South Africa Naomi's Nightmares of Nature

Welcome to my Nightmares Of Nature.

HOWLING

I'm Naomi Wilkinson...

SHE SCREAMS

..and I'm coming face-to-face with the nightmares of the animal world.

The ones that make your spine tingle...

..your heart beat faster...

SHE SHRIEKS

..and your blood run cold.

Are they truly terrifying?

Or is there a twist in the tale?

Whoopee!

Come with me as I shine a light on

wildlife's deepest darkest secrets...

..and see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.

Welcome to Africa, the wildest continent in the world!

And with a place as wild as this,

there's a lot of nightmare potential.

The wildlife here spans some of the biggest...

..the tallest...

..and the fastest in the world.

So, it's a perfect place to go looking

for some nightmares of nature!

I'll be travelling all over the southern tip of Africa

in search of my nightmare nominees

which include

a beautiful bird with a terrifying taste for blood...

Oh, it doesn't half look painful though.

..a mysterious marine reptile that only emerges

under the cover of night.

What if I run? Come on, quick!

And I'll be coming face to face with Africa's largest crocodilian.

Ah! Look at the size of those teeth, they are terrifying.

But first, I have a date with THE most dangerous animal in Africa.

Actually, guys, I was wondering,

how about we go and see, like, a meerkat?

They're dangerous, aren't they? Guys?

OK, Naomi, are we ready to go and look at some hippos?

Hippos are one of the most aggressive animals

in the world.

Highly territorial in the water,

one male rules his stretch of the river.

And to make sure he keeps control of it,

he will fight.

And these battles can be brutal.

Weighing in at 3.5 tonnes,

and with razor-sharp canine teeth,

they can do some serious damage.

And not just to each other.

Hippos kill more people in Africa than any other animal.

But these humongous herbivores only eat grass,

so, are they just guilty of having a bit of a bad attitude?

I'm heading out into the wild waterways of

Isimangaliso Wetland Park with park ranger Stacey

who knows just the place to find these nightmare contenders.

And with Stacey's keen eye,

it wasn't long before we spotted our first pod.

I think we've got them over there. The big black pile of rocks.

You have got a trained eye. I couldn't see that. Oh, yes!

And while I was happy to keep my distance,

Stacey was keen for me to get a closer look.

-Quite big rocks, aren't they?

-Ha, hm.

You work with a lot of quite dangerous animals in your job,

-don't you?

-Mm-hm.

Are you afraid of any of the animals?

Hippos.

Did you hear that?

Hippos can bite crocodiles of 3m in half.

Right. OK.

Hippos are well scary!

You wouldn't want to mess with a hippo.

Well, you have to remember, as cute as what they look,

they don't give you any warnings.

-What do you mean?

-They just charge.

-From the water?

-Yes.

Even though they can't tip us over

they do have teeth that can reach almost a half a metre long,

so they can put a big hole in the boat.

I was feeling quite safe on this boat until you said that.

As long as we keep our distance, we'll be OK.

Will she...?

-Now, what does that mean?

-She's telling us we're in her way,

so we're just going to back up a bit.

And snorting wasn't the only threatening behaviour on display.

Ah, watch, look, he's yawning! He wants to yawn.

-Is this yawning...? Is it a sign of aggression?

-Territorial.

-To us?

To everybody around.

The big yawning mouth is definitely a sign of aggression.

Right.

They do have one pretty disgusting habit, don't they, hippos?

Yes, unfortunately, they do, yes.

We've got a nice big male standing up there on the right

and he might fling his droppings.

Urgh, that's disgusting!

Yes, you heard correctly.

Male hippos mark their territory by flicking their tail

from side to side,

propelling their poo as far and wide as they possibly can.

IT GRUNTS

It's designed as a warning to other males

to keep off their patch.

And it would certainly keep me at a distance!

I don't recommend chucking your poo around at home

to try and make yourself look bigger.

Get in a right mess. It'd be gross.

I've only been in the company of these huge hippos

for a very short time.

