1 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,720 One challenge faces almost all animals on Earth - 2 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,920 the need to find a partner. 3 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:50,280 It's a drama that is played out in every corner of the planet. 4 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,400 For some, it's conducted on an immense scale. 5 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,760 Others need to put on a show. 6 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,520 And for many, it involves 7 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,320 intense, even lethal, battles. 8 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,600 This series will reveal the extraordinary strategies 9 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,280 that animals employ to succeed in the mating game. 10 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:46,600 Those that win will have a stake in the greatest competition of all - 11 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,400 the creation of a new generation. 12 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,480 Namibia, in the South West Africa. 13 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,000 An ancient landscape that has shaped the mating game of its residents. 14 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:29,800 Ostriches. 15 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,600 The rules of their mating game 16 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,840 have been refined and elaborated 17 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,200 over some 60 million years 18 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,400 and are now very well established. 19 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,400 During their breeding season, each flock is dominated by a single male. 20 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:02,480 His territory, and the females that come with it, is a hard one asset. 21 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,840 So his leadership is only challenged 22 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,200 by the brave or the foolhardy. 23 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,640 This young male is low in the flock's pecking order. 24 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,040 He's spent five years preparing for this moment, 25 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,960 and now he needs to breed. 26 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,640 The resident females seem interested. 27 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,320 He starts to show off. 28 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,160 And their attention encourages him. 29 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,760 But the current leader does not tolerate competition. 30 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,160 CHIRPING 31 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:18,360 HISSING 32 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:31,040 The kick of an ostrich is powerful enough to kill a lion. 33 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,600 HISSING 34 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,000 And the young male is risking an end to his breeding season 35 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:37,680 before it's even started. 36 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:57,840 In a matter of moments, 37 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:01,440 the young challenger has been cast out of his flock. 38 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:07,920 It's a disastrous start to his campaign. 39 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,360 But it comes with a valuable lesson. 40 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:18,720 Out here, in the open, the mating game is exposed for all to see. 41 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,520 The young male now faces a major challenge. 42 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,520 There are not many ostriches on these dry planes 43 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,200 and females are hard to come by. 44 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,400 It could take him several months to find one. 45 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,600 He does, however, have a way of bringing them to him. 46 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,800 LOW BOOMING 47 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,520 He inflates a sack in his throat 48 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,880 and produces a boom that carries for miles. 49 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,600 And it attracts unaccompanied females. 50 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,840 BOOMING CONTINUES 51 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:39,960 INSECTS HUM 52 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,000 BIRDSONG 53 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,320 But that is the easy bit. 54 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,720 Female ostriches are very choosy. 55 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,920 With the largest eyes of any land-living animal, 56 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,520 they assess his every detail. 57 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,640 The pinkness of his shins. 58 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,280 The shininess of his black feathers. 59 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,040 Both indicate his sexual quality. 60 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,040 But he has yet to pass a crucial test. 61 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:14,720 HIGH-PITCHED HOOTING 62 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,800 The females lead him on a chase, testing his stamina. 63 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,000 And they can run at speeds of 40mph. 64 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,920 All he has to do is to keep up. 65 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:45,880 One of the females slows. 66 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,720 And once again, he tries to win her over. 67 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,000 But, again, she seems indifferent. 68 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,800 Now, he has only one trick left. 69 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,800 At last, he seems to be getting some attention. 70 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:53,000 She flicks her wings - a sign that she is impressed. 