All language subtitles for Life at the Waterhole S01 E02_track3_[eng]

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IN THE BAKING HEAT OF
THE AFRICAN SAVANNA...

AS RIVERS DRY UP...

WILDLIFE FLOCKS
TO THE WATERHOLE.

WE'VE NEVER FULLY UNDERSTOOD
HOW A SINGLE WATER SOURCE CAN

SUPPORT SO MANY
COMPETING SPECIES...

UNTIL NOW.

THIS WATERHOLE HERE,
IT'S HUMAN MADE.

WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH SOME OF
THE WORLD'S BEST SCIENTISTS

AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO BRING
A WATER SOURCE TO THIS REALLY

HARSH, DRY PART OF AFRICA.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
RESERVE TO CREATE THE WORLD'S

FIRST WATERHOLE WITH A
BUILT-IN CAMERA SYSTEM.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE
BEFORE, AND WE HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT
THESE CAMERAS ARE ALWAYS ON

AND THEY'RE READY
TO CAPTURE THE ACTION.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IN THE DRY SEASON...

WE SAW A WILD COMMUNITY SPRING
UP AROUND THIS NEW OASIS.

WOW.

[WHISPERING]
IT'S LIKE MY HEART
IS RACING RIGHT NOW.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
BUT WHEN A HUGE PREDATOR
TURNED UP, EVERYTHING CHANGED.

MAN: OOH, LOOK AT THAT!
HA HA!

WOW!

THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL,
BIG MALE LION.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
NOW IT'S THE HOTTEST TIME OF
THE YEAR AND THINGS ARE GOING

TO GET TOUGHER AS TEMPERATURES
SOAR BEYOND 100 DEGREES...

TURNING THE WATERHOLE INTO
A LIFELINE FOR THE RESERVE'S

MOST VULNERABLE.

SANJAYAN: THAT'S AMAZING
TO SEE AN ELEPHANT

WITH HALF HIS
TRUNK GONE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AND THIS PRECIOUS WATER SOURCE
TURNS INTO A TARGET

FOR A NEW PREDATOR.

[HYENAS LAUGHING]

WILL A HYENA CLAN MUSCLE
THE LOCAL LION PRIDE OUT

OF THE AREA?

HYENAS WILL KILL LION CUBS
ANY CHANCE THEY GET.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THIS IS THE STORY OF LIFE...

AND DEATH AT THE WATERHOLE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
OUR WATERHOLE IS LOCATED ON
THE MWIBA WILDLIFE RESERVE,

PART OF THE
SERENGETI ECOSYSTEM

IN NORTHERN TANZANIA.

IT'S AN AREA SPANNING
OVER 200 SQUARE MILES...

A SANCTUARY FOR SOME OF
AFRICA'S MOST ICONIC WILDLIFE.

THE LONG DRY SEASON
IS COMING TO AN END...

AND WE'RE BACK AT THE
HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

FOR 8 HOURS A DAY,
TEMPERATURES REACH

A BLISTERING 100 DEGREES.

THE LANDSCAPE IS BEING
SCORCHED BY THE SUN...

AND ONE OF THE MAJOR SOURCES
OF FOOD FOR HERBIVORES,

ACACIA TREES,
ARE ALMOST BARE.

OUR WATERHOLE COULD BE
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

I CAN FEEL THE HEAT.

THIS IS THE HOTTEST
TIME OF YEAR.

THE RAINS HAVEN'T BROKEN YET,
THEY'RE JUST BUILDING,

AND EVERY DAY JUST
FEELS HEAVY AND HUMID.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THESE

COMMUNITIES OF ANIMALS THAT
WE'VE GOT TO KNOW SO WELL,

HOW THEY DEAL WITH
THIS NEW CHALLENGE...

THE CHALLENGE OF HEAT.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WITH NEARBY NATURAL WATER
SOURCES DRIED UP

AND WITH 5 MONTHS
OF VERY LITTLE RAIN,

OUR WATERHOLE IS NOW
SERVICING A HUGE AREA.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY SHADE,

SO JUST GETTING HERE
CAN BE EXHAUSTING.

BUT WHEN WATER IS SO SCARCE...

IT'S A JOURNEY ANIMALS
HAVE TO MAKE.

AND THINGS ARE ABOUT TO
GET EVEN MORE DANGEROUS.

A SPOTTED HYENA.

SANJAYAN: I'VE HEARD
SOMEONE CALL HYENAS THE
"WOLVES" OF THE SERENGETI.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
BUT WHY IS THIS NOCTURNAL
ANIMAL SHOWING UP AT OUR

WATERHOLE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?

LOOK AT THE BELLY
ON THAT HYENA.

CLEARLY JUST EATEN.

I MEAN, REALLY
EXTENDED BELLY.

THEY CAN PUT AWAY SO MUCH
FOOD, EAT IT SO QUICKLY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY HAVE
EVEN STARTED TO AFFECT ME.

[COUGHS]
I'M LOSING MY VOICE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
I'M ALSO SPEECHLESS THAT
THIS LONE HYENA IS SO BRAZEN.

IT'S CLEARLY MADE
A KILL NEARBY...

AND IT'S POSSIBLY

PICKING OFF DRINKERS AS THEY
COME IN TO THE WATERHOLE.

SANJAYAN: I WOULDN'T BE
SURPRISED IF HYENAS
DO MOST OF THE KILLING

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,
AND PARTICULARLY BRINGING DOWN

VERY BIG ANIMALS LIKE
BUFFALO WHERE YOU NEED,
YOU KNOW, 20, 30 HYENAS

TO BE ABLE TO PULL DOWN
AN ANIMAL THAT'S CLOSE
TO 1,000 POUNDS.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE SPOTTED HYENA GETS
A BAD RAP AS A SCAVENGER,

BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY AFRICA'S
MOST SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS.

OH, JUST LYING DOWN.

FROM A DISTANCE, YOU KNOW AT
A WATERHOLE LIKE THIS MAYBE

OTHER ANIMALS DON'T SEE IT.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: BUT
FOR THE ONES THAT DO SEE IT,

THE PRESENCE OF THIS
PREDATOR IS LIKELY TO
MAKE THEM REALLY NERVOUS

ABOUT COMING TO
THIS WATERHOLE.

IT'S UNEXPECTED TO ADD A NEW
APEX PREDATOR TO OUR SPECIES

LIST SO SOON INTO THE
HOTTEST TIME OF YEAR.

