Original subtitles

♪

[DOG HOWLING]

♪

Patrick: DOGS.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BEEN OUR TRUSTED COMPANIONS.

[MOOING]

INTELLIGENT,

PLAYFUL,

AND LOYAL.

[BARKING]

BUT EVERY DOG ON THE PLANET

IS PART OF A MUCH WILDER CLAN,

A GROUP KNOWN AS THE CANINES.

\h\hFROM THE MAJESTIC WOLF TO THE CUNNING LITTLE FOX

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EVEN OUR LOYAL HOUSE PETS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE ALL PART OF THE SAME AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

THE CANINE FAMILY IS MADE UP OF 36 EXTRAORDINARY SPECIES.

THERE ARE DESERT SPECIALISTS

\hAND THOSE THAT SURVIVE IN THE COLDEST PLACES...

[LAUGHS]

...ON EARTH.

\h\hALL OF THEM SHARE TRAITS WITH THE DOGS IN OUR HOMES.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CANINE FAMILY TREE,

REVEALING OUR PETS’ \hSURPRISING HISTORY

AND MEETING THEIR WEIRD AND WONDERFUL RELATIVES.

THESE ADORABLE LITTLE THINGS \h\h\h\h\h\hARE JACKAL PUPS.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE ONLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS TIME, WE’RE IN ASIA AND AFRICA.

[YAWNS]

WE’LL DISCOVER HOW THE CANINE FAMILY BECAME AERIAL ACROBATS

TO SURVIVE IN THE SNOWS,

EVOLVED SUPER SENSES \hTO HUNT AT NIGHT,

\h\hAND ULTIMATELY HOW THEY TEAMED UP

TO RUN AFRICA’S GREAT PLAINS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SURREAL EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPREPARE TO RETHINK EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT DOGS,

A TRULY AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

[GROWLING]

[BARKING]

[HOWLING]

♪

\h\h\h\h\hSIX MILLION YEARS AGO, A GREAT MIGRATION WAS UNDERWAY.

\hTHE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE CANINE FAMILY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE VENTURING OUT OF THEIR AMERICAN HOMELAND

AND INTO THE VAST CONTINENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF ASIA.

THE VERY FIRST CANINES TO ARRIVE WERE THE FOXES.

IN ORDER TO SURVIVE \hIN THEIR NEW HOME

AND COPE WITH THE CHALLENGES \h\hOF THIS VAST CONTINENT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEIR BODIES AND EVEN THEIR BEHAVIOR

WOULD NEED TO ADAPT, \h\hAND IN DOING SO,

\hONE FANTASTIC FOX CAME UP WITH A STRATEGY TO FIND FOOD

THAT IS SIMPLY SPECTACULAR.

♪

THE RED FOX.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE MOST OF THEIR CANINE COUSINS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY HAVE THE CHARACTERISTIC BUSHY TAIL,

POINTED EARS, AND LONG MUZZLE.

♪

APART FROM OUR PET DOGS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRED FOXES ARE THE MOST WIDESPREAD CANINES

ON THE PLANET.

\h\h\hTHEY’RE FOUND ALL THE WAY FROM THE DESERTS OF NORTH AFRICA

TO THE HIGH ARCTIC.

♪

THE KEY TO THE RED FOX’S SUCCESS

HAS BEEN THEIR ABILITY \h\h\h\hTO FIND FOOD,

NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE \h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD.

♪

\h\h\h\hLIKE MOST FOXES, THEY HUNT SMALL MAMMALS.

♪

[SQUEAKING]

\h\h\h\h\hBUT MICE AND VOLES HIDE DEEP BENEATH THE SNOW.

♪

HE CAN SMELL THEM...

♪

...BUT STALKING DOESN’T WORK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE SNOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY STEP ALERTS HIS PREY BELOW.

HE NEEDS A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

[RUSTLING]

\h\hIT’S SAID RED FOXES HAVE SUCH ACUTE HEARING,

THEY CAN HEAR A MOUSE \hFROM 13 METERS AWAY.

[RUSTLING]

BY COMPARING MINUTE DIFFERENCES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBETWEEN SOUNDS HITTING THE RIGHT AND LEFT EARS,

\h\h\h\h\hHE CAN PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE HIS PREY IS.

♪

AND THEN, HE LEAPS.

♪

BECOMING THE PERFECT POUNCER \h\h\h\h\hREQUIRES TRIAL...

♪

...AND ERROR.

♪

SOMETIMES IT’S A LONG SHOT.

♪

BUT WHEN THEY GET IT RIGHT,

THE FANTASTIC FOX CAN CATCH A MOUSE

BENEATH ONE METER OF SNOW.

♪

[SQUEAKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTODAY, THANKS TO THEIR RESOURCEFUL NATURE,

THE RED FOX THRIVES ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

\hFACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF SURVIVING IN THE SNOW,

\h\h\h\hTHE RED FOX TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH

\h\h\h\hAND FOUND FOOD WHERE OTHERS COULDN’T,

\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S THIS ABILITY TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES

THAT HAS MADE THE RED FOX

\hTHE MOST ABUNDANT AND MOST WIDESPREAD

OF THIS AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

THE RED FOX MAY SEEM FAMILIAR,

BUT THEY ARE JUST ONE MEMBER OF THE WIDER CANINE FAMILY,

\h\h\hWHICH IS HOME TO AN ECLECTIC GROUP

\h\h\h\h\hOF EXTRAORDINARY AND SURPRISING CHARACTERS.

\hTHE CANINE FAMILY TREE HAS FOUR MAIN BRANCHES.

[BARKING]

THE TWO OLDEST BRANCHES ARE HOME TO THE FANTASTIC FOXES.

THE FOXES ARE THE SMALLEST \h\hMEMBERS OF THE FAMILY,

AND TODAY 14 SPECIES FLOURISH

IN DESERTS, FORESTS, \h\h\hAND THE SNOWS.

ANOTHER BRANCH IS HOME

\h\hTO A GROUP OF RARE DOGS FOUND ONLY IN SOUTH AMERICA.

FINALLY, THERE’S A GROUP \hCALLED THE TRUE DOGS.

THESE ARE CHASE PREDATORS

WITH LONG LEGS, MUSCULAR BODIES, AND POWERFUL JAWS.

IT’S HERE WE FIND OUR PET DOGS.

[BARKING]

\hTODAY THIS MOTLEY CREW OF 36 DIFFERENT SPECIES

MAKES UP THE CANINE FAMILY.

[HOWLING]

AS EARLY MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE MIGRATING ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF ASIA,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY REACHED THE SEASONAL FORESTS.

HERE, SPRING AND SUMMER \hWERE TIMES OF PLENTY,

\hBUT IN WINTER, FOOD WAS SPARSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CONQUER THIS EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE,

\hA NEW SPECIES EVOLVED WITH A WINNING STRATEGY.

♪

MEET THE RACCOON DOG.

♪

TODAY, THESE SCAVENGERS \h\h\h\h\hSTILL SNUFFLE

THROUGH THE FORESTS \hOF CENTRAL CHINA,

\h\h\hSNIFFING OUT SCRAPS AND FRUITS.

♪

THEY MUST GORGE THEMSELVES \h\h\hBEFORE WINTER HITS,

BECAUSE THE RACCOON DOG

\hIS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CANINE FAMILY

THAT HIBERNATES.

BUT FINDING ENOUGH FOOD

\hSOMETIMES MEANS BECOMING A THIEF.

AND HIS FAVORITE SNACK \h\h\hIS BIRDS’ EGGS.

♪

LIKE ALL CANINES,

RACCOON DOGS HAVE EVOLVED \hUNUSUALLY LONG SNOUTS...

[SNIFFING]

\h\h\h...PACKED FULL OF SCENT RECEPTORS.

[SNIFFING]

THOSE UNUSUALLY SHORT LEGS

KEEP HIS SNOUT WITHIN SNIFFING \h\h\hDISTANCE OF THE GROUND.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S NOT LONG BEFORE HE TRACKS DOWN HIS PRIZE.

[GONG STRIKE]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE MOVES IN FOR A SMASH-AND-GRAB RAID.

♪

♪

♪

EGGS ARE RICH IN PROTEIN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THIS IS JUST WHAT THE RACCOON DOG NEEDS.

\h\h\h\h\hBY THE END OF AUTUMN, HE WILL HAVE DOUBLED HIS WEIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\hGIVING THIS CURIOUS LITTLE CANINE

\h\h\h\h\hTHE RESERVES HE NEEDS TO SURVIVE THE WOODLAND WINTER.

