0:00:04 > 0:00:08Brazil - the beating heart of South America.
0:00:12 > 0:00:18Vast landscapes carved by the irresistible forces of nature.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34More animals live here than in any other nation on Earth.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49This is the story of three of them.
0:00:55 > 0:01:01As the seasons change, animal families face extreme challenges.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03THUNDER
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Immense floods.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Brutal drought.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Surviving and raising young.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Through the good times and the bad.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28SCREECHING
0:01:30 > 0:01:36This is an intimate journey to the heart of a spectacular country.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54At the equinox, Brazil's climate pauses briefly
0:01:54 > 0:01:56between harsh, seasonal extremes.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07For the youngsters, this is the time to take their first steps
0:02:07 > 0:02:11in this extraordinary and often dangerous world.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16SQUAWKING
0:02:32 > 0:02:37This is the newest member of a family of tufted capuchins.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42For him, so far, life has been easy.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48His devoted mother has carried him around everywhere
0:02:48 > 0:02:50since the day he was born.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56But times change and soon he must gain some independence.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04QUIET SCREECHES
0:03:04 > 0:03:07And it won't be easy, because this family of capuchins
0:03:07 > 0:03:10live in one of Brazil's most extreme landscapes.
0:03:30 > 0:03:36These are the sheer cliffs of Piaui in the north east of Brazil.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Food is hard to come by here.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11No wonder this little baby clings on so tightly.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15This really isn't the safest place to search for breakfast.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25At this time of year, it's about their only option.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38But this fast food is no easy meal.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48These lizards are a precious source of both food and water.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57But catching one with a baby on your back is almost impossible.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Someone else has beaten them to it.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14The lizard is out of reach in a crack.
0:05:18 > 0:05:23There's no meal for this mother, but this baby can watch and learn.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32These capuchins are possibly the world's cleverest monkeys.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36There's nothing they like more than a problem to solve.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46This particular problem requires finding and shaping
0:05:46 > 0:05:50just the right tool to force this lizard out of hiding.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08And if at first you don't succeed, it's back to the tool box.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23These monkeys use more tools than almost any other animal.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37And a lizard is no match for such determined intelligence.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Success brings a tasty meal for one,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55while the baby's mother goes hungry again.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57And if she starves,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59then HE starves.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02For both their sakes,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06this little monkey must start his journey to independence.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12But letting go won't be easy for either of them...
0:07:13 > 0:07:18..and it's going to be risky in these unforgiving canyons.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32The ancient rivers that carved the monkeys' spectacular home
0:07:32 > 0:07:34have long since dried up.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But elsewhere in Brazil,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43water is still shaping entire landscapes.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13In the west of the country, they give rise to one of the wonders
0:08:13 > 0:08:15of the natural world.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23The Pantanal.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42This is the largest and richest freshwater wetland on the planet.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52The Pantanal is home to one
0:08:52 > 0:08:55of Brazil's noisiest families.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58LOUD SQUEALS
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Giant otters.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Their holt is a hole in the riverbank.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25An experienced mother stands guard
0:09:25 > 0:09:28whilst one of her adolescent sons plays outside.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35He's almost 2m long
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and, for some reason, still living at home.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46In fact, young giant otters often stick around,
0:09:46 > 0:09:51but this mother has 12 of them living under her roof.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56LOUD SQUEALS
0:10:06 > 0:10:10And she's just added three tiny new members to her family.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17They're tucked away in the darkest, safest, corner of the holt.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23But it won't be long before they'll have to start learning about life
0:10:23 > 0:10:25in the outside world.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29SQUEALS
0:10:35 > 0:10:37With so many mouths to feed,
0:10:37 > 0:10:42the family's top priority is keeping hold of their territory.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51For giant otters, that means
0:10:51 > 0:10:54scent-marking in the family latrine.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01GURGLING AND SQUEALING
0:11:10 > 0:11:13The father takes this job very seriously
0:11:13 > 0:11:16and getting it right takes time.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27With so many in the queue,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30things tend to get a little unruly at times.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45But there's a very good reason why this mother
0:11:45 > 0:11:47needs such a large family.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Her new babies are growing up in one of the most dangerous
0:11:55 > 0:11:57neighbourhoods in Brazil.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59LOUD SQUEALS
0:12:03 > 0:12:06At first glance, it's an aquatic paradise.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12These waters teem with hundreds of species of fish.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21But the Pantanal also has the highest density of predators
0:12:21 > 0:12:23on the planet.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28There are an estimated 10 million caiman alone.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37But these rivers are famous for Brazil's most elusive
