05x03 - Leopard: Prince of Stealth

[bunniefuu]

On this episode
of kratts' creatures...

Up in the trees--

It's some kind
of huge creature.

One of the coolest,
amazing,

Most distinct animals
of all time.

You might think
this means
easy pickings...

The food is always moving!

But it's not.

[Martin]
but it istime

To cruise the african savanna
on another amazing
creature adventure.

[Chris]
martin and I are
dropping everything

To discover all we can
about the prince of stealth--
the leopard!

You're telling me!

[Martin]
we're pulling the prince
of stealth into focus.

And when it comes to giving you
the whole creature story,

We won't leave you hanging.

Hey, martin,
where you going?

Shh!

Get me out
of this tree!

Iarriba!
Iandale, andale!

The guys are somewhere
out in africa

In big cat territory.

The big cats
are all pretty incredible,

And they're all carnivores.

That means they eat meat,

But the meat
they like to eat

Are all some pretty incredible
creatures in themselves.

Predator, prey,
hunter, hunted--

It may seem
pretty one-sided,

But they're all part
of the creature balance.

We're talking about a delicate
anddeadly balance.

On the african savanna,

Master predators,
like the hyena, cheetah,
lion, and leopard

Depend on catching prey
to survive,

And the prey
can depend on having to face
these predators...often.

And when we're talking
about the african big cats,

We're talking about
some of the fiercest predators

On earth.

All of the big cats of africa
are amazing,

But my absotively favorite
is this guy--the leopard--

The cool, creeping,
cunning master of camouflage.

But there's more to the leopard
than that--a lot more.

And that's who
we're looking for today,

Which isn't as easy
as it sounds.

Finding a camouflaged leopard
in an area of big bush

Is about as tricky as...
Finding chris and martin.

Hey, where are the guys?

[Martin]
right here, al.

"Here" where, though?

We're here
on the african savanna,

Searching for one
of the most elusive
of all creatures.

He's ferocious
and feared...

A deadly hunter...

The prince
of stealth...

The wild leopard.

Wait a second. I was
just saying that the leopard

Is a totally amazing cat,
my absolute favorite,

And all you guys can say
is that it's a deadly k*ller?

There's no doubt
about it.

That is an important part
of the leopard's
creaturenality,

And it's exactly how
a lot of creatures
view the leopard.

Yeah, but that's
only half the story,

And the least interesting half.

I say we do this one
my way.

What do you mean,
"do this one"?

[Allison]
and now it's time for another
absolutely amazing

Allison's animalsadventure.

Pretty bird.

Iarriba!
Iandale, andale!

She's doing it her way--
no ifs, ands, or buts--

On allison's animals.

We're here
in the creature club,

All set to explore
one of the coolest, amazing,

Most distinct animals
of all time--the leopard.

First we have to clear up
a few misconceptions.

Leopards are not only found
in africa.

They're also found in asia.

The leopard's got
the greatest range

Of all the african big cats,
and it always hunts alone.

Check this out.

The leopard st*lks her prey
in complete silence,

Drawing as close
as she can,

Then pouncing on them
at the last possible second.

She's the ultimate example

Of feline beauty, power,
and stealth.

Weighing up to 150 pounds,
she's solid sinew and strength.

In fact, pound for pound,

The leopard is stronger than
any of her savanna competitors.

Most of her victims
will never know what hit them.

She strikes that fast.

And to keep her food
to herself,

She'll drag it up a tree,
away from hyenas and lions.

Didn't we say
all that?

Well, sort of.

But, hey, I'm trying
to tell the wholepicture,
not just the gruesome stuff.

There's more to leopards
than k*lling.

No kidding.
We know there's more
to the leopard.

That's what we were
going to talk about
in our intro.

The leopard
is an amazing creature

With all sorts
of fascinating abilities

And a lot
of interesting behaviors.

[Allison]
interesting?
Try incredible!

For example, can you imagine
actually living in a tree?

[Martin]
of all the big cats,

Leopards spend the most time
in the trees.

That's because
they're the best climbers.

