All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S01E01.Piranha.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb

PIRANHA.

LEGENDS TELL OF THE MOST
FEROCIOUS FISH IN WORLD.

WITH RAZOR-SHARP TEETH,
THEY HUNT IN PACKS,

STRIPPING A BODY OF ITS FLESH
IN MINUTES.

THEY HAVE A REPUTATION
FOR KILLING AND EATING HUMANS.

LITERALLY BEING STRIPPED
OF ALL THE FLESH.

ONLY THE BOOTS WERE LEFT.

BUT IT MAY NOT BE JUSTIFIED.

I DON'T THINK
THE REPUTATION OF PIRANHAS

AS BLOODTHIRSTY MONSTERS
IS DESERVED AT ALL.

I'M JEREMY WADE,
BIOLOGIST AND EXTREME ANGLER.

AND MY MISSION IS TO FIND OUT
IF PIRANHAS REALLY ARE

THE ULTIMATE HORROR
OF THE AMAZON.

ALL THEY SAID THAT THEY SAW WAS
JUST A TURBULENCE IN THE WATER

OF THE PIRANHAS
DEVOURING THE CHILD.

I REMEMBER A STORY FROM THE '70s OF A BUS
CRASHING INTO THE AMAZON RIVER IN BRAZIL.

THE PEOPLE INSIDE
WERE EATEN ALIVE BY PIRANHAS.

HORRIFIC STORIES LIKE THIS
HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING

SINCE THE DISCOVERY
OF SOUTH AMERICA.

BUT EVERY SINGLE PIECE
OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH I FOUND

SAYS THAT PIRANHAS
DON'T KILL PEOPLE.

SO ARE THESE STORIES REAL, OR ARE THEY
JUST OVEREXAGGERATED URBAN MYTHS?

FISH ON. FISH ON.

I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE LITERALLY
PUTTING MY LIFE ON THE LINE

TO PROVE THAT THERE ARE GIANT MAN-EATING
FISH WHERE NO ONE WOULD EXPECT THEM...

BIG OLD MOUTH ON THERE.

IN OUR FRESHWATER RIVERS.

BUT NOW IT'S THE TURN
OF THE SMALL GUYS.

COULD PIRANHAS REALLY
KILL AND EAT A HUMAN?

ARE THEY THE BLOODTHIRSTY KILLERS FROM
THE MOVIES THAT FILL OUR NIGHTMARES?

I VISITED LONDON ZOO
TO TALK TO BRIAN ZIMMERMAN,

A PIRANHA EXPERT AND ASSISTANT CURATOR
OF THE AQUARIUM, TO SEE WHAT HE THINKS.

THERE'S NO DOCUMENTED CASES
OF A LIVING HUMAN

GOING INTO THE WATER AND BEING
ATTACKED BY A GROUP OF PIRANHAS

AND BEING REDUCED TO A SKELETON
IN SECONDS.

BUT PIRANHA
ARE CARNIVOROUS FISH.

IF THEY'RE HUNGRY, IT'S CERTAINLY
POSSIBLE THAT THEY WOULD ATTACK

TO TRY TO GET FOOD.

I DON'T SEE WHY A HUMAN WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT
THAN AN EGRET FALLING IN THE WATER.

IT'S JUST... FOR A PIRANHA,
IT'S A POTENTIAL FOOD SOURCE.

BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED.

SO IF BRIAN BELIEVES PIRANHAS HAVE NEVER
ATTACKED AND KILLED A LIVING PERSON,

THEN DID THIS BUS CRASH THAT
I REMEMBER REALLY TAKE PLACE?

I DECIDE TO HEAD TO MANAUS, THE
CITY AT THE HEART OF THE AMAZON,

TO SEE IF I CAN GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MEMORY

AND MAYBE TRACK DOWN A DEFINITE CASE
WHERE PIRANHAS HAVE EATEN SOMEONE ALIVE.

AND WHERE BETTER
TO START MY INVESTIGATION

THAN THE HOME OF MANY A GRUESOME FISHERMEN'S
TALE... THE MANAUS FISH MARKET.

WITH OVER 2,000 SPECIES OF FISH
FOUND IN THE AMAZON RIVER...

MORE THAN THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC OCEAN...
THERE'S NO SHORTAGE

OF STRANGE-LOOKING
RIVER MONSTERS HERE.

WICKED-LOOKING SPINES ON THERE.
SUCH A VARIETY OF FISH HERE.

SCIENTISTS HAVE DETERMINED
THAT THERE ARE

SOME 60 DIFFERENT SPECIES
IN THE PIRANHA SUBFAMILY.

YET THE MAJORITY OF THEM
ARE ACTUALLY VEGETARIAN.

IT IS THE FLESH-EATING BEHAVIOR
OF JUST A COUPLE OF SPECIES

THAT GIVES THEM
THEIR REPUTATION.

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE MY QUESTIONS
UNEARTH ANOTHER SHOCKING ACCOUNT

THAT SHOWS JUST WHAT
THEY ARE CAPABLE OF.

THIS IS A PIRANHA STORY.

AND OLD MAN WAS LEFT IN HIS FLOATING HOUSE
BY HIS FAMILY JUST FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

THEY CAME BACK, HE'D GONE.

THERE WERE
JUST HIS CLOTHES THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY THOUGHT HE
MUST HAVE GONE TO TAKE A BATH

OR SOMETHING,
BUT HE WASN'T IN SIGHT ANYWHERE.

THEY SEARCHED, THEY SEARCHED.

EVENTUALLY,
THEY FOUND JUST HIS SKELETON.

I MEAN, LITERALLY...
HE'D GONE IN THE WATER.

BECAUSE HE WAS OLD, HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET
BACK OUT, AND THE PIRANHAS JUST HAD HIM.

TWO MONTHS AGO.

IT'S ANOTHER GRUESOME STORY.

BUT HERE AT THE MARKET, I CAN'T TRACK
DOWN A NAME OR DEFINITE LOCATION

FOR THIS FISHERMAN'S TALE.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO SEARCH
FURTHER AFIELD

TO FIND AN EYEWITNESS
TO A LETHAL PIRANHA ATTACK.

THE AMAZON RIVER IS 4,250 MILES LONG,
TWICE THE LENGTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

IT IS MOSTLY WIDE
AND SLOW-MOVING,

BUT UP THIS DISTANT TRIBUTARY,
IT IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

1/5 OF ALL THE WATER ON EARTH
PASSES THROUGH THE AMAZON,

AND PIRANHAS AND THEIR RELATIVES
ARE FOUND IN JUST ABOUT ALL OF IT.

IT'S A FISHERMAN'S PARADISE.

AND IT'S FULL
OF RIVER MONSTERS.

AND THERE'S A FISH ON.
THERE'S A FISH ON.

OH, THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS
JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER.

THAT'S QUITE STRONG.
THAT'S A STRONG FISH.

I'VE HOOKED A PREDATORY FISH WITH DENTAL
HARDWARE STRAIGHT OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE.

SO THIS IS A PAYARA.
IT'S A RELATIVE OF THE PIRANHA.

IT IS AN ARMS WAR DOWN THERE.
EVERYTHING'S GOT TEETH.

EVERYTHING IS EATING
EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOT THOSE
FANGS THERE IN THE LOWER JAW.

AND THEY USE THOSE TO PUNCTURE
THE SWIM BLADDER OF THE PREY,

SO IT JUST MESSES UP
THE BUOYANCY.

THE SMALL FISH
IS THEN TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

IT'S FLOPPING AROUND
NEAR THE SURFACE,

AND THESE WILL JUST COME ALONG
AFTERWARDS AND MOP THEM UP.

AND THOSE FANGS ARE THAT BIG THAT IT HAS
TO HAVE SPECIAL HOLES IN THE UPPER JAW.

OTHERWISE IT WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO GET ITS MOUTH CLOSED.

SO IT'S PROBABLY
SOME VERY PRECISE ENGINEERING

GOING ON OUT OF SIGHT
THAT WE CAN'T SEE.

THIS VAMPIRE-LIKE CREATURE SHOWS HOW
EVIL-LOOKING THE PIRANHA FAMILY CAN GET.

BUT DESPITE ITS LOOKS, IT IS NOT THE
FISH RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKING PEOPLE.

THIS IS A SOLITARY FISH HUNTER.

THE PIRANHA WE ALL FEAR
FEED IN PACKS.

AND THEY ARE SO COMMON IN THE AMAZON
YOU CAN CATCH THEM ALMOST ANYWHERE.

NORMALLY, I USE HIGH-TECH GEAR AND STEALTHY
TACTICS TO LURE A MONSTER ONTO MY LINE.

BUT THE PIRANHA'S METHOD OF FEEDING IS
SO BOLD THAT I'M CHANGING MY APPROACH.

I'VE DISPENSED
WITH MY NORMAL ROD.

AND I'M JUST USING A BIT OF BAMBOO WITH
A SHORT LENGTH OF LINE ON THE END.

TRIED-AND-TESTED MEANS
OF CATCHING PIRANHA.

JUST A HOOK ON THE END
WITH A PIECE OF WIRE

SO THEY I DON'T CHOMP THROUGH
THE LINE, LUMP OF MEAT.

AND UNLIKE OTHER TECHNIQUES WHERE
YOU'RE BEING QUIET AND STEALTHY,

PIRANHAS ARE ACTUALLY ATTRACTED BY
NOISE AND DISTURBANCE ON THE SURFACE.

OH. THERE WE GO.

RED-BELLIED PIRANHA.

IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
I'VE CAUGHT A SMALL PIRANHA.

BUT DO NOT BE DECEIVED.

IT STILL HAS KNIFE-LIKE TEETH

THAT CAN EASILY REMOVE A LUMP
OF FLESH IN A SINGLE BITE.

MULTIPLY THAT BY THE HUNDRED OR SO
MOUTHS IN A HUNGRY SCHOOL OF PIRANHAS

AND IT'S A DEATH
OF A THOUSAND INDIVIDUAL CUTS.

A PROTRUDING JAWBONE
WITH LARGE CHOMPING MUSCLES

MEANS THAT WHEN THE MOUTH IS CLOSED,
THE TRIANGULAR TEETH FROM BOTH JAWS

LOCK TOGETHER LIKE A BEAR TRAP.

THEY ARE PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO SLICE
OFF PIECES OF MEAT, FINS, OR SCALES,

LITERALLY TAKING APART
THEIR PREY PIECE BY PIECE.

THEY PREDOMINANTLY HUNT FISH, BUT THEY
WILL EAT THE MEAT OF ALMOST ANY ANIMAL

THAT CROSSES THEIR PATH.

AND IN THIS RIVER, WITH ALMOST
EVERY CAST I'M CATCHING A PIRANHA.

THIS RIVER IS JUST
ABSOLUTELY FULL OF PIRANHAS.

THEY'RE JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE.

DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY, THOUGH,
THAT I CAN'T DO THIS.

SURELY SWIMMING IN A
PIRANHA-INFESTED RIVER IS SUICIDE.

THIS WATER MAY BE FULL OF PIRANHAS,
BUT THEY'RE NOT ATTACKING ME.

IF I CAN SWIM HERE AND IT'S TRUE THAT
THE OLD MAN FROM THE FISH-MARKET STORY

AND THE VICTIMS OF THE BUS CRASH WERE
EATEN ALIVE, THEN SOMETHING IS MISSING

THAT IS NEEDED TO TRIGGER
A FEEDING FRENZY.

