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At the southern tip
of the African continent,
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00:00:10,344 --> 00:00:14,481
a tiny refuge
making a huge impact.
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00:00:15,782 --> 00:00:18,585
A concentration of life.
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00:00:21,355 --> 00:00:24,124
Its varied habitats
offering a sanctuary
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00:00:24,124 --> 00:00:27,394
to some of the biggest animals
on the planet -
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00:00:28,695 --> 00:00:32,199
And some of the smallest.
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00:00:33,834 --> 00:00:36,436
It's a story
of beating the odds,
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00:00:36,436 --> 00:00:39,473
of species coming back
from the edge of extinction
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to reclaim their place
in Africa's wilderness.
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This is De Hoop:
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Place of Hope.
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00:01:30,791 --> 00:01:34,161
Daybreak
over the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
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The morning mist reveals
a herd of unique antelope.
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00:01:50,544 --> 00:01:53,146
These are Bontebok,
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an Afrikaans name referring
to their contrasting
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dark and white coats.
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00:02:03,190 --> 00:02:07,527
The dew saturates the coastal
succulent vegetation,
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00:02:07,527 --> 00:02:11,698
supplying the Bontebok
with all the water they need.
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00:02:23,076 --> 00:02:25,178
It's a tranquil scene,
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00:02:25,178 --> 00:02:26,713
and the antelope are calm
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00:02:26,713 --> 00:02:29,683
and focused
on their morning feed.
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00:02:32,185 --> 00:02:36,490
But their presence here
is a triumph of conservation.
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00:02:38,392 --> 00:02:40,260
Less than a century ago,
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00:02:40,260 --> 00:02:44,698
relentless hunting had left
no more than 20 Bontebok
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00:02:44,698 --> 00:02:47,267
in the world.
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00:02:49,503 --> 00:02:53,673
But they were saved
by a peculiar quirk.
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Bontebok cannot jump.
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00:02:59,846 --> 00:03:03,450
Herded into fenced camps
by concerned landowners,
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00:03:03,450 --> 00:03:06,720
and unable to escape
by jumping over the fences,
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00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,624
Bontebok numbers
slowly recovered.
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00:03:16,096 --> 00:03:18,665
It was the start of a trend
that transformed
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this small part of the world
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into a conservation zone
for nearly-extinct animals.
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00:03:28,608 --> 00:03:30,544
In 1957,
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00:03:30,544 --> 00:03:33,080
the De Hoop Nature Reserve
was set up
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00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,416
as an experimental
wildlife protection area
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00:03:36,416 --> 00:03:39,753
where rare and endangered
species could be nurtured
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00:03:39,753 --> 00:03:42,389
and their numbers
brought back from the brink
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00:03:42,389 --> 00:03:46,026
to repopulate surrounding areas.
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00:03:49,596 --> 00:03:52,532
Now a part
of a World Heritage Site
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00:03:52,532 --> 00:03:56,803
and with an important Marine
Protected Area off its coast,
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00:03:56,803 --> 00:04:01,041
De Hoop is a beacon of
conservation in Southern Africa
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00:04:01,041 --> 00:04:04,544
and a haven
for vulnerable species.
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00:04:10,183 --> 00:04:16,423
Today, Bontebok numbers
have swelled to almost 4 000.
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00:04:16,423 --> 00:04:20,360
And other species
have found hope for survival.
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De Hoop contains a number
of habitats in one small area -
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from the coastal rocky shores
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00:04:37,744 --> 00:04:40,547
to lowland Fynbos
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00:04:40,547 --> 00:04:44,251
and pristine wetlands.
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00:04:44,251 --> 00:04:48,522
But its protection
doesn't end at the shoreline.
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00:04:48,522 --> 00:04:51,758
The bay is an internationally
renowned sanctuary
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00:04:51,758 --> 00:04:55,395
for some iconic marine giants.
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00:04:56,496 --> 00:04:58,265
Southern right whales,
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00:04:58,265 --> 00:05:03,236
once hunted to near extinction,
migrate here to calve.
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00:05:06,173 --> 00:05:08,575
Two vulnerable species,
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00:05:08,575 --> 00:05:12,045
the Cape vulture
and the Cape mountain zebra,
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00:05:12,045 --> 00:05:15,615
are slowly gaining back
lost ground.
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00:05:19,419 --> 00:05:21,054
In the numbers game
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00:05:21,054 --> 00:05:23,490
that underpins
the survival of a species,
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00:05:23,490 --> 00:05:28,161
this small reserve
is making a big difference.
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00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:14,708
Covering just 140 square miles,
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00:06:14,708 --> 00:06:16,610
the De Hoop Nature Reserve
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00:06:16,610 --> 00:06:20,647
could fit into
Yellowstone Park 25 times.
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00:06:24,684 --> 00:06:27,520
And yet, despite its size,
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00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,556
it is packed with life,
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00:06:29,556 --> 00:06:32,259
offering a home
to hundreds of species.
