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NARRATOR: From ancient times,
the great landmass of Africa
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has been called the Dark Continent.
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The name came
from the early mapmakers.
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They knew so little
of this unexplored region,
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they left it a blank on their charts.
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For centuries
it remained a land of mystery,
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for Africa, like an ancient fortress,
was surrounded by natural barriers
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that kept civilization out.
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Across the north, a vast desert,
the impassable Sahara.
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On the west, a dense jungle,
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a wall of tangled underbrush
along the Congo.
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In the south, an arid bush country.
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And on the eastern shore,
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fever-ridden swamps
became a barricade
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to all who would invade this land.
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In time, of course,
explorers penetrated nature's blockade.
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And in the dark heart of Africa,
they found a primitive paradise.
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It was neither desert nor jungle,
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but a broad plain, broken by forests,
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deep lakes, and towering peaks.
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The dominating landmark
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is the highest mountain
on the continent.
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It stands practically on the equator.
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This is Mount Kilimanjaro,
rising 19,000 feet into the African sky.
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Its crest, thrusting through the clouds,
wears a permanent mantle of snow.
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Here in its shadow, our story begins,
for this is the realm of the African lion.
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Enter the king of beasts,
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a monarch
come to review his subjects.
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Largest member of the cat family,
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the lion roams and rules
a vast territory.
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On this immense pastureland,
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he finds endless herds
of grazing animals.
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Here are multitudes beyond counting.
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And here in this natural spectacle
is nature's infinite pattern and plan.
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At the moment,
it's a picture of peace and plenty.
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Yet over this sun-drenched setting
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there hovers constantly
the shadow of death.
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And the lion is its messenger,
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for these grazing species are his food.
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And since this is a True-Life Adventure
in nature's Africa,
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where we meet tragedy,
we may expect to see it.
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And where we find life born anew,
we will pause to view that, too.
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The ruler and the ruled.
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The eaters of meat and
the eaters of grass, all living together.
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Nowhere else in the world
does nature mix her species
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in such profusion and variety.
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This is the wildebeest,
sometimes called the gnu.
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A species of antelope,
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he and his kind
are favorite prey of the lion.
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This is a distant cousin, the hartebeest,
and he's hunted by the great cats, too.
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The zebra is the native horse of Africa.
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His stripes would seem
to make him conspicuous,
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yet he's rarely taken unaware,
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for he's one of the most alert
of animals.
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The waterbuck also stays on guard,
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counting on dagger-sharp horns
for protection.
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To the sable antelope
nature gave a pair of curving cutlasses
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and the skill to use them.
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But when it comes to
really fancy headgear,
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the kudu is in a class by himself.
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The tiny gazelles are more or less
ignored by the king of beasts.
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He considers them
hardly big enough for a meal.
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And here's a species
that's barely tidbit-size.
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This is the dik-dik.
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Smallest of all the antelope,
he stands 14 inches at the shoulder,
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just about the size of a small dog.
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This is the gerenuk, sometimes known
as the giraffe antelope.
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Long on neck
and short on nourishment,
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he's another
the lion chooses to pass up.
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The impala, however,
are more to a king's taste.
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But like all antelope,
they're extremely agile
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and almost impossible
to take by surprise.
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These are impala in action.
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They can cover 30 feet at a bound.
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The eland, largest of all the antelope,
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also keeps in practice
for a quick getaway.
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By some strange instinct,
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the grazing animals can tell
when lions are hunting.
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If the big cats are just passing through,
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the herds will let them come
surprisingly close.
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Of course, there's no point
in taking too many chances,
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and often a committee keeps tabs
on the prowler.
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The lion is one among many
on these plains,
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and all have a part to play
in nature's primitive pageant.
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Occasionally, the great cats
find themselves
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in the company of some little dogs,
the wild dogs of Africa.
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Individually, these small predators
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would be outmatched
by almost any adversary.
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But when they combine their numbers,
it's a different story.
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They run in a pack, like wolves,
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and are a constant threat
to the grazing herds.
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Among the grass eaters, there's
one animal who's rarely molested.
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He's the African buffalo.
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The full-grown bull often carries horns
spreading four feet across.
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These broaden at the base
to form a thick shield over the skull.
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And so the buffalo, head-on at least,
is practically invulnerable.
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Even the king of beasts treats this
formidable fellow with respect.
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The warthog, too,
is well-prepared for defense.
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His tusks are razor-edged
and ready for action.
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And yet, given the chance,
he almost always chooses retreat.
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But not with his tail between his legs.
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This appendage
he carries proudly erect,
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a signal to his family that says,
"Follow me."
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Sharp eye and sharper beak.
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This is the African vulture.
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Wherever these birds appear,
it's a sign of disaster.
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As nature's scavengers, the vultures
lead a precarious existence
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where they're in constant competition
with others of their sort.
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00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,840
And the rivalry includes jackals,
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who now try to keep
some carrion they've found.
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But since there's no honor
among thieves,
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the vultures take possession
by sheer weight of numbers.
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In nature's scheme of things,
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there's room for robbers
as well as royalty.
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00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,520
And so the scavengers are as much
a part of the African setting
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as the lion himself.
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Of all the strange creatures
in the lion's domain,
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none can top the giraffe,
the tallest animal in the world.
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00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,520
He's three times the height
of a tall man.
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00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,040
In fact, his neck alone
is sometimes seven feet in length.
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00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,000
The giraffe has a reputation for silence,
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yet on rare occasions,
he can make a sound.
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It's a weak one, to be sure,
a sort of high-pitched grunt.
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And for all practical purposes,
he remains a mute animal.
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Here's an odd pastime.
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It's like dueling with buggy whips.
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00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,360
Right now
it's a simple sparring practice,
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but during the mating season,
when they're serious,
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the blows can be fatal.
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On the sidelines, a group of critics
pass on the finer points of technique.
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And here's a case of every spectator
having a perfect vantage point.
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The one time the giraffe has trouble
with his long neck
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is when he drinks.
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This is the moment
when he's vulnerable to his enemies.
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But when danger threatens,
he can show surprising speed.
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He looks like he's running on stilts,
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but his long stride
soon takes him out of harm's way.
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To match the giraffe's height,
nature put his dinner table in the attic.
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And so he's a browser
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who finds a special diet
in the high foliage of the African trees.
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For some strange reason,
he favors the thorn acacia.
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He avoids its sharp spines, however,
by means of an extra-long tongue
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which can reach between them.
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The giraffe is a gentle creature,
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one who never gives
his neighbors trouble.
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But this can hardly be said
of the rhinoceros.
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(SNORTING)
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This grumpy species goes around
with a grudge against everybody.
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When he hides like this,
he's not playing games.
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There are two tons of bad disposition
behind those spears,
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and if he charges,
he's as dangerous as an armored tank.
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The name "rhinoceros"
means "horned nose."
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These barbarous weapons, however,
are not true horns,
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but masses of hardened fibers.
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The African rhino carries two,
for double duty.
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Because they're so unpredictable,
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the rhinos are avoided
by most other animals.
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But this social neglect
doesn't faze them.
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They continue on their way,
as ill-mannered as ever,
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and they work off their bad tempers
by chasing each other.
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The African lion is nothing more
than an overgrown cat,
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and like all the tribe,
he likes his comforts.
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In fact, he's just about
the laziest animal alive.
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And when lions decide to relax,
it's catnapping on a grand scale.
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A family of lions is called a pride,
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and it includes anywhere from
half a dozen to two dozen members,
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all the relatives of several generations.
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Unlike most cats,
the lions are family-minded,
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and the pride tends to be
more or less permanent.
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In rotation, the youngsters grow up,
find themselves mates
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and raise their own crop of cubs,
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the usual litter being four to six.
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In the nursery, the youngsters follow
the lazy example set by their elders
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and work as little as possible
for their keep.
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They nurse with any lioness
that's handy,
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and whose mother belongs to whom
doesn't seem to matter.
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The lion cub is naturally playful,
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and his kittenish actions reveal a close
kinship with his domestic cousins.
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In fact, this playfulness
continues even into adulthood.
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At this age, however, even in play,
there's the natural instinct for the kill,
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and the lunge for the throat
is automatic.
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(GROWLING)
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(CRYING)
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Being true cats, the lions haven't
forgotten how to climb.
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But since they almost never
leap on their prey from above,
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they have no real need for this ability.
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And so when a lion climbs a tree,
it's only for the view.
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Around home, the king of beasts
is just another helpless,
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good-for-nothing male animal.
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The real head of the royal household
is the lioness,
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and when she wants
His Majesty's place in the shade,
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she says so in no uncertain terms.
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(GROWLING)
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And the youngsters know
who's boss, too.
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They side with Mother every time.
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Aside from occasional squabbles,
the pride is one big happy family.
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And as long as everybody's well-fed,
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they spend their days
in leisurely contentment.
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But if an outsider from another territory
moves in, there's a sudden change.
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A strange lioness has no place
in the inner circle.
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And before she quite knows
what's happened,
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she's surrounded by snarling fury.
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(ALL GROWLING)
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This is a battle of the females.
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For some reason,
the mothers in the pride
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seem to feel this visiting lioness
is a menace to their cubs.
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Their logic is a bit obscure, perhaps,
but their actions are perfectly clear.
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The male lion plays a minor part
in the affair.
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He seems to participate
only because it's expected of him.
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But up against an enraged lioness,
his heart isn't really in it.
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In the end,
the intruder manages to beat a retreat,
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considerably the worse for wear.
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And now that peace has been restored,
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the pride resumes
its normal lazy routine.
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00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,000
But now, some more outsiders
arrive on the scene,
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and the elephants
may not be so easily driven away.
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Here comes the herd bull,
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with something more on his mind
than a social call.
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Elephants are used to having
their own way,
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and this one,
with the herd in his charge,
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obviously doesn't want lions
in the vicinity.
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00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:54,320
This time, the lions choose discretion
and a dignified withdrawal.
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Indeed, if there's one species
to whom the king of beasts
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might concede his royal prerogatives,
it's the African elephant.
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(TRUMPETING)
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In this primitive pageant,
these giants loom largest of all.
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00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,520
In size, the elephants of Africa
far surpass their cousins in Asia.
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In fact, these modern mammoths
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are the largest mammals
that walk the Earth.
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In Africa, as everywhere else, the
daily dilemma of each creature is food.
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And the elephant,
with the biggest appetite,
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has the biggest problem.
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He consumes great quantities of grass,
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00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:48,040
but he finds it only an appetizer and
takes his main course from the forest.
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00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,920
Strictly a vegetarian,
and by habit a browser,
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00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,640
he eats leaves, branches and all.
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00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,760
These huge animals
weigh from six to eight tons apiece,
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00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,320
and they consume
a good part of their weight every day.
239
00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:16,200
Dinner is a long, drawn-out affair.
It takes time to fill an elephant.
240
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,480
He's a slow eater, but a thorough one.
241
00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,520
Methodically, he strips the trees
of whole branches at a time.
242
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:24,840
(BRANCHES CRASHING)
243
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:33,400
The elephant's trunk serves as an arm,
a hand, and a set of fingers all in one.
244
00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,320
It's an all-purpose instrument,
245
00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,360
amazingly sensitive
and handy for all sorts of jobs,
246
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,720
from the biggest to the most delicate.
247
00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,080
Often when he's brought his branch
to the ground,
248
00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:52,960
the elephant anchors it with his foot
249
00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,960
and pulls off bite-size twigs
with his trunk.
250
00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,280
He understands
the principle of leverage,
251
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,920
and if he finds himself
with a limb that won't break,
252
00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,760
he simply applies extra pressure
with his huge tusks.
253
00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,040
The tusks of the average bull
weigh about 50 pounds each,
254
00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:19,280
but record pairs weighing 150 pounds
apiece have been known.
255
00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,000
Both the male
and the female have them,
256
00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,960
and with these handy tools,
there's little that can resist them.
257
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,320
They sometimes
uproot a full-grown tree.
258
00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:36,680
In the struggle for existence,
259
00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,640
an elephant with only one tusk
is at a disadvantage,
260
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,800
yet this isn't an unusual plight,
especially among the very old bulls.
261
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,000
Put eight tons of pressure
on even the best of ivory and it breaks.
262
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,720
This wrinkled patriarch
may be 100, 200 years old.
263
00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:54,440
No one can know for sure.
264
00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,040
An elephant's age is his own secret,
265
00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,800
and in the wild, the years of
an individual can only be estimated.
266
00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,160
It's believed, however,
that the lifespan of an elephant
267
00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:08,960
slightly exceeds that of man,
268
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,680
averaging somewhere between
80 and 100 years.
269
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,400
It's definitely known that the elephant
reaches maturity at about 20.
270
00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,040
In his teens,
he's still cutting youthful capers.
271
00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,200
At birth,
the baby elephant weighs 200 pounds.
272
00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,640
In most families
that would be a whopper,
273
00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,480
but in this company, he's just a baby.
274
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,920
This little fellow is actually
only 12 hours old,
275
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,440
and he's having trouble
matching his mother's gigantic strides.
276
00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,560
The young of most species
are naturally playful,
277
00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,840
and a baby elephant is no exception.
278
00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,320
He gets a childish pleasure
out of chasing the egrets
279
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,400
that often follow the elephants.
280
00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,720
These birds are attracted to the insects
281
00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,560
the herd stirs up
as it moves through the grass.
282
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,200
But now the tables are turned,
283
00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:24,720
and they're the ones
being made to scatter.
284
00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,800
Young master elephant
may be small fry in his own league,
285
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,920
but in this one,
he can really throw his weight around.
286
00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,920
Although the elephant
is called a pachyderm,
287
00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:54,680
which means "thick-skinned,"
288
00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,840
his hide isn't nearly as impervious
as it seems.
289
00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,720
And so he tries to protect himself
against the bites of bothersome insects
290
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,880
by taking frequent dust baths.
291
00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,200
Elephants are herd animals,
292
00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,120
and the herds vary in numbers
from only a few to a great many.
293
00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,200
This is the elephant version
of a freight train.
294
00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:33,920
Count the cars and you'll find 110.
295
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,960
While the herd system
provides protection for the young,
296
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,360
it's hardly necessary for the adults.
297
00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,360
With their
tremendous size and strength,
298
00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,360
elephants, full-grown,
have no natural enemies.
299
00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:12,800
The one thing elephants must have
is water,
300
00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,520
and they make long marches to find it.
301
00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,520
It takes a good-sized water hole just
to meet their drinking requirements.
302
00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:24,200
Now the versatile trunk
serves as a flexible water hose.
303
00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,640
We humans do well to drink our eight
glasses, about two quarts, in a day.
304
00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,880
But an elephant siphons up that much
in every trunk-full.
305
00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:02,280
A thirsty elephant can take on
14 gallons of liquid refreshment,
306
00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,600
and even Mr. Half-Pint
drinks it by the bucket.
307
00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,360
Here's a pair of tusks
that almost got out of control,
308
00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,080
and they make drinking
something of a problem.
309
00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,440
And then there's the fellow
who makes a game out of it.
310
00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,800
Finally, the hose is hung
on a built-in drying rack.
311
00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,240
But the ritual at the water hole
has barely begun.
312
00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:50,120
Now, with his thirst satisfied,
313
00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,760
the elephant turns his attention
to a shower.
314
00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,280
There's no hot and cold, of course,
and it's the muddiest kind of water.
315
00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,920
But the elephant enjoys it in spite of all.
316
00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,840
To him it's cool and it's wet,
and that's all that matters.
317
00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,480
And then comes the big rinse,
and this is the most fun of all.
318
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:19,600
(TRUMPETING)
319
00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,200
Ordinarily,
elephants stick to shallow water.
320
00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:27,120
But if they do get beyond their depth,
they are excellent swimmers.
321
00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:43,320
And if one submerges,
322
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,520
he keeps his trunk above the surface
as a breathing tube.
323
00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,000
For all its handiness, however,
324
00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,160
there's one place an elephant's trunk
just won't reach.
325
00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,880
Well, it's been simply grand,
this monumental mud bath,
326
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,280
but all this splashing about
has posed a sticky problem.
327
00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,640
How to hoist six tons of elephant
up the slippery banks?
328
00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:26,240
But finally, with a dry footing,
everybody makes the grade,
329
00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,040
including the six-tonners.
330
00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,280
Here at the water hole,
many species come and go.
331
00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,240
But to the hippopotamus, this is home.
332
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,360
A true water animal, the hippo is
thoroughly adapted to his element.
333
00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:00,480
He favors the marshy backwaters,
334
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,960
where he can wallow
to his heart's content.
335
00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,640
And he finds
a good mud hole irresistible,
336
00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,480
for after all,
the hippo is related to the pig.
337
00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,040
(GRUNTING)
338
00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,600
Second only to the elephant in size,
339
00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,160
the hippopotamus measures 13 feet
around the waistline
340
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,640
and often achieves a bulk of four tons,
341
00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,680
yet he's surprisingly agile,
both on land and in the water.
342
00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:33,800
He's usually peaceable,
343
00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,280
yet he's well able to take care of himself
344
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:38,880
in a mock battle, or in the real thing.
345
00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:41,960
(BOTH GRUNTING ANGRILY)
346
00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,720
The power in these ponderous jaws
is tremendous.
347
00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:50,800
This, except for the whale's,
348
00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:53,560
is the biggest mouth
in all the animal kingdom.
349
00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:08,520
It was the ancient Greeks
who gave the hippopotamus his name.
350
00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:10,240
It means "river horse."
351
00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:14,240
And when his horsy face
is seen like this, the name certainly fits.
352
00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:30,040
Occasionally, company comes to call,
and of course it's for dinner.
353
00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:34,040
This bird is interested
in the tiny parasites that live on hippos.
354
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,160
He's called the lily-trotter,
from his habit of walking on lily pads.
355
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:41,320
But he's also a hippo hopper,
356
00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,840
and his exaggerated feet
are perfect for the footwork required.
357
00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:12,000
The bird makes himself
a sort of personal valet
358
00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,480
and goes about tidying up
here and there.
359
00:34:23,720 --> 00:34:26,800
He checks eyebrows
to see if they need plucking.
360
00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:30,800
A bird beautician, as it were.
361
00:34:31,720 --> 00:34:35,760
There's really not much you can do
to help this face, but he keeps trying.
362
00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,360
Sometimes he gets carried away
by his enthusiasm.
363
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,520
Then his client gives him the brush-off
by going below.
364
00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,120
The hippo's balloon-like build
gives him buoyancy,
365
00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,560
and he moves through this underwater
dream world practically without effort.
366
00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:05,320
He's able to close
both his nose and his ears,
367
00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:09,160
and his great lung capacity permits
submersion for minutes at a time.
368
00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:14,080
To renew his air supply, he need only
poke his nostrils above the surface.
369
00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:22,480
The hippo associates with some
strange companions. Now it's the fish.
370
00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,040
He's not especially interested
in his finny friends,
371
00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,000
but they're more than a little
interested in him.
372
00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,400
Here's one of nature's
unexplained puzzles,
373
00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:34,960
why the fish are attracted to the hippo.
374
00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,280
It's a good guess, however, that they
feed on his brand of parasites.
375
00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,520
These are a carp-like species
called the barbel.
376
00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,680
They give him a thorough going-over.
