All language subtitles for Life at the Waterhole S01 E01_track3_[eng]

MAN: WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH
THE ICONIC AFRICAN WATERHOLE.

IN THE BAKING HEAT
OF THE SAVANNA,

THEY LITERALLY TEEM WITH LIFE.

BUT HOW DOES ONE
ACTUALLY FUNCTION?

WHAT ARE THE POLITICS
OF ANIMAL COEXISTENCE?

AND WHO RULES
WHEN THE HEAT IS ON?

TO FIND OUT, WE BUILT OUR
VERY OWN AFRICAN WATERHOLE.

THIS WATERHOLE,
IT'S HUMAN-MADE.

WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH SOME GREAT
SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS

TO BRING THIS MUCH-NEEDED
WATER SOURCE

INTO THIS DRY, ARID LANDSCAPE.

THIS IS A WATERHOLE
WITH A DIFFERENCE.

WE HAVE A NEW
AND TOTALLY EXCITING WAY

OF KEEPING TRACK OF
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND DRAMA.

WE'VE GOT A HIDE,
HALF-SUBMERGED,

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WATERHOLE,

AND WE'VE GOT REMOTE CAMERAS

RIGGED UP AROUND
THE WATERHOLE,

KEEPING TRACK OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

[NICKERS]

IT'S A UNIQUE CHANCE
TO FOLLOW

THE EVOLUTION OF A WATERHOLE...

AND THE DAILY DRAMAS

OF THE ANIMALS
THAT DEPEND ON IT

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

MAN: WOW!
SANJAYAN: YEAH?

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL,
BIG MALE LION.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: WE DON'T
KNOW WHO'S GOING TO TURN UP

AND IN WHAT NUMBER,

BUT WE'LL OBSERVE AND RECORD

EVERY SINGLE SPECIES

OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS.

WE'RE FILMING FROM THE MIDDLE
OF THE LIFE-SAPPING

DRY SEASON,
WHEN WATER IS SCARCE

AND TEMPERS FRAY.

SANJAYAN: HE'S WALKING
STRAIGHT TO THEM.

IT'S A GAME OF CHICKEN,
EXCEPT WITH BUFFALO.

UNTIL THE PRESSURE

FINALLY BREAKS...
[THUNDER]

AND THE ANNUAL RAINS
CHANGE EVERYTHING.

TO SEE IT FROM UP HERE
GIVES ME A TOTALLY DIFFERENT

PERSPECTIVE ON THE LANDSCAPE.

WE'LL GET TO KNOW
A WILD CAST OF CHARACTERS

AS THEY FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL AT
THE ONE PLACE THEY ALL MEET.

IF THEY LINGERED ANY LONGER,

THEN THEY BECAME TARGETS
FOR PREDATORS.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]
THIS IS THE STORY OF LIFE...

MAN: WHOA, LOOK AT
THAT, LOOK AT THAT.

AND DEATH
AT THE WATERHOLE.

IN EAST AFRICA, TANZANIA,

SOUTH OF
THE SERENGETI ECOSYSTEM,

IS MWIBA WILDLIFE RESERVE,

A PROTECTED AREA
SPANNING 130,000 ACRES.

IT PROVIDES A SANCTUARY
FOR COUNTLESS ICONIC SPECIES

INCLUDING ELEPHANT...

HIPPO...

GIRAFFE...

LEOPARD...

AND LION.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE
WHO LIVE NEAR THE RESERVE.

THEY MUST SHARE A SCARCE SUPPLY
OF FRESH WATER WITH WILDLIFE.

COMPETITION REACHES ITS PEAK
RIGHT NOW IN THE DRY SEASON,

SO, I'M HEADED TO KAKESIO,

A MAASAI VILLAGE
10 MILES AWAY.

THIS IS THE HEIGHT
OF THE DRY SEASON, AND WATER

IS A REALLY
PRECIOUS RESOURCE

FOR THE MAASAI AT
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

WHAT I WANT TO FIND OUT
IS WHAT DO THEY DO,

WHERE DO THEY FIND WATER,
AND DOES IT

PUT THEM IN CONFLICT WITH

THE ABUNDANT WILDLIFE
THAT IS IN THIS AREA.

[CONVERSATION IN MAASAI]

SANJAYAN: VILLAGE CHIEF
TINAYAY TANGWA

HAS BEEN LIVING HERE
FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

THIS IS HIS PLACE.

RECENTLY, HE HAS SEEN
HOW A LACK OF WATER

HAS BEEN IMPACTING
HIS FAMILY AND CATTLE.

IT'S QUITE
SORT OF EXTRAORDINARY

HAVING ALL OF
THIS LIVESTOCK

RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE
HE AND HIS FAMILY LIVE.

[COWS MOOING]

THE CHIEF HAS INVITED ME
TO SEE

THE DAILY ISSUES HE IS
FACING WITH WATER.

IN TANZANIA, THERE ARE
NO FENCES BETWEEN

WILDLIFE RESERVES LIKE MWIBA
AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.

[COW MOOS]

OUT HERE, PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK,
AND WILDLIFE

ALL FIGHT OVER
THE SAME RESOURCES.

[INSECT BUZZING]

TO GET ENOUGH WATER,
THE MAASAI HAVE TO DIG WELLS,

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE
UP TO 20 FEET DEEP.

IT'S BONE-DRY.

THERE ARE LOADS OF WELLS
THAT DOT THIS AREA.

SOME ARE OLD AND ABANDONED,

OTHERS ARE
VERY MUCH FUNCTIONAL...

WHICH ARE JUST DUG OUT BY HAND

INTO WHAT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
IS REALLY PRETTY TOUGH SOIL.

WATER IS SO PRECIOUS,

THE WELLS
OFTEN ATTRACT WILDLIFE...

AND THAT'S HOW
THE CONFLICT STARTS.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THIS FENCE.

I MEAN, THIS IS
A PRETTY SOLID FENCE

AND IT'S ALL HERE
JUST TO KEEP WILDLIFE

AWAY FROM THAT WELL.

BECAUSE IT TAKES SO MUCH WORK
TO BUILD THAT WELL,

THE LAST THING
THIS COMMUNITY WANTS

IS THAT WELL TO BE DESTROYED

OR ELEPHANTS GOT IN THERE
AND JUST DRANK ALL THE WATER.

[SPEAKING MAASAI]

LOOK AT THIS.
SEE THAT?

THAT'S ELEPHANT DUNG.
IT'S OLD ELEPHANT DUNG,

BUT IT'S
ELEPHANT DUNG NONETHELESS.

SO, YOU KNOW,
IT'S COMPLETE PROOF

THAT ELEPHANTS COME HERE
REGULARLY AND DRINK THIS WATER.

WITH THE GROWING IMPACT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE,

COMPETITION FOR WATER
IS SET TO GET FIERCER.

TEMPERATURES IN AFRICA
ARE RISING.

IN JUST 30 YEARS,
IT'S PREDICTED THAT

THE CONTINENT WILL ENDURE
50% MORE WARMING

THAN THE REST OF THE PLANET.

THERE SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH
WATER TO GO AROUND.

FOR THE MAASAI, WHAT IS REALLY
AT THE TOP OF

THEIR HIERARCHY
OF NEEDS IS WATER,

WATER THAT WILDLIFE NEED
AND THE MAASAI NEED.

THEN THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT
JUST INCREASES.