But I've already seen some serious nightmare potential.

The only reason we're able to get this close to wild hippos is

because we've got this big old boat between us and them.

And I think that might be our cue to leave.

Honestly, they've got some revolting habits,

and I've certainly seen signs of their aggression today.

I wouldn't want to get any closer than this!

My crew, however, have other ideas,

and are sending me to meet a couple

who have a rather strange house guest.

-Hello.

-Hello, hello.

-Naomi.

-Tonie.

-Very nice to meet you.

-Same here.

Now, Tonie, is this right?

Do you live alongside a wild hippo?

Yes, we certainly do.

What?

May I come and meet her?

-With pleasure. Follow me.

-And this is safe?

-It's safe.

-OK.

-As long as you do what I say.

-I will.

Yes, Tonie is about to introduce me to Jessica,

a wild hippo left orphaned after severe floods 14 years ago.

This feels very strange going to meet a hippopotamus.

And having been pretty close to these humongous hippos in the wild,

I'm feeling more than a little nervous about what's in store.

Ahh!

-And this is Jessica?

-That's Jessica.

-That's Jessica.

-OK, so is there anything I need to know and...?

Yes. Don't approach her from the side.

-Approach her from the front.

-OK.

-OK?

And armed with that reassuring advice,

Jessica wanted to make her own introductions.

-Come over here.

-Are you serious?

-Can you reach here?

-Yes. Ooh!

-Am I standing in a good place?

-Yes, you are.

It feels like she's going to come straight up.

-Come in front of her here.

-OK.

How else would a wild hippo start their day,

but with four litres of sweet tea?

SHE LAUGHS

I don't even know how to describe this experience,

it's just the weirdest thing ever...

feeding a hippo tea.

And you seem very, very happy.

And now...

-She's all right?

-..kissy. Kissy.

Hello.

I just kissed a hippopotamus.

Sorry, I might have got a bit of lipstick on you there.

Sorry, Jessica.

This is unreal.

-How sweet?

-She really likes you.

Oh, Jessica. Thank you.

After devouring the tea, it's time for her second course,

that common hippo food...

-Patatas.

-Potatoes.

-Sweet potatoes.

-Sweet potatoes.

Touch her nose and just put it in.

Touch her nose and just put it in, OK?

-Grab some food there.

-OK.

-Hello, Jessica.

-Touch her nose.

-So, just like that?

On the wire, and then just...

-Keep on feeding.

-Like that?

Oh, good grief, look at the size of those teeth! This is... Like this?

-Yeah?

-That's it. Just keep on feeding.

Ah, what a...

I can't believe I am feeding a hippo.

Yes, it's a great honour feeding her.

She is a wild hippo.

She also goes down to the other hippos.

-Oh, she's got some hippo friends?

-Many hippos in the area.

Being a female, she's accepted by all of them.

That's brilliant, isn't it?

But you would never get this close to a wild hippo, would you?

-Yes, you would.

-Well, apart from Jessica.

You won't live to tell the tale.

THEY LAUGH

I know they're really dangerous animals but she's so adorable.

You can't help but fall in love with her.

Cute little face. Hello.

Well, it has been an incredible experience to meet Jessica,

a real privilege that she allows me to get this close to her,

a wild, dangerous animal.

But I'm under no illusions. I know that hippos are exactly that -

dangerous, wild animals.

And I think Jessica here is the only exception to that rule.

So, for that reason, I'm going to say that

hippos could be my worst nightmare.

Sorry, Jessica.

The next animal on my list can be found right here on this very beach,

but not during the day.

It only comes out

on the darkest of nights, when there's very little moonlight.

As the sun sets on this beach paradise,

creatures begin to emerge from the darkness.

Clawed, ghost-like crustaceans

surface from their underground burrows in search of food...

..and opportunistic omnivores stalk the shoreline

in the hope of a midnight feast.

And if all of that doesn't make this place a sinister setting,

in the depth of the darkness, monsters emerge from the ocean.

Now that night's fallen, we've come back to the beach,

but we can't head down there with any light at all

or we may scare it straight back into the sea.

So, lights off everybody.

Let's go and look for a dinosaur of the deep.

So, the crew and I head out on our nocturnal search,

hoping to find our next nightmare nominee.

Our infrared night cameras

are able to see in the dark.

We, on the other hand, cannot see a thing.

It is pitch black, we are struggling to see anything at all.

But what we're trying to spot is a big thick track

coming out of the sea.

Now, obviously, this is an animal that's designed to be in the water,

not on the land. And they are really heavy,

so the imprints they make in the sand are quite distinctive.

And, all being well, we should be able to spot one.

And it wasn't long before we found what we were looking for.

This is it, this is it. This is a track.

Oh, and it's a really big one which is a good sign.

So, if we follow this up carefully and quietly she may be up there.

(Oh, she's huge!)

Oh, my word.

So, this is a loggerhead turtle.

But now that I'm up close,

it's not the monster I was expecting.

This really is an incredible sight.

During the breeding season, the females make their way up

onto the beach for a very special night.

It's the night they lay their eggs,

and that's why she's hauled herself out of the sea.

She's already begun laying her eggs,

so that means she's entered a sort of trance-like state,

so she's not even aware of our presence.

We're not disturbing her at all now.

You can see she's dug out a big pit using her flippers.

And in that big deep hole down there,

that's where she's delivering her eggs.

Each female that makes it up onto this beach

will lay up to 190 eggs

before they cover them over with sand

and then make their way back down to the sea.

Having seen these mysterious marine marvels up close,

there is no way I can call them one of my nightmares of nature.

This experience is just way too magical.

But...there is a bit of a twist in this tale,

because the beach that these turtles nest on,

becomes a PLACE of nightmares.

When turtle hatchlings emerge they are tiny and vulnerable.

Determined to make it to the sea, they embark on their

gruelling journey.

But it is now that the beaches become a battle ground,

a place of nightmares.

SQUAWKING

These predators have been waiting for this very moment.

And, for the hatchlings, there is nowhere to hide.

For adult turtles, their size is their main defence.

But for these little guys,

when they eventually hatch

they are going to face a nightmare journey,

a race for their lives down to the sea.

Only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings on average

make it through to adulthood.

And that makes this beach a top contender for my worst nightmare.

For my next encounter we're leaving the coast behind

and heading inland,

where I'm hoping to meet a rather surprising candidate.

Now, I'm a big fan of birds.

In fact, I might go as far as saying

they're some of my favourite animals.

But there is one very small, very beautiful bird that lives here

which could prove to be a bit of a nightmare.

The bird I've come to find is the oxpecker.

But how can a bird this beautiful be a nightmare?

To help me find out, Dr Ian Whyte,

who has studied oxpeckers for 13 years,

is going to help me reveal their nightmare credentials.

-Uh-oh, look who's come to see us straightaway.

-Here they are.

-These are red-billed oxpeckers.

-These are the red-billed oxpeckers.

Shall we go over here to see if they'll come and sit...?

Oh, oh! It's come straight onto my head. Oh!

Oh, they're quite cute, aren't they?

Ian, you're going to have your work cut out

trying to encourage me that these are a nightmare.

They're so lovely!

They're very dainty, aren't they?

So, they've got... They're very grippy.

What's that for? Why do they...?

Well, they need to cling on the sides of animals,

so they can go all over them, on their sides,

actually even under their belly,

they can hang upside down.

That's what's really unusual about these birds, isn't it?

Sat on the camera at the moment.

Is because they have got wings, they're perfectly capable of flying,

and yet, instead, they choose to just hitch a ride?

Yeah, they're very strong fliers in fact,

and they do fly from animal to animal.

They'll sit on a buffalo for a while

and then fly onto the next buffalo, so, they move around a lot.

And what are they looking for?

They're looking for parasites.

Oxpeckers feed on ticks and parasites which have attached

themselves to the skin and coats of wandering mammals.

Adult oxpeckers can munch their way through hundreds of ticks each day.

Not to mention the dandruff and earwax to round off their menu!

Urgh!

Using their beaks, much like a pair of scissors,

they comb through the coats of their hosts,

clearing them of these pesky pests.

So, they're doing a really useful job then.

It may turn my stomach a little bit to think of eating parasites

but they really are perfect companions for the mammals,

aren't they? Cos the mammals give them a free ride, and in return,

they're getting rid of all of those annoying itches.

It's a win-win situation for both of them.

-So, even with one feeding inside your ear at the moment...

-Yeah.

..you would say that these birds do more good than harm?

Ah, absolutely, yeah.

Do you think they are at all nightmarish?

You know, they do... They are known

in the softer-skinned animals to open up sores.

And then they actually feed on little bits

of flesh and blood that they can pull off.

-They feed on blood?

-Yeah.

So, eating parasites and ticks was just the beginning.

It turns out these pretty peckers are creatures of nightmares.

They get a lot of blood in their diet from the engorged ticks

that they eat.

But with a tantalizing taste for it, they also peck away

at already open wounds,

feeding their voracious vampire-like appetite.

Urgh, did I say birds were my favourite?

Changing my mind rapidly.

Ah, look at them go! Does it hurt?

It's a little painful, you know, your skin is a bit sensitive.

-I'm not a buffalo but...

-Yeah.

-I'm sure, for a human...

-It's a lot more sensitive...

-He's trying to...

-Oh, he's going to draw blood. Oh, no.

Not yet, not yet.

Oh, he has a little bit, there, look. He's drawn blood!

Oh, no.

And it wasn't long before these blood-thirsty birds

saw an opportunity in our somewhat soft-skinned crew.

-Oh, he's going at your arm now, Jacques. Are you all right?

-Yeah.

-He's drawing blood, look.

-He's opening up a wound, a sore there.

Oh! Oh! Oi-oi-oi.

DR IAN LAUGHS

Well, maybe they are a nightmare. Are you all right?

Oh, they really go for it, don't they?

Do you want a handkerchief?

-No, don't worry, I've got one.

-Do you want to just...?

Please, leave Ian alone now.

You're full up, surely. Go away.

Little Dracula bird.

HE LAUGHS

Now I really don't like them! Ohh!

Now I've just seen what you do to Ian,

I don't want you to draw blood on me, please.

Oh, scratchy little things.

Well, I'm really surprised.

I never thought I'd say that a bird,

especially one this beautiful,

I would describe as a nightmare of nature.

It shows that looks can be deceiving.

Hiding under this sweet, innocent appearance

is a piggy-backing, parasite-munching,

blood-slurping contender,

and could definitely be my worst nightmare.

Have you had enough, Ian? I have.

Come on, let's get out of here. Ooh.

We all know that Nile crocodiles are creatures of nightmares,

cold-blooded killers.

But are these killer instincts engrained from birth?

All babies are cute when they're born...right?!

I've come to a reptile park to meet Martin...

..who may have the answers.

Aren't they adorable?

CHIRPING

Ah, they're so cute!

But, with feeding time approaching,

I may be about to change my mind.

(Did you see how fast that one moved?)

Pff!

So, they just grabbed it, and they're just shaking it

-to try and break off the bits?

-That's right, yeah.

Here they come. So, they've dragged it into the water?

Yes, and that's exactly what they would do out in nature as well.

-And there you go...

-Oh, yes, I just saw it - twirl, twirl, twirl?

-Yes.

-Twisted off a piece.

-And, as you can see,

they become very aggressive during feeding times,

so they actually will fight over the pieces of meat.

-Oh, it's a real squabble, isn't it?

-Hm!

So, their bite is still very powerful even though they're babies?

Yes, that's correct, they'll be able to draw blood without a doubt.

And obviously, the bigger they get, the more damage

they could potentially do if they do bite you.

That is seriously scary. So, even as babies they are

-natural-born killers, aren't they?

-Yes.

I'm glad I'm only meeting baby crocs today.

Oh, I'm not just meeting baby crocs today.

"Did you really think you'd get away with it that easily?

"Baby crocs are one thing, but if you want to know

"if the Nile crocodile is a nightmare of nature,

"you're going to need to delve deep into the world of adults."

Nightmare!

Having already been convinced that the babies aren't

quite as cute as they appear,

I can't say I'm looking forward

to coming face to face with their super-sized relatives.

So, all that's going to be between me and those colossal crocs...

is this cage.

I am definitely going to be keeping my arms inside!

Reluctantly, I kit up. If I'm going to be submerged under the water

for any length of time, I'm going to need all

the relevant equipment.

And, trying to calm my nerves today is Daniel,

my dive supervisor.

With our safety checks complete, it was time to take the plunge.

Oh, my goodness.

Ah, we're going up! Ahh!

Ah! The croc's just waiting for us.

And he didn't have long to wait.

Ah.

Well, my feet are in now, so...

Ah, breathe, Naomi, breathe.

SHE BREATHES THROUGH MASK

Ah.

Oh!

I don't mind telling you, I feel very nervous in here...

just seeing the size of it in front of me.

Whooooa. This is...a bit frightening

Here we go, here it comes. Ah-ah.

Ah-ah.

Deep breath, deep breath. Right.

Oh, my word, it's looking straight at me.

Whoa!

Whoa, he's opened his mouth to show us those teeth!

They look terrifying.

He's giving us a nice big show of them at the moment.

Ah, it's absolutely incredible

to think that those cute little hatchlings turn into these

huge predators.

Look at the size of him.

Nile crocodiles are the largest crocodilian in Africa.

They can reach 6m in length,

and weigh in at an impressive 730kg...

..which is more than 12 times the weight of me.

I think this is what I find most frightening about crocs,

is they just lay motionless.

Doesn't even look real.

You can barely see him breathing.

But then, in the blink of an eye,

in an absolute flash, they can whip into action.

Nile crocodiles are the masters of disguise.

They lie in wait, almost totally submerged,

patiently awaiting passing prey.

Without warning, they launch themselves out of the water,

and lock onto their prey with those incredibly powerful jaws.

And this croc is giving me a prey's-eye view

of that terrifying toolkit.

Look at those teeth!

They're not actually designed to tear away at flesh.

They actually just sink deep into their victim,

and they can drag their prey back into the water, drown it,

before they perform that infamous death roll.

They may only eat insects and spiders and small fish

when they're little

but at this size they would have absolutely no problem

in taking down a wildebeest or a buffalo,

or dare I say it...even me.

With that sobering thought,

and while we're still in one piece...

Ooh! Ha-ha.

..I think it's time for us to make our exit.

SHE SQUEALS

I can safely say, whether babies or adults,

Nile crocodiles are pretty perfect predators.

Let us out of here!

Let me out.

SHE LAUGHS

Ah.

That was absolutely insane.

So terrifying. I can't believe I've just been that close

to one of the most dangerous animals on the planet

with just this between me and it!

No doubt about it, those prehistoric predators of huge proportions

are a nightmare, and one which could definitely

snap up pole position.

Well that's it. My wild African adventure

is almost over, and my nerves are very grateful

cos I've met some truly terrifying candidates.

So, all that's left for me to do is decide which one

was my biggest nightmare.

Could it be the pretty peckers with a positively putrid palate?

Ooh!

This seemingly-beautiful beach

hiding a whole host of deadly dangers...

THEY SQUAWK

..or coming eye to eye with a seriously snappy crocodile?

Whoa. Those teeth...

look terrifying.

All of them, pretty petrifying, all deserving of a place

on my list of nightmares,

but the top spot has to go to

Africa's most inhospitable inhabitant.

Yes, my worst nightmare here is the

humongous hippo.

GRUNTING

BUBBLING

It's a brilliant sound. Funny.

He let off some gas.

SHE LAUGHS