0:00:02 > 0:00:05How can wolfbloods run so fast and for so long?
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Why are their senses so intense?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12And why is family so important to them?
0:00:14 > 0:00:17It all comes down to the extraordinary wild wolves
0:00:17 > 0:00:20that they share so many qualities with.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23In this series, we'll uncover the truth about wolves
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and reveal just why wolfbloods are the way that they are.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28This is Wolfblood Uncovered.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56In this episode, we'll find out how wolves are built
0:00:56 > 0:00:58and discover how their super strength
0:00:58 > 0:01:01and remarkable agility make them such adaptable predators.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Because Maddy and Rhydian are wolfbloods,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14they have incredible abilities, which they need to be careful to control.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17When they're around their friends and they see what they're capable of,
0:01:17 > 0:01:19they definitely stand out from the crowd.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Sometimes they use these skills, like their fantastic agility, on impulse.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27This happened when Rhydian avoided a minor disaster in the school playground.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Tom!
0:01:33 > 0:01:37If she can hide from us when she wants, that means, when we see her...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39It's cos she wants us too...
0:01:40 > 0:01:41Oh, no. The window!
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- Sam...- Yeah? - Go and get Miss Graham.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56All you have to do is stop the ball going in the goal.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59- Football really isn't my thing. - Just play along, mate.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Didn't you hear what I said? Stop the ball.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Or are you too cool to dive?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08- Do it again. - Don't want to embarrass you.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- Do it again.- Jimi, take the penalty.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20APPLAUSE
0:02:20 > 0:02:24- What do you think, Miss? - I think we have a new goalie.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28That was a pretty impressive save,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30and Rhydian's classmates were very keen for him
0:02:30 > 0:02:32to start playing football with them, cos,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35although he had no training, he was more agile and better than
0:02:35 > 0:02:39any of them could be, so would be a great asset to the team.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41This is because he's got the agility
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and physical capabilities of a wild wolf.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Wolves really come into their own when it comes to athletic ability.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Like Rhydian, they're very springy,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and, when running, can cover up to five metres in a single bound.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55That's from here...
0:03:00 > 0:03:02..to here!
0:03:05 > 0:03:08For a moment, they become airborne.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14As well as jumping a long way, they can also jump pretty high,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17which can come in handy when they need to defend themselves.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31But their impressive agility is most important
0:03:31 > 0:03:33when it comes to finding food.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Wolves are able to live in a wide range of environments -
0:03:38 > 0:03:40from deserts, plains and savannas,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42to forests, mountains and swamps -
0:03:42 > 0:03:46so they have to be able to negotiate a huge variety of terrains.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50To find food in these varied places,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53they have to be able to run, climb,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56trot, and even swim.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01If they're not running down gigantic musk oxen and imposing elk,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04they're fishing for salmon, digging for insects,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06or pouncing on small mammals.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So, how are these magnificent mammals built for this varied
0:04:11 > 0:04:12and physical lifestyle?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16They have lean bodies,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19narrow chests,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21strong backs,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and long, powerful legs...
0:04:25 > 0:04:27..perfect for springing forward.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31And they have quite amazing feet.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Their large and long toes take most of their weight,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41rather than the entire soles of their feet.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44This makes them similar to hooves,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47which means that they can move quickly and quietly.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50But, whereas hooves aren't always suited to uneven ground,
0:04:50 > 0:04:51wolves' feet are.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58That's because, as opposed to their back paws,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01which have four toes, their front paws have five.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06But that fifth toe doesn't touch the ground.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Instead, it's used for clasping, and enables them to grip varied
0:05:09 > 0:05:11and bumpy ground.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16And if all that wasn't impressive enough, their paws are also
0:05:16 > 0:05:21slightly webbed and they're as big as our hands so act as snowshoes...
0:05:21 > 0:05:23distributing their weight more evenly,
0:05:23 > 0:05:24so they don't sink into the snow.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's not just their body shape that makes them physically capable
0:05:30 > 0:05:35and able to live in such a range of environments, they're also very
0:05:35 > 0:05:39intelligent, with big brains, substantially bigger than most dogs.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44And they have very versatile fur, with long guard hairs that repel
0:05:44 > 0:05:49moisture and a thick woolly undercoat for insulation against the cold.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52When it warms up in spring, a short summer coat grows,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54which helps to keep them cooler.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58So it makes sense that Maddy and Rhydian aren't like normal
0:05:58 > 0:06:01teenagers, cos they can turn into these awesome animals.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05But there's more to their abilities than just outstanding agility.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07They're also super strong,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09and super strength is something else which could easily give
0:06:09 > 0:06:13the secret away, so they have to be careful not to lose their temper
0:06:13 > 0:06:14or let their emotions get the better of them
0:06:14 > 0:06:16when having disputes with friends.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19This happened to Rhydian on his very first day at school,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21when he was getting a bit bullied for being the new boy.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23He almost blew his cover straightaway.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24BOYS GIGGLE
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I thought I smelled something funny.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Is that your lunch, Welshy?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31I'm not even Welsh.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Oooh!
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Got a problem, leek boy?
0:06:49 > 0:06:50Argh!
0:06:55 > 0:06:57What on earth is going on here?! Huh?!
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- What are you doing?- It's all right. - Get out!- Just breathe!
0:07:02 > 0:07:04You have to get out!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Argh!
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I'm so sorry.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31HE GROWLS
0:07:41 > 0:07:43HE GROWLS
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Rhydian!
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Rhydian's super strength was clearly evident in that scene.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34He jumped higher than these lockers, pushed Jimi onto the floor,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and caused all that damage in the dark room.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40So how strong are wolves, and why do they need this extreme strength?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Wolves are the largest members of the dog family,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and go for by far the biggest prey.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58They often attack, kill and eat animals that are much larger
0:08:58 > 0:09:03than they are, so, to bring them down, they need to be very strong.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07In North America, they regularly take on buffalo.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Buffalo can weigh over a tonne.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19That's the weight of a small car, so they're a formidable opponent.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Taking on prey as big as buffalo is risky,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28but these wolves have learned from each other and know how to do it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32When they get close enough, they launch themselves forward
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and grasp it with their extremely powerful jaws.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47The force of their bite is incredible -
0:09:47 > 0:09:49three times that of a human bite -
0:09:49 > 0:09:52and much greater than even the strongest of domestic dogs.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56They latch on with these ferocious jaws
0:09:56 > 0:10:00and use their entire body weight to drag their prey down.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04They're very resilient and won't give up easily.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Even though this animal has the capacity to trample them,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12they're utterly determined to keep hold of it
0:10:12 > 0:10:14and use all their might to stop it from escaping.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Wolves are so strong that they can take down animals
0:10:22 > 0:10:24many times their size.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27That's really impressive when you think that they weigh less than I do.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29They're extremely agile too.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32This strength and agility makes them brilliant hunters.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34The wolfbloods have a lot of fun with these special skills,
0:10:34 > 0:10:39and, when used in moderation, can make school life pretty interesting.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42You coming, or what?
0:10:47 > 0:10:48Stop where you are!
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Stop him!
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd