,185
and they don't
just eat the leaves.
344
00:34:55,193 --> 00:34:58,496
Elephants have
incredibly varied diets
345
00:34:58,496 --> 00:35:02,200
and can take sustenance from
almost all parts of a plant
346
00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,170
including branches
and their bark.
347
00:35:10,375 --> 00:35:14,579
These mature bulls use their
trunks with expert dexterity.
348
00:35:21,386 --> 00:35:23,188
Picking what they fancy
349
00:35:23,188 --> 00:35:26,725
before grinding it
between massive molars.
350
00:35:36,167 --> 00:35:38,069
Their stark white color
351
00:35:38,069 --> 00:35:42,207
comes from dusting themselves
with the park's pale soil
352
00:35:42,207 --> 00:35:45,744
for defense against
the sun's harsh rays.
353
00:35:55,353 --> 00:35:57,522
But while it protects their skin
354
00:35:57,522 --> 00:35:59,691
it can't cool them down.
355
00:36:04,596 --> 00:36:07,332
For this
they rely on their ears.
356
00:36:12,537 --> 00:36:19,044
Elephant ears can be 6-1/2 feet
long and 5 feet wide.
357
00:36:19,044 --> 00:36:21,413
They have
extensive networks of veins
358
00:36:21,413 --> 00:36:23,548
beneath a thin layer of skin.
359
00:36:26,284 --> 00:36:27,786
Continuous flapping
360
00:36:27,786 --> 00:36:30,522
causes airflow to cool
the blood in these veins,
361
00:36:32,057 --> 00:36:34,592
which helps
to cool the whole body.
362
00:36:49,541 --> 00:36:51,676
When males reach puberty,
363
00:36:51,676 --> 00:36:54,179
they're extradited from the herd
364
00:36:54,179 --> 00:36:56,381
and become bachelors.
365
00:36:59,818 --> 00:37:04,022
These males each spend
long stretches alone.
366
00:37:08,093 --> 00:37:09,627
But for now,
367
00:37:09,627 --> 00:37:11,763
they have turned to one another
for companionship
368
00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:14,165
as many bachelors do.
369
00:37:18,770 --> 00:37:21,806
Being younger
and slightly smaller,
370
00:37:21,806 --> 00:37:23,808
this bull assumes a lower rank
371
00:37:23,808 --> 00:37:26,644
than his
more established companion.
372
00:37:33,218 --> 00:37:36,221
It's a dynamic that's
easy to see while they feed.
373
00:37:40,291 --> 00:37:43,061
As the senior notices
that his companion
374
00:37:43,061 --> 00:37:45,663
has a tastier looking tree,
375
00:37:45,663 --> 00:37:48,166
he swiftly muscles in.
376
00:37:50,468 --> 00:37:53,505
The junior moves off
with no complaint.
377
00:38:00,178 --> 00:38:03,248
Size is power between elephants
378
00:38:03,248 --> 00:38:06,451
and the smaller bull
wouldn't risk a challenge.
379
00:38:08,786 --> 00:38:10,622
There's plenty for both of them
380
00:38:10,622 --> 00:38:15,226
in the acacia trees
of this patch of woodland.
381
00:38:15,226 --> 00:38:19,464
Etosha's woody trees
are a larder for its giants.
382
00:38:37,749 --> 00:38:40,552
After a long day
searching for food
383
00:38:40,552 --> 00:38:44,622
many of the park's residents
return to Etosha's waterholes.
384
00:39:05,243 --> 00:39:07,545
They offer an opportunity
to antelope
385
00:39:07,545 --> 00:39:10,348
that is unusual
in the African wilderness;
386
00:39:12,717 --> 00:39:17,622
time to drink without fear
of attack from below.
387
00:39:17,622 --> 00:39:22,227
The small, isolated waterholes
can't support crocodiles.
388
00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:26,097
In Africa's wetter places
389
00:39:26,097 --> 00:39:27,799
antelope stick to the banks
390
00:39:27,799 --> 00:39:31,069
to avoid jaws
lurking beneath the surface.
