Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,633 --> 00:00:03,233
Narrator: Africa.
2
00:00:03,266 --> 00:00:06,926
A land sculpted by time.
3
00:00:07,667 --> 00:00:09,897
A continent that defines some of the
4
00:00:09,934 --> 00:00:13,734
world's deadliest predators.
5
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,700
These creatures specialize in different
6
00:00:16,734 --> 00:00:19,534
hunting strategies.
7
00:00:19,567 --> 00:00:21,497
They are the masters of stealth,
8
00:00:21,533 --> 00:00:24,373
speed and disguise.
9
00:00:24,967 --> 00:00:27,427
Equipped with enhanced senses and deadly
10
00:00:27,467 --> 00:00:33,697
techniques, immense power and agility,
11
00:00:33,734 --> 00:00:39,234
silence and cunning, deception and
12
00:00:39,266 --> 00:00:41,566
camouflage.
13
00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,030
All these predators have one intention,
14
00:00:45,767 --> 00:00:48,327
to kill.
15
00:00:48,367 --> 00:00:51,167
Prey does not stand a chance against
16
00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,530
Africa's Deadliest.
17
00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:20,066
There was an era when the skies burned red.
18
00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:26,700
But time heals all wounds and life prevailed.
19
00:01:34,967 --> 00:01:39,097
This is one of the oldest ecosystems on Earth.
20
00:01:45,066 --> 00:01:47,126
A habitat barely touched for the past
21
00:01:47,166 --> 00:01:50,166
million years.
22
00:01:52,934 --> 00:01:56,604
This is the Serengeti.
23
00:02:02,834 --> 00:02:06,104
Now these flat, endless grasslands nurture its
24
00:02:06,133 --> 00:02:08,903
inhabitants and have became the ideal
25
00:02:08,934 --> 00:02:12,734
hunting ground for the world's fastest land
26
00:02:12,767 --> 00:02:15,167
mammal.
27
00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,530
A wild hunter once tamed by Egyptian
28
00:02:17,567 --> 00:02:18,617
pharaohs.
29
00:02:23,066 --> 00:02:25,666
The cheetah.
30
00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,700
To thrive on these open plains,
31
00:02:29,734 --> 00:02:32,834
this solitary feline has developed some very
32
00:02:32,867 --> 00:02:35,897
special adaptations.
33
00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:40,065
Like most cats, the cheetah has
34
00:02:40,066 --> 00:02:43,326
sophisticated senses and its dappled coat
35
00:02:43,367 --> 00:02:46,727
provides adequate camouflage.
36
00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:50,065
But it does not rely only on stealth to
37
00:02:50,066 --> 00:02:56,096
hunt; it wants its prey to run.
38
00:02:58,614 --> 00:03:02,265
The cheetah's body is lightweight and
39
00:03:02,266 --> 00:03:05,466
aerodynamic.
40
00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:07,830
The cheetah's hard, ridged foot pads
41
00:03:07,867 --> 00:03:11,065
brandish blunt semi retractable claws,
42
00:03:11,066 --> 00:03:12,986
to maximize traction in its high speed
43
00:03:13,066 --> 00:03:15,366
pursuits.
44
00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,730
Because this vast open landscape has also
45
00:03:18,767 --> 00:03:21,527
sculpted the prey, to be fast,
46
00:03:21,567 --> 00:03:25,297
nimble and light footed.
47
00:03:25,333 --> 00:03:27,333
But the cheetah is specialized in one
48
00:03:27,367 --> 00:03:31,527
thing, speed.
49
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,430
The cheetah's powerful heart drives fresh
50
00:03:38,467 --> 00:03:42,427
oxygen through its body.
51
00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:51,097
Its flexible spine and unique muscles catapult
52
00:03:51,133 --> 00:03:56,103
the cheetah in bounds of up to 25 feet.
53
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,700
It's long tail works like a rudder providing
54
00:04:02,734 --> 00:04:05,334
crucial stability as it twists and turns at
55
00:04:05,367 --> 00:04:09,427
speeds of up to 70mph.
56
00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:46,065
Each year the cheetah is tested with a
57
00:04:46,066 --> 00:04:48,226
challenge to hunt an animal three
58
00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:52,166
times its size.
59
00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,800
Wildebeest and zebra in the thousands carve up
60
00:04:59,834 --> 00:05:02,134
the dust covered plains,
61
00:05:02,166 --> 00:05:05,496
in the pursuit of nourishment.
