MY NAME IS BEAR GRYLLS.
I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME
OF THE MOST DEMANDING AND INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH,
WHERE HAVING THE DETERMINATION TO LIVE
AND THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS
CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
WHOO!
BUT TO KEEP YOU ALIVE,
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO EAT SOME TRULY HIDEOUS THINGS.
IN THIS PROGRAM, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
JUST WHAT'S ON THE MENU
IN THE WORLD'S REMOTE JUNGLES, DESERTS, AND MOUNTAINS.
[ GRUNTS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
IF YOU'RE STRANDED AND LOST IN THE WILDERNESS,
YOU'VE GOT TO PUT YOUR PREJUDICES TO ONE SIDE.
UGH.
IF IT CAN KEEP YOU ALIVE, THEN EAT IT.
I'M GONNA START WITH SOMETHING
THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT ENDANGERED,
BUT AS A FIRST COURSE IS QUITE A MOUTHFUL.
LOOK AT THESE GUYS. THESE ARE PALM WEEVIL GRUBS.
WOW. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
THESE -- THESE ARE THE BIGGEST GRUBS I'VE EVER SEEN.
LOOK.
AND THIS IS JUST THE SORT OF PLACE THAT THEY LIKE.
THEY FEED OFF ALL THIS ROTTING, SOFT INTERIOR OF THE PALM TREE.
BUT THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE.
AND, ACTUALLY, THE LOCALS EAT A LOT OF THESE.
THEY'RE LIKE A DELICACY.
THEY'RE FULL OF GOOD PROTEIN,
AND...UGH...
YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THEM WHOLE.
LOOK AT THAT WRIGGLING AROUND.
IT'LL BE WORTH EVERY ONE OF ITS 140 CALORIES.
[ SPITS ]
HOLY SMOKE.
THAT IS...
JUST...
[ SPITS ]
HORRIBLE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DELICACIES.
OR GO FOR SIX CALORIES AND A NICE CRUNCH.
THERE'S A SPIDER THERE, A CRUCIFIX SPIDER,
AND THEY'RE CALLED THESE JUST FROM THE SHAPE
WHERE THEY SIT AND THEY PREY IN THAT CROSS-LIKE CRUCIFIX SHAPE.
THIS SPIDER HERE -- IT DOES HAVE SOME POISON IN IT
BUT NOT ENOUGH REALLY TO HARM YOU.
IT MIGHT JUST GIVE A LITTLE NIP.
AND SO MUCH ABOUT SURVIVAL IS ABOUT OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTING,
AND THIS IS EDIBLE.
HERE WE GO.
AND GRAB HIM HERE,
SQUEEZE HIS HEAD,
AND THEN...
PUT HIM IN.
UGH.
JUST TASTES SORT OF KIND OF GUTS AND PUS AND BRAIN.
BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TASTE.
IT'S ABOUT THE ENERGY IT CAN GIVE YOU.
CHECK THIS OUT.
THIS IS A LONGHORN BEETLE.
AND IF I JUST HOLD HIM DOWN AT THE BOTTOM THERE,
SEE HIM AROUND THIS WAY?
LOOK -- WATCH HIM GRABBING ON TO MY FINGERS THERE.
GET OFF, YOU BRUTE.
AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY EDIBLE, THESE THINGS.
BUT LOOK AT THOSE PINCERS ON -- LOOK AT THOSE PINCERS ON THAT.
AND THESE ARE SO STRONG,
THESE CAN ACTUALLY STRIP BARK OFF A TREE.
I PUT MY KNIFE IN THERE. LOOK AT THAT.
HE JUST GRABS ON TO THAT. AMAZING.
BUT I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA EAT HIM.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE HEAD.
JUST CUT THAT OFF.
AND THEN THE REST OF THIS --
LEGS STILL GOING FOR THE REST OF THAT --
IS EDIBLE.
OH, GOD.
I'M GONNA TAKE HIS LEGS OFF.
THERE'S FOUR TIMES MORE PROTEIN IN AN INSECT
THAN THERE IS IN BEEF.
OH, I STILL BIT MY LIP.
GOSH, LIKE A BIG PRAWN
THAT HAS BEEN SITTING AROUND FOR WEEKS
THAT IS ALL SHELL AND ROTTING GUT.
IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY HERE IN THE SAHARA DESERT,
THE TEMPERATURES SHOOT UP TO 130 DEGREES.
THERE'S SO LITTLE TO EAT AROUND HERE. IT'S JUST TOO HOT.
BUT IF YOU KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, YOU CAN SPOT THE ODD MORSEL.
SEE THAT? A LITTLE SAND BEETLE.
AND WHEN THERE'S AS LITTLE FOOD
AS THERE IS IN THE SAHARA DESERT,
THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU'RE GONNA GET.
UGH.
CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY.
OH. YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM.
THIS IS A LITTLE CAMEL SPIDER,
AND THESE ARE -- TRY AND GET HIM TO BE STILL.
THERE WE GO.
HE'S EDIBLE, AND HE DOESN'T LOOK VERY NICE.
BUT THE DANGEROUS BIT OF HIM --
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT --
LET'S HOLD HIM DOWN THERE -- ARE HIS PINCERS.
