Going It Alone

Going It Alone

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0:00:04 > 0:00:08The world is full of amazing animal parents.

0:00:10 > 0:00:11Whether they live at the frozen poles...

0:00:16 > 0:00:19..or in the scorching deserts...

0:00:21 > 0:00:24..mothers and fathers will do whatever it takes

0:00:24 > 0:00:26to provide for their young.

0:00:28 > 0:00:29From the weird...

0:00:32 > 0:00:33..to the wonderful...

0:00:36 > 0:00:38In this three part series,

0:00:38 > 0:00:42we explore the extraordinary science

0:00:42 > 0:00:46behind nature's most exceptional parenting strategies...

0:00:48 > 0:00:51We'll meet the animals who parent single-handedly...

0:00:53 > 0:00:55..the devoted couples...

0:00:55 > 0:00:57SQUAWKING

0:00:58 > 0:01:01..and finally the team players,

0:01:01 > 0:01:03who work together to raise their young.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09Whether they weigh a few tonnes...

0:01:09 > 0:01:10ELEPHANT SNORTS

0:01:11 > 0:01:14..or less than a gram,

0:01:14 > 0:01:17these parents all want the same thing...

0:01:19 > 0:01:20..and they'll risk it all...

0:01:20 > 0:01:21LIONS ROAR

0:01:26 > 0:01:27..for the next generation.

0:01:38 > 0:01:40LION ROARS

0:01:42 > 0:01:45There are many different ways of raising a family...

0:01:45 > 0:01:47BIRDS CALL

0:01:52 > 0:01:54..but, in this programme,

0:01:54 > 0:01:57it's all about the hard working single parents.

0:01:59 > 0:02:03For them, going it alone is their best bet for successfully raising their young.

0:02:05 > 0:02:09We meet a plucky brown bear mother on the run to protect her son...

0:02:12 > 0:02:15..a flamboyant single father left holding the babies...

0:02:18 > 0:02:22..and a seal mother who has to put her child through winter boot camp.

0:02:23 > 0:02:26Whatever strategy these parents use,

0:02:26 > 0:02:28it's all about the youngsters.

0:02:28 > 0:02:31MUSIC: I Feel Just Like A Child by Devendra Banhart

0:02:32 > 0:02:35# Yeah, I feel just like a child

0:02:37 > 0:02:40# Well, I feel just like a child

0:02:41 > 0:02:44# Well, I feel just like a child

0:02:45 > 0:02:47# From my womb to my tomb

0:02:47 > 0:02:50# I guess I'll always be a child. #

0:02:50 > 0:02:52BABY CROAKS

0:03:07 > 0:03:10The secret to the success of most single parents

0:03:10 > 0:03:11is being a good teacher.

0:03:19 > 0:03:21Here in the Arctic,

0:03:21 > 0:03:23this polar bear mother has just two years

0:03:23 > 0:03:26to teach her cubs everything they need to know to survive.

0:03:39 > 0:03:41Her cubs are three months old.

0:03:43 > 0:03:45They've recently emerged from their den,

0:03:45 > 0:03:48where they were born under the snow.

0:03:48 > 0:03:49CUB GROWLS

0:03:54 > 0:03:56Their mother is hungry.

0:03:56 > 0:04:00She hasn't eaten for around five months during hibernation

0:04:00 > 0:04:03and has lost about 40% of her body weight.

0:04:08 > 0:04:11Catching a seal is essential for her family's survival.

0:04:22 > 0:04:24So today's lesson is all about hunting.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34While polar bear mums do make good teachers,

0:04:34 > 0:04:38polar bear cubs don't make the most attentive pupils!

0:04:47 > 0:04:51The seals underneath the ice can feel the slightest vibration above,

0:04:53 > 0:04:57so it's important to TREAD carefully...

0:05:04 > 0:05:05CUBS GROWL

0:05:06 > 0:05:10Unfortunately the cubs have no idea what's at stake.

0:05:20 > 0:05:23Mum's patience is being well and truly tested.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42MUM SNORTS

0:05:45 > 0:05:46MUM GROWLS

0:05:52 > 0:05:56She puts her truant cub on the equivalent of the naughty step...

0:06:06 > 0:06:08..before trying to resume her hunting lesson...

0:06:18 > 0:06:21She'll catch something soon, but in the meantime

0:06:21 > 0:06:24at least the kids can recharge their batteries.

0:06:32 > 0:06:35As a single parent in harsh conditions,

0:06:35 > 0:06:36the going can be tough...

0:06:38 > 0:06:40..especially if your kids keep mucking about.