71 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,240 So, with little to lose, 72 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,920 cautiously, he performs his final trick. 73 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:06,880 It's not perfect... 74 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,120 ..but he gives the performance of his life. 75 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,640 FEMALE HOOTS 76 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,840 FEMALE HOOTS 77 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,600 With that achieved, he will now go on and mate 78 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,080 with several more females before the season is over. 79 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:03,800 Provided, that is, he can maintain their interest. 80 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,480 He now has a final task. 81 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,760 He must take every female with whom he mates this season 82 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,640 to his chosen nest site. 83 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,840 And there, incubate all their eggs for the next two months. 84 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,320 Only if they hatch will he know 85 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,040 that he has truly succeeded in his mating game. 86 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,160 BIRDSONG 87 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,400 Where grass grows abundantly, 88 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,680 mating, for many, is rather more competitive. 89 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:47,360 SNORT! 90 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,520 SNORTING 91 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,840 This zebra stallion has spent several years 92 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,440 assembling a group of females - his harem. 93 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,200 And he'll do anything he can to retain them all. 94 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,400 Some of his mares are already pregnant, 95 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,760 and he leads them on the never-ending search for food. 96 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:28,040 Every March, they come here, to the Serengeti. 97 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:33,240 One of the most extensive natural grasslands left on Earth. 98 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:43,320 Such rich grazing attracts herds 30,000 strong. 99 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:53,520 His family has good reason to join this huge assembly. 100 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,320 There is safety in numbers, 101 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,760 and predators here are awaiting them. 102 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:08,840 Hyenas. 103 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,760 Small harems are the most at risk. 104 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,360 LOW GIGGLING 105 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,040 LOW GROWLING 106 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,720 The herds will provide the safety that the stallion needs. 107 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,880 And right now, his family is particularly vulnerable. 108 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:08,200 Here, his newborn foals can get a good start in life. 109 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:23,280 Soon after birth, their mothers become ready to mate again. 110 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,920 But being in a big herd causes a problem for the stallion. 111 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,320 SNORTING 112 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,680 Bachelor males are quick to detect 113 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:43,760 the scent of a newly-receptive mare. 114 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,880 And they will try to separate one from the rest of its harem, 115 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,160 whether she is willing or not. 116 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,360 SNORTING 117 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:58,920 SNORT! 118 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,240 If a stallion doesn't drive off the bachelors, 119 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,280 his group will be broken up in a matter of minutes. 120 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,840 ANXIOUS BRAYING 121 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,680 But if he's going to keep his family together, he will have to fight. 122 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:30,680 LOUD WHINNY 123 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,120 HIGH-PITCHED BRAYING 124 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:40,920 LOUD SNORT 125 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:50,000 A well-placed bite to the bottom is enough to see off weaker rivals. 126 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,360 LOUD WHINNY 127 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,840 But with challenges coming from all sides, 128 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,000 he's in danger of losing control. 129 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,840 FRENETIC BRAYING 130 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,240 LOUD WHINNY 131 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:11,320 Pushed to his very limits, he must now use greater violence. 132 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,440 SNORTING AND WHINNYING 133 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,480 ANXIOUS BRAYING 134 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,240 LOUD WHINNY 135 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,400 BREATHLESS BRAYING 136 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:51,360 Victory. 137 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,840 His family is still together, for now. 138 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,120 But his right to breed isn't guaranteed. 139 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,960 His females will still have the deciding say on that matter. 140 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,080 FAST-PACED BRAYING 141 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,680 Competition between males for a mate 142 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,280 is common throughout the natural world. 