♪

BY FIVE MILLION YEARS AGO,

EARLY CANINES HAD MIGRATED RIGHT ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF ASIA.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

AROUND THIS TIME,

\h\hA FEW PIONEERS PUSHED INTO AN UNFAMILIAR LAND--

AFRICA.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hAND ONCE AGAIN, THE FOXES GOT HERE FIRST.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN FOXES FIRST SET FOOT IN AFRICA,

THEY FACED FIERCE COMPETITION

FOR THEIR USUAL PREY \hOF SMALL MAMMALS.

\h\h\h\hTO SURVIVE, THEY’D HAVE TO BECOME SPECIALISTS

AND PUSH THEIR BODIES \hTO BIZARRE EXTREMES.

♪

THE BAT-EARED FOX.

♪

THESE PECULIAR PREDATORS \h\h\hARE FOUND IN PAIRS

ACROSS THE KALAHARI DESERT.

\h\h\hTHEIR MASSIVE EARS ARE 13 CENTIMETERS LONG

AND REQUIRE REGULAR GROOMING.

♪

[WHINES]

UNLIKE MOST OF THEIR CANINE \h\h\hCOUSINS THAT EAT MEAT,

BAT-EARED FOXES FEED LARGELY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON INSECTS,

AND THEY USE THOSE GIANT EARS

\h\h\h\h\hTO PINPOINT THEIR MINIATURE PREY--

TERMITES.

\h\h\h\h\hBAT-EARED FOXES ABSOLUTELY LOVE TERMITES,

AND THESE LITTLE INSECTS MAKE UP ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THEIR DIET.

\h\h\h\hNOW, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT TINY INSECTS LIKE THESE

WOULDN’T MAKE MUCH SOUND,

AND CERTAINLY TO OUR EARS, \h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S THE CASE,

BUT I’VE GOT A PIECE OF KIT HERE

THAT SHOULD ALLOW ME TO TUNE IN TO THEIR SECRET WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY USING THIS SPECIALIST MICROPHONE,

\h\h\hI CAN EAVESDROP INSIDE A TERMITE MOUND

\hAND LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS THAT ARE USUALLY TOO QUIET

FOR THE HUMAN EAR \h\h\hTO PICK UP.

[CRACKLING]

LISTEN TO THAT.

[LAUGHS]

[CRACKLING]

\h\hLOTS OF CRACKLING, AND IT SOUNDS STRANGE,

BUT IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE POPPING CANDY.

[CRACKLING]

THERE’S CLEARLY LOTS AND LOTS \h\h\h\hOF TERMITES IN THERE.

\h\h\hTO TEST JUST HOW SENSITIVE THE BAT-EARED FOX’S HEARING IS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’M RECORDING THE SOUND OF THESE TERMITES.

BY PLAYING THEM BACK \hTHROUGH A SPEAKER,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’LL SEE IF I CAN TEMPT IN A FOX.

♪

\hBUT BAT-EARED FOXES MAINLY HUNT AT NIGHT,

SO I’LL HAVE TO WAIT \hUNTIL AFTER DARK.

I’M BURYING MY SPEAKER

AT ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE \h\h\h\hFORAGING SPOTS.

TIME TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND IT.

OOH, YES.

HERE HE COMES.

\h\h\hTRYING TO LISTEN OUT FOR ANY SOUND OF INSECTS.

I CAN’T HEAR A THING,

BUT SOMETHING SEEMS TO HAVE CAUGHT OUR FOX’S ATTENTION.

\h\h\h\h\hLOOK HOW HE USES THOSE EARS AND THAT HEAD,

TRYING TO TRIANGULATE EXACTLY WHERE THE SOUND’S COMING FROM.

LIKE THE RED FOX,

THEY, TOO, CAN HEAR PREY \hBENEATH THE GROUND...

\h\h\hONLY THIS FOX’S QUARRY IS FAR SMALLER AND QUIETER.

[CRACKLING]

\h\h\h\hEACH EAR IS CONTROLLED BY AROUND 17 DIFFERENT MUSCLES

\hAND CAN MOVE INDEPENDENTLY TO LOCK ON TO THEIR TARGET.

[CRACKLING]

THERE! RIGHT THERE!

HE’S PICKED UP THE SOUND.

\h\h\h\hHE’S GONE DIRECTLY FOR WHERE THE SPEAKER IS,

AND NOW HE’S DIGGING IT UP.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hHE THINKS HE’S FOUND THE BIGGEST STASH OF TERMITES.