STILL ALIVE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF WATER HERE.

I'M GUESSING THERE'S ENOUGH
FOOD FOR THEM DOWN THERE

WITHOUT THEM
WANTING TO ATTACK ME.

SO WHAT ABOUT IF I SET SOMETHING UP WHERE
I KNOW THERE ARE PLENTY OF PIRANHAS

AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HUNGRY?

WELCOME TO MY PIRANHA POOL.

HERE AT A LOCAL HOTEL, JUST
LIKE MY FAVORITE BOND VILLAIN,

I'VE FILLED A SMALL SWIMMING POOL
WITH OVER 100 RED-BELLIED PIRANHAS,

AND THEY HAVEN'T EATEN
FOR DAYS.

IT'S THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO TEST
JUST HOW VORACIOUS THESE CREATURES ARE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT SHARKS
BEING BLOODTHIRSTY KILLERS.

JUST WONDERING IF PIRANHAS HAVE THE
SAME KIND OF SENSITIVITY TO BLOOD.

PIRANHAS HAVE EVOLVED TO LIVE IN THE MURKY
SEDIMENT-FILLED WATERS OF THE AMAZON

WHERE VISIBILITY
IS OFTEN LESS THAN A FOOT,

SO A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL TO LOCATE
THEIR NEXT MEAL IS SURELY ESSENTIAL.

THAT'S DEFINITELY
GETTING A REACTION.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF FISH HAVE
COME INTO THAT CLOUD OF BLOOD,

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AROUND.

THEY WANT SOMETHING TO CHEW INTO, BUT
THERE'S NOTHING THERE AT THE MOMENT.

I THINK TIME TO PUT A BIT
OF FLESH IN THERE FOR THEM.

SO BLOOD IS DEFINITELY
WHETTING THEIR APPETITE.

AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOOD
IN THE WATER

FROM THOSE INJURED BY
THE IMPACT OF THE BUS CRASH.

NOW, I WONDER HOW THESE PIRANHAS WILL
REACT TO A BLOODY PIECE OF PRIME STEAK.

THERE WE GO.

IT'S THE FIRST NIBBLE,
FIRST NIBBLE, FIRST NIBBLE.

AND THERE THEY ARE.
THEY'RE ALL PILING IN.

ONCE THE FIRST ONE STARTED,
THERE WE GO. ALL OVER.

PIRANHAS REACT TO THE SOUND
AND MOVEMENT

OF ANOTHER PIRANHA FEEDING,
ATTRACTING THEM TO THE SCENE

AND INCITING A FEEDING FRENZY.

AS SOON AS ONE PIRANHA
TAKES A BITE, IT MOVES AWAY,

ALLOWING A FAST TURNOVER OF FEEDERS
AND A RAPID SUCCESSION OF BITES.

IT'S NO WONDER THEY ARE KNOWN FOR STRIPPING
THEIR FOOD TO THE BONE IN JUST MINUTES.

THERE WE GO.
MEAT DEFINITELY WORKS.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY MIGHT
REACT TO SOMETHING THAT'S ALIVE.

THESE PIRANHAS WERE TEARING INTO A PIECE
OF DEAD MEAT JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO,

BUT THEY ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED
IN ME.

SO, WHAT IS IT THAT TURNS PIRANHAS
INTO VICIOUS, MURDEROUS KILLERS?

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO TRY
AND FIND OUT.

IF THE STORY OF THE BUS CRASH
IS TRUE,

THEN PRESUMABLY...
JUST LIKE MY PIRANHA POOL...

THERE WAS HUMAN FLESH, BLOOD,
AND A MASS OF HUNGRY PIRANHAS.

YET I AM UNHARMED.

TO PEOPLE ON THE BUS
WEREN'T SO LUCKY.

AS I CONTINUE MY INVESTIGATION,
I DISCOVER THE EVIDENCE

TO PROVE THAT THE BUS CRASH
DEFINITELY HAPPENED.

BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY,
I TRACKED DOWN A SURVIVOR

WHO HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE ESCAPE
ON THAT DAY.

MAYBE HE CAN GIVE ME THE DETAILS
OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED

SO I CAN WORK OUT
WHAT TRIGGERS A PIRANHA ATTACK.

I'VE COME TO THE AMAZON
TO FIND OUT

IF PIRANHAS ARE THE
BLOODTHIRSTY KILLERS OF MYTH

OR IF THE TRUTH
IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.

I'VE MANAGED TO UNEARTH A
NEWSPAPER REPORT FROM THE 1970s

THAT DESCRIBES THE EXACT
BUS CRASH THAT I REMEMBER

WHERE SOME OF THE PASSENGERS
WERE EATEN BY PIRANHAS.

IT REPORTS THAT ON THE 14th OF NOVEMBER,
1976, THE BUS WAS TRAVELING FROM MANAUS

TO THE TOWN OF ITACOATIARA, A
JOURNEY OF ABOUT FIVE HOURS.

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH THE NIGHT, IT
CRASHED INTO A TRIBUTARY OF THE AMAZON,

KILLING 39 PASSENGERS.

THE NEWSPAPER ALSO MENTIONS THE NAME
OF A SURVIVOR... DIRCEU ARAUJO.

I'VE MANAGED TO TRACK HIM DOWN

TO FIND OUT WHAT HE CAN
REMEMBER FROM THAT FATEFUL DAY,

AS THIS MIGHT ALLOW ME TO PASS JUDGMENT
ON THE GUILT OR OTHERWISE OF THE PIRANHA.

DIRCEU TELLS ME HE WAS SITTING
AT THE VERY REAR OF THE BUS,

AND LIKE THE REST OF THE PASSENGERS, HE HAD
BEEN SLEEPING FOR MOST OF THE JOURNEY.

