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♪♪

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Narrator: Australia's largest
land predator...

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The dingo.

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This "wolf down under"

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is one of an extraordinary
wild family.

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[ Growls ]

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The Canids.

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One family...

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37 different faces.

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♪♪

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From the smallest...

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♪♪

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To the tallest.

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♪♪

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The stealthy...

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And the formidable.

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These are "Dogs in the Wild."

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[ Howling ]

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♪♪

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Narrator:
Wild dogs have many voices,

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and one of the loudest
can be heard

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across the northern hemisphere,

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from the Himalayas...

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[ Howling ]
...all the way to the Arctic.

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[ Howling continues ]

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The wolf.

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The grey wolf
and its 15 subspecies,

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including the Himalayan wolf,

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Mexican wolf,

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and Eurasian wolf --

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are also the world's
biggest wild dogs.

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And one of the most
formidable subspecies

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is the hardiest of all.

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The Arctic wolf.

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♪♪

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Spending its entire life
north of the tree line

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on the frozen Arctic tundra,

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the arctic wolf must be
a jack of all trades to survive.

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Males can weigh up to
130 pounds.

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Wrapped in two layers of fur --

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soft inner hair for insulation,

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and longer outer hair
for snow-proofing --

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wolves can endure intense cold.

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They can also endure hunger:

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a wolf can fast
for over two weeks.

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♪♪

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Young wolves go searching
for mates,

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but if they don't find one,

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they soon return
to the safety of their packs.

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[ Howling ]

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♪♪

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On the open tundra,

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the howl from another wolf
can travel ten miles.

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Wolves can cover three times
that in a day.

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An old Russian proverb says,

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"The wolf is kept fed
by its feet."

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[ Wolves howling ]

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By following the howling,

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it soon re-joins its pack.

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♪♪

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Wolves must cooperate
to survive,

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so pack-living Canids
keep close eyes on each other.

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The shape and markings
of the wolf's face

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makes its eyes more prominent.

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And with larger brains
than domestic dogs,

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they can read the tiniest cues
from their pack members' faces.

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Along with plenty of
eye contact,

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there's lots of talk.

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[ Wolves howling ]

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Wolves howl together
to strengthen the bonds

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within the pack.

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[ Howling ]

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By communicating so effectively,

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they can work together
to take on prey

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nearly 20 times their size.

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A single wolf is
an able predator;

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as a pack of seven or more,

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they are truly formidable.

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[ Wind howling ]

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[ Animals squawking ]

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Wild dogs grow stronger
when they work together --

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especially in the rich diverse
forests of Southern India.

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Dawn is always
a noisy time of day.

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[ Animals calling ]

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♪♪

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It's a cacophony of sound.

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[ Animals calling ]

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But part of the chorus
comes from

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one of the most talkative
wild dogs of all.

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[ Grunting ]

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The dhole.

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[ Chittering ]

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Dholes live in large packs.

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The breeding male and female
are in charge,

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overseeing siblings,
young from previous years

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and new pups.

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The extended family
can be 15 strong...

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[ Yelping, squawking ]

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And they chatter constantly.

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[ Yelping ]

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But the forest is noisy.

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To make sure they're heard,

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the dhole use unique
high-pitched calls,

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which break through
the background noise.

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[ Dholes calling ]

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Dholes have
11 distinctive calls,

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used for different situations.

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At play,
they whine and whimper.

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But their talk's not
just for fun.

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Dholes are only the size
of a border collie

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and share this forest
with much larger,

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more intimidating creatures.

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[ Dholes yelping ]

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The pack has discovered
a scent-marked tree.

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Their calls switch from whines
to warning growls,

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chatterings and screams.

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It could be the scent
of an elephant.

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A mother with young can be
particularly hostile.

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Or a more serious threat:

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leopards and tigers
stalk these lands --

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both can kill the smaller dhole.

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♪♪

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The family talks to each other
as they scout the area.

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[ Yelping ]

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When the adults declare
it's safe,

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the youngsters
resume their playful noises.

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But one older sibling
sits apart,

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acting as sentinel,

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ready to sound the alarm
in case of danger.

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With the coast clear, the adults
scan the territory for food.

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The forest is full of deer.

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They can be twice as tall
and many times heavier

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than a single dhole.

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But if they work as a team,
the pack can take them down.

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And the dholes can use
the dense forest

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to turn the odds in their favor.

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A male chital with large antlers

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is more likely
to get tangled in the thickets.

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The dholes edge closer,

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talking to each other
to co-ordinate their attack.

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But their high frequency calls
don't travel far.

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The more the dholes disperse,

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the more they'll struggle
to hear each other.

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For a moment
the pack's confused.

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But these chatty canids have
saved their best talk for last.

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[ Sharp whistle ]

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The whistle.

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[ Whistling ]

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A low frequency call
that carries farther

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and is easier to hear through
the thick forest foliage.

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With up to ten of them
surrounding the deer,

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the whistling hunters
know exactly

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where every pack-member is,

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even when they can't
see each another.

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At last, they're all in place.

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♪♪

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[ Bark ]

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♪♪

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Gathered together, the dholes
are at their most vulnerable.

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A tiger or leopard could steal
their prey,

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so the pack must eat fast.

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With teeth like razors,

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dholes can consume a quarter of
their own body weight

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in just 10 minutes.

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Once he's had his share,

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the young sentinel
is back on duty,

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listening out for trouble.

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Finally the talkative dholes
can rest easy.

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♪♪

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♪♪

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At the top of the world,

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over 16,000 feet
above sea level...

