1 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:19,520 The giant otter - six feet long, from tip to tail. 2 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,560 They're known in the Amazon as "wolves of the river". 3 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,520 For me, they hold a special fascination. 4 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,600 Loud, boisterous and aggressive. They're also loving, 5 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,560 affectionate and fiercely protective of their family... 6 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,960 ..even if it means risking their lives. 7 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,080 I first filmed giant otters when I was just a young cameraman 8 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:00,160 and got to know a very small, rather goofy, little cub, called Diablo. 9 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,480 I watched him grow up for almost a year and got very attached to him. 10 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,560 I've often wondered what happened to Diablo. 11 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,480 And now, I'm about to find out. 12 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:39,160 I last saw Diablo 13 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,800 13 years ago, in Manu National Park, 14 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,920 a remote part of the Peruvian Amazon. 15 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,520 Manu's incredible. The amount of life here blows my mind - 16 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,600 half a million species of insect, 17 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,640 10% of all the bird species in the world. 18 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,960 Nowhere can touch Manu for diversity. 19 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,080 It's a long way from home, back in Britain. 20 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:21,440 My name's Charlie and I've been completely obsessed with otters 21 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,640 since I was a kid. 22 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:25,720 I've rescued orphaned otters, 23 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,800 I've spent hours filming and watching otters. 24 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,920 They've all got their own character... 25 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,120 ..and many have become like old friends. 26 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,640 In Diablo's case, long-lost friends. 27 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:45,960 So I can't wait to try and find him again, after all this time. 28 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,040 My journey across the Andes and down into the Amazon Basin 29 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,720 takes me almost a week. 30 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,240 Ooh, just getting swept down. 31 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,640 Where I'm going, means journeying by boat, 32 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:04,680 far beyond any towns or villages, 33 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,240 right into the headwaters of the Amazon. 34 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:27,160 Manu - 17,000 square kilometres of pristine tropical rainforest. 35 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,480 I just love this place. 36 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,120 Right in the middle of it, is a stunning oxbow lake 37 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,960 called Lake Salvador. 38 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,520 This is where I last saw Diablo, as a cheeky young cub. 39 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,800 It's late November now, just coming to the end of the dry season. 40 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:54,440 For the next six months, 41 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,280 me and a small crew of local guides and boatmen 42 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,320 will be calling this place home. 43 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,480 It's four in the morning and I'm just so excited 44 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,720 about finally starting the search for Diablo. 45 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,840 I love the sound of the forest at dawn. 46 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:30,160 It's loud, it's like a busy city, 47 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,880 but there's one sound that I'm just desperate to hear. 48 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,840 SQUEAKING AND WHISTLING 49 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:41,360 There it is! 50 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,080 Seeing giant otters again, after all this time... 51 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,120 Well, it's just magical. 52 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,240 SNORTING 53 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,280 Is that not the coolest animal in the world? 54 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,160 But are any of these otters Diablo? 55 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,960 Otters have got unique throat markings, a bit like fingerprints. 56 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,600 If I can get a look at the pattern on each otter's throat, 57 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,680 I might be able to work out if one of them is Diablo. 58 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,600 There's one otter, he's just a bit bigger than the others. 59 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,000 He's the one I want to get a better look at. 60 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:08,480 I'm trying really hard to get a shot of this otter's chin and throat. 61 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:17,160 It's definitely Diablo. Wow, there's the man. 62 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,080 That's stunning. I can't believe I'm looking at him. 63 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,840 Just look at him, though. He's rock solid. 64 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:40,680 He looks healthy, he's big. You know, this guy's 13. 65 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,520 That is as old as giant otters get. 66 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:49,080 And he looks to me in really good shape. 67 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:02,120 Giant otters live in family groups - mum, dad and the teenage kids. 68 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,560 I just don't know how big his family is, 69 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,080 but there's just otters everywhere. 70 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,600 Diablo's obviously a very special otter, 71 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,240 to have such a big family like this. 72 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,400 And now that I've found him after all this time, 73 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:31,560 all I want to do is sit and just watch. They're just so beautiful. 