0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to my Nightmares of Nature.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10I'm Naomi Wilkinson,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and I'm coming face to face with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19The ones that make your spine tingle...
0:00:19 > 0:00:21SHE SCREAMS
0:00:21 > 0:00:23..your heart beat faster...
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Woo-hoo!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..and your blood run cold.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28What's that noise?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Are they truly terrifying?
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Or is there a twist in the tale?
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Argh!
0:00:33 > 0:00:35SHE LAUGHS
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Come with me as I shine a light on wildlife's deepest, darkest secrets.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Ooh!
0:00:42 > 0:00:45And see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The backdrop might give away where we're going to be
0:00:50 > 0:00:52for this episode of Nightmares Of Nature.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55That is Cape Town's famous Table Mountain.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58We're going to be exploring this area
0:00:58 > 0:01:01and all around the southern tip of South Africa.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05It's a region that's famous for its stunning views,
0:01:05 > 0:01:07rugged peaks and beautiful coastline.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12There's a wealth of wildlife here and of course plenty of nightmares.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15I'll be meeting a prickly prospect,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18delving deep underground,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21and having an alarming encounter with a lethal critter.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26But first, it's a spooky start in a sinister setting.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33I'm in a cemetery, at night, with only the crew for company.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34OWL HOOTS
0:01:36 > 0:01:38And as if that wasn't creepy enough,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I'm about to go searching for
0:01:40 > 0:01:44something that emerges from underground.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I think I could be in for a scary night.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Mwa-ha-ha ha-ha ha-ha ha!
0:01:50 > 0:01:54The buried beasts we'll be searching for are called rain frogs,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57and, actually, we're not completely alone.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59We're with wildlife expert Atherton,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02who'll try and help us find what we're looking for.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I normally expect to find frogs around ponds, not in graveyards.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Yeah, these are burrowing frogs,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11so they specialise in living underground.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14So how are we going to find them if they're underground?
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Well, the rain will bring them to the surface
0:02:16 > 0:02:18and then we'll scratch around with these sticks,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20and hopefully we'll find one.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22OK. So if we get the rain, they're likely to come out?
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- Yes. That's correct. - So shall I take one of these sticks?
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Yeah, you can take one of those and we can start searching.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Let's go hunting for rain frogs.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32They live up to 15cm underground,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35so we'll be gently digging for them with our sticks,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38as well as listening out for their distinctive call.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39There we go, there we go!
0:02:39 > 0:02:41SHE GASPS
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- That's one.- Did you hear it?- Listen.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44FROG CROAKS
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Ja.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47Brr!
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Unfortunately, that one is too far away,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53and it's calling too infrequently to be able to hone in on it.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55In wetter weather, they all call at once,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57so they're much easier to find.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- We need some rain, don't we?- Yes.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Think we need to do a rain dance, encourage some rain.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Hum a haha, hum a haha, come on rain!
0:03:06 > 0:03:07HE LAUGHS
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Maybe not.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'Well, there's no rain just yet, despite my efforts.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16'But there are some other creatures hiding out here.'
0:03:16 > 0:03:17SHE GASPS
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Oh! A little gecko there,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23hidden in the bark of the tree.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Isn't that incredible camouflage?
0:03:26 > 0:03:30'Our soil searching isn't proving completely fruitless.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Oh, what have you found?
0:03:32 > 0:03:33- That's...- Scorpion!
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We're not finding frogs but we're finding scorpions.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- Oh, wow!- Look at that.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41He's lovely, I like him.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46'Still no frogs, though. They're not even calling any more.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49'It seems that the weather really isn't on our side.'
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Oh!
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- Oh, it's a pine cone. - SHE LAUGHS
0:03:53 > 0:03:55OK, we're starting to see things now.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57We're not having much luck, are we?
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I fear we're missing the magic ingredient of rain.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Most definitely so.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05'Well, sadly, we didn't see any emerging here,
0:04:05 > 0:04:06'but I am going to meet one.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11'Atherton recently rescued an injured rain frog found locally.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It's a large female. Look at that.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:17There she is.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18SHE LAUGHS
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Oopsie!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22What a peculiar-looking frog!
