Narrator: THEY‘RE THE
STUFF OF NIGHTMARES.
GIANT SNAKES OF
IMMENSE STRENGTH.
WITH A STRIKE FASTER THAN
THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
[HISSING]
AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON‘S...
A BATTERY OF FINELY TUNED
TRACKING SENSORS...
THE BETTER TO FIND YOU WITH.
ROWS OF RAZOR SHARP TEETH...
THE BETTER TO GRIP YOU WITH.
GIGANTIC... ANCIENT...
AGGRESSIVE.
[CHICKEN SQUAWKING]
THIS IS SQUEEZE, AN
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ROCK PYTHON
PROPELLED BY THE SAME PRIMORDIAL
NEEDS THAT DROVE HER ANCESTORS
IN THE DAYS WHEN DINOSAURS
WALKED THE EARTH.
SHE CAN HUNT IN ANY TERRAIN...
AT ANY TIME OF DAY...
FOR VIRTUALLY ANY PREY.
BUT, SQUEEZE IS A MOTHER, SO
OTHERS DEPEND ON HER TOO.
... AND BRINGING HER YOUNG INTO
THE WORLD SAFELY
IS NO WALK IN THE PARK.
♪
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN
SHE HAS TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN HER SURVIVAL AND THEIRS.
13 FEET LONG...
70 POUNDS OF MUSCLE...
SQUEEZE IS COVERED IN THE
YELLOW, CHESTNUT
AND BROWN SPLOTCHES THAT
HELP HER BLEND IN
WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
SHE HASN‘T EATEN IN TWO WEEKS.
FOR GOOD REASON.
SHE‘S CARRYING A CLUTCH OF
JUST-DEVELOPING EGGS.
SHE CAN‘T EAT A BIG MEAL - NOT
WHILE THEY‘RE GESTATING INSIDE.
BUT SHE‘S HUNGRY; A SNACK
WOULD BE JUST THE THING.
SOMETHING THAT IN HER SLUGGISH
STATE MIGHT NOT REQUIRE
A LOT OF WORK.
SHE WAITS FOR NIGHTFALL.
LIKE MOST SNAKES, THE ROCK
PYTHON HAS POOR VISION,
BUT THAT DOESN‘T MEAN
IT CAN‘T FIND YOU.
SQUEEZE CAN SENSE BODY HEAT -
WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY.
THE SCALES ON HER LIPS
HAVE “PIT ORGANS”
WHICH ARE FULL OF
HEAT-SENSITIVE RECEPTORS.
NERVES CARRY SIGNALS
FROM THE RECEPTORS
TO THE BRAIN WHERE THEY‘RE
CONVERTED INTO IMAGES...
LIKE GOLDILOCKS, SQUEEZE IS
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
JUST THE RIGHT SIZE.
NOT TOO SMALL... A FROG IS
HARDLY WORTH THE EFFORT.
NOT TOO BIG... IT WOULD BE HARD
EVEN FOR A ROCK PYTHON
TO SWALLOW A COW.
BUT HERE‘S SOMETHING JUST RIGHT.
THIS RABBIT HAS COME TO DINE
ON SOME TASTY CABBAGES.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE RABBIT,
THE CABBAGES...
ARE PERFECT COVER FOR SQUEEZE.
THE RABBIT‘S ACUTE HEARING
IS LEGENDARY.
BUT IT SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE
APPROACH OF THIS STEALTH HUNTER.
[RABBIT BREATHING]
♪
RABBITS ARE FAST.
SQUEEZE IS FASTER.
[RABBIT SCREAMING]
SLOWLY, SHE SQUEEZES.
EVERY TIME THE RABBIT EXHALES,
THE COILS TIGHTEN
THE PYTHON CAN MOVE BOTH
SIDES OF ITS LOWER JAW
TO CREATE A LARGER ENTRYWAY, AND
IN GOES THE RABBIT, HEADFIRST.
[SNAKE BREATHING]
STRONG MUSCLES PUSH THE FOOD
DOWN TOWARDS HER STOMACH.
♪
WHEN IT‘S ALL IN, TIME
FOR A SIESTA.
IN A SAFE PLACE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY TO
DIGEST A WHOLE RABBIT -
SHE‘LL BE VERY SLUGGISH
FOR A FEW DAYS.
A SLUGGISH SNAKE IS A
VULNERABLE SNAKE.