ON BOARD THAT DAY WERE SEVERAL FAMILIES, A
COUPLE OF STUDENTS NAMED ALEX AND IVAN,

AS WELL AS MANY OTHER MEN AND WOMEN
RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES IN ITACOATIARA.

NOT LONG BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE BUS
WENT THROUGH A POTHOLE, WAKING DIRCEU UP.

THIS, HE TELLS ME,
COULD WELL HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE.

THIS IS THE VERY SPOT
WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

THE BUS CAME DOWN HERE,
WENT IN THE RIVER DOWN THERE.

DIRCEU DOESN'T NOT KNOW IF THE
BRAKES FAILED OR IF THE BUS SKIDDED,

BUT THE DRIVER HAD DONE THE SAME
ROUTE SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY.

THE PAPERS AT THE TIME REPORTED THE
SUGGESTION THAT HE FELL ASLEEP

AND AT THE FERRY CROSSING CARRIED
STRAIGHT ON INTO THE RIVER.

ONE MINUTE
EVERYTHING'S NORMAL.

LITERALLY THE NEXT MOMENT,
IT'S IN THE WATER.

THERE WERE PEOPLE CRYING,
WAILING, MUCH DESPAIR.

THERE WERE PEOPLE AT THE FRONT TRYING
TO OPEN THE DOOR BY PULLING IT.

HE'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT DOOR ONLY OPENS IF YOU PUSH.

THEN THE WATER...
THE WATER STARTED TO COME IN,

AT WHICH POINT HE WENT BACK
TO WHERE HE'D BEEN SEATED.

THERE WAS A BOY THERE WHO'D BEEN
TRYING TO BREAK THE WINDOW,

AND HE SAW ACTUALLY SAW... DIRCEU SAW THIS
BOY'S FOOT DISAPPEARING OUT OF THE BUS,

AND HE SAW THE FOOT, FOLLOWED IT, MANAGED
TO GET HIMSELF OUT THROUGH THE SAME HOLE.

HE'S JUST ABOUT
CLEAR OF THE BUS.

SOMEBODY GRABBED HOLD
OF HIS LEG. CAN YOU IMAGINE?

SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO GRAB HOLD
OF HIS LEG

WHILE HE IS TRYING TO ESCAPE
AND GET TO THE SURFACE.

ACTUALLY HAD TO KICK THIS PERSON'S
HAND OFF TO GET FREE FROM THE BUS

AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
ESCAPE FROM THE WRECK.

39 PEOPLE REMAINED TRAPPED ON
THE BUS AND DIDN'T SURVIVE.

IN THE PANIC OF HIS ESCAPE, DIRCEU
DOESN'T REMEMBER SEEING ANY PIRANHAS,

SO NO ONE KNOWS HOW LONG IT WAS AFTER THE
BUS SUBMERGED THAT THE PIRANHAS ATTACKED.

EVEN TO THIS DAY, JUST GOING OVER THE BRIDGE,
WHICH THEY'VE GOT NOW OVER THE RIVER,

HE SAYS EVERY TIME HE CROSSES,
HE JUST REMEMBERS THAT DAY.

IT WAS SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE RESCUERS
COULD WINCH THE BUS OUT OF THE WATER.

BY THAT TIME, IT WAS FAR TOO LATE
FOR ANY REMAINING PASSENGERS.

THERE WERE THREE CHILDREN AND ONE BABY
ACTUALLY ALL FROM THE SAME FAMILY.

THEY WERE BROUGHT UP DEAD.

THERE WAS ONE BODY THERE HAD LITERALLY
BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL THE FLESH.

ONLY THE BOOTS WERE LEFT.

THE IMPACT PIRANHAS HAVE
ON A HUMAN BODY IS DISTINCT

AND MAY BE TOO SHOCKING
FOR SOME VIEWERS TO SEE.

THESE HORRIFIC IMAGES FROM RECENT CASES
ARRIVING AT THE MANAUS CITY MORGUE

SHOW JUST WHAT A PIRANHA IS CAPABLE OF
DOING AND THE TYPE OF WOUNDS IT LEAVES.

EXPOSED FLESH AND SOFT TISSUE
ARE REMOVED FIRST,

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT DORA DI BARBOSSA
WITNESSED WHEN SHE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE

AS THE BODIES WERE BEING
EXTRACTED FROM THE BUS.

SHE TOLD ME THAT SOME OF THE VICTIMS WERE
BROUGHT OUT STILL HUGGING EACH OTHER.

AND HER STORY MADE ME TRULY REALIZE WHAT
IT MEANT TO LOSE SOMEONE IN THIS CRASH.

DORA WAS JUST 17 YEARS OLD
AT THE TIME OF THE TRAGEDY.

AND WHAT HAPPENED...
SHE WAS LIVING IN ITACOATIARA,

AND SHE JUST ACTUALLY STARTED
HER NURSE TRAINING AT THE TIME.

AND, SO, SHE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE
RIVER OF THE SITE OF THE ACCIDENT.

HMM.

THAT'S PRETTY TRAGIC.

DORA SAYS SHE DID KNOW
SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS,

WHICH JUST MAKES IT SORT OF
EXTRA, EXTRA HORRIFIC, REALLY.

THERE WAS THE HUSBAND
OF THE TEACHER OF HERS,

AND SHE SAYS THAT HIS FACE WAS
COMPLETELY EATEN AWAY DOWN...

NOT DOWN TO THE BONE
BUT DOWN TO CARTILAGE.

AND ALSO, A LAD CALLED IVAN,
WHO SHE LIKED VERY MUCH,

THIS WAS
HER CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART.

AND HE WAS ONE OF THE VICTIMS,
AS WELL.

