♪
 ONE OF THE HOTTEST, DRIEST
WASTELANDS ON THE PLANET...
WHERE DUST IS KING.
♪
  NO LIFE AS FAR
AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
BUT LIFE THERE IS.
[SNARLING]
  PERHAPS THE MOST FEARLESS
OF ALL THE WORLD’S SURVIVORS.
THE HONEY BADGER.
SCOURGE OF THE SAVANNAH...
HARD TO KILL...
STREET SMART...
TOUGH AS NAILS.
 BUT EVEN HONEY BADGERS
HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
[GROWLING]
THIS IS GRIT,
   A YOUNG BADGER
WHO’S JUST LEFT HOME
     TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE
OUT IN THE GREAT, WIDE WORLD.
♪
HE’S HUNTING SOLO...
BUT HE’S NOT ALONE.
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
   HE’LL HAVE TO FIGHT
JUST TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.
♪
THERE’S NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.
[DOGS YIPPING]
EVEN HIS PREY BRISTLES
    WITH ARMAMENT.
♪
AND NO ONE GOES DOWN
  WITHOUT A FIGHT.
♪
HE’S GOT A LOT TO LEARN.
AND HE’D BETTER LEARN IT FAST.
♪
♪
GRIT’S HOME IS CENTRAL NAMIBIA,
SOUTHERN AFRICA.
IT’S A LAND OF INTENSE EXTREMES.
A HARD PLACE TO MAKE A LIVING.
IT CAN BE BLISTERINGLY HOT,
AS IN 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
      DURING THE DAY--
AND FRIGIDLY COLD.
AT NIGHT THE MERCURY
   CAN DROP TO 30.
AND IF THAT WEREN’T
   TOUGH ENOUGH,
GRIT’S EMBARKED ON HIS QUEST
      FOR INDEPENDENCE
DURING NAMIBIA’S WORST DROUGHT
    IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
HONEY BADGERS SPEND THE FIRST
14 TO 18 MONTHS OF THEIR LIVES
WITH THEIR MOTHERS.
     AFTER THAT,
THEY’RE ON THEIR OWN.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS
    WHY FEWER THAN HALF
OF ALL YOUNG HONEY BADGERS
SURVIVE THEIR FIRST FEW WEEKS
       AWAY FROM MOM.
THEY ARE FACED WITH THREE
    INITIAL PROBLEMS:
THREATS FROM OTHER PREDATORS;
     SIMPLE STARVATION;
THE INTENSE HEAT, WHICH GRIT
SOLVES BY A SHADY SAND BATH.
[PURRING]
GRIT’S 18 MONTHS OLD.
HE PASSED FORAGING 101
   WITH HIS MOTHER,
SO HE’S NOT COMPLETELY GREEN.
BUT HE’S JUST AT THE START
     OF HIS EDUCATION.
AND THE REST HE’S GOING TO HAVE
TO LEARN BY DOING.
HE’S PACKING ALL THE TOOLS
     NATURE GAVE HIM,
 INCLUDING A FORMIDABLE ARRAY OF
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE WEAPONS.
AND HE’S GOT THE TENACITY
       TO SURVIVE.
BUT GRIT’S NEVER BEEN
  OUT HERE BEFORE...
ALONE.
♪
AN ARMY TRAVELS ON ITS STOMACH,
AND SO DOES A HONEY BADGER.
      GRIT HAS TO EAT
THREE POUNDS OF FOOD A DAY
JUST TO STAY ALIVE.
   HONEY BADGERS
DON’T SEE VERY WELL,
BUT THEY HAVE A POWERFUL
     SENSE OF SMELL,
MANY TIMES MORE POWERFUL
      THAN OUR OWN.
[SNIFFING]
GRIT’S JUST GOTTEN A WHIFF
    OF SOMETHING TASTY.
♪
    THIS TINY RODENT
IS THE NAMAQUA ROCK RAT.
HE’S A MASTER AT HIDE AND SEEK.
♪
WHEN YOU’RE ON EVERYBODY’S MENU,
YOU NEED A CLEVER PLAN...
ONE THAT’LL KEEP PREDATORS
          AT BAY.
♪
THE SWEET THORN TREE IS COMMON
     THROUGHOUT NAMIBIA.
ITS SHARP SPIKES PROVIDE
      A FORTRESS--
AN IMPENETRABLE BARRIER
  OF TWO-INCH THORNS.