377
00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,320
And here's the odd spectacle
of a fish fishing, of all places,
378
00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,400
inside a hippo's mouth.
379
00:35:56,440 --> 00:36:00,200
Attracted by all the commotion,
a passerby crashes the party.
380
00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:01,880
This is the crocodile.
381
00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:05,600
And he, too,
has a place in this submarine setting.
382
00:36:10,720 --> 00:36:14,920
Crocodile, barbel, hippopotamus.
Reptile, fish, mammal.
383
00:36:15,240 --> 00:36:17,760
A strange affinity in a strange world.
384
00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,520
In nature, the intellect of her creatures
385
00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,920
ranges from the not-so-bright
to the near-brilliant.
386
00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:35,480
And for native intelligence,
few can match the African baboon.
387
00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:40,880
Witness his choice of a home.
A rock castle, perfect for defense.
388
00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,520
Here's a fortress he can hold
against all comers, even lions.
389
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,360
At times, the baboon appears
to be almost foolhardy,
390
00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,520
but he knows every cavern
in these rocks,
391
00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:03,440
and he's counting on a speedy
disappearing act if he needs it.
392
00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:07,560
But lions have more important things
to do than chase baboons.
393
00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:10,600
They know of easier game where
the chase has more chance of success,
394
00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:12,480
and so they move on.
395
00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:17,960
The baboons must leave
their rocky ramparts to feed,
396
00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:21,640
for they are fanciers of
tender grasses, seeds, and insects.
397
00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:27,040
And so for protection, they travel
in troops, numbering from 50 to 100.
398
00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:44,800
The baboon possesses
both manual dexterity
399
00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:46,560
and a discriminating eye,
400
00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:50,000
and only the choicest pickings
satisfy his finicky palate.
401
00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:05,520
Favorite on his list of delicacies
are the stalks of water lilies.
402
00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:19,360
The baby baboon is something
only a baboon could love.
403
00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,360
And he certainly gives little hint
that he's a child prodigy.
404
00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:34,760
The moment he finds himself a tree,
however, his talents bloom.
405
00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,080
He's a natural-born trapeze artist.
406
00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,640
Baboons are playful, mischievous
and full of pranks,
407
00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:54,080
and the youngsters carry on a game
408
00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:56,920
that is one long practical joke
on each other.
409
00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:04,600
All this seems to develop a sort
of good-natured tolerance,
410
00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,080
and family discipline
is seldom very strict.
411
00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,320
Both parents participate
in bringing up the young,
412
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:27,640
and Father's just as willing
to baby-sit as Mother.
413
00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:31,920
But sometimes
Junior isn't as willing as Father.
414
00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:36,920
There's never a dull moment
in a colony of baboons.
415
00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,160
Besides intelligence,
they possess a sense of humor, too,
416
00:39:40,240 --> 00:39:42,680
and it shows up
at the most unexpected moments.
417
00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:51,760
The worst enemy of the baboons
is the leopard,
418
00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,280
often called the tiger of Africa.
419
00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:57,600
He's not a true tiger, of course.
Their home is in Asia.
420
00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:01,160
But for ferocity and cunning,
he more than takes their place.
421
00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:03,320
Because of the leopards,
422
00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,640
young baboons are never allowed
to stray off alone.
423
00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:08,920
Mother's watchful eye
is always on them.
424
00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:17,960
(SCREECHING)
425
00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:22,480
And wherever she goes, baby goes,
too, tucked away in a lower berth.
426
00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:33,000
When he's a bit older,
the youngster rides in the rumble seat.
427
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:43,360
This keeps him from being underfoot
428
00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:47,000
when the baboons drink with the herds
at the water hole.
429
00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:53,840
In the kingdom of the African lion,
there are birds of many kinds.
430
00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:57,160
And here's one who demonstrates
nature's flair for the freakish,
431
00:40:57,240 --> 00:40:58,680
the ostrich.
432
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,160
Seven feet tall,
he towers above the grazing animals.
433
00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:05,600
He's the largest of
all her feathered species.
434
00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:07,600
Technically, this is a bird,
435
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:11,520
but he can't fly, can't sing,
can't even perch in a tree.
436
00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,680
In fact, ostriches can't do any of
the things birds are supposed to do,
437
00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:22,680
except lay the world's largest eggs
and raise extra-large families.
438
00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:26,080
Twenty or more is the usual number
in the brood,
439
00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:30,040
and it takes both parents to ride herd
on this many youngsters.
440
00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:33,080
Here, the drab-colored hens
have charge,
441
00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:36,120
but just as often,
it's the dapper male who's on duty.
442
00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:40,200
Lacking the power of flight,
443
00:41:40,240 --> 00:41:43,000
they've developed their own technique
for survival.
444
00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:45,280
In this land
where so many predators roam,
445
00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:49,280
they depend on long, strong legs
to carry them away from enemies.
446
00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:50,960
With their enormous stride,
447
00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:53,720
they can do upwards
of 40 miles an hour.
448
00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:02,240
Long-legged birds are common
in the lion's domain.
449
00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:05,920
He plays host to storks and cranes
of every sort.
450
00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,080
The crowned crane
is a frequent visitor.
451
00:42:14,120 --> 00:42:15,680
He comes bent on courtship,
452
00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,120
and he goes about it
in a flamboyant fashion.
453
00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:31,880
And here's a strutter called
the greater bustard.
454
00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:35,760
He goes a-wooing
fluffed-out fore and aft.
455
00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:39,280
It's hard to tell
whether he's coming or going.
456
00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:41,760
And in this state, even he's not sure.
457
00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,120
But when it comes to
really high-class strutting,
458
00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:52,000
you can't just out-step
the secretary bird.
459
00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:57,320
He's not showing off, though.
This is serious business.
460
00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,480
He's beating the bush for his dinner.
461
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,920
This is how he kicks up a meal
of insects and small reptiles.
462
00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,280
The feathers sticking out of his head
gave him his name.
463
00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:11,680
They resemble the old-fashioned quill
pens stuck behind a secretary's ear.
464
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:19,920
The courser is a wading bird
who practically never wades.
465
00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:21,920
He gets his living on the dry plains,
466
00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:24,680
and in the process,
performs a peculiar dance.
467
00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:29,800
And when he trips the light fantastic,
it's a triple trip with a double dip.
468
00:43:52,440 --> 00:43:54,320
(CHIRPING)
469
00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:22,640
In the kingdom of the African lion,
there are only two seasons:
470
00:44:22,720 --> 00:44:24,720
wet and dry.
