0:00:02 > 0:00:04My name's Steve Backshall.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10And this is Deadly Pole To Pole.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Ohhh!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14From the top of the world to the bottom.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Whoa!
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Deadly places.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Deadly adventures.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20And deadly animals.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26And you're coming with me, every step of the way!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Argh!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33This is the Pantanal.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35It's a wetland habitat right in the middle of Brazil
0:00:35 > 0:00:38and it's home to more monster jaws
0:00:38 > 0:00:41and claws than just about any other place on the planet.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48The Pantanal is a wildlife seeker's paradise with many
0:00:48 > 0:00:51of the true jewels of Latin America sharing the lakes,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54lagoons, rivers and swamps.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56It's more than 7,000 miles from where
0:00:56 > 0:00:58I started my journey in the Arctic circle.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Whilst here, I head out on a hunt for the Pantanal's
0:01:04 > 0:01:06top predator.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09My heart is just going bam-bam-bam, bam-bam, bam-bam.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Do my best to talk
0:01:11 > 0:01:13to the animals.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15HE GARGLES
0:01:16 > 0:01:20And, have the encounter of a lifetime.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21I'm so excited!
0:01:26 > 0:01:29But first, I'm off to investigate a cold-blooded assassin.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39The Yacare caiman.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Caiman are ambush hunters.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47They feed on a range of animals, including fish, turtles, and snakes.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50They lie in wait
0:01:50 > 0:01:52for unsuspecting prey to come to them...
0:01:54 > 0:01:57..kill it with a crunch, then swallow it whole.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05I want to show you how caiman
0:02:05 > 0:02:08catch fish in these Pantanal waters.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Let's check out their assets up close.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17There's the distinctive shape of a quite decent-sized caiman
0:02:17 > 0:02:18heading across the river towards us.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I think my best plan is to clamber round the bank,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24to just over here into the shallow water and then sit there with
0:02:24 > 0:02:26the underwater camera and see if we can get a shot.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38OK, so I'm going to move into the water really,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40really carefully.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42I don't want to spook him
0:02:42 > 0:02:45but I also don't want to stir up the visibility
0:02:45 > 0:02:48because if I can't see him then this could get dangerous.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57One metre...there.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Right, now, let's try and see if we can get him
0:03:04 > 0:03:06right in front of my lens.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08We're using a fish to splash on
0:03:08 > 0:03:11the water and keep the caiman's attention.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14You can see how stealthy they really are.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Oh, it's such a creepy sight.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24I mean, I know that Yacare caiman are not man-eaters...
0:03:25 > 0:03:27..but he's a good size...
0:03:29 > 0:03:34..and as with all crocodiles the great secret to his strategy
0:03:34 > 0:03:41is minimal exposure, is having the least amount of its body exposed.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Though they're not aggressive to human beings, he could certainly
0:03:45 > 0:03:47do me some serious damage.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52So, I just want to be very, very careful how I interact with him.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54They're very efficient, moving slowly
0:03:54 > 0:03:57until they're within striking distance.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59The river here is so murky
0:03:59 > 0:04:02that if it came at me underwater I simply wouldn't
0:04:02 > 0:04:04be able to see him approaching.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08And this is a part of their deadly ambush strategy.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Yes, go on, take it!
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Well, that is as close as I'm comfortable being
0:04:21 > 0:04:23to a big caiman like this.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Yes!
0:04:34 > 0:04:35Fantastic!
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Having seen their stealth approach up close,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I now want to see their speedy
0:04:41 > 0:04:43feeding strike in more detail.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47And to do this, we need to find a spot
0:04:47 > 0:04:50where the caiman and their prey are bunched together.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55We were crossing over this bridge
0:04:55 > 0:04:57when we noticed the commotion in the water below. It looks like
0:04:57 > 0:05:02the water's boiling, it's churning over, and that's the reason why.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08There are dozens and dozens of caiman down there.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I'm guessing that this pool was once much, much bigger and it's shrunk
0:05:12 > 0:05:15as it started to dry up and trapped loads
0:05:15 > 0:05:18and loads of fish inside and the caiman are having an absolute feast.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Let's see if we can try and get a shot.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27We're filming both in slow motion
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and real-time to see if we can capture the caiman's
0:05:30 > 0:05:33bite strike in great detail.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37The caiman's skull is laden with teeth
0:05:37 > 0:05:40and you can see when it's slowed down,
0:05:40 > 0:05:4216 times slower than real life,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45how the caiman's ambush strike really works.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53It reacts to the movement of fish in the water
0:05:53 > 0:05:57and snaps out to the side, trapping its prey.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00The reason they're so successful is
0:06:00 > 0:06:02that they can go for long periods of time without eating,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05they can fast and use up very, very little energy and then
0:06:05 > 0:06:08when they get a situation like this where there's an enormous amount
0:06:08 > 0:06:12of food they can gorge themselves,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14and that's exactly what's happening now.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Their teeth are adapted to keeping hold of these slippery snacks.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25So, once the fish is encased there's no escape.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31You beauty!
