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00:00:00,367 --> 00:00:03,437
I'm on the bank of the Mara
River where over two million
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wildebeest are
gathered for an epic journey.
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00:00:06,206 --> 00:00:08,675
(Male narrator)
Jean Du Plessis is on the
trail of the great wildebeest
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00:00:08,675 --> 00:00:10,277
migration.
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From the dangerous crossing
of the crocodile infested Mara
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River to the plains where he
hopes to witness the largest
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00:00:15,749 --> 00:00:18,118
mass birth on the planet.
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(Du Plessis)
We just arrived on
the short grass plains,
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00:00:19,586 --> 00:00:22,623
and with us arrived
this enormous herd.
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The predators in the
area must be thinking,
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00:00:26,526 --> 00:00:27,928
this is christmas arriving.
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(Narrator)
But unusual weather patterns
threaten to disrupt this year's
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migration.
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In Africa,
nothing is guaranteed,
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especially for these
nomads of the Serengeti.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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♪♪
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It's one of the last great
wildlife habitats on earth.
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At nearly the size of Belgium,
this vast and diverse ecosystem
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stretches from the Masai Mara
in Kenya to the active volcanic
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highlands of the
Tanzanian Rift Valley.
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It is home to 70
species of large mammals.
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It's a world heritage site, and
it has been named as one of the
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greatest natural
wonders on earth.
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This is the Serengeti.
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The name Serengeti comes
from the Masaii language.
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It means endless plains.
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At its center is the migration,
where more than two million
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wildebeest and Zebra move in
a continuous year long cycle.
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Driven by two distinct rainy
seasons they follow the rains to
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find the best grazing.
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Where there are
millions of animals,
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you are sure to find predators,
and scavengers in abundance.
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They all play an important part
in this circle of life on the
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Serengeti plains.
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For 20 years, wildlife expert
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and safari guide
Jean Du Plessis
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has guided clients to see
parts of the migration.
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Now he plans to follow the
wildebeests from the north to
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the short grass plains.
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That's where the females will
drop their young in the largest
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mass birth of
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mammals on the planet.
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But it all starts with an
incredibly treacherous river
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crossing.
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(Du Plessis)
I'm on the bank of the Mara
River where over two million
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wildebeest are
gathered for an epic journey,
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traveling more then 500
kilometers into the southern
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Serengeti.
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That journey starts
now in the Serengeti.
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(Narrator)
What drives the
migration is rain,
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For the past three months, the
rains have stayed in the north,
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but come October,
there is a change,
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and the storms
begin to move south,
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triggering an instinct in
the wildebeest to move.
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Their first major obstacle is
to cross the treacherous Mara
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River.
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And this morning Jean is in
the middle of the action.
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(Du Plessis)
I'm following a
group of wildebeest.
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This group has now grown and
this is constantly getting
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bigger.
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Off to my right are still
streams of wildebeest coming out
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of the hills.
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Last night there was a huge
amount of rain in this area,
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and there was thunder showers
that's now pulling down these
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wildebeests onto the river bank.
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(Narrator)
This journey is their destiny,
but it is fraught with dangers.
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About 250 thousand wildebeest
will die over the next year of
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natural causes like
thirst, hunger or exhaustion.
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And many more will die at
the hands of predators,
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such as lions or crocodiles
that wait along the route.
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They approach the river
crossing with caution.
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They sense the lurking dangers.
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But their instinct to move
is stronger than their fear.
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Soon it becomes a mad rush.
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Now there are
thousands jumping in.
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There are over two
million wildebeest and zebra.
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It will take several weeks at
many different crossing points
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before they have passed.
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The Mara's crocodiles hope
to get in one last feed.
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(Du Plessis)
This was amazing, just towards
the end of the crossing,
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there was this enormous croc
that got hold of a yearling and
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00:06:02,796 --> 00:06:05,999
literally just took the entire
head of this wildebeest in his
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mouth and all of them submerged,
and that's the last we ever saw
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all of them.
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(Narrator)
The wildebeest migrate between
two grassland areas the Masai
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Mara in the North
where they mate,
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and the short grass plains in
the south where they give birth.
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They will be congregating on
each grassland for approximately
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three months before the rains
shift and they begin to migrate
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out.
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The Tanzanian side of the Masai
Mara is called the Lamai Wedge,
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and it's unique because it has
an unusually high numbers of
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predators in the area.
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In the open grass lands,
Jean will have an easier time
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spotting them.
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To get there, Jean will
have to brave the river too.
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But, there's a problem,
the bridge is flooded.
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Just a few days earlier,
a vehicle tried to cross,
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but got caught in the strong
currents and plunged into the
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crocodile infested
waters stranding five men.
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Despite the danger,
Jean decides to go anyway.
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If he waits, the area could
clear out of wildebeest and he
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will miss his best chance
to see the lions in action.
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Crossing the bridge
is nerve wracking.
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The trick is not to look down.
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If he does, he
could begin to drift.
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If he does, he
could begin to drift.
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Jean's experience
serves him well.
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He makes it safely
across to the Lamai Wedge.
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(Du Plessis)
When looking for lions, the
easiest way to find them is to
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look for these clearings
in between the herds of
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wildebeests.
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At this time of the morning,
they would more than likely be
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moving or they are
already be on the kill,
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but about an hour
or two from now,
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it would get too warm and they
would be searching for shade.
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But for now, we're
focusing on the plains.
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I will get to a bit of an
elevation and scan with
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binoculars and see if
we can pick them out.
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(Narrator)
It's October and our herds are
in the midst of dealing with
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their first and
biggest obstacle,
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crossing the Mara River
where slippery rocks,
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rough currents and crocodiles
are some of the deadly obstacles
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that will claim
thousands of the animals.
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The wildebeests that make it
across will continue south and
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to the next phase
of the journey,
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the largest mass
birthing grounds on the planet.
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And Jean wants to be
there to witness the births.
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Before the migration moves,
Jean wants to observe predator
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behavior.
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The best place to see this is in
the area north of the Mara River
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known as the Lamai Wedge.
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As the millions of
wildebeests cross the Lamai,
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large predators
come out in force.
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(Du Plessis)
When looking for lions, the
easiest way to find them is to
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look for these clearings
in between the herds of
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wildebeests.
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But for now, we're
focusing on the plains.
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I will get to a bit of an
elevation and then scan.
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At this time of the morning,
they would more likely to be
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moving or they are
already be on the kill.
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(Narrator)
Jean is looking for one of
the clear signs of a kill,
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birds of prey circling
above the Serengeti.
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We're coming up on some vultures
that's sitting on a carcass of
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something.
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Obviously, more than
likely a wildebeest.
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It looks quite fresh.
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Yeah it's a wildebeest that's
been killed and it doesn't look
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like hyenas.
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It's more than likely
lions that had their full,
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and as the sun rose, the
vultures would pick up these
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kills and they came to
completely clean it off and eat
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every small
piece of meat.
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(Narrator)
With Wildebeests kills
scattered everywhere,
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Jean takes a closer look to
see what he can learn about the
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predator behavior in the area.
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(Du Plessis)
What I am seeing here is a clear
indication of predators that's
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not very hungry.
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One can see that very
small part of the rib cage
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has actually been consumed.
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Nice signs of
hyenas chewing this off.