WHEN IT'S AT THIS WATERHOLE,
IT FEELS SPECIAL

BECAUSE IT'S
THE FIRST TIME.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT
MAKES THIS SO EXCITING.

YOU JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S
GONNA SHOW UP, AND EVERY

NEW ARRIVAL IS CELEBRATED,

REALLY CELEBRATED AS A NEW
ARRIVAL, AS A NEW DISCOVERY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S ALSO THE BEGINNINGS
OF A MYSTERY.

IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THIS HYENA
IS HUNTING ALONE, SO WHERE'S

HIS CLAN, AND EXACTLY HOW
MANY OF THEM ARE OUT THERE?

THE ARRIVAL OF A HYENA
MUST HAVE AN IMPACT

ON THE LOCAL LION PRIDE.

LAST TIME, CAMERAMAN BOB POOLE
DISCOVERED A LIONESS CALLED

LERIAH HUNTING AROUND THE
WATERHOLE DESPERATE TO

FEED HER CUBS.

[WHISPERING]
WOW, WHAT
A POWERFUL ANIMAL.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
SHE SEEMED LIKE A FIRM
FIXTURE IN OUR AREA,

BUT SINCE WE'VE BEEN BACK, WE
HAVEN'T SEEN HER NOR HER CUBS.

BOB HEADS 3 MILES OUT OF
CAMP TO CHECK CAMERA TRAPS

WE'VE PLACED AROUND A CARCASS
NEAR LERIAH'S DEN.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.

POOLE: THERE'S THE
MOTHER RIGHT THERE.

SHE CAME IN LOOKING
QUITE DEFENSIVE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S A RELIEF TO SEE LERIAH,

BUT SOMETHING
ISN'T QUITE RIGHT.

POOLE: WOW.
[HYENAS LAUGHING]

HYENAS.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
A WHOLE PACK OF HYENAS HAVE
DESCENDED ON THE CARCASS.

WHY, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8.

DEFINITELY LOOKING BACK
TOWARDS WHERE THE LIONESS IS.

I GUESS THE LIONESS IS
PROBABLY OUT OF VISION JUST...

JUST BEHIND THE CAMERA THERE,

SO A LOT OF
CONFRONTATION GOING ON.

NOW, WHEN YOU GET A PACK OF
HYENAS AND THEY'RE COMING

AT YOU FROM ALL SIDES,
ONE FEMALE CAN'T BEGIN TO

DEFEND A CARCASS LIKE THIS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE HAS

LITTLE CUBS THAT SHE'S
GOT TO PROTECT,

AND THAT WOULD BE HER
NUMBER-ONE OBJECTIVE,

WOULD BE
TO GET THOSE CUBS OUT
OF THERE SAFELY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER: BOB
CAN'T QUITE SEE WHERE LERIAH
GOES OR IF SHE EVEN MANAGES

TO GET HER CUBS OUT OF DANGER.

HYENAS WILL KILL LION CUBS
ANY CHANCE THEY GET.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S A WORRYING
TURN OF EVENTS.

BOB WILL KEEP SEARCHING
TO FIND OUT IF LERIAH

AND HER CUBS SURVIVED.

DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ARE
NOW SO UNBEARABLY HOT.

THE COOLER NIGHTS ARE DRAWING
IN MORE NEW SPECIES, INCLUDING

ONE AFRICAN GIANT THAT YOU
TYPICALLY SEE IN A WATERHOLE

RATHER THAN OUT OF IT.

NO! LOOK AT THE HIPPO.

HOLY MOSES.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
GUIDE NUHU MHAPPA IS WITH ME
TO LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE OF OUR

VERY FIRST HIPPO
AT THE WATERHOLE.

THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE, HUH?

WELL, I...
I WASN'T EXPECTING SOMETHING

LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN.

SANJAYAN:
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
HE'S COMING TO THIS POND.

HE'S JUST PASSING
RIGHT THROUGH IT.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

YEAH, HE'S NOT
INTERESTED AT ALL.

HE MIGHT HAVE ALREADY KNOWN
THAT THIS AREA IS NOT

DEEP ENOUGH
FOR HIM TO BE HERE.

SANJAYAN: I MEAN, THESE
HIPPOS GO A LONG WAY FROM
WATER TO FEED, RIGHT.

THEY GO OUT ONTO
GRASSLANDS AND GRAZE.

YES, YES, SO...

AND THEY CAN GO MANY MILES
FROM... BECAUSE WHENEVER

YOU SEE HIPPOS,
YOU SEE THEM IN THE WATER,

SO YOU THINK THEY'RE
EATING AQUATIC VEGETATION,
BUT THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING
ON LAND AT NIGHT AND
GOING VAST DISTANCES.

MHAPPA: VAST DISTANCES.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
EACH NIGHT, A HUNGRY HIPPO CAN
EAT OVER 65 POUNDS OF GRASS.

IS THAT SOMETHING
THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
IS IT A ROCK?

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AND HE ISN'T THE ONLY ANIMAL
LOOKING FOR A MIDNIGHT MEAL.

THAT'S AN OWL. IT'S CALLED
A VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL IS A
HIGHLY OPPORTUNISTIC PREDATOR.

IT'S EQUIPPED WITH POWERFUL
TALONS, EAR TUFTS,

AND CRAZY EYELIDS.

IT'S THE BIGGEST OWL
THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE AREA.

IT'S GOT PINK EYELIDS.

LIKE SOMEONE HAS
BEEN WORKING ON THEM,

ON THEIR EYELASHES.

MHAPPA: LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SANJAYAN:
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

THAT'S REALLY AMAZING.

I MEAN, WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE
LIKE TABLEAU OF WILDLIFE

AND CRAZINESS, YOU KNOW,
HIPPO GOES WALKING THROUGH,

THEN A BUFFALO, AND THEN
THE OWL TAKES OFF.

I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE...

THAT'S THE MAGIC OF
THE WATERING HOLE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WE BUILT A WATERHOLE
WITH NO IDEA

IF ANIMALS WOULD
EVEN SHOW UP.

BUT IN JUST A FEW MONTHS,
IT'S BECOME A HOTSPOT

OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNA.

IN THE DRY SEASON, PREY ANIMALS
WERE THE MOST FREQUENT VISITORS,

BUT NOW, IN THIS
HOTTEST TIME OF YEAR,

MORE AND MORE PREDATORS ARE
COMING TO THE WATERHOLE.

