All language subtitles for Animal Cildhood PBS NATURE 720p hdtv x264 EN Sub_Subtitles01.ENG

[ Elephant trumpets ]

[ Macaques squeaking ]

NARRATOR: There are as many ways
to grow up in the wild

as there are animals.

Only a few days old,

these ibex are learning to walk
by following their mother.

The lesson is interrupted,
and survival skills kick in.

New mothers must also fine-tune
their survival instincts,

like this bear who let her cubs
out of the den too soon.

Or inexperienced
elephant parents

misjudging
the strength of the current.

And then
there are social instincts.

Macaques must learn
complex behaviors,

like facial expressions,

to gain acceptance
into the group.

See how animals
from around the world grow up

in "Animal Childhood."

[ Animals calling ]

[ Birds chirping ]

For some animals,
growing up is a lonely business.

They're abandoned
as soon as they're born,

relying entirely
on their instincts to survive.

From the very beginning of life,
they're on their own,

with no adult to guide them.

But many animals do benefit

from a little help
from their parents.

And in the early days of life,

they're often
completely dependent on them.

In a forest in India,

a precocious baby is exploring
the world for the first time.

A tiger cub.

It's just 10 days old.

Most cubs will stay in their
dens for the first six weeks,

but this one
is clearly adventurous.

Although the cub's eyes
are open,

it'll be a few weeks
before it can see properly.

[ Cub squeaking ]

It's completely helpless.

They are four new cubs in all,
and they're quite lively.

[ Squeaks ]

[ Squeaks ]

Their mother has to watch them
every minute.

And right now, they're not
making her life easy.

[ Cub squeaking,
tiger growling ]

Just one cub would be enough
to test any parent's patience.

Tiger cubs
stay with their mother

until they're about 2 years old.

[ Squeaks ]

But even
under her constant care,

only half of them
usually make it to maturity.

There's no doubt
that a childhood in the wild

can be dark and dangerous.

[ Bird calling ]

The first steps of growing up

are often some of the most
precarious in any animal's life.

For some, they are literally
a leap of faith.

It's spring in the forests
of eastern Europe,

and safe
within the hollow of a tree,

a female Mandarin duck
is about to ask

her 1-day-old ducklings
to leave their nest.

She leads the way.

[ Chirping ]

The ducklings are imprinted
on their mother.

Their instinct tells them
to follow her.

However, it's a long drop,

and a few calls of encouragement
are needed.

[ Ducklings chirping ]

Once the first ducklings
land safely,

the rest find their courage.

They're so light and fluffy,
they land with a bounce.

Born to fly,

their first experience
of the outside world

is a fearless free fall.

for the last in line
to make the jump.

But leaving the nest

was just the beginning
of their adventure.

Now they must reach water.

[ Ducklings chirping ]

The nearest pond
is quite a trek --

almost a mile away.

By following
their mother's lead,

these ducklings
have passed their first test.

Once in the water,

they will begin learning
what's good to eat

and exploring
their new watery world.

[ Quacking ]

First steps often seem to be
the hardest to take.

Samburu National Park in Kenya.

A baby elephant
has just been born.

She is frail, helpless,

and totally dependent
on her mother.

[ Elephant growling ]

Elephants live
in extended families,

but while this young mother
was giving birth,

the rest of the herd moved on
in search of food.

They're only a mile away,
not far by elephant standards --

unless you're trying to walk
for the first time.

The baby desperately needs

her first drink
of mother's milk.

Like that of all mammals,

elephant milk
is full of vital nourishment

and will kick-start
the baby's immune system.

Without it, she is vulnerable
to infection -- and worse.

[ Elephant growling ]

She is at the point of collapse.

[ Calf trumpets ]

But her mother
is a first-time mom,

and instead of stopping
to feed her baby,

she keeps searching
for the family.

The day is getting hotter,

and the baby is at serious risk
of dehydration.

She needs food
and a chance to cool down.

Thankfully, in the rainy season,
water can be found.

[ Birds chirping ]

Her mother uses the little pool
to cool them off.

It seems to help them both.

[ Elephant trumpets ]

[ Calf trumpets ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

Now when the baby
searches for milk,

her mother gives her time
to find it.

At last, she gets
her first essential nourishment.

This is the lifeline she needed.

Revived by a full belly,
she has the energy to continue

on her mother's search
for the family.

Elephants use low-frequency
sound to communicate --

sound that can travel for miles.

[ Elephant growling ]

The young mother
homes in on the herd.

[ Elephant growling ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

It's a joyous reunion.

The baby is finally introduced
to the rest of the family,

and they're all very excited
to meet her.

