1 00:00:07,341 --> 00:00:09,841 Planet Earth is so spectacular, 2 00:00:10,677 --> 00:00:13,677 it's easy to miss the smaller things in life. 3 00:00:15,766 --> 00:00:17,636 But take a closer look... 4 00:00:18,101 --> 00:00:20,561 and there's a whole undiscovered world. 5 00:00:22,648 --> 00:00:24,978 A world where tiny heroes... 6 00:00:26,485 --> 00:00:27,815 and little monsters... 7 00:00:29,029 --> 00:00:31,409 need incredible superpowers... 8 00:00:34,618 --> 00:00:40,038 to help them triumph against giant odds. 9 00:00:57,057 --> 00:00:58,677 The African savannah. 10 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,360 A land of legends. 11 00:01:08,986 --> 00:01:11,316 Home to some of our planet's largest... 12 00:01:12,531 --> 00:01:14,621 and most majestic animals. 13 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:25,998 But beneath the feet of elephants, there's an unexplored world. 14 00:01:28,714 --> 00:01:31,344 The world of the elephant shrew. 15 00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:45,403 It's teeming with all kinds of amazing little grazers and tiny predators. 16 00:01:53,363 --> 00:01:57,373 But being small in the land of giants is never easy. 17 00:01:59,786 --> 00:02:05,036 And as the herds head this way, life is about to get a whole lot tougher. 18 00:02:14,468 --> 00:02:17,678 An elephant shrew is not much bigger than a hamster. 19 00:02:19,848 --> 00:02:22,138 But much faster. 20 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,400 On her scale, she's three times faster than a cheetah. 21 00:02:34,655 --> 00:02:39,865 Racing at nearly 30 kilometers per hour on a relentless hunt for food. 22 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,460 She must eat almost a third of her body weight every day 23 00:02:49,795 --> 00:02:51,955 to fuel her fast-paced life. 24 00:02:56,051 --> 00:03:00,351 So she's built a network of trails over thousands of square meters 25 00:03:01,431 --> 00:03:05,351 to help her find enough food, even in the dry season. 26 00:03:15,279 --> 00:03:17,869 A cobra strikes faster than the blink of an eye. 27 00:03:24,955 --> 00:03:27,825 But her tracks help her stay one step ahead. 28 00:03:32,629 --> 00:03:36,969 The elephant shrew's life is frenetic... and solitary. 29 00:03:39,511 --> 00:03:42,511 Unlike the kings of this big red castle. 30 00:03:58,864 --> 00:04:02,494 Dwarf mongoose often make their home in termite mounds. 31 00:04:13,712 --> 00:04:15,552 Only the size of your hand, 32 00:04:17,882 --> 00:04:23,472 they find strength and warmth in numbers. 33 00:04:27,851 --> 00:04:30,691 Savannah mornings are surprisingly cold. 34 00:04:34,983 --> 00:04:36,993 It's all too easy to lie in. 35 00:04:42,991 --> 00:04:44,201 But not today. 36 00:04:50,249 --> 00:04:52,249 This little hornbill is hungry. 37 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:58,720 And keen to go grab breakfast. 38 00:05:09,268 --> 00:05:13,688 Twenty mongoose and one hornbill might seem an odd team. 39 00:05:15,774 --> 00:05:18,994 But when you're small, it pays to stick together. 40 00:05:24,116 --> 00:05:25,736 The mongoose flush out prey. 41 00:05:30,247 --> 00:05:32,667 While the hornbill keeps a lookout for danger. 42 00:05:36,628 --> 00:05:39,548 Dwarf mongoose patrol a big area, 43 00:05:39,631 --> 00:05:41,971 about 50 football fields, 44 00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:44,600 marking their territory along the way. 45 00:05:46,263 --> 00:05:49,893 The higher the scent, the bigger they'll seem to others. 