143 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:23,760 But females may also play a deciding part in the mating game. 144 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,160 One such is so efficient at doing that 145 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,640 that her species has become one of the most successful 146 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,680 of any on the planet. 147 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,040 Here, on the grasslands of Africa, 148 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,840 their castles of clay are a familiar sight. 149 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:48,520 Each one is ruled by an extraordinary, all-powerful queen. 150 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,760 Her domain can stretch for many miles underground 151 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,640 and is maintained by armies of her subjects, 152 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:01,080 most of whom implicitly obey her instructions 153 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,280 but never even meet her. 154 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,760 Everything in this community is under her control. 155 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,440 She can live for 50 years, longer than any other insect in the world. 156 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,800 Meet the termite queen. 157 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,440 Her devoted partner, the king, 158 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,400 has been at her side throughout her life. 159 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,880 He mates with her frequently, but his role is limited to that. 160 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,480 It is his gigantic queen who dominates the colony. 161 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:13,880 Her bloated body contains huge ovaries which produce eggs nonstop. 162 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,160 She lays one every three seconds, 163 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,960 24 hours a day, for 25 years. 164 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,240 A productivity unmatched in the natural world. 165 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,480 All in the colony are her offspring, 166 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,440 and all are dependent on her success. 167 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,720 They clean her tirelessly and keep her well fed. 168 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,840 Some remove the eggs and store them. 169 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,440 A seemingly never-ending job. 170 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,840 In her lifetime, she will produce 171 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,840 over a quarter of a billion offspring. 172 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:17,120 As each egg emerges, it's taken away to another chamber. 173 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:20,720 Here, the workers toil to create the perfect conditions 174 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,080 for their development. 175 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,000 Some chambers serve as gardens. 176 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,520 Here, the workers cultivate balls of white fungus 177 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,520 with which to feed the queen. 178 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,280 But not all young termites remain equal. 179 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,560 Their future will be determined by the queen. 180 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,960 In response to the needs of the moment, 181 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,440 she will produce chemical instructions that determine 182 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,840 the role each of her offspring will play in the community. 183 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:21,920 And once a year, she changes the behaviour of the entire colony. 184 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:23,680 THUNDERCLAP 185 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,000 As the rainy season approaches, 186 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,280 she orders her workers to open new gateways 187 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,640 in the outside walls of their castle. 188 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:40,520 They are preparing the most important and dramatic happening 189 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,000 in their year. 190 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:53,600 Exactly why the rains trigger this event is still unknown, 191 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,240 but it will not begin without them. 192 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,560 HOOTING AND BIRDSONG 193 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,640 What happens next occurs on only a few days in a year. 194 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,240 But the future of her entire kingdom depends on it. 195 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,800 As a consequence of a chemical signal from her, 196 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,080 some of her subjects have developed wings. 197 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:28,360 Each of these winged termites is a potential queen or king. 198 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,200 And one morning, at first light, 199 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,640 they emerge in millions. 200 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,520 Attempting to get as far away as possible 201 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,560 and start their own community. 202 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,960 But their journey is beset by danger. 203 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:09,200 Such a multitude of edible insects does not go unnoticed. 204 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,840 Emerging in these vast numbers is part of termite strategy. 205 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,200 The loss of a few thousand individuals amongst millions 206 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,880 is insignificant. 