[ Elephants snorting ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

These elephants will provide
security and protection

throughout
the years of her childhood.

[ Elephants snorting ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

The extended family will also
offer support to the mother

as she attempts
to bring up her baby.

Yet life in the wild is full
of unforeseen challenges,

and sometimes,
despite a parent's best efforts,

they can lead
to a tough start in life.

This female black bear
is also a first-time mom.

She leads
her 3-month-old twin cubs

out of their hibernation den
in the forests of Minnesota.

Bears here normally
come out of hibernation in May.

This year,
spring has come a month early,

and the weather is warm.

She sets off with her cubs
to look for food.

But the unseasonable weather
can be fickle,

and winter suddenly returns,
bringing Arctic winds and snow.

[ Wind whistling ]

[ Whistling continues ]

Miles from their den, the cubs
are caught in the spring storm.

Their mother
needs to keep them warm,

but she is inexperienced
and allows them to climb a tree.

It's a normal reaction
when a bear senses danger.

But it's a bad tactic.

Up here, they have no protection
from the elements.

They are literally freezing.

Being so young, they still have
only a single layer of fur.

They won't grow a second layer

until they hibernate
in the autumn.

[ Cub groans ]

Their small bodies
just can't generate enough heat.

The cold
is cutting right through them.

Finally, their mother seems
to understand the situation

and calls them down.

[ Bear grunting ]

Slowly, they make their way
back to her.

The mother
should now hunker down

so the frozen cubs
can benefit from her body heat.

But instead,
she moves off again,

expecting them to follow.

The tiny cubs
find it almost impossible

to walk in the deep snow.

Their paws are too small
and sink into the drifts.

The snow is deeper
than they can manage.

The night draws in.

After dark, the temperatures
here will drop dramatically.

Without their mother's warmth,

these cubs
won't survive the night.

Morning arrives.

It's been a bitterly cold night.

But despite being young,

the mother managed to find them
a sheltered spot.

She has kept the cubs warm,
and, thankfully,

they have made it through
their first trial of life.

For many young animals,

a wise mother is the difference
between life and death.

There are some environments
where this is particularly true.

This inhospitable land in Israel
is not an easy place to live.

Up here, your footing
needs to be firm,

and a head for heights
is essential.

Meet the ibex.

They've made these
precarious cliffs their own.

But for these newborn ibex kids,

this rocky wilderness makes for
a nerve-racking nursery.

They spend the first few days
of their life

at the very top of the cliffs,

relatively safe from predators
who can't scale these summits.

However,
at less than a week old,

they must leave
their playtime plateaus.

They will attempt
their first descent

of these terrifying rock walls.

Their mother needs to find food.

Now the steep terrain
that has kept them safe

can turn treacherous.

Their mother leads the way.

The kids are,
understandably, tentative.

But ibex are born
with remarkable feet

made for just this purpose.

Slowly, they pick their way
down the sheer rock faces

with cleft feet
that spread wide,

exposing rubbery pads
that grip the rock.

Their mother shows them
the best route.

She's done it
hundreds of times before.

Gradually, the kids
start to get the hang of it,

But they need to focus.

One slip could be their last.

[ Bird cries ]

They're rewarded
with a lush, new world

where there's plenty of food
and water.

[ Bird cries ]

Here, the parents show off
their balancing skills

as they all browse together.

But one kid has trailed behind.

And she's in trouble.

A fox.

And he's spotted the straggler.

The young ibex runs as fast
as it can back up the cliff.

But the fox
is right on her heels.

He'll be hoping
for a quick kill.

As the kid falters
on the vertical rock face,

the fox tries
to gain the higher ground.

Whether by instinct
or by accident,

the kid has found a spot
so steep

that only an ibex could stand
there without toppling off.

The fox can't
make the climb down

and has no choice
but to give up.

The lessons learned
on this morning's descent

have saved the kid's life.

Despite still being so young,

she has outfoxed one of
the canniest of predators.

Mastering your terrain
is a crucial part of growing up.

For some,
it's also a race against time.

Here in the African Congo,
a colony of skimmers,

so called for
their special feeding technique,

has made these sandbanks
their home.

But it won't be forever.

Before long,
the waters here will rise,

and the birds
will have to move on.

These young skimmers
were born here

and are only a few weeks old.

[ Chirps ]

Before the river floods,

they need to learn to fly
and to catch fish,

and they need to learn
both skills quickly.

They watch as the adults
gracefully skim the water.

An adult skimmer has a beak

with the lower part
longer than the upper.

They can slice through the water
at more than 30 feet a second.

[ Skimmers squawking ]

If their beak hits something,
it will snap shut.

It's an effective and elegant
technique for catching fish.

The problem for youngsters
is that they have to wait

for the lower part of their beak
to reach its full length.

In the meantime,
while the water is shallow

and they have the sand
to run on,

they do their best
to learn the skimming technique.

It's not as easy as it looks,

so they need
to practice the skill.

It's vital to their survival.

The clock is ticking.

Soon, all the sand they're
using as a training ground

will be gone.

[ Thunder rumbling ]

The annual rains in
the African Congo have arrived.

Very soon,
these nursery sand flats

will be under
several feet of water.

The skimmers have to move out.

With their home disappearing,
the time has come

for the young skimmers
to take to the air

with the rest of the colony.

Practice runs are over.

It's time to test
their flight skills.

Childhood is coming to an end.

The amount of time animals enjoy
the protection of their parents

varies greatly.

For some,
childhood can last for years.

These youngsters spend
much of their time playing.

It might seem like only a game,

but play is essential
to a young animal's development.

It helps with their strength,
coordination, and social skills.

[ Cub growls ]

Playing is
a crucial part of learning.

And the games can be
a rehearsal for adult life.

Back in India,
six months have passed,

and the tiger cubs are putting
their play into practice

and trying to hunt.

They must follow their mother
closely

as she stalks silently
through the forest.

It's all about stealth.

Patience and timing are crucial.

The moment to pounce
has to be exactly right.

[ Cub growling ]

[ Cub growls ]

But one of the cubs
just can't contain himself.

His mother isn't pleased.

She'll have to start
all over again.

The tiger cubs
still have a lot to learn.

Next to humans,

orangutans have the longest
of all primate childhoods.

This female orang
is 42 years old.

Her daughter is 6

and will stay with her
for at least another two years.

But then,
there is so much to understand

in the treetop world of Sumatra.

She has to learn
to collect ants and termites.

She will need to identify
at least 300 edible plants

and avoid the poisonous ones.

Judging when fruit is ripe
is essential.

The young orang
must also be able to judge

which branches
can carry her weight

and which insect nests
are safe to raid.

[ Termites buzzing ]

Building up her knowledge of all
the resources in the rainforest

is a lengthy
and complex process.

But it's vital training

for a long, successful life
in the wild.

Even so, there's always time
to make a friend

and, supervised
by a watchful parent,

the chance to play.

It's clear
that your mother's example

has a huge impact
on your chance of survival.

In many cases,

she is your sole teacher
when growing up.

However, there are times

when following your mom
can lead you into trouble.

A fast-flowing river in Kenya,

full of strong currents...

as well as crocodiles.

[ Crocodile growls ]

Despite the dangers,

this herd of elephants
has to get across.

The matriarch of the group leads
some youngsters into the river.

She knows
that to reach the other side,

she has to head
slightly upstream,

into the current.

[ Elephant trumpets ]

Watching from the shallows
is a younger group.

These small calves have mothers
who are far less experienced.

They watch the older matriarch
reach the other side safely.

Then it's their turn
to brave the river.

[ Calf squealing ]

But they didn't pick up on
the matriarch's technique.

Almost immediately,
they're in trouble.

And they're in too deep
to go back.

[ Calf squeals ]

If the youngsters
become separated,

they will easily drown.

[ Elephant trumpets ]

[ Calf squealing ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

One has been overcome
and is being swept downstream.

The mothers try
to keep hold of the young ones,

but they can't contain
all three.

As they save one,
the others get washed away.

[ Elephant trumpets ]

[ Calf squealing ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

The currents are even too strong
for the mothers,

and they have no choice
but to let their babies go.

[ Calf squealing ]

[ Squealing continues ]

[ Squealing continues ]

Finally, one baby
manages to clamber out,

but the other two
are still struggling.

[ Calf squealing ]

The mothers come to help,

but they have no way
to lift them out.

[ Elephant snorts ]

The babies are weak
and terrified.

[ Calf squealing ]

[ Elephant trumpets ]

[ Calf squealing ]

Eventually,
they manage to get out --

to everyone's relief.

What started as a lesson in life
turned into a nightmare.

Sometimes, it's adults

who dish out
the toughest lessons.

[ Macaques squeaking ]

These toque macaques
in Sri Lanka

live in large troops.

They have
a very complex social structure,

with a rigid hierarchy.

If they're to make it
through childhood,

youngsters must fit in.

Discipline is
strictly maintained.

All young macaques
are low-ranking,

and they have to learn
how to show deference

through a variety of gestures
and facial expressions.

[ Squeaking ]

Adults don't hesitate
to show who's in charge.

