Wild Brazil (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - A Dangerous World - full transcript

Brazil -
the beating heart of South America.

Vast landscapes carved by the
irresistible forces of nature.

More animals live here
than in any other nation on Earth.

This is the story of three of them.

As the seasons change, animal
families face extreme challenges.

THUNDER

Immense floods.

Brutal drought.

Surviving and raising young.

Through the good times and the bad.

SCREECHING



This is an intimate journey to
the heart of a spectacular country.

At the equinox,
Brazil's climate pauses briefly

between harsh, seasonal extremes.

For the youngsters, this is the
time to take their first steps

in this extraordinary
and often dangerous world.

SQUAWKING

This is the newest member of
a family of tufted capuchins.

For him, so far, life has been easy.

His devoted mother has carried him
around everywhere

since the day he was born.

But times change and soon he must
gain some independence.

QUIET SCREECHES

And it won't be easy,
because this family of capuchins

live in one of Brazil's
most extreme landscapes.



These are the sheer cliffs of Piaui
in the north east of Brazil.

Food is hard to come by here.

No wonder this little baby
clings on so tightly.

This really isn't the safest place
to search for breakfast.

At this time of year,
it's about their only option.

But this fast food is no easy meal.

These lizards are a precious
source of both food and water.

But catching one with a baby on
your back is almost impossible.

Someone else has beaten them to it.

The lizard is out of reach
in a crack.

There's no meal for this mother,
but this baby can watch and learn.

These capuchins are possibly
the world's cleverest monkeys.

There's nothing they like more
than a problem to solve.

This particular problem requires
finding and shaping

just the right tool to force
this lizard out of hiding.

And if at first you don't succeed,
it's back to the tool box.

These monkeys use more tools
than almost any other animal.

And a lizard is no match
for such determined intelligence.

Success brings a tasty meal for one,

while the baby's mother
goes hungry again.

And if she starves,

then HE starves.

For both their sakes,

this little monkey must start
his journey to independence.

But letting go won't be easy
for either of them...

...and it's going to be risky
in these unforgiving canyons.

The ancient rivers that carved
the monkeys' spectacular home

have long since dried up.

But elsewhere in Brazil,

water is still shaping
entire landscapes.

In the west of the country, they
give rise to one of the wonders

of the natural world.

The Pantanal.

This is the largest and richest
freshwater wetland on the planet.

The Pantanal is home to one

of Brazil's noisiest families.

LOUD SQUEALS

Giant otters.

Their holt is a hole
in the riverbank.

An experienced mother stands guard

whilst one of her adolescent sons
plays outside.

He's almost 2m long

and, for some reason,
still living at home.

In fact, young giant otters
often stick around,

but this mother has 12 of them
living under her roof.

LOUD SQUEALS

And she's just added three
tiny new members to her family.

They're tucked away in the darkest,
safest, corner of the holt.

But it won't be long before they'll
have to start learning about life

in the outside world.

SQUEALS

With so many mouths to feed,

the family's top priority is
keeping hold of their territory.

For giant otters, that means

scent-marking in the family latrine.

GURGLING AND SQUEALING

The father takes this job
very seriously

and getting it right takes time.

With so many in the queue,

things tend to get a little unruly
at times.

But there's a very good reason
why this mother

needs such a large family.

Her new babies are growing up
in one of the most dangerous

neighbourhoods in Brazil.

LOUD SQUEALS

At first glance,
it's an aquatic paradise.

These waters teem with hundreds
of species of fish.

But the Pantanal also has the
highest density of predators

on the planet.

There are an estimated 10 million
caiman alone.

But these rivers are famous
for Brazil's most elusive

and dangerous predator.

The jaguar.

The most powerful of all
the big cats.

A simple family fishing trip here

is something of a dangerous sport.

Jaguars will spend hours
stalking their prey.

GROWLS

This is why giant otters
live in such a large family.

Over the next few days,

the baby otters will be taken out
for their very first swim.

Keeping them safe on this river

is going to test the whole family
to its limits.

The equinox is passed.

A new season is coming.

The landscape waits for change.

These are the Vazantes.

A unique blend of grasslands
and pools, surrounded by woodland.

It is here that Brazil's extreme
seasons have the greatest impact.

The landscape will soon change
completely.

