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It's the greatest wildlife
spectacle on earth.
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Jean du Plessis follows the
wildebeest migration through
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the Serengeti
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. So there's a birth about to
happen just right here
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in this group.
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. The wildebeests
have given birth.
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Now they head back North to face
the crossing of the treacherous
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Mara River.
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There's a huge crocodile in the
river. A croc of this size only
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needs one decent
meal once a year.
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. Jean aims to time his
arrival perfectly
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There's another very
large group that's also
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pushing onto the river.
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. But when and where they'll
cross is anyone's guess.
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There are no timetables for
these nomads of the Serengeti.
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♪
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♪
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♪
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The Serengeti is one of the
oldest intact ecosystems
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on earth.
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It covers an area nearly the
size of Belgium, and spans two
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countries - Tanzania in the
South and Kenya in the North.
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The ecosystem has evolved
over millions of years.
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Every living thing here -
from the tiniest insect to the
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largest creature - plays a
very specific part in keeping
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it balanced.
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The most important driver
of this system is the
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wildebeest migration.
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And the mechanism that
triggers them to move is
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the weather.
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Sometime around October, thunder
clouds build on the horizon,
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and the rains begin to move
South - signaling the start of
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one of the greatest mass
movements of animals on
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the planet.
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It begins with the
actions of a single animal.
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Then driven by an
ancient instinct,
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the rest of the herd follows.
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It's a dangerous journey, where
predators wait along the route
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and prey on the passing herds.
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And then there's the treacherous
crossing of the Mara River
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where wildebeest will
die in the thousands.
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Wildlife expert and safari guide
Jean du Plessis has been
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tracking the herds.
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The wildebeest have completed
the first trek of their
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year long journey.
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They've arrived on the short
grass plains where the females
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have begun to give birth in what
is the largest mass birth of
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mammals on the planet.
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We just passed a female
with legs sticking out of her.
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So there's a birth
about to happen.
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She found a flat patch and she's
just kind of circling around.
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She's chosen the safety of
the herd to give birth for
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obvious reasons.
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Hyenas, lions and all kinds of
predators are out on the prowl
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this time of the morning and
they are keeping a watchful eye
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out for something
just like this.
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Yeah, it's going to
happen any moment now.
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There you go,
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she just stood back up.
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That's like having gravity
help her - but then there the
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baby drops!
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It's incredible.
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She's just coming round
sniffing on the baby now.
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It's amazing how
quickly this all happens.
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It's about five to ten minutes
now and the baby is starting to
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move around a bit more.
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It's kind of trying to stand up
pushing off with it's hind legs
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but very off balance still.
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This young guy will be ready
to go in the next five minutes.
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This young guy will be ready
to go in the next five minutes.
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There you go.
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The new generation
starting all over.
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In a few months time this baby
would even be strong enough to
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start up the migration up
North and by July - August,
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even cross the Mara River.
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It's incredible to think that
that little thing just born
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there so, so helpless...
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in six months time will be
crossing huge rivers full of
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crocodiles that
are 12-13 feet long.
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You know, and besides that of
course they also have to travel
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250 miles to get there
through hyena and
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lion infested savannah.
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Less than 10 minutes after
's born the baby is on it's
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feet.
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This is where the baby
will imprint on it's mother.
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They will get to know one
another's scent and call.
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This is just the start of the
wildebeest's mass births
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200,000 calves will be born
over the coming weeks. It's an
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extremely smart
adaptive strategy.
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On these open plains the
newborns are easy prey to the
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predators that
follow the migration.
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So by flooding the market with
so many newborns at once tilts
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the odds in the
wildebeests favor.
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Some will be taken, but
many more will survive.
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There are huge challenges ahead
for the newborn wildebeests.
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In two months time, the calves
will be ready to join their
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mothers on the
return trip up North.
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But this first 24 hours is
crucial for it's survival.
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But with so many newborns today,
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the first day is a trying time.
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. This is a little water hole
outside of camp and this is
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some of the only standing
water in the area.
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And these animals found it.
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Yeah.
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Great delight.
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There's a bit of a disturbance.
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For many of these young
wildebeest that were born this
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morning or last night, this will
be the first time that they are
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drinking and there's a
little bit of pandemonium as the
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wildebeest start to run around
and they lose their mothers.
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And there's a fear of
them just standing around.
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There's one here in the grass
that clearly lost it's mom,
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and a few of the adult females
have been coming around just
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smelling it and showing
a little bit of concern.
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The poor thing must've
been born this morning,
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early, and to already
lose your mom...
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There's some interest.
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And there's a second baby
that's also coming up now,
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even younger.
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That one is tiny.
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You can still see the
umbilical cord hanging down.
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You can see there's a few
mothers coming up smelling
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some of these lost babies.
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And they will immediately
push them away once they realize
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that's not their calf.
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Wildebeests are very much like
bats or flamingos where every
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calf has a particular frequency
that the mother zones in on.
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And it's not uncommon for babies
to get lost but they generally
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find each other.
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. Luckily for this calf, it's
mother responds to it's cries
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and the two are reunited.
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The pair head off with the baby
sticking closer by this time.
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Wildlife expert and safari
Guide Jean du Plessis,
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is in the central Serengeti
following the year long
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wildebeest migration.
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It's February - the midway
point on the migration route.
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Jean is on the short grass
plains in the South observing
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the mass births - the
wildebeest females all give
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birth at the same time.
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Hundreds of thousands of
calves are born in a two to
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three week period.
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For a species constantly
on the move, this is an
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excellent survival strategy.
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The newborns
are vulnerable
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to the predators that
follow the migration.
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The only safety is in numbers.
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So the female wildebeests
have timed their births
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to flood the market.
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Some will fall to predators,
but with so many young,
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the odds are in the
wildebeests favor.
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For the newborns,
life starts quickly.
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The calves are up and
running within ten minutes
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of being born.
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The first 24 hours is
crucial for these newborns.
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This is when they bond
with their mothers.
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But in a massive herd, the
little ones often get lost.
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Jean has found a calf wandering
along a main road - alone.
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. I just came across
a baby wildebeest
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that's obviously lost.
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And what happens is they, they
basically imprint on anything.
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So it saw this vehicle driving
fairly close to him and came
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running up to it.
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And at this stage of their lives
they're so dependent on a bigger
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creature taking
care of them, that um,
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even if I got out of the car
it will come right up to me and
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hope for some care.
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It's quite sad.
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. The baby heads off over the
plains in search of it's mother.
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Luckily, it chooses the
direction that takes it back to
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the protection of the herd.
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And that's a good
thing, Just up the road,
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Jean finds a predator.
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I just came upon a cheetah,
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she's down in a
crouching position.
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It looks to me like
she's hunting.
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She's looking at wildebeests;
there's quite a few of them
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around, but there's also like 4
or 5 Thompson's gazelles here
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that she's more
than likely after.
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It also seems like these
Thompson's gazelles are moving
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towards her, but also
still not looking at her.
