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00:02All over the world, species clash in nature's savage battle of survival.
00:11On the plains, under desert skies, and in the open ocean, all are locked in deadly conflict.
00:24Animals fight tooth and claw to win food, territory, and rights to the bloodline.
00:33From the tip of South America to the outback of Australia, there are no rules.
00:42This is Animal Fight Club.
00:51Lose the battle for the bloodline, and you're on nature's garbage pile.
01:00A no-holds-barred fight between red kangaroos is never far away.
01:06Males train as kickboxers from an early age.
01:11A fearsome claw on their hind legs can disembowel dogs and humans.
01:17Winners mate. Losers are exiled to the outskirts of the mob.
01:28The red kangaroo can cover over 25 feet in a single bound.
01:37And they use the same muscles to fight.
01:41Rusty is a six-year-old battle-hardened bruiser.
01:45He wants to take over a mob, but first, must whack the wise guy.
01:59No moves are out of bounds.
02:10Short front legs wield sharp claws.
02:14They can hold an opponent close in a fight.
02:34They can hold an opponent close in a fight.
02:46The wise guy leans on his tail to unload both barrels.
02:58The red kangaroo's tail is strong enough to support its body weight of nearly 200 pounds.
03:05half of which is pure muscle.
03:09And 44% of that is in their upper hind legs.
03:15The muscles here are attached to bone with strong elastic tendons.
03:21These enhance the power of the kangaroo's leap and its kick.
03:33The male's skin is up to twice as thick across their abdomen to protect them from an opponent's feet.
03:43Kangaroos can even retract their testicles to guard against low blows.
03:55Now Rusty younger and fitter kicks back.
04:00Females don't care who wins.
04:03They just want a strong male.
04:10But it's everything to Rusty.
04:30Male red kangaroos never stop growing.
04:35As they get bigger, they become more dominant.
04:39Until they challenge for the top spot.
04:44The older wise guy's bigger and stronger.
04:48But Rusty thinks he has what it takes.
05:01Rusty gets a powerful kick.
05:04If he loses, his chances of mating look slim.
05:09His opponent's on the ropes.
05:14Sometimes it's not the big hits that decide the fight.
05:18A sly uppercut fells the wise guy.
05:24Another punch sends him packing.
05:27This mob has a new alpha male.
05:32And the wise guy is on the trash pile.
05:40When two predators go head to head, it's not just a question of who can dish it out.
05:46But who can take it?
05:50The honey badger.
05:53The honey badger.
05:54Some say he's the toughest animal in the world.
06:00Bee stings are nothing to him.
06:09He'll even take on prey as deadly as the cobra.
06:13He'll even take on prey as deadly as the cobra.
06:32His attitude outweighs his size.
06:50And when night falls, it's his favorite time to hunt.
06:57He tracks down a puff adder, a snake that can kill a lion.
07:03First, he boldly steals a gerbil from the snake's mouth.
07:19Then goes after the adder itself for dessert.
07:29Puff adders can grow to almost four feet.
07:34Large fangs and a deadly bite usually mean death.
07:43Success.
07:45He takes the snake out.
07:46But at a terrible cost.
07:51The badger appears to black out.
07:54Has he met his match?
08:01After two hours, something amazing happens.
08:09He seems to be resistant to the venom.
08:13And he digs in for a post snooze protein feast.
08:18He's Mr. Die Hard.
08:29But nobody told this leopard.
08:32He stalks a honey badger up a tree.
08:40He captures the badger.
08:42And a battle of wills begins.
08:54But Mr. Die Hard is a slippery customer.
09:00Who bites back.
09:11Leopards paralyze their prey with a chomp to the neck.
09:18But Die Hard has baggy skin that can withstand a machete hit.
09:26So it's like trying to bite through a squirming sleeping bag.
09:30Let's try it.
09:34Let's try it.
09:35Let's try it.
09:36From the bottom of the bottom of the top of the bottom of the top.
09:40Come on.
09:40Let's try it.
09:41For real, that's why you're going to try it.
09:41Let's try it.
09:42Die Hard has yet another crafty card to play.
09:47A stink bomb.
09:52Honey Badgers have two enlarged anal glands.
09:56They produce a foul-smelling yellow liquid.
10:00When threatened, the honey badger ejects this liquid through its anus.
10:06It can deter predators more than 140 feet away.
10:14The defense works.
10:18For a moment.
10:25Die Hard's head is in a vice grip.
10:33But he's a tough snack to crack.
10:43Die Hard's claws draw big cat blood.
10:58But it's not enough to save him.
11:05There'll be no sequel for this Die Hard.
11:13Sometimes it's not claws, teeth and horns that decide a fight.
11:17It's the thermometer.
11:24Lion-on-lion battles over territory are always brutal.
11:31But when the mercury hits the 80s, fighting can be fatal.