♪
IF GRIT WANTS LUNCH, HE’LL HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BREAK IN.
♪
   HIS BODY IS ENCASED
IN A THICK, RUBBERY HIDE,
  WHICH GETS HIM PAST
THE FIRST FEW BRANCHES,
BUT HE’S ENDURING PAINFUL JABS.
[GROWLING]
[RAT SQUEAKING]
♪
[RAT SQUEAKING]
[GROWLING]
      THIS IS THE CLASSIC
HONEY BADGER HUNTING TECHNIQUE:
 PIN PREY WITH THE CLAWS
AND THEN GO FOR THE BITE.
♪
BUT HE’S GETTING HUNG UP
     ON THE THORNS.
THE ROCK RAT’S PLAN IS WORKING--
HE’S JUST STAYING CLEAR...
   BUT GRIT PULLS THROUGH,
AND HE TOUGHS OUT THE THORNS.
[SQUEAKING]
THE RAT STARES DEATH
    IN THE FACE,
BUT STILL HAS ENOUGH GRIT
         HIMSELF
 TO SINK ITS TEETH
INTO GRIT’S TONGUE.
[GROWLING]
PAINFUL...
ANNOYING...
AND NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.
[PURRING]
LIKE ALL HONEY BADGERS,
    GRIT MAKES SURE
NOTHING GOES TO WASTE.
NOT FUR, NOT BONE.
♪
GRIT BEGAN HIS HONEY BADGER
   ODYSSEY IN SEPTEMBER--
THE TAIL END OF WINTER.
IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD
IT’S HOT ALL YEAR ROUND.
FROM NOW ON IT JUST GETS
    HOTTER AND DRIER,
AS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSES
  A PROLONGED DROUGHT
IN THIS PART OF AFRICA.
     AS A RESULT,
THE REGION’S WATERHOLES
ARE DOWN 80% FROM NORMAL.
SOME HAVE DISAPPEARED
     ALTOGETHER.
[WIND RUSTLING]
IT’S APPROACHING HIGH NOON--
   95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
♪
GRIT NEEDS TO BEAT THE HEAT.
HIS THICK LAYER OF SKIN PROTECTS
HIM FROM THORNS AND SPEARS,
BUT IT ALSO MAKES HIM PRONE
      TO OVERHEATING.
THIS WILL DO NICELY.
[WIND WHISPERING]
IN FIVE DAYS, THIS WATERHOLE
  WILL BE COMPLETELY DRY.
  AND SUDDENLY THE DRY HEAT
SENDS ANOTHER DANGER HIS WAY.
       SOMETHING
HE’S NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
A DUST STORM.
[WIND HOWLING]
DUST STORMS CAN BE MORE DEADLY
        THAN THEY LOOK.
  THE PARTICLES CAN DAMAGE
AN ANIMAL’S LUNGS SO SEVERELY
 THAT IT ENDS UP
CHOKING TO DEATH.
GRIT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF HERE
BEFORE HE BECOMES A CASUALTY.
ANYWAY, HE’S HUNGRY AGAIN.
♪
YOU CAN TRAVEL MILES AND MILES
  IN THIS VAST, STARK WORLD
AND NEVER SEE ANOTHER ANIMAL...
LET ALONE SOMETHING YOU CAN EAT.
[SNIFFING]
 BUT NOW GRIT PICKS UP
THE SCENT OF SOMETHING.
HE’S JUST NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.
COULD IT BE EDIBLE?
WELL...MAYBE.
OR MAYBE NOT.
A ROCK MONITOR.
JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER
  LIZARDS HE’S SEEN.
EXCEPT THIS ONE’S AN 18-POUNDER.
LIKE MANY REPTILES, THE MONITOR
SIZES UP OTHER ANIMALS
 USING ITS FORKED TONGUE
AND THE JACOBSON’S ORGAN.
THE LIZARD FLICKS ITS TONGUE OUT
TO CAPTURE CHEMICAL CUES
       IN THE AIR
AND SMEARS THEM ON THE ROOF
       OF ITS MOUTH.
THIS TELLS IT WHETHER A NEARBY
ANIMAL IS PREY OR COMPETITION.
♪
   THE ROCK MONITOR IS
A HEAVY-DUTY CARNIVORE...
AND IT WANTS TO KNOW
  IF GRIT IS FOOD.
♪
THEY WEIGH ABOUT THE SAME.
