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In this hectic world so much seems

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to pass us by.

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(light music)

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All around us dramas are playing out,

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but often so fast we don't even see it.

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Blink and you miss it.

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But slowing down the action, a new world is revealed.

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Little lizards become velociraptors,

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Puffballs explode.

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Falling leaves cause earthquakes.

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(birds chirping)

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Sit back and enjoy the action.

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When animals court,

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run,

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fly, or fight.

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(liquid sloshing)

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There's no need to rush.

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(birds chirping)

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(light music)

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(wings rustling)

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Slow motion is the result of capturing

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more frames per second.

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More images, more detail.

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When the footage is played back,

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the detail of every second is unpacked.

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It's a popular filming trick,

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and the only way to reveal some of the faster actions

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in the natural world.

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Like the incredible wing beats of a hummingbird.

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(light music)

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These tiniest of birds can flap

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an incredible 200 times per second.

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If this one was to dash off in a straight line,

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she could top 50 kilometers an hour.

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Thanks to the unique flexibility of its shoulder joint,

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the wings can move in a figure of eight.

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Perfectly controlling airflow over its surface

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and allowing the bird to hover motionless,

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fly forwards, backwards,

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and even upside down.

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(light music)
(bugs chirping)

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It needs this incredible control for precision movement.

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Hummingbirds feed by sinking their beaks

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into the long flowers to lap up sap.

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But no maneuvers are more delicate than this.

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The nest is about the size of a half walnut shell.

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The chick is barely bigger than a bumblebee,

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and the whole thing is bobbing up and down,

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suspended in the leaf.

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And yet the female's lightning fast reactions

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enable her to perfectly line up her bill

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to pass nectar to her hungry chick without doing any damage.

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(light dramatic music)

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(water splashing)

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Slowing down the action means we can marvel

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at the tensile strength of water.

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(light music)
(water trickling)

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(waves crashing)

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(gulls cawing)

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And watch it explode from thermal hot springs

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like it's been detonated.

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(rumbling)

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(water bubbling)

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(water splashing)

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Terrifying globs of lava seem suspended in the air

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as though in some giant horrifying lava lamp.

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(rumbling)
(lava spurting)

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The everyday and ordinary become extraordinary.

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(light music)

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(water splashing)

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(leaves rustling)
(birds chirping)

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(light dramatic music)

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(thudding)
(leaves rustling)

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Things we all take for granted.

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(thunder rumbling)

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Dark clouds rolling in for warmer storms.

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For humans, it means put your hood up

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or get out of the rain.

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The tiny droplets seem benign to us.

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(rain pattering)

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Little more than a soggy nuisance.

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But on a tiny scale, these droplets can be devastating.

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Slowed down, small animals can be seen to be battered

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by the weather.

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(thunder cracking)

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A raindrop tsunami.

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(light music)

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It's at the tiny end of the scale

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that viewing speed really makes a difference.

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(light music)
(leaves rustling)

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Who'd think about the weight of a falling leaf?

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But for the little creatures living on it,

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whole cities of aphids,

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it's the start of a devastating earthquake.

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A trampoline for the tiny.

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(light music)
(bird squawking)

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A jay, a colorful member of the crow family,

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is scouting out an ant's nest.

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But it's not looking for lunch.

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Ants are social insects.

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They work together to build their homes,

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find food, and raise their young.

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They also unite in defense of their colony.

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(light dramatic music)
(birds chirping)

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They spot the marauder and rise as one.

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To protect their home, the ants launch a chemical attack,

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spraying a cocktail of formic acid into the air.

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(light dramatic music)
(acid spurting)

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While it's toxic, it's exactly what the jay is looking for.

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It's a natural fungicide and insecticide,

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helping to rid the birds feathers

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of any unwanted parasites or infections.

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What's a battle for one is a beauty spa for the other.

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(light music)

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(birds chirping)

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(soft music)

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Insects are incredible creatures,

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often overlooked and taken for granted.

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Up close and slowed down, the mini marvels are revealed.

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(wind rustling)

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(thunder cracking)

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(rain pattering)

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Few things are more spectacular

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than the jump of a grasshopper.

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(light music)

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(water splashing)

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(thunder rumbling)

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It's all thanks to a clever bit of physics.

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The normally bent knee is holding

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a big flexor muscle tightly, building up a store of energy,

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like a coiled spring.