207 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,240 Eventually, even the greediest predators 208 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,160 will have had as much as they can eat. 209 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:53,840 The surviving termites, males and females, find partners, 210 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:55,920 shed their wings 211 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,320 and each partnership then digs a new colony together. 212 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,760 So if things go well, 213 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,800 more clay castles will appear on the African plains. 214 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,280 A lifelong partnership between male and female 215 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,520 can certainly lead to great rewards. 216 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,800 But, in fact, such a simple strategy is rare. 217 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,440 Delaying finding a mate until one reaches one's physical prime 218 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,480 is a more common tactic, 219 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,680 but it does have its problems. 220 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:40,920 These are the meadows of southern Australia. 221 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,200 Here, sheer physical size can make a significant difference. 222 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,800 Male grey kangaroos battle for access to the females. 223 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,440 The biggest nearly always wins. 224 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:07,240 As a result, the males have become very big indeed. 225 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,200 At 2.5 metres tall, 226 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,120 they are more than twice the size of the females. 227 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,080 These battles are nearly always won by the biggest male. 228 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,840 But it will be the female who will decide 229 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,280 exactly when he will be allowed to claim his reward. 230 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,800 A female can conceive at any time, 231 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,120 so there is no rush as far as she is concerned. 232 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:59,200 But a male kangaroo has to fight whenever he's challenged, 233 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,320 so he is keen to mate just as soon as he can. 234 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,400 LOW GRUNTING 235 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,440 The longer the delay, the greater the chance 236 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,360 that another male will displace him. 237 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,560 Rival males show off to make clear how very big they are. 238 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,600 So the victor keeps her close by him 239 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,680 while he still has the upper hand. 240 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:45,520 She, however, continues to explore her options. 241 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,640 No matter what the victor does to impress her... 242 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,000 ..she is still reluctant to commit. 243 00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:09,520 Things are taking a little longer than he might like. 244 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,680 After days of unsuccessful courting, 245 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,320 she leads him to the edge of the meadow. 246 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,520 And here, there are others 247 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:25,800 who keep an eye on what is happening. 248 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:31,480 Less physically-impressive males lurk out of view, 249 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:35,000 waiting for a female to lose her suitor. 250 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:39,040 They just need a distraction. 251 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,880 Another large male enters the competition. 252 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,520 He's just as big as the first one, 253 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,920 so if he is to win the female, he'll have to fight. 254 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,560 And while both of them are preoccupied by battle... 255 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:09,800 ..she looks elsewhere. 256 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,240 This smaller male, out in the open, 257 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,760 would stand little chance of winning a mate. 258 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,880 But while the big boys battle, she's willing to accept him. 259 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,400 Sneak mating, like this, 260 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,960 accounts for only a small proportion of kangaroo pregnancies. 261 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,560 But in a grassland dominated by a few particularly large males, 262 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,840 sneaky strategies ensure 263 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,080 the genetic diversity of the next generation. 264 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,120 BIRDSONG 265 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:27,680 Hiding your intentions out in the open plains is often difficult. 266 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:34,400 But if you live in the tangle of vegetation on the grassland floor... 267 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,920 ..it's possible to use rather different tactics. 268 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,440 A male nursery web spider. 269 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:57,360 He's hunting. 270 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,920 He actively stalks his prey. 271 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,400 And the grass provides him with excellent cover. 272 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,440 But he's not going to eat this catch himself. 