74 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:44,280 Finally, I get the chance to see Diablo out of the water. 75 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:49,600 He's busy working on what's politely known as an otter latrine, 76 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,880 in front of what must be the family den. 77 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,680 There's a good reason why Diablo's rubbing his feet around 78 00:08:56,680 --> 00:08:58,720 in the family toilet like this. 79 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,680 It makes the most almighty stink, 80 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:07,280 which warns other otters that this territory belongs to Diablo. 81 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,000 And then, I understand, why my old friend 82 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,800 is being so protective of his den. 83 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,240 That's a cub. That's a cub. 84 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,200 Oh, my God. 85 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:26,400 If she's got it in her mouth, that's the mum with it in her mouth. 86 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,160 Wow, look at that. Tiny. 87 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,680 That is really young. That can't be more than six weeks old.' 88 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,360 He's got another one. 89 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,120 There's at least two of them. 90 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:59,040 Come on. Yeah, yeah. 91 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,280 Seeing otter cubs in the wild like this is incredibly rare. 92 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,600 This is a real surprise. 93 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,320 That's amazing. That is a big family. 94 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,560 This seems to be some sort of swimming lesson. 95 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:24,360 I know it sounds bizarre, but otter cubs don't actually like water, 96 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,280 so lessons like this are obviously essential. 97 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,560 There's one cub in particular who catches my eye, 98 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:47,880 not because he's muddier than the others, 99 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,240 but because he really doesn't like the water. 100 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,800 And despite his mum's best efforts, all he wants to do 101 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,400 is get back to the warmth and security of the den. 102 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,640 The other cubs all seem to be enduring their swimming lesson. 103 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:27,200 Some even look like they're starting to get the hang of it all. 104 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,480 But this little guy - well, he's just not having it. 105 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,920 So in the end, there's nothing for it, but to just pick him up 106 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:36,760 and dunk him in the water. 107 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,440 Oh, my God. 108 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,840 All of the otters here are given names as cubs, 109 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,080 to help any scientist studying them. 110 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,760 And it seems only fitting to give this little guy a name 111 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,200 appropriate to Lake Salvador, so I call him Dali. 112 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,560 It's hard to count, but it looks like there are six tiny cubs, 113 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,000 which is a record number! 114 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:37,920 Diablo and mum, Sophia, 115 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:42,160 are doing the bulk of the caring for the cubs at this age. 116 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,200 They are helped out by the older brothers and sisters, 117 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,080 but even then, they will have their work cut out, 118 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,840 because six is such an unusually large family. 119 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,600 Well, you know, it makes you wonder actually, 120 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:04,480 how Diablo and the others are going to keep six cubs alive in this lake. 121 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,120 It's actually something that worries me. 122 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,800 Giant otters might be the largest of all the otters, 123 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,000 but they do have an arch enemy here on the lake. 124 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:30,480 A predator that kills more otters and their cubs than any other. 125 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,560 And I'm heading out into the night to find it. 126 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:40,840 It's got properly dark now 127 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,880 and suddenly there are just eyes everywhere when I shine my torch. 128 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,560 My boat appears to be surrounded by black caiman. 129 00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:06,280 These guys can grow huge - up to 18 feet long! 130 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:10,520 They're the largest predator in the Amazon Basin. 131 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,000 Those great big eyes are adapted to seeing in low light 132 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,040 and they've got a very acute sense of hearing, 133 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,360 which makes them perfectly suited to hunt in the dark. 134 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:26,960 It's quite astonishing, really, just how many caiman we're seeing. 135 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,240 I thought we might see, you know, one or two, 136 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,200 but there are, literally, caiman everywhere. 137 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,920 Caiman are essentially ambush hunters. 138 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,880 What they do is they sit in places like this, 139 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:49,120 just along the edges of the lake, and wait. 140 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,520 And they can wait and wait and wait. 141 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,200 I mean, they're in no hurry to get fed. 142 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,000 This is why they're such a threat to the otters. 