- 17 hours ago
Follows animatronic "spy creatures" disguised as local animals as they go undercover to capture intimate, never-before-seen behaviors of wildlife thriving in tropical habitats worldwide....
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AnimalsTranscript
00:01The animal world is full of spectacle and wonder.
00:06But what's it like to be right in the heart of the action?
00:11To find out, our team of spy creatures goes undercover.
00:17They not only look like the animals they film,
00:22they behave like them too.
00:29Armed with the latest camera technology,
00:34they are heading across the globe.
00:43From the heat of the tropics,
00:48to the lands that lie in the north,
00:53from the islands of the southern seas,
00:59to the snow and ice of the frozen poles,
01:05our spies reveal the astonishing variety of life that thrives there,
01:11from inside their world.
01:21On this assignment, our spy creatures join the animal families
01:25that dwell in the hot and humid tropics.
01:33In the tropical zone, life is abundant,
01:36and the dry and rainy seasons influence animals in remarkable ways.
01:44When the dry season comes to the mountains of Uganda,
01:48it brings cool nights and warm days.
01:52As the morning mist clears,
01:55a glimpse of the wonders to come.
02:02For now, there's just one lone baby.
02:11His camera eye,
02:13the only clue he's not as real as he seems.
02:32His aim, to join this family of mountain gorillas.
02:37But first, he must gain their trust.
02:43One wrong move, and it could all be over.
02:50They are a close-knit family.
02:54They don't take kindly to strangers.
03:03He offers a hand of friendship.
03:07Will they accept his introduction?
03:18A promising start,
03:20but somehow, he must convince everyone.
03:27She peers into his eyes to make a connection.
03:31Gorillas learn a lot from each other this way.
03:35But he remains inscrutable as ever.
03:54Now, it's the baby's turn.
04:00Gorillas are very tactile.
04:11A touch is an invitation to get to know each other.
04:19But is it all too good to be true?
04:30The great silverback.
04:32He won't be so easily impressed.
04:42Here, he's the boss.
04:45Spy gorilla won't be welcomed without his say-so.
05:02A warning.
05:04Everyone must stay back.
05:08Can our spy win him over too?
05:13They await the silverback's decision.
05:20Until then, there's a line no one can cross.
05:24His arm, a barrier between them and the newcomer.
05:34To show respect, our spy averts his gaze.
05:42Decision made.
05:45Spy gorilla can stay.
05:52Everyone can relax once more.
06:03In adults, chest beating is a show of power.
06:08For youngsters, it's an invitation to play.
06:27But games easily get out of hand.
06:34Oops.
06:43His look says it all.
06:54Best pretend it never happened.
07:00But it's not the end for our spy.
07:04He lives to film another day.
07:12The dry season has also come to Brazil.
07:17The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland.
07:21But at this time of year, it's drying out fast.
07:29Life gathers in spectacular abundance around the few pools of open water that remain.
07:35As well as egrets, caiman congregate in their thousands, some of the ten million found across the Pantanal.
07:44Such abundance attracts other predators.
07:53Meet the world's first spy jaguar cub.
08:02Caiman are the jaguar's favourite prey.
08:09But they have little to fear from a solitary cub.
08:15Having basked in the sun, they're primed and eager to hunt.
08:21They have little to fear.
08:29Spy caiman is ready and waiting.
08:42He's now just one of the locals.
08:49Wherever they go, he goes too.
08:58It's soon clear why everyone is here.
09:02Thousands of fish are trapped in the vanishing pools.
09:11But there is little oxygen in these waters.
09:13And as the day warms, it holds even less.
09:22The caiman is ready.
09:25Catfish are coming to the surface for air.
09:30All good things come to those who wait.
09:38It's a feeding frenzy.
09:56The morning feast lasts just a brief moment.
10:00Soon, everyone can eat no more.
10:05Only now, do the capybara venture out.
10:11They are the world's largest living rodent.
10:15And one of the most intelligent.
10:21They welcome the dry land that's now appearing.
