Wildebeest: Born To Run | Full episode | Nature documentary - video Dailymotion

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Transcript

00:00Forward momentum. Chasing the rains. Fleeing from predators. Or battling the terrain.

00:15A never-ending journey to track the shifting promise of fresh grass.

00:21Build a beast on the migration. Live life in fast forward. It's an epic spectacle.

00:31Vast distances and uncountable numbers. But the big picture is deceptive.

00:40The real drama unfolds close up.

00:44This is Neo's first trip. So now it's personal.

00:54Neo with a thousand miles to cover. Facing enemies intent on killing him.

01:03Crossing treacherous waters.

01:06Neo is the one in a million. Who will either live or die to fulfill his destiny.

01:23The wildebeest migration in East Africa has no real beginning or end.

01:28It's not a set route. But a relentless nomadic wandering. Around an area roughly the size of Denmark.

01:39The impetus to move is food and water. And because rainfall is erratic, the movement pattern echoes this.

01:49Thirst steers them across many rivers.

01:51And during the dry winter, the herds head north, close to the Mara River.

01:55They're only permanent water when the rains stop.

02:00But right now, it's the rainy season. And the herds spread across the southern grass plains of the Serengeti.

02:09Today is Neo's birthday. Neo's birthday is a special day for the Serengeti.

02:17Today is Neo's birthday.

02:24He's not fully out, but the clock starts.

02:30Neo and mum will never be more vulnerable than in these precious first minutes.

02:37Survival as a newborn depends on Neo hitting developmental milestones.

02:42A strong neck is a promising start.

02:53With mum's encouragement, Neo finds his feet.

03:00Briefly.

03:04Now his goal is coordination.

03:06Mum greets her baby son.

03:13As she cleans him, she learns his unique scent, as he learns hers.

03:18Smell is how they will recognize each other if they ever get separated.

03:26And Neo's eyes are open to the world.

03:28Smell is how they will recognize each other if they ever get separated.

03:36And Neo's survival right now depends on them sticking together.

03:40It's a race to stand, but this vital imprinting will save Neo's life more than once.

04:01Everything he needs to know about being a wildebeest, he'll learn from mum.

04:13She's his cheerleader, his defender, and his guide.

04:23Only three minutes old and he's up.

04:31Through determination and the evolutionary wizardry that makes

04:34wildebeest offspring the most precocious of any antelope.

04:42A newborn that walks with robust lungs and legs that have the same bone to muscle ratio as an adult.

04:55And now that he's vertical, his instinct is to nurse.

05:01But the herd is leaving and it's more important to keep up.

05:21Mum has a final target for her newborn.

05:26To run.

05:31Life as a wildebeest has started.

05:41Neo is born on the short green grass in the south,

05:45but he was conceived eight months earlier, many kilometers away.

05:50A place much more dry and loud.

05:54The air vibrates.

05:58It's the time of the rut and from horizon to horizon,

06:02territorial bulls recruit females onto their turf to graze and ultimately to mate.

06:15It's easy to spot the males.

06:18They exhibit a frantic urgency.

06:21Yet very little of this activity involves the actual mating.

06:26It's more about chasing and herding females and fighting off competing males.

06:34The humming chorus of excited bulls works its magic.

06:40Because it's this sound that stimulates the cows to mate.

06:45Because it's this sound that stimulates the cows and brings them into Easter simultaneously.

06:55The annual rut is the biggest mass mating event on the planet.

07:02Along with Neo's mum, 500,000 females conceive in this three week peak.

07:07But by comparison, the females seem quite disinterested in the whole affair.

07:15It's the males who do all the work.

07:19They remain vigilant to fight off intruders bent on stealing their prized possessions.

07:25Bulls are so pumped up with hormones during the rut,

07:29some of the females can't get enough of it.

07:34They're so pumped up with hormones during the rut,

07:36some give up resting and sleeping completely.

07:50A bull smells when a cow is in heat.

07:52And a moist nose improves his ability to sort through different odours.

07:58He also curls his lip back in the Flehmen position

08:02to take air onto a specialist scent organ that detects sex pheromones.

08:18Despite the energetic preamble, the mount is quite low key.

08:22And short.

08:25Probably because it's often done on the move.