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and dangerous predator.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54The jaguar.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02The most powerful of all the big cats.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19A simple family fishing trip here
0:13:19 > 0:13:22is something of a dangerous sport.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Jaguars will spend hours stalking their prey.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30GROWLS
0:14:50 > 0:14:54This is why giant otters live in such a large family.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Over the next few days,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09the baby otters will be taken out for their very first swim.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Keeping them safe on this river
0:15:13 > 0:15:17is going to test the whole family to its limits.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30The equinox is passed.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32A new season is coming.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35The landscape waits for change.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44These are the Vazantes.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50A unique blend of grasslands and pools, surrounded by woodland.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06It is here that Brazil's extreme seasons have the greatest impact.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18The landscape will soon change completely.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Young animals don't have long to adapt.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35This is a baby coati.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39These woodlands are his playground.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Coati mothers time their births for the onset of the monsoon rains.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52A time of plenty.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57While they wait, they keep all their babies safely together
0:16:57 > 0:17:02in a giant forest creche, where they can keep an eye on them.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12But these toddlers are a naturally inquisitive bunch.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Luckily, these woods keep them safe from predators,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30but, at the moment, there's not much to eat here.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34The only place for a decent meal is in the grassland.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47At this time of year the Vazantes are home to a mix of land
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and water animals found nowhere else in the world.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Southern lapwings lay their eggs on the drier ground...
0:18:05 > 0:18:09..while anacondas seek out pools of flooded grassland.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28For the coatis, these pools are the perfect snack bar.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They'll eat almost anything they can sniff out,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35just like their cousins, the racoons.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46But dining out in the open like this
0:18:46 > 0:18:49can be a dangerous way to get a meal.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05It's certainly no place for a baby coati.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16So while most of the grown-ups are out foraging,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19all the babies are kept safely in the woods.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29The only food on offer here right now is mother's milk.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34And any young coati too busy exploring may miss out altogether.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57It won't be long before these babies need more than milk.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20After a long day in the exposed grasslands, the adults head back
0:20:20 > 0:20:22to the safety of the woods.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36It's a chance to find out what the grown-ups have been eating -
0:20:36 > 0:20:38a sure sign that they're ready for weaning.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Soon their parents will take these little ones
0:20:50 > 0:20:53out into the open for the very first time.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58But stray too far from mum
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and their first day in the grassland could be their last.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Soon, Brazil's seasons will change.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22A change driven by a huge force of nature.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26A vast river.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28But not the Amazon.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33This is a river in the sky.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It starts in the Amazonian rainforest -
0:21:45 > 0:21:50the largest expanse of tropical trees on the planet.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00Every day these trees release up to 20,000 billion litres
0:22:00 > 0:22:02of water vapour.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10This water vapour streams down the entire country.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It's known as the Rio Voador.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Literally a "flying river".
0:22:19 > 0:22:22A river in the sky.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50When this sky river flows, it brings deluge.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56When the sky river stops, there will be drought.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05It affects almost every living creature in this vast country.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28The jaguar cubs here will need to make the most of everything
0:23:28 > 0:23:31these huge changes bring.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36But for some, the sky river will bring precious little.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55It only rains a few days a year in the canyons of Piaui.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Even so, our capuchin was born so that when it does rain,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04he'll be old enough to take full advantage of it.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10It's harder than ever for her to feed and hunt.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17And if she doesn't eat, there's no milk for him.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36She tries every trick she knows...
0:24:37 > 0:24:40..but without much luck.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46He needs to leave his mother's back
0:24:46 > 0:24:49at least long enough for her to feed.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59One of the males has discovered a bees' nest
0:24:59 > 0:25:01right up at the top of the canyon.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09At this time of year,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12finding honey is an incredible stroke of luck.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23But getting up there is another matter,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26especially with a baby on your back.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37The time has now come for this baby to let go.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48He gets his first baby-sitter - one of his older sisters,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50and he's not happy.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52SQUEALS
0:25:53 > 0:25:57But his mother simply can't afford to miss out on this feast.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The climb is about as tough as it gets...