[Chris]
we're talking about cats

With awesome coordination
and balance.

With the leopard's life style,
those skills make sense.

You'd have to have
great balance

If you ate and slept
up in a tree.

[Martin]
but it takes more
than just balance.

You also need
the right climbing equipment.
That means claws.

[Chris]
the leopard's razor-sharp claws
give her a sure grip

Climbing up a tree.

[Martin]
and her claws give her
something to hang on with

When she's coming down.

[Chris]
but she usually doesn't
come down till nightfall,

Preferring to hang around
catching some zs.

[Martin]
but for the leopard,

Nighttime is the right time
to come down to hunt.

[Chris]
leopards don't live in groups,

But that doesn't mean they don't
communicate with each other.

[Martin]
one of the big ways they
communicate is through smell.

A leopard scent-marks her tree,
telling other leopards...

[Chris]
"this is my turf.

Go find another place
to sharpen your claws.
What, can't you smell?"

[Martin]
and they'll leave
other markings, like poop,

Along trails where they know
other leopards will find it.

[Chris]
when another leopard
takes a whiff of her poop,

They'll know they're
padding on someone else's turf.

[Martin]
and that helps keep leopards
out of each other's fur.

In other words...

Leopards are solitary.

So this whole area might have
hundreds of gazelles,

Impalas, and warthogs

But only one leopard.

Now, you might think this means
easy pickings, but it's not.

[Allison]
that's right. The leopard
does have a few competitors.

[Ttark]
a few competitors?

Competing
carnivores!

Do you know who else
is out there?

Sure. There are all sorts
of other carnivores out there.

[Ttark]
cheetahs!

Hyenas!

Lions!

And believe you me,
they're skilled hunters,

Tough dudes,
kings of the hill--

Serious competition
for the old leopard.

[Chris]
ttark's right, al.

On the african savanna,
it's a free-for-all for food.

[Martin]
take the hyena.

These crafty scavengers
and hunters operate in packs.

Whoa. As you can see,
they're a serious force
to be reckoned with.

[Chris]
how serious?
Well, when hyenas are around,

The leopard steers clear.

And even though the leopard
is bigger and stronger
than the cheetah,

This cat has something
over her--

Maximum cheetah velocity!

[Martin]
capable of speeds
of up to 70 miles per hour,

The cheetah is a tough predator
to compete with.

[Growling]

[Chris]
o.k. The lion may not be
the king of all creatures,

But it's hard to think

Of a more successful
savanna hunter.

[Martin]
unlike leopards, lions live
in groups of up to 13

Called prides.

[Chris]
and using teamwork,
they can take down big prey

That a leopard couldn't even
dream of taking out.

[Martin]
and speaking of teamwork--
wait! We forgot wild dogs!

[Chris]
wild dogs may be
way smaller than leopards,

But they make
amazingly tough competitors.

I mean, they have
a hunting success rate of 80%.

That means they take down 8 out
of every 10 animals they hunt.

That's amazing teamwork,

That's amazing
predatorial skill, and that's--

[Martin]
chris, that's another show.

With all these
other creatures around,

The leopard doesn't have
an easy ride.

Wow! I never realized there was
so much competition out there.

O.k., Guys,
maybe you're right.

It isn't easy being
a carnivore on the savanna.

When you think of it,
it's probably easier
being a herbivore.

Herbivores are animals
that eat only plants.

They come in all different
shapes and sizes out here.

To us, the savanna's
trees and plants
may look like scenery,

But to these herbivores,
it's food.

[Martin]
vegetation and water
are all these herbivores need.

[Chris]
there is a lot of food out here
for the herbivores to eat,

But that doesn't necessarily
mean that they have it easy.

[Martin]
herbivores have to be
constantly on their guard,

If not for themselves,
at least for their young,

Who are an easy mark
for a superpredator.

[Chris]
african predators don't just
come in the supersize variety.

[Martin]
take the meerkat.

This mongoose-like creature
is an amazing hunter

Of creatures
like millipedes.