08:33When the females don't stop, or even slow down,

08:37the poor males just have to do their best.

08:43The males may have the enthusiasm, but the females hold the power.

08:48So success depends entirely on the willingness of the females to be detained.

09:00This guy has a bit of work to do on his vocals.

09:10Their melodious mating ritual clearly works.

09:14Evidence of its success is overwhelming.

09:20Eight months later, like clockwork, along with Neo,

09:24a quarter of a million new tan-coloured flanks pepper the plains.

09:32Mums synchronise their birth to coincide with the rains

09:36and the green flush of fresh grass in the south.

09:41The most nutritious grazing on their entire journey.

09:45Perfect to provide rich milk for growing calves.

09:53At one week old, even the calves experiment with the lush carpet of greens.

10:03With their blunt muzzles, flexible lips and wide rows of incisors,

10:07wildebeests are designed to crop these short, map-forming grasses.

10:13There's plenty for everyone, because while the rain falls,

10:17there's constant new growth to compensate for heavy grazing.

10:25Neo's only a day old, and mum keeps him close.

10:31As a newborn, his instinct to follow is strong, but indiscriminate.

10:36So Neo is drawn to any large, moving object.

10:40While he's so tiny, mum must ensure that she's the first thing Neo sees.

10:48It's one of the wildebeest wonders that most of the calves

10:52are born within a three-week period.

10:56That's 500 newborns a day.

11:00It's a clever anti-predator strategy,

11:04keeping most of them safe.

11:10It's difficult for a predator to pick a single target among the thousands.

11:24Difficult, but not impossible.

11:29Alone, a calf has no chance against a cheetah.

11:47Straying from mum and the herd is a death sentence.

11:53A harsh, but vital lesson for Neo.

11:59Another first for Neo.

12:03Rain.

12:07Thunderstorms are an almost daily occurrence through the wet season,

12:11but they're deeply significant for the wildebeest,

12:15as the aerial beacons that trigger the entire migration.

12:20It's a strange sensation, getting wet,

12:24but the drops taste nice enough.

12:38Neo watches mum and the other calves

12:42as they move through the wet.

12:46Neo watches mum for her reaction.

12:50She's even more eager to graze.

12:58The short grasses in the south are special.

13:02New growth explodes after every shower.

13:06And it's this fresh flush, rich in protein,

13:10which the wildebeest crave, and why they chase every new rainstorm.

13:16The wildebeest themselves play a vital part

13:20in this grass bonanza.

13:24Their heavy grazing further stimulates growth,

13:28and with their trampling and depositing manure,

13:32they actively create and maintain their habitat.

13:40But rain is the critical cog in this food factory.

13:45Without water, shallow roots expose the southern grass's fickle nature.

13:53Green blades wither to dry husks almost overnight,

13:57devoid of nutrients,

14:01prompting the mass exodus away from the plains.

14:05Only rain keeps the grass green.

14:09While the living is easy,

14:13the herds make the most of it,

14:17even grazing through the night to bulk up.

14:29Neo's too tiny for grass,

14:33but the perfect fit for his umbrella.

14:39When Neo is five days old,

14:43he takes his first journey to the marsh.

14:47The rains keep these ephemeral pools brimming

14:51with fresh water.

14:55Adjacent to the plains,

14:59it's a convenient watering hole for the thirsty hordes.

15:04Neo's led to a shallow pan

15:08where it's safe for the calves to drink,

15:12wide open and easy for mums to spot oncoming danger.

15:18The adults navigate the deeper water.

15:22All wildebeest have to drink every two days,

15:26so this vital water right next to their food

15:30limits the distances the herds have to cover

15:34when the calves are so young.

15:39Five days has made a big difference to Neo.

15:43He brims with confidence and curiosity.

15:47With typical youthful energy,

15:51he's desperate to stretch his legs.

15:55He's not afraid of the cold,

15:59and he's not afraid of the rain.

16:03He's not afraid of the cold,

16:07and he's not afraid of the rain.

16:21It's time to claim his newfound independence,

16:25as long as it's okay with mum.

16:31With thousands of thirsty mouths to accommodate,

16:36as one group of wildebeest moves off,

16:40another pours in to take its place.

16:48There's an enemy in their midst.