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the rugged peaks
of the Himalayas

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meet the stark Tibetan plateau.

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♪♪

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With biting winds
and lurching temperatures,

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the weather can turn
in an instant.

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But one extraordinary wild dog

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is built for this
inhospitable landscape.

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The world's
highest dwelling fox --

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a shape-shifter
who can hide in plain sight.

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The Tibetan fox.

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♪♪

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The fox family evolved
before their wolf cousins.

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They're smaller, with longer
snouts and fluffier tails.

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This Tibetan fox lives
exclusively on these harsh,

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high-altitude plateaus.

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♪♪

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Too small to hunt large animals,

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she targets smaller prey...

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The pika.

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These hardy relatives
of the rabbit

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make up 95% of her diet.

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But highly alert to danger,

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they're no easy catch.

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♪♪

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She must be stealthy.

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There's no cover --

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the conditions are too harsh
for trees to grow.

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But her angular, oversized head

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may give her the edge.

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She blends in perfectly
with the landscape,

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peering unnoticed over rocks.

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♪♪

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Using the natural contours
as cover,

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she edges closer.

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If the pika spots her,

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it will raise the alarm.

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♪♪

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There can be dozens of pika
living underground.

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The fox must be patient.

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♪♪

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00:15:00,366 --> 00:15:17,833
♪♪

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00:15:17,833 --> 00:15:21,000
One pika a day is enough
to feed her...

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00:15:25,433 --> 00:15:29,533
But recent events have increased
the pressure.

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♪♪

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[ Kits whining ]

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Three kits,
barely two months old.

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♪♪

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Like all youngsters,
they're very demanding.

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While nursing,
their mother must eat more

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to support her family.

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The kits will rely on her
for several months

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as they progress from milk
to solid food.

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It's a relentless schedule...

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But help is at hand.

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This is the kits' father.

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Tibetan foxes pair up
for the breeding season,

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00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:42,900
and the male shares the work
of parenthood --

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watching over the pups
and hunting.

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By digging and listening
at pika burrows...

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Tibetan foxes drive their prey
into the best place to strike.

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Although he's so focused
on his work,

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00:17:03,766 --> 00:17:05,733
he's missed a prime opportunity.

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00:17:05,733 --> 00:17:11,166
♪♪

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00:17:11,166 --> 00:17:14,000
And he may have bitten off
more than he can chew.

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♪♪

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00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:25,266
But the Tibetan fox's remarkable
face makes all the difference.

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Their long, narrow snouts
can probe deep down

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into the burrows.

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He returns with provisions.

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Vital supplies
to share with his mate.

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♪♪

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00:17:54,200 --> 00:18:02,500
♪♪

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00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:04,766
The parents must both hunt often

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00:18:04,766 --> 00:18:07,266
to support
their growing family.

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00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:29,133
♪♪

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00:18:29,133 --> 00:18:31,566
Thanks to such
dedicated parents,

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these kits have the best chance
of survival.

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Striking looks...

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00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:45,866
and shrewd teamwork:

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00:18:45,866 --> 00:18:50,800
the perfect combination
for life on top of the world.

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00:18:54,533 --> 00:18:57,933
And they're not the only fox
with a striking feature.

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Stretching thousands of square
miles across Southern Africa,

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00:19:09,133 --> 00:19:11,733
the remnants
of a vast ancient lake

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have baked dry over millennia.

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The salty, clay crust
that remains forms

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the imposing Makgadikgadi Pan.

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Brutal and exposed,
there's nowhere to hide.

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Survival out here demands,
being highly alert at all times.

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00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,600
And one resident wild dog...

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00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,566
is all ears.

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00:19:40,566 --> 00:19:42,500
The bat-eared fox.

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00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,066
These ears are serious
hearing hardware...

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00:19:51,666 --> 00:19:56,066
Some five inches high
and larger than their own faces.

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From the safety of their den,

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they monitor their surroundings.

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00:20:05,333 --> 00:20:08,033
Bat-eared foxes live in pairs.

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00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:14,666
This isn't just for breeding,
it's also for security.

270
00:20:16,833 --> 00:20:19,600
Two pairs of ears
are better than one.

271
00:20:21,266 --> 00:20:22,966
Listening out for danger,

272
00:20:22,966 --> 00:20:26,633
the batties decide the coast
is clear.

273
00:20:26,633 --> 00:20:29,100
Now, to head out on the hunt.

274
00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:32,300
♪♪

275
00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:38,133
Bat-eared foxes
are insectivores --

276
00:20:38,133 --> 00:20:40,200
but in the harsh midday sun,

277
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,866
most insects have
vanished underground.

278
00:20:43,866 --> 00:20:46,800
So they use their supersized
ears to tune in

279
00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,900
on the slightest sounds.

280
00:20:54,233 --> 00:20:56,900
The foxes are not the only ones
on the hunt.

281
00:20:56,900 --> 00:21:00,500
[ Animals calling ]

282
00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:02,400
They share the pan
with a larger,

283
00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,666
more intimidating cousin
of the wolf:

284
00:21:05,666 --> 00:21:08,766
the black-backed jackal.

285
00:21:08,766 --> 00:21:10,333
Twice their size...

286
00:21:10,333 --> 00:21:13,266
with teeth that can crunch
through bone...

287
00:21:13,266 --> 00:21:15,366
jackals are
their biggest threat.

288
00:21:20,166 --> 00:21:23,566
Jackals hunt in
the same territory

289
00:21:23,566 --> 00:21:26,733
and will even
kill bat-eared foxes.

