WEBVTT 00:00:10.488 --> 00:00:14.057 Narrator: Spring in Africa 00:00:14.101 --> 00:00:16.886 is like nowhere else on Earth. 00:00:20.585 --> 00:00:23.588 Days become longer. 00:00:23.632 --> 00:00:28.071 And light and warmth return. 00:00:28.115 --> 00:00:31.683 New life transforms the continent 00:00:31.727 --> 00:00:37.994 on land and in the cold waters along the rugged coasts. 00:00:39.648 --> 00:00:43.521 Spring is the season where flowers and insects 00:00:43.565 --> 00:00:46.698 rekindle an ancient relationship. 00:00:46.742 --> 00:00:49.353 And young animals learn the difference 00:00:49.397 --> 00:00:52.182 between friend and foe. 00:00:52.226 --> 00:00:55.968 It's the season for youngsters to take to the skies 00:00:56.012 --> 00:00:57.622 and the seas 00:00:57.666 --> 00:01:01.409 and face the challenges of the unknown head-on. 00:01:03.019 --> 00:01:07.241 Each year, the arrival of spring replenishes the continent 00:01:07.284 --> 00:01:09.939 and the chance to flourish, 00:01:09.982 --> 00:01:13.421 during Africa's wild year. 00:01:52.677 --> 00:01:54.288 In Southern Africa, 00:01:54.331 --> 00:01:58.466 spring starts in early September. 00:01:58.509 --> 00:02:02.165 And the natural world stirs into life. 00:02:08.345 --> 00:02:10.304 Days begin to lengthen, 00:02:10.347 --> 00:02:12.436 temperatures rise, 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:14.308 and animals and plants 00:02:14.351 --> 00:02:19.965 combine in an orchestrated effort to reproduce, 00:02:20.009 --> 00:02:22.185 give birth, 00:02:22.229 --> 00:02:24.448 and raise their young. 00:02:30.324 --> 00:02:32.717 By the spring equinox, 00:02:32.761 --> 00:02:36.330 night and day are almost the same length of time. 00:02:38.027 --> 00:02:40.682 It's one of only two moments in the year 00:02:40.725 --> 00:02:42.640 when the center of the sun 00:02:42.684 --> 00:02:45.643 sits directly above the equator. 00:02:45.687 --> 00:02:51.214 Below, a frenzy of activity sweeps across the continent. 00:03:08.057 --> 00:03:10.233 On the southern tip of Africa, 00:03:10.277 --> 00:03:15.978 more than 200,000 Cape gannets arrive, ready to breed. 00:03:20.112 --> 00:03:23.072 They've spent the last eight months at sea, 00:03:23.115 --> 00:03:27.511 feeding offshore in the South Atlantic Ocean. 00:03:27.555 --> 00:03:31.428 Now they return at this precise time of the year 00:03:31.472 --> 00:03:33.735 to the island where they were born 00:03:33.778 --> 00:03:37.695 to have chicks of their own. 00:03:37.739 --> 00:03:39.741 They've timed their arrival to coincide 00:03:39.784 --> 00:03:43.092 with the mild weather and bountiful seas. 00:03:47.792 --> 00:03:49.272 For young adults, 00:03:49.316 --> 00:03:53.581 this is the first time they'll try to raise a chick. 00:03:53.624 --> 00:03:57.976 Once they find a mate, they'll usually pair for life. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.899 A young male arrives at the colony 00:04:07.943 --> 00:04:10.424 for his first breeding season. 00:04:13.296 --> 00:04:15.429 Space is at a premium, 00:04:15.472 --> 00:04:19.955 and he scours the island to find a suitable nest site. 00:04:23.175 --> 00:04:27.136 It's the first time he's felt dry land in a while. 00:04:33.316 --> 00:04:36.928 Having completed a circular journey of 1,800 miles 00:04:36.972 --> 00:04:41.629 in pursuit of fish, now his job is to woo a mate. 00:04:43.805 --> 00:04:46.329 The September sun is hot. 00:04:46.373 --> 00:04:52.640 The only way to stay cool is to pant, throat wide open. 00:04:52.683 --> 00:04:56.644 But his focus is elsewhere -- 00:04:56.687 --> 00:05:00.648 on the females circling overhead. 00:05:00.691 --> 00:05:02.476 He sky-points. 00:05:04.347 --> 00:05:08.482 Tipping his beak back signals his intent to mate. 00:05:11.093 --> 00:05:15.140 But he has stiff competition. 00:05:15.184 --> 00:05:20.624 He is one of 5,000 male gannets on this island -- 00:05:20.668 --> 00:05:23.018 all eager to breed. 