471
00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:25,880
For the grazing animals,
472
00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:28,680
this simply means a time
when water holes are numerous
473
00:44:28,720 --> 00:44:30,200
and a time when they're not.
474
00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:34,640
For these nomads, life depends
on good water and good grass.
475
00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:40,560
It's when the grass is new
that the young are born.
476
00:44:42,720 --> 00:44:45,120
At birth, the wildebeest calf is weak,
477
00:44:45,240 --> 00:44:48,400
yet is expected to accomplish
the near-impossible.
478
00:44:49,840 --> 00:44:53,080
In a matter of seconds,
he must learn to walk and to run,
479
00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:57,280
for on these wide plains,
fleetness of foot is the only protection.
480
00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:11,320
The predators of the plain are many,
and it's the young they pursue most.
481
00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:20,080
Quick to size up an opportunity,
the leopard plans his strategy.
482
00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:26,760
He knows that the wildebeest,
though fleet of foot, are slow-witted.
483
00:45:28,840 --> 00:45:31,840
He will turn their stupidity
to his advantage.
484
00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:42,320
The leopard hunts by stealth, and now
he moves toward a likely-looking tree,
485
00:45:42,400 --> 00:45:45,200
for his specialty is ambush
from overhead.
486
00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:49,720
A leopard that guesses wrong
goes hungry,
487
00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:53,440
but some strange instinct has told him
the herd will pass this way.
488
00:45:53,560 --> 00:45:57,080
And so, for the moment,
he's content to watch and wait.
489
00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,560
Sure enough,
his guess was a good one.
490
00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:26,800
And now, the leopard goes about
his deadly business
491
00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:28,560
with a grim deliberation.
492
00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:31,160
He knows he'll have only one chance.
493
00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:34,800
The instant he reveals himself,
the herd will stampede.
494
00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:39,240
He moves lower, closer.
495
00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:42,680
The nearer he gets,
the less chance of a miss.
496
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:49,680
And all the while, the milling herd
has no hint of his presence.
497
00:46:57,600 --> 00:46:59,520
Now he drops.
498
00:47:03,640 --> 00:47:07,160
When the leopard strikes,
it's like a lightning bolt from the sky,
499
00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:08,400
and for hours afterwards,
500
00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:11,520
the wildebeest will mill about
in wild confusion.
501
00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:16,360
Sometimes, the African drama is harsh,
502
00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:19,040
yet this is the reality of Africa.
503
00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:22,480
Life and death,
a cycle in endless repetition.
504
00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:24,600
And this is nature's way.
505
00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:28,160
Some shall live for tomorrow,
and some shall die today.
506
00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:45,480
And so, what is tragedy for one
means survival for another.
507
00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:47,400
Before he dines, however,
508
00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:50,360
the leopard carries his prize
into the tree.
509
00:47:50,760 --> 00:47:52,760
This is a practice typical of leopards,
510
00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:56,080
their way of refusing to share
with the scavengers of the plain.
511
00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:05,800
Among the great cats of Africa,
512
00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:09,600
the cheetah is a matchless hunter,
surpassing even the leopard.
513
00:48:12,640 --> 00:48:15,720
Records of her prowess exist
from ancient times,
514
00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:19,280
for Egyptian hieroglyphics
portray the cheetah in action.
515
00:48:19,720 --> 00:48:23,000
The kings of Egypt recognized
the animals' amazing abilities,
516
00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:26,520
and they trained these graceful
creatures as royal hunting cats.
517
00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:32,960
Slim at the waist,
long through the shoulder,
518
00:48:33,040 --> 00:48:36,040
the cheetah looks more
like a greyhound than a cat.
519
00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:39,240
She walks high like a hound,
520
00:48:39,280 --> 00:48:42,600
and this added height
gives her an abnormal stride.
521
00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:48,360
An extra-large chest,
great lung capacity, rangy muscles
522
00:48:48,440 --> 00:48:50,640
all mean tremendous endurance.
523
00:48:53,320 --> 00:48:55,960
Strangely, one part of her
seems undersized,
524
00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:59,840
the small head jutting out
like some sort of gargoyle.
525
00:48:59,920 --> 00:49:02,640
It almost appears to have been placed
on the wrong body.
526
00:49:02,720 --> 00:49:05,080
And yet it suits nature's purpose,
527
00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:09,080
for everything about the cheetah
is streamlined for super-speed.
528
00:49:10,840 --> 00:49:14,280
Here is the swiftest runner
in all the animal kingdom.
529
00:49:14,320 --> 00:49:17,800
Full out, she can do
an incredible 80 miles an hour.
530
00:49:17,840 --> 00:49:20,800
And so, she simply runs her prey
into the ground.
531
00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:39,840
The sight of a cheetah on the prowl
alerts the gazelles.
532
00:49:39,880 --> 00:49:42,680
They grow tense,
ready for instant flight.
533
00:50:03,200 --> 00:50:06,560
When the cat-greyhound slips
into her ground-consuming stride,
534
00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:09,120
the herd knows it's time to scatter.
535
00:50:17,240 --> 00:50:20,080
In their panic,
some run directly alongside.
536
00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:22,560
But the cat ignores them.
537
00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:25,320
She's picked her victim
somewhere up ahead.
538
00:50:31,360 --> 00:50:33,400
One among all these is doomed,
539
00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:36,280
unless some miraculous escape
takes place.
540
00:50:36,720 --> 00:50:39,520
And in a race with a cheetah,
few escape.
541
00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:20,920
Living as they do,
in the midst of teeming herds,
542
00:51:20,960 --> 00:51:23,520
it would seem the lions
would never go hungry.
543
00:51:24,360 --> 00:51:27,960
And yet, the task of making a kill
isn't as easy as it looks.
544
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,840
It involves strategy and skill,
and sometimes, downright luck.
545
00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:38,720
Day in, day out, the male lion seems
to do little of the actual hunting.
546
00:51:39,240 --> 00:51:43,720
Lazy as ever, His Majesty sits on
the sidelines and strikes a kingly pose,
547
00:51:44,280 --> 00:51:47,240
while the role of provider
is left to the ladies.
548
00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:50,320
And so, it's the lioness
who must take the field.
549
00:51:57,920 --> 00:52:00,400
Her problem is to get close to her prey.
550
00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:05,080
Unlike the cheetah,
she's only good for a short sprint.
551
00:52:05,160 --> 00:52:08,280
After that, the hoofed animals
can easily outdistance her.
552
00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:10,920
She must reach these wildebeest
553
00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:13,800
before they have a chance
to get underway.
554
00:52:14,920 --> 00:52:18,040
It seems a simple matter
to come within striking distance,
555
00:52:18,120 --> 00:52:21,200
yet it requires all the stealth
at her command.
556
00:52:40,200 --> 00:52:44,120
After this first failure,
the lioness saves her energy.
557
00:52:44,200 --> 00:52:46,960
At this rate, the hunt may be long
and discouraging.
558
00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:51,720
If only friend-husband would do
his part here, things might be easier.
559
00:52:51,800 --> 00:52:53,440
A vain hope, however,
560
00:52:53,520 --> 00:52:56,240
for the royal spouse
still rests on his laurels
561
00:52:56,320 --> 00:52:58,880
and wonders what's holding up lunch.
562
00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:06,440
But this is no time to worry
about lazy males.
563
00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:10,080
There's a meal yet to be won,
and a whole pride to be fed.
564
00:53:13,320 --> 00:53:17,720
And now the ladies join forces to work
a strategy commonly used by lions.
565
00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:22,920
The leader circles on a roundabout
course to get behind the herd.
566
00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:28,400
Meanwhile, her colleagues approach
from the front.
567
00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:29,880
They walk in plain sight,
568
00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:32,640
their purpose,
to distract the herd's attention.
569
00:53:48,480 --> 00:53:50,840
The trap is about to be sprung.
570
00:53:54,160 --> 00:53:56,960
But now the wildebeest detects
her presence.
571
00:53:59,960 --> 00:54:04,120
But with lions behind and lions in front,
which way shall he run?
572
00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:27,760
Instinctively, the lioness seizes
the jugular vein.
573
00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:29,840
The end is quick and sure.
574
00:54:31,640 --> 00:54:35,360
Once a kill is made, it must be shared
with the rest of the pride.
575
00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:40,120
And now as the clan begins to gather,
His Majesty, at last, bestirs himself.
576
00:54:42,480 --> 00:54:45,520
Hungry lions seem to materialize
from everywhere.
577
00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:48,680
Uncles, aunts, cousins,
nieces, nephews,
578
00:54:48,800 --> 00:54:51,880
all come on the double
to claim a portion of the feast.
579
00:55:08,600 --> 00:55:12,280
Given the chance to dine,
lions gorge themselves,
580
00:55:12,360 --> 00:55:15,200
fighting each other
for the choicest bits.
581
00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:32,840
Against all these mighty appetites,
a single kill doesn't last long.
582
00:55:34,120 --> 00:55:35,800
And all across the African plain,
583
00:55:35,880 --> 00:55:39,040
this ancient pattern
is repeated again and again.
584
00:55:40,320 --> 00:55:43,440
One day, it's a zebra
who falls prey to the pride.
585
00:55:43,520 --> 00:55:46,640
The victims vary,
but the outcome is the same,
586
00:55:46,720 --> 00:55:49,120
food for the lions and their cubs.
587
00:55:58,040 --> 00:56:00,640
On rare occasions,
a young giraffe is the casualty,
588
00:56:00,720 --> 00:56:04,360
for even among the most wary,
luck may eventually run out.
589
00:56:15,200 --> 00:56:16,920
There are times
when the king of beasts
590
00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:21,600
tries to keep the dinner all to himself,
and then bitter squabbles develop.
591
00:56:25,920 --> 00:56:28,760
It's quite a trick, keeping a carcass
from the rest of the pride.
592
00:56:28,840 --> 00:56:32,600
But here's a lioness who's managed
to reserve a remnant for her cubs.
593
00:56:35,600 --> 00:56:38,280
And now she drags it
toward their hiding place.
594
00:56:38,360 --> 00:56:43,040
If she's lucky, she and her youngsters
will have a banquet all to themselves.
595
00:56:45,440 --> 00:56:47,840
But she's forgotten the scavengers.
596
00:56:47,920 --> 00:56:52,440
Now the jackals join the parade,
ready to dart in at the first opportunity.
597
00:56:59,840 --> 00:57:01,640
They're experts at petty theft,
598
00:57:01,720 --> 00:57:05,800
for they spend their lives following
the lions and living on their leavings.
599
00:57:09,320 --> 00:57:12,000
These fearless little thieves
will face a lioness anytime,
600
00:57:12,080 --> 00:57:14,040
when her back is turned.
601
00:57:20,160 --> 00:57:24,000
Now the hyenas pop up from nowhere,
anxious to join the party.
602
00:57:37,520 --> 00:57:40,160
And overhead,
the vultures materialize out of thin air
603
00:57:40,240 --> 00:57:42,360
and drop in for a free meal.
604
00:57:45,440 --> 00:57:48,880
Vulture, jackal, hyena, scavengers all.
605
00:57:49,440 --> 00:57:51,960
Yet even these, nature counts useful
606
00:57:52,000 --> 00:57:55,640
for they serve her purpose in keeping
the plain free of carrion.
607
00:58:15,760 --> 00:58:20,240
By the time these hangers-on have
taken their toll, there's not much left.
608
00:58:26,560 --> 00:58:29,400
Finally, it's a battle for the bare bones.
609
00:58:32,480 --> 00:58:36,320
This contest between the lioness
and her camp followers never ends,
610
00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:38,960
except in a momentary stand-off,
611
00:58:39,040 --> 00:58:41,840
yet this is nature's way
of providing for all.
612
00:58:41,880 --> 00:58:44,760
The lions kill that many may survive.
613
00:58:44,840 --> 00:58:48,640
And, of course, this includes
the families of the scavengers.
614
00:58:49,360 --> 00:58:50,720
This is nature's plan,
615
00:58:50,800 --> 00:58:55,240
that every scrap of food on the plain
find its way to some hungry mouth.
616
00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:06,000
On the ground below, meanwhile,
the lion cubs arrive.
617
00:59:09,760 --> 00:59:12,520
And it's a meager meal
they find waiting.
618
00:59:15,080 --> 00:59:17,440
Other members of the pride
come forward, too,
619
00:59:17,480 --> 00:59:19,280
to mighty slim pickings,
620
00:59:19,320 --> 00:59:22,760
for after doing all the work,
this is the lion's share.
621
00:59:29,640 --> 00:59:34,400
And poor Mother, as usual, ends up
with the part that went over the hill last.
622
00:59:38,920 --> 00:59:41,440
Since the little meal had to go
such a long way,
623
00:59:41,520 --> 00:59:43,280
the hunt continues.
624
00:59:43,720 --> 00:59:46,200
And now the pride tries a different tack.