0:06:57 > 0:07:00Luckily, some children make better pupils than others.

0:07:16 > 0:07:19This Weddell seal faces an equally tough challenge.

0:07:24 > 0:07:27She has just six weeks to teach her youngster

0:07:27 > 0:07:31everything he needs to survive before he's on his own.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45Seals usually give birth every year

0:07:45 > 0:07:48and are pregnant for up to 11 months,

0:07:48 > 0:07:50so making sure this pup is independent,

0:07:50 > 0:07:52so she can have another,

0:07:52 > 0:07:54means she's on a tight schedule.

0:07:57 > 0:08:00There's no time for messing about.

0:08:00 > 0:08:02It's straight down to business.

0:08:02 > 0:08:03PUP SQUEALS

0:08:08 > 0:08:11This newborn needs to join his mother under water

0:08:11 > 0:08:13at only two weeks old!

0:08:24 > 0:08:27Mum encourages him to take the plunge.

0:08:29 > 0:08:31PUP SQUEALS

0:08:32 > 0:08:34PUP BARKS

0:08:40 > 0:08:43The icy pool doesn't look that inviting.

0:08:48 > 0:08:50She has to give him a good tug!

0:09:09 > 0:09:13Once in, he has to learn essential survival skills,

0:09:13 > 0:09:16getting to know the local landscape underwater

0:09:16 > 0:09:18and the best routes to breathing holes.

0:09:21 > 0:09:25A youngster like this should be able to hold their breath for up to 19 minutes.

0:09:33 > 0:09:36Her pup needs to practise this.

0:09:36 > 0:09:38The longer he can hold his breath,

0:09:38 > 0:09:40the more chance he has of outrunning predators

0:09:40 > 0:09:43like leopard seals and killer whales.

0:09:48 > 0:09:50Luckily, when it comes to learning fast,

0:09:50 > 0:09:52seal pups have a natural advantage.

0:09:57 > 0:09:59They are born with huge brains -

0:09:59 > 0:10:02already 70% the size of their mother's.

0:10:05 > 0:10:08Humans, on the other hand, are born with a brain

0:10:08 > 0:10:10just 25% the size of their parents.

0:10:15 > 0:10:19The seal pup's large brain means they can reach independence sooner.

0:10:24 > 0:10:26Lessons progress quickly.

0:10:35 > 0:10:37If he thought getting in was hard,

0:10:37 > 0:10:38getting out is even harder!

0:10:53 > 0:10:55Mum tries coaxing from above.

0:10:55 > 0:10:56SEALS BARK

0:11:27 > 0:11:29Success!

0:11:30 > 0:11:31MUM BARKS

0:11:34 > 0:11:35A quick well done...

0:11:37 > 0:11:38PUP BARKS

0:11:38 > 0:11:41..and it's on with the next class.

0:11:42 > 0:11:43PUP CONTINUES TO BARK

0:11:50 > 0:11:53One of the most important lessons is how to keep air holes

0:11:53 > 0:11:57from freezing over by filing them back with their teeth.

0:12:16 > 0:12:18Deciding where to put a new air hole

0:12:18 > 0:12:21is the next stage in this youngster's tuition.

0:12:37 > 0:12:40Finally, it's time to take a well-earned break.

0:12:44 > 0:12:48Supplying the pup with enough fat to keep his rapid development on track

0:12:48 > 0:12:50is a huge drain on his mum.

0:12:53 > 0:12:56Weddell seal milk is about 60% fat

0:12:56 > 0:12:59and amongst the most calorific of any mammal milk.

0:13:02 > 0:13:05No wonder her pup will double his birth weight

0:13:05 > 0:13:07in just ten days.

0:13:09 > 0:13:12He needs to learn and bulk up fast

0:13:12 > 0:13:15as he'll be fending for himself in just a matter of weeks.

0:13:21 > 0:13:22It's tough love,

0:13:22 > 0:13:26but life is tough when living in extremes such as these.

0:13:32 > 0:13:37As a parent, your job isn't done until your children are able to look after themselves.

0:13:38 > 0:13:42The more complex your lifestyle, the harder this is to achieve.

0:13:52 > 0:13:55The Sumatran rainforests in Indonesia...

0:14:01 > 0:14:04This orang-utan mother has a lengthy challenge ahead.

0:14:09 > 0:14:12In contrast to the Weddell seal,

0:14:12 > 0:14:15she needs eight years to get her youngster ready for adulthood.

0:14:24 > 0:14:28No other animal is a single parent to one child for this long!

0:14:33 > 0:14:37And, unlike other great apes, who all parent in social groups,

0:14:37 > 0:14:41an orang-utan will teach her child in relative isolation.

