01x31 - The Food Chain Game

[bunniefuu]

Hey, it's the Kratt Brothers!

I'm Martin!

And I'm Chris,

and this lynx kitten
is only about months old

and very playful.

This skunk kit
is months old too,

and he just wants to get
his nose sniffing

and digging in the dirt.

At this age,

the skunk isn't really worried
about the young lynx kitten,

but the lynx kitten
is so curious.

Not sure what to do about--

He wants to pounce
on this furry thing,

but he's a little nervous.

CHRIS:
So right now, these two baby
animals get along pretty well,

but when they get older,
everything's going to change.

MARTIN:
That's because skunks eat
what they eat.

Berries and worms.

And lynx eat what they eat,
rabbits and, well, skunks.

MARTIN:
Oh, the cat is curious.

You do want to jump on him,
don't you?

All the lynx's play is about
preparing for the hunt.

Running, stalking, jumping.

It all gets him ready
to get food.

CHRIS:
And the skunk will have
to master his stink defense

against predators like the lynx.

So in the wild, berries and
worms are eaten by the skunk.

And the skunk is eaten
by the lynx.

That's part of the food web,
and every creature fits into it.

Who eats who in nature
can be so interesting.

Imagine if we had the power
to experience

the "who eats who"
of an entire habitat.

And get right inside a food web
from bottom to top.

BOTH:
What if?

♪ On adventure with
the coolest creatures ♪

♪ From the oceans
to the trees ♪

♪ The Brothers Kratt are going
places you never get to see ♪

♪ Hanging with
their creature friends ♪

♪ Get ready, it's the hour ♪

♪ We're gonna save
some animals today with ♪

♪ Creature Power ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild, wild ♪

♪ Cheetah speed
and lizard glide ♪

♪ Falcon flight
and lion pride ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Go wild, wild, Wild Kratts ♪

Whoo-hoo!

Yeah!

These Falcon Flyers are awesome
for spotting creatures

on the African savannah.

They give us the ultimate
birds-eye view.

Hey, bat-eared fox,
o'clock!

Whoa, look at those ears.

No wonder they're called
bat-eared foxes.

Each one is as big as his face,
just like a bat.

Yeah, and they're moving around
like satellite dishes!

Hmm, what's he listening for?

(Watch beeping)

Doubt it's that!

It's a message from Aviva.

It says "Guys, come back
to the Tortuga HQ.

"Quick, it's urgent!"

Hmm.

Yeah, sounds good,

right after we see what
this bat-eared fox is up to.

Martin, she says it's urgent.

That means it's important.

Might be a creature
in trouble.

Or what if they accidentally
miniaturized themselves again?

Or Jimmy lost his controller
again?

(Laughing)

We got to get back
there fast!

We'll catch up with ya later,
bat-eared fox.

To the Tortuga HQ,
double speed!

Whoo-hoo!

Hey team!

BOTH:
What's going on?

Is there a creature to save?

A mystery to solve?

Bring it on.

See, I told you I could get 'em
here in under minutes.

Impressive.

Well, what's the emergency?

The emergency is that you're
late for the start of my game.

Game?

Or you could call it
a challenge.

See, I'm building a food web

to see how energy moves through
the African ecosystem

and I knew you guys
could help me with it.

So I made a game out of it.

MARTIN:
Great, we love games.

CHRIS:
And challenges.

How do we play?

Okay, it's called
Food Web Fury.

Uh, it's blank, Aviva.

Not for long.

I'll build it here while you
guys discover it out there.

Food Webs, cool!

Oh, I love food webs too.

Yeah, the "who eats who"
of an ecosystem.

One creature eats something.

Who's eaten
by somebody else.

Who's eaten
by another creature.

Whoa!

And all the way up
until you get to the animals

that aren't really food
for anything.

Exactly!

So here's how the game works.

You'll need your power suits
for this

and all your power discs
for African creatures.

You start at the bottom
of the food web,

and you have to get to the top
as fast as you can.

Cool!

So both of you will start as...

(Gasping)

...a blade of grass.

BOTH:
Oh.

So first you have to find
an animal

who eats a blade of grass.

When you do, you can move up
the food chain.

Use your Creature Power Suit
to become the animal you found.

Okay.

Hmm, who will I be first?

Oh, I'm on my way
to the top, dude!

Oh, one more thing,
you can only use the animals

that I have Creature Power Discs
for.

No problem.

Got it!

And while you're doing that,

we'll build a giant food web

based on what you find out
on the savannah.

Ready, guys?

Guys?

Guys!

KOKI:
I think they were ready.

Hey, wait up!

I didn't say "Go!"

Ready, Chris?

I was born ready!

Ready, Martin?

Oh, yeah!

Set me loose.

Good luck, bro!

Back atcha, dude.

On your marks, get set, go!

(Grunting, wobbling)

Oh, we can't even run.