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00:06:36,196 --> 00:06:37,597
Part of this abundance
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00:06:37,597 --> 00:06:40,600
is thanks
to the concentration of habitats
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00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,302
found in De Hoop,
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00:06:42,302 --> 00:06:45,605
a factor
of its unique geography.
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00:06:50,243 --> 00:06:52,078
South of the reserve,
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00:06:52,078 --> 00:06:55,782
the Heuningnesrivier,
or Honey Nest River,
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flows into the sea at De Mond.
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00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:05,292
This river sweeps vast amounts
of sand into the ocean,
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00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:08,595
which the sea
then pushes back onshore,
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00:07:08,595 --> 00:07:12,599
creating
majestic beaches and dunes.
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00:07:25,178 --> 00:07:29,349
To the east,
the coastline becomes rocky.
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00:07:31,117 --> 00:07:32,752
Soft sandstone,
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00:07:32,752 --> 00:07:36,723
carved over millennia
by the ocean and the weather,
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00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:40,126
creates a dramatic landscape.
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00:07:45,732 --> 00:07:48,735
Here, flat rock platforms
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00:07:48,735 --> 00:07:52,172
provide ideal hunting grounds
for shore birds,
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00:07:55,809 --> 00:08:00,613
while rock pools give shelter
to a variety of marine species.
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00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:08,455
Inland,
flat pastures of succulents
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00:08:08,455 --> 00:08:10,623
and large expanses of low bush
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00:08:10,623 --> 00:08:15,495
provide food and shelter
for many of De Hoop's residents.
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00:08:18,298 --> 00:08:20,300
Ocean,
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00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:22,035
rocky shores,
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00:08:22,569 --> 00:08:23,737
dunes,
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00:08:24,471 --> 00:08:26,039
lakes,
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00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:27,474
bush
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00:08:28,575 --> 00:08:30,510
and open pasture -
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all packed into an area that
extends just 10 miles inland.
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00:08:37,250 --> 00:08:39,519
A thin band of sanctuary,
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00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:44,057
offering hope to
all the species that live here.
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00:09:05,412 --> 00:09:07,747
As morning comes to De Hoop,
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the park's majestic giant
seeks out its favorite pastures.
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00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,656
The Common eland,
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the second biggest antelope
in the world.
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Eland are huge.
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00:09:25,432 --> 00:09:28,535
They can weigh close to a ton
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and stand
6 feet at the shoulder.
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00:09:34,407 --> 00:09:36,676
For the indigenous
hunter-gatherers
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00:09:36,676 --> 00:09:38,511
of Southern Africa,
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00:09:38,511 --> 00:09:43,216
they were a potent symbol
of abundance and strength.
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00:09:43,216 --> 00:09:46,252
The San people
immortalized the eland
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in many of their rock paintings
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00:09:48,188 --> 00:09:50,390
and religious ceremonies,
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00:09:50,390 --> 00:09:52,325
and it was an essential part
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00:09:52,325 --> 00:09:53,793
of their coming of age
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00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:57,464
and shamanistic
trance dance rituals.
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00:10:06,139 --> 00:10:09,409
They are slow giants.
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00:10:09,409 --> 00:10:11,277
Even when startled,
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00:10:11,277 --> 00:10:14,714
they can barely reach
a peak of 25 miles per hour,
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00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:18,318
and they tire easily.
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What they lack in speed,
however,
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they make up in strength.
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When threatened,
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an eland can leap 10 feet
from a standing position.
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00:10:39,472 --> 00:10:41,641
Eland are nomads,
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00:10:41,641 --> 00:10:43,710
and have adapted
to many of Africa's
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challenging
and diverse environments,
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helped in part
by an incredible ability
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to survive on almost no water.
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00:11:00,260 --> 00:11:02,295
They are sociable animals,
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forming large herds
without being territorial,
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00:11:05,832 --> 00:11:10,303
and they are content
to graze near other species.
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00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:15,842
But among themselves,
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hierarchies
still need to be maintained.
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00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:26,519
This large bull
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asserts himself through an
extraordinary adaptation
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of his physiology:
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knee clicking.
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00:11:34,093 --> 00:11:35,828
The unusual sound
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00:11:35,828 --> 00:11:41,334
is made by tendons slipping over
the bones in his front knees.
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00:11:41,334 --> 00:11:46,339
The tendon
vibrates like a string.
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00:11:46,339 --> 00:11:51,210
The sound it produces presents a
clear picture of his size
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00:11:51,210 --> 00:11:55,715
and potential fighting
capabilities to any challengers.
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00:11:55,715 --> 00:11:59,319
The bigger and stronger
an adult bull,
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00:11:59,319 --> 00:12:03,323
the deeper and more imposing
his knee-clicks.
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00:12:11,364 --> 00:12:13,700
Eland are browsers,
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nibbling juicy shoots and leaves
off small trees and bushes.
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But a feast like this
comes at a price.
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00:12:25,678 --> 00:12:30,149
As the antelope presses against
trees and bushes,
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ticks are brushed off onto him,
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00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:37,323
burrowing into his hair
and latching onto his back
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00:12:37,323 --> 00:12:40,560
for a tasty blood meal.
