Transcription
All over the world, species clash in nature's savage battle of survival. In the African savanna, Asian forests, and on tropical islands, all are locked in deadly conflict. Animals fight ruthlessly to win food, territory, and rights to the bloodline. For grapplers, brawlers, and skillful killers, there are no rules. This is Animal Fight Night.
♪ ♪
In East Africa's Masai Mara, two loners prowl the same turf. This lioness is killing on her own. It's unusual, but there's a reason. She's left her pride to give birth alone, and she'll protect her cubs from dangers. Like a cheetah, the speed king of predators.
[cries]
Today, this particular cheetah prowls on his own. Normally he hunts in a coalition with his brother, but he's become separated and lost sight of him.
[barks]
He barks out desperate calls...
[barks]
...and scans the horizon for any response. His eyes have twice as many light-sensitive cone cells as a lion's. They're concentrated in a visual streak at the center of the retina, providing sharp vision and the ability to track movement on the open plain. He has the most efficient visual streak of all cats. Spotting his brother in the distance should be easy, but his focus makes him blind to a nearby danger.
♪ ♪
[shrieks]
♪ ♪
It's a close shave, but once the chase is on, the lioness has no chance. She's built for strength. The cheetah, for speed. His ultra-flexible spine delivers power to his stride like a taut spring. It contracts in a tight arc, allowing the rear legs to ease in front of the forelegs, before expanding with explosive energy. All four paws leave the ground, and he can travel up to 23 feet in a single stride. Maxing out around 65 miles per hour, he's nearly twice as fast as the lioness. She must find a way to kill that speed. As long as he sees her first, he's safe. So the lonely speed king keeps searching. At last, he picks up his brother's familiar scent.
[barks]
He seeks shade from the savanna's sweltering 80 degrees, downwind of his sibling, to pinpoint his location. But the lioness is also downwind...
[barks]
...of the cheetah. She changes tactics from laying in ambush to stalking. Sudden movements might catch the cheetah's sharp eye, so she plays a deadly game of red light, green light.
[barks]
Around 150 pounds of solid muscle keeps her rock steady, even on three legs.
[barks]
The cheetah's oblivious and exposed.
♪ ♪
[growls]
[shrieking]
Jaws gape open 11 inches to clamp down on the spine, and canines over two inches long pierce the hip. The cheetah breaks free, but the wheels have come off for the speed king. The damaged spine means he can't get into high gear.
♪ ♪
[shrieks]
It looks like it's all over for the cheetah.
[shrieks]
But she leaves him to suffer. He's a dead cat walking. To add insult to injuries, he finally finds his brother. But he's damaged beyond repair. He pays the ultimate price for his strong family ties. The lion is Africa's apex predator.
[cries]
But at the water's edge lurks an even more deadly threat.
[grunting]
With a bulk of up to three and a half tons, a bad attitude, and terrifying teeth, hippos bow to no animal on the African continent-- except another hippo.
[roaring]
Hippos mostly eat grass, but they're not strict vegetarians. They may prey on other animals, and even turn cannibal... to feed on the carcasses of other hippos. This huge hippo gathering is a recipe for trouble. A drought means this remaining wetland is drawing the crowds. A resident pod's lead bull feels the need to let the newcomers know who's boss.
[bellowing]
[bellowing]
He displays his dominance by using his tail to fling dung. It says he's this pod's hippo hot shot. But a younger bull isn't impressed. He wants to take this hot shot down.
♪ ♪
He's armed to the teeth. Behind his huge fighting tusks, he has 28 two-inch-long molars and premolars. They grind down food before ingestion. With one of the most powerful bites on the planet, they can make short work of solid flesh. The dung-flicker suffers the humiliation of losing his tail to his opponent's teeth. The younger male uses weight advantage to force his opponent onto land.
[bellowing]
Now, the hot shot is at the mercy of his gaping jaws.
[bellowing]
The challenger's molars gnash the open wound.
[bellowing]
Then he inflicts the final indignity. He mounts him to show his dominance. There's a new king of the pod, and he lets the world know it, hippo style.
♪ ♪
Stranger danger may prove deadly, but dynastic disputes can be even more sinister.
[roaring]
In the wilderness of northern India, Bengal tigers reign supreme. This queen of beasts provides for her family of three female cubs. An expert hunter, she creeps silently close to prey before launching an attack. But even on a good day, only one in 10 hunts will end in success, so a territory with a regular food supply is vital.
♪ ♪
When they're young, her cubs form bonds and practice hunting techniques in play. But as they grow older, the sisters' play turns to a deadly game of thrones. The next move could be fatal.
[roars]
A tiger clan is at a crossroads. The kids are growing up, and this place isn't big enough for the three of them. The largest of the three sisters has ambitions. A big girl now, with three-inch canines and inch-long claws, she's ready to claim her own territory, and chooses the family estate. That means clearing out the competition, starting with the smallest sibling. Her target's a sleeping beauty with no plans to leave the nest. She couldn't be more chill.
[purring]
Laying belly up exposes her throat and vital organs. It's an open invitation to her violently ambitious sibling.
♪ ♪
A hunter's stealth guides the bigger sister's 370-pound bulk as she inches forward.
♪ ♪
Sensitive paw pads feel the way for silent steps.
♪ ♪
[birds calling]
Sleeping beauty's hearing can pick out prey in dense cover, but she's deaf to the deadly threat just inches away.
♪ ♪
[roaring]
She reacts with lightning speed! Paws flash with enough force to smash a cow's skull...
[roaring]
...aimed at the muzzle to keep those canines at bay.
[roaring]
A 180-degree twist brings her own canines into play.
[roaring]
Her defense turns to offense.
[growling]
Big sister backs off, but the warning is clear. Playtime is over. Childhood bonds are broken. She will take this land by force and won't let anyone stand in her way. Tooth and claw can tear an opponent apart...
[roaring]
...but so can these.
[bellows]
Many of Africa's herbivores present easy pickings for the continent's predators.
[bellows]
[growling]
[bellows]
But this grazer gives off a very different vibe. The African buffalo knows how to take care of himself. Adult males reach over five feet at the shoulder, and the largest can weigh more than a first rank Spanish fighting bull. They're powerful enough to fight off any predator. And they have famously dangerous mood swings.
[bellows]
Large adult males hang out in groups of around six bulls. They wander from herd to herd looking for mates. Testosterone rules in this uneasy alliance, and if two bulls are having a bad day, it may end in a deadly encounter.
[bellows]
This large adult male is in cruise mode. He leads a few bachelor buddies on the lookout for a likely mate. But there's trouble in the ranks. Biggest is best in buffalo world, and a wannabe thinks he's big enough to boss the group.
♪ ♪
It can only end one way.
[bellows]
Head-to-head combat.
[bellowing]
Nearly one ton of buffalo bulk forces the boss to back away. The wannabe thinks it's game over and drops his guard. Too soon!
[bellows]
An African buffalo makes a critical mistake. He turns his back on his rival. Horns form a safety barrier to defend the flanks.
♪ ♪
[bellowing]
But the head and neck are vulnerable.
♪ ♪
The boss misfires... then recovers with an uppercut to the neck.
♪ ♪
[bellowing]
This time, the boss's sharp rear hooves dig in for a 360 turn.
♪ ♪
Then, a shot to the eye!
[bellows]
The boss knows all the right moves. His opponent is out of there. Bruised, battered and beaten, this challenger gambled and lost against a true champion. A cold-blooded killer lurks in the shadows on remote islands in the Philippines.
♪ ♪
[hiss]
Growing to over 9 feet long and 55 pounds, the water monitor is one of the largest lizards on the planet, and he's a versatile killer. This assassin's equally at ease in the water. His powerful tail is around one and a half times the length of his body. He thrashes it to swim, like a crocodile. He's a venomous predator with wickedly sharp claws and 40 replaceable backwards-curved teeth. And these lizards can be cannibals.
♪ ♪
Larger water monitors settle disputes by combat. Tough keratin scales can offer protection against tearing claws, but limbs are vulnerable to crushing jaws. Water monitor pads have five digits like a human hand. Their long, curved claws are built from tough keratin, like their scales, and help them gasp prey. They also help smaller water monitors escape danger by climbing trees. This smaller water monitor hides away from the big guys to survive. He needs rapid weight gain, and crab snacks won't cut it. Today, his tongue picks up the scent from a large carcass. Problem--two massive water monitors are first to the feast. He's too late. But he catches a break.
[hiss]
[hissing]
These big bruisers only have eyes for each other.
[hissing]
At stake is sole access to that nutritious rotting meat.