0:14:46 > 0:14:50The most important lesson is learning what's on the menu

0:14:50 > 0:14:52and where.

0:14:57 > 0:15:00This youngster needs to memorise a mental food map

0:15:00 > 0:15:02of the trees in the forest

0:15:02 > 0:15:03and when the fruit is ripe.

0:15:13 > 0:15:16There are thousands of plants to choose from,

0:15:16 > 0:15:18but only a careful selection

0:15:18 > 0:15:21will give orang-utans the nutrition they need.

0:15:29 > 0:15:32This dedicated one-to-one tuition

0:15:32 > 0:15:35means orang-utans share a bond that is unusually strong.

0:15:46 > 0:15:49His mum also fits in some all important playtime!

0:15:52 > 0:15:56Great for developing social skills and muscle co-ordination.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05If only all lessons were this much fun!

0:16:20 > 0:16:23There's even time for a much needed power nap...

0:16:26 > 0:16:29..leaving her youngster to improvise on building a shelter

0:16:29 > 0:16:30from the heavy rain.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39Well, this one may still have a way to go!

0:16:48 > 0:16:53Some animals learn their essential survival skills from their parents.

0:16:53 > 0:16:58For others, survival is based more on innate instinct than instruction.

0:17:02 > 0:17:04The tenrec of Madagascar.

0:17:08 > 0:17:11Their ancestors washed in from mainland Africa.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21They have some of the largest litters of any mammal.

0:17:21 > 0:17:25The tailless tenrec can have up to 32 babies.

0:17:31 > 0:17:34But how does a tenrec mother keep tabs on all her offspring?

0:17:49 > 0:17:52The striped tenrec have a clever trick up their sleeve...

0:17:54 > 0:17:56..a special homing signal.

0:18:00 > 0:18:04The babies use this signal to communicate with one another

0:18:04 > 0:18:06and their mother.

0:18:07 > 0:18:09SCRATCHING SOUND

0:18:19 > 0:18:22This baby tenrec has been tempted away from his family.

0:18:29 > 0:18:33He's about to put a unique form of communication to the test.

0:18:36 > 0:18:39It's called stridulation.

0:18:39 > 0:18:40SCRATCHING BEGINS AGAIN

0:18:46 > 0:18:50The striped tenrec vibrates the quills on its back

0:18:50 > 0:18:52to make a high-frequency sound.

0:18:52 > 0:18:53STRIDULATION

0:18:58 > 0:19:03The mum uses this sound to draw her stray baby back to the group.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16The baby vibrates his quills and communicates back.

0:19:16 > 0:19:18STRIDULATION CONTINUES

0:19:28 > 0:19:30They're reunited...

0:19:31 > 0:19:34..and it's happy families once again.

0:19:39 > 0:19:41Whether your child is inattentive...

0:19:43 > 0:19:44diligent...

0:19:44 > 0:19:45SEAL BARKS

0:19:47 > 0:19:49playful...

0:19:49 > 0:19:50or distracted...

0:19:53 > 0:19:58..single parents have to take on the role of teacher all by themselves.

0:20:01 > 0:20:04Life lessons that can be pretty challenging...

0:20:10 > 0:20:12From how to stand on your own two feet...

0:20:16 > 0:20:18HIPPO GROWLS

0:20:19 > 0:20:21..to how to swim.

0:20:35 > 0:20:39But possibly the most challenging task for any parent

0:20:39 > 0:20:41is keeping your child well fed.

0:20:47 > 0:20:50A task that is often easier said than done.

0:20:55 > 0:20:58In California, this single mum faces a difficult challenge.

0:21:03 > 0:21:06Sea otter pups cannot dive with their mothers

0:21:06 > 0:21:10until they've had their first moult at around 45 days old.

0:21:13 > 0:21:17Yet, as a new mum, she needs to feed almost around the clock

0:21:17 > 0:21:20to provide her pup with the high calorie milk he needs.

0:21:23 > 0:21:26This means leaving him on his own.

0:21:29 > 0:21:31But she's got a clever strategy.

0:21:35 > 0:21:39She fluffs up his fur, trapping air into it

0:21:39 > 0:21:41so when she leaves to hunt, he bobs like a cork.

0:21:50 > 0:21:51PUP YELPS

0:21:52 > 0:21:54No air in the fur

0:21:54 > 0:21:56and the pup would probably sink like a stone

0:21:56 > 0:21:58or die of hypothermia.