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- See that.- So rotund. Wow!
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Note the short, stubby limbs.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30It's just a complete ball!
0:04:30 > 0:04:32- Would you like to hold it? - Yeah, I'll hold it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Oh, ho-ho ho! You're a fat little frog.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38So it's got a flat face, no real head.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42You see they're well adapted for a life underground.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44See, they have a little, hard tubercle on the heel.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Oh, underneath. Oh, I see. Like a big callous or something.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Yeah, that's right. They use that for digging.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And it doesn't have webbed toes.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- No, they don't need webbed toes cos they...- They don't swim.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56They don't swim.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01Yes, you heard right - these freaky frogs can't swim!
0:05:01 > 0:05:03They spend most of their lives underground,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06but, like all frogs, they need water to survive,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08so they emerge en masse when it rains.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Their alternate life means
0:05:10 > 0:05:13they're a rather different shape to other frogs.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15They have flat faces, an upside down smile,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19and their legs are so short and stubby, they can't even hop.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Because of their bizarre build,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24the males can't embrace the females, so when they want to mate,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28they exude a glue, and physically stick themselves together!
0:05:29 > 0:05:32What a crazy-looking frog!
0:05:32 > 0:05:35This one was found in the road with a bit of damage on it,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- and it's undergoing rehabilitation at the moment.- Aw!
0:05:38 > 0:05:40So are you going to release it back into the wild?
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Yes, when fully recovered, we'll release it back into its habitat.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50You can see why it wouldn't be able to move very quickly.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- Yes.- Those short little legs.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56Well, she's a particularly ugly headless frog,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00that can't hop, can't swim, and this one lives in a cemetery.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04So, definitely a nightmare, if nothing else but to itself!
0:06:04 > 0:06:07But I have to admit, I find it pretty cute,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09with its sad little face.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But whether it'll be my worst nightmare, I can't decide.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Oh!
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We have come to this stunning location near Cape Town,
0:06:29 > 0:06:30it is a beautiful day,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32I'm not quite sure why I'm here, though.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I'm hoping it's so I can stand around and watch these
0:06:35 > 0:06:38southern right whales that we've spotted out in the ocean.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Maybe I've got a day off.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41Oh.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Maybe not.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44"Put these on."
0:06:44 > 0:06:46What?
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Oh, no! I know what this is because I've done it before.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55I fear we are heading into a nightmare environment.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00MUSIC: "I'm Sexy And I Know It" by LMFAO
0:07:05 > 0:07:07# I'm sexy and I know it! #
0:07:13 > 0:07:16'We're going underground for a spot of caving.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24'Accompanying me and my crew is Dr Stephen Craven.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27'He's an experienced caver and a medical doctor,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29'so at least we're in safe hands!'
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Right, let's go.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Keep your head low, everybody.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35Are you guys behind me?
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Stephen's just gone.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44Ohhh! Now I just feel like I'm the first person going in here.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Oh, good grief!
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- Now we get low.- Oh, no.- And this is where you start crawling.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Ooh, well, I can't think of anything I would rather do, Stephen.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- Right, follow me. - I need some knee pads.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59SHE GRUNTS
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Urgh!
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Something here stinks! What's this that I'm lying on?
0:08:04 > 0:08:08- Bat droppings. - Is this bat droppings?
0:08:08 > 0:08:09Small quantity.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14Small quantity?! There's poo - it absolutely pongs!
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Well, you just have a shower when you go home, it's easy.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19'Compared to some,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23'this cave has a relatively small amount of bat poo, or guano,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26'but there's still enough to be getting everywhere.'
0:08:26 > 0:08:28I wish this was smell-o-vision.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Urgh!
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Are you under there?- Yes!
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- How did you get under there? - I crawled under, lying on my belly.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Like you lay on your tummy. - Yes.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Oh.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Caves are definitely not deigned for people like me
0:08:45 > 0:08:47to navigate through. Oof!
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Ow!
0:08:54 > 0:08:56SHE LAUGHS
0:09:03 > 0:09:07Why anyone chooses to do this as a hobby is beyond me.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10'Stephen seems to be in his element here, though,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12'and I really can't imagine why.'
