Queen of the Pythons (2019) - full transcript
The 13-foot female snake's daily life in a sub-tropical valley in South Africa.
Narrator: THEY‘RE THE
\hSTUFF OF NIGHTMARES.
\hGIANT SNAKES OF
IMMENSE STRENGTH.
WITH A STRIKE FASTER THAN
\h\h\hTHE BLINK OF AN EYE.
[HISSING]
AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON‘S...
A BATTERY OF FINELY TUNED
\h\h\hTRACKING SENSORS...
THE BETTER TO FIND YOU WITH.
ROWS OF RAZOR SHARP TEETH...
THE BETTER TO GRIP YOU WITH.
GIGANTIC... ANCIENT...
\h\h\h\h\hAGGRESSIVE.
[CHICKEN SQUAWKING]
\h\h\h\hTHIS IS SQUEEZE, AN
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ROCK PYTHON
PROPELLED BY THE SAME PRIMORDIAL
NEEDS THAT DROVE HER ANCESTORS
IN THE DAYS WHEN DINOSAURS
\h\h\h\hWALKED THE EARTH.
SHE CAN HUNT IN ANY TERRAIN...
\h\h\h\hAT ANY TIME OF DAY...
FOR VIRTUALLY ANY PREY.
BUT, SQUEEZE IS A MOTHER, SO
\hOTHERS DEPEND ON HER TOO.
... AND BRINGING HER YOUNG INTO
THE WORLD SAFELY
IS NO WALK IN THE PARK.
♪
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN
\h\h\h\h\hSHE HAS TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN HER SURVIVAL AND THEIRS.
\h\h\h13 FEET LONG...
70 POUNDS OF MUSCLE...
SQUEEZE IS COVERED IN THE
\h\h\h\hYELLOW, CHESTNUT
AND BROWN SPLOTCHES THAT
\h\h\hHELP HER BLEND IN
WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
SHE HASN‘T EATEN IN TWO WEEKS.
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR GOOD REASON.
SHE‘S CARRYING A CLUTCH OF
\h\hJUST-DEVELOPING EGGS.
\hSHE CAN‘T EAT A BIG MEAL - NOT
WHILE THEY‘RE GESTATING INSIDE.
BUT SHE‘S HUNGRY; A SNACK
\hWOULD BE JUST THE THING.
SOMETHING THAT IN HER SLUGGISH
\h\h\hSTATE MIGHT NOT REQUIRE
A LOT OF WORK.
SHE WAITS FOR NIGHTFALL.
LIKE MOST SNAKES, THE ROCK
\hPYTHON HAS POOR VISION,
BUT THAT DOESN‘T MEAN
\h\hIT CAN‘T FIND YOU.
SQUEEZE CAN SENSE BODY HEAT -
\h\hWITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY.
THE SCALES ON HER LIPS
\h\hHAVE “PIT ORGANS”
\h\h\h\hWHICH ARE FULL OF
HEAT-SENSITIVE RECEPTORS.
NERVES CARRY SIGNALS
\hFROM THE RECEPTORS
TO THE BRAIN WHERE THEY‘RE
\hCONVERTED INTO IMAGES...
LIKE GOLDILOCKS, SQUEEZE IS
\h\h\hLOOKING FOR SOMETHING
JUST THE RIGHT SIZE.
NOT TOO SMALL... A FROG IS
\hHARDLY WORTH THE EFFORT.
NOT TOO BIG... IT WOULD BE HARD
EVEN FOR A ROCK PYTHON
TO SWALLOW A COW.
BUT HERE‘S SOMETHING JUST RIGHT.
THIS RABBIT HAS COME TO DINE
\h\hON SOME TASTY CABBAGES.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE RABBIT,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CABBAGES...
ARE PERFECT COVER FOR SQUEEZE.
THE RABBIT‘S ACUTE HEARING
\h\h\h\h\h\hIS LEGENDARY.
\hBUT IT SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE
APPROACH OF THIS STEALTH HUNTER.
[RABBIT BREATHING]
♪
RABBITS ARE FAST.
SQUEEZE IS FASTER.
[RABBIT SCREAMING]
SLOWLY, SHE SQUEEZES.
EVERY TIME THE RABBIT EXHALES,
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE COILS TIGHTEN
THE PYTHON CAN MOVE BOTH
\hSIDES OF ITS LOWER JAW
TO CREATE A LARGER ENTRYWAY, AND
IN GOES THE RABBIT, HEADFIRST.
[SNAKE BREATHING]
STRONG MUSCLES PUSH THE FOOD
\hDOWN TOWARDS HER STOMACH.
♪
WHEN IT‘S ALL IN, TIME
\h\h\h\hFOR A SIESTA.
IN A SAFE PLACE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY TO
\h\hDIGEST A WHOLE RABBIT -
SHE‘LL BE VERY SLUGGISH
\h\h\h\hFOR A FEW DAYS.
A SLUGGISH SNAKE IS A
\h\hVULNERABLE SNAKE.
PYTHONS HAVE LIVED IN AFRICA
\h\h\hFOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,
LONG BEFORE HUMANS ARRIVED
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SCENE.
SPECIES COME AND GO,
BUT THE PYTHON HAS A
TALENT FOR SURVIVAL.
THE SNAKE WE SEE TODAY
\h\hHAS CHANGED LITTLE
FROM ITS PREHISTORIC
\h\h\h\hFOREBEARS...
ITS AMONG THE WORLD‘S MOST
\h\h\h\hPRIMITIVE SNAKES.
♪
THE SMALL THORN-LIKE PROJECTIONS
ON THEIR LOWER BODY,
KNOWN AS PELVIC SPURS, ARE
\hTHOUGHT TO BE VESTIGES
\hOF A TIME WHEN THESE
ANIMALS HAD HIND LEGS.
A PAIR OF HIND LEGS MIGHT
\hACTUALLY COME IN HANDY
RIGHT NOW, AS SHE‘S WEIGHED DOWN
BY THE EGGS INSIDE HER.
THEY‘VE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE
IT‘S HARD TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS.
EACH EGG WEIGHS ABOUT AS MUCH
\h\h\h\h\hAS A BILLIARD BALL.
THAT‘S AROUND 50 BILLIARD BALLS
SHE‘S BEEN HAULING
AROUND FOR WEEKS.
[WATER FLOWS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SHE‘S READY TO LIGHTEN HER LOAD,
BUT SHE CAN‘T JUST DUMP
\h\h\h\h\hTHEM ANYWHERE.
[LEAVES CRUNCHING]
SHE‘S BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE
\h\h\hRIGHT SPOT FOR WEEKS.
THIS HOLLOW AT THE BASE OF
\h\hAN OLD SILVER OAK TREE
COULD PROVIDE SHELTER
\h\hFROM THE ELEMENTS,
HIDE HER EGGS FROM PREDATORS,
AND KEEP THEM AT A CONSTANT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTEMPERATURE.
♪
FOR AN ANIMAL CAPABLE OF SUCH
\hMASSIVE DISPLAYS OF POWER,
SHE CAN BE SURPRISINGLY
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMATERNAL.
SHE ARRANGES HER EGGS IN A PILE
AND COILS AROUND THEM TIGHTLY.