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When the muscle is relaxed, the stored energy is released.

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A cricket catapult.

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(light music)
(birds chirping)

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When fighter jets take off,

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it experiences nine g-force,

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or nine times the force of gravity.

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At the peak of its explosive launch,

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a grasshopper hits a g-force of 20.

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(fire rustling)

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If humans had the equivalent spring loaded leaps,

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we could clear a football field in a single hop.

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And with wings, the grasshoppers' hop

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can lead to fast flight.

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Perfect for escaping danger.

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(fire rustling)

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(bird cawing)

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They don't all fly.

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Close cousins, European field crickets, can't fly.

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They only weigh about as much as a paperclip,

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but still have legs that can propel them

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for 30 times the length of their bodies.

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(crickets chirping)

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During their breeding season,

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they sing by rubbing their small wings together.

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Covered in a series of tooth-like bumps,

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they grate against each other, making the sound.

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Only the males sing and they stand in the entrances

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to their borrows to do so.

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Their home acting like a resonating chamber,

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amplifying the sound.

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They have different songs.

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Some are to attract females,

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but others are war cries aimed at driving off competition.

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It doesn't always work.
(light dramatic music)

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Slow motion reveals the most minute clash of the titans.

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(dramatic music)

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(suspenseful music)

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The speed of a cricket's leap can save it from many dangers,

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unless a rival distracts it.

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(dramatic music)

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Speed is useful for escape, but predators can be fast, too.

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(light music)
(birds chirping)

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Like crickets, lizards are cold-blooded.

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If it's a chilly morning,

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they will not be performing at their best,

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but once they have spent a few hours basking in the sun,

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they're turbocharged.

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Many lizards can run at 40 kilometers per hour,

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not bad for such tiny legs.

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But faster than a speeding bullet,

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there's one superhero of the reptile world

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that can only be appreciated in slow-mo.

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(light music)

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The fastest tongue in the west.

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The quickdraw chameleon.

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The chameleon can lock onto its target

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thanks to eyes mounted on turrets of flesh

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that can be rotated independently of each other.

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It can perfectly triangulate the prey's location.

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The tongue can stretch two and a half times

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the lizard's body length, so it can shoot at 10 paces,

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far enough back to avoid spooking prey.

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Like a sock scrunched up over a foot,

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its tongue rests over a smooth bone

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in the floor of the mouth until it's needed.

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It's full of collagen-based muscle segments

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that are elastic and can store energy.

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Ever squeezed a slippery watermelon seed

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between your fingers?

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When the tongue's muscles contract, they do the same.

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Shooting the tongue from its bony support.

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It can reach 100 kilometers per hour in 100th of a second,

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faster than a jet plane.

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The tip of the tongue has saliva on it

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that is 400 times thicker than a human's.

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It's like sticky honey,

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holding onto the bug while muscles reel the tongue back in.

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(light music)

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Speed and attack is vital to predators.

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A split second delay in the strike

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can result in going hungry.

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Slow motion reveals the perfect timing of most reptiles,

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like the thorny devil.

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(light music)
(bugs chirping)

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(birds chirping)
(light dramatic music)

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Many reptiles appear sluggish and lethargic,

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not moving much.

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But when they need to, they are capable of terrifying speed.

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(suspenseful music)

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Nile crocodiles can remain motionless for hours on end.

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It's the perfect way to save energy.

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Blending in with the murky water,

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crocs can lie in wait until prey comes to them.

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(water splashing)

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Crocodiles have the most powerful bone-crushing

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bite force on the planet.

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(water splashing)
(light dramatic music)

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(dramatic music)

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Timing is everything.

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They can't allow movement to give the game away too soon.

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(dramatic music)
(water splashing)

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Crocodiles can lunge at more than 40 kilometers per hour.

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A powerful body and muscular tail propel the attack.

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(dramatic music)
(water splashing)

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Slow motion lets us marvel at an impact

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that we'd miss in the blink of an eye.

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(water splashing)

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Slowing down the footage also reveals some dramatic escapes.

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(birds chirping)

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(light music)

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Crocodiles aren't able to generate heat in their bodies,

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but birds and mammals are,

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meaning their high energy activities

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can be hard to keep up with.

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(birds chirping)

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Thanks to their fast metabolism, birds are speedy movers.