00:05:26.413 --> 00:05:29.851 Above, inexperienced females circle the island 00:05:29.894 --> 00:05:33.942 looking for the young males with the best nesting sites. 00:05:36.858 --> 00:05:39.208 He scans the skies. 00:05:42.951 --> 00:05:45.214 It's all about patience. 00:05:54.266 --> 00:05:56.007 Nothing. 00:06:04.973 --> 00:06:07.192 Maybe this one will like him. 00:06:13.416 --> 00:06:15.244 Or maybe not. 00:06:17.551 --> 00:06:19.379 Persistence is key. 00:06:24.993 --> 00:06:29.084 Finally, a female who's impressed by his moves. 00:06:36.483 --> 00:06:40.095 She approaches and tilts her head to the sky. 00:06:40.138 --> 00:06:43.054 A message -- she's found her mate. 00:06:50.671 --> 00:06:54.762 Bill fencing is an important part of a gannett greeting 00:06:54.805 --> 00:06:57.242 and forms a pair bond the couple will keep 00:06:57.286 --> 00:06:59.244 for many years to come. 00:07:13.476 --> 00:07:15.478 They'll repeat this ritual every time 00:07:15.522 --> 00:07:19.613 one of them returns to the nest after they've been apart. 00:07:21.310 --> 00:07:25.314 They preen each other, cementing the unbreakable bond 00:07:25.357 --> 00:07:27.577 they'll rely on to raise a chick. 00:07:31.363 --> 00:07:36.325 Cape gannets breed on only six islands in the world. 00:07:36.368 --> 00:07:40.416 It means the pair share their home with a large crowd. 00:07:42.374 --> 00:07:43.985 In the warm spring weather, 00:07:44.028 --> 00:07:47.641 they'll compete to raise just a single chick, 00:07:49.556 --> 00:07:51.514 feeding their offspring on the abundant fish 00:07:51.558 --> 00:07:54.735 supplied by the South Atlantic Ocean. 00:08:09.401 --> 00:08:13.144 It's midday on the west coast of Namibia, 00:08:13.188 --> 00:08:15.973 where tens of thousands of Cape fur seals 00:08:16.017 --> 00:08:18.976 rest on a two-mile stretch of sand. 00:08:26.244 --> 00:08:28.159 They are residents here 00:08:28.203 --> 00:08:31.162 and claim this beach all year round. 00:08:36.864 --> 00:08:38.561 Now, in mid-September, 00:08:38.605 --> 00:08:42.391 they give birth en masse in the warm spring weather. 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.053 This mother has just delivered a tiny pup. 00:09:01.105 --> 00:09:04.631 Born with the wild Atlantic on one side 00:09:06.241 --> 00:09:10.767 and the vast Namib Desert on the other, 00:09:10.811 --> 00:09:12.377 he has a few short weeks 00:09:12.421 --> 00:09:16.164 to learn everything he needs to survive on his own. 00:09:20.647 --> 00:09:23.606 How to swim in the frigid waters, 00:09:23.650 --> 00:09:25.260 where to catch fish, 00:09:25.303 --> 00:09:28.393 and how to evade the many threats of the African coast 00:09:28.437 --> 00:09:31.701 before the short window of spring closes. 00:09:39.753 --> 00:09:43.104 The burst of new life on the seal colony 00:09:43.147 --> 00:09:45.585 has not gone unnoticed. 00:09:50.372 --> 00:09:54.419 Black-backed jackals and brown hyenas 00:09:54.463 --> 00:09:55.943 emerge from the desert, 00:09:55.986 --> 00:10:00.208 drawn by the noise and smell of the new seal pups. 00:10:06.562 --> 00:10:09.260 They scavenge a seal carcass. 00:10:09.304 --> 00:10:11.698 It's a meal worth fighting for. 00:10:37.549 --> 00:10:41.989 The three jackals reach a truce and share the spoils. 00:10:47.734 --> 00:10:50.867 The young seal's mother keeps a watchful eye. 00:10:50.911 --> 00:10:55.916 Her pup has much to overcome if he's to survive to adulthood. 00:10:58.570 --> 00:11:01.530 The Earth continues to tilt the Southern Hemisphere 00:11:01.573 --> 00:11:06.274 towards the sun, and spring blankets Africa. 00:11:09.016 --> 00:11:12.933 The Northern Hemisphere tilts in the opposite direction, 00:11:14.717 --> 00:11:19.548 heralding colder days and the arrival of autumn. 00:11:28.862 --> 00:11:32.213 To escape the cooler temperatures in the north, 00:11:32.256 --> 00:11:35.695 thousands of migrants head south. 00:11:45.922 --> 00:11:50.057 In September and October, tens of thousands of migratory 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:53.060 wading birds arrive in southern Africa... 00:11:56.324 --> 00:11:58.543 ...where they'll stay for the season. 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.554 Not ones to suffer the cold, 00:12:09.598 --> 00:12:14.734 these birds will leave again once spring and summer are over. 00:12:14.777 --> 00:12:17.214 They chase the seasons around the globe, 00:12:17.258 --> 00:12:20.435 following the mild weather across continents... 00:12:24.961 --> 00:12:29.270 ...traveling 9,000 miles a year in search of food. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.060 But for now, they're drawn to the fertile lakes 00:12:37.104 --> 00:12:39.454 and wetlands of southern Africa. 00:12:41.108 --> 00:12:43.327 Langebaan Lagoon in South Africa 00:12:43.371 --> 00:12:47.114 is a magnet for the migrating birds. 00:12:47.157 --> 00:12:51.292 Nutrient-rich seawater running along Africa's west coast 00:12:51.335 --> 00:12:54.643 floods this saltwater wetland every day. 00:12:54.686 --> 00:12:57.951 It creates the perfect habitat for prey -- 00:12:57.994 --> 00:13:00.301 crabs, 00:13:00.344 --> 00:13:02.303 snails, 00:13:02.346 --> 00:13:04.392 and young fish. 00:13:06.307 --> 00:13:08.613 Their populations explode with the arrival 00:13:08.657 --> 00:13:10.833 of spring's warm temperatures. 00:13:14.663 --> 00:13:16.317 It's an all-you-can-eat buffet 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:18.972 for the birds in the shallow waters. 00:13:21.017 --> 00:13:23.454 African residents join the migrants to dine 00:13:23.498 --> 00:13:26.980 on the millions of creatures now hatching in the lagoon. 00:13:30.592 --> 00:13:32.724 Slight variations in their beaks 00:13:32.768 --> 00:13:37.817 mean that many bird species can feed together. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:42.691 Flamingos, curlews, ibis, sandpipers. 00:13:42.734 --> 00:13:49.829 avocets, knots, ducks, and geese feed on a variety of species. 00:13:51.787 --> 00:13:54.529 Flamingos filter-feed in the shallows, 00:13:54.572 --> 00:13:58.576 sieving out tiny shrimp and algae, 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:01.405 while sandpipers use their longer beaks 00:14:01.449 --> 00:14:04.713 to probe the mud for crabs and snails. 00:14:11.024 --> 00:14:13.853 They'll all spend the season fattening up 00:14:13.896 --> 00:14:16.681 before the long journey back north. 00:14:33.394 --> 00:14:36.223 Spring advances across southern Africa. 00:14:36.266 --> 00:14:38.921 And by mid-October, the mild days trigger 00:14:38.965 --> 00:14:42.577 a brilliant display of spring blooms. 00:14:44.448 --> 00:14:47.538 Nestled on the border of South Africa and Namibia, 00:14:47.582 --> 00:14:49.889 the arid landscape of Namaqualand 00:14:49.932 --> 00:14:53.762 transforms into a carpet of wildflowers. 00:14:55.503 --> 00:14:59.550 Once a year, rain daisies, gousblooms, 00:14:59.594 --> 00:15:02.031 magriets, and 00:15:02.075 --> 00:15:04.904 burst forth in a profusion of color 00:15:04.947 --> 00:15:08.255 alongside dozens of other species. 00:15:09.821 --> 00:15:14.739 The length of day dictates when plants will bloom. 00:15:14.783 --> 00:15:17.264 The more sunlight spring provides, 00:15:17.307 --> 00:15:20.049 the longer the flowers can stay open. 00:15:34.020 --> 00:15:37.806 This flamboyant show has a purpose. 00:15:37.849 --> 00:15:39.808 Like all living organisms, 00:15:39.851 --> 00:15:42.942 plants need to reproduce to survive. 00:15:44.508 --> 00:15:47.990 Each plant has male and female parts. 00:15:48.034 --> 00:15:50.427 To reproduce, they need to come together 00:15:50.471 --> 00:15:53.169 with male and female parts from another flower 00:15:53.213 --> 00:15:56.129 in a process known as pollination. 00:15:59.306 --> 00:16:01.482 But it's harder than it sounds. 00:16:01.525 --> 00:16:05.790 The female part -- the stigma -- is bound to the flower. 00:16:05.834 --> 00:16:09.794 So it's the male pollen that must move. 00:16:09.838 --> 00:16:11.622 The plants have evolved a clever trick 00:16:11.666 --> 00:16:15.148 to help the male pollen and female stigma meet. 00:16:16.888 --> 00:16:21.154 Every species has its own distinct approach and scent. 00:16:23.678 --> 00:16:26.986 Like a fingerprint, no two are the same. 00:16:32.382 --> 00:16:34.297 The purpose is to attract a courier 00:16:34.341 --> 00:16:37.692 to transport their pollen to another flower. 00:16:40.390 --> 00:16:44.829 Birds and insects fly through this burst of color and smell, 00:16:44.873 --> 00:16:47.963 looking for an enticing concoction. 00:16:54.187 --> 00:16:58.539 As they are lured in to feed, they are coated in dusty pollen, 00:16:58.582 --> 00:17:01.803 which they then transfer to the next flower. 00:17:05.937 --> 00:17:08.723 And pollination is complete. 00:17:12.727 --> 00:17:15.730 This has led to stiff competition between plants, 00:17:15.773 --> 00:17:20.865 forcing some to evolve elaborate relationships with pollinators. 00:17:29.352 --> 00:17:31.093 This tangle-vein fly's tongue 00:17:31.137 --> 00:17:33.704 might look like an inconvenience, 00:17:33.748 --> 00:17:36.316 but it's actually the perfect tool. 00:17:38.796 --> 00:17:41.756 It allows him exclusive entry to the long-tubed 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.758 meidestert flower. 00:17:46.630 --> 00:17:50.199 The flower and the fly have evolved to fit together 00:17:50.243 --> 00:17:52.071 like a lock and key. 00:18:00.166 --> 00:18:03.778 The flower feeds the fly sweet, sugary nectar 00:18:03.821 --> 00:18:05.780 that's just for him. 00:18:08.087 --> 00:18:12.221 And in return, it wins a dedicated pollinator. 00:18:31.327 --> 00:18:33.764 These elaborate mating systems 00:18:33.808 --> 00:18:37.246 have led to the beautiful profusion of flower species 00:18:37.290 --> 00:18:41.990 that carpet this remote corner of Africa. 00:18:42.033 --> 00:18:46.995 It's the original story of the birds and the bees. 00:18:53.915 --> 00:18:59.007 Across southern Africa, spring is in full swing. 00:19:06.362 --> 00:19:08.843 From the highest mountains 00:19:12.238 --> 00:19:14.849 to the deepest oceans. 00:19:19.201 --> 00:19:23.162 The lengthening spring days filter light to creatures 00:19:23.205 --> 00:19:27.122 living above and below the waves. 00:19:28.732 --> 00:19:31.518 Offshore, the increase in sunlight 00:19:31.561 --> 00:19:34.173 allows phytoplankton to bloom. 00:19:39.047 --> 00:19:42.659 These microscopic plants use chlorophyll 00:19:42.703 --> 00:19:46.315 to turn strengthening sunrays into food. 00:19:52.930 --> 00:19:56.325 And they are the primary source of nourishment 00:19:56.369 --> 00:19:58.545 for the entire ocean. 00:20:02.070 --> 00:20:05.769 Supporting its smallest critters 00:20:05.813 --> 00:20:09.033 and its most graceful giants. 00:20:14.735 --> 00:20:17.259 It's November in the Knysna Lagoon, 00:20:17.303 --> 00:20:22.395 and the increased sunlight raises ocean temperatures -- 00:20:22.438 --> 00:20:27.574 enough to trigger one of spring's most miraculous events. 00:20:40.674 --> 00:20:43.242 Hidden in these sheltered waters, 00:20:43.285 --> 00:20:46.245 the most endangered seahorse in the world, 00:20:46.288 --> 00:20:48.595 the Knysna seahorse, 00:20:48.638 --> 00:20:50.901 is about to give birth. 00:21:06.177 --> 00:21:10.921 In this species, it's the males who carry the responsibility. 00:21:20.975 --> 00:21:24.283 This father is heavily pregnant. 00:21:29.505 --> 00:21:33.683 Three weeks ago, the female laid her eggs in his pouch, 00:21:33.727 --> 00:21:37.470 along with new hope for the species. 00:21:40.690 --> 00:21:42.779 He's stored them since then. 00:21:48.219 --> 00:21:51.962 Now it's time to give birth. 00:22:06.107 --> 00:22:08.370 After a series of contractions, 00:22:08.414 --> 00:22:14.158 a perfectly formed tiny miracle begins to emerge. 00:22:45.276 --> 00:22:50.412 The new arrival is soon joined by over 30 siblings, 00:22:50.456 --> 00:22:52.283 each one crucial 00:22:52.327 --> 00:22:55.722 for repopulating this endangered species. 00:23:00.596 --> 00:23:02.250 Around half an inch long, 00:23:02.293 --> 00:23:07.734 the tiny babies use their tails to cling to their new home. 00:23:07.777 --> 00:23:11.085 Their father's job is done. 00:23:11.128 --> 00:23:16.090 The newborn seahorses must now fend for themselves. 00:23:17.787 --> 00:23:19.528 It's a vulnerable time, 00:23:19.572 --> 00:23:22.575 but each one that survives brings hope, 00:23:22.618 --> 00:23:25.882 securing a future for the Knysna seahorse 00:23:25.926 --> 00:23:28.102 in Africa's waters. 00:23:31.148 --> 00:23:34.282 It's mid-November, and at the gannet colony, 00:23:34.325 --> 00:23:38.547 those who arrived early already have chicks to feed. 00:23:38.591 --> 00:23:41.550 Other parents wait for their eggs to hatch. 00:23:45.511 --> 00:23:49.471 Breeding pairs cover every inch of available ground 00:23:49.515 --> 00:23:52.561 as they guard their nests 00:23:52.605 --> 00:23:55.738 through day 00:23:55.782 --> 00:23:57.784 and night. 00:24:48.574 --> 00:24:53.404 A female shakes the dust and heat from her feathers. 00:24:53.448 --> 00:24:56.016 She and her partner have tenderly been brooding 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.845 their precious egg for six weeks. 00:25:02.718 --> 00:25:04.415 This morning, it's cooler, 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:06.679 so she uses the warmth of her feet 00:25:06.722 --> 00:25:10.204 to incubate their egg in its final stages. 00:25:17.951 --> 00:25:21.650 Their dedication is about to pay off. 00:25:26.394 --> 00:25:33.575 The chick emerges into the world helpless, *, and blind. 00:25:37.884 --> 00:25:39.755 As temperatures begin to rise, 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:42.889 the mother shades the chick from the spring sun 00:25:42.932 --> 00:25:45.195 while the father keeps watch. 00:25:59.253 --> 00:26:01.298 In the two months they've been together, 00:26:01.342 --> 00:26:06.347 the close-knit pair share an understanding to work as one. 00:26:08.915 --> 00:26:10.612 For the first 72 hours, 00:26:10.656 --> 00:26:15.225 their only job is to protect their hatchling 00:26:15.269 --> 00:26:18.664 and keep her warm during the cooler nights. 00:26:21.754 --> 00:26:24.060 She won't feed at all. 00:26:46.213 --> 00:26:50.609 Three days after hatching, the chick is ravenous. 00:26:55.048 --> 00:26:57.093 During the first month of her life, 00:26:57.137 --> 00:26:59.443 she'll only eat anchovies. 00:26:59.487 --> 00:27:03.317 Enormous shoals of them gather just offshore. 00:27:04.884 --> 00:27:08.322 It's the male's turn to take a parenting shift 00:27:08.365 --> 00:27:10.977 while the female heads out to hunt. 00:27:13.719 --> 00:27:16.809 She makes her way to the edge of the colony 00:27:18.854 --> 00:27:21.509 in order to stretch her wings. 00:27:30.387 --> 00:27:33.347 Her window of opportunity is narrow. 00:27:37.568 --> 00:27:40.702 She needs to bring home a meal for their hatchlings soon, 00:27:40.746 --> 00:27:43.357 or the chick will starve to death. 00:27:47.448 --> 00:27:50.364 Other parents gather on the edge of the colony. 00:27:59.547 --> 00:28:02.202 All have hungry mouths to feed. 00:28:09.644 --> 00:28:12.081 Over the coming weeks, the parents will take it 00:28:12.125 --> 00:28:14.388 in turns to hunt numerous times a day 00:28:14.431 --> 00:28:17.521 in order to satisfy their chick's hunger. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:29.577 At sea, the mother is searching for fish. 00:28:32.275 --> 00:28:35.888 She soon spots a churning bait ball offshore. 00:28:39.065 --> 00:28:41.371 It's a feeding frenzy. 00:28:50.641 --> 00:28:52.600 The gannets dive from above, 00:28:52.643 --> 00:28:55.864 and hundreds of sharks attack from below. 00:29:07.093 --> 00:29:10.226 The anchovies have no chance of escape. 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:21.803 Each bird grabs as much as they can stomach. 00:29:28.636 --> 00:29:30.072 In just a few minutes, 00:29:30.116 --> 00:29:32.640 there is a little left of the shoal. 00:29:36.296 --> 00:29:40.126 Tuna arrive to finish off the remainders. 