143 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,800 Lurking in the bushes around the edge of the lake, 144 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,880 waiting for any prey to swim past. 145 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,360 There are over 700 black caiman on this lake, 146 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,240 so they're obviously doing very well here. 147 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,120 Diablo and his family are going to have to be super-cautious 148 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,560 to keep those cubs alive. 149 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,240 The next morning, Diablo and the other otters are all by the den. 150 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,400 Something's going on. They look anxious. 151 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,800 There's a great big caiman not far from the entrance. 152 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:52,720 The cubs are inside, 153 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,960 but Diablo's not going to tolerate any caiman this close to them. 154 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,960 The caiman stands its ground. 155 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,280 This is where having a large family pays off. 156 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,640 Diablo leads the family in. 157 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,800 The gang encircle the caiman, intimidating it. 158 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,080 And Sophia, there she is, moves in to distract it from the front 159 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,320 giving Diablo the chance to bite the caiman right on the end of the tail. 160 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,960 Most caiman will bow out like this, 161 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,440 when faced with a whole family of giant otters. 162 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,680 The dangerous ones are those that refuse to move. 163 00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:19,560 There is another predator around here that Diablo and his family 164 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:21,880 just wouldn't dare stand up to. 165 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:26,360 Few of its victims ever even see it coming. 166 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,280 And on our way back to camp, I stumble across evidence of one, 167 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,640 just a stone's throw from Diablo's family den. 168 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:45,640 Look at this. This is amazing. These are jaguar footprints. 169 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,280 And it's got out the water and it's walked along this beach 170 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,760 and it's done that in the last five minutes. These are still wet. 171 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:59,640 That's wet sand, and in this hot sun that would have dried out. 172 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,720 Quite daunting and quite exciting 173 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:12,040 to know that there's a jaguar who almost definitely knows we're here, 174 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,840 just up ahead. 175 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:22,000 Not quite sure why 176 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:27,320 I'm following jaguar prints that are just minutes old, 177 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:32,520 but I have to say it's very exciting. 178 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,360 Just amazing to know that within a few hundred metres 179 00:18:36,360 --> 00:18:41,640 of where I am now is a massive cat. 180 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:46,520 That's pretty awesome. 181 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:56,320 To me, the jaguar is the ultimate forest hunter. 182 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,760 If one doesn't want to be seen, well, then, it won't be. 183 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:03,640 It's quite unnerving to know that a jaguar's living this close 184 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,680 to Diablo and the cubs. 185 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,800 So I'm putting out a camera trap, right outside the otters' den, 186 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:14,000 just in case the jaguar decides to target the family. 187 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:22,360 But as we head off, we find signs of an even greater predator 188 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:26,720 than the jaguar and it's hunting only metres from the den. 189 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,880 This isn't the path of an animal. 190 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,880 It's the path of an uncontacted tribe. 191 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,880 And German, in front of me, can see this path, 192 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,840 which is just the odd snapped stick, which you know, 193 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:54,200 in a forest, which to me is just a massive tangle of broken sticks, 194 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:58,880 and he can follow it through, by seeing all these snapped off ends. 195 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,360 He can spot them really well. I mean, he can just follow this path. 196 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,000 To me, you know, we're not on a path. There's nothing on the ground. 197 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,160 But he's navigating us through the forest. 198 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,120 Look, there's another one, been snapped off. 199 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:18,320 My guides, Juan Andres and German explain that it's the path 200 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,400 of a hunting party from the uncontacted Mashco-Piro tribe. 201 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,400 The broken twigs are their way of navigating through the forest. 202 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:34,280 So three guys with bows and arrows sneaking through the forest here. 203 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,080 If they're hunting here, I'm worried. 204 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:38,840 Might they go for the otters? 205 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:45,600 Nothing from the river. Normally just turtle eggs, but no fish, no. 206 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,880 Nothing from... Just the turtle eggs and peccaries mainly. 207 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,840 Does he think they might... 208 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,160 Maybe they've seen us and we haven't seen them? 209 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,120 No, these are old marks. 210 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:07,960 They're old. Oh, OK. 211 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,000 Diablo and the cubs live on a lake 212 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,040 that's clearly within the tribe's hunting ground. 