OF ALL THE SNAKES IN THE WORLD,
THE AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON
\h\hIS ONE OF ONLY A FEW THAT
ACTUALLY CARES FOR ITS YOUNG.
ALL THE OTHERS SIMPLY LAY OR
\h\h\hGIVE BIRTH AND LEAVE.
WITHOUT HER PROTECTION,
\hSQUEEZE‘S EGGS WOULD BE EASY
PICKINGS FOR MONITOR LIZARDS
AND MONGOOSES.
SHE‘LL STAND GUARD FOR
\h\hTHE NEXT 90 DAYS,
LEAVING THE HOLLOW ONLY
\h\h\hTO BASK IN THE SUN
AND RETURN TO WARM HER EGGS
\h\hWITH HER RE-HEATED BODY.
EVERY DAY SHE GROWS
\hA LITTLE WEAKER...
AND A LITTLE LESS ABLE
\hTO DEFEND HERSELF...
... AND HER YOUNG.
\hNarrator: SEVERAL
MONTHS HAVE PASSED,
DURING WHICH SQUEEZE‘S ONLY
\h\h\hJOB HAS BEEN GUARDING
AND INCUBATING HER YOUNG.
SHE‘S WEAK FROM LACK OF FOOD,
\h\hBUT HER MATERNAL
INSTINCT BECKONS...
FINALLY, INSIDE THE BURROW,
\h\h\h\hTHERE IS A STIRRING.
♪
[SQUISHING]
A YOUNG ROCK PYTHON TAKES
\h\h\h\hITS FIRST BREATH.
[SQUISHING]
AND THEN ANOTHER PYTHON.
AND ANOTHER.
\hONE BY ONE, THEY SAY HELLO TO
THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR SHELLS.
♪
THEY TASTE THE CHEMICAL
\h\h\hCUES IN THE AIR -
DANGER... FOOD... MOTHER.
THEY‘RE NOT YAWNING BECAUSE
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY‘RE SLEEPY.
THESE YAWNS ARE A KIND OF
\h\h\hSNAKE CALISTHENICS:
THEY ALIGN THE JAW
\h\hIN PREPARATION
FOR SWALLOWING LARGE PREY.
FOR THREE MONTHS, THE EGG
\h\h\h\hYOLK PROVIDED THEM
WITH EVERYTHING THEY
\h\h\hNEEDED TO GROW
SUPPLIED BY THEIR
\hUMBILICAL CORD.
THIS LIFE LINE WILL BE GONE IN
\h\h\h\h\h\hA MATTER OF HOURS,
AND THEY WILL SOON BE HUNGRY.
AT ONLY 20 INCHES LONG,
IT‘S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM AS THE
MIGHTY CONSTRICTORS
SOME WILL BECOME.
\hBUT THEY DON‘T HAVE THE LUXURY
OF WAITING UNTIL THEY‘RE BIGGER.
THEY HAVE JUST A FEW WEEKS,
\h\h\h\h\hTO LEAVE THE NEST,
SHED THEIR FIRST SKIN, AND
\h\hMAKE THEIR FIRST KILL.
OF THE 35 EGGS SQUEEZE LAID,
\h\h\h\h\h\h31 HAVE HATCHED.
AS THE ROILING MASS OF NEWBORN
\h\h\h\h\h\hSNAKES STRUGGLES
TOWARD THE EXIT, THE
WEAKEST ARE CRUSHED
AND NEVER MAKE IT OUT
\h\h\hINTO THE WORLD.
OUT THERE THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL
\h\h\h\h\hWILL BE EVEN WORSE.
SOME WILL DIE OF STARVATION...
AND OTHERS WILL SURVIVE
\h\h\h\hJUST LONG ENOUGH
TO BECOME SOMEONE ELSE‘S DINNER.
ONLY A LUCKY FEW WILL MAKE IT TO
THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.
FOR NOW, THOUGH, HOPE
\h\h\hSPRINGS ETERNAL.
\h\hTHE YOUNG PYTHONS SURVEY THE
BURROW, SEARCHING FOR A WAY OUT.
FINALLY, ONE OF THEM MAKES
\h\h\h\h\hA BREAK FOR IT.
SQUEEZE KEEPS HER HATCHLINGS
\hCLOSE FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.
IT MIGHT NOT SEEM VERY
\h\h\h\h\hLONG TO US,
BUT TO THESE YOUNG SNAKES,
\h\h\h\h\hIT‘S A GODSEND.
\hFEW PREDATORS WILL MOVE ON A
HATCHLING WHEN ITS WATCHFUL,
13 FOOT MOTHER IS COILED NEARBY.
IT‘S A KIND OF PARENTAL CARE WE
DON‘T ASSOCIATE WITH SNAKES,
BUT THE ROCK PYTHON SEEMS TO BE
AN INTRIGUING EXCEPTION
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE RULE.
♪
BUT EVEN SQUEEZE HAS HER LIMITS:
IF SHE DOESN‘T FEED SOON,
\h\h\h\hSHE COULD STARVE.
AND WHEN SHE SLITHERS
\h\h\h\hOFF FOR GOOD,
HER OFFSPRING WILL BE ON THEIR
\h\h\h\h\hOWN - READY OR NOT.
AND THE FOREST IS FULL
\h\hOF WATCHFUL EYES.
Narrator: AN ADULT AFRICAN ROCK
PYTHON IS AN APEX PREDATOR;
IT HAS LITTLE TO FEAR FROM OTHER
ANIMALS IN THE WILD.
BUT THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF
\h\h\h\h\h\hHATCHLING PYTHONS.
\h\hTHEY HAVE MANY ENEMIES,
INCLUDING VENOMOUS SNAKES -
LIKE THE FOREST COBRA -
AND BIRDS OF PREY - LIKE THE
\h\h\h\h\hAFRICAN GOSHAWK.
♪
THEIR MOTHER CAN‘T PROTECT
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEM FOREVER.
HER MATERNAL INSTINCT HAS
\h\h\hOVER-RIDDEN HUNGER.
SHE‘S EATEN NOTHING FOR MONTHS.
NOW IT‘S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.
IT‘S TIME TO HUNT.
NOT SO LONG AGO, SQUEEZE BROKE
\h\h\h\h\hOUT OF HER EGGSHELL
AND EMERGED FROM A NEST
\hWITH MANY OTHER HATCHLING ROCK
PYTHONS, JUST AS HER YOUNG DID.
MOST OF THE OTHERS IN HER CLUTCH
- MAYBE ALL - ARE LONG DEAD.
THEY STARVED TO DEATH BEFORE
\h\h\h\h\hTHEY COULD LEARN
TO HUNT SUCCESSFULLY...
OR THEY WERE PICKED OFF BY
\h\h\hHUNGRY CARNIVORES...
OR THEY WERE KILLED BY HUMANS,
EITHER OUT OF FEAR
\h\hOR FOR PROFIT.
EVERY YEAR THERE ARE FEWER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF HER KIND.
BUT SQUEEZE CROSSED THE FINISH
\h\h\h\h\hLINE INTO ADULTHOOD
AND IS NOW A FORMIDABLE AND
\h\h\h\hEXPERIENCED HUNTER.