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There she goes!
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♪
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♪
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I think she couldn't make up
her mind which one to go after,
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and it's so important for
cheetahs to focus on one gazelle
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and just stick behind that.
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It seemed like she was going
between two different groups and
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she didn't get
lucky on this one.
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. The cheetah has
missed it's prey.
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It's too hot now
for another attempt,
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so it retreats and will look
for any shade it can find.
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She's now walking
back to her cubs,
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which seems to be the
only shade in the area.
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It's actually a safari vehicle,
that's parked behind us -
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who is also witnessing this, and
the cubs are lying under their
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vehicle and she is on
her way there as well.
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. There's no lunch for them.
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But the cubs seem
fine with that.
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Now they have more time to play.
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. So the mom just came to
this vehicle to join her cubs.
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This is the only shade around
and they need to improvise and
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they are really having a good
time lying under the vehicle.
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There's three cubs here.
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Extremely playful...
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and obviously enjoying the new
tires on this vehicle and giving
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it a good chew.
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These guys are going to be
stuck here for a while.
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I'm trying to make sure none
of these cubs come and lie down
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under our car, cause the moment
they get under your car you
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ain't going anywhere.
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These cheetahs are pretty much
down for the rest of the day so
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I hope these guys have lunch
with them.
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Or maybe they will be
lunch! (Laughs)
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. The tourists will have to
put until the cheetahs decide to
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move, which will most likely
mean a few more hours until the
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temperature starts to
cool, and the cheetahs
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head off to find dinner.
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The wildebeest herds will spend
the next few months in the short
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grass plains, feeding
on the rich grasses,
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and nurturing their young.
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But soon the rains will start
moving North signaling the herds
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that it's time to
get going again.
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The wildebeest migration
is not just a defining piece of
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life on the Serengeti -
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It is also a key driver
of the ecosystem.
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Over the course of the year,
the millions of wildebeests
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drastically affect
the landscape.
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The animals graze on the grasses
like a giant team of lawnmowers,
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allowing new shoots to grow,
and keeping the plains healthy.
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With millions of wildebeests,
there's a lot of waste.
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Some of that dung fertilizes the
grass, which in turn helps it
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to grow for the next
time the animals pass.
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But there is so much dung -
that nature has developed other
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solutions to make sure
plains are not overwhelmed.
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On the Serengeti an army of it's
smallest residents go to work.
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. We just came upon this great
dung beetle making a dung ball
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out of some zebra droppings.
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It's incredible to actually
watch the whole thing happen
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from the beginning, where the
beetle has almost cut out this
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ball and then selecting these
really good pieces of dung to
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complete the ball.
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And it's using these spade-
like legs to pat it down
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and make it round.
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00:14:35,308 --> 00:14:39,178
What it's going to do now
is it will start to roll it,
245
00:14:39,178 --> 00:14:43,716
and the idea about the rolling
is to now cover it in soil,
246
00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:48,087
making a really solid casing
that will eventually protect the
247
00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:53,526
egg and then later on the larvae
that's going to be inside this
248
00:14:53,526 --> 00:14:55,561
wet pile of dung.
249
00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:56,562
Ah, there we go!
250
00:14:56,562 --> 00:14:57,330
There we go!
251
00:14:57,330 --> 00:14:58,498
Quite amazing.
252
00:14:58,498 --> 00:15:00,399
Look at that.
253
00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:03,536
This thing is like 10 times
the size of this dung beetle,
254
00:15:03,536 --> 00:15:07,607
and it's moving it.
255
00:15:07,607 --> 00:15:10,109
It's not only going to move it,
it's going to push it quite a
256
00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:12,011
considerable distance.
257
00:15:12,011 --> 00:15:15,414
And the idea about the distance
pushing is to cover this wet mud
258
00:15:15,414 --> 00:15:19,652
with this soil.
259
00:15:19,652 --> 00:15:22,555
. Insect life is crucial
to the ecosystem,
260
00:15:22,555 --> 00:15:26,058
and true to the
Serengeti's epic nature,
261
00:15:26,058 --> 00:15:30,997
even the small creatures
do things in big ways.
262
00:15:30,997 --> 00:15:34,100
Scattered throughout Africa are
impressive structures built of
263
00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,302
mud and clay.
264
00:15:36,302 --> 00:15:38,271
These are termite mounds.
265
00:15:38,271 --> 00:15:42,408
Their architects, although
tiny, have a huge role to play.
266
00:15:42,408 --> 00:15:47,079
With 2.5 million mammals in the
migration, one would think that
267
00:15:47,079 --> 00:15:51,517
nothing can out-compete them
when it comes to the amount of
268
00:15:51,517 --> 00:15:53,286
grass that's consumed.
269
00:15:53,286 --> 00:15:57,023
But the true champions are
in fact these little guys.
270
00:15:57,023 --> 00:16:01,661
Within a termite
mount there's no sexes.
271
00:16:01,661 --> 00:16:04,497
Theoretically they are
all sterile females.
272
00:16:04,497 --> 00:16:10,136
But they are categorized in
classes and what I see here are
273
00:16:10,136 --> 00:16:14,173
lots of different individuals
doing different functions.
274
00:16:14,173 --> 00:16:15,408
There are some
bringing up the mud,
275
00:16:15,408 --> 00:16:18,511
building the mound, and there's
others that will be collecting
276
00:16:18,511 --> 00:16:21,814
dead plant materials but
then there's these big guys,
277
00:16:21,814 --> 00:16:26,419
the soldiers, who would just
be walking around and they're
278
00:16:26,419 --> 00:16:27,653
constantly tapping their heads.
279
00:16:27,653 --> 00:16:30,523
It's like a signal, and I'm sure
they're a little bit disturbed
280
00:16:30,523 --> 00:16:33,459
with me being here, and that's a
signal that they're giving that
281
00:16:33,459 --> 00:16:35,695
there's something close by.
282
00:16:35,695 --> 00:16:39,732
And their sole purpose will be
to defend all these smaller ones
283
00:16:39,732 --> 00:16:43,469
which are completely helpless.
284
00:16:43,469 --> 00:16:46,339
These harvester termites don't
actually carry the dead plant
285
00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:48,608
material in their mandibles,
but they would swallow it and
286
00:16:48,608 --> 00:16:51,477
regurgitate it when they
get back into the mound.
287
00:16:51,477 --> 00:16:54,580
These plants then act as a
substrate for fungi to grow in
288
00:16:54,580 --> 00:16:59,685
and that is what
these termites eat.
289
00:16:59,685 --> 00:17:02,755
That's also one of the main
reasons for these chimneys,
290
00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:06,125
is that it creates an air
conditioning system that
291
00:17:06,125 --> 00:17:09,362
maintains a constant temperature
within the mound of about 26 -
292
00:17:09,362 --> 00:17:13,733
27 degrees Celsius and it's just
a perfect environment for fungi
293
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:14,967
to grow.