625
00:59:46,280 --> 00:59:47,680
They move into heavy brush
626
00:59:47,760 --> 00:59:50,240
in the hope of taking their prey
by surprise.
627
00:59:56,680 --> 00:59:58,520
And here's their chance.
628
00:59:58,600 --> 01:00:01,320
A herd of impala
at their watering place.
629
01:00:02,160 --> 01:00:04,800
Now the pride has a problem in tactics.
630
01:00:05,160 --> 01:00:09,440
This species of antelope is, perhaps,
the most difficult of all to catch.
631
01:00:13,480 --> 01:00:15,560
They decide on a direct attack,
632
01:00:15,640 --> 01:00:18,600
and the shock of a sudden appearance
has its effect.
633
01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:23,840
Now every lioness is on her own.
634
01:00:23,880 --> 01:00:25,680
The trick is to panic the impala,
635
01:00:25,720 --> 01:00:28,200
and then try to cut them down
as they run by.
636
01:00:33,280 --> 01:00:37,680
Here's a game of speed and wits,
with a good portion of luck thrown in.
637
01:02:06,520 --> 01:02:10,160
Of all the hardships nature imposes
upon her African creatures,
638
01:02:10,240 --> 01:02:13,200
there's none so severe
as the annual drought.
639
01:02:14,200 --> 01:02:18,080
The dry season affects all,
from the largest to the smallest.
640
01:02:18,120 --> 01:02:20,960
Even the native catfish
are hard-pressed for water
641
01:02:21,040 --> 01:02:24,000
as their diminishing pools
dry up one by one.
642
01:02:28,120 --> 01:02:31,680
The few drinking places that remain
are in constant use.
643
01:02:32,600 --> 01:02:34,640
And the trails to water
become deep-grooved
644
01:02:34,720 --> 01:02:36,800
across the parched plain.
645
01:02:38,320 --> 01:02:42,240
The elephants meet the emergency
with an amazing display of memory.
646
01:02:42,320 --> 01:02:45,080
They return to the place
where the river once ran,
647
01:02:45,120 --> 01:02:48,320
and they dig their own wells
in the dry riverbeds.
648
01:02:48,400 --> 01:02:52,160
They seem able to scent moisture,
even when it's underground.
649
01:03:22,640 --> 01:03:24,800
Suddenly, like great fans,
650
01:03:24,840 --> 01:03:28,280
the elephant's ears stand out
to catch a distant sound.
651
01:03:28,360 --> 01:03:30,160
(THUMPING)
652
01:03:30,840 --> 01:03:33,760
In spite of his natural caution,
he moves toward it,
653
01:03:33,840 --> 01:03:36,120
trunk raised to test the air.
654
01:03:36,560 --> 01:03:40,200
It's a strange sound,
one he doesn't recognize,
655
01:03:40,280 --> 01:03:42,880
for it's unlike anything he's ever heard.
656
01:03:46,240 --> 01:03:48,160
He follows it to its source.
657
01:03:48,200 --> 01:03:50,160
And here at the one
remaining mud hole,
658
01:03:50,200 --> 01:03:52,560
he comes upon a desperate drama.
659
01:03:53,200 --> 01:03:56,040
A rhinoceros is trapped
in the churned-up mud.
660
01:03:56,080 --> 01:03:57,080
(GRUNTING)
661
01:03:57,160 --> 01:03:59,600
Completely frustrated,
he beats his head on the ground
662
01:03:59,680 --> 01:04:01,680
and cries out for help.
663
01:04:03,040 --> 01:04:04,360
Another rhino drinks,
664
01:04:04,400 --> 01:04:07,880
and he takes but a passing interest
in this strange dilemma,
665
01:04:08,000 --> 01:04:11,280
even as it must have been
in the time of dinosaurs,
666
01:04:11,360 --> 01:04:13,840
for here is a fossil in the making.
667
01:04:15,120 --> 01:04:17,920
This is exactly how the great beasts
of the past were caught
668
01:04:17,920 --> 01:04:20,080
and their remains preserved.
669
01:04:27,560 --> 01:04:30,440
Here at the water hole,
the same trap awaits all comers.
670
01:04:30,520 --> 01:04:33,960
But some are lucky.
They tempt fate, yet walk away.
671
01:04:41,440 --> 01:04:42,600
In growing panic,
672
01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:45,120
the trapped rhino
renews his frantic exertions.
673
01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:49,040
But two tons is a lot to move
when it's bogged down like this.
674
01:04:52,800 --> 01:04:55,480
His wild groans attract some baboons.
675
01:04:55,560 --> 01:04:57,120
These intelligent creatures, at least,
676
01:04:57,200 --> 01:05:00,000
are willing to study his problem
for a moment.
677
01:05:04,800 --> 01:05:07,960
One, in fact,
tries to think of something helpful.
678
01:05:18,640 --> 01:05:21,440
But in the end,
the baboons can do nothing.
679
01:05:32,160 --> 01:05:35,040
The elephant, too,
has come only to drink.
680
01:05:35,120 --> 01:05:39,080
And finally, he finds the rhino's agony
so upsetting, he panics.
681
01:05:39,160 --> 01:05:43,160
And like all the lesser creatures,
the mighty elephant runs away.
682
01:05:46,880 --> 01:05:49,920
And so the rhino must face
his strange destiny
683
01:05:50,000 --> 01:05:52,120
deserted by nature herself.
684
01:05:59,960 --> 01:06:05,000
Beneath the tropical sun, the heated air
of the plain rises in spiral columns.
685
01:06:05,080 --> 01:06:07,360
And now,
the whirlwinds called dust devils
686
01:06:07,400 --> 01:06:09,480
dance across the scorched earth.
687
01:06:14,600 --> 01:06:18,240
But this is only the prelude.
Soon, the dust storms begin.
688
01:06:25,040 --> 01:06:28,200
And now, a mass migration begins.
689
01:06:28,280 --> 01:06:30,880
Now the herds must leave
this parched country
690
01:06:30,960 --> 01:06:32,240
to look for a new water hole
691
01:06:32,320 --> 01:06:35,560
somewhere beyond the reach
of this blistering heat.
692
01:06:37,400 --> 01:06:40,000
Beset by thirst and heat and hunger,
693
01:06:40,040 --> 01:06:43,360
they must, somehow,
out-walk and outlast the drought.
694
01:06:47,600 --> 01:06:49,480
The lions make the trek, too,
695
01:06:49,560 --> 01:06:53,960
and hunter and hunted march together,
driven by the common enemy, thirst.