213 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,680 So it's a real relief to learn that they're not on the menu. 214 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,480 The forests here might be the domain of the Mashco-Piro hunters, 215 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:33,320 but out on the lake, Diablo and his family are in charge. 216 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,960 And when it comes to hunting, 217 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:39,440 there aren't many fishermen who can catch fish as fast as a giant otter. 218 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,760 The family seem to spend their whole time fishing. 219 00:21:48,360 --> 00:21:51,000 I can't believe they never get full. 220 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,920 But then, a fully-grown giant otter does need 221 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,560 around four kilos of fish a day. 222 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,320 What that means is that the most infamous fish of them all 223 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,280 is at the top of the menu - the piranha. 224 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,840 Look at the size of this fish. 225 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:30,800 Now that is a piranha. Wow. 226 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:37,160 Very proud of himself. That is good work. 227 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,400 Piranhas are really common on the lake 228 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,760 and Diablo and the others seem to love them. 229 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,200 It makes me wonder though - how can he teach his cubs to take them on 230 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,480 without getting bitten by those razor-sharp teeth? 231 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:57,640 I've decided to try and see just how aggressive those piranhas are, 232 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:01,080 by attaching a chunk of meat to an underwater camera. 233 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:18,040 Ooh, now there's a fish. Ooh, there's a fish. 234 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,440 No, that's a piranha. And another one. 235 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,520 They just pile in, grab it, rip it up, and swim off. 236 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,280 One went in and started and now all the others have started piling in, 237 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,000 they're really going for it. 238 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Those piranhas move really fast. 239 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,480 They've got a very acute sense of smell, 240 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,920 so that's why they can find meat so quickly. 241 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:45,880 What fascinates me though is how frenzied they are at devouring it. 242 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,200 Less than 30 seconds! 243 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,080 I am amazed at the speed they've torn that piece of meat apart. 244 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:57,960 Those cubs will have to move at lightning speed, 245 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,600 to catch their dinner without getting bitten. 246 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,720 It's a skill they're going to have to learn. 247 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,520 You've got to admire those otters 248 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,680 because they swim around in this all day long, 249 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:16,880 and I don't even want to dangle my feet off the end any more. 250 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:37,960 Swimming lessons for Dali and the other cubs 251 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,640 are now a daily event here on the lake. 252 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,280 And although they're not the best of swimmers, 253 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,280 the cubs are finally starting to get the hang of it. 254 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,560 Moments like this are a really good chance 255 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:06,640 for the older brothers and sisters to help out, get to know the cubs. 256 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,280 They do all sometimes get a little bit over-excited. 257 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,680 So Diablo and Sophia have to step in, occasionally, 258 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,880 and rescue the little ones. 259 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,440 Building these family bonds is crucial, 260 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,280 because they need to be able 261 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,160 to depend on each other, in times of danger. 262 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,800 And as for little Dali, well, I can see mum Sophia 263 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,040 trying to take him off to one side 264 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,480 so he can get some practise in peace. 265 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,640 He's nearly swimming unaided now, 266 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,360 just about keeping his head above water. 267 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,560 A few weeks have passed. 268 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:08,360 More and more, I'm noticing a build-up of caiman near the den. 269 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:11,800 I'm not sure whether this is from the smell of the latrine, 270 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,200 which is really starting to stink now, 271 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,840 or whether the hunting's just better down this end of the lake. 272 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,720 There's one large caiman in particular 273 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,280 they just can't seem to shift. 274 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:41,000 So today, they've clearly decided to do something about it - move den. 275 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,680 Diablo and Sophia have a cub each and the rest of the family 276 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,960 are flanking them in one big protective group. 277 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:00,800 They're going a really long way. 278 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,360 I mean, they've been going for ages, right down the centre 279 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,840 and I guess that's cos the caiman are going to be on the edges 280 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,440 and they're really vulnerable when they're like this 281 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:11,800 having those cubs out. 282 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,880 Even when everyone's backing each other up, 283 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,760 moving like this is a risky business. 284 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:20,400 Yeah, I can see several caiman along the edges. 285 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:26,520 And although these guys are essentially ambush hunters, 286 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,720 they're also big opportunists, 287 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:35,040 so if they see any weakness, they'll go for it and exploit it. 288 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,240 So these otters have got to be careful. 289 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:38,680 It's the middle of the day 290 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,920 so the otters are banking on the caiman being less active. 291 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,440 All the other members of the family are coming together. 292 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:58,360 This is where having a big family, being a social animal, 293 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,840 really comes into its own, because this family is now working 294 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:07,400 as a single unit, to shift those cubs from one den to the other. 295 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,240 OK, so things are looking good. 296 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:20,640 They've got four cubs across now, which is good. 297 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,800 As long as everyone sticks together, these cubs should be safe. 298 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:30,320 But then something odd happens. 299 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,520 One of the otters, I think it's Diablo, 300 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,960 has been back to the den alone. 301 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,600 It seems he's the only one who's remembered the two missing cubs. 302 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:48,080 Now, that is just dangerous. 303 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:53,440 They're really vulnerable now, carrying that cub on its own. 304 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,080 They need the family. They need the protection of everyone else. 305 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,600 Shouldn't be doing this on its own. 306 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,960 I'm not sure whether he's brave or just taking too big a risk. 307 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,720 I can see a caiman really close. 308 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,280 Just got to steer clear of there. 309 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,680 Just easy pickings for a caiman. 310 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:29,120 Because to defend itself, the otter has to drop the cub. 311 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:37,000 This is actually quite dodgy 312 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,480 because this otter is really vulnerable now. 313 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:05,120 Come on, where are you? Where are you? 314 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,360 There! Ha-ha! 315 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,240 Good old Diablo, what a dude! 316 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,520 Hold on, what's that? 317 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,160 There's two cubs. 318 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:25,680 That's bizarre. He's carrying two. 319 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,520 He only had one in his mouth. That's amazing! 320 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:33,280 He's gone up. 321 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:37,040 He must have had one in his mouth and been carrying the other one. 322 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:42,480 I've never seen an otter carrying two cubs. 323 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:50,040 He must just be swapping, juggling, you know. 324 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:54,120 Holding one in his mouth and the other one in his front paws maybe, 325 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,320 and then swapping them allowing them to breathe.' 326 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:08,200 I'm very relieved that all six cubs have made it back to the den. 327 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:16,680 SCREECHING AND SCREAMING 328 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,960 But then all hell breaks loose. 329 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,240 I don't know what's going on in here. 330 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:33,480 Like, all I can hear is just the loudest screaming and shouting. 331 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:37,480 They're just... I've never heard them squeal that loudly. 332 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,000 There must be a fight going on. 333 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:44,440 It sounds to me like something's kicked off with a caiman 334 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:47,720 and they're all getting involved. 335 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:51,760 The vegetation's so thick here, it's impossible to see what's happening. 336 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,640 It's so frustrating. I just want to see it. 337 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:03,960 Just after the commotion ends, a caiman slips out of the forest. 338 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:14,520 The family slowly reappears in dribs and drabs. 339 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:17,160 But something doesn't feel right. 340 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:20,840 Dali looks like he's OK, 341 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,280 but I'm pretty sure two of the cubs are missing. 342 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,160 They must have been killed by the caiman during the fight. 343 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,880 It's so sad. 344 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:40,200 And to me, I guess it's because I got really fond of them, 345 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,960 I got to know them. 346 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:47,040 But what's worse about it, what's more tragic, is that 347 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:51,880 the giant otter population can't afford to lose two cubs like that. 348 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:55,360 They're just, they're rare, and they needed them. 349 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:57,400 And it all just seemed so pointless. 350 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:02,120 But I guess that's just the way things are on this lake. 351 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:15,360 Diablo's success now rests with the four remaining cubs. 352 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:31,560 By mid-February, the cubs are growing up fast. 353 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,000 They're all now getting pretty confident in the water 354 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,120 and even Dali's swimming like a pro. 355 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,080 It's lovely seeing him out of the water 356 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,760 playing with his old dad Diablo, like this. 357 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,200 He looks like a very well-fed, healthy young otter. 358 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,520 One of the main reasons everyone's doing so well here 359 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,360 is that the lake's very rich in nutrients, 360 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,800 which makes it absolutely jam-packed full of fish. 361 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,040 And where there's fish, 362 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,320 there's always a load of fishermen lining up to catch them. 363 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,040 Some with eyes bigger than their beaks. 364 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,400 At four months old, Dali and the other cubs 365 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,120 can only really watch the fishing. 366 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:53,600 They're getting more confident in the water, 367 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:55,600 but they've got a long way to go 368 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,040 before they can catch their own fish. 369 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,320 They're still very young and vulnerable, but if they make it 370 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:04,720 through the next few months and learn to fish for themselves, 371 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:07,640 they've got a good chance of making it to adulthood. 372 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:15,720 For now, they're still relying on the rest of the family for food, 373 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:19,200 but to get it, they've got to beg. 374 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,640 And Dali, in particular, seems the most persistent. 375 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:42,920 Although Diablo's not going to give up his breakfast that easily. 376 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:50,680 Fishing plays such an important role in the otters' lives 377 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:55,720 and I find it so frustrating that most of it goes on out of sight. 378 00:36:55,720 --> 00:36:58,400 So I've come up with a simple invention - 379 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:03,080 one small waterproof camera taped to my water bottle. 380 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,520 And what I want to do with this device is stick it in the water 381 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:10,200 and then bank on the otters', sort of, natural curiosity, 382 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:12,480 and hope they'll come up and have a look at it 383 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,320 and I'll then get a decent look at them underwater. 384 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:41,640 You can really see the size of the webs on their feet. 385 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:43,440 They're almost like flippers. 386 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:51,240 In this muddy water, my bottle cam can't film very much 387 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:53,800 but it does remind me of the only other time 388 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,640 I've filmed these animals underwater. 389 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:01,960 Back then, I got some great pictures of their amazing swimming abilities. 390 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:07,000 So fast and able to instantly change direction to grab a fleeing fish. 391 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:15,800 It must be the huge, flat tail that gives them such a turn of speed. 392 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:29,600 Diablo's cubs are too small at the moment to move like these adults. 393 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:31,240 They lack the power. 394 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:45,040 Going out into the lake, watching the parents hunt, 395 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:46,680 is how the cubs learn, 396 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:49,680 which is why fishing trips like this, with the family, 397 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:52,040 are now becoming a daily event. 398 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:03,440 Dali, like the other cubs, seems to be a bottomless pit - 399 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:07,560 he's constantly harassing the adults every time one of them gets a fish. 400 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:17,040 He can't swim and eat at the same time, though, 401 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:19,360 so he's got to go ashore with his prize. 402 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:26,040 The problem with that is that now he keeps going missing 403 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:28,480 in the bushes along the edge of the lake. 404 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:36,440 Today, the family's chased fish right up the lake, 405 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:40,960 and it looks like poor old Dali's been left well and truly behind. 406 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:52,960 Yeah, I hope there aren't any caiman about, 407 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:54,360 cos he's really squeaking. 408 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:55,920 DALI GIVES A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAK 409 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:57,640 And if any caiman hear that... 410 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:00,400 ..they'll go in for him, 411 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:03,200 cos he's really vulnerable on his own like that. 412 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:11,960 Oh, I can see one in the bushes... 413 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:13,400 but he's not moving. 414 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,880 The family have realised Dali's missing - 415 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:20,680 they're all calling out to him. 416 00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:24,080 SQUEAKS AND GRUNTS 417 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,480 They are a bit dopey sometimes, 418 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:33,280 cos they're all screeching their heads off, 419 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:35,920 but they're never waiting to listen for a reply. 