SERVALS ARE MID-SIZED
SAVANNA CATS.

THEY CAN LEAP UP TO 10 FEET
IN THE AIR TO CATCH BIRDS

MID-FLIGHT.

THE AFRICAN WILDCAT USES ITS
ACUTE HEARING TO PRECISELY

LOCATE PREY AROUND
WATER POINTS.

SPOTTED GENETS USE THEIR
RETRACTABLE CLAWS TO HUNT

IN TREES AND ALSO
DOWN ON THE GROUND.

THE WATERHOLE HAS NOW BECOME
A REGULAR FEATURE

IN THE LANDSCAPE.

PREY SUCH AS RATS AND HARES
MAKE FREQUENT VISITS DURING

THE NIGHT, GIVING
THESE SMALLER PREDATORS

OPPORTUNITIES TO HUNT.

WITH MORE PREDATORS STOPPING
BY THE WATERHOLE AT NIGHT,

YOU'D THINK EVERY OTHER ANIMAL
WOULD VISIT FOR A DRINK

DURING THE DAY, BUT THAT'S
SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, NOW IN THE
HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR,

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
NOTICING LOOKING AT THE DATA

IS THAT A LOT OF THE ANIMALS
THAT WOULD COME PREFERENTIALLY

IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE DAY,
IN THE SORT OF SUNNIEST,

HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY... THE
ZEBRAS, IMPALAS, WARTHOGS...

THAT WERE BASICALLY TRYING TO
AVOID NIGHTTIME PREDATORS,

THEY, TOO, HAVE SHIFTED.

THEY'VE SHIFTED
THEIR BEHAVIOR.

IT'S JUST SIMPLY TOO HOT
TO BE OUT THERE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
SO, THE SCHEDULE HAS
BEEN TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.

BUFFALO THAT WOULD NORMALLY
ARRIVE AT DUSK NOW WAIT UNTIL

DARKNESS AT 8 P.M. BEFORE
COMING DOWN FOR A DRINK.

ELEPHANTS, WHO REGULARLY
VISITED DURING THE MIDDLE

OF THE AFTERNOON, ARE NOW MOST
OFTEN APPEARING AROUND 9 P.M.

ZEBRA, WHICH USED TO COME DOWN
AT 11 A.M. EVERY DAY, ARE NOW

MORE FREQUENTLY SPOTTED
IN THE EARLY HOURS,

AROUND 2 A.M. TO 4 A.M.

SO AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
NIGHTTIME IS THE NEW RUSH HOUR.

THE BUSY NIGHTS
GIVE ME A CHANCE TO DO

SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

USING THE BLIND, I CAN
ATTEMPT TO GET CLOSE TO

AN AFRICAN GIANT.

THE INFRARED LIGHTS MEANS
THAT THE CAMERAS CAN CAPTURE

EVERYTHING, BUT I
AM COMPLETELY BLIND.

[FROGS AND TOADS CROAKING]

[WATER SPLASHING]

THE CHORUS OF FROGS AND TOADS
GIVE ME SOME COVER, BUT IT'S

NOT LONG BEFORE HE DETECTS ME.

SANJAYAN: AND YOU CAN
JUST FEEL ITS PRESENCE

MORE THAN YOU
CAN SEE IT.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S YOUNG A BULL ELEPHANT,
AND HE KNOWS I'M HERE.

[WHISPERING]
AND THOUGH HE CAN'T
REALLY SEE US,

HE CAN
DEFINITELY SMELL US

AND HE FOR SURE
CAN HEAR US.

[TRUMPETS]
RIGHT THERE.

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

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AND HE'S NOT ALONE.

IT'S BUFFALO.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
CAPE BUFFALO ARE NOTORIOUSLY
AGGRESSIVE AND DON'T LIKE TO

SHARE TERRITORY.

AND IT'S A STAND-OFF.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS]

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AN ANGRY ELEPHANT LIKE THIS
YOUNG MALE CAN USE HIS TUSKS

TO PICK UP A BUFFALO
AND TOSS IT IN THE AIR.

THIS TIME, THE
BUFFALO BACKS DOWN.

BUT THE TWO POOLS WE BUILT AT
THIS WATERHOLE MEANS THAT BOTH

THESE GIANTS CAN GET
A DRINK TONIGHT.

THE BUFFALO HAVE DECIDED
TO DRINK FROM THIS WATERHOLE

BECAUSE THE ELEPHANT IS
DRINKING FROM THIS ONE.

AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN IN THIS
SMALL SPACE, THE SEPARATION

BETWEEN SPECIES.

YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF
INTERACTION IS WHAT'S

SO FANTASTIC TO SEE AND YOU
ONLY GET THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR

AT WATERHOLES, WHEN ANIMALS
ARE FORCED... ARE FORCED INTO

CLOSE PROXIMITY
WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AS THE BUFFALO RETREAT,

THE YOUNG BULL BECOMES
MORE AWARE OF US.

AN ELEPHANT'S HEARING
IS INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE.

THEY'RE EVEN ABLE TO DETECT
SEISMIC VIBRATIONS THROUGH

THEIR FEET.

THE ELEPHANT IS
RIGHT UP AT ME.

HE'S COMING RIGHT TOWARDS ME.

HE'S GOT HIS EARS OUT.

HE CAN HEAR ME.

SHH, SHH.

[WATER DRIPPING]

HE'S REALLY CLOSE.

I CAN HEAR THE WATER
DRIPPING FROM HIS TRUNK.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
HIS TRUNK COULD WEIGH
AS MUCH AS 300 POUNDS

AND IS ABLE TO
HOLD 2 GALLONS OF
WATER AT A TIME.

SO, IT'S NOT REALLY
SURPRISING THAT HE'S
TAKING LOTS OF TIMEOUTS,

RESTING HIS
TRUNK ON HIS TUSKS.

I MEAN, COME ON.

[BUBBLING]

IT'S BLOWING BUBBLES,
AND HE'S RIGHT THERE.

[SNORTING]

HE'S COME CLOSER.

HE'S RIGHT ON TOP OF ME NOW.

I FEEL...

[SNORTING]

IT REALLY IS
PRETTY MAGICAL.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WITH HIS THIRST QUENCHED
AND TERRITORY SUCCESSFULLY

DEFENDED, THE YOUNG
BULL LEAVES TRIUMPHANT.

IT WAS GREAT TO GET
TO KNOW HIM

AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL
COME BACK SOON.