0:26:17 > 0:26:20..a challenge for even the nimblest monkeys.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37CAPUCHINS SQUEAL
0:26:45 > 0:26:49She makes it to the top - and the honey.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55But far below in the canyon,
0:26:55 > 0:27:00the inexperienced baby-sitter has made a reckless decision.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07She's attempting the climb carrying her baby brother.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27These bees may be stingless,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30but that doesn't make this feast any less dangerous.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42This energy boost couldn't have come at a better time.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48But her baby is in serious trouble.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09His baby-sitter has realised her mistake
0:28:09 > 0:28:12and now abandons him altogether.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Far above, his mother has no idea.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35Like humans, capuchin babies are almost completely helpless.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37CAPUCHIN WHISTLES
0:28:46 > 0:28:48CAPUCHIN WHISTLES
0:29:09 > 0:29:13It seems a long time before his mother realises what's happening.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Reunited.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Safe.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45But that wasn't a great start to independence.
0:29:47 > 0:29:52He really does need to pick up some survival skills, and soon.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03This part of Brazil is so dry
0:30:03 > 0:30:06because the sky river hardly flows here.
0:30:13 > 0:30:18But as the seasons change, other areas will be utterly transformed.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30The rivers of the Pantanal will be inundated by a colossal flood.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50These floods may be some months away but, for the giant otters,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53the preparations start now.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57It's an occasion that involves the whole family.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15One of the newborns is being taken for its first swim.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17GURGLING AND SQUEALING
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Survival here requires strong swimming skills.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43They have to start early.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Older brothers and sisters keep watch for predators
0:31:51 > 0:31:55while one of them stays behind to guard the other little kits
0:31:55 > 0:31:56at the holt.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21Something has spooked the baby-sitter.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57Like most predators,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00this jaguar will be looking for a vulnerable victim.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04A baby otter or a preoccupied adult
0:33:04 > 0:33:06would do nicely.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Swimming lesson over, the family head for home,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and they're in for a shock.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21LOUD SQUEAL
0:33:25 > 0:33:28LOUD SQUEALS AND GROWLS
0:33:42 > 0:33:45They react with a show of strength.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02She knows she's been beaten.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07But she'll be back.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Their home is no longer safe. They grab the babies and flee.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Giant otters usually dig several holts along the river
0:34:25 > 0:34:27in case of emergency.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47Only when all the babies are safely inside
0:34:47 > 0:34:49will the family be able to relax.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Swimming lessons will resume as soon as it's safe.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05The monsoon floods will soon be here.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08By then, the kits must be ready.
0:35:13 > 0:35:19For now, the Pantanal waits for the sky river to bring the rains.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33With the equinox passed, the sun's light grows stronger
0:35:33 > 0:35:37over the north of Brazil - the Amazon rainforest.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45The trees produce more and more water vapour.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51This is the engine that will start the sky river
0:35:51 > 0:35:54and ultimately bring the monsoon rains.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33This Brazilian monsoon will bring plenty of opportunities
0:36:33 > 0:36:37and babies must be old enough to take advantage of it.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42That often means that their first formative weeks are tough.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55This is now the most dangerous time of their young lives.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08All our coati babies have known is the safety of the trees.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14But until the monsoon rains arrive, there's nothing to eat here.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18If they want to get a meal,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22they will have to follow their parents out into the grassland.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31The wide open world of the Vazante
0:37:31 > 0:37:35must seem both exciting and daunting.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Their mother has got her work cut out
0:37:47 > 0:37:49keeping track of so many at once.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Get separated from the family and you could get snatched
0:38:04 > 0:38:08by one of the predators that stalk these plains.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17Every little coati has just one golden rule to remember -
0:38:17 > 0:38:21don't lose sight of mum's tail.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27The babies are not just discovering a new place,
0:38:27 > 0:38:31they're here to learn about foraging from the grown-ups.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43But for some, there are just too many distractions.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53All around them are extraordinary creatures.
0:39:03 > 0:39:08Each little Coati must learn which creatures are safe
0:39:08 > 0:39:10and which are dangerous.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Southern lapwings are good to have around.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21They follow the coatis to pick up small bugs
0:39:21 > 0:39:23the family disturbs as they forage.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29In return, they keep an eye out for predators.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Armadillos can usually be ignored.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39So can giant anteaters.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49But a savanna hawk...
0:39:50 > 0:39:51..is a different matter.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53CHIRPING
0:40:22 > 0:40:25With so many babies in the creche,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28the mother is unsure that everyone's made it home.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31COATI SQUEAKS
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Her instincts are right.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43One of them hasn't.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45SQUEAKING
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Mum's tail is nowhere to be seen.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01SQUEAKING
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Brazil's grasslands are not always this forgiving.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53But he's learned a valuable lesson.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14Over much of Brazil, animals are waiting for the rain.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43These canyons were once part of a rainforest.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48But then the sky river changed its path,
0:42:48 > 0:42:53leaving rainforest trees clinging on in the ravines.