420 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,120 CALLS CONTINUE 421 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,720 The family all head back to the area where they last saw Dali. 422 00:40:46,720 --> 00:40:49,520 DALI SQUEAKS 423 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,000 SQUEAKING 424 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,680 It's a relief when Diablo finally spots his son. 425 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:12,080 I love it when they greet each other. 426 00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:14,760 There is definitely affection there. 427 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:17,760 It's definitely, you know... They're pleased to see each other. 428 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:36,560 Earlier in the season, 429 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:39,680 I put a camera trap out in front of the family den, 430 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:43,160 to try and find out if a jaguar might be hunting in the area. 431 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:48,400 I reckon it's time to have a look and see if it's filmed anything. 432 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:56,360 There's the otters outside the den. 433 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:58,640 Probably getting ready for bed. 434 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:03,800 And then out of the darkness emerges a cat I never thought I'd see. 435 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:06,760 Look, look at that! Oh! 436 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:10,720 Not a jaguar, but an ocelot. 437 00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:13,840 I've never seen an ocelot in the wild. 438 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:15,880 They're mostly nocturnal hunters 439 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:18,920 and, given half the chance, they'd take an otter cub. 440 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:22,560 The fact that there are predators like this ocelot on the prowl 441 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,080 is probably why the otters are out during the day 442 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:28,320 and tucked away in the safety of the den at night. 443 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:32,160 Watching a shot of an ocelot like that is pretty special. 444 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:34,560 Well, that was worth putting this out for. 445 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:51,640 But then I can't believe my luck. 446 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:54,800 There's a jaguar! 447 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:04,920 HE CHUCKLES Oh, my God! 448 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:08,960 That is stunning. 449 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:10,560 Big male jaguar. 450 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:19,040 That is unbelievable. 451 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,280 What an incredible creature. 452 00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:35,480 What a treat. 453 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:40,200 It's amazing to know that... 454 00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:43,800 ..everywhere we walk around here... 455 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:48,880 ..these massive cats are also wandering around. 456 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,880 And I bet they see us all the time. 457 00:43:57,720 --> 00:43:59,240 There he goes. 458 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:04,480 Well done there, man. 459 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:10,840 That was a BIG animal. 460 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:16,520 It's pretty awe-inspiring to see a massive jaguar like that. 461 00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:20,000 But knowing that they're living and hunting so close to the otters 462 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:25,200 does worry me. Not just for Diablo and his family, but also myself. 463 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:36,240 I've been watching the giant otters for nearly four months now. 464 00:44:36,240 --> 00:44:38,360 And what's impressed me most about them 465 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:41,480 is just how nice they are to each other. 466 00:44:41,480 --> 00:44:43,760 Yeah, they get a bit boisterous occasionally, 467 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:45,360 but it's all good fun. 468 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:47,560 SQUEAKING 469 00:44:50,960 --> 00:44:55,320 They seem to me to be a really happy, tight-knit family. 470 00:44:57,960 --> 00:45:00,800 Even if old Diablo likes to slip away 471 00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:03,800 for a bit of peace and quiet every now and then. 472 00:45:09,080 --> 00:45:11,360 Dali's gone from strength to strength 473 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:13,960 and he's really starting to explore the world. 474 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:23,680 But the large caiman's back again. 475 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,640 As usual, it seems to be lurking right by the den. 476 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,120 The otters are on high alert. 477 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:50,960 They all want to keep him in sight. 478 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:54,840 Diablo seems especially twitchy. 479 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:00,520 The caiman's blocking the way to the den. 480 00:46:03,800 --> 00:46:07,280 The cubs are in the water, so no-one's taking any chances. 481 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,520 The caiman has to be moved on. 482 00:46:22,680 --> 00:46:25,280 All the adults move in to harass it. 483 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:33,000 The cubs keep their distance. 484 00:46:38,920 --> 00:46:41,880 Sophia goes in at the front, sizing up the caiman. 485 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,480 THE OTTERS SNORT 486 00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:04,080 Others move in to try to distract it, 487 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:07,360 giving Diablo his chance to go for the tail. 488 00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:20,280 But the caiman still won't budge. 489 00:47:24,720 --> 00:47:26,000 Then it goes for him. 490 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:30,720 THE OTTERS CALL IN ALARM 491 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:54,280 The cubs panic and follow the adults right into the middle of the fight. 492 00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:15,400 By the time the caiman realises that it's outnumbered, it's too late. 493 00:48:15,400 --> 00:48:16,880 The otters step it up. 494 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:29,200 They overpower the caiman, some holding it down, 495 00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:30,840 others biting it in the head. 496 00:48:43,280 --> 00:48:46,480 After an hour of fighting, it's all over. 497 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:08,000 The caiman may be dead, but I need to know if the otters are all OK. 498 00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:16,360 It doesn't take long to realise two of the cubs are missing. 