00:29:53.574 --> 00:29:56.969 The hunt has not been without its casualties. 00:29:59.841 --> 00:30:03.149 This gannet's chick will go hungry. 00:30:12.593 --> 00:30:16.684 But it's been a success for the new mother. 00:30:18.033 --> 00:30:21.341 The hungry chick taps her mother's beak -- 00:30:21.384 --> 00:30:24.083 a signal to give up the fish. 00:30:32.743 --> 00:30:37.531 She regurgitates the meal from her stomach to feed her chick. 00:30:40.882 --> 00:30:43.667 It'll take two or three feeding bouts 00:30:43.711 --> 00:30:47.715 to transfer the food she's brought back to the nest. 00:30:50.631 --> 00:30:53.416 The parents will need to feed their chick daily 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:57.420 for the next three months if it's to survive. 00:30:57.464 --> 00:31:01.511 It's a daunting task for first-time parents, 00:31:01.555 --> 00:31:05.037 and many on the island will fail. 00:31:11.043 --> 00:31:12.566 In late November, 00:31:12.609 --> 00:31:16.700 the cape fur seals are nearing independence. 00:31:16.744 --> 00:31:19.355 The pup has been feeding on his mother's rich milk 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:22.402 for eight weeks now. 00:31:22.445 --> 00:31:25.579 For the first month, he stayed on the beach. 00:31:27.102 --> 00:31:31.411 But seals aren't born for a life on land. 00:31:37.634 --> 00:31:39.593 After finishing his morning milk, 00:31:39.636 --> 00:31:42.901 he makes his way down to the nursery pool. 00:31:45.294 --> 00:31:47.601 Time for a swimming lesson. 00:32:03.965 --> 00:32:06.794 He's quick to realize how fun it is. 00:32:11.668 --> 00:32:13.757 Sheltered from the ocean outside, 00:32:13.801 --> 00:32:16.978 the young pup safely plays with the others. 00:32:27.641 --> 00:32:30.818 He's destined for a life in the open ocean, 00:32:30.861 --> 00:32:35.127 and he has a month left of spring to master the art. 00:32:37.868 --> 00:32:41.481 Then he'll be expected to join his parents at sea. 00:32:52.057 --> 00:32:55.277 Spring is a time of carefree play. 00:32:55.321 --> 00:32:56.713 And throughout Africa, 00:32:56.757 --> 00:33:00.674 young animals are busy exploring their homes. 00:33:02.502 --> 00:33:05.505 It's a chance to learn and discover. 00:33:23.044 --> 00:33:28.223 Mid-morning in the Jozani Forest on Zanzibar Island. 00:33:28.267 --> 00:33:32.140 These Colobus monkey babies are eight weeks old. 00:33:43.108 --> 00:33:44.500 It's early December, 00:33:44.544 --> 00:33:47.547 and they are busy exploring their treetop home. 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.735 High in the canopy, 00:34:01.778 --> 00:34:05.521 older members of their troupe swing from tree to tree, 00:34:05.565 --> 00:34:08.176 using the branches as springboards. 00:34:18.926 --> 00:34:21.885 The two brothers stay low down for now... 00:34:33.375 --> 00:34:37.075 ...making it less far to fall when they lose their grip. 00:34:41.035 --> 00:34:43.907 And they are within easy reach of Mum's tail 00:34:43.951 --> 00:34:46.040 for a quick climb back up. 00:35:02.622 --> 00:35:04.928 The youngsters are distracted, 00:35:04.972 --> 00:35:08.932 unaware as danger approaches. 00:35:08.976 --> 00:35:14.242 A green mamba blends seamlessly into the trees. 00:35:14.286 --> 00:35:16.984 One bite would be fatal. 00:35:20.030 --> 00:35:22.337 Luckily, their mother spots the danger. 00:35:24.034 --> 00:35:28.126 She uses a special alarm call to alert the group to the mamba. 00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:38.266 A Colobus monkey's eyes are further apart 00:35:38.310 --> 00:35:40.138 than most other monkeys... 00:35:46.187 --> 00:35:50.452 ...giving them better depth perception, 00:35:50.496 --> 00:35:53.151 making snakes easier to spot. 00:35:56.371 --> 00:36:00.854 It's his mother's responsibility to show him where threats are 00:36:00.897 --> 00:36:02.986 and how to deal with them. 00:36:11.081 --> 00:36:14.998 His home is bursting with life to investigate. 