Nature (1982–…): Season 34, Episode 15 - Nature's Perfect Partners - full transcript
Across the planet, animals are joining forces. They are doing so in surprising and diverse ways, whether it is to hunt, build a home, or solve complex problems. Partnerships were once thought rare in the animal kingdom, but now mo...
♪♪
Narrator: Success in the wild
often comes down to teamwork.
A team can carry
out a cunning plan.
Alone, the odds are against you.
But with comrades in arms,
you can turn the tables.
It's simply smarter to
work together to pull off
what you can't do all alone.
Good comrades can
come in surprising forms.
An unlikely friend
can ward off an enemy.
Sometimes it's the oddball ally
that can make life
so much easier.
Whether it's by
strength in numbers
or with that one
perfect partner,
animals everywhere find that
teamwork is the key to survival.
♪♪
Narrator: Across Africa,
hippos are ranked among
the most dangerous of animals.
They can be unpredictable,
and eager for battle.
They don't often
back down from a fight.
And yet, they do
have a sensitive side.
It's their skin.
And when it comes to skin
care, they need a little help.
Unable to pick up a stick
and scratch their own backs,
they've gone into partnership.
Meet the barbel, a
hippo's best friend.
Often, a hippo is
trailed by shoals
of these loyal little fish.
They even consume the
hippo's droppings as they follow.
Once the hippos settle
in a comfortable spot,
the barbels get to work
nibbling away all the ticks
and other skin parasites.
It's a bit like a spa treatment,
complete with facial
and full-body exfoliation.
It seems to lull the hippos
into a kind of docile trance.
The barbels' service even
includes dental hygiene.
Thanks to the food
stuck to the hippo's teeth,
these industrious
fish are able to feed
on exotic vegetation from land
which would otherwise be
completely out of their reach.
It's a peculiar pairing,
but certainly seems to
bring out the best in a hippo.
Many creatures have trouble
with their personal hygiene.
Even in the depths of the sea,
there are fish who
need help to keep clean.
Finding the right cleaner,
though, can be a little dicey.
For these jacks, skin parasites
are more than just annoying.
If they're not removed,
they can interfere
with the fishes' growth.
This specialist cleaner fish,
the wrasse, can
offer some relief.
But the brightly-colored wrasse
is recognized by many other fish
all wanting the same service.
There just aren't enough
cleaner wrasse to go around,
and so the jacks have
to find another solution.
At first glance,
it seems like they decide
on an almost suicidal option.
This is a silvertip shark.
It could easily eat jack.
But the sharks have
skin like sandpaper.
Bumping into their flanks helps
scrape off unwanted parasites
and dead skin.
Soon, swarms of jacks pursue
the sharks, all itching for a rub.
A dangerous game,
but perhaps one
that's tolerated.
All this bumping around
could also help exfoliate
the shark's skin — a case
of "You scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours."
Eventually, though, the
sharks have had enough
of all the skin-to-skin
contact, and they're off.
For the jacks, it
was a risky tactic,
but one that paid off.
Sometimes nature's partnerships
have to involve a
certain degree of risk.
The sun beats down
on the African savanna.
After a hearty
meal of wildebeest,
the lions are taking
an afternoon siesta.
At the height of
the oppressive heat,
they're surrounded by
irritating and relentless flies.
For one little creature,
this offers an opportunity.
But it will take courage.
Lions do eat lizards,
but having already
had a much larger meal,
they're unlikely
to need dessert.
Still, best to be cautious,
as lions can be
notoriously bad-tempered.
There's certainly no shortage
of flies from the lizards
to choose from.
They hunt by sight,
and their sticky tongues
help them hold onto prey.
Lions and lizards do
each other a good deed.
One gets a measure
of pest control,
and the other gets a feast.
Another remarkable partnership
plays out in the warm waters
of a coral reef.
A grumpy-looking little fish,
a goby,
has been invited
home by a shrimp.
The shrimp is the
perfect housekeeper,
always cleaning,
digging extensions,
and carrying out
home improvements.
Yet its chosen housemate
seems rather lazy,
just hanging around
and generally
getting in the way.
Despite first
impressions, the goby
is very important to the shrimp,
who, it turns out,
is almost completely blind.
The goby, on the other hand,
has excellent eyesight,
and remains constantly alert.
So, when the shrimp is outside,
it continually flicks one of
its antennae over the goby
to make sure the
little fish is still there
and the coast is clear.
The shrimp nips out
to collect some food
from a little patch of algae
not far from its front door.
It's when the shrimp
wanders too far
that there's trouble.
That was an anemone
it blundered into.
It backs off.
But caught by surprise,
it has lost its way home.
The goby has seen
the whole thing,
and in the shrimp's
moment of panic,
it rushes out to guide the
shrimp back to their burrow.
A predator spells
danger for both partners.
The goby gives the
signal, and together,
the odd little housemates
retreat safely indoors.
Protection is paramount
in the battleground
that is the natural world.
But sometimes that protection
can come from an arch enemy.
Normally, this
venomous tarantula
would eat a small toad.
But here, it's welcomed
into the protection of its lair.
It's not out of the
goodness of its heart.
The toad offers
a useful service.
Pest control.
The spider's egg sacks
are infested with ants.
The toad soon
makes a meal of them.
In return for the toad's help,
the tarantula acts
as a bodyguard.
Screech owls enjoy
a dinner of toad,
which would normally
be easy pickings.
But the spider unleashes
a barrage of barbed hairs.
Like tiny, vicious arrows,
they soon discourage
the uninvited intruder.
For some, living with
another species is a good idea.
But for others,
building partnerships
with their own kind is
the secret to success.
Elephants live in
large social groups
with several females
and their offspring.
They rely on strong bonds
within their community.
Among this herd in Kenya,
there's an inexperienced
mother with a newborn calf.
They haven't been able to
keep up with the rest of the herd.
But the grandmother of the
calf has stayed behind to help.
Meanwhile, as the rest of
the herd reaches the river,
the older calves are
encouraged to take the plunge.
In trying to catch
up with the others,
the new mother leads the baby
across a treacherous mud pan.
This may be fine for her,
but she doesn't seem to realize
how difficult it
is for the baby.
The grandmother steps
in to gently help
guide the calf across.
Having finally
reached the river,
the young mother again
chooses a difficult
route for the baby.
He's now blocked by what, to
him, is an impossibly high bank.
The other mothers in the herd
see that he's struggling
and return to try and help.
Everyone gets involved, all
trying to save the newborn.
One of the females
is even on her knees
in a desperate
attempt to get him out.
By working together,
they finally manage to
rescue the exhausted calf.
This baby will have a village of
elephants to help him grow up,
and to teach his mother
how to keep him safe.
♪♪
Working in a team can
make all the difference,
especially when it
comes to hunting.
Within the seas
of the Antarctic,
there is one species
whose superb teamwork
has led them to become
one of the ocean's most
devastating predators.
Killer whales.
They live in a group of
extended family members.
Together, they have perfected
their cunning
hunting strategies.
Working as a team, they
set out searching for prey.
Killer whales do
hunt other whales,
and they've spotted a minke.
In the Antarctic, minkes are
usually found in small groups.
But they can also be solitary.
The killers quickly pop up
on either side of their target.
The minke tries to escape,
but in doing so seems
to get disoriented.
The killers are not far behind,
and are back on the chase.
But the minke
won't give up easily.
It continues to swim for
hours with the killers by its side.
It's a fast swimmer,
but its biggest
defense is its stamina.
This doesn't deter the killers.
The work like a relay team,
regularly replacing the
outriders with fresh swimmers.
Eventually, the minke tires,
and the battering
and the biting begin.
The killers work together
to try and flip the minke over.
If they can manage to keep
its blowhole underwater,
it will drown.
One killer whale forces
the minke's whole body
down below the surface.
Then the final strike.
The team drags the minke
under for the last time.
And the killers
can finally feed.
Survival can often
be about opportunity.
But exploiting some good luck
can take collaboration
as well as intelligence.
These capuchins live in one
of Brazil's most
extreme landscapes,
where food is hard to come by.
They live in a
highly-organized social group,
and by working together,
they have become
incredibly resourceful.
They've spotted
a yellow rat snake,
a creature which can be
dangerous for young capuchins.
They all join in,
making as much
noise as possible,
trying to scare off the snake.
Then they realize the snake
offers them an opportunity.
It has found a Brazilian
rodent called a punaré,
a potential meal.
The punaré has nowhere to hide.
Soon, the silent
hunting technique
of the snake has paid off.
Then one of the capuchins
attempts something rather risky.
With hundreds of
backward-facing teeth,
the snake is not going
to give up its prey easily.
It's not going to work.
But the snake's success
has given the quick-witted
capuchins an idea.
They band together to try
and catch a punaré themselves.
The most experienced
male takes the lead.
Got it.