TO HELP EASE TENSIONS,
MWIBA RESERVE HAS

DECIDED TO BUILD A WATERHOLE
JUST FOR WILDLIFE

ON AN OPEN PATCH OF GRASSLAND,

EASILY ACCESSIBLE
FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.

THE CONSTRUCTION WAS BLESSED BY

THE ANCESTRAL STEWARDS
OF THE LAND,

THE HADZABE TRIBE.

[PEOPLE SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]

THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE
FOR US TO LEARN

HOW DIFFERENT SPECIES
FIND, USE, AND INTERACT

AROUND A NEW WATERHOLE.

WE'RE INSTALLING
A REMOTE CAMERA SYSTEM,

ABLE TO RECORD DAY AND NIGHT.

13,000 GALLONS OF WATER

FROM A SUSTAINABLE
UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR

FILL TWO SEPARATE POOLS,

GIVING MORE ACCESS POINTS
FOR WILDLIFE.

YOU MIGHT THINK
IT NEEDS TO BE BIGGER,

BUT THE AVERAGE WATERHOLE
IS PUDDLE SIZE.

THESE TWO POOLS ARE
REFILLABLE AND BIG ENOUGH

TO QUENCH THE THIRST
OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS.

SO, HERE'S THE PLAN.

WE'LL FOLLOW THE LIFE CYCLE
OF THE WATERHOLE

ACROSS 3 DISTINCT
TIMES OF THE YEAR.

WE'LL START IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WINDY, DRY SEASON.

THEN, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER,

IT TURNS TO THE HOTTEST TIME
OF THE YEAR...

AND FINALLY, AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE FIRST RAINS.

WE'VE GOT 20 CAMERAS
SET TO RECORD

EVERY DETAIL OF LIFE
AT THE WATERHOLE.

WE CONTROL THEM FROM

OUR BASE CAMP 800 FEET AWAY,

WHERE AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF
BIOLOGISTS AND LOCAL EXPERTS

CAN WATCH AS THE DRAMA UNFOLDS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO STRESS THAT

THIS HAS NEVER
BEEN DONE BEFORE.

I HAVE NO IDEA... WE HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT'S ACTUALLY
GOING TO HAPPEN.

TO KEEP TRACK OF THE ACTION,

WE'LL ATTEMPT TO COLLATE DATA

ON EVERY VISITOR,

BUILDING A SPECIES LIST
TO TELL US

HOW MANY ANIMALS
COME TO A NEW WATERHOLE.

OUR FIRST QUESTION...
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE

FOR WILDLIFE TO FIND IT?

THE ANSWER... JUST 45 MINUTES.

[WARTHOG GRUNTING]

IT'S A WHOLE FAMILY
OF WARTHOGS,

4 OF THEM, JUST SHOWED UP.

TAILS WAGGING, ROOTING UP
THE ENTIRE EDGE

OF THIS WATERHOLE
THAT WE'VE CONSTRUCTED,

MAKING IT LOOK
SO MUCH MORE NATURAL.

THE WARTHOG FAMILY LIVES ABOUT
A THOUSAND FEET AWAY.

THEY PROBABLY DISCOVERED
THE WATERHOLE WHILE

OUT FORAGING FOR FOOD.

INTERESTINGLY, THEY'RE
NOT HERE TO DRINK.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY AFTER
IS A MUD BATH.

IT'S A STIFLING 95 DEGREES,
BUT WARTHOGS DON'T HAVE

SWEAT GLANDS THAT REGULATE
THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE.

OUR INFRARED CAMERA SHOWS
HOW EFFECTIVE MUD BATHING IS.

THEIR BODIES TURN BLUE
THE COOLER THEY GET.

MUD BATHING CAN REDUCE
BODY TEMPERATURE

BY A LIFESAVING
7 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

OUR WATERHOLE ALREADY HAS
ITS FIRST HAPPY CUSTOMERS.

THEY LOOK REALLY
IN GREAT CONDITION,

AND THEY ARE LOVING,
LOVING THIS WATER.

PROBABLY HOW COLD IT IS
AND ALL THE MUD,

AND THEY'RE JUST PIGS
IN HEAVEN RIGHT NOW.

AS WELL AS WATCHING
THE WATERHOLE,

WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW
A BRAND-NEW WATER SOURCE

AFFECTS LIFE AROUND IT.

SO, WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN
BOB POOLE

WILL BE PATROLLING
A 6-MILE CIRCUIT,

KEEPING US UPDATED ON
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA.

POOLE: YEAH, SANJAYAN,
DO YOU COPY?

HI, BOB.
THE ELEPHANT'S ON HIS WAY.

HE'S JUST MOVING, ACTUALLY,

QUITE QUICKLY
TOWARDS YOUR DIRECTION.

SANJAYAN: YEP!
WELL DONE.

HOLY COW. THAT...
NO, HOLY ELEPHANT.

I MEAN,
THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

YOU JUST SAW A LITTLE
GREY MOVE, RIGHT?

POOLE: IF YOU CAN SEE HIM,
MAYBE THIS IS

A GOOD TIME FOR ME
TO LEAVE.

SANJAYAN: OK,
WE CAN SEE HIM.
IT'S FINE.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY,

AND HE'S TUCKED IN
SOME SHADE,

USING THOSE BIG EARS
TO FAN HIMSELF

AND GENERATE SOME AIR FLOW
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW

ELEPHANTS TYPICALLY LOSE
SOME OF THEIR HEAT,

IS THROUGH THOSE BIG
RADIATORS IN THEIR EARS.

THERE'S BOB.
HEY, I THOUGHT YOU

WERE OUT WITH
THE ELEPHANT.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S AMAZING HOW IT

DISAPPEARS INTO
THIS ENVIRONMENT.

OH, MY GOODNESS.
I LOST HIM

3 TIMES OUT THERE.

OH, THIS IS FANTASTIC.
HE'S DEFINITELY

ON THE MOVE AND COMING
RIGHT OUT INTO THE OPEN.

SANJAYAN: HERE
HE'S FINALLY GETTING

WHAT HE WANTED
ALL THIS TIME.

POOLE: YEP, STRAIGHT
TO THE WATER...

AND SO HE'LL...
SANJAYAN: DEEP TASTE OF IT.

YEAH, HE'S GOING TO TAKE
A GOOD, LONG TASTE OF IT.

MY GUESS IS HE'LL
DRINK FOR QUITE A WHILE,

AND THEN HE'LL
JUST COVER HIMSELF,

ONCE HE TOTALLY
RELAXES INTO THIS.

I THINK HE'S
NOW AMAZED

AT THE QUALITY
OF THIS WATER.

HE'S LIKE, WOW, I HAVEN'T
TASTED THIS IN A LONG TIME.

HA HA HA!

YEAH, JACKPOT, RIGHT?

THIS IS VERY,
VERY EXCITING.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: AN AFRICAN
ELEPHANT NEEDS TO DRINK

NEARLY A BATHTUB
OF WATER EACH DAY.

THEY MIGHT HAVE TO WALK
OVER 100 MILES

TO FIND ENOUGH, WHICH IS WHAT

LEADS TO CONFLICT
WITH LOCAL VILLAGES.

HOPEFULLY, THIS ELEPHANT
COMING HERE

MEANS HE STAYS OUT OF TROUBLE.