SHE KNOWS WHERE THE FOOD IS, AND
SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET THERE.
SHE LAID HER EGGS DEEP
\h\h\h\hIN THE VALLEY.
NOW SHE‘S GOING TO HAVE TO CLIMB
THIS STEEP CLIFF FACE.
NOT EASY FOR AN EXHAUSTED
\h\h\h\hGIANT CONSTRICTOR.
BUT HERE‘S HOW YOU DO IT.
♪
FIRST ANCHOR YOUR MID-SECTION
\h\h\h\h\hTO THE ROCKY SURFACE
USING THE SCALES ON
\h\hYOUR UNDERBELLY.
THEN PULL YOUR TAIL ALL THE
WAY UP TO THE ANCHOR POINT,
RELEASE THE ANCHOR, AND USE YOUR
TAIL, TO PUSH YOUR WAY UP.
ANCHOR, PULL; ANCHOR, PUSH.
REPEAT AS NEEDED.
[ROCKS FALLING]
IT‘S GRUELING WORK, BUT HUNGER
\h\h\hIS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR.
♪
SHE‘S NOT CALLED A ROCK
\h\hPYTHON FOR NOTHING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE
\hTHINGS GET A BIT TRICKIER.
SQUEEZE IS AN ALL-TERRAIN
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPREDATOR.
SHE STALKS THE SAVANNAH,
\h\h\hFOREST AND CLIFFS.
\hCLIMBING TREES? NO PROBLEM.
FORDING RIVERS? PIECE OF CAKE.
SHE‘S BIGGER, STRONGER
\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FASTER
THAN JUST ABOUT ANY
\hOTHER ANIMAL HERE,
SO THERE‘S NO PLACE SHE CAN‘T
\h\h\h\h\hHUNT WITH IMPUNITY.
NO PLACE... EXCEPT HERE.
HERE SHE‘S ENCROACHING
\h\h\hON THE TERRITORY
OF ANOTHER FORMIDABLE KILLER.
SOME FARMERS APPRECIATE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE ANIMAL
FOR KEEPING RATS UNDER CONTROL.
BUT MANY OTHERS FEAR IT.
FARMERS WON‘T HESITATE
\h\h\h\h\hTO KILL ONE
IF THEY SEE IT AS A THREAT
\h\h\hTO THEIR LIVESTOCK.
[ROOSTER CLUCKS]
SQUEEZE HAS TO BE VERY
\h\h\h\hCAREFUL HERE.
SHE KNOWS THERE ARE
\h\h\hHUMANS AROUND.
BUT SHE ALSO KNOWS THAT
WHERE THERE ARE HUMANS,
THERE‘S USUALLY FOOD.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
\hVISITING THIS CHICKEN COOP IS
LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.
THE HENS KNOW SOMETHING‘S
\h\h\h\h\h\hA LITTLE OFF,
BUT IT‘S NOT LIKE THERE‘S
\hANYWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.
IT‘S A CALCULATED RISK: CAN
\hSQUEEZE SWALLOW A CHICKEN
AND MAKE HER ESCAPE BEFORE
\h\hTHE FARMER FINDS HER.
EVERY MINUTE SHE‘S HERE
IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR
\h\hHER BE DISCOVERED.
AND IF THE FARMER DISCOVERS HER,
THE SAME CAGE THAT MAKES THE
\h\hCHICKENS SITTING DUCKS
WILL MAKE HER ONE AS WELL.
DESPITE THE DANGER, SHE
\h\h\h\hMOVES IN SLOWLY.
METHODICALLY. SILENTLY.
♪
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
\h\hTHE ENTIRE STRIKE TAKES LESS
TIME THAN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
ABOUT 50 MILLISECONDS.
SHE ACCELERATES TOWARD
\h\h\h\h\h\hHER VICTIM
WITH AN IMPACT 30-TIMES THE
\h\h\h\hFORCE OF GRAVITY -
IF WE DID THAT, WE‘D PASS OUT.
HER CURVED, RAZOR-SHARP TEETH
\h\hCUT THROUGH MUSCLE EASILY
AND HOLD THE CHICKEN STEADY AS
\h\h\h\h\hSHE COILS AROUND IT.
THE REST IS A FOREGONE
\h\h\h\h\hCONCLUSION.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
\h\h\hSHE CAN FEEL HER PREY‘S
HEARTBEAT, AND WHEN IT STOPS,
SHE KNOWS IT‘S OVER.
BUT SHE DOESN‘T EAT
\hHER KILL JUST YET.
AFTER NOT EATING FOR MONTHS, ONE
CHICKEN JUST ISN‘T ENOUGH.
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
SHE LISTENS TO MAKE SURE
\h\hTHE COAST IS CLEAR.
ONCE SHE STARTS EATING,
SHE WON‘T BE ABLE TO MAKE
\h\h\h\h\hA QUICK ESCAPE.
[SQUISHING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
YOU‘D THINK THAT STUFFING HER
\h\h\h\hMOUTH WITH A CHICKEN
WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
\h\hFOR HER TO BREATHE,
BUT SNAKES ARE ABLE TO
EXTEND THEIR WINDPIPES
OUTSIDE THEIR MOUTHS SO
\h\h\h\hTHEY CAN BREATHE
AND EAT AT THE SAME TIME.
SHE‘LL ABSORB ALMOST EVERY PART
OF THE CHICKEN, EVEN THE BONES.
THE FEATHERS WILL PASS
\h\hTHROUGH HER SYSTEM
AND COME OUT IN HER FECES.
NOT MUCH NUTRITION IN FEATHERS.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SQUEEZE HAS HAD A GOOD
\h\h\h\h\hFEW MONTHS.
SHE‘S LAID HER EGGS AND
\hGUARDED HER OFFSPRING
UNTIL THEY HATCHED.
SHE‘S MANAGED TO SLIP
\h\hINTO A BUSY FARM,
EAT TWO CHICKENS, AND
\hSLIP OUT UNNOTICED.
NOT SO EASY FOR A
PREDATOR HER SIZE.
NOW SHE‘S LOOKING FOR A SAFE
\hPLACE TO DIGEST HER MEAL.
BUT IN THIS VALLEY, SAFE
\h\hIS A RELATIVE TERM.
♪
SQUEEZE‘S YOUNG ARE
\h\hNOW A MONTH OLD.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
MANY OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN
PICKED OFF BY PREDATORS.
THESE ARE THE SURVIVORS.
NOW, IT‘S MAKE OR BREAK.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
THEY HAVE A FEW YEARS TO GO
BEFORE THEY ARE BIG AND STRONG
\h\h\h\h\hLIKE THEIR MOTHER.
UNTIL THEN, THEY‘RE ON
\h\hEVERYONE‘S MENU...
AND SOME OF THEIR BIGGER COUSINS
AREN‘T ABOVE CANNIBALISM.
\hNarrator: AS THE YOUNG
PYTHONS‘ SENSES SHARPEN,
THEY‘RE LEARNING HOW
\h\h\hTO USE THEM...
NOT JUST FOR HUNTING...
\h\h\hBUT FOR SURVIVAL.
THIS IS THE FOREST COBRA.