62
00:05:24,066 --> 00:05:27,166
These wild beasts boast an incredibly strong
63
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,470
and powerful front and wield sharp,
64
00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:33,570
menacing horns.
65
00:05:35,266 --> 00:05:38,166
The cheetah's slender frame is no match for
66
00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,730
confrontation.
67
00:05:46,066 --> 00:05:48,426
The immense herds offer great support and
68
00:05:48,467 --> 00:05:51,427
protection for the hordes of young calves
69
00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:56,067
that accompany the migration.
70
00:05:59,633 --> 00:06:02,133
The cheetah's only chance of success
71
00:06:02,166 --> 00:06:05,296
is a chase.
72
00:06:27,667 --> 00:06:30,597
The sudden chaos splinters the herds,
73
00:06:30,633 --> 00:06:34,073
separating mothers and calves.
74
00:06:36,166 --> 00:06:39,626
The hunter accelerates up to 60mph in less
75
00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:43,297
than 3 seconds.
76
00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,300
The young wildebeest is so breathless,
77
00:07:35,333 --> 00:07:37,703
that despite the cheetah's small teeth
78
00:07:37,734 --> 00:07:40,174
it crushes the wildebeest's windpipe
79
00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,830
without a struggle.
80
00:07:44,066 --> 00:07:49,926
However, this gift of speed comes at a price.
81
00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,770
This incredible acceleration puts
82
00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,470
serious strain on the cheetah's heart,
83
00:07:56,500 --> 00:07:58,830
increasing its body temperature close to
84
00:07:58,867 --> 00:08:01,297
brain damage.
85
00:08:01,333 --> 00:08:05,973
It must rest before it can feed.
86
00:08:06,066 --> 00:08:08,096
But total exhaustion along with its
87
00:08:08,133 --> 00:08:11,065
inability to fight, makes the cheetah and
88
00:08:11,066 --> 00:08:14,065
its kill highly vulnerable to attack
89
00:08:14,066 --> 00:08:16,966
from larger, more aggressive predators
90
00:08:17,066 --> 00:08:20,626
that shadow the migration.
91
00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:23,667
Lions.
92
00:08:42,066 --> 00:08:44,896
Unlike the cheetah, lions are not built for
93
00:08:44,934 --> 00:08:48,274
a long distance chase.
94
00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,070
Their powerful, muscular frames and
95
00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:56,530
relatively small hearts restrict their speed to
96
00:08:56,567 --> 00:09:01,497
only 36 mph.
97
00:09:24,233 --> 00:09:26,373
The lions are not limited to the size of
98
00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,070
their prey, but they need to adopt a
99
00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:32,370
different line of attack.
100
00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,830
This tall grass savannah provides
101
00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:38,797
the perfect cover for an ambush.
102
00:09:40,633 --> 00:09:42,833
Accompanying the wildebeest migration
103
00:09:42,867 --> 00:09:46,397
are thousands of zebra.
104
00:09:46,867 --> 00:09:49,797
Zebra are bigger and faster than lions and
105
00:09:49,834 --> 00:09:53,904
wield a savage kick, so powerful it can break
106
00:09:53,934 --> 00:09:57,904
bone and even kill.
107
00:09:57,934 --> 00:10:01,234
They are a prey that even the King of beasts
108
00:10:01,266 --> 00:10:04,966
cannot underestimate.
109
00:10:18,934 --> 00:10:22,774
So, what the lions lack in speed they make up
110
00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,100
for in stealth and numbers.
111
00:10:27,133 --> 00:10:29,503
Exploiting their environment to ambush
112
00:10:29,533 --> 00:10:32,933
the zebra.
113
00:10:34,266 --> 00:10:37,396
The lion's cushioned pads allow near silent
114
00:10:37,433 --> 00:10:39,673
movement.
115
00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:43,000
Yet hidden within are razor sharp claws that
116
00:10:43,033 --> 00:10:47,133
can slice through flesh.
117
00:11:36,066 --> 00:11:39,126
The lions begin to surround the herds.
118
00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,970
Narrator: Hidden in the tall savannah grass,
119
00:11:50,066 --> 00:11:52,766
the lions tasseled tails signal unspoken
120
00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,670
instructions to the other members of
121
00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:58,470
the pride to move into position.
122
00:12:06,934 --> 00:12:09,074
The hunters fan out in a line,
123
00:12:09,100 --> 00:12:13,170
utilizing every inch of cover.