10:34It's perfect for a spot of sunbathing.
10:43But they must keep their wits about them.
10:47The next one is the end.
10:49The new pystile.
10:52The new pystile.
10:54The new pystile.
11:05The new pystile.
11:12The new pystile.
11:28Jaguars kill the cubs of others.
11:45But curiosity overcomes aggression.
11:51This isn't the only Jaguar here.
11:58A rival.
12:02Jaguars are fiercely territorial.
12:36The result is a draw.
12:39Neither are willing to risk their life.
12:49Is this the reason for the brawling?
12:54A partner worth fighting for?
13:05In courtship, it seems, the female takes control.
13:14Having put him in his place, she turns on the charm.
13:20A rarely filmed moment of tranquillity in one of the busiest wildlife spots on earth.
13:32Costa Rica is next to host one of the tropics' great events.
13:41Black vultures gather in anticipation.
13:45This year, they have company.
13:48A vulture that can film.
14:01The gathering begins on the third quarter of the moon, when the tides are at their minimum.
14:08Olive Ridley turtles.
14:12Many travelled over a thousand miles to get here.
14:18They're returning to the beach, where once they were born.
14:24When the tide is out and the surf is calm, they come ashore.
14:39Where one leads, others follow.
14:45For those breeding for the first time, fifteen years have passed since they hatched on this very beach.
14:53Now, they compete for a place to lay eggs of their own.
14:59This is the great turtle Arabada.
15:1320,000 may arrive in a single day.
15:24Only so much can be seen from the air.
15:35As they keep coming, so do our spy creatures.
15:44Spy turtle is here, as our eyes on the ground.
15:58Turtles lay above the high water mark.
16:01So first, our spy must climb the beach.
16:15In water, turtles are effectively weightless.
16:19Now, flippers meant for swimming must haul huge bodies across the sand.
16:30Spy turtle is soon in prime position, ready to film their nesting techniques.
16:43Her flippers become scoops, tools to dig a nest.
17:04Now, the moment she came for.
17:08Each egg is carefully placed.
17:13Up to a hundred in every clutch.
17:22She must bury them quickly.
17:27They're what the vultures were waiting for.
17:32Those already buried are beyond reach.
17:36But turtles still laying must fend off thieves.
17:49As things hot up, spy turtle needs backup.
17:56A clutch of hidden cameras.
18:12So far, the vultures have had little reward.
18:16That's about to change.
18:25There are so many turtles, every spot has been taken.
18:34Eggs of previous visitors are batted away like ping pong balls.
18:41Straight into the mouths of the vultures.
18:58They finally get their reward.
19:21But all is not lost.
19:23Beneath the sand, enough eggs will survive to produce the next generation.
19:34As the turtles' epic undertaking ends, they return to the sanctuary of the sea.
19:44Around 50 days will pass before their eggs are ready to hatch.
19:52As the turtles' eggs are left to incubate, Zambia is in the grip of its dry season.
19:59The vast Luangwa River is reduced to barely a trickle.
20:06Desperate animals gather, seeking the only available water for hundreds of miles.
20:11Desperate animals.
20:14Everyone is feeling the pressure.
20:26Especially the hippos.
20:31The shrinking river has forced families closer together.
20:37Rivals now live cheek by jowl.
20:41Tensions mount.
20:44What must it be like inside this pressure cooker?
20:52Spycrog is about to find out.
21:01It could be a dangerous mission.
21:21Hippos and crocs co-exist in an uneasy truce.
21:27Enough to allow Spycrog into their midst.
21:35The reason lies just beneath the surface.
21:42Fish are everywhere.
21:51Attracted by the waste the hippos produce.
21:57With plenty of fish for crocodiles to eat, hippos have little to worry about.
22:06But in the middle of the pod, where the youngsters are found, croc attacks are still a real threat.
22:15This is a job for Spy Hippo.
22:21To succeed, he must give off all the right signals.
22:32This is a high security area.
22:36Here, the dominant bull watches over the mothers and young.