SANJAYAN: YEAH, THERE HE GOES,
WITH SOME WATER ON HIS BODY...

POOLE: NOW LET'S SEE.
SO HE CAN START TO COOL DOWN.

POOLE: NOW HE'S HAD
SOMETHING TO DRINK,

HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO
START COVERING HIMSELF

WITH CLEAN WATER
AND THEN MUD,

AND YOU CAN SEE,
WATCH HIS TAIL,

YOU KNOW,
JUST ABSOLUTELY,

TOTALLY LIMP
AND RELAXED THERE.

YOU SEEM PRETTY
LIMP AND RELAXED
RIGHT NOW YOURSELF.

I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE IN OUT
OF THE TSETSE FLIES. HA HA!

OH, LOOK, HE'S GETTING A...

HE'S STARTING TO FEEL
REALLY GOOD,

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

[LAUGHTER]

THAT'S NOT A LEG.

LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT THE CAMERA 4.

LOOK AT THAT SHOT.

POOLE: ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
SANJAYAN: FANTASTIC, RIGHT?

I LOVE THE LOW ANGLES.
I DO, TOO.

THAT'S IT.
FANTASTIC STUFF.

REALLY FANTASTIC.
I MEAN, YOU JUST HAVE TO

PUT THIS IN
PERSPECTIVE, THAT

THIS WATERHOLE DIDN'T
EXIST, YOU KNOW,

A MONTH AGO,
AND, YOU KNOW,

THE BIGGEST,
WELL, NOT JUST

THE BIGGEST MAMMAL
OUT HERE

BUT THE BIGGEST
LAND MAMMAL
ON THE PLANET

IS ALREADY
USING IT.

YEAH.
I MEAN, THAT'S

PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

IT'S ALSO GREAT BECAUSE
ELEPHANTS ARE THOUGHT TO HELP

OTHER ANIMALS LOCATE WATER
IN THE DRY SEASON.

AS HE FORAGES, THIS MALE

INADVERTENTLY CREATES PATHWAYS
THROUGH THE BUSH,

LEADING BACK TO THE WATERHOLE.

AND, SURE ENOUGH,
15 MINUTES LATER,

MORE THIRSTY ANIMALS ARRIVE.

SANJAYAN: WE'VE GOT
AN IMPALA THAT'S SHOWN UP.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: THE IMPALA
ARE FOLLOWED BY ZEBRA.

BOTH THESE ANIMALS
GET A LOT OF HYDRATION

FROM THE PLANTS THEY EAT.

BUT IN THE DRY SEASON,
THEY MUST RELY ON WATERHOLES,

AS A LOT OF THE PLANT LIFE
DIES OFF.

TO ADD 4 SPECIES
TO OUR LIST ON DAY ONE,

WITHIN JUST A FEW HOURS OF
THE WATERHOLE BEING FINISHED,

SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH
IT'S NEEDED.

160 FEET AWAY, THE NEAREST
WATER SOURCE IN THE AREA,

THE OLOIBORRISINYAI RIVER,
IS COMPLETELY DRY.

AND FOR HERBIVORES, EVEN
THE PLANT LIFE CAN BE HOSTILE.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY
FAVORITE TREES.

IT'S CALLED
A WHISTLE THORN ACACIA

BECAUSE APPARENTLY
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS,

IT MAKES A WHISTLING SOUND
THROUGH THESE TREES,

AND THEY'RE FOUND ON THESE
EAST AFRICAN SAVANNAHS.

AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THEM
IS THIS TREE IS...

FIRST OF ALL,
IT LOOKS SO WICKED,

AND YOU THINK IT'S DEAD
RIGHT NOW, BUT IT ISN'T,

IT'S JUST DORMANT
BECAUSE IT'S IN

THE MIDDLE OF THE DRY SEASON.

AS SOON AS THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT OF MOISTURE,

IT'S GOING TO LEAF UP.

BUT NOT ONLY DOES IT
HAVE THESE GIGANTIC THORNS,

AND YOU'D THINK THAT WOULD BE
ENOUGH TO DETER ANYTHING

FROM EVEN ATTEMPTING TO EAT IT,

BUT IT HAS AN EXTRA LAYER
OF DEFENSE.

IT PRODUCES THESE GALLS
THAT YOU CAN SEE

SCATTERED THROUGHOUT
THIS WHOLE TREE.

IT HOUSES ANTS WITHIN THEM,

AND THESE ANTS NOT ONLY PRODUCE
A FAIRLY NASTY BITE,

BUT THEY ALSO SPRAY FORMIC ACID

AND THEY DETER HERBIVORES,

THEY DETER THINGS LIKE KUDU
AND IMPALA AND EVEN GIRAFFE,

THAT ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING
TO BROWSE ON THESE TREES.

NOW, HERE'S KIND OF
AN AMAZING THING.

IF I WAS TO FENCE THIS TREE

AND KEPT ALL
THE HERBIVORES AWAY,

AFTER A WHILE
THIS TREE WILL THINK,

NOTHING'S EATING ME ANYMORE,

IT WILL STOP PRODUCING
THESE GALLS,

AND IT WILL KICK OUT THE ANTS.

SO, THERE IS THIS TRADE-OFF
THAT THIS TREE ACTUALLY MAKES.

IT USES SOME ENERGY
TO KEEP ITSELF SAFE,

BUT IT ONLY DOES THAT
IN PLACES WHERE IT'S

REALLY BEING BROWSED
QUITE HEAVILY.

THE PRESSURE ON THIS
ENVIRONMENT IS SO CONSTANT

AND SO UNRELENTING THAT
BIG THORNS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE, IN THIS CASE,

AN EXTRA LAYER OF ANT DEFENDERS
TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

AT NIGHT, THERE'S SOME RELIEF
FROM THE HEAT OF THE DAY,

AS TEMPERATURES DROP
TO 59 DEGREES.

BUT THIS IS OFTEN

THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME
TO BE AT A WATERHOLE.

LION, LEOPARD, AND HYENA ARE
MUCH MORE ACTIVE AFTER DARK.

AND ON THE FIRST NIGHT,
AROUND 8 P.M., IT HAPPENS.

ONE OF MWIBA RESERVE'S
MOST NOTORIOUS HUNTERS

HAS DISCOVERED THE WATERHOLE.

LEOPARDS HAVE
THE LARGEST RANGES

OF ALL THE AFRICAN BIG CATS.

MALE TERRITORIES CAN SPAN
OVER 1,200 SQUARE MILES.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THIS GUY
IS A MWIBA RESERVE RESIDENT

OR JUST PASSING THROUGH.

TO FIND OUT, LOCAL GUIDE
SAITOTI OLEKUWAI JOINS ME

TO REVIEW THE SHOTS.

OLEKUWAI: OOH,
LOOK AT THAT. OH, UH-HUH.

SANJAYAN: YEAH.

BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT THAT.

A BIG LEOPARD
JUST SHOWED UP.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S
A BIG LEOPARD.

AND HAVE YOU SEEN
THIS GUY BEFORE?

YES, I'VE SEEN
THIS GUY BEFORE.

HIS NAME IS UJASIRI,
MEANS CONFIDENCE.

A LEOPARD
NAMED CONFIDENCE

IS THE FIRST ONE TO COME
TO THE WATERHOLE, YEAH?

SO, WHEN YOU SEE
THIS GUY LIKE THIS,

YOU CAN TELL WHICH
LEOPARD THIS IS?