AND SHE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THIS,
SHE FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT EARLY ON

TO TALK ABOUT
THIS WHOLE BUSINESS.

BUT AS A RESULT OF THIS,
SHE SAID SHE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,

LEFT THE AREA AND DIDN'T RETURN FOR A WHILE
BECAUSE OF THE MEMORIES OF THE PLACE.

JUST LIKE THE TESTIMONIES
FROM THE BUS CRASH,

THE MORGUE PICTURES
LEAVE US IN NO DOUBT

AS TO THE HORRORS PIRANHAS
CAN INFLICT ON A HUMAN BODY.

BUT AS THE BUS CRASH HAPPENED
30 YEARS AGO,

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE VICTIMS DIED
OF THE WOUNDS INFLICTED BY THE PIRANHAS

OR IF THEY WERE ALREADY DEAD.

WE KNOW THAT ON THE BUS, THEY WERE
TRAPPED, THERE WAS BLOOD IN THE WATER,

AND PEOPLE WERE EATEN
BY PIRANHAS.

BUT DID THE PIRANHAS ATTACK
AND EAT THEIR VICTIMS ALIVE

OR DID THEY MERELY SCAVENGE THE CORPSES
OF THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY DROWNED?

SO EVEN THOUGH I HAVE FOUND
MY BUS CRASH,

THE CASE AGAINST THE PIRANHA
STILL HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

MY QUEST TO INVESTIGATE THE
BLOODTHIRSTY REPUTATION OF THE PIRANHA

IS STILL UNRESOLVED.

ALTHOUGH PIRANHAS HAVE WITHOUT DOUBT FED
ON DEAD HUMAN FLESH, I'M YET TO FIND PROOF

THAT THEY HAVE KILLED
A LIVING HUMAN.

MAYBE BRIAN ZIMMERMAN
WAS RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK
THE REPUTATION OF PIRANHAS

AS BLOODTHIRSTY MONSTERS
IS DESERVED AT ALL.

PIRANHA ARE JUST ANIMAL THAT IS
TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD

WHEN THEY HAPPEN TO BE
A CARNIVOROUS FISH.

YET IN FLOODED WATER BODIES LIKE
THIS, SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED

THAT THERE ARE DOUBLE THE
NUMBER OF PIRANHAS THAN NORMAL.

AND THIS HAS LED TO A SITUATION WHERE THEIR
INNOCENCE IS ONCE AGAIN IN QUESTION.

ALL OVER BRAZIL, DAMS LIKE THIS
HAVE CREATED ARTIFICIAL LAKES

WHICH ARE VERY POPULAR PLACES
TO COME FOR A SWIM,

PARTICULARLY IN THE HEAT
OF THE DRY SEASON.

PUT THAT TOGETHER WITH A
CONCENTRATED POPULATION OF PIRANHAS

AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

HUMANS BEING ATTACKED BY MAN-EATING
FISH IS THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES.

AND IT HAS FUELED AN INDUSTRY OF FEAR
WHICH HOLLYWOOD HAS HAPPILY EMBRACED.

IF YOU'RE ON A BEACH BY THE OCEAN,
SHARKS CAN BE A VERY REAL CONCERN.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO ENTER THE WATER
WITH A FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT LURK BENEATH.

BUT DEEP INLAND, OVER
A THOUSAND MILES FROM THE SEA,

MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT EXPECT
TO BE A VICTIM.

YET ON THE WEEKEND OF DECEMBER THE 21st,
2005, AT THE END OF THE DRY SEASON,

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

ON A BEACH EXPOSED BY THE SEASONAL LOW
WATER, EIGHT PEOPLE WERE ATTACKED.

AND THE PERPETRATORS
OF THESE ATTACKS WERE PIRANHAS.

IN A PERIOD OF SEVEN MONTHS, 190
PEOPLE WERE BITTEN BY PIRANHAS.

UNLIKE THE BUS CRASH,
THESE WEREN'T FRENZIED ATTACKS

WHICH LEFT THE CORPSES
HALF EATEN.

THESE WERE INDIVIDUAL BITES.

NO ONE WAS TRAPPED, INJURED,
OR BLEEDING.

YET THE PIRANHAS WERE DEFINITELY
ATTACKING LIVE PEOPLE.

OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING STRANGE
HAD OCCURRED HERE.

I'VE COME TO ONE
OF THESE ARTIFICIAL LAKES

CREATED BY A DAM
TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON

AND TO SEE WHAT KIND OF
PIRANHAS ARE LIVING HERE.

ALL THIS USED TO BE RAINFOREST.

BUT WHEN THE WATER ROSE, THE TREES ALL
DIED, JUST LEAVING THIS WEIRD LANDSCAPE.

THERE WE GO. THERE'S A KNOT.
THERE'S SOMETHING ON THERE.

RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
HERE WE GO.

HERE WE GO.
THAT'S A SIZABLE FISH.

THAT'S A PIRANHA,
BUT THAT IS A BIG PIRANHA.

NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE
GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH.

CAREFUL, CAREFUL, CAREFUL,
CAREFUL, CAREFUL.

AND THERE IT IS.

IMAGINE SWIMMING WITH THESE BOYS
IN THE WATER.

OH, CRUNCH.

OH!

CRUNCHING ON THE HOOK
AS I TAKE IT OUT.

HOW ABOUT THAT
FOR A PIRANHA?

THIS IS A BLACK PIRANHA.

IT'S THE BIGGEST SPECIES
OF PIRANHA.

LOOK AT THOSE TEETH.
LOOK AT THOSE TEETH.

I'M BEING
EXTREMELY CAREFUL HERE.

THEY JUST HAVE
SUCH POWERFUL JAWS,

AND THAT WOULD TAKE A SERIOUS
SIZE LUMP OUT OF YOU...