22:44But he seems surprisingly amiable.
22:54Even letting Spy Hippo approach a baby.
23:06Here, the youngsters can safely play.
23:10For now, it's just a game.
23:17One day, they'll be fighting for the best spots in the river.
23:28An intruder.
23:31A male looking for females.
23:37The resident bull must defend his position.
23:44It's wise to get out of the way.
23:55But Spy Hippo is right in the battle zone.
24:06It doesn't get riskier than this.
24:22The rival is unceremoniously dispatched.
24:27The rival is unceremoniously dispatched.
24:37As tempers calm, the hippos settle down, doing what they do best.
24:50Sleeping for up to 16 hours a day.
25:01While for some, drought is a time of hardship.
25:05Carmine bee-eaters relish this time of year.
25:11The exposed river banks provide safe nest sites.
25:16Spy Egret is at the heart of their colony.
25:21Poised to capture a bird's eye view.
25:36It's the avian equivalent of an apartment block.
25:41The
25:41The
25:41The
25:41The
25:41The
25:41The
25:57BIRDS CHIRP
26:10Back in Uganda, Spy Gorilla is now one of the family.
26:23It's an opportunity to explore their intelligence.
26:27Fruit cam is a replica of a local fruit and is totally non-toxic.
26:42BIRDS CHIRP
26:44Being smart means they're fascinated by anything new.
26:50Their social nature makes them happy to share.
26:59BIRDS CHIRP
27:04It's now a game of pass the parcel.
27:21BIRDS CHIRP
27:31Whatever her baby finds must be checked out.
27:38BIRDS CHIRP
27:40Impressed?
27:44Not so much.
27:47But the other spies are recording something truly groundbreaking.
27:53BIRDS CHIRP
27:55They've caught our gorillas singing as they eat.
28:03BIRDS CHIRP
28:03It's a chorus of appreciation.
28:06The first time this phenomenon has ever been recorded among wild mountain gorillas.
28:29BIRDS CHIRP
28:34They not only sing for their supper.
28:37Consuming 20 kilos a day is bound to have consequences.
28:42BIRDS CHIRP
28:48They live in a semi-permanent state of flatulence.
28:52BIRDS CHIRP
29:20Back in Costa Rica,
29:22Two months have passed since the great turtle Arabada.
29:28Only one lonesome turtle is still here,
29:32ready to record the next great moment in their lives.
29:46The eggs have finally hatched.
29:52To find the sea, the hatchlings turn to face the brightest horizon.
30:02But there's trouble ahead.
30:10Frigate birds have travelled far for this event.
30:19For the hatchlings, it's a race against the odds.
30:33The frigates are spoilt for choice.
30:41Spyturtle is still at the nest site.
30:45There's always one who's left behind.
30:56She cannot stay here.
31:03She, too, must run the gauntlet.
31:11But the terrain is treacherous.
31:19Ahead, the aerial attack is relentless.
31:32But the urge to reach the sea is overwhelming.
31:42Now, it's all down to luck.
32:06Another is lost.
32:28This is her new home.
32:33It will be 15 years before she returns to this beach to lay eggs of her own.
32:51In the tropics of South America, the rains have arrived.
32:55And the Amazon rainforest is undergoing a magical transformation.
33:04The daily deluge causes the mighty Amazon River to burst its banks and flood the surrounding forest.
33:13Water levels can rise as much as 50 meters.
33:19For the animal inhabitants, life changes completely.
33:26To investigate, spy creatures are everywhere.
33:32Staked out in the trees and in the water below.
33:37They don't have to wait long.
33:44Capuchin monkeys are territorial.
33:50They make their feelings clear.
33:55But they've never seen a monkey quite like this.
34:05Irritation turns to intrigue.
34:14And curiosity conquers caution.
34:30With the forest floor under water, the monkeys must forage in the treetops.
34:38Conveniently, it's the season when many trees bear fruit.
34:42A treat not just for monkeys.
34:48Scarlet macaws come from far and wide to enjoy the harvest.
