All language subtitles for Africas Deadliest s08e06 Wild Assassins

Africa, home to some of the planet's
most formidable and perfectly adapted

predators.

Armed with an arsenal of deadly skills,
specialized weaponry, and intelligent

strategies, prey rarely sees them
coming.

These. are Africa's deadliest assassins.

On the roof of Africa, a superbly
adapted, high -altitude assassin stalks

Afro -Alpine meadows.

An Ethiopian wolf.

Up here, in the Bale Mountains, prey
options are limited.

So these wolves have specialized in
hunting their habitats most abundant

burrowing rodents

With a network of underground tunnels,
Afroalpine rodents aren't easy to catch.

For this predator, speed and stealth
alone won't get the job done.

A successful hunt also requires
strategy.

She patrols the open plains, listening
for any underground movement.

To catch subterranean prey, this crafty
assassin utilizes a variety of

techniques.

On this hunt, she tries to flush her
prey from their tunnels by scratching

pouncing at the burrow entrances.

Patiently, she waits for the paddock's
rotor to scurry to another opening.

Not quite quick enough.

Another failed hunt doesn't mean she's
blown her chances.

Up here, there may be as many as 8 ,000
rodents per square kilometer.

Another foraging grass rat, and this one
has strayed too far from its burrow.

With her narrow muzzle, She snatches up
her prey before it flees too deep

underground.

Weighing less than 120 grams, a grass
rat isn't a big meal.

But it's not for her.

She has two pups that need feeding.

Despite being solitary hunters,
Ethiopian wolves live in close -knit

groups.

Fully weaned at 10 weeks old, the pups
rely on the adults in their pack for a

steady supply of solid food.

Games like tug -of -war and play
-fighting help establish the siblings'

hierarchy within the pack.

A grass rat may be enough for the two
assassins in training, but for their

mother, another alpine rodent is the
real prize.

A giant mole rat.

Weighing nearly a kilogram, it is a more
substantial meal for a fully grown

wolf.

Giant mole rats spend less than an hour
a day foraging above ground, only

emerging in short bursts.

They rarely stray more than 10
centimetres from their burrows,

underground after every mouthful.

Leaving her pups, the female returns to
her hunting grounds.

Her sense of smell is up to 100 ,000
times better than a human's.

Even from across the plain, she locks on
to a potential target.

Without cover to conceal her, strategy
is all important.

She times her advance carefully.

moving only when the mole rat returns
underground to feed.

The mole rat sees her too late.

She's able to catch it before it flees
too deep underground.

To survive in their remote mountain
habitat, Ethiopian wolves rely on

tactics and cunning strategies.

And while these charismatic predators
are only found in the Ethiopian

another assassin's reign of terror spans
most of the continent.

At the height of the dry season in
Zambia's Luangwa Valley, the struggle

survival intensifies as food and water
grow ever scarcer.

During these harsh months, animals rely
on what remains in the Luangwa River's

dried -up channels to quench their
thirst.

Every day, large numbers of water
-dependent animals like Cape buffalo and

impala make their way across the exposed
riverbed to drink.

Out here, there is nowhere to hide.

Moving in groups minimizes individual
risk, but it also draws the attention of

predators.

For Nile crocodiles, the dry season is a
time of unprecedented opportunity.

Each day brings fresh convoys of thirsty
prey.

But everyone knows that danger lurks in
these murky waters.

Even the slightest ripple in the water
sends the buffalo scatter.

The impala stay behind, but they are now
on edge.

The ultimate ambush assassin, a Nile
crocodile, can stay submerged for 15

minutes.

Able to go months without eating, the
croc can bide its time and reset its

elsewhere.

In the dry season, thirst overrides
fear.

But with an armor -plated predator
watching the impala's every move, each

could be their last.

For thirsty impalas, every drink of the
Luangwa River could bring them face to

face with an unseen assassin.

Sensing danger, this ram is on high
alert.

Still, he is compelled to drink.

The hunt may be over, but the crocodile
now has a problem.

A successful kill draws the attention of
other hungry crocs.