16:56Hidden in the tall grass,

17:00the lioness settles right next to the herd.

17:06When she's still,

17:10she's invisible.

17:26She wants an easy target.

17:30An adult wildebeest is much heavier than she is,

17:35and she has claws that can pierce and even kill her.

17:43A calf is best,

17:47but difficult to spot tucked next to their mums.

17:51Panic scatters the herd.

17:59As one, the mothers gallop the calves back to the plains.

18:13The lioness seems uninterested in her kill.

18:18Another opportunity.

18:24It's Neo.

18:28He didn't leave with a rest,

18:32and he's too young to know he's in danger.

18:36Irresistible to the lioness.

18:40But Neo's not alone,

18:44and that changes everything.

18:48Mum will face this enemy for both of them.

18:58Neo's not alone,

19:02and that changes everything.

19:07Neo's not alone,

19:11and that changes everything.

19:23The route home takes them right past the lioness.

19:31But now Neo's prepared.

19:35With mum's guidance, he knows the lioness means danger.

19:41And when mum runs, he runs.

19:46And when mum runs, he runs.

20:04When wildebeest calves stand next to their mothers,

20:08it's easy to see why these bearded ladies of the savannah are so valuable.

20:16Calves disappear.

20:20They're undetectable to predators.

20:26This subtle vanishing act is why it's crucial that calves learn to shadow their mothers.

20:32Wildebeest youngsters aren't hidden away like other antelope babies,

20:36and their precociousness makes them conspicuous.

20:40But behind their hairy veils,

20:44mothers keep their offspring safe.

20:58Neo and mum practice following skills.

21:04He's improved a lot,

21:09keeping his distance at her side, and even stops in sync.

21:31The ambush comes out of nowhere.

21:36Two cheetahs.

21:46But mum is on the attack,

21:50and immediately in pursuit when the first cheetah keeps chasing Neo.

21:58For a second time, it looks as if it's all over.

22:02But 150 kilograms of maternal fury

22:06is the game changer.

22:14Mum's not letting her son die today.

22:24And now Neo knows what to do.

22:29And rejoin the herd.

22:53Childhood doesn't last forever.

22:57The seasons stop, and the herds begin the journey

23:01away from their southern pastures for another year.

23:09There's nothing left to sustain them here.

23:15Dead grass transforms the plains into a dust bowl,

23:19and the marsh pans degenerate to unpalatable soda lakes.

23:24Rain is now falling on the long grass further north, and they must follow.

23:36But the females anticipated this change,

23:40and the months on the plains prepared them and their calves for their trek.

23:48Neo is a sturdy three-month-old.

23:52He no longer has the sooty face of a baby calf

23:56and sports his darker adult coat and little devil horns.

24:06And they're off.

24:10Millions tuned into the same restless impulse to move.

24:15Now their awkward body shape makes sense,

24:19because it's their heavy-fronted design

24:23that allows them to cover such vast distances day after day

24:27in their easy, loping canter.

24:31A bull neck and tall shoulders aren't pretty,

24:35but they're key to the wildebeest's perseverance.

24:40Even marathon runners have to rest some time,

24:44and after two days on the trot,

24:48a river is a vital pit stop.

24:56There's always high energy at the first river crossing.

25:00Water, sand, and sandstone

25:04are the main sources of energy.

25:08Water offers relief from the sun,

25:12an opportunity to wash off the dust and pesky flies,

25:16and most of all, a drink.

25:22But a killer lives here.

25:28The most terrifying of all wildebeest enemies,

25:32because of his ability to disappear.

25:38First, eventually overcomes fear.

25:46They remain on high alert.

25:50It only takes a quarter of a second

25:54for a crocodile to launch right out of the water.

26:08They're lucky. This was just a recce.

26:12Death is a steep price to pay for a drink of water.

26:22Miss.

26:26But there's nowhere for the herd to escape to.

26:30It's backed up all the way up the bank.

26:35Thousands of wildebeest waiting to drink.

26:41Now the leaders are forced into enemy territory

26:45by the surge of bodies from behind.

26:49Third time unlucky.

26:57They lose a herd member.

27:05Mercifully, it's a quick death.

27:10But the brutal attack shocks the herd into action.