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It's during their courtship that slow motion

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reveals the best of birds.

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(light music)
(birds chirping)

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(water rushing)
(birds squawking)

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(loons calling)

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The Slavonian grebe is another specialist.

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(light music)

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It's barely able to walk.

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Over the eons its legs have evolved,

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migrating further back on its body,

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devoted entirely to making it a powerful swimmer

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that can dive for food.

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(water splashing)

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The grebes of monogamous

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and take the dating game very seriously.

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They don't appreciate intruders

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trying to muscle in on their partners.

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(dramatic music)
(water splashing)

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(light music)

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But once they get some alone time, they dance.

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To cement a strong bond to get them through arduous

269
00:21:56,370 --> 00:21:59,630
child-rearing, the pair test their commitment

270
00:21:59,630 --> 00:22:01,113
through synchronized ballet.

271
00:22:04,498 --> 00:22:08,940
(light music)
(water bubbling)

272
00:22:08,940 --> 00:22:12,110
They fetch pond weed, a colorful prop,

273
00:22:12,110 --> 00:22:14,073
and mimic each other's head turns.

274
00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,930
When they paddle the legs at the back of their bodies

275
00:22:19,930 --> 00:22:22,660
they almost appear to walk on water.

276
00:22:22,660 --> 00:22:24,303
They perform the penguin dance.

277
00:22:28,944 --> 00:22:31,861
(water splashing)

278
00:22:45,710 --> 00:22:48,223
Not all birds pair up so harmoniously.

279
00:22:51,210 --> 00:22:53,980
While some form close partnerships,

280
00:22:53,980 --> 00:22:55,923
others seek harems.

281
00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:02,623
A male black grouse will play no part in chick rearing.

282
00:23:03,753 --> 00:23:06,030
(bird squawking)

283
00:23:06,030 --> 00:23:09,280
It just wants to mate with as many females as possible

284
00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,330
and will leave them to bring up his kids.

285
00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:16,913
But the girls are choosy.

286
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,580
For a male to win the right to mate with her,

287
00:23:21,580 --> 00:23:23,080
he'll have to prove his worth.

288
00:23:24,228 --> 00:23:26,520
(light dramatic music)

289
00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,170
The male selects an arena, known as a lek,

290
00:23:30,170 --> 00:23:31,673
where he can strut his stuff.

291
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:36,583
Other males will show up, too.

292
00:23:38,610 --> 00:23:40,660
They are trying to prove to the girls that they have

293
00:23:40,660 --> 00:23:43,933
the best voices, best plumage,

294
00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,823
and best stamina to keep it up.

295
00:23:49,334 --> 00:23:51,460
(dramatic music)

296
00:23:51,460 --> 00:23:53,610
Some individuals are evenly matched

297
00:23:55,230 --> 00:23:57,923
and take the competition to the next level.

298
00:23:59,758 --> 00:24:02,400
(wings flapping)

299
00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,393
Feathers fly in a grouse joust.

300
00:24:06,238 --> 00:24:09,571
(light dramatic music)

301
00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:33,373
Once a winner's announced,

302
00:24:37,010 --> 00:24:38,713
the male will claim his prize,

303
00:24:46,710 --> 00:24:49,720
and the females will prepare for their duties

304
00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:50,683
as single moms.

305
00:24:54,254 --> 00:24:58,400
(birds squawking)
(light dramatic music)

306
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,963
Many birds work together to help raise their young.

307
00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:06,593
Endlessly ferrying food back to the nest.

308
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,017
(bird squawking)

309
00:25:13,017 --> 00:25:16,517
Activity that can draw unwanted attention.

310
00:25:19,580 --> 00:25:22,100
The superb fairy wrens dash in and out

311
00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:23,483
as quickly as they can,

312
00:25:27,290 --> 00:25:29,843
but kookaburras are eagle-eyed.

313
00:25:33,042 --> 00:25:35,840
They're the biggest members of the kingfisher family,

314
00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:37,600
sharing the lightening fast dives

315
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,500
and spear-like beaks of their cousins.

316
00:25:41,528 --> 00:25:44,778
(light dramatic music)

317
00:25:48,762 --> 00:25:51,595
(dramatic music)

318
00:25:55,410 --> 00:25:57,867
Thankfully, a beetle caught its eye.