294
00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:17,637
. These harvester termites eat
enormous amounts of grass and
295
00:17:17,637 --> 00:17:19,739
plant material.
296
00:17:19,739 --> 00:17:22,575
Their eating habits, and
the placement of these mounds
297
00:17:22,575 --> 00:17:25,211
changes soil textures.
298
00:17:25,211 --> 00:17:28,648
. In Africa there is lots of
different types of mounds that
299
00:17:28,648 --> 00:17:31,684
one can find and the bulk
of the mound goes down,
300
00:17:31,684 --> 00:17:34,220
and if I look down
into these chimneys.
301
00:17:34,220 --> 00:17:39,592
it is at least 8 feet down
that the actual air vent goes.
302
00:17:39,592 --> 00:17:42,795
Because these termites are not
actually living inside the air
303
00:17:42,795 --> 00:17:46,799
vents they have got no problem
with other creatures making use
304
00:17:46,799 --> 00:17:49,568
of such a safe environment.
305
00:17:49,568 --> 00:17:53,839
This mount have a hive of
African honeybees living inside
306
00:17:53,839 --> 00:17:56,909
here; I can constantly
see them coming and going.
307
00:17:56,909 --> 00:17:59,845
But even more interesting
is that there's some sort of
308
00:17:59,845 --> 00:18:03,916
predator living in here
- a small predator that
309
00:18:03,916 --> 00:18:07,486
predominantly feeds off of
something like millipedes,
310
00:18:07,486 --> 00:18:10,556
because I can see a lot of
millipede shells lying around.
311
00:18:10,556 --> 00:18:13,392
And there's even a
dead bird inside.
312
00:18:13,392 --> 00:18:23,436
It's just such a fantastic
entire ecosystem.
313
00:18:23,436 --> 00:18:31,911
It's just such a fantastic
entire ecosystem.
314
00:18:31,911 --> 00:18:34,513
. The short grass plains in
the South of the Serengeti are
315
00:18:34,513 --> 00:18:36,482
beginning to dry out.
316
00:18:36,482 --> 00:18:37,750
The rains are moving North.
317
00:18:37,750 --> 00:18:43,589
As always, the wildebeest's
instinct compels them to follow.
318
00:18:43,589 --> 00:18:45,891
Instinct tells them the
rains will lead them to
319
00:18:45,891 --> 00:18:49,462
better grazing land.
320
00:18:49,462 --> 00:18:52,565
The babies have survived
their first three months and are
321
00:18:52,565 --> 00:18:54,333
getting stronger.
322
00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:57,269
They need to, because
in just two months time,
323
00:18:57,269 --> 00:19:00,239
they will face the greatest
challenge of their lives -
324
00:19:00,239 --> 00:19:10,883
their first crossing of the
crocodile infested Mara River.
325
00:19:10,883 --> 00:19:14,587
Wildlife expert and Safari
Guide Jean du Plessis has been
326
00:19:14,587 --> 00:19:16,922
checking in with the herds
at various points on their
327
00:19:16,922 --> 00:19:19,992
annual route.
328
00:19:19,992 --> 00:19:24,563
Along the way he's taking time
to explore some of the dynamic
329
00:19:24,563 --> 00:19:28,667
relationships in the
Serengeti's ecosystem.
330
00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:32,738
The Serengeti is one of the few
unspoiled places on the planet.
331
00:19:32,738 --> 00:19:36,442
This makes it a perfect place to
to see how an ecosystem evolves
332
00:19:36,442 --> 00:19:39,745
to support a variety of species.
333
00:19:39,745 --> 00:19:43,382
Everything - from a blade of
grass to the predators,
334
00:19:43,382 --> 00:19:46,952
and the giants of Africa,
all play their roles, and
335
00:19:46,952 --> 00:19:50,289
they are all inter-connected.
336
00:19:50,289 --> 00:19:53,459
Remove one, and the whole
ecosystem can be thrown
337
00:19:53,459 --> 00:19:57,863
out of balance.
338
00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:00,599
The Savannah elephant
is a large animal,
339
00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:04,870
and it's impact on this
ecosystem is equally large.
340
00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:08,741
Elephants are bulk feeders,
and eat a lot of foliage.
341
00:20:08,741 --> 00:20:12,478
So their role in this symbiotic
system is to maintain the
342
00:20:12,478 --> 00:20:15,915
Savanna and woodlands by
reducing tree density,
343
00:20:15,915 --> 00:20:23,989
and keeping the forest from
overrunning the grass plains.
344
00:20:23,989 --> 00:20:26,292
Some species flourish by
developing a survival
345
00:20:26,292 --> 00:20:31,330
mechanism that draws some,
and repels others.
346
00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:35,401
Trees develop nutritious leaves,
or tasty fruit to encourage
347
00:20:35,401 --> 00:20:37,369
animals to eat.
348
00:20:37,369 --> 00:20:40,673
The animals them move on and
deposit seeds from the trees in
349
00:20:40,673 --> 00:20:44,944
a new location, in a
fresh pile of fertilizer.
350
00:20:44,944 --> 00:20:47,880
But too much of a good thing
can be bad for the trees,
351
00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,916
so they have also evolved
ways of keeping browsers like
352
00:20:50,916 --> 00:20:54,386
elephant and giraffe
from eating too much.
353
00:20:54,386 --> 00:20:55,554
This is an acacia tortilis.
354
00:20:55,554 --> 00:20:58,090
This is one of the most common
trees in the Serengeti and
355
00:20:58,090 --> 00:21:01,760
what's interesting is that it's
also one of the most nutritious
356
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,729
leaves and probably
the tree of choice for
357
00:21:03,729 --> 00:21:05,698
something like a giraffe.
358
00:21:05,698 --> 00:21:08,834
In the rest of the world
there's over 800 different
359
00:21:08,834 --> 00:21:10,469
species of Acacia.
360
00:21:10,469 --> 00:21:13,739
Most of the Acacia species
have not got thorns,
361
00:21:13,739 --> 00:21:18,010
and they're completely
evolved in Africa as a form of
362
00:21:18,010 --> 00:21:20,713
protection against
these massive browsers,
363
00:21:20,713 --> 00:21:25,718
but still the giraffe managed to
find a way to get past these
364
00:21:25,718 --> 00:21:28,587
thorns with the prehensile
tongue that can really go
365
00:21:28,587 --> 00:21:31,957
in between these thorns
and completely strip
366
00:21:31,957 --> 00:21:35,694
off these little leaves.
367
00:21:35,694 --> 00:21:39,064
Giraffes are highly efficient so
they are obviously getting what
368
00:21:39,064 --> 00:21:44,703
they need to live out on these
sometimes very barren plains.
369
00:21:44,703 --> 00:21:47,039
Another interesting thing about
these acacias are that they've
370
00:21:47,039 --> 00:21:49,875
got these tiny,
tiny little leaves,
371
00:21:49,875 --> 00:21:55,981
and the main reason is to allow
maximum sun to reach the leaves
372
00:21:55,981 --> 00:21:59,718
but to avoid it losing
too much moisture,
373
00:21:59,718 --> 00:22:02,688
making it possible for this tree
to survive in such a dry and
374
00:22:02,688 --> 00:22:05,057
arid environment.