499 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:23,480 It's kind of hard when you... 500 00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:27,880 when you...see an event like that, because on the one hand 501 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:31,880 it's, you know, undoubtedly an incredible thing to see. 502 00:49:31,880 --> 00:49:37,240 You know, giant otters taking on a caiman...and winning! 503 00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:40,920 But on the other hand, you know, we lost two cubs. 504 00:49:46,400 --> 00:49:48,240 I find that really hard because... 505 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:51,920 ..I've watched these cubs since they were tiny. 506 00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:53,920 You know, just a few weeks old. 507 00:50:01,560 --> 00:50:03,480 And you know, they'd done really well. 508 00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:06,120 They'd got, you know, they'd gone so far. 509 00:50:06,120 --> 00:50:09,360 And then to see the caiman killing them... 510 00:50:11,200 --> 00:50:15,800 Well, it kind of, it was a moment that destroyed the whole family. 511 00:50:16,760 --> 00:50:17,880 And... 512 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:24,840 ..I guess that's why they went from this, 513 00:50:24,840 --> 00:50:29,720 you know, loving family - happy, playing around, fishing - 514 00:50:29,720 --> 00:50:35,760 to these angry, furious killing machines. 515 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:40,560 Biting it in the head, ripping it apart underneath, 516 00:50:40,560 --> 00:50:44,680 at huge risk to their own lives, 517 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:51,520 in order to, I guess, kill the thing and eliminate it from the lake. 518 00:50:51,520 --> 00:50:55,200 You know, that caiman was a threat to their family 519 00:50:55,200 --> 00:50:56,960 and they had to get rid of it. 520 00:51:16,160 --> 00:51:18,800 THUNDER CRACKS 521 00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:25,120 WATER DRIPS 522 00:51:37,960 --> 00:51:42,400 A week after the fight, the rainy season finally kicks in. 523 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:48,280 I haven't seen the otters for days 524 00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:51,160 and can't be sure which cubs are still alive. 525 00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:58,160 There's just no let up in the weather - 526 00:51:58,160 --> 00:52:01,640 the lake and surrounding forests are completely flooded out. 527 00:52:10,840 --> 00:52:14,520 The downpours are torrential and they're not stopping. 528 00:52:14,520 --> 00:52:18,560 It's making just travelling through the forest almost impossible. 529 00:52:26,240 --> 00:52:28,480 THUNDER BOOMS 530 00:52:38,080 --> 00:52:41,720 Our camp's now flooded out and our equipment's starting to fail. 531 00:52:45,560 --> 00:52:48,320 We've got no choice but to evacuate. 532 00:53:05,040 --> 00:53:07,880 THUNDER CRACKS 533 00:53:20,920 --> 00:53:23,320 A month later, the weather's better 534 00:53:23,320 --> 00:53:26,720 and I'm travelling back upriver to look for the otter family. 535 00:53:29,080 --> 00:53:30,840 I'm apprehensive, though. 536 00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:33,320 I've no idea if Dali's alive. 537 00:53:33,320 --> 00:53:36,160 I don't even know if the family's living on the lake anymore. 538 00:53:38,520 --> 00:53:40,240 OTTERS SQUEAK 539 00:53:40,240 --> 00:53:43,920 So I'm very relieved when I hear the familiar shrieks. 540 00:53:48,920 --> 00:53:52,400 But before I get too excited, I want to know who's left. 541 00:53:56,440 --> 00:54:00,520 It looks, from what I'm seeing here, there's only six. 542 00:54:03,560 --> 00:54:07,280 Sadly, there's no sign of my old friend, Diablo. 543 00:54:14,960 --> 00:54:17,280 But of the otters I CAN see here, 544 00:54:17,280 --> 00:54:20,840 two in particular are of real interest. 545 00:54:22,080 --> 00:54:25,480 I can see there's two cubs left. 546 00:54:25,480 --> 00:54:29,240 I mean, they don't look like cubs any more. Probably that big? 547 00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:33,800 And one of them is Dali. 548 00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:47,760 I spend the morning with the otters 549 00:54:47,760 --> 00:54:50,080 and follow them as they head off fishing. 550 00:54:57,960 --> 00:55:01,040 The two cubs have really grown since I last saw them. 551 00:55:01,040 --> 00:55:03,680 They're so much bigger and bolder now. 552 00:55:05,640 --> 00:55:08,240 Dali might still be smaller than the others, 553 00:55:08,240 --> 00:55:10,560 but he's got real attitude, 554 00:55:10,560 --> 00:55:13,040 and seems to love throwing his weight around. 555 00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:30,040 It amazes me that these two cubs have managed to survive so long. 556 00:55:30,040 --> 00:55:32,440 I've seen the odds they face. 557 00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:36,600 But there's still one big hurdle I want to see them overcome. 558 00:55:43,520 --> 00:55:45,800 That's the cub. He's caught his own fish. 559 00:55:48,160 --> 00:55:49,600 He's got his own fish! 560 00:55:54,080 --> 00:55:56,680 That's a major breakthrough. 561 00:55:56,680 --> 00:56:01,560 That's the first time I've seen one of the cubs catch their own fish. 562 00:56:03,640 --> 00:56:08,920 And that is a major life moment for an otter cub, 563 00:56:08,920 --> 00:56:10,760 not to be fed by Mum and Dad, 564 00:56:10,760 --> 00:56:13,760 not to go and steal a fish off another otter, 565 00:56:13,760 --> 00:56:20,000 but to actually catch its own fish finally means it can feed itself. 566 00:56:22,920 --> 00:56:27,400 That's like the last major hurdle 567 00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:31,680 going from childhood into adulthood for an otter, 568 00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:35,280 is to catch its own fish and he's just done it. 569 00:56:50,760 --> 00:56:53,360 These cubs when I met them, they were this big. 570 00:56:53,360 --> 00:56:56,240 They were totally helpless, totally useless, 571 00:56:56,240 --> 00:56:59,080 totally dependent on Mum and Dad and the family 572 00:56:59,080 --> 00:57:01,040 to do everything for them. 573 00:57:01,040 --> 00:57:05,560 And now they're proper otters, they're six months older. 574 00:57:05,560 --> 00:57:08,000 You know, and they're catching fish. 575 00:57:08,000 --> 00:57:12,680 And that means that their chances of survival have just skyrocketed. 576 00:57:15,960 --> 00:57:20,080 And then I'm relieved to see a familiar face. 577 00:57:29,760 --> 00:57:31,160 It's Diablo. 578 00:57:33,840 --> 00:57:38,480 It's down to this devoted father that the cubs have made it this far. 579 00:57:40,720 --> 00:57:44,560 And if they can go on to be even half as prolific as their dad, 580 00:57:44,560 --> 00:57:49,360 the giant otter population here in Manu will be in good hands. 581 00:57:51,320 --> 00:57:55,160 In a place like Manu, which is one of the last strongholds 582 00:57:55,160 --> 00:58:00,080 of these incredibly rare animals, that's hugely important 583 00:58:00,080 --> 00:58:06,240 that we've just got two new otters into that population. 584 00:58:07,920 --> 00:58:11,200 And that's a lovely thing to have sat here 585 00:58:11,200 --> 00:58:13,840 and witnessed over the last six months.