THE LARGEST AND ONE OF THE MOST
DEADLY COBRA‘S IN AFRICA.
IT MAY BE A DISTANT RELATIVE,
\h\h\hBUT IT‘S GOT TO EAT TOO.
THE QUESTION IS: DOES THIS YOUNG
PYTHON KNOW THE DANGER IT‘S IN?
APPARENTLY SO.
THE COBRA WON‘T BE EASILY FOOLED
- THIS ISN‘T ITS FIRST RODEO.
ONE WHIFF OF BABY PYTHON
\h\h\hAND THE JIG IS UP.
LOOKS LIKE THE YOUNG PYTHON
\h\h\h\h\h\hDODGED A BULLET.
NOW BACK TO THE HUNT.
SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON DOING
\h\h\h\hA FEW THINGS RIGHT.
FIRST FIND PREY OF AN
\h\hAPPROPRIATE SIZE.
[SNIFFING]
THEN, APPROACH PATIENTLY AND
\h\h\h\hIN COMPLETE SILENCE.
[SNIFFING]
♪
[SQUEELING]
THE STRIKE WAS PERFECTLY TIMED
\h\h\h\h\hAND RIGHT ON TARGET.
JUST ONE SMALL PROBLEM.
\h\h\hA DENTAL PROBLEM.
[SQUEELING]
THE YOUNG SNAKE‘S TEETH,
DESIGNED TO HOOK ONTO PREY AND
\hPREVENT IT FROM ESCAPING...
ARE STILL TOO PUNY TO
\h\hGET THE JOB DONE.
[SQUEELING]
[BREATHING]
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
MEANWHILE, NOT FAR AWAY, ONE OF
HIS BROTHERS IS TRYING HIS LUCK.
[SNIFFING]
HE TASTES THE AIR FOR THE
\h\h\h\hMOUSE‘S LOCATION.
♪
♪
[SQUEELING]
[RUSTLING]
THE MOUSE IS HELD FAST.
LET THE COILING BEGIN.
IT‘S A BIG STEP FOR THIS
\h\h\hYOUNG ROCK PYTHON.
ALL IT MEANS, THOUGH, IS THAT
HE‘LL SURVIVE A LITTLE LONGER.
HE‘LL NEED MANY MORE
\h\hMEALS LIKE THIS,
BEFORE HE GROWS TO BE A
\hGIANT LIKE HIS MOTHER.
SQUEEZE IS RECOVERING
\hFROM HER LONG FAST.
ROCK PYTHONS CAN GO FOR LONG
\h\hPERIODS WITHOUT EATING,
WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY THEY‘VE
BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG.
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THEY NEED TO
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
IT‘S AUTUMN.
\h\h\hAND AS FAR AS SQUEEZE IS
CONCERNED, THE SUN IS SHINING.
MANY OF THE VALLEY‘S ANIMALS
\h\h\h\hHAVE GIVEN BIRTH -
INCLUDING THE IMPALA.
THE GRASSLAND HAS BECOME
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA NURSERY.
THESE YOUNG CALVES WEIGH
\h\h\h\hABOUT 45 POUNDS,
AND THEY DON‘T KNOW ENOUGH
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE AFRAID.
WHICH THEY SHOULD BE.
FOR SQUEEZE AN IMPALA CALF WOULD
BE A PERFECT MEAL -
\hHEFTIER THAN THE CHICKENS AND
RABBITS SHE‘S BEEN SUBSISTING ON
- AND WITHOUT THE RISKS
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE FARM.
IF SHE BAGS ONE, SHE WON‘T NEED
TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
BUT ADULT IMPALA ARE SKITTISH
AND HAVE EXTREMELY
SENSITIVE HEARING.
ONE WRONG SLITHER AND THE HERD
\h\h\h\h\h\hCOULD EASILY BOLT.
Narrator: THE SILENT HUNTER...
AND A SPECIES PERFECTLY ADAPTED
TO THE ART OF ESCAPE.
THE IMPALA COMBINES INCREDIBLE
\h\hAGILITY AND LEAPING POWER
WITH A SENSE OF HEARING ATTUNED
TO THE SLIGHTEST SOUND.
SQUEEZE CAN SMELL TO SOME EXTENT
THROUGH HER NOSTRILS,
BUT HER MOST POWERFUL SENSORY
\h\hTOOL IS HER FORKED TONGUE.
THE TONGUE IS SPLIT IN TWO,
\hEACH SIDE CALLED A TINE IS
CONNECTED TO ITS OWN ORGAN
IN THE ROOF OF HER MOUTH.
WHEN IT FLICKS OUT, THE TINES
SEPARATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
SO THAT EACH ONE SENDS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT INFORMATION
TO ITS RESPECTIVE ORGAN.
HER BRAIN THEN INTERPRETS
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE SIGNALS
AS A “STEREO” IMAGE OF
\h\hWHAT‘S OUT THERE,
WHICH LETS HER TRACK
\h\h\h\hTHE DISTANCE
AND DIRECTION OF HER PREY.
♪
STEALTH, NOT SPEED, WILL GET HER
CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE.
IT‘S THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID
\h\h\hTRIPPING THE ALARM.
[RUSTLING]
♪
[GRUNTING]
THE STRUGGLE LASTS ONLY
\h\h\h\h\hA FEW MINUTES,
[SQUEEZING]
OUR EYES MAY SOMETIMES BE BIGGER
THAN OUR STOMACHS,
BUT THAT‘S REALLY NOT A PROBLEM
FOR AN AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON.
HER LOWER JAW SPLITS IN TWO,
ALLOWING HER TO STRETCH
\h\h\hAROUND THE IMPALA.
SQUEEZE‘S SKIN IS SO ELASTIC
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT CAN STRETCH
TO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES HER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNORMAL GIRTH.
AS AMAZING AS THIS IS,
SWALLOWING PREY THIS SIZE
\h\h\h\h\hIS A HUGE RISK.
IT WILL TAKE HER 45
\hMINUTES TO DO IT -
45 MINUTES IN WHICH SHE COULDN‘T
MOVE IF HER LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
[SQUEEZING]
TO SPEED THINGS UP, HER
\h\h\hMETABOLISM CLIMBS
TO 44 TIMES ITS NORMAL RATE AND
HER HEART GETS 40% LARGER -
SO IT CAN PUMP BLOOD FASTER TO
\h\h\h\hHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[BREATHING]
AT LAST.
45 POUNDS OF PURE PROTEIN,
\h\h\h\h\hIN ONE SITTING.
IT‘S A MIRACLE SHE
\hCAN MOVE AT ALL.
NOW SQUEEZE‘S BODY CAN SPRING
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK INTO SHAPE.
SHE CLICKS HER JAW BACK
\h\h\h\h\hINTO POSITION.
THIS MEAL WILL TAKE HER UP TO
\h\hTWO WEEKS TO FULLY DIGEST.
BUT ONCE SHE DOES, SQUEEZE WON‘T
NEED TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
\hIT WILL BUMP UP HER CHANCES OF
SURVIVAL FOR THE YEAR TO COME,
AND ENSURE SHE‘S IN
\h\h\hPEAK CONDITION
FOR THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING
\h\h\h\h\hBREEDING SEASON.