PYTHONS HAVE LIVED IN AFRICA
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,
LONG BEFORE HUMANS ARRIVED
ON THE SCENE.
SPECIES COME AND GO,
BUT THE PYTHON HAS A
TALENT FOR SURVIVAL.
THE SNAKE WE SEE TODAY
HAS CHANGED LITTLE
FROM ITS PREHISTORIC
FOREBEARS...
ITS AMONG THE WORLD‘S MOST
PRIMITIVE SNAKES.
♪
THE SMALL THORN-LIKE PROJECTIONS
ON THEIR LOWER BODY,
KNOWN AS PELVIC SPURS, ARE
THOUGHT TO BE VESTIGES
OF A TIME WHEN THESE
ANIMALS HAD HIND LEGS.
A PAIR OF HIND LEGS MIGHT
ACTUALLY COME IN HANDY
RIGHT NOW, AS SHE‘S WEIGHED DOWN
BY THE EGGS INSIDE HER.
THEY‘VE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE
IT‘S HARD TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS.
EACH EGG WEIGHS ABOUT AS MUCH
AS A BILLIARD BALL.
THAT‘S AROUND 50 BILLIARD BALLS
SHE‘S BEEN HAULING
AROUND FOR WEEKS.
[WATER FLOWS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SHE‘S READY TO LIGHTEN HER LOAD,
BUT SHE CAN‘T JUST DUMP
THEM ANYWHERE.
[LEAVES CRUNCHING]
SHE‘S BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE
RIGHT SPOT FOR WEEKS.
THIS HOLLOW AT THE BASE OF
AN OLD SILVER OAK TREE
COULD PROVIDE SHELTER
FROM THE ELEMENTS,
HIDE HER EGGS FROM PREDATORS,
AND KEEP THEM AT A CONSTANT
TEMPERATURE.
♪
FOR AN ANIMAL CAPABLE OF SUCH
MASSIVE DISPLAYS OF POWER,
SHE CAN BE SURPRISINGLY
MATERNAL.
SHE ARRANGES HER EGGS IN A PILE
AND COILS AROUND THEM TIGHTLY.
OF ALL THE SNAKES IN THE WORLD,
THE AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON
IS ONE OF ONLY A FEW THAT
ACTUALLY CARES FOR ITS YOUNG.
ALL THE OTHERS SIMPLY LAY OR
GIVE BIRTH AND LEAVE.
WITHOUT HER PROTECTION,
SQUEEZE‘S EGGS WOULD BE EASY
PICKINGS FOR MONITOR LIZARDS
AND MONGOOSES.
SHE‘LL STAND GUARD FOR
THE NEXT 90 DAYS,
LEAVING THE HOLLOW ONLY
TO BASK IN THE SUN
AND RETURN TO WARM HER EGGS
WITH HER RE-HEATED BODY.
EVERY DAY SHE GROWS
A LITTLE WEAKER...
AND A LITTLE LESS ABLE
TO DEFEND HERSELF...
... AND HER YOUNG.
Narrator: SEVERAL
MONTHS HAVE PASSED,
DURING WHICH SQUEEZE‘S ONLY
JOB HAS BEEN GUARDING
AND INCUBATING HER YOUNG.
SHE‘S WEAK FROM LACK OF FOOD,
BUT HER MATERNAL
INSTINCT BECKONS...
FINALLY, INSIDE THE BURROW,
THERE IS A STIRRING.
♪
[SQUISHING]
A YOUNG ROCK PYTHON TAKES
ITS FIRST BREATH.
[SQUISHING]
AND THEN ANOTHER PYTHON.
AND ANOTHER.
ONE BY ONE, THEY SAY HELLO TO
THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR SHELLS.
♪
THEY TASTE THE CHEMICAL
CUES IN THE AIR -
DANGER... FOOD... MOTHER.
THEY‘RE NOT YAWNING BECAUSE
THEY‘RE SLEEPY.
THESE YAWNS ARE A KIND OF
SNAKE CALISTHENICS:
THEY ALIGN THE JAW
IN PREPARATION
FOR SWALLOWING LARGE PREY.
FOR THREE MONTHS, THE EGG
YOLK PROVIDED THEM
WITH EVERYTHING THEY
NEEDED TO GROW
SUPPLIED BY THEIR
UMBILICAL CORD.
THIS LIFE LINE WILL BE GONE IN
A MATTER OF HOURS,
AND THEY WILL SOON BE HUNGRY.
AT ONLY 20 INCHES LONG,
IT‘S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM AS THE
MIGHTY CONSTRICTORS
SOME WILL BECOME.
BUT THEY DON‘T HAVE THE LUXURY
OF WAITING UNTIL THEY‘RE BIGGER.
THEY HAVE JUST A FEW WEEKS,
TO LEAVE THE NEST,
SHED THEIR FIRST SKIN, AND
MAKE THEIR FIRST KILL.
OF THE 35 EGGS SQUEEZE LAID,
31 HAVE HATCHED.
AS THE ROILING MASS OF NEWBORN
SNAKES STRUGGLES
TOWARD THE EXIT, THE
WEAKEST ARE CRUSHED
AND NEVER MAKE IT OUT
INTO THE WORLD.
OUT THERE THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL
WILL BE EVEN WORSE.
SOME WILL DIE OF STARVATION...
AND OTHERS WILL SURVIVE
JUST LONG ENOUGH
TO BECOME SOMEONE ELSE‘S DINNER.
ONLY A LUCKY FEW WILL MAKE IT TO
THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.
FOR NOW, THOUGH, HOPE
SPRINGS ETERNAL.
THE YOUNG PYTHONS SURVEY THE
BURROW, SEARCHING FOR A WAY OUT.
FINALLY, ONE OF THEM MAKES
A BREAK FOR IT.
SQUEEZE KEEPS HER HATCHLINGS
CLOSE FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.
IT MIGHT NOT SEEM VERY
LONG TO US,
BUT TO THESE YOUNG SNAKES,
IT‘S A GODSEND.
FEW PREDATORS WILL MOVE ON A
HATCHLING WHEN ITS WATCHFUL,
13 FOOT MOTHER IS COILED NEARBY.
IT‘S A KIND OF PARENTAL CARE WE
DON‘T ASSOCIATE WITH SNAKES,
BUT THE ROCK PYTHON SEEMS TO BE
AN INTRIGUING EXCEPTION
TO THE RULE.
♪
BUT EVEN SQUEEZE HAS HER LIMITS:
IF SHE DOESN‘T FEED SOON,
SHE COULD STARVE.
AND WHEN SHE SLITHERS
OFF FOR GOOD,
HER OFFSPRING WILL BE ON THEIR
OWN - READY OR NOT.
AND THE FOREST IS FULL
OF WATCHFUL EYES.
Narrator: AN ADULT AFRICAN ROCK
PYTHON IS AN APEX PREDATOR;
IT HAS LITTLE TO FEAR FROM OTHER
ANIMALS IN THE WILD.
BUT THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF
HATCHLING PYTHONS.
THEY HAVE MANY ENEMIES,
INCLUDING VENOMOUS SNAKES -
LIKE THE FOREST COBRA -
AND BIRDS OF PREY - LIKE THE
AFRICAN GOSHAWK.
♪
THEIR MOTHER CAN‘T PROTECT
THEM FOREVER.
HER MATERNAL INSTINCT HAS
OVER-RIDDEN HUNGER.
SHE‘S EATEN NOTHING FOR MONTHS.
NOW IT‘S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.
IT‘S TIME TO HUNT.
NOT SO LONG AGO, SQUEEZE BROKE
OUT OF HER EGGSHELL
AND EMERGED FROM A NEST
WITH MANY OTHER HATCHLING ROCK
PYTHONS, JUST AS HER YOUNG DID.
MOST OF THE OTHERS IN HER CLUTCH
- MAYBE ALL - ARE LONG DEAD.
THEY STARVED TO DEATH BEFORE
THEY COULD LEARN
TO HUNT SUCCESSFULLY...
OR THEY WERE PICKED OFF BY
HUNGRY CARNIVORES...
OR THEY WERE KILLED BY HUMANS,
EITHER OUT OF FEAR
OR FOR PROFIT.
EVERY YEAR THERE ARE FEWER
OF HER KIND.
BUT SQUEEZE CROSSED THE FINISH
LINE INTO ADULTHOOD
AND IS NOW A FORMIDABLE AND
EXPERIENCED HUNTER.
SHE KNOWS WHERE THE FOOD IS, AND
SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET THERE.
SHE LAID HER EGGS DEEP
IN THE VALLEY.
NOW SHE‘S GOING TO HAVE TO CLIMB
THIS STEEP CLIFF FACE.