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Sharp snatching, super sensitive and armour plated,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Yacare caiman are without doubt...deadly!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43With their powerful bite...
0:06:45 > 0:06:46..large teeth...
0:06:48 > 0:06:53..and ambush strike, there's no doubt about it,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55caimans are cunning killers of Central Brazil.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Deadly!
0:07:01 > 0:07:06Caiman are everywhere here, so inevitably they end up as prey
0:07:06 > 0:07:08for other predators.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11One of the most ruthless is our next target.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14This morning we're up before dawn
0:07:14 > 0:07:17because we're going in search of one of South America's
0:07:17 > 0:07:19top carnivores and this is when they're most active.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23This is an animal that can take on creatures as big as anaconda,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26caiman, piranha, and the way they work together as a team,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30and their teeth, mean that local people call them the river wolf.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Known for their teamwork, the animal we're after is a real
0:07:36 > 0:07:39surprise terror of the river
0:07:39 > 0:07:41and everyone's got their eyes peeled
0:07:41 > 0:07:43for any sign of them.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51So in alongside where we've just pulled up now there's
0:07:51 > 0:07:57vegetation overhanging the water and this is absolutely perfect.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00They could well be underneath here fishing.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02There's movement in the water.
0:08:02 > 0:08:03I just heard it!
0:08:04 > 0:08:05GRUNTING
0:08:08 > 0:08:11We catch glimpses in amongst the bushes but there's no way
0:08:11 > 0:08:14we'll be able to get a proper view of them through this.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21There's a little trick.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Because these are such inquisitive creatures,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28sometimes making sounds can entice them to come out into the open,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and one of the best sounds to make is a gargle.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35HE GARGLES
0:08:41 > 0:08:44HE GARGLES
0:08:48 > 0:08:50They're interested...
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Then they come out into the open, it worked!
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Here, here, here, coming alongside,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57swimming in our direction.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00This is the animal we've been searching for,
0:09:00 > 0:09:02the giant river otter.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04They can travel at incredible speeds
0:09:04 > 0:09:07weaving in and out of the vegetation.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11HE GARGLES
0:09:13 > 0:09:15OTTER GRUNTS
0:09:18 > 0:09:20They are incredibly big animals!
0:09:20 > 0:09:23They're so strong and powerful.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Their teeth are probably as long as my little finger.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30It's no surprise, really, that working together
0:09:30 > 0:09:33they can take on crocodiles and big snakes.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35They're just coming out of the water, popping their heads up,
0:09:35 > 0:09:40almost like seals looking back towards us. Yes, look at that!
0:09:41 > 0:09:44A fearsome family of hunters on the move.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Like all otters, giant river otters
0:09:52 > 0:09:56are sleek, sinuous, elegant, beautiful.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00They even look cuddly, but to underestimate them would be
0:10:00 > 0:10:02a terrible mistake!
0:10:02 > 0:10:06This is one of the fiercest and most efficient hunters on the planet.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Patrolling the river in packs,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14they're some of the mightiest predators in the Pantanal...
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and also some of the most ferocious.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21They can take down feisty caiman and also
0:10:21 > 0:10:23feast on packs of piranhas.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31But right now they're showing off their playful side.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33They're just mucking about, socialising,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35they're rolling around in the sandy bank.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38The youngsters, there's some very young cubs here,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42are just slaloming up and down through the sand into the water
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and back up into the shade again.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Out of the water, you can see the size of these animals.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Adult males can grow as long as I am tall...and their muscly bodies,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56strong legs and paddle-like tail make them
0:10:56 > 0:10:59expert at high-speed underwater pursuits.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06These giant river otters detect their prey using sensitive whiskers
0:11:06 > 0:11:09that allow them to pinpoint it in even the murkiest of water.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Once they've located their target,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15it does not stand a chance.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Their teeth are perfect for grabbing wet, slippery,
0:11:18 > 0:11:23wriggling prey. Even their play has deadly potential.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28The skills they use to hunt are learnt through play fighting,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30just like this.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32What they're doing is they're exercising
0:11:32 > 0:11:34the muscles and the sinews.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36The skills that they'll need to be able to catch their food
0:11:36 > 0:11:37in later life.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I know that this is them at their absolute most playful and perhaps
0:11:43 > 0:11:46their least deadly but we're never going to get
0:11:46 > 0:11:47a better view than this.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50And you have to say that this animal with its teeth, with its teamwork,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53with its ability to work the riverside, killing
0:11:53 > 0:11:56everything in its path is definitely deadly.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Speedy underwater swimmers...
0:12:03 > 0:12:05..with super-sensitive whiskers...
0:12:07 > 0:12:11..sharp teeth capable of dispatching slippery prey...
0:12:11 > 0:12:14giant river otters, the pack hunters of the Pantanal.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Deadly!
0:12:18 > 0:12:19But if I am honest,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23this has all been a warm-up for the main event,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25my deadly nemesis.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Anyone who spends any time searching for wildlife is going to have
0:12:31 > 0:12:34a nemesis, an animal that no matter what they do
0:12:34 > 0:12:35they just can't find.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I've spent literally months searching for this animal
0:12:38 > 0:12:39and never caught a glimpse
0:12:39 > 0:12:42but hopefully my luck is about to change
0:12:42 > 0:12:45because the Pantanal is the best place in the world to see
0:12:45 > 0:12:50the dynamic, dramatic, iconic big cat, the jaguar.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57A wild jaguar is the only animal that we've
0:12:57 > 0:13:01tried to see on all three previous Deadly series...
0:13:01 > 0:13:04and failed.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05HE BARKS
0:13:10 > 0:13:12This is my final chance.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18We've got four days to try and catch a glimpse of this majestic beast,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and the Pantanal is certainly a beautiful place to be searching.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28The river looks incredible this morning with all the mist
0:13:28 > 0:13:29hanging over the water.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32It looks like we're heading into some forgotten world.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39Early morning is prime time as these big, beautiful cats
0:13:39 > 0:13:42tend to be more active in the cooler parts of the day.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Our guide, Ailton, is going to take us
0:13:46 > 0:13:47to his best spots.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55But even with his help, seeing one is going to take patience
0:13:55 > 0:13:57and is by no means guaranteed.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03It's not just that I am incredibly unlucky, jaguars genuinely are very,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06very difficult to see and there are many reasons for that.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09One of those is that this is a creature of the shadows.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13They're fabulously camouflaged and expert at not being seen
0:14:13 > 0:14:15but also they are rare
0:14:15 > 0:14:18and one of the reasons for that is persecution by human beings.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Thankfully, now, they're starting to make a comeback
0:14:21 > 0:14:22and here in the Pantanal
0:14:22 > 0:14:25we have a really good chance of seeing them.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Or so I've been told!
0:14:28 > 0:14:33There's certainly plenty of prey around, which is promising.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Jaguars will hunt a whole range of animals,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39from caiman through to capybara.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Right now these two are especially alert because they have two
0:14:45 > 0:14:48very young babies, which makes them even more vulnerable.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52You can see them standing up, the ears are erect, listening out,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54watching, smelling for any potential danger.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00There's nothing we can do to attract the jaguars to come to us -
0:15:00 > 0:15:02we just have to patrol the rivers,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05scanning the banks for one of these camouflaged cats,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08as well as looking out for other tracks and signs.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Oh! Oh, guys, come and have a look at this!
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Come and have a look at this!
0:15:25 > 0:15:26HE LAUGHS
0:15:26 > 0:15:29I...I don't quite know
0:15:29 > 0:15:33how to get across the excitement that I feel right now
0:15:33 > 0:15:38because I've been waiting for this for a very, very long time.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41That is a jaguar print, and not only that,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45but it's a male jaguar print and a big one at that.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Um...I'm so excited,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I...I can't even really control myself.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55I mean, when I say that I've been looking for months
0:15:55 > 0:15:58to try and find a jaguar, that is no exaggeration,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01and they've been hard months, months in the jungle,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05sweating, covered in bugs, and I haven't even come close.
0:16:05 > 0:16:12BUT all of a sudden I have my first absolute evidence of jaguar.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I can't believe it, I cannot believe it.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18My first ever jaguar track.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Yes!