WHEN IT ALL BEGINS AGAIN.
♪
\hSTUFF OF NIGHTMARES.
\hGIANT SNAKES OF
IMMENSE STRENGTH.
WITH A STRIKE FASTER THAN
\h\h\hTHE BLINK OF AN EYE.
[HISSING]
AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON‘S...
A BATTERY OF FINELY TUNED
\h\h\hTRACKING SENSORS...
THE BETTER TO FIND YOU WITH.
ROWS OF RAZOR SHARP TEETH...
THE BETTER TO GRIP YOU WITH.
GIGANTIC... ANCIENT...
\h\h\h\h\hAGGRESSIVE.
[CHICKEN SQUAWKING]
\h\h\h\hTHIS IS SQUEEZE, AN
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ROCK PYTHON
PROPELLED BY THE SAME PRIMORDIAL
NEEDS THAT DROVE HER ANCESTORS
IN THE DAYS WHEN DINOSAURS
\h\h\h\hWALKED THE EARTH.
SHE CAN HUNT IN ANY TERRAIN...
\h\h\h\hAT ANY TIME OF DAY...
FOR VIRTUALLY ANY PREY.
BUT, SQUEEZE IS A MOTHER, SO
\hOTHERS DEPEND ON HER TOO.
... AND BRINGING HER YOUNG INTO
THE WORLD SAFELY
IS NO WALK IN THE PARK.
♪
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN
\h\h\h\h\hSHE HAS TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN HER SURVIVAL AND THEIRS.
\h\h\h13 FEET LONG...
70 POUNDS OF MUSCLE...
SQUEEZE IS COVERED IN THE
\h\h\h\hYELLOW, CHESTNUT
AND BROWN SPLOTCHES THAT
\h\h\hHELP HER BLEND IN
WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
SHE HASN‘T EATEN IN TWO WEEKS.
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR GOOD REASON.
SHE‘S CARRYING A CLUTCH OF
\h\hJUST-DEVELOPING EGGS.
\hSHE CAN‘T EAT A BIG MEAL - NOT
WHILE THEY‘RE GESTATING INSIDE.
BUT SHE‘S HUNGRY; A SNACK
\hWOULD BE JUST THE THING.
SOMETHING THAT IN HER SLUGGISH
\h\h\hSTATE MIGHT NOT REQUIRE
A LOT OF WORK.
SHE WAITS FOR NIGHTFALL.
LIKE MOST SNAKES, THE ROCK
\hPYTHON HAS POOR VISION,
BUT THAT DOESN‘T MEAN
\h\hIT CAN‘T FIND YOU.
SQUEEZE CAN SENSE BODY HEAT -
\h\hWITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY.
THE SCALES ON HER LIPS
\h\hHAVE “PIT ORGANS”
\h\h\h\hWHICH ARE FULL OF
HEAT-SENSITIVE RECEPTORS.
NERVES CARRY SIGNALS
\hFROM THE RECEPTORS
TO THE BRAIN WHERE THEY‘RE
\hCONVERTED INTO IMAGES...
LIKE GOLDILOCKS, SQUEEZE IS
\h\h\hLOOKING FOR SOMETHING
JUST THE RIGHT SIZE.
NOT TOO SMALL... A FROG IS
\hHARDLY WORTH THE EFFORT.
NOT TOO BIG... IT WOULD BE HARD
EVEN FOR A ROCK PYTHON
TO SWALLOW A COW.
BUT HERE‘S SOMETHING JUST RIGHT.
THIS RABBIT HAS COME TO DINE
\h\hON SOME TASTY CABBAGES.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE RABBIT,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CABBAGES...
ARE PERFECT COVER FOR SQUEEZE.
THE RABBIT‘S ACUTE HEARING
\h\h\h\h\h\hIS LEGENDARY.
\hBUT IT SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE
APPROACH OF THIS STEALTH HUNTER.
[RABBIT BREATHING]
♪
RABBITS ARE FAST.
SQUEEZE IS FASTER.
[RABBIT SCREAMING]
SLOWLY, SHE SQUEEZES.
EVERY TIME THE RABBIT EXHALES,
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE COILS TIGHTEN
THE PYTHON CAN MOVE BOTH
\hSIDES OF ITS LOWER JAW
TO CREATE A LARGER ENTRYWAY, AND
IN GOES THE RABBIT, HEADFIRST.
[SNAKE BREATHING]
STRONG MUSCLES PUSH THE FOOD
\hDOWN TOWARDS HER STOMACH.
♪
WHEN IT‘S ALL IN, TIME
\h\h\h\hFOR A SIESTA.
IN A SAFE PLACE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY TO
\h\hDIGEST A WHOLE RABBIT -
SHE‘LL BE VERY SLUGGISH
\h\h\h\hFOR A FEW DAYS.
A SLUGGISH SNAKE IS A
\h\hVULNERABLE SNAKE.
PYTHONS HAVE LIVED IN AFRICA
\h\h\hFOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,
LONG BEFORE HUMANS ARRIVED
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SCENE.
SPECIES COME AND GO,
BUT THE PYTHON HAS A
TALENT FOR SURVIVAL.
THE SNAKE WE SEE TODAY
\h\hHAS CHANGED LITTLE
FROM ITS PREHISTORIC
\h\h\h\hFOREBEARS...
ITS AMONG THE WORLD‘S MOST
\h\h\h\hPRIMITIVE SNAKES.
♪
THE SMALL THORN-LIKE PROJECTIONS
ON THEIR LOWER BODY,
KNOWN AS PELVIC SPURS, ARE
\hTHOUGHT TO BE VESTIGES
\hOF A TIME WHEN THESE
ANIMALS HAD HIND LEGS.
A PAIR OF HIND LEGS MIGHT
\hACTUALLY COME IN HANDY
RIGHT NOW, AS SHE‘S WEIGHED DOWN
BY THE EGGS INSIDE HER.
THEY‘VE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE
IT‘S HARD TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS.
EACH EGG WEIGHS ABOUT AS MUCH
\h\h\h\h\hAS A BILLIARD BALL.
THAT‘S AROUND 50 BILLIARD BALLS
SHE‘S BEEN HAULING
AROUND FOR WEEKS.
[WATER FLOWS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SHE‘S READY TO LIGHTEN HER LOAD,
BUT SHE CAN‘T JUST DUMP
\h\h\h\h\hTHEM ANYWHERE.
[LEAVES CRUNCHING]
SHE‘S BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE
\h\h\hRIGHT SPOT FOR WEEKS.
THIS HOLLOW AT THE BASE OF
\h\hAN OLD SILVER OAK TREE
COULD PROVIDE SHELTER
\h\hFROM THE ELEMENTS,
HIDE HER EGGS FROM PREDATORS,
AND KEEP THEM AT A CONSTANT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTEMPERATURE.
♪
FOR AN ANIMAL CAPABLE OF SUCH
\hMASSIVE DISPLAYS OF POWER,
SHE CAN BE SURPRISINGLY
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMATERNAL.
SHE ARRANGES HER EGGS IN A PILE
AND COILS AROUND THEM TIGHTLY.