LITERALLY THE SIZE OF THAT JAW,

THAT WOULD BE THE SIZE OF THE
HOLE THAT YOU'D BE MISSING.

THOSE TEETH ARE SO SHARP THAT
WHEN PEOPLE GET CUT BY THEM,

THEY SAY THEY DON'T EVEN FEEL IT
WHEN IT HAPPENS.

THEY ONLY NOTICE IT
WHEN THEY SEE THE BLOOD.

IT WAS THESE KINDS OF ATTACKS, SINGLE
BITES, THAT WERE BEING MADE AT THE BEACH.

BUT AGAIN, BRIAN'S THEORY THAT PIRANHAS
ARE MISUNDERSTOOD HAS AN EXPLANATION.

PIRANHA TEND TO BUILD THEIR
NESTS IN VERY SHALLOW AREAS

BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE VEGETATION,
NOT ONLY FOR THE EGGS TO STICK TO

BUT ALSO FOR THE YOUNG FRY TO RETREAT
WHEN THEY'RE FIRST HATCHING.

SO, IN CASES
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BITTEN,

I MEAN, I SUPPOSE SOMEBODY
WADING IN SHALLOW WATER

AND HAPPENS TO TREAD
ONTO THE NEST OF A PIRANHA

WHERE THERE'S A BIG MALE
DEFENDING ITS EGGS

IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING A BITE.

THE BEACH ATTACKS OCCURRED WHEN
THERE WERE MOST PEOPLE IN THE WATER

ON THE HOTTEST DAYS
OF THE END OF THE DRY SEASON.

IT IS AT THIS POINT, USUALLY JUST AFTER
THE FIRST RAINS, WHEN PIRANHAS BREED.

ALL THEY WERE DOING WAS SIMPLY
WHAT MOST LIVING CREATURES DO...

PROTECTING THEIR YOUNG.

SO THESE MULTIPLE PIRANHA ATTACKS
ACTUALLY REVEAL A CARING ANIMAL

THAT, IN THIS INSTANCE,
HAS NO INTENTION TO KILL.

PIRANHA ARE VERY NERVOUS FISH.

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A STUDY RECENTLY
WHICH WAS LOOKING AT THE REASONS

FOR SHOALING BEHAVIOR IN PIRANHA,
AND THE STUDY ACTUALLY FOUND

THAT INSTEAD OF THEM BEING PACK
HUNTERS AND LIVING TOGETHER IN GROUPS

BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO HUNT
THEIR PREY,

THEY ACTUALLY LIVE IN SHOALS
TO AVOID PREDATORS THEMSELVES

AND IT'S LIKE A CASE
OF SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

IF PIRANHAS GROUP TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THEIR
MORTAL FEAR OF ANOTHER RIVER MONSTER,

THEN THIS IS A CREATURE
I NEED TO MEET.

PIRANHAS MAY ENJOY A REPUTATION AS
EVIL KILLERS BUT HERE IN THE AMAZON,

THEY ARE FAR FROM THE TOP
OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THIS RIVER IS A SUPREMELY
PREDATORY ENVIRONMENT.

AND I'M TOLD THAT THERE ARE WILD RIVER
MONSTERS THAT COME HERE TO BE FED BY LOCALS.

THESE CREATURES ARE HIGHLY ADAPTED KILLERS
AND GREATLY FEARED BY THE PIRANHAS.

AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M THE GUINEA PIG THAT
IS ENTERING THE WATER TO MEET THEM.

DOLPHINS.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT?

THOUSAND MILES FROM THE OCEAN,
RIGHT UP THE AMAZON RIVER.

FRESHWATER DOLPHINS.

AND THESE GUYS... I MEAN,
THEY'RE ARE HAVING FUN NOW,

BUT MY GOODNESS...
THEY'VE ALSO GOT A DARK SIDE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FRENZY.
THAT ONE BIT MY THUMB.

THAT ONE GOT MY THUMB.
OH, DEAR.

HEY!

AND THESE ARE THE GUYS
THAT TAKE OUT PIRANHAS.

LITTLE BIT EAGER,
A LITTLE BIT EAGER.

THE JAW... VERY, VERY LONG
AND ELONGATED, FULL OF TEETH...

JUST PERFECT FOR GRABBING FISH.

WOW.

THEY'VE ALSO GOT THIS REALLY
STRANGE BULGING HEAD,

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY... OOP!...
AND ECHOLOCATION ORGAN.

A LOT OF THESE WATERS
IN THE AMAZON ARE VERY MURKY.

AND THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR PREY.

BUT EVEN IN THAT SITUATION, THEY CAN
FIND AND KILL THEIR PREY... OHH!...

USING SONAR.

OHH-HOO-HOO.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY, VERY
CAREFUL TANGLING WITH THESE CREATURES.

TIME FOR ME TO GET OUT, I THINK.

THE AMAZON IS THE MOST PREDATOR-FILLED
WATERWAY ON THE PLANET.

EVERYTHING KILLS OR IS KILLED.

I'VE SPENT YEARS FISHING THIS RIVER,
AND I KNOW IT IS CRAMMED FULL

OF THE MEANEST,
NASTIEST CREATURES.

PERHAPS PIRANHAS
ARE NOT UNUSUAL.

THEY JUST GET SINGLED OUT FOR ATTENTION
BECAUSE THEY CAPTURE OUR IMAGINATION.

BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T EXPLAIN
WHAT TRIGGERS THEIR ATTACKS.

IT'S STRONG AND HEAVY.

LOOK AT THIS!

A NEW SPECIES FOR ME.

I KNOW THE SPECIES, BUT I'VE
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER CAUGHT ONE.

THERE'S A LUMP TAKEN OUT OF IT
BY PIRANHA.