375
00:22:05,057 --> 00:22:08,561
. Even something as routine as
one species having a bath,
376
00:22:08,561 --> 00:22:12,698
can have benefits for another
species in an ecosystem that's
377
00:22:12,698 --> 00:22:17,036
evolved in an
interconnected way.
378
00:22:17,036 --> 00:22:20,172
. This is Central Serengeti,
where there is water all year
round
379
00:22:20,172 --> 00:22:23,142
and we just came upon a nice
breeding group of elephants that
380
00:22:23,142 --> 00:22:25,744
came down for
their morning drink.
381
00:22:25,744 --> 00:22:30,015
There's huge excitement between
some of the adolescents as they
382
00:22:30,015 --> 00:22:33,852
go down into the river and are
having a good old swim and a
383
00:22:33,852 --> 00:22:35,087
nice wash.
384
00:22:35,087 --> 00:22:38,958
. In a balanced ecosystem even
something as routine as a bath
385
00:22:38,958 --> 00:22:43,162
can have benefits for
a number of species.
386
00:22:43,162 --> 00:22:46,632
As the elephants splash and
play they widen the wallow,
387
00:22:46,632 --> 00:22:48,968
which means it can
hold more water.
388
00:22:48,968 --> 00:22:53,772
It also creates more access so
other animals can come to drink.
389
00:22:53,772 --> 00:22:56,842
. There's one elephant that's
having a good old scratch.
390
00:22:56,842 --> 00:22:59,044
This is a good ways of
getting rid of ticks you know,
391
00:22:59,044 --> 00:23:03,115
with a kind of mud, a
little bit of a body paint,
392
00:23:03,115 --> 00:23:07,953
that scratches off
all the ticks.
393
00:23:07,953 --> 00:23:13,459
He's coming out now.
394
00:23:13,459 --> 00:23:16,161
It's really important for
elephants to get to water on a
395
00:23:16,161 --> 00:23:18,030
fairly regular basis.
396
00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:22,134
Their skins are about double the
size as it seems and it's all
397
00:23:22,134 --> 00:23:26,038
kind of wrinkled up, and by
rolling around in mud and water
398
00:23:26,038 --> 00:23:30,075
like this, a lot of water gets
trapped in these folds and that
399
00:23:30,075 --> 00:23:33,112
will actually keep them cool
when they're out on the plains
400
00:23:33,112 --> 00:23:36,915
it's extremely hot during
the middle of the day.
401
00:23:36,915 --> 00:23:45,124
We've got a nice female.
402
00:23:45,124 --> 00:23:56,502
Ah, I think she didn't like
me calling her a female.
403
00:23:56,502 --> 00:24:01,073
They have the most incredible
wash and play and rub,
404
00:24:01,073 --> 00:24:04,977
you know it's like a massive
spa that they found here.
405
00:24:04,977 --> 00:24:08,814
This would be a very popular
little water hole in such hot
406
00:24:08,814 --> 00:24:17,823
dry climates as right now.
407
00:24:17,823 --> 00:24:21,660
I heard one of these older
cows make what we call a "tummy
408
00:24:21,660 --> 00:24:24,730
rumble"; it's one of
their communication signals;
409
00:24:24,730 --> 00:24:28,534
and that's generally a sign that
they want some kind of movement.
410
00:24:28,534 --> 00:24:32,171
I'm sure one of these two here
are probably the matriarch and
411
00:24:32,171 --> 00:24:35,908
she's in charge of this little
breeding group and she probably
412
00:24:35,908 --> 00:24:38,911
feels like she had enough
now and it's time to move on.
413
00:24:38,911 --> 00:24:43,782
And these younger ones
does not seem in the mood
414
00:24:43,782 --> 00:24:48,020
to be moving on.
415
00:24:48,020 --> 00:24:51,090
. As the Central Serengeti
enters it's dry season,
416
00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:53,225
and streams and
rivers disappear,
417
00:24:53,225 --> 00:24:56,895
these wallows will become
refuges for another one of
418
00:24:56,895 --> 00:25:06,271
Africa's great species.
419
00:25:06,271 --> 00:25:09,975
Behind me is the Orange river,
and this is one of many seasonal
420
00:25:09,975 --> 00:25:11,777
rivers in the Serengeti.
421
00:25:11,777 --> 00:25:14,580
The catchment area for this
river is coming off the short
422
00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:18,050
grass plains and it only
feeds into this river
423
00:25:18,050 --> 00:25:20,986
during the rain season.
424
00:25:20,986 --> 00:25:24,757
Right here it's a little bit of
a dammed area where obviously
425
00:25:24,757 --> 00:25:27,192
hippos are having a great time.
426
00:25:27,192 --> 00:25:32,030
It's quite a popular tourist
stop where one can have easy
427
00:25:32,030 --> 00:25:35,667
access to such great
herds of hippos.
428
00:25:35,667 --> 00:25:39,938
Unfortunately for these guys,
as it gets dryer and dryer,
429
00:25:39,938 --> 00:25:43,275
all of this water
will eventually dry up.
430
00:25:43,275 --> 00:25:46,211
And that can be quite
catastrophic for hippos in
431
00:25:46,211 --> 00:25:48,247
extreme dry seasons.
432
00:25:48,247 --> 00:25:53,051
Fortunately hippos do have a
little bit of a backup system
433
00:25:53,051 --> 00:25:57,656
that can give them a few more
days when it's completely dry.
434
00:25:57,656 --> 00:26:00,993
They release their
own type of sunscreen,
435
00:26:00,993 --> 00:26:03,629
that's referred to as "blood
sweat" and that will turn a
436
00:26:03,629 --> 00:26:05,664
hippo completely red and
give them another two,
437
00:26:05,664 --> 00:26:09,868
three, maybe up to five days to
survive hopefully waiting for
438
00:26:09,868 --> 00:26:12,104
rain to arrive.
439
00:26:12,104 --> 00:26:17,776
These hippos can have a bit of a
tough time during certain times
440
00:26:17,776 --> 00:26:21,146
of the year which is different
to hippos living up in the
441
00:26:21,146 --> 00:26:24,216
Northern Serengeti, living
in the Mara river,
442
00:26:24,216 --> 00:26:26,985
that's got a year
round supply of water.
443
00:26:26,985 --> 00:26:37,029
♪
444
00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:51,076
♪
445
00:26:51,076 --> 00:27:01,119
♪
446
00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:23,175
♪
447
00:27:23,175 --> 00:27:26,211
. It's July in the Serengeti,
and the wildebeests have begun
448
00:27:26,211 --> 00:27:29,348
their migration back up
North towards Kenya.
449
00:27:29,348 --> 00:27:32,084
The newborns are getting
stronger each day.