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00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:42,462
Once a tick attaches
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00:12:42,462 --> 00:12:46,799
the eland won't feel it
growing fat on its blood.
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00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:48,768
But other irritants
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lie frustratingly just out of
reach of his teeth or tongue.
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Luckily,
he has two very useful tools:
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00:12:59,746 --> 00:13:03,683
his long,
elegant back-scratchers.
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00:13:10,256 --> 00:13:12,425
The eland's spiral horns
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00:13:12,425 --> 00:13:15,528
are a throwback
to an ancient Asian ancestor
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that had four horns.
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00:13:20,299 --> 00:13:24,103
Over time,
the two pairs fused together,
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intertwining into the corkscrew
we see today.
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00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:36,149
Still, there are only
so many spots he can reach.
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00:13:36,149 --> 00:13:39,686
And mercifully,
he has help on board.
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00:13:41,688 --> 00:13:45,591
Cattle egrets
are a species of heron.
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00:13:56,269 --> 00:13:57,837
They get their name
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from their behavior of traveling
on or near large grazers
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such as cattle,
antelope and zebra.
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Moving with the herd
means access
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to an endless supply
of juicy ticks.
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Still, scoring dinner
can be a challenge.
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Their moving dinner table
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comes with heavy hooves
and swishing tails.
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A slow, blood-filled tick
is a treat for an egret.
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But this opportunistic feeder
is here for a bigger bonanza:
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insects, spiders,
frogs and worms
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that are churned up in the soil
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as the herds
tug up tussocks to eat.
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Following browsers and grazers
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offers big rewards
for little effort.
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Parasites don't only affect
the park's big antelope.
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They'll latch onto any
large animal that's passing by.
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In this case, the largest bird
in the world: the Ostrich.
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A young male
enjoys a satisfying dust bath,
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getting rid
of clinging parasites
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and stripping excess oil
off his feathers.
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He's not alone for long.
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It's his mate, wanting her own
quality time in the bath.
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00:16:09,368 --> 00:16:13,206
They lie on the ground,
swaying from side to side,
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00:16:13,206 --> 00:16:17,076
with their wings spread wide
for maximum coverage.
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A good dust bowl
is a valuable commodity.
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While two is company
in this bath,
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three is definitely a crowd.
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The tallest
and heaviest living bird,
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male Ostriches
can tower at almost 10 feet
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and weigh up to 330 pounds.
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Their giant size
makes flight impossible.
194
00:16:58,517 --> 00:17:03,556
But they have adapted by
becoming extremely fast runners.
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00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:05,558
Long, powerful legs
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00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:09,495
allow Ostriches to sprint
at up to 43 miles an hour,
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with strides
of more than 10 feet.
198
00:17:15,034 --> 00:17:18,371
Elite sprinters
need special footwear,
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00:17:18,371 --> 00:17:21,674
and Ostrich are no different.
200
00:17:21,674 --> 00:17:26,212
Most birds have three
or even four toes on each foot,
201
00:17:26,212 --> 00:17:31,083
but the Ostrich has only two.
202
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The inner toes are tipped
with long, curving claws
203
00:17:34,620 --> 00:17:40,226
that dig into the ground like
spikes on a sprinter's shoe.
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This claw is also used
for self-defense.
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High up above them,
as the sun gathers strength
206
00:18:00,579 --> 00:18:02,348
and the day heats up,
207
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a fleeting glimpse
208
00:18:04,116 --> 00:18:07,353
of one of De Hoop's
greatest conservation successes.
209
00:18:12,058 --> 00:18:15,094
The Cape vulture.
210
00:18:15,094 --> 00:18:17,797
One of the biggest vultures
in Africa,
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00:18:17,797 --> 00:18:21,968
its wingspan
measures up to 8 feet.
212
00:18:24,103 --> 00:18:27,406
Some 200
of these reclusive scavengers
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00:18:27,406 --> 00:18:29,041
have made their home
214
00:18:29,041 --> 00:18:32,244
in the Potberg Mountains
that border De Hoop,
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00:18:32,244 --> 00:18:36,983
comprising the last remaining
colony in this area.
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00:18:39,285 --> 00:18:42,421
Over the years,
their numbers have plunged
217
00:18:42,421 --> 00:18:46,525
plunged due to loss of habitat,
power lines, and poison
218
00:18:46,525 --> 00:18:49,095
from carcasses
left out by farmers
219
00:18:49,095 --> 00:18:52,398
to kill other scavengers
like jackals.
220
00:18:59,271 --> 00:19:01,207
By the 1970s,
221
00:19:01,207 --> 00:19:07,046
just 30 vultures
remained alive in this area.
222
00:19:07,046 --> 00:19:10,416
But thanks to a shift in the
attitudes of local farmers,
223
00:19:10,416 --> 00:19:13,386
and the sanctuary
offered by De Hoop,
224
00:19:13,386 --> 00:19:19,058
the number of these elusive
scavengers continues to climb.