OF ALL THE SNAKES IN THE WORLD,
THE AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON
\h\hIS ONE OF ONLY A FEW THAT
ACTUALLY CARES FOR ITS YOUNG.
ALL THE OTHERS SIMPLY LAY OR
\h\h\hGIVE BIRTH AND LEAVE.
WITHOUT HER PROTECTION,
\hSQUEEZE‘S EGGS WOULD BE EASY
PICKINGS FOR MONITOR LIZARDS
AND MONGOOSES.
SHE‘LL STAND GUARD FOR
\h\hTHE NEXT 90 DAYS,
LEAVING THE HOLLOW ONLY
\h\h\hTO BASK IN THE SUN
AND RETURN TO WARM HER EGGS
\h\hWITH HER RE-HEATED BODY.
EVERY DAY SHE GROWS
\hA LITTLE WEAKER...
AND A LITTLE LESS ABLE
\hTO DEFEND HERSELF...
... AND HER YOUNG.
\hNarrator: SEVERAL
MONTHS HAVE PASSED,
DURING WHICH SQUEEZE‘S ONLY
\h\h\hJOB HAS BEEN GUARDING
AND INCUBATING HER YOUNG.
SHE‘S WEAK FROM LACK OF FOOD,
\h\hBUT HER MATERNAL
INSTINCT BECKONS...
FINALLY, INSIDE THE BURROW,
\h\h\h\hTHERE IS A STIRRING.
♪
[SQUISHING]
A YOUNG ROCK PYTHON TAKES
\h\h\h\hITS FIRST BREATH.
[SQUISHING]
AND THEN ANOTHER PYTHON.
AND ANOTHER.
\hONE BY ONE, THEY SAY HELLO TO
THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR SHELLS.
♪
THEY TASTE THE CHEMICAL
\h\h\hCUES IN THE AIR -
DANGER... FOOD... MOTHER.
THEY‘RE NOT YAWNING BECAUSE
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY‘RE SLEEPY.
THESE YAWNS ARE A KIND OF
\h\h\hSNAKE CALISTHENICS:
THEY ALIGN THE JAW
\h\hIN PREPARATION
FOR SWALLOWING LARGE PREY.
FOR THREE MONTHS, THE EGG
\h\h\h\hYOLK PROVIDED THEM
WITH EVERYTHING THEY
\h\h\hNEEDED TO GROW
SUPPLIED BY THEIR
\hUMBILICAL CORD.
THIS LIFE LINE WILL BE GONE IN
\h\h\h\h\h\hA MATTER OF HOURS,
AND THEY WILL SOON BE HUNGRY.
AT ONLY 20 INCHES LONG,
IT‘S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM AS THE
MIGHTY CONSTRICTORS
SOME WILL BECOME.
\hBUT THEY DON‘T HAVE THE LUXURY
OF WAITING UNTIL THEY‘RE BIGGER.
THEY HAVE JUST A FEW WEEKS,
\h\h\h\h\hTO LEAVE THE NEST,
SHED THEIR FIRST SKIN, AND
\h\hMAKE THEIR FIRST KILL.
OF THE 35 EGGS SQUEEZE LAID,
\h\h\h\h\h\h31 HAVE HATCHED.
AS THE ROILING MASS OF NEWBORN
\h\h\h\h\h\hSNAKES STRUGGLES
TOWARD THE EXIT, THE
WEAKEST ARE CRUSHED
AND NEVER MAKE IT OUT
\h\h\hINTO THE WORLD.
OUT THERE THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL
\h\h\h\h\hWILL BE EVEN WORSE.
SOME WILL DIE OF STARVATION...
AND OTHERS WILL SURVIVE
\h\h\h\hJUST LONG ENOUGH
TO BECOME SOMEONE ELSE‘S DINNER.
ONLY A LUCKY FEW WILL MAKE IT TO
THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.
FOR NOW, THOUGH, HOPE
\h\h\hSPRINGS ETERNAL.
\h\hTHE YOUNG PYTHONS SURVEY THE
BURROW, SEARCHING FOR A WAY OUT.
FINALLY, ONE OF THEM MAKES
\h\h\h\h\hA BREAK FOR IT.
SQUEEZE KEEPS HER HATCHLINGS
\hCLOSE FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.
IT MIGHT NOT SEEM VERY
\h\h\h\h\hLONG TO US,
BUT TO THESE YOUNG SNAKES,
\h\h\h\h\hIT‘S A GODSEND.
\hFEW PREDATORS WILL MOVE ON A
HATCHLING WHEN ITS WATCHFUL,
13 FOOT MOTHER IS COILED NEARBY.
IT‘S A KIND OF PARENTAL CARE WE
DON‘T ASSOCIATE WITH SNAKES,
BUT THE ROCK PYTHON SEEMS TO BE
AN INTRIGUING EXCEPTION
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE RULE.
♪
BUT EVEN SQUEEZE HAS HER LIMITS:
IF SHE DOESN‘T FEED SOON,
\h\h\h\hSHE COULD STARVE.
AND WHEN SHE SLITHERS
\h\h\h\hOFF FOR GOOD,
HER OFFSPRING WILL BE ON THEIR
\h\h\h\h\hOWN - READY OR NOT.
AND THE FOREST IS FULL
\h\hOF WATCHFUL EYES.
Narrator: AN ADULT AFRICAN ROCK
PYTHON IS AN APEX PREDATOR;
IT HAS LITTLE TO FEAR FROM OTHER
ANIMALS IN THE WILD.
BUT THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF
\h\h\h\h\h\hHATCHLING PYTHONS.
\h\hTHEY HAVE MANY ENEMIES,
INCLUDING VENOMOUS SNAKES -
LIKE THE FOREST COBRA -
AND BIRDS OF PREY - LIKE THE
\h\h\h\h\hAFRICAN GOSHAWK.
♪
THEIR MOTHER CAN‘T PROTECT
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEM FOREVER.
HER MATERNAL INSTINCT HAS
\h\h\hOVER-RIDDEN HUNGER.
SHE‘S EATEN NOTHING FOR MONTHS.
NOW IT‘S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.
IT‘S TIME TO HUNT.
NOT SO LONG AGO, SQUEEZE BROKE
\h\h\h\h\hOUT OF HER EGGSHELL
AND EMERGED FROM A NEST
\hWITH MANY OTHER HATCHLING ROCK
PYTHONS, JUST AS HER YOUNG DID.
MOST OF THE OTHERS IN HER CLUTCH
- MAYBE ALL - ARE LONG DEAD.
THEY STARVED TO DEATH BEFORE
\h\h\h\h\hTHEY COULD LEARN
TO HUNT SUCCESSFULLY...
OR THEY WERE PICKED OFF BY
\h\h\hHUNGRY CARNIVORES...
OR THEY WERE KILLED BY HUMANS,
EITHER OUT OF FEAR
\h\hOR FOR PROFIT.
EVERY YEAR THERE ARE FEWER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF HER KIND.
BUT SQUEEZE CROSSED THE FINISH
\h\h\h\h\hLINE INTO ADULTHOOD
AND IS NOW A FORMIDABLE AND
\h\h\h\hEXPERIENCED HUNTER.
SHE KNOWS WHERE THE FOOD IS, AND
SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET THERE.
