All language subtitles for Africas.Hidden.Wonders.S01E02.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DD5.1.H.264-NTb

The mountains of Ethiopia

cradle life
found nowhere else on Earth.

These Ethiopian wolves

are some of the rarest
predators in the world.

Making their home 3,000 meters
above sea level.

Where winter temperatures
routinely dip below freezing.

Despite living in Africa,

these wolves start their day
surrounded by frost.

The pack is led
by a dominant female.

This year she has given birth to six pups.

She has exclusive breeding rights.

But she needs the help
of the entire pack

to raise them in this desolate land.

They set off.

Leaving the matriarch behind
to care for her young.

The hunting party must band together,

to ensure the entire pack
survive the winter months.

While their American cousins

work together to bring down
caribou or moose,

there's no large prey to be found here.

They've adapted
their hunting strategy.

Each wolf hunts alone,

and brings their their kill
back to the den.

Their territory is roughly
13 square kilometers.

Splitting the pack increases
their chance of finding prey.

This mole rat makes the perfect meal,

but will disappear underground
at the first sign of danger.

Barely any cover for the wolf.

Creeping closer.

Inch by inch.

No luck this time!

But this isn't
his only opportunity.

Tens of thousands of rats
live in the wolves' territory.

Another target.

The pups depend on him.

He cannot fail.

His stealth pays off.

The successful hunter returns
to the den with dinner.

Regurgitating his catch for
the matriarch and her young.

Little and often,

this food will help the pups
grow over the next six months

until they can hunt for themselves...

and help the pack raise
the next generation

of Ethiopian wolves.

Adapting to their environment,
the wolves have made their home

in Ethiopia's
north-western highlands,

in an ancient mountain range
know as the Simien Mountains.

Covered in archaic forests,

misty peaks and deep gorges.

These highlands are an important
refuge for many species.

Including another mammal
found only in Ethiopia.

As the sun rises over
the jagged landscape,

gelada baboons search for food.

This trek to the high mountain meadows

is a daily routine for every
member of the troop.

Living 5,000 meters above sea level,

their thick hair protects them
from the high winds.

They may look fearsome,
but these baboons

won't be looking for meat
on the plateau.

They spend their day
feeding on grass.

Geladas are the only primates
in the world

that are primarily grazers,

picking the blades and seeds
of mountain grasses.

But the lack of calories in grass

means they spend up
to ten hours a day feeding.

And the troop are well
adapted to this lifestyle.

Highly opposable thumbs
and finely tuned fingers

pluck the blades with ease,

and their fatty sitting pads

provide comfort while they feed.

With such an abundant food supply,

they can afford to be picky eaters,

choosing the freshest grass

to maximize their nutritional intake.

These juveniles have already
mastered the art of grazing,

but like all toddlers,
the younger baboons

can't sit still for long.

Eventually, they too get hungry.

So this little one follows
his mother's lead.

Just two weeks old,
he's already practicing how to graze.

Relying on this widely available food

allows the gelada
to form immense troops...

reaching over 1,000 individuals.

Among the largest groups
observed of any primate.

Living together has its benefits.

Providing safety
from leopards and hyenas.

But competition for breeding rights
can be stressful.

Dozens of reproductive units
make up the gelada troop.

Each containing a single male
and group of females.

With so many partners,

it doesn't take much
for fights to break out.

These young females
are battling over their mate.

It's a vicious confrontation.

The rest of the troop watch on
as they approach the cliff edge

When you're this high up,

one missed step
could end in disaster.

Life on the edge
provides safety from predators

for Ethiopia's gelada baboons.

But the vertical cliffs
also bring danger.

Falling from this height is fatal.

The demise of one
of the mountain's monkeys

has already
attracted scavengers.

Lappet-faced and griffon vultures
are quick to feed on the remains.

The commotion catches the attention
of another free-loader.

The lammergeier.

With a wingspan of
over three meters,

it's one of the world's
largest birds of prey.

The vultures are no match
for this aerial giant,

and make a hasty retreat.