450
00:27:32,084 --> 00:27:33,952
They'll need that strength.
451
00:27:33,952 --> 00:27:37,189
In a few weeks time - they will
face their biggest challenge of
452
00:27:37,189 --> 00:27:42,494
their lives - the crossing of
the treacherous Mara River.
453
00:27:42,494 --> 00:27:46,265
Wildlife Expert and Safari
guide Jean du Plessis has been
454
00:27:46,265 --> 00:27:48,800
tracking the herds since
they began their journey
455
00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:50,135
9 months ago.
456
00:27:50,135 --> 00:27:52,938
So the migration is heading
North at the moment,
457
00:27:52,938 --> 00:27:55,941
and it seems like it has
split up into two groups.
458
00:27:55,941 --> 00:28:00,379
One group going West,
and another group going East.
459
00:28:00,379 --> 00:28:03,749
Now the problem is that the
group going East is heading into
460
00:28:03,749 --> 00:28:08,020
the Serengeti wilderness area,
that's inaccessible to us,
461
00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:11,490
and the group heading West
are heading into private game
462
00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:15,093
reserves where we
also cannot go into.
463
00:28:15,093 --> 00:28:20,499
So our only hope is to reconnect
with this group as they are
464
00:28:20,499 --> 00:28:24,169
heading into the Northern
Serengeti and maybe get together
465
00:28:24,169 --> 00:28:29,408
again and form one of
these huge megaherds.
466
00:28:29,408 --> 00:28:32,311
For Jean, the good news is that
the wildebeest will be moving
467
00:28:32,311 --> 00:28:35,881
very fast - and
for good reason.
468
00:28:35,881 --> 00:28:38,116
They're moving through the
woodlands and the wildebeest
469
00:28:38,116 --> 00:28:41,353
feel vulnerable here.
470
00:28:41,353 --> 00:28:45,223
Lions and other predators have
lots of cover which gives them a
471
00:28:45,223 --> 00:28:50,996
great advantage when it
comes to hunting wildebeest.
472
00:28:50,996 --> 00:28:53,932
The central part of the
Serengeti is entering it's
473
00:28:53,932 --> 00:28:55,400
dry season.
474
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:59,037
As the rains move North, the
rivers and streams begin to
475
00:28:59,037 --> 00:29:03,208
recede, leaving only
small pockets of water.
476
00:29:03,208 --> 00:29:07,512
This affects different
species in different ways.
477
00:29:07,512 --> 00:29:10,449
These small pools of water
become gathering places for
478
00:29:10,449 --> 00:29:13,385
animals to drink and cool off.
479
00:29:13,385 --> 00:29:16,822
And that makes it a perfect
place for predators like lions,
480
00:29:16,822 --> 00:29:19,358
to find their next meal.
481
00:29:19,358 --> 00:29:23,161
I just drove over a small bridge
and there's a male lion lying on
482
00:29:23,161 --> 00:29:24,396
the side of this river.
483
00:29:24,396 --> 00:29:30,936
This is the beginning of the
Grumeti river and they've killed
484
00:29:30,936 --> 00:29:35,173
a zebra and have eaten quite
a bit - they are really thick.
485
00:29:35,173 --> 00:29:37,542
It seems like he's going to
pull this back in the shade.
486
00:29:37,542 --> 00:29:39,511
What probably happened here is
that these zebras came down to
487
00:29:39,511 --> 00:29:42,981
drink and these
males ambushed them.
488
00:29:42,981 --> 00:29:44,082
It looks like
fairly young males,
489
00:29:44,082 --> 00:29:47,386
you know, their manes are
not completely full yet,
490
00:29:47,386 --> 00:29:49,621
so it's hard for these
males to make a kill.
491
00:29:49,621 --> 00:29:52,924
So there is a perfect place for
these males to be lining up,
492
00:29:52,924 --> 00:29:55,327
waiting for these zebras
to come down and drink.
493
00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:56,561
And that's more than
likely what happened.
494
00:29:56,561 --> 00:30:00,465
And he's trying to kind of pull
this back into the shade now,
495
00:30:00,465 --> 00:30:03,135
but it's so hot and you
need to decide where
496
00:30:03,135 --> 00:30:06,104
he's going to
preserve his energy.
497
00:30:06,104 --> 00:30:08,874
There's actually a big
croc on the river as well,
498
00:30:08,874 --> 00:30:10,142
that's eyeing
up that carcass;
499
00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:11,176
(Lion roars)
500
00:30:11,176 --> 00:30:12,377
that lion's giving a roar.
501
00:30:12,377 --> 00:30:15,213
and you can see this crocodile
opening his mouth and probably
502
00:30:15,213 --> 00:30:16,515
hissing back at the lion.
503
00:30:16,515 --> 00:30:22,287
It's quite amazing
seeing something like this.
504
00:30:22,287 --> 00:30:25,557
. Crocodiles have evolved to
live in water where they are
505
00:30:25,557 --> 00:30:27,626
fast and agile hunters.
506
00:30:27,626 --> 00:30:31,196
They're not really designed
to attack on land.
507
00:30:31,196 --> 00:30:34,599
When the rivers dry up, the
crocs lose most of their
508
00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:38,236
predatory advantage, and they
have to become scavengers if
509
00:30:38,236 --> 00:30:40,338
they want to eat.
510
00:30:40,338 --> 00:30:42,641
Nothing of this
animal will go to waste,
511
00:30:42,641 --> 00:30:45,911
there is always another species
that will line up to take over
512
00:30:45,911 --> 00:30:53,318
when another is done.
513
00:30:53,318 --> 00:30:56,354
The lion is so stuffed
his belly is stretched,
514
00:30:56,354 --> 00:31:00,192
but even still he is reluctant
to concede defeat and leave his
515
00:31:00,192 --> 00:31:09,668
prize to the croc.
516
00:31:09,668 --> 00:31:24,249
(Lion roars)
517
00:31:24,249 --> 00:31:32,057
The lion retreats.
518
00:31:32,057 --> 00:31:35,327
Backing off was a good
decision for the young lion.
519
00:31:35,327 --> 00:31:38,130
Even on land and
out of it's element,
520
00:31:38,130 --> 00:31:41,133
a croc is formidable foe.
521
00:31:41,133 --> 00:31:44,269
It has the strongest bite force
in the animal kingdom - at
522
00:31:44,269 --> 00:31:47,606
least three times
that of a lion.
523
00:31:47,606 --> 00:31:50,609
While the crocodiles in this
little river do what they can to
524
00:31:50,609 --> 00:31:54,146
get a meal - their brothers
in the Mara River are in their
525
00:31:54,146 --> 00:32:05,524
element and getting ready
for their annual feast.
