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(gentle instrumental music)
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- [Narrator] This is the
Luangwa Valley in Zambia.
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For six months of the year,
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it's a lush flood plain.
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Then the heat's turned up,
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and it becomes a scorching death bed,
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but this dry season is going
to be different from most.
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(animals growling)
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The sun will be the least of the problems.
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There's a silent killer
hiding in the shadows,
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and few are safe from attack,
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least of all these heavyweights.
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One of the largest groups
of hippos in the world
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are in the front line.
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They're about to face
the fight of their lives.
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(gentle instrumental music)
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This story starts in early May.
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(singing)
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It's hard to believe that
in just a few, short months,
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this ripe valley will be a dust bowl.
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(birds and insects chirping)
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Deep lagoons have millions
of liters of fresh water,
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and the food flows freely.
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(animals snorting)
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The water's carpeted with
thick lumps of Nile cabbage,
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which these locals love.
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(water sloshing)
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These are halcyon days for hippos.
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With no natural predators to worry about,
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they spend entire days in
the water keeping cool,
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occasionally turning their heads to feed.
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Each hippo pod averages 15 members
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and operates as a free
flowing social group.
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In times of plenty,
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rival pods respect each others' space.
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(animals grunting)
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Fights are few and far between.
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(animals growling)
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With so many pools to choose from
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and a feast of food available,
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neighboring groups can
enjoy the good life,
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but not for long.
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All that's about to change.
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This lagoon is home to
two young bachelor males.
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The youngest spends his
days idly floating around,
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but his elder companion keeps his chin up
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and his eyes peeled.
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He's older, wiser,
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and always on the lookout for trouble.
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(water sloshing)
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Older male hippos can
be far from friendly.
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(birds chirping)
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(wind blowing)
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Nearby, a young female is
getting to grips with motherhood.
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Her calf's two months old,
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and he was born here.
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Hippos are one of the few land mammals
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that give birth underwater.
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Youngsters play together
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under the watchful eye of other mothers.
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Their support is vital.
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This can be a dangerous
place for a younger hippo.
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(gentle instrumental music)
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These lagoons stretch for many kilometers,
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but they aren't the major source of water.
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That lies out beyond the trees.
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The Luangwa River is one of
the biggest unaltered rivers
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in southern Africa.
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(birds chirping)
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Here, a large pod of
hippos live in luxury.
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This is prime riverfront real estate,
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(animals grunting)
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but it's a fragile peace.
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The first rule in any hippo household
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is to know who's boss.
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(water splashing)
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Hippos are one of the most
dangerous animals in Africa.
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Adult males can weigh up to three tons,
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but when the going gets tough,
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they don't just throw their weight about.
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Tusk like canines, which are razor sharp,
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can cause carnage,
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(animals growling)
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and in these bruising encounters,
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it helps to have a big mouth,
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the bigger the jaw,
the higher the ranking.
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It makes sense to take
the measure of an opponent
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before picking a fight.
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(animals growling)
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(water splashing)
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Most flareups are short and sharp.
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It's in the best interest
of the weaker competitor
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to submit quickly and keep
injuries to a minimum.
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These power struggles are constant.
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Sparring competitions between males start
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when hippos are very young.
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The ultimate prize is power,
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(gentle instrumental music)
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to be the hippo at the helm, the leader,
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a bull with territory on the river,
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and to have the mating
rights with these beauties,
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a group of up to 20 females.
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The title is hard fought for.
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The battle's never ending,
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and the two bachelors will
soon meet him head on,
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but this year,
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there's a far sterner test ahead
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than casting out lusty rivals.
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Even the toughest bull
can't control the killer
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that's gearing up to strike.
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(dramatic instrumental music)
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This enemy's been known
to kill over 4,000 hippos
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in a single year,
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yet it's invisible, silent,
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and defense is futile.
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It's anthrax, one of the
oldest diseases in the world
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and one of the deadliest.
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It's hiding down on the riverbed,
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waiting for its day in the sun.
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Magnified here 10,000 times,
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anthrax can lie dormant
for decades as spores,
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waiting for the right conditions to rise
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and strike again.
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When most animals swallow the spores,
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their days are numbered.
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Spores multiply rapidly,
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causing a flood of toxins
which shred the immune system.
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Death soon follows.
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(birds chirping)
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Unaware of the powder
keg beneath his feet,
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it's business as usual for the bull,
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guarding his neighborhood.
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He may even allow some
young males to move in,
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as long as they pay their respects first.
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A drifter needs to play by the rules
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if he's to stand any chance
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of securing a place on the river.
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(gentle instrumental music)
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(water splashing)
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Lowering his head in deference
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is a good way to start,
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and champing his jaws suggest surrender,
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(animal growling)
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but the bull's gaping
mouth shows he wants more,
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total submission.
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Waving its head from side to side
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and slowly paddling its tail,
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the visitor finally makes
the right impression.
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(birds chirping)
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The conditions for bachelors
joining the pod are simple.
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Behave submissively at all times
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and refrain from any sexual behavior.
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Once in a while,
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a young chancer might get frisky,
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forcing the bull to remind everybody
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just who's in charge.
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(water splashing)
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(animals growling)
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(gentle instrumental music)
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Not only does the river
provide a life giving source
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of water for the hippos,
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it creates a rich,
fertile breeding ground.
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As the flood waters spread
across the plains of Luangwa,
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tributaries snake away from the river.
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Over time, these form
separate oxbow lagoons,
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home to the two males
and the mother and calf.
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These lakes and lagoons
provide a sanctuary
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for one of the most intense concentrations
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of game in Africa,
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but the good times are coming to an end.
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The land is drying out,
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and a killer will soon emerge.
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(insects and birds chirping)
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(gentle instrumental music)
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The sun sucks the water from the valley,
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and the earth turns to dust.
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Conditions gain momentum
for the anthrax to strike.
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As the lagoons stagnate,
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the disease concentrates
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in the last dregs of drinking water,
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and as the hot winds gather,
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they whip millions of
spores across the valley,
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contaminating all grazing.
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The thick walls of a single
spore provide armor plating
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for the disease,
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protection against
cold, heat, and drought.
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All it needs is the right place to grow.
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The animals of Luangwa are about to face
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the toughest test of their lives.
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(gentle instrumental music)
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(birds calling)
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(water splashing)
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The bachelor coalition still
feeds on the Nile cabbage,
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blissfully unaware of the
storm brewing on the horizon.
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(animals grunting)
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Nearby in the young mother's lagoon home,
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there's a sinister sight.
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The bloated corpse of an older
female attracts attention
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and provides the easiest of meals
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for a passing predator.
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Is this a taste of things to come?