SHE LAID HER EGGS DEEP
\h\h\h\hIN THE VALLEY.
NOW SHE‘S GOING TO HAVE TO CLIMB
THIS STEEP CLIFF FACE.
NOT EASY FOR AN EXHAUSTED
\h\h\h\hGIANT CONSTRICTOR.
BUT HERE‘S HOW YOU DO IT.
♪
FIRST ANCHOR YOUR MID-SECTION
\h\h\h\h\hTO THE ROCKY SURFACE
USING THE SCALES ON
\h\hYOUR UNDERBELLY.
THEN PULL YOUR TAIL ALL THE
WAY UP TO THE ANCHOR POINT,
RELEASE THE ANCHOR, AND USE YOUR
TAIL, TO PUSH YOUR WAY UP.
ANCHOR, PULL; ANCHOR, PUSH.
REPEAT AS NEEDED.
[ROCKS FALLING]
IT‘S GRUELING WORK, BUT HUNGER
\h\h\hIS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR.
♪
SHE‘S NOT CALLED A ROCK
\h\hPYTHON FOR NOTHING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE
\hTHINGS GET A BIT TRICKIER.
SQUEEZE IS AN ALL-TERRAIN
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPREDATOR.
SHE STALKS THE SAVANNAH,
\h\h\hFOREST AND CLIFFS.
\hCLIMBING TREES? NO PROBLEM.
FORDING RIVERS? PIECE OF CAKE.
SHE‘S BIGGER, STRONGER
\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FASTER
THAN JUST ABOUT ANY
\hOTHER ANIMAL HERE,
SO THERE‘S NO PLACE SHE CAN‘T
\h\h\h\h\hHUNT WITH IMPUNITY.
NO PLACE... EXCEPT HERE.
HERE SHE‘S ENCROACHING
\h\h\hON THE TERRITORY
OF ANOTHER FORMIDABLE KILLER.
SOME FARMERS APPRECIATE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE ANIMAL
FOR KEEPING RATS UNDER CONTROL.
BUT MANY OTHERS FEAR IT.
FARMERS WON‘T HESITATE
\h\h\h\h\hTO KILL ONE
IF THEY SEE IT AS A THREAT
\h\h\hTO THEIR LIVESTOCK.
[ROOSTER CLUCKS]
SQUEEZE HAS TO BE VERY
\h\h\h\hCAREFUL HERE.
SHE KNOWS THERE ARE
\h\h\hHUMANS AROUND.
BUT SHE ALSO KNOWS THAT
WHERE THERE ARE HUMANS,
THERE‘S USUALLY FOOD.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
\hVISITING THIS CHICKEN COOP IS
LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.
THE HENS KNOW SOMETHING‘S
\h\h\h\h\h\hA LITTLE OFF,
BUT IT‘S NOT LIKE THERE‘S
\hANYWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.
IT‘S A CALCULATED RISK: CAN
\hSQUEEZE SWALLOW A CHICKEN
AND MAKE HER ESCAPE BEFORE
\h\hTHE FARMER FINDS HER.
EVERY MINUTE SHE‘S HERE
IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR
\h\hHER BE DISCOVERED.
AND IF THE FARMER DISCOVERS HER,
THE SAME CAGE THAT MAKES THE
\h\hCHICKENS SITTING DUCKS
WILL MAKE HER ONE AS WELL.
DESPITE THE DANGER, SHE
\h\h\h\hMOVES IN SLOWLY.
METHODICALLY. SILENTLY.
♪
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
\h\hTHE ENTIRE STRIKE TAKES LESS
TIME THAN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
ABOUT 50 MILLISECONDS.
SHE ACCELERATES TOWARD
\h\h\h\h\h\hHER VICTIM
WITH AN IMPACT 30-TIMES THE
\h\h\h\hFORCE OF GRAVITY -
IF WE DID THAT, WE‘D PASS OUT.
HER CURVED, RAZOR-SHARP TEETH
\h\hCUT THROUGH MUSCLE EASILY
AND HOLD THE CHICKEN STEADY AS
\h\h\h\h\hSHE COILS AROUND IT.
THE REST IS A FOREGONE
\h\h\h\h\hCONCLUSION.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
\h\h\hSHE CAN FEEL HER PREY‘S
HEARTBEAT, AND WHEN IT STOPS,
SHE KNOWS IT‘S OVER.
BUT SHE DOESN‘T EAT
\hHER KILL JUST YET.
AFTER NOT EATING FOR MONTHS, ONE
CHICKEN JUST ISN‘T ENOUGH.
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
SHE LISTENS TO MAKE SURE
\h\hTHE COAST IS CLEAR.
ONCE SHE STARTS EATING,
SHE WON‘T BE ABLE TO MAKE
\h\h\h\h\hA QUICK ESCAPE.
[SQUISHING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
YOU‘D THINK THAT STUFFING HER
\h\h\h\hMOUTH WITH A CHICKEN
WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
\h\hFOR HER TO BREATHE,
BUT SNAKES ARE ABLE TO
EXTEND THEIR WINDPIPES
OUTSIDE THEIR MOUTHS SO
\h\h\h\hTHEY CAN BREATHE
AND EAT AT THE SAME TIME.
SHE‘LL ABSORB ALMOST EVERY PART
OF THE CHICKEN, EVEN THE BONES.
THE FEATHERS WILL PASS
\h\hTHROUGH HER SYSTEM
AND COME OUT IN HER FECES.
NOT MUCH NUTRITION IN FEATHERS.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SQUEEZE HAS HAD A GOOD
\h\h\h\h\hFEW MONTHS.
SHE‘S LAID HER EGGS AND
\hGUARDED HER OFFSPRING
UNTIL THEY HATCHED.
SHE‘S MANAGED TO SLIP
\h\hINTO A BUSY FARM,
EAT TWO CHICKENS, AND
\hSLIP OUT UNNOTICED.
NOT SO EASY FOR A
PREDATOR HER SIZE.
NOW SHE‘S LOOKING FOR A SAFE
\hPLACE TO DIGEST HER MEAL.
BUT IN THIS VALLEY, SAFE
\h\hIS A RELATIVE TERM.
♪
SQUEEZE‘S YOUNG ARE
\h\hNOW A MONTH OLD.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
MANY OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN
PICKED OFF BY PREDATORS.
THESE ARE THE SURVIVORS.
NOW, IT‘S MAKE OR BREAK.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
THEY HAVE A FEW YEARS TO GO
BEFORE THEY ARE BIG AND STRONG
\h\h\h\h\hLIKE THEIR MOTHER.
UNTIL THEN, THEY‘RE ON
\h\hEVERYONE‘S MENU...
AND SOME OF THEIR BIGGER COUSINS
AREN‘T ABOVE CANNIBALISM.
\hNarrator: AS THE YOUNG
PYTHONS‘ SENSES SHARPEN,
THEY‘RE LEARNING HOW
\h\h\hTO USE THEM...
NOT JUST FOR HUNTING...
\h\h\hBUT FOR SURVIVAL.
THIS IS THE FOREST COBRA.
THE LARGEST AND ONE OF THE MOST
DEADLY COBRA‘S IN AFRICA.
