1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,620 For animals all around the world... 2 00:00:06,620 --> 00:00:10,260 ..their first year is one of the most difficult 3 00:00:10,260 --> 00:00:12,660 and most dangerous. 4 00:00:14,300 --> 00:00:18,540 To survive, they must overcome daily threats and challenges... 5 00:00:20,140 --> 00:00:22,620 ..from rivals, 6 00:00:22,620 --> 00:00:25,060 from the elements, 7 00:00:25,060 --> 00:00:28,020 and predators. 8 00:00:28,020 --> 00:00:32,380 In this series, three wildlife camera operators will travel the 9 00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:35,420 globe to follow our planet's most 10 00:00:35,420 --> 00:00:38,980 iconic species as they grow and develop, 11 00:00:38,980 --> 00:00:40,660 day by day. 12 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:47,300 In this episode, the babies are between three and nine months old, 13 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:51,300 and face tough challenges in the race to independence. 14 00:00:52,980 --> 00:00:57,780 In California, a sea otter pup has to learn what to eat, 15 00:00:57,780 --> 00:01:01,060 and what to avoid in a human-dominated world. 16 00:01:01,060 --> 00:01:05,700 It's always a shame to see wild animals playing with things that... 17 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:07,540 ..we have discarded. 18 00:01:07,540 --> 00:01:09,020 In Sri Lanka, 19 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:13,020 a five-month-old macaque must use his privileged position 20 00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:15,860 to learn the skills to stay on top. 21 00:01:17,540 --> 00:01:21,340 At the edge of the Arctic, as food becomes scarce, 22 00:01:21,340 --> 00:01:26,420 three-month-old fox cubs must compete for every meal. 23 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:31,100 And in Kenya, a five-month-old elephant has only a couple of weeks 24 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:36,740 to meet new families and build the bonds to survive a dangerous world. 25 00:01:36,740 --> 00:01:41,060 I just want them to come back out of harm's way and be safe. 26 00:01:41,060 --> 00:01:45,900 This is the story of what it takes to survive in the wild. 27 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,540 Half of those cubs won't make it. 28 00:01:52,380 --> 00:01:56,300 This is their first year on Earth. 29 00:01:56,300 --> 00:01:59,900 It's almost like seeing your kid ride a bike for the first time. 30 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:24,140 Southern Kenya. 31 00:02:24,140 --> 00:02:28,380 The Maasai Mara joins the Serengeti to form an immense grassland... 32 00:02:33,860 --> 00:02:37,700 ..one of the most important wildlife habitats in Africa. 33 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:45,860 It's April, and the rainy season brings new growth. 34 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:52,540 Hidden amongst the long grass is a spotted hyena den. 35 00:02:54,180 --> 00:02:56,540 HYENAS WHINE 36 00:02:56,540 --> 00:03:00,460 Twin sisters Bisque and Chowder and now six months old. 37 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:08,380 They are part of a clan of over 60, living in a female-ruled hierarchy. 38 00:03:12,660 --> 00:03:16,740 When they were only three months old, the sisters learned that 39 00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:19,740 they could use the high rank inherited from their mother 40 00:03:19,740 --> 00:03:22,180 to dominate others in the den. 41 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:30,740 But they don't yet understand the dangers lurking outside it. 42 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:36,700 Only 50% of cubs make it through their first year. 43 00:03:38,260 --> 00:03:39,620 LOW GROWL 44 00:03:39,620 --> 00:03:42,220 Lions are their greatest threat. 45 00:03:47,820 --> 00:03:52,540 Until now, they've been small enough to hide in their den underground, 46 00:03:52,540 --> 00:03:54,380 but they're growing quickly. 47 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:56,700 They already weigh ten kilos - 48 00:03:56,700 --> 00:03:58,860 four times their birth weight - 49 00:03:58,860 --> 00:04:01,660 and soon will be too big to hide. 50 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:05,300 As they become more exposed, 51 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:08,700 they must quickly learn to identify threats from outside 52 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:10,980 to survive the next few months. 53 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:18,900 Wildlife cameraman Vianet Djenguet 54 00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:22,860 is here to follow Bisque and Chowder through this critical stage. 55 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:28,420 I'm hoping I will 56 00:04:28,420 --> 00:04:33,660 catch the moment where they will go and explore the world 57 00:04:33,660 --> 00:04:36,140 beyond the safety of their den. 58 00:04:46,060 --> 00:04:48,340 As the cubs have grown in size, 59 00:04:48,340 --> 00:04:51,620 they have also grown in confidence. 60 00:04:54,820 --> 00:04:56,460 Wow... 61 00:04:56,460 --> 00:04:57,660 Look at that. 62 00:04:57,660 --> 00:05:00,500 HYENA CUB SNIFFS 63 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:07,740 CUBS SQUEAL 64 00:05:07,740 --> 00:05:10,500 VIANET LAUGHS 65 00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:12,300 They are so inquisitive! 66 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:21,740 Researchers from Michigan State University have studied 67 00:05:21,740 --> 00:05:24,060 the Mara hyenas for 30 years. 68 00:05:25,700 --> 00:05:28,980 Emily Nonnamaker and Kecil John are closely following 69 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:31,380 the development of Bisque and Chowder, 70 00:05:31,380 --> 00:05:34,860 and their mother they call Soup. 71 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:37,740 They've had some time to learn where their rank is from their mum, 72 00:05:37,740 --> 00:05:40,540 and now they're going to start relying more on each other. 73 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:43,900 And when they're being aggressive towards other low-ranking hyenas, 74 00:05:43,900 --> 00:05:46,420 they're really going to have to back each other up 75 00:05:46,420 --> 00:05:48,700 and stop relying on Mum as much. 76 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:52,420 Hyenas produce milk so rich in fat and protein 77 00:05:52,420 --> 00:05:55,980 that the twins can be left for days while their mother hunts. 78 00:05:59,420 --> 00:06:03,660 But without her, they are vulnerable to outside threats. 79 00:06:12,220 --> 00:06:15,140 I don't know what...what's happened, but, erm... 80 00:06:15,140 --> 00:06:17,660 ..something has got their attention. 81 00:06:26,860 --> 00:06:30,540 A lone male hyena is lurking in the long grass. 82 00:06:34,780 --> 00:06:39,220 Every hyena has a unique scent, so the twins will be able to quickly 83 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:41,220 detect if they know him or not. 84 00:06:44,940 --> 00:06:48,180 See, they just don't like male presence here. 85 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:50,780 They just stay all on alert. 