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02:02Grasslands are full of food for numberless families.
02:14The grass grows continuously like a self-stocking fridge.
02:28But there are few places to hide on an open plain.
02:35So parents have problems in keeping their young safe while they feed.
02:52African wild dogs.
02:55Expert grassland predators.
02:59They would make quick work of a young zebra.
03:02It's a parent's nightmare.
03:09The father rounds up his family, but that does little to deter the dogs.
03:20So he makes an extraordinary sacrifice.
03:35He hangs back.
03:42Now he is the target.
03:48His family can escape.
04:05This is the story of what it takes to be a parent in the grasslands of our planet.
04:14Parents must constantly balance risk and reward in the wide open places of the planet.
04:33Unusual conditions can make that much harder.
04:41In the winter of 2023, California received over 50 trillion gallons of rain.
04:48nearly double the average.
05:03Unusual conditions.
05:05Creating a grassland not seen for generations.
05:16It may seem appealing, but not for a parent adapted to deserts.
05:21A San Joaquin kit fox, about the size of a house cat.
05:35The tall grass makes it hard for her to protect her five kits.
05:46Her kits are a constant distraction.
06:13Here, all her senses are blunted.
06:23The grass itself muffles sounds and smells.
06:28In a normal year, she'd be able to see for miles around.
06:33But she can't watch over her kits forever.
06:48As night falls, she's faced by a serious dilemma.
07:07She must find food for her kits.
07:12But to do that, she must leave them.
07:22With no parental supervision, the kits continue to play well into the night.
07:40She travels nearly seven miles in search of giant kangaroo rats.
07:54And they only emerge at night.
08:03But this year, hunting is harder than it has ever been.
08:10The long grass makes it difficult to locate them.
08:13Finally, she catches her rat.
08:14Finally, she catches her rat.
08:30At the den, her kits' unsupervised playtime has drawn some unfortunate attention.
08:49The coyote.
08:56He's twice the size of a kit fox and one of their main predators.
09:04Catching scent of something amiss, the pups escape to their underground den.
09:21But now the coyote knows where to find them.
09:24Returning home, the mother finds her family safe, but still hungry.
09:38One rat is not enough to feed her five kits.
09:42She must head out for more.
09:52But something isn't right.
09:54The wind has changed its direction.
10:09Plenty of cover for a coyote.
10:24Plenty of cover for a coyote.
10:47Plenty of cover for a coyote and a coyote.
10:50There's nothing she can do.
11:07Her remaining kits have scattered.
11:20The four surviving kits are here, alive and well.
11:50This mother will have to adapt if she is to protect her family in this strange new grassland.
12:20Southern England, a single mother has a well-tested way of protecting her young.
12:32A potter wasp is building the last of 25 major constructions.
12:49It's her life's work.
12:58She must finish it before the end of autumn.
13:07She uses her saliva to soften the clay, with which she builds a nursery.
13:31Once complete, it will provide her young with both shelter and food.
13:41In her signature style, she flutes the edges.
13:51Then she spins a thread of silk, and on it lays a single egg, which will hatch in a couple of days.
14:06But her job has only just begun.
14:10She must also fill the pot with food, so her offspring can develop and emerge in the spring.
14:24That will require her to collect enough caterpillars while the weather holds.
14:34When she finds one, she paralyzes it with her sting, and then puts it into the pot, alive.
14:52But British weather is unreliable.
15:08She can't fly when it's cold and wet.
15:19Time is slipping by.
15:24The sun returns, but now time is very short.
15:48With the season on the turn, she's not the only one in a hurry.
15:56The caterpillars are getting restless.
16:05They're making their way down to the ground to find somewhere to spend the winter.
16:17She, herself, is almost out of time.
16:33Just one more.
16:36But maybe one that is a little smaller.
16:40But maybe one that is a little smaller.
16:43With her pot now fully provisioned, she seals it.
17:05Just in time.
17:06Next year, in the spring, her offspring will emerge from its nursery as an adult potter wasp.
17:30As for the mother, her work is done.
17:36Within the next week, she will die.
17:41She will never meet her offspring for whom she's provided both a safe home and an ample larder.
17:49For many parents, providing food is the easy part.
18:04Giving them an education is much more difficult.
18:12This cheetah mother has, single-handedly, fed her three cubs for eight long months.
18:19Ten more, and they must be able to feed themselves.
18:25Play-fighting develops their physical skills, and they can learn a lot about prey through trial and error.
18:54Such as, which kind is most likely to fight back?
19:01Crazy!
19:03Hell!
19:05Me again?
19:06I got started.
19:10Explosive in
19:12Collections
19:17But she must provide them with an opportunity to learn one skill in particular.
19:47A fawn, too young to run far.
20:17A fawn has been abandoned, but she doesn't kill it.
20:35Cheetah cubs don't instinctively know how to make a kill, and even simply making contact
20:41with prey can be dangerous.
20:48So for this lesson, the mother provides something her cubs can tackle safely.
21:00With practice over, it's time for a test.
21:11This wildebeest calf is too big for her cubs to bring down by themselves.
21:18And they may have learned enough to be of help.