273 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:41,520 Instead, he's going to give it to someone he has not yet met. 274 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,160 First, he carefully gift-wraps his capture. 275 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,080 Presentation is going to be very important. 276 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,160 Once satisfied with the appearance of his parcel, 277 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,920 he starts searching for someone to give it to. 278 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,760 Lines of silk amongst the grass stems are a promising lead. 279 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:20,960 And there are signals coming from the other end. 280 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,280 A female nursery web spider. 281 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:30,400 It seems promising. 282 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:39,200 But he must be careful. 283 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,960 She is, after all, a killer, just as he is. 284 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:53,800 And she seems quite hungry. 285 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:59,760 She accepts his gift... 286 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:02,800 ..and begins to eat it. 287 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:12,480 For a first meeting, things seem to be going very well. 288 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:24,760 Well enough, anyway, to make his hair stand on end. 289 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:34,720 While she is busy eating, 290 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:36,640 he gets ready for action. 291 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:44,000 He starts to transfer his sperm to her 292 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,400 using a specialised sack on his foreleg. 293 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:53,720 Both sides seem content. 294 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,320 She gets a meal, he gets to mate. 295 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:05,440 But the exchange amongst spiders isn't always so equal. 296 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:08,640 A male nursery web spider 297 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:12,480 will attempt to mate with as many females as he can. 298 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:18,160 His biggest problem is finding enough food to satisfy them all. 299 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:29,080 Most spider hunts, like the hunts of most predators, 300 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:30,640 end in failure. 301 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,680 So this male spider cheats. 302 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,480 He starts by picking up someone else's leftovers, 303 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,160 a dead fly. 304 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,040 Providing it's well wrapped, she might never know. 305 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:09,880 There's only one way to find out if it's acceptable. 306 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:19,480 Amazingly, it works. 307 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,360 Encouraged by this success, he does something exceptionally devious. 308 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:31,720 He wraps up a flower. 309 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,080 It's not even food. 310 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,920 Such extreme deception is rare. 311 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,440 And it doesn't always work. 312 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:54,040 This male, however, seems to have mastered the trick. 313 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,480 And now his success is limited 314 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,920 only by the number of gifts that he can collect. 315 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:09,360 With a strategy that is clearly effective, 316 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:12,920 he tries almost anything that looks remotely suitable. 317 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:24,760 Not all nursery web spiders can pull off this trick. 318 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:30,520 But for those that can, the prize is worth the effort. 319 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:35,280 Or in this case, the lack of it. 320 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,560 Deception is a risky strategy, 321 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:48,760 especially out in the open, where it can more easily be detected. 322 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:50,560 BIRDSONG AND CHIRRUPING 323 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:56,040 So some males work together to put on a show. 324 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:06,840 In northern Finland, groups of male ruffs 325 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:10,520 gather on communal display grounds known as leks. 326 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:18,920 They rely on their spectacular neck feathers to impress a partner. 327 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,120 But fine feathers by themselves are not enough. 328 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,080 Empty leks, like empty dance floors, 329 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:37,640 rarely entice the opposite sex. 330 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,440 The more males there are, the more attractive they will be. 331 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:49,200 So the locals accept visiting males. 332 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:56,240 The visitors have a distinct white ruff, 333 00:35:56,240 --> 00:36:00,760 and they travel between leks looking for the best mating opportunities. 334 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:06,000 So with both visitors and locals here, 335 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,600 this lek has become very conspicuous. 336 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,840 The males advertise the richness of the choice on offer 337 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,800 by leaping into the air. 338 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:28,840 It gives them a good chance of being seen by females flying overhead. 