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But also not hungry hyenas,
because had they been hungry,
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they would have eaten
this entire rib cage.
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For a hyena it takes no effort
to consume thick bones such as
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this.
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Other things that point out to
me are the skin that remains,
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the legs, and generally when
there's huge competition for
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food in an area, hyenas would
come in and grab a piece of leg
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and would run off, so the entire
carcass would disperse over a
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very big area.
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So this points out to me that
there potentially wasn't a lot
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of conflict around this carcass,
because animals are not hungry.
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There's food all
over this system.
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I've got some
hyenas and a kill here.
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It's a fresh kill.
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They're all kind of
feeding quite ferociously.
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There's about
five or six of them,
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and a lot of them are
still kind of pups.
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What's very interesting is
there's a silver backed jackal
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that's constantly darting
and trying to take a bite,
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but these hyenas are
having none of that.
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They tend to kind
of chase him off.
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But a little bit away, it seems
where the actual kill happened
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is, there's some skin and
pieces of meat lying around.
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There's a big group of vultures
there and the jackal that's also
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focused, and there
he is coming in now.
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He's getting his head right
between the legs of the hyenas.
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It's an extremely brave
act for something so small,
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because it will just take one
bite of a hyena to kill him.
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They would tolerate him
up to a certain point,
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and then there's this half
hearted attempt of chasing him
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away.
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Now he would just kind of
scatter away a couple of meters
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and then come back
immediately again.
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There's one incident when he
grabbed a big piece of skin and
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I think that was
enough for the hyenas,
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and then they chase him around
the bush a couple of times.
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Interesting, these hyenas will
consume most of the carcass.
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They've got
incredibly powerful jaws,
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huge carnassial teeth.
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When lions would feed on a kill,
they would not eat the bones as
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much as hyenas would do that.
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Most of the rib
cage is already gone.
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00:13:16,596 --> 00:13:19,232
There's so much food around.
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00:13:19,232 --> 00:13:23,036
They are fat,
very, very well fed,
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00:13:23,036 --> 00:13:26,339
and they must eat
once or twice a day.
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00:13:26,339 --> 00:13:29,876
It's easy for a hyena to
go three or four days.
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00:13:29,876 --> 00:13:32,945
This is definitely
not out of hunger.
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00:13:32,945 --> 00:13:37,583
It's purely out of greed.
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00:13:37,583 --> 00:13:40,286
Not all the predators
are hunting wildebeest.
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00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:43,956
Jean comes across another
resident of the Lamai Wedge,
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00:13:43,956 --> 00:13:46,592
a smaller species
of the cat family.
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00:13:46,592 --> 00:13:48,294
There's a serval cat here.
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00:13:48,294 --> 00:13:49,962
I can see it moving up here now.
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00:13:49,962 --> 00:13:52,298
It's a very, very
well camouflaged,
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but you kind of just see It's
back moving through the grass.
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It came around a corner and
there's an open clearing in
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between all of these wildebeest
that indicated for me that
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00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,076
there's a predator around.
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Now I don't think this single
serval created this clearing,
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00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:08,581
so possibly some lions here.
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00:14:08,581 --> 00:14:11,284
But this serval is
down in a drainage ditch.
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He is clearly out hunting,
and in these grass lands,
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there would be after
things like mice and birds,
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and they have got
an incredible leap.
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00:14:20,226 --> 00:14:23,196
So they will have grass
birds, shoot up into the sky,
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00:14:23,196 --> 00:14:26,632
and they pretty much follow them
up and take them out of the air.
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00:14:26,632 --> 00:14:27,667
(Narrator)
Jean pushes on.
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00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:30,136
He's working his way
up through the plains,
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00:14:30,136 --> 00:14:35,108
along the boundary of the
resident pride's territory.
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00:14:35,108 --> 00:14:38,444
(Du Plessis)
There's a lioness in the
rocky outcrop in front of me.
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00:14:38,444 --> 00:14:42,648
This is a perfect place for a
pride of lions to be hanging out
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00:14:42,648 --> 00:14:43,916
on these plains.
236
00:14:43,916 --> 00:14:48,554
It's full shady, but it's also a
great natural observation point.
237
00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:52,458
I'm just trying to, it's
extremely rocky so I'm trying to
238
00:14:52,458 --> 00:14:57,497
get a bit closer and
see what they're up to.
239
00:14:57,497 --> 00:14:58,498
There they are.
240
00:14:58,498 --> 00:15:00,566
They are quite relaxed.
241
00:15:00,566 --> 00:15:04,537
These must be
very well-fed lions.
242
00:15:04,537 --> 00:15:08,007
The flip side of course is when
the migration moves out and the
243
00:15:08,007 --> 00:15:09,375
grasses are tall.
244
00:15:09,375 --> 00:15:17,683
it is extremely hard
for lions to make a kill.
245
00:15:17,683 --> 00:15:19,552
She's lying down.
246
00:15:19,552 --> 00:15:21,654
This is an old female.
247
00:15:21,654 --> 00:15:25,091
I can see her
ears are all tatty.
248
00:15:25,091 --> 00:15:28,394
Very dark, black nose.
249
00:15:28,394 --> 00:15:33,766
I can see two of them, and
that's also a female and she's a
250
00:15:33,766 --> 00:15:37,136
bit younger.
251
00:15:37,136 --> 00:15:40,373
(Narrator)
It's getting towards midday and
Jean is not seeing any predators
252
00:15:40,373 --> 00:15:42,542
on the hunt.
253
00:15:42,542 --> 00:15:45,111
In this heat, it's likely that
the predators are doing their
254
00:15:45,111 --> 00:15:50,583
hunting early in the
morning when it's still cool.
255
00:15:50,583 --> 00:15:53,686
So Jean decides to go back
to camp and start again early
256
00:15:53,686 --> 00:15:59,025
tomorrow when he hopes the
lions will be on the prowl.
257
00:15:59,025 --> 00:16:03,296
So he heads back across the
still flooded bridge to camp for
258
00:16:03,296 --> 00:16:05,298
the night.
259
00:16:11,070 --> 00:16:17,810
The following morning,
he starts out at sunrise.
260
00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:23,616
Within minutes, he gets lucky, a
pride of lion has made a kill.
261
00:16:23,616 --> 00:16:26,686
(Du Plessis)
These guys are a resident pride.
262
00:16:26,686 --> 00:16:31,557
They're living
fairly close to camp.
263
00:16:31,557 --> 00:16:33,793
They must be the most fortunate
lions on the Serengeti at the
264
00:16:33,793 --> 00:16:37,230
moment having the entire
migration moving through.
265
00:16:37,230 --> 00:16:40,333
Every wildebeest in the area
kind of moved past here on these
266
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,768
shorter grass when the only
thing they need to do just lie
267
00:16:42,768 --> 00:16:46,839
up in this drainage area, and
it's literally littered with
268
00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:47,907
carcasses.
269
00:16:47,907 --> 00:16:51,711
They are on a carcass of
a wildebeest right now.
270
00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:53,646
Right now only the
cubs are feeding.
271
00:16:53,646 --> 00:16:56,749
There's quite a few
cubs, two different ages,
272
00:16:56,749 --> 00:17:00,519
around 4-6 months.
273
00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:04,457
These cubs are now turning
feeding into a bit of a game.