 BOTH HAVE THICK SKIN
AND LONG, SHARP CLAWS.
[LIZARD HISSING]
GRIT’S NOT SURE WHAT TAKING ON
 THIS CREATURE WILL GET HIM.
HE’S ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
♪
    EARLY AFTERNOON
ON THE NAMIBIAN PLAINS.
A HEAVILY ARMORED
 MONITOR LIZARD,
  A GRIZZLED VETERAN
OF THE SAVANNAH WARS.
AND THE ROOKIE...
YOUNG, TOUGH...
AND CLUELESS.
A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN
TWO DESERT TITANS.
♪
GRIT’S NEVER SEEN A LIZARD TAIL
THAT LONG BEFORE.
WONDER WHAT IT’S FOR?
[THUMP]
THAT’S WHAT IT’S FOR.
   THERE’S NO ROOM
FOR COMPETITION HERE.
♪
THE LIZARD WANTS GRIT GONE.
NOW.
[SNARLING]
♪
    AND FINALLY,
HE GETS THE MESSAGE.
THE ROOKIE IS LUCKY TO WALK AWAY
WITH JUST A BLOODY NOSE.
[CHATTERING]
[HISSING]
TO SURVIVE, A MALE HONEY BADGER
NEEDS ONLY THREE THINGS:
FOOD, WATER AND SHELTER.
KEY TO ALL THREE:
CLAIMING AND GUARDING
    HIS TERRITORY.
   HONEY BADGERS
ARE MAINLY SOLITARY,
BUT THEY DO NEED
TO SEND MESSAGES
TO OTHERS OF THEIR KIND--
SUCH AS ONE THAT SAYS
  "NO TRESPASSING!"
GRIT HAS TO STAKE OUT
   HIS OWN PATCH--
    AN AREA COVERING
UP TO 200 SQUARE MILES--
AND DEFEND IT AGAINST
    OTHER MALES.
THIS IS HOW HE DOES IT.
[SQUIRT]
SCENT GLANDS IN HIS ANUS
SECRETE A SMELLY SUBSTANCE
 THAT MARKS HIS TERRITORY.
IN ADDITION TO KEEPING OTHER
 MALES AWAY FROM HIS TURF,
SCENT MARKING ALSO ISSUES
AN INVITATION TO FEMALES
WHO MIGHT BE READY TO MATE.
FOR A HONEY BADGER,
 HOME IS A BURROW.
AND NOT JUST ONE.
HE’S ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, SO HOME
IS WHEREVER HE HANGS HIS HAT.
SOME BURROWS HE’LL DIG HIMSELF,
USING HIS POWERFUL FRONT CLAWS.
 TODAY GRIT GETS LUCKY AND FINDS
AN ABANDONED BURROW TO CRASH IN.
      DURING THE DAY,
AS TEMPERATURES SKYROCKET,
IT’S A COOL PLACE
TO BEAT THE HEAT.
AT NIGHT, WHEN IT DROPS
    TO 30 DEGREES,
IT’S WARM AND COZY WITHIN.
♪
THERE’S NO REST IN THE SAVANNAH.
EVERY DAY IS AS RELENTLESS
       AS THE LAST.
[SQUAWKING]
FOR TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT,
GRIT WILL NEED RESOURCEFULNESS,
RESILIENCE AND A BIT OF LUCK.
   THE HONEY BADGER HAS
A HIGH-OCTANE METABOLISM,
SO IT NEEDS TO EAT OFTEN.
 IT MIGHT DIG 50 HOLES AND COVER
A DISTANCE OF MORE THAN 25 MILES
TO MAKE ITS DAILY QUOTA.
GRIT’S READY FOR THE FIRST
       OF MANY MEALS
HE HOPES TO ENJOY TODAY.
♪
THE GROUND SCORPION MAY NOT LOOK
SO APPETIZING TO US,
BUT HONEY BADGERS JUST LOVE ’EM.
THEY’RE SMALL BUT DEADLY,
ARMED WITH FAST-ACTING
   NEUROTOXIC VENOM.
[GROWLING AND SNIFFING]
  AT FIRST, BOTH GRIT AND
THE SCORPION SEEM TENTATIVE.
[SNIFFING]
♪
THE YOUNG BADGER ISN’T QUITE
SURE WHAT HE’S DEALING WITH.
[SNARLING]
NOW HE KNOWS.
