- (Narrator):
In the heart of Brazil,
the largest cat
in the Americas reigns
over the world's largest
tropical wetland.
This is jaguar country.
A magical land filled with
natural beauty and great danger.
Where even an armored reptile,
the Jacaré caiman,
is no match
for the powerful jaws...
(bird call)
...of this skilled hunter.
A few months ago, these plains
were covered with water
for as far as
the eye could see.
Now the dry season
is well underway
in the northern part
of the Pantanal.
It's late September, it hasn't
rained in over five months
and the search for food forces
animals out of the forest
to hunt and forage
by the riverbanks.
For the all the creatures
that live here,
it's one of the most
stressful times of the year.
The riverbanks are bare...
Yet giant otters still manage to
find fish in the shallow waters.
And while butterflies nibble
on the minerals
left exposed on the sand bars.
Capybaras, the largest rodent
on Earth, have to look harder
to find what's left of their
favorite native grasses.
Even animals at the top of the
food chain are feeling the heat.
Jaguars are an apex predator.
They have nothing to fear from
any animal in the Pantanal.
Jaguars can weigh up
to 290 pounds
and are 6 feet
from tip of their noses
to the end of their tails.
(forest sounds)
(forest sounds)
And this female has found
shelter from the intense heat,
along the banks
of the Cuiaba River.
It's one
of the largest tributaries
of the immense Paraguay River
that feeds these wetlands.
The Pantanal is ten times
larger than the Everglades.
80% of it is in Brazil.
Professional guide Ailton Lara
makes his living on this river.
Deep in the protected territory
of the one of the Pantanal's
northern state parks.
- (Ailton): This is a very good
spot for jaguars.
Because there not
many people around here.
It's a very remote place,
far from the city.
The road access
is not very good,
so it controls the number
of people coming here.
- (Narrator): There's only
one official road
into the far north
of the Pantanal.
It's 90 miles long
and, on a good day,
Ailton covers the distance
in about five hours.
At the end of the road
is the small fishing village
of Porto Jofre,
the hub for
Jaguar sightings.
- Yahoo!
- (Narrator): Even though
Ailton's been tracking jaguars
for more than a decade,
he still gets excited.
- There's a jaguar
upstream the river,
so we're going
to go straight to it now.
- (Narrator): In these parts,
the Cuiaba river
is the main drag.
It's 50 miles long and
breaks off into a maze of
smaller rivers and streams.
Only twenty minutes
into the search,
something catches
their attention...
The big cats don't seem to mind
the sound of the engine...
as long as the passengers
stay in the boat!
It's an adult male.
Ailton has seen him before.
He bears the scars of battles
both old and new.
A broken tooth.
And a fresh wound
near his whiskers.
Probably the result
of a territorial dispute
with another male jaguar.
Whatever happened, there won't
be any more adventures today.
With midday temperatures
climbing above 104 Fahrenheit,
this cool cat
is staying in the shade
The Pantanal is a jaguar
spotter's paradise!
Seven animals
per 40 square miles.
- This area has more than
one hundred individual jaguars.
So commonly we see about
one or two jaguars a day
but sometimes we see ten
individual jaguars a day
in a very good day.
- (Narrator): Jaguars
are solitary creatures.
Like most cats, they spend
almost half of every day
sleeping.
They are crepuscular and are
mostly active at dawn and dusk.
Males and females only
come together to mate,
and soon go separate ways.
The female raises
her cubs alone.
This two-year old male is
about ready to leave his mother.
Since he was 6 months old,
she's been teaching him
how to hunt.
Now it's time for him
to test his hunting skills.
A hungry jaguar will eat
just about anything that moves.
The young male has spotted
a group of giant otters.
And they've seen him too.
Their loud calls alert
the rest of the family.
(otters calls)
These are the world's
largest otters
and the adults
are over 6 feet long.
They're feisty animals that like
to do almost everything
in groups.
Their tight knit families are
always watching each
other's backs.
If you attack one, you can
expect the rest of the gang
to fight tooth and nail,
and never back down.
Jaguars are opportunists.
If a young giant otter
strays from the group,
the jaguar might
have a chance.
But giant otter parents
are very protective.