♪

USING HIS FRONT PAWS

TO JUST DIG AWAY AT THE SAND \h\h\h\h\h\hAND AT THE DIRT,

\h\hDESPERATELY TRYING TO GET WHAT HE THINKS

IS A MICHELIN STAR MEAL.

♪

I THINK WE’VE BEEN RUMBLED.

\h\hTHAT CLEARLY SHOWS US JUST HOW AMAZING THEIR HEARING IS,

PICKING UP THE FAINTEST SOUNDS,

AND THAT’S WHAT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO SURVIVE OUT HERE

ON THE AFRICAN SAVANNA.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE FOXES HAVE SUCH SHARP SENSES,

\hTHEY CAN MUNCH THROUGH MORE THAN 3,000 TERMITES

IN A SINGLE NIGHT.

♪

BY THREE MILLION YEARS AGO,

\hEARLY FOXES HAD SPREAD ACROSS ASIA AND AFRICA.

BUT ON AFRICA’S OPEN PLAINS,

A NEW SPECIES OF SUPER CANINE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS EVOLVING.

ON OUR CANINE FAMILY TREE,

\hTHE FOXES INHABIT THE OLDEST BRANCHES,

BUT THE MOST RECENT BRANCH \h\h\h\h\h\hTO BREAK AWAY

WAS HOME TO THE TRUE DOGS,

AND ONE OF THESE POWERFUL \h\h\h\h\h\hPACK PREDATORS

WOULD TAKE AFRICA BY STORM.

NAMIBIA, SOUTHERN AFRICA,

HOME TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST \h\h\h\hPREDATORS ON EARTH.

WHEN WE THINK OF TOP PREDATORS \h\h\hON THE AFRICAN SAVANNA,

THE ANIMALS THAT TEND TO COME \h\hTO MIND ARE THE BIG CATS--

LIONS, LEOPARDS, AND CHEETAHS.

\hBUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING THE MOST EFFICIENT HUNTERS,

THAT ACCOLADE GOES \hNOT TO THE CATS,

BUT TO THE DOGS.

♪

THE AFRICAN HUNTING DOG...

♪

\h\h...THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LARGE PREDATOR ON THE AFRICAN PLAINS.

♪

THESE DOGS LIVE IN MARAUDING \h\hMOBS UP TO 30 STRONG...

\h\h\h\hAND CAN TAKE DOWN PREY TEN TIMES THEIR OWN BODY SIZE.

♪

TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THEM \h\hSUCH BRILLIANT HUNTERS,

I’M GOING TO INFILTRATE \h\hA VERY SPECIAL PACK.

[DOGS YIPPING]

THIS GANG OF DOGS WAS RESCUED

\h\h\hWHEN THEY WERE JUST A FEW DAYS OLD

AND WERE BROUGHT UP TOGETHER

\h\h\h\hON A RESERVE IN THE AFRICAN BUSH.

[DOGS YIPPING]

♪

\h\h\hI’VE BEEN WARNED TO STICK TO MY VEHICLE

AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGET OUT...

BECAUSE THERE’S SOMETHING UNIQUE

ABOUT THE AFRICAN HUNTING DOG

\h\h\hTHAT MAKES THEM ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.

OF ALL THE WILD DOGS,

\h\h\hIT’S THOUGHT THAT YOU CAN NEVER TAME AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS.

\h\h\h\hOTHER SPECIES LIKE FOXES AND WOLVES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAN BECOME USED TO HUMAN INTERACTION,

BUT THESE DOGS RETAIN \hTHAT INNER WILDNESS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SO YOU CAN NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AROUND THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSEEING THEM AT SUCH CLOSE QUARTERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S CLEAR THEY ARE NATURAL BORN KILLERS.

\h\h\h\h\hPOWERFUL JAWS ARMED WITH POINTED TEETH

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE PERFECT FOR TEARING THROUGH FLESH.

\hLONG, SLENDER LEGS AND ATHLETIC BODIES

ALLOW THEM TO CHASE DOWN PREY \h\h\hOVER MASSIVE DISTANCES.

BUT IT’S NOT JUST THEIR WEAPONS

\h\h\hTHAT MAKE THESE DOGS SUCH FORMIDABLE PREDATORS.

IT’S HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO HUNT AS A HIGHLY ORGANIZED PACK.