NOT EASY FOR AN EXHAUSTED
GIANT CONSTRICTOR.
BUT HERE‘S HOW YOU DO IT.
♪
FIRST ANCHOR YOUR MID-SECTION
TO THE ROCKY SURFACE
USING THE SCALES ON
YOUR UNDERBELLY.
THEN PULL YOUR TAIL ALL THE
WAY UP TO THE ANCHOR POINT,
RELEASE THE ANCHOR, AND USE YOUR
TAIL, TO PUSH YOUR WAY UP.
ANCHOR, PULL; ANCHOR, PUSH.
REPEAT AS NEEDED.
[ROCKS FALLING]
IT‘S GRUELING WORK, BUT HUNGER
IS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR.
♪
SHE‘S NOT CALLED A ROCK
PYTHON FOR NOTHING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE
THINGS GET A BIT TRICKIER.
SQUEEZE IS AN ALL-TERRAIN
PREDATOR.
SHE STALKS THE SAVANNAH,
FOREST AND CLIFFS.
CLIMBING TREES? NO PROBLEM.
FORDING RIVERS? PIECE OF CAKE.
SHE‘S BIGGER, STRONGER
AND FASTER
THAN JUST ABOUT ANY
OTHER ANIMAL HERE,
SO THERE‘S NO PLACE SHE CAN‘T
HUNT WITH IMPUNITY.
NO PLACE... EXCEPT HERE.
HERE SHE‘S ENCROACHING
ON THE TERRITORY
OF ANOTHER FORMIDABLE KILLER.
SOME FARMERS APPRECIATE
THE ANIMAL
FOR KEEPING RATS UNDER CONTROL.
BUT MANY OTHERS FEAR IT.
FARMERS WON‘T HESITATE
TO KILL ONE
IF THEY SEE IT AS A THREAT
TO THEIR LIVESTOCK.
[ROOSTER CLUCKS]
SQUEEZE HAS TO BE VERY
CAREFUL HERE.
SHE KNOWS THERE ARE
HUMANS AROUND.
BUT SHE ALSO KNOWS THAT
WHERE THERE ARE HUMANS,
THERE‘S USUALLY FOOD.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
VISITING THIS CHICKEN COOP IS
LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.
THE HENS KNOW SOMETHING‘S
A LITTLE OFF,
BUT IT‘S NOT LIKE THERE‘S
ANYWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.
IT‘S A CALCULATED RISK: CAN
SQUEEZE SWALLOW A CHICKEN
AND MAKE HER ESCAPE BEFORE
THE FARMER FINDS HER.
EVERY MINUTE SHE‘S HERE
IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR
HER BE DISCOVERED.
AND IF THE FARMER DISCOVERS HER,
THE SAME CAGE THAT MAKES THE
CHICKENS SITTING DUCKS
WILL MAKE HER ONE AS WELL.
DESPITE THE DANGER, SHE
MOVES IN SLOWLY.
METHODICALLY. SILENTLY.
♪
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
THE ENTIRE STRIKE TAKES LESS
TIME THAN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
ABOUT 50 MILLISECONDS.
SHE ACCELERATES TOWARD
HER VICTIM
WITH AN IMPACT 30-TIMES THE
FORCE OF GRAVITY -
IF WE DID THAT, WE‘D PASS OUT.
HER CURVED, RAZOR-SHARP TEETH
CUT THROUGH MUSCLE EASILY
AND HOLD THE CHICKEN STEADY AS
SHE COILS AROUND IT.
THE REST IS A FOREGONE
CONCLUSION.
[CHICKENS CLUCKING]
SHE CAN FEEL HER PREY‘S
HEARTBEAT, AND WHEN IT STOPS,
SHE KNOWS IT‘S OVER.
BUT SHE DOESN‘T EAT
HER KILL JUST YET.
AFTER NOT EATING FOR MONTHS, ONE
CHICKEN JUST ISN‘T ENOUGH.
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
[CHICKENS SCREAMING]
SHE LISTENS TO MAKE SURE
THE COAST IS CLEAR.
ONCE SHE STARTS EATING,
SHE WON‘T BE ABLE TO MAKE
A QUICK ESCAPE.