IT MAY BE A DISTANT RELATIVE,
\h\h\hBUT IT‘S GOT TO EAT TOO.
THE QUESTION IS: DOES THIS YOUNG
PYTHON KNOW THE DANGER IT‘S IN?
APPARENTLY SO.
THE COBRA WON‘T BE EASILY FOOLED
- THIS ISN‘T ITS FIRST RODEO.
ONE WHIFF OF BABY PYTHON
\h\h\hAND THE JIG IS UP.
LOOKS LIKE THE YOUNG PYTHON
\h\h\h\h\h\hDODGED A BULLET.
NOW BACK TO THE HUNT.
SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON DOING
\h\h\h\hA FEW THINGS RIGHT.
FIRST FIND PREY OF AN
\h\hAPPROPRIATE SIZE.
[SNIFFING]
THEN, APPROACH PATIENTLY AND
\h\h\h\hIN COMPLETE SILENCE.
[SNIFFING]
♪
[SQUEELING]
THE STRIKE WAS PERFECTLY TIMED
\h\h\h\h\hAND RIGHT ON TARGET.
JUST ONE SMALL PROBLEM.
\h\h\hA DENTAL PROBLEM.
[SQUEELING]
THE YOUNG SNAKE‘S TEETH,
DESIGNED TO HOOK ONTO PREY AND
\hPREVENT IT FROM ESCAPING...
ARE STILL TOO PUNY TO
\h\hGET THE JOB DONE.
[SQUEELING]
[BREATHING]
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
MEANWHILE, NOT FAR AWAY, ONE OF
HIS BROTHERS IS TRYING HIS LUCK.
[SNIFFING]
HE TASTES THE AIR FOR THE
\h\h\h\hMOUSE‘S LOCATION.
♪
♪
[SQUEELING]
[RUSTLING]
THE MOUSE IS HELD FAST.
LET THE COILING BEGIN.
IT‘S A BIG STEP FOR THIS
\h\h\hYOUNG ROCK PYTHON.
ALL IT MEANS, THOUGH, IS THAT
HE‘LL SURVIVE A LITTLE LONGER.
HE‘LL NEED MANY MORE
\h\hMEALS LIKE THIS,
BEFORE HE GROWS TO BE A
\hGIANT LIKE HIS MOTHER.
SQUEEZE IS RECOVERING
\hFROM HER LONG FAST.
ROCK PYTHONS CAN GO FOR LONG
\h\hPERIODS WITHOUT EATING,
WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY THEY‘VE
BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG.
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THEY NEED TO
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
IT‘S AUTUMN.
\h\h\hAND AS FAR AS SQUEEZE IS
CONCERNED, THE SUN IS SHINING.
MANY OF THE VALLEY‘S ANIMALS
\h\h\h\hHAVE GIVEN BIRTH -
INCLUDING THE IMPALA.
THE GRASSLAND HAS BECOME
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA NURSERY.
THESE YOUNG CALVES WEIGH
\h\h\h\hABOUT 45 POUNDS,
AND THEY DON‘T KNOW ENOUGH
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE AFRAID.
WHICH THEY SHOULD BE.
FOR SQUEEZE AN IMPALA CALF WOULD
BE A PERFECT MEAL -
\hHEFTIER THAN THE CHICKENS AND
RABBITS SHE‘S BEEN SUBSISTING ON
- AND WITHOUT THE RISKS
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE FARM.
IF SHE BAGS ONE, SHE WON‘T NEED
TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
BUT ADULT IMPALA ARE SKITTISH
AND HAVE EXTREMELY
SENSITIVE HEARING.
ONE WRONG SLITHER AND THE HERD
\h\h\h\h\h\hCOULD EASILY BOLT.
Narrator: THE SILENT HUNTER...
AND A SPECIES PERFECTLY ADAPTED
TO THE ART OF ESCAPE.
THE IMPALA COMBINES INCREDIBLE
\h\hAGILITY AND LEAPING POWER
WITH A SENSE OF HEARING ATTUNED
TO THE SLIGHTEST SOUND.
SQUEEZE CAN SMELL TO SOME EXTENT
THROUGH HER NOSTRILS,
BUT HER MOST POWERFUL SENSORY
\h\hTOOL IS HER FORKED TONGUE.
THE TONGUE IS SPLIT IN TWO,
\hEACH SIDE CALLED A TINE IS
CONNECTED TO ITS OWN ORGAN
IN THE ROOF OF HER MOUTH.
WHEN IT FLICKS OUT, THE TINES
SEPARATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
SO THAT EACH ONE SENDS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT INFORMATION
TO ITS RESPECTIVE ORGAN.
HER BRAIN THEN INTERPRETS
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE SIGNALS
AS A “STEREO” IMAGE OF
\h\hWHAT‘S OUT THERE,
WHICH LETS HER TRACK
\h\h\h\hTHE DISTANCE
AND DIRECTION OF HER PREY.
♪
STEALTH, NOT SPEED, WILL GET HER
CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE.
IT‘S THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID
\h\h\hTRIPPING THE ALARM.
[RUSTLING]
♪
[GRUNTING]
THE STRUGGLE LASTS ONLY
\h\h\h\h\hA FEW MINUTES,
[SQUEEZING]
OUR EYES MAY SOMETIMES BE BIGGER
THAN OUR STOMACHS,
BUT THAT‘S REALLY NOT A PROBLEM
FOR AN AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON.
HER LOWER JAW SPLITS IN TWO,
ALLOWING HER TO STRETCH
\h\h\hAROUND THE IMPALA.
SQUEEZE‘S SKIN IS SO ELASTIC
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT CAN STRETCH
TO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES HER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNORMAL GIRTH.
AS AMAZING AS THIS IS,
SWALLOWING PREY THIS SIZE
\h\h\h\h\hIS A HUGE RISK.
IT WILL TAKE HER 45
\hMINUTES TO DO IT -
45 MINUTES IN WHICH SHE COULDN‘T
MOVE IF HER LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
[SQUEEZING]
TO SPEED THINGS UP, HER
\h\h\hMETABOLISM CLIMBS
TO 44 TIMES ITS NORMAL RATE AND
HER HEART GETS 40% LARGER -
SO IT CAN PUMP BLOOD FASTER TO
\h\h\h\hHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[BREATHING]
AT LAST.
45 POUNDS OF PURE PROTEIN,
\h\h\h\h\hIN ONE SITTING.
IT‘S A MIRACLE SHE
\hCAN MOVE AT ALL.
NOW SQUEEZE‘S BODY CAN SPRING
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK INTO SHAPE.
SHE CLICKS HER JAW BACK
\h\h\h\h\hINTO POSITION.
THIS MEAL WILL TAKE HER UP TO
\h\hTWO WEEKS TO FULLY DIGEST.
BUT ONCE SHE DOES, SQUEEZE WON‘T
NEED TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
\hIT WILL BUMP UP HER CHANCES OF
SURVIVAL FOR THE YEAR TO COME,
AND ENSURE SHE‘S IN
\h\h\hPEAK CONDITION
FOR THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING
\h\h\h\h\hBREEDING SEASON.
WHEN IT ALL BEGINS AGAIN.
♪