This infant female is considered
to be the lowest of the low,

and she won't survive long

if she doesn't learn
the social conventions.

The dominant male
is a harsh leader.

He demands respect
from everyone,

no matter how young.

He won't tolerate
any sign of insubordination.

If he looks another macaque
in the eye,

they have to express submission
by chattering their teeth.

[ Macaque chittering ]

The tiny female
has caught his eye.

But does she know what to do?

If she gets it wrong,
the punishment will be severe.

Just in time, she manages
to chatter her teeth.

[ Chittering ]

[ Chittering ]

There will be many more tests
in this young macaque's life,

but at least
she's passed her first.

Getting through
the early stages of childhood

can certainly be daunting.

As animals get older,

their chances of survival
inevitably increase.

But different issues
have to be confronted.

Just as for humans,

the teenage years
can prove troublesome.

It's a time
when boundaries are tested

and tempers can fray.

[ Kangaroo grunts ]

[ Bees buzzing ]

Mistakes are made.

[ Buzzing continues ]

And some can be painful.

[ Elephants growling ]

Full of testosterone,

young males all want to be
the leader of the pack.

They aren't always ready
for independence

but act like they are.

Being a teenager
is stressful for everybody.

[ Growling ]

[ Tiger growls ]

In India, the tigers
are now teenagers, too,

and their rough-and-tumble

has turned into
more aggressive play fighting.

[ Tiger growls ]

The sparring is good practice
for when they leave home

and may need to fend off
other tigers.

[ Tigers roar ]

For now, though,
they keep their claws in.

No hard feelings here.

To be independent,

they also need to learn
to hunt their own prey.

But this is proving
more difficult.

One of the males
quietly creeps up on a deer.

But he breaks cover too soon.

His sister
also misses her chance,

as the deer
runs straight past her.

They will
just have to keep practicing.

Of course,
not all animals leave home.

Some stay
with their extended families.

The size of the group
can vary widely.

Hippos, for example,
can form small pods...

...or come together
in very large numbers.

Predators, such as wolves,
form groups or packs

as a strategy for hunting.

Others find safety in numbers.

These gelada baboons
are old enough to leave home,

but the protection
of their social group

trumps independence,
and they stay together.

[ Baboons chattering ]

Yet even within such groups,

there are individuals
who were meant to be different,

whose fate
is to leave their families.

One of those can be found
in the African desert.

This little creature
is a female naked mole rat.

She has never ventured
above ground before.

She doesn't belong here.

Nighttime in the desert
can be dangerous.

But tonight,
she is risking her life

in an attempt
to fulfill her destiny.

She has left
the safety of her family

to go in search of a mate.

But with danger everywhere,
will she even survive the night?

Naked mole rats are one of
the planet's strangest mammals.

They live almost like bees.

Their hive is a network

of specially built tunnels
underground.

[ Mole rats squeak ]

Their large colonies are ruled
by one dominant female,

catered to
by many so-called workers.

Only she will reproduce.

However, occasionally,
there is a chosen offspring --

a princess who will grow up
pampered and not have to work.

Instead, she reserves her energy
for the big day

when she will
leave the colony behind

and set out all by herself
to start a new family.

Alone in the desert,

this princess
won't survive for long.

Her search to find a partner
is urgent.

But how will she find
her prince?

She follows her nose.

Finally, a seductive scent
draws her down to safety.

She's sniffed out a partner.

He too is alone

and eager to start a new family
in his empty burrow.

[ Mole rats squeaking ]

Two months later,
the princess has become a queen.

She has had
her first litter of babies

and is now ready to start ruling

over a new dynasty
of naked mole rats.

Someday, one of these little
mole rats will be a chosen one.

She will be the next princess,

destined to leave home,
like her mother,

to carry on the family line.

The tiger cubs are fully grown
and almost ready to leave home.

One of the females
is hunting alone.

She has perfected
her stealth technique.

She knows it's all about timing.

And she has learned
the art of patience.

[ Deer groans ]

Success.

It's only a fawn,
but it's a start.

It's too small
to share with her siblings,

and she makes that quite clear.

[ Roars ]

After two years
of living and learning together,

these tigers no longer
need their mother or each other.

They've already begun to
carve out their own territories

and are ready
to live life alone.

No matter who you are
or where you live,

growing up
is not an easy business.

There are many trials
and tribulations along the way.

But each one helps shape

the character
of the adult you will become.

[ Penguins squeaking ]

[ Calf squealing ]

Yet childhood is also exciting.

It's the time to discover the
world for the very first time.

And for those
who do make the grade,

a new adventure
is just beginning.

To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,
And for those
who do make the grade,

visit pbs.org.