86 00:06:53,340 --> 00:06:56,860 Young males move between clans, looking to mate. 87 00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:03,420 It's coming round. 88 00:07:03,420 --> 00:07:04,820 It's trying to sneak in. 89 00:07:08,020 --> 00:07:10,780 The sisters are only a quarter of his size, 90 00:07:10,780 --> 00:07:14,660 but they outrank him in this female-led society. 91 00:07:14,660 --> 00:07:16,540 They cannot overpower him, 92 00:07:16,540 --> 00:07:19,660 but they must still oppose his approach... 93 00:07:19,660 --> 00:07:23,500 ..and all hyenas are taught to respect high rank. 94 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:31,780 CUBS SQUEAL AND WHINE 95 00:07:33,460 --> 00:07:35,940 Look at the size of this man! 96 00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:39,380 But they just don't care, they're challenging him, you know? 97 00:07:41,180 --> 00:07:44,020 "We are small, but we will... 98 00:07:44,020 --> 00:07:46,540 "..protect our territory." 99 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:53,420 Maintaining your rank is incredibly important in hyena society. 100 00:07:53,420 --> 00:07:58,020 All adult immigrant males are lower than all the females and their cubs. 101 00:07:58,020 --> 00:07:59,900 Males know their place in society, 102 00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:03,860 and they know if they step out of line, they might be punished. 103 00:08:03,860 --> 00:08:06,340 Hyena punishments can be brutal, 104 00:08:06,340 --> 00:08:08,180 even fatal, 105 00:08:08,180 --> 00:08:10,660 but he is persistent. 106 00:08:10,660 --> 00:08:14,020 Even though they are only six months old, Bisque and Chowder 107 00:08:14,020 --> 00:08:16,340 have to stand up to his challenge. 108 00:08:17,540 --> 00:08:21,180 CUBS WHINE AND SQUEAK 109 00:08:26,060 --> 00:08:28,540 The twins keep him out. 110 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:31,780 This successful interaction means they are learning 111 00:08:31,780 --> 00:08:33,420 to protect their clan. 112 00:08:33,420 --> 00:08:36,420 I think for Bisque and Chowder, this will be 113 00:08:36,420 --> 00:08:40,300 something their mother, Soup, will be proud of. 114 00:08:40,300 --> 00:08:43,300 This is a milestone for the sisters, 115 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:45,900 reinforcing their status at the den. 116 00:09:09,340 --> 00:09:10,700 The next day, 117 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,780 Soup is back from the hunt, and with her daughters. 118 00:09:15,260 --> 00:09:19,940 Since their birth, the clan's den site has been their entire world. 119 00:09:19,940 --> 00:09:22,940 Now, at seven months old, they need to start learning 120 00:09:22,940 --> 00:09:25,380 the skills to survive outside it... 121 00:09:29,060 --> 00:09:31,660 ..and their mother takes the lead. 122 00:09:47,340 --> 00:09:52,220 This is the first time they've left the safety of the den. 123 00:09:52,220 --> 00:09:56,580 Soup's basically taking them out to explore their territory. 124 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:16,300 The sisters must stick close to their mother. 125 00:10:16,300 --> 00:10:20,540 She has to teach them how to identify and escape threats. 126 00:10:20,540 --> 00:10:23,700 This is a very significant moment. 127 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:26,940 The more they explore with their mother, Soup, 128 00:10:26,940 --> 00:10:31,220 the better the chances of them making it 129 00:10:31,220 --> 00:10:33,420 when they are on their own. 130 00:10:44,620 --> 00:10:50,380 At this time of year, long grass can easily conceal stalking predators. 131 00:10:53,860 --> 00:10:56,140 I just spotted some lions. 132 00:10:57,140 --> 00:10:58,820 Like, four individuals. 133 00:10:59,860 --> 00:11:03,380 And I'm quite nervous because... 134 00:11:03,380 --> 00:11:05,940 ..lions don't like hyenas. 135 00:11:08,860 --> 00:11:13,060 The cubs are born with an instinctive fear of a lion's scent, 136 00:11:13,060 --> 00:11:16,540 but no concept of what these predators look like. 137 00:11:16,540 --> 00:11:20,780 They can only learn to put the two together face-to-face. 138 00:11:22,620 --> 00:11:26,260 Lions are the number one danger for our cubs. 139 00:11:26,260 --> 00:11:30,100 At any stage, if a lion catches them, they will kill them. 140 00:11:32,260 --> 00:11:36,860 Lion predation accounts for around 30% of cub deaths. 141 00:11:38,660 --> 00:11:43,060 And Vianet has lost sight of the sisters in the long grass. 142 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,820 THUNDER RUMBLES 143 00:12:06,140 --> 00:12:08,900 After hours looking for the cubs, 144 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:11,940 Vianet find the family back at the den. 145 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:15,820 Soup has managed to keep them safe. 146 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:19,460 HYENA MOANS 147 00:12:21,460 --> 00:12:24,940 WHISPERING: When I saw the lions this morning, 148 00:12:24,940 --> 00:12:26,900 I was really worried. 149 00:12:29,220 --> 00:12:31,420 But now look... 150 00:12:31,420 --> 00:12:33,140 ..they're back, 151 00:12:33,140 --> 00:12:35,540 having quality time with their mother. 152 00:12:38,780 --> 00:12:41,260 It must have been a big day for them. 153 00:12:48,420 --> 00:12:53,820 But today is just the first step on a steep learning curve. 154 00:12:53,820 --> 00:12:56,860 As they spend more time away from the den on their own, 155 00:12:56,860 --> 00:13:00,940 they must learn to recognise and evade lions themselves, 156 00:13:00,940 --> 00:13:03,940 to make it through their first year. 157 00:13:23,460 --> 00:13:28,380 Every baby faces difficulties on the road to independence... 158 00:13:28,380 --> 00:13:32,540 ..but for some, the harsh reality comes as quite a shock. 159 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:42,540 November brings the monsoon to the ruins of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka, 160 00:13:42,540 --> 00:13:45,780 which have weathered the storms for a thousand years. 161 00:13:48,580 --> 00:13:51,260 The human population left long ago... 162 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:56,740 ..and the toque macaques moved in. 163 00:13:59,620 --> 00:14:03,260 Intelligent monkeys found nowhere else on Earth. 164 00:14:07,340 --> 00:14:12,020 Sue Gibson is following the first year of a very privileged baby 165 00:14:12,020 --> 00:14:14,820 born in the heart of these regal ruins. 166 00:14:17,980 --> 00:14:23,860 Jazir was born five months ago in another strict social hierarchy. 167 00:14:23,860 --> 00:14:28,620 His mother is the alpha female of this troupe of 34 macaques. 168 00:14:29,620 --> 00:14:32,220 And since his first couple of weeks, 169 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:34,740 he has physically transformed. 170 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:40,260 Jazir is now a healthy five-month-old. 171 00:14:40,260 --> 00:14:44,540 He has doubled in size, weighs around a kilo, 172 00:14:44,540 --> 00:14:49,780 and is eating up energy as he explores his treetop world. 