The carcass is stripped clean,

but the lammergeier's banquet
is just beginning.

They are the only creatures
on the planet

that live almost entirely
on bone marrow.

A highly acidic stomach
enables him to break down bones

in less than 24 hours.

But some fragments
are too large to swallow.

Fortunately, lammergeiers have
found an effective technique

to break up the oversized pieces.

Reaching 150 meters...

little withstands a drop
from this height.

Eventually, the bones are
broken into smaller pieces...

and he can swallow
the marrow-filled fragments.

The voracious vulture keeps on feeding

until there's nothing left.

One of Africa's defining
geological features

A 30-million year old gorge
stretching over 5,000 kilometers

from Mozambique through Ethiopia.

Forest-clad mountains,

ancient peaks...

and mineral-rich rivers

surround the ever-changing fissure,

making it one of Africa's most
biologically diverse regions.

While it boasts some truly
majestic creatures...

the valley is also home
to an animal

that's not so easy on the eyes.

The warthog.

It won't win
any beauty contests,

but this wild pig of Africa
is a hardy little survivor,

living in areas without water
for several months.

And part of this
comes down to the diet.

Tubers and bulbs store moisture,

but these caches of energy

are hidden deep
beneath the hard soil.

So it takes determination,
and dexterity, to unearth them.

Fortunately, the warthog
is custom equipped

with a specialized digging tool

that also functions as a nose.

With nostrils this large,

it has no trouble sniffing out
food hidden deep underground.

And its hardened snout is perfect
for shoveling through the soil.

But weighing over 110 kilograms,
it's back-breaking work.

So the warthog has a trick to compensate
for its larger body shape.

Calloused pads on their front knees
develop at an early age.

So warthogs can start feeding like this
the moment they've been weaned.

This male has had his fill for the day.

Now he's in the mood for romance.

His rhythmic chant
makes his intentions known.

He's persistent.

The warthog's efforts pay off.

But a rival male
doesn't like what he sees.

The challenger is thwarted.

But she's no longer in the mood.

He'll have to bide his time
until the next opportunity.

Ethiopia is home to almost
1,000 species of birds,

of all shapes and sizes.

But there's one
that dwarfs them all.

Standing two meters tall,

the ostrich towers
over the scrubland plants.

But it isn't just their size
that makes them unique.

Ostriches are the only birds
in the world with two toes.

Their largest toe
carries their weight,

reaching up to 150 kilograms

While the smaller toe
helps keep balance.

They look intimidating,

but ostriches are mainly herbivorous,

feeding on plants, roots, seeds,

and the occasional insect.

They swallow their food whole,

including stones which help
grind their food in the gizzard.

But that can be a painful process
when your neck is a meter long.

Their necks seem cumbersome,

but it's the only way they can
reach their food below.

And the offer a lofty vantage point
to view their surroundings.

An ostrich's eyesight
and hearing is so acute,

they can sense predators from
over a kilometer and a half away.

They know there's
trouble approaching.

A hyena wouldn't normally
attack a fully grown ostrich,

but going days without food
will make a hunter desperate.

A hungry hyena is a threat

to almost any animal in Ethiopia.

Evolution took away
the ostrich's flight,

so they rely on their powerful
legs to evade predators.

Reaching a speed
of 69 kilometers per hour...

they outrun the hyena.

The hunt for her
next meal continues.

And this fresh carcass

is exactly what
she's been looking for.

But she's got competition.

Lions can eat a quarter of their
own body weight in one sitting.

But there's still plenty to go around
after they've had their fill.

The scent of carrion
travels on the wind,

attracting scavengers
across the valley.

Vultures,

marabou storks,

jackals and hawks

all race to the feast.

Speed is essential.

The feeding frenzy doesn't last long

but the hyena still finds
something worth eating.

Her huge skull and powerful jaws
are designed to crush bone.

And strong stomach acid dissolves them
in a matter of hours.

While the other scavengers
have eaten all they can,

she is left with a feast.

And right now, she needs
as much as she can get.

Back at her den, two young pups
eagerly await their mother's return.

They haven't been fed all day,
but she's finally come home.

These pups were born
with a full set of teeth...

but are still suckling.

With so much calcium
from her bone-based diet,

she produces some
of the richest milk of all moms.

And will keep her pups nourished
until they're over a year old.

For other Rift Valley residents,

they have to learn fast or die young.

Hamadryas baboons rise from a night
spent high on the cliffs.

Perched 75 meters above the ground,

it's the perfect place to rest.

Far from the leopards and hyenas

that roam the land below.

The baboons will have to leave

the safety of the cliffs
to find their breakfast.

Top-ranking males lead
their harems down the rocks.

It's a precarious journey.

As they clamber closer
to the grassy plains,

they enter leopard territory.

The adults waste no time
in foraging for roots and berries.

Each male watches over his group,

making sure
they don't wander too far.

Danger can come
from any direction.

He knows how treacherous
the scrubland can be.

Hidden in the undergrowth,

a leopard makes its way
towards the troop.

Spotting the baboons,

it prepares to launch an attack.

The leopard prepares to ambush its prey,

but the Hamadryas male knows
they're being watched.

He raises the alarm.

The troop scramble back
to the safety of the cliffs.

The day's foraging
has been cut short.

But the older baboons know
it's better to be cautious today.

And live to feed again tomorrow.

Nestled further north,

in the foothills
of the Simien Mountains,

1,800 meters above sea level,

lies Lake Tana.

Covering nearly 4,000
square kilometers,

it's Ethiopia's largest lake.

Amidst the banks of papyrus,

strange shapes swing from the trees.

They've been created by
some of nature's finest engineers.

Male village weavers build

some of the most
intricate nests in the world.

It takes hard work,
dedication, and precision.

Moving strands for over
ten hours to complete a nest.

And it's all done
to impress the ladies.

The males with the most impressive nests
win their hearts.

And with so many suitors,
the females can be choosy.

They rate the nests on location

as well as size,
shape, and stability.

Our first bachelor has yet
to make a love connection.

He's only just started working
on the first few strands

And this female isn't impressed.

Bachelor number two hopes
to catch her eye.

This was his first attempt
at building a nest.

Not good enough.

There's only one way to respond.

He destroys it completely
and starts again.

The female moves on
to bachelor number three,

who's close to finishing his nest.

She likes what she sees,

but carries out a thorough inspection
before giving her answer.

It's a successful coupling.

These love birds
will now work together

to add the finishing
touches to the nest,

creating the perfect home
for their chicks.

Along Ethiopia's Rift,

the Earth's crust is being pulled apart

at a rate of half a centimeter
every year.

And the land is sinking.

Known as the Danakil Depression,

this desert is currently over
100 meters below sea level.

Acidic pools, sulphur springs,

geysers, and vast salt pans
make the Danakil

one of the most inhospitable
places on Earth.

With an average annual temperature
of 34 degrees Celsius,

it's one of the most extreme
climates on the planet.

Barely anything survives here.

But as night deepens
and temperatures plummet,

in the mountains
bordering the desert,

creatures roam the stony canyons.

A spiny mouse returns to her burrow
after an evening of foraging.

Her whole family live
underground together.

Their combined body heat keeps out
the cold desert night air.

To minimize competition for food,
they take turns leaving the burrow.

This mouse can relax
with a full belly of seeds,

leaves, and insects.

Her sister prepares for her own
foraging expedition.

With powerful hind legs
and a long tail for balance,

she's a master of the rocky terrain.

And her large, prominent eyes

are ideal for finding food in the dark.

Little escapes this hunter's notice.

But tonight, the hunter
could become the hunted.

The spiny mouse is well adapted

to foraging under cover of darkness,

but she's caught the attention
of an owl,

an expert nocturnal hunter.

Fortunately,
she's prepared for the worst.

Her skin is brittle and easily torn,

so she can shed large patches
of skin and fur when caught,

helping her escape from predators.

Spiny mice are the only mammals
known to use this technique.

