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00:00When you see this symbol, you know you're watching television that's educational and
00:10informational. The more you know on NBC. Hey everyone, I'm Chanel Jones. Today we are trekking
00:18into the mountains, deserts, and grasslands of Africa, home to amazing animals and their brand
00:24new babies. This is Wild Child. Coming up, she's Africa's best hunter, but a real pushover when it comes
00:32to her cubs and baby pachyderms make a splash as long as it's not too deep. And a most misunderstood
00:41mama shows us her inner beauty. Plus, we witness a wild wildebeest migration. All that and much more right here on Wild Child.
00:54From the Nile River to Mount Kilimanjaro, the African continent is home to many different cultures
01:20and ecosystems spread across 54 countries. Africa has more large mammals than anywhere else on earth
01:28and an enormous diversity of species. Check it out. A habitat is a place that has everything an animal
01:37needs to survive, and the continent of Africa has a multitude. The environment here is big
01:47and breathtaking. Victoria Falls is twice as deep and wide as Niagara Falls. Mount Kilimanjaro rises to 19,000
02:00feet. And the mighty Nile River flows north to Egypt.
02:05As for animals, the world's fastest, tallest, and largest, all call Africa home.
02:30In all, more than a million species roam this vast continent, each perfectly adapted to its habitat.
02:43Africa's top predator has a voracious need for space.
02:48But Africa's top predator has a voracious need for space.
03:04Lions once roamed nearly all of Africa.
03:19Now three of the five largest populations take refuge in Tanzania.
03:24In the grasslands or savannah, shade can be a precious commodity.
03:39Especially when you've got a furry family to look out for.
03:45One lioness has found the perfect spot to nurse her cubs under a leafy umbrella.
03:51For the first two months, she is their whole world.
03:57Lionesses keep their litters away from the rest of the pride while they grow and develop.
04:04Adult male lions can be a threat to cubs.
04:08These baby felines nurse for about 12 weeks before meat is introduced to their diet.
04:21Female lions don't raise their babies alone.
04:24All of the lionesses in a pride form a mother's group to share cub rearing.
04:33With up to six bouncy cubs in a litter, help is welcome.
04:41Female lions are the primary hunters and leaders of the pride,
04:45in addition to nursing and raising cubs.
04:53Still, mom can only be treated like a chew toy for so long.
04:58This cub seems to have gotten the hint.
05:03Another cub is being taken to a new spot, so the litter stays safe while mom is away hunting.
05:10Being carried by the scruff of their neck doesn't hurt the cubs when their mother picks them up.
05:16Their whole body instinctively relaxes, although it might hurt their pride just a little.
05:22It's safe to say that this busy mom, a.k.a. the queen of this savannah, definitely knows best.
05:31Grasslands with occasional trees are also the perfect habitat for another highly social, highly intelligent animal.
05:47A herd of mighty elephants and several calves are starting out their daily search for water.
06:00Adults can drink up to 50 gallons a day.
06:03And they will travel long distances to find a water source.
06:13This group has found some muddy pools, enough for a drink.
06:20But keeping cool in an equatorial climate can be tough.
06:24Flapping those large ears does help them get rid of excess body heat, kind of like natural air conditioning units.
06:38But what they really need is deeper water.
06:42Success.
06:44Plenty for everyone to have a long, cool drink and a refreshing splash.
06:50Splashing cools their skin.
06:54That's a must, since elephants have very few sweat glands.
06:59It looks like an elephant pool party.
07:06But a stumble has sent this calf into a panic.
07:10Mom to the rescue.
07:31Over in the fast-moving water, another baby is sticking close to its mom.
07:36It's not as easy for those little legs to walk through the water.
07:43They say that elephants never forget.
07:45And that's particularly true when it comes to water sources.
07:50The locations of good ones are passed down from generation to generation.
07:58Time for the whole herd to get out and dry off.
08:00Time for the whole herd to get out and dry off.
08:02Then look for somewhere to take a well-earned rest.
08:13Coming up, we go where the wildebeest are and see a brand new baby take its very first steps.
08:20And maybe they're not the prettiest or the most popular.
08:24But these curious creatures are key to life on the savannah.
08:28Plus, when you're this tall, laying down isn't easy.
08:33How the giraffe perfected the catnap when Wildchild comes right back.
08:40We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
08:46We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
08:54In the Serengeti Plains of Southeastern Africa, a spectacular journey is underway.
09:12The annual wildebeest migration loops north from Tanzania to Kenya and back again.
09:18And it's the largest overland migration in the world.
09:31Over one and a half million of these hardy antelopes travel 500 miles in a cross-country search for greener pastures.