225
00:19:35,241 --> 00:19:39,478
The park provides a haven
for many bird species,
226
00:19:39,478 --> 00:19:41,447
but the region as a whole
227
00:19:41,447 --> 00:19:45,451
is also an essential habitat
for bird life.
228
00:19:56,395 --> 00:19:58,764
Beyond the western boundary
of the park,
229
00:19:58,764 --> 00:20:03,102
Greater flamingos
use this estuary to feed,
230
00:20:03,102 --> 00:20:06,439
preparing themselves
for their migrations northwards
231
00:20:06,439 --> 00:20:08,574
after the rainy season.
232
00:20:13,512 --> 00:20:17,450
When the time comes,
they will fly the 600 miles
233
00:20:17,450 --> 00:20:23,122
to blooming deserts
in Namibia and Botswana.
234
00:20:23,122 --> 00:20:27,626
If the rains have been good,
they will breed there.
235
00:20:27,626 --> 00:20:32,198
If not, they will come
all the way back to this region.
236
00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:47,446
The flamingos are tucking in.
237
00:20:47,446 --> 00:20:52,551
They are filter feeders, and
here they have plenty to eat.
238
00:20:57,857 --> 00:21:00,759
The sand flats
in the wetlands near De Hoop
239
00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:04,363
are full of microscopic
algae and bacteria,
240
00:21:04,363 --> 00:21:10,102
organic matter that clings
to individual grains of sand.
241
00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:14,406
It's also a feast
for these Globular mud snails.
242
00:21:17,243 --> 00:21:19,512
The algae and bacteria
243
00:21:19,512 --> 00:21:21,614
make the sediment
particularly rich
244
00:21:21,614 --> 00:21:24,550
in small crustaceans
and marine worms -
245
00:21:24,550 --> 00:21:28,521
and the flamingos
are taking full advantage.
246
00:21:33,459 --> 00:21:35,327
They're on the move,
247
00:21:35,327 --> 00:21:39,398
sieving through the sediment
for the tastiest morsels.
248
00:21:39,398 --> 00:21:42,268
When they find
a particularly good spot,
249
00:21:42,268 --> 00:21:44,436
they will work it over
thoroughly,
250
00:21:44,436 --> 00:21:47,339
slowly pivoting around
in a circle
251
00:21:47,339 --> 00:21:49,375
to dig through the sediment.
252
00:21:50,309 --> 00:21:51,844
As the tide retreats,
253
00:21:51,844 --> 00:21:54,346
their circular excavations
leave behind
254
00:21:54,346 --> 00:21:56,248
a neat bit of landscaping:
255
00:21:56,248 --> 00:22:01,654
a small island, briefly wrestled
over by a pair of Hermit crabs.
256
00:22:03,289 --> 00:22:07,426
In the west,
the shore is a sandy expanse,
257
00:22:07,426 --> 00:22:11,463
but just a few miles away
on the eastern edge of the park,
258
00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:14,333
this is a transformed coast.
259
00:22:22,741 --> 00:22:26,779
This is a harsher,
more demanding environment,
260
00:22:26,779 --> 00:22:30,649
where waves break
on a rugged and rocky shore.
261
00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:42,861
It seems inhospitable to all
262
00:22:42,861 --> 00:22:46,298
except for the toughest
limpets and mussels.
263
00:22:49,401 --> 00:22:52,605
But for this bird, it's perfect.
264
00:22:59,311 --> 00:23:02,314
The African black oystercatcher
265
00:23:02,314 --> 00:23:06,118
is another living symbol
of the success of De Hoop.
266
00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:09,555
Found only in southern Africa,
267
00:23:09,555 --> 00:23:15,728
its numbers had fallen to below
5 000 by the early 1980s.
268
00:23:24,136 --> 00:23:28,307
African black oystercatchers
build their nests on the ground,
269
00:23:28,307 --> 00:23:31,243
which makes them
extremely vulnerable.
270
00:23:33,145 --> 00:23:36,348
From marauding pets
to off-road vehicles,
271
00:23:36,348 --> 00:23:38,284
encroaching human activity
272
00:23:38,284 --> 00:23:42,521
almost doomed this charismatic
resident of the rocky shore.
273
00:23:48,093 --> 00:23:50,362
But protected coasts like this
274
00:23:50,362 --> 00:23:53,132
offer a safe space
to these birds.
275
00:23:56,335 --> 00:24:00,239
Still, life here isn't easy.
276
00:24:06,745 --> 00:24:08,647
The oystercatcher
277
00:24:08,647 --> 00:24:12,351
is restricted to a narrow
and dangerous strip of land -
278
00:24:12,351 --> 00:24:15,354
the intertidal zone.
279
00:24:15,354 --> 00:24:18,824
Surviving here,
avoiding pounding waves,
280
00:24:18,824 --> 00:24:21,593
takes speed and skill.
281
00:24:25,497 --> 00:24:27,366
It feeds at low tide
282
00:24:27,366 --> 00:24:30,569
when the shellfish on
these rocks have been exposed.