34:54Spy macaw is here to greet them.
35:06Gorging on fruit helps them reach prime breeding condition.
35:21Everywhere, love is in the air.
35:27Even spy Sloth seems to have gained an admirer.
35:33As Sloths rarely cross paths, she'll take the opportunity when she can.
35:46Her first move is to rub noses.
35:52Followed by a mating call.
35:56Whistling
36:07But this time, her calls go unanswered.
36:12Never mind.
36:13There are plenty more eligible Sloths in the forest.
36:20Down below, a rather bizarre spy creature takes over.
36:26A replica of the animal it has come to film.
36:34Amazon River Dolphins.
36:44As eyes are of little use in murky water, they've become tiny.
36:52Other senses compensate.
36:56Sensitive hairs on her beak react to the slightest vibration.
37:02While sensors in her mouth detect the electric fields of prey.
37:10The greeting is an alien sensory experience.
37:23Courtesy's over, it's down to business.
37:29The best hunting is found among the submerged trees.
37:45Fish are drawn to the food and shelter they provide.
37:49To catch them, the dolphins hunt together.
37:53One flushes the fish from hiding.
37:56The other reaps the reward.
38:07It's a technique that rarely fails.
38:21A fish supper served up among the trees that are usually high and dry.
38:35In Australia's tropical north, as the cool season arrives,
38:40the continent's greatest gathering of mammals occurs.
38:51A hundred thousand of them in all.
38:58They are little red flying foxes.
39:05Mothers gather together in huge nurseries among the eucalyptus.
39:15Today, a new bat has joined them.
39:20A way of taking a closer look at life inside their world.
39:26But first, spy bat must earn their trust.
39:39She has been anointed with smells from the colony.
39:45She can also mimic their friendship calls.
39:51Having passed inspection, she fits right in.
39:57Capturing the most intimate views of a maternity roost ever seen.
40:09Mothers and their babies are never parted.
40:13Even when they fly, there's a baby on board.
40:20They're caring and attentive,
40:23washing their pups to keep them clean and fresh.
40:27She won't miss an inch.
40:39At several weeks old, the youngsters never stay still,
40:43making bath time a challenge.
40:56The mothers raise their young in wintertime,
40:59in what should be the coolest months.
41:02But today, they must flap their wings just to keep cool.
41:14Even spy bat joins in.
41:19As the climate changes,
41:21winters are becoming hotter than ever.
41:24Heat stroke is now a common thread.
41:30Only the cool of evening brings some relief.
41:41As they leave, spy bat quietly follows.
41:45Its wings are designed to dampen the sound of its motors.
41:50It also has a low-light camera, able to film at dusk.
42:00After the extreme heat of the day,
42:02the river is a place to cool down and rehydrate.
42:08They have a novel technique.
42:15Plunge diving traps water in their fur,
42:19convenient for in-flight refreshment.
42:24But all this splashing attracts attention.
42:29Freshwater crocodiles are moving in.
42:33All they have to do is wait.
42:45For the crocs, it's a matter of timing.
42:51For the bats, it's a matter of luck.
43:19There's always one whose luck runs out.
43:24Refreshed, the survivors head off to find nectar.
43:28As they feed, they pollinate millions of trees.
43:33In this way, Australia's great eucalyptus forest
43:37depends on flying foxes for its survival.
43:47As the year moves on,
43:50the dry season comes to Borneo's mysterious forests.
43:56The creatures of the forest now congregate around the life-giving rivers.
44:01Most are found nowhere else on Earth.
44:27They live alongside another denizen of the forest.
44:31They live alongside another denizen of the forest.
44:33But this one is a spy.
44:42He's here to meet whoever visits the river.
44:55The group is led by a dominant male,
44:58easily distinguished by his massive nose
45:01used to amplify his calls.
45:07So the button-nosed youngsters have some way to go.
45:28The rest of his troop is made up of mothers and their offspring,
45:34including young males spoiling for a fight.
45:42But there's only one who's really in charge.