21:40The mother leads the chase.
21:50The calf is escaping.
21:58A cub realizes that his mother needs help.
22:05He holds on, enabling her to reposition.
22:28He holds on, enabling her to reposition.
22:55Cheetah mothers work alone in educating their cubs.
23:01But some parents require a partner, just to keep their young safe.
23:13The Eurasian step.
23:18Two million square miles of grassland.
23:21The biggest on the planet.
23:26It's an exposed place in which to raise a family.
23:33Protecting here requires teamwork.
23:38Demoiselle cranes travel over 3,000 miles to nest in Mongolia.
23:46They feed on grass and insects, and here both are plentiful.
23:57Protecting the eggs requires two diligent parents.
24:03One stays with the eggs, while the other feeds.
24:12However, parents must be prepared to face the unexpected.
24:18There is a growing threat to almost every grassland on Earth.
24:33Globally, the number of domesticated livestock has tripled over the last century.
24:40So there is far less space for wild animals.
24:50Their clumsy new neighbors are more dangerous than they look.
24:57One hoof wrong, and the eggs could be lost.
25:02One parent tries to redirect the herd, but the sheep aren't taking the hint.
25:23And the stakes have just got a little higher.
25:28The parents have no choice.
25:30They must fight together.
25:49Enough is enough.
25:52It's time to deploy the crane kick.
26:22Job done.
26:36But the crane parent's task has only just started.
26:44The pair will continue to protect their chicks for nearly a year.
26:50Sharing the load certainly makes parenting easier.
27:01And for some families, even two parents are not enough.
27:10African wild dogs need the help of their whole family to raise their young.
27:17A breeding pair cannot do it alone.
27:27The whole pack is responsible for parenting the next generation.
27:34And this pack has been unusually successful.
27:39Thirty members strong is three times the average size.
27:49Such numbers should be an asset.
27:56But over half of them still have some growing up to do.
28:07The teenagers are something of a liability.
28:14Their inexperience can ruin a hunt before it even starts.
28:20Their parents have a big job ahead to control them.
28:42A really big job.
28:49The matriarch of the pack is nursing.
28:52She has another ten puppies back in the den.
28:56She and her partner must find enough food for the whole family.
29:01Buffalo are seldom attacked by wild dogs.
29:17Their size, horns and numbers make them potentially very dangerous.
29:22But with so many mouths to feed, the bigger the prey, the better.
29:34The pack's size could give them a chance if the youngsters behave properly.
29:44The herd is heading out to feed in the grassland, where they'll be more exposed.
29:55The odds of a successful hunt are shifting in the pack's favour.
30:05The adults steer the pack into position at the edge of the forest.
30:12There, they will be able to get closer to the herd.
30:28Now, they must select an individual.
30:39The matriarch knows they must be patient.
30:42Timing is key.
30:49But once again, the youngsters break cover too soon.
30:53Their enthusiasm has given the buffalo time to form a defensive group.
31:18They themselves are now in danger.
31:25They move too close, too quickly.
31:33And worse, they're chasing the biggest buffalo in the herd.
31:40So big, they could kill the young dog with a single well-placed kick.
31:45The matriarch seems to know that their chances are dwindling.
31:52Selecting a target within the trees is almost impossible.
32:10The youngsters have wasted their chance.
32:25The parents, however, are watching for a weak buffalo to make a wrong move.
32:34An unprotected calf.
32:38It won't provide a meal for everyone.
32:41But it's better than nothing.
32:43This time, the youngsters are following their parents.
32:49This time, the youngsters are following their parents.
32:52This time, the youngsters are following their parents.
32:54But now the odds clearly favor the buffalo.
32:55But now the odds clearly favor the buffalo.
33:01There will be many more failed hunts before the teens come out.
33:04There will be many more failed hunts before the teens come out.
33:05But now the odds clearly favor the buffalo.
33:10There will be many more failed hunts before the teenagers are of any real help.
33:19But with time and practice, they will become experienced enough.
33:25To assist in raising the next generation.
33:44For many parents, practice is essential for success.
34:03India.
34:09This Hanuman Langer is pregnant for the first time.
34:18It won't be long before she gives birth.
34:22But she's not ready yet.
34:29Many parenting skills are not instinctive for Langers.
34:35If this young female wants to give her newborn the best start in life,
34:40she must learn how to be a mother before she gives birth.
34:47Fortunately, being part of a troop provides an opportunity for her to practice.
34:58Time for some pre-natal classes.
35:02But parents are often choosy about who they allow to babysit.
35:15The expectant mother has to persuade someone to give her a chance.
35:24Baby snatching isn't the best start.
35:27She must take a gentler approach.
35:44But babysitting is harder than it looks.
35:48Mishandling a baby could be fatal for both the baby and her social standing.
35:53That's better.
35:54She's even learned when it is that an exhausted mother could use a helping hand.
36:14These newly acquired skills will prepare her for parenthood.
36:17And just in time.
36:23Last night, she moved away from the troop and gave birth.
36:24Last night, she moved away from the troop and gave birth.
36:29Tender moments like a child to the baby.