339 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,520 A flock of females descends for a closer look. 340 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:52,240 The males' strategy is clearly working. 341 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:59,520 And now they start to show off their extravagant ruffs. 342 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:14,400 The females now have plenty of males to choose from. 343 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:25,120 But any attempt by the white-necked visitors 344 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:26,680 to do more than display 345 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,760 is quickly dealt with by the lek owners. 346 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,600 SQUAWKING 347 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:42,880 With only a few females on the lek, 348 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:46,080 the locals soon squabble amongst themselves. 349 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:02,440 Some do find a mate... 350 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,040 ..as do some of the visitors. 351 00:38:08,240 --> 00:38:11,040 But many do nothing but fight. 352 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:20,800 Unobtrusively, however, something else is going on. 353 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:27,000 Meet a faeder. 354 00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:31,120 A male ruff wearing the plumage of a female. 355 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:39,240 The only known example of crossdressing in the bird world. 356 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:45,600 The faeder avoids competition 357 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,160 since all the other males think he's a female. 358 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:55,800 So while the other males continue to fight it out, 359 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,080 the faeder moves in. 360 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:17,160 Only 1% of the male population are faeders. 361 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:27,200 But it proves that in gatherings where male display is important, 362 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:30,440 there is still room for a different approach. 363 00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:45,040 Assembling in really large herds, 364 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:48,640 like those that appear on the open savannahs of Kenya, 365 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:52,000 can seriously complicate the mating game. 366 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:58,240 They attract the greatest concentration of predators in the world. 367 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:00,760 LOW GIGGLING 368 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:03,840 LOW GROWLING 369 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:05,240 PANTING 370 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:10,520 LOW ROARING 371 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:22,120 Here, you have to keep your eyes peeled. 372 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:23,600 FAINT SNORTING 373 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:30,680 And this young male topi is doing just that. 374 00:40:32,080 --> 00:40:33,480 INSECTS HUM 375 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:40,200 His excellent eyesight enables him to spot approaching predators. 376 00:40:43,080 --> 00:40:44,360 HE SNORTS 377 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:49,680 And his alarm calls warn others of the dangers lurking in the grass. 378 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:51,280 HE SNORTS 379 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:53,240 SQUAWKING 380 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:58,680 INSECTS HUM 381 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,240 But a sentry also wants to mate. 382 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:09,480 So eventually, he abandons his post 383 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:13,960 and follows the other males to the traditional display grounds. 384 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,240 Now, with no-one to give warning of predators, 385 00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:26,520 the journey is becoming dangerous. 386 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,240 SNORTING 387 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:51,240 On arrival, the young male's problems become evident. 388 00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:00,760 The females tend to look for males in the centre of the display ground, 389 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:03,040 so that is the place to be. 390 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,840 GRUNTING 391 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:19,760 But he has to battle with rivals even before he gets there. 392 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,400 The stakes in the mating game now get even higher. 393 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:46,480 Females arrive in a group. 394 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:56,360 A female topi is fertile for only one single day in the whole year. 395 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:02,440 So it's vital that he makes a good impression right now. 396 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:06,320 He tries a ritualised trot 397 00:43:06,320 --> 00:43:08,560 that demonstrates his physical fitness. 398 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:19,520 But the females seem to take no notice. 399 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:26,920 He needs to do something else. 400 00:43:32,760 --> 00:43:36,520 He tries driving his horns into the ground as others are doing. 401 00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:46,240 The effect is certainly eye-catching. 402 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:51,640 But will it make any difference? 403 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:57,600 HE GRUNTS 404 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:16,200 Still no takers. 405 00:44:25,720 --> 00:44:29,040 But now, he's attracting the wrong sort of attention. 406 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,200 His final tactic is less obvious. 407 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:44,000 He actually exploits the presence of predators. 