319
00:26:00,586 --> 00:26:02,810
(birds chirping)

320
00:26:02,810 --> 00:26:05,280
Top predators in the outback,

321
00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,143
kookaburras can eat just about any small creature.

322
00:26:09,541 --> 00:26:12,120
(light dramatic music)

323
00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:15,653
Like all kingfishers, it has many unique features.

324
00:26:24,350 --> 00:26:27,053
Slow motion reveals bizarre toes.

325
00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,210
They are syndactyl, with the second

326
00:26:34,210 --> 00:26:36,233
and third toes fused together.

327
00:26:38,060 --> 00:26:41,550
Only kingfishers and hornbills have toes like this

328
00:26:41,550 --> 00:26:43,143
and no one is sure why.

329
00:26:46,830 --> 00:26:48,900
The kookaburra has a large brain

330
00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:51,603
with a lot of emphasis on its depth perception.

331
00:26:55,463 --> 00:26:58,213
(dramatic music)

332
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:01,270
When it's ready to fly,

333
00:27:01,270 --> 00:27:04,433
it will drop rather than launch itself from the branch.

334
00:27:07,869 --> 00:27:10,786
(water splashing)

335
00:27:17,301 --> 00:27:19,920
It not only has great binocular vision,

336
00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:21,570
but can even compensate for

337
00:27:21,570 --> 00:27:23,543
the refractive properties of water.

338
00:27:24,510 --> 00:27:27,853
Still perfectly judging the distance to submerge prey.

339
00:27:33,060 --> 00:27:36,410
Its pointed bill parts the surface to grab its prey,

340
00:27:36,410 --> 00:27:38,673
a yabby, or Australian crayfish.

341
00:27:40,650 --> 00:27:45,650
(light dramatic music)
(water splashing)

342
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,060
The whole thing happens so quickly

343
00:27:53,060 --> 00:27:55,973
that it can get airborne again before it gets waterlogged.

344
00:28:06,250 --> 00:28:07,293
Yabbies fight back,

345
00:28:11,710 --> 00:28:14,520
but kookaburras have powerful necks,

346
00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:18,050
enabling them to use ingenuity and brute force

347
00:28:18,050 --> 00:28:19,323
to disarm their prey.

348
00:28:20,597 --> 00:28:25,597
(rustling)
(light dramatic music)

349
00:28:29,980 --> 00:28:31,970
With the kookaburra well fed,

350
00:28:31,970 --> 00:28:33,793
the wren chicks are safe for now.

351
00:28:37,845 --> 00:28:39,510
(light dramatic music)

352
00:28:39,510 --> 00:28:41,843
Eventually, all birds must leave the nest.

353
00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,363
Some wait until they can fly,

354
00:28:46,210 --> 00:28:47,910
but others don't have that luxury.

355
00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,943
Even if their nest is six meters up.

356
00:28:58,910 --> 00:29:03,058
Ducks like to get their young to water as soon as possible.

357
00:29:03,058 --> 00:29:06,428
(light music)

358
00:29:06,428 --> 00:29:08,807
But goldeneyes nest in tree cavities.

359
00:29:11,060 --> 00:29:13,390
Long before they grow wings,

360
00:29:13,390 --> 00:29:16,863
the ducklings must get airborne and hope for the best.

361
00:29:17,783 --> 00:29:20,033
(rustling)

362
00:29:23,010 --> 00:29:27,100
Fortunately, their young, soft bones and dense fluff

363
00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:28,563
make them quite bouncy.

364
00:29:29,646 --> 00:29:31,339
(light music)

365
00:29:31,339 --> 00:29:34,172
(leaves rustling)

366
00:29:53,073 --> 00:29:55,483
And they can follow mom.

367
00:29:55,483 --> 00:29:58,316
(water trickling)

368
00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,024
Being on the water puts the young birds at risk.

369
00:30:02,024 --> 00:30:04,953
(light dramatic music)

370
00:30:04,953 --> 00:30:07,453
(light music)

371
00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:14,693
But most predators here are after fish.

372
00:30:18,930 --> 00:30:20,973
The osprey is a supreme fisher.

373
00:30:24,140 --> 00:30:28,223
Its wings sweep back to maximize speed in its plunge.

374
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,893
As it prepares to hit the water, its nostrils close.