0:21:58 > 0:21:59PUP YELPS

0:22:07 > 0:22:10He may not like being left alone,

0:22:10 > 0:22:13but it's the only way his mum can manage.

0:22:22 > 0:22:25And she's not the only one on the lookout for snacks.

0:22:25 > 0:22:26BIRDS AND GULLS CRY

0:22:27 > 0:22:30There are opportunists all around.

0:22:37 > 0:22:39Mum has to multiskill -

0:22:39 > 0:22:43she's quick to defend her pup and her hard-earned dinner.

0:22:58 > 0:23:02It's amazing how far an animal will go to keep a child fed...

0:23:04 > 0:23:08..each developing strategies to suit their particular circumstances.

0:23:37 > 0:23:38Here in Australia,

0:23:38 > 0:23:41this single mum koala

0:23:41 > 0:23:44eats 550 grams of eucalyptus leaves a day.

0:23:49 > 0:23:52Not an odd eating habit in itself,

0:23:52 > 0:23:53but there's a catch.

0:23:56 > 0:24:00The eucalyptus leaves are high in fibre and low in protein.

0:24:00 > 0:24:03They are also full of toxins.

0:24:05 > 0:24:10The mother has microbes in her digestive system to break these down,

0:24:10 > 0:24:12but her baby doesn't.

0:24:15 > 0:24:17So she has a radical solution.

0:24:17 > 0:24:21Alongside her milk, she feeds her baby koala, or joey,

0:24:21 > 0:24:23her own faeces.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30This is unconventional to say the least,

0:24:30 > 0:24:32but to the koala, it's their ticket to survival.

0:24:35 > 0:24:39By feeding her baby a liquefied form of faeces known as pap,

0:24:39 > 0:24:43he gets the microbes he needs to digest the eucalyptus, too!

0:24:46 > 0:24:47It's all very clever.

0:24:51 > 0:24:54And he can also learn from his mother

0:24:54 > 0:24:57which of the 800 species of eucalyptus are the best to eat.

0:25:08 > 0:25:11She'll spend most of the time carrying him around on her back

0:25:11 > 0:25:13until he's quarter of her size.

0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's a pretty heavy load for her to cart around on her own.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24Single parenthood can be quite exhausting...

0:25:24 > 0:25:27MUSIC: It's Oh So Quiet by Bjork

0:25:31 > 0:25:34# Sssh!

0:25:34 > 0:25:37# It's oh so quiet

0:25:37 > 0:25:39# Sssh!

0:25:41 > 0:25:44# It's oh so still

0:25:44 > 0:25:47# Ssh, ssh

0:25:47 > 0:25:50# You're all alone

0:25:50 > 0:25:53# Ssh, ssh

0:25:53 > 0:25:57# And so peaceful until... #

0:25:57 > 0:25:59TRUMPETS BLARE, PENGUINS SQUEAL

0:25:59 > 0:26:01GROWLING

0:26:01 > 0:26:03SEALS BARK

0:26:03 > 0:26:06Sleep is always at a premium when your babies are tiny...

0:26:12 > 0:26:14..especially when they're crying out for food.

0:26:16 > 0:26:17GROWLING

0:26:22 > 0:26:25Some single parents are prepared to sacrifice

0:26:25 > 0:26:29more than just a few hours' sleep to put dinner on the table.

0:26:31 > 0:26:33This is a caecilian.

0:26:33 > 0:26:35They thrive in wet tropical regions

0:26:35 > 0:26:37and look like giant earthworms...

0:26:40 > 0:26:42..but in fact they have a strong backbone.

0:26:45 > 0:26:48They spend most of their time underground.

0:26:50 > 0:26:53Right now this mum has her work cut out for her.

0:26:56 > 0:26:59Her babies are constantly on the lookout for food.

0:27:02 > 0:27:07They drink from an opening at the end of their mother's tail called a cloaca.

0:27:07 > 0:27:10But this liquid alone can't satisfy their growing needs.

0:27:12 > 0:27:16These hook teeth were designed to eat something more substantial.

0:27:16 > 0:27:18And mum is willing to provide it!

0:27:22 > 0:27:24She let's them eat her skin!

0:27:33 > 0:27:36She regrows her skin every three days

0:27:36 > 0:27:40just so her babies can benefit from the fat that's in it.

0:27:43 > 0:27:46And, she's not the only yummy mummy in the natural world.

0:28:00 > 0:28:02The black lace weaver spider,

0:28:02 > 0:28:04found in most European gardens.

0:28:08 > 0:28:11The day after her spiderlings have hatched,

0:28:11 > 0:28:15this single mum lays a second set of unfertilised eggs prematurely...