We're rooted to the ground.

A grass race?

Don't blink or you'll miss it.

Have fun, guys!

Got to get back to my food web.

Poor grass, at the bottom
of the food chain.

Poor grass?

Ow!
Ouch, sorry, JZ.

But you shouldn't feel sorry
for grass.

The bottom of the food chain is
the most important place of all.

That's where the producers go.

I thought all plants
go there.

(Sucking thumb)

They do.

Plants are producers.

That means they make
their own food,

from energy from the sun.

Kind of like my solar panels
collect energy from the sun

to power the Tortuga HQ.

Animals can't do that,
just plants.

Okay, first level
of the food web: plants.

JZ:
Fire them up here, guys!

Lychee fruit!

Got it.

Wild potato!
Rhodes grass.

Sedge!

Okra flower!

Acacia tree!

Ugh!

(Gasping)

Ugh!

Well, we know one thing.

There are lots of producers.

(Laughing)

All right, this should
start easy.

Lots of grass-eaters live
on the African savannah.

Problem is, I got to wait
for them to come to me.

Oh man, who's going to want
to eat a blue blade of grass?

Maybe if I make myself
a little less obvious.

Come here, herbivores!

Nothing but tasty green grass
over here.

I'm only one in, like, gazillion
other green grasses.

How am I going to get noticed
with all this--

(Gasping)

Oh yeah!

Here come the herbivores!

Let the games begin!

Right over here,
right over here.

Wait, wait!

Oh no, wait, don't go by!

Hmm.

Elephants.

Oh, wow!

Now that's a grass-eater,
all right.

Using his trunk like a hand

to pull up huge mouthfuls
of the stuff.

Hey, Thornsley!

It's me, Chris!

Come here, little guy.

I just need to touch you

to move to the next level
of the food web.

Ha, ha, this is it!

I'm a-- ugh!

Pancake.

Ugh, ooh!

Flattened by an elephant foot.

It's a good thing grass is used
to getting stepped on.

But I missed the grab.

Herbivores, come back!

Oh, why do you have to leave me
stuck as a piece of grass?

(Snarling)

Oh, that's why you were
in such a big hurry.

Drat, foiled by a big cat,

who of course,
doesn't eat grass.

I'll never get to the top of
the food chain at this rate.

All set, Aviva.

Okay, so the herbivores
are the plant-eaters.

Things like rhinos, zebra,

elephants, guinea fowl,
giraffes.

Even bees who eat nectar
from plants.

They're all herbivores.

Wow, plants are amazing.

They just keep on giving.

Yeah, so many animals eat
plants,

and we need to get some of them
up on our food web.

Jimmy?

I'm on it.

Ow!

But this hammer
keeps attacking me!

Keep fighting the good fight,
Jimmy,

because now we get
to connect them.

So, elephants eat grass
and acacia trees,

and even roots.

Elephants also eat
these wild lychee fruits.

Koki, what are you doing?

What?

I like these lychee fruits.

It's not just animals
that like fruits and veggies.

We eat them too.

(Snorting)

Hey, lychee fruit thief!

Come back here!

Oh well.

I guess that's another animal
that likes them.

MARTIN:
Oh man, why are all
the herbivores

on that side
of the savannah today?

Oh!

I'm never going to get
to the herbivore level

with no herbivores
in reach.

Ow!
(Laughing)

Hey, something bit me!

Whoa, ow!

Those jaws are powerful.

But hey,
I'm really happy to see ya!

Because you're one of the most
incredible grass-eaters around.

The harvester termite.

Ow, ow!

All right,
I'm at the next level!

I'm an herbivore!

Oh, wow, with serious jaws!

Hey, let's do
the herbivore stuff.

All right!

Martin got to the next level.

And I'm still stuck--whoa!

Between the lips
of a Thomson's gazelle!

Oh, still in the game!

Whoo-hoo, I can run!

I can move!

Thanks, gazelle!

Thanks to you,
I'm heading up the food web.

This is great!

Gazelles are one of the swiftest
herbivores on the savannah.

We can keep a top speed
of miles per hour

for long stretches at a time.

It's thirsty work,

and gazelles get most
of the moisture they need

from plants and grass.

Hmm&this looks a little
too dry and coarse.

Perfect!

Gazelles like shorter grass.

So, they wait
for other herbivores

to mow down the longer grass,

then they can get
at the good stuff.

Bleh!

They call this the good stuff?

But I'm not thirsty anymore.

I'm ready to move up
the food chain.

(Gasping)

And I know exactly who
I need to find next.

AVIVA:
They're off!

Each on a different path
through the food web.

A path through the food web
is a food chain.

So Chris's food chain goes
from grass to gazelle,

and Martin's food chain goes
from grass to termite.

Now what's going to happen?

We have a tiny herbivore
out there, and a big one.