THAT CAN GIVE A NASTY NIP,
AND HE IS JUST TRYING TO EVEN BITE THIS.
BUT THE REST OF HIM, IF I CAN GET RID OF THAT, IS EDIBLE.
THE CAMEL SPIDER IS THOUGHT TO HAVE THE MOST POWERFUL JAWS
IN RELATION TO ITS SIZE IN THE WHOLE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
AND THAT WAS THE NASTY BIT,
THE FRONT LEGS AND THE PINCERS.
AND THEN ALL OF THIS IS EDIBLE.
AND ACTUALLY -- GOD, LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS JUST SOFT GOO,
AND GOD KNOWS WHAT'S INSIDE THAT.
I'M NOT PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO EATING THIS ONE.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD BIT OF PROTEIN AND ENERGY.
UGH, IT'S LIKE AN EXPLOSION OF PUS IN MY MOUTH.
JUST LIKE IN THE DESERT, HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS,
YOU HAVE TO SCAVENGE FOR EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY.
YOU WON'T FIND THE BUGS THAT FLOURISH IN THE HOTTER CLIMATE,
BUT SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE LIFE-SAVING RATIONS
FROM MUCH HIGHER UP THE FOOD CHAIN.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW.
ICELANDERS EAT ALMOST EVERY PART OF A SHEEP,
EVERYTHING FROM TESTICLES, HEART, LIVER,
EVEN THE EYEBALLS.
SHEEP EYEBALLS ARE EXTREMELY NUTRITIOUS.
THEY ARE HIGH IN PROTEIN
AND RICH IN VITAMINS "A" AND "D."
USUALLY THEY'RE THE FIRST THINGS TO ROT.
BUT IN THIS COLD WEATHER, THESE ARE STILL GOOD.
I'M GONNA BOIL THIS EYEBALL
IN ONE OF ICELAND'S FAMOUS BUBBLING-HOT GEOTHERMAL POOLS.
THESE ARE REALLY OKAY TO EAT RAW.
I'M JUST GONNA DIP IT IN HERE
TO GET ANY SORT OF BACTERIA OFF IT,
GIVE IT A QUICK BLAST IN THE BOILING WATER,
AND THEN...
THIS EYEBALL IS GONNA BE OKAY TO EAT.
GOD, IT'S LIKE CHEWING GRISTLE
FULL OF COLD GLOOP.
UGH.
IF THAT'S HARD ENOUGH TO STOMACH,
DON'T GET ME STARTED
ON WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO FOR DRINKING WATER.
AND THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO DRINK MY OWN PEE.
UGH.
WHOO-HOO!
I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD,
DROPPING INTO SOME OF THE MOST UNFORGIVING WILDERNESSES.
OVERCOMING THE ELEMENTS ARE ONE THING,
BUT FINDING FOOD IS ALTOGETHER A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE.
I'M AFTER SOME FRESHWATER TROUT.
OKAY. DO YOU GUYS SEE HIM JUST DOWN THERE?
OKAY, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST SEE --
SEE IF I CAN DAM THIS LITTLE BIT OF STREAM LOWER DOWN.
THEN I'LL SEND HIM UPSTREAM AND SEE IF I CAN GET HIM,
GET THIS THING.
THE DAMS WILL STOP THE FISH ESCAPING,
BUT ALWAYS BUILD THE LOWER ONE FIRST.
THEY'LL FIND IT HARDER THEN TO SPOT YOU.
AND IT NEEDS TO SPAN RIGHT ACROSS THE WATER FLOW.
I'M JUST GONNA THE SAME UPSTREAM AND THEN SEE IF I GET HIM.
STAY OUT OF SIGHT AS YOU MOVE UPSTREAM,
AND ONCE YOUR NEXT DAM IS BUILT,
YOU'RE READY TO GO FISHING.
WHAT I WANT TO TRY AND DO HERE
IS COME DIRECTLY DOWNSTREAM OF WHERE THEY ARE,
WHICH IS JUST THERE,
AND THEY HAVE A BLIND SPOT JUST BEHIND THEM,
AND COME UP AND TRY AND GET HIM WITH A STICK.
AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT DOING IT LIKE THIS IS, EVEN IF I MISS,
THE SHOCK WAVES OF THE IMPACT WILL CONCUSS THEM.
HERE THEY ARE.
OKAY.
SOME SALTWATER FISH ARE POISONOUS.
BUT FRESHWATER FISH ARE ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S JUST A SMALL RISK OF HEPATITIS "A."
FISH SKIN HAS GOOD NUTRITIONAL VALUE,
SO JUST TAKE THE HEAD OFF, GUT IT, AND WASH IT OUT.
AND THAT IS GOOD TO EAT JUST LIKE THIS,
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE RIVER.
FISH HAS FIVE TIMES MORE PROTEIN THAN RED MEAT,
AND THE MINERALS ARE LIFESAVERS
BECAUSE THEY HELP FIGHT OFF INFECTIONS
AND BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
MMM. I LOVE SUSHI.
I DON'T LIKE BONES.
WITH MORE THAN A MILLION SPECIES OF INSECTS
TO CHOOSE FROM HERE IN THE RAINFOREST,
THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY TO EAT.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TREAT SOME FINDS
WITH RESPECT AND CAUTION.