0:43:01 > 0:43:07If this baby capuchin is to survive here, he must become independent.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19The last time he tried was nearly a disaster.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23This time, his mother isn't going anywhere.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43Slowly but surely, his confidence grows.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01He needs to learn what to eat by following mum's example.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08Leaves are OK, but the roots are the best part.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Now he's getting the hang of it.
0:44:18 > 0:44:24But he needs to learn more than just where to find food.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19His mother hasn't spotted the danger.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27Fortunately, the little monkey's instincts kick in.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35Capuchins have different calls for different threats.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37CAPUCHIN CALL
0:45:37 > 0:45:40The rest of the troop instantly recognise this one
0:45:40 > 0:45:42and all come together.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50KNOCKING ON TREES
0:45:56 > 0:45:58CAPUCHIN WHISTLES
0:46:06 > 0:46:11They try to scare the snake away by making as much noise as possible.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Even the baby is determined to help.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24But his mother has spotted something.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29This yellow rat snake isn't after monkeys.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37It's after a Brazilian rodent called a punare.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01Capuchins are incredibly curious...
0:47:04 > 0:47:08..and even the baby can't resist taking a closer look.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25But there's a fine line between curiosity
0:47:25 > 0:47:27and foolhardiness.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46With hundreds of backward facing teeth,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49there's no way the snake is giving up his prize.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55But that wasn't the only punare.
0:48:06 > 0:48:11All fear forgotten, the little baby scrambles to join in.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16CAPUCHINS SQUEAL
0:48:18 > 0:48:21But punares aren't easy to catch.
0:48:24 > 0:48:29Once again, it's the experienced male who takes the lead.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51The group finally get a decent meal.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58Just as importantly, our baby monkey
0:48:58 > 0:49:02has passed his first test in surviving on his own.
0:49:03 > 0:49:08He's also witnessed just how resourceful his family needs to be
0:49:08 > 0:49:10to survive here.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28All of our babies have taken their first tentative steps
0:49:28 > 0:49:30towards independence.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51Along the way they have got lost, been abandoned and had close calls
0:49:51 > 0:49:53with predators.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Now their world is about to change.
0:50:06 > 0:50:07At last, the sky river
0:50:07 > 0:50:09is beginning to flow.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14LOUD SQUEALS
0:50:14 > 0:50:19Very soon, the monsoon rains will transform much of the land.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50All of our youngsters must learn fast
0:50:50 > 0:50:54and fend for themselves...
0:50:55 > 0:50:57..in Wild Brazil.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19To gain a truly intimate view into the lives of our animal families,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22the Wild Brazil team filmed for over a year,
0:51:22 > 0:51:24using all the tricks of the trade.
0:51:33 > 0:51:38Of all the animals, it was the giant otter and tufted capuchin families
0:51:38 > 0:51:41that would allow the team closest to their private lives
0:51:41 > 0:51:44to film some of the series' most remarkable moments.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Following capuchin monkeys in the canyon lands
0:51:51 > 0:51:55of Serra da Capivara National Park was a big commitment.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59Cameraman Ted Giffords spent a year getting to know
0:51:59 > 0:52:01one particular monkey family.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07To truly understand the monkeys' world, Ted enlisted the help
0:52:07 > 0:52:11of primatologist Camila Coelho and guide George Reinaldo.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18For Ted to have any chance of being accepted by the monkeys,
0:52:18 > 0:52:21he first had to learn how to keep up with them.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28There's very few places they're going to move to because they have to live within the gullies.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32If you imagine my fingers, there's these constant gullies parallel to one another,
0:52:32 > 0:52:36and if they live in this one, they can only move to one of the ones adjacent.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40We'll eventually find them in one of these adjacent gullies, unless they're still on the move.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43You cannot keep up because they ping from tree to tree.