0:28:17 > 0:28:18and puts on a banquet

0:28:22 > 0:28:27But her spiderlings are voracious feeders with enormous appetites.

0:28:31 > 0:28:34Parents are often prepared to make huge sacrifices

0:28:34 > 0:28:35to feed their children,

0:28:35 > 0:28:39but this spider takes that impulse further than most.

0:28:44 > 0:28:47By pushing herself down onto her babies,

0:28:47 > 0:28:50she switches on their cannibalistic impulse

0:28:50 > 0:28:52so they all act at once.

0:28:54 > 0:28:56They start to devour her.

0:29:01 > 0:29:02She sacrifices herself.

0:29:05 > 0:29:08It's not pretty, but it is clever.

0:29:08 > 0:29:11For an animal with just a two year natural lifespan,

0:29:11 > 0:29:16it's a good way of ensuring her genes are passed on to the next generation.

0:29:24 > 0:29:28These animal parents take self-sacrifice to a new level,

0:29:28 > 0:29:30to care for their young.

0:29:31 > 0:29:34But alongside nurturing,

0:29:34 > 0:29:37the other key parental responsibility is protection.

0:29:37 > 0:29:38ROARING

0:29:44 > 0:29:48And this job often starts before the baby is born.

0:29:54 > 0:29:57Sometimes it's not the mums who take on this role,

0:29:57 > 0:30:00but the dads.

0:30:06 > 0:30:09The male members of the seahorse family,

0:30:09 > 0:30:12otherwise known as the Syngnathidae family,

0:30:12 > 0:30:14are dedicated child carers.

0:30:18 > 0:30:23These fantastical creatures glide almost invisibly around the ocean bed.

0:30:31 > 0:30:33Both the male leafy sea dragon

0:30:33 > 0:30:35and the male weedy sea dragon

0:30:35 > 0:30:40use their flamboyant decoration to help keep their broods safe.

0:31:02 > 0:31:06There's little risk of predation, when you're as well camouflaged as these eggs.

0:31:13 > 0:31:16The dads carry their eggs around for one month until they hatch.

0:31:25 > 0:31:28Then the hard work is finally rewarded.

0:31:30 > 0:31:32The little baby sea dragons are born,

0:31:32 > 0:31:35complete with yolk sacks still attached.

0:31:42 > 0:31:45These tiny hatchlings will grow fast.

0:31:51 > 0:31:53Their father has played his part,

0:31:53 > 0:31:55bringing them safely into the world.

0:31:55 > 0:31:58And now its over to them to play theirs.

0:32:08 > 0:32:12Also in the same extended family the pipefish,

0:32:12 > 0:32:16a master of disguise and another super dad.

0:32:26 > 0:32:30After enjoying a graceful mating dance with the female,

0:32:30 > 0:32:33she swiftly transfers the eggs into his brood pouch.

0:32:37 > 0:32:39He keeps them safe for ten days

0:32:39 > 0:32:44until they hatch as perfectly formed miniature versions of himself.

0:32:58 > 0:33:03But the ultimate single dad has got to be this spiny seahorse...

0:33:08 > 0:33:11He's the only male in the animal world

0:33:11 > 0:33:14to undergo pregnancy and childbirth,

0:33:14 > 0:33:16complete with contractions.

0:33:36 > 0:33:42This act sets this single father apart from all other single dads.

0:33:54 > 0:33:58Keeping your eggs safe when they're inside you is one thing,

0:33:58 > 0:34:01but for those who incubate them outside the body,

0:34:01 > 0:34:04it's much more challenging.

0:34:04 > 0:34:06Eggs are small packs of protein

0:34:06 > 0:34:08and predators are everywhere.

0:34:12 > 0:34:15In the Ganges, a rare member of the crocodile family,

0:34:15 > 0:34:16called a gharial,

0:34:16 > 0:34:20buries her eggs in the sand to keep them away from predators.

0:34:20 > 0:34:21BABY CROAKS

0:34:25 > 0:34:28Around 70 days later and the eggs are ready to hatch.

0:34:38 > 0:34:40In a twist of nature,

0:34:40 > 0:34:43it's the unborn babies who call to their mum to be dug out

0:34:43 > 0:34:46when the time is right for them to enter the world.

0:35:09 > 0:35:11For some single mothers,

0:35:11 > 0:35:15just getting to what they hope will be a safe place to lay their eggs,

0:35:15 > 0:35:17can be a test of endurance.

0:35:23 > 0:35:24At around 30 years old,

0:35:24 > 0:35:27a green turtle first-time mother

0:35:27 > 0:35:29will make an incredible journey,

0:35:29 > 0:35:33travelling back to the same beach where she herself was born.