THAT'S A LAND CRAB. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT CLAW.
PUT HIM OUT OF HIS MISERY AND KILL IT.
AND THAT IS STRAIGHT THROUGH -- STRAIGHT THROUGH THE BRAIN.
HE'S STILL WIGGLING, BUT HE'S NOT ALIVE.
HE'S DEFINITELY NOT ALIVE.
AND THESE ARE MEANT TO BE A BIT OF A DELICACY IN PANAMA.
LET'S SEE WHAT THEY'RE LIKE.
EATING ANY RAW FLESH IN THIS PLACE
IS DANCING WITH THE DEVIL.
THE MANGROVES ARE ALIVE WITH BUGS AND PARASITES,
WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GET ANYTHING
FROM DYSENTERY TO LIVER FAILURE.
UGH. [ SPITS ]
NOW, THAT TASTES AWFUL.
UGH. IT'S, LIKE, FOUL.
I SUPPOSE IT'S FEEDING OFF ALL OF THIS STUFF IN HERE.
PROBABLY NO SURPRISE.
I TELL YOU WHAT. THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DELICACIES THIS TIME.
IT'S NOT ONLY CRUSTACEANS AND FISH LURKING IN THE DEPTHS.
HERE'S SOMETHING JUST AS SLIPPERY.
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SCARED OF SNAKES,
THINK THEY'RE NASTY, AGGRESSIVE, YOU KNOW, REPTILES.
BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE ACTUALLY SO SHY.
HERE WE GO.
THESE SNAKES OFTEN EXCRETE A FOUL-SMELLING LIQUID
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST PREDATORS.
HERE WE GO. AND THAT -- SEE HIS LITTLE MOUTH?
AND AS LONG AS I BITE OFF THE HEAD,
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT THE WHOLE BODY OF THIS.
UM, HIS HEAD'S STILL MOVING.
AND NOW SOMETHING TO WASH DOWN THE WATER SNAKE.
IN THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK, YOUR GREATEST ENEMY IS THIRST.
THAT SUN IS JUST SO POWERFUL.
UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS,
YOU CAN SURVIVE ABOUT THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER,
BUT IN THIS INTENSE HEAT,
IT CAN BE JUST A MATTER OF HOURS.
AND THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO DRINK MY OWN PEE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE,
AND I'M EXPECTING IT TO BE PRETTY HORRIBLE.
BUT I NEED TO KEEP THOSE FLUIDS GOING IN.
BUT BE CAREFUL,
AS URINE IS, AFTER ALL, A WASTE PRODUCT.
BUT IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
AND IF I JUST PEED ON THE GROUND,
THAT'S ALL THOSE FLUIDS WASTED.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF STORIES
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURVIVED IN THE WILD
BY DRINKING THEIR OWN PEE,
BUT ONLY DO IT AS A LAST RESORT.
GOD. THERE'S NO GETTING AWAY FROM IT.
THAT REALLY IS PRETTY HORRIBLE.
IT'S, LIKE, WARM, AND IT'S SALTY...
[ SIGHS ]
AND NOT -- NOT MY FAVORITE.
I'M ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A NEW TECHNIQUE,
SO I'M GOING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
HERE IN KENYA -- IN FACT, VERY DIFFERENT.
ONE THING YOU CAN DO
IF YOU'RE STUCK OUT HERE WITH NO WATER SOURCE AT ALL
IS ACTUALLY DRINK THE FLUID FROM FRESH ELEPHANT DUNG --
PRETTY DISGUSTING, BUT IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
UGH.
UGH. [ SPITS ]
NOT ONE OF THE BETTER DRINKS I'VE EVER HAD.
IN THE SUBTROPICAL EVERGLADES, THOUGH,
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF CHALLENGE.
AND YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO AVOID TAKING RISKS WITH WATER.
YOU'LL LOSE FAR MORE OF YOUR FLUIDS FROM GETTING ILL
THAN YOU'LL EVER GAIN FROM DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER.
THERE IS SO MUCH JUST RUBBISH FLOATING AROUND IN THIS,
ALL THE MUCK AND ALL THE DIRT.
AND IF I JUST...
GET IT LIKE THIS...
MAKE IT INTO, LIKE, A SACK.
AND, SEE, THIS WATER IS NOW COMING OUT ALL NICE AND CLEAR,
AND ALL THE RESIDUE AND THE DEBRIS FROM THE SWAMP
SHOULD BE ALL STILL TRAPPED IN HERE.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH THERE IS,
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF MY WATER BOTTLE.
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
AND WHEN IT RAINS, THIRST DISAPPEARS,
AND LIFE SEEMS SO MUCH BETTER.
THIS IS JUST LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN.
WHOA!
THAT'S SO NICE.
COME ON, RAIN!
BUT BE WARNED.
IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE HUNGER SETS IN AGAIN,
AND YOU'RE GONNA NEED ALL YOUR NERVE
TO TACKLE SOME OF THE PLANET'S MORE UNLIKELY DINNERS.
BLOOD, GUT, AND SCALES.
UP HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS,
THERE'S NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK,
SO YOU'VE GOT TO HEAD ON DOWN.
WHOA!
AND WHEN YOU'RE DOWN,
THE FOOD CAN BE EATEN RAW, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE BRAVE.