Young animals don't have long
to adapt.

This is a baby coati.

These woodlands are his playground.

Coati mothers time their births for
the onset of the monsoon rains.

A time of plenty.

While they wait, they keep all
their babies safely together

in a giant forest creche,
where they can keep an eye on them.

But these toddlers are a naturally
inquisitive bunch.

Luckily, these woods keep them
safe from predators,

but, at the moment,
there's not much to eat here.

The only place for a decent meal
is in the grassland.

At this time of year the Vazantes
are home to a mix of land

and water animals
found nowhere else in the world.

Southern lapwings lay their eggs
on the drier ground...

...while anacondas seek out
pools of flooded grassland.

For the coatis, these pools
are the perfect snack bar.

They'll eat almost anything
they can sniff out,

just like their cousins,
the racoons.

But dining out in the open like this

can be a dangerous way
to get a meal.

It's certainly no place
for a baby coati.

So while most of the grown-ups
are out foraging,

all the babies are kept safely
in the woods.

The only food on offer here
right now is mother's milk.

And any young coati too busy
exploring may miss out altogether.

It won't be long before these
babies need more than milk.

After a long day in the exposed
grasslands, the adults head back

to the safety of the woods.

It's a chance to find out what
the grown-ups have been eating -

a sure sign that they're ready
for weaning.

Soon their parents will
take these little ones

out into the open
for the very first time.

But stray too far from mum

and their first day in the grassland
could be their last.

Soon, Brazil's seasons will change.

A change driven by a huge force
of nature.

A vast river.

But not the Amazon.

This is a river in the sky.

It starts in the Amazonian
rainforest -

the largest expanse
of tropical trees on the planet.

Every day these trees release
up to 20,000 billion litres

of water vapour.

This water vapour streams down
the entire country.

It's known as the Rio Voador.

Literally a "flying river".

A river in the sky.

When this sky river flows,
it brings deluge.

When the sky river stops,
there will be drought.

It affects almost every living
creature in this vast country.

The jaguar cubs here will need
to make the most of everything

these huge changes bring.

But for some, the sky river
will bring precious little.

It only rains a few days a year
in the canyons of Piaui.

Even so, our capuchin was born
so that when it does rain,

he'll be old enough to take
full advantage of it.

It's harder than ever for her
to feed and hunt.

And if she doesn't eat,
there's no milk for him.

She tries every trick she knows...

...but without much luck.

He needs to leave his mother's back

at least long enough for her
to feed.

One of the males has discovered
a bees' nest

right up at the top of the canyon.

At this time of year,

finding honey
is an incredible stroke of luck.

But getting up there
is another matter,

especially with a baby on your back.

The time has now come for this baby
to let go.

He gets his first baby-sitter -
one of his older sisters,

and he's not happy.

SQUEALS

But his mother simply can't afford
to miss out on this feast.

The climb is about as tough
as it gets...

...a challenge for even
the nimblest monkeys.

CAPUCHINS SQUEAL

She makes it to the top -
and the honey.

But far below in the canyon,

the inexperienced baby-sitter
has made a reckless decision.

She's attempting the climb
carrying her baby brother.

These bees may be stingless,

but that doesn't make this feast
any less dangerous.

This energy boost couldn't have come
at a better time.

But her baby is in serious trouble.

His baby-sitter has realised
her mistake

and now abandons him altogether.

Far above, his mother has no idea.

Like humans, capuchin babies
are almost completely helpless.

CAPUCHIN WHISTLES

CAPUCHIN WHISTLES

It seems a long time before his
mother realises what's happening.

Reunited.

Safe.

But that wasn't a great start
to independence.

He really does need to pick up
some survival skills, and soon.

This part of Brazil is so dry

because the sky river
hardly flows here.

But as the seasons change, other
areas will be utterly transformed.

The rivers of the Pantanal will be
inundated by a colossal flood.

These floods may be some months
away but, for the giant otters,

the preparations start now.

It's an occasion that involves
the whole family.

One of the newborns is being
taken for its first swim.

GURGLING AND SQUEALING

Survival here requires
strong swimming skills.

They have to start early.

Older brothers and sisters
keep watch for predators

while one of them stays behind
to guard the other little kits

at the holt.

Something has spooked
the baby-sitter.

Like most predators,

this jaguar will be looking for
a vulnerable victim.