0:35:44 > 0:35:47This mum is repeating what her ancestors have done

0:35:47 > 0:35:49for millions of years.

0:35:55 > 0:36:00For her, this is the safest place she knows to build her nest.

0:36:04 > 0:36:08This is the only time she ever comes ashore.

0:36:13 > 0:36:15She needs to build her nest high

0:36:15 > 0:36:17above the tide line to avoid flooding.

0:36:22 > 0:36:27In the water she is agile,

0:36:27 > 0:36:31but on land she feels every one of her 80 kilos!

0:36:35 > 0:36:39It's an incredible test of stamina and courage.

0:36:49 > 0:36:52And she's not the only mother to take on this challenge.

0:36:57 > 0:37:01During one night, around 5,000 female turtles

0:37:01 > 0:37:06can haul their heavy bodies onto a beach like this to lay their eggs.

0:37:10 > 0:37:12It will take them most of the night.

0:37:27 > 0:37:32Once the nest is dug, they lay around 100 eggs in one go.

0:37:41 > 0:37:46Green turtle mums the world over - in Australia, Asia

0:37:46 > 0:37:50and Africa - all undergo this ordeal to create the safest nest they can.

0:37:56 > 0:38:00Three months later and there's a cascade of tiny hatchlings...

0:38:05 > 0:38:08..each one just seven centimetres long.

0:38:18 > 0:38:21And they have only one goal.

0:38:30 > 0:38:33Instinctively, they know that's where they're headed,

0:38:35 > 0:38:38and thankfully they're much more agile than their mums.

0:38:49 > 0:38:51One of the last out,

0:38:51 > 0:38:53this baby may seem to have pulled the short straw.

0:39:03 > 0:39:07There's nothing else he can do except make a mad dash for it!

0:39:34 > 0:39:37Finally, the relative safety of the sea.

0:39:44 > 0:39:46The green turtle mums have given

0:39:46 > 0:39:49their babies the best start in life,

0:39:49 > 0:39:50against the odds.

0:39:56 > 0:40:00For many single parents, endurance goes with the job,

0:40:00 > 0:40:03but some take it to the ultimate extreme.

0:40:08 > 0:40:12The female giant Pacific octopus.

0:40:17 > 0:40:21Growing up to four metres long and weighing 70 kilos,

0:40:21 > 0:40:24she's a member of the largest octopus species in the world.

0:40:29 > 0:40:32Home is the Northern Pacific Ocean.

0:40:36 > 0:40:39She's looking for the perfect hiding place...

0:40:44 > 0:40:48..somewhere safe to give birth to her first and only brood.

0:40:59 > 0:41:00And it's some brood!

0:41:08 > 0:41:11She has up to 100,000 eggs in one go.

0:41:22 > 0:41:26These tiny eggs would make easy dinner for any predator,

0:41:26 > 0:41:28and there are many hungry mouths down here...

0:41:34 > 0:41:38..so mum dedicates herself entirely

0:41:38 > 0:41:40to protecting and caring for her young...

0:41:45 > 0:41:49..attending to their every need for six months.

0:41:50 > 0:41:53She regularly caresses them to keep them free of algae

0:41:53 > 0:41:56and supplied with plenty of oxygen.

0:41:57 > 0:41:59She won't leave them alone for a second,

0:41:59 > 0:42:02so eating is out of the question.

0:42:02 > 0:42:06Effectively, this home will also become her final resting place.

0:42:11 > 0:42:13But not before she sees her eggs hatch

0:42:13 > 0:42:16as young, fully developed octopus.

0:42:21 > 0:42:24These little ones are smaller than the size of a fingernail.

0:42:27 > 0:42:31Their mum has sacrificed everything to give them the best start.

0:42:35 > 0:42:37You can't really ask for more.

0:42:44 > 0:42:46For the majority of single parents,

0:42:46 > 0:42:51the sacrifices normally come after childbirth rather than before.

0:42:51 > 0:42:53That's when your mettle is truly tested!

0:43:02 > 0:43:06This African bullfrog single father faces a problem.

0:43:10 > 0:43:14During the rainy season, he put his children into a

0:43:14 > 0:43:18nursery pool to keep them safe from predators living in the main pond.

0:43:25 > 0:43:28But now the dry season has arrived

0:43:28 > 0:43:31and the smaller pool is evaporating fast.

0:43:31 > 0:43:34His children are in mortal danger.

0:43:37 > 0:43:39He goes to work.