AH.
LOOK AT THIS -- A LITTLE TREE FROG,
AND JUST SCURRYING AROUND IN THE GRASS THERE.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THESE,
ANY OF THESE FROGS FROM THE EVERGLADES.
THEY'RE FINE TO EAT. THERE ARE NO POISONOUS ONES.
YOU GET POISONOUS TOADS,
BUT THEY'RE MUCH BIGGER AND ROUGHER.
AND AS THEY SAY, ANY FROG IN THE EVERGLADES IS A GOOD FROG.
ONE SMALL FROG COULD GIVE YOU ABOUT 3 GRAMS OF FAT
AND 75 HARD-EARNED CALORIES.
UGH. [ SPITS ]
OUT IN THE DESERT, FOOD IS SO SCARCE,
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR ANYTHING THAT MOVES.
BETWEEN US, THE CREW HAVE MANAGED TO CATCH
ONE OF THESE LITTLE SAND FISHES.
AND THESE ARE LIKE LITTLE LIZARDS.
BUT WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THIS GUY
IS THAT HE USES HIS ARMS AND HIS LEGS
TO ACTUALLY, LIKE, SWIM UNDER THE SAND.
AND IF I LET HIM GO -- IF I'M IN DEEP SAND,
HE WOULD JUST SHOOT AWAY STRAIGHT INTO THE SAND
AND, LIKE, BURROW A METER DEEP,
AND THAT'S HIS WAY OF GETTING AWAY FROM PREDATORS.
BUT LET'S LET HIM GO HERE AND SEE WHAT HE DOES.
THIS SAND IS HOPEFULLY NOT TOO DEEP.
SO HE SHOULD PROBABLY HEAD FOR THE DEEPER SAND.
BUT THEY'RE FAST.
AND LOOK. YOU SEE HIM ALREADY BURROWING HIS WAY IN HERE.
SEE THAT?
LOOK AT HIM -- AMAZING.
THE LOCAL TRIBESPEOPLE DRY OUT THE SAND LIZARD
AND USE IT TO CURE VARIOUS DISEASES.
I'M GOING FOR THE RAW, LIVE VERSION.
OH, THERE HE IS.
OH.
GOT HIM AGAIN.
THAT IS HOW FAST THIS LITTLE FELLA IS --
JUST, LIKE, DISAPPEARS INTO THE SAND.
BUT, ACTUALLY, HE'S ALSO GOOD FOOD.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD, THEN MUNCH THE BODY.
AND IF YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR OWN LIFE,
THESE ARE THE KIND OF HARD DECISIONS YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE.
ALMOST LIKE A KIND OF -- THIS BIG MIX
OF BLOOD, GUT, AND SCALES.
THESE FELLAS CAN CONTAIN SOME PARASITES
AND MIGHT BE HARBORING SALMONELLA.
I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A FAT TAIL SCORPION.
AND THESE ARE ONE OF THE MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS
IN THE WORLD.
LOOK AT THIS. WATCH.
IF I PUT THAT THERE, HE'S TRYING TO STRIKE AT IT.
AND, ACTUALLY, THIS HAS ENOUGH VENOM TO KILL A MAN.
IF I WAS STUNG BY ONE OF THESE SCORPIONS
AND I DIDN'T GET ANY HELP,
I COULD BE DEAD WITHIN SIX HOURS.
THE VENOM ATTACKS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM,
WHICH MEANS CONVULSIONS AND ULTIMATELY HEART FAILURE.
AND AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR IN MOROCCO
FROM SCORPION STINGS.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THESE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SUPER, SUPER DEADLY,
YOU CAN EAT THEM.
BUT THE FIRST BIT I WANT TO GET RID OF
IS HIS STINGER.
AND LOOK AT HIM STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE.
HOLD HIM DOWN.
TAKE HIS HEAD OFF.
AND THEN YOU CAN EAT THIS BIT.
WITH LESS THAN 10 CALORIES PER SCORPION,
I'D NEED DOZENS OF THESE FOR A DECENT MEAL.
AND WHEN THE ANIMALS GET BIGGER,
HUNGER CAN MAKE YOU DO SURPRISING THINGS.
[ SPITS ] OH, GOD.
LOOK AT THIS -- A DEAD ZEBRA
THAT IS DEFINITELY A LION KILL.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LIONS HAVE TAKEN IT DOWN,
EATEN ALL THE MEAT, ALL THE INNARDS,
AND THEN LEAVES THE BONES AND THE SKIN
FOR THE VULTURES CIRCLING ABOVE.
AMAZING TO SEE IT SO CLOSE.
IF I'M GONNA EAT THIS ZEBRA,
I WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GONNA POISON ME.
THE VULTURES ARE A GOOD SIGN
BECAUSE THEY ONLY EAT FRESH MEAT.
THERE AREN'T ANY MAGGOTS, AND THIS TELLS ME
THAT THIS KILL IS HOURS RATHER THAN DAYS OLD.
AND IF THE CARCASS SMELLS ROTTEN, MOVE ON.
BUT THIS MEAT IS FRESH AND A GREAT SOURCE OF ENERGY.
AND THIS IS SO TOUGH, THE SKIN.
BUT LOOK AT UNDER ALL OF THIS.