0:16:25 > 0:16:26With plenty of tracks around,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29this is an ideal place to put up some camera traps.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34The more traps we put up,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37the greater our chances of capturing a cat.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50So that is going to be our eyes in the forest for the next few days.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00With the final camera trap set, day one is almost over.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05We've not managed to catch a glimpse of a big cat so far,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07but as dusk falls
0:17:07 > 0:17:10we do spot another incredible creature of the Pantanal.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15Flying alongside us now
0:17:15 > 0:17:18is something I never thought I'd see in daylight hours.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20They're fishing bats -
0:17:20 > 0:17:22they're easily keeping pace with our boat,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25flying alongside us and just dipping in
0:17:25 > 0:17:27and snatching fish from below the surface of the water.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Amazing!
0:17:31 > 0:17:32Just amazing.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37It's a wonderful sight,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40but we'd love to see that feeding in more detail.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46So once it gets dark we break out the Deadly tech
0:17:46 > 0:17:47to catch these bats in action.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Of all of the 1,000-odd species of bat found around the world,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I think this is one of the most unusual methods
0:17:56 > 0:17:57of catching its food.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02These bats snatch their supper
0:18:02 > 0:18:04from the surface of the water with ease.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09The only thing is it happens too fast for our eyes to appreciate,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11so I think it's time to slow things down a bit.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13What I'm going to do is throw out
0:18:13 > 0:18:17some little pieces of vegetation out onto the water,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21I'm hoping that a fishing bat will come down, try and snatch it,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and at that precise moment Mike's going to fire off this camera
0:18:24 > 0:18:26and we're going to see it all slowed right down.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Tempting a bat in is not easy -
0:18:31 > 0:18:35we need to make the stick create a similar ripple to a fish.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38Yes! Fire, fire, fire.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40What do you think?
0:18:41 > 0:18:43All right, let's have a look back on what we've got.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46So there...
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Oh, my word, that's beautiful! That is absolutely beautiful.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53I can't believe you got that!
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Fantastic - classic.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00As the bat came in, it dropped its feet down,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03trailed them through the water
0:19:03 > 0:19:05and they're almost like an osprey's talons,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07they're long and curved
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and they caught a hold of that tiny piece of stick,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13drew it up and it just carried on flying.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Well done, mate, well done.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19That was really good. It was really good.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Did you see it?
0:19:23 > 0:19:25The bats capture such tiny items
0:19:25 > 0:19:30by echolocating the wake that's created at the surface of the water.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Once they've pinpointed the spot,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34they fly down and grab the fish.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38It's an incredible method of catching your food.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45This has certainly lifted our spirits
0:19:45 > 0:19:48after a disappointing time jaguar searching.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56For the next two days, we scour the riverbank,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58searching for any sign of jaguars,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00but don't get a single glimpse.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07It's beginning to get frustrating - the jaguar remains my nemesis.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11We're running out of time to find one of these majestic cats.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14I really am beginning to think that I'm cursed.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Maybe I'm never going to see a jaguar.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22So this is our very last day,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25so we're up even earlier than before,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27so early, in fact, that we've all brought breakfast with us.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31This is absolute zero hour - if we don't find a jaguar today,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33then I know for sure that I am totally cursed
0:20:33 > 0:20:37and I am never, ever in my life going to see one.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39- But everyone's feeling positive, right?- Yeah.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- All feeling positive? - Absolutely.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52We motor along the river,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54but don't catch a sight of the big cat
0:20:54 > 0:20:57so decide to check out the footage on the camera traps
0:20:57 > 0:20:58from the last few days.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Time to see who's been walking these trails.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17Right.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Oh, it's a curacao -
0:21:20 > 0:21:25they've got a very kind of curious, punky hairstyle
0:21:25 > 0:21:28and this one's pecking around right in front of the camera.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30What else have we got?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Otters!
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Fantastic, look at that!
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Giant river otters.
0:21:37 > 0:21:43Two adults, wandering right through, heading down towards the river.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44What's this?
0:21:45 > 0:21:47It's at night...
0:21:47 > 0:21:48Oh...
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Ocelot!
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Ocelot, fantastic!
0:21:54 > 0:21:59And it's coming right down into the shot, that is stunning.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'This is a really lucky spot.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04'Ocelots are stealthy stalkers like the jaguar,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07'and probably even rarer to see.'