46 00:05:58,066 --> 00:06:03,066 Even in the dry season, their patch provides all the food they need. 47 00:06:07,075 --> 00:06:09,575 They may be Africa's smallest carnivore, 48 00:06:10,245 --> 00:06:12,865 but they're not afraid to take on big game. 49 00:06:37,064 --> 00:06:38,904 A venomous baboon spider. 50 00:06:48,283 --> 00:06:50,123 By seizing every opportunity, 51 00:06:50,827 --> 00:06:54,497 this tenacious team can survive through the harshest times. 52 00:07:16,728 --> 00:07:19,858 But when the rains arrive, everything changes. 53 00:07:42,629 --> 00:07:45,419 A life on the road offers little shelter. 54 00:07:47,718 --> 00:07:50,258 But the mongoose stay safe and warm. 55 00:08:05,152 --> 00:08:06,782 They've chosen their home well. 56 00:08:16,580 --> 00:08:19,830 Termite mounds provide excellent protection from the elements. 57 00:08:32,221 --> 00:08:33,971 Mixing spit and dirt, 58 00:08:35,599 --> 00:08:39,139 these industrious insects build castles as hard as concrete... 59 00:08:42,940 --> 00:08:44,690 and as big as an elephant. 60 00:08:56,870 --> 00:09:01,170 Following the rains, the big animals start to arrive. 61 00:09:07,714 --> 00:09:10,844 Elephants are the first to make an impact on the landscape. 62 00:09:20,853 --> 00:09:22,693 A five-ton footprint... 63 00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:28,864 creates a water world swimming with all sorts of tiny creatures. 64 00:09:34,741 --> 00:09:37,161 Including one of the planet's oldest. 65 00:09:40,414 --> 00:09:43,384 Tadpole shrimps have lived in tiny ponds like this 66 00:09:44,418 --> 00:09:47,668 since they were created by the feet of dinosaurs. 67 00:09:57,222 --> 00:10:01,442 Just days after the rain, the whole savannah flushes green. 68 00:10:04,855 --> 00:10:06,855 As animals begin to gorge... 69 00:10:08,275 --> 00:10:10,485 it has enormous consequences. 70 00:10:27,503 --> 00:10:30,633 There's no way an elephant shrew can move this mess. 71 00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:34,550 But help is here. 72 00:10:36,178 --> 00:10:39,008 Dung beetles are onto a fresh pile in seconds... 73 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,560 hoping to make off with a share of the spoils 74 00:10:41,642 --> 00:10:43,852 before competition arrives. 75 00:10:50,609 --> 00:10:52,439 This ball is very precious. 76 00:10:56,156 --> 00:11:00,616 His food and his hopes of winning a mate, all rolled into one. 77 00:11:11,380 --> 00:11:15,680 In this tiny world, a single step can be a setback. 78 00:11:18,512 --> 00:11:21,602 And a whole stampede can be a disaster. 79 00:11:24,852 --> 00:11:30,362 Over a million wildebeest and zebra, the greatest migration on land. 80 00:11:33,819 --> 00:11:38,949 The promise of fresh grass driving them on... right this way. 81 00:11:43,328 --> 00:11:45,958 Crowned plovers nest out on the open savannah. 82 00:11:49,001 --> 00:11:52,171 This female's new clutch is in danger of being trampled. 83 00:11:57,676 --> 00:11:59,136 Only ankle-height, 84 00:12:00,095 --> 00:12:02,555 she's not afraid to stand up to a gazelle. 85 00:12:14,860 --> 00:12:18,490 But a herd of wildebeest is unstoppable. 86 00:12:39,551 --> 00:12:43,101 Amazingly, all of her eggs are unbroken, 87 00:12:45,098 --> 00:12:47,308 but it's still a month before they hatch. 88 00:12:55,234 --> 00:12:57,954 The elephant shrew's tracks took more of a beating. 