The young jaguar knows
he's outnumbered,
so he moves on.
In the Pantanal, jaguars
specialize in hunting caimans.
Caimans are powerful
and aggressive fighters,
but underneath that tough hide,
there's enough tender meat to
feed a big cat for several days.
- (Ailton): In the dry season
when the water is at its lowest,
it's very easy
for the jaguars to find food
because all the animals will be
congregating along the river.
And the jaguars
will be there as well,
because there is
a nice riverbank.
- (Narrator):
As the dry season takes hold,
the cold-blooded caimans
congregate near the shrinking
bodies of water.
Over five million Jacaré caimans
live in the Pantanal.
That's about 100
per square mile.
It's the highest density
of caimans on Earth.
Most of the year, they live in
loose knit and peaceful groups.
Their cousins, the American
alligator and black caiman,
are much more aggressive.
Near the riverbank, fish
trapped in the shallow water,
are easy to catch.
As the dry season advances and
the river recedes more and more,
fish are concentrated
into the shallow water.
Life is good
for the caimans.
Although they are not
the biggest members of
the crocodile family,
an adult male usually
weighs more than 120 pounds.
While females weigh
about half as much.
Males and females both need
to eat a lot of fish,
and the occasional capybara.
But at this time of year,
caimans are thinking about
more than just food.
They have mating on their minds.
The males have several ways
of letting the females know
they're in the mood.
They groan, make bubbles
and bellow all
at the same time.
The bubbles are made
by low frequency sounds,
called infrasound,
made with vibrations deep
in their lungs
which humans can't hear.
These intense vibrations
cause the water on their backs
to spray fountains
of water into the air.
Some have been estimated
to be 30 inches high.
Impressing a future partner
is a competitive event!
The more spectacular
the display,
the better the prospect of
getting the females' attention.
Males try to breed
with many females
and females can often
mate with many males.
Therefore, a female
can lay a clutch of eggs
that contain the genes of
a number of different males.
It will be another two to
three months before she builds
a nest to lay her eggs.
Although caiman females
are devoted mothers,
more than 80% of their nests
are destroyed by predators.
For now, it's still
the courting season
and the riverbank resounds
with their groans and bellows.
(buzz)
The dry and sandy shorelines of
the Pantanal's northern rivers
also attract hordes
of female yellow wasps.
(buzz)
They gather in numbers
to collect mineral salts
exposed by
the receding waters.
For these workers
and their queen,
salt is a vital part
of their diet.
They carry it back to their nest
to feed their larvae
and the queen.
Their colony is mainly
composed of females.
Males have a limited role.
Before the end of the season,
a generation of males
is produced just for breeding.
When the dry season comes
to an end, the males die.
Upstream, where the riverbanks
are higher,
and the forest denser,
the young jaguar male is still
on the lookout for a meal.
He's left his mother and
if he wants to eat today,
he's going to have to make
a kill on his own.
- (Ailton): Sometimes a young
jaguar can be experienced.
If they have a good mother,
so they can learn good tricks.
Jaguars are not
picky eaters.
They'll eat deer, peccaries,
snakes, monkeys, turtles,
frogs and anything else
they can catch including fish.
These big cats aren't
afraid of the water
and they can even swim
with a kill in their mouths.
The young male makes
his way down river,
drifting with the current.
It's the easiest way
to avoid a dense thicket.
Back on the riverbank,
he takes his time,
prowling, listening
and watching for his next kill.
He spots a large caiman
in the middle of the river.
The caiman isn't too far away
for the young jaguar...
but caimans have good eyesight
and the jaguar could never close
the gap before being spotted.
So he decides it's not worth it,
and moves on.
Capybaras are a favorite meal
and an easier target.
The river provides relief
from the unwelcome attention
of flies and mosquitoes,
and the heat.
They are unaware
of the young male jaguar
on the opposite riverbank.
In the dappled sunlight
of the forest,
the rosette pattern
of the jaguar's spots
is excellent camouflage.
But out in the open
it doesn't help.
Because of their poor eyesight,
the capybaras haven't spotted
the jaguar yet.
But their sense of smell
is well developed.
And when one of the mothers
picks up the scent,
she nudges the young towards
the shore, away from danger.