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Oblivious to the danger,
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the young calf investigates
the lifeless body.
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His mother joins in,
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dwarfed by the swollen carcass.
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It's extraordinary for the calf
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to be so close to these reptiles.
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Crocodiles don't usually
stumble across feasts like this
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so early in the dry season
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when there's still plenty
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of food and water for the hippos.
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These treats usually appear later on
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when the heat's done its worst,
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supplies have run out,
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and starvation has set in,
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but this year seems different,
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and this is just the beginning.
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The dry season tightens its grip.
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As the sun rings the last of the water
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from the lagoons
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and the pools evaporate,
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the hippos that have made their homes here
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begin the long trek to the river,
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and in so doing,
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they may seal their fate.
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The river's no sanctuary.
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It's a death zone.
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The water level is already dropping,
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creating perfect conditions
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for the anthrax to attack.
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The low levels force the
hippos to wade into the middle
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where the water is deepest.
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In these congested conditions,
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their heavy stalking stirs up the riverbed
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and releases millions
of deadly anthrax spores
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straight into their drinking supply.
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Spores gain access to the hippos' tissue
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through open wounds or on
route to their stomachs.
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(gentle instrumental music)
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Once in the body,
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the spores soon germinate,
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forming rapidly dividing cells
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and a mass of deadly toxins.
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(birds and insects chirping)
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Zero hour has arrived.
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(animals grunting)
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The carnage has begun.
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The water the hippos are
so desperate to drink
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is their downfall,
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every mouthful a potential death sentence.
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With every passing day it gets worse
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as the river fills with
more swollen carcasses.
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00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:33,790
For crocodiles, it's paradise,
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an effortless supply of meat
without the hassle of hunting.
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When reptiles shred corpses
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00:14:40,390 --> 00:14:42,920
and blowflies feast on open wounds,
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they help the disease spread.
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(insects buzzing)
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As soon as a carcass is punctured,
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exposure to the air triggers the anthrax
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to form spores.
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(dramatic instrumental music)
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The plague's now free to
launch an airborne assault.
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(birds chirping)
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As the water level continues to drop,
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the anthrax becomes
even more concentrated.
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(animals grunting)
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Millions of the microscopic spores,
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small enough to fit on a pinhead,
270
00:15:24,050 --> 00:15:25,630
wait to be sucked up,
271
00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:28,415
gulped down, and go to work,
272
00:15:28,415 --> 00:15:31,800
(gentle instrumental music)
273
00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,510
but it's not just the
hippos who are affected.
274
00:15:34,510 --> 00:15:36,840
Many other inhabitants
of the Luangwa Valley
275
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,047
will lose the war.
276
00:15:52,490 --> 00:15:55,180
Natural instincts are put to one side
277
00:15:55,180 --> 00:15:57,033
in the desperation to drink.
278
00:15:59,490 --> 00:16:02,400
The shrinking river
forces predator and prey
279
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,493
into uncomfortably close contact.
280
00:16:05,370 --> 00:16:07,153
The situation's getting worse.
281
00:16:13,630 --> 00:16:16,030
In the height of the Zambian dry season,
282
00:16:16,030 --> 00:16:17,230
some relief can be found
283
00:16:17,230 --> 00:16:19,550
from the aptly named sausage trees,
284
00:16:19,550 --> 00:16:21,203
which dominate the river banks.
285
00:16:23,810 --> 00:16:25,410
Many of the valley's animals feed
286
00:16:25,410 --> 00:16:28,723
on their distinctive
fruit, leaves, and flowers.
287
00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,713
The fleshy fruits are
crammed with nutrients.
288
00:16:35,950 --> 00:16:37,433
It's manna from heaven.
289
00:16:39,430 --> 00:16:40,970
In a severe drought year,
290
00:16:40,970 --> 00:16:44,400
they can make the difference
between life and death,
291
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,093
but this year, they won't be enough.
292
00:16:48,301 --> 00:16:49,385
(gentle instrumental music)
293
00:16:49,385 --> 00:16:51,968
(wind blowing)
294
00:16:53,253 --> 00:16:55,380
As the dry season advances,
295
00:16:55,380 --> 00:16:58,373
the lagoons either side of
the river are transformed.
296
00:16:59,410 --> 00:17:02,010
Scrappy clumps of river cabbage remain,
297
00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:04,140
but water is at a premium,
298
00:17:04,140 --> 00:17:07,021
and the hippos are
suffering more than most.
299
00:17:07,021 --> 00:17:09,257
(birds and insects chirping)
300
00:17:09,257 --> 00:17:11,990
Antelopes can nimbly negotiate the mud.
301
00:17:11,990 --> 00:17:15,350
Baboons can flit across
the hippos' leftovers,
302
00:17:15,350 --> 00:17:17,500
but for heavier animals,
303
00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:19,293
the going is painfully slow.
304
00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:29,940
Desperately searching for water,
305
00:17:29,940 --> 00:17:32,770
a buffalo is up to its neck in trouble.
306
00:17:32,770 --> 00:17:35,030
It might have escaped the anthrax,
307
00:17:35,030 --> 00:17:36,100
but caught in the grip
308
00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:38,370
of the thick, cloying mud,
309
00:17:38,370 --> 00:17:41,083
it faces a slow and agonizing death.
310
00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:44,170
The majority of the hippos
311
00:17:44,170 --> 00:17:46,140
have already left for the river.
312
00:17:46,140 --> 00:17:47,810
Most marched on less,
313
00:17:47,810 --> 00:17:50,823
but some struggled to keep
up with the rank and file.
314
00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:54,560
Amongst the stragglers,
315
00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,350
now hours behind the rest of their pod,
316
00:17:57,350 --> 00:17:58,623
are the mother and calf.
317
00:18:00,630 --> 00:18:02,200
Still young and weak,
318
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,030
the calf is much slower than its mother,
319
00:18:04,030 --> 00:18:07,060
but she lets her son set the pace
320
00:18:07,060 --> 00:18:09,251
and follows dutifully behind.
321
00:18:09,251 --> 00:18:11,070
(birds chirping)
322
00:18:11,070 --> 00:18:13,330
Water is their only hope of respite
323
00:18:13,330 --> 00:18:15,353
from the relentless heat of the sun.
324
00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:19,580
They have some natural protection.
325
00:18:19,580 --> 00:18:22,120
Their skin secretes a viscous red fluid
326
00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:24,230
which blocks ultraviolet light,
327
00:18:24,230 --> 00:18:26,350
acting like a sunscreen,
328
00:18:26,350 --> 00:18:28,490
but it won't last forever.
329
00:18:28,490 --> 00:18:32,191
They must find water or
shade as soon as possible.