Together, the capuchins
have successfully
exploited an opportunity
and been rewarded
with a tasty meal.
Teamwork doesn't have
to be kept within a family.
Although it is rare,
there are some animals
that join forces with a
completely different species
when on a quest for prey.
In the seas of Indonesia,
banded sea kraits
are on the prowl.
The venomous snakes
scour the seabed,
searching for food.
Flicking their tongues
helps them smell the prey.
Though lethal, they're
too slow to catch fish
in a straight chase.
So they stalk the coral seabed
in a steady search pattern.
The comb every nook
and cranny of the coral
for unsuspecting fish.
And here, on these remote
reefs, they do not hunt alone.
They have partners in crime...
Shoals of yellow goatfish
and trevally.
They seek similar prey
and are ready to
join in the chase.
More and more snakes and fish
join the intimidating
hunting party.
The big fish scare the
prey into the cracks,
where the sea
snakes can catch them.
Anything that escapes
the snakes will swim straight
into the mouths of the fish.
Everyone gets
their cut in this raid.
When hunting in large groups,
the spoils have to be shared.
But larger partnerships can
also offer the greatest rewards.
These wolves in northern Canada
make up one of the largest
and most powerful
packs in the world,
and they are
setting out to hunt.
As such a large pack,
they can afford to
take on the largest prey.
Even prey which is almost
10 times their weight...
Bison.
The bison will not stay
long among the trees.
They are not safe here.
The wolves are closing in,
but their chance of ambushing
the bison in the
woods has passed.
The bison are now in the open,
and grouped together for safety.
The wolves will need
to work as a team
if they're going to
bring a bison down.
It's offense against defense.
The bison are armed and fierce.
They will be safe as
long as they stick together.
The wolves up their
game, harrying the herd,
a ploy to trigger a stampede
and split away one
of the smaller bison.
The herd tightens into
a defensive formation,
horns at the ready.
The wolves need a
bison to break rank.
But the tables are turning,
and now the wolves
have to retreat.
The pack focuses on
the rear of the herd,
and the bison begin to panic.
A young bison falls behind,
and the pack closes in.
The herd could come
to the yearling's rescue,
but instead they
seem to sacrifice it.
A stroke of luck for the wolves.
The bison are nowhere
near the team the wolves are,
but in a way, they have
another strategy that works.
Thanks to their
polished teamwork,
the wolves will
have food for days.
The hunt is over
until next time.
Across the world in Africa,
where large herds
of prey abound,
predators also work together.
Some individuals, though,
can't resist an opportunity.
This hyena can smell food.
But she might
be risking her life.
The kill has been
made by a pride of lions,
but they are unwilling to share.
Bruised and bloody, she is
lucky to have survived her mistake.
But she is not totally defeated.
She is a member of
a large hyena clan.
She sends a call to
arms out through the night.
Reinforcements begin to gather.
Every adult within
earshot responds.
If the clan can attack as one,
the hyenas stand a chance
of challenging the lions.
It's a fierce confrontation.
Each is at full strength.
The lions are
larger and stronger,
but the clan
outnumbers the pride.
Eventually the lions
are forced to retreat.
In this battle, it was
the combined power
of the many working
together that won the day.
These bubbles and haunting
calls are another ingenious way
to hunt involving
remarkable teamwork.
These are humpback whales,
and they are here
in the seas off Alaska
to harvest the herring bonanza.
Their strategy is
quite extraordinary.
It's known as
bubble-net feeding.
The lead whale dives first.
She is the bubble-blower.
It's her job to find the fish.
The rest follow in formation.
Each whale takes
exactly the same position
in every lunge.
Once she's located the fish,
the leader blows
a net of bubbles
that completely
encircles the shoal.
Another whale calls to
synchronize the group.
Panicked by the eerie sound
and the blinding bubbles,
the fish won't cross
this fizzing curtain of air.
They are effectively trapped
within the whales' bubble net.
Less than 100 of these
Alaskan humpbacks
have learned how to
hunt in this unique way.
It takes a high
level of cooperation,
a sign of remarkable brainpower.
From one of the largest
animals in the sea
to one of the smallest on land,
there is another
very different animal
that has perfected
the art of teamwork.
Ants function like a
highly-disciplined army.
Each is clear
about its own role,
and they all work
for the same goal.
Nowhere is this
teamwork more important
than in the scorching
heat of the desert.
Very little can survive
the soaring temperatures
under the midday African sun.
But these silver ants
have special armored
skin which reflects light.
They can tolerate temperatures
that would kill any
other land animal.