526
00:32:05,524 --> 00:32:09,427
This is the Mara river and this
is the last major obstacle that
527
00:32:09,427 --> 00:32:12,130
these newborns will
have to contend with,
528
00:32:12,130 --> 00:32:15,167
but not only do they need to
cross this river and potentially
529
00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:18,170
choose a bad crossing place
and die in the thousands,
530
00:32:18,170 --> 00:32:21,039
they also need to navigate
themselves around monster
531
00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:24,643
crocodiles that's lying here
waiting for an entire year for
532
00:32:24,643 --> 00:32:34,686
this very crossing.
533
00:32:34,686 --> 00:32:42,627
this very crossing.
534
00:32:42,627 --> 00:32:46,097
There is a huge
crocodile in the river.
535
00:32:46,097 --> 00:32:50,035
What's extremely interesting
about crocodiles in general are
536
00:32:50,035 --> 00:32:52,771
that they are cold blooded, so
they don't need to eat food on a
537
00:32:52,771 --> 00:32:56,208
daily basis to keep their
body temperatures warm.
538
00:32:56,208 --> 00:33:02,414
A croc of this size only needs
one decent meal once a year.
539
00:33:02,414 --> 00:33:06,651
These huge Nile crocodiles are
probably our best look into what
540
00:33:06,651 --> 00:33:10,822
massive dinosaurs looked like.
They have stayed unchanged
541
00:33:10,822 --> 00:33:14,059
since the dinosaur era, and
they're probably the best
542
00:33:14,059 --> 00:33:18,797
example of something that's
so custom designed to - to
543
00:33:18,797 --> 00:33:19,998
the way they live.
544
00:33:19,998 --> 00:33:23,768
And they didn't need to evolve
much since those early days.
545
00:33:23,768 --> 00:33:27,372
They can completely submerge
themselves with only their
546
00:33:27,372 --> 00:33:30,375
nostrils and their eyes above
the water and still even then it
547
00:33:30,375 --> 00:33:33,144
just looks like four
pebbles that's in the water,
548
00:33:33,144 --> 00:33:37,315
and get right in close
to make effective kills.
549
00:33:37,315 --> 00:33:40,151
For us to experience
crocodiles making a kill,
550
00:33:40,151 --> 00:33:43,788
it's very important to be here
the moment these first herds of
551
00:33:43,788 --> 00:33:46,858
wildebeest will arrive at the
riverbanks and start crossing,
552
00:33:46,858 --> 00:33:48,426
because that's when
when the crocodile
553
00:33:48,426 --> 00:33:55,567
will more than
likely make a kill.
554
00:33:55,567 --> 00:33:59,204
(Crocodile Splashes)
555
00:33:59,204 --> 00:34:07,712
♪
556
00:34:07,712 --> 00:34:11,116
. It's now August, and soon the
wildebeest herds will be back at
557
00:34:11,116 --> 00:34:14,753
the Mara River. This is where
Jean started to track the herd
558
00:34:14,753 --> 00:34:17,489
almost a year ago.
559
00:34:17,489 --> 00:34:19,457
The journey has
covered 10 months,
560
00:34:19,457 --> 00:34:20,892
and it is almost at an end.
561
00:34:20,892 --> 00:34:25,697
♪
562
00:34:25,697 --> 00:34:27,699
The Mara River is
the lifeblood of the
563
00:34:27,699 --> 00:34:30,802
Northern Serengeti Ecosystem.
564
00:34:30,802 --> 00:34:34,205
It spans two countries,
beginning in the highlands of
565
00:34:34,205 --> 00:34:38,877
Southern Kenya, snaking it's way
across the Tanzanian border,
566
00:34:38,877 --> 00:34:41,313
and emptying
into Lake Victoria.
567
00:34:41,313 --> 00:34:44,749
It's constant flows
divides the park into two.
568
00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:48,420
The wildebeest are headed to
open grasslands on the opposite
569
00:34:48,420 --> 00:34:55,260
side of the river where they'll
spend the next three months.
570
00:34:55,260 --> 00:35:00,598
I'm on my way to try and find
the front end of the migration.
571
00:35:00,598 --> 00:35:04,869
This time of year they already
should have been kind of all
572
00:35:04,869 --> 00:35:07,339
over the Northern
part of the Serengeti.
573
00:35:07,339 --> 00:35:11,409
I'm just driving hill after
hill, and plain after plain,
574
00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:14,612
and there is absolutely
nothing out here.
575
00:35:14,612 --> 00:35:17,382
It's a little bit
disheartening,
576
00:35:17,382 --> 00:35:22,187
you know, to just, uh -
not see a thing around.
577
00:35:22,187 --> 00:35:26,391
An entire industry is dependent
upon the migration that was
578
00:35:26,391 --> 00:35:30,495
supposed to be here already
about a month ago, and for some
579
00:35:30,495 --> 00:35:33,898
reason, it seems that
they have flanked to the
580
00:35:33,898 --> 00:35:37,969
North and a little bit to the
West of this very crucial
581
00:35:37,969 --> 00:35:42,240
Northern Serengeti,
or called Kogatende area.
582
00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:46,544
. As the week progresses there
is still no sign of the
583
00:35:46,544 --> 00:35:52,584
wildebeest. Jean has no
choice but to wait them out.
584
00:35:52,584 --> 00:35:55,920
The herds were last seen
heading out of the Serengeti
585
00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,557
National Park into private
land where even wildlife
586
00:35:59,557 --> 00:36:02,727
experts like Jean
are not allowed.
587
00:36:02,727 --> 00:36:04,562
Where and when the
wildebeests will re-enter
588
00:36:04,562 --> 00:36:08,299
the park is
anyone's guess.
589
00:36:08,299 --> 00:36:10,869
The reason for the
delay is the lack of rain.
590
00:36:10,869 --> 00:36:13,004
The wildebeest
herds follow the rain.
591
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:17,542
But no rain means the grasses
which should be lush and green,
592
00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:20,545
are still dry and brown.
593
00:36:20,545 --> 00:36:23,982
Soon, storm clouds begin
to build on the horizon,
594
00:36:23,982 --> 00:36:30,455
fueled by moisture from
nearby Lake Victoria.
595
00:36:30,455 --> 00:36:33,758
Little by little, they grow
into massive thunder clouds,
596
00:36:33,758 --> 00:36:41,833
until they burst in
a torrent of rain.
597
00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:44,436
These short intense storms
criss-cross the Northern
598
00:36:44,436 --> 00:36:47,705
Serengeti and head towards
the grasslands North of the
599
00:36:47,705 --> 00:36:51,042
Mara River.
600
00:36:51,042 --> 00:36:58,416
(Thunder Roars)
601
00:36:58,416 --> 00:37:01,920
It only takes a few days of
rain to give life to the land,
602
00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:06,925
and before long, the area
is green with new grass.
603
00:37:06,925 --> 00:37:14,966
All that's left now is for
the wildebeest to come.
604
00:37:14,966 --> 00:37:18,036
So I arrived in the
area a little bit early.
605
00:37:18,036 --> 00:37:22,073
The migration is yet to
arrive but there was some big
606
00:37:22,073 --> 00:37:25,410
thundershowers last night
and that generally will
607
00:37:25,410 --> 00:37:27,512
pull in the herds.