YES. IT'S MAINLY
THE WHISKER PATTERNS,

THE BLACK MARKING
OR THE DOTS THAT...

IT'S LIKE THE SPOTS
RIGHT ON THE...

ON THE MOUTH?

YEAH. HE'S GOT
TWO ON HIS,

ON ITS RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

YES, AND THEN WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE,

THAT GIVES YOU
AN IDEA OF

EXACTLY WHICH
LEOPARD THIS IS.

EXACTLY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
UJASIRI'S ARRIVAL IS A SIGN

THAT OUR WATERHOLE HAS ALREADY
GRABBED THE ATTENTION

OF THE AREA'S PREDATORS.

LEOPARDS HUNT A WIDE VARIETY
OF PREY,

FEEDING ON EVERYTHING
FROM INSECTS TO RODENTS

TO LARGE ANTELOPE.

AND THEY HAVE EVOLVED
A KILLER ADAPTATION

TO HUNT AT NIGHT.

SANJAYAN: SO, WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THESE GUYS,

WHEN THEY LOOK
AT THE CAMERA,

YOU CAN REALLY SEE
THEIR EYES ARE LIKE

ALMOST AS IF THERE'S
A LIGHT INSIDE IT.

I MEAN, THE EYE SHINE
IS SO STRONG.

WELL, THAT IS CALLED
THE TAPETUM LUCIDUM.

ANY AMOUNT OF LIGHT
THAT'S REFLECTED

FROM THE STARS
GOES IN THERE.

THAT ENHANCE
THE EYESIGHT OF THAT CAT.

THESE CATS CAN SEE

6 TIMES BETTER
THAN US AT NIGHT.

HE'S BEAUTIFUL, AND HE'S
FULL-BELLIED THERE.

LOOK AT HIS
ROUNDISH TUMMY.

HE'S PROBABLY
JUST ATE SOMETHING.

YOU THINK SO?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
HE IS FULL-BELLIED.

AND DO YOU KNOW,
THESE GUYS, AFTER THEY

HUNT LIKE THIS,
THEY DO LIKE

TO COME TO
THE WATER, RIGHT?

THEY WILL, YEAH,
THEY WILL LIKE TO DRINK.

ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
THAT THEY NEED IMMEDIATELY

TO GO TO DRINK BECAUSE
THEY WILL GET THAT

LIQUID FROM THE BLOOD.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAT.

SANJAYAN:
AFTER UJASIRI'S VISIT,

THE NIGHT GROWS QUIET
AT THE WATERHOLE.

BUT THE SILENCE
DOESN'T LAST LONG.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
WE ADD AN INCREDIBLE

15 NEW SPECIES TO OUR LIST...

INCLUDING CAPE BUFFALO.

THEY HAVE
A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP

WITH OXPECKERS
IN THE DRY SEASON.

THE BIRDS PICK OFF PARASITES
FROM THE BUFFALO'S SKIN

AND IN RETURN GET
A FREE RIDE TO WATER.

ALONG WITH OXPECKERS,
4 NEW SPECIES OF BIRDS

COME TO THE WATERHOLE.

YELLOW-BILLED STORKS OFTEN
HUNT IN SHALLOW WATER.

BLACK-FACED SANDGROUSE
ARE SPECIALISTS

AT TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES
TO WATERHOLES,

NOT ONLY TO DRINK, BUT TO WET
THEIR BREAST FEATHERS

TO CARRY WATER
BACK TO THEIR CHICKS.

CAPE TURTLE DOVES, WHICH ARE
FOUND ACROSS EAST AFRICA.

BARE-FACED GO-AWAY BIRDS,
WHICH GET THEIR NAME FROM

THEIR DISTINCTIVE CALL,
WHICH SOUNDS LIKE "GO AWAY."

[BIRD CALLS]

AFTER DARK,
AFRICAN HARE HOP IN.

WATER HELPS THEM
DIGEST VEGETATION.

AS WE WATCH,
THE SPECIES LIST GROWS.

ON NIGHT 3, A LONE WATERBUCK,

WHICH NEEDS WATER DAILY
TO SURVIVE,

COMES IN FOR A DRINK.

TWO SPECIES OF PRIMATES
ALSO FIND THE WATERHOLE...

OLIVE BABOONS
AND VERVET MONKEYS.

THEY LOVE TO SOCIALIZE
AROUND WATER SOURCES,

MUCH TO THE ANNOYANCE
OF EVERYONE ELSE.

ON DAY 5, THE PARTY
REALLY GETS STARTED.

20 SPECIES HAVE FOUND
AND ARE SHARING THE WATERHOLE.

THE SAME ANIMALS
ARE RETURNING EVERY DAY

AND THERE'S MORE TO THEIR
VISITS THAN MEETS THE EYE.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN
HAVING THESE CAMERAS RUN 24/7,

AND THAT'S COLLECTING DATA...

REALLY INTERESTING DATA!

AND I'VE BEEN PARTICULARLY KEEN

TO FIND OUT WHAT ANIMALS
SHOW UP WHEN.

FOR SOME OF OUR SPECIES
THAT COME TO THIS WATERHOLE,

IT'S LIKE CLOCKWORK.

THERE'S ALREADY A SCHEDULE
TO LIFE AT THE WATERHOLE.

FROM AROUND 8 A.M.,
A STEADY STREAM OF IMPALA

COME IN FOR A DRINK.

11:00 IS THE MOST FREQUENT
TIME FOR ZEBRA.

[NICKERS]

AT 1 P.M., THE VERY PUNCTUAL
WARTHOG FAMILY

COMES FOR A MUD BATH.

3:00 IS WHEN ELEPHANTS
OFTEN TURN UP.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING]

AND THE HERD OF BUFFALO,
WELL, THEY'RE COMING IN

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
AND AT DUSK.

[BUFFALO GRUNTING]

I HAVE A THEORY
AS TO WHY THIS ROUTINE

HAS BEEN SET SO EARLY ON.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS DATA,
THERE ARE CERTAIN PATTERNS

THAT, YOU KNOW,
IMMEDIATELY JUMP OUT AT YOU,

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
BEEN MOST SURPRISING TO ME

IS THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY, IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY,

WHEN YOU'D THINK THE WATERHOLE

WOULD BE COMPLETELY DESERTED,

SOME ANIMALS, IT TURNS OUT TO BE

A SURVIVAL STRATEGY.

THEY ARE WILLING

TO DEAL WITH THE HEAT
BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A TIME

WHEN THEY'RE SAFE
FROM PREDATION.

IF THEY COME TOO LATE
IN THE DAY,

THAT'S WHEN THE PREDATORS ARE
ABOUT AND THEY'RE VULNERABLE.

AN UNDERSTANDABLE
FEAR OF PREDATORS

IS AFFECTING WHEN
ANIMALS SHOW UP.

BUT THE CAMERAS ARE
PICKING UP SOMETHING DEEPER.

AFTER 8 DAYS,
A HIERARCHY IS DEVELOPING

WITHIN THE WATERHOLE
COMMUNITY...

AND BY ANALYZING FOOTAGE,
IT'S CLEAR THAT

TWO AFRICAN GIANTS
ARE BATTLING TO CONTROL

THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE.

SO, RIGHT NOW
YOU HAVE THE BUFFALO,

AND THEY'VE KIND OF
FORMED A SEMI-CIRCLE

AROUND THE WATERHOLES.

SO, THIS IS A GREAT
BIT OF BEHAVIOR,

AND THIS IS
REALLY TYPICAL.

SO, ONE YOUNG...
RELATIVELY YOUNG

ELEPHANT, A TEENAGER.

NOW, HE'S APPROACHING
THE BUFFALO DEAD ON.

HE'S WALKING
STRAIGHT TO THEM.

IT'S A GAME OF CHICKEN
EXCEPT WITH BUFFALO.

EARS WIDE...
TRUNK RAISED...

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS]

HEAD HELD HIGH,

TRYING TO MAKE ITSELF LOOK

MUCH BIGGER THAN
IT REALLY IS.

IT'S A TEENAGE BOY,
TESTOSTERONE-FUELED.

HE'S GOT TO PROVE
TO SOMEONE THAT HE'S

THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT
ON THE BLOCK,

EVEN THOUGH
HE REALLY ISN'T.

I DON'T ACTUALLY
THINK HE'S THAT THIRSTY.

I THINK HE JUST WANTED
TO SHOW OFF TO THE BUFFALO

THAT HE'S AN ELEPHANT.

THE BUFFALO
HAVE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS,

BUT AN ELEPHANT
CAN WEIGH OVER A TON,

AND THE BUFFALO ARE SIMPLY
NOT WILLING TO PUT UP

MUCH OF A FIGHT, FOR NOW.

IN 24 HOURS, WE MEASURE THAT
BETWEEN THEM,

BUFFALO AND ELEPHANT
ARE DRINKING

OVER 1,500 GALLONS OF WATER.

A NATURAL WATERHOLE
MIGHT DRY UP WITH

THIS HUGE AMOUNT
OF CONSUMPTION.

BUT THIS ONE HAS A PLUMBED-IN
FRESH WATER SUPPLY.

THERE'S SOME ZEBRA OVER THERE.

SO, THIS IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER
WATERHOLE I'VE EVER SAT AT,

BECAUSE IT'S GOT THOSE TWO TAPS,

AND THESE TAPS BASICALLY
CONTROL HOW MUCH WATER

GOES INTO THAT WATERHOLE
AND THAT WATERHOLE.

WE ARE KEEPING TRACK
OF WATER USAGE.

HALF AN INCH DROP IN BOTH POOLS
IS 500 GALLONS OF WATER.

IT COMES FROM
A NATURALLY OCCURRING RESERVOIR

ABOUT 150 FEET UNDERGROUND.

THIS IS A SUSTAINABLE
WATER SOURCE

THAT IS REPLENISHED
EVERY RAINY SEASON.

WIND TURBINES POWER THE PUMP,

WHICH CAN DELIVER UP TO
2,600 GALLONS PER HOUR,

SHOULD WE NEED IT.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OUR WATERHOLE

IS STARTING TO PLAY
IN THE REGION

IS UNDERLINED BY A STAGGERING

20 NEW SPECIES THAT
COME FOR A DRINK...

INCLUDING THE HADADA IBIS,

WHICH ARE NATIVE TO
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

THE WHITE-TAILED MONGOOSE,
WHICH IS THE LARGEST OF

MONGOOSE SPECIES,
REACHING 3 FEET IN LENGTH.

KIRK'S DIK-DIK, ONE OF
THE WORLD'S SMALLEST ANTELOPES,

STANDING AT JUST A FOOT TALL.

AND A BLACK-BACKED JACKAL
THAT WASTES NO TIME

MARKING THIS TERRITORY
AS HIS OWN.

SO FAR, 40 SPECIES HAVE
VISITED THE WATERHOLE.

POOLE: THERE WE ARE.
THAT'S PERFECT.

WOW!

ALL RIGHT. LET'S
SEE WHAT WE GOT.

TO BE AT THIS LEVEL
IS SO NICE.

SANJAYAN: ON DAY 10,
BOB AND I ARE LUCKY ENOUGH

TO BE FILMING IN THE BLIND WHEN
THE TALLEST ANIMALS ON EARTH

COME FOR A DRINK.

[SPEAKING SOFTLY]
THERE'S 8 GIRAFFES,
EIGHT OF THEM,

AND THEY'RE ALL
WATCHING US,

AND THESE GIRAFFE
KNOW SOMETHING IS UP

BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING
AT US LIKE... LIKE A COP

WITH A RADAR GUN
ON THE HIGHWAY.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THESE GIRAFFE

ARE DRINKING FROM
THIS WATERHOLE WHILE

WE'RE IN THIS HIDE,

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST
THAT WE'VE SEEN...

AND IT'S LIKE MY HEART
IS RACING RIGHT NOW,

KNOWING THAT
AT ANY MOMENT,

THEY MIGHT JUST BOLT.

WE'RE SURROUNDED
BY GIRAFFE AND ZEBRA.

WHEN A GIRAFFE DOES THAT,
GETS HIS NECK DOWN,

IT BASICALLY HAS TO
SURRENDER ITSELF

TO WHATEVER MIGHT
ATTACK IT.

SO, IT'S A VERY
VULNERABLE, UNCOMFORTABLE,

CONTORTED POSITION.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE
SO NERVOUS WHEN
THEY'RE DRINKING.

10 GIRAFFE
ALL DRINKING

RIGHT IN
FRONT OF US.

IT'S ONLY TAKEN
10 DAYS FOR THE WATERHOLE

TO LOOK LIKE
AN ESTABLISHED OASIS

IN MWIBA RESERVE.

BUT ON THE 12TH DAY,
THINGS GO REALLY QUIET.

IT'S OUR FIRST BIG MYSTERY.

WHERE DID EVERYONE GO?

BOB HAS A THEORY,

AND HE HEADS OUT TO INVESTIGATE.

LESS THAN 300 FEET
FROM THE WATERHOLE,

HIS HUNCH PAYS OFF.

RIGHT THERE. THAT'S A PRETTY
BIG ANIMAL, YOU SEE.

1, 2, 3, 4,
AND THE PAD GOING TO HERE.

LOOK AT THE... LOOK AT
THE DISTANCE IN THAT.

IT'S DEFINITELY A BIG CAT,

WHETHER IT'S A LION
OR A BIG LEOPARD.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS HERE.

YOU SEE?

SO, YOU CAN TELL THIS
IS A VERY FRESH TRACK

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
A VEHICLE TRACK HERE,

AND RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT,
BOOM, IS A BIG CAT.

SANJAYAN: JUST THE SMELL
OF A BIG CAT IN THE AREA

IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ANIMALS WARY.

BOB WILL TRY TO TRACK DOWN
THE OWNER OF THESE TRACKS.

WE WERE A BIT WORRIED
THAT THE DAYS OF

THIS OASIS WERE NUMBERED,

BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN
A PREDATOR IN THE AREA

TO KEEP THE BIG DRINKERS AWAY.

IN TANZANIA, ELEPHANTS ARE
RARELY PREDATED ON BY LIONS,

AND THIS HERD HAS ALSO
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING]

OLEKUWAI: THAT'S
A BREEDING HERD.

SANJAYAN:
OH, THAT'S, WOW.

LOOK, THEY'VE GOT
YOUNGSTERS.

YOU SEE, ALL, THEY'RE
LIFTING UP THEIR TRUNKS.

LOOK AT THE BABIES.
THEY LIFT UP THEIR TRUNK,

THEY'RE LIKE, "NO
WE CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

IS THAT WATER? OR
WHAT'S, WHAT'S IN THERE?"

SANJAYAN: HA HA!
LOOK AT THEM. LOOK AT THEM.

IT'S LIKE THIS
DISMAL NEIGHBORHOOD...

OLEKUWAI: YEAH.
THAT HAD

NO GOOD RESTAURANTS OR,
YOU KNOW, BARS AROUND,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU'VE GOT, LIKE,

YOU KNOW, THE MOTHER
OF ALL BARS

THAT JUST OPENED UP.

THEY COME UP
WITH THE TRUNK UP,

THEY'RE LIKE, "OOH,
THAT SMELLS VERY NICE,"

YOU KNOW, IT'S,
YEAH, TIME TO DRINK.

OH, THIS IS
SO INCREDIBLE.

LOOK AT THAT. BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH.

REALLY INCREDIBLE,
ISN'T IT?

THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
SO PRETTY.

SANJAYAN: A HERD OF 12
MAKES THIS THE BIGGEST NUMBER

OF ELEPHANTS AT
THE WATERHOLE SO FAR.

[ELEPHANTS GRUNTING]

ELEPHANT HERDS ARE LED
BY A MATRIARCH,

WHO IS IDENTIFIABLE BY BEING

BIGGER AND OLDER
THAN THE OTHERS.

THIS ONE IS ABOUT
30 YEARS OLD...

THE YOUNGEST CALF,
JUST OVER A YEAR.

THE DRY SEASON,
LIKE IT IS NOW,

FOR THOSE YOUNG BABIES,

IS IT DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO GO

FOR A LONG WAY
FROM WATER,

OR CAN THEY GET MILK
FROM THE MOTHER?

I MEAN, HOW,
HOW DO THEY SURVIVE

IN THIS INCREDIBLY
DRY ENVIRONMENT?

THEY SURVIVE BY DEPENDING ON
THE SUPPLEMENT OF THE MILK

THEY'RE GETTING
FROM THEIR MOTHER.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING]

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE YEARLING IN THIS FAMILY

IS JUST GETTING TO GRIP

WITH TRUNK CONTROL.

THERE ARE OVER 40,000 MUSCLES
IN AN ELEPHANT TRUNK,

AND IT CAN TAKE CALVES
OVER A YEAR TO MASTER.

IT'S A VITAL SKILL, ESPECIALLY
DURING THE DRY SEASON

WHEN WATER IS SCARCE
AND EVERY DROP COUNTS.

SANJAYAN:
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
ARE THESE ELEPHANTS

REQUIRED TO DRINK
EVERY DAY? SOMEWHERE.

IT'S HIGHLY PREDICTABLE.
THEY WILL DRINK EVERY DAY,

SO, THEY WILL GO INTO ANY

WATERING HOLE
WHICH IS AROUND.

ONCE THEY'VE
DONE THIS, LIKE,

ONCE THEY'VE DRUNK AT
THIS NEW WATERHOLE...

YEAH?

IT'S IN
THEIR MEMORY, RIGHT?

I MEAN IT, THAT...
THAT'S THE GREAT THING

ABOUT ELEPHANTS,
THEY REALLY

DO HAVE
GREAT MENTAL MAPS.

EXACTLY.
AND THESE MOTHERS

WILL KNOW TO COME BACK
HERE WHEN THEY NEED WATER.

YES, IT WILL GET IMPRINTED
INTO THAT BIG COW,

AND THAT ALSO WILL
BE TRANSFERRED

INTO THE YOUNGSTERS
AS WELL.

SO, WITH TIME, THESE
WATERHOLES JUST GET

BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER.

YES.

[CALLS]

SANJAYAN: SADLY, AFTER
THE ELEPHANT FAMILY LEAVES,

THE WATERHOLE GOES
MYSTERIOUSLY QUIET AGAIN.

BOB IS STILL TRACKING
THE BIG CAT PRINTS,

BUT THE TRAIL
HAS NOW GONE COLD.

[BIRDS CALLING]

POOLE: GUINEA FOWLS ARE
ALARM CALLING OVER THERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE KA GE-GE GE-GE
GE-GE GE-GE GE-GE.

AND THEY GIVE AWAY
PREDATORS ALL THE TIME.

PERHAPS THERE'S A LION OR
A LEOPARD RIGHT IN THIS BUSH.

THAT NOISE RIGHT THERE: KA
GE-GE GE-GE GE-GE GE-GE GE.

IT'S AN ALARM CALL.

HMM. I'M GONNA GO UP THERE
AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE KA-KING AT.

THERE'S A LION RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S A BIG LION RIGHT THERE.

DO YOU SEE IT? AT THE BASE OF
THE TREE, RIGHT THERE?

WOW. WE FOUND IT.

HE'S JUST WAKING UP
FROM A LONG DAY'S SLEEP.

HE'S HUGE!

HE'S WEARING A COLLAR,

SO HE'S OBVIOUSLY
BEING STUDIED.

BUT HE'S A SERIOUSLY BIG LION.

SANJAYAN: MALES ARE NOT
ALWAYS PART OF A PRIDE,

SO, THIS LARGE LION
COULD BE TRAVELING ALONE.

IT'S LIKELY THAT HE'S NOTICED
THE INCREASED PREY ACTIVITY

AT THE NEW WATERHOLE.

POOLE: IN THE DRY SEASON
LIKE THIS,

WILDLIFE GETS CONCENTRATED
AROUND WATER POINTS,

AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER
FOR LIONS

BECAUSE THEY CAN AMBUSH
THOSE WATER POINTS,

AND SO THAT GIVES LIONS
AN ADVANTAGE.

IT'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT
THIS GUY HAS SHOWN UP OVER HERE

BECAUSE THERE'S WATER NEARBY.

HERE HE COMES.

WOW. THAT IS A BIG LION,
AND HE'S HEADED

IN THE DIRECTION
OF THE WATERHOLE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: TO TRY
TO KEEP TRACK OF THE LION,

I HEAD OUT WITH BOB ON
A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED STAKEOUT.

YOU SHOULD PICK UP
A COUPLE OF
DIK-DIK IN HERE.

WE'LL SCAN A 3-MILE CIRCUIT
AROUND THE WATERHOLE,

AND WE HAVE A MILITARY-GRADE
THERMAL CAMERA

TO SPOT THIS ELUSIVE BIG CAT.

POOLE: WHAT IS THAT?

SANJAYAN: HEY, WHAT'S THAT?
IT'S NOT MOVING.

POOLE: DIK-DIK.
TWO OF THEM.

WHAT'S BEHIND THEM?

OH, THAT'S SOMETHING.

SANJAYAN: BUSHBABY.
NO, NO, NO.

POOLE:
NO, IT'S GOT HORNS.

IT'S GOT
HORNS, RIGHT?

YEAH. IMPALA.

SANJAYAN: IMPALA.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

POOLE: A SPRING HARE.

A SPRING HARE?

I THINK SO. SEE?
OH, NO, BUSHBABY.

BUSHBABY.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

JUMPING ACROSS THE GROUND.

THAT'S PROBABLY
A PRETTY GOOD LIFE.

LIFE OF A BUSHBABY.

HMM.

YOU GOT TO PEE ON YOUR
HANDS ALL THE TIME, THOUGH.

OH, THAT'S TRUE.
AND SO WHAT?

NOT THE END
OF THE WORLD.

[LAUGHTER]

I'VE DONE THAT
A FEW TIMES BY MISTAKE.

[LAUGHTER]

LISTEN... LIONS!

YOU'RE RIGHT.

LISTEN,
LISTEN. YOU HEAR?

[LIONS GRUNTING]

[SPEAKING SOFTLY]
YEAH. NOT FAR.

THAT'S FAR.
NO.

YEAH.
IT IS?

YEAH.

LISTEN.

WHERE IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE
ISN'T SOMETHING HERE.

OH, HE'S CLOSE.
[LOUDER GRUNTING]

HE'S CLOSE.
OH, HE'S CLOSE.

HE'S RIGHT THERE.
YEAH.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDED
LIKE HE WAS

ALMOST PARALLEL TO US,
DIDN'T HE, THEN?

IT DID. JUST
A LITTLE BIT BEHIND...

LET'S GO.
LET'S GO OVER THERE.

YOU SURE?

YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S
TURN THE LIGHT ON, THEN.

[BLEEP]. I CAN'T SEE.
HANG ON, HANG ON.

OH, JESUS.

WHAT IS IT?

THE TEQUILA.
IT GOT TIPPED.

[BLEEP]
DID YOU DROP ANY?

UH-HUH.
WE HAVE SOME STILL.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: IN OUR
RUSH TO CATCH UP WITH THE LION,

WE ALMOST LOSE ANOTHER PART
OF OUR STAKEOUT KIT.

WHAT!
OH, FOR [BEEP].

NO WAY.
YEAH, IT WAS WRAPPED

AROUND THAT CORD.
IT'S OK. DON'T WORRY.

NO WAY.

IT'S OK, IT'S OK,
IT'S OK.

OH, MY GOD.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THANKFULLY, THERE'S JUST ENOUGH

TEQUILA TO KEEP US GOING.

BUT THE LION IS
NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

THE NEXT DAY,
WE CHECK THE FOOTAGE

FROM THE CAMERAS
AROUND THE WATERHOLE.

THE LION SLIPPED
RIGHT PAST US

AND CAME FOR A QUICK DRINK
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

AS IT TURNS OUT, SAITOTI
HAS SEEN THIS GUY BEFORE.

OLEKUWAI:
OOH, LOOK AT THAT.

HA HA HA. WOW.

YEAH?

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL,
BIG MALE LION. OOH.

LOOK AT THAT MANE.

EXACTLY. THE SIZE
OF THAT, UH,

THAT CAT IS HUGE.
IT'S IMMENSE.

DO YOU KNOW THIS LION?

I KNOW THIS GUY.
REALLY?

YEAH, HE'S, TO ME,

HE'S THE BIGGEST, OR
HE'S THE LARGEST LION.

THIS LION IS ABOUT,
UM, 10 YEARS OLD.

HE'S ON HIS PRIME.

WE NAME HIM
FROM THE MAASAI TRIBE.

THE BOYS, WE CALL HIM
KALAMAS.

MEANS "SNEAKY BOY."

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE NAME SAYS IT ALL.

IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE WE WERE

DRINKING TEQUILA
ON THE STAKEOUT.

THIS SNEAKY BOY
IS AN EXPERT AT

MOVING AROUND THE SAVANNAH
WITHOUT BEING SEEN.

HE'S SUCH A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL,
TANZANIAN SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN

TRACKING HIS MOVEMENTS
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

OLEKUWAI: WHEN YOU
LOOK AT HIS FACE...

HE'S GOT NO SCARS.

MEANS HE HAS TRIED TO AVOID

THE FIGHTING WITH
THE OTHER LIONS.

THAT'S PROBABLY KEPT
HIM IN THIS BETTER,

GOOD CONDITION
LIKE THIS UNTIL NOW.

THESE LIONS, THEY CAME
FROM NGORONGORO AND...

ALL THE WAY
FROM NGORONGORO CRATER?

ALL THE WAY
FROM THE CRATER.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
KALAMAS' TRACKING DATA SHOWS

THAT HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN

IN THE NGORONGORO CRATER...

A NEIGHBORING RESERVE
TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE.

BUT THIS UNUSUAL MALE LION
HAS CHOSEN TO MAKE

A HUGE MIGRATION TO MWIBA,

WALKING OVER 50 MILES.

SANJAYAN: BUT IS HE
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S
TERRITORY RIGHT NOW?

OLEKUWAI:
YES, HE IS IN, IS IN

THE TERRITORY OF
OTHER TWO MALES

THAT ARE ON THIS AREA.

IF THEY FIND HIM,
THEY'LL FIGHT?

THEY WILL FIGHT BUT...
OR CHASE HIM.

HE DON'T
LIKE FIGHTING,

AND SO HE WILL
JUST WALK AWAY.

HA HA HA. THIS IS
A GREAT LION STORY.

YEAH.
YEAH.

SO THIS GUY
DOESN'T LIKE TO FIGHT?

YEAH, HE DOESN'T
LIKE TO FIGHT,

AND PROBABLY THAT,
HE FIND THAT IS

THE BEST WAY FOR
HIM TO SURVIVE...

AND THAT'S WHY
HE HAS BEEN

AROUND
FOR A LONG TIME.

YEAH.
YEAH.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE TWO MALES ARE

PART OF THE MWIBA PRIDE.

THEIR DEN IS JUST OVER A MILE
AND A HALF FROM THE WATERHOLE...

A DISTANCE THAT
KALAMAS THE LION

COULD HAVE COVERED
IN 30 MINUTES.

BOB GOES TO SEE IF HE'S
MADE IT THERE LAST NIGHT,

AND, ON THE WAY, HE SPOTS
LIONS IN THE BUSHES.

THERE THEY ARE.
TWO MALE LIONS. WOW.

TOTI AND TOM
ARE A COALITION OF MALES

AND IT LOOKS LIKE
THEY'VE HAD BETTER DAYS.

HAVE PROBABLY JUST HAD
A RUN-IN WITH KALAMAS.

I THINK I SEE A LITTLE
BIT OF A SCAR

ON ONE OF THEIR EYES,

WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE
THEY WOULD REALLY BE

DEFENDING THEIR CUBS.

KALAMAS WOULD
KILL THEM INSTANTLY.

THERE'S A FEMALE.

ONE OF THESE TWO
IS PROBABLY THE DAD.

KALAMAS IS
A GREAT BIG MALE,

AND HE'S FORMIDABLE
EVEN ON HIS OWN,

BUT THESE TWO GUYS
CERTAINLY
WOULD OVERPOWER HIM,

BUT IT COULD HAVE
BEEN QUITE A FIGHT,

AND THEY LOOK LIKE
THEY'VE HAD A ROUGH NIGHT.

SANJAYAN: JUST LIKE
SAITOTI SAID,

KALAMAS AVOIDED A BIG FIGHT
AND HAS SNEAKED OFF AGAIN...

BUT HIS PRESENCE SEEMS TO HAVE
ALTERED THE ROUTINE OF

THE COMMUNITY AT THE WATERHOLE.

SO EVERYTHING CHANGES
ONCE THIS LION SHOWS UP.

IT SEEMS THAT THE WHOLE
SPECIES COMPOSITION...

YOU KNOW, WHO
SHOWS UP WITH WHOM...