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Well, it's a great find,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13but it's not the spotted cat we were after
0:22:13 > 0:22:19and this is now starting to get really, really frustrating.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23We are very, very close to the end of our trip here
0:22:23 > 0:22:26and nothing on the camera traps.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31My team, though, don't give up easy.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33So it's back to the boats.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Our driver has gone into absolute overdrive
0:22:42 > 0:22:46because we've had a call that a jaguar's been spotted upstream.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49This could be our big chance.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05AN ANIMAL YELPS
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Those barking sounds are alarm calls from capybara.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14My heart is just going bam-bam-bam, bam-bam-bam-bam,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17and I know that those capybara are, too.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20They're probably in the river because a jaguar was hunting them.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22It might still be close by.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- The jaguar is here, can you see it? - I can see it, I can see it, yes.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33It's a jaguar, a jaguar.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38There's a jaguar over there, over there, under that tree.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43This is amazing.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46The biggest carnivore of this part of the world
0:23:46 > 0:23:48is wandering along the bank ahead of us.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51There!
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I can't believe it, my first ever jaguar!
0:23:59 > 0:24:04Such a majestic animal, it stalks with such grace.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05Simply beautiful.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09This is the King of Cats.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17'We lose sight of the jaguar
0:24:17 > 0:24:19'and I fear that, after four days of searching,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21'that might be our only glimpse.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28'But then she settles down and allows us a glorious view.'
0:24:30 > 0:24:31Well, the jaguar's stopped hunting
0:24:31 > 0:24:35and has sat right on the riverbank under a tree and she's grooming.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39She's using that rasping tongue to clean her fur.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44The tongue is incredibly coarse - they can use it to lick meat
0:24:44 > 0:24:47off the bones of their prey once they've killed it,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51and now she's licking her paws, those huge paws
0:24:51 > 0:24:55which are used as the weapon for taking down its prey.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59'Inside each of those paws are sharp claws.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01'She has the potential to be so deadly,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03'but is also stunning.'
0:25:05 > 0:25:07That's a staggeringly beautiful animal.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12After so many years looking for one of these wonderful creatures,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14we've finally done it!
0:25:14 > 0:25:17And then, things get even better.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20We get a call from another boat
0:25:20 > 0:25:23that a different jaguar's been spotted upstream.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24This is mind-blowing -
0:25:24 > 0:25:27the Deadly luck has really come through.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30The guys on the main boat radioed us
0:25:30 > 0:25:32to say that they've seen a jaguar down here at...
0:25:32 > 0:25:36My goodness, it's standing right on the bank...
0:25:36 > 0:25:38out in the open, and this is a big animal.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42It's a male, it's a male jaguar.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47That is absolutely stunning.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53This is pretty much every wildlife watcher's dream -
0:25:53 > 0:25:58to sit with a wild jaguar just metres away on a bank
0:25:58 > 0:26:01and it clearly doesn't care at all that we're here.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04'This jaguar has been radio collared by scientists,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06'but it's still a wild animal,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09'roaming the Pantanal in search of prey.'
0:26:09 > 0:26:13I mean, looking at this animal, he is really powerfully built,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16he's kind of like a heavyweight boxer.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17Some of these jaguars,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21the males have been known to be almost double my bodyweight.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23For its size, pound for pound,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25it's possibly the most powerful animal on earth
0:26:25 > 0:26:30and with all of that heaviness comes an immense amount of force.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33'A force that makes them incredible hunters.'
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Look at that - he's testing his teeth on...on the branch.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43'With its mighty jaw muscles,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46'this jaguar could easily break through the skull
0:26:46 > 0:26:47'of its target animals.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53'And I can't believe I've got this close at last.'
0:26:54 > 0:26:56It is so often the way with wildlife -
0:26:56 > 0:27:01after all these years of searching, two in a morning.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05It's kind of like all my dreams coming true at once.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08I guess the jaguar isn't my nemesis any more.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13The jaguar, with the ability to melt into the shadows -
0:27:13 > 0:27:16iconic, beautiful and deadly.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21With their camouflaged coat...
0:27:23 > 0:27:24..their ambush attack...
0:27:26 > 0:27:28..and skull-piercing bite...
0:27:30 > 0:27:33..jaguars are the Pantanal's most perfect predator.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Deadly!
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Join me next time as I continue my journey on Deadly Pole To Pole.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48I'm so excited!
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Deadly!