He must now fight to keep his pride.

Clamping down on the impala with one of
the strongest bite forces on the planet,

he tries to cling on.

But once in deeper water, a meal for one
quickly turns into a feeding frenzy.

The assassin may have done all the hard
work, but today he is only rewarded with

a small share of the spoils.

In the Serengeti, one of the planet's
most iconic land mammal migrations is

underway.

1 .3 million wildebeests have embarked
on their annual pilgrimage northwards in

pursuit of rain -ripened grass.

Perfectly adapted for long -distance
traveling, an epic journey of up to 2

kilometers lies ahead of them.

But as the wildebeest chase the reins,
they in turn are chased by predators.

With so many obstacles along the way, a
quarter of a million won't live to run

the gauntlets again.

And many of them will meet their end in
the jaws of one of Africa's most

ferocious feline assassins.

For these lionesses, The approaching
herd signal the beginning of a brief

of plenty.

They must make the most of the
opportunity before the wildebeest move

Scanning the herd, they look for any
signs of weakness.

While one lioness hangs back, the other
moves ahead to cut off the wildebeest's

escape route.

Working as a team, the lioness has
increased their chances at success.

Her sister now in position.

She moves towards the herd.

With the wind working in her favor, the
wildebeest can't smell her.

They are blissfully unaware that they
are being stalked by not one, but two

ambush hunters.

Even in these open plains, a surprise
attack can come from anywhere.

The lionesses approach the herd of
wildebeest from opposite sides.

To better their chances, they need to
get within 30 meters of their quarry.

Now flanked by two expert hunters the
wildebeest have few options

If they flee from one they will run
straight into the deadly claws

and jaws of the other

Plunging her 10 centimeter long canines
into the wildebeest's throat, she cuts

off its airway.

Able to devour a quarter of their own
body weight in a single sitting, a kill

like this goes a long way towards
satiating their hunger.

And with the migration in full swing,

they will have plenty more opportunities
to get their fill before the wildebeest

move on.

While the pilgrimage of wildebeest
across the Serengeti is one of nature's

greatest spectacles, thousands of
kilometers away, conditions are set for

another, even larger migration.

At the onset of winter, A shadow moves
up South Africa's wild coast like an oil

slick.

This is the sardine run, the greatest
biomass migration on Earth.

For the billions of tightly packed fish,
their best chance of survival is to

move in unison.

They're being tracked by a squadron of
aerial assassins.

Cape Gannet.

Like bullets, they rain down on the
shore, hitting the water at 100

per hour.

A reinforced skull and air sacs under
their skin cushion the immense impact of

their dive.

Their momentum gives the birds the
element of surprise,

propelling them 10 meters below the

surface.

If the initial strike doesn't hit the
mark, their nearly two -meter wings

fins.

They can swim as deep as 20 meters.

Diving deeper to escape the aerial
onslaught, the sardines now face a

problem.

The big guns have arrived.

Sharks and dolphins.

The scent of blood and fish oil catches
the attention of yet another silent

killer.

Cape fur seal.

The glittering sardines are fast, but
not quick enough for these sleek, lithe

aquanauts of the deep.

But deep water hides deep trouble.

The seal doesn't know it yet, but he's
being stalked by one of the planet's

deadliest assassins.

A great white shark.

At nearly six meters and weighing in at
two tons, she's also known as the White

Death.

Special sensors on her snout pick up
electrical pulses from muscle movement

small as one millionth of a volt.

A group of fast -swimming seals is an
assault on her senses.

Seals have superb underwater vision,
helping them spot prey or predators.

But the shark has a strategy.

She dives down deep where her cryptic
coloration renders her invisible from

above and continues to track her prey as
it swims along the surface.

until it's time to strike.

In the end, her 300 razor -sharp teeth
sealed the deal.

Great white sharks may be solitary
submarine specialists, but back on land,

Another assassin relies on some unlikely
allies when hunting.

In the woodland savannas of South
Africa, the southern carmine bee -eater

foolproof strategy for finding food.