WITH FEWER LARGE ANIMALS
COMING TO THE WATERHOLE DURING

THE DAY, SMALLER
CREATURES ARE TAKING OVER.

[BUZZING]

MILLIONS OF INSECTS
ARE SPOTTED BUZZING

AROUND THE WATERHOLE.

AND WE'VE GOT NEW BIRDS
DROPPING BY...

INCLUDING THE STEPPE EAGLE,

WHICH BREEDS IN
EASTERN EUROPE, BEFORE

JOURNEYING NEARLY
6,000 MILES TO AFRICA.

AND EGYPTIAN GEESE
THAT PAIR UP FOR LIFE.

ONCE ONE DIES, THE OTHER
MOURNS IN SECLUSION AND OFTEN

REFUSES TO MATE EVER AGAIN.

[GEESE CALLING]

THE WATERHOLE IS
A MUCH-NEEDED REFILLABLE

AND RELIABLE WATER SOURCE

FOR ALL THESE SPECIES,
AND FOR SOME, IT COULD ALSO BE

A SOURCE FOR FOOD.

WOW, LOOK AT THOSE GUYS.

OH, YELLOW-BILLED STORKS.

IT'S A WHOLE FLOCK OF THEM!

THESE ARE SUCH GREAT SHOTS
OF THESE GUYS, AND YOU DON'T

REALLY GET TO SEE THEM
CLOSE UP LIKE THIS.

THEY'RE OUT THERE
HUNTING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING
FOR FISH OR FROGS AND LITTLE

THINGS THAT SWIM THROUGH THE
WATER AND THEY HUNT BY KEEPING

THEIR BILLS OPEN LIKE THIS,
AND THEY JUST SWIM IT THROUGH

THE WATER, AND IF THEY
FEEL A LITTLE FISH
GO RIGHT BETWEEN THEM,

THEY'LL JUST SNAP IT SHUT.

NOW, THEY DON'T KNOW THIS,
BUT THIS WATERHOLE'S SO NEW

THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NOT
ANY FISH IN THERE YET.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IN ANOTHER FEW WEEKS,
THE RAINS WILL ARRIVE

AND THE LANDSCAPE WILL FLOOD.

THAT'S WHEN WATERWAYS WILL
OPEN UP FOR FISH TO FIND THEIR

WAY TO THE WATERHOLE.

I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE
A BIT DISAPPOINTED.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
FISH EGGS CAN ALSO BE
TRANSPORTED ON THE FEET

OF THESE BIRDS, AS THEY
MOVE FROM ONE WATER SOURCE

TO ANOTHER.

SO JUST THE FACT THAT THESE
STORKS ARE VISITING COULD VERY

WELL MEAN THAT SOMETIME IN
THE FUTURE WE'RE GONNA START

SEEING BABY FISH
IN THIS WATERHOLE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
CAMERAMAN BOB POOLE IS STILL
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LERIAH

AND HER CUBS.

HE'S HEARD FROM ONE OF THE
MWIBA GUIDES THAT A CARCASS

HAS BEEN FOUND.

THERE'S BEEN A KILL
RIGHT HERE IN CAMP.

IT'S RIGHT DOWN HERE, JUST
A FEW HUNDRED METERS, AND WE

NEED TO GO CHECK IT OUT
BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT'S

A FULL-GROWN ADULT WATERBUCK,
WHICH IS A SIZEABLE ANIMAL.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE CARCASS IS LESS THAN HALF
A MILE FROM THE WATERHOLE.

SO BOB IS KEEN TO FIND
OUT WHAT'S BEEN HUNTING.

IT'S REMARKABLE, REALLY.

THIS CARCASS IS GONE.

THERE'S NOT EVEN ANY
EVIDENCE IT WAS EVER HERE.

THERE'S A TINY BIT OF A GUT
PILE, CONTENTS, NO STOMACH.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
COULD THIS BE THE
WORK OF LERIAH?

JUST LOOKING TO SEE IF
THERE IS ANY LION PRINTS.

BUT SO FAR,
I ONLY SEE HYENA.

HYENAS WILL JUST RIP
THIS CARCASS TO PIECES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR JAWS,
THEY'RE EXTREMELY WIDE HERE,

AND THEY HAVE VERY STRONG
MUSCLES ON THE TOP OF THEIR

HEADS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO
CRACK RIGHT THROUGH BONES,

AND THEY ACTUALLY EAT THEM.

THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU SEE THEIR
DUNG, IT'S OFTEN JUST WHITE,

BECAUSE THEY ABSORB SO
MUCH CALCIUM FROM THE BONES

THAT THEY EAT.

BUT JUST GOES TO SHOW
YOU THAT NOTHING IS

WASTED OUT HERE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IT WAS FOUND LAST NIGHT,

AND A GUIDE HAS PLACED
A CAMERA TRAP ON IT.

BOB WANTS TO CONFIRM IF THIS
IS A HYENA KILL AND HOW MANY

THERE MIGHT BE IN THE AREA.

GUESS WHAT.
THEY CAME IN THE DAYLIGHT.

OK, HERE WE GO.
HYENA COMING ON.

OH, YEAH, BEAUTIFUL SHOT.

HA! STARING STRAIGHT
AT THE CAMERA NOW.

OH, WOW, HERE IT GOES.

AAH, ONE HYENA JUST
STRUGGLING TO DRAG THAT,

BUT DOING IT.

OH, THAT'S COOL.
FLIPPED IT OVER.

I WAS THINKING IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN A WHOLE, YOU KNOW,

GROUP OF HYENAS THAT CAME
ON FIRST, BUT IT'S JUST ONE

INDIVIDUAL, BUT IT SHOWS YOU
THE STRENGTH OF THIS ANIMAL

LIKE DRAGGING THAT HUGE
CARCASS AND CONSUMING

TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MEAT.

A HYENA CAN EAT 15 KILOGRAMS
OF MEAT IN ONE GO, WHICH IS

25% OF ITS BODY WEIGHT.

PHENOMENAL TO THINK OF.

WOW, THIS GUY'S REALLY LUCKY
HE'S NOT HAVING TO SHARE IT

AT ALL AT THE MOMENT.

OH, HANG ON. UM...

THERE'S ANOTHER HYENA IN
THE BACKGROUND THERE.

OH, HERE WE GO.
HA HA!

HE'S BEEN DISCOVERED
AND WE'VE GOT

1, 2, 3, 4 HYENAS.

THEY'RE REALLY
RIPPING INTO IT.