124
00:12:22,133 --> 00:12:26,373
The chasers at either end, advance faster,
125
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,700
leaving behind the others to block
126
00:12:28,734 --> 00:12:31,534
the zebra's escape route.
127
00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:43,273
The trap is set.
128
00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:57,200
The lions hold their positions.
129
00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:03,897
In an ambush, timing is everything.
130
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,970
The chasers erupt from hiding,
131
00:13:08,066 --> 00:13:12,066
spreading a wave of panic through the herd.
132
00:13:17,500 --> 00:13:19,730
The lioness's channel the fleeing zebra
133
00:13:19,767 --> 00:13:23,967
towards the awaiting pride.
134
00:13:36,166 --> 00:13:38,766
The lion can deliver a blow powerful enough to
135
00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,330
break a zebra's back.
136
00:14:18,533 --> 00:14:21,573
Its fangs are perfectly aligned to slip between
137
00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,600
the zebra's cervical vertebrae severing its
138
00:14:24,633 --> 00:14:27,503
spinal cord.
139
00:14:38,061 --> 00:14:42,132
The remaining herds have no choice but to
140
00:14:42,133 --> 00:14:44,633
leave the fallen and continue on their
141
00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:48,197
perilous journey.
142
00:14:48,967 --> 00:14:51,897
Many predators lay in wait but one of the
143
00:14:51,934 --> 00:14:56,404
deadliest is still to come.
144
00:14:56,405 --> 00:14:59,099
Beyond these endless plains,
145
00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:03,170
a channel has carved through the hardened Earth.
146
00:15:03,667 --> 00:15:08,497
A channel that gives life and also takes it.
147
00:15:08,533 --> 00:15:11,333
These murky waters conceal one of Africa's
148
00:15:11,367 --> 00:15:14,327
most feared reptiles.
149
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,970
A cold blooded predator so supremely adapted to
150
00:15:23,066 --> 00:15:26,666
its habitat it has barely changed over 65
151
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:29,230
million years.
152
00:15:31,100 --> 00:15:35,270
The Nile crocodile.
153
00:15:35,834 --> 00:15:38,204
Crocodiles are explosively fast,
154
00:15:38,205 --> 00:15:39,799
but with limited stamina compared to
155
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,065
lions and cheetah; these reptilian giants
156
00:15:43,066 --> 00:15:45,196
have evolved to get within inches of their
157
00:15:45,233 --> 00:15:49,433
prey completely undetected.
158
00:15:56,767 --> 00:15:59,897
On land, this aquatic killer is slow and
159
00:15:59,934 --> 00:16:03,274
awkward but it ventures out of the depths to
160
00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:06,130
recharge.
161
00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:09,533
The crocodile's armor plated scales also act
162
00:16:09,567 --> 00:16:14,397
as solar panels, absorbing the sun's rays.
163
00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:20,530
A web of capillaries carries the warmed
164
00:16:20,567 --> 00:16:23,267
blood to the crocodile's core,
165
00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:26,230
activating its systems.
166
00:16:30,333 --> 00:16:32,873
The crocodile's eyesight sharpens and
167
00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:36,070
its hearing tunes in to the thunderous sound of
168
00:16:36,100 --> 00:16:39,230
approaching hooves.
169
00:16:57,967 --> 00:17:01,227
Reenergized, it is time to return to its
170
00:17:01,266 --> 00:17:04,466
hunting grounds.
171
00:17:09,734 --> 00:17:12,074
Their short, muscular limbs streamline
172
00:17:12,100 --> 00:17:14,800
against their body.
173
00:17:19,867 --> 00:17:22,767
Their eyes, ears and nostrils lie along
174
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,630
the top of their head, allowing the crocodile
175
00:17:25,667 --> 00:17:29,467
to conceal a body that can reach 20 ft in length
176
00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:31,830
and weigh up to a ton,
177
00:17:31,867 --> 00:17:35,967
in water only a foot deep.
178
00:17:40,594 --> 00:17:44,332
As the thirsty herds creep to the water's
179
00:17:44,333 --> 00:17:49,773
edge, the crocodiles drop below radar.
180
00:17:55,433 --> 00:17:58,273
Sensory cells along the side of their jaw,
181
00:17:58,300 --> 00:18:00,800
allow the crocodiles to detect the slightest
182
00:18:00,834 --> 00:18:03,974
disturbance.