11:42Two lionesses feast in the midday sun.
11:49It's never too hot to eat.
11:53But they've strayed into another pride's territory.
11:58The smell attracts a pair of unruly teenagers hungry for some fast food.
12:05It's a big risk.
12:12But the teens are on home turf.
12:17Two of the young lion's fellow pride members turn up for a seat at the table.
12:24Heads low and lips tight, they signal that the trespassing lionesses need to find another restaurant.
12:36Outnumbered, one of the lionesses runs.
12:45But in the harsh sun, she soon overheats.
12:52As she moves, metabolic energy converts into kinetic energy and heat.
12:58To cool herself down, she pants, the same as cats and dogs.
13:05Inhaled air passes through spiral structures in the nasal passage and cools the blood flowing through them.
13:12This cooled blood spreads throughout her body while she breathes out the warmed air.
13:19But to pant, she must stop, with her pursuers right on her tail.
13:36The lioness twists to sink her canines into one of their bellies.
13:42Her attackers aim for her spinal cord, which could paralyze her.
14:06It's now six against one.
14:11Outnumbered in the heat, the lioness faces death.
14:16But this experienced girl still has cards to play.
14:26Surrounded by six young attackers from another pride, a lone lioness searches for an escape route.
14:37Lion's muscular bodies generate lots of heat.
14:41If she doesn't rest soon, the 80 degree temperature could kill her instead.
14:49This is big cat chess.
14:52The wrong move could be fatal.
14:55Direct stairs are a sign of confrontation.
15:00Two pride members move in for an endgame.
15:05It's fight or flight.
15:21But she can't run for long.
15:26Exhausted by the blistering heat, she must make a stand.
15:35It's now an endurance test.
15:42Who can handle the heat?
15:47Her only hope is to outlast her pursuers.
15:58They retreat a few yards to keep guard from the shade.
16:07Rapid breathing over saliva creates foam.
16:10It shows that she's heat-stressed.
16:13She must act soon.
16:16When her pursuers eyes close, she gambles and slips away.
16:23Cunning and endurance defeat inexperienced youth.
16:32In the animal kingdom, alliances form.
16:37But when they break down, catastrophe can follow.
16:49Herds of antelope and zebra often graze together.
16:54It's an alliance that can save lives.
16:59More eyes mean a better chance to spot predators.
17:05And zebra aren't afraid to use their speed to drive them off.
17:19A hartebeast herd rests.
17:23But zebra are on alert.
17:27Something spooks them.
17:31A female attacks.
17:38But what they think is a deadly hyena.
17:41Is just a hartebeast calf.
17:44Less than a month old.
17:47He's about the same color and size.
17:58Mom checks her baby is alive.
18:02Then goes after the lynch-mob.
18:14Her horns can skewer a zebra's abdomen.
18:25Now they intimidate, surrounding the hartebeasts and calf.
18:33Once zebra identify a threat, there's no recall code for mistaken identity.
18:44It's mob mentality.
18:49A lucky escape for the calf.
18:51But he's not out of danger.
18:55Hartebeast calves stay with their mothers for up to three years.
19:01So two-year-old big sister's on hand to protect her brother.
19:20Mom charges.
19:23But misses.
19:29Unable to see his protectors, the calf runs on.
19:33Bad strategy.
19:42A hartebeast calf tries to escape the hooves of murderous zebra.
19:49But fails.
20:01It's the same strategy zebra use against packs of hyena.
20:10While the zebra regroup, another hartebeast arrives.
20:15And escorts the calf to safety.
20:20Against all the odds.
20:22Against all the odds.
20:28In nature's battles, escape plans are key.
20:32But move too slow.
20:34And you're a goner.
20:36Meet the wheel spider.
20:38A master of the quick getaway.
20:44It folds its legs like the spokes of a wheel.
20:49And rolls away at up to five feet a second.
20:55He lives high on sand dunes so he can quickly flee danger.
21:00This venomous spider shelters from the midday sun in a burrow.
21:05And hunts by night.
21:07Waiting to pounce on prey.
21:12He's an expert killer.
21:21Across the sand, a wasp approaches.
21:27She smells the spider in his burrow.
21:30More than three feet below the surface.
21:34But doesn't flee.
21:37Instead, she digs.
21:41She's a spider wasp.
21:44And she wants the wheel spider as food for her larva.
21:51The wasp will attack with a sting.
21:55Glands attached to the stinger release venom to paralyze the spider.
22:01She lays an egg through an opening at the base of the sting called an avapor.
22:07It sits on the immobile spider.
22:09And when the larva hatches, it will eat him alive.
22:20Spines on her legs can shift ten pounds of sand in one hunt.
22:41It's a rude awakening.
22:45If the spider can get to a slope, he can shift to his wheel shape and escape.
22:53The wasp circles.
22:57She's the lightweight in this martial arts match.