[SNARLING]
♪
HONEY BADGERS AND SCORPIONS
       HAVE COEXISTED
IN THIS ARID WASTELAND
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.
   THE BADGER HAS EVOLVED
SOME IMMUNITY TO ITS VENOM.
[GROWLING]
STILL, THESE STINGS HURT.
[CRUNCHING]
  BUT THIS HURTS
THE SCORPION MORE.
[PURRING]
   THE TASTY SNACK WILL ONLY
KEEP HIM GOING FOR A FEW HOURS.
♪
 GRIT CAN GET MOST OF THE WATER
HE NEEDS FROM THE FOOD HE EATS.
OTHERS AREN’T SO LUCKY.
 AS THE DROUGHT DRAGS ON AND
WATER VANISHES FROM THE LAND,
THERE ARE CASUALTIES.
THIS CHACMA BABOON HAD TO WANDER
FROM A WATERHOLE TO FIND FOOD.
BUT HE COULDN’T MAKE IT
     BACK IN TIME.
THIS WATERHOLE.
IT’S ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT
HAVEN’T COMPLETELY DRIED UP.
♪
     HERBIVORES COME
FROM ALL OVER THE REGION
TO SLAKE THEIR THIRST.
BUT IT’S A DANGEROUS
    PLACE TO BE.
[BELLOWING]
PREDATORS KNOW THERE WILL BE
        LOTS OF MEAT
CONCENTRATED IN ONE PLACE.
   GRIT’S HUNGRY AND THIRSTY,
BUT FIRST IT’S TIME TO WATCH...
AND LEARN.
♪
[DOGS YIPPING]
WILD DOGS.
AND THE PREY FOR WHICH THEY ARE
SUPREMELY ADAPTED:
AN ANTELOPE KNOWN AS A KUDU.
[YIPPING]
 THE PACK KNOWS THAT SOONER
OR LATER THE KUDU WILL TIRE.
[YIPPING]
THE BEST GRIT CAN HOPE FOR...
        IS LEFTOVERS.
♪
[YIPPING]
A PACK OF AFRICAN WILD DOGS
        CHASE A KUDU
TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION.
BUT THE KUDU HAS A PLAN--
THESE DOGS DON’T LIKE TO SWIM.
   BUT THE WATER
ISN’T SAFE, EITHER.
♪
    SHE’S IN HOT WATER;
THERE’S NO GOOD CHOICE HERE.
♪
♪
[SNORTING]
♪
     TRAILED BY THE CROC,
SHE HEADS FOR THE SHORE AGAIN,
AND SUDDENLY GETS AN ANGRY NIP
       FROM A HIPPO
WHOSE SPACE SHE’S INVADED.
[HIPPO GRUNTING]
IT’S A LUCKY BREAK: THE HIPPO
   SCARED OFF HER PURSUER.
[DOGS YIPPING]
BUT NOW THE DOGS ARE BACK!
♪
[DOGS BARKING]
SHE’S GOING TO NEED A MIRACLE
   TO GET OUT OF THIS ONE.
[GROWLING]
AND THEN, SHE GETS ONE...
[TRUMPETING]
IN THE FORM OF A BABY ELEPHANT.
[TRUMPETING]
FOR THE PACK, THIS COULD BE
      A LOT LESS WORK.
EXCEPT...IT’S NOT ALONE.
[TRUMPETING]
♪
[GRUMBLING]
THE GRAY GIANTS FIERCELY PROTECT
THEIR YOUNG.
[TRUMPETING]
♪
THIS MAY BE HER CHANCE TO ESCAPE
WHILE NO ONE’S LOOKING.
♪
BUT SOMEONE IS.
♪
♪
[GROWLING]
♪
[GROANING]
♪
   THE CROCODILE
TRIES TO DROWN HER.
♪
♪
AGAINST ALL ODDS,
HE LOSES HIS GRIP.
PREDATOR FAILS.
[SNORTING]
THIS TIME SHE WAS STRONG ENOUGH
TO BREAK FREE,
AND SHE LIVES ANOTHER DAY.
♪
    GRIT’S LEARNED
THAT A DRYING WATERHOLE
IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.
  HE NEEDS TO COME UP
WITH ANOTHER APPROACH.
  MAYBE PATIENCE
CAN BE HIS FRIEND.
GRIT’S DAYTIME FORAGE
   HASN’T PAID OFF,
AND NOW HE