\h\h\hTO DEMONSTRATE, I NEED TO TRIGGER THEIR HUNTING INSTINCT.

ENTER BUGGY CAM,

\h\h\hAN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE WITH A TOUGH ARMORED SHELL

AND CAMERAS AT EACH END.

♪

[DOGS YIPPING]

THEY’RE SMELLING AND SNIFFING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BUGGY CAM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY KNOW THAT IT’S SOMETHING NEW.

THEY CAN’T FIGURE OUT \h\h\h\h\hWHAT IT IS.

\h\hWITH THE DOGS INTERESTED, IT’S TIME TO TRIGGER THE HUNT.

OKAY, I THINK WE’RE GOING \h\h\h\h\h\hTO HAVE TO GO.

WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO.

♪

JUST LIKE WOLVES,

HUNTING DOGS WORK AS A TEAM \h\h\hTO PURSUE THEIR PREY.

♪

\h\h\hBUT THESE DOGS HAVE A CLEVER TWIST.

THEY CAN TAG TEAM.

WHEN HUNTING ON OPEN PLAINS, \h\hONE DOG TAKES THE LEAD.

\h\hWHEN THEY TIRE, ANOTHER TAKES OVER.

♪

BY TAKING IT IN TURNS,

EACH DOG ONLY HAS TO DO A PORTION OF THE WORK...

\hALLOWING THE PACK TO KEEP UP THE CHASE

UNTIL THEY EXHAUST THEIR PREY.

♪

OH, NO, BUGGY CAM’S ALMOST DEAD!

[LAUGHS]

OH, NO! IT’S NOT MOVING.

\h\h\h\hIT SEEMS BUGGY CAM WASN’T ENTIRELY DOG-PROOF.

\h\h\h\hJUST HOW THE PACK WORKS TOGETHER AS A TEAM,

AND WHEN THEY GIVE CHASE \h\h\h\h\hTO THEIR PREY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY REALLY, KIND OF LIKE THE BUGGY CAM,

DON’T STAND A CHANCE.

\h\h\h\h\hCLEVER TEAMWORK MEANS AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS

\hSUCCESSFULLY TAKE DOWN PREY ON 80 PERCENT OF THEIR HUNTS.

\h\hMAKING A KILL IS ONE THING, BUT HOLDING ON TO IT IS ANOTHER.

BIGGER HYENAS COMPETE FOR FOOD

AND BULLY HUNTING DOGS \h\hOFF THEIR QUARRY.

TO FIND OUT HOW HUNTING DOGS \hUSE THE POWER OF THE PACK,

I’M JOINING BIOLOGIST \hDR. NATALIA BORREGO.

\h\h\hSHE’S STUDYING THESE DOGS USING AN UNCONVENTIONAL METHOD--

FLAT-PACK HYENAS.

♪

WE’VE PLANTED OUR CUTOUT IN THE DOGS’ TERRITORY,

AND WE USE THE SPEAKER

\h\h\h\h\hTO PLAY OUT THE CALLS OF A HYENA.

♪

[DOGS YIPPING]

THERE THEY ARE.

\hAT FIRST, THEY’RE FEEDING AND DON’T NOTICE THE CUTOUT.

THEN WE PLAY THE CALL \hOF A SOLITARY HYENA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNatalia: I THINK WE CAN FIRE THE SPEAKER.

[WHOOPING]

\hSO, WE’VE GOT SOME RUNNING TOWARDS IT.

Patrick: WOW!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNatalia: THESE GUYS ARE INVESTIGATING.

Patrick: STRAIGHTAWAY.

[WHOOPING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE PACK COMES TO CHECK OUT THE INTRUDER.

[WHOOPING]

THESE HUNTING DOGS \hMAY BE SMALLER,

BUT THEY OUTNUMBER THEIR ENEMY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h13 TO 1.

\hI’D BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

IF WE PLAY THE SOUND OF MULTIPLE HYENAS.

[MULTIPLE HYENAS WHOOPING]

THE SOUND OF MANY HYENAS SPARKS A VERY DIFFERENT REACTION.

[WHOOPING]

THIS COULD BE AN AMBUSH.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNatalia: NOW THEY’RE INVESTIGATING BEYOND THE CUTOUT.

Patrick: THEY’RE QUITE WARY

\h\h\hOF WHERE THAT SOUND’S COMING FROM AND WHAT IT IS.