375
00:30:36,070 --> 00:30:38,723
Its talons swing forward to strike,

376
00:30:39,770 --> 00:30:42,640
toes spread so that two face forwards

377
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,723
and two back to grasp fish.

378
00:30:45,812 --> 00:30:50,812
(water splashing)
(light dramatic music)

379
00:30:50,830 --> 00:30:53,533
Spiny scales on its feet improve its grip.

380
00:30:57,060 --> 00:31:01,010
The osprey is the only raptor to oil its feathers,

381
00:31:01,010 --> 00:31:02,213
making it waterproof.

382
00:31:03,530 --> 00:31:06,170
It just has to shake off the excess water

383
00:31:06,170 --> 00:31:07,170
as it gets airborne.

384
00:31:08,890 --> 00:31:11,550
And to improve its aerodynamics,

385
00:31:11,550 --> 00:31:13,110
it points the fish head first

386
00:31:13,110 --> 00:31:15,401
while it flies back to its perch.

387
00:31:15,401 --> 00:31:20,401
(birds chirping)
(light dramatic music)

388
00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:24,230
(light music)

389
00:31:24,230 --> 00:31:26,393
Sea eagles use a similar technique.

390
00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:30,893
They tend to only grab prey close to the surface.

391
00:31:33,430 --> 00:31:35,283
Sweeping it up with powerful talons.

392
00:31:36,249 --> 00:31:39,582
(light dramatic music)

393
00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:55,750
With wings that could hug a sofa,

394
00:31:55,750 --> 00:31:57,750
the eagle easily gets back into the air.

395
00:32:04,570 --> 00:32:07,403
(water splashing)

396
00:32:08,831 --> 00:32:11,414
(gulls cawing)

397
00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,710
But although eagles seem pretty good at providing

398
00:32:14,710 --> 00:32:18,543
for themselves, they're not willing to share.

399
00:32:19,999 --> 00:32:22,749
(wind whistling)

400
00:32:26,290 --> 00:32:29,100
In winter, eagles of different species

401
00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:32,010
gather near open water where they have a good chance

402
00:32:32,010 --> 00:32:33,143
of finding food.

403
00:32:37,650 --> 00:32:38,913
Competition is tough.

404
00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,523
One golden eagle isn't doing the catching himself,

405
00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:52,413
he's watching others.

406
00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:03,129
He's planning grand theft.

407
00:33:03,129 --> 00:33:06,504
(dramatic music)

408
00:33:06,504 --> 00:33:08,900
(birds chirping)

409
00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:12,260
Slowing things down reveals that powerful wings

410
00:33:12,260 --> 00:33:13,463
can deliver a thump.

411
00:33:15,602 --> 00:33:18,435
(dramatic music)

412
00:33:21,940 --> 00:33:25,963
Their beaks look menacing, but eagles save them for feeding.

413
00:33:29,870 --> 00:33:32,643
Their main weapons are their powerful talons.

414
00:33:33,635 --> 00:33:38,635
(birds squawking)
(wind whistling)

415
00:33:39,191 --> 00:33:42,524
(light dramatic music)

416
00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:02,123
Even when food is plentiful, eagles can be feisty.

417
00:34:07,340 --> 00:34:10,173
(birds squawking)

418
00:34:12,286 --> 00:34:14,777
(wings flapping)

419
00:34:14,777 --> 00:34:17,527
(wind whistling)

420
00:34:19,858 --> 00:34:21,260
(crows cawing)

421
00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:24,090
There's enough food on this winter killed deer carcass

422
00:34:24,090 --> 00:34:25,543
to feed a flock of birds,

423
00:34:27,350 --> 00:34:30,103
but the sea eagles don't want competition.

424
00:34:34,420 --> 00:34:36,063
Especially from the crows.

425
00:34:40,310 --> 00:34:42,679
Eventually the cocky birds push their luck.

426
00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:45,300
(crows cawing)

427
00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:47,333
One is added to the menu.

428
00:34:54,117 --> 00:34:56,950
(eagle squawking)

429
00:34:57,861 --> 00:35:00,677
(crows cawing)

430
00:35:00,677 --> 00:35:04,010
(light dramatic music)

431
00:35:11,830 --> 00:35:14,780
Birds are not the only creatures who have mastered the air.