608
00:37:27,512 --> 00:37:30,682
So there's not much more to
do but sit here and wait here.
609
00:37:30,682 --> 00:37:35,320
I can imagine worse places to
wait than here in the Serengeti.
610
00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:39,057
. And with the rains, the
wildebeest begin to move.
611
00:37:39,057 --> 00:37:42,760
Now the question is,
where will they show up?
612
00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:52,804
♪
613
00:37:52,804 --> 00:37:59,644
♪
614
00:37:59,644 --> 00:38:02,080
The next morning, Jean
gets out at first light in
615
00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:15,793
search of the advancing herds
he knows will be coming.
616
00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:23,868
♪
617
00:38:23,868 --> 00:38:27,839
In front of me is where we saw
that storm last night and an
618
00:38:27,839 --> 00:38:30,575
area in front of us is called
Bologonjo and behinds me is
619
00:38:30,575 --> 00:38:35,613
Kogatende, and I suspect to find
the big herds just over this
620
00:38:35,613 --> 00:38:40,385
rise, but the big concern is
that if they go just slightly
621
00:38:40,385 --> 00:38:45,423
East, they can go into Kenya
and cross the river in the Masai
622
00:38:45,423 --> 00:38:47,392
Mara, which is on
the Kenyan side,
623
00:38:47,392 --> 00:38:51,729
meaning that the entire Northern
Tanzania is going to miss out on
624
00:38:51,729 --> 00:38:55,066
seeing a migration and
river crossings this season.
625
00:38:55,066 --> 00:38:58,970
Kenya is actually just a couple
of miles over that way, but
626
00:38:58,970 --> 00:39:03,174
to reach that we have to go
all the way back to Arusha,
627
00:39:03,174 --> 00:39:05,843
and that's about a two day
journey to then get into the
628
00:39:05,843 --> 00:39:07,011
Masai Mara.
629
00:39:07,011 --> 00:39:10,548
So I really hope that the
animals that's potentially in
630
00:39:10,548 --> 00:39:13,685
front of us is gonna swing
West and come a little bit
631
00:39:13,685 --> 00:39:16,821
down-river and have a
couple of crossings down
632
00:39:16,821 --> 00:39:18,990
on the Tanzania side.
633
00:39:18,990 --> 00:39:21,593
. But Jean doesn't
have to wait long.
634
00:39:21,593 --> 00:39:24,529
Just over the next rise, he
finds that the wildebeest
635
00:39:24,529 --> 00:39:26,164
have arrived.
636
00:39:26,164 --> 00:39:28,199
There are so many
animals, they dominate the
637
00:39:28,199 --> 00:39:30,835
plains and surrounding hills.
638
00:39:30,835 --> 00:39:32,103
They just crossed a little
stream, and all of these
639
00:39:32,103 --> 00:39:33,905
wildebeests are coming
down to drink.
640
00:39:33,905 --> 00:39:35,807
It's about midday, very hot,
641
00:39:35,807 --> 00:39:40,612
so there are thousands around.
642
00:39:40,612 --> 00:39:42,780
. They are moving towards
the Mara River to make
643
00:39:42,780 --> 00:39:44,015
the crossing.
644
00:39:44,015 --> 00:39:47,518
Now the question is,
where will they cross?
645
00:39:47,518 --> 00:39:51,856
Will they head into Kenya? Or
will they stay in Tanzania?
646
00:39:51,856 --> 00:39:55,727
A male shows interest
in a passing female.
647
00:39:55,727 --> 00:39:58,062
It will soon be the annual
run when the wildebeest
648
00:39:58,062 --> 00:39:59,697
will mate again.
649
00:39:59,697 --> 00:40:03,835
For now though, they
have a river to cross.
650
00:40:03,835 --> 00:40:07,171
So we just came over hill and we
hit the Mara River, and there's
651
00:40:07,171 --> 00:40:11,743
a big group of wildebeest
starting to pack along the banks
652
00:40:11,743 --> 00:40:14,846
of the river, and this is
normally a good sign of them
653
00:40:14,846 --> 00:40:16,080
wanting to cross. The general
654
00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:21,519
direction here is to keep on
going North so these animals are
655
00:40:21,519 --> 00:40:25,556
vacantly lining up for crossing.
It might happen today,
656
00:40:25,556 --> 00:40:26,591
it might happen
tomorrow morning,
657
00:40:26,591 --> 00:40:28,726
I mean, the only way
you're going to see it is
658
00:40:28,726 --> 00:40:35,733
to hang around and wait.
659
00:40:35,733 --> 00:40:39,037
. The wildebeest migration is
one of the greatest spectacles
660
00:40:39,037 --> 00:40:40,938
in the animal kingdom.
661
00:40:40,938 --> 00:40:44,909
They spend their lives almost
constantly on the move in a
662
00:40:44,909 --> 00:40:48,212
circle that takes them
around the Serengeti.
663
00:40:48,212 --> 00:40:51,683
It's August, and they are
heading back North.
664
00:40:51,683 --> 00:40:54,185
One obstacle remains, the
crossing of the crocodile
665
00:40:54,185 --> 00:40:59,123
infested Mara River.
666
00:40:59,123 --> 00:41:02,727
So we just came over hill and we
hit the Mara river, and there's
667
00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:07,532
a big group of wildebeests
starting to pack along the banks
668
00:41:07,532 --> 00:41:10,568
of the river, and this is
normally a good sign of them
669
00:41:10,568 --> 00:41:12,970
wanting to cross. It might
happen today, might happen
670
00:41:12,970 --> 00:41:15,606
tomorrow morning, I mean, the
only way you're gonna see it is
671
00:41:15,606 --> 00:41:18,209
to hang around and wait.
672
00:41:18,209 --> 00:41:20,812
. Jean will keep
following the herds.
673
00:41:20,812 --> 00:41:23,014
It was 6 months ago that
the young wildebeest
674
00:41:23,014 --> 00:41:25,550
were born.
675
00:41:25,550 --> 00:41:28,686
This river crossing is a major
event for adult wildebeest who
676
00:41:28,686 --> 00:41:31,122
have done this before, but this
677
00:41:31,122 --> 00:41:34,025
is the first time that the
little ones have ever seen or
678
00:41:34,025 --> 00:41:38,563
experienced this river.
679
00:41:38,563 --> 00:41:41,332
Evolution has timed the birth so
that the newborns have had
680
00:41:41,332 --> 00:41:44,836
enough time to develop their
strength and coordination
681
00:41:44,836 --> 00:41:48,039
before they encounter the river.