283
00:24:38,744 --> 00:24:42,781
A specially adapted bill
and powerful neck muscles
284
00:24:42,781 --> 00:24:45,284
allow it
to grab a mussel quickly
285
00:24:45,284 --> 00:24:48,554
and to tear it free
from its mooring of fibers.
286
00:24:52,091 --> 00:24:55,561
A speedy getaway is essential.
287
00:24:55,561 --> 00:24:58,430
The waves here are powerful,
288
00:24:58,430 --> 00:25:02,501
and even a fraction of a second
could prove costly to a bird
289
00:25:02,501 --> 00:25:04,703
caught in the surging breakers.
290
00:25:15,414 --> 00:25:19,752
Safe from the ocean,
it gets to work on its catch.
291
00:25:30,596 --> 00:25:33,432
His mate
has also been successful:
292
00:25:33,432 --> 00:25:35,667
she's jabbed
a limpet off its rock
293
00:25:35,667 --> 00:25:39,405
and is carving out its soft meat
with her bill.
294
00:25:42,274 --> 00:25:46,412
It's hard, tiring work,
and to sustain themselves,
295
00:25:46,412 --> 00:25:49,281
adult birds
need to crack open and eat
296
00:25:49,281 --> 00:25:52,618
scores of these armored morsels.
297
00:25:54,553 --> 00:25:58,323
With plentiful food and a
protected park around them,
298
00:25:58,323 --> 00:26:01,293
De Hoop's
oystercatchers are thriving,
299
00:26:01,293 --> 00:26:06,064
swelling the numbers
of this threatened species.
300
00:26:14,339 --> 00:26:18,377
As the tide comes in,
the oystercatchers retreat.
301
00:26:31,723 --> 00:26:36,528
The birds have to wait for
the next low tide to eat again.
302
00:26:39,331 --> 00:26:42,201
But for other inhabitants
of the De Hoop coast,
303
00:26:42,201 --> 00:26:43,068
it's feeding time.
304
00:26:45,437 --> 00:26:49,374
A marine protected area,
declared in 1986,
305
00:26:49,374 --> 00:26:55,547
extends for 3 miles
into the ocean off De Hoop.
306
00:26:55,547 --> 00:27:00,219
This allows fish species to
thrive here, close to the coast,
307
00:27:00,219 --> 00:27:04,189
largely untouched
by overfishing in this ocean.
308
00:27:07,226 --> 00:27:10,429
At high tide,
many species of native fish
309
00:27:10,429 --> 00:27:13,565
move into the shallow water
to feed.
310
00:27:21,406 --> 00:27:24,443
And as the rock pools
fill up with marine life,
311
00:27:24,443 --> 00:27:26,678
they become
an ideal hunting ground
312
00:27:26,678 --> 00:27:29,681
for one of this coast's
most cunning predators:
313
00:27:30,482 --> 00:27:34,152
the octopus.
314
00:27:34,152 --> 00:27:40,259
This highly intelligent animal
preys on crabs and rock lobster.
315
00:27:42,094 --> 00:27:45,531
He moves easily
between land and sea,
316
00:27:45,531 --> 00:27:48,400
searching for snacks
between the rocks.
317
00:27:57,242 --> 00:28:01,647
De Hoop is full
of conservation success stories.
318
00:28:13,425 --> 00:28:17,529
Out in the bay, the star of
De Hoop's Marine Protected Area
319
00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:20,632
is coming home to breed.
320
00:28:20,632 --> 00:28:22,801
The Southern right whale.
321
00:28:22,801 --> 00:28:27,205
One of the rarest of all
the planet's large whales.
322
00:28:32,210 --> 00:28:36,381
These giants
have completed a long journey,
323
00:28:36,381 --> 00:28:38,250
leaving behind
their feeding grounds
324
00:28:38,250 --> 00:28:40,352
in the icy waters
off Antarctica,
325
00:28:40,352 --> 00:28:43,221
and journeying north
to the milder coasts
326
00:28:43,221 --> 00:28:47,526
of South America,
Australia and Africa.
327
00:28:55,100 --> 00:28:58,770
They've come here,
to this protected coast,
328
00:28:58,770 --> 00:29:01,273
to mate and to breed,
329
00:29:01,273 --> 00:29:04,509
as part of the largest gathering
of their species
330
00:29:04,509 --> 00:29:06,478
in the southern hemisphere.
331
00:29:08,213 --> 00:29:12,050
Half of all Southern right
calves born in Africa
332
00:29:12,050 --> 00:29:14,553
are born at De Hoop.
333
00:29:23,729 --> 00:29:26,531
They are priceless treasures,
334
00:29:26,531 --> 00:29:28,400
a new generation
335
00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,703
inching this species away
from the threat of annihilation
336
00:29:31,703 --> 00:29:35,340
that loomed over it
just 80 years ago.
337
00:29:44,383 --> 00:29:48,754
Their name
reveals their grim history.