[Chris]
when it comes to digging up
multilegged meals,

The meerkat can't be b*at.

[Martin]
but the meerkat
and his cousin, the mongoose,

Have to watch out
for eagles,

Who'd love to make a meal
out of them.

[Chris]
and predators don't always
stick to terra firma.

Check out
the nile crocodile.

This reptilian hunter is like
the leopard of the nile river.

[Martin]
he uses stealth
to catch his prey,

And just like the leopard,
he strikes so fast,

The prey won't even know
he's there

Until they feel his teeth.

[Chris]
but it's not easy
for the croc either.

For the croc
and all predatory carnivores,

Food is always
a "maybe" proposition--

Maybe he'll catch his next meal.
Maybe he won't.

If you ask me,
it's definitely easier being
a herbivore than a carnivore.

For one thing,
you've got all that green stuff
to graze on, right?

Yeah, that's true. Herbivores
have it relatively easy.

The food sits there and waits
for you to help yourself.

But for carnivores...

The food is always moving...

And trying to get away.

[Chris]
out here on the savanna,
if you want to eat meat,

You have to be quick,

Because the food has great ways
of defending itself.

And what's
the best defense?

Trying to keep danger and you
as far apart as possible.

[Martin]
you can say that again.

Just try sneaking up
on a herd of impala.

Man! It's like they have
built-in motion detectors.

Take one step
towards them,

The alarm goes off,
and they're out of here!

[Chris]
you definitely can't
surprise these guys.

You know what it's like?

It's like trying to sneak up
behind somebody

Who's got eyes
on the back of their head.

Nice try, martin!

[Ttark]
hey, if you're looking
to spot predators,

A little extra sight
is always a plus,

But there's more to it
than meets the eyes.

If you want to avoid
getting chomped by some big cat,

A little camouflage
never hurt.

Hmm.

Some animals deal with predators
using camouflage.

They hope the predators
won't be able to pick them out

Of their surroundings.

[Martin]
the zebra's camouflage
is a perfect example.

[Chris]
their form of camouflage
is called disruptive patterning.

[Martin]
what all those stripes do
is make a confusing mess

To predators like lions.

[Chris]
they can't tell where one zebra
begins and the other one ends.

[Martin]
that makes an individual zebra
hard to pin down.

[Chris]
giraffes use a different
camouflage technique.

[Martin]
unlike the zebra's stripes,
the spots on a giraffe

Actually let them blend
into the background.

[Chris]
camouflage is a great way prey
can hide from leopards.

[Martin]
but it works
the other way, too.

Camouflage lets the leopard
sneak up on prey

Without being noticed.

[Allison]
exactly. Unlike lion prides,
who chase their prey,

The leopard needs
to get up close to her prey

Before she can pounce
on them.

The leopard's camouflage
lets her get up close

Without being seen.

[Ttark]
but don't forget
that prey like antelope

Use more than just their eyes
to detect predators.

Their noses
come into play.

And don't forget the ears.

[Martin]
that's right. Savanna herbivores
rely on hearing

As an early warning system

To detect predators
on the prowl.

[Chris]
they use their swiveling ears

To pick up the sound
of approaching predators,

Like leopards,
from any direction.

If they pick up the sound
of a prowling predator,

They do the only thing
they can do...

[Martin]
run!

Hey, guys, there's
one prey animal you forgot

That's really good
at getting away from carnivores

And protecting itself
if it's cornered.

[Martin]
you mean the warthog!

Maybe warthogs aren't exactly
the pretty boys of the savanna,

But they're not a pig
you want to mess with.

[Chris]
these creatures are tough enough
to fight off a cheetah.

[Martin]
but fighting predators isn't
really the warthog's style.

[Chris]
the way warthogs deal with them
is simple--communication.

[Martin]
warthogs will warn each other
if they think something's wrong.

And when they see
an enemy approaching,

They'll emit
a high-pitched squeal,

Which is warthog for...

[Chris]
"incoming predators!
Head for the burrows, dude!"

When a warthog
senses danger,

It takes off full speed!

If martin were a warthog,
he'd be toast.