0:09:12 > 0:09:14It's not quite like a nice beach, is it?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17I mean, what about caving do you love,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20because...I just find it quite grim.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24I like looking at the formations, the stalagmites, the stalactites,
0:09:24 > 0:09:30the way the cave is formed, the infinite sizes and shapes,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32tight passages, enormous chambers.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34No two caves are alike.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Hmm. Now, I've heard with bat guano, it can be quite dangerous, can't it?
0:09:39 > 0:09:44In large quantities, yes, guano harbours a lot of fungi,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and that causes my favourite disease.
0:09:49 > 0:09:50Which is?
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Acute benign pulmonary Histoplasmosis.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56- Are we going to be OK today? - Oh, yes.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- This guano we've come in contact with is OK?- Is insufficient.- Right.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- Insufficient guano.- Good to know!
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Good to know, team. We're all right!
0:10:04 > 0:10:06CREW: All right!
0:10:06 > 0:10:09If I'm wrong, I'll add you to my collection!
0:10:12 > 0:10:14'Well, hopefully we'll be OK today.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18'Stephen's keen to convince me that there is an enjoyable side
0:10:18 > 0:10:23'to his hobby, that there is beauty in this underground environment.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26'And it's not just him that's at home here.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28'Lots of animals live in caves,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32'and some of them spend their whole lives in these subterranean worlds.'
0:10:32 > 0:10:34SHE SHUDDERS
0:10:37 > 0:10:41They're host to some of the strangest creatures on the planet.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43'Anything that lives in a cave
0:10:43 > 0:10:46'has to be able to survive in complete darkness.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51'Caves around the world are renowned for harbouring some real nightmares,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53'from hideous giant centipedes,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57'to creepy crustaceans and bizarre blind salamanders.'
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Well, I don't think I'm ever going to be as enthusiastic about caving
0:11:06 > 0:11:10as Dr Craven and some other cavers, but I can understand the excitement,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14that desire to want to find brand new places where no-one has been.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18I can appreciate the sections of beauty inside the caves
0:11:18 > 0:11:22and, of course, they do make perfect homes for some rather odd creatures,
0:11:22 > 0:11:24but I'm sorry, the inside of caves
0:11:24 > 0:11:28are always going to be a nightmare as far as I'm concerned.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30But will they be my worst nightmare?
0:11:38 > 0:11:42'Finally, we're above ground, and back at the coast.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46'I'm at Boulders Beach to look for a pretty unusual inhabitant.'
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Penguins? On the beach?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Now, when I think of penguins,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I always think of them surrounded by snow and icecaps,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07not sunning themselves on a hot African beach!
0:12:07 > 0:12:09But although it does get pretty hot here,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12that's the Atlantic Ocean, so the sea is always cool,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15which is just fine for our African penguins.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18This colony has been here for about 30 years,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and most people love having them here,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24despite their apparent mischievous side!
0:12:27 > 0:12:29SHE LAUGHS
0:12:29 > 0:12:31They do look quite comedy on land,
0:12:31 > 0:12:35but when they dive into the water, they really come into their own.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38They can reach speeds of up to 12 miles an hour,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41they can cover more than 40 miles in one single hunt,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and they can dive to depths of up to 60 metres.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49They feed on small fish like sardines and anchovies,
0:12:49 > 0:12:53but it hasn't always been easy for them to get enough food.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Overfishing has meant fewer fish in the sea for them to feed on,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00so it's harder for them to survive.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04The reason I want to include them is because they're HAVING a nightmare.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Their population has fallen by 90% in 100 years. 90%.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12So I'm going to meet up with some dedicated people
0:13:12 > 0:13:13who are trying to help.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Too much fishing means that penguins have to travel further
0:13:19 > 0:13:22to find food, so lots of chicks are abandoned.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25SANCCOB rescues and rears these chicks,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27then releases them into the wild.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30So this is a seabird rehabilitation centre
0:13:30 > 0:13:32where they care for lots of penguins.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Today, hopefully, I'm going to help them out,
0:13:34 > 0:13:38but before I go inside and make myself useful, I have to kit up.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47There we go, I'm ready.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Here I come, penguins.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54'SANCCOB have treated over 90,000 seabirds since they opened.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57'Candice is one of the volunteers here,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'and I'm going to help her with feeding time.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:07So tell me about this centre, what are you doing here?