0:43:59 > 0:44:02Just in the nick of time, he breaks through,

0:44:02 > 0:44:04and his kids live to see another day.

0:44:31 > 0:44:34Keeping your child safe often means reacting to both

0:44:34 > 0:44:38the environment they're born into as well as the threat from predators.

0:44:40 > 0:44:43But what if everyone who shares your neighbourhood

0:44:43 > 0:44:45is out to get your babies?

0:44:51 > 0:44:53This is a big mouth hap.

0:44:55 > 0:44:58Her children would make easy prey.

0:45:02 > 0:45:04And when you have this many babies,

0:45:04 > 0:45:07you have to have a clever strategy if you want to protect them.

0:45:13 > 0:45:15This female cichlid guards her

0:45:15 > 0:45:19offspring in the safest place she can think of.

0:45:23 > 0:45:25She's not eating them.

0:45:25 > 0:45:27She's simply keeping them out of harm's way.

0:45:32 > 0:45:36She will mouth brood her babies for anywhere between three to six

0:45:36 > 0:45:40weeks and during this period she won't feed herself at all.

0:45:42 > 0:45:44You can understand why!

0:45:50 > 0:45:53For some cichlids, the art of mouth brooding

0:45:53 > 0:45:55is easier to master than for others!

0:46:08 > 0:46:11The urge to protect, however, is strong.

0:46:18 > 0:46:20This urge exists for most parents.

0:46:22 > 0:46:25And when it comes to leaving their youngsters alone,

0:46:25 > 0:46:29every animal has their own unique strategy for keeping them safe.

0:46:33 > 0:46:36Take this mum. She's a slow loris.

0:46:40 > 0:46:42She may be slow moving,

0:46:42 > 0:46:45but she's one of only a few mammals with venomous powers.

0:46:51 > 0:46:54She produces a poison in her brachial arm gland.

0:46:54 > 0:46:56She could use this on her prey,

0:46:56 > 0:46:59but instead she uses it on her baby.

0:47:03 > 0:47:06In order to leave her child alone while she hunts,

0:47:06 > 0:47:08she covers him in toxic saliva.

0:47:14 > 0:47:17If predators try to take him while she's gone,

0:47:17 > 0:47:19one taste of her baby's fur

0:47:19 > 0:47:22and they'll be spitting all the way home!

0:47:26 > 0:47:31Believe it or not, this tiny mammal is now armed and dangerous.

0:47:38 > 0:47:42Here in the hills of Hunan in South West China,

0:47:42 > 0:47:44there's another single mum without child care.

0:47:47 > 0:47:50And she's improvised her own cunning plan

0:47:50 > 0:47:53to keep her child safe when home alone.

0:47:55 > 0:47:58Bamboo forests stretch for almost

0:47:58 > 0:48:02800 km from Hunan all the way to Shanghai.

0:48:05 > 0:48:08And while they may be beautiful,

0:48:08 > 0:48:11these forests can also be very dangerous...

0:48:14 > 0:48:16..especially if you're a bat.

0:48:19 > 0:48:25The lesser bamboo bat is one of 122 species of bat that live in China.

0:48:27 > 0:48:30These tiny creatures weigh less than a 20 pence piece.

0:48:33 > 0:48:36The bat babies can't fly, so they're easy to catch...

0:48:40 > 0:48:43..not to mention delicious

0:48:43 > 0:48:44if you're a snake.

0:48:47 > 0:48:50Despite the danger, their single mums must leave

0:48:50 > 0:48:53their little ones all alone as they go to hunt.

0:49:01 > 0:49:05These little bats would make a very tasty snack...

0:49:08 > 0:49:12..but the single mums have a clever strategy for keeping

0:49:12 > 0:49:14their young tantalisingly out of reach.

0:49:17 > 0:49:20They've hijacked a beetle hole in a bamboo shoot

0:49:20 > 0:49:22and hidden their babies inside.

0:49:26 > 0:49:28There are around 15 bats belonging

0:49:28 > 0:49:31to ten mums in this one shoot.

0:49:32 > 0:49:35But the snake can't get at any of them!

0:49:37 > 0:49:38It's the perfect ruse.

0:49:42 > 0:49:45The bats use special pads on their wings to

0:49:45 > 0:49:48help them cling onto the interior bamboo walls

0:49:48 > 0:49:51until their mothers return.

0:49:53 > 0:49:56It's only because of mum's unusually flattened skull

0:49:56 > 0:49:59that she can fit back in.

0:49:59 > 0:50:02Even for her, it's still a tight squeeze.