Let's speed things up a bit.

That's more like it.

Warthogs b*mb for their burrows
at up to 35 miles per hour.

Piglets dive in the hole
headfirst,

But adults whip around
and back in...

[Martin]
this way. If a predator tries
to follow it into the burrow,

The warthog is ready
to fight it off with his tusks.

[Chris]
with those
seriously sharp tusks,

The warthog is more
than just a pretty face.

[Martin]
he's a pig who won't go down
without a fight.

Guys,
we spent so much time

Talking about how the prey
got away from the leopard

That the leopard
got away from us.

How are we going
to find him again?

No problem, al.
We have a plan
to find the leopard.

We've got
a few tricks
up our sleeve.

We've talked about
what the leopard hunts

And how prey
avoids the leopard.

So, probably the best way
to find a leopard is to...

[Together]
look like lunch.

You guys
are something else.

I don't know what it is,
but whatever it is, it's weird.

This could be one
of those stupid things
not to do with animals.

[Chris]
and now for another
episode of...

On this episode,

Martin and chris
traipse through the savanna

With a sign saying "lunch"
on martin's back.

Hey, is the herd
getting spooked?

Yeah, but we're
not making them nervous.

Look!

It's a leopard
on the prowl!

You know
what the antelope
got to do?

They have to run.

We're the antelope,
so you know what
we got to do?

Yeah.

[Together]
run!

[Chris]
and so ends another
enlightening episode

Of stupid things
not to do with animals.

Wow!
It actually worked!

We lured a leopard!

Yeah, but the way
we made our escape
was pathetic.

We were the slowest
antelope out there,

And we ran
in a straight line.

What we should have done
is zigzagged.

[Chris]
and if you're wondering
what zigzagging is...

If a predator's
on your tail,

The thing you should never do
is run in a straight line.

[Martin]
the best thing to do
is to confuse your predator

With unpredictability--

In short,
zigging and zagging.

[Chris]
zigzagging keeps
your hunter guessing,

Not sure when to pounce.

[Martin]
the last thing you want is
for a leopard to pounce on you.

[Chris]
once she does,
you're not getting up.

Even zigzagging couldn't
save that impala.

That impala may not
have had time to zig or zag.

Leopards are so stealthy,

They'll usually get
within 15 feet of their prey

Without being noticed.

Then pow!

With her monster leap,

A leopard can take down
an impala in just seconds.

It says they can leap


And jump up to 20 feet.

That's from here
all the way out the door

In a single pounce.

We should be talking
about leopard's hunting skills.

And leopards have some
of the greatest hunting skills

On the savanna.

Their main technique
is using stealth

And the element
of surprise.

Leopards
are surprise hunters.

They almost never
chase their prey,

But when they do,
if the prey can elude them

For the first 54 yards,
they're safe.

Here's what happens
to a creature

If they don't make
the first 54 yards.

They become leopard lunch.

O.k. So leopards are good,
but they're not perfect.

I mean, they've got
a lot to worry about--

Not just where to get dinner,
but keeping dinner.

[Ttark]
you got that right, al.

Even if a leopard
does get a k*ll,

He doesn't always
get to keep it.

Don't forget those lions,
wild dogs, and hyenas.

If you don't want
to lose your lunch,

You got to go
for the trees.

[Martin]
one thing you have to realize

Is that taking down an animal
like an impala is tough work.

[Chris]
so it makes sense that a pride
of lions or a pack of hyenas

Would sooner steal lunch
than catch it themselves.

[Martin]
and the leopard's
an easy mark for a hyena.

More often than not,

A leopard will not only give up
his food to a pack of hyenas,

He'll give it up
to just a singlehyena.

[Chris]
that's because
the leopard's no fool.

Why get into a scrap
with a hyena?

The hyena could injure her,

And to the leopard,
that's just not worth it.

But one thing a hyena can't do
that a leopard can

Is climb a tree.

So a leopard is able
to hide its food up in a tree

And out of the reach
of lions, hyenas, and wild dogs.

It's amazing.