[SQUISHING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
YOU‘D THINK THAT STUFFING HER
MOUTH WITH A CHICKEN
WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR HER TO BREATHE,
BUT SNAKES ARE ABLE TO
EXTEND THEIR WINDPIPES
OUTSIDE THEIR MOUTHS SO
THEY CAN BREATHE
AND EAT AT THE SAME TIME.
SHE‘LL ABSORB ALMOST EVERY PART
OF THE CHICKEN, EVEN THE BONES.
THE FEATHERS WILL PASS
THROUGH HER SYSTEM
AND COME OUT IN HER FECES.
NOT MUCH NUTRITION IN FEATHERS.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
SQUEEZE HAS HAD A GOOD
FEW MONTHS.
SHE‘S LAID HER EGGS AND
GUARDED HER OFFSPRING
UNTIL THEY HATCHED.
SHE‘S MANAGED TO SLIP
INTO A BUSY FARM,
EAT TWO CHICKENS, AND
SLIP OUT UNNOTICED.
NOT SO EASY FOR A
PREDATOR HER SIZE.
NOW SHE‘S LOOKING FOR A SAFE
PLACE TO DIGEST HER MEAL.
BUT IN THIS VALLEY, SAFE
IS A RELATIVE TERM.
♪
SQUEEZE‘S YOUNG ARE
NOW A MONTH OLD.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS
MANY OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN
PICKED OFF BY PREDATORS.
THESE ARE THE SURVIVORS.
NOW, IT‘S MAKE OR BREAK.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
THEY HAVE A FEW YEARS TO GO
BEFORE THEY ARE BIG AND STRONG
LIKE THEIR MOTHER.
UNTIL THEN, THEY‘RE ON
EVERYONE‘S MENU...
AND SOME OF THEIR BIGGER COUSINS
AREN‘T ABOVE CANNIBALISM.
Narrator: AS THE YOUNG
PYTHONS‘ SENSES SHARPEN,
THEY‘RE LEARNING HOW
TO USE THEM...
NOT JUST FOR HUNTING...
BUT FOR SURVIVAL.
THIS IS THE FOREST COBRA.
THE LARGEST AND ONE OF THE MOST
DEADLY COBRA‘S IN AFRICA.
IT MAY BE A DISTANT RELATIVE,
BUT IT‘S GOT TO EAT TOO.
THE QUESTION IS: DOES THIS YOUNG
PYTHON KNOW THE DANGER IT‘S IN?
APPARENTLY SO.
THE COBRA WON‘T BE EASILY FOOLED
- THIS ISN‘T ITS FIRST RODEO.
ONE WHIFF OF BABY PYTHON
AND THE JIG IS UP.
LOOKS LIKE THE YOUNG PYTHON
DODGED A BULLET.
NOW BACK TO THE HUNT.
SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON DOING
A FEW THINGS RIGHT.
FIRST FIND PREY OF AN
APPROPRIATE SIZE.
[SNIFFING]
THEN, APPROACH PATIENTLY AND
IN COMPLETE SILENCE.
[SNIFFING]
♪
[SQUEELING]
THE STRIKE WAS PERFECTLY TIMED
AND RIGHT ON TARGET.
JUST ONE SMALL PROBLEM.
A DENTAL PROBLEM.
[SQUEELING]
THE YOUNG SNAKE‘S TEETH,
DESIGNED TO HOOK ONTO PREY AND
PREVENT IT FROM ESCAPING...
ARE STILL TOO PUNY TO
GET THE JOB DONE.
[SQUEELING]
[BREATHING]
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
MEANWHILE, NOT FAR AWAY, ONE OF
HIS BROTHERS IS TRYING HIS LUCK.
[SNIFFING]
HE TASTES THE AIR FOR THE
MOUSE‘S LOCATION.
♪
♪
[SQUEELING]
[RUSTLING]
THE MOUSE IS HELD FAST.
LET THE COILING BEGIN.
IT‘S A BIG STEP FOR THIS
YOUNG ROCK PYTHON.
ALL IT MEANS, THOUGH, IS THAT
HE‘LL SURVIVE A LITTLE LONGER.
HE‘LL NEED MANY MORE
MEALS LIKE THIS,
BEFORE HE GROWS TO BE A
GIANT LIKE HIS MOTHER.
SQUEEZE IS RECOVERING
FROM HER LONG FAST.
ROCK PYTHONS CAN GO FOR LONG
PERIODS WITHOUT EATING,
WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY THEY‘VE
BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG.
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THEY NEED TO
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
IT‘S AUTUMN.