290
00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:34,133
For now the jackals have
other things on their minds:

291
00:21:34,133 --> 00:21:37,133
a springbok.

292
00:21:37,133 --> 00:21:39,500
Working together,
they torment their prey

293
00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:41,900
until it collapses
through exhaustion.

294
00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:46,600
♪♪

295
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,233
The bat-eared foxes know
that more jackals

296
00:21:49,233 --> 00:21:52,566
will soon be attracted.

297
00:21:52,566 --> 00:21:55,266
They'd better return
to the safety of their den.

298
00:21:55,266 --> 00:22:09,733
♪♪

299
00:22:09,733 --> 00:22:14,666
With nightfall -- and well-fed
jackals dispersed --

300
00:22:14,666 --> 00:22:16,466
the batties head out again.

301
00:22:16,466 --> 00:22:28,666
♪♪

302
00:22:28,666 --> 00:22:31,166
Now, to search for insects
in the dark.

303
00:22:31,166 --> 00:22:41,033
♪♪

304
00:22:41,033 --> 00:22:44,166
And they're not alone.

305
00:22:44,166 --> 00:22:46,900
Rather than defending
their hunting field,

306
00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:50,833
bat-eared foxes
let their territories overlap.

307
00:22:50,833 --> 00:22:52,933
Higher numbers increase
their chances

308
00:22:52,933 --> 00:22:55,133
against marauding jackals.

309
00:22:57,900 --> 00:23:01,733
By carefully turning their heads
and ears side to side,

310
00:23:01,733 --> 00:23:05,366
the foxes pinpoint
the tiniest rustlings below.

311
00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:16,133
A treasure trove
is soon discovered.

312
00:23:16,133 --> 00:23:18,166
Northern harvester termites

313
00:23:18,166 --> 00:23:21,333
construct elaborate tunnels
underground,

314
00:23:21,333 --> 00:23:23,433
emerging through
small vent holes

315
00:23:23,433 --> 00:23:26,900
to forage for grass.

316
00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:29,000
But the foxes' incredible ears

317
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,400
can pinpoint these
tell-tale rustlings.

318
00:23:34,566 --> 00:23:37,133
A single bat-eared fox
can consume

319
00:23:37,133 --> 00:23:40,700
over one million
termites each year.

320
00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:43,033
♪♪

321
00:23:43,033 --> 00:23:45,800
Fortunately,
there's enough to go around:

322
00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,900
just over half a square mile
can contain

323
00:23:48,900 --> 00:23:51,866
over 300 termite nests.

324
00:23:51,866 --> 00:23:59,533
♪♪

325
00:23:59,533 --> 00:24:02,500
A young fox is out
foraging alone.

326
00:24:05,366 --> 00:24:10,100
A fox without its mate
is vulnerable.

327
00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:13,666
♪♪

328
00:24:13,666 --> 00:24:16,600
And the black-backed jackals
are in the neighborhood again.

329
00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,033
[ Jackals barking ]

330
00:24:19,033 --> 00:24:26,200
♪♪

331
00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,966
The smaller fox raises its tail
to look as large as possible.

332
00:24:30,966 --> 00:24:49,333
♪♪

333
00:24:49,333 --> 00:24:53,366
This threatening pose works
for the moment.

334
00:24:53,366 --> 00:24:55,966
She might not be so lucky
next time.

335
00:24:55,966 --> 00:25:02,000
♪♪

336
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,600
A lone bat-eared fox
won't be left alone for long.

337
00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:12,866
♪♪

338
00:25:12,866 --> 00:25:16,066
Threat posture at the ready...

339
00:25:16,066 --> 00:25:18,300
but it's another fox!

340
00:25:22,666 --> 00:25:25,166
Its likely been trailing her
for some time.

341
00:25:25,166 --> 00:25:31,300
♪♪

342
00:25:31,300 --> 00:25:34,333
A further benefit of
overlapping territories

343
00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:36,500
is the ability to find a mate.

344
00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:43,166
♪♪

345
00:25:43,166 --> 00:25:45,433
Now that they've found
each other,

346
00:25:45,433 --> 00:25:47,900
these two foxes
will stay together.

347
00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:54,766
♪♪

348
00:25:54,766 --> 00:25:58,800
And together, bat-eared foxes
have a better chance

349
00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,733
of facing
whatever comes their way.

350
00:26:01,733 --> 00:26:12,866
♪♪

351
00:26:12,866 --> 00:26:17,800
Wild dogs live on nearly
every continent on the planet.

352
00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,500
But one continent --
South America --

353
00:26:20,500 --> 00:26:22,100
is home to 10 species

354
00:26:22,100 --> 00:26:23,966
that have evolved independently

355
00:26:23,966 --> 00:26:27,300
from their fox and wolf cousins.

356
00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:31,266
These unique canids are among
the family's most diverse,

357
00:26:31,266 --> 00:26:33,600
thanks to their broad diet
and ability

358
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,800
to adapt to the continent's
many habitats.

359
00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,133
This is the bush dog,

360
00:26:40,133 --> 00:26:42,733
a pack-living dog that has
webbed feet

361
00:26:42,733 --> 00:26:47,266
to hunt prey in the flooded
forests of the Amazon.

362
00:26:47,266 --> 00:26:50,666
On the grasslands,
the hoary fox's small teeth

363
00:26:50,666 --> 00:26:54,700
and short muzzle are
perfect for catching insects.

364
00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:01,166
Under 20 inches long,
the tiny Darwin's fox only needs

365
00:27:01,166 --> 00:27:04,366
a small forest
territory to sustain it.

366
00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:10,266
While up in the peaks
of the Andes

367
00:27:10,266 --> 00:27:14,866
the wolf-like culpeo is built
to endure the harsh terrain.

368
00:27:14,866 --> 00:27:19,866
♪♪

369
00:27:19,866 --> 00:27:22,866
South America is also home
to possibly

370
00:27:22,866 --> 00:27:26,166
the wild dog family's
most unusual cousin.

371
00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:30,900
The maned wolf.

372
00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:35,633
♪♪

373
00:27:35,633 --> 00:27:38,733
Standing over three feet tall
at the shoulders,

374
00:27:38,733 --> 00:27:40,200
this gangly creature

375
00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,000
is the tallest wild dog
on the planet.

376
00:27:46,633 --> 00:27:49,700
Despite looking like a fox
on stilts,

377
00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:54,300
they are genetically
neither fox nor wolf.

378
00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:55,866
They are the only remaining
member

379
00:27:55,866 --> 00:28:00,000
of a long extinct line
of South American canids.

380
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:07,100
♪♪

381
00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:09,800
Their distinctive manes
may have evolved

382
00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,133
as a warning
to other larger rivals.

383
00:28:15,766 --> 00:28:17,866
Isolated in this landscape,

384
00:28:17,866 --> 00:28:22,866
the maned wolf helps unlock
the savanna's potential for life

385
00:28:22,866 --> 00:28:25,733
in their own
very particular way.

386
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,600
With a territory of up
to 50 square miles...

387
00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,966
long legs allow them to glide
across the savanna

388
00:28:37,966 --> 00:28:40,333
on the search for food.

389
00:28:40,333 --> 00:28:42,766
And true to their
unusual nature,

390
00:28:42,766 --> 00:28:46,833
this is no ordinary wolf diet.

391
00:28:46,833 --> 00:28:49,033
Rather than just eating meat,

392
00:28:49,033 --> 00:28:52,300
the maned wolf has a penchant
for the lobeira.

393
00:28:54,433 --> 00:28:56,600
This large, tomato-like fruit

394
00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,533
thrives on the savanna.

395
00:29:01,766 --> 00:29:05,300
They enjoy lobeira so much,
it's aptly named

396
00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:07,100
"fruit of the wolf."

397
00:29:09,566 --> 00:29:12,266
Some believe it's medicinal

398
00:29:12,266 --> 00:29:17,033
and protects them
from deadly kidney parasites.

399
00:29:17,033 --> 00:29:19,666
Fifty percent of their diet
is fruit --

400
00:29:19,666 --> 00:29:21,633
more than any other canid.

401
00:29:21,633 --> 00:29:27,566
♪♪

402
00:29:27,566 --> 00:29:29,333
As they mark their
territory,

403
00:29:29,333 --> 00:29:32,466
maned wolves
leave droppings that contain

404
00:29:32,466 --> 00:29:35,300
hundreds of undigested seeds.

405
00:29:38,433 --> 00:29:41,033
They can disperse these seeds
dozens of miles

406
00:29:41,033 --> 00:29:42,666
from where they fell.

407
00:29:45,133 --> 00:29:49,866
For the moment, the seeds are
exposed under the baking sun,

408
00:29:49,866 --> 00:29:52,233
but they won't stay here
for long.

409
00:29:52,233 --> 00:29:56,533
♪♪

410
00:29:56,533 --> 00:29:59,833
Leafcutter ants are drawn
to bits of fruit

411
00:29:59,833 --> 00:30:01,833
that remain on the seeds.

412
00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:11,633
♪♪

413
00:30:11,633 --> 00:30:15,333
The seeds are carried back
to the ants' nest,

414
00:30:15,333 --> 00:30:18,066
stripped of fruit and discarded.

415
00:30:18,066 --> 00:30:23,366
♪♪

416
00:30:23,366 --> 00:30:26,000
But this sheltered, humid spot

417
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,100
provides the perfect
growing conditions.

418
00:30:32,566 --> 00:30:36,900
In parts of the most pristine
savanna, lobeira fruit seedlings

419
00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:42,200
can be seen growing only around
leaf cutter ants' nests --

420
00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,833
a guaranteed future larder
for the maned wolf.

421
00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:49,100
[ Barks ]

422
00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:53,833
The maned wolf:
neither fox nor wolf,

423
00:30:53,833 --> 00:30:55,733
long-legged gardener,

424
00:30:55,733 --> 00:30:58,166
and an ant's best friend.

425
00:30:58,166 --> 00:31:05,533
♪♪

426
00:31:05,533 --> 00:31:08,633
Not every wild dog
has such a well-stocked pantry

427
00:31:08,633 --> 00:31:10,266
on its doorstep.

428
00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:17,166
Others must contend with a much
harsher challenge to survive.

429
00:31:17,166 --> 00:31:24,666
♪♪

430
00:31:24,666 --> 00:31:28,933
The Sahara smothers
6% of the world's land.

431
00:31:28,933 --> 00:31:33,500
Some 3.6 million square miles --

432
00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:35,500
the size of China.

433
00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:49,000
♪♪

434
00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:51,800
Yet this vast, unforgiving place

435
00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,400
is home to the world's smallest
wild dog.

436
00:31:58,733 --> 00:32:00,900
The fennec fox.

437
00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:06,733
♪♪

438
00:32:06,733 --> 00:32:08,666
Barely more than a foot long,

439
00:32:08,666 --> 00:32:11,733
this tiny fox goes head-to-head

440
00:32:11,733 --> 00:32:13,600
with the desert every day.

441
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:19,233
The Sahara's filled
with millions

442
00:32:19,233 --> 00:32:23,733
upon millions of grains of sand,

443
00:32:23,733 --> 00:32:27,866
and every grain acts
as a radiator.

444
00:32:27,866 --> 00:32:31,466
Sand absorbs heat,
and the hotter it gets,

445
00:32:31,466 --> 00:32:33,666
the more heat it radiates.

446
00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:40,366
The temperature here often
spirals to over 100 degrees.

447
00:32:43,233 --> 00:32:45,633
In such sizzling conditions,

448
00:32:45,633 --> 00:32:48,366
the fennec's size matters.

449
00:32:48,366 --> 00:32:52,100
A small body can shed heat
faster than a large one.

450
00:32:56,533 --> 00:32:59,133
And to lose heat even faster,

451
00:32:59,133 --> 00:33:00,666
the fennec's ears act like

452
00:33:00,666 --> 00:33:04,633
sophisticated
air conditioning units.

453
00:33:04,633 --> 00:33:08,466
The network of veins cools the
blood to lower the temperature.

454
00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:14,966
Despite such capable cooling,

455
00:33:14,966 --> 00:33:18,966
not even a fennec can endure
the heat of the Saharan sun.

456
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,633
There's no shade,

457
00:33:23,633 --> 00:33:28,366
but fennecs are masters
of their environment.

458
00:33:28,366 --> 00:33:31,866
Moisture concentrates
at the foot of the dunes,

459
00:33:31,866 --> 00:33:36,800
so the sand here is firm enough
to dig a burrow.

460
00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,900
Home sweet home
for a pair of fennecs.

461
00:33:39,900 --> 00:33:45,200
♪♪

462
00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,400
They have shelter
from the worst of the heat,

463
00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,200
but they must eventually
leave the safety

464
00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:51,900
of their den to find food.

465
00:33:51,900 --> 00:33:57,666
♪♪

466
00:33:57,666 --> 00:33:59,400
And this enormous desert

467
00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,733
is a dangerous place
for a tiny wild dog.

468
00:34:04,133 --> 00:34:08,366
An unwary fennec is small enough
to be caught by feral dogs

469
00:34:08,366 --> 00:34:12,033
and even eagle-owls.

470
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:19,066
But their sand-colored coats
make them less conspicuous.

471
00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:25,000
In the fading light of dusk,
she makes a run for it.

472
00:34:27,633 --> 00:34:29,766
Zig-zagging...

473
00:34:29,766 --> 00:34:32,366
and jumping...

474
00:34:32,366 --> 00:34:36,333
She uses the dunes
to mask her location.

475
00:34:36,333 --> 00:34:39,800
The grains of sand
are constantly shifting

476
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:44,633
but the pads on her feet
are furry for maximum traction.

477
00:34:44,633 --> 00:34:47,633
Few can keep tabs
on her whereabouts.

478
00:34:47,633 --> 00:34:54,300
♪♪

479
00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:56,733
But with night falling,

480
00:34:56,733 --> 00:34:59,966
the heat-radiating sands
turn cold.

481
00:34:59,966 --> 00:35:06,133
♪♪

482
00:35:06,133 --> 00:35:08,833
Temperatures
plummet to below freezing.

483
00:35:13,166 --> 00:35:17,466
The sudden cold is potentially
worse than the heat,

484
00:35:17,466 --> 00:35:20,566
but the fennec's
inner coat is insulated.

485
00:35:24,333 --> 00:35:27,833
Set for the night,
she can search for food.

486
00:35:31,333 --> 00:35:33,666
Small bodies don't need much,

487
00:35:33,666 --> 00:35:35,266
and by being omnivorous,

488
00:35:35,266 --> 00:35:37,800
fennecs can find enough
to eat.

489
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,066
Insects, berries, roots --

490
00:35:44,066 --> 00:35:47,800
every scrap is on the menu.

491
00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,933
There may be food,
but there's no water.

492
00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:57,000
Thankfully, her kidneys
are so efficient,

493
00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,933
she's the one dog
that doesn't need to drink.

494
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:07,866
She can get all the water she
needs from the food she eats --

495
00:36:07,866 --> 00:36:09,900
even the tiniest spider.

496
00:36:12,633 --> 00:36:16,200
The fennec evolved as the desert
first appeared,

497
00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:19,866
four million years ago.

498
00:36:19,866 --> 00:36:23,600
No other canid can so completely
endure the challenges here.

499
00:36:25,566 --> 00:36:28,866
So this smallest of wild dogs
is not only built

500
00:36:28,866 --> 00:36:31,600
for this harsh desert...

501
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,000
She's the only one
to have tamed it.

502
00:36:39,833 --> 00:36:44,166
Wild dogs are no strangers
to life at the margins.

503
00:36:44,166 --> 00:36:46,966
To survive, they must adapt
to whatever challenges

504
00:36:46,966 --> 00:36:48,600
come their way.

505
00:36:52,633 --> 00:36:55,100
One of the family's
most adaptable

506
00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:56,733
lives in Australia.

507
00:36:58,733 --> 00:37:00,433
The dingo.

508
00:37:06,433 --> 00:37:09,033
The fate of one
particular family of dingoes

509
00:37:09,033 --> 00:37:12,066
on K'gari Island
in eastern Australia

510
00:37:12,066 --> 00:37:15,566
has been closely monitored.

511
00:37:15,566 --> 00:37:18,633
K'gari means "paradise"...

512
00:37:18,633 --> 00:37:24,200
74 miles of ancient forest
surrounded by sandy beaches.

513
00:37:26,566 --> 00:37:28,433
Isolated from the mainland,

514
00:37:28,433 --> 00:37:31,633
these dingoes appear
to be living the dream.

515
00:37:33,966 --> 00:37:36,200
While dingoes on the mainland
have interbred

516
00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,166
with domestic dogs,

517
00:37:38,166 --> 00:37:40,833
the more purebred
dingoes can be heavier,

518
00:37:40,833 --> 00:37:42,600
with pale sandy coats,

519
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,333
as well as white markings
on their chests,

520
00:37:45,333 --> 00:37:47,900
tail tips,
and feet,

521
00:37:47,900 --> 00:37:50,566
called socks.

522
00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:58,366
And these wild dogs
are a breed apart.

523
00:37:58,366 --> 00:38:01,066
Their wedge-shaped skulls
have longer,

524
00:38:01,066 --> 00:38:05,366
sharper canines
than domestic dogs.

525
00:38:05,366 --> 00:38:07,400
And unlike their domestic
cousins,

526
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:10,333
dingoes only breed once a year.

527
00:38:12,966 --> 00:38:17,100
These "wolves down under"
are quite the family.

528
00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:20,566
The pack has a pair
of breeding adults,

529
00:38:20,566 --> 00:38:24,166
sub-adults from
previous years,

530
00:38:24,166 --> 00:38:25,766
and juveniles.

531
00:38:25,766 --> 00:38:32,566
♪♪

532
00:38:32,566 --> 00:38:34,933
Being top of the food chain,

533
00:38:34,933 --> 00:38:38,433
they enjoy prize pickings
from the forest.

534
00:38:40,466 --> 00:38:42,600
And nothing is off the menu.

535
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:44,666
[ Howling ]

536
00:38:48,033 --> 00:38:51,400
Life may be good
for dingoes in paradise,

537
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,666
but their luck can quickly turn.

538
00:38:55,833 --> 00:39:00,566
Summer fires are a natural
part of life on K'gari.

539
00:39:00,566 --> 00:39:02,433
Many plants have adapted,

540
00:39:02,433 --> 00:39:06,866
and the clear-out will trigger
a rush of new growth.

541
00:39:06,866 --> 00:39:10,633
But with climate change causing
the forest to grow drier,

542
00:39:10,633 --> 00:39:13,800
recent fires
have become more devastating.

543
00:39:18,666 --> 00:39:21,466
Unable to rely so much
on the forest,

544
00:39:21,466 --> 00:39:24,300
the dingoes must look
elsewhere for food.

545
00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:31,166
The juveniles will soon leave
the pack to lead solitary lives

546
00:39:31,166 --> 00:39:33,866
until they find suitable mates.

547
00:39:33,866 --> 00:39:40,800
♪♪

548
00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:44,333
So they need to be strong enough
to go it alone.

549
00:39:44,333 --> 00:39:53,866
♪♪

550
00:39:53,866 --> 00:39:56,600
To see them through,

551
00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,000
the dingoes
resort to beach-combing.

552
00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:05,333
♪♪

553
00:40:05,333 --> 00:40:08,300
Life on the beach is a lottery.

554
00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:11,266
A solitary crab won't go far.

555
00:40:13,933 --> 00:40:18,733
But the surf has brought them
something special...

556
00:40:18,733 --> 00:40:22,500
A dugong carcass.

557
00:40:22,500 --> 00:40:24,566
When there are fewer
opportunities,

558
00:40:24,566 --> 00:40:29,000
the juveniles always
get the last dibs.

559
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,866
And it's even harder if no-one's
in the mood for sharing.

560
00:40:32,866 --> 00:40:34,866
[ Barking ]

561
00:40:36,366 --> 00:40:39,800
The carcass isn't around
for long.

562
00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:44,033
As the tide rises, the promise
of a banquet dwindles.

563
00:40:45,933 --> 00:40:48,933
Rare events like this
won't be enough

564
00:40:48,933 --> 00:40:51,333
to sustain the family long term.

565
00:40:51,333 --> 00:40:52,933
But throughout the fire season,

566
00:40:52,933 --> 00:40:55,800
one natural event
can make the difference

567
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:58,566
between life and death.

568
00:40:58,566 --> 00:41:09,900
♪♪

569
00:41:09,900 --> 00:41:13,166
Every summer,
turtles appear on the beach.

570
00:41:13,166 --> 00:41:18,366
♪♪

571
00:41:18,366 --> 00:41:22,400
Nesting between three
to five times per season,

572
00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:27,766
they each lay an average
of 115 eggs.

573
00:41:27,766 --> 00:41:32,533
There can be 200 females
nesting along these beaches...

574
00:41:32,533 --> 00:41:35,133
and many thousands of eggs.

575
00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:41,566
These hidden treasures could
be a lifeline for the dingoes...

576
00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:48,633
If they can find them.

577
00:41:48,633 --> 00:41:53,033
Dogs are armed with
a super-sense of smell.

578
00:41:53,033 --> 00:41:58,100
Their highly sensitive noses
have 290 million more receptors

579
00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:01,300
than a human's.

580
00:42:01,300 --> 00:42:04,866
They sniff out a nest
and start digging.

581
00:42:08,066 --> 00:42:10,166
With slender muzzles
that are longer

582
00:42:10,166 --> 00:42:12,300
than those of domestic dogs',

583
00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:15,066
and jaws which open wider too,

584
00:42:15,066 --> 00:42:17,700
they are perfectly built
for the job.

585
00:42:19,666 --> 00:42:22,300
Throughout the worst
of the island's fires,

586
00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:26,533
digging for turtles' eggs saved
the dingoes from starvation.

587
00:42:29,433 --> 00:42:32,933
The dingoes fed well...

588
00:42:32,933 --> 00:42:36,400
but thousands of hatchlings
will still survive.

589
00:42:38,933 --> 00:42:42,900
And when the time comes,
the very presence of the dingoes

590
00:42:42,900 --> 00:42:45,566
might even benefit
the hatchlings.

591
00:42:47,566 --> 00:42:48,966
As the apex predators,

592
00:42:48,966 --> 00:42:52,333
dingoes keep the numbers
of other creatures on the beach

593
00:42:52,333 --> 00:42:54,066
in check.

594
00:42:54,066 --> 00:42:57,800
♪♪

595
00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:01,766
This dingo pack limits
the overall impact of predation

596
00:43:01,766 --> 00:43:03,466
on these young turtles.

597
00:43:03,466 --> 00:43:09,100
♪♪

598
00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:14,400
And as a result, enough turtles
will survive to reboot the cycle

599
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:17,866
and return to this beach
in future years.

600
00:43:17,866 --> 00:43:28,166
♪♪

601
00:43:28,166 --> 00:43:30,266
Only dingoes
in the north of K'gari

602
00:43:30,266 --> 00:43:32,900
have learned to exploit
the seasonal abundance

603
00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:34,500
of turtle nests.

604
00:43:37,033 --> 00:43:40,900
They have more offspring
and larger pack sizes.

605
00:43:43,633 --> 00:43:45,566
And the juveniles have
a better chance

606
00:43:45,566 --> 00:43:49,233
of surviving to adulthood.

607
00:43:49,233 --> 00:43:51,100
Some might even remain
with the pack

608
00:43:51,100 --> 00:43:53,766
to help baby-sit
the younger pups.

609
00:43:53,766 --> 00:44:03,000
♪♪

610
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,066
These most adaptable dingoes
have surely earned

611
00:44:06,066 --> 00:44:08,800
their place in paradise.

612
00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:19,500
♪♪

613
00:44:19,500 --> 00:44:22,033
The most successful wild dog
of all

614
00:44:22,033 --> 00:44:24,500
has become so widespread,

615
00:44:24,500 --> 00:44:29,100
it extends from
the Arabian Peninsula...

616
00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:30,800
to the Arctic tundra.

617
00:44:32,833 --> 00:44:34,166
Yet, it's equally at home

618
00:44:34,166 --> 00:44:37,000
in the lush countryside
of central Europe.

619
00:44:41,233 --> 00:44:43,466
And in the last century,

620
00:44:43,466 --> 00:44:46,500
it's made the city
its ultimate domain.

621
00:44:48,633 --> 00:44:52,400
The streets of London
now resound to its call.

622
00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:56,766
[ Fox barking ]

623
00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,666
The red fox.

624
00:45:07,966 --> 00:45:10,666
The world's most resilient
wild dog.

625
00:45:10,666 --> 00:45:16,100
♪♪

626
00:45:16,100 --> 00:45:19,366
These two foxes,
known as Vince and Bitey,

627
00:45:19,366 --> 00:45:22,166
are seven months old.

628
00:45:22,166 --> 00:45:25,300
Their mom's raised four litters
before,

629
00:45:25,300 --> 00:45:29,300
and thanks to her experience,
the pups have grown strong.

630
00:45:33,233 --> 00:45:36,833
But the pups' days under their
mother's wing are numbered.

631
00:45:39,100 --> 00:45:42,833
It's time to master life alone
in the big city.

632
00:45:42,833 --> 00:45:45,600
[ Growling, barking ]

633
00:45:47,900 --> 00:45:52,266
Vince is already familiar with
some of the challenges ahead.

634
00:45:52,266 --> 00:45:57,733
His ear was likely lost
in a fight with another fox.

635
00:45:57,733 --> 00:46:02,333
His sister Bitey is one of
the smaller ones in the litter,

636
00:46:02,333 --> 00:46:06,400
but she too must find her feet.

637
00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:10,200
To survive, these youngsters
must raise their game

638
00:46:10,200 --> 00:46:12,400
above their country cousins,

639
00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:15,300
and become "super foxes."

640
00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:24,200
Traffic is a deadly threat.

641
00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:29,000
A third of city foxes have scars
to prove it.

642
00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:33,833
In open fields, a fox can reach
almost 30 miles per hour...

643
00:46:36,133 --> 00:46:38,933
But city foxes
must be agile too.

644
00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:51,833
Vince is quick and agile
on the streets...

645
00:46:51,833 --> 00:46:55,533
but traffic's just one of many
challenges foxes face

646
00:46:55,533 --> 00:46:58,000
in the urban jungle.

647
00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:00,700
When you're around a foot
and a half high,

648
00:47:00,700 --> 00:47:04,800
every wall
is a potential fortress.

649
00:47:04,800 --> 00:47:06,700
But with lightweight bones

650
00:47:06,700 --> 00:47:09,300
and long tails
to counterbalance,

651
00:47:09,300 --> 00:47:11,933
foxes are exceptional athletes.

652
00:47:14,666 --> 00:47:18,266
Vince can jump four times
his own height --

653
00:47:18,266 --> 00:47:20,466
the same as a six foot wall.

654
00:47:25,100 --> 00:47:27,366
It's more of a struggle
for Bitey.