Natalia: AND HOW MANY ARE THERE, POTENTIALLY.

[WHOOPING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: NATALIA THINKS HUNTING DOGS

CALCULATE THEIR ODDS OF WINNING

\h\h\h\h\hAND MAKE A CALL ON WHETHER TO FIGHT IT OUT

OR ABANDON THEIR KILL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNatalia: IF YOU HAVE FOUR OR MORE HYENAS,

\h\hTHE HUNTING DOGS DON’T FARE AS WELL,

\hAND THEY USUALLY LOSE THE CARCASS,

BUT FOUR OR LESS,

AND THE HUNTING DOGS \h\hUSUALLY WIN OUT.

♪

\hPatrick: HUNTING DOGS ARE FORCED TO SURRENDER

A THIRD OF THEIR KILLS.

[GROWLS]

\hBUT THEY HAVE ONE FINAL TRICK TO ENSURE THEY DON’T GO HUNGRY.

♪

TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF,

\h\h\hI’M MEETING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND,

MARLICE VAN VUUREN,

TO JOIN THESE DOGS \hAT FEEDING TIME.

SHE’S LOOKED AFTER THIS PACK \h\hFOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IS ONE OF FEW WHO DARE WALK THROUGH THEIR DEN.

SO, IT’S FEEDING TIME \h\h\h\h\hFOR THESE--

Marlice: YES, IT’S FEEDING TIME, SO IT’S SAFE TO GET OUT.

YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOURSELF \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THIS STICK.

Patrick: I’VE GOT A STICK \h\h\h\hTO HELP PROTECT ME

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST ONE OF THE MOST FEROCIOUS PREDATORS

ON THE AFRICAN PLAINS?

\hMarlice: WELL, IF YOU STICK TO THE RULES, YOU’LL BE FINE.

[DOGS YIPPING]

DON’T MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVEMENTS.

IT’S ALMOST LIKE YOU IGNORE THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: WHEN THE AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS

\hLOOK LIKE THEY’RE ABOUT TO GO FOR ME, STAY STILL?

\h\h\hMarlice: STAY STILL. PRETEND THEY’RE NOT THERE.

[GROWLS]

\hWHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, YOU HAVE TO THROW IT UP

AND FURTHER AWAY FROM US.

NOT TOO CLOSE, OTHERWISE THEY, \h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY JUST CLOSE IN

CLOSER AND CLOSER.

[WHISTLES]

POP!

[DOGS YIPPING]

Patrick: WOW.

[WHISTLES]

[DOGS YIPPING]

THEIR STRATEGY IS SIMPLE.

EAT AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

[DOGS YIPPING]

EACH DOG CAN DEVOUR FIVE KILOS \hOF MEAT IN A SINGLE SITTING

AND CAN STRIP A CARCASS \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE BONE

IN JUST 15 MINUTES.

[MARLICE LAUGHS]

\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW WHAT? THEY CAN JUMP REALLY HIGH!

\h\h\hMarlice: REALLY HIGH, AND THEY LAND ON THEIR FEET.

[DOGS YIPPING]

Patrick: AS ANYONE WHO GREW UP \hIN A LARGE FAMILY MAY KNOW,

IF YOU DON’T EAT FAST, YOU DON’T EAT AT ALL.

BUT THESE DOGS TAKE FAST FOOD \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE NEXT LEVEL.

♪

BY EATING SO FAST,

HUNTING DOGS ENSURE THEY GET THEIR FILL

BEFORE HYENAS STEAL IT \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THEM.

♪

IT MAY LOOK CHAOTIC, BUT THERE’S A STRICT SET OF TABLE MANNERS.

♪

IF ONE OF THEM GETS HOLD \hOF THE PIECE OF MEAT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hNO OTHER DOG WILL TAKE IT FROM THEM,

SO EVERYONE GETS THEIR SHARE.

♪

INTERESTING SEEING HOW THEY’RE,

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE NOT SQUABBLING BETWEEN EACH OTHER THAT MUCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMarlice: YEAH. FOR ME THE MOST AMAZING THING

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS THE, THE WAY THEY LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER.

THEY, THEY ARE A FAMILY

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WILL NEVER EVER LEAVE A FAMILY MEMBER BEHIND.

THEY TOLERATE ONE ANOTHER, \h\h\h\h\hAND THEY SHARE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY LAY ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER WHEN THEY SLEEP.