AND AS FAR AS SQUEEZE IS
CONCERNED, THE SUN IS SHINING.
MANY OF THE VALLEY‘S ANIMALS
HAVE GIVEN BIRTH -
INCLUDING THE IMPALA.
THE GRASSLAND HAS BECOME
A NURSERY.
THESE YOUNG CALVES WEIGH
ABOUT 45 POUNDS,
AND THEY DON‘T KNOW ENOUGH
TO BE AFRAID.
WHICH THEY SHOULD BE.
FOR SQUEEZE AN IMPALA CALF WOULD
BE A PERFECT MEAL -
HEFTIER THAN THE CHICKENS AND
RABBITS SHE‘S BEEN SUBSISTING ON
- AND WITHOUT THE RISKS
OF THE FARM.
IF SHE BAGS ONE, SHE WON‘T NEED
TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
BUT ADULT IMPALA ARE SKITTISH
AND HAVE EXTREMELY
SENSITIVE HEARING.
ONE WRONG SLITHER AND THE HERD
COULD EASILY BOLT.
Narrator: THE SILENT HUNTER...
AND A SPECIES PERFECTLY ADAPTED
TO THE ART OF ESCAPE.
THE IMPALA COMBINES INCREDIBLE
AGILITY AND LEAPING POWER
WITH A SENSE OF HEARING ATTUNED
TO THE SLIGHTEST SOUND.
SQUEEZE CAN SMELL TO SOME EXTENT
THROUGH HER NOSTRILS,
BUT HER MOST POWERFUL SENSORY
TOOL IS HER FORKED TONGUE.
THE TONGUE IS SPLIT IN TWO,
EACH SIDE CALLED A TINE IS
CONNECTED TO ITS OWN ORGAN
IN THE ROOF OF HER MOUTH.
WHEN IT FLICKS OUT, THE TINES
SEPARATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
SO THAT EACH ONE SENDS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT INFORMATION
TO ITS RESPECTIVE ORGAN.
HER BRAIN THEN INTERPRETS
THESE SIGNALS
AS A “STEREO” IMAGE OF
WHAT‘S OUT THERE,
WHICH LETS HER TRACK
THE DISTANCE
AND DIRECTION OF HER PREY.
♪
STEALTH, NOT SPEED, WILL GET HER
CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE.
IT‘S THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID
TRIPPING THE ALARM.
[RUSTLING]
♪
[GRUNTING]
THE STRUGGLE LASTS ONLY
A FEW MINUTES,
[SQUEEZING]
OUR EYES MAY SOMETIMES BE BIGGER
THAN OUR STOMACHS,
BUT THAT‘S REALLY NOT A PROBLEM
FOR AN AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON.
HER LOWER JAW SPLITS IN TWO,
ALLOWING HER TO STRETCH
AROUND THE IMPALA.
SQUEEZE‘S SKIN IS SO ELASTIC
IT CAN STRETCH
TO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES HER
NORMAL GIRTH.
AS AMAZING AS THIS IS,
SWALLOWING PREY THIS SIZE
IS A HUGE RISK.
IT WILL TAKE HER 45
MINUTES TO DO IT -
45 MINUTES IN WHICH SHE COULDN‘T
MOVE IF HER LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
[SQUEEZING]
TO SPEED THINGS UP, HER
METABOLISM CLIMBS
TO 44 TIMES ITS NORMAL RATE AND
HER HEART GETS 40% LARGER -
SO IT CAN PUMP BLOOD FASTER TO
HER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[BREATHING]
AT LAST.
45 POUNDS OF PURE PROTEIN,
IN ONE SITTING.
IT‘S A MIRACLE SHE
CAN MOVE AT ALL.
NOW SQUEEZE‘S BODY CAN SPRING
BACK INTO SHAPE.
SHE CLICKS HER JAW BACK
INTO POSITION.
THIS MEAL WILL TAKE HER UP TO
TWO WEEKS TO FULLY DIGEST.
BUT ONCE SHE DOES, SQUEEZE WON‘T
NEED TO HUNT AGAIN FOR MONTHS.
IT WILL BUMP UP HER CHANCES OF
SURVIVAL FOR THE YEAR TO COME,
AND ENSURE SHE‘S IN
PEAK CONDITION
FOR THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING
BREEDING SEASON.
WHEN IT ALL BEGINS AGAIN.
♪