23:00But her hardened exoskeleton means spider bites can't penetrate.
23:06First contact.
23:08Body slam.
23:09A vulnerable position.
23:11Quickly righted.
23:16She targets his abdomen.
23:26The spider must keep the wasp away from his soft body.
23:31But his legs can't hold her off.
23:43She lands a sting.
23:48The getaway master's wheel is clamped.
23:54His destination is a pre-prepared shallow grave.
24:03A single egg is laid on his live, paralyzed body.
24:08The spider is a zombie.
24:11Good only for food.
24:13The wasp larva will eat his vital organs last, so their meal stays alive and fresh for up to two
24:22weeks.
24:24And mother wasp heads out to find her next victim.
24:33On the savannah, winners take opportunity where they can find it.
24:39In East Africa, spotted hyenas kill nearly all their own food.
24:45They're feared predators and scavengers.
24:49But there's a thief in their midst.
24:53Golden jackals often use their superior agility to steal the hyena's food.
25:00But it's a dangerous strategy.
25:05As the thief of the meal can become the meal itself.
25:28As the thief of the meal can become the meal itself.
25:33The whole pack looks out for each other.
25:45A tackle.
25:47The jackal pup is down.
25:50But the hyena faces the fury of the whole jackal family.
25:58Jackal pups are at most risk from predators for nearly four months after birth.
26:04This hyena's jaws can crush a bowling ball.
26:09So the jackals attack from the rear.
26:14Mobbing distracts the hyena.
26:27But he finds the pup's neck.
26:33The jackals must work fast.
26:37A second hyena approaches, hoping for a feast.
26:47Even four furious jackals can't deter the attacker.
26:55The battered pup makes a break for it.
26:58But he's too slow.
27:07The second hyena arrives.
27:14And it's no longer about if, but who gets it.
27:21Jackal family bonds run deep.
27:23And even when four more hyenas appear, they won't leave their own.
27:30The jackal family tried their best.
27:33But today is one for the hyenas.
27:39In the animal kingdom, trespassers face lethal force.
27:51South America.
27:53A male Magellanic penguin returns from fishing to defend his family burrow and wait for his bride.
28:02Burrows protect young from predators and bad weather.
28:08But with over 200,000 Magellanics here every September, property is at a premium.
28:17And he'll defend his home to the death.
28:24An intruder is house hunting.
28:27And he wants to steal the couple's burrow.
28:31Magellanic penguins are among the most faithful creatures in the animal kingdom.
28:36Couples can pair up for over a decade.
28:40But newlyweds must find a home.
28:44And stealing one is easier than building from scratch.
28:51When the homeowner returns, it's showdown time.
29:08They fence with their bills, testing each other.
29:13A weaker penguin can back down to avoid injury.
29:18Because when a fight starts, it can go all the way.
29:23But this squatter likes his odds.
29:26The homeowner needs to send him packing.
29:31Penguin wings are heavy flippers made of dense bone, and pack a powerful punch.
29:39Penguins are covered in waterproof feathers and insulating fat that keeps them warm.
29:46This also protects their vital organs in a fight.
29:50But the back of the neck is less protected.
29:56Jugular veins pass through the neck.
29:59Penguins aim their blows here, and at the eye, which has a high blood flow.
30:08The squatter gets in a series of punches.
30:11Powered by strong breast muscles designed for swimming.
30:17These fighters can deliver up to nine blows a second.
30:23But now the beak becomes a dagger.
30:45A merciless stab to the head above the eye.
30:48A blind penguin can't hunt.
30:55The squatter has had enough.
30:59But the homeowner's brutality has just begun.
31:07Magellanics are one of the most aggressive penguin species.
31:12The squatter is ready to back down.
31:16But this homeowner isn't letting it go.
31:24He won't risk a comeback.
31:36And goes straight for the jugular.
31:43Frontier justice for the squatter.
31:52Herbivore herds are a tempting buffet for predators.
31:58But these beasts won't just lay down and take it.
32:03They have their own game plan.
32:10Over a million white-bearded wildebeest roam the African plains.
32:17Their vast herd sizes are a means of defense.
32:21The safest animals are those in the center.
32:30Midday.
32:31While lions and hyenas rest from the heat, danger still lurks.
32:39An adventurous wildebeest thinks it's safe to stray.
32:44But less than 200 feet behind, a coalition of three male cheetahs follows.
32:51The stray is unaware.
32:56Cheetahs may be the least powerful big cat.
33:00But they've traded strength for speed.
33:03And can run at nearly 70 miles per hour.
33:13One cheetah stops the stray reaching safety.
33:19While another keeps the herd at bay.
33:25It's an ambush.
33:30But the wildebeest still holds a few aces.
33:37Killer heals.
33:45When wildebeest spot a predator, they stamp and call to raise the alarm.
33:50Then gang together.