PROPER, PROPER FAMILY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: SO REALLY, FOR THESE DOGS,

IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY LIFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMarlice: THAT MAKES THEM SURVIVE.

♪

Patrick: AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS \hHAVE A FEARSOME REPUTATION,

\h\h\hBUT THEY ALSO HAVE A TENDER SIDE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hBY BANDING TOGETHER AND LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER,

THESE DOGS HAVE BECOME THE MOST EFFICIENT LARGE PREDATORS

IN ALL OF AFRICA.

♪

BY THREE MILLION YEARS AGO,

EARLY CANINES HAD COLONIZED

\h\h\h\hVAST EXPANSES OF ASIA AND AFRICA...

THE SNOWY TUNDRAS, \h\hTHICK FORESTS,

AND OPEN SAVANNAS.

BUT AS THEY VENTURED FURTHER INTO AFRICA,

THERE WAS ONE LANDSCAPE \h\h\hLEFT TO OVERCOME.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDESERTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST INHOSPITABLE PLACES

ON THE PLANET.

\h\h\h\hSCORCHING HEAT AND THE LACK OF WATER

MEANS FEW MAMMALS CAN SURVIVE HERE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THERE’S ONE UNLIKELY LITTLE CANINE

\h\hTHAT HAS MADE ITS HOME IN THIS HOSTILE LANDSCAPE.

THE SMALLEST CANINE \h\h\hON THE PLANET

WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST EARS.

♪

THE FENNEC FOX.

♪

\h\hTHESE TINY CREATURES WEIGH JUST ONE KILOGRAM,

ABOUT HALF THE WEIGHT \h\h\hOF A CHIHUAHUA.

OUT HERE WHERE FOOD IS SCARCE, \h\h\h\h\hIT PAYS TO BE SMALL

\h\hBECAUSE YOU DON’T NEED TO EAT AS MUCH TO SURVIVE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’LL TAKE ANYTHING FROM SMALL MAMMALS TO SCORPIONS,

AND THEY GET ALL THE MOISTURE \h\hTHEY NEED FROM THEIR FOOD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS FOX’S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS THE HEAT,

\h\hWHICH CAN REACH 50 DEGREES CELSIUS.

THAT’S WHERE THOSE EARS COME IN.

♪

LIKE ALL FOXES, THEY PROVIDE \h\hSUPERSENSITIVE HEARING,

BUT THEY ALSO KEEP THEM COOL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hEACH EAR IS PACKED WITH A NETWORK OF CAPILLARIES,

\h\h\hWHICH THEY FILL WITH BLOOD WHEN TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO RISE.

THE FAINTEST DESERT BREEZE

\h\h\hIS ALL THEY NEED TO WHIP AWAY THE HEAT.

\hTHIS LITTLE FOX IS A NEAT EXAMPLE

\h\h\h\h\hOF HOW BRILLIANTLY THE CANINE FAMILY CAN ADAPT

EVEN TO THE MOST HOSTILE PLACES ON THE PLANET.

FENNEC FOXES MAY LOOK \h\hINCREDIBLY SWEET,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST RESILIENT MEMBERS

OF THE WILD DOG FAMILY.

BY SHRINKING THEIR BODIES AND EVOLVING THOSE OVERSIZED EARS,

THEY’VE MANAGED TO TAKE ON \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE EXTREMES

OF THESE DESERT DUNES.

BY TWO MILLION YEARS AGO,

\h\hTHE CANINE FAMILY’S GLOBAL CONQUEST WAS ALMOST COMPLETE.

ONLY THE VERY FURTHEST REACHES \h\h\h\h\h\hOF SOUTHERN AFRICA

WERE STILL UP FOR GRABS,

AND ONE CANINE COLONIZED \h\hTHESE DISTANT LANDS

USING ITS LEGENDARY CUNNING.

[WHINING]

I’VE COME TO A RESCUE CENTER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN NAMIBIA

TO MEET SOME YOUNG PUPS.

THESE ADORABLE LITTLE CREATURES ARE JACKAL PUPS,

AND THEY’RE JUST MAGICAL.

THERE’S NO OTHER WORD \h\hTO DESCRIBE THEM.

THEY LOOK JUST LIKE--HELLO!