173 00:14:49,780 --> 00:14:53,660 JAZIR CHITTERS AND CHIRPS 174 00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:59,300 He now has the coordination and motor skills 175 00:14:59,300 --> 00:15:03,180 to use his tail as a counterbalance and safety line. 176 00:15:04,620 --> 00:15:09,020 The agility of these babies at five months is off the scale. 177 00:15:09,020 --> 00:15:11,220 I mean, they're like Olympics gymnasts. 178 00:15:12,940 --> 00:15:14,380 In the past few months, 179 00:15:14,380 --> 00:15:17,260 he has learned to balance on moving branches, 180 00:15:17,260 --> 00:15:18,660 judge distances, 181 00:15:18,660 --> 00:15:21,060 and leap from tree to tree. 182 00:15:28,660 --> 00:15:33,380 Jazir's physical prowess and rapid transformation is directly linked 183 00:15:33,380 --> 00:15:36,180 to his mother's high rank and protection. 184 00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:38,580 Jazir really has a head start in this group, 185 00:15:38,580 --> 00:15:40,900 being born to a high-ranking female. 186 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:43,820 And one day he could lead a troupe like this. 187 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:49,460 His mother's milk is more nutritious than lower-ranking females 188 00:15:49,460 --> 00:15:52,540 because she gets priority to the better foods. 189 00:15:52,540 --> 00:15:54,380 He could grow 50% bigger 190 00:15:54,380 --> 00:15:57,620 than his low-ranking peers in his first year. 191 00:15:59,180 --> 00:16:02,940 But his relationship with his mother is about to change 192 00:16:02,940 --> 00:16:06,340 as he enters a new phase of development... 193 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:09,020 ..weaning. 194 00:16:09,020 --> 00:16:11,660 And because he's benefited from her high rank, 195 00:16:11,660 --> 00:16:15,740 Jazir is being weaned two months earlier than some of his peers. 196 00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:21,420 It can be a very unpleasant process. 197 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:29,860 A bite to the arm sends a painful signal. 198 00:16:36,260 --> 00:16:40,500 Jazir's mum is starting to reject him when he comes for milk, 199 00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,900 and that's only going to happen more and more, which is a 200 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:44,460 real problem for Jazir, 201 00:16:44,460 --> 00:16:48,500 because it means he's got to find his nourishment from another source. 202 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:51,580 This is going to be a real turning point for him. 203 00:16:53,620 --> 00:16:57,740 JAZIR SQUEAKS 204 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:04,460 So, up to now, it's been kindergarten, 205 00:17:04,460 --> 00:17:06,260 things have been pretty easy. 206 00:17:06,260 --> 00:17:08,220 Now it's time to go to school 207 00:17:08,220 --> 00:17:12,380 and learn to be a little more independent of your mum. 208 00:17:12,380 --> 00:17:16,100 Dr Wolfgang Dittus from the Smithsonian Institute 209 00:17:16,100 --> 00:17:18,580 has studied the social and family life of these monkeys 210 00:17:18,580 --> 00:17:21,260 for almost 50 years. 211 00:17:21,260 --> 00:17:23,140 So, as long as Mum's got milk, 212 00:17:23,140 --> 00:17:25,620 he's going to take advantage of her. 213 00:17:25,620 --> 00:17:28,660 She's got to push him off and be a little bit nasty. 214 00:17:46,740 --> 00:17:51,780 Jazir has no choice but to let go and learn to find food for himself. 215 00:17:56,340 --> 00:17:59,340 He's got to be a little bit more resourceful with how he 216 00:17:59,340 --> 00:18:02,820 gets his food. This is a really good lesson to be learning now. 217 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:09,860 THUNDER RUMBLES 218 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:15,340 But daily rains reduce foraging time... 219 00:18:15,340 --> 00:18:18,060 ..and send Jazir back to his mother's side. 220 00:18:29,980 --> 00:18:34,820 More than 100 different types of fruit, flower, leaves and insects 221 00:18:34,820 --> 00:18:36,900 come and go over the seasons. 222 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:44,340 But Jazir has to learn when and where he can find them. 223 00:18:46,660 --> 00:18:50,260 Fortunately for him, those at the top of the pecking order 224 00:18:50,260 --> 00:18:51,900 get first access. 225 00:18:59,260 --> 00:19:02,500 Jazir - like any other high-ranking, sort of, young baby - 226 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:06,020 gets away with lots of mischievous things, 227 00:19:06,020 --> 00:19:07,980 because if anybody tries to 228 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:10,980 discipline him, anybody from a lower rank tries to discipline, 229 00:19:10,980 --> 00:19:14,220 he'll just scream and his mum will come to his rescue and back him up. 230 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:16,700 So these high-ranking little infants, 231 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:18,300 they learn to be brats. 232 00:19:20,180 --> 00:19:23,980 Learning to be a brat could be a useful survival technique. 233 00:19:26,220 --> 00:19:30,660 It could short-cut the energy Jazir needs to find and collect food. 234 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:40,620 Berries are a year-round favourite, 235 00:19:40,620 --> 00:19:43,580 and a food many of the infants start with. 236 00:19:45,540 --> 00:19:50,020 But picking them demands time and energy. 237 00:19:50,020 --> 00:19:54,260 Jazir watches his peers at work... 238 00:19:54,260 --> 00:19:55,980 ..then makes his move... 239 00:20:02,740 --> 00:20:06,540 ..stealing food from another baby. 240 00:20:10,340 --> 00:20:12,540 Theft is a milestone. 241 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:19,780 It proves he's learning to exploit his status to get what he wants. 242 00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:24,340 He's asserting his position, and also putting them 243 00:20:24,340 --> 00:20:26,140 back in their place. 244 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:35,420 But this development in behaviour could have negative consequences. 245 00:20:37,340 --> 00:20:42,180 Two days later, Sue sees signs that Jazir's aggression is growing. 246 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:47,500 But he is an inexperienced infant, 247 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:49,980 and hasn't yet learned when to stop. 248 00:20:52,580 --> 00:20:54,580 If he pushes too hard, 249 00:20:54,580 --> 00:20:56,220 parents get involved. 250 00:21:01,540 --> 00:21:06,180 A firm slap in the face from another mother causes havoc. 251 00:21:06,180 --> 00:21:08,820 No-one hits the alpha's son. 252 00:21:08,820 --> 00:21:12,780 AGGRESSIVE SCREECHING 253 00:21:22,860 --> 00:21:25,100 There's a strict hierarchy for a reason. 254 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:28,940 These rules need to be enforced in the interest of the group. 255 00:21:28,940 --> 00:21:31,780 They have to stick to their rank because, otherwise, 256 00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:33,340 it's just chaos. 