For these small insectivorous birds,
it's as simple as knowing who to follow

around.

As large animals mow through the
grassland, they flush out hiding insects

bees, wasps, dragonflies and
grasshoppers.

As they flee to escape the heavyweights,
they fly straight into the path of the

hungry bee -eaters.

Lightweight and perfectly streamlined
for hunting on the wing, they are fast

agile insect assassins.

And to dispatch prey armed with weaponry
of their own, they use a specialist

technique.

Violently bashing the wasp against the
hard surface not only stuns it, but also

helps the bee -eater remove its venomous
stinger and flush out its toxins.

These clever little predators have even
learned that catching prey is easier

when they catch a ride.

This warthog now doubles as a mobile
perch from which to hunt.

The bee -eater's host may not derive any
benefits from piggybacking these birds

around, but most take it in their
stride.

As the summer draws to a close, the
southern carmine bee -eaters leave South

Africa behind, migrating north to breed
along Zambia's Luangwa River.

In

the

dry season, the receding water levels
expose its cliff -like banks.

Monogamous breeding pairs set to work
carving out tunnels up to a meter and a

half deep in which to lay their eggs.

But for these industrious little birds,
life on the Luangwa River is anything

but rosy.

Out here, predators are always nearby.

An African fish eagle.

one of the continent's most formidable
avian assassins.

With vision up to eight times better
than a human, it can spot a fish below

water's surface from 200 meters away.

Unsurprisingly, fish eagles mainly feed
on fish.

But in the Luangwa, the arrival of
migrating bee -eaters transforms the

riverbanks into a brightly colored
buffet.

Keeping its distance, the fish eagle
first surveys its prey.

When hunting fast moving targets, timing
is everything.

Missed.

But this assassin isn't giving up.

Striking with deadly accuracy, the fish
eagle's persistence pays off.

Crushed by the eagle's five centimeter
long talons, death is quick for the

Those lucky enough to escape quickly
return to the breeding holes and

their maintenance work.

Weighing only 60 grams, a bee eater is a
small meal.

But with 10 ,000 pairs lining the banks,
the fish eagle has plenty of

opportunity to catch his fill.

And with no shortage of predators
patrolling the riverbanks, the bee

troubles are far from over.

the breeding colonies have captured the
attention of a cunning and cold -blooded

assassin.

For the Nile monitor, there is plenty of
opportunity along the Luangwa River,

even during the dry season.

One of the continent's most voracious
predators, it will prey on anything it

overpower.

It may not have sharp teeth, but a Nile
monitor can deliver a painful, crushing

bite.

Even the fish eagle steers clear.

Slowly swaggering along, it makes its
way down the riverbank.

If the monitor has got its timing right,
there's no need to rush.

Under the right circumstances, this
crafty assassin doesn't need speed or

stealth.

Today, finding a meal is as simple as
knowing where to look.

To a Nile monitor, thousands of breeding
southern carmine bee eaters means only

one thing.

Thousands of protein -rich eggs.

All the monitor has to do is find a way
to reach their lofty burrows, a

challenge it is uniquely adapted to
overcome.

As the bee -eaters continue their busy
work, the monitor surveys them from

below.

looking for the best line of attack.

A Nile monitor is an exceptionally agile
climber.

Using its powerful claws like grappling
hooks, it easily scales a cliff -like

bank.

Flying its slender body down one of the
narrow tunnels, it reaches the bee

-eater's precious eggs.

As the dry season progresses, many pairs
will lose their eggs or their offspring

to opportunistic predators.

Equipped with unique skills and cunning
strategies, Africa's assassins are

inescapable. even in the most extreme
environments.

In the Namib Desert, the sun's scorching
rays can be as deadly as any predator.

But for one ferocious arachnid, it is
the perfect hunting ground.

The solar fuchsia's eight legs propelled
across the desert floor at 16

kilometers per hour.

as it stalks a grasshopper weakened by
the heat.

It may look like a hybrid between a
scorpion and a spider, but the Tholifuge

a terrifying creature all of its own.