0:14:07 > 0:14:10I'm one of the bird rehabilitators
0:14:10 > 0:14:14and, basically, our responsibilities is to take care of the birds.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16There's some hungry little fellas here.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Hello! I haven't got any fish at the minute, mate.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- Can I feed this one anything? He looks hungry.- Yes, you may.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- Just that way?- Yes. - Don't eat my fingers!
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Point the fish to his beak.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29Ooh! Ooh!
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Yeah, he's got it. Well done!
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Why do you think African penguins are in decline?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37I think people didn't really think as we're thinking now.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Conservation wasn't a big thing back then. Only when numbers declined
0:14:40 > 0:14:43did they think more seriously about conserving.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46- Suddenly realised the damage they'd done.- Ja.- Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Here you are. Do you want that?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Ooh!
0:14:51 > 0:14:53There you are.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Bit nervous of that long beak - it looks quite sharp.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58How many birds do you care for in this centre?
0:14:58 > 0:15:03Per year, approximately 2,000, of which 1,000 is African penguins,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06and then we do all other seabirds as well.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09So you're pretty confident that what you're doing here
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- is going to make a difference in the wild?- Absolutely.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17Research has shown that since SANCCOB is in existence,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20numbers have increased dramatically.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24- In the wild?- Yep. - Oh, that is good news.- Ja.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So you're doing a good job. Keep up the good work.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- You look like you love it. - I do. Absolutely love it!
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Look, you've got another hungry customer here.- Are you coming?
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Those ones are all obviously full up, they've gone over there,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40so I think I'll leave you to it. I'm going to go and wash my hands.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Well, I think it would be a real nightmare if Boulders Beach
0:15:47 > 0:15:51didn't have these waddling, charismatic little residents.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55However, with so many people working so hard to care for them,
0:15:55 > 0:15:56things are starting to look up,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00so I'm very hopeful that the situation these penguins are in
0:16:00 > 0:16:03won't end up being my worst nightmare.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11I've never been very good around creepy crawlies, even in the UK,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15and there isn't really anything very dangerous there.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18It's a different story here in South Africa, though.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20It seems almost everything can do you some damage.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Put it this way - I shake out my shoes before I put them on every day
0:16:24 > 0:16:26and that's because there are loads of arachnids
0:16:26 > 0:16:28that love to hide out in dark holes,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31just like the next animal I'm going to meet,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34and it's one that instantly makes everybody shudder -
0:16:34 > 0:16:35the scorpion!
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Hello, Norman.- Hello, Naomi.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- Very nice to meet you. - Good to meet you, too, ja.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49So you've worked with arachnids for more than 25 years, is it?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- That's right.- You must be a big fan.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Ja.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- You've brought one here to show me. - I brought one to show you.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Am I safe to sit this close to it? - Yes, definitely.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07- Wow! What is this one? - This is parabuthus granulatus.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12This scorpion kills four to six people in South Africa every year.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I'm just going to move a little bit further away from it, then.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- Really?- Ja. - And where do they make their homes?
0:17:19 > 0:17:22They normally run around and they will go into any recess.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Just grabs the prey and then it stings them instantly.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- Can you see the stinger there? - Yeah, yeah.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31So that's that bit right on the end of the tail?
0:17:31 > 0:17:33That's the sting there, OK,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37and that little sack over there is the vesical that contains the venom.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41The scorpion doesn't inject very much venom,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43but the venom is very toxic.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45SHE SCREAMS
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I'm just going to go here,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51until you've got him back in the box.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Whoops!
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Oops!
0:17:55 > 0:17:59Phew! That gave me a fright.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01SHE LAUGHS
0:18:01 > 0:18:05- A really nightmarish scorpion running around.- Ja.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- He's feisty. - Frightened little beast.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Is there a way of telling when you find a scorpion how dangerous it is?