89 00:13:09,957 --> 00:13:12,287 It's time for some highway maintenance. 90 00:13:47,953 --> 00:13:49,163 Back in the fast lane. 91 00:14:07,181 --> 00:14:11,441 As the herds graze on grass, giraffes look to the trees. 92 00:14:23,447 --> 00:14:25,987 The acacias are flush with fresh leaves. 93 00:14:26,617 --> 00:14:28,487 Protected by long thorns. 94 00:14:31,872 --> 00:14:34,792 They are little use against a half-meter-long tongue. 95 00:14:44,134 --> 00:14:46,764 But the tree has a second line of defense. 96 00:15:01,860 --> 00:15:04,950 An army of acacia ants swarm to the rescue. 97 00:15:10,369 --> 00:15:14,329 Attacking any part of the giraffe they can sink their jaws into. 98 00:15:25,217 --> 00:15:27,217 Until it finally moves on. 99 00:15:30,013 --> 00:15:34,523 The acacia grows special swollen thorns to house its loyal army. 100 00:15:40,482 --> 00:15:44,362 And ant-sized cups filled with nectar to keep them fed. 101 00:15:47,573 --> 00:15:52,083 By working together, little creatures can stand up to giants. 102 00:16:00,335 --> 00:16:03,205 But sometimes, it's better to run. 103 00:16:07,259 --> 00:16:09,299 Sharp, slicing tusks, 104 00:16:10,095 --> 00:16:12,555 150 kilos of muscle... 105 00:16:16,185 --> 00:16:17,685 A warthog is imposing. 106 00:16:21,690 --> 00:16:24,990 And this mongoose knows just what it's after. 107 00:16:29,865 --> 00:16:31,275 A little pampering. 108 00:16:40,792 --> 00:16:44,212 The boldest mongoose gets the pick of the juiciest ticks. 109 00:16:49,301 --> 00:16:53,561 As the rest of the team join, the warthog gets a thorough grooming. 110 00:17:07,611 --> 00:17:11,241 Soon, more clients are trotting into the mongoose spa. 111 00:17:31,051 --> 00:17:34,891 The mongoose even mark returning customers as their territory. 112 00:17:39,351 --> 00:17:41,101 Those small and smart enough 113 00:17:41,895 --> 00:17:45,475 work even the most intimidating animals to their advantage. 114 00:17:58,537 --> 00:18:01,537 Oxpeckers can reach the highest of prizes. 115 00:18:04,418 --> 00:18:08,168 And use their sharp beaks to pick off parasites. 116 00:18:10,465 --> 00:18:14,965 When one host has had enough, they move on to the next. 117 00:18:23,395 --> 00:18:26,435 Oxpeckers get almost all their food on the hoof. 118 00:18:42,247 --> 00:18:47,037 With a bit of ingenuity and a very strong stomach, 119 00:18:50,923 --> 00:18:53,433 little animals make the most of the migration. 120 00:19:03,477 --> 00:19:06,767 But the predators that follow can be more of a challenge. 121 00:19:10,192 --> 00:19:12,402 The plover's eggs have just hatched. 122 00:19:14,279 --> 00:19:16,529 Her chick is still finding its feet... 123 00:19:17,741 --> 00:19:19,241 ...in a dangerous world. 124 00:19:36,218 --> 00:19:38,718 Jackals are opportunistic hunters. 125 00:19:45,435 --> 00:19:46,765 And the smaller the animal, 126 00:19:49,106 --> 00:19:50,686 the easier the prey. 127 00:19:59,658 --> 00:20:00,868 A desperate move. 128 00:20:02,744 --> 00:20:06,584 The brave mother does all she can to draw the attention to herself... 129 00:20:07,374 --> 00:20:08,714 and away from her chick. 130 00:20:19,887 --> 00:20:23,767 As long as it doesn't move, it's almost invisible. 131 00:20:32,107 --> 00:20:34,397 But biting ants are hard to ignore. 132 00:20:56,215 --> 00:20:58,215 Mom creates a diversion. 133 00:21:11,271 --> 00:21:14,651 Distracting the jackal just enough. 