408 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:52,480 As a female comes into view, he snorts a predator alarm call. 409 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:54,360 HE SNORTS 410 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:56,800 It stops the female in her tracks. 411 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:02,960 It's a false alarm, but it delays her just long enough 412 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:04,720 to give him a chance. 413 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:08,840 HE GRUNTS 414 00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:15,560 And that is all he needs. 415 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:26,920 His success...gives him a fresh swagger. 416 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:33,880 HE GRUNTS CONTENTEDLY 417 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:37,760 But in mating with so many females, 418 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:40,480 he exposes himself to danger. 419 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:47,520 Since arriving a few weeks earlier, 420 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:50,240 he has barely stopped to eat or drink. 421 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:57,160 His mating exertions have left him exhausted. 422 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:08,320 With few males acting as sentries, 423 00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:12,760 this is neither the time nor the place to drop your guard. 424 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:45,120 Even an exhausted topi is more than a match for a single adult cheetah. 425 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:49,880 But there are two. 426 00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:53,560 And now three. 427 00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:11,160 Such is the desire to breed 428 00:47:11,160 --> 00:47:13,160 that some on this grassland 429 00:47:13,160 --> 00:47:16,720 pay for the chance to do so with their lives. 430 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:30,520 But those who manage to complete the act of mating 431 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:34,000 will have left a legacy within the herd. 432 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:48,320 The mating game begins with finding a partner. 433 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:53,880 For many, the act of mating brings it to an end. 434 00:47:55,720 --> 00:47:58,960 But for some, that isn't the whole story. 435 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:05,880 After 40 days of incubation, 436 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:10,760 ostrich parents have to take on their final responsibilities. 437 00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:16,280 Chicks, just a few days old. 438 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:27,960 The timing of their parents' mating couldn't have been better. 439 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:35,680 Rain has brought plenty of food to the arid grasslands, 440 00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:38,080 and that is what the chicks must have 441 00:48:38,080 --> 00:48:40,280 if they are to survive and grow. 442 00:48:43,120 --> 00:48:46,760 So the responsibilities of these adults 443 00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,160 are still, by no means, over. 444 00:48:55,240 --> 00:48:59,280 Winning the mating game can have its consequences. 445 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:01,360 CHIRRUPING 446 00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:10,280 And for some, they can be the greatest challenge of all. 447 00:49:33,760 --> 00:49:35,400 To film The Mating Game, 448 00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:37,480 crews travelled across the world 449 00:49:37,480 --> 00:49:41,760 to gain an intimate understanding of animals and their habitats. 450 00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:53,000 Oh, my God, there's a baby cayman in its mouth! 451 00:49:54,440 --> 00:49:58,680 Over two and half years, teams worked alongside wildlife experts, 452 00:49:58,680 --> 00:50:03,240 often going to extreme lengths to capture the behaviours on camera. 453 00:50:03,240 --> 00:50:06,680 It's unbelievable what's happening here in this forest! 454 00:50:08,320 --> 00:50:11,960 What they uncovered was beautiful and surprising, 455 00:50:11,960 --> 00:50:14,200 and revealed the true complexity 456 00:50:14,200 --> 00:50:18,880 of the strategies that animals employ to win the mating game. 457 00:50:26,760 --> 00:50:28,440 One of their greatest challenges 458 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:32,120 involved predicting when ostriches will begin their breeding 459 00:50:32,120 --> 00:50:34,600 in the desert grasslands of Namibia. 460 00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:40,360 It's a behaviour that cameraman Martyn Colbeck 461 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:43,520 has spent years trying to understand. 462 00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:45,040 I'm pretty excited. 463 00:50:45,040 --> 00:50:48,720 I just want them to get on with their mating game. 464 00:50:48,720 --> 00:50:50,240 HE LAUGHS 465 00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:54,400 Martyn's experiences tell him in this part of the world, 466 00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:59,320 ostriches have to time their breeding to perfection. 467 00:50:59,320 --> 00:51:02,520 We think that the breeding is just about to kick off, 468 00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:05,600 but what hasn't happened yet is that the ostriches 469 00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:08,800 haven't split up and dispersed to look for nest sites. 470 00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:12,800 And that's when the males start to do their territorial chasing 471 00:51:12,800 --> 00:51:14,200 and displaying to each other. 472 00:51:16,200 --> 00:51:20,240 The birds must begin their breeding in advance of the annual rain. 473 00:51:20,240 --> 00:51:23,200 It's a gamble that ensures that there will be enough food 474 00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:25,920 for their chicks when they eventually hatch. 475 00:51:27,800 --> 00:51:31,200 It means that the film team must also second-guess 476 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:33,760 the timing of their trip. 477 00:51:33,760 --> 00:51:36,440 As with many places in the world these days, 478 00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:39,400 the weather patterns here in Namibia are so unpredictable. 479 00:51:39,400 --> 00:51:41,320 It's had drought for five years. 