But even they can
only survive out here
for a few minutes.
They're in a race to find food
while their predators
have gone to ground.
Only by working together
as a team do the ants
stand a chance of success.
They've found a
victim of heat stroke,
a potential meal.
Will they be able to get it home
before being
scorched themselves?
Tiny hairs on their
back repel the sun's rays.
But time is ticking,
and they're nearing their
maximum temperature,
a remarkable 127
degrees Fahrenheit.
Some can no
longer take the heat.
They're running out of time.
They won't make
it, not unless they
can do something drastic.
By biting off the fly's
legs and antennae,
the ants stand a better
chance of getting their prey back
to the nest.
With a final push, they make it.
Sacrifices were
made along the way,
but the determined
team fulfilled their mission.
Back in the
Antarctic, killer whales
are about to demonstrate another
of their highly-coordinated
hunting strategies.
The pod stays close together
as they scour the
sea looking for prey.
There are several
potential victims here.
But they are all out of reach.
The solution is highly
complex teamwork.
Swimming in perfect formation,
they flick their tails in unison
and create a wave
that cracks the ice.
They regroup and
assess the damage.
A more powerful wave is needed.
With the ice floe breaking up,
they can get a better
look at their target.
It's a crab eater seal.
Quite vicious.
Not their favorite.
A Weddell seal is
far more manageable.
They unleash a powerful
wave with remarkable accuracy.
The seal is now
where the killers want it.
But there is still
work to be done.
They need to grab
their prey by the tail
while avoiding
its snapping jaws.
Only then will they be able
to pull it down and drown it.
Sideswipes create violent
underwater turbulence,
a new tactic.
Blowing bubbles gives
cover for the others in the team
to lunge at the seal's tail.
Somehow, the seal manages
to reach a tiny ice floe.
The killers could
easily grab it now.
But rather like a cat
with an injured mouse,
they seem to be enjoying
their terrifying game.
Yet again, the pod joins
forces to dislodge the seal.
For the unfortunate
seal, it's game over.
Whether you're a
highly-trained killer
or more of a scavenger,
there are times when you
just need a little extra help,
and enlisting a partner
can make all the difference.
Nowhere is this more true
than in the icy
forests of the Arctic.
♪♪
Within this bitterly-cold
landscape, a raven calls out.
It's found its dinner,
but it needs another
animal's help to enjoy it...
The wolverine.
The raven, a
highly-intelligent bird,
directs the ravenous wolverine
to a moose carcass it has found.
The moose is frozen solid...
Too hard for the
raven to break into.
But for the wolverine's
jaws, this is no problem.
It tears into this
frozen dinner,
exposing the softer middle.
The raven's bill is
more suited to leftovers.
It will have to wait
until its accomplice
has had its fill.
But the clever bird knows
that eventually
patience will pay off.
The wolverine drags
a portion of the carcass
off into the forest.
There are plenty of
scraps left for the raven.
And its friends.
What the wolverine
can't manage now,
it will bury for a later date.
It's always useful to have
extra food in the freezer.
Throughout history,
partnerships have also existed
between animals and humans.
The majority of these
are rather one-sided,
with humans harnessing
the skills of wild animals
for their own ends.
However, there is one
extraordinary exception
that appears to benefit
both sides of the partnership.
It can be found in East Africa.
No one is sure how
it first came about,
but it can be traced
back to the 17th century.
This honey guide
bird is calling out.
Not to other birds, but,
amazingly, to humans.
Its intention is to lead
a couple of local Masai
to a beehive.
Thanks to its sense of smell,
the bird has already
found the hive.
But without human help,
it would find it much harder
to reach the honeycomb.
The honey guide
signals to the boys
by flying from tree to tree.
It's an unusual game
of follow the leader.
As the bird gets
closer to the prize,
it changes its call
to let the boys know
they're getting hotter.
Here it is.
A hive well hidden in a tree,
and covered by
hundreds of African bees.
The boys use smoke
to help calm the bees.
Without this smoke, it
would be much more painful
for either the boys or the
bird to get to the honeycomb.
The honey guide bird
is the only wild animal
known to guide people to
food in this remarkable way.
The Masai know it's important
to keep up their
part of the bargain.
The honey guide bird is rewarded
with the waxy comb,
its favorite part.
A guarantee that this unique
partnership will continue.
♪♪
We can only stand back
and admire the
amazing relationships
that exist within
the natural world.
Whether it's with teamwork
or a little give and
take with another kind,
joining forces with others
is a smart way to live.
In the daily struggle
of finding food
and staying safe,
the perfect partner can
elevate survival into success.
To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,
♪♪
Narrator: Success in the wild
often comes down to teamwork.
A team can carry
out a cunning plan.
Alone, the odds are against you.
But with comrades in arms,
you can turn the tables.
It's simply smarter to
work together to pull off
what you can't do all alone.
Good comrades can
come in surprising forms.
An unlikely friend
can ward off an enemy.
Sometimes it's the oddball ally
that can make life
so much easier.
Whether it's by
strength in numbers
or with that one
perfect partner,
animals everywhere find that
teamwork is the key to survival.
♪♪
Narrator: Across Africa,
hippos are ranked among
the most dangerous of animals.
They can be unpredictable,
and eager for battle.
They don't often
back down from a fight.
And yet, they do
have a sensitive side.
It's their skin.
And when it comes to skin
care, they need a little help.
Unable to pick up a stick
and scratch their own backs,
they've gone into partnership.
Meet the barbel, a
hippo's best friend.
Often, a hippo is
trailed by shoals
of these loyal little fish.
They even consume the
hippo's droppings as they follow.
Once the hippos settle
in a comfortable spot,
the barbels get to work
nibbling away all the ticks
and other skin parasites.
It's a bit like a spa treatment,
complete with facial
and full-body exfoliation.
It seems to lull the hippos
into a kind of docile trance.
The barbels' service even
includes dental hygiene.
Thanks to the food
stuck to the hippo's teeth,
these industrious
fish are able to feed
on exotic vegetation from land
which would otherwise be
completely out of their reach.
It's a peculiar pairing,
but certainly seems to
bring out the best in a hippo.
Many creatures have trouble
with their personal hygiene.
Even in the depths of the sea,
there are fish who
need help to keep clean.
Finding the right cleaner,
though, can be a little dicey.
For these jacks, skin parasites
are more than just annoying.
If they're not removed,
they can interfere
with the fishes' growth.
This specialist cleaner fish,
the wrasse, can
offer some relief.
But the brightly-colored wrasse
is recognized by many other fish
all wanting the same service.
There just aren't enough
cleaner wrasse to go around,
and so the jacks have
to find another solution.
At first glance,
it seems like they decide
on an almost suicidal option.
This is a silvertip shark.
It could easily eat jack.
But the sharks have
skin like sandpaper.
Bumping into their flanks helps
scrape off unwanted parasites
and dead skin.
Soon, swarms of jacks pursue
the sharks, all itching for a rub.
A dangerous game,
but perhaps one
that's tolerated.
All this bumping around
could also help exfoliate
the shark's skin — a case
of "You scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours."
Eventually, though, the
sharks have had enough
of all the skin-to-skin
contact, and they're off.
For the jacks, it
was a risky tactic,
but one that paid off.
Sometimes nature's partnerships
have to involve a
certain degree of risk.
The sun beats down
on the African savanna.
After a hearty
meal of wildebeest,
the lions are taking
an afternoon siesta.
At the height of
the oppressive heat,
they're surrounded by
irritating and relentless flies.
For one little creature,
this offers an opportunity.
But it will take courage.
Lions do eat lizards,
but having already
had a much larger meal,
they're unlikely
to need dessert.
Still, best to be cautious,
as lions can be
notoriously bad-tempered.
There's certainly no shortage
of flies from the lizards
to choose from.
They hunt by sight,
and their sticky tongues
help them hold onto prey.
Lions and lizards do
each other a good deed.
One gets a measure
of pest control,
and the other gets a feast.
Another remarkable partnership
plays out in the warm waters
of a coral reef.
A grumpy-looking little fish,
a goby,
has been invited
home by a shrimp.
The shrimp is the
perfect housekeeper,
always cleaning,
digging extensions,
and carrying out
home improvements.
Yet its chosen housemate
seems rather lazy,
just hanging around
and generally
getting in the way.
Despite first
impressions, the goby
is very important to the shrimp,
who, it turns out,
is almost completely blind.
The goby, on the other hand,
has excellent eyesight,
and remains constantly alert.
So, when the shrimp is outside,
it continually flicks one of
its antennae over the goby
to make sure the
little fish is still there
and the coast is clear.
The shrimp nips out
to collect some food
from a little patch of algae
not far from its front door.
It's when the shrimp
wanders too far
that there's trouble.
That was an anemone
it blundered into.
It backs off.
But caught by surprise,
it has lost its way home.
The goby has seen
the whole thing,
and in the shrimp's
moment of panic,
it rushes out to guide the
shrimp back to their burrow.
A predator spells
danger for both partners.
The goby gives the
signal, and together,
the odd little housemates
retreat safely indoors.
Protection is paramount
in the battleground
that is the natural world.
But sometimes that protection
can come from an arch enemy.
Normally, this
venomous tarantula
would eat a small toad.
But here, it's welcomed
into the protection of its lair.
It's not out of the
goodness of its heart.
The toad offers
a useful service.
Pest control.
The spider's egg sacks
are infested with ants.
The toad soon
makes a meal of them.
In return for the toad's help,
the tarantula acts
as a bodyguard.
Screech owls enjoy
a dinner of toad,
which would normally
be easy pickings.
But the spider unleashes
a barrage of barbed hairs.
Like tiny, vicious arrows,
they soon discourage
the uninvited intruder.
For some, living with
another species is a good idea.
But for others,
building partnerships
with their own kind is
the secret to success.
Elephants live in
large social groups
with several females
and their offspring.
They rely on strong bonds
within their community.
Among this herd in Kenya,
there's an inexperienced
mother with a newborn calf.
They haven't been able to
keep up with the rest of the herd.
But the grandmother of the
calf has stayed behind to help.
Meanwhile, as the rest of
the herd reaches the river,
the older calves are
encouraged to take the plunge.
In trying to catch
up with the others,
the new mother leads the baby
across a treacherous mud pan.
This may be fine for her,
but she doesn't seem to realize
how difficult it
is for the baby.
The grandmother steps
in to gently help
guide the calf across.
Having finally
reached the river,
the young mother again
chooses a difficult
route for the baby.
He's now blocked by what, to
him, is an impossibly high bank.
The other mothers in the herd
see that he's struggling
and return to try and help.
Everyone gets involved, all
trying to save the newborn.
One of the females
is even on her knees
in a desperate
attempt to get him out.
By working together,
they finally manage to
rescue the exhausted calf.
This baby will have a village of
elephants to help him grow up,
and to teach his mother
how to keep him safe.
♪♪
Working in a team can
make all the difference,
especially when it
comes to hunting.
Within the seas
of the Antarctic,
there is one species
whose superb teamwork
has led them to become
one of the ocean's most
devastating predators.
Killer whales.
They live in a group of
extended family members.
Together, they have perfected
their cunning
hunting strategies.
Working as a team, they
set out searching for prey.
Killer whales do
hunt other whales,
and they've spotted a minke.
In the Antarctic, minkes are
usually found in small groups.
But they can also be solitary.
The killers quickly pop up
on either side of their target.
The minke tries to escape,
but in doing so seems
to get disoriented.
The killers are not far behind,
and are back on the chase.
But the minke
won't give up easily.
It continues to swim for
hours with the killers by its side.
It's a fast swimmer,
but its biggest
defense is its stamina.
This doesn't deter the killers.
The work like a relay team,
regularly replacing the
outriders with fresh swimmers.
Eventually, the minke tires,
and the battering
and the biting begin.
The killers work together
to try and flip the minke over.
If they can manage to keep
its blowhole underwater,
it will drown.
One killer whale forces
the minke's whole body
down below the surface.
Then the final strike.
The team drags the minke
under for the last time.
And the killers
can finally feed.
Survival can often
be about opportunity.
But exploiting some good luck
can take collaboration
as well as intelligence.
These capuchins live in one
of Brazil's most
extreme landscapes,
where food is hard to come by.
They live in a
highly-organized social group,
and by working together,
they have become
incredibly resourceful.
They've spotted
a yellow rat snake,
a creature which can be
dangerous for young capuchins.
They all join in,
making as much
noise as possible,
trying to scare off the snake.
Then they realize the snake
offers them an opportunity.
It has found a Brazilian
rodent called a punaré,
a potential meal.
The punaré has nowhere to hide.
Soon, the silent
hunting technique
of the snake has paid off.
Then one of the capuchins
attempts something rather risky.
With hundreds of
backward-facing teeth,
the snake is not going
to give up its prey easily.
It's not going to work.
But the snake's success
has given the quick-witted
capuchins an idea.
They band together to try
and catch a punaré themselves.
The most experienced
male takes the lead.
Got it.
Together, the capuchins
have successfully
exploited an opportunity
and been rewarded
with a tasty meal.
Teamwork doesn't have
to be kept within a family.
Although it is rare,
there are some animals
that join forces with a
completely different species
when on a quest for prey.
In the seas of Indonesia,
banded sea kraits
are on the prowl.
The venomous snakes
scour the seabed,
searching for food.
Flicking their tongues
helps them smell the prey.
Though lethal, they're
too slow to catch fish
in a straight chase.
So they stalk the coral seabed
in a steady search pattern.
The comb every nook
and cranny of the coral
for unsuspecting fish.
And here, on these remote
reefs, they do not hunt alone.
They have partners in crime...
Shoals of yellow goatfish
and trevally.
They seek similar prey
and are ready to
join in the chase.
More and more snakes and fish
join the intimidating
hunting party.
The big fish scare the
prey into the cracks,
where the sea
snakes can catch them.
Anything that escapes
the snakes will swim straight
into the mouths of the fish.
Everyone gets
their cut in this raid.
When hunting in large groups,
the spoils have to be shared.
But larger partnerships can
also offer the greatest rewards.
These wolves in northern Canada
make up one of the largest
and most powerful
packs in the world,
and they are
setting out to hunt.
As such a large pack,
they can afford to
take on the largest prey.
Even prey which is almost
10 times their weight...
Bison.
The bison will not stay
long among the trees.
They are not safe here.
The wolves are closing in,
but their chance of ambushing
the bison in the
woods has passed.
The bison are now in the open,
and grouped together for safety.
The wolves will need
to work as a team
if they're going to
bring a bison down.
It's offense against defense.
The bison are armed and fierce.
They will be safe as
long as they stick together.
The wolves up their
game, harrying the herd,
a ploy to trigger a stampede
and split away one
of the smaller bison.
The herd tightens into
a defensive formation,
horns at the ready.
The wolves need a
bison to break rank.
But the tables are turning,
and now the wolves
have to retreat.
The pack focuses on
the rear of the herd,
and the bison begin to panic.
A young bison falls behind,
and the pack closes in.
The herd could come
to the yearling's rescue,
but instead they
seem to sacrifice it.
A stroke of luck for the wolves.
The bison are nowhere
near the team the wolves are,
but in a way, they have
another strategy that works.
Thanks to their
polished teamwork,
the wolves will
have food for days.
The hunt is over
until next time.
Across the world in Africa,
where large herds
of prey abound,
predators also work together.
Some individuals, though,
can't resist an opportunity.
This hyena can smell food.
But she might
be risking her life.
The kill has been
made by a pride of lions,
but they are unwilling to share.
Bruised and bloody, she is
lucky to have survived her mistake.
But she is not totally defeated.
She is a member of
a large hyena clan.
She sends a call to
arms out through the night.
Reinforcements begin to gather.
Every adult within
earshot responds.
If the clan can attack as one,
the hyenas stand a chance
of challenging the lions.
It's a fierce confrontation.
Each is at full strength.
The lions are
larger and stronger,
but the clan
outnumbers the pride.
Eventually the lions
are forced to retreat.
In this battle, it was
the combined power
of the many working
together that won the day.
These bubbles and haunting
calls are another ingenious way
to hunt involving
remarkable teamwork.
These are humpback whales,
and they are here
in the seas off Alaska
to harvest the herring bonanza.
Their strategy is
quite extraordinary.
It's known as
bubble-net feeding.
The lead whale dives first.
She is the bubble-blower.
It's her job to find the fish.
The rest follow in formation.
Each whale takes
exactly the same position
in every lunge.
Once she's located the fish,
the leader blows
a net of bubbles
that completely
encircles the shoal.
Another whale calls to
synchronize the group.
Panicked by the eerie sound
and the blinding bubbles,
the fish won't cross
this fizzing curtain of air.
They are effectively trapped
within the whales' bubble net.
Less than 100 of these
Alaskan humpbacks
have learned how to
hunt in this unique way.
It takes a high
level of cooperation,
a sign of remarkable brainpower.
From one of the largest
animals in the sea
to one of the smallest on land,
there is another
very different animal
that has perfected
the art of teamwork.
Ants function like a
highly-disciplined army.
Each is clear
about its own role,
and they all work
for the same goal.
Nowhere is this
teamwork more important
than in the scorching
heat of the desert.
Very little can survive
the soaring temperatures
under the midday African sun.
But these silver ants
have special armored
skin which reflects light.
They can tolerate temperatures
that would kill any
other land animal.
But even they can
only survive out here
for a few minutes.
They're in a race to find food
while their predators
have gone to ground.