338
00:29:48,754 --> 00:29:51,723
Whalers named them
"right whales"
339
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:55,661
because they were targeted
as the right whales to hunt.
340
00:29:57,829 --> 00:30:02,467
These docile and intelligent
animals were obvious targets
341
00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:05,604
and their high fat content
made them an easy haul
342
00:30:05,604 --> 00:30:09,107
as they floated
after being harpooned.
343
00:30:23,422 --> 00:30:25,824
For over 200 years
344
00:30:25,824 --> 00:30:29,294
they were slaughtered
on an industrial scale,
345
00:30:29,294 --> 00:30:33,765
and by 1935, when they became
officially protected,
346
00:30:33,765 --> 00:30:39,471
fewer than 2 000
remained alive on the planet.
347
00:30:43,775 --> 00:30:46,311
But determined
conservation efforts
348
00:30:46,311 --> 00:30:49,614
have now begun to pay off.
349
00:30:51,349 --> 00:30:53,819
Today,
the population is estimated
350
00:30:53,819 --> 00:30:58,557
to be around 7 000 individuals
in the southern oceans,
351
00:30:58,557 --> 00:31:03,395
and this figure
is doubling about every decade.
352
00:31:11,737 --> 00:31:13,605
The dunes of De Hoop
353
00:31:13,605 --> 00:31:17,442
form a barrier
between the ocean and the land,
354
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:25,083
but this barrier is
far more mobile than it looks.
355
00:31:35,761 --> 00:31:39,297
Huge volumes of sand
brought down by rivers
356
00:31:39,297 --> 00:31:41,867
and then dumped onto the shore
by the ocean
357
00:31:41,867 --> 00:31:45,437
are swept up these slopes.
358
00:31:45,437 --> 00:31:48,340
Abrasive and always in flux,
359
00:31:48,340 --> 00:31:51,109
it's a tough environment
for life;
360
00:31:59,351 --> 00:32:03,622
But some species
have made a home here.
361
00:32:03,622 --> 00:32:07,359
A Cape legless skink
is in his element,
362
00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:10,495
living and feeding
under the sand.
363
00:32:16,201 --> 00:32:19,304
On the plain,
the park's iconic species
364
00:32:19,304 --> 00:32:22,674
has adapted
to a more forgiving habitat.
365
00:32:25,644 --> 00:32:27,445
These Bontebok
366
00:32:27,445 --> 00:32:29,781
are starting to get down
to the important business
367
00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:32,717
of the survival of the species.
368
00:32:34,486 --> 00:32:38,190
It's mating season,
and sprits are high.
369
00:32:40,625 --> 00:32:43,094
This female is ready to breed,
370
00:32:43,094 --> 00:32:46,731
and the males are starting
to show off for her.
371
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,469
A young male sprints
through a neighbor's territory,
372
00:32:51,469 --> 00:32:54,606
displaying his prowess.
373
00:32:54,606 --> 00:32:56,708
He's been noticed
by the females,
374
00:32:56,708 --> 00:32:59,644
but he's also been seen
by the resident male.
375
00:33:01,379 --> 00:33:03,181
It's a deliberate provocation
376
00:33:03,181 --> 00:33:05,650
to the established male's
dominance,
377
00:33:05,650 --> 00:33:08,820
and it can't go unchallenged.
378
00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:13,091
Bontebok showdowns are usually
more about displaying bravado
379
00:33:13,091 --> 00:33:14,626
than locking horns.
380
00:33:16,361 --> 00:33:19,464
But sometimes
exceptions have to be made,
381
00:33:19,464 --> 00:33:24,269
and young pretenders
need to be put in their place.
382
00:33:24,269 --> 00:33:28,406
It's a test of strength
rather than a duel to the death.
383
00:33:31,243 --> 00:33:35,680
Their horns are for wrestling,
not stabbing.
384
00:33:50,195 --> 00:33:53,398
The bout is over.
385
00:33:53,398 --> 00:33:56,401
The challenger
has been put in his place,
386
00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:58,470
and plods away
to try his luck
387
00:33:58,470 --> 00:34:02,507
with a less experienced
sparring partner.
388
00:34:02,507 --> 00:34:05,710
The winner
has secured his territory,
389
00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:09,447
and with it,
the females of his harem.
390
00:34:12,250 --> 00:34:17,088
Despite his victory,
courting is still required.
391
00:34:18,256 --> 00:34:20,492
He approaches the female,
392
00:34:20,492 --> 00:34:26,097
nose outstretched,
head low and tail lifted -
393
00:34:26,097 --> 00:34:29,167
a Bontebok proposal.
394
00:34:29,167 --> 00:34:32,537
If she is impressed,
she will allow him to sniff her
395
00:34:32,537 --> 00:34:34,773
to see if she's ready to mate.
396
00:34:37,809 --> 00:34:42,314
Their courting
is a delicate ritual of advance
397
00:34:42,314 --> 00:34:43,782
and retreat.
398
00:34:59,698 --> 00:35:03,134
This male is so intrigued
by his potential mate
399
00:35:03,134 --> 00:35:08,206
that another opportunistic
suitor has snuck in unseen.
400
00:35:20,452 --> 00:35:23,989
He escorts the newcomer
off the premises.
401
00:35:27,425 --> 00:35:31,396
At the edge of the pasture,
a flash of black and white.
402
00:35:34,099 --> 00:35:38,636
But these
are no ordinary zebras.
403
00:35:38,636 --> 00:35:42,574
These are Cape mountain zebra.
404
00:35:42,574 --> 00:35:44,442
Found only in South Africa
405
00:35:44,442 --> 00:35:48,513
they are another
De Hoop success story.
406
00:35:52,117 --> 00:35:54,753
Great climbers, with hard,
pointed hooves
407
00:35:54,753 --> 00:35:57,856
perfectly adapted
to walking on rocky slopes,
408
00:35:57,856 --> 00:36:00,558
they generally live
in mountainous regions
409
00:36:00,558 --> 00:36:04,262
up to six and a half thousand
feet above sea level.
410
00:36:09,501 --> 00:36:12,337
But their need
for a rich variety of grazing
411
00:36:12,337 --> 00:36:14,139
and plentiful water
412
00:36:14,139 --> 00:36:17,375
put them in direct competition
with humans.
413
00:36:24,049 --> 00:36:29,454
By the 1950s there were fewer
than 100 zebras left alive.
414
00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:46,604
Now, thanks to national parks
and reserves such as De Hoop,
415
00:36:46,604 --> 00:36:50,175
the current global population
of Cape mountain zebra
416
00:36:50,175 --> 00:36:54,646
is estimated to be around 1 500.
417
00:37:00,251 --> 00:37:02,687
There is hope
that De Hoop's zebras
418
00:37:02,687 --> 00:37:07,492
will in future be able
to swell herds beyond the park.
419
00:37:26,511 --> 00:37:28,646
De Hoop is a sanctuary,
420
00:37:28,646 --> 00:37:31,216
and the larger species
that thrive here
421
00:37:31,216 --> 00:37:33,051
are free from predators.
422
00:37:35,587 --> 00:37:39,557
But down under their hooves,
another world exists
423
00:37:39,557 --> 00:37:44,395
where small but lethal hunters
stalk their prey.
424
00:37:51,503 --> 00:37:55,807
A baby Cape cobra
ventures out from his shelter,
425
00:37:55,807 --> 00:37:58,042
a prince in waiting.
426
00:37:59,444 --> 00:38:01,312
First, though,
427
00:38:01,312 --> 00:38:04,649
it will have to grow to its
full length of almost 5 feet,
428
00:38:04,649 --> 00:38:08,586
shedding its skin as it grows.
429
00:38:08,586 --> 00:38:13,691
While he's still small,
dangers are all around.
430
00:38:13,691 --> 00:38:17,762
As an adult he will be treated
with much more respect,
431
00:38:17,762 --> 00:38:23,034
feared as one of Africa's
most dangerous snakes.
432
00:38:29,140 --> 00:38:32,110
Now, though,
he needs to avoid being trampled
433
00:38:32,110 --> 00:38:34,479
by the park's bigger residents.
434
00:38:43,788 --> 00:38:46,257
When it comes to poison,
however,
435
00:38:46,257 --> 00:38:49,627
size doesn't always
equal danger.
436
00:38:52,697 --> 00:38:55,700
An endangered
Cape burrowing scorpion
437
00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:58,636
on high alert.
438
00:38:58,636 --> 00:39:02,574
It's getting ready to
defend itself from an intruder.
439
00:39:05,710 --> 00:39:10,048
Fearsome-looking stingers
stab and parry like swords,
440
00:39:10,048 --> 00:39:12,450
but although they can land
a vicious strike,
441
00:39:12,450 --> 00:39:15,220
these are not very poisonous.
442
00:39:18,156 --> 00:39:21,059
Scorpions have two weapons:
443
00:39:21,059 --> 00:39:25,096
their venomous stinger,
and their claws.
444
00:39:33,304 --> 00:39:38,610
Less poisonous scorpions need
two bigger, stronger claws
445
00:39:38,610 --> 00:39:42,647
to kill their prey
and see off rivals.
446
00:39:42,647 --> 00:39:47,218
The Black creeping scorpion
looks deadly,
447
00:39:47,218 --> 00:39:50,154
but its massive claws reveal
that its sting
448
00:39:50,154 --> 00:39:53,224
is probably relatively mild.
449
00:39:56,461 --> 00:39:58,263
A passing wood louse shows
450
00:39:58,263 --> 00:40:01,666
scant respect
for the armored beast.
451
00:40:07,672 --> 00:40:13,144
The soil of De Hoop
is largely sandy and chalky,
452
00:40:13,144 --> 00:40:17,615
and yet this nutrient-poor soil
is a perfect home
453
00:40:17,615 --> 00:40:19,784
for one of the planet's
most threatened
454
00:40:19,784 --> 00:40:23,087
and diverse plant realms.