480 00:51:41,320 --> 00:51:44,600 And you can look around and it's really, really dry 481 00:51:44,600 --> 00:51:45,920 and really, really barren. 482 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:48,000 And there's a slight worry within the camp that, 483 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:51,360 you know, with this drought and with this unpredictable weather, 484 00:51:51,360 --> 00:51:54,920 that there's just no real trigger, as it were, 485 00:51:54,920 --> 00:51:57,040 for the ostriches to do their thing. 486 00:51:58,360 --> 00:52:01,240 The more they search, the greater the sense of unease 487 00:52:01,240 --> 00:52:03,000 at the lack of activity. 488 00:52:04,920 --> 00:52:06,560 WHIRRING 489 00:52:11,480 --> 00:52:13,160 Aerial reconnaissance by the team 490 00:52:13,160 --> 00:52:17,920 uncovers further evidence that this landscape is under duress. 491 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:23,400 Quiver trees have evolved to cope with long periods without rain, 492 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:26,800 but even they have succumbed to the drought. 493 00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:32,480 I can imagine what this place must have looked like 15, 20 years ago. 494 00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:35,160 It's upsetting. I'm actually really upset. 495 00:52:35,160 --> 00:52:38,120 You know, you come here thinking, 496 00:52:38,120 --> 00:52:40,120 "Oh, wow, amazing quiver tree forest", 497 00:52:40,120 --> 00:52:43,440 and you get here and you just see this devastation. 498 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:45,280 I'm upset. 499 00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:48,080 I'm really, really, like, as in truly upset. 500 00:52:49,760 --> 00:52:53,200 Like you said, these trees are older than us. 501 00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:56,160 You know, trees are older than you, 502 00:52:56,160 --> 00:52:59,360 myself and Gert combined, 503 00:52:59,360 --> 00:53:01,960 and they're just lying here, dead. 504 00:53:01,960 --> 00:53:03,440 Just done for. 505 00:53:11,800 --> 00:53:14,280 It's a bad situation to be in. 506 00:53:16,760 --> 00:53:19,800 As the weeks pass, there's still no sign of the rain 507 00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:22,440 the ostriches so desperately need. 508 00:53:24,480 --> 00:53:27,840 They should be establishing their territories. 509 00:53:27,840 --> 00:53:29,520 They should be digging their nests. 510 00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:30,960 The males should be fighting. 511 00:53:32,520 --> 00:53:33,960 But they're not. 512 00:53:35,280 --> 00:53:37,720 In the year that Martyn was here, 513 00:53:37,720 --> 00:53:41,480 Namibia experienced the worst drought in 90 years. 514 00:53:43,760 --> 00:53:47,560 In these conditions, the ostriches seemed to sense 515 00:53:47,560 --> 00:53:50,800 that any attempt at breeding would end in failure. 516 00:53:52,680 --> 00:53:55,600 The team left empty-handed. 517 00:54:00,360 --> 00:54:04,640 The following year, The Mating Game returned with a new team 518 00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:08,520 and renewed hope that the rains might eventually arrive. 519 00:54:10,760 --> 00:54:13,040 And what they encountered from the start 520 00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:15,720 took them by complete surprise. 521 00:54:25,920 --> 00:54:28,000 With this much foreplay on display, 522 00:54:28,000 --> 00:54:32,280 it's clear that the ostriches are in a very different mood. 523 00:54:32,280 --> 00:54:35,480 In the far distance, we just saw a male 524 00:54:35,480 --> 00:54:38,320 definitely doing what we want it to do. 525 00:54:38,320 --> 00:54:40,680 So we're just now going as fast as we can over here, 526 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:42,280 hoping they're going to keep going. 527 00:54:42,280 --> 00:54:44,240 He's twisting, he's twisting, he's twisting! 528 00:54:44,240 --> 00:54:45,800 Oh, my gosh, she's twisting! 529 00:54:48,240 --> 00:54:50,400 Yeah, that's a good angle. He's running. 530 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:52,480 OK, let's go ahead with this one. 531 00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:58,720 With the males now violently competing for females, 532 00:54:58,720 --> 00:55:02,600 their mating game has literally kick-started. 533 00:55:02,600 --> 00:55:06,000 Oh, God, amazing to see! Just incredible! 534 00:55:06,000 --> 00:55:08,280 I know. Is a round of high fives appropriate? 535 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:10,000 Jeez! Yeah. 536 00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:11,560 Well done. Nice job. 537 00:55:11,560 --> 00:55:14,160 Jeez! Thank goodness for that! 538 00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:15,640 How long was that? 539 00:55:15,640 --> 00:55:18,800 Anyway, it's not that long, it's just the intensity of it, isn't it? 540 00:55:21,720 --> 00:55:23,800 More surprising, with still no rain 541 00:55:23,800 --> 00:55:26,200 but clouds building on the horizon, 542 00:55:26,200 --> 00:55:30,120 the ostriches begin to launch into their finale. 543 00:55:30,120 --> 00:55:32,440 Ooh, y-yes! Yes! 544 00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:34,240 Nope, she's... 545 00:55:37,480 --> 00:55:39,440 Yes! 546 00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:41,160 Well done, Steve! 547 00:55:47,040 --> 00:55:48,480 So it's all going ahead 548 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:51,640 and we were trying to work out why that is, what's the difference? 549 00:55:51,640 --> 00:55:55,520 Because there's still been no rain at all. Been a few clouds. 550 00:55:55,520 --> 00:55:58,480 But we've just seen that the forecast for next Monday, 551 00:55:58,480 --> 00:56:01,360 that's a week away, there's rain forecast. 552 00:56:01,360 --> 00:56:04,320 So, you know, maybe they somehow know that. 553 00:56:04,320 --> 00:56:06,480 I don't know how they do that, but maybe they know 554 00:56:06,480 --> 00:56:09,040 that it's going to be a good rain year. 555 00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:13,520 In the coming weeks, after five years of waiting, 556 00:56:13,520 --> 00:56:15,800 something remarkable happened. 557 00:56:17,800 --> 00:56:21,480 The desert plains received a much-needed downpour. 558 00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:29,480 It seems the ostriches got their timing right after all. 559 00:56:35,640 --> 00:56:41,280 Next time, the largest of all habitats - oceans. 560 00:56:41,280 --> 00:56:45,240 Where life first invented the mating game. 561 00:56:50,160 --> 00:56:53,240 And where the challenge of simply finding a mate 562 00:56:53,240 --> 00:56:56,600 sparks some of the greatest battles on Earth.