00:36:37.934 --> 00:36:41.547 While some forest residents are threatening, 00:36:41.590 --> 00:36:44.202 many are harmless. 00:36:57.127 --> 00:37:01.741 He starts to recognize friend from foe on his travels. 00:37:23.937 --> 00:37:26.809 His education is only just beginning. 00:37:26.853 --> 00:37:29.943 There's still so much to discover. 00:37:32.989 --> 00:37:36.776 For many, independence is fast approaching. 00:37:40.867 --> 00:37:43.652 It'll soon be time to fly the nest 00:37:43.696 --> 00:37:47.308 and tackle the world alone. 00:37:47.352 --> 00:37:51.399 By the time the summer solstice arrives in late December, 00:37:51.443 --> 00:37:52.792 most of the new arrivals 00:37:52.835 --> 00:37:55.011 will need to be able to feed themselves, 00:37:55.055 --> 00:38:00.408 evade danger, and master their environments. 00:38:05.892 --> 00:38:08.808 Each species has a different strategy 00:38:08.851 --> 00:38:12.202 for gaining independence. 00:38:12.246 --> 00:38:15.989 It's December, and as spring ramps into summer, 00:38:16.032 --> 00:38:18.296 temperatures begin to soar. 00:38:23.475 --> 00:38:26.478 It's midday in South Africa's Sandveld Desert 00:38:26.521 --> 00:38:29.176 and over 85 degrees. 00:38:35.008 --> 00:38:37.489 The perfect conditions for a mole snake 00:38:37.532 --> 00:38:39.969 to bring her young into the world. 00:38:44.060 --> 00:38:47.455 This female has just given birth to live young. 00:38:56.682 --> 00:38:58.161 They are cold-blooded, 00:38:58.205 --> 00:39:00.860 which means mole snakes need warmth from the sun 00:39:00.903 --> 00:39:03.863 to heat their bodies before they can move. 00:39:08.520 --> 00:39:10.348 They remain tangled in a ball 00:39:10.391 --> 00:39:14.047 as they wait for the sun's rays to take effect. 00:39:20.140 --> 00:39:23.709 The long, hot days give them a better chance of survival 00:39:23.752 --> 00:39:26.494 than the early, milder weeks of the season. 00:39:33.414 --> 00:39:35.068 The young mole snakes, 00:39:35.111 --> 00:39:36.939 unlike many in the animal kingdom, 00:39:36.983 --> 00:39:39.072 are born independent. 00:39:39.115 --> 00:39:41.683 From the moment they appear, they are equipped 00:39:41.727 --> 00:39:45.513 with all they need to thrive in the African desert. 00:39:52.085 --> 00:39:57.003 After heating up, they strike out in separate directions. 00:39:59.309 --> 00:40:02.530 Unlikely to see each other again. 00:40:10.625 --> 00:40:15.500 While their mother heads off to hunt for a well-earned meal. 00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:43.789 The season is coming to an end, 00:40:43.832 --> 00:40:46.661 and spring has one final surprise 00:40:46.705 --> 00:40:48.968 before giving way to summer. 00:41:12.557 --> 00:41:15.168 A storm surge, more characteristic 00:41:15.211 --> 00:41:18.519 of a winter's tempest than spring's embrace, 00:41:18.563 --> 00:41:21.304 hammers the west coast of Namibia. 00:41:36.755 --> 00:41:39.192 The nursery is no longer safe. 00:41:39.235 --> 00:41:42.238 Exposed, unprepared, and ill-equipped 00:41:42.282 --> 00:41:44.197 for these dangerous conditions, 00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:47.200 the Cape fur seal pups are trapped. 00:41:49.376 --> 00:41:51.987 For those that are still learning to swim, 00:41:52.031 --> 00:41:54.555 the storm spells disaster. 00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:03.564 They crowd onto tiny ledges 00:42:03.608 --> 00:42:06.524 in an attempt to escape the pounding surf. 00:42:13.095 --> 00:42:17.230 But the waves repeatedly sweep them back into the water. 00:42:31.461 --> 00:42:34.247 Desperately, they scramble to find a safe space 00:42:34.290 --> 00:42:36.205 on the treacherous rocks. 00:42:55.660 --> 00:42:59.272 The waves eventually calm. 00:42:59.315 --> 00:43:03.755 And exhausted, the pups huddle together for comfort. 00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:14.287 Other pups pay the ultimate price. 00:43:17.986 --> 00:43:20.249 But nothing goes to waste. 