257 00:21:39,740 --> 00:21:43,140 Jazir's high status in the troop allows him a certain level of 258 00:21:43,140 --> 00:21:45,180 protection, but he's being 259 00:21:45,180 --> 00:21:48,420 heavy-handed with his peers and making enemies. 260 00:21:51,340 --> 00:21:54,820 All males are eventually forced to leave their birth troops, 261 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:57,860 and life without family support can be tough. 262 00:21:59,540 --> 00:22:03,100 Jazir needs to start learning from his social interactions 263 00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:07,700 and begin to forge alliances to keep the advantages he was born with. 264 00:22:36,340 --> 00:22:38,820 Over 14,000km away, 265 00:22:38,820 --> 00:22:42,300 another infant is on the verge of weaning, but he has to learn 266 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:45,900 how to find food in a complicated man-made environment. 267 00:22:48,940 --> 00:22:53,260 Monterey in California is an affluent coastal town and tourist 268 00:22:53,260 --> 00:22:57,100 hot spot, attracting nearly five million visitors a year. 269 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:06,380 Monterey sits in the middle of 270 00:23:06,380 --> 00:23:08,900 the home range of the southern sea otter - 271 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:11,580 the smallest marine mammal in the world. 272 00:23:14,540 --> 00:23:18,220 This population was almost wiped out by fur hunters, 273 00:23:18,220 --> 00:23:21,460 but now numbers just over 3,000. 274 00:23:25,300 --> 00:23:27,980 Limpet is a winter-born pup. 275 00:23:27,980 --> 00:23:30,820 It's February, and he is now 11 weeks old 276 00:23:30,820 --> 00:23:32,940 and weighs over seven kilos. 277 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:40,500 Just a month ago, Limpet struggled to master a critical 278 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:43,580 but deceptively simple step for a sea otter pup... 279 00:23:45,020 --> 00:23:46,860 ..his first dive. 280 00:23:49,740 --> 00:23:52,740 He could only stay under for five seconds at a time. 281 00:23:54,860 --> 00:23:58,620 But in four weeks, his physiology has changed. 282 00:23:58,620 --> 00:24:01,460 He can now hold more oxygen in his lungs, 283 00:24:01,460 --> 00:24:03,700 dive down to around two metres, 284 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:06,140 and stay under for almost a minute. 285 00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:13,500 Wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson is following 286 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:17,340 Limpet and his mother to understand what factors make the first few 287 00:24:17,340 --> 00:24:19,780 months of life so challenging here. 288 00:24:32,140 --> 00:24:34,020 A perfect dive. 289 00:24:34,020 --> 00:24:38,220 Looks like all that youthful fur has gone, he now has an adult coat. 290 00:24:38,220 --> 00:24:40,500 He's able to submerge with ease. 291 00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:45,580 Limpet's energy demands have doubled since his birth, 292 00:24:45,580 --> 00:24:50,300 yet he is still dependent on his mother for both milk and solid food. 293 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:55,900 In the next couple of weeks, he has to learn for himself 294 00:24:55,900 --> 00:24:59,340 the skills to identify food and bring it to the surface. 295 00:25:03,060 --> 00:25:05,700 But there were no signs he's capable of this yet, 296 00:25:05,700 --> 00:25:08,020 and that could be a problem for his mother. 297 00:25:10,540 --> 00:25:13,180 One slight concern I have is that his mummy's actually 298 00:25:13,180 --> 00:25:15,660 looking really thin. 299 00:25:15,660 --> 00:25:19,380 Ah... She looked quite ribby as she was diving. 300 00:25:19,380 --> 00:25:22,700 She looked a little bit skin and bones. 301 00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:26,420 She should have a little more body fat on her and look a little better. 302 00:25:26,420 --> 00:25:30,060 Michelle Steadler of Monterey Bay Aquarium has been studying 303 00:25:30,060 --> 00:25:34,940 the stresses on mothers raising pups here for 30 years. 304 00:25:34,940 --> 00:25:38,180 They're still nursing the pup - that takes a lot of energy. 305 00:25:38,180 --> 00:25:41,340 And then they're also giving the pup a third of the prey items, 306 00:25:41,340 --> 00:25:43,660 or the food items, that they bring up from the bottom. 307 00:25:43,660 --> 00:25:47,140 And so they're constantly giving and giving to the pup, 308 00:25:47,140 --> 00:25:50,660 and they get skinnier and skinnier as time goes on. 309 00:25:50,660 --> 00:25:55,420 So it's a big draw on their energy resources, for the females. 310 00:25:58,580 --> 00:26:00,540 And unlike other marine mammals, 311 00:26:00,540 --> 00:26:04,780 sea otters don't have any blubber to act as energy reserves. 312 00:26:09,460 --> 00:26:14,100 They have to find all the calories they need to survive every day. 313 00:26:24,580 --> 00:26:26,940 Limpet is developing fast. 314 00:26:26,940 --> 00:26:30,340 He now has the stamina to dive almost as often as his mother. 315 00:26:33,260 --> 00:26:36,860 But he's not yet finding food for himself. 316 00:26:36,860 --> 00:26:39,900 And as he must learn to forage in a man-made marina, 317 00:26:39,900 --> 00:26:42,140 he faces further challenges. 318 00:26:51,340 --> 00:26:56,140 Pups can get stuck in structures underwater... 319 00:26:56,140 --> 00:26:59,180 ..entangled in fishing gear... 320 00:26:59,180 --> 00:27:01,220 ..or hit by boats. 321 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:04,740 OTTER CALLS 322 00:27:04,740 --> 00:27:08,340 And these calls are coming from a mother otter in distress. 323 00:27:11,580 --> 00:27:17,300 OTTER CONTINUES CALLING 324 00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:20,580 A female otter has obviously lost her pup, and she's swimming 325 00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:23,980 all around the harbour - vocalising - trying to find it, 326 00:27:23,980 --> 00:27:26,020 waiting to hear a response. 327 00:27:28,860 --> 00:27:31,140 Now she's going to go right in front of the boat. 328 00:27:32,100 --> 00:27:34,100 Don't do it! 329 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:40,580 A pup surfaces by the mother. 330 00:27:40,580 --> 00:27:43,700 Was that Limpet? Does anyone know, is this Limpet? 331 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:49,420 Limpet appears confused by her calls and calls back, 332 00:27:49,420 --> 00:27:52,060 even though she isn't calling for him. 333 00:27:54,900 --> 00:27:57,540 LIMPET CALLS 334 00:27:59,620 --> 00:28:05,020 Quite a frantic call, and pups are tuned in to respond to it quickly. 335 00:28:05,020 --> 00:28:08,260 OTTERS CONTINUE CALLING 336 00:28:09,940 --> 00:28:12,740 As soon as Limpet's mother sees what's happening... 