45:53There's only two dogs.
45:58Real orangutans are also drawn to the plants that thrive near the river.
46:08Any new orangutan always creates a stir.
46:14Best check out this one from afar.
46:24Now for a closer look.
46:47Perhaps wisest left alone.
46:52There's yet one more unique animal to meet.
47:06The elusive pygmy elephant.
47:13The smallest elephant in the world.
47:26These surprisingly gentle creatures are rarely seen.
47:30But in the dry season, they visit the river more often.
47:37Here, another spy awaits.
47:44At this time of year, the river is their main source of water.
47:54It's where they drink and bathe.
47:58Today, they won't be bathing alone.
48:02Assuming they let spy elephant join them.
48:16They are notoriously shy, so it's a sensitive moment.
48:29But he's soon closer than ever thought possible.
49:02It's mission accomplished.
49:04It's mission accomplished.
49:05But who can resist meeting a baby elephant?
49:20The reception could hardly be more positive.
49:30A magical close encounter with one of Borneo's rarest inhabitants.
49:43Then as quickly as he came...
49:47He's gone.
49:53But not quite.
49:56There's a downside of being in the heart of the action.
49:59The baby elephant.
50:01It's not good.
50:03It's not good.
50:23It's not good at all.
50:33As the tropical year turns full circle, the Peruvian coast is the venue for another astonishing
50:40spectacle.
50:42Two million guanay cormorants nest here, attracted by the fertile Humboldt current that passes
50:49just offshore.
50:51It also sustains an extraordinary tropical penguin, the Humboldt.
51:01The chick's fathers have yet to return from fishing.
51:05They are starving.
51:09But the waiting will soon be over.
51:15Spy penguin prepares to meet the returning males.
51:27They've been catching fish for days to feed their chicks.
51:30But the hardest part of the journey still lies ahead.
51:42First, a few formalities.
51:52Now they face a trek of over a mile.
51:56But there's a problem.
52:00Sea lions, and not just a few.
52:10There are 50,000 in all.
52:16Or is it 50,001?
52:21A spy with cameras in both eyes.
52:32It can even move to capture the best angle.
52:41To feed their hungry chicks, the penguins must take on the sea lions.
53:06It's so easy to put a foot wrong.
53:17To turn in the sea lions, it's so unfair.
53:21It's so easy to get on the sea.
53:23Let us know.
53:23Come here.
53:24Come here.
53:31I have to go.
53:33You are going to shit.
53:35We're going to get on here.
53:37Everyone is going to get on here.
53:38It's so easy to do.
53:47Somehow, they make it through.
53:54But their problems are far from over.
53:58The Atacama Desert hugs the coastline.
54:01To reach their chicks, they can't avoid it.
54:06Spy penguin keeps them company as they tackle the driest tropical desert in the world.
54:19They must pace themselves or risk overheating.
54:42Finally, their destination is in sight.
54:47But now, another problem.
54:53The two million nesting cormorants.
54:58Their take-off zone lies right in the path of the penguin colony.
55:06The returning penguins are trapped.
55:08Reaching their chicks is now impossible.
55:13The mothers protect them any way they can.
55:25And still they come.
55:30The great exodus takes two hours.
55:48As calm returns, the valiant penguins finally make it back.
56:04Their chicks are fed at last.
56:11It's also time to put our spy creatures to rest.
56:19In Uganda, the great silverback is making his bed for the night.
56:35A moment to relax with family and friends.
56:43For mothers, that's easier said than done.
56:55But eventually, sleep comes to all.
57:05Even our spy can finally stop filming.
57:16Next time, we travel to the lands north of the tropics.
57:21Where life is governed by the changing seasons.
57:34Stand up for comedy on BBC Two now.
57:37As Sarah Pascoe introduces Larry Dean and Gary Delaney.
57:41Live at the Apollo.
57:43Discover.
57:56Bye.
57:56Bye.
57:58Bye.
57:59Bye.
57:59Bye.
57:59Bye.