00:43:20.293 --> 00:43:25.298 The hyenas and jackals take full advantage of the easy meal. 00:43:35.525 --> 00:43:38.137 The seal youngsters that survived the ordeal 00:43:38.180 --> 00:43:41.401 move one step closer to adulthood. 00:43:53.369 --> 00:43:55.328 It's almost summer. 00:43:55.371 --> 00:43:56.982 All over the continent, 00:43:57.025 --> 00:44:01.334 young animals are gearing up for independence. 00:44:13.346 --> 00:44:16.131 The young gannet is fully grown. 00:44:22.703 --> 00:44:26.533 She's stronger and ready for independence. 00:44:28.883 --> 00:44:33.322 Apart from one crucial lesson -- 00:44:33.366 --> 00:44:35.673 learning to fly. 00:44:37.283 --> 00:44:39.981 Her mother gives her a final preen 00:44:40.025 --> 00:44:43.332 to help waterproof her feathers. 00:44:43.376 --> 00:44:44.725 It's been a tough spring, 00:44:44.769 --> 00:44:49.164 but they've raised their first-ever chick. 00:44:49.208 --> 00:44:52.211 Soon, they'll leave the island to feed at sea. 00:44:52.254 --> 00:44:53.734 In a year's time, 00:44:53.778 --> 00:44:56.302 they'll rendezvous to raise another chick. 00:45:04.614 --> 00:45:07.269 The fledgling prepares to fly. 00:45:07.313 --> 00:45:11.056 If she fails, she'll be stranded on this island 00:45:11.099 --> 00:45:13.232 and will face starvation. 00:45:25.070 --> 00:45:27.899 She starts by copying the other gannets. 00:45:36.951 --> 00:45:39.432 She's flapping more than flying. 00:46:01.584 --> 00:46:05.414 Determined, practice makes perfect. 00:46:17.949 --> 00:46:20.429 One or two brave steps... 00:46:25.043 --> 00:46:29.264 ...and she takes to the sky. 00:46:29.308 --> 00:46:32.093 She's ready. 00:46:32.137 --> 00:46:34.792 Her parents' job is complete. 00:46:36.576 --> 00:46:39.361 Over the course of one African spring, 00:46:39.405 --> 00:46:41.146 they've nursed their first chick 00:46:41.189 --> 00:46:43.801 through her journey to independence. 00:46:43.844 --> 00:46:46.542 And they've cemented the bond that will help them 00:46:46.586 --> 00:46:50.285 raise many more chicks in the years to come. 00:46:59.686 --> 00:47:03.995 The young seal has a similar challenge. 00:47:04.038 --> 00:47:05.692 After three months on land, 00:47:05.735 --> 00:47:08.347 it's time for him to join his parents 00:47:08.390 --> 00:47:12.655 as they head into the open ocean to feed. 00:47:12.699 --> 00:47:15.354 The storm has shaken the colony. 00:47:19.010 --> 00:47:23.884 But today is calmer, and he's eager to explore. 00:47:27.453 --> 00:47:31.892 He launches in alongside his mother. 00:47:31.936 --> 00:47:35.243 She takes him through the channels where he'll hunt, 00:47:35.287 --> 00:47:39.030 find a mate of his own, and spend his life, 00:47:40.901 --> 00:47:44.035 his body perfectly evolved for survival 00:47:44.078 --> 00:47:46.124 in these volatile waters. 00:47:49.475 --> 00:47:50.998 Over the coming year, 00:47:51.042 --> 00:47:54.872 the young pup will spend more and more time in the water, 00:47:58.571 --> 00:48:01.922 eventually venturing into the open ocean for days 00:48:01.966 --> 00:48:07.275 at a time to hunt with other members of the colony. 00:48:07.319 --> 00:48:10.539 But today is all about play. 00:48:10.583 --> 00:48:14.065 He and the other pups thrive in their new environment. 00:48:57.717 --> 00:48:59.980 As spring draws to a close, 00:49:00.024 --> 00:49:04.289 Africa's new arrivals have tasted independence. 00:49:09.729 --> 00:49:14.081 The season has created a lush classroom for young animals 00:49:14.125 --> 00:49:17.824 to learn about danger and survival. 00:49:27.051 --> 00:49:30.619 For those that graduate, it's now time to discover 00:49:30.663 --> 00:49:35.015 the world beyond and all of its wonders. 00:49:41.761 --> 00:49:45.460 Soon, summer will scorch the continent, 00:49:45.504 --> 00:49:47.985 drying out the lakes and rivers 00:49:48.028 --> 00:49:52.076 to bring predator and prey closer together. 00:49:53.860 --> 00:49:58.169 New experiences and tough challenges lie ahead, 00:49:58.212 --> 00:50:01.694 ushered in by Africa's wild year.