I'VE GOT TO PEEL THE SKIN BACK.
EATING RAW MEAT CAN PUT YOU AT RISK
FOR BOTULISM OR E. COLI.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW
A LOT OF EARLY MAN USED TO HUNT.
THEY ACTUALLY WEREN'T GREAT HUNTERS.
[ GRUNTS ]
THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOOD SCAVENGERS
AND PICKERS OF BERRIES...
AND OPPORTUNISTIC, FOLLOWING UP WHERE LIONS WOULD EAT.
[ COUGHS, SPITS ]
THAT WAS A NASTY BIT.
BUT THERE ARE PARTS OF AN ANIMAL,
ESPECIALLY WHEN EATEN RAW,
THAT MAKE EVEN ME SQUEAMISH.
IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR BERBER MEN TO EAT GOATS' TESTICLES.
THEY'RE THOUGHT TO ENHANCE FERTILITY,
AND IT'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE A TEST OF MY MANHOOD.
MERCI. MERCI.
WELL, I MUST SAY I'VE NEVER --
NEVER EATEN RAW GOAT TESTICLES BEFORE.
MERCI, MOHAMMED.
THERE IS PLENTY OF POTASSIUM IN A GOAT'S TESTICLE
AND 135 UNADULTERATED CALORIES.
HMM.
WELL, THAT'S DEFINITELY A FIRST FOR ME.
[ RETCHING ]
THE SAHARA WOULD PUSH ANYONE TO THEIR LIMITS.
AND THE BERBER ACTUALLY TOLD ME
THAT THE FAT FROM THIS
IS A REAL DELICACY.
BUT EXPERIENCE HAS TOLD ME
TO BE A LITTLE BIT WARY OF BERBER DELICACIES.
AND THIS IS JUST...
PURE CAMEL FAT.
[ RETCHES ]
OH, MAN. [ SPITS ]
THAT'S HORRIBLE. [ SPITS ]
OUT IN THE WILD,
YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BE ON YOUR GUARD,
AND DANGER DOESN'T ALWAYS COME FROM THE EXPECTED PLACES.
THIS IS A FULIOTIS MUSHROOM, THIS,
AND THESE ARE POISONOUS AND NASTY.
ECUADOR IS HOME TO 8% OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL SPECIES.
AND NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THEM ARE POISONOUS.
BUT TRIAL AND ERROR IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS A LITTLE FISHING SPIDER.
AND ACTUALLY, HE'S NOT SO LITTLE.
HE'S NOT A BAD SIZE.
BUT WHAT THIS GUY WOULD DO IS SIT ON THE EDGE OF THE BANK,
AND HE'LL ACTUALLY FISH AND CATCH LITTLE MINNOW
EVEN THE SIZE OF ABOUT MY LITTLE FINGER.
BUT THIS GUY IS POISONOUS.
AND WHAT THE LOCALS SAY -- THAT IF THEY GET BIT BY THIS,
THEY ACTUALLY THEN EAT IT
TO TRY AND COUNTERACT THE VENOM.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO TRY THAT.
I'M GONNA LET THIS GUY -- LET HIM GO.
OFF YOU GO.
LOOK AT THIS GUY I'VE JUST FOUND ON THE FOREST FLOOR.
IT'S A SICILIAN.
AND THESE GUYS NORMALLY LIVE UNDERGROUND
JUST FEEDING OFF OF WORMS AND STUFF.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO WET HERE, IT'S BEEN RAINING SO MUCH,
HE'S LITERALLY FORCED UP TO THE SURFACE.
AND THAT IS JUST AMAZING
TO ACTUALLY COME ACROSS ONE OF THESE.
ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE A SNAKE,
IT'S ACTUALLY A LEGLESS LIZARD.
AND IT LIVES OFF WORMS, SPIDERS, AND INSECTS.
AND WE'RE GONNA LET HIM GO AND GET BACK TO IT.
HE MIGHT LOOK GOOD TO EAT,
BUT HE HAS POISONOUS GLANDS UNDER HIS SKIN,
SO HE'S NOT GONNA BE MY LUNCH.
WHEN IT COMES TO WHICH PLANTS YOU CAN SAFELY EAT,
THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
THIS IS A FULIOTIS MUSHROOM, THIS.
AND THESE ARE POISONOUS AND NASTY.
AND IF I ATE THIS, THIS COULD DESTROY MY KIDNEYS IN 24 HOURS.
AND, REALLY, IN THE WILDS,
YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.
AS A GENERAL RULE,
AVOID MUSHROOMS WITH WHITE GILLS.
AND IF YOU REALLY MUST RISK ONE,
TEST A TINY BIT ON YOUR TONGUE AND WAIT FIVE MINUTES.
BUT PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
THE PANAMA RAINFOREST
IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
AND IT'S A HOT SPOT OF INTENSE BIODIVERSITY.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT HERE
WHICH ISN'T POISONOUS.
AND LOOK. YOU SEE THIS TERMITES' NEST HERE?
AND, ACTUALLY, THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE JUNGLE,
TERMITES, JUST BECAUSE THEY DIGEST
SO MUCH OF ALL THE ROTTING WOOD.
THERE YOU GO. SEE THEM ALL CRAWLING OUT THERE?