330
00:18:32,191 --> 00:18:35,858
(gentle instrumental music)
331
00:18:38,540 --> 00:18:40,770
Despite the appalling conditions,
332
00:18:40,770 --> 00:18:42,910
not all the hippos have left.
333
00:18:42,910 --> 00:18:45,143
The youngest male is staying put.
334
00:18:47,570 --> 00:18:49,350
All the cabbage has gone.
335
00:18:49,350 --> 00:18:51,220
He hasn't eaten in days,
336
00:18:51,220 --> 00:18:53,433
but still he seems reluctant to leave.
337
00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,713
His older companion waits nearby.
338
00:19:04,490 --> 00:19:06,820
With three dry seasons under his belt,
339
00:19:06,820 --> 00:19:08,963
his instincts are to leave for the river,
340
00:19:11,420 --> 00:19:12,253
but he seems determined
341
00:19:12,253 --> 00:19:14,293
that they will make the journey together.
342
00:19:21,860 --> 00:19:24,310
The situation can only get worse.
343
00:19:24,310 --> 00:19:25,450
Like the elephants,
344
00:19:25,450 --> 00:19:27,050
they need to head for the river.
345
00:19:30,870 --> 00:19:33,710
Eventually, either his perseverance
346
00:19:33,710 --> 00:19:37,130
or his friend's hunger reaps rewards.
347
00:19:37,130 --> 00:19:39,563
They begin their journey side by side.
348
00:19:41,468 --> 00:19:44,301
(animals calling)
349
00:19:47,030 --> 00:19:50,100
It's day 22 of the anthrax outbreak,
350
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:53,653
and today the mother and calf
finally arrive at the river.
351
00:19:54,713 --> 00:19:57,563
Their presence attract a
lot of curious glances.
352
00:20:01,305 --> 00:20:03,060
(animals grunting)
353
00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:05,690
The river bull watches nonchalantly.
354
00:20:05,690 --> 00:20:07,070
He seems unconcerned.
355
00:20:07,070 --> 00:20:09,970
A young mother and calf
returning to his territory
356
00:20:09,970 --> 00:20:11,673
are no threat.
357
00:20:11,673 --> 00:20:14,423
(birds chirping)
358
00:20:16,715 --> 00:20:19,465
(water sloshing)
359
00:20:21,210 --> 00:20:23,440
As the youngster tests the water,
360
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:24,913
his peers size him up.
361
00:20:27,230 --> 00:20:30,960
Both mother and calf are
desperately dehydrated.
362
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,016
Now at last they can drink,
363
00:20:34,016 --> 00:20:36,849
(animal grunting)
364
00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:41,203
and it might be one of
the last things they do.
365
00:20:55,446 --> 00:20:59,260
(gentle instrumental music)
366
00:20:59,260 --> 00:21:00,750
For the resident bull,
367
00:21:00,750 --> 00:21:02,870
the mass exodus of hippos from the lagoons
368
00:21:02,870 --> 00:21:05,573
to his stretch of river
is a mixed blessing.
369
00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,650
The procession of new females
trudging through his territory
370
00:21:11,650 --> 00:21:13,260
is a good thing,
371
00:21:13,260 --> 00:21:15,690
but the stream of males
who travel in their wake
372
00:21:15,690 --> 00:21:17,448
are far from it.
373
00:21:17,448 --> 00:21:20,422
(animals grunting)
374
00:21:20,422 --> 00:21:22,589
(singing)
375
00:21:25,270 --> 00:21:26,820
More males would normally mean
376
00:21:26,820 --> 00:21:28,741
more challengers to his throne,
377
00:21:28,741 --> 00:21:31,610
(water sloshing)
378
00:21:31,610 --> 00:21:33,573
but this year is no normal year.
379
00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:44,700
The hippos are dying,
380
00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:46,833
newcomers and pod members alike.
381
00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:50,484
(birds chirping)
382
00:21:55,810 --> 00:21:57,653
The epidemic is spreading.
383
00:22:03,260 --> 00:22:05,680
The lifeless body of
another anthrax victim
384
00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,110
attract attention,
385
00:22:07,110 --> 00:22:08,760
and not just from the crocodiles.
386
00:22:11,564 --> 00:22:14,481
(animals grunting)
387
00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:18,120
Despite the presence of predators,
388
00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:19,340
the death of one of their own
389
00:22:19,340 --> 00:22:21,430
seems to be an irresistible draw
390
00:22:21,430 --> 00:22:23,872
and a source of fascination
to other hippos.
391
00:22:23,872 --> 00:22:27,539
(gentle instrumental music)
392
00:22:35,210 --> 00:22:36,890
Most mammals show little interest
393
00:22:36,890 --> 00:22:38,600
in the death of their kind,
394
00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,550
but elephants and chimps
have both been shown
395
00:22:40,550 --> 00:22:42,450
to have an understanding of mortality.
396
00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,510
The reason for this young
male's strange behavior
397
00:22:48,510 --> 00:22:49,773
remains a mystery.
398
00:22:51,458 --> 00:22:52,420
(insects buzzing)
399
00:22:52,420 --> 00:22:55,160
(animals grunting)
400
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,560
The river bull doesn't seem
interested in the corpse.
401
00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,360
He's more interested in the mourner.
402
00:23:02,750 --> 00:23:06,070
The inquisitive young male
has aroused his suspicion
403
00:23:06,070 --> 00:23:07,623
and his hackles.
404
00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,480
The new arrival is no match
for the reigning leader.
405
00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,273
The best he can muster is one
feeble gesture of defiance.
406
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,480
The bull's reply is short, sweet,
407
00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,413
and rammed home with gaping jaws,
408
00:23:24,541 --> 00:23:27,458
(animals growling)
409
00:23:29,131 --> 00:23:32,464
and the battle's over before it's begun.
410
00:23:39,331 --> 00:23:40,857
(gentle instrumental music)
411
00:23:40,857 --> 00:23:43,607
(water sloshing)
412
00:23:48,290 --> 00:23:50,710
Despite having ringside seats,
413
00:23:50,710 --> 00:23:54,503
this audience is otherwise
engaged and engorged.
414
00:23:56,570 --> 00:24:00,140
Day 31, and the dead
are now as big a feature
415
00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:02,330
of the riverbanks as the living.
416
00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:04,513
Over 50 have already perished.
417
00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:08,860
Anthrax works at breathtaking speed.
418
00:24:08,860 --> 00:24:10,650
Every day more members of the pod
419
00:24:10,650 --> 00:24:11,650
are found dead,
420
00:24:11,650 --> 00:24:14,914
many without having shown any
outward signs of sickness.