432
00:35:15,739 --> 00:35:20,177
(light music)
(bugs trilling)

433
00:35:20,177 --> 00:35:25,177
(wings flapping)
(bats screeching)

434
00:35:26,348 --> 00:35:28,280
(playful music)

435
00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,080
While birds have fused and reduced finger bones

436
00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:32,910
to support their feathers,

437
00:35:32,910 --> 00:35:35,240
bats have long bony fingers linked

438
00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:36,843
by a thin membrane of skin.

439
00:35:47,035 --> 00:35:51,129
95% of a bat's body surface is its wings.

440
00:35:51,129 --> 00:35:55,170
(light dramatic music)

441
00:35:55,170 --> 00:35:59,463
Nearly 2000 species range from bumblebee to eagle-sized.

442
00:36:03,250 --> 00:36:04,823
Masters of the night sky,

443
00:36:09,130 --> 00:36:13,230
they might top speeds of 160 kilometers per hour

444
00:36:13,230 --> 00:36:15,523
and cover 400 kilometers a night.

445
00:36:20,470 --> 00:36:23,363
Some are agile enough to catch insects on the wing,

446
00:36:26,430 --> 00:36:29,890
others, the giants, fly from plant to plant

447
00:36:29,890 --> 00:36:31,443
to eat flowers and fruit.

448
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:41,310
The smaller insect eaters use echolocation like dolphins.

449
00:36:41,310 --> 00:36:43,923
They call out and listen to returning echoes.

450
00:36:47,020 --> 00:36:49,260
It means they can safely fly at night

451
00:36:49,260 --> 00:36:51,600
and don't rely on their eyes.

452
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:53,873
They can navigate around a cave in the dark.

453
00:36:56,742 --> 00:37:01,742
(bats screeching)
(light dramatic music)

454
00:37:34,574 --> 00:37:38,324
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly,

455
00:37:41,644 --> 00:37:43,985
though there are others that try.

456
00:37:43,985 --> 00:37:48,985
(bugs chirping)
(light dramatic music)

457
00:38:02,070 --> 00:38:05,980
Sugar gliders look a lot like flying squirrels

458
00:38:05,980 --> 00:38:07,823
and they travel in the same way,

459
00:38:08,790 --> 00:38:11,344
but they're Australian marsupials.

460
00:38:11,344 --> 00:38:13,580
(dramatic music)

461
00:38:13,580 --> 00:38:17,010
Elastic and stretchable flaps of skin on their sides,

462
00:38:17,010 --> 00:38:19,550
running all the way to their ankles and wrists,

463
00:38:19,550 --> 00:38:21,743
turn them into squirrel-shaped kites.

464
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:31,090
They can glide 50 meters at a time from tree to tree.

465
00:38:31,090 --> 00:38:34,283
They can't flap, and so always head downhill.

466
00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:53,100
Mammals have a multitude of ways of moving

467
00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:57,341
and some have to be seen in slow motion to be believed.

468
00:38:57,341 --> 00:39:02,341
(bugs chirping)
(light music)

469
00:39:02,870 --> 00:39:04,163
The red kangaroo.

470
00:39:06,180 --> 00:39:11,180
At 70 kilometers per hour, it's hard to make out details,

471
00:39:11,350 --> 00:39:13,650
though, it's clear these two meter giants hop.

472
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:25,913
But slow it down and you reveal spectacular engineering.

473
00:39:29,810 --> 00:39:32,150
The kangaroos have long feet.

474
00:39:32,150 --> 00:39:33,363
They're kickboards.

475
00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,760
Huge, stretchy tendons run from their ankles

476
00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:43,163
along the back of the legs.

477
00:39:44,300 --> 00:39:46,993
These are the key to the kangaroo cruising.

478
00:39:48,790 --> 00:39:53,290
For most mammals, going fast means working muscles hard,

479
00:39:53,290 --> 00:39:55,233
taking more frequent strides.

480
00:39:56,500 --> 00:39:58,500
But when kangaroos wants to go flat out,

481
00:39:59,340 --> 00:40:03,233
they don't take more strides, they lengthen each one.

482
00:40:06,810 --> 00:40:09,403
One bound can cover nine meters.

483
00:40:12,670 --> 00:40:16,303
And it's because they're using their tendons like springs.

484
00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:22,160
If you compress a spring and then release it,

485
00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:23,383
it will ping back up.