[hissing]
Sharp claws grip, but can't pierce their scales. The watching little guy gets tail-whipped! Water monitor tails flatten towards the end and have a raised, fin-like ridge. It helps the monitor glide through water. But these massive lizards also use their whiplash tails as a battle club. The two giants lock in stalemate. The little guy risks everything... and sneaks in.
♪ ♪
[hissing]
But the bruisers see him.
[hissing]
He's got to get out of there fast!
[hissing]
Two water monitor lizards battle over dead flesh, which creates a thieving opportunity for a little guy, until they catch him red-handed!
[hiss]
They break off...
[hissing]
...to deliver a shattering punishment.
[hissing]
He's lucky to escape with his life, but a broken forelimb could be a death sentence. Now, he's easy meat. He does have one lifeline-- his tail is uninjured. It can propel him across the water to islands where he's the only monitor in town. It's life on the run, island-hopping to keep one step ahead of the big guys. Escape is one way to survive, but true champions step up and fight. This wandering Alaskan grizzly feels the need to feed.
♪ ♪
He has to bulk up, ready for winter when he sleeps for up to six months. It's a race against time, and he's prepared to kill anything that gets in his way. Hungry grizzlies make bad neighbors. But the lure of seafood draws this wanderer to a crowded stretch of Alaskan shoreline. He's used to searching waters for food. A grizzly can eat up to 30 salmon a day. But hunting down fish burns calories. Scavenging provides a free lunch, and today these Alaskan waters offer him a much bigger bounty than salmon scraps... A whale carcass. Ounce for ounce, whale blubber has around three times as many calories as whipping cream.
[growls]
The wanderer fights for control of this feast.
[roaring]
He seems happy to share his prize with a female and her cub. But when another male wants in, it all changes. The new guy bullies his way in.
[roaring]
He targets the mom and her cub.
[roaring]
It's too much for the wanderer.
[roaring]
He shows who's boss.
[roaring]
His opponent tries to trip him. If the wanderer falls, he could be finished.
♪ ♪
[roaring]
But he rises high. His powerful forelimbs are on top. He crunches down on his rival's face... then delivers a parting shot.
[birds squawking]
He gets to say who dines on this whale carcass. And a marauding male isn't welcome at the table. True grit is about never giving up the prize, even when your life is on the line. Sea turtles shared the oceans with the dinosaurs. After 110 million years, making babies should be plain sailing. But the act of love can put them in extreme danger.
♪ ♪
Green sea turtles live for around 75 years. They graze on tough sea grasses and algae. Over a lifetime, this female may have more than 100 partners, and she's looking for today's Mr. Right.
♪ ♪
One lover stakes his claim, and the pair lock in a passionate embrace, but the trail of hormones from the fertile female is a mate magnet. A love rival homes in. He tries to bite through the flesh of the mating male. Green sea turtles don't have teeth, but their jaws are serrated for tearing through tough vegetation. Most of their organs are protected within the tough shell topped by large keratin-based scales. But unlike land turtles, green sea turtles can't retract their exposed head or limbs for protection. The turtle lover is under siege. If he tries to fight back, he'll lose hold of his partner. Lose, and the attacks become more focused. The lover holds on by hooks on his front flippers, which makes them a prime target. He's in real danger of serious injury. And it gets worse. Other turtles track the female's pheromones. A pumped-up crowd of sex-mad males is gathering. It's an all-out assault! The lover refuses to crumble. His bloodline's at stake. But the pair need to reach the surface, or they could drown. The lovers' lives are on the line. A mating pair of sea turtles face a savage onslaught. The price of their passion may be death by drowning. Green sea turtles breathe air, and usually dive for less than five minutes. The rivals push down, keeping the pair submerged. The lovers must choose between sex and survival. But the female turtle finds reserves of power. Despite the 350-pound piggy back, she paddles them to the surface.
♪ ♪
With fresh air in their lungs, they make their escape. The determined male's bloodline is secured on the back of a doubly determined female. On the Horn of Africa, a rugged individualist is making his own way in the world. A Grevy's zebra stands almost five feet at the shoulder and can weigh nearly half a ton. And this guy will throw his weight around when he needs to. Unlike members of other zebra species, he doesn't seek the hassle of maintaining a harem. Instead, he's into real estate. He attracts the ladies by claiming a fertile plot of nearly five square miles. He may stay there, and keep it for up to seven years.