421
00:24:14,914 --> 00:24:18,050
(birds cawing)
422
00:24:18,050 --> 00:24:19,820
Whether it enters through open cuts
423
00:24:19,820 --> 00:24:21,030
or is ingested,
424
00:24:21,030 --> 00:24:23,140
the disease races through the body,
425
00:24:23,140 --> 00:24:24,920
penetrating, paralyzing,
426
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:26,520
and killing cells,
427
00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,460
decimating defense systems,
428
00:24:28,460 --> 00:24:30,649
and causing fatal hemorrhaging.
429
00:24:30,649 --> 00:24:34,316
(gentle instrumental music)
430
00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,090
(animals grunting)
431
00:24:41,090 --> 00:24:44,460
As the sun sets on another gruesome day,
432
00:24:44,460 --> 00:24:47,600
the survivors settle down for the evening.
433
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,433
(water splashing)
434
00:24:54,016 --> 00:24:56,183
(singing)
435
00:24:59,058 --> 00:25:02,140
After a day of fending off
aggressive young males,
436
00:25:02,140 --> 00:25:04,750
the river bull can
finally turn his attention
437
00:25:04,750 --> 00:25:06,433
to the females in his territory.
438
00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:12,080
Mating takes place underwater
439
00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,373
where the bull will
mount a female in estrus.
440
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,210
A short way downstream,
441
00:25:23,210 --> 00:25:25,230
the mother and calf relax,
442
00:25:25,230 --> 00:25:28,437
strengthening their bond
with some gentle nuzzling.
443
00:25:28,437 --> 00:25:32,104
(gentle instrumental music)
444
00:25:42,147 --> 00:25:45,384
(birds chirping)
445
00:25:45,384 --> 00:25:49,838
As night falls, the hippos
leave the river to graze.
446
00:25:49,838 --> 00:25:52,588
(water sloshing)
447
00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,310
Ideally, hippos remain in
the river most of the day.
448
00:25:57,310 --> 00:25:59,100
Excessive water lost through their skin
449
00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:01,453
means they can easily
dehydrate in the heat,
450
00:26:03,350 --> 00:26:04,760
so they normally leave the river
451
00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:09,042
to feed on land during the
cooler hours after dark.
452
00:26:09,042 --> 00:26:11,750
(insects chirping)
453
00:26:11,750 --> 00:26:14,980
They can travel up to 10
kilometers in search of food,
454
00:26:14,980 --> 00:26:16,930
and when they find it may graze
455
00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:19,250
for as long as five hours.
456
00:26:19,250 --> 00:26:21,440
Feeding is fast and furious.
457
00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,150
Hippos can consume about 40
kilograms of grass per night,
458
00:26:25,150 --> 00:26:28,173
though that's a mere 1.5%
of their body weight,
459
00:26:29,660 --> 00:26:31,580
but being away from the water
460
00:26:31,580 --> 00:26:34,793
doesn't mean they've escaped
the dangers of anthrax.
461
00:26:35,910 --> 00:26:37,580
Cropping the grass very low
462
00:26:37,580 --> 00:26:40,902
means they ingest anthrax
spores from the soil.
463
00:26:40,902 --> 00:26:42,021
(insects chirping)
464
00:26:42,021 --> 00:26:45,688
(gentle instrumental music)
465
00:26:49,210 --> 00:26:52,200
The two bachelor companions
are still searching
466
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:53,373
for a safe haven.
467
00:26:57,100 --> 00:26:59,270
They've spent another long day tramping
468
00:26:59,270 --> 00:27:00,690
in the blistering heat
469
00:27:00,690 --> 00:27:02,483
with barely a drop of water.
470
00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,850
The fruits of a sausage
tree offer some respite,
471
00:27:06,850 --> 00:27:08,483
but is it too little too late?
472
00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,360
Desperate for more food and water,
473
00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:21,113
they are fraught and frail.
474
00:27:34,380 --> 00:27:36,800
It hasn't gone unnoticed.
475
00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,610
Lions and hyenas would think twice
476
00:27:38,610 --> 00:27:41,110
about attacking a healthy adult hippo,
477
00:27:41,110 --> 00:27:44,423
but they might take a
chance on a weak one or two.
478
00:27:46,670 --> 00:27:48,490
Another day without water
479
00:27:48,490 --> 00:27:51,287
could spell disaster for the two hippos.
480
00:27:51,287 --> 00:27:54,120
(animals calling)
481
00:27:58,699 --> 00:28:00,370
(gentle instrumental music)
482
00:28:00,370 --> 00:28:02,750
It's day 40 of the outbreak.
483
00:28:02,750 --> 00:28:05,863
At last the two comrades appear
to have found a new home,
484
00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:11,080
but the dominant bull is watching them.
485
00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,833
Can they survive where so
many others have perished?
486
00:28:15,422 --> 00:28:18,950
(animals grunting)
487
00:28:18,950 --> 00:28:21,590
The prospect of water
and food propels them
488
00:28:21,590 --> 00:28:22,860
towards the river
489
00:28:22,860 --> 00:28:24,878
and straight into danger.
490
00:28:24,878 --> 00:28:27,795
(animals grunting)
491
00:28:29,450 --> 00:28:31,570
If they're rumbled by the river bull,
492
00:28:31,570 --> 00:28:33,210
they're in big trouble.
493
00:28:33,210 --> 00:28:34,300
They're far too weak
494
00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:36,363
to get dragged into a leadership contest.
495
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,310
Gingerly approaching the water,
496
00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:42,980
their only hope is to
try and slip in unnoticed
497
00:28:42,980 --> 00:28:44,503
at the side of the river,
498
00:28:44,503 --> 00:28:47,420
(birds chirping)
499
00:28:47,420 --> 00:28:49,320
but covert moves can prove tricky
500
00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:51,533
with a three ton frame to disguise.
501
00:28:54,032 --> 00:28:57,000
(water sloshing)
502
00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,040
The older male plays a
skillful game of bluff,
503
00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,460
settling into the water
504
00:29:01,460 --> 00:29:04,350
like he's an existing member of the pod.
505
00:29:04,350 --> 00:29:06,207
The bull seems to accept him,
506
00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:11,955
but his younger companion is
far less convincing an actor.
507
00:29:11,955 --> 00:29:13,210
(dramatic instrumental music)
508
00:29:13,210 --> 00:29:14,570
With their cover blown,
509
00:29:14,570 --> 00:29:16,350
the youngster tries to remedy matters
510
00:29:16,350 --> 00:29:18,213
with a desperate show of submission,
511
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,380
but the bull's already committed
512
00:29:25,380 --> 00:29:27,090
to his course of action,
513
00:29:27,090 --> 00:29:28,483
instant expulsion.