183
00:18:05,066 --> 00:18:07,666
To remain hidden, the crocodile closes the
184
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:10,070
valve to its four chambered heart
185
00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:13,070
supplying just enough oxygenated blood to
186
00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:17,300
keep its vital organs running.
187
00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:20,570
An eerie stillness floats over the water.
188
00:18:32,421 --> 00:18:36,099
Narrator: Submerged just inches below
189
00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:41,400
the surface, a cold blooded killer awaits.
190
00:18:41,967 --> 00:18:47,167
The wildebeest are now staring death in the face.
191
00:19:40,767 --> 00:19:44,427
Over 2500 lbs of bite force snaps shut onto
192
00:19:44,467 --> 00:19:47,397
any available limb.
193
00:19:57,500 --> 00:20:01,170
Once clamped in these merciless jaws,
194
00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,930
little escapes.
195
00:20:28,633 --> 00:20:30,673
This prehistoric predator may not have
196
00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,170
changed for millennia, but the same can't be
197
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,200
said about Africa's waterways.
198
00:20:41,967 --> 00:20:44,597
As the Earth moved, the rivers changed their
199
00:20:44,633 --> 00:20:47,603
flow.
200
00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:52,770
From thunderous falls.
201
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,930
To placid lakes.
202
00:21:01,567 --> 00:21:04,827
Water brought with it new life.
203
00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:09,970
And deserts became deltas.
204
00:21:13,367 --> 00:21:16,227
This is the Okavango.
205
00:21:23,834 --> 00:21:26,504
This water world is the hunting ground for a
206
00:21:26,533 --> 00:21:31,873
predator so deadly it feasts on its own kind.
207
00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,330
A predator that dissolves it's victims
208
00:21:36,367 --> 00:21:39,627
from the inside.
209
00:21:42,066 --> 00:21:45,266
The Fishing Spider.
210
00:21:46,066 --> 00:21:48,066
They lurk along the water's edge,
211
00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:49,800
on the lookout for insects,
212
00:21:49,834 --> 00:21:52,774
frogs and fish.
213
00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,470
This cunning predator has an incredible
214
00:21:55,500 --> 00:21:58,530
ability.
215
00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:01,970
Unlike most spiders it is not restricted to
216
00:22:02,066 --> 00:22:05,066
hunting just on land.
217
00:22:07,066 --> 00:22:11,766
This spider is able to walk on water.
218
00:22:14,266 --> 00:22:16,326
They do so by taking advantage of the
219
00:22:16,367 --> 00:22:19,597
water's surface tension.
220
00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:22,366
The water molecules cohesive attraction,
221
00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,600
acts like a thin film.
222
00:22:28,233 --> 00:22:30,573
These spiders weigh less than an ounce and
223
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,930
their long legs retain a waxy coating that
224
00:22:33,967 --> 00:22:36,497
helps repel water.
225
00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,830
While minute brushes of hair on the end of
226
00:22:42,867 --> 00:22:46,367
their legs help spread their weight.
227
00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:53,867
In addition, these featherweight predators
228
00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:56,700
use their legs to row themselves across the
229
00:22:56,734 --> 00:22:58,734
water.
230
00:22:58,767 --> 00:23:01,827
Once afloat, the spider hunts for fish swimming
231
00:23:01,867 --> 00:23:04,297
near the surface.
232
00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:09,100
But out here the predator can too easily
233
00:23:09,133 --> 00:23:12,073
become the prey.
234
00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:15,130
Lurking beneath, many larger fish relish the
235
00:23:15,166 --> 00:23:18,296
opportunity for an easy meal.
236
00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:21,770
To evade predation, these spiders can
237
00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,500
gallop across the water's surface at up
238
00:23:24,533 --> 00:23:27,903
to three feet per second.
239
00:23:29,066 --> 00:23:34,696
When hunting, the water becomes its web.
240
00:23:35,333 --> 00:23:37,403
The fishing Spider baits its prey by
241
00:23:37,433 --> 00:23:41,233
tapping the surface to imitate an insect.
242
00:23:44,734 --> 00:23:47,374
They can accurately pinpoint fish up to 7
243
00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,070
inches away.
244
00:23:51,667 --> 00:23:55,767
When in range, the spider strikes.
245
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,400
It pierces through the surface with its fangs,
246
00:24:09,433 --> 00:24:12,803
and injects venom into its prey.
247
00:24:13,433 --> 00:24:16,903
The digestive enzymes begin straight away,
248
00:24:16,934 --> 00:24:20,104
melting the victim's insides.