0:50:05 > 0:50:08As a single mum, the bamboo bat has come up with an ingenious

0:50:08 > 0:50:11solution to keep her little ones safe

0:50:11 > 0:50:14without dad or a baby-sitter around.

0:50:18 > 0:50:20And she's not the only one.

0:50:37 > 0:50:40In Alaska, female brown bears have

0:50:40 > 0:50:44to face a danger that comes from much closer to home.

0:50:47 > 0:50:51This first-time mother and her cub share a very close bond.

0:50:54 > 0:50:59At five months old, a brown bear cub will rarely leave his mum's side.

0:51:10 > 0:51:13Right now, this mum's on the hunt for clams.

0:51:26 > 0:51:29On top of feeding herself and her youngster,

0:51:29 > 0:51:31like all brown bear mums,

0:51:31 > 0:51:33she needs to keep her baby safe.

0:51:43 > 0:51:45And out here that's not an easy task.

0:51:48 > 0:51:51The main threat comes from the other bears.

0:51:52 > 0:51:54Particularly the larger males.

0:51:54 > 0:51:57GRUNTING

0:51:57 > 0:52:00They can be incredibly intimidating.

0:52:02 > 0:52:05An adult bear wouldn't hesitate to eat a cub.

0:52:05 > 0:52:07It would help see them through the winter.

0:52:09 > 0:52:12After all, a cub is a lot bigger than a clam.

0:52:12 > 0:52:16GRUNTING

0:52:18 > 0:52:23Here in Alaska, all brown bear mums face a common dilemma.

0:52:23 > 0:52:27Either stay and try to dodge the terrifying predatory male bears,

0:52:27 > 0:52:30or find a more isolated spot to hide out

0:52:30 > 0:52:32until their cubs are stronger.

0:52:37 > 0:52:39Both options carry risk.

0:52:45 > 0:52:47This mum makes a run for it.

0:53:03 > 0:53:06Her cub has to hold on for dear life!

0:53:11 > 0:53:15The water here is icy cold and the currents have a very strong pull.

0:53:24 > 0:53:28It's a high risk strategy, but these are desperate times.

0:53:42 > 0:53:44Next morning, dawn breaks...

0:53:48 > 0:53:50..and the risk has paid off.

0:53:54 > 0:53:57Both mother and child are alive and well.

0:54:00 > 0:54:03And they have the place to themselves!

0:54:05 > 0:54:08She can now focus on feeding herself

0:54:08 > 0:54:12and her baby without having to fend off predatory bears.

0:54:18 > 0:54:21There's even time to play!

0:54:25 > 0:54:27Now that's a bear hug!

0:54:32 > 0:54:35As a single mum, the stakes are always high.

0:54:43 > 0:54:47But on the island, this mum can watch her cub grow,

0:54:47 > 0:54:49and they can indulge themselves.

0:54:53 > 0:54:58Now the cub's more robust, mum can also teach him when and how

0:54:58 > 0:55:02to pick his battles - vital lessons for any brown bear cub at his age.

0:55:12 > 0:55:15A cub needs to know when it's worth running...

0:55:17 > 0:55:20..and when it's worth standing his ground.

0:55:20 > 0:55:22YELPING

0:55:29 > 0:55:31His mum has helped set him up

0:55:31 > 0:55:34for the next stage of life when,

0:55:34 > 0:55:36like all cubs, he'll have to go it alone.

0:55:39 > 0:55:42But for now, they take a moment to relax.

0:55:56 > 0:55:58Whichever way you look at it,

0:55:58 > 0:56:01parenting on your own presents a unique set of challenges.

0:56:05 > 0:56:07It doesn't matter what species you are,

0:56:07 > 0:56:09or the environment you're born into.

0:56:15 > 0:56:18We've seen many single parents provide incredible care

0:56:18 > 0:56:20and dedication to their young.

0:56:22 > 0:56:24Teaching vital life skills...

0:56:28 > 0:56:30..providing great homes,

0:56:30 > 0:56:32and keeping them well-fed.

0:56:36 > 0:56:39But what sets these animal parents apart is their strength

0:56:39 > 0:56:43and resilience when facing tough choices alone.

0:56:45 > 0:56:48In the end, there's only one goal.

0:56:48 > 0:56:53To give the next generation the best start in life, whatever it takes.

0:57:05 > 0:57:08We meet the parents who work together as a double act.

0:57:12 > 0:57:16Discover what makes a parent stick around, and help raise the baby.

0:57:18 > 0:57:23And find out the surprising ways they divide the tasks between them,

0:57:23 > 0:57:24as we uncover more...

0:57:26 > 0:57:29..Animal Super Parents.