ALL RIGHT, THIS
NOW MAKES SENSE.

I DIDN'T THINK ONE HYENA
COULD EAT THAT WHOLE THING.

[HYENA SQUEALING]

ONE HAS JUST TAKEN OFF
WITH THE HIND QUARTER.

SO THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

BIT BY BIT,
THE THING IS GONE.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DEVOUR
THIS CARCASS IN A VERY SHORT

AMOUNT OF TIME.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE DOWN
AND CONSUME LARGE PREY IS

A SURE SIGN THAT HYENAS ARE
GROWING IN CONFIDENCE IN WHAT

USED TO BE LION TERRITORY.

IT'S NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE
LIONESS LERIAH AND HER CUBS.

[THUNDER]

THAT NIGHT,
A LONE HYENA RETURNS,

BUT IT'S A FRONT RUNNER
ON A SCOUTING MISSION.

WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES,
A WHOLE CLAN DESCENDS

ON OUR WATERHOLE.

[HYENAS CALLING]

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

I THINK THERE'S 8?

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
DR. MEREDITH PALMER HAS BEEN
STUDYING AFRICA'S CARNIVORES

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

SHE CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW
THE CLAN MIGHT BE IMPACTING

LIFE AT THE WATERHOLE.

SO THESE WHOOPING CALLS
THAT THEY'RE GIVING

ARE A LONG-DISTANCE
CALL THAT THEY USE

TO SORT OF RALLY
THE TROOPS AND BRING
EVERYONE TOGETHER.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
SPOTTED HYENAS ARE SOMETIMES
KNOWN AS "LAUGHING HYENAS"

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A
DISTINCTIVE CALL THAT SOUNDS

LIKE HUMAN LAUGHTER.

[HYENA CALLING]

THEY CAN MAKE UP TO 12
DIFFERENT VOCAL SOUNDS,

BUT THESE CAN BE MODULATED
TO CREATE EVEN MORE MEANING.

HOW BIG DO THESE CLANS GET?

YEAH, SO CLANS CAN BE
DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS.

IN THESE SUPER-CLANS LIKE,
YOU KNOW, SPREAD OUT OVER

THE LANDSCAPE, WOULD THERE BE
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION?

YEAH, SO THEY
RECOGNIZE RELATIVES,

EVEN DISTANT RELATIVES.

THERE'S A HIERARCHY
WITHIN THESE CLANS BASED

ON THE MATRILINE.

SO YOU HAVE MORE-
DOMINANT FEMALES

AND LESS-DOMINANT
FEMALES.

SO THEY'RE A VERY SOCIAL
CREATURE AND THEY HAVE THAT

SOCIAL AWARENESS OF WHO
THEY ARE RELATIVE TO THIS

LARGER CLAN STRUCTURE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
HYENAS ARE HIGHLY
TERRITORIAL ANIMALS.

NOW THAT THE CLAN HAS
DESCENDED ON THE WATERHOLE,

IT IS LIKELY THEY COULD CLAIM
THIS AREA AS THEIR OWN.

[HYENAS CALLING]

THE SITUATION COULD EASILY
GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

MEREDITH BELIEVES THAT
THERE COULD BE EVEN MORE

HYENAS NEARBY.

JUST THEIR SCENT ALONE
COULD PUT OFF OTHER ANIMALS...

WHICH COULD BE WHY, IN THE DAYS
FOLLOWING THE HYENA CLAN VISIT,

ALMOST NOTHING COMES
TO DRINK AT THE WATERHOLE.

I NEED TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT THESE DOMINANT HYENA,

SO IN THE EARLY EVENING,
AS TEMPERATURES DROP,

I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COOLER
AIR TO JOIN BOB TO FIND OUT

WHERE THEY LIVE.

YESTERDAY, BOB SPOTTED A HYENA
DEN WITH YOUNG CUBS, JUST OVER

A MILE FROM OUR WATERHOLE...

NO, HANG ON NOW.

BUT FINDING IT AGAIN
IS PROVING TRICKY.

I THINK I WENT... I MIGHT
HAVE GONE PAST IT,
YOU GUYS.

NO.

YEAH, YOU HAVE.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE THAT OTHER
TERMITE MOUND, I SAID
"IS IT THAT ONE?"

THIS ONE.

NO, THAT'S NOT IT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A HYENA
DEN THAT BOB ESSENTIALLY
STUMBLED UPON,

BUT HE LIKES TO SAY HE
FOUND IT AND JUST ABOUT NOW,

RIGHT AT DUSK, THE
PUPS MIGHT COME OUT.

IT MIGHT BE THE SAME HYENAS
THAT ARE COMING TO

OUR WATERHOLE, WHICH IS
NOT VERY FAR AWAY.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
DEN FINALLY FOUND, WE PUT
OUT A REMOTE CAMERA.

[WHISPERING]
IT'S A BIT STRANGE.

IMAGINE WAKING UP IN YOUR
BEDROOM ONE DAY AND THERE'S

A GIANT CAMERA IN THERE,
BUT THE IDEA IS IF WE GET THIS

CAMERA KIND OF CLOSE, THEN
WE CAN BACK OFF AND LET

THE CAMERA DO ALL THE WATCHING
FOR US AND WE CAN GO BACK INTO

THE TRUCK AND WATCH
THE PUPS FROM THERE.

OK, LET'S LEAVE IT.
GOOD.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WITH THE CAMERAS ROLLING,
WE CAN GET OUT OF SIGHT.

BOTH: THAT'S FANTASTIC.

THAT'S REALLY NICE.
YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

SANJAYAN:
THAT'S A YOUNG ONE,
ALL THAT WHITE FUR.

VERY CLEAN.

JUST TROTTED OUT OF
ITS DEN, SNIFFING.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THE REST OF THE DEN
ARE KEEN TO FOLLOW.

OH, THERE'S 4,
4 PUPS.

OH, IS THERE?

4 HYENA PUPS.

I'M GONNA GUESS
A FEW MONTHS OLD,

MAYBE A COUPLE MONTHS
OLD, 3 MONTHS OLD.

LOOK AT THAT.

[HYENAS GROWLING
AND SQUEALING]

WHEN THE HYENA PUPS
ARE REALLY SMALL,
THE MOTHER MOVES THEM

VERY FREQUENTLY.

THEY USUALLY LOVE TO
DEN IN THESE TERMITE
MOUNDS OR IN OLD

WARTHOG BURROWS, AND THEY'LL
MOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE

A VERY STRONG SCENT
AND THEY DON'T WANT
OTHER PREDATORS TO

KNOW THAT THEY'RE
DENNING THERE.

IN THIS CASE, THESE PUPS
ARE A BIT OLDER.

I THINK THOSE PUPS CAN
MOVE ON THEIR OWN NOW.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AS THE LIGHT GOES, WE ACTIVATE
THE CAMERA'S INFRARED.

THE PUPS BECOME BOLDER.

ONE THING I'VE NOTICED IS
THERE'S A LOT OF HYENAS,

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY
GOOD HABITAT.

I MEAN,
THESE TERMITE MOUNDS MAKE

EXCELLENT DEN SITES, RIGHT.

YEAH. THESE HYENAS
ARE IN BIG CLANS

BECAUSE I BET YOU THEY
FEED QUITE A BIT ON
SOME BIG ANIMALS.

CLAN SIZE IS OFTEN
DETERMINED BY WHAT ANIMALS
THEY'RE SPECIALIZING ON.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
CHOOSING A DEN SITE SO CLOSE TO
OUR WATERHOLE AND THEREFORE

CLOSER TO PREY IS A KEY
SURVIVAL STRATEGY THAT WILL

HELP THIS CLAN GROW
STRONG IN NUMBERS.

BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND
THE WATERHOLE, IT'S BAD NEWS.

WITH HYENAS AN EVER-INCREASING
PRESENCE,

TRAFFIC AT THE WATERHOLE
IS SLOW.

[WATER SPLASHING]

BUT THIS EVENING, THERE'S ONE,
LONE, NIGHTTIME VISITOR.

IT'S A MALE ELEPHANT WHO'S
FAR TOO BIG FOR THE HYENAS

TO TAKE DOWN.

A CLOSER LOOK AT HIM
REVEALS SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.

SANJAYAN: I MEAN, THAT'S
AMAZING TO SEE AN ELEPHANT

WITH HALF HIS
TRUNK GONE.

MHAPPA: UH-HUH,
UH-HUH, YEAH.

WE'VE SEEN HIM
FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
NUHU KNOWS THE SAD STORY
BEHIND THIS ELEPHANT'S

HALF-TRUNK.

MHAPPA: IT'S AMAZING THAT
HE'S STILL SURVIVING.

THE SNARES HAVE BEEN
SET BY THE POACHERS.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
SNARES ARE OFTEN SET UP ALONG
GAME TRAILS AND IN LONG GRASS.

THEY PUT THEIR TRUNK
IN THERE, IT GOT CAUGHT.

YEAH, IT GET CAUGHT
AND THAT'S HOW...

AND IT'S LIKE
A WIRE LOOP RIGHT?

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THIS POOR GUY WAS
SNAGGED BY HIS TRUNK,

CAUSING TERRIBLE DAMAGE.

AND AS IT GETS STRONGER,
THEY BECOME SO AGGRESSIVE

AND THEN EVENTUALLY JUST
PULL, PULL AS HARD AS...

HE HAS BEEN WITH THAT
KIND OF WOUND FOR
QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
LIFE IS CHALLENGING
FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL.

USING THEIR TRUNKS, ELEPHANTS
ARE CAPABLE OF LIFTING OVER

600 POUNDS, SOMETHING HE
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DO.

AND STILL ABLE TO DRINK.

I MEAN,
THAT'S THE PART THAT WAS

SURPRISING TO ME, THAT HE
COULD STILL, EVEN WITH THE

HALF-TRUNK, SORT OF GET IT IN
THE WATER AND SUCK UP ENOUGH

WATER AND SORT OF SPRAY
IT INTO HIS MOUTH.

YEAH, IT'S NOT BEING DONE VERY
EFFICIENTLY COMPARED TO OTHER

ELEPHANTS THAT HAVE GOT
A COMPLETE TRUNK.

AS SOON AS HE TIP THAT TIP
OF THE TRUNK IN THE WATER,

THEN HE WILL BE ABLE TO SUCK,
BUT NOT THE SAME AMOUNT.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
MANY NATURAL WATER SOURCES

ARE DRIED UP AND HARDER
FOR HIM TO REACH.

SO WATER DEEP ENOUGH FOR HIM
TO WADE INTO WILL ALLOW HIM

TO SURVIVE.

I FEEL A LITTLE SAD.
YEAH.

IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO PICTURE
ABOUT HOW IT MIGHT HAVE

HAPPENED AND HOW
HORRIBLE THE SCENARIO WAS.

BUT, YEAH.

IS VERY SAD THAT TO KNOW
THAT HUMAN ARE JUST BEHIND

THE INSTANCE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
POACHING STILL REMAINS A
MAJOR CHALLENGE IN THE REGION.

IT HAS A LASTING IMPACT ON
MANY ANIMALS, LIKE HALF-TRUNK.

AS DAY BREAKS, AN UNLIKELY
SPECIES IS PROVING TO BE

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

[GEESE SQUAWKING]

EGYPTIAN GEESE ARE
AGGRESSIVELY TERRITORIAL,

ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF
YEAR AS BREEDING BEGINS.

THIS MATING PAIR IS PROTECTING
THEIR PATCH FROM OTHER GEESE,

BUT THEY'RE ALSO
AN INTIMIDATING PRESENCE

FOR MUCH BIGGER ANIMALS
COMING TO THE WATER.

EVEN TOP PREDATORS LIKE THIS
HUGE MARTIAL EAGLE HAVE LITTLE

PATIENCE FOR THIS COUPLE.

BETWEEN THE DOMINEERING GEESE
AND THE NIGHTTIME HYENA CLAN,

THE USUAL ANIMAL COMMUNITY
APPEARS TO BE STAYING AWAY.

[HYENAS CALLING]

AND OVER THE NEXT FEW NIGHTS,
HYENA VISITS RAMP UP.

THEY'RE SO CONFIDENT NOW,
IT'S LIKE THEY OWN THE PLACE.

[HYENA SNIFFING]

AND ONE SELF-ASSURED HYENA
APPEARS WITH EVIDENCE THAT

IT'S BEEN HUNTING NEARBY.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S TRYING
TO COVER UP ANY TRACE OF HIS

MIDNIGHT FEAST.

HE CARRIES IT INTO THE WATER,

BUT THEN DECIDES TO STASH IT

IN THE BUSHES...

BEFORE RETURNING
TO WASH DOWN HIS FEAST.

SPOTTED HYENAS ARE NOT ONLY
FIERCELY INTELLIGENT,

THEY ARE INQUISITIVE AS WELL.

FOR THIS ONE, CURIOSITY HAS
BROUGHT HIM UP CLOSE TO OUR

CREW CAMP, JUST HALF A MILE
FROM THE WATERHOLE.

THEY'RE EVEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO
COME RIGHT UP TO OUR TENTS,

HOWLING THROUGH THE NIGHT.

[HYENAS HOWLING]

AND THEY'RE NOW USING THE
SAME TRAILS WE USE TO GET

IN AND OUT OF THE CAMP.

DESPITE THE HYENAS GETTING
BRAVER, BOLDER AND MORE CURIOUS,

OVER THE NEXT FEW
NIGHTS WE STILL MANAGE TO SPOT

SOME NEW SPECIES
AT THE WATERHOLE.

[CHIRPING]

HORSESHOE BATS, WHICH
CAN EAT UP TO 3,000

INSECTS A NIGHT.

[CROAKING]

AND THESE AFRICAN RED
TOADS DON'T DRINK.

THEY CAN ABSORB THE WATER
DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR SKIN.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT
DESPITE THE HYENAS,

THERE'S STILL LIFE
AT THE WATERHOLE.

BUT SINCE THE CLAN INVADED,
THERE'S BEEN NO SIGN

OF LIONESS LERIAH
AND HER CUBS.

BOB HAS EXPANDED
HIS SEARCH AREA.

EVENTUALLY, HE SPOTS EVIDENCE
OF LIONS, 10 MILES FROM

THE WATERHOLE.

THERE'S A CARCASS
RIGHT THERE.

MAYBE SHE'S MADE
A KILL IN HERE.

POOLE:
THERE SHE IS.

MAYBE THE CUBS
ARE THERE, TOO.

I MEAN, I HAVEN'T SEEN
THESE CUBS IN SO LONG.

I GUESS WE JUST HAVE TO STAY
HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

OH, OH, OH, OH.

I JUST SAW MOVEMENT THERE.

AH! THE CUBS
ARE RIGHT THERE.

OH, MY GOD.

THEY'RE RIGHT THERE.
I CAN BARELY SEE IT.

OH, MY GOD.

LET'S SEE.

HOW MANY?

1, 2, 3
LITTLE CUBS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET SO INVESTED
IN THIS STUFF AND YOUR MIND

PLAYS TRICKS WITH YOU,
LIKE THEY'RE DEAD

AND IT'S LIKE, WOW.
IT'S JUST...

IT ACTUALLY BECOMES QUITE
EMOTIONAL, YOU KNOW,

TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
LERIAH HAS SUCCESSFULLY MOVED
HER CUBS AWAY FROM THE HYENAS.

LION TERRITORIES CAN COVER
OVER 200 SQUARE MILES,

AN AREA EQUIVALENT TO
THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AS LONG AS SHE KEEPS ON
THE MOVE, THE CUBS' CHANCE

OF SURVIVAL WILL
INCREASE AS THEY GROW.

BUT OTHER ANIMALS CAN'T MOVE
OUT OF THE AREA SO EASILY.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT
TO RISK THEIR LIVES COMING DOWN

TO THE HYENA-DOMINATED
WATERHOLE.

THIS VERVET MONKEY MUM NEEDS
TO DRINK EVERY DAY IN ORDER TO

KEEP PRODUCING NUTRIENT-RICH
MILK FOR HER YOUNG.

THE MONKEYS ARE SAFE FROM
HYENAS WHILE RESTING UP

IN THE TREES, BUT ONCE
THEY'RE ON THE GROUND,

THEY MUST BE CAREFUL.

LUCKILY FOR THIS MUM, THE
REST OF THE TROOP IS NEARBY

TO KEEP WATCH.

WITH THE COAST CLEAR,
SHE MAKES IT TO THE WATERHOLE.

THE BABY GETS FLUIDS FROM
DRINKING THEIR MOTHER'S MILK,

SO AS LONG AS THE MOM
GETS ENOUGH WATER,

THE BABY WILL BE ABLE TO
SURVIVE THE HEAT.

OUR WATERHOLE HAS BECOME A
LIFELINE FOR MANY ANIMALS...

INCLUDING THE ELEPHANT
WITH HALF A TRUNK.

[WATER SPLASHING]

HE HAS RETURNED,
AND INCREDIBLY, HE'S FOUND

A HERD TO DRINK WITH.

ELEPHANTS ARE HIGHLY SOCIAL,
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

ARE KEEN TO INTERACT WITH HIM.

THEY USE THEIR TRUNKS TO
COMMUNICATE, SMELLING

AND TOUCHING EACH
OTHER'S MOUTHS.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY AN
ELEPHANT HANDSHAKE.

HALF-TRUNK DOES HIS BEST TO
RETURN THE GESTURE,

MAKING A VITAL SOCIAL BOND

AND CONFIRMING HALF-TRUNK
AS ONE OF THE FAMILY.

DURING THE HOTTEST TIME OF
YEAR, WE'VE SEEN NUMBERS

INCREASE AND THEIR
VISITS INTENSIFY BOTH DAY

AND NIGHT...

BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY HOW MANY HYENA

THERE ARE IN THIS CLAN.

SANJAYAN:
SO WE SEE ALL THESE HYENAS
AT THE WATERHOLE PRETTY MUCH

EVERY DAY, BUT WE HAVEN'T
REALLY BEEN ABLE TO GET

A SENSE OF HOW MANY HYENAS
ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN THIS

ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT,
MEREDITH, AND THAT'S
WHY YOU'VE GOT THIS

INGENIOUS IDEA OF
HOW TO TRY AND COUNT
THE HYENAS THAT ARE

ACTUALLY OUT HERE.

AND PLAYING BACK SOUND
IS BASICALLY PLAYING
BACK SOUNDS

OF HYENAS
OR SOMETHING ELSE?

YEAH, SO WE'RE DOING TWO
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLAYBACKS.

SO ONE SET OF CALLS IS PREY
ANIMALS IN DISTRESS, BUT WE'RE

ALSO PLAYING A SET OF CALLS
THAT ARE HYENA SOCIAL CALLS.

RIGHT.

SO THEY'RE CALLS THAT WERE
COLLECTED IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

THEY'RE NOT HYENAS
THESE HYENAS KNOW.

OH, I SEE.