BUT, ACTUALLY, ALL OF THESE ARE EDIBLE.
AND THEY TASTE, LIKE, A LITTLE BIT ZINGY,
YOU KNOW, LIKE KIND OF NOT VERY NICE CITRUS.
BUT TERMITES PACK
A SURPRISING 560 CALORIES IN EVERY HANDFUL.
HERE YOU GO, A COUPLE OF SNAILS.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY VERY MUCH,
BUT THESE ARE CLEAN, AND THEY'RE GOOD TO EAT.
AND, ACTUALLY, HAWKS WILL HUNT FOR THESE AND EAT THEM.
THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST A MUSSEL AND ALL EDIBLE.
AND YOU SORT OF GET TO THE ACTUAL...
PULL HIM OUT.
GOD.
IT'S LIKE A GIANT, COLD BOGEY.
[ SPITS ]
WATCH, WE'VE GOT THIS MONSTER GRASSHOPPER HERE.
AND THESE ARE SO FAST. YOU GOT TO GRAB THESE QUICKLY.
AND AFTER YOU TRY AND GO FOR IT, IT WILL JUMP,
SO YOU WANT TO AIM ABOVE IT.
[ GRUNTS ]
BUT HE'S NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S QUITE A -- QUITE A WHOPPER.
I'M JUST GONNA TAKE HIS HEAD OFF.
THERE YOU GO.
AND THEN THE REST OF HIM NOW IS EDIBLE.
BUT, REALLY, IN THE WILD, IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,
YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE YOUR PREJUDICES BEHIND.
AND THAT IS ENERGY.
ENERGY MEANS MOVEMENT, AND MOVEMENT IS VITAL
IF YOU'RE GONNA SELF-RESCUE.
SO HERE WE GO.
UGH.
THE ONE GOOD THING ABOUT GRASSHOPPERS
IS THAT THEY'RE PACKED WITH OMEGA-3.
BUT WHAT A WAY TO GET IT.
I HATE THAT TASTE OF JUST KIND OF LIKE CREAMY GOO.
[ COUGHS ]
THE BEST WAY TO AVOID GETTING SICK
IS TO COOK WHATEVER IT IS YOU CATCH.
COOKING OUT IS GREAT,
AND I'VE ALWAYS FANCIED MYSELF AS A BIT OF A CHEF.
THIS IS A NASTY KILLER OF A SNAKE.
AND HE'S GONNA BE DINNER.
TWO, ONE, GO.
THE EVERGLADES ARE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ENVIRONMENTS
I'VE EVER BEEN IN,
AND IT'S NEVER EASY TO EAT WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PET.
THIS IS A TURTLE, ACTUALLY A COOTER.
LOOK, YOU CAN TELL THAT FROM THE SPOTS
ON THE SIDE OF THE SHELL HERE.
AND THESE ARE A REALLY GOOD SOURCE OF MEAT,
BUT ALSO VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND SALTS
THAT ARE IN THE ACTUAL BLOOD.
AND YOU REALLY NEED SOME OF THESE SALTS
JUST IN THIS HUMIDITY.
I CAN EAT THIS TURTLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT PROTECTED,
BUT YOU MUST BE SURE YOU KILL IT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
AND THAT'S IT --
DEAD, AS HIS ARTERY'S CUT.
I'VE EATEN TURTLES BEFORE.
I'VE ALWAYS CUT THE BELLY, GUTTED IT,
AND THEN SCRAPED ALL THE MEAT AND COOKED IT LIKE THAT.
BUT IN THE EVERGLADES, WHAT THE SEMINOLES USED TO DO
IS LITERALLY JUST COOK IT STRAIGHT IN ITS SHELL,
SORT OF LIKE A PRESSURE COOKER.
IF I JUST PUT IT ON THERE
AND LEAVE THAT FOR, LIKE, AN HOUR,
THAT WILL COOK AND THEN GIVE ME A REALLY GOOD DINNER.
COOKING TIME WILL DEPEND ON THE SIZE OF THE TURTLE.
BUT ONE GOOD WAY TO TELL WHEN IT'S READY
IS THAT THE SHELL IS BRITTLE AND CRACKED.
AND ALL I NEED TO DO NOW IS GET IT OFF HERE.
AND THEN YOU SEE IT'S JUST REALLY BRITTLE.
LET ME TRY THIS.
THERE'S LESS THAN HALF A GRAM OF FAT
IN A PORTION OF TURTLE AND NO CARBS OR SUGAR.
MMM.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES YOU CAN SAY
IT REALLY DOES TASTE QUITE LIKE CHICKEN.
THERE ARE MORE FISH SPECIES IN THE AMAZON
THAN IN THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
I'M GOING FOR THE MAN-EATING PIRANHA.
PIRANHA LIVE IN THESE SORT OF STREAMS,
AND THEY CAN BE VICIOUS,
STRIPPING ANIMALS THAT FALL INTO THE WATER
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
BUT THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE IN LARGE SCHOOLS
OF 100 OR MORE.
THIS POND IS JUST TOO SMALL TO SUPPORT THAT MANY,
SO I SHOULD BE SAFE.
PIRANHAS ARE TASTY,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO DIFFICULT TO CATCH.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY'RE QUICK, THESE FISH.