27:14The priority changes.

27:20It's the perfect time to cross while the enemy is distracted.

27:26They'll return for a drink later.

27:30The blood sacrifice is paid for a safe passage.

27:38Neo can't wait.

27:42It's quite different from the gentleman he's used to.

27:46Waves make it difficult to breathe.

27:52But he's not alone.

27:57Mom wants to cross immediately while the sheer numbers keep them safe.

28:09It's a gentle, shallow river that still almost covers Neo.

28:13Swept along by the energy of his herd mates,

28:17Neo's first crossing is a success.

28:25Although separate groups of wildebeest

28:29reach the river's edge,

28:33it's still a long way to go.

28:38Although separate groups of wildebeest

28:42reach the rivers at different times,

28:46they use very specific crossing points,

28:50which is why there's excessive bottlenecking.

28:54They choose a narrow section and cross as fast as possible

28:58to limit the time they're exposed in the water.

29:02A tight formation has the same benefit in the water

29:07to make it difficult for a predator to separate one from the bunch.

29:15It lasts the morning,

29:19but Mom and Neo's herd crosses without further incident.

29:37Over the next few weeks,

29:41the movement pattern repeats itself

29:45as wave after wave of wildebeest push ever northwards.

29:51River crossings follow time drinking

29:55and grazing on the long grass plains.

30:01The yellow patches may look unappetizing,

30:05but this grass is drought-resistant and reliable through the dry season.

30:13They've done well.

30:17Neo and Mom are only two days away from their winter pastures

30:21and their ranks have swollen.

30:25Herds converge in their thousands for one final hurdle,

30:29the Mara River.

30:34The Mara River is the muscular body of a young adult.

30:38He's going to need it for his upcoming swim.

30:50And where the herds gather, predators wait.

31:04The lioness follows in plain sight.

31:08She wants the wildebeest to see her.

31:22She's at a massive disadvantage.

31:26The hordes are retreating.

31:30It's way too late for an ambush attack.

31:36This calls for something less subtle.

31:48A stampede.

31:52There's always profit to be made from panic.

31:57One cow bolts away from the herd.

32:03A fatal mistake.

32:07The rest of the herd rallies.

32:11They can't help the cow, but if they stick together,

32:15they limit the damage.

32:19In an emergency,

32:23the compulsion to herd

32:27is one of the wildebeest's greatest strengths.

32:31But accidents happen.

32:35Life changes in an instant.

32:39And without warning, there's a crisis.

32:44Neo is in pain.

32:48It's difficult to move.

32:56His leg twisted badly

33:00when he sprinted away from the lion.

33:04A wildebeest with a limp is a broken thing.

33:10Neo can barely walk, let alone run.

33:20Mom is worried.

33:25Mom has an impossible choice.

33:29Stay with Neo or catch up to the herd.

33:37Neo's injury turns them both into targets.

33:43But if she abandons him now,

33:47she's condemning him to death.

33:52Her best option is to keep moving them closer to the others.

33:56But every moment, they slip farther behind.

34:08If Neo can rest and heal, he may have a chance.

34:12But it means spending the night alone.

34:16Her encouragement spurs him,

34:20but he's finished.

34:25But it means spending the night alone.

34:29Her encouragement spurs him,

34:33but he's finished.

34:55But it means spending the night alone.

35:11She makes her decision.

35:15Now her son comes first.

35:25By morning, 10 kilometers ahead of Mom and Neo,

35:29the first of millions arrive at the Mara River.

35:35It takes days for everyone to cross.

35:39The Mara is a unique challenge.

35:43Deep water and steep banks distinguish it from every other crossing.

35:47So the herds gather to build their numbers and confidence.

35:55They get a running start at the shallow end,

35:59but the sand bank drops off sharply,

36:03and they hit the deep end.

36:07When they lose their footing, they lose their speed.

36:11Forced to swim for the opposite bank, the wildebeest are sitting ducks.

36:15These river monsters don't have to hide.

36:19They can target anyone.

36:23Water is their realm.

36:39But there's another challenge.

36:44A rip current drags the swimmers off course,

36:48tripling their time in the water

36:52and offering the worst possible exits.

37:06Panic drives them forward without thought.