THEY CAN TELL WHEN A FISH IS IN
DISTRESS, AND THEY GO AFTER IT.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SHAPE
HERE OF A PIRANHA JAW.

SOMETHING CHOMPED THIS FISH
ON THE WAY IN.

YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THESE FISH

ARE PAYING COMPLETE ATTENTION
TO NOT ENDING UP ON THE MENU.

THIS ONE BASICALLY THINKING ABOUT
SOMETHING ELSE FOR JUST A MOMENT,

AND A PIRANHA CAME
AND CHOPPED IT.

SO YOU'VE LITERALLY
GOT TO WATCH YOUR BACK.

THIS ARMORED CATFISH
WAS A FANTASTIC CATCH.

BUT SEEING THE PIRANHA BITE ON ITS BACK
HAS CRYSTALLIZED EVERYTHING FOR ME.

THIS FISH LIVES IN AND AMONGST
PIRANHA EVERY DAY OF ITS LIFE.

YET, STRUGGLING ON THE END OF MY
LINE, IT INSTANTLY BECAME A TARGET.

IT IS THE THRASHING STRUGGLE
OF DISTRESS

THAT TRIGGERS THE PIRANHA'S NATURAL
INSTINCTS TO TARGET THE WEAK AND HELPLESS.

THIS EXPLAINS WHY I CAN SWIM
AND SPLASH AROUND WITH PIRANHAS

YET THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
IN THE BUS CRASH

INITIATED THE PIRANHAS'
PREDATORY INSTINCTS.

IT'S SOBERING TO THINK OF WHAT HAPPENED
TO THOSE POOR PASSENGERS THAT DAY

AS THEY TRAVELED
BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWN.

THEIR LIVES WERE NEVER MEANT
TO CROSS WITH PIRANHAS.

YET, FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE AMAZON,
LIFE IS LITERALLY LIVED ON THE WATER.

WITH SUCH HUGE SEASONAL
VARIATIONS IN WATER LEVEL,

ENTIRE VILLAGES
FLOAT ON THE RIVER.

AND THERE'S ONE WHOSE VERY NAME

SUGGESTS THE REALITY THEY
DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

THIS PLACE IS KNOWN
AS "THE PIRANHA RESERVE."

I'VE COME HERE TO FIND OUT
WHAT LIFE IS LIKE

LIVING WITH THE CONSTANT THREAT
OF PIRANHAS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN AS
RIBEIRINHOS, OR RIVER PEOPLE.

ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY NEED IS SOURCED
FROM OR AROUND THE AMAZON RIVER.

LET'S SEE IF THE PIRANHA
RESERVE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

AND WHAT KIND OF PIRANHAS
THEY HAVE HERE.

THE LINE IS
FLAT ON THE SURFACE.

THERE IT GOES.

RED-BELLIED. THERE WE GO.

WHOOP! NOW, RIGHT.

YOU CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE... I COULDN'T
DO THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE SHOES ON.

YOU CAN SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HERE
ARE MISSING BITS OUT OF THEIR TOES.

EVERY ONE OF THESE
IS A RED-BELLIED.

I MEAN, THIS ONE'S GOT
SLIGHT SPOTS ON IT, AS WELL,

BUT THAT JUST MEANS
IT'S A JUVENILE.

AGAIN, AGAIN. HERE WE GO.

THERE'S ALMOST
MORE FISH THAN WATER.

EVERY SINGLE CHUCK,
OUT COMES A RED-BELLIED PIRANHA.

THEY'RE NOT VERY BIG,
BUT MY GOODNESS.

THERE ARE JUST LOADS OF THEM
DOWN HERE.

I'VE HEARD ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT PIRANHAS
BEING CAPABLE OF SKELETONIZING BODIES

LITERALLY WITHIN MOMENTS
OR MINUTES.

I'VE GOT THIS FRESHLY KILLED
DUCK HERE FROM THE MARKET,

AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO PUT
THOSE STORIES TO THE TEST.

IT'S APPARENT THAT THE SOUND,

THE THRASHING OF A DISTRESSED
ANIMAL IS WHAT ATTRACTS THEM.

SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT
TO START THEM HONING IN.

RIGHT, THEY'RE IN THERE.

THEY'RE IN THERE ALREADY.

I JUST SAW A FLASH OF SILVER WITH
VERY DISTINCTIVE RED, AS WELL.

RIGHT, THEY'RE STARTING
TO ARRIVE NOW.

ONCE ONE FINDS IT, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW,
THAT JUST KICKS THE WHOLE THING OFF.

LOOK AT THAT.
DOING THE HEAD THERE.

THEY'VE ALREADY JUST STRIPPED
ALL THE FLESH FROM THE SPINE.

FLIP THIS IN AND HAVE A LOOK.

OH. RIGHT.

FROM THE BACK,
THIS DIDN'T LOOK TOO BAD,

BUT ACTUALLY FLIP IT OVER,
THE SIDE WHERE THE FISH WERE,

AND THEY'VE MADE A REAL MESS
OF THAT.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY CHEWED THROUGH
A HUGE EXPANSE OF FEATHER

TO GET AT THE MEAT, AND THEY'VE
GONE RIGHT INTO THE BODY CAVITY.

THEY'VE TAKEN
MOST OF THE MEAT AWAY.

THERE'S A HUGE SECTION OF ACTUALLY
THE BACKBONE GONE IN THE NECK.

THE HEAD IS JUST REDUCED
TO BONE.

BOTH EYES ARE GONE.

AND ALL THIS JUST
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT THIS IS
RIGHT OUTSIDE SOMEONE'S FRONT DOOR.

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, DEALING WITH
THE DANGERS OF PIRANHAS ON A DAILY BASIS

IS JUST PART OF LIFE.