337 00:28:14,860 --> 00:28:17,620 ..she moves her distracted pup away. 338 00:28:27,740 --> 00:28:30,020 It just makes me think, you know, about how vulnerable 339 00:28:30,020 --> 00:28:31,860 Limpet really still is. 340 00:28:31,860 --> 00:28:35,020 And you see something like this, and you realise there are so many things 341 00:28:35,020 --> 00:28:36,540 that could still happen to him. 342 00:28:36,540 --> 00:28:39,180 Yeah, there are a lot of things that can happen to him, 343 00:28:39,180 --> 00:28:42,460 and you just keep your fingers crossed and hope that his mum 344 00:28:42,460 --> 00:28:45,540 gets him to that point where he can be weaned and off on his own 345 00:28:45,540 --> 00:28:49,500 and become a grown-up sea otter, basically. 346 00:29:02,940 --> 00:29:06,580 At only 12 weeks old, Limpet's energy demands actually 347 00:29:06,580 --> 00:29:09,220 outstrip his fully-grown mother's. 348 00:29:10,980 --> 00:29:14,260 But now there are finally signs that he is capable of retrieving 349 00:29:14,260 --> 00:29:16,020 objects from the seabed. 350 00:29:17,340 --> 00:29:19,020 What's he got? 351 00:29:19,020 --> 00:29:21,220 He's picked up something unusual. 352 00:29:22,340 --> 00:29:23,940 A latex glove. 353 00:29:29,380 --> 00:29:32,300 He can't quite yet identify his food. 354 00:29:33,420 --> 00:29:38,860 It's always a shame to see wild animals playing with things that... 355 00:29:38,860 --> 00:29:40,380 ..we have discarded. 356 00:29:41,820 --> 00:29:43,980 Monterey Bay is one of the most 357 00:29:43,980 --> 00:29:46,620 protected marine sanctuaries in the US. 358 00:29:47,780 --> 00:29:52,500 Yet, pollution on land can still run off into the ocean. 359 00:29:52,500 --> 00:29:56,140 40% of otter deaths are as a result of poisoning, 360 00:29:56,140 --> 00:29:58,740 infection or contamination. 361 00:30:02,860 --> 00:30:07,060 And plastic waste also ends up in the sea otter's home range. 362 00:30:08,940 --> 00:30:13,700 There are at least five golf courses in striking distance of the ocean. 363 00:30:18,420 --> 00:30:20,300 He's got a golf ball! 364 00:30:21,860 --> 00:30:24,380 He hasn't quite figured out what's food and what isn't, 365 00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:27,460 and he doesn't want to start chewing on things like golf balls, 366 00:30:27,460 --> 00:30:30,540 because they can be toxic, like so many of the things 367 00:30:30,540 --> 00:30:32,700 that end up in the oceans. 368 00:30:37,260 --> 00:30:42,020 Scientists have collected more than 50,000 golf balls from the seabed 369 00:30:42,020 --> 00:30:44,660 here in the last five years. 370 00:30:44,660 --> 00:30:47,340 Over time, their plastic coating 371 00:30:47,340 --> 00:30:50,980 will break down into smaller and smaller pieces. 372 00:30:52,580 --> 00:30:54,700 Microplastics are ingested 373 00:30:54,700 --> 00:30:58,300 by the shellfish that Limpet and his mother eat. 374 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:00,940 They can build up in their stomachs 375 00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:03,340 and poison them. 376 00:31:03,340 --> 00:31:07,180 No matter where you go in the sea these days, 377 00:31:07,180 --> 00:31:10,700 you tend to come across human detritus. 378 00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:15,180 And when you've got an endangered population - like these guys - 379 00:31:15,180 --> 00:31:17,780 this really isn't something you want to see. 380 00:31:20,660 --> 00:31:24,100 At 12 weeks old, Limpet is developing the skills 381 00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:26,980 to forage items from the seabed. 382 00:31:26,980 --> 00:31:29,500 Ah... OTTER CALLS 383 00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:31,700 Hopefully, in the next four weeks, 384 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:35,060 he can turn a corner and learn to identify prey, 385 00:31:35,060 --> 00:31:37,020 rather than plastic, 386 00:31:37,020 --> 00:31:40,340 and take the pressure to find food off his mother. 387 00:31:53,700 --> 00:31:57,340 Southwestern Uganda. 388 00:31:57,340 --> 00:32:02,540 Once, a single forest spread from here into four other countries. 389 00:32:05,340 --> 00:32:10,220 But now this region supports the densest rural human population 390 00:32:10,220 --> 00:32:11,820 on the continent. 391 00:32:16,940 --> 00:32:20,140 Only isolated pockets of the forest remain, 392 00:32:20,140 --> 00:32:23,380 including the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest... 393 00:32:27,540 --> 00:32:32,940 ..home to one of the rarest wild babies on the planet... 394 00:32:32,940 --> 00:32:34,980 ..a mountain gorilla. 395 00:32:38,860 --> 00:32:43,100 Nyakabara is one of, perhaps, only 50 mountain gorilla babies 396 00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:44,740 in the world. 397 00:32:48,580 --> 00:32:50,340 She's eight months old 398 00:32:50,340 --> 00:32:52,660 and weighs around five kilos. 399 00:32:59,180 --> 00:33:03,980 Learning to explore and push boundaries is an essential part 400 00:33:03,980 --> 00:33:06,420 of infant development... 401 00:33:06,420 --> 00:33:10,020 ..one that can test both mother and baby. 402 00:33:13,860 --> 00:33:17,860 Vianet is here as Nyakabara embarks on the greatest challenge 403 00:33:17,860 --> 00:33:20,020 of her first year - 404 00:33:20,020 --> 00:33:24,300 to escape her mother's protection and learn the skills to climb. 405 00:33:25,780 --> 00:33:30,860 Mountain gorillas are endangered, and so closely related to humans 406 00:33:30,860 --> 00:33:33,500 that they can pick up our infections, 407 00:33:33,500 --> 00:33:35,540 so Vianet a must wear a mask. 408 00:33:46,260 --> 00:33:49,460 At only eight months old, Nyakabara is developing 409 00:33:49,460 --> 00:33:51,940 twice as fast as human babies. 410 00:33:55,380 --> 00:33:59,100 Her curiosity in the forest is growing fast, 411 00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:02,580 but she hasn't learned the skills yet to explore it. 412 00:34:04,980 --> 00:34:08,220 What I would like to see is her creating that gap 413 00:34:08,220 --> 00:34:10,060 between her and her mother. 414 00:34:10,060 --> 00:34:12,260 You know, being more independent. 415 00:34:13,940 --> 00:34:18,260 And, of course, her mother is being very, very cautious, 416 00:34:18,260 --> 00:34:20,220 very protective. 417 00:34:20,220 --> 00:34:24,500 She keeps making sure that... 418 00:34:24,500 --> 00:34:26,740 ..Nyakabara doesn't go too far. 419 00:34:26,740 --> 00:34:29,740 She's trying to keep her close by. 420 00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:36,620 She usually doesn't let Nyakabara stray more than a metre away. 421 00:34:38,900 --> 00:34:43,820 But her mother has good reason to be protective of such a precious baby. 422 00:34:47,660 --> 00:34:49,940 When she was only two months old, 423 00:34:49,940 --> 00:34:54,140 Vianet witnessed Nyakabara and her mother fall from a tree. 424 00:34:59,620 --> 00:35:03,300 Falls account for many baby gorilla fatalities. 425 00:35:07,140 --> 00:35:12,180 But Nyakabara's mother HAS to take her baby to great heights every day 426 00:35:12,180 --> 00:35:15,860 because the trees here are so rich in food. 427 00:35:21,020 --> 00:35:23,340 The only other population of mountain gorillas 428 00:35:23,340 --> 00:35:27,980 live on the steep volcanoes of the Congo-Rwanda border, 429 00:35:27,980 --> 00:35:30,580 where the vegetation is more limited. 430 00:35:32,660 --> 00:35:36,260 Dr Martha Robbins of the Max Planck Institute 431 00:35:36,260 --> 00:35:39,820 has studied the Bwindi gorillas for more than two decades 432 00:35:39,820 --> 00:35:42,220 to find out how they use the forest. 433 00:35:42,220 --> 00:35:45,340 Because Bwindi's at a lower altitude, there are a lot more 434 00:35:45,340 --> 00:35:49,500 fruiting trees here that the gorillas can capitalise on. 435 00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:53,700 Some gorillas weigh more than 180 kilos, 436 00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:57,380 and have to find 20 kilos of vegetation to eat a day. 437 00:35:57,380 --> 00:36:00,700 And fruit provides a high-energy hit, 438 00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:04,020 and their bodies are well adapted for finding it. 439 00:36:06,460 --> 00:36:11,180 Gorillas have the greatest muscle mass of any living primate, 440 00:36:11,180 --> 00:36:14,060 so can support their own weight on a single limb 441 00:36:14,060 --> 00:36:15,980 to control their position. 442 00:36:23,780 --> 00:36:27,940 And they have a highly adaptable power grip to grasp trunks, 443 00:36:27,940 --> 00:36:30,140 vines and branches. 444 00:36:32,460 --> 00:36:35,300 Nyakabara must learn these techniques, 445 00:36:35,300 --> 00:36:39,460 but no gorilla can afford to make mistakes at these great heights. 446 00:36:41,860 --> 00:36:45,060 I'm quite concerned about them. It's quite high. 447 00:36:45,060 --> 00:36:47,860 Those trees, we're talking about 30, 40 metres, or what? 448 00:36:47,860 --> 00:36:51,580 I mean, the gorilla's world is much more three-dimensional than for us. 449 00:36:51,580 --> 00:36:54,780 They climb, there's food they want to eat up there. 450 00:36:54,780 --> 00:36:56,580 And so, when they're very young, 451 00:36:56,580 --> 00:37:00,380 they will still stay attached to their mother, like Nyakabara. 452 00:37:00,380 --> 00:37:03,500 And that grip that those babies have on their mothers 453 00:37:03,500 --> 00:37:05,140 is extremely strong. 454 00:37:06,380 --> 00:37:09,860 Human babies are born with the same grip reflex 455 00:37:09,860 --> 00:37:12,620 but lose it after three months because they don't need to 456 00:37:12,620 --> 00:37:14,700 cling to their mothers to survive. 457 00:37:28,660 --> 00:37:32,940 Three days pass, and Vianet is seeing a change in Nyakabara. 458 00:37:34,780 --> 00:37:36,940 She still isn't big enough or skilled enough 459 00:37:36,940 --> 00:37:38,660 to negotiate the canopy. 460 00:37:43,380 --> 00:37:45,060 But nearer the ground, 461 00:37:45,060 --> 00:37:48,220 she's practising and refining her motor skills. 462 00:37:57,980 --> 00:38:02,020 Her protective mother always keeps her within a metre's distance. 463 00:38:09,540 --> 00:38:12,420 But Nyakabara keeps testing her limits. 464 00:38:30,060 --> 00:38:32,060 Oh, my God. 465 00:38:32,060 --> 00:38:34,700 Oh... 466 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:39,060 Look, she's climbed that little branch by herself. 467 00:38:41,860 --> 00:38:45,900 This is a real milestone for a great ape that spends 468 00:38:45,900 --> 00:38:49,140 15% of its life up trees. 469 00:38:56,300 --> 00:39:00,300 In the next few months, her mother will begin to let her roam further 470 00:39:00,300 --> 00:39:02,980 and test the boundaries even more. 471 00:39:05,820 --> 00:39:08,860 That's just great to see. It's great! 472 00:39:10,060 --> 00:39:12,780 But to really thrive in Bwindi, 473 00:39:12,780 --> 00:39:17,820 Nyakabara must keep developing her strength, balance and coordination, 474 00:39:17,820 --> 00:39:22,900 so she will be able to climb and start to find food for herself. 475 00:39:38,140 --> 00:39:42,580 For some babies, learning to access food is not enough - 476 00:39:42,580 --> 00:39:46,300 they have to learn to fight their own siblings to make it through. 477 00:39:49,900 --> 00:39:53,140 Just a few kilometres south of the Arctic Circle 478 00:39:53,140 --> 00:39:58,660 lies the Hornstrandir peninsula - Iceland's most isolated region. 479 00:39:58,660 --> 00:40:02,300 Winter temperatures can drop below minus 20, 480 00:40:02,300 --> 00:40:06,220 and summer only sees two months totally free of snow. 481 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:14,460 Just one native land mammal is tough enough to call this place home... 482 00:40:14,460 --> 00:40:16,060 ..the Arctic fox. 483 00:40:18,220 --> 00:40:20,980 Colin is following a litter of eight fox cubs 484 00:40:20,980 --> 00:40:24,740 in the race to bulk up before winter. 485 00:40:24,740 --> 00:40:30,140 It's August, and the cubs face a critical turning point. 486 00:40:30,140 --> 00:40:33,340 Their mother has stopped providing milk. 487 00:40:37,340 --> 00:40:39,980 I wonder how many are still here. 488 00:40:47,820 --> 00:40:51,020 There are seven dark cubs at the den site, 489 00:40:51,020 --> 00:40:53,140 but the eighth is missing. 490 00:40:56,180 --> 00:40:58,540 Absolutely no sign of Fela. 491 00:40:58,540 --> 00:41:00,460 Yeah, that's a bit of a worry. 492 00:41:02,420 --> 00:41:05,780 Fela was the only white cub in the litter. 493 00:41:08,460 --> 00:41:12,620 And the last time Colin filmed the cubs, all were perfecting 494 00:41:12,620 --> 00:41:15,620 the characteristic hunting pounce... 495 00:41:15,620 --> 00:41:17,220 ..except Fela. 496 00:41:22,340 --> 00:41:27,300 A big litter like this, it's very unlikely that they'll all survive. 497 00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:31,140 I just hope Fela's here someplace, but I'm definitely concerned now. 498 00:41:35,940 --> 00:41:40,340 The cubs are now 11 weeks old and weigh around a kilo and a half. 499 00:41:42,980 --> 00:41:47,580 At this age, each cub must put on around 30g every day 500 00:41:47,580 --> 00:41:52,140 for the next two weeks to survive their first Icelandic winter. 501 00:41:53,980 --> 00:41:56,620 CUBS CHIRP AND SQUEAL 502 00:41:56,620 --> 00:41:59,100 Competition is fierce. 503 00:42:00,220 --> 00:42:04,180 ANIMAL CALLS 504 00:42:04,180 --> 00:42:09,060 A call from the ridge above might shed light on Fela's disappearance. 505 00:42:29,380 --> 00:42:33,020 Among the rocks, hidden in plain sight... 506 00:42:33,020 --> 00:42:34,420 ..is Fela. 507 00:42:34,420 --> 00:42:35,940 Oh... 508 00:42:35,940 --> 00:42:38,300 They're so well camouflaged. 509 00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:42,740 It's good to see Fela again. 510 00:42:45,020 --> 00:42:48,460 And I'm really genuinely surprised that... 511 00:42:48,460 --> 00:42:52,180 ..all eight of them are still alive. That's a real testament to the 512 00:42:52,180 --> 00:42:54,540 hard work and experience of their parents. 513 00:42:55,980 --> 00:43:00,700 But why Fela is up on the ridge, away from his family, is unclear. 514 00:43:02,380 --> 00:43:06,500 It's odd to be this far from the den, where all the others are. 515 00:43:23,820 --> 00:43:27,300 The next day, Colin returns to the den site... 516 00:43:29,260 --> 00:43:31,060 ..and so does Fela. 517 00:43:39,420 --> 00:43:42,780 This play looks all so innocent. 518 00:43:42,780 --> 00:43:46,340 But that will be tested very quickly when food arrives, 519 00:43:46,340 --> 00:43:48,660 and then it's every cub for himself. 520 00:43:50,620 --> 00:43:54,700 What I'm hoping to see then is that Fela is going to have to outcompete 521 00:43:54,700 --> 00:43:58,100 his brothers and sisters to get to the food first. 