514
00:29:34,180 --> 00:29:36,870
Every supportive, the
older hippo rushes in
515
00:29:36,870 --> 00:29:38,162
to help his young comrade,
516
00:29:38,162 --> 00:29:40,995
(water splashing)
517
00:29:43,930 --> 00:29:46,480
but the bull's taking on all comers.
518
00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:47,720
He makes it crystal clear
519
00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:49,720
they need to leave his stretch of river.
520
00:29:51,250 --> 00:29:54,167
(animals grunting)
521
00:29:56,641 --> 00:29:58,538
(birds chirping)
522
00:29:58,538 --> 00:30:00,750
(gentle instrumental music)
523
00:30:00,750 --> 00:30:03,470
The older hippo has no
stomach for a fight,
524
00:30:03,470 --> 00:30:06,060
and the battle's over before it's begun
525
00:30:06,060 --> 00:30:08,323
without a single drop of blood spilt.
526
00:30:09,584 --> 00:30:12,501
(animals growling)
527
00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,473
(water splashing)
528
00:30:25,900 --> 00:30:27,300
For the resident bull,
529
00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:29,233
it's another successful eviction,
530
00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:33,900
but for the bachelors,
531
00:30:33,900 --> 00:30:35,363
it's back to wandering.
532
00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,540
These hobbling hobos still have no home,
533
00:30:45,540 --> 00:30:47,960
but being banished from
this part of the river
534
00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,223
might prove to be a blessing in disguise.
535
00:30:51,117 --> 00:30:54,784
(gentle instrumental music)
536
00:31:00,270 --> 00:31:03,290
The river is still teeming
with anthrax spores,
537
00:31:03,290 --> 00:31:05,923
ready and waiting to
attack the next victims,
538
00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,300
but the two hippos are
still in dire straits.
539
00:31:14,300 --> 00:31:17,750
Their only hope now is to
find any available water,
540
00:31:17,750 --> 00:31:20,453
hunker down, and wait
for the rainy season.
541
00:31:22,166 --> 00:31:24,916
(birds chirping)
542
00:31:27,370 --> 00:31:30,650
It's now day 45 of the anthrax outbreak,
543
00:31:30,650 --> 00:31:32,260
and with each passing day,
544
00:31:32,260 --> 00:31:33,763
the fatalities mount up.
545
00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:37,610
Space is at a premium.
546
00:31:37,610 --> 00:31:39,150
Tempers are strained,
547
00:31:39,150 --> 00:31:42,363
and fights open more wounds
to welcome the anthrax.
548
00:31:43,870 --> 00:31:46,440
It's the final factor
making this dry season
549
00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:48,223
especially dire for the hippos.
550
00:31:49,060 --> 00:31:51,250
A combination of limited resources
551
00:31:51,250 --> 00:31:53,740
and the resulting stress from overcrowding
552
00:31:53,740 --> 00:31:56,340
seriously hampers the
hippo's immune system,
553
00:31:56,340 --> 00:31:58,890
making them less able
to fend off infection
554
00:31:58,890 --> 00:32:01,083
and ever more susceptible to disease,
555
00:32:03,010 --> 00:32:04,990
but not everyone's suffering,
556
00:32:04,990 --> 00:32:05,973
far from it.
557
00:32:06,830 --> 00:32:09,073
Hippo hell is crocodile heaven.
558
00:32:10,140 --> 00:32:11,640
For these writhing reptiles,
559
00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,363
it's been a season to die for.
560
00:32:15,260 --> 00:32:17,710
The food just keeps on coming,
561
00:32:17,710 --> 00:32:20,770
and they've no need to waste
their energy killing it.
562
00:32:20,770 --> 00:32:22,643
Just paddle up and eat.
563
00:32:23,620 --> 00:32:25,260
Grisly it may be,
564
00:32:25,260 --> 00:32:27,460
but as they devour the latest victim,
565
00:32:27,460 --> 00:32:30,460
their performing a vital
role in the ecosystem,
566
00:32:30,460 --> 00:32:32,540
keeping the riverbanks clean.
567
00:32:32,540 --> 00:32:34,920
Crocodiles have been around for millennia
568
00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,763
and are immune to the disease.
569
00:32:37,750 --> 00:32:39,810
They have the most acidic digestive system
570
00:32:39,810 --> 00:32:41,110
of any animal
571
00:32:41,110 --> 00:32:43,160
and are coldblooded to the core,
572
00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:45,073
which tips the scales in their favor.
573
00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:49,384
The anthrax might have met
its match in the crocodiles.
574
00:32:49,384 --> 00:32:51,404
(birds chirping)
575
00:32:51,404 --> 00:32:53,670
(gentle instrumental music)
576
00:32:53,670 --> 00:32:55,740
Despite the wave of deaths,
577
00:32:55,740 --> 00:32:58,783
the river bull still maintains
control of his patch.
578
00:33:03,300 --> 00:33:05,410
The mother and her calf may have found
579
00:33:05,410 --> 00:33:07,290
a new home with his pod,
580
00:33:07,290 --> 00:33:08,983
but it's a poisoned chalice.
581
00:33:09,950 --> 00:33:11,730
The luckiest ones may be those
582
00:33:11,730 --> 00:33:13,330
the river bull sent packing
583
00:33:13,330 --> 00:33:15,153
away from this part of the river.
584
00:33:18,980 --> 00:33:21,820
The two males may have
avoided contamination,
585
00:33:21,820 --> 00:33:23,913
but life is a grueling struggle.
586
00:33:25,170 --> 00:33:27,420
Theirs is a punishing
quest to find somewhere
587
00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:30,073
to cool their desperately
overheating bodies,
588
00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:33,780
but they search in vain.
589
00:33:33,780 --> 00:33:35,530
Most of the pools have evaporated.
590
00:33:35,530 --> 00:33:37,380
There's not a drop of water in sight.
591
00:33:38,770 --> 00:33:40,490
It's exhausting,
592
00:33:40,490 --> 00:33:43,030
and eventually in the searing heat
593
00:33:43,030 --> 00:33:44,573
they reach breaking point.
594
00:33:45,790 --> 00:33:49,129
Tempers fray and finally snap.
595
00:33:49,129 --> 00:33:52,046
(animals growling)
596
00:34:00,675 --> 00:34:02,550
Their bond is broken.
597
00:34:02,550 --> 00:34:04,813
From now on, it's every hippo for himself.
598
00:34:09,227 --> 00:34:12,679
(birds and insects chirping)
599
00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:15,180
(gentle instrumental music)
600
00:34:15,180 --> 00:34:17,550
It's now 50 days since the anthrax
601
00:34:17,550 --> 00:34:19,103
claimed its first victim.
602
00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,903
Its latest leaves an orphan in its wake.