Only by working together
as a team do the ants
stand a chance of success.
They've found a
victim of heat stroke,
a potential meal.
Will they be able to get it home
before being
scorched themselves?
Tiny hairs on their
back repel the sun's rays.
But time is ticking,
and they're nearing their
maximum temperature,
a remarkable 127
degrees Fahrenheit.
Some can no
longer take the heat.
They're running out of time.
They won't make
it, not unless they
can do something drastic.
By biting off the fly's
legs and antennae,
the ants stand a better
chance of getting their prey back
to the nest.
With a final push, they make it.
Sacrifices were
made along the way,
but the determined
team fulfilled their mission.
Back in the
Antarctic, killer whales
are about to demonstrate another
of their highly-coordinated
hunting strategies.
The pod stays close together
as they scour the
sea looking for prey.
There are several
potential victims here.
But they are all out of reach.
The solution is highly
complex teamwork.
Swimming in perfect formation,
they flick their tails in unison
and create a wave
that cracks the ice.
They regroup and
assess the damage.
A more powerful wave is needed.
With the ice floe breaking up,
they can get a better
look at their target.
It's a crab eater seal.
Quite vicious.
Not their favorite.
A Weddell seal is
far more manageable.
They unleash a powerful
wave with remarkable accuracy.
The seal is now
where the killers want it.
But there is still
work to be done.
They need to grab
their prey by the tail
while avoiding
its snapping jaws.
Only then will they be able
to pull it down and drown it.
Sideswipes create violent
underwater turbulence,
a new tactic.
Blowing bubbles gives
cover for the others in the team
to lunge at the seal's tail.
Somehow, the seal manages
to reach a tiny ice floe.
The killers could
easily grab it now.
But rather like a cat
with an injured mouse,
they seem to be enjoying
their terrifying game.
Yet again, the pod joins
forces to dislodge the seal.
For the unfortunate
seal, it's game over.
Whether you're a
highly-trained killer
or more of a scavenger,
there are times when you
just need a little extra help,
and enlisting a partner
can make all the difference.
Nowhere is this more true
than in the icy
forests of the Arctic.
♪♪
Within this bitterly-cold
landscape, a raven calls out.
It's found its dinner,
but it needs another
animal's help to enjoy it...
The wolverine.
The raven, a
highly-intelligent bird,
directs the ravenous wolverine
to a moose carcass it has found.
The moose is frozen solid...
Too hard for the
raven to break into.
But for the wolverine's
jaws, this is no problem.
It tears into this
frozen dinner,
exposing the softer middle.
The raven's bill is
more suited to leftovers.
It will have to wait
until its accomplice
has had its fill.
But the clever bird knows
that eventually
patience will pay off.
The wolverine drags
a portion of the carcass
off into the forest.
There are plenty of
scraps left for the raven.
And its friends.
What the wolverine
can't manage now,
it will bury for a later date.
It's always useful to have
extra food in the freezer.
Throughout history,
partnerships have also existed
between animals and humans.
The majority of these
are rather one-sided,
with humans harnessing
the skills of wild animals
for their own ends.
However, there is one
extraordinary exception
that appears to benefit
both sides of the partnership.
It can be found in East Africa.
No one is sure how
it first came about,
but it can be traced
back to the 17th century.
This honey guide
bird is calling out.
Not to other birds, but,
amazingly, to humans.
Its intention is to lead
a couple of local Masai
to a beehive.
Thanks to its sense of smell,
the bird has already
found the hive.
But without human help,
it would find it much harder
to reach the honeycomb.
The honey guide
signals to the boys
by flying from tree to tree.
It's an unusual game
of follow the leader.
As the bird gets
closer to the prize,
it changes its call
to let the boys know
they're getting hotter.
Here it is.
A hive well hidden in a tree,
and covered by
hundreds of African bees.
The boys use smoke
to help calm the bees.
Without this smoke, it
would be much more painful
for either the boys or the
bird to get to the honeycomb.
The honey guide bird
is the only wild animal
known to guide people to
food in this remarkable way.
The Masai know it's important
to keep up their
part of the bargain.
The honey guide bird is rewarded
with the waxy comb,
its favorite part.
A guarantee that this unique
partnership will continue.
♪♪
We can only stand back
and admire the
amazing relationships
that exist within
the natural world.
Whether it's with teamwork
or a little give and
take with another kind,
joining forces with others
is a smart way to live.
In the daily struggle
of finding food
and staying safe,
the perfect partner can
elevate survival into success.
To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,
♪♪