SO IF THEY HEAR IT,
THEY'LL THINK A NEW
CLAN HAS COME IN...

YEAH, EXACTLY.
AND THEY'LL COME
TO INVESTIGATE.

THEY'RE COMING TO SEE
WHO THESE NEW HYENAS ARE.

GOT IT.
MM-HMM.

OK, SO DO YOU WANT TO
TRY AND PLAY SOME CALLS?

[RECORDED HYENA CALLS]

SO, YOU BASICALLY
USE THIS TECHNIQUE WHEN
YOU'RE ACTUALLY

TRYING TO COUNT
PREDATORS, LIKE HYENAS
IN THE SERENGETI?

YEAH, SO YOU CAN DO THIS
FOR HYENAS, YOU CAN
DO THIS FOR LIONS.

PLAYING THE CALLS OF
UNFAMILIAR INDIVIDUALS OFTEN

WILL BRING IN CARNIVORES
TO INVESTIGATE FROM

THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
HYENAS COME TOGETHER EN MASSE
FOR TWO KEY EVENTS:

EITHER FOR A FEAST, OR WHEN
THEY'RE TRYING TO DEFEND

THEIR TERRITORY.

TONIGHT, WE'RE ATTEMPTING
TO LURE THEM IN

WITH CALLS FOR BOTH.

MEREDITH, DO YOU THINK
PLAYING THESE CALLS ENDS
UP STRESSING THESE

ANIMALS OUT?

I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT DOING IT...

WE'RE NOT BLASTING THESE
CALLS 24 HOURS A DAY.

WE'RE NOT DOING IT
EVERY WEEK.

IT'S A VERY ACUTE,
MOMENTARY STRESSOR.

IT'S 15 MINUTES
OF THEIR LIFE.

THEY CAME TO INVESTIGATE
A STRANGE NOISE, AND THEN

THEY'RE GONNA GO ON
WITH THEIR LIVES.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS AS A MATTER
OF PRACTICE.

IF WE WERE PLAYING THIS
MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES,

THEY WOULD QUICKLY REALIZE
THAT WHAT'S CALLING THEM
IN ISN'T STRANGE,

YOU KNOW, THREATENING,
INTERESTING HYENAS,

IT'S ACTUALLY A BUNCH
OF HUMANS IN A TRUCK,

AND THEY QUICKLY LEARN
TO START IGNORING
CALLS LIKE THIS.

SO WE CAN'T DO THIS MORE
THAN A COUPLE MORE TIMES
WITHOUT THEM CATCHING ON.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
OUR 100-DECIBEL SOUND
PUNCHES FAR AND WIDE

THROUGH THE NIGHT.

YEP.
THEY'RE HERE.

[HYENA CALLING]

THAT'S THE REAL ONE.

OH, HE'S SO CLOSE.

THIS HAS GOTTA BE THE
STRANGEST THING I'VE
EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

[HYENAS CALLING]

THEN IF WE COULD START
SCANNING TO SEE HOW
MANY WE HAVE.

SANJAYAN:
IF I DO A QUICK...

YEAH,
THAT'D BE BRILLIANT.

OH, WOW.
1, 2, 3, 4.

4?

OVER THERE.

YOU CAN SEE HER FACE.

I CAN SEE 5.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
WITHIN 8 MINUTES OF THE CALLS,
OUR TRUCK IS SURROUNDED

BY HYENAS.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE HOW
QUICKLY THEY SHOWED UP.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
THEY ARRIVED SO QUICKLY,

IT LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT
THESE COULD BE THE SAME ADULTS

FROM THE DEN WE
VISITED PREVIOUSLY.

WOW.

SO THAT MUST BE LIKE A
LITTLE RESIDENT CLAN.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
TONIGHT HAS ALLOWED US TO
GATHER DATA ON HOW MANY HYENAS

ARE USING THE WATERHOLE.

ASSUMING THAT ONLY 1/3 OF THE
CLAN WOULD BE RESPONDING TO THE

CALL, LEAVING THE OTHERS TO
LOOK AFTER THE YOUNG OR HUNT

ELSEWHERE, MEREDITH BELIEVES
THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 25

IN THIS CLAN.

AS THE DAYS HAVE GOT HOTTER,
THE NUMBER OF HYENA VISITS HAS

PEAKED TO AROUND 70.

DESPITE THE NEAR CONSTANT
PRESENCE OF HYENA IN THE AREA,

WE'VE STILL MANAGED TO SEE AND
LOG A HUGE VARIETY OF ANIMALS.

NOW AT THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE
YEAR, AS THE RAINS GET REALLY

CLOSE, THE SPECIES LIST
HAS CONTINUED TO GROW.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 83
DIFFERENT SPECIES THAT HAVE

COME TO THE WATERHOLE,
AND THAT DIVERSITY IS ADDING

NEW THINGS THAT WE HAD
NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
BUT EVERYTHING IS ONCE
AGAIN ABOUT TO CHANGE.

[THUNDER]

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT
RAIN JUST BUILD UP OVER THERE,

AND YOU CAN FEEL
THAT HUMIDITY.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE WIND RIGHT
NOW, AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE

THIS ENTIRE LAND IS JUST
WAITING FOR THAT RELIEF THAT

THE RAIN WILL BRING.

[THUNDER]

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
IN THE COMING MONTHS,
40 INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED

TO FALL IN THIS REGION.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE GETS

IN AN ENTIRE YEAR.

THE RELENTLESS DOWNPOUR
DELIVERS THE MOST DRAMATIC

SEASONAL CHANGE YET.

[SNORTING]

THERE'S SO MUCH ACTION
GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
NEXT TIME, WE'RE BACK IN THE
HEIGHT OF THE RAINY SEASON,

WHEN THERE'S AN
EXPLOSION OF LIFE.

ONE OF NATURE'S GREATEST
SPECTACLES,

THE WILDEBEEST
MIGRATION, ARRIVES,

BRINGING WITH IT
AN INFLUX OF NEW PREY

FOR HUNGRY PREDATORS.

FROM THIS ALTITUDE, I CAN
SEE THE ENORMITY OF THIS.

SANJAYAN, VOICE-OVER:
AND OUR WATERHOLE ENTERS
A NEW, EXCITING STAGE

OF ITS EVOLUTION.

NO IDEA WHAT I'M GONNA FIND
THE NEXT TIME I'M HERE,

AND NEXT SEASON
IS THE WET SEASON.

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