249
00:24:23,934 --> 00:24:26,704
The spider then drags itself and its prey
250
00:24:26,734 --> 00:24:30,734
back to dry land to feast.
251
00:24:33,667 --> 00:24:37,065
Incredibly, these spiders can catch fish
252
00:24:37,066 --> 00:24:39,065
nearly five times heavier than
253
00:24:39,066 --> 00:24:41,666
themselves.
254
00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:45,970
Every last drop is consumed.
255
00:24:47,567 --> 00:24:49,797
Fishing spiders have a very high metabolic
256
00:24:49,834 --> 00:24:53,934
rate for spiders, and need to feed often.
257
00:24:57,066 --> 00:25:01,065
But each attempt away from the shore could be
258
00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:03,326
their last.
259
00:25:26,094 --> 00:25:29,399
Narrator: The surface can be a dangerous
260
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:34,170
place, for prey and predators alike.
261
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:37,433
These waterways are patrolled by
262
00:25:37,467 --> 00:25:40,367
an aerial killer.
263
00:25:46,467 --> 00:25:49,827
The African fish eagle.
264
00:25:53,066 --> 00:25:57,065
This large, aerial predator is so deadly
265
00:25:57,066 --> 00:25:59,466
it spends as little as 10 minutes a day
266
00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:02,300
actively hunting, spending more time
267
00:26:02,333 --> 00:26:05,533
perched than flying.
268
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:09,270
High up in the tree tops,
269
00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:11,770
out of sight the Fish eagle scans the
270
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:15,230
waterways for prey.
271
00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:19,065
All eagles are renowned for their excellent
272
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:23,466
eyesight, and the fish eagle is no exception.
273
00:26:23,967 --> 00:26:25,967
Their two centers of focus,
274
00:26:26,066 --> 00:26:29,596
allow the bird to see both forward and to the
275
00:26:29,633 --> 00:26:33,133
side at the same time.
276
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,330
The fish eagle's sight is around five times
277
00:26:37,367 --> 00:26:40,065
sharper than that of a person with perfect
278
00:26:40,066 --> 00:26:43,426
vision, allowing them to detect fish from
279
00:26:43,467 --> 00:26:47,127
several hundred feet away.
280
00:26:47,734 --> 00:26:49,704
This is an ideal height,
281
00:26:49,734 --> 00:26:54,104
to plan its aerial attack.
282
00:26:57,633 --> 00:27:00,333
Unraveling its 8 ft wing span,
283
00:27:00,367 --> 00:27:03,897
the eagle begins its approach.
284
00:27:09,967 --> 00:27:12,427
Its tail feathers work like a rudder to
285
00:27:12,467 --> 00:27:16,297
stabilize the eagle in flight.
286
00:27:21,767 --> 00:27:24,197
It dives into a shallow glide,
287
00:27:24,233 --> 00:27:28,833
low and fast over the water.
288
00:28:11,333 --> 00:28:14,903
The bird, now heavier, arches up sharply to
289
00:28:14,934 --> 00:28:19,434
get lift and compensate for the extra weight.
290
00:28:26,333 --> 00:28:30,933
The eagle must eat quickly.
291
00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:33,200
Away from the safety of the trees,
292
00:28:33,233 --> 00:28:35,603
it is exposed and vulnerable to other
293
00:28:35,633 --> 00:28:38,803
predators.
294
00:28:48,333 --> 00:28:51,403
With plenty of water, the habitats grew,
295
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:55,633
vegetation evolved from grass to trees.
296
00:28:57,133 --> 00:28:59,173
And just beyond the wetlands,
297
00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,130
the forest took hold.
298
00:29:02,166 --> 00:29:05,096
Many a creature has entered its borders,
299
00:29:05,133 --> 00:29:08,433
never to return.
300
00:29:09,700 --> 00:29:11,730
Hidden within the canopy,
301
00:29:11,767 --> 00:29:13,967
camouflaged behind leaves,
302
00:29:14,066 --> 00:29:18,896
a pair of watchful eyes scans the forest floor.
303
00:29:20,233 --> 00:29:22,503
This is the hunting ground for one of
304
00:29:22,533 --> 00:29:27,073
Africa's most cunning wild cats.
305
00:29:29,867 --> 00:29:32,467
The expansive labyrinth of woodland has evolved
306
00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:35,200
a predator perfectly tailored for stealth
307
00:29:35,233 --> 00:29:37,973
and stalking.