I VISIT SOME OF THE FAMILIES WHO
LIVE HERE TO FIND OUT HOW THEY COPE.

BUT I DISCOVER A STORY OF A PIRANHA
ATTACK THAT CHILLS ME TO MY VERY BONES.

THIS REMOTE PLACE IS ACTUALLY
CALLED THE PIRANHA RESERVE.

BUT WHAT I SOON LEARN IS THAT
IT IS IN THE DRY SEASON

WHEN THE WATER IS LOW AND
THE PIRANHAS ARE CONCENTRATED

THAT THE VILLAGERS
ARE MOST AT RISK.

IT IS A PARTICULAR TIME OF YEAR.

IT'S PRINCIPALLY THE MONTHS
OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER HERE.

YOU CAN'T EVEN GET IN THE WATER
TO HAVE A WASH.

THE MAIN FOOD ITEM HERE IS FISH,
SO THERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THE FISH IN
ORDER TO PREPARE IT FOR THE MEAL,

AND JUST THE SMELL OF THAT WILL BRING
A CONCENTRATION OF PIRANHAS THERE,

SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS
NOWHERE NEAR THE WATER.

BUT ON ONE OCCASION, THIS FAMILY DROPPED
THEIR GUARD WITH HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.

IT WAS A GRANDSON OF JULIO'S.

THEY'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T
LOOK AFTER KIDS ALL THE TIME.

HIS WIFE WAS CLEANING SOME FISH
OFF THE BACK OF THE HOUSE,

AND THE CHILD JUST RAN, AS CHILDREN DO,
FROM ONE SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER

AND FELL IN THE WATER
AT THE OTHER SIDE.

AND HE SAID LITERALLY
THEY HEARD A NOISE.

THEY GOT THERE.
IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE.

THE CHILD FELL IN THE WATER
AND JUST DIDN'T COME UP.

ALL THEY SAID THAT THEY SAW WAS
JUST A TURBULENCE IN THE WATER

OF THE PIRANHAS DEVOURING THE
CHILD JUST LITERALLY MOMENTS

AFTER THE CHILD HAD FALLEN
OFF THE SIDE OF THE BOAT.

WITH NETS, THEY WERE TRYING
TO SORT OF RETRIEVE THE CHILD,

EVEN WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, AND EVENTUALLY,
HE SAID, ALL THEY GOT IN WAS BONES.

WHEN I ASKED HOW LONG IT TOOK, HE
SAID, NO, THIS HAPPENED VERY RAPIDLY

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE JUST, YOU
KNOW, SO MANY... SO MANY PIRANHAS HERE.

THIS IS WHAT I'D BEEN SEARCHING FOR...
A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

OF PIRANHAS ATTACKING, KILLING, AND EATING
A HUMAN, IN THIS CASE, A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY,

WHO THE GRANDFATHER
PREFERRED NOT TO NAME.

YET, THE REALITY
OF HEARING A STORY LIKE THIS

TAKES AWAY ALL FEELINGS
OF SUCCESS I MIGHT HAVE HAD.

IT'S ONE THING TO HEAR
THE MYTH OF PIRANHAS,

BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S QUITE SOMETHING ELSE

TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO'S ACTUALLY SEEN
THE TRUTH OF THAT WITH THEIR OWN EYES.

IF YOU CONSIDER THAT
THIS IS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS

OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR ISOLATED
SETTLEMENTS FOUND ALL ALONG THE AMAZON,

WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE
CASES REMAIN UNREPORTED?

THESE LADS ARE JUST... THEY'RE JUST BALANCING
ON PIECES OF WOOD ABOUT THAT WIDE.

I'VE JUST HEARD THIS HORRIFIC STORY
ABOUT SOMEBODY FALLING INTO THIS WATER

AND GETTING JUST DEVOURED IN SECONDS, AND
THEY DON'T EVEN SEEM BOTHERED BY IT.

MUCH AS WE MIGHT LIVE
WITH THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT

OF A LETHAL HIGHWAY ON OUR DOORSTEP,
THESE PEOPLE CONTINUE THEIR LIVES

WITHIN FEET OF DEADLY PIRANHAS.

I GUESS LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW,
LIVING IN A FLOATING HOUSE LIKE THIS

WITH THESE PIRANHAS UNDERNEATH,
AFTER A WHILE, IT'S JUST THERE.

IT'S JUST AUTOMATIC.
YOU JUST GET USED TO IT.

THERE ARE JUST PRECAUTIONS
THAT YOU TAKE.

YOU CAN'T BE THINKING ABOUT IT
ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU WERE, YOU JUST WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

IT'S JUST THIS EVER-PRESENT PRESENCE
UNDERNEATH AND ALL AROUND YOU.

I SET OUT ON THIS JOURNEY TO FIND
AN EYEWITNESS TO A PIRANHA ATTACK

IN THE HOPE THAT THEIR EVIDENCE
MIGHT GIVE ME THE PROOF I NEEDED

TO KNOW IF THE BLOODTHIRSTY REPUTATION
OF THE PIRANHA IS JUSTIFIED.

I'VE FOUND THAT PIRANHAS
ARE SOMETIMES SHY,

SOMETIMES DEFENSIVE, AND THEY
ARE SOMEWHAT MISUNDERSTOOD.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC COMBINATION
OF THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR, BLOOD,

THE STRUGGLE OF DISTRESS, AND
A TRAPPED OR WEAKENED PERSON,

YOU WILL TRIGGER
A PIRANHA FEEDING FRENZY.

IN A RIVER FULL OF MONSTERS, THIS
IS JUST A NATURAL ADAPTATION

TO LIFE HERE IN THE AMAZON.

BUT NO WATER WHAT, THE PIRANHA
WILL CONTINUE TO EVOKE FEAR

AND HORROR
IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.