134 00:21:21,490 --> 00:21:24,200 But she will have to keep protecting her chick 135 00:21:24,284 --> 00:21:26,204 until the migration moves on. 136 00:21:32,709 --> 00:21:35,669 The herds are being plagued by a mini migration 137 00:21:35,754 --> 00:21:37,594 that follows them everywhere. 138 00:21:39,591 --> 00:21:42,721 Swarms of flies agitate the larger animals. 139 00:21:47,516 --> 00:21:50,436 But in the tiny world, it's a movable feast. 140 00:21:53,897 --> 00:21:58,107 And away from the herds, isolated on rocky outcrops, 141 00:21:58,443 --> 00:22:01,613 agama lizards wait for the food to come to them. 142 00:22:25,679 --> 00:22:28,219 Most of the time, it's a bit hit-and-miss. 143 00:22:41,612 --> 00:22:44,202 So, when a bigger opportunity presents itself... 144 00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:47,701 they have to grab it. 145 00:22:55,125 --> 00:22:57,785 Lions come here to rest in the heat of the day. 146 00:23:04,885 --> 00:23:07,345 And with them come flies. 147 00:23:08,388 --> 00:23:09,388 Lots of them. 148 00:23:22,528 --> 00:23:24,658 Fortune favors the brave. 149 00:23:27,407 --> 00:23:29,487 But best not to wake a sleeping lion. 150 00:23:35,499 --> 00:23:38,249 Maybe there's a less direct approach. 151 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,490 It's amazing what you get away with when you're small. 152 00:24:39,771 --> 00:24:42,071 But when flying in the face of danger... 153 00:24:48,488 --> 00:24:49,698 don't push your luck. 154 00:25:05,005 --> 00:25:08,625 As the land dries, the herds move on. 155 00:25:28,654 --> 00:25:30,784 Some won't be sad to see them gone. 156 00:25:35,077 --> 00:25:36,287 Peace is returning. 157 00:25:42,251 --> 00:25:44,631 The elephant shrew has the run of the place again. 158 00:25:48,674 --> 00:25:50,974 Hunting insects at high speed... 159 00:25:52,511 --> 00:25:54,181 and nothing to stop her. 160 00:25:59,726 --> 00:26:01,306 As the seasons roll on... 161 00:26:02,563 --> 00:26:04,233 new challenges lie ahead. 162 00:26:23,250 --> 00:26:27,380 A dried-out elephant footprint really could be the end of the road. 163 00:26:34,303 --> 00:26:36,223 But this little beetle is strong. 164 00:26:37,931 --> 00:26:40,561 He can lift ten times his own weight. 165 00:26:54,156 --> 00:26:57,866 And now with the herds gone, he can't afford to lose this ball. 166 00:27:15,052 --> 00:27:17,642 His Herculean effort has paid off. 167 00:27:22,059 --> 00:27:26,609 A female, ready to share his most treasured possession... 168 00:27:28,899 --> 00:27:30,149 and be his mate. 169 00:27:38,283 --> 00:27:40,493 Life is good for the mongoose too. 170 00:27:44,414 --> 00:27:46,464 At least, most of the time. 171 00:27:57,761 --> 00:28:01,391 A single mongoose could easily fall victim to a cobra. 172 00:28:03,183 --> 00:28:04,603 But when they stand together... 173 00:28:06,854 --> 00:28:09,194 this little gang is unbeatable. 174 00:28:22,244 --> 00:28:24,454 And now they've got new recruits. 175 00:28:27,624 --> 00:28:28,884 Still only a month old, 176 00:28:30,544 --> 00:28:32,254 but in just three more, 177 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,220 they'll be fully-fledged members of the team. 178 00:28:40,888 --> 00:28:43,848 Even up against the biggest migration on Earth, 179 00:28:44,266 --> 00:28:49,306 tiny heroes don't just survive, they thrive. 180 00:28:52,983 --> 00:28:55,823 The savannah is the land of legends. 181 00:28:58,488 --> 00:28:59,988 And as it turns out, 182 00:29:00,782 --> 00:29:05,662 some of the greatest stories here... are tiny.