♪ ♪
A wandering herd of females seems suitably impressed by his honey trap. It's the first female company he's had for months. But it's gonna take more than a good eye for property to impress these ladies.
[braying]
And a following band of young bachelors brings trouble. They can see this pad could be a fun palace, and they're lining up to take it. The landowner decides to show them the door. But they're not going quietly. If he gets this wrong, he could end up lame-- easy pickings for the local predators. He's gonna need the whole box of fight tricks.
♪ ♪
Rear up higher than your opponent.
♪ ♪
Get in the first shot. And raise your four-inch hooves to punch and block.
[braying]
One rival gets in a shot to the neck. But the owner retaliates with a crunch near his opponent's eye.
[braying]
And then attacks on the run to target the rump and vital tendons in the rear leg. His expert display runs the bad guys out of town, and wins the heart of one of the females.
♪ ♪
It's a whirlwind romance, and the female herd moves on. But this male's bloodline may see at least one more generation. Lions can make short work of taking down a zebra, but as killers, they come second best to another fearsome feline. These grasslands conceal one of Africa's most successful killers.
♪ ♪
His kill rate is higher than any big cat's. The serval will leap nine feet to take down a bird over twice his height...
♪ ♪
...and pounce low to take out a reptile. His front paws have retractable claws. They're key weapons. This athlete's classic attack is to spring, trap with extended claws, then deliver a killer bite. To help find prey, he has the biggest ears of any cat, relative to his size.
♪ ♪
He has 22 muscles in each ear to optimize positioning. He can align them like dish antennae to pick up tiny sounds. They're so sensitive, they can hear the movement of mice in underground burrows. This serval's big ears pick out an unfamiliar rustling.
♪ ♪
Its source comes as a shock. A mole snake. Venomous snakes can be deadly to servals. But is a mole snake's bite toxic? Big Ears just isn't sure. This serpent's pose suggests, 'Back off, or you'll be sorry.' This kitty doesn't heed the warnings, and gets in close.
[hiss]
A serval has plans for a mole snake supper, but African snakes can have a deadly venomous bite.
[hiss]
This cat takes a life or death gamble. For their size, servals have the longest legs of any cat. And they fire him out of range.
[hissing]
A probing paw provokes more strikes.
[hiss]
Some snakes can strike up to four times the speed of an eye blink.
[hiss]
But Big Ears boxes clever. He draws fire, then counters with claws out. Timing is everything. Feline reflexes come out on top, and he delivers the killer blow to the head.
♪ ♪
[hiss]
Or not! This reptile doesn't know when he's beaten. But Big Ears does. The mole snake's bluff pays off. He's not venomous; it's sheer naked aggression that saves this snake's skin. You don't need to rely on teeth, claws or toxins...
[hiss]
...when your head is a hammer.
[pecking]
The woodlands of North America echo with the sounds of one of the animal world's most astonishing destroyers.
[pecking]
Some woodpeckers can hammer into bark at a mind-blowing 20 times per second-- twice as fast as a machine gun fires bullets. His beak hammers into the tree trunks to access bugs. But it's also his nest construction hardware. Woodpeckers are the model of hard work and enterprise, but some of their neighbors have lower standards.
[chirp]
The starling's beak is also sharp and pointed for prying out bugs, but he lacks a rapid-fire action...
[chirping]
...so ferociously freeloads on the woodpecker's hard work.
[chirping]
These birds have a history of violence. In woods near St. Louis, Missouri, this northern flicker woodpecker is doing home improvement. He hammers at a hole to widen the entrance to a cozy nest, but a pair of starlings lurk on the fringes. When his back's turned, they profit from Woody's hard labor. Mrs. Starling takes up residence, and claims squatter's rights.
[chirping]
Woody hammers down on the trapped female. Her partner looks on, weighing up the odds.
♪ ♪
Finally, the man of the house takes action... and guards the threshold. It's on! Woody wants his home back. He rains shattering hammer blows down on the starling. The squatter needs a way to disarm that weapon. So he hangs on tight.
♪ ♪
His sharp beak tip is dangerously close to the flicker's eye. Woody braces and uses his powerful neck muscles to break free. Woody needs a new tactic. He grabs the starling's beak. But this sitting tenant isn't going anywhere. It's stalemate. Starling obstinacy claims the day. And the future of a new brood of nest bandits is secure.