I NEED TO FIND SOME SHALLOWER POOLS...
WHERE I CAN REALLY SEE WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM.
I'LL JUST GET THE CAMERA AND PUT IT INTO THE WATER,
AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THEM SWIMMING AROUND.
BRILLIANT. LOOK AT THAT.
AND IMAGINE A THOUSAND OF THOSE.
YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY'D JUST STRIP THE FLESH OFF A HUMAN
IN SECONDS.
RAZOR-SHARP TEETH.
AND THIS GUY IS PRETTY WELL DEAD,
AND HE STILL HAS THE POWER TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THIS.
IT'S ESSENTIAL PIRANHA ARE COOKED THOROUGHLY
BECAUSE THEY CARRY HARMFUL PARASITES.
I'VE GOT A LITTLE COOKING RACK HERE
AND THEN WRAPPED IN THESE LEAVES,
I'VE GOT MY PIRANHA THAT I'VE CAUGHT,
AND THESE SHOULD BE -- SHOULD BE READY NOW.
AND LOOK. THERE YOU GO.
THOSE ARE THOSE NASTY TEETH GRINNING AWAY AT ME.
BUT THAT -- THAT SMELLS GREAT.
SO I'M GONNA PUT THAT ONTO THIS LEAF HERE.
AND IT'S SO NICE JUST ACTUALLY HAVING A BIT OF TIME NOW
TO COOK THIS PROPERLY
AND GET SOMETHING REALLY DECENT TO EAT.
FOR SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE... UNPLEASANT FISH,
IT DOESN'T HALF TASTE GOOD.
HERE IN THE SAHARA,
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET BITTEN BY THIS,
THE HORNED VIPER.
THEY CAN BE AS LONG AS THREE FOOT,
AND THEIR VENOM POISONS YOUR BLOOD,
CAUSING HEMORRHAGING AND HEART FAILURE.
OKAY, GOT HIM.
THAT'S STILL GOT ALL ITS HEMOTOXIC VENOM IN ITS MOUTH.
AND YOU NEVER JUST WANT TO LEAVE A SNAKE'S HEAD OUT IN THE OPEN
AFTER YOU CUT IT OFF.
YOU WANT TO EITHER BURN IT OR BURY IT.
AND LOOK. HE'S STILL -- THE BODY'S STILL WRIGGLING AROUND.
BUT THIS IS A NASTY BRUTE AND A KILLER OF A SNAKE.
BUT I'M GONNA EAT HIM.
YOU JUST PEEL BACK THE SKIN,
GUT IT...
AND THAT'S ALL THE GUTS COMING OUT THE MIDDLE THERE.
...WRAP IT AROUND A STICK AND COOK IT OVER THE FIRE.
OKAY. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THIS, MOHAMMED.
NOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BURN THIS
BECAUSE ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL MEAT.
MERCI, MOHAMMED.
[ SPEAKING FRENCH ]
BON APPÃ©TIT.
MERCI.
SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT HAVING THE GUTS
TO EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU FIND,
EVEN IF IT'S FROM A CAMEL'S STOMACH.
DRINKABLE...
BUT TRULY [SPITS] DISGUSTING.
I DON'T CLAIM TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT WILD FOOD,
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT I'LL GIVE IT A GO.
AND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
IS THE STOMACH.
AND THE STOMACH ITSELF IS IN THREE PARTS
SO IT CAN SEPARATE THE LIQUIDS FROM THE SOLIDS.
AND THE BIT I WANT IS CALLED THE RUMEN,
WHERE IT KEEPS THE FLUIDS.
THERE WE GO.
I'M THROUGH...
TO THE INNARDS HERE.
AND LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S AMAZING.
THIS RUMEN WATER IS JUST LIKE A RESERVOIR.
AND A NOMAD TOLD ME ONCE
HOW HIS UNCLE IN THE 1950s
WAS LOST IN A SANDSTORM OUT HERE,
AND HE ACTUALLY ENDED UP KILLING HIS CAMEL
TO GET AT THE RUMEN AND ALL THIS FLUID INSIDE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY SAVED HIS LIFE.
IF YOU DON'T FIND MUCH WATER IN THE RUMEN,
YOU MIGHT GET SOME FROM THE MAIN PART OF THE STOMACH
WHERE THE FOOD IS DIGESTED.
[ COUGHS ]
GOT A LOAD OF STENCH
OF CAMEL DIGESTING FOODS
THROUGHOUT MY NOSTRILS.
AND HERE YOU GO, IF YOU BRING THE CAMERA OVER HERE
AND LOOK INSIDE,
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING IT'S BEEN EATING.
AND THAT'S JUST SORT OF PARTIALLY DIGESTED.
AND THE FLUID IN THIS, AGAIN, IS DRINKABLE.
GOD, THAT MUST HAVE HURT WHEN IT WENT DOWN HIS THROAT.
[ SPITS ]
DRINKABLE...
BUT TRULY [SPITS] DISGUSTING.
I LOVE TO CLIMB, BUT SOMETIMES I THINK
"WHAT HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO?"
HEY, LET ME GRAB THAT CAMERA OFF YOU.
IF YOU'VE GONE HOURS WITHOUT FLUIDS,
YOU'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING TO REPLACE THEM FAST.