A baby otter or a preoccupied adult

would do nicely.

Swimming lesson over,
the family head for home,

and they're in for a shock.

LOUD SQUEAL

LOUD SQUEALS AND GROWLS

They react with a show of strength.

She knows she's been beaten.

But she'll be back.

Their home is no longer safe.
They grab the babies and flee.

Giant otters usually dig
several holts along the river

in case of emergency.

Only when all the babies
are safely inside

will the family be able to relax.

Swimming lessons will resume
as soon as it's safe.

The monsoon floods will soon
be here.

By then, the kits must be ready.

For now, the Pantanal waits for
the sky river to bring the rains.

With the equinox passed,
the sun's light grows stronger

over the north of Brazil -
the Amazon rainforest.

The trees produce more
and more water vapour.

This is the engine that will start
the sky river

and ultimately bring
the monsoon rains.

This Brazilian monsoon will bring
plenty of opportunities

and babies must be old enough
to take advantage of it.

That often means that their first
formative weeks are tough.

This is now the most dangerous time
of their young lives.

All our coati babies have known
is the safety of the trees.

But until the monsoon rains arrive,
there's nothing to eat here.

If they want to get a meal,

they will have to follow their
parents out into the grassland.

The wide open world of the Vazante

must seem both exciting
and daunting.

Their mother has got her work
cut out

keeping track of so many at once.

Get separated from the family
and you could get snatched

by one of the predators
that stalk these plains.

Every little coati has just one
golden rule to remember -

don't lose sight of mum's tail.

The babies are not just
discovering a new place,

they're here to learn about
foraging from the grown-ups.

But for some, there are just
too many distractions.

All around them
are extraordinary creatures.

Each little Coati must learn
which creatures are safe

and which are dangerous.

Southern lapwings are good
to have around.

They follow the coatis
to pick up small bugs

the family disturbs as they forage.

In return, they keep an eye out
for predators.

Armadillos can usually be ignored.

So can giant anteaters.

But a savanna hawk...

...is a different matter.

CHIRPING

With so many babies in the creche,

the mother is unsure that
everyone's made it home.

COATI SQUEAKS

Her instincts are right.

One of them hasn't.

SQUEAKING

Mum's tail is nowhere to be seen.

SQUEAKING

Brazil's grasslands are not always
this forgiving.

But he's learned a valuable lesson.

Over much of Brazil,
animals are waiting for the rain.

These canyons were once
part of a rainforest.

But then the sky river
changed its path,

leaving rainforest trees
clinging on in the ravines.

If this baby capuchin is to survive
here, he must become independent.

The last time he tried
was nearly a disaster.

This time, his mother
isn't going anywhere.

Slowly but surely,
his confidence grows.

He needs to learn what to eat
by following mum's example.

Leaves are OK, but the roots
are the best part.

Now he's getting the hang of it.

But he needs to learn more
than just where to find food.

His mother hasn't spotted
the danger.

Fortunately, the little monkey's
instincts kick in.

Capuchins have different calls
for different threats.

CAPUCHIN CALL

The rest of the troop instantly
recognise this one

and all come together.

KNOCKING ON TREES

CAPUCHIN WHISTLES

They try to scare the snake away
by making as much noise as possible.

Even the baby is determined to help.

But his mother has spotted
something.

This yellow rat snake
isn't after monkeys.

It's after a Brazilian rodent
called a punare.

Capuchins are incredibly curious...

...and even the baby can't resist
taking a closer look.

But there's a fine line
between curiosity

and foolhardiness.

With hundreds of backward
facing teeth,

there's no way the snake
is giving up his prize.

But that wasn't the only punare.

All fear forgotten, the little baby
scrambles to join in.

CAPUCHINS SQUEAL

But punares aren't easy to catch.

Once again, it's the experienced
male who takes the lead.

The group finally get a decent meal.

Just as importantly, our baby monkey

has passed his first test
in surviving on his own.

He's also witnessed just how
resourceful his family needs to be

to survive here.

All of our babies have taken
their first tentative steps

towards independence.

Along the way they have got lost,
been abandoned and had close calls

with predators.

Now their world is about to change.

At last, the sky river

is beginning to flow.

LOUD SQUEALS

Very soon, the monsoon rains
will transform much of the land.