603
00:34:30,660 --> 00:34:33,483
The calf waits patiently
by his mother's corpse.
604
00:34:35,765 --> 00:34:38,140
(singing)
605
00:34:38,140 --> 00:34:38,973
(water sloshing)
606
00:34:38,973 --> 00:34:40,640
Only five months old,
607
00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,673
he's young to be without her guidance.
608
00:34:47,610 --> 00:34:50,010
A mother and calf would
normally stay together
609
00:34:50,010 --> 00:34:51,900
for up to eight years,
610
00:34:51,900 --> 00:34:53,800
but at least the youngster is weaned,
611
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,453
which gives him a fighting chance,
612
00:34:55,453 --> 00:34:57,410
(animals grunting)
613
00:34:57,410 --> 00:34:59,870
and she found him a support network,
614
00:34:59,870 --> 00:35:02,620
a place in a creche where
there are other females
615
00:35:02,620 --> 00:35:03,453
to care for him.
616
00:35:10,340 --> 00:35:12,240
The pod may be depleted,
617
00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:13,580
but the community of mothers
618
00:35:13,580 --> 00:35:15,520
caring for an extended family
619
00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:16,903
is still its backbone.
620
00:35:18,310 --> 00:35:20,670
His mother did all she could.
621
00:35:20,670 --> 00:35:22,880
Now he must take his chances in the battle
622
00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,803
against the deadly disease
raging in the river.
623
00:35:26,654 --> 00:35:29,210
(birds cawing)
624
00:35:29,210 --> 00:35:30,730
A scavenger swoops,
625
00:35:30,730 --> 00:35:32,353
signaling another death.
626
00:35:35,890 --> 00:35:37,976
The epidemic is spreading.
627
00:35:37,976 --> 00:35:42,090
(dramatic instrumental music)
628
00:35:42,090 --> 00:35:44,733
This time, it's not a
hippo festering in the mud.
629
00:35:48,470 --> 00:35:52,070
Anthrax is now affecting
almost everything in its path,
630
00:35:52,070 --> 00:35:54,547
bar the cleaners who mop up the dead.
631
00:35:54,547 --> 00:35:57,380
(birds squawking)
632
00:36:04,530 --> 00:36:08,393
Like hippos, buffaloes are
more susceptible to anthrax.
633
00:36:09,590 --> 00:36:11,150
They wade into danger,
634
00:36:11,150 --> 00:36:12,780
heading deep into the river
635
00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:14,900
and stirring up trouble,
636
00:36:14,900 --> 00:36:17,143
the disease rich sediment beneath them.
637
00:36:19,570 --> 00:36:22,423
The feathered clean up
crew are still on duty.
638
00:36:23,380 --> 00:36:24,880
They're specialists,
639
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,830
slicing bodies open, removing entrails,
640
00:36:27,830 --> 00:36:31,040
and shoveling down flesh at great speed.
641
00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:33,030
They're also unwitting experts
642
00:36:33,030 --> 00:36:34,593
at spreading disease.
643
00:36:35,450 --> 00:36:38,670
This freshly butchered carcass
is riddled with anthrax
644
00:36:38,670 --> 00:36:40,123
and highly contagious.
645
00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:45,700
Like crocodiles, vultures have
got the guts for this job.
646
00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:47,453
They're resistant to the disease.
647
00:36:49,270 --> 00:36:51,180
Infected meat passes straight through
648
00:36:51,180 --> 00:36:52,973
their highly acidic stomachs,
649
00:36:55,620 --> 00:36:58,830
but after supper when
they drink and bathe,
650
00:36:58,830 --> 00:37:00,640
they contaminate the surrounding water
651
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:01,893
for the other animals.
652
00:37:03,945 --> 00:37:08,100
(gentle instrumental music)
653
00:37:08,100 --> 00:37:11,143
Vultures aren't the only
creatures peddling pestilence.
654
00:37:12,220 --> 00:37:15,434
Blowflies perform a similar disservice.
655
00:37:15,434 --> 00:37:16,540
(insects buzzing)
656
00:37:16,540 --> 00:37:18,650
They swarm on carcasses to gorge
657
00:37:18,650 --> 00:37:21,053
on the bodily fluids and rotting flesh,
658
00:37:22,780 --> 00:37:25,143
all of which is riddled with disease.
659
00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:32,190
When they fly off and
land on nearby vegetation,
660
00:37:32,190 --> 00:37:34,540
they vomit and defecate droplets laced
661
00:37:34,540 --> 00:37:35,963
with the lethal bacteria,
662
00:37:36,830 --> 00:37:38,260
making the disease accessible
663
00:37:38,260 --> 00:37:40,270
to a far loftier audience
664
00:37:40,270 --> 00:37:42,210
and many other grazers besides
665
00:37:47,540 --> 00:37:49,903
with lethal consequences.
666
00:37:49,903 --> 00:37:53,570
(gentle instrumental music)
667
00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:58,243
Day 80,
668
00:38:00,090 --> 00:38:02,600
the vultures guzzle another victim,
669
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:05,016
and this time, they've got an audience.
670
00:38:05,016 --> 00:38:07,849
(birds squawking)
671
00:38:09,810 --> 00:38:12,820
The younger bachelor has
stumbled across the carnage,
672
00:38:12,820 --> 00:38:13,970
and he seems intrigued.
673
00:38:19,070 --> 00:38:20,780
As long as he watches from a distance,
674
00:38:20,780 --> 00:38:24,053
he's safer, but curiosity
drives him closer.
675
00:38:30,070 --> 00:38:31,620
He ignores the vultures
676
00:38:31,620 --> 00:38:33,750
and investigates the grim scene
677
00:38:33,750 --> 00:38:35,993
up close and very personal.
678
00:38:43,260 --> 00:38:45,730
The reasons behind this
strange fascination
679
00:38:45,730 --> 00:38:47,580
with the death of another species
680
00:38:47,580 --> 00:38:48,993
are shrouded in mystery,
681
00:38:52,270 --> 00:38:53,830
but the effects of getting so close
682
00:38:53,830 --> 00:38:55,720
to the corpse of an anthrax victim
683
00:38:55,720 --> 00:38:57,283
may soon become crystal clear.
684
00:39:08,430 --> 00:39:09,980
Three hours later,
685
00:39:09,980 --> 00:39:11,680
despite their squabble,
686
00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:13,580
the companions have reunited
687
00:39:13,580 --> 00:39:16,043
and stumbled across a sanctuary of sorts.
688
00:39:17,252 --> 00:39:21,400
(gentle instrumental music)
689
00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,410
It's a far from sumptuous pool,
690
00:39:23,410 --> 00:39:24,960
but this parched mud hole
691
00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:26,793
would at least bring some relief,
692
00:39:28,870 --> 00:39:30,430
but a wallow in the sludge
693
00:39:30,430 --> 00:39:32,475
is as good as it's going to get.