0:52:48 > 0:52:52Thousands of miles away in the heart of the Pantanal,
0:52:52 > 0:52:55the giant otter team faced a different challenge.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00They needed a family with newborn kits.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04But at first, cameraman Barrie Britton
0:53:04 > 0:53:09and Pantanal guide Mauricio Copetti couldn't find any otters at all.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14We're basically just covering large stretches of river,
0:53:14 > 0:53:18just trying to find something, and it's getting a bit frustrating
0:53:18 > 0:53:21because we've got this fantastic light, fantastic habitat
0:53:21 > 0:53:24but we just haven't got the otters at the moment.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33Remote cameras were a vital tool to find where the otters were visiting.
0:53:33 > 0:53:37Even so, after three months, there were still no baby otters.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Back in the canyon lands
0:53:44 > 0:53:47and Ted and George were now keeping up with the capuchins
0:53:47 > 0:53:49and starting to predict their movements.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55See they're pouring back down the hill. Isn't that sweet?
0:53:56 > 0:53:59The group had begun to accept Ted
0:53:59 > 0:54:03and the bolder ones were taking a keen interest in his gear.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14The monkeys were so comfortable with the camera team,
0:54:14 > 0:54:18they were now able to film their most intimate moments.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Ow!
0:54:37 > 0:54:40Ted could now follow the group so closely
0:54:40 > 0:54:45that he was in just the right place when the capuchins found a hunting rat snake
0:54:45 > 0:54:50and a dominant male revealed just how daring capuchins can be.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59Normally they wouldn't go near the snake,
0:54:59 > 0:55:01but faced with the prospect of a rat meal,
0:55:01 > 0:55:03they were tugging it in its mouth.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06It's the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen.
0:55:07 > 0:55:11The chances of them actually pulling the rat out were pretty slim,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14but the fact they even tried it is astonishing.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20The guys are incredibly efficient at surviving in their environment.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22They know where an opportunity is and they grab it -
0:55:22 > 0:55:24quite literally grab it.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30Ted's months of persistence had paid off.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36As a wildlife cameraman, I've seen a lot of extraordinary events
0:55:36 > 0:55:39that stop me in my tracks, but I think it's fair to say
0:55:39 > 0:55:42it's surpassed anything I ever believed would happen.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54Back in the Pantanal, at last, the camera traps had picked up
0:55:54 > 0:55:59a giant otter family that appeared to have newborn kits.
0:55:59 > 0:56:00Look, see? Digging his way in.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07In order not to disturb the family, Barrie set up a hide.
0:56:09 > 0:56:13He'd need to stake out the holt to have any chance of getting a glimpse
0:56:13 > 0:56:15of the babies.
0:56:24 > 0:56:30After a week, Barrie's careful approach paid off.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33At last, he was getting unique insights
0:56:33 > 0:56:35into the otters' family life.
0:56:38 > 0:56:43Then, one morning, Barrie was able to film the remarkable moment
0:56:43 > 0:56:48when this tiny otter was introduced to the water
0:56:48 > 0:56:50for the very first time.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58It was just what Barrie had hoped for.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02But he was about to witness something even rarer.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11Suddenly there was this...
0:57:11 > 0:57:16there was this orange creature that emerged from the forest.
0:57:20 > 0:57:22It was a jaguar.
0:57:22 > 0:57:25It was my first ever view of a jaguar.
0:57:28 > 0:57:33And she walked right out and not only was she very close,
0:57:33 > 0:57:37just across the river, but she also went right down and sat
0:57:37 > 0:57:41exactly in the middle of the otters' latrine area.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48The primary concern is trying to film
0:57:48 > 0:57:51and you become very caught up in what you need to do
0:57:51 > 0:57:53to get the shots.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57In hindsight, maybe the fact that there was this huge predator
0:57:57 > 0:57:59just a stone's throw across the river
0:57:59 > 0:58:02was something I should have been more concerned about.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08LOUD SQUEALS
0:58:12 > 0:58:17To see these two great animals interact with one another,
0:58:17 > 0:58:20particularly at a holt where we knew there were babies there
0:58:20 > 0:58:22and so there was a genuine threat.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26That was really a very rare moment
0:58:26 > 0:58:29and something we were very lucky to witness.
0:58:29 > 0:58:34Brazil's animal families had allowed Barrie and Ted
0:58:34 > 0:58:37a truly privileged view into their lives.
0:58:38 > 0:58:42They continued to follow these animals as their worlds changed
0:58:42 > 0:58:44with the seasons.
0:58:44 > 0:58:46They were there to witness first-hand
0:58:46 > 0:58:48the extraordinary struggles
0:58:48 > 0:58:52and triumphs each animal family has to live through
0:58:52 > 0:58:54in Wild Brazil.