274
00:17:04,457 --> 00:17:09,195
they are constantly trying to
pull the carcass away from the
275
00:17:09,195 --> 00:17:10,830
rest of the group.
276
00:17:10,830 --> 00:17:16,469
It's also a good
practice for later in the life.
277
00:17:16,469 --> 00:17:20,406
(Narrator)
Living on the Serengeti is a
mixed blessing for the lions.
278
00:17:20,406 --> 00:17:23,509
During the migration the
resident prides eat well,
279
00:17:23,509 --> 00:17:25,811
but once the
wildebeest have left the area,
280
00:17:25,811 --> 00:17:34,186
the lions have to
survive on leaner times.
281
00:17:34,186 --> 00:17:36,756
The never ending cycle of the
wildebeest migration on the
282
00:17:36,756 --> 00:17:43,396
Serengeti is a story of
instinct and survival.
283
00:17:43,396 --> 00:17:46,432
Wildlife expert and safari
guide Jean Du Plessis has been
284
00:17:46,432 --> 00:17:49,402
watching the most
spectacular part of the journey,
285
00:17:49,402 --> 00:17:53,472
the mass crossing
of the Mara River.
286
00:17:53,472 --> 00:17:58,144
As deadly as predators are, the
river poses a greater danger to
287
00:17:58,144 --> 00:17:59,378
the wildebeest.
288
00:17:59,378 --> 00:18:03,349
It's fast flowing currents can
sweep a wildebeest down stream,
289
00:18:03,349 --> 00:18:06,285
or if the herds choose
a bad crossing point,
290
00:18:06,285 --> 00:18:10,356
hundreds of the animals can die.
291
00:18:10,356 --> 00:18:16,162
Jean is with a herd in trouble.
292
00:18:16,162 --> 00:18:17,496
(Du Plessis)
This is like worst-case
scenario.
293
00:18:17,496 --> 00:18:19,732
This is a very bad
place for them to cross.
294
00:18:19,732 --> 00:18:24,303
The far side is kind of piling
up with bodies and then these
295
00:18:24,303 --> 00:18:28,374
guys down below just can not get
out of the river because of all
296
00:18:28,374 --> 00:18:32,778
of this exit being
congested by dead animals.
297
00:18:32,778 --> 00:18:37,249
As far as I look down the river,
there's just bodies drifting all
298
00:18:37,249 --> 00:18:39,452
the way down, and that's
going to get trapped down in the
299
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:43,656
rapids, a bit lower down,
and there's still hundreds of
300
00:18:43,656 --> 00:18:47,293
thousands of wildebeests coming
in behind me waiting to cross
301
00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:48,894
here.
302
00:18:48,894 --> 00:18:50,830
(Narrator)
And for the young and
adolescents wildebeest in the
303
00:18:50,830 --> 00:18:56,569
herd, crossing the Mara
is especially dangerous.
304
00:18:56,569 --> 00:19:00,206
(Du Plessis)
For an adult wildebeest, it's
one thing to cross a high fast
305
00:19:00,206 --> 00:19:02,675
flowing river like this, but
it's a massive challenge for the
306
00:19:02,675 --> 00:19:03,909
younger ones.
307
00:19:03,909 --> 00:19:07,680
In February-March this year, a
lot of new wildebeest were born,
308
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,649
so they have made the journey up
in the Masai Mara and they have
309
00:19:10,649 --> 00:19:12,818
crossed a much lower river.
310
00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:14,920
So they went into the Mara
and now suddenly they're coming
311
00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,723
back, facing these
massive currents,
312
00:19:17,723 --> 00:19:20,726
and that's a huge challenge for
an animal that's not even a year
313
00:19:20,726 --> 00:19:22,728
old yet.
314
00:19:26,332 --> 00:19:29,368
The majority of the carcasses
that I can see here are actually
315
00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:32,371
yearlings, are these young ones
that just could not get through
316
00:19:32,371 --> 00:19:34,507
this deep a river.
317
00:19:34,507 --> 00:19:38,944
Also, by the time a wildebeest
calf reach about this stage,
318
00:19:38,944 --> 00:19:41,747
they are more than likely
separated from their mother.
319
00:19:41,747 --> 00:19:45,418
So they form these little
groups or herds of calves,
320
00:19:45,418 --> 00:19:49,688
and a lot of the times you will
have a yearling herd getting
321
00:19:49,688 --> 00:19:52,758
cross by themselves, and
that can be catastrophic for an
322
00:19:52,758 --> 00:19:56,829
entire herd like that if they
hit a river that is flowing as
323
00:19:56,829 --> 00:20:00,999
fast and deep as this right now.
324
00:20:00,999 --> 00:20:03,569
And you can see, there's like
hundreds of vultures and storks
325
00:20:03,569 --> 00:20:06,972
that's kind of sitting on top
this island and is now eating
326
00:20:06,972 --> 00:20:08,941
these dead animals.
327
00:20:08,941 --> 00:20:12,611
These vultures are the clean
up crews of the Serengeti and
328
00:20:12,611 --> 00:20:18,784
without them it would clearly
just be a mess of rotting bodies
329
00:20:18,784 --> 00:20:21,720
Big groups of vultures like
this can consume thousands of
330
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,989
kilograms of meat in one day.
331
00:20:23,989 --> 00:20:26,926
So they form a crucial part
in the cleaning up of the
332
00:20:26,926 --> 00:20:29,628
Serengeti.
333
00:20:29,628 --> 00:20:32,698
It is very difficulty for
vultures to actually tear up the
334
00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:36,936
skin of this tough wildebeest,
so they have to wait for the
335
00:20:36,936 --> 00:20:39,672
bodies to party decompose.
336
00:20:39,672 --> 00:20:42,575
Luckily, we are sitting a little
bit up wind of all of this,
337
00:20:42,575 --> 00:20:47,079
because it must smell incredibly
bad as you go down wind from
338
00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:48,914
this.
339
00:20:48,914 --> 00:20:51,617
(Narrator)
The crossing was
catastrophic for this group,
340
00:20:51,617 --> 00:20:56,088
but what is bad for one
species is good for another.
341
00:20:56,088 --> 00:20:58,524
Although scavengers like
vultures sometimes get a bad
342
00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:01,560
rap, the work they do is
of vital importance to the
343
00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,362
Serengeti.
344
00:21:03,362 --> 00:21:05,431
If all these
carcasses were left to rot,
345
00:21:05,431 --> 00:21:09,502
the entire eco system would be
in danger of contamination from
346
00:21:09,502 --> 00:21:12,905
diseases that go
along with the rot.
347
00:21:12,905 --> 00:21:15,908
Vultures feed on
dead meat or carrion.
348
00:21:15,908 --> 00:21:19,011
They can strip a
carcass in a few hours.
349
00:21:19,011 --> 00:21:22,047
Surprisingly, it's not
lions that eat the most meat,
350
00:21:22,047 --> 00:21:23,582
but vultures.
351
00:21:23,582 --> 00:21:31,624
The birds eat 70 percent
of the meat on the plains.
352
00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:35,027
There are five different kinds
of vultures on the Serengeti.
353
00:21:35,027 --> 00:21:37,496
These are the
Ruppell's Griffon vultures,
354
00:21:37,496 --> 00:21:44,803
identified by white streaked
feathers and yellow beaks.