And the whole family slips off
into the bushes.
This young male has already
passed up a few opportunities
in his hunt for food.
At 150 pounds, he needs
to eat at least 70 pounds
of meat a week
just to maintain
his current weight.
He needs to pick up
his game if he's to survive
the dry season
of the Pantanal.
A few miles downstream
on a quiet tributary of
the larger Cuiaba River...
...a yellow-rumped cacique
stands watch near a nest.
The caciques have
some of the best,
and most elaborate nest building
techniques in the bird world.
They're social birds
and breed in colonies,
on the same communal tree.
Some colonies contain
as many as 250 nests.
The female doesn't just collect
and stack sticks and twigs...
She weaves her nest,
like a basket weaver,
from long strands
she's pulled from reeds.
The nests are deep, large cocoon
shapes which protect eggs
from the long beaks
of intruders.
But building is risky work.
The females often become
trapped in their own nests,
and sometimes, if they are
unable to free themselves,
they perish.
And the male?
He's not much help,
not when it comes
to building a nest.
He doesn't help incubate
the eggs either,
or collect food
for his mate...
or for their chicks.
But when it comes to sex,
the male cacique
is a powerhouse.
And with a male to female
ratio of 1:10,
most male caciques
are kept busy.
In their spare time,
while the females forage,
the males protect the nests
and their territory.
Since he's left his mother, this
young male jaguar has passed up
at least two opportunities
to try to make a kill.
Now, he's starving.
When he spots a lone caiman...
...he knows
it's his last chance.
And he takes it.
An experienced jaguar would sink
his teeth into the caiman skull
to puncture its walnut-sized
brain for a quick kill...
But this somewhat inexperienced
male loses his grip...
And the caiman rolls over.
So the jaguar tries a different
tactic and attacks his throat.
He's lost his chance
for a clean, fast kill,
like his mother
taught him to do...
Now it's going to be a contest
of strength and stamina.
Both animals are
at home in the river.
But the caiman has one advantage
over the jaguar.
It can stay underwater without
breathing for up to an hour.
The caiman has a thick membrane
that hangs across
the back of its throat and
prevents water from entering
its lungs and drowning it.
And if the caiman
can stay afloat,
and wait for the perfect
opportunity for a quick roll,
it could turn the tables.
The tough caiman
will not give up.
Neither does the jaguar.
The young male uses his strength
to force the caiman underwater.
Just a small amount of water
in the lungs would drown it.
The stress of the struggle
takes its toll
and water enters
the caiman's lungs.
Its body goes limp.
It's game over
for the caiman.
This young jaguar has just
killed his first caiman...
an amazing feat but
his beginner's mistake cost him
a huge amount of energy.
He takes a short rest.
His ordeal is not over yet,
he still has to haul
the carcass out of the water.
He can't eat it in the water.
The current is strong
and the area
is too exposed.
His only choice is to drag
the dead weight up the bank.
The river is too low,
and the bank too high.
The young male drags his kill,
searching for an easier exit.
Finally he finds
the perfect spot
and heaves his prize
to higher ground.
He takes another break,
then drags his prey
into the undergrowth.
Now he can feast on his prize.
Not bad for a first kill
without his mother's help.
As the sun sets over
the Cuiaba River...
frogs begin to sing and join
the night's symphony.
Birds contribute a few solos.
Jaguars roar to let each
other know where they are.
And then... quiet.
Taking advantage
of the cool morning air,
a red-footed tortoise braves
the exposed open ground
and heads off
in search of food.
Like most tortoises, it prefers
fruit, but at this time of year
it'll eat almost anything,
including carrion.
Red-footed tortoises travel
in a zigzag pattern
all over their home ranges
searching for food.
They can cover 22 yards...
...in an hour.
Damp mud is all that remains
of this ephemeral pond.
But there are still some
succulent leaves to be found.
They will provide essential
moisture as well as food.
It could get lucky and find
a stranded invertebrate.
As the day heats up,
it is time for the tortoise
to head back to the forest.
It will follow its own scent
trail to a well-hidden place
that will protect it
from predators.
For tortoises, activities are
limited during the dry season.