Her wounds heal much faster
than other mice,

re-growing hair, skin, and even
sweat glands with no scarring.

And her final defense strategy

is what earns her the name
"spiny mouse."

She's covered in small, sharp hairs
similar to those on a hedgehog.

They're difficult to swallow,

and extremely irritating
to the throat of a predator.

Perhaps the spiny mouse
isn't worth the trouble after all.

Along the southern border of Ethiopia...

lies an unexpected Eden.

Lake Turkana.

The world's largest
permanent desert lake.

It's a crucial resource.

Supporting remarkable biodiversity...

in a parched and unforgiving land.

The break of dawn
is the best time to feed

for many animals around the lake.

And that includes
the East African oryx.

Many of the plants they feed on
collect dew overnight,

increasing their water content
by up to 40%.

As the day heats up,
oryx body temperatures

can rise as high as 45 degrees Celsius.

Their tolerance to warmer
temperatures reduces sweating,

and helps conserve water
during the heat of the day.

But even these extreme heat specialists
need a break from the beating sun.

There's room for the whole
family in the shade.

But the heat isn't
their only concern.

Biting insects are
a never-ending nuisance.

Thankfully, oxpeckers
live up to their name,

never turning down a free meal.

They hitch a ride on whatever
mammals they can find,

targeting ticks and other small
parasites found in the fur.

And even the newborn calves
get a grooming session.

But not everyone wants to relax.

It's the breeding season,

and this young bachelor
has his eyes on the females.

First, he must dethrone
the dominant male.

Victory will ensure
his bloodline continues.

The defending male
meets the challenger.

As the patriarch,
he faces constant competition.

Both oryx have horns reaching
over a meter in length,

which can be lethal weapons
in a fight.

There can only be one victor.

This young oryx bachelor

is determined to
overthrow the alpha male

and earn the right to breed.

They appear evenly matched.

The challenger is quickly chased off.

This patriarch is still in charge.

In Southern Ethiopia,

another antelope
embraces the dry scrublands.

This gerenuk is after
the succulent shoots and leaves

found on the upper branches.

With her long neck

and the ability to stand
straight on her hind legs,

she is perfectly adapted
to reach them.

But she must keep her wits about her.

With dense cover and plenty of shade,

the vegetation is ideal
for ambush predators.

Her large eyes and ears are designed
to spot potential threats.

But leopards are masters
of camouflage.

Hidden high up in the trees,

the hunter scans
her surroundings for prey.

This gerenuk is foraging alone,

which reduces competition for food

but makes her
more susceptible to attack.

As night draws in,
the leopard strikes.

The gerenuk stood little chance
against such a formidable predator.

But the leopard hasn't won her prize yet.

These cats lose one out of five kills
to other predators.

She has a plan.

For their size,

leopards are the most powerful
of the big cats.

She has no trouble dragging her
kill safely up the tree.

This is one meal

she'll be able to enjoy away
from scavenging jaws.

As the leopard settles down
with her kill,

another resident begins to stir.

This African pygmy hedgehog
is on the hunt.

She can cover several
kilometers of scrubland,

foraging in a single night.

But not only to satisfy
her own appetite.

She has two young mouths
to feed in her burrow.

She kept her pups safely underground
for over a month.

With two suckling youngsters,
she works tirelessly.

But now they're preparing
for a whole new way of life.

These are their first steps
above ground.

For the next ten days,
their mother will guide them.

Until they too become master foragers.

Elsewhere in the scrubland,

a mature male is also on the hunt.

But not for food.

He knows other hedgehogs
are nearby

and is determined to find a mate.

No sign of a female,

only some droppings.

She can't be far away.

But instead of looking for
the hedgehog responsible,

he tucks in.

Mixing the feces
and surrounding soil

with his own saliva,

the male creates a foam
and spreads it over his spines

until he's covered
in the aromatic substance.

This unusual behavior
is known as anointing.

Believed to help present
an enticing perfume

to potential mates.

His fresh aroma is a success.

Before long, there will be
a whole new generation

of hedgehogs roaming
the scrublands of Ethiopia.