Using fan -like sensory organs on its
legs, it tracks the grasshopper's

movement.

The solifuge may not be venomous, but it
doesn't need to be.

Powerful jaws, up to a third of its body
length, turn the grasshopper's

exoskeleton into pulp, while digestive
enzymes liquefy its tissue,

which the solifuge then sucks up like a
smoothie.

but it too is vulnerable in the blazing
heat.

Digging a burrow is the best way to
escape the sweltering sun and other

predators.

Once concealed, The only proof of the
solifuge's handiwork is its victim's

scattered remains.

In the arid landscapes of West Africa,
another desert assassin slinks silently

through the night.

A Saharan sand boa.

Little is known about this mysterious
snake.

but it is perfectly adapted for hunting
in its extreme environments.

It swims through the dunes as though
through water, using the sand as an

invisibility cloak.

Disappearing below ground, it moves
unseen as it stalks its prey.

With its poor night vision, a mouse
hesitantly makes its way across the

It has no idea it is being stalked by an
invisible ambush assassin.

All the Taharan sand boa must do now is
wait patiently for the unsuspecting

mouse to scurry across its path.

The boa coils itself around its victim,
squeezing it to death.

With extremely elastic jaw ligaments and
a remarkably mobile skull, it is

perfectly adapted to consume prey wider
than its own body.

While the Saharan sand boa strikes from
below the surface of the sand, another

assassin has the benefit of a bird's eye
view.

The Mahalisburg Mountains, South Africa.

More than 2 billion years old, they are
home to a highly evolved aerial hunter.

The Varroa's eagle, more commonly known
as the black eagle.

She scans the ground, searching for
potential prey.

Thanks to a remarkable adaptation, very
little escapes her notice.

She has infrared vision.

Even a perfectly camouflaged scrub hair
is betrayed by the heat radiating from

its body.

Visible through the eagle, even through
the vegetation,

She homes in on her prey's heat
signature.

And once she's close enough, she
launches her attack.

Even with her 2 .8 meter wingspan, she
can pursue the hare through tight

corners.

Meal secured, she returns to her nest
and her ravenous chick.

Gaining almost half its full body weight
within just 30 days of hatching, the

chick feeds up to eight times a day.

Luckily, raising her demanding youngster
is a responsibility she shares with her

lifelong mate.

To keep their chick from going hungry,
they will need to make another kill.

Soon.

Daybreak.

And the bushfell reverberates with a
familiar sound.

A flock of helmeted guinea fowl start
their day foraging for underground

seeds and insects.

Out in the open, they're exposed to
predators.

But moving as a group means there's more
eyes to look out for potential threats.

Incredibly alert, they will raise the
alarm and bolt at the first sign of

danger.

Today, it is the male black eagles' turn
to hunt.

Nearly a kilogram lighter than a female,
he is a faster, more agile flyer,

capable of locating prey from up to 3 .2
kilometers away.

Only able to fly very short distances,
the guinea fowl's best option is to run

for cover.

Gaining altitude, the eagle ascends as
high as 750 meters before diving after

its prey at speeds of up to 160
kilometers per hour.

The guinea fowl may be fast, but up
against this assassin, some are not fast

enough.

The immense impact of the strike severs
its victim's spinal cord.

It's game over for this guinea fowl.

Tanzania's Great Ruaha River.

Its flowing waters are a lifeline for
many animals, making it the perfect

hunting ground for predators.

Along its banks, an eastern tiger snake
flitters in search of thirsty prey.

Its flickering tongue smells in stereo
as it tracks the scent trail of its next

potential victim.

For this mouse, stopping for a drink can
have deadly consequences.

Colorblind, the mouth cannot distinguish
the vivid snake from its surroundings.

It may as well be up against an
invisible enemy.

Not potently venomous, the tiger snake
uses a dual strategy to secure at the

meal.

Coiling its muscular body around the
struggling rodent, the snake constricts

victim while waiting for its venom to
take effect.

With precision, unique adaptations, and
specialist skill sets, Africa's

deadliest assassins are able to make the
most of every opportunity.