694
00:39:32,475 --> 00:39:34,550
(mud sloshing)
695
00:39:34,550 --> 00:39:35,900
For one of them,
696
00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:37,553
the tide's about to turn.
697
00:39:39,460 --> 00:39:41,183
Anthrax is an enigma.
698
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,243
Resistance is different
for each and every animal.
699
00:39:46,650 --> 00:39:50,490
Death can take a few days or a few hours,
700
00:39:50,490 --> 00:39:53,450
and some can even survive the disease,
701
00:39:53,450 --> 00:39:55,431
(insects and birds chirping)
702
00:39:55,431 --> 00:39:59,098
(gentle instrumental music)
703
00:40:11,250 --> 00:40:14,000
but not in the younger hippo's case.
704
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,000
He lasted mere hours,
705
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:19,063
his crumpled body now easy
pickings for night prowlers.
706
00:40:23,050 --> 00:40:25,050
With their cast iron stomachs,
707
00:40:25,050 --> 00:40:28,003
the hyenas appear to be
impervious to infection,
708
00:40:28,003 --> 00:40:30,836
(animals chewing)
709
00:40:33,370 --> 00:40:34,833
but the older hippo isn't.
710
00:40:36,620 --> 00:40:38,310
Helpless in the background,
711
00:40:38,310 --> 00:40:40,150
he can only watch,
712
00:40:40,150 --> 00:40:42,173
but it's a dangerous preoccupation.
713
00:40:44,810 --> 00:40:46,570
Every minute the young hippo's body
714
00:40:46,570 --> 00:40:48,200
lies open to the elements,
715
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:50,290
the more anthrax seeps from his wounds
716
00:40:50,290 --> 00:40:51,540
into the watery silt
717
00:40:52,770 --> 00:40:54,380
and slowly weaves its way
718
00:40:54,380 --> 00:40:57,041
towards his elder companion.
719
00:40:57,041 --> 00:40:58,923
(water sloshing)
720
00:40:58,923 --> 00:41:00,255
(gentle instrumental music)
721
00:41:00,255 --> 00:41:04,005
(birds and insects chirping)
722
00:41:09,090 --> 00:41:13,080
By morning, the water
hole is a hive of activity
723
00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:14,600
as parched residents struggle
724
00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,330
to find somewhere to quench their thirst,
725
00:41:17,330 --> 00:41:19,660
but the water's rank and stagnant,
726
00:41:19,660 --> 00:41:21,170
concentrating the anthrax
727
00:41:21,170 --> 00:41:23,563
and making the situation even worse.
728
00:41:24,419 --> 00:41:25,470
(hogs snorting)
729
00:41:25,470 --> 00:41:26,420
To some degree,
730
00:41:26,420 --> 00:41:28,773
most mammals are susceptible to anthrax.
731
00:41:32,990 --> 00:41:35,900
The chances of falling prey
depend on specific temperature
732
00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:38,423
and humidity conditions
within the host's body.
733
00:41:42,110 --> 00:41:44,803
Survival is a lottery, a numbers game,
734
00:41:47,740 --> 00:41:51,053
one which the older hippo
seems to be winning so far.
735
00:41:52,630 --> 00:41:54,260
He made it through the night,
736
00:41:54,260 --> 00:41:56,090
but every hour spent in the sludge
737
00:41:56,090 --> 00:41:57,880
alongside his comrade's remains
738
00:41:57,880 --> 00:41:59,543
severely reduces his chances.
739
00:42:02,720 --> 00:42:04,720
Even if he survives the anthrax,
740
00:42:04,720 --> 00:42:06,700
the heat is relentless,
741
00:42:06,700 --> 00:42:09,503
and this meager spattering
of water won't last long.
742
00:42:11,721 --> 00:42:15,341
(insects chirping)
743
00:42:15,341 --> 00:42:18,091
(water sloshing)
744
00:42:20,030 --> 00:42:21,240
At the river,
745
00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:23,103
the calf is still with his mother.
746
00:42:25,690 --> 00:42:28,050
She has been dead for two days now.
747
00:42:28,050 --> 00:42:29,460
If he's to survive,
748
00:42:29,460 --> 00:42:31,545
he must give up his vigil.
749
00:42:31,545 --> 00:42:35,212
(gentle instrumental music)
750
00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:51,033
His attempts to push the
crocodiles away are futile.
751
00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:54,600
With so much food on offer,
752
00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:56,003
the reptiles ignore him.
753
00:43:10,470 --> 00:43:12,783
At least the youngster is still alive.
754
00:43:25,250 --> 00:43:27,780
He must now use whatever
strength he has left
755
00:43:27,780 --> 00:43:30,380
to continue bonding with
other females in the river.
756
00:43:33,563 --> 00:43:35,353
(water sloshing)
757
00:43:35,353 --> 00:43:37,243
(birds chirping)
758
00:43:37,243 --> 00:43:40,910
(gentle instrumental music)
759
00:43:43,634 --> 00:43:46,180
(insects chirping)
760
00:43:46,180 --> 00:43:47,580
Back at the mud hole,
761
00:43:47,580 --> 00:43:50,650
the older hippo is also moving on.
762
00:43:50,650 --> 00:43:53,110
He's been lucky to withstand the anthrax,
763
00:43:53,110 --> 00:43:55,810
but if he's to have any
chance of longterm survival,
764
00:43:55,810 --> 00:43:57,533
he needs to return to the river,
765
00:44:01,540 --> 00:44:03,113
but he won't be welcomed back.
766
00:44:04,900 --> 00:44:07,210
The river bull will still be on patrol
767
00:44:07,210 --> 00:44:09,283
and ferociously guarding his empire.
768
00:44:10,260 --> 00:44:14,200
This frazzled giant has one
more challenge to overcome,
769
00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:17,143
and it's a monumental one.
770
00:44:17,143 --> 00:44:19,976
(insects buzzing)
771
00:44:21,980 --> 00:44:23,740
The bull takes stock.
772
00:44:23,740 --> 00:44:26,350
It's been exhausting
maintaining his territory,
773
00:44:26,350 --> 00:44:28,133
but his work isn't over yet.
774
00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:31,050
The wanderer returns,
775
00:44:31,050 --> 00:44:33,320
but this time, he's not trying to slip in
776
00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:35,170
through the back door,
777
00:44:35,170 --> 00:44:36,273
quite the opposite.
778
00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,770
His eyes seem fixed on the main prize.
779
00:44:40,770 --> 00:44:42,010
The lines are drawn,
780
00:44:42,010 --> 00:44:43,687
and there's no backing down.