486
00:40:24,570 --> 00:40:28,363
That's because as it's compressed it stores energy.

487
00:40:29,690 --> 00:40:31,533
Kangaroos' tendons do the same.

488
00:40:32,850 --> 00:40:35,600
The more they are stretched and compressed,

489
00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:39,575
the more energy they have to unleash for the next stride.

490
00:40:39,575 --> 00:40:42,280
(light dramatic music)

491
00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:45,620
The counterweight tail helps stabilize and steer,

492
00:40:45,620 --> 00:40:48,593
but it also bounces up and down, generating momentum.

493
00:40:49,730 --> 00:40:52,647
(insects chirping)

494
00:40:59,730 --> 00:41:03,063
(light dramatic music)

495
00:41:04,630 --> 00:41:07,030
It pumps the animal's body cavity,

496
00:41:07,030 --> 00:41:09,423
inflating and deflating its lungs.

497
00:41:13,860 --> 00:41:15,863
It doesn't even need to breathe.

498
00:41:18,060 --> 00:41:22,550
And unlike other mammals, its oxygen and energy consumption

499
00:41:22,550 --> 00:41:24,293
barely go up at top speeds,

500
00:41:25,420 --> 00:41:27,290
making it perhaps the most energy

501
00:41:27,290 --> 00:41:28,823
efficient way of traveling.

502
00:41:32,110 --> 00:41:34,330
It also makes kangaroos and their cousins

503
00:41:34,330 --> 00:41:36,291
pretty good fighters.

504
00:41:36,291 --> 00:41:41,291
(birds chirping)
(light music)

505
00:41:48,020 --> 00:41:49,880
Boulders don't stop rock wallabies

506
00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:51,533
from a good kickboxing fight.

507
00:41:53,145 --> 00:41:55,720
(dramatic music)

508
00:41:55,720 --> 00:41:57,233
Parkour at its best.

509
00:42:39,630 --> 00:42:42,453
Being able to run fast is good for escaping danger,

510
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,503
but also, if you are the danger.

511
00:42:50,036 --> 00:42:55,036
(light dramatic music)
(insects chirping)

512
00:42:59,630 --> 00:43:03,173
Predators unleash their explosive power in different ways.

513
00:43:04,263 --> 00:43:05,940
(birds chirping)

514
00:43:05,940 --> 00:43:08,313
Some adopts the stalk and pounce.

515
00:43:09,577 --> 00:43:11,240
(upbeat music)

516
00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:15,340
The serval is one of the smaller members of the cat family,

517
00:43:15,340 --> 00:43:19,273
but as a predator, it's also one of the most effective.

518
00:43:23,850 --> 00:43:27,130
Having proportionately the longest legs for any cat

519
00:43:27,130 --> 00:43:29,203
helps the serval to see over long grass.

520
00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:38,570
It stalks silently on padded feet,

521
00:43:38,570 --> 00:43:41,823
trying to get closer to its favorite feathered prey.

522
00:43:43,934 --> 00:43:47,267
(light dramatic music)

523
00:43:49,490 --> 00:43:51,703
Fast and flighty prey is a challenge.

524
00:43:54,350 --> 00:43:58,560
22 muscles can independently rotate its massive ears

525
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:00,563
to help it lock on to its target.

526
00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:07,700
Once in position, those long legs propel it

527
00:44:07,700 --> 00:44:09,802
three meters into the air.

528
00:44:09,802 --> 00:44:13,135
(light dramatic music)

529
00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:16,693
The bird didn't see it coming.

530
00:44:18,771 --> 00:44:22,104
(light dramatic music)

531
00:44:24,820 --> 00:44:27,890
Half of all attacks result in success,

532
00:44:27,890 --> 00:44:31,523
making the serval one of the most efficient killer cats.

533
00:44:33,450 --> 00:44:36,060
(birds chirping)

534
00:44:36,060 --> 00:44:38,950
Though it's the predators that run down their prey

535
00:44:38,950 --> 00:44:41,565
that really offer the visual feast.

536
00:44:41,565 --> 00:44:44,398
(grass rustling)

537
00:44:47,020 --> 00:44:50,550
It might not be as energy efficient as the serval,

538
00:44:50,550 --> 00:44:53,663
but the cheetah has a similar success rate.