696
01:06:55,520 --> 01:06:58,840
Before long, this ordeal takes
on the quality of a nightmare,
697
01:06:59,320 --> 01:07:01,880
and the silent giraffes
stalk this land of desolation
698
01:07:01,920 --> 01:07:04,200
like ghost figures in a dream.
699
01:07:16,480 --> 01:07:20,120
The fierce African sun casts a fiery pall
over the scene.
700
01:07:21,400 --> 01:07:25,920
Desperately, the elephants search
the winds for moisture and find none.
701
01:07:31,600 --> 01:07:34,920
Day after day,
this burning disk circles the sky,
702
01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:37,040
and still there's no relief.
703
01:07:37,080 --> 01:07:39,880
Nature, it would seem,
is without mercy.
704
01:07:39,920 --> 01:07:44,280
Yet, this is Africa,
the real and the ruthless Africa,
705
01:07:44,320 --> 01:07:47,920
where survival is only for those
able to endure hardship.
706
01:08:04,440 --> 01:08:06,800
For weeks on end, the trek continues,
707
01:08:06,880 --> 01:08:09,760
and eventually,
the herds reach new pasture.
708
01:08:09,800 --> 01:08:12,320
And yet,
grass without water isn't enough,
709
01:08:12,320 --> 01:08:14,120
and so they must keep plodding on,
710
01:08:14,160 --> 01:08:17,720
looking for a drinking place
that doesn't seem to exist.
711
01:08:19,960 --> 01:08:21,120
In their aimless travels,
712
01:08:21,240 --> 01:08:24,800
the animals seem to lose
their instinctive sense of direction.
713
01:08:24,880 --> 01:08:27,720
The migration swings in a great circle.
714
01:08:28,000 --> 01:08:30,000
And without being aware
of their mistake,
715
01:08:30,080 --> 01:08:31,480
the marching regiments turn back
716
01:08:31,560 --> 01:08:34,280
in the direction
from which they've come.
717
01:08:43,520 --> 01:08:46,480
They seem to head
toward the dust storm again,
718
01:08:46,480 --> 01:08:50,120
but what looks like a dust cloud
is a swarm of locusts,
719
01:08:50,160 --> 01:08:54,120
a buzzing mass of ravenous insects
come to scourge the plain.
720
01:08:55,680 --> 01:08:57,040
Like storm-driven cattle,
721
01:08:57,120 --> 01:09:01,400
the wildebeest move without plan
or purpose in this blinding blizzard.
722
01:09:04,680 --> 01:09:07,800
This unchecked tide
numbs the very senses.
723
01:09:08,080 --> 01:09:09,240
Interrupted at her meal,
724
01:09:09,320 --> 01:09:12,600
the lioness watches,
stupefied and uncomprehending.
725
01:09:15,920 --> 01:09:19,920
The locust is a species of grasshopper.
He eats natural pasture.
726
01:09:20,640 --> 01:09:24,120
Individually, he consumes
only single blades of grass,
727
01:09:24,200 --> 01:09:26,280
yet when he descends
in a living carpet,
728
01:09:26,360 --> 01:09:29,160
he and his millions devastate the land.
729
01:09:36,720 --> 01:09:38,960
Here's a threat to all the grazing herds,
730
01:09:39,040 --> 01:09:42,360
for if the grass is destroyed,
their future is dark.
731
01:09:50,880 --> 01:09:53,800
Yet, what is famine for one
is often feast for another.
732
01:09:53,920 --> 01:09:56,480
Now the storks descend on the scene.
733
01:09:59,920 --> 01:10:03,200
Still, neither a thousand storks
nor a thousand thousand storks
734
01:10:03,240 --> 01:10:05,800
could begin to control this plague.
735
01:10:12,400 --> 01:10:16,600
These millions of shimmering wings
actually filter the light of day.
736
01:10:17,040 --> 01:10:20,080
Soon, an ominous glow
settles over the land.
737
01:10:24,040 --> 01:10:25,520
In nature's plan, however,
738
01:10:25,600 --> 01:10:28,360
uncontrolled calamity
cannot go unchallenged.
739
01:10:28,920 --> 01:10:32,200
Although the locusts devour
every living blade of grass,
740
01:10:32,280 --> 01:10:34,760
though they denude the earth
to the bare rocks,
741
01:10:34,880 --> 01:10:38,480
nature will restore her world
and bring again new life.
742
01:10:39,560 --> 01:10:41,960
This she does with the tropical rains.
743
01:10:42,040 --> 01:10:44,800
These seasonal showers
are the fountain of life,
744
01:10:44,880 --> 01:10:47,320
renewing and rebuilding
and refreshing
745
01:10:47,400 --> 01:10:49,800
creature and countryside alike.
746
01:10:49,840 --> 01:10:53,240
Now the grazing herds will have
good water and good grass again.
747
01:10:54,280 --> 01:10:56,960
But what affects some must affect all.
748
01:10:58,120 --> 01:10:59,600
Yet, like all the other animals,
749
01:10:59,640 --> 01:11:02,400
the lions must accept
what nature brings.
750
01:11:03,400 --> 01:11:05,400
And the rains must fall
on this ancient land
751
01:11:05,480 --> 01:11:08,320
as surely as the sun
must follow the storm.
752
01:11:15,560 --> 01:11:18,160
And so the seasons turn in their cycle.
753
01:11:18,200 --> 01:11:21,120
And once again,
the lion surveys the great plain
754
01:11:21,160 --> 01:11:25,160
where his subjects roam far and wide
across its endless reaches.
755
01:11:27,480 --> 01:11:30,960
Zebra, wildebeest,
hartebeest and kudu.
756
01:11:31,680 --> 01:11:35,520
Sable antelope, warthog,
ostrich and rhino.
757
01:11:35,960 --> 01:11:39,480
Hippo, elephant, giraffe and baboon.
758
01:11:39,840 --> 01:11:43,600
Impala, hyena, wild dog and jackal.
759
01:11:45,360 --> 01:11:49,200
All these and many more pay homage
to the African lion.
760
01:11:50,960 --> 01:11:52,200
With his story told,
761
01:11:52,280 --> 01:11:54,880
our True-Life Adventure
ends as it began,
762
01:11:54,960 --> 01:11:57,320
in the shadow of Kilimanjaro.
763
01:11:57,360 --> 01:12:02,040
And for as long as this silent sentinel
stands guard over the lion's realm,
764
01:12:02,080 --> 01:12:05,760
so long shall the king of beasts
play out his role unchallenged
765
01:12:05,840 --> 01:12:08,720
in the primitive pageant
of nature's Africa.
67061
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