308
00:29:38,066 --> 00:29:40,726
The leopard.
309
00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:45,065
Without the speed of a cheetah or the support
310
00:29:45,066 --> 00:29:50,066
of a pride, the leopard hunts alone.
311
00:29:52,100 --> 00:29:54,600
Its specialized senses and anatomy make it the
312
00:29:54,633 --> 00:29:59,333
quintessential ambush and stalking predator.
313
00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:02,930
The leopards' coloration is
314
00:30:02,967 --> 00:30:05,827
extremely effective.
315
00:30:05,867 --> 00:30:08,427
Its tawny coat is covered with dark,
316
00:30:08,467 --> 00:30:11,467
irregular circles called rosettes that
317
00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:15,930
break up its outline in the thick vegetation.
318
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,070
The leopard all but disappears into its
319
00:30:20,100 --> 00:30:22,930
surroundings.
320
00:30:26,100 --> 00:30:28,500
Ears attuned to the multitude of sounds
321
00:30:28,533 --> 00:30:30,503
that drift through the wood.
322
00:30:30,533 --> 00:30:33,233
The leopard has incredible hearing,
323
00:30:33,266 --> 00:30:37,696
five times better than the average human.
324
00:30:41,834 --> 00:30:44,974
Leopards are one third the size of lions,
325
00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:46,870
but what they lack in size,
326
00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:51,100
they make up for in strength and agility.
327
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,370
They are able to leap 20 feet in one bound
328
00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:02,370
and jump 10 feet off the ground.
329
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,070
This stealth predator is exceptionally
330
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:08,600
strong, capable of dragging prey,
331
00:31:08,633 --> 00:31:10,973
twice their own weight, vertically up
332
00:31:11,066 --> 00:31:14,766
50 foot trees.
333
00:31:15,166 --> 00:31:18,526
The leopard also uses these elevated hideouts
334
00:31:18,567 --> 00:31:21,967
as lookout posts for prey.
335
00:31:22,066 --> 00:31:24,296
So when it spots a herd of gazelle on the
336
00:31:24,333 --> 00:31:29,273
woodland borders, the hunt is on.
337
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,100
Adapted for the open plains,
338
00:31:34,133 --> 00:31:38,873
the gazelle are fast, agile and athletic.
339
00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:42,400
So to avoid a chase the leopard must get within
340
00:31:42,433 --> 00:31:47,073
yards, completely undetected.
341
00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,870
The leopard shadows the herd,
342
00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:18,100
moving when they move.
343
00:32:30,233 --> 00:32:32,303
The gazelle are exceptionally alert to
344
00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:36,103
sounds and movements, and support in numbers,
345
00:32:36,133 --> 00:32:39,073
mean more eyes and ears to detect approaching
346
00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:42,370
threats.
347
00:32:46,834 --> 00:32:53,374
Every movement is slow, silent and calculated.
348
00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:02,730
It makes clever use of any available cover,
349
00:33:02,767 --> 00:33:04,727
crouching motionless if detected.
350
00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:16,300
Narrator: The leopard creeps towards the herd.
351
00:33:59,066 --> 00:34:02,296
Its strong jaw muscles and canine teeth
352
00:34:02,333 --> 00:34:04,633
deliver a killing bite.
353
00:34:07,567 --> 00:34:10,527
Normally hunting under the cover of darkness,
354
00:34:10,567 --> 00:34:13,497
the leopard must be quick and quiet,
355
00:34:13,533 --> 00:34:17,203
so as not to attract any unwanted attention.
356
00:34:17,567 --> 00:34:21,527
Scavengers are everywhere.
357
00:34:30,867 --> 00:34:34,427
The safest place is up.
358
00:34:38,166 --> 00:34:42,626
Out of sight from hungry eyes.
359
00:34:51,233 --> 00:34:53,673
The trees branches are a refuge for both
360
00:34:53,700 --> 00:34:57,065
predators and prey, but not all is what it
361
00:34:57,066 --> 00:35:00,566
seems in Africa's woodlands.
362
00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:06,600
Here, the trees really do have eyes.
363
00:35:07,066 --> 00:35:10,196
What appears to be a branch is in fact one
364
00:35:10,233 --> 00:35:13,073
of Africa's deadliest.
365
00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,900
The Vine Snake.