391
00:39:33,805 --> 00:39:35,640
But here, these Springbok
392
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,444
can wade into the cooling water
without concern.
393
00:39:49,587 --> 00:39:51,522
Before long,
394
00:39:51,522 --> 00:39:55,226
even the toughest
of Etosha's inhabitants arrive.
395
00:39:57,528 --> 00:40:00,698
Gemsbok waste no time
in getting wet.
396
00:40:05,103 --> 00:40:06,638
And for a moment
397
00:40:06,638 --> 00:40:09,407
they're liberated
from the heat's oppressive grip.
398
00:40:17,181 --> 00:40:20,618
Their routine of regular grazing
and covering ground
399
00:40:20,618 --> 00:40:22,487
will soon resume,
400
00:40:23,521 --> 00:40:25,423
but for now they can relax
401
00:40:25,423 --> 00:40:28,793
in the company of the
waterhole's many other visitors.
402
00:40:50,248 --> 00:40:53,751
A giant soon joins the throng,
403
00:40:53,751 --> 00:40:57,155
and he's given
all the space he needs.
404
00:41:07,165 --> 00:41:09,334
At more than eleven feet tall,
405
00:41:09,334 --> 00:41:12,337
he's less satisfied
by the water's depth.
406
00:41:14,305 --> 00:41:17,608
Luckily he's well equipped
to splash himself.
407
00:41:24,582 --> 00:41:28,786
As the afternoon draws on,
many more come and go.
408
00:41:56,447 --> 00:42:00,051
The thirsty giraffe bull
finally arrives
409
00:42:00,051 --> 00:42:02,620
after his long quest for water.
410
00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:24,776
And he's not alone.
411
00:42:27,378 --> 00:42:30,415
He's found the company
of a small herd.
412
00:42:35,686 --> 00:42:39,624
Giraffe regularly
come and go from herds,
413
00:42:39,624 --> 00:42:43,127
and he may spend weeks
with his companions
414
00:42:43,127 --> 00:42:45,663
before going his own way again.
415
00:42:51,369 --> 00:42:54,539
Giraffe are especially
vulnerable while drinking,
416
00:42:54,539 --> 00:42:58,342
and it helps to have extra eyes
on the lookout.
417
00:43:07,118 --> 00:43:10,254
As quickly as the herds arrive,
418
00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:11,456
they leave again.
419
00:43:14,592 --> 00:43:18,062
Dispersing back
into Etosha's expanse
420
00:43:18,062 --> 00:43:21,299
in their
constant search for food.
421
00:43:42,620 --> 00:43:46,357
The big elephant bull
is in no rush.
422
00:43:46,357 --> 00:43:48,359
He finishes his mud bath.
423
00:44:15,553 --> 00:44:17,455
Cool at last,
424
00:44:17,455 --> 00:44:22,059
he too heads off on the next leg
of his perpetual to and fro
425
00:44:22,059 --> 00:44:24,729
between food and water.
426
00:44:56,727 --> 00:45:01,999
Etosha National Park
presents a natural enigma.
427
00:45:06,237 --> 00:45:11,409
This foreboding expanse supports
a surprising abundance of life.
428
00:45:14,812 --> 00:45:17,381
While their
environment is harsh,
429
00:45:17,381 --> 00:45:21,419
those that persevere
can find enough to get by.
430
00:45:26,557 --> 00:45:30,227
All must move
according to their own rhythm;
431
00:45:31,696 --> 00:45:34,498
To satisfy their hunger
432
00:45:34,498 --> 00:45:36,634
and quench their thirst.
433
00:45:42,607 --> 00:45:47,144
This is the constant
ebb and flow of Etosha -
434
00:45:47,144 --> 00:45:50,147
the Great White Place.
435
00:45:50,815 --> 00:46:00,992
♪♪
436
00:46:00,992 --> 00:46:05,763
♪♪
437
00:46:05,763 --> 00:46:12,970
♪♪
33761
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