A leopard can carry
a 120-pound impala

Up a tree in its mouth.

[Martin]
wow! Now that's
what I call power.

Let's see
a hyena try that!

Hey, martin.
Try it with your teeth.

What?

Leopards are
incredibly strong.

You're telling me!

[Low squeal]

Hey, what's that?

Hey, martin,
where are you going?

Shh!

Get me out
of this tree!

You know, if there was
a leopard up there,

He could keep chris hanging
around for a couple of days.

Takes that long
to finish an impala.

Stashing food in trees
is a great way for the leopard

To keep food out of the paws
of competitors, like hyenas.

She uses trees sort of like
we use pantries and cupboards.

It's a great way to keep a meal
on hand for a quick snack.

One of the leopard's
great survival tricks

Is her ability to eat
a wide variety of meat.

She'll hunt anything
from frogs, rats, and birds

Up to the big stuff,
like impala.

These hyenas are hanging around
under the tree,

Catching her scraps.

By being flexible
in what she eats,

The leopard gets an edge
over her competitors.

In the creature world,

Flexibility is the key
to survival in a big way.

So herbivores and carnivores
both have different problems.

Surviving in the wild
isn't easy for either of them.

It's just that carnivores
get a bad rap

Because they eat
living things.

[Ttark]
al, herbivores eat living things
just like carnivores do.

Grass is a living thing.
Ask any blade. He'll tell you.

The real question
is what would happen

If there were
no meat eaters?

A lot of fat,
happy herbivores?

Hazillions of herbivores!

We'd have so many of them,

We'd never have enough plants
to feed them all.

So the meat eaters
help keep everything in check.

In a way, the savanna is
the ultimate balanced meal.

Ttark's right.

Carnivores, herbivores,
and plants all live
in balance.

Without carnivores,
there'd be way too many
herbivores.

The herbivores would
eat up all the plants,

And then there'd be
a massive die-off.

And without herbivores,
there'd be no carnivores.

But in
a balanced system,

There will always
be both--

New generations
for centuries and
centuries to come.

And with every generation,
each species evolves

To improve its stealth,
speed, camouflage,
and defenses

So that it has
a better edge
on survival.

And here's
the new generations.

[Martin]
every year, cubs, foals,
pups, and calves

Are born
onto the african savanna.

[Chris]
some of these creatures
will grow up to be the hunters,

And some, the hunted.

[Martin]
out here, you can never predict
what the next day will bring.

[Chris]
but you can be certain
of one thing--

That each day
will bring new challenges

For both the hunters
and the hunted.

[Allison]
for these wild creatures,
life is a cycle.

There's a time to hunt,
a time to eat,

A time to live,
and a time to die.

It's all part
of the natural balance

Between predator and prey.

[Chris]
there's no question
that life in the wild

Can be difficult
and deadly.

[Martin]
and to prepare themselves
for life on the savanna,

There are two things
young creatures can do--play...

[Chris]
and practice.

[Martin]
young leopards practice stalking

As they develop
their hunting technique.

It's a combination of skill,
stealth, and camouflage

That will make them
successful predators.

[Chris]
and nothing beats learning
firsthand from an expert--

In this case, mom.

[Martin]
this leopard cub
is following mom on the hunt,

Watching and learning
how she does it.

[Chris]
you know, when you see
a leopard on the hunt,

You realize that it's
no different from a house cat

Hunting a mouse.

[Martin]
and sometimes you can feel sorry
for the prey,

But you got to remember--

In the creature picture,
hunting plays a natural part.

[Chris]
look! Now the cub's
on the hunt!

[Allison]
"I still say that the leopard is
the neatest of all the big cats.

"But to understand
the life of a leopard,

"You need to understand
the whole creature balance

"In the grasslands
of africa.

"Even if it seems terrible
to see a big predator

"Chasing after a little impala,

We have to remember
that each needs the other."

But wouldn't it be awesome
to live like a leopard?

Hey, guys!

[Yawning]

We're trying to take
a little catnap.

Sleeping?
Where are you?

Where else?