366
00:35:18,834 --> 00:35:21,134
This venomous predator possesses such
367
00:35:21,166 --> 00:35:24,566
incredible cryptic coloration it is a
368
00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,970
master of deception.
369
00:35:28,367 --> 00:35:30,967
It's long, slender, bark colored body
370
00:35:31,066 --> 00:35:33,796
allows it to blend perfectly into its
371
00:35:33,834 --> 00:35:36,634
forest habitat.
372
00:35:38,633 --> 00:35:40,803
But the vine snake isn't just camouflaged
373
00:35:40,834 --> 00:35:43,274
to look like a branch.
374
00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:46,830
It acts like one as well.
375
00:35:47,367 --> 00:35:50,127
The vine snake can freeze its body,
376
00:35:50,166 --> 00:35:53,766
rocking back and forth, to imitate a branch
377
00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:57,700
swaying softly in the wind.
378
00:35:59,066 --> 00:36:02,196
This deadly act further deceives prey into
379
00:36:02,233 --> 00:36:06,733
thinking that it's just part of the tree.
380
00:36:08,300 --> 00:36:12,370
The snake also boasts 3D stereoscopic vision,
381
00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:16,630
through a unique keyhole shaped pupil.
382
00:36:16,667 --> 00:36:19,797
This allows them to spot prey standing
383
00:36:19,834 --> 00:36:24,834
completely still at significant distances.
384
00:36:40,847 --> 00:36:45,265
Creeping through the woodland branches the
385
00:36:45,266 --> 00:36:48,396
vine snake edges into position,
386
00:36:48,433 --> 00:36:52,273
above its victim.
387
00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,380
The vine snake strikes the lizard with a
388
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:08,330
deadly, blood destroying bite.
389
00:37:09,066 --> 00:37:11,226
It's fangs at the back of its mouth release a
390
00:37:11,266 --> 00:37:15,065
potent hematoxic venom.
391
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:17,766
The poison spreads through the lizard,
392
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,070
causing extensive internal bleeding.
393
00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:25,230
The bite has no antidote,
394
00:37:25,266 --> 00:37:29,396
and is even fatal to humans.
395
00:37:30,533 --> 00:37:33,803
Hanging from its lair, the snake proceeds to
396
00:37:33,834 --> 00:37:38,074
swallow the dying lizard whole.
397
00:37:49,533 --> 00:37:53,133
Beyond the woodland the vegetation receded and
398
00:37:53,166 --> 00:37:56,796
the winds dried.
399
00:37:58,533 --> 00:38:03,373
And when the water stopped, nothing grew.
400
00:38:14,066 --> 00:38:19,366
This is the oldest desert in the world,
401
00:38:19,767 --> 00:38:21,927
the Namib.
402
00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:32,500
Here, water and life is scarce and only the
403
00:38:32,533 --> 00:38:33,803
strongest survive.
404
00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:46,500
Narrator: With temperatures
reaching over 100 degrees
405
00:38:46,533 --> 00:38:48,173
many seek refuge from the
406
00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:50,500
searing heat.
407
00:38:51,500 --> 00:38:54,070
Hidden in the rocky outcrops,
408
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:58,270
a deadly predator lurks in the shadows.
409
00:38:59,367 --> 00:39:02,627
A killer that is uniquely suited as a
410
00:39:02,667 --> 00:39:05,397
desert predator.
411
00:39:08,100 --> 00:39:11,200
The Rock Scorpion.
412
00:39:11,233 --> 00:39:14,503
Over 400 million years has seen this large
413
00:39:14,533 --> 00:39:17,803
arachnid evolve an arsenal of special
414
00:39:17,834 --> 00:39:20,974
modifications.
415
00:39:25,066 --> 00:39:28,396
These scorpions are the longest on earth,
416
00:39:28,433 --> 00:39:31,273
yet their bodies are extremely flattened to
417
00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:35,800
enable them to squeeze into narrow cracks.
418
00:39:40,166 --> 00:39:42,896
While its tarsal claws hook to the rocks like
419
00:39:42,934 --> 00:39:45,704
a mountaineer's grappling iron.
420
00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,500
Its long, thin needle like stinger harbors
421
00:39:54,533 --> 00:39:58,473
two neurotoxic venom sacs.
422
00:40:02,233 --> 00:40:04,933
Yet their venom is among the weakest found
423
00:40:04,967 --> 00:40:08,567
in any species.
424
00:40:09,333 --> 00:40:14,203
So, its weak sting is traded for two powerful
425
00:40:14,233 --> 00:40:17,403
crab like pincers.