All of our youngsters
must learn fast

and fend for themselves...

...in Wild Brazil.

To gain a truly intimate view into
the lives of our animal families,

the Wild Brazil team filmed
for over a year,

using all the tricks of the trade.

Of all the animals, it was the giant
otter and tufted capuchin families

that would allow the team closest
to their private lives

to film some of the series'
most remarkable moments.

Following capuchin monkeys
in the canyon lands

of Serra da Capivara National Park
was a big commitment.

Cameraman Ted Giffords
spent a year getting to know

one particular monkey family.

To truly understand the monkeys'
world, Ted enlisted the help

of primatologist Camila Coelho
and guide George Reinaldo.

For Ted to have any chance of being
accepted by the monkeys,

he first had to learn
how to keep up with them.

There's very few places they're going to move to
because they have to live within the gullies.

If you imagine my fingers, there's these
constant gullies parallel to one another,

and if they live in this one, they can
only move to one of the ones adjacent.

We'll eventually find them in one of these adjacent
gullies, unless they're still on the move.

You cannot keep up because they ping
from tree to tree.

Thousands of miles away
in the heart of the Pantanal,

the giant otter team faced
a different challenge.

They needed a family
with newborn kits.

But at first,
cameraman Barrie Britton

and Pantanal guide Mauricio Copetti
couldn't find any otters at all.

We're basically just covering
large stretches of river,

just trying to find something,
and it's getting a bit frustrating

because we've got this fantastic
light, fantastic habitat

but we just haven't got the otters
at the moment.

Remote cameras were a vital tool to
find where the otters were visiting.

Even so, after three months,
there were still no baby otters.

Back in the canyon lands

and Ted and George were now
keeping up with the capuchins

and starting to predict
their movements.

See they're pouring back down
the hill. Isn't that sweet?

The group had begun to accept Ted

and the bolder ones were taking
a keen interest in his gear.

The monkeys were so comfortable
with the camera team,

they were now able to film
their most intimate moments.

Ow!

Ted could now follow the group
so closely

that he was in just the right place when
the capuchins found a hunting rat snake

and a dominant male revealed
just how daring capuchins can be.

Normally they wouldn't go near
the snake,

but faced with the prospect of
a rat meal,

they were tugging it
in its mouth.

It's the most extraordinary
thing I've ever seen.

The chances of them actually pulling
the rat out were pretty slim,

but the fact they even tried it
is astonishing.

The guys are incredibly efficient
at surviving in their environment.

They know where an opportunity is
and they grab it -

quite literally grab it.

Ted's months of persistence
had paid off.

As a wildlife cameraman, I've seen
a lot of extraordinary events

that stop me in my tracks,
but I think it's fair to say

it's surpassed anything
I ever believed would happen.

Back in the Pantanal, at last,
the camera traps had picked up

a giant otter family that appeared
to have newborn kits.

Look, see? Digging his way in.

In order not to disturb the family,
Barrie set up a hide.

He'd need to stake out the holt to
have any chance of getting a glimpse

of the babies.

After a week, Barrie's
careful approach paid off.

At last, he was getting
unique insights

into the otters' family life.

Then, one morning, Barrie was able
to film the remarkable moment

when this tiny otter was
introduced to the water

for the very first time.

It was just what Barrie
had hoped for.

But he was about to witness
something even rarer.

Suddenly there was this...

there was this orange creature
that emerged from the forest.

It was a jaguar.

It was my first ever view
of a jaguar.

And she walked right out
and not only was she very close,

just across the river, but she
also went right down and sat

exactly in the middle
of the otters' latrine area.

The primary concern
is trying to film

and you become very caught up
in what you need to do

to get the shots.

In hindsight, maybe the fact
that there was this huge predator

just a stone's throw across
the river

was something I should have been
more concerned about.

LOUD SQUEALS

To see these two great animals
interact with one another,

particularly at a holt where we
knew there were babies there

and so there was a genuine threat.

That was really a very rare moment

and something we were very lucky
to witness.

Brazil's animal families
had allowed Barrie and Ted

a truly privileged view
into their lives.

They continued to follow these
animals as their worlds changed

with the seasons.

They were there to witness
first-hand

the extraordinary struggles

and triumphs each animal
family has to live through

in Wild Brazil.