THERE ARE DATES AT THE TOP OF THIS PALM TREE
WHICH SHOULD DO THE TRICK.
I'LL GET MYSELF SOME SUPPER.
IT'S ABOUT 30 FOOT TALL, BUT I RECKON I CAN SHIM UP IT.
BUT WATCH OUT FOR LOOSE BARK. IT CAN CUT YOU TO RIBBONS.
YOU NEED TO BE ALERT WITH THE STUFF.
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP YOUR FEET PRESSED INTO IT, LIKE THAT,
AND NOT PUT ALL YOUR WEIGHT ON ONE OF THEM.
IT'S HARD WORK ON THE ARMS, THIS.
OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA CUT -- CUT THESE DOWN.
[ PANTING ]
I'M IN QUITE A PRECARIOUS POSITION UP HERE
BECAUSE MY ARMS HAVE BEEN RUBBED RAW BY THIS BARK.
BUT I FOUND A GOOD NUMBER OF THESE DATES.
AND THEY DON'T LOOK -- THEY DON'T LOOK VERY RIPE,
BUT ACTUALLY DATES ARE THE BEST DESERT FOOD --
MASSIVE SUGAR, LOTS OF ENERGY, VITAMIN "C,"
BUT ALSO LOTS OF MINERALS
TO REPLACE THE SALTS THAT I'M LOSING, SWEATING HERE.
SO LET'S TRY IT.
UGH, YEAH, REALLY, REALLY BITTER.
[ GRUNTS ]
TO SURVIVE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME IN THE WILD,
YOU NEED CARBS AND SUGARS
AS WELL AS THE PROTEIN YOU GET FROM MEAT, BUGS, AND INSECTS.
OH, I HIT IT.
EVEN WHEN YOU HIT IT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FALL.
AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS AFTER,
ONE OF THE YOUNG SUGAR PINE CONES.
AND LOOK -- IF YOU SPLIT THIS
AND THEN PEEL ONE OF THESE LEAVES OUT,
YOU GET TO THESE NUTS IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THEY'RE PRETTY SMALL, BUT THERE YOU GO.
YOU SEE THAT LITTLE WHITE THING THAT'S COMING OUT?
TO GET THE CONES WITH THE MOST PINE NUTS,
TRY AND GET THE ONES STRAIGHT FROM THE TREE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WHETHER ALL THE EFFORT
OF FINDING ALL THOSE ROCKS AND THROWING THEM --
WHETHER I'VE BURNED UP MORE CALORIES
THAN I'M GETTING FROM THESE LITTLE THINGS.
BUT THESE ARE REALLY GOOD NUTRITION.
A HANDFUL OF PINE NUTS
WILL GIVE YOU A WHOPPING 790 CALORIES.
THE MOST ENERGY-RICH PARTS OF THE PLANT
ARE THE ROOTS AND ITS SEEDS, NUTS, AND FRUITS.
THIS IS ESKIMO POTATO, THIS PLANT HERE.
IF I PULL THIS UP...
AND GET TO THE ROOT OF IT,
THIS IS ALL EDIBLE.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S ALL A BIT STRINGY.
AND THE BEST WAY REALLY IS TO, YOU KNOW,
ROAST THIS ON A FIRE.
BUT YOU CAN EAT THIS RAW.
IT'S A BIT MUDDY,
BUT A REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOOD SOURCE.
AND MANY PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE MOST VALUABLE FOOD SOURCE
IN ALL OF ALASKA.
THERE ARE 300,000 CLASSIFIED PLANTS IN THE WORLD.
120,000 OF THEM ARE EDIBLE.
WHEN IT COMES TO BERRIES, AVOID THE RED ONES.
THEY'RE THE MOST LIKELY TO BE POISONOUS.
WHAT I'M SITTING UNDER HERE IS A WALLAROO BUSH.
AND I CAN TELL THAT JUST FROM THESE OVAL-SHAPED LEAVES
WITH THESE YELLOW VEINS RUNNING THROUGH IT
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
BECAUSE OF THESE WHITE BERRIES THAT I'VE GOT.
AND THESE ARE EDIBLE.
AND THEY'RE ALSO DELICIOUS.
THEY SORT OF FEEL LIKE BLUEBERRIES
WHEN THEY POP IN YOUR MOUTH, YOU KNOW?
THEY'VE ALSO GOT THESE SEEDS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT BITTER,
BUT YOU DON'T KIND OF NOTICE THAT
JUST BECAUSE THE REST OF IT IS SO SWEET.
AND SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL ACTUALLY
IS JUST ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IT, YOU KNOW,
THINGS THAT GIVE YOU A LIFT AND KEEP YOU GOING.
AND THESE BERRIES ARE JUST SO SWEET AND TASTY.
AND ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU SMILE
AND WILL HELP YOU KEEP MOVING IS A GOOD THING
WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WILD.
BEING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS RETURNS US
TO THE WAY OF LIFE OF OUR ANCIENT ANCESTORS,
WHERE HUNTING AND SCAVENGING
WERE OUR ONLY MEANS OF SURVIVAL.
NOT EVERYTHING I'VE EATEN HAS BEEN EASY TO STOMACH.
BUT IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO
WHEN HUNGER AND THIRST PUSH YOU TO YOUR LIMITS.