426
00:40:21,467 --> 00:40:23,627
These modified mouthparts act like
427
00:40:23,667 --> 00:40:27,527
hydraulic pistons to crush their prey to
428
00:40:27,567 --> 00:40:30,097
death.
429
00:40:30,834 --> 00:40:33,574
Even in this barren desert habitat,
430
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:38,370
the rock scorpion is always on guard.
431
00:40:39,467 --> 00:40:41,027
The scorpion's stiff hairs and
432
00:40:41,066 --> 00:40:44,196
hypersensitive bristles are so receptive it can
433
00:40:44,233 --> 00:40:46,703
detect airborne vibrations of
434
00:40:46,734 --> 00:40:49,834
approaching prey.
435
00:40:56,066 --> 00:40:58,496
Lurking in the shadows the scorpion picks up
436
00:40:58,533 --> 00:41:01,773
the minute vibrations of a millipede on the
437
00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:04,100
march.
438
00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:08,600
Protected by its plated exoskeleton,
439
00:41:08,633 --> 00:41:10,803
the millipede shields itself from most
440
00:41:10,834 --> 00:41:13,204
predators.
441
00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:20,900
Oblivious to the chilling remains of
442
00:41:20,934 --> 00:41:24,874
previous victims, the millipede scurries
443
00:41:24,900 --> 00:41:27,070
closer.
444
00:41:40,867 --> 00:41:43,167
A powerful, armored claw crushes
445
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,900
effortlessly through the hard shell of the
446
00:41:45,934 --> 00:41:49,374
millipede's exoskeleton.
447
00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,830
There's no need to sting.
448
00:41:54,066 --> 00:41:56,926
Using its pincer like mouthparts the scorpion
449
00:41:56,967 --> 00:42:00,567
methodically draws out and ingests the soft
450
00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:03,830
innards of the millipede.
451
00:42:04,467 --> 00:42:06,867
It will take up to several hours for the
452
00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:11,065
scorpion to finish its meal.
453
00:42:11,066 --> 00:42:13,666
As the scorpion has adapted to hunt in its
454
00:42:13,700 --> 00:42:16,870
rock environment, another deadly predator
455
00:42:16,900 --> 00:42:20,970
has evolved for life on the open sands.
456
00:42:21,433 --> 00:42:24,133
Its signature sketched across the windswept
457
00:42:24,166 --> 00:42:26,166
dunes.
458
00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:30,300
The calling card of the Sidewinder.
459
00:42:31,900 --> 00:42:34,830
This venomous snake is perfectly tailored to
460
00:42:34,867 --> 00:42:39,067
move and hunt on the loose desert sands.
461
00:42:39,633 --> 00:42:42,773
The snake's short, muscular body is coated
462
00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:45,570
in rough scales that grip into unstable
463
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,070
terrain.
464
00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:51,070
Opposed to slithering headfirst,
465
00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:53,630
the sidewinder, throws the middle of its body
466
00:42:53,667 --> 00:42:58,467
forward undulating in smooth, lateral curves.
467
00:43:12,066 --> 00:43:13,626
When on the hunt for prey,
468
00:43:13,627 --> 00:43:15,933
the sidewinder chooses not to float above the
469
00:43:15,934 --> 00:43:20,534
sand but disappear into it.
470
00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:24,970
Its camouflaged coloring allows it to
471
00:43:25,066 --> 00:43:29,796
vanish into the desert sands.
472
00:43:42,066 --> 00:43:47,126
Apart from the tip of its protruding tail.
473
00:43:52,066 --> 00:43:53,866
In this barren landscape,
474
00:43:53,900 --> 00:43:57,330
food is hard to come by so it is not long
475
00:43:57,367 --> 00:44:00,567
before the snake's lure grabs the attention of
476
00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:03,430
an inquisitive lizard.
477
00:44:30,633 --> 00:44:35,073
The sidewinder strikes at incredible speed.
478
00:44:38,133 --> 00:44:41,673
Long fangs stab through the lizard's soft skin,
479
00:44:41,700 --> 00:44:45,700
releasing large amounts of cytotoxic venom.
480
00:44:47,367 --> 00:44:51,767
Before the lizard is swallowed whole.
481
00:44:58,266 --> 00:45:02,066
Another life has been claimed by one of
482
00:45:02,116 --> 00:45:06,666
Repair and Synchronization by
Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0
34958
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.