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY LOOK AND ACT JUST LIKE DOMESTIC PUPPIES.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE ONLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS YOU CAN SEE, THEY’RE REALLY INQUISITIVE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

\h\h\h\hTHEY MIGHT NOT LOOK QUITE SO CUNNING RIGHT NOW,

BUT THEIR MISCHIEVOUS NATURE IS APPARENT FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.

[LAUGHS]

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

COME BACK HERE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHESE JACKAL JUNIORS HAVE STILL GOT A LOT TO LEARN

BEFORE THEY’RE RELEASED \h\h\hBACK TO THE WILD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT JACKALS ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT ANIMALS,

SO MUCH SO THAT IT’S EARNED \hTHESE DOGS THE REPUTATION

AS THE CRAFTIEST ANIMALS \h\h\h\hON THE SAVANNA.

BUT FOR NOW, THESE LITTLE GUYS \h\h\h\hJUST WANT TO EXPLORE.

THESE GUYS MIGHT LOOK CUTE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT JACKALS ARE EXTREMELY TENACIOUS,

AND OUT HERE IN NAMIBIA,

\h\hTHEIR WILY NATURE ALLOWS THEM TO SURVIVE

IN ONE OF THE MOST INHOSPITABLE LANDSCAPES ON THE PLANET.

♪

THE SKELETON COAST...

♪

...WHERE THE DESERT DUNES MEET \hTHE POUNDING ATLANTIC OCEAN.

\h\hIT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY THAT ANYTHING CAN SURVIVE

IN THIS BARREN WILDERNESS.

BUT AGAINST THE ODDS, JACKALS \h\hHAVE MADE THIS THEIR HOME.

♪

[BARKING]

THIS FEMALE HASN’T EATEN \h\h\hFOR SEVERAL DAYS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT SHE KNOWS THAT JUST ALONG THE BEACH,

THERE’S A POTENTIAL FEAST.

♪

CAPE FUR SEALS.

THEY BASK ON THESE SHORES \h\h\hIN THEIR THOUSANDS.

[GROWLS]

THESE GIANTS CAN WEIGH 200 KILOS

AND COULD CRUSH OUR JACKAL \h\h\h\h\h\hIN AN INSTANT.

THE TRICK IS TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE DIRTY WORK.

♪

THE MOST POWERFUL PREDATOR \h\h\h\h\hON THE BEACH...

THE BROWN HYENA.

[SNARLING]

♪

THEY MAY LOOK LIKE CANINES,

\h\h\hBUT HYENAS ARE PART OF THEIR OWN FAMILY GROUP,

AND OUT HERE, THEY’RE COMPETING FOR THE SAME FOOD.

OUR JACKAL’S PLAN IS TO STEAL A MEAL

FROM ONE OF THESE BRUTES.

\h\h\hAND SOON SHE FINDS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.

♪

STEALING FROM A HYENA

IS NO EASY TASK.

[GROWLS]

♪

TO PROTECT HIS PRIZE,

THE HYENA HAULS IT BACK \h\h\hTO HIS ROCKY LAIR.

♪

WITH IT SAFELY STASHED AWAY,

TIME FOR A NAP.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S THE CHANCE THE JACKAL’S BEEN WAITING FOR.

♪

\h\h\hJUST A FEW MOUTHFULS OF THIS BLUBBER-RICH MEAL

WILL KEEP HER GOING \hFOR SEVERAL DAYS.

♪

BUT IT’S A HIGH-RISK STRATEGY.

♪

♪

♪

TIME TO GO.

♪

\h\h\h\hOVER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\hJACKALS HAVE USED TENACITY AND CUNNING

TO OUTWIT THEIR RIVALS

IN ONE OF THE WILDEST PLACES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH.

THEIR ARRIVAL ON THIS REMOTE COASTLINE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

\hMARKED THE FINAL STAGE IN THE CANINE FAMILY’S GLOBAL CONQUEST.

♪

[BARKING]

\hTODAY, ON BEACHES FAR CLOSER TO HOME,

\h\h\hTHE VERY LATEST CHAPTER OF THE CANINE STORY PLAYS OUT.

[BARKING]

WITH 500 MILLION DOMESTIC DOGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWORLDWIDE,

OUR PETS ARE UNQUESTIONABLY

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CANINES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH.

[BARKING]

[BARKING]

[BARKING]

IT’S EXTRAORDINARY TO THINK \h\h\hOUR DOGS ARE ALL PART

OF THIS AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

♪

♪

♪