522 00:43:59,620 --> 00:44:03,260 The cubs' father has caught a fledgling seabird - 523 00:44:03,260 --> 00:44:06,660 essential food for hungry cubs who need to eat 524 00:44:06,660 --> 00:44:09,300 10% of their body weight each day. 525 00:44:10,940 --> 00:44:14,340 This might be Fela's only chance of a meal today. 526 00:44:14,340 --> 00:44:19,340 CUBS SQUEAL 527 00:44:23,300 --> 00:44:26,140 Two dark cubs dominate the bird. 528 00:44:30,140 --> 00:44:31,820 Fela is missing out. 529 00:44:33,780 --> 00:44:36,060 Arctic foxes do not do sharing, 530 00:44:36,060 --> 00:44:38,140 they do selfishness. 531 00:44:38,140 --> 00:44:42,660 The more selfish you are, the more likely you are to survive. 532 00:44:42,660 --> 00:44:47,060 The key is being the first on the scene when the parents return. 533 00:44:50,300 --> 00:44:53,820 CUBS CRY 534 00:44:53,820 --> 00:44:57,820 Calls encourage parents to drop food near their cubs. 535 00:44:57,820 --> 00:45:00,500 Most cubs stay close to the den, 536 00:45:00,500 --> 00:45:03,020 waiting for the food to arrive... 537 00:45:03,020 --> 00:45:04,700 ..but Fela leaves. 538 00:45:06,740 --> 00:45:09,220 If he misses another opportunity, 539 00:45:09,220 --> 00:45:12,260 he could become weak and less able to compete. 540 00:45:37,060 --> 00:45:40,100 His father has another kill. 541 00:45:43,940 --> 00:45:46,180 The race is on. 542 00:45:50,260 --> 00:45:53,300 This time, Fela intercepts him on the way down 543 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:56,100 to seize the precious meal. 544 00:45:56,100 --> 00:45:58,580 Oh...look at that, that's so fast. 545 00:45:58,580 --> 00:46:00,620 I don't know where the dark fox came from, 546 00:46:00,620 --> 00:46:04,900 but Fela spotted him before I did, and just had that food grabbed 547 00:46:04,900 --> 00:46:07,500 and was gone over the hill in no time. 548 00:46:14,820 --> 00:46:18,500 Perhaps Fela is smarter than his siblings, 549 00:46:18,500 --> 00:46:22,940 working out that staying higher up, away from the competition, 550 00:46:22,940 --> 00:46:25,380 could be a life-saving advantage. 551 00:46:26,940 --> 00:46:30,660 All signs point to Fela actually being in a really good place. 552 00:46:30,660 --> 00:46:34,140 I think there's a good chance he's going to make it. He's looking good. 553 00:46:36,140 --> 00:46:40,420 At 12 weeks old, Fela's gamble has paid off. 554 00:46:40,420 --> 00:46:45,580 But he must keep winning the kills to reach adult size by autumn. 555 00:46:45,580 --> 00:46:49,100 In a few weeks, as his energy requirements double, 556 00:46:49,100 --> 00:46:52,860 his parents will stop providing food, and he won't have long 557 00:46:52,860 --> 00:46:55,500 to learn how to find it for himself. 558 00:47:11,740 --> 00:47:17,460 For one baby, her entire survival depends not on beating rivals, 559 00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:20,620 but on finding as many allies as possible. 560 00:47:22,900 --> 00:47:26,300 It's May in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, 561 00:47:26,300 --> 00:47:28,780 and the elephants are on the move. 562 00:47:28,780 --> 00:47:33,820 ELEPHANTS RUMBLE AND SNORT 563 00:47:38,340 --> 00:47:42,580 Safina, the baby African elephant, is now seven months old 564 00:47:42,580 --> 00:47:45,380 and around 250 kilos - 565 00:47:45,380 --> 00:47:48,260 a tenth of her adult weight. 566 00:47:48,260 --> 00:47:51,900 ELEPHANT RUMBLES 567 00:47:53,700 --> 00:47:56,580 She's putting on around four kilos each week 568 00:47:56,580 --> 00:48:00,460 from drinking around 20 litres of milk a day. 569 00:48:00,460 --> 00:48:03,060 But Safina cannot feed herself yet. 570 00:48:03,060 --> 00:48:05,300 Trunk control is so complex, 571 00:48:05,300 --> 00:48:08,380 it will take at least another six months to fully master 572 00:48:08,380 --> 00:48:10,180 these essential skills. 573 00:48:14,620 --> 00:48:17,540 Her mother is Cyclone, the herd's matriarch, 574 00:48:17,540 --> 00:48:19,940 recognisable by her single tusk. 575 00:48:23,020 --> 00:48:26,420 Until now, Safina has relied solely on her mother and 576 00:48:26,420 --> 00:48:28,500 her aunts for protection. 577 00:48:30,820 --> 00:48:34,580 But elephants are highly social animals and share knowledge 578 00:48:34,580 --> 00:48:37,180 with other families in times of trouble. 579 00:48:39,260 --> 00:48:44,140 It's critical for Safina's long-term survival that she meets and bonds 580 00:48:44,140 --> 00:48:46,940 with other families in her first year, 581 00:48:46,940 --> 00:48:49,420 to build her own support network. 582 00:48:51,180 --> 00:48:53,220 And the best chance she'll have to do this 583 00:48:53,220 --> 00:48:55,420 is in the next couple of weeks. 584 00:49:00,940 --> 00:49:04,100 Last month's rains have triggered one of the largest 585 00:49:04,100 --> 00:49:06,660 elephant migrations in East Africa. 586 00:49:06,660 --> 00:49:09,900 ELEPHANTS TRUMPET 587 00:49:11,780 --> 00:49:14,420 The herds are heading for the protected reserves 588 00:49:14,420 --> 00:49:16,700 of Samburu and Buffalo Springs, 589 00:49:16,700 --> 00:49:18,540 where Safina's family lives. 590 00:49:25,940 --> 00:49:30,740 Sue will film Safina during this unique opportunity to interact, 591 00:49:30,740 --> 00:49:34,100 gain friends and become part of elephant society. 592 00:49:35,340 --> 00:49:38,380 This abundance of vegetation has brought hundreds of elephants 593 00:49:38,380 --> 00:49:40,420 into the reserve. 594 00:49:40,420 --> 00:49:43,220 And this is the time where Safina will encounter more elephants 595 00:49:43,220 --> 00:49:45,980 than she's ever seen before. 596 00:49:45,980 --> 00:49:50,020 They gather together here once a year to feed on new growth, 597 00:49:50,020 --> 00:49:53,500 socialise and reinforce friendship bonds. 598 00:49:58,900 --> 00:50:01,900 That is a lovely, big group of elephants. 599 00:50:01,900 --> 00:50:03,340 And... 600 00:50:03,340 --> 00:50:09,220 ..I'm pretty sure I've just spotted Safina's mum, Cyclone. 601 00:50:09,220 --> 00:50:12,300 Yep, there she is, er, cos she's missing a tusk. 602 00:50:12,300 --> 00:50:16,340 So Safina is going to be very close by. 603 00:50:17,380 --> 00:50:19,580 Oh, yes, look. There we go! 604 00:50:19,580 --> 00:50:21,860 Underneath... 605 00:50:21,860 --> 00:50:24,460 She can still fit underneath her mum, 606 00:50:24,460 --> 00:50:27,300 just about, getting shade. 607 00:50:30,980 --> 00:50:34,220 The other infant in the herd is Mvua. 608 00:50:34,220 --> 00:50:38,420 Her mother survived against the odds only because she forged 609 00:50:38,420 --> 00:50:41,700 a special relationship with the herd when she was young. 610 00:50:43,140 --> 00:50:45,420 Mvua's mother, Rain, 611 00:50:45,420 --> 00:50:48,660 she was orphaned because her parents and the rest of her family 612 00:50:48,660 --> 00:50:52,340 were gunned down by poachers, which is horrendous. 613 00:50:52,340 --> 00:50:56,780 But she was accepted into this group - Cyclone let her in. 614 00:50:56,780 --> 00:50:59,740 And, really, the reason why that happened was because of 615 00:50:59,740 --> 00:51:01,820 previously established bonds. 616 00:51:03,380 --> 00:51:07,340 More and more wild elephants come into contact with humans 617 00:51:07,340 --> 00:51:10,980 as both compete for limited land and water. 