But for other species,
this season is key
to their breeding success.
These large-billed terns
take advantage
of the low water levels to
establish large nesting colonies
on the sandy banks.
Some are still incubating
their eggs.
Others hunt for food to bring
back to their hungry hatchlings.
This impatient hatchling
is getting hungry.
He makes such a racket
he attracts the unwanted
attention
of a predator in search
of an easy meal.
A crested caracara several times
the tern's size
is no match for
this fearless parent.
Large-billed terns
are very territorial.
They don't hesitate to attack.
Both males and females are quick
to protect their offspring,
dive bombing,
squawking loudly
and even defecating
on the predator.
The scare tactics
don't always work...
...but this time, for this noisy
chick and its mother,
it's a happy ending.
Though its squawking isn't
rewarded with a meal!
Back in the caiman pool,
things are getting tense.
Two males are going
head to head,
in a contest for territory,
dominance and breeding rights.
A fight is a dangerous gamble
they'd rather not take.
They'll first show each other
how big and unafraid they are.
For now, it's a stand off.
The older male on the left
has the advantage of size
and experience.
On the right, the younger
and slightly smaller male
shows no sign of backing off.
If he wins he'll move up
the dominance hierarchy
and improve his chances
of mating this year.
They're both patient...
until one makes a sudden move.
The old male hesitated
for one split second,
just long enough for
the younger one to clamp down
on his upper jaw.
A caiman's bite force is
270 pounds per square inch.
If this young male decides
to use full force,
he could easily puncture
the older caiman's eye.
Sparring caimans
are often blinded.
But they have eyelid armor -
a palpebral bone,
and can pull in their eyes
to protect them from injury.
And that's not
the young caiman's game plan.
He wants to pull
the older caiman underwater.
But the wily older one is
digging his claws into the sand,
and isn't budging.
There are no referees
in this match of titans.
The females watching
from the sidelines will be
the final judges
of the males' performance!
The two have been locked
together for over an hour.
And then, as suddenly as
it began the match is over.
The older male jerked his head
underwater and freed himself.
With his feet firmly
on the ground,
he's ready to strike again.
While the challenger is at
a disadvantage in the river.
So he quickly gives up,
and swims away, defeated.
All this social stress
will likely mean
he won't mate this year.
The old champ has defended
his title - and his territory...
and when it comes
time to mate,
the females will
likely choose him.
High up in the sky,
a flock of vultures circles
in search of their next meal.
Hidden in the underbrush,
the young jaguar feasts
on the remains of his kill.
He can eat up to 44 pounds
in a single day,
so a caiman this size
won't last long.
Vultures patiently
wait for leftovers.
After he eats his fill,
chances are he won't
return to his mother.
For now, he needs to establish
his own territory,
a challenge
to be sure.
Because in a year or two
he will be mature enough
to mate.
For now, he marks an area
in his mother's territory.
Finding his own will take time
and experience.
Jaguars cover a large home range
in their search for food.
And it usually overlaps with
other animals of both sexes.
This region of the Pantanal
is just one small section
of a long corridor that
will perhaps one day be part
of a conservation program
extending across
the whole south American
continent.
- So the corridor starts
from northern Argentina
all the way to Mexico.
The jaguar needs to meet
different jaguars.
One jaguar from here, from
the Pantanal, can cross the land
and go to the Amazon, from the
Amazon they go somewhere else,
this corridor is very important
for spread of genetics,
not to get inbred,
otherwise they'll die out.
- (Narrator): Now that her
"teenager" is establishing
his independence,
the female is already on the
move, looking for a new mate.
As for Ailton,
he's still hunting for clues
of the magnificent
predator's presence.
- We stopped here and
something is really stinking.
Must be the leftovers
from a jaguar.
It's a dead caiman.
The leftovers from a jaguar.
By the stink, I can tell
this caiman is here
for about two days.
- (Narrator): In much
of its range the jaguar
is known as the "yaguara".
It means "a beast that kills
its prey with one bound."
Here, in the Pantanal instead of
large reptiles killing mammals
as they do in places
like Africa...
...a powerful feline has learned
the skills to hunt
an ancient armored reptile.
This is one confident cat!