0:18:12 > 0:18:17Yes. If you find the small pinchers and it's got this very thick tail.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- That means it's dangerous? - That means it's dangerous, OK.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22It doesn't necessarily mean it's lethal,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24but it's potentially dangerous.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27And the less dangerous ones, how do they look?
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- The less dangerous ones are... - Oh, have you got one?
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I've got one here. I'll just put this onto this side.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Now, if you look at this scorpion over here...
0:18:39 > 0:18:40Oh, he's an unusual colour.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44..it's got big hands, and with these scorpions you can actually,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- so you can actually catch it. - It's making a noise!
0:18:47 > 0:18:49- You can actually... - Is it making a hissing noise?
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It's got the chelicerae there that rubs the two together
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and it makes a ch-ch-ch noise.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- And is that how it eats? - That will break up the prey, ja.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02So this scorpion with big claws and a bigger body
0:19:02 > 0:19:05- is actually less dangerous than that little one over there?- Yeah.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08So this one you can see has got big hands,
0:19:08 > 0:19:13so it actually grabs whatever it wants. It doesn't even try to sting.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15If it did sting you, what would that feel like?
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It would probably just burn a bit,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- something like a bee sting, nothing more.- Nothing more, OK.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Nothing more than that, ja. He's just trying to....
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Is he trying to bite you? - Trying to grab hold of me.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Trying to grab... Oh! Oh, it's totally pierced your skin!
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Oh! Oh, no! How do I help you?
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- That's fine.- Is it all right? - Yeah.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36I was going to say can I hold it, but that's just really put me off.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- No, you can hold it. - No, I really don't want to.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41- Will it do that to me?- It's OK. No, it won't. No, it's fine.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44It will! It just did it to you.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51- Going to come off. - Oh! Argh! It's pinching my skin!
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Doesn't hurt too much, that's OK, that's OK.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55That was just like a pair of tweezers.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Scorpions' claws can look intimidating,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02but they're just used to seize their prey.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05The tail is the dangerous bit,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08because that delivers the lethal venomous blow.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28There's no doubt that scorpions have a sinister appearance.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30They look ancient and daunting,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33but it is really good to know that you can usually tell
0:20:33 > 0:20:37a very dangerous scorpion apart from a relatively harmless one.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41I don't think I'll be picking one up again in a hurry, though.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44They are definitely, definitely a worst nightmare contender.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50This is Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - absolutely stunning,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and pretty hard to imagine
0:20:52 > 0:20:55there could possibly be a nightmare creature living here.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58But if there's anything I'm learning from this series,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01it's that there are nightmares everywhere.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04And here, it's a spiny rodent that comes out at night,
0:21:04 > 0:21:09and can get even big cats and hyenas in a prickly situation -
0:21:09 > 0:21:10the cape porcupine.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13They have rows of needle-sharp spines,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17which they raise up when they feel threatened, doubling their size,
0:21:17 > 0:21:22before darting backwards and sideways towards their tormentors.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Their piercing spines penetrate flesh,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28and can get stuck around predators' mouths and paws.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32These wounds can become septic and even prove fatal.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Now, we really want to try and catch a glimpse of a porcupine
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and, around here, by the garden offices,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43there are lots of signs that they have been here.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46But they are pretty shy, and they've got a very keen sense of smell,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50so they're not going to show up with this stinky lot hanging around.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- WOMAN: Cheers(!) - Is she talking about us?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55We're going to clear off but it's OK as we've got, fortunately,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58some Nightmares technology that we'll tie up to the trees.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59These are camera traps.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03On the front we've got a sensor that's motion-activated,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06so if the porcupine goes by, that will trigger it to start recording.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08That's an infrared light on the top,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11so we can see the animal without disturbing it,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13and there's the camera lens to, fingers crossed,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16capture some perfect porcupine footage.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17So gang, let's get these set up.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'We're putting up four camera traps and leaving them out overnight.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27'That should give us a pretty good chance of catching some action.'
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Ha-ha ha! It's working.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34Yep.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Right, so the cameras are all set up, we'll come back,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41pick them up in a couple of days,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and see if we've managed to catch them on camera.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Moment of truth! The camera traps have been out for a few days now,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58going to pick them up and have a look at the footage,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01and see if we've caught anything on camera.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Fingers crossed.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08SHE GASPS
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Oh, look!
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Oh, it was right in front of our camera.
0:23:16 > 0:23:17SHE LAUGHS
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Oh, it's quite cute, isn't it?
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Oh, there's two!
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Hello!
0:23:26 > 0:23:29It's like they've got a Mohican.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31SHE LAUGHS
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Aw!
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Well, I'm delighted that we've managed to see one in the wild,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39on our camera traps, but I want to meet one.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46And, luckily, we found a porcupine that's actually a family pet!
0:23:48 > 0:23:50'Sonic was rescued as a baby,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53'and is cared for by Tracy Chalmers.'
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Ah!
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- Hello. Am I safe to come close? - Yes, you can go close.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Oh, he's come straight over to say hello. Hello!
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- Hello, Sonic. - Do you want to give him a nibble?
0:24:05 > 0:24:06- Is he hungry?- Yes.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Just keep your fingers one side and hand him the other side.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Is he quite gentle or is...? - He is gentle.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Woah! Ooh, hoo-hoo hoo! Those teeth are quite sharp.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And they do a lot of damage, as you can see from the door behind you.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22SHE GASPS
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- Is that the work of Sonic? - That's Sonic's work, yes.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- So did he get out of his enclosure? - Very often, yes.- Really?- A lot.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31So he likes to get out at any given opportunity.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33He's naughty, he's nocturnal
0:24:33 > 0:24:35and he gets up to all his mischief at night.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36SHE LAUGHS
0:24:36 > 0:24:38DOGS BARK IN DISTANCE
0:24:38 > 0:24:39- Ooh! Ooh!- It's just the dogs.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Oh, so he heard a noise, got a little bit alarmed
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- and his spines immediately went up. - Yes, yeah.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Do you think we might be able to get him out,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49- so we could have a little look at him running around?- Perfect.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51See some of his natural behaviour.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55- Absolutely. Do you want to take a walk down over here, then?- Yeah, OK.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Cos I'm going to open this.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- Are we safe?- We're safe, don't worry. There we go.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Come on, come and see us. Come.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06- Here you are, Sonic. - Do you want a bit more?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Oh, hello.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Do you want some carrot?
0:25:15 > 0:25:17How old was Sonic when you first got him?
0:25:17 > 0:25:21He was about a month old and he was very small,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24he was a little bundle like this, and he was very vicious.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26- Was he? - Yeah, we were terrified of him.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30I didn't honestly think he was ever going to tame down, but he has.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31A one-month-old porcupine?
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Oh, he was very vicious.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35He rattled his tail, he hissed, he bit,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37he went totally crazy.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39And how old is he now?
0:25:39 > 0:25:42He's about eight months now. They grow very fast.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43Is he fully grown?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46No, they get to probably about that big, fully grown.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Oh, OK.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53'Sonic's clearly not vicious now, but he is very well armed,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56'and could definitely do us some damage if he wanted to.'
0:26:07 > 0:26:09SHE GIGGLES
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I love him.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Well, it is hard to see porcupines as a nightmare
0:26:20 > 0:26:24with this little guy snuffling around and looking so cute,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27but those quills are sharp,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31and from what I hear, they are not afraid to use them.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36But will they be top of my list as my worst nightmare?
0:26:44 > 0:26:48So many nightmares, but all so different.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Those rain frogs really do have a creepy lifestyle,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54all emerging en masse from underground,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57but the one I met was quite sweet really.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00The scorpions were fascinating, if a little bit menacing,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02but I'm not half as scared of them as I am of spiders,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06and if you leave them alone, they'll probably leave you alone.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09And I found the porcupines to be surprisingly hardcore,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12seeing off some impressive predators, but sorry,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Sonic was just a little bit too charming to take that top spot.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18It's got to go to caves.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21They are dark, damp, dismal, full of unsavoury critters,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24and, personally, I would be happy to never go in another one.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27So, here, on the southern tip of South Africa,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29caves are going to be my worst nightmare.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Come on, join in!
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It's not quite like the film. They're not really joining in.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Come on!
0:27:57 > 0:28:01Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd