0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to my Nightmares Of Nature!
0:00:06 > 0:00:08I'm Naomi Wilkinson!
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Oh, my goodness!
0:00:10 > 0:00:14I'm coming face-to-face with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16SHE YELPS
0:00:16 > 0:00:19The ones that make your spine tingle...
0:00:19 > 0:00:21your heart beat faster...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24There it is! There it is!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..and your blood run cold.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Are they truly terrifying?
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Or is there a twist in the tale?
0:00:35 > 0:00:41Come with me as I shine a light on wildlife's deepest, darkest secrets
0:00:41 > 0:00:45and see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53And here the adventure begins.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56A desert three times the size of the UK.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59We are going to be tracking down the fastest...
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Oh, oh, oh, oh!
0:01:00 > 0:01:02..the freakiest...
0:01:03 > 0:01:04Oooh...
0:01:04 > 0:01:07..and the most downright frightening of nightmares...
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..that this place has to offer.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14So come with me for a Kalahari safari.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20I've come to the southern tip of the Kalahari.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23This is prime nightmare hunting habitat.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29And up first, one of the most feared predators on the planet.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33I'm off for a night out with the king of beasts.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34LOUD YAWN
0:01:37 > 0:01:43I'm here, just a few metres from Africa's top predator.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47One of the most feared animals on the planet.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48And they look...
0:01:49 > 0:01:50And they look...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Well, they look like giant, lazy pussycats, to be honest.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Not very scary.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Not much of a nightmare.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02LION CUB MEOWS
0:02:06 > 0:02:11So, is the lion really the fearsome feline we've been led to believe?
0:02:12 > 0:02:17I'm joining wildlife guide and lion enthusiast Dylan
0:02:17 > 0:02:20for the lowdown on Africa's top predator.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23So this is just how they spend most of their days,
0:02:23 > 0:02:24lounging around sleeping?
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Yeah. Dosing, sleeping, just lying awake watching.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30But certainly, just resting 18 hours a day very comfortably.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33I don't mind them when they're like this!
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- They're cool like this.- They can stay like this. This is fine.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40But as we all know, these sleepy kitties
0:02:40 > 0:02:43aren't always this laid-back.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46So when do we see their nightmare side?
0:02:48 > 0:02:50That should be happening fairly soon, yeah.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Their nightmare side, as the temperature starts dropping,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55darkness starts falling, they're going to be getting up.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58And then they'll move off hunting.
0:02:58 > 0:02:59In fact, this particular pride
0:02:59 > 0:03:02hasn't caught something for the past four days,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- so they are going to be quite peckish.- Hungry, yeah.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09It's the transformation from sleepy cats to nightmare hunters
0:03:09 > 0:03:11that we're hoping to see.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14So we need to sit tight and wait.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18And there's something about watching hot, lazy lions
0:03:18 > 0:03:20that makes us all...
0:03:20 > 0:03:21SHE YAWNS
0:03:21 > 0:03:22..a bit sleepy.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23SNORING
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- Darren!- You're snoring!- Darren!
0:03:26 > 0:03:28SNORING CONTINUES
0:03:28 > 0:03:31The lions are getting much more active.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Things are starting to change.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Literally, as the sun's disappearing, they're waking up.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45That's it. Just a big drop in temperature now.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46Wow.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49There's definitely more life in them
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- than there was half an hour ago. - Yeah.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Huge teeth, hey? Teeth are what they use for killing.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Typically, either suffocation around the muzzle, or on the throat.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01So they just bite down really hard
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- until the animal can't breathe any more?- That's it, that's it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Lions are undoubtedly strong, efficient killers.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11But they also have a secret weapon...
0:04:13 > 0:04:15They can see in the dark.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Their eyesight is six times better than ours at night,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24and using just the light of the stars and moon,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27they can bring down prey as large as an elephant.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32To keep track of these petrifying predators,
0:04:32 > 0:04:34we have to use some special kit.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38This is what I can actually see...
0:04:38 > 0:04:41A big, fat nothing.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44But...we're switching our cameras to infrared.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48And we've put some red filters on our lights
0:04:48 > 0:04:50so that we won't disturb the lions.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And then, hopefully, this will all give us
0:04:52 > 0:04:55a secret view into their night-time antics.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Makes me look all ghoulish, doesn't it?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00CAMERAMAN LAUGHS
0:05:02 > 0:05:06I literally cannot see the lions now, can you?
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- No.- But I know we're surrounded by a pride of deadly predators.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12And they're hungry.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15What you can't see, can't hurt you.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Er, that's not true.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20Yeah, until it's on top of you.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- See those eyes shining? - Oh, my gosh, this is terrifying.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34They'll definitely move tonight, 100%.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37The lions' hunger is making them more active,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41and they're coming closer and closer to our vehicle.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44The cats are now holding all the cards.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Makes you feel part of the food chain.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52I don't want to feel part of the food chain tonight.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Oh, my gosh, that made me jump!
0:05:58 > 0:06:01They look like very different creatures now, don't they?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- Absolutely. - Now they're looking around.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- Exactly.- You can see that top predator instinct.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07That's it kicking in, hey?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10These cats could easily kill a human,
0:06:10 > 0:06:15and I'm starting to feel like they're eyeing us as potential prey.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Oh, goodness, I feel...sick!
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Oh, it's come towards us!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Oh, my word, I wouldn't want to go near that mouth.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28My gosh...!
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Oh, she's coming straight towards us.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- Shall we go?- No.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Are you sure we shouldn't move away?
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- No.- She saw me move then.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50- I'm terrified. I'm really scared. - OK.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- Oh, she's going to come and bite me! - It's OK, just sit still.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57She won't do anything. It's absolutely fine.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Absolutely fine.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02No, you're doing well. Doing well.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05You can see she's not interested at all.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09She is!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Lions rarely make a kill alone.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13I hope this one's just curious.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15LION GRUNTS GENTLY
0:07:15 > 0:07:17That's a contact call.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19She's now calling for those others.
0:07:19 > 0:07:20She wants to go hunting.
0:07:21 > 0:07:22But not for us.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29And drawn in by her calls, the rest of the pride come running.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Beautiful. Look, look, look.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Check out... Check this side.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37Wow.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43A deadly team of hunters is assembled.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46And there's nothing between me and them.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50One leap and they could be inside our vehicle.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Are you sure we shouldn't...?
0:07:52 > 0:07:53No, don't worry.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56We start the engine.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58ENGINE FIRES UP
0:07:58 > 0:08:03The lions turn and melt into the darkness.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09What an experience!
0:08:09 > 0:08:10I was sweating so much.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Shaking like a leaf. That's going to take me about a week to get over!
0:08:15 > 0:08:17The feeling of that...
0:08:17 > 0:08:19I don't think I've ever been that frightened.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22Ever.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24No, you did well. You did very well.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25Oooph...!
0:08:26 > 0:08:31These night-time hunters are a long way away
0:08:31 > 0:08:34from those sleeping kitties we saw just a few hours ago.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38With their strength, their weaponry,
0:08:38 > 0:08:42those super senses and terrifying teamwork,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46they really do deserve that title, king of the beasts,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and quite possibly could take my worst nightmare crown, too.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56There are plenty of nightmare contenders
0:08:56 > 0:08:58to choose from in the Kalahari.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Leopard...
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Rhino...
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Buffalo...
0:09:04 > 0:09:05To name just a few.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07But my next animal is none of those.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09It's a meerkat!
0:09:14 > 0:09:19Meerkats live in an extended family groups of up to 50,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22making their homes in underground burrows,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25where they raise their desperately cute little babies.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Oh, come on!
0:09:29 > 0:09:32This time, someone must have made some sort of mistake!
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Meerkats...a nightmare?
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Never!
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I'm joining meerkat researcher Kirsten
0:09:39 > 0:09:41to get to the bottom of these
0:09:41 > 0:09:43nightmarish accusations.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46So this is their burrow, this whole section here?
0:09:46 > 0:09:47Here's the meerkat burrow.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- They've got quite a few. I call it door entrances.- Yeah.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And they all interconnect.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54And it'll all go down to one big hole
0:09:54 > 0:09:56and they'll all cuddle down there and keep warm.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- There, there, there, there! - There's one there.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Hello!
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Good morning.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Our first meerkat.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05Too cute!
0:10:06 > 0:10:08So sweet.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Is there one round there?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Oh, they're absolutely adorable.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- They look like they're smiling, don't they?- Yes.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- So look at those long claws. - So the long claws are for digging.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- It's doing the housework. - Yes, it's doing the housework.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25So it's housekeeping, because they hate mess.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Did they create this from scratch? - So actually, believe it or not,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31ground squirrels build the meerkat burrows.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- Oh, OK.- And then the meerkats just kind of move in.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- They're very lazy.- So, effectively, they're like squatters?
0:10:37 > 0:10:38They are squatters.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- Borrow someone else's home for a bit!- Just move in!
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Meerkats use their strength in numbers to muscle their way in.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50Charming!
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Do they also work together to defend themselves?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Yes. So when they go out for the day foraging,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59if they see another group of meerkats coming towards them,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02they'll all get together and they actually start mobbing it.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03And it can get quite vicious.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06They can attack each other, bite each other.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08- So they're like gangs, really? - Gangs, yeah.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12If meerkat groups meet, they start to dance.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Sounds fun, but...
0:11:14 > 0:11:16this is a war dance.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Leaping into the air together,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22they aim to intimidate neighbouring animals.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25And if this doesn't work, they'll attack.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Their super cute reputation is starting to look a little bit shaky.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34They're quite scary little things at times.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Actually bullies.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38- He looks like a bully. - Yeah, he definitely...
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Grumpy, looks like a bully.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40"Keep off my patch!"
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Most of the group have now left the burrow
0:11:44 > 0:11:47and are heading out to look for food.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Cool, let's go and follow them, shall we?
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Bye, Grumpy!
0:11:54 > 0:11:55Wait for us...!
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Under the watchful eye of their lock-out,
0:11:59 > 0:12:01the meerkats have spread out
0:12:01 > 0:12:04and are searching for their favourite food.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Scorpion! Got a scorpion!
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Go, girl!
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I saw one eat a scorpion!
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Nice and crunchy.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16So scorpions are their favourite food?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Scorpions is their favourite. It's the number one on the list.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25The sting of a scorpion has little or no effect on a meerkat.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Even the pups munch them like popcorn.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30CRUNCHING
0:12:30 > 0:12:33And their attraction to dangerous animals doesn't end there.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37They'll attack and scare off venomous snakes
0:12:37 > 0:12:41capable of killing an animal ten times their size.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46So meerkats are hard as nails and highly aggressive.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Not what I would have expected.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52While the meerkats are feeding,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Kirsten shows me the head of the family,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57alpha female.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58So is she the only one that breeds?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01So, she's the only one that's allowed to breed in the group.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03She's got a beta female, so that's her daughter.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06So it's quite a nasty thing with the alpha female.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10If her daughter falls pregnant, she will kill the pups off.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11She does what?!
0:13:13 > 0:13:14- That's horrendous!- Very, yeah!
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Why would she do that, though?
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Sometimes, she actually wants beta female
0:13:18 > 0:13:21to fall pregnant while she's pregnant,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25kill off the pups so beta female can feed the alpha female's pups.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28She'll kill them instantly, not even look at them, stare at them,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31think they're cute - she'll kill them straightaway.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34It's a nasty, nasty process with meerkats.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- And do they eat them? - She eats them.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39It's like when cats, actually, when their kittens die,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- they eat the whole thing.- Urgh! - It's the same with meerkats,
0:13:41 > 0:13:42they do the exact same thing.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44It's nasty, nasty.
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Well, after hearing that,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50I'm now convinced you are a worthy nightmare contender.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51Who'd have thought it?
0:13:52 > 0:13:57My attitude towards the lovable meerkat has completely changed.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00So, while meerkats are super cute,
0:14:00 > 0:14:01great team players...
0:14:01 > 0:14:03And did I mention super cute?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06..turns out they have got a very dark side indeed.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Fighting snakes, war dances, rival gangs
0:14:10 > 0:14:12and killing each other's babies!
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Huh! That's why the meerkat could stand up and be counted
0:14:16 > 0:14:18as my worst nightmare.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26As night falls, it looks like we're all in for a good old soaking.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30But...it takes more than a little bit of rain
0:14:30 > 0:14:32to deter us nightmare hunters.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Good grief, that lightning!
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Oh, my gosh, this is so grim!
0:14:39 > 0:14:44My next nightmare animal is a relative of wolves and hyena.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48They are covered in armour, they emerge at night
0:14:48 > 0:14:51and they can squirt acid from their bottoms.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53- Urgh!- I know!
0:14:53 > 0:14:56This nightmare of nature is an animal few people have heard of
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and even fewer people have ever seen...
0:14:59 > 0:15:01The pangolin.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Our guide to this nocturnal adventure
0:15:07 > 0:15:11is pangolin researcher and expert tracker Wendy.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Her equipment is receiving a signal from a special unit
0:15:15 > 0:15:18on the back of the pangolin.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- So we think it's in this direction? - Yeah, yeah.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- And how far off, do you think? - Erm...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26It's really difficult to tell.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31But it is a fairly strong signal, so I'd say within 100 or 200 metres.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Oooh!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35- Yeah, really exciting. - So they're out at night.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Where do they go during the day?
0:15:37 > 0:15:39They hide out in their burrows during the day
0:15:39 > 0:15:42to avoid things like heat or cold in the winter.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46And as we get closer, the storm worsens.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49- This is lovely!- It's incredible.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51the weather's always on our side.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53This is not easy.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55And then try and find a pangolin!
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Signal's getting stronger!
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Finally, it looks like we're just a few metres away
0:16:03 > 0:16:05from the elusive pangolin
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and Wendy goes on ahead to find its exact location.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12But while we're waiting,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16we notice that the electrical storm has had an unexpected effect.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Does it look an absolute mess? - Static!- Is it?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Is it just standing straight up?
0:16:22 > 0:16:23It does look glamorous on you.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25How's yours, Rich?(!)
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Oh, please, don't tell me I wasn't looking lovely!
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Luckily, our hysterics are interrupted by Wendy's return.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Wendy, you're back. What's the news?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Bad news, unfortunately.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42The pangolin has gone down another burrow.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44And will it be there now for the night, do you think?
0:16:44 > 0:16:46I think it would be there until the rain stops
0:16:46 > 0:16:48And we don't know when that's going to stop, so...
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- It doesn't look like it'll be any time soon.- No, I don't think so.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Argh...!
0:16:54 > 0:16:56But it takes more than a mystery creature
0:16:56 > 0:17:00hiding down a hole in a thunderstorm
0:17:00 > 0:17:02to put off this nightmare team.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Oh, yes!
0:17:04 > 0:17:07And so, the following night...
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Never to be deterred, the nightmares team are back out again,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13our second attempt to find this elusive pangolin.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15And Wendy's found it!
0:17:15 > 0:17:17It's over in this bush. We're going to go and see
0:17:17 > 0:17:18if we can catch a glimpse.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20And it's not raining!
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Over 80 million years of evolution
0:17:24 > 0:17:28have made one of the most peculiar animals on the planet.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31And we're about to meet it face to face.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34And there it is!
0:17:37 > 0:17:42That's like a cross between an ant eater and a pine cone.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Wendy's study of these night-time wanderers
0:17:47 > 0:17:49would be impossible without the transmitter
0:17:49 > 0:17:51on the pangolin's back.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Why do they have all those scales?
0:17:55 > 0:17:59They are there for protection against predators.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00Predators such as lions.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02So the pangolin will roll into a ball
0:18:02 > 0:18:06and protect its underbelly, which is not covered by scales.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08And, yeah, lions just struggle, can't get through.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Struggle with this football made of armour.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Pangolin only eat ants and termites.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23They use their hook-like claws to dig into the hard earth
0:18:23 > 0:18:27and their super-sized sticky tongue to extract their prize.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29SLURPING
0:18:30 > 0:18:33So what is all this talk I hear about them
0:18:33 > 0:18:36squirting acid from their bottoms?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39It either smells or tastes really bad.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Either way, it sends the predator off.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42Well, I imagine if you're a lion
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and you suddenly got a face full of bottom acid,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46- you'd back off pretty quickly! - Absolutely.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Be gone!
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Oh, it's walking on its hind legs.
0:18:50 > 0:18:51Yep, two legs.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53And if you look at it, it looks like an old granny
0:18:53 > 0:18:56carrying her shopping bags.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Yeah, it does!
0:18:58 > 0:18:59It does!
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Aww...
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Look, she's coming right by us.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07So is the pangolin endangered?
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Yeah, it is.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11And it's currently the most trafficked
0:19:11 > 0:19:12and traded mammal in the world.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Pangolin worldwide are illegally caught and killed
0:19:16 > 0:19:18for their meat and scales.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Why do people want it?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Mainly for traditional medicinal reasons.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Dried scales are thought to restore good health
0:19:28 > 0:19:32and a single dead pangolin can fetch 1,000.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Do we know how many are left in the world?
0:19:35 > 0:19:38No, because of their elusive nature
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and they're so secretive and nocturnal,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42we don't know how many there are.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45So all your work is really vital for the pangolin?
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Yeah, incredibly, incredibly vital.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49I mean, the more we understand about this creature,
0:19:49 > 0:19:54maybe the more we can try and put our efforts into conserving them.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56I mean, wouldn't it be a tragedy
0:19:56 > 0:19:58if we didn't have an animal like the pangolin in our world?
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Absolutely, absolutely. They're so unique, so beautiful.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Having met this awesome animal and heard all about its plight,
0:20:09 > 0:20:13I have to say, I've rather fallen for this ant-eating,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16acid-squirting, armour-plated creature of the night.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19So, pangolin my worst nightmare?
0:20:19 > 0:20:20I don't think so.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23Bye!
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I'm off to meet one of the world's top predators.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31It has a mouth full of ferocious teeth,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34dagger-like claws and a taste for blood -
0:20:34 > 0:20:39and to cap it off, it is the fastest land animal on planet.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42I'm on my way to meet a cheetah.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Cheetahs are the race cars of the animal world.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Their bodies are designed for speed.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00Long legs and a super flexible spine make their stride immense.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04And their huge tail helps them balance when cornering.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09To see this supersonic sprinter in action,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11I've come to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15where they've bred and released over 200 animals.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19I'm joining education officer Richard,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23and local schoolchildren Kamogleo, Advocate,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Motheo, and Dimakatso...
0:21:26 > 0:21:29..for a hands-on encounter with a cheetah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32They're coming towards us! They're coming towards us!
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Everybody, stay in the vehicle.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38And it's feeding time.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41I feel like they're going to jump in.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44I know, I feel like they're going to jump in, too!
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Oh, my goodness...!
0:21:47 > 0:21:48GENTLE GROWLING
0:21:49 > 0:21:51What does that sound mean?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Let's go, let's not push our luck.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56The cheetahs are fiercely defensive of their food
0:21:56 > 0:22:00and these first impressions leave me pretty nervous
0:22:00 > 0:22:01about the encounter to come.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Hm. The idea of meeting one face to face
0:22:04 > 0:22:07doesn't seem like such a good idea now.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13Richard is going to introduce us to a very special cheetah called Yeats.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18OK, guys. Well, welcome here to our interaction camp.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- How are you feeling about this? - Excited.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- Yeah, you're looking forward to it? - Yes.- Bit nervous.- A bit nervous.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25I'm a bit nervous, too. But it's going to be fine.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- We're all going to be safe, aren't we?- Absolutely.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Here it is! Here it is!
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Yeats is an ambassador cheetah
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and quite used to meeting schoolchildren.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Big, isn't he?
0:22:41 > 0:22:45OK, Naomi, you're welcome to come up and say hello to Yeats.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Hi, Yeats.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52And I'm pleased to hear Yeats is making a familiar sound.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54YEATS PURRS
0:22:54 > 0:22:57It's really vibrating, isn't it? So this is a happy sound?
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- This is a good sound?- This is Yeats being very content and very calm.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- He's very, very happy.- He's calmer than I am, that's for sure!
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Do you guys want to come up and say hello?
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Motheo, if you come and stand next to me.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15And Kamogleo, you come in here. There we go.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19So is it all right for them to...? Do you want to stroke it?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Just put your hand softly on him. - Shall we do it together?
0:23:24 > 0:23:26YEATS PURRS
0:23:28 > 0:23:29How does that feel?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Have a go, Kamogleo.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35These children live alongside wild cheetah
0:23:35 > 0:23:37and have grown up fearing them.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- Happy?- Yes.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Would you two like a go?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Getting close to a predator of this size takes guts.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- Come with me, I'll walk with you. - Do you want a stroke?
0:23:51 > 0:23:52Say hi to Yeats.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Don't be scared.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Just touch him over here.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01You're perfectly safe. You're with Naomi.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02We're safe.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05You're so brave, well done!
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Richard hopes that,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13by giving local children the chance to meet a cheetah,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16they'll understand the importance of conserving them
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and take that message home.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21How does it feel?
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Wonderful.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Can you feel it purring under your hand?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30It's vibrating.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33It's a happy cheetah. It's enjoying you stroking it.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38We touched a cheetah! Can you believe it?
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Standing here with Yeats all relaxed like this,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44it's hard to remember that he is one of Africa's top predators.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48But obviously, that secret weapon is the speed.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52But how fast are they really?
0:24:52 > 0:24:56We're taking on the ultimate running race.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57Bring it on!
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Us against the cheetah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04I'm watching you, cheetah!
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Richard's measuring how quickly we can run the track
0:25:08 > 0:25:11before letting the cheetah have their go.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17- Go!- Go on, go on!
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Go!
0:25:19 > 0:25:20Channel your inner cheetah!
0:25:20 > 0:25:21You can do it!
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Yes!
0:25:23 > 0:25:27And the leaderboard is starting to look pretty impressive.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It's time to bring out the cheetah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Good luck being faster than us, though, because we were well fast!
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Here we go. Here we go.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50Wow, that was fast!
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's coming back, it's coming back!
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Wow, just look at that!
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Wow, that was brilliant!
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- Wow, wow, wow! - See, that is nearly as fast as me.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Amazing.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04- Have you ever seen anything go that fast?- Not in my lifetime, no.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06And from that performance,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I think we all know who are the real winners.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- We should head to the gym, maybe. - Yes.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Practice a bit more.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15- Practice makes perfect. - There you go!
0:26:15 > 0:26:20OK, so, shall we put the cheetah's score up?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21There we go.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26I think we can say, without doubt, the cheetah is the winner.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29Oh, dear.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Oh, wow, yeah, that cheetah was so fast.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Yeah, a bit faster than us.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- Just look at the score. - We shouldn't be too embarrassed,
0:26:35 > 0:26:36that's not too bad.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38But, yeah, 34 is very impressive.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42And that is just a fraction of the speed the cheetah can run at.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- They can reach a top speed of 75 miles an hour.- Wow!
0:26:45 > 0:26:48So they can go more than double what we saw them do today.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50So I think the cheetah has well and truly put us in our place
0:26:50 > 0:26:51when it comes to speed.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Nothing can outrun this fearsome predator.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56That is why it is not just taking gold medal today,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59it could also sprint into pole position
0:26:59 > 0:27:02on my ultimate nightmare leaderboard.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Second place!
0:27:04 > 0:27:05We got it!
0:27:05 > 0:27:09No shame in losing to a cheetah, no.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Yeah, second place!
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Our time on this Kalahari safari is at an end.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23We have been spoilt rotten with nightmare contenders,
0:27:23 > 0:27:28from the murderous meerkats to the speediest sprinter.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32But this time, the creature that's going to top my list
0:27:32 > 0:27:34is that two-faced feline,
0:27:34 > 0:27:40the huge, sharp-toothed and downright terrifying African lion.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Oh, my gosh!
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I never would have guessed
0:27:47 > 0:27:49that meerkats would be so terrifying, would you?
0:27:51 > 0:27:54SHE SCREAMS
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Argh! Naomi's a friend, not food!
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Leave me alone! Go back to your burrow!