355
00:21:44,803 --> 00:21:47,139
These vultures don't
make their nests in trees,
356
00:21:47,139 --> 00:21:50,342
They lay their eggs on cliffs.
357
00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:59,885
The vultures congregate in an
area several hours southeast
358
00:21:59,885 --> 00:22:01,987
of the Mara River.
359
00:22:01,987 --> 00:22:05,891
It's Masai territory, and Jean
is going to meet with a Masai
360
00:22:05,891 --> 00:22:09,161
guide who will take him to the
cliffs where these birds make
361
00:22:09,161 --> 00:22:11,363
their nests
362
00:22:38,757 --> 00:22:41,427
(Du Plessis)
This gorge is called Ol
Karien gorge and this is one
363
00:22:41,427 --> 00:22:44,597
of very few breeding sites
for these Ruppell's Griffon
364
00:22:44,597 --> 00:22:45,831
vultures.
365
00:22:45,831 --> 00:22:49,535
These cliffs behind me are white
with their droppings and they
366
00:22:49,535 --> 00:22:54,673
must have used this area to
breed for thousands of years.
367
00:22:54,673 --> 00:22:58,043
It's the ideal nesting site for
them because it's not entirely
368
00:22:58,043 --> 00:22:59,745
flat cliffs.
369
00:22:59,745 --> 00:23:03,682
There's hundreds of these little
ledges that makes the perfect
370
00:23:03,682 --> 00:23:07,119
nesting site, and the nest
really isn't much more than a
371
00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,755
couple of rough
sticks thrown into a heap,
372
00:23:09,755 --> 00:23:11,991
and that's where the
female will lay her eggs.
373
00:23:11,991 --> 00:23:14,960
This couple will pair up for
the breeding season and form a
374
00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:20,999
monogamous pair and together
they would raise the chicks.
375
00:23:20,999 --> 00:23:25,537
What's quite amazing about these
vultures are that they need to
376
00:23:25,537 --> 00:23:29,041
make daily excursions into
the Serengeti plains to feed.
377
00:23:29,041 --> 00:23:32,011
At the moment when the migration
is down here in the short grass
378
00:23:32,011 --> 00:23:35,014
plains, it might only
be about 50 kilometers,
379
00:23:35,014 --> 00:23:38,717
but as the migration moves
northwards later on in the year,
380
00:23:38,717 --> 00:23:41,553
it can be hundreds and hundreds
of kilometers in a return
381
00:23:41,553 --> 00:23:45,491
journey for them to go feed
and come back to their chicks.
382
00:23:45,491 --> 00:23:47,860
It's interesting how they
handle these huge journeys.
383
00:23:47,860 --> 00:23:50,496
It's not like they fly
away and flap their wings.
384
00:23:50,496 --> 00:23:53,766
They would shoot up immediately
from here into this high thermal
385
00:23:53,766 --> 00:23:56,869
all around this
gorge, it's extremely hot,
386
00:23:56,869 --> 00:23:59,938
so very effective thermals
taking them thousands of feet up
387
00:23:59,938 --> 00:24:04,043
in the sky, and they basically
glide down into the area where
388
00:24:04,043 --> 00:24:08,580
the migration would be
at that time of year.
389
00:24:08,580 --> 00:24:11,917
(Narrator)
These vultures are the highest
flying birds in the world.
390
00:24:11,917 --> 00:24:26,632
They soar at an altitude
as high as a jumbo jet.
391
00:24:26,632 --> 00:24:29,034
(Du Plessis)
There's huge amount of vultures
around there's feathers lying
392
00:24:29,034 --> 00:24:32,738
all over this gorge and I
have picked up two here.
393
00:24:32,738 --> 00:24:35,874
This one here is a secondary
feather and this is a primary.
394
00:24:35,874 --> 00:24:38,610
These primaries are going
at the edges of the wings,
395
00:24:38,610 --> 00:24:41,714
and that's what create a lift
for the bird when they flap
396
00:24:41,714 --> 00:24:42,915
their wings.
397
00:24:42,915 --> 00:24:46,251
And it's the secondaries that
will keep the bird in the sky,
398
00:24:46,251 --> 00:24:49,788
where they are actually
soaring up in these thermals.
399
00:24:49,788 --> 00:24:52,791
The reason that birds do
preening is they fix their
400
00:24:52,791 --> 00:24:57,996
feathers, where they bring these
together and they stick them
401
00:24:57,996 --> 00:25:02,134
like velcro, and this will
create the solid platform for
402
00:25:02,134 --> 00:25:04,136
them to get up in the sky.
403
00:25:04,136 --> 00:25:07,973
The Ruppell's Griffon vulture
is one of the biggest birds in
404
00:25:07,973 --> 00:25:09,041
Africa.
405
00:25:09,041 --> 00:25:10,342
It's the second largest vulture,
406
00:25:10,342 --> 00:25:15,547
only rivaled by the
Nubians or Lappet-faced vulture.
407
00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:25,290
This is now where the gorge
narrows and when there's flash
408
00:25:25,290 --> 00:25:30,129
floods, this must
be pretty deep.
409
00:25:30,129 --> 00:25:32,865
Quite incredible to think that
this gorge has been here for
410
00:25:32,865 --> 00:25:35,901
hundreds of thousands of years,
and we are very close to the
411
00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:38,804
cradle of man, Olduvai Gorge.
412
00:25:38,804 --> 00:25:44,143
So some form of hominids must
have been walking through here,
413
00:25:44,143 --> 00:25:47,312
getting water in the dry season,
probably for the last
414
00:25:47,312 --> 00:25:50,315
hundred thousand years.
415
00:26:09,168 --> 00:26:11,336
I'm quite a bit up
into the gorge now.
416
00:26:11,336 --> 00:26:16,074
This is one of the main reasons
this gorge is so important to
417
00:26:16,074 --> 00:26:17,342
the Masai.
418
00:26:17,342 --> 00:26:20,145
There's always year round water
in the forms of these pools and
419
00:26:20,145 --> 00:26:23,215
puddles, that they can bring
their livestock and to drink
420
00:26:23,215 --> 00:26:24,450
from.
421
00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:27,653
They're collecting this water
to now take back to the village.
422
00:26:27,653 --> 00:26:30,956
This is pretty much the main
purpose of a donkey is that they
423
00:26:30,956 --> 00:26:35,027
can carry water out of such hard
places down to the village.
424
00:26:35,027 --> 00:26:38,697
Apparently, this water up here
is more for human consumption,
425
00:26:38,697 --> 00:26:42,201
and the water down
below will be for donkeys.
426
00:27:05,924 --> 00:27:08,126
(Narrator)
It's now been three months since
the herds finished the most
427
00:27:08,126 --> 00:27:13,999
dangerous part of the trip,
the crossing of the Mara River.
428
00:27:13,999 --> 00:27:16,001
All throughout the
3-month leg,
429
00:27:16,001 --> 00:27:21,306
the wildebeest have had
to contend with predators.
430
00:27:21,306 --> 00:27:24,042
It is a war of attrition, but
the first herds have made it
431
00:27:24,042 --> 00:27:28,380
through and begin to
push out of the woodlands.
432
00:27:28,380 --> 00:27:31,083
The wildebeest are now heading
to the Southern short grass
433
00:27:31,083 --> 00:27:34,353
plains where perhaps the most
important event of the annual
434
00:27:34,353 --> 00:27:37,322
migration takes place.
435
00:27:37,322 --> 00:27:40,859
This is where the females
give birth to more than 200,000
436
00:27:40,859 --> 00:27:43,228
young over a
three week period.
437
00:27:43,228 --> 00:27:46,164
It is the largest mass
birth on the planet,
438
00:27:46,164 --> 00:27:52,771
and a spectacle that
Jean does not want to miss.
439
00:27:52,771 --> 00:27:53,972
(Du Plessis)
Incredible!
440
00:27:53,972 --> 00:27:56,742
We've just arrived on the short
grass plains and with us are
441
00:27:56,742 --> 00:28:00,112
arriving this enormous
herd of wildebeest,
442
00:28:00,112 --> 00:28:02,781
and they're all funneling
through this gully right now.
443
00:28:02,781 --> 00:28:06,051
In the other side of he plain
must be tens of thousands of
444
00:28:06,051 --> 00:28:10,856
wildebeest.
445
00:28:10,856 --> 00:28:13,191
The roads are clearly very wet
meaning there must have been a
446
00:28:13,191 --> 00:28:15,160
big thundershower
here last night,
447
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,329
and that's the driving
force for the migration.
448
00:28:17,329 --> 00:28:19,865
There's very little
instincts in these guys.
449
00:28:19,865 --> 00:28:21,833
It's all about
following the rain,
450
00:28:21,833 --> 00:28:23,835
and this is where
it's raining right now.
451
00:28:23,835 --> 00:28:25,971
So last night they must
have seen the thunder,
452
00:28:25,971 --> 00:28:29,308
smelled the rain and the water,
and this is why they are moving
453
00:28:29,308 --> 00:28:30,576
into this area.
454
00:28:30,576 --> 00:28:33,045
And this is generally what pulls
the wildebeest from the north to
455
00:28:33,045 --> 00:28:36,815
the south, are these
thundershowers that move from
456
00:28:36,815 --> 00:28:39,384
the north down into this area.
457
00:28:39,384 --> 00:28:41,954
The grasses here are fantastic.
458
00:28:41,954 --> 00:28:45,023
Right now I am not seeing any
young calves with them which is
459
00:28:45,023 --> 00:28:49,094
great for us, because giving
us some great opportunity to
460
00:28:49,094 --> 00:28:51,296
potentially witness a birth.
461
00:28:51,296 --> 00:28:54,900
But some of these females are
looking very round and ready to
462
00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:56,001
pop.
463
00:28:56,001 --> 00:28:59,838
I'm certain in the next
week we will see some births.
464
00:29:04,443 --> 00:29:07,579
(Narrator)
Now just being on the short
grass plains does not guarantee
465
00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:10,949
Jean will be able to
stay with the herds.
466
00:29:10,949 --> 00:29:12,551
There are
millions of wildebeests.
467
00:29:12,551 --> 00:29:14,886
But they can move fast.
468
00:29:14,886 --> 00:29:17,889
The entire wildebeest herd
can completely vacate an area
469
00:29:17,889 --> 00:29:20,258
overnight.
470
00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:22,394
There are some parts of
the park that are off limits
471
00:29:22,394 --> 00:29:25,964
to tourists, including Jean.
472
00:29:25,964 --> 00:29:28,166
If the wildebeest go
into one of these areas,
473
00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:36,108
Jean would miss the
entire calving season.
474
00:29:36,108 --> 00:29:39,244
Jean has decided to base
himself at Sanctuary Camps
475
00:29:39,244 --> 00:29:48,120
in a spectacular area
known as Kusini.
476
00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,422
From the camp, he'll have the
perfect vantage point to keep
477
00:29:50,422 --> 00:29:53,025
his eye on the migration.
478
00:29:53,025 --> 00:29:56,061
Its central location should keep
Jean in striking distance when
479
00:29:56,061 --> 00:30:01,066
they begin dropping their young.
480
00:30:01,066 --> 00:30:03,402
But even the best thought out
plans are subject to approval
481
00:30:03,402 --> 00:30:05,437
by Mother nature.
482
00:30:05,437 --> 00:30:08,306
Today things are not
looking good for Jean.
483
00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:12,077
A massive storm is rolling in
fueled by a tropical storm off
484
00:30:12,077 --> 00:30:15,080
Tanzania's coast.
485
00:30:15,614 --> 00:30:23,889
(thunder claps)
486
00:30:23,889 --> 00:30:25,891
An entire month's rain
falls overnight
487
00:30:25,891 --> 00:30:29,094
on the short grass plains,
turning the entire area
488
00:30:29,094 --> 00:30:34,099
into a swamp.
489
00:30:34,099 --> 00:30:36,401
The rains have triggered
the herds to move again,
490
00:30:36,401 --> 00:30:40,105
but the heavy dump has
created a major problem.
491
00:30:40,105 --> 00:30:43,241
Reports say the roads are
impassable and that vehicles are
492
00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:48,513
stranded all over the plains.
493
00:30:48,513 --> 00:30:51,983
If he waits, he could
lose track of the herds.
494
00:30:51,983 --> 00:30:55,987
So Jean decides to
brave the conditions.
495
00:31:02,027 --> 00:31:05,597
He realizes quickly this
is going to be a tough day.
496
00:31:05,597 --> 00:31:09,267
Jean is driving on black
cotton soil which behaves
497
00:31:09,267 --> 00:31:12,270
a lot like ice.
498
00:31:17,309 --> 00:31:20,278
(Du Plessis)
Key is to keep
your car moving.
499
00:31:20,278 --> 00:31:25,283
(Narrator)
If he stops, he won't have the
traction to get moving again.
500
00:31:28,653 --> 00:31:30,622
(passengers in back seat)
There we go, there we go.
501
00:31:30,622 --> 00:31:32,624
(Du Plessis)
Hooya!
502
00:31:45,737 --> 00:31:47,939
Not good.
503
00:31:55,213 --> 00:31:58,083
Not good at all.
504
00:31:58,083 --> 00:32:01,319
However we have a
hyena to our right.
505
00:32:01,319 --> 00:32:03,488
That's not going to
help us much right now.
506
00:32:03,488 --> 00:32:08,093
(engine revving)
507
00:32:10,695 --> 00:32:14,166
Next thing is to try and dig
out these pockets so we can make
508
00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:16,401
ourselves a little
bit of a runway.
509
00:32:16,401 --> 00:32:20,739
Ideally it would be nice to find
some wood to now put in front of
510
00:32:20,739 --> 00:32:23,408
the tire and we just need to
get moving again and get that
511
00:32:23,408 --> 00:32:26,611
momentum.
512
00:32:26,611 --> 00:32:29,714
(Narrator)
Jean has to dig out each tire.
513
00:32:29,714 --> 00:32:32,751
He lines the ruts with grass
hoping it will give him enough
514
00:32:32,751 --> 00:32:35,654
traction to get
back on the road.
515
00:32:35,654 --> 00:32:43,195
(Du Plessis)
I think we'll just stick
with the motto of momentum.
516
00:32:43,195 --> 00:32:46,131
Probably get
stuck down the road,
517
00:32:46,131 --> 00:32:46,998
track.