539
00:44:54,790 --> 00:44:57,708
Its technique couldn't be more different.

540
00:44:57,708 --> 00:45:02,708
(suspenseful music)
(grass rustling)

541
00:45:08,751 --> 00:45:11,501
(dramatic music)

542
00:45:12,690 --> 00:45:14,103
It's over in seconds.

543
00:45:21,290 --> 00:45:24,233
Slow it down and understand the action.

544
00:45:25,420 --> 00:45:29,630
The cheetah can do naught to 103 seconds.

545
00:45:29,630 --> 00:45:31,133
Few cars could keep up.

546
00:45:32,490 --> 00:45:37,483
In fact, its speed can top out at 120 kilometers per hour,

547
00:45:39,890 --> 00:45:42,853
but it can only sustain this for a few hundred meters.

548
00:45:44,130 --> 00:45:46,833
Any further and it overheats.

549
00:45:48,050 --> 00:45:53,050
So before it risks a run, it must stalk closely to its prey.

550
00:45:53,098 --> 00:45:56,348
(light dramatic music)

551
00:45:57,690 --> 00:46:00,623
It needs to avoid having to run for more than a minute.

552
00:46:04,934 --> 00:46:07,900
(dramatic music)

553
00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:09,994
Then it hits the turbo button.

554
00:46:09,994 --> 00:46:12,744
(grass rustling)

555
00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:17,990
The hips and shoulders can swing as a flexible spine arches

556
00:46:17,990 --> 00:46:20,683
up and down, lengthening its leap.

557
00:46:28,210 --> 00:46:29,590
With legs bunched tight,

558
00:46:29,590 --> 00:46:31,970
and then flexed as wide as they'll go,

559
00:46:31,970 --> 00:46:34,093
the cats can take eight meter strides.

560
00:46:36,016 --> 00:46:41,016
(light dramatic music)
(grass rustling)

561
00:46:53,670 --> 00:46:57,630
Cheetahs' claws don't retract like other cats,

562
00:46:57,630 --> 00:47:00,883
and their presence helps to grip the ground at high speed.

563
00:47:04,310 --> 00:47:05,970
The long tail's a rudder,

564
00:47:05,970 --> 00:47:08,293
maintaining balance on quick turns.

565
00:47:12,695 --> 00:47:15,528
(dramatic music)

566
00:47:18,070 --> 00:47:21,640
The cheetahs' ribcage is deep with supersized heart,

567
00:47:21,640 --> 00:47:26,640
liver, and lungs ensuring a good supply of oxygenated blood.

568
00:47:26,664 --> 00:47:29,914
(light dramatic music)

569
00:47:35,300 --> 00:47:38,130
When they get within range, the hooked claw,

570
00:47:38,130 --> 00:47:41,413
like a lethal thumb, is swung out to trip its victim.

571
00:47:49,989 --> 00:47:53,915
And it's killed with a bite to the throat.

572
00:47:53,915 --> 00:47:57,248
(light dramatic music)

573
00:48:09,450 --> 00:48:11,900
After a hard workout like this,

574
00:48:11,900 --> 00:48:14,263
a cheetah must seek shade to cool off.

575
00:48:16,420 --> 00:48:18,993
Its hunting technique burns a lot of calories.

576
00:48:22,240 --> 00:48:25,850
But unlike the serval, it secured a large meal,

577
00:48:25,850 --> 00:48:28,123
and won't need to hunt again for days.

578
00:48:33,735 --> 00:48:36,985
(light dramatic music)

579
00:48:39,150 --> 00:48:40,820
We seem to rush through life.

580
00:48:46,268 --> 00:48:48,310
(bugs chirping)
(water splashing)

581
00:48:48,310 --> 00:48:50,550
It might take technology to slow down

582
00:48:50,550 --> 00:48:52,470
the detail in some actions,

583
00:48:56,103 --> 00:48:58,936
(water splashing)

584
00:49:03,832 --> 00:49:06,800
(water splashing)

585
00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:09,780
but it would do us all good to slow down sometimes

586
00:49:13,780 --> 00:49:16,053
and appreciate the world around us.

587
00:49:19,540 --> 00:49:22,447
You might be surprised by what you see.

588
00:49:23,794 --> 00:49:24,627
Yes!

589
00:49:31,487 --> 00:49:33,987
(light music)