33:54For now, the stray holds his own.
34:02Wildebeest can pivot on a dime, thanks to long legs and small hooves.
34:10Cheetahs dig in their claws to make quick turns.
34:18But the big cat attack plan is in disarray.
34:21But the big cat attack plan is in disarray.
34:28A teammate pushes back the herd.
34:45They taunt their target.
34:47But leave a gap.
34:52The cheetahs' explosive speed means they're quickly exhausted.
34:58Only half of their chases end in a kill.
35:01And this stray lives to graze another day.
35:11When animals find plentiful food, they may be in luck.
35:16But chances are, a predator wants to put them on the menu.
35:24When night falls off the California coast, it's time for a dance where you have to watch your step.
35:32A red octopus hunts.
35:35Chemical receptors on its suckers help unearth hidden food.
35:40Like a swimming crab.
35:53Jet-like funnels propel the octopus.
35:57But this crab is also swift.
36:02Crabs have ten legs.
36:04And the fifth legs of swimming crabs are modified into paddles.
36:10These paddles enable them to hover in water and swim sideways very quickly.
36:16And their sharp claws are positioned perfectly to deal with pursuers.
36:23Add a feisty temper.
36:26And the quick-step swimming crab is no easy meal.
36:34But the octopus has venom in her armory.
36:38A sharp beak can crack the crab's shell and inject poison.
36:45The crab anticipates each move.
36:48So his pursuer tries a sneaky probe with a single arm.
36:56Before a full-on assault.
37:01As she prepares for the kill, this octopus has no idea of the horror that awaits.
37:12An octopus is about to snack on a tasty swimming crab.
37:19But someone cuts in.
37:24As she moves in for that fatal embrace, an even bigger diner shows up.
37:31In some areas, octopus is nearly half of a harbor seal's diet.
37:37But this crab needs to make an exit.
37:40Seals also enjoy a crustacean side dish.
37:48In nature's arms race, your weapons can decide whether you live or die.
37:58So when your opponent has 24-inch horns, you need to be sure you want to fight.
38:10Highland bulls are true warriors.
38:14Some say they were brought to Scotland by Viking raiders.
38:19They're built tough for the extremes.
38:27An alpha bull bellows to the herd.
38:31He's a combat veteran.
38:35Another bull calls out a challenge.
38:38He thinks this alpha is past his prime.
38:43At stake, mating rights within the herd.
38:53They're in the same heavyweight class.
38:56The challenger steals the first move.
39:04Bull's skulls have evolved to be thicker than the cows.
39:07Bull's skulls have evolved to be thicker than the cows.
39:07They're like bone helmets.
39:12The alpha's hide shields the blow, but he's rattled.
39:25The challenger pushes his advantage, but loses traction in the mud.
39:42No prize is worth the cost of injury.
39:45He who backs down first loses.
39:55These horns clear snow in winter so they can find food.
40:01But today they decide which animal passes on its bloodline.
40:13The seasoned alpha meets every challenge with nearly a ton of force.
40:22His opponent hangs back.
40:24A white flag to his alpha.
40:29And he walks alongside to show he accepts he's lost this time.
40:35But he may challenge for dominance again.
40:46Bulls are also masters of the ocean.
40:50When seal bulls fight, beaches become bloody battlegrounds.
41:00Grey seals only mate once a year.
41:04When they come ashore to pup, it's a countdown to carnage.
41:15Around 16 days after giving birth, females can breed again.
41:22The most dominant males get the best position, closest to the fertile females.
41:28That leads to bloody battles.
41:37Females need to protect their pups.
41:45Bull seal fights only end when the loser backs down.
41:56The winner is known as Beachmaster.
42:01A rival's return from the ocean means this Beachmaster has competition for his lineage.
42:10Both heavyweights tip the scales at over 600 pounds.
42:17Size matters in seal mating.
42:20The largest bulls father ten times as many pups as the smallest.
42:27This two-month breeding season is their only chance to further their bloodline.
42:35So these bulls are prepared for war.
42:40Four sharp canine teeth, each nearly an inch long,
42:44are backed by a bite force that can shear flesh from porpoises.
42:49The seal's skin boasts cross-collagen fibers.
42:54It's tough enough to withstand a blade.
42:57Beneath this is over two inches of fatty tissue,
43:01which offers protection to internal organs as well as from the cold.
43:08The challenger counterattacks.
43:11He wants a spot closer to the ladies.
43:15Their front flippers are tipped with four-inch claws.
43:20But seals fight face-on and protect their tail flippers.
43:27If they can't swim, they can't hunt.
43:32The bloodied beachmaster backs away and rolls over to say,
43:37It's over.
43:40At a safe distance, he turns tail and retreats.
43:48The beach has a new master.
43:51And he gets the pick of the ladies.
43:54To the ladies.
43:57The toothpaste has a new coat.
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