518
00:32:46,998 --> 00:32:48,967
We can't really call
this a road can we?
519
00:32:53,271 --> 00:32:55,273
Woo hoo!
520
00:33:02,814 --> 00:33:06,051
(Narrator)
Wildlife expert Jean Du Plessis
is following the wildebeest
521
00:33:06,051 --> 00:33:09,187
herds as they travel through
the Serengeti on their year long
522
00:33:09,187 --> 00:33:14,226
migration.
523
00:33:14,226 --> 00:33:16,661
They are just days away from the
most important event in their
524
00:33:16,661 --> 00:33:20,665
yearly migration, where the
wildebeest females give birth to
525
00:33:20,665 --> 00:33:24,703
200,000 young over a
two to three week period.
526
00:33:24,703 --> 00:33:28,073
It is the largest mass
birth on the planet.
527
00:33:28,073 --> 00:33:30,242
A massive rain storm
swept through the area,
528
00:33:30,242 --> 00:33:32,677
flooding the short grass plains.
529
00:33:32,677 --> 00:33:35,647
With the rain, the
wildebeests have moved out.
530
00:33:35,647 --> 00:33:40,252
Jean is in the area called Moru
Kopjes where he hopes to see the
531
00:33:40,252 --> 00:33:41,853
mass births.
532
00:33:41,853 --> 00:33:44,356
While he waits for the
advancing herds to arrive,
533
00:33:44,356 --> 00:33:49,427
he has time to explore
the area's unique geology.
534
00:33:49,427 --> 00:33:51,396
(Du Plessis)
This area is known
as Moru Kopjes,
535
00:33:51,396 --> 00:33:55,233
and the word kopjes is really a
dutch word that refers to these
536
00:33:55,233 --> 00:33:57,168
rocky outcrops.
537
00:33:57,168 --> 00:34:00,772
That's such a prominent
feature all around us.
538
00:34:00,772 --> 00:34:04,509
What it really is, is a
fault line in the rift,
539
00:34:04,509 --> 00:34:06,711
and as the rift
was splitting apart,
540
00:34:06,711 --> 00:34:08,847
you have all this
magma pushing through,
541
00:34:08,847 --> 00:34:12,317
trying to get to the surface,
but actually solidifying quite
542
00:34:12,317 --> 00:34:15,420
deep under the ground,
cooling down quite slowly,
543
00:34:15,420 --> 00:34:17,856
making these
incredible boulders.
544
00:34:17,856 --> 00:34:22,861
And now many years later on, you
have the surfaces eroding away
545
00:34:22,861 --> 00:34:28,366
and starting to expose the top
of these intrusive igneous rocks
546
00:34:28,366 --> 00:34:33,271
and it makes very nice
refuge for things like lions.
547
00:34:33,271 --> 00:34:37,442
(Narrator)
Moru is home to an unusually
high number of lion prides.
548
00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:41,146
And in no time he finds the
resident pride which is headed
549
00:34:41,146 --> 00:34:43,214
by two dominant males.
550
00:34:43,214 --> 00:34:47,218
(Du Plessis)
This pride of lions have four
young cubs that's about two
551
00:34:47,218 --> 00:34:49,154
to three months old.
552
00:34:49,154 --> 00:34:51,523
Right until now, it's has
been extremely quiet in terms of
553
00:34:51,523 --> 00:34:55,360
prey, so it must have been a
hard going for this pride to
554
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,263
even get these cubs
to be two months old.
555
00:34:58,263 --> 00:35:01,399
Soon It's going to be like a
massive party on their doorstep
556
00:35:01,399 --> 00:35:03,668
all the time with these millions
of wildebeests pushing into
557
00:35:03,668 --> 00:35:06,504
these plains.
558
00:35:06,504 --> 00:35:08,873
(Narrator)
In spite of the 'king of
the beast' reputation,
559
00:35:08,873 --> 00:35:12,510
territories are actually
controlled by the females.
560
00:35:12,510 --> 00:35:14,779
They're the ones who
create the social structure,
561
00:35:14,779 --> 00:35:18,450
raise the cubs, and do
most of the hunting.
562
00:35:18,450 --> 00:35:22,320
Prides have as many as five
or six females and their cubs.
563
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,390
(Du Plessis)
This is possibly the best time
for lions to have cubs here in
564
00:35:25,390 --> 00:35:26,624
the Southern Serengeti.
565
00:35:26,624 --> 00:35:29,828
All around the southern plains
are drying out and here in Moru
566
00:35:29,828 --> 00:35:33,765
Kopjes are the last
areas with green grass,
567
00:35:33,765 --> 00:35:36,468
and about in a week's time you
will have all these herds of
568
00:35:36,468 --> 00:35:38,903
wildebeest pushing
into Moru Kopje,
569
00:35:38,903 --> 00:35:41,673
making it extremely easy for
these lions to kill something
570
00:35:41,673 --> 00:35:43,908
and have a
constant source of food.
571
00:35:43,908 --> 00:35:46,611
(Narrator)
While the territory is
controlled by the females,
572
00:35:46,611 --> 00:35:49,781
the prides are
controlled by the males.
573
00:35:49,781 --> 00:35:53,818
In the key areas, it takes more
then one male to hold a pride.
574
00:35:53,818 --> 00:35:56,554
That is known as a coalition.
575
00:35:56,554 --> 00:36:00,692
This pride is controlled by a
coalition of two strong males.
576
00:36:00,692 --> 00:36:03,528
Part of their job is to defend
their pride from being taken
577
00:36:03,528 --> 00:36:06,698
over by nomadic male lions.
578
00:36:06,698 --> 00:36:09,868
As the wildebeest migration
moves in providing an abundant
579
00:36:09,868 --> 00:36:13,405
supply of food, nomadic
males come in as well,
580
00:36:13,405 --> 00:36:17,409
following the food,
and ready for a fight.
581
00:36:21,846 --> 00:36:24,849
Males are forced out when
they're about two years old.
582
00:36:24,849 --> 00:36:29,654
They are looking to establish or
take over a pride of their own.
583
00:36:29,654 --> 00:36:34,192
And for a lion, there is no
better place than Moru Kopjes.
584
00:36:41,699 --> 00:36:46,738
The following
Morning, Jean is out early,
585
00:36:46,738 --> 00:36:50,875
and immediately finds a serious
threat to the resident pride.
586
00:36:50,875 --> 00:36:55,547
(Du Plessis)
I just came across
three nomadic male lions.
587
00:36:55,547 --> 00:36:57,715
They seem to be about
three years of age.
588
00:36:57,715 --> 00:37:01,319
They've got a
scruffy smallish mane,
589
00:37:01,319 --> 00:37:03,455
but they are huge in body.
590
00:37:03,455 --> 00:37:05,657
They obviously made
a kill last night,
591
00:37:05,657 --> 00:37:07,492
and this guy is
carrying his dinner.
592
00:37:07,492 --> 00:37:10,295
It's a wildebeest, no
it's a young zebra.
593
00:37:10,295 --> 00:37:13,031
Yeah it's a small zebra.
594
00:37:13,031 --> 00:37:17,802
What's interesting is that when
there's three and more males
595
00:37:17,802 --> 00:37:20,972
together in a coalition that
they will always been related.
596
00:37:20,972 --> 00:37:24,876
So they are definitely brothers,
and even when you look at them,
597
00:37:24,876 --> 00:37:27,045
they seem to be
exactly the same age;
598
00:37:27,045 --> 00:37:29,481
same size manes.
599
00:37:29,481 --> 00:37:32,383
(Narrator)
Usually a three-year old male
is too young to challenge the
600
00:37:32,383 --> 00:37:33,351
dominants.
601
00:37:33,351 --> 00:37:37,422
But Jean thinks this
trio is ready for a fight.
602
00:37:37,422 --> 00:37:41,493
(Du Plessis)
Already by walking around
like this in the open is brave.
603
00:37:41,493 --> 00:37:45,763
A nomadic lion theoretically
is always sneaking through the
604
00:37:45,763 --> 00:37:48,566
territory of a
dominant male in some way.
605
00:37:48,566 --> 00:37:52,570
And that dominant male is
constantly looking out for
606
00:37:52,570 --> 00:37:54,806
guys like this to
come beat and up.
607
00:37:54,806 --> 00:37:58,676
Generally, a lion will be
dominant in the pride when it's
608
00:37:58,676 --> 00:38:03,548
about age five or six even,
but three big brothers like this
609
00:38:03,548 --> 00:38:08,686
will more than likely be able to
overthrow all the males in the
610
00:38:08,686 --> 00:38:15,126
pride when they are only
four or four and a half.
611
00:38:15,126 --> 00:38:19,931
These guys are so powerful that
they might dominate a couple of
612
00:38:19,931 --> 00:38:24,469
prides of females, especially
like in area like Moru Kopjes
613
00:38:24,469 --> 00:38:26,771
where you've got so much
diversity and landscape.
614
00:38:26,771 --> 00:38:31,442
There's quite a few prides of
females in a fairly small area,
615
00:38:31,442 --> 00:38:35,446
and they can quite easily become
dominant over two or three
616
00:38:35,446 --> 00:38:38,049
prides of females,
making them, of course,
617
00:38:38,049 --> 00:38:40,418
very powerful.
618
00:38:40,418 --> 00:38:43,087
It's rare in the Serengeti that
the male lion gets much older
619
00:38:43,087 --> 00:38:48,493
than 10 at a push 12, and it's
quite common that a lion in a
620
00:38:48,493 --> 00:38:51,963
zoo can reach age 20, 25.
621
00:38:51,963 --> 00:38:57,168
There's even a lion in
Germany in a zoo that's age 40.
622
00:38:57,168 --> 00:39:01,072
But out here in the wild where
they need to really work for a
623
00:39:01,072 --> 00:39:05,076
life, that cuts a few
years off their lives.
624
00:39:11,082 --> 00:39:12,951
(Narrator)
When a new male
takes over the pride,
625
00:39:12,951 --> 00:39:17,555
he kills all the cubs to
make room for his own.
626
00:39:17,555 --> 00:39:20,658
With these cubs
already a few months old,
627
00:39:20,658 --> 00:39:23,595
the females are counting on the
two males for the survival of
628
00:39:23,595 --> 00:39:26,497
the pride.
629
00:39:26,497 --> 00:39:29,901
If the three males challenge,
it will be a long night in
630
00:39:29,901 --> 00:39:31,903
Moru Kopjes.
631
00:39:55,560 --> 00:40:00,598
After a noisy night, Jean
heads out before sunrise.
632
00:40:00,598 --> 00:40:04,602
He's greeted by an
incredible sight.
633
00:40:07,505 --> 00:40:10,575
(Du Plessis)
Where did they
come from so quickly?
634
00:40:10,575 --> 00:40:15,079
I'm out here on the short grass
plains and overnight hundreds of
635
00:40:15,079 --> 00:40:18,750
thousands of
wildebeest just appeared.
636
00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:21,686
Yesterday there was very
little around and today suddenly
637
00:40:21,686 --> 00:40:23,521
they're everywhere.
638
00:40:23,521 --> 00:40:24,889
I mean as far as
the eye can see,
639
00:40:24,889 --> 00:40:26,257
it just looks like pepper.
640
00:40:26,257 --> 00:40:28,926
There's hundreds
of thousands even.
641
00:40:28,926 --> 00:40:30,995
(Narrator)
This is good news for Jean.
642
00:40:30,995 --> 00:40:33,765
For a while, it looked like the
wildebeest herds were heading
643
00:40:33,765 --> 00:40:37,969
towards protected
land that is off limits.
644
00:40:37,969 --> 00:40:40,505
It would mean that he would
not be able to witness the mass
645
00:40:40,505 --> 00:40:41,806
births.
646
00:40:41,806 --> 00:40:45,910
(Du Plessis)
Our objective still is
to find a female giving birth.
647
00:40:45,910 --> 00:40:47,745
Right now there are
no calves around,
648
00:40:47,745 --> 00:40:48,980
which is a very
good sign for us,
649
00:40:48,980 --> 00:40:53,284
because once the calving starts,
it's a very rapid process and
650
00:40:53,284 --> 00:40:58,289
these females will all be
dropping their calves to I guess
651
00:40:58,289 --> 00:40:59,524
flood the market.
652
00:40:59,524 --> 00:41:02,827
There will be too many calves
for predators to take advantage
653
00:41:02,827 --> 00:41:04,829
of.
654
00:41:04,829 --> 00:41:08,266
Jean is not the only one
out cruising the herds.
655
00:41:08,266 --> 00:41:10,568
He finds the
dominant male lions,
656
00:41:10,568 --> 00:41:13,204
but by the looks of them, there
was an epic battle during the
657
00:41:13,204 --> 00:41:14,605
night.
658
00:41:14,605 --> 00:41:16,741
They are both
beaten up quite badly.
659
00:41:16,741 --> 00:41:19,977
The one have a real messed up
eye and the other one have quite
660
00:41:19,977 --> 00:41:22,680
a bad limp.
661
00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,917
(Narrator)
They may look badly injured, and
They've lost a lot of fur around
662
00:41:25,917 --> 00:41:28,553
their manes, but they seem to
have won the fight against the
663
00:41:28,553 --> 00:41:31,055
nomadic males.
664
00:41:31,055 --> 00:41:34,125
(Du Plessis)
If a dominant male would
get injured in the fight.
665
00:41:34,125 --> 00:41:38,663
he's extremely fortunate to
be dominant inside a pride,
666
00:41:38,663 --> 00:41:41,099
because these females will
continue to hunt and he can
667
00:41:41,099 --> 00:41:45,903
benefit from their efforts
and the food that they catch.
668
00:41:45,903 --> 00:41:49,607
There's five lionesses
walking through the herd.
669
00:41:49,607 --> 00:41:52,877
This is kind of classic
lion hunting behavior in the
670
00:41:52,877 --> 00:41:55,279
migration is they are looking
for anything that might be
671
00:41:55,279 --> 00:41:57,982
injured, that's
just easy picking,
672
00:41:57,982 --> 00:42:03,788
and it's almost like why expel
any energy if you don't have to.
673
00:42:03,788 --> 00:42:09,026
We are in the calving season and
generally female wildebeest will
674
00:42:09,026 --> 00:42:12,063
give birth before 10
o'clock in the morning,
675
00:42:12,063 --> 00:42:14,799
and obviously when that
baby is born it's very,
676
00:42:14,799 --> 00:42:15,967
very vulnerable.
677
00:42:15,967 --> 00:42:19,937
So these lions are
kind of fanned out.
678
00:42:19,937 --> 00:42:23,975
Certainly they're looking for a
female giving birth or a young
679
00:42:23,975 --> 00:42:26,978
one that was just born.
680
00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:37,922
So these lions
didn't make a kill.
681
00:42:37,922 --> 00:42:42,026
But they are not very well fed,
so they will definitely have to
682
00:42:42,026 --> 00:42:46,731
hunt within the next 12 hours,
probably later this afternoon
683
00:42:46,731 --> 00:42:49,333
when it cools down again, and
I suspect now they are heading
684
00:42:49,333 --> 00:42:52,403
into one of the kopjes where
the wildebeest will also need to
685
00:42:52,403 --> 00:42:55,006
drink during the day, and they
are probably going to lie up
686
00:42:55,006 --> 00:42:58,309
there and hope for a
better chance later.
687
00:42:58,309 --> 00:43:02,180
(Narrator)
Wildlife expert Jean Du Plessis
has been following the great
688
00:43:02,180 --> 00:43:06,150
wildebeest migration since
October when the two million
689
00:43:06,150 --> 00:43:09,287
animals made their deadly and
dangerous crossing of the Mara
690
00:43:09,287 --> 00:43:12,924
River where thousands died.
691
00:43:12,924 --> 00:43:14,992
It's now February,
and the survivors
692
00:43:14,992 --> 00:43:18,763
have made it to the short grass
plains where the females are
693
00:43:18,763 --> 00:43:20,765
about to give birth.
694
00:43:20,765 --> 00:43:23,434
It is a true phenomenon
of the natural world,
695
00:43:23,434 --> 00:43:27,238
the largest mass
birth on the planet.
696
00:43:27,238 --> 00:43:30,908
(Du Plessis)
We just got a call from one of
our drivers saying he is with
697
00:43:30,908 --> 00:43:33,911
two wildebeests
that are giving birth.
698
00:43:33,911 --> 00:43:36,814
So we are just trying
to race to get there,
699
00:43:36,814 --> 00:43:41,352
because once it's started, it's
quite quick for it to happen.
700
00:43:41,352 --> 00:43:44,055
It's interesting that wildebeest
will only give birth up until
701
00:43:44,055 --> 00:43:48,259
about 10 o'clock in the morning,
because the baby will need the
702
00:43:48,259 --> 00:43:53,698
rest of the day to get strong
to be running by nightfall and
703
00:43:53,698 --> 00:43:56,300
escaping predators.
704
00:43:56,300 --> 00:43:59,937
(Narrator)
Jean makes it to the area to
where his guide and clients have
705
00:43:59,937 --> 00:44:02,273
a front row seat.
706
00:44:05,343 --> 00:44:07,778
(Du Plessis)
We just passed a female with
a leg sticking out of her,
707
00:44:07,778 --> 00:44:15,219
so there's a birth
about to happen.
708
00:44:15,219 --> 00:44:17,421
So she has found a flat patch
and she is just kind of circling
709
00:44:17,421 --> 00:44:18,656
around.
710
00:44:18,656 --> 00:44:22,126
They tend to prefer an area that
doesn't have a huge amount of
711
00:44:22,126 --> 00:44:24,228
tall grass.
712
00:44:24,228 --> 00:44:28,232
She has chosen the safety of the
herd to give birth for obvious
713
00:44:28,232 --> 00:44:29,500
reasons.
714
00:44:29,500 --> 00:44:34,038
There is this young calf coming
out who is extremely vulnerable.
715
00:44:34,038 --> 00:44:38,009
Hyaenas, lions, and all kinds of
predators are out on the prowl
716
00:44:38,009 --> 00:44:42,280
at this time of the morning, and
they are keeping a watchful eye
717
00:44:42,280 --> 00:44:45,283
out for something
just like this.
718
00:44:49,453 --> 00:44:53,190
Yeah. It's going to
happen any moment now.
719
00:44:53,190 --> 00:44:59,196
There you go, she just stood
back up and that's like having
720
00:44:59,196 --> 00:45:02,733
gravity help her, but
then there the baby drops.
721
00:45:04,268 --> 00:45:05,403
Incredible.
722
00:45:05,403 --> 00:45:08,339
She is just coming around,
sniffing on the baby now.
723
00:45:08,339 --> 00:45:11,342
It's amazing how
quickly this all happens.
724
00:45:14,412 --> 00:45:18,349
Now it's about 5-10 minutes
and the baby is starting to move
725
00:45:18,349 --> 00:45:19,617
around a bit more.
726
00:45:19,617 --> 00:45:24,922
It's kind of trying to stand up,
pushing it up on his hind legs,
727
00:45:24,922 --> 00:45:28,092
but very off-balance still.
728
00:45:28,092 --> 00:45:34,231
This young guy will be ready
to go in the next five minutes.
729
00:45:34,231 --> 00:45:37,201
Ten minutes later,
ready to run with his mum,
730
00:45:37,201 --> 00:45:42,340
because now hyenas are really
watching for young calves just
731
00:45:42,340 --> 00:45:45,142
falling over like that, and they
would be here in a flash if they
732
00:45:45,142 --> 00:45:47,144
can see it.
733
00:46:02,126 --> 00:46:02,960
There you go.
734
00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:05,863
A new generation
starting all over.
735
00:46:05,863 --> 00:46:08,432
In a few months time, this baby
would even be strong enough to
736
00:46:08,432 --> 00:46:12,903
start up the migration up north
and by July-August even cross
737
00:46:12,903 --> 00:46:14,071
the Mara River.
738
00:46:14,071 --> 00:46:16,440
It's incredible to think that
that little thing just born
739
00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:21,879
there, so helpless, in six
months time will be crossing
740
00:46:21,879 --> 00:46:27,618
huge rivers full of crocodiles
that's like 12-13 feet long,
741
00:46:27,618 --> 00:46:32,089
and besides that, of course,
they also have to travel 400
742
00:46:32,089 --> 00:46:36,127
kilometers to get there
through hyena and lion infested
743
00:46:36,127 --> 00:46:37,595
savannah.
744
00:46:37,595 --> 00:46:41,565
(Narrator)
For just over three months, Jean
has been following the first leg
745
00:46:41,565 --> 00:46:45,169
of one of the greatest journeys
in nature: the wildebeest
746
00:46:45,169 --> 00:46:47,905
migration.
747
00:46:47,905 --> 00:46:51,509
From the crossing of the
Mara River to the mass birthing
748
00:46:51,509 --> 00:46:57,581
grounds, the millions of
animals are in constant motion.
749
00:46:57,581 --> 00:47:02,653
Their movement is crucial
to the Serengeti ecosystem.
750
00:47:02,653 --> 00:47:05,589
Everything in it
thrives off of their impact,
751
00:47:05,589 --> 00:47:10,928
from the grasses, insects,
to the birds and predators,
752
00:47:10,928 --> 00:47:13,898
everything is connected,
defining the circle of life
753
00:47:13,898 --> 00:47:16,400
on the Serengeti.
754
00:47:18,369 --> 00:47:28,412
♪♪
755
00:47:28,412 --> 00:47:41,392
♪♪