682
00:41:48,039 --> 00:41:51,209
. Yeah, this group in front of
me is probably about 2 to 3000
683
00:41:51,209 --> 00:41:54,011
and counting, but
after the North,
684
00:41:54,011 --> 00:41:57,715
there's another group of a
couple of thousand. Seems like
685
00:41:57,715 --> 00:41:59,917
they - they would see these guys
running, and they're on their
686
00:41:59,917 --> 00:42:03,588
way here, but then down to the
South, there's another very
687
00:42:03,588 --> 00:42:08,726
large group that's also pushing
onto the river, so I think I'm
688
00:42:08,726 --> 00:42:14,899
in the best position now to kind
of scout all the areas, and
689
00:42:14,899 --> 00:42:16,968
we'll see where it starts to
happen, and they'll make their
690
00:42:16,968 --> 00:42:19,270
choice from there.
691
00:42:19,270 --> 00:42:22,206
. Jean has timed his arrival
perfectly. The second
692
00:42:22,206 --> 00:42:25,710
column of wildebeest
advancing up the Western side
693
00:42:25,710 --> 00:42:28,613
has now broken out of the
wilderness zone, and into
694
00:42:28,613 --> 00:42:32,817
Kogatende. They are heading
straight towards him. It is
695
00:42:32,817 --> 00:42:36,220
shaping up to be a mega
crossing. In spite of the
696
00:42:36,220 --> 00:42:39,857
presence of thousands of
wildebeest on the shores,the
697
00:42:39,857 --> 00:42:42,860
crocodiles lie still.
698
00:42:42,860 --> 00:42:46,631
Crossing point after crossing
point is passed up,
699
00:42:46,631 --> 00:42:48,866
as the lead animals
assess their chances
700
00:42:48,866 --> 00:42:52,870
of survival.
701
00:42:52,870 --> 00:42:58,075
Finally, they choose, and
a single animal descends,
702
00:42:58,075 --> 00:43:01,345
unleashing a waterfall of
wildebeest behind.
703
00:43:01,345 --> 00:43:09,053
(Wildebeest Gallop)
704
00:43:09,053 --> 00:43:23,167
These animals don't plan to wait
- they are ready to cross.
705
00:43:23,167 --> 00:43:33,311
The first wildebeest jumps,
followed by it's yearling.
706
00:43:33,311 --> 00:43:35,880
The others following
behind them.
707
00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:38,382
Within seconds, hundreds
of animals begin to snake
708
00:43:38,382 --> 00:43:40,718
their way across the river.
709
00:43:40,718 --> 00:43:52,129
(Wildebeest Grunt)
710
00:43:52,129 --> 00:43:56,167
The crocs are drawn
to the commotion.
711
00:43:56,167 --> 00:43:59,237
So these wildebeest have been
crossing the whole morning, and
712
00:43:59,237 --> 00:44:02,073
there's 2 or 3 huge
crocodiles that's making their
713
00:44:02,073 --> 00:44:16,821
way in the line of
wildebeests crossing.
714
00:44:16,821 --> 00:44:19,857
. The crocs get into
position as the wildebeest
715
00:44:19,857 --> 00:44:24,195
struggle to get up
the other side.
716
00:44:24,195 --> 00:44:35,039
Having seen the crocs, the
rest of the herd stops crossing.
717
00:44:35,039 --> 00:44:38,009
Two crocs take aim on
a yearling, but luckily the
718
00:44:38,009 --> 00:44:41,012
animal finds ground below the
water, and is able to out
719
00:44:41,012 --> 00:44:47,251
maneuver them.
720
00:44:47,251 --> 00:44:54,525
They quickly scramble up
the far bank to safety.
721
00:44:54,525 --> 00:45:08,940
One of the crocs has caught
caught a wildebeest.
722
00:45:08,940 --> 00:45:10,174
. Just towards the end of the
crossing, there was this
723
00:45:10,174 --> 00:45:13,911
enormous croc that got a hold of
a yearling that was struggling
724
00:45:13,911 --> 00:45:16,047
to get up the rocks, and it
pulled it down, and then the
725
00:45:16,047 --> 00:45:19,150
second crocodile came in, and
literally just took the entire
726
00:45:19,150 --> 00:45:23,955
head off this wildebeest in his
mouth and all of them submerged,
727
00:45:23,955 --> 00:45:32,863
and that's the last we
ever saw of all of them.
728
00:45:32,863 --> 00:45:35,199
. With too may crocs to
contend with, the wildebeest
729
00:45:35,199 --> 00:45:38,269
have moved on to a new
crossing point just down river.
730
00:45:38,269 --> 00:45:48,312
♪
731
00:45:48,312 --> 00:45:58,923
♪
732
00:45:58,923 --> 00:46:02,426
We have been sitting here now
for probably the last 30 minutes
733
00:46:02,426 --> 00:46:07,031
a constant stream of animals is
streaming through the river, I
734
00:46:07,031 --> 00:46:10,401
would estimate about now 10,000
animals at least have crossed in
735
00:46:10,401 --> 00:46:16,073
front of us.
736
00:46:16,073 --> 00:46:18,175
. The wildebeest live out
their entire life cycle
737
00:46:18,175 --> 00:46:22,380
as a tribe of nomads on the
Serengeti plains.
738
00:46:22,380 --> 00:46:23,547
Constantly on the move,
739
00:46:23,547 --> 00:46:27,018
stopping only briefly before
they follow the rains again in
740
00:46:27,018 --> 00:46:30,521
search of the next
green pasture.
741
00:46:30,521 --> 00:46:33,891
They have evolved as great
sustainers of the plains,
742
00:46:33,891 --> 00:46:36,227
caretakers of the
land, and also
743
00:46:36,227 --> 00:46:39,530
food for the predators
along the way.
744
00:46:39,530 --> 00:46:44,602
It's a naturally evolved,
perfectly balanced eco system,
745
00:46:44,602 --> 00:46:47,004
with every blade
of grass, every
746
00:46:47,004 --> 00:46:51,075
creature on land, and bird in
the sky playing it's part in
747
00:46:51,075 --> 00:46:55,880
this continuous cycle of life
on the Serengeti plains.
748
00:46:55,880 --> 00:47:05,923
♪
749
00:47:05,923 --> 00:47:20,905
♪
750
00:47:20,905 --> 00:47:22,106
. So this is it.
751
00:47:22,106 --> 00:47:25,009
This migration of wildebeest
and Zebra are one of the last
752
00:47:25,009 --> 00:47:30,047
remaining mega migrations of the
planet, and what makes this so
753
00:47:30,047 --> 00:47:33,617
successful is the fact that the
Serengeti has been kept intact
754
00:47:33,617 --> 00:47:35,619
for so many years.
755
00:47:35,619 --> 00:47:39,423
The wildebeest crossed over
into Kenya, and this is the
756
00:47:39,423 --> 00:47:43,961
completion of that circle where
they would eventually in a
757
00:47:43,961 --> 00:47:47,998
couple of months be pulled down
back into Central Serengeti
758
00:47:47,998 --> 00:47:51,268
because of thundershowers
that start out that way.
759
00:47:51,268 --> 00:48:01,312
♪
760
00:48:01,312 --> 00:48:09,019
♪
761
00:48:09,019 --> 00:48:12,019
♪