09:38During the rainy season, an average of 8,000 wildebeest calves are born every day.
09:54As soon as they're strong enough, they too join the herd.
09:59But the birth of a calf is a precarious moment.
10:02Both the calf and its mother are especially vulnerable to predators.
10:16As this little one struggles to find its feet.
10:20It only takes about 15 minutes for a newborn to be able to walk.
10:25The minutes are ticking away.
10:27The mother anxiously paces.
10:31She doesn't want to be left behind by the herd.
10:35It looks like this newborn just needs a breather.
10:39Tired after trying to lift its 45 pounds of body weight.
10:45It's an up and down struggle.
10:49Maybe it's up for good now.
10:50In about a week, the wobbles will be gone and this born-to-run calf will have the strength that needs to really join the crowd.
11:09Coming up, when it's time for dinner for these carnivores, it's no laughing matter.
11:15And what's it take to get a drink of water in the savannah?
11:18It's all coming up on Wild Child.
11:22We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
11:28We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
11:37It's not unusual to ooh and ah when you see a baby wild animal.
11:41Often, we can't help but think that they're super cute.
11:44But there's nothing like watching an animal tend to its young to help us appreciate its inner beauty too.
11:51Take a look.
11:54It's hard to take our eyes off the most majestic animals on the savannah.
11:59But there are other unsung creatures flourishing here too.
12:09Like these baby hyenas coming through.
12:12A few more are safe in their underground den.
12:17A hole most likely dug by another animal.
12:29Hyenas are the consummate carnivore.
12:42They hunt, scavenge, and act as their own cleanup crew, eating all of their prey.
12:48Even the bones.
13:03Although you might not know it, so look at these sleepy heads.
13:31While the rest of this hyena clan does, this cub's having a sleepy suckle.
13:40Misunderstood through history, hyenas don't usually come across as such tender, gentle
13:45creatures, but their maternal instincts are strong.
13:51In fact, mothers nurse their young for a long 18 months.
14:02And like lions, female hyenas rule the pack, which can have up to 90 individuals.
14:10This one's having a facial first though, the cubs are licking her face as a sign of respect.
14:27Sometimes called laughing hyenas for their bark.
14:32Hyenas are in a biological class all their own.
14:37Often described as dog-like, they're actually more closely related to cats and mongooses.
14:44Sometimes though, these unique, curious and intelligent animals just sleep and play away the day.
15:03Until it's time to hunt at night.
15:10Coming up, how do you hide when you're 18 feet high?
15:14Find out how these giants blend right in when Wildchild returns.
15:21We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
15:24As the afternoon progresses, the shadows are starting to rival the tallest of all Savannah residents, the giraffes.
15:54As we join them on a stroll, it's hard not to be impressed with their elegance, as they glide along on their statuesque legs.
16:11But the way giraffes walk is all their own.
16:14They amble along, moving both legs on one side at a time.
16:19In a city, these lanky mammals would be tall enough to peer through a second-story window.
16:31Males can be an astounding 18 feet tall.
16:36They're known for their height, but you can't miss their glamorous eyes.
16:40With their excellent eyesight, giraffes have a tendency to stare.
16:44When the calves are three weeks old, they're left with other youngsters in a nursery or calving pool, with one mother on babysitting duty.
16:58Here, calves develop physical and social skills.
17:06But some guardians watch over them as they explore their surroundings.
17:11And if they get drowsy, they nap for minutes at a time, standing up.
17:16Young giraffes begin eating leaves at four months old, which provide most of the moisture they need.
17:25But when water is available, they will take a sip.
17:29This is when they're not at their most graceful.
17:32Their necks are so long, they don't quite make it down to water level.
17:37So, the giraffes have to splay their legs to have a drink.
17:45With the longest legs of any mammal, it might be one of the few awkward movements these outstanding animals make.
17:53Up in the trees, the flocks are coming in to roost.
18:08And down below, these lion cubs are settling in for their eating meal, a leisurely way to wrap up a hectic day.
18:18Even at sunset, Africa continues to shine.
18:22It's iconic creatures putting on a spectacular end-of-day show.
18:28With plenty of newborns being welcomed and thousands of miles traveled, it's been non-stop.
18:37Time for the amazing creatures of the African savannah to rest and recharge so they can do it all again tomorrow.
18:47As we've seen, animal families must find ways to live alongside human families.
18:52It's thanks to conservation efforts by local citizens in African cities and villages that wild animals have a chance of flourishing long into the future.
19:00Thanks for watching.
19:02I'm Chanel Jones.
19:03We'll see you next time on Wild Child.
19:05Wild Child in
19:20Wild Child in England
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