36:34You can live in a baby.
36:35By being a baby.
36:36Listen to me, babe.
36:37There's a baby.
36:39Shire, baby.
36:40Is she or she?
36:41I'll be very careful.
36:42Is she?
36:43A baby's or she?
36:44Let's see you.
36:45You see a baby.
36:46Yes.
36:47And just in time.
36:48Tender moments like these create a bond with her baby.
37:02But away from the troop, the pair are vulnerable.
37:07And there are some things for which it is impossible to prepare.
37:11Feral dogs, on the lookout for an easy meal.
37:25A newborn baby monkey is an obvious target.
37:30She needs to find a way back to the safety of the troop.
37:41Without injuring her baby.
38:05The troop rally round her.
38:08Her practice has paid off.
38:33Now that she's returned to the safety of the troop, she has as many trusted babysitters as any mother could wish for.
38:52Where conditions are hostile, parents may need to band together.
38:59Temperatures in the Kalahari can exceed a staggering 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
39:06So these sociable weaver parents have joined forces with other families to build a climate-controlled home for their young.
39:13So these sociable weaver parents have joined forces with other families to build a climate-controlled home for their young.
39:21The nest they produce is the largest built by any bird.
39:28A thatched roof weighing over a tonne is a very effective shield against the worst of the heat.
39:35A single pair couldn't possibly build such an enormous construction.
39:42It takes a whole community to do that.
39:49At least half the parents also have helpers.
39:56Offspring from previous years who stick around to babysit.
40:03The helpers feed the chicks.
40:04The helpers feed the chicks.
40:05Maintain their
40:35Rest and watch out for danger.
40:48As the day gets hotter, snakes become more active.
40:56This cobra could eat every single chick in the colony in a matter of days.
41:05But the community has other ideas.
41:18It's a neighbourhood watch with wings.
41:25But a less visible threat is building.
41:35The temperature is rising.
41:48It's only a couple of degrees above average.
41:51But as the heat wave drags on,
41:55every family is affected.
41:57Even a small rise in the temperature can have big consequences.
42:13Parents and helpers alike are too hot to look for food.
42:18Maintain the nest.
42:19Maintain the nest.
42:22Or watch out for danger.
42:26All they can do is sit in the shade.
42:32It's every bird for itself.
42:35The chicks are left alone for hours at a time.
43:00An adult shows up.
43:01But it's from a different family.
43:12And it isn't here to help.
43:16Scientists don't understand exactly why.
43:32But more chicks are ejected from a colony during heat waves than at any other time.
43:38The social order starts to break down.
43:44Even when the rise in temperature is quite small.
43:48It seems that most families here are living on the very edge of what is tolerable.
44:01They're only just coping with a world 3.6 degrees warmer.
44:14But the temperature is still rising.
44:21The world is changing so quickly.
44:23To ensure a future for the next generation, parents everywhere will have to forge a new path.
44:33The end of summer, high up on the Patagonian plateau.
44:37The end of summer, high up on the Patagonian plateau.
44:46In order to produce milk for her calf, this huanaco needs to feed constantly.
44:52She's also pregnant.
45:04Snow comes early at high altitudes, covering what's left of the grass.
45:10Grazers are driven downhill in search of food.
45:23When they reach the lowest elevations, the huanaco will have enough shelter and food to see them through the winter.
45:35They just need to get there.
45:40But fences now cut across the landscape.
45:55They're almost impossible to avoid.
46:04Adult huanaco can get across.
46:10But calves usually can't.
46:14But calves usually can't.
46:30In her haste, she leaves her calf on the wrong side of the fence.
46:34She is desperate to move on.
46:35The demands of both pregnancy and producing milk are high.
46:36The demands of both pregnancy and producing milk are high.
46:41And good winter grazing in the valley is so close.
46:42The demands of both pregnancy and producing milk are high.
46:48And good winter grazing in the valley is so close.
46:53The demands of both pregnancy and producing milk are high.
46:58Both pregnancy and producing milk are high.
47:03And good winter grazing in the valley is so close.
47:28He will not survive alone.
47:58Going back will mean a longer, less certain path.
48:11Nevertheless, she rejoins him.
48:20There are nearly a hundred thousand miles of fences in Patagonia.
48:28It's not possible to avoid them completely.
48:43She must find a safer route through for them both.
48:58She tries again.
49:14There's something different about this fence.
49:18The top line has been removed.
49:34She's done all she can.
49:36Now he must make the jump.
49:38What?
49:40THE END
50:10THE HARD FOR THE LAST LEG INTO THE VALLEY A CHANGING WORLD IS FORCING PARENTS EVERYWHERE TO MAKE NEW AND DIFFICULT CHOICES IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
50:40THE END
50:42THE END
50:44THE END
50:46THE END
50:48THE END
50:50THE END
50:52THE END
50:54THE END
50:56THE END
50:58THE END
51:00THE END
51:02THE END
51:04THE END
51:06THE END
51:10THE END
51:14THE END
51:18To learn more about what you've seen on this nature program, visit pbs.org.
51:48To learn more about what you've seen on this nature program, visit pbs.org.
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