455
00:40:23,087 --> 00:40:28,159
The planet is divided into six
so-called floristic kingdoms,
456
00:40:28,159 --> 00:40:32,830
areas in which similar
plant species tend to grow.
457
00:40:32,830 --> 00:40:37,235
The Cape floral kingdom
is not only the smallest,
458
00:40:37,235 --> 00:40:40,138
but it's also the most diverse:
459
00:40:41,673 --> 00:40:45,543
3% of all the planet's
plant species,
460
00:40:45,543 --> 00:40:50,415
growing in an area the size of
the US state of Maine.
461
00:40:53,318 --> 00:40:59,223
Comprising 80% of this
diverse plant life is Fynbos.
462
00:41:01,659 --> 00:41:06,264
This is not a single species
but rather a type of vegetation
463
00:41:06,264 --> 00:41:09,467
encompassing
a variety of species.
464
00:41:16,541 --> 00:41:21,746
Moving through this world
of flowers, a tiny hunter.
465
00:41:21,746 --> 00:41:26,751
A Flower mantis waits patiently
for a passing victim.
466
00:41:28,419 --> 00:41:31,389
One of the reserve's
smallest creatures
467
00:41:31,389 --> 00:41:34,325
is connected to its biggest.
468
00:41:35,159 --> 00:41:37,095
Like the eland,
469
00:41:37,095 --> 00:41:41,199
revered as a deity by the San
hunters of Southern Africa.
470
00:41:41,199 --> 00:41:44,635
The mantis was the San people's
supreme god,
471
00:41:44,635 --> 00:41:47,638
the trickster deity "/Kaggen".
472
00:41:47,638 --> 00:41:52,577
It was believed that it was
/Kaggen who created the eland.
473
00:42:01,085 --> 00:42:06,324
Success - but he's bitten off
more than he can chew.
474
00:42:07,825 --> 00:42:10,628
The caterpillar is inedible,
475
00:42:10,628 --> 00:42:13,664
protected
by a chemical secretion.
476
00:42:19,137 --> 00:42:23,474
Down below, another possible
meal scuttles nearer.
477
00:42:23,474 --> 00:42:25,676
A juicy cockroach.
478
00:42:25,676 --> 00:42:30,515
But the mantis knows that this,
too, is off the menu.
479
00:42:30,515 --> 00:42:33,551
The cockroach shoots out
a highly toxic fluid
480
00:42:33,551 --> 00:42:35,653
when threatened.
481
00:42:35,653 --> 00:42:37,688
Largely untouched by predators,
482
00:42:37,688 --> 00:42:41,292
it has free reign
over this scrubby wilderness.
483
00:42:44,495 --> 00:42:48,666
It's time for the mantis
to find a better hunting spot.
484
00:42:51,235 --> 00:42:54,539
Soon, another quarry
comes into range.
485
00:42:56,507 --> 00:42:58,543
Camouflaged on its flower,
486
00:42:58,543 --> 00:43:00,211
the mantis lets the wind
487
00:43:00,211 --> 00:43:04,315
nudge it
closer and closer to its victim
488
00:43:16,694 --> 00:43:21,165
A hearty meal for a small
but ferocious predator.
489
00:43:30,775 --> 00:43:35,413
In the afternoon the mythical
creations of the mantis god
490
00:43:35,413 --> 00:43:39,550
are on the move,
looking for fresh pastures.
491
00:43:41,419 --> 00:43:43,488
It's a stately caravan,
492
00:43:43,488 --> 00:43:46,657
and a couple of Ostriches
have joined in.
493
00:43:49,527 --> 00:43:52,730
Young eland
tend to stay together,
494
00:43:52,730 --> 00:43:58,169
forming an informal nursery
at the rear of the procession.
495
00:43:58,169 --> 00:44:00,137
Another generation of eland,
496
00:44:00,137 --> 00:44:04,675
growing up in safety,
their futures secure.
497
00:44:07,078 --> 00:44:11,649
Nearby, living symbols
of the success of De Hoop:
498
00:44:11,649 --> 00:44:16,287
a Bontebok cow and her calf.
499
00:44:16,287 --> 00:44:20,525
For now, she is entirely
dependent on her mother,
500
00:44:20,525 --> 00:44:22,460
but after a year,
501
00:44:22,460 --> 00:44:25,563
she will move away from her
herd, striking out on her own
502
00:44:25,563 --> 00:44:30,635
to join another group
and start her own family
503
00:44:30,635 --> 00:44:34,705
in one of the world's
greatest conservation stories.
504
00:44:51,856 --> 00:44:56,460
Dusk falls on the southern tip
of the African continent.
505
00:45:04,535 --> 00:45:09,473
The eland and Bontebok
are settling down for the night.
506
00:45:18,382 --> 00:45:23,554
Out in the bay, baby whales
press close to their mothers.
507
00:45:31,262 --> 00:45:34,765
Tomorrow
it will all begin again:
508
00:45:34,765 --> 00:45:41,772
a new day
in a place offering new hope.
39975
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