781
00:44:43,687 --> 00:44:46,630
(dramatic instrumental music)
782
00:44:46,630 --> 00:44:48,850
When a fight this brutal is brewing,
783
00:44:48,850 --> 00:44:50,879
no one wants to get
caught in the crossfire.
784
00:44:50,879 --> 00:44:51,978
(animals grunting)
785
00:44:51,978 --> 00:44:54,811
(water splashing)
786
00:45:12,375 --> 00:45:15,292
(animals growling)
787
00:45:16,562 --> 00:45:19,010
In a blistering brawl of clashing canines
788
00:45:19,010 --> 00:45:21,160
and bone crunching jaws,
789
00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:23,097
two Goliaths go to war.
790
00:45:32,471 --> 00:45:34,810
(birds chirping)
791
00:45:34,810 --> 00:45:36,903
The opponents are evenly matched.
792
00:45:39,080 --> 00:45:42,530
The bachelor male equals
the bull kilo for kilo,
793
00:45:42,530 --> 00:45:44,760
and what he lacks in combat experience,
794
00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:46,723
he makes up for in youthful energy.
795
00:45:49,570 --> 00:45:51,490
Despite his recent ordeal,
796
00:45:51,490 --> 00:45:53,480
the young contender has the upper hand.
797
00:46:00,392 --> 00:46:02,888
(water sloshing)
798
00:46:02,888 --> 00:46:06,130
The river bull has fought
one too many fights.
799
00:46:06,130 --> 00:46:08,240
His battle weary body isn't up
800
00:46:08,240 --> 00:46:10,333
to another punishing contest.
801
00:46:13,050 --> 00:46:14,903
His 10 year reign is over.
802
00:46:17,410 --> 00:46:20,493
This stretch of river
has a new head honcho.
803
00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:23,250
This victor survived the heat,
804
00:46:23,250 --> 00:46:26,890
starvation, and the onslaught of anthrax.
805
00:46:26,890 --> 00:46:31,789
Now he has power and his
own territory on the river.
806
00:46:31,789 --> 00:46:35,040
(gentle instrumental music)
807
00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:37,510
The vanquished leader can
barely muster the energy
808
00:46:37,510 --> 00:46:39,176
to lick his wounds.
809
00:46:39,176 --> 00:46:41,450
(birds chirping)
810
00:46:41,450 --> 00:46:43,530
Bleeding and battered,
811
00:46:43,530 --> 00:46:44,983
death will come quickly.
812
00:46:46,324 --> 00:46:49,157
(insects buzzing)
813
00:46:57,080 --> 00:46:59,750
After 140 days,
814
00:46:59,750 --> 00:47:02,670
there's hope on the horizon.
815
00:47:02,670 --> 00:47:04,003
The rain clouds gather,
816
00:47:08,114 --> 00:47:08,947
(thunder rumbling)
817
00:47:08,947 --> 00:47:10,530
and the plague is gradually purged
818
00:47:10,530 --> 00:47:12,087
by the torrential downpour.
819
00:47:12,087 --> 00:47:14,670
(rain pouring)
820
00:47:15,564 --> 00:47:18,090
(water flowing)
821
00:47:18,090 --> 00:47:19,470
As the river swells,
822
00:47:19,470 --> 00:47:21,280
the spores are washed away.
823
00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:31,190
The anthrax, diluted in the deluge,
824
00:47:31,190 --> 00:47:32,593
is no longer a threat.
825
00:47:34,413 --> 00:47:37,163
(birds chirping)
826
00:47:39,630 --> 00:47:41,870
(singing)
827
00:47:41,870 --> 00:47:45,613
Hippos have two basic
requirements for life,
828
00:47:46,450 --> 00:47:48,400
water deep enough to wallow in
829
00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:50,403
and grasslands fit to graze.
830
00:47:57,640 --> 00:48:00,530
The lethal combination
of a savage dry season
831
00:48:00,530 --> 00:48:02,850
and the ensuing anthrax outbreak
832
00:48:02,850 --> 00:48:05,193
almost destroyed these basic resources.
833
00:48:06,233 --> 00:48:09,890
(water splashing)
834
00:48:09,890 --> 00:48:12,570
Almost, but not quite.
835
00:48:12,570 --> 00:48:13,720
For the survivors,
836
00:48:13,720 --> 00:48:15,593
it's the beginning of a new era.
837
00:48:17,120 --> 00:48:19,200
The ordeal which killed so many
838
00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:21,668
brought a new lease of life for others.
839
00:48:21,668 --> 00:48:24,090
(birds chirping)
840
00:48:24,090 --> 00:48:28,290
The older bachelor now reigns
supreme in his territory.
841
00:48:28,290 --> 00:48:30,510
He's inherited a huge pod,
842
00:48:30,510 --> 00:48:33,470
including within its
ranks the young orphan,
843
00:48:33,470 --> 00:48:36,750
now safely ensconced in the group.
844
00:48:36,750 --> 00:48:39,180
His mother saw him safely to the river
845
00:48:39,180 --> 00:48:41,400
and made sure he'd never be alone,
846
00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:43,410
that he'd always be under the watchful eye
847
00:48:43,410 --> 00:48:44,910
of the sisterhood.
848
00:48:44,910 --> 00:48:46,530
Without their support,
849
00:48:46,530 --> 00:48:48,353
it would be a very different story.
850
00:48:49,220 --> 00:48:50,790
(water splashing)
851
00:48:50,790 --> 00:48:53,080
The pod may stay here for many years,
852
00:48:53,080 --> 00:48:55,580
their lives revolving around
the ever changing face
853
00:48:55,580 --> 00:48:58,443
of the river and its
surrounding lakes and lagoons.
854
00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:07,830
Beneath their feet,
buried in the riverbed,
855
00:49:07,830 --> 00:49:10,063
the silent killer bides its time.
856
00:49:12,410 --> 00:49:15,010
A severe anthrax outbreak
is unlikely to strike again
857
00:49:15,010 --> 00:49:16,340
for another 10 years
858
00:49:16,340 --> 00:49:17,850
because the pod's diminished numbers
859
00:49:17,850 --> 00:49:19,813
will lessen the stressful overcrowding.
860
00:49:22,654 --> 00:49:24,821
(singing)
861
00:49:25,770 --> 00:49:28,780
This community has endured one
of the toughest dry seasons
862
00:49:28,780 --> 00:49:30,180
they're ever likely to know,
863
00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:35,170
but life will go on for the survivors
864
00:49:35,170 --> 00:49:37,635
of Luangwa's hippo hell.
865
00:49:37,635 --> 00:49:41,302
(upbeat instrumental music)
58884
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