655
00:47:27,366 --> 00:47:29,133
She's just a bit smaller,

656
00:47:29,133 --> 00:47:31,933
and injuries are
an occupational hazard.

657
00:47:34,766 --> 00:47:37,300
But once the terrain
is mastered,

658
00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:42,100
foxes can turn the vertical
landscape to their advantage.

659
00:47:42,100 --> 00:47:45,900
Using hidden routes
across walls and fences,

660
00:47:45,900 --> 00:47:49,200
Vince vanishes
and reappears in an instant,

661
00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:52,266
always keeping his distance
from humans.

662
00:47:54,666 --> 00:47:56,566
Like cheetahs on the savannah,

663
00:47:56,566 --> 00:48:00,633
foxes use vantage points
to scope out opportunities.

664
00:48:00,633 --> 00:48:09,333
♪♪

665
00:48:09,333 --> 00:48:11,166
The ability to eat rotting food

666
00:48:11,166 --> 00:48:14,500
has allowed foxes
to colonize urban areas.

667
00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:20,633
♪♪

668
00:48:20,633 --> 00:48:22,566
Nothing goes to waste...

669
00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:28,000
Caching supplies
in hidden spots,

670
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:30,533
urban foxes can be
very resourceful.

671
00:48:30,533 --> 00:48:35,533
♪♪

672
00:48:35,533 --> 00:48:39,533
Car hoods are the perfect place
to stash leftovers.

673
00:48:42,466 --> 00:48:45,100
Cars are often parked longer
in cities,

674
00:48:45,100 --> 00:48:47,533
so this is smart.

675
00:48:47,533 --> 00:49:04,100
♪♪

676
00:49:04,100 --> 00:49:06,466
City streets
are regularly cleaned,

677
00:49:06,466 --> 00:49:10,566
so urban foxes urinate more than
their country-dwelling cousins

678
00:49:10,566 --> 00:49:12,566
to mark their home turf.

679
00:49:15,166 --> 00:49:18,133
But Vince and Bitey's
elaborate sign-posting

680
00:49:18,133 --> 00:49:21,266
hasn't gone unnoticed
by another fox.

681
00:49:25,033 --> 00:49:27,100
A new vixen has arrived,

682
00:49:27,100 --> 00:49:30,933
and she wants
this territory too.

683
00:49:30,933 --> 00:49:34,566
Foxes avoid physical
confrontation where possible,

684
00:49:34,566 --> 00:49:38,800
but she has other ways
to show the pups who's boss.

685
00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:45,500
She postures and scent marks
around Bitey

686
00:49:45,500 --> 00:49:47,400
to display dominance.

687
00:49:50,066 --> 00:49:52,200
But Bitey's not backing down.

688
00:49:52,200 --> 00:49:54,200
[ Snarling ]

689
00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:57,333
It's time for the ultimate
test of strength...

690
00:50:02,733 --> 00:50:04,333
The foxtrot.

691
00:50:04,333 --> 00:50:08,800
♪♪

692
00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:10,666
They size each other up,

693
00:50:10,666 --> 00:50:14,266
opening their mouths
to intimidate their opponent.

694
00:50:14,266 --> 00:50:22,633
♪♪

695
00:50:22,633 --> 00:50:26,400
Bitey has stood her ground...

696
00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:31,100
but this new vixen
isn't deterred.

697
00:50:31,100 --> 00:50:32,866
She spots Vince.

698
00:50:32,866 --> 00:50:39,400
♪♪

699
00:50:39,400 --> 00:50:40,966
These shows of strength

700
00:50:40,966 --> 00:50:43,433
will determine
the pecking order around here.

701
00:50:43,433 --> 00:51:08,333
♪♪

702
00:50:58,333 --> 00:51:08,333
♪♪

703
00:51:08,333 --> 00:51:11,766
Vince and Bitey may have
held onto their turf,

704
00:51:11,766 --> 00:51:13,500
but the new vixen has proved

705
00:51:13,500 --> 00:51:16,100
she's strong enough
to stay here too.

706
00:51:18,233 --> 00:51:21,300
There are 10,000 foxes
living in London,

707
00:51:21,300 --> 00:51:24,533
so encounters like these will be
a regular part of life

708
00:51:24,533 --> 00:51:26,166
for the youngsters.

709
00:51:28,633 --> 00:51:33,366
But city foxes often learn
how to get along,

710
00:51:33,366 --> 00:51:37,266
so they can all eke out a living
in the same neighborhood.

711
00:51:37,266 --> 00:51:42,900
♪♪

712
00:51:42,900 --> 00:51:48,333
The resilient red fox copes
so well in the city,

713
00:51:48,333 --> 00:51:51,766
it can call the streets
of London home.

714
00:51:51,766 --> 00:52:05,100
♪♪

715
00:52:05,100 --> 00:52:07,366
Next time...

716
00:52:07,366 --> 00:52:10,866
as they live across the planet

717
00:52:10,866 --> 00:52:13,533
and find so many ways
to survive...

718
00:52:17,200 --> 00:52:21,500
There are still more secrets
to wild dogs' success.

719
00:52:21,500 --> 00:52:23,666
♪♪

720
00:52:25,333 --> 00:52:57,900
♪♪

721
00:52:57,900 --> 00:52:58,966
To learn more about

722
00:52:58,966 --> 00:52:59,833
what you've seen

723
00:52:59,833 --> 00:53:01,500
on this "Nature"
program,

724
00:53:01,500 --> 00:53:03,833
visit PBS.org.

725
00:53:03,833 --> 00:53:07,500
♪♪

726
00:53:10,500 --> 00:53:12,733
♪♪