SEEMS TO CHANGE
AFTER A PREDATOR

APPEARS AT THE WATERHOLE.

SO A COMMON GROUPING AT
OUR WATERHOLE, FOR EXAMPLE,

IS GIRAFFES, ZEBRA, AND IMPALA,

AND THAT KIND OF MAKES SENSE.

GIRAFFES CAN SEE
LONG DISTANCES;

THEY CAN SPOT THINGS
FAR, FAR AWAY.

ZEBRAS HAVE GREAT EARS
AND GREAT NOSES;

THEY CAN PICK UP
SCENT AND SOUND.

AND IMPALA, BEING KIND OF
LOW TO THE GROUND,

ARE ABLE TO SPOT
THINGS THAT MIGHT BE

CROUCHING, HIDDEN
IN THE UNDERBRUSH.

SO, EACH OF THESE
ANIMALS IS REALLY

COMPENSATING, OR
ADDING THEIR POWER

TO, UM, TO THE GROUP,
AND SO, YOU HAVE

SAFETY IN NUMBERS FOR SURE,

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE
SAFETY IN DIVERSITY.

NOW THAT PREY ARE TEAMING UP
TO WATCH OUT FOR PREDATORS,

THE WATERHOLE IS
GETTING BUSY AGAIN...

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

AND WE'RE SEEING MORE NEW
BIRD SPECIES, INCLUDING...

FISCHER'S LOVEBIRDS.

THEY'RE ONLY FOUND IN TANZANIA.

MARABOU STORKS, WHICH ARE THE
WORLD'S LARGEST STORK SPECIES,

REACHING UP TO 5 FEET TALL.

COLORFUL LILAC-BREASTED
ROLLERS... THEY SYMBOLIZE PEACE

FOR MANY AFRICAN COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO GET OUR FIRST
BIRD OF PREY:

AN AUGUR BUZZARD.

THEY SCOPE OUT WATERHOLES
AND PREDATE ON RODENTS

AND SMALL BIRDS
THAT COME TO DRINK.

ADDING THE AUGUR BUZZARD
BRINGS OUR SPECIES LIST TO 61.

ON AVERAGE, WE'VE HAD
4 NEW SPECIES A DAY

COME FOR A DRINK
DURING THE DRY SEASON.

AND DESPITE PREDATORS
BEING A CONSTANT THREAT,

THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SIGN
OF HUNTING AT THE WATERHOLE.

BUT JUST A MILE
AND A HALF AWAY,

BOB MAKES A DISCOVERY.

I'VE JUST FOUND THIS
MALE KUDU CARCASS

IN THE DRAINAGE RIGHT HERE.

SANJAYAN: IT LOOKS LIKE
PREDATORS

AREN'T HUNTING AT THE WATERHOLE

BECAUSE THEY'RE
PICKING OFF PREY

AS THEY TRAVEL TO AND FROM IT.

POOLE: IT'S
SO INTERESTING BECAUSE

IT'S JUST BEEN KILLED.

YOU CAN SEE THE STOMACH
HAS BEEN OPENED.

SANJAYAN:
WHATEVER KILLED THIS KUDU IS

PROBABLY GOING TO BE BACK.

SO, BOB IS GOING TO
STAKE OUT THIS CARCASS.

AFTER A FEW HOURS OF WAITING,

HE SPOTS SOMETHING
MOVING IN THE BUSHES.

MY GOODNESS. THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

WOW. WHAT A POWERFUL ANIMAL.

SANJAYAN: IT'S THE MWIBA PRIDE
LIONESS LERIAH,

AND SHE'S MADE THE KILL.

THE MALES TOTI AND TOM
ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN,

BUT THIS MEAL
ISN'T JUST FOR HER.

WHOA. LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT THAT RIGHT ON THERE,

ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN,

CUBS COMING DOWN THE BANK.

WHOA! THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
LOOK AT THAT!

I HAVEN'T SEEN
ANY OTHER LIONESSES,

SO, IT MEANS SHE'S ALL ALONE,

AT LEAST AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

SANJAYAN: LION PRIDES
VARY IN SIZE,

BUT THEY USUALLY HAVE
UP TO A DOZEN FEMALES.

A LONE MOTHER LIKE THIS
IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SIGHT,

ESPECIALLY WITH TWO CUBS
THAT ARE JUST 6 WEEKS OLD.

THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH THING
FOR A LIONESS TO BE

ALL ALONE LIKE THAT
WITH TWO CUBS.

VERY DIFFICULT
FOR HER MOVING FORWARD.

ONLY ABOUT 50% OF
THE CUBS MAKE IT

WHEN THEIR MOTHER'S
ALONE LIKE THIS.

SANJAYAN: THE WATERHOLE
COULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT

FOCAL POINT FOR LERIAH,
AS IT PROVIDES

A RELIABLE SOURCE OF
FOOD AND WATER.

IT'S BEEN JUST 14 DAYS SINCE
THE WATERHOLE WAS BUILT,

AND THERE'S ALREADY
BEEN SO MUCH MORE ACTION

THAN WE EVER EXPECTED.

I WAS LOOKING AT
ALL THE ANIMALS

THAT THIS WATERHOLE
HAS ATTRACTED, AND IT'S

WELL OVER 70 SPECIES OF
VERTEBRATES THAT HAVE

COME TO THIS WATERHOLE
IN JUST

THE FIRST MONTH OF...
OF THE OPENING.

I HONESTLY CAN SAY
IT'S BEEN

MORE THAN I EXPECTED.

EVER EXPECTED.

NUMBERS AT THIS WATERHOLE
HAVE GONE WILD...

A FULLY FUNCTIONING ECOSYSTEM
HAS SPRUNG UP...

FROM BUTTERFLIES TO BUFFALOS

AND LAPWINGS TO LIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN A WILD COMMUNITY
BUILD FROM NOTHING,

BUT THEIR LIVES ARE
GOING TO GET TOUGHER.

IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS,
THE DRY SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE

AND MWIBA RESERVE ENTERS
THE HOTTEST TIME OF YEAR.

WE'LL BE BACK TO FOLLOW
OUR WATERHOLE ANIMALS

WHEN THE HEAT IS
REALLY TURNED ON.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS]

NEXT TIME, AS TEMPERATURES
SURPASS 100 DEGREES...

TENSIONS REACH A BOILING POINT
WHEN A NEW PREDATOR

SWARMS THE WATERHOLE.

HYENAS INVADE AND TURN THE AREA

INTO A DANGER ZONE.

OH, WOW.
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

SO, THERE'S A WHOLE CLAN
OF HYENAS COMING IN.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
ARE THEY JUST
PICKING ON HIM?

OUR SPECIES LIST EXPANDS WITH
AN UNEXPECTED AFRICAN GIANT.

OH, THE HIPPO.
HOLY MOSES.

YOU GOT TO BE
KIDDING ME.

AND FOR ONE EXTRAORDINARY
ELEPHANT, THE WATERHOLE

BECOMES A VITAL LIFELINE.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE AN ELEPHANT

WITH HALF HIS TRUNK GONE.

♪

TO ORDER
"LIFE AT THE WATERHOLE"

ON DVD.

VISIT
SHOP.PBS.ORG

OR CALL
1-800-PLAY-PBS

THIS PROGRAM IS
ALSO AVAILABLE
ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

♪

♪