37:14And the hordes keep on coming,

37:18cannon fodder for the enemy.

37:30The wildebeest's hardwired tenacity

37:34is both a blessing and a curse.

37:38Some individuals are crushed and trampled in the chaos,

37:42but the same stick-at-it-ness

37:46gets others out of impossible situations.

37:52Despite the hardship, most make it across.

37:57There's something infectious to overcoming adversity in a team,

38:01and wildebeest epitomize this.

38:15Eight kilometers back,

38:19the wildebeest make their way through the swamp.

38:24Eight kilometers back, far from the mayhem,

38:28Neo is making progress.

38:32A good night's rest and mum's slow pace has helped a lot.

38:42But someone has noticed their isolation.

38:46And the rocking pattern of Neo's limp

38:50is a green light to attack.

39:02Certainly worth investigating.

39:10One hyena isn't a serious threat.

39:15It shouldn't interfere with mum's plan to rejoin the herds in the next few days.

39:25Neo can run, but he can't maintain it.

39:39Mum makes it clear they don't want company.

39:45Back to the mission.

39:49Get Neo well and catch up to the herd.

39:53It takes three days,

39:57but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest

40:01which is the wildebeest herd.

40:07It takes three days,

40:11but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest

40:15which is the wildebeest herd.

40:20It takes three days, but mum and Neo join the final throne of wildebeest

40:24waiting to cross the Mara River.

40:28They're both frantic with thirst,

40:32so mum initiates the move to the water.

40:44But there's a problem.

40:50It's too dangerous to drink or cross now,

40:54and mum warns the others.

40:58She can only keep Neo safe in a crowd,

41:02so she'll wait for reinforcements to mob the crocodile.

41:12But Neo's desperate. His mouth burns.

41:16So mum rallies the herd around him to let him drink.

41:30With the herd at critical mass, they dive in.

41:34But the river is no different today.

41:38The current is still furious.

41:46Hampered by his weak leg,

41:50Neo battles to keep up.

41:56It's a cruel irony that such a narrow crossing

42:00is such an epic struggle.

42:04Programmed to follow like sheep,

42:08today's herds face exactly the same pitfalls.

42:13Exits are jammed in the panic to leave the water.

42:17With nowhere to go, wildebeest clamber over each other,

42:21injuring comrades that block the way.

42:29Still they press on, driven by a stubbornness

42:33that's unrelenting.

42:37Spindly legs that look ready to snap

42:41carry most safely to the grass.

42:45Five meters from shore,

42:49Neo loses his battle against the current.

42:53But mum doesn't give up on him.

42:57With no thought of her own safety,

43:01she turns against the herd.

43:06Swims back across the river

43:10to find her son.

43:16Crushed in the frenzy downstream,

43:18it doesn't look good for Neo.

43:28Mum's bravery goes unnoticed.

43:33All around her, individuals are wrapped up in their own survival.

43:43It's her final act as a mother.

43:47In the great scheme of things,

43:51it's just one more death,

43:55a mere statistic.

43:59But a precious bond of mother and son

44:03is broken forever.

44:08A precious bond of mother and son

44:12is broken forever.

44:16And life goes on, driving forward the only way they know.

44:43Only the tail-enders see the back of the river.

44:53There's no mourning for the dead.

44:55A few lives are sacrificed for the many.

44:59It's a survival strategy that's worked for millennia.

45:16This year's carcasses are abandoned at the river.

45:25But one heart still beats here.

45:33And perseverance is in Neo's very DNA.

46:00Water washes away more than dust and grime.

46:06It's a new start.

46:08And his focus is to find mom.

46:18He can't see her in the pile, and he doesn't pick up her scent.

46:30A wet nose won't change things.

46:33He will never smell her again.

46:50He has to rely on the strength within.

46:59Mom's lessons kept him out of danger and taught him to keep moving.

47:08She did her job well.

47:10Her determination and feistiness shine through her son.

47:18He knows what to do.

47:21Find the herd.

47:24He won't let her down.

47:49And so, when Neo rejoins the herd, it's not the end.

47:54Like the migration, his story and his journey continues.

47:59He can't predict his fate, but he can meet it at a gallop.

Wildebeest: Born To Run | Full episode | Nature documentary

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