618 00:51:10,980 --> 00:51:13,620 Conflict is on the increase. 619 00:51:15,340 --> 00:51:19,140 It's essential Safina mixes with as many different elephants 620 00:51:19,140 --> 00:51:21,260 as she can in the coming days, 621 00:51:21,260 --> 00:51:25,580 to build her own bonds, in case something ever happens to Cyclone. 622 00:51:29,700 --> 00:51:33,340 Sue keeps track of the herd through the 200 square kilometres 623 00:51:33,340 --> 00:51:36,980 of the reserve by working in tandem with conservationists, 624 00:51:36,980 --> 00:51:40,620 Save the Elephants - pioneers in GPS tracking. 625 00:51:44,660 --> 00:51:47,340 Every day, elephants arrive. 626 00:51:47,340 --> 00:51:52,820 Some travel almost 150km to gather in social superherds. 627 00:51:55,300 --> 00:51:59,740 But Sue's GPS tracker reveals something about Safina's family 628 00:51:59,740 --> 00:52:02,580 that doesn't look good - 629 00:52:02,580 --> 00:52:06,220 they're travelling away from the incoming herds. 630 00:52:08,420 --> 00:52:11,380 I don't know why Cyclone's taken the herd over there. 631 00:52:11,380 --> 00:52:15,380 She's an experienced matriarch, so she must have good reason to. 632 00:52:15,380 --> 00:52:19,420 Maybe there's much better food? Plenty of water? 633 00:52:19,420 --> 00:52:21,860 But it's a massive gamble. 634 00:52:24,220 --> 00:52:28,300 It's impossible to know what is motivating Cyclone, 635 00:52:28,300 --> 00:52:30,820 but if she maintains her present course, 636 00:52:30,820 --> 00:52:33,860 the family will leave the protection of the reserve. 637 00:52:38,660 --> 00:52:40,140 Beyond the border, 638 00:52:40,140 --> 00:52:43,420 farmland cuts through the elephants' natural habitat. 639 00:52:48,460 --> 00:52:51,260 Sometimes elephants raid crops. 640 00:52:52,780 --> 00:52:57,180 Clashes with farmers can result in deaths on both sides. 641 00:53:04,300 --> 00:53:07,340 Safina and her family have no official protection 642 00:53:07,340 --> 00:53:09,140 out of the reserve. 643 00:53:09,140 --> 00:53:13,220 If conflict occurs, intervention may be impossible. 644 00:53:14,780 --> 00:53:18,660 There's nothing Sue can do but wait and hope. 645 00:53:22,180 --> 00:53:24,660 So, this is really not good. 646 00:53:24,660 --> 00:53:28,100 I've got the coordinates for where the herd are, 647 00:53:28,100 --> 00:53:31,740 and at the moment they're in a place that I can't get to. 648 00:53:31,740 --> 00:53:34,980 This is the boundary of the reserve. 649 00:53:34,980 --> 00:53:38,220 And over there is a kind of no-man's-land. 650 00:53:38,220 --> 00:53:42,180 Even in the last couple of days, there's been some fighting, 651 00:53:42,180 --> 00:53:45,140 and people have been killed. 652 00:53:45,140 --> 00:53:47,580 What's worrying, erm... 653 00:53:47,580 --> 00:53:49,860 ..is that our elephants are in there. 654 00:53:50,820 --> 00:53:53,900 These tribes, one of them... 655 00:53:53,900 --> 00:53:58,580 ..has a history of killing elephants for traditional medicine. 656 00:54:01,580 --> 00:54:04,140 I just want them to come back over here, 657 00:54:04,140 --> 00:54:06,420 out of harm's way, and be safe. 658 00:54:33,340 --> 00:54:35,140 Three days pass. 659 00:54:37,380 --> 00:54:40,540 Safina and her family have not returned. 660 00:54:44,900 --> 00:54:48,260 But on the fourth day, the GPS reading indicates 661 00:54:48,260 --> 00:54:51,940 that Safina's family is, at last, on the move. 662 00:54:53,780 --> 00:54:57,700 I've had some really good news, 663 00:54:57,700 --> 00:55:01,140 and some coordinates have come in, and it sounds like Safina 664 00:55:01,140 --> 00:55:05,820 and the rest of the family have come out of that danger zone 665 00:55:05,820 --> 00:55:09,420 and made their way back into the reserve, which is fantastic news. 666 00:55:13,340 --> 00:55:16,580 Well, whoever this is, they're enjoying a mud bath. 667 00:55:16,580 --> 00:55:19,100 We've got a little one there. 668 00:55:24,060 --> 00:55:26,100 Where's Safina? 669 00:55:28,980 --> 00:55:32,780 This time, Safina and her family have made it back safe. 670 00:55:35,340 --> 00:55:40,340 And they're joined by one of the migrating elephant herds. 671 00:55:40,340 --> 00:55:44,020 Oh, that's a major, major relief. 672 00:55:44,020 --> 00:55:47,380 It was getting to the point there where... 673 00:55:47,380 --> 00:55:50,060 ..I thought we'd lost them. 674 00:55:51,300 --> 00:55:54,140 This is exactly where you want them to be, 675 00:55:54,140 --> 00:55:56,180 and what you want to be seeing. 676 00:55:56,180 --> 00:56:00,820 Out of the danger zone, back in reserve, 677 00:56:00,820 --> 00:56:02,180 hanging out together... 678 00:56:02,180 --> 00:56:04,300 Look at them all, they're all just....! 679 00:56:04,300 --> 00:56:06,740 SHE LAUGHS 680 00:56:06,740 --> 00:56:09,540 ..happy. They're very, very happy. 681 00:56:12,460 --> 00:56:16,900 Safina's brain has enormous capacity devoted to processing 682 00:56:16,900 --> 00:56:19,260 memory and her sense of smell. 683 00:56:22,660 --> 00:56:27,060 This might just look like innocent play, but by touching and smelling 684 00:56:27,060 --> 00:56:31,500 with her trunk, Safina is gathering highly specific information about 685 00:56:31,500 --> 00:56:33,740 each of these individuals. 686 00:56:34,900 --> 00:56:39,220 This is how elephants bond and establish new relationships. 687 00:56:43,740 --> 00:56:48,820 As the days pass, Sue witnesses Safina join up and socialise 688 00:56:48,820 --> 00:56:53,740 with more than 60 elephants from four different families. 689 00:56:53,740 --> 00:56:56,380 Oh, my goodness, this is amazing! 690 00:57:01,140 --> 00:57:03,420 Safina may not really appreciate 691 00:57:03,420 --> 00:57:06,780 the importance of what's happening at the moment. 692 00:57:06,780 --> 00:57:11,540 She's having a lovely time playing with other elephants the same age, 693 00:57:11,540 --> 00:57:14,780 but she's coming into contact with older elephants, 694 00:57:14,780 --> 00:57:17,860 other families, friends. 695 00:57:17,860 --> 00:57:22,020 And when there's times of need, she'll have a whole host 696 00:57:22,020 --> 00:57:24,980 of other elephants that she can possibly go to. 697 00:57:24,980 --> 00:57:28,780 So these connections that she's making now 698 00:57:28,780 --> 00:57:30,420 will last a lifetime. 699 00:57:42,940 --> 00:57:46,580 As the babies move even closer towards independence, 700 00:57:46,580 --> 00:57:49,700 they face some of the biggest challenges of their lives. 701 00:57:51,580 --> 00:57:55,220 To secure a safe future outside the temple, 702 00:57:55,220 --> 00:57:59,380 Jazir has to learn to make allies with older macaques. 703 00:57:59,380 --> 00:58:02,700 He's going to have to leave there and deal with this, 704 00:58:02,700 --> 00:58:05,460 and this is dangerous. 705 00:58:05,460 --> 00:58:08,620 As Bisque and Chowder become more exposed, 706 00:58:08,620 --> 00:58:11,460 they have to learn to look out for each other. 707 00:58:13,700 --> 00:58:15,980 And in the last weeks with his mother, 708 00:58:15,980 --> 00:58:19,700 Limpet must master how to use tools. 709 00:58:19,700 --> 00:58:22,380 This is an important time to learn the, sort of, very last lessons 710 00:58:22,380 --> 00:58:24,260 he can from his mum.