Who eats them?

We'll see.

Let's keep an eye
on the little Ter-Mart.

You mean termite?

No, Ter-Mart!

There he is.

Going down!

Hey, nice home you've got here.

So, you're a different kind
of termite

than the ones that make
those mounds.

You guys just build tunnel nests
underground.

Oh, okay, so this is where
you keep your food,

stuffed in these termite
food cabinets.

Nice!

Enjoy.

And if you have any leftovers,
I'm your termite.

Wow, now I know why termites

are the biggest little
herbivores in Africa.

There are so many of you

that you actually eat more grass
than all the elephants, zebra,

wildebeests, and every other
grass-eater combined!

(Beeping)
How's it going, bro?

Oh great, Chris.

I'm a termite!

Harvester of grass,
builder of giant nests,

power herbivore of the savannah!

Cool.

Now, you just have to find
a termite eater.

I'm a gazelle.

And remember our pal Blur who
chased me all over the savannah

the last time I had gazelle
powers?

Whoa!

Oh, yeah!

How could I forget?

Well, he's going to help me
move up the food web.

Wish me luck!

Luck!

Hey, Blur!

Want to play tag?

Hmm.

What?

Now you're not up for a chase?

Come on, cheetahs love gazelles.

And you can help me get to
the next level of the food web.

Come on.

Bet you can't catch me!

Show me that speed,

that awesome gazelle-catching
speed.

(Yawning)

Oh, you're kidding me.

Of course, you'd have to pick
right now for a nap.

Okay, so now I'm looking
for some kind of bug-eater.

Lots of animals eat bugs.

Let's see, especially termites,
aardvarks, warthog, aardwolf--

Ah, bat-eared fox!

He hears something.

That's what he was listening
for, termites!

Oh, I can't believe it.

He can hear termites
underground!

Shh, he can hear you chewing.

Got it!

Hi, tongue!

Told you we'd catch up
with you later.

I'm a bat-eared fox!

(Singing)

Yeah!

Okay, Martin made it to
the second-order consumers.

Animals that eat other animals.

KOKI:
Oh, yeah, the predators,

like foxes and wild dogs,
cheetahs, lions.

Mongooses, even spiders
that eat other bugs.

Basically,
if it eats an animal,

it's right up here
in the food web.

This is the sad part
of the food web.

But look at it
this way, Koki.

It's how nature works.

I mean, if these predators
weren't around,

in no time, there'd be too many
of these herbivores.

Soon, there'd be no plants left,

and no one would survive.

Everything's in balance.

KOKI:
I guess that's why the food web
works so well,

but it's still sad.

Ow!

No, this is sad.

(Laughing)

Okay, Blur, check this out.

I'm injured.

Oh, oh, my leg!

I can't run fast anymore!

I hope a predator
doesn't see me!

Yes, my trick is working.

Predators usually target
injured or weak prey.

They're the easiest to catch.

Ow, I'm so injured.

Huh?

Uh-oh, it worked!

But on a different predator.

A python's got a hug on me!

Pythons are constricting snakes.

That means they squeeze
their prey

until they can't breathe
anymore.

This wasn't, ugh, exactly...
the plan,

but I'll take it.

Could you please press
that button for me?

That's the one!

Yes, I'm a python!

Wait a second.

No animal eats adult pythons.

I'm at the top of the food web!

Whoo-hoo!

AVIVA:
Not so fast, Chris.

We're checking something.

CHRIS:
What?

Yep, it's right here.

It almost never happens,

but big adult pythons are
sometimes caught and eaten

by a super-hungry lion
or leopard.

You mean, kind of like that?

(Hissing)

Whoa, you've got to be pretty
hungry to tangle with a python.

Whoa, not this time.

Catching food can be dangerous
business for predators too.

Prey defends itself, and getting
a meal isn't always easy.

So, it's official.

It's rare,
but leopards and lions

will tangle with an adult
python, if they're desperate.

Wow.

I'd better slither off
and follow that lion.

Got to slide!

See ya, Blur!

Okay, I know a lion would eat
a bat-eared fox.

And you probably have to be
on the lookout

for spotted hyenas too.

Hey, If I could just find
one of those.

(Laughing)

I know you probably don't want
to find out,

but I have to finish
my food chain.

Huh?

(Squawking)

Marshall eagle!

Whew, nice move.

The old "roll on your back,
kick and bite" defense.

A bat-eared fox classic.

Hey, it's not easy being
an animal

when things are constantly
out to get you.

Huh?

See what I mean?

A pyth--

Hey, Martin.

Gotcha!

What, Chris?

You're a python!

Yeah, and you're lucky
I'm not hungry

'cause we eat bat-eared foxes.

Yeah, whew!

It's rough out here.

I know.

Animals always have to be
on the lookout

for another creature
trying to catch them.

Imagine if humans had to live
like that every day?

Hey, we're almost there.

One more creature to find.

See you at the top!

I'll be waiting for you.

AVIVA:
We're almost there!

Wow, it's close now.

Yeah, just some
top predators left.

Like lions, leopards,
crocodiles, Marshall eagles.

It can get pretty confusing
in the middle there.

Yeah, like look at the baboon.

He eats things down here,
like grass, roots and fruit,

and he's eaten by things
up there,

like leopards, cheetahs
and pythons.

Yup, just follow the lines
to figure out who eats who.

All those lines
make me dizzy!

I know, that's why
it's called the food web.

It's amazing how
all these animals

are connected
by what they eat.

And Chris and Martin have both
climbed within reach of the top.

(Whistling)

Hmm, what would eat a fox?

(Growling)

I know that sound!

And it's coming from... there!

Lions!

Lions!

Playful pouncers now,
top predators later.

A long body sure comes in handy
for this game.

If I could just...touch...

A little bit more!

Oh, what--

(Martin singing)

Martin?

Yes, they saw me!

Ahh!

Ugh!

Oh, just a little closer!

Zebras?

They're going after
that herd of zebra.

Wait, come back-- whoa!

Whoa!

Hey, you guys
are little toughies.

Oh, got to press--

Ow!

Where's the button?

Ow!

(Laughing)

Steady, steady.

Hi.

Whoa!

It's a good thing I have
bat-eared fox escape powers.

Chris, where are you?

I'm being peppered with pounces
by lion cubs.

I've got a mama lion on my tail!

Oof!

(Laughing)

BOTH:
Activate!

Lion power.

Good game, guys!

Looks like the lions won.

And not the ones wearing
lion suits.

Ha, ha,
yes, we did it!

(Snarling)

We're at the top
of the food web!

Mama's calling.

It's time for dinner,

for the predators at the top
of the food web.

And that's life in nature.

Mission accomplished!

We built a food web
of the African savannah.

KOKI:
From the producers...

All the way
to the top predators.

And, you know, I used to think
lions were kind of nasty.

But really,
they're just surviving

and feeding their cubs.

That's right, like every single
animal on this board is doing.

Creatures eat other creatures.

It's just how nature works.

MARTIN:
A lion eating a zebra
is really no worse

than a zebra or a termite eating
a living blade of grass.

They're all important
for a healthy ecosystem.

Where are you guys going?

We're off to make
another food web.

Meet you in North America!

Martin, I'll start
as a green pond algae.

Cool, I'll be a big,
juicy blueberry.

(Laughing)

As green algae,
I'll be the base

of the whole pond ecosystem
full of cool animals.

I'm going to be
the most amazing blueberry

to ever start a food web.

(Laughing)

So no matter what habitat
you're in on Earth,

there is a creature food web
in action around you.

All right, Chris,
let's see how fast

we can work our way through
a North American food web.

Let's start with... trees!

Trees are producers,

plants that get their energy
from the sun.

Producers are the first step
in a typical food chain.

A lot of animals
eat tree leaves,

and we've got to find one
of them.

Chris, found something.

Did you find a leaf-eater?

Oh yeah, a caterpillar hiding
in this tent,

and this caterpillar hides
in his tent

until he's ready to eat,

then he comes out
and he eats the leaf.

And now, we've got to find
a caterpillar-eater.

Let's go!

Whoa, an American toad!

These guys will eat
just about anything

they can fit in their mouths,
including caterpillars.

Whoa, she found a caterpillar.

Wow, now that's
a lightning-fast grab.

But it's not going
to be super-easy

to find the next creature
in the chain

because toads
have great defenses.

First, they taste bad,

and a lot of predators
don't want to eat them.

Second, if they're being eaten
they blow up like a balloon,

to make it harder for
the predator to swallow them.

Yes, a hog-nose snake!

Oh, now this snake
can get past a toad's defense

because a hog-nose has special
fangs in the back of its mouth

that can pop
a blown-up toad,

so the snake
can swallow it down.

Oh now, this is a cool snake.

Martin, over here!

Yes, a raccoon!

That takes us further
up the food chain.

Raccoons are omnivores.

That means they eat plants,
like berries and nuts,

and animals
like crayfish and snakes,

including the hog-nose snake.

So, we're almost to the top.

There are only a few creatures
who would ever eat a raccoon.

We find one
and we've made it.

How about a wolf?

Lynx, maybe.

Oh, a mountain lion would.

One thing's for sure.

Top predators are usually
the hardest to find.

A feather!

BOTH:
Of a great-horned owl.

There!

Great-horned owls
will eat raccoons.

We did it!

In record time.

Oh, yeah, and that is just one
North American food chain.

Food chains and food webs
are all around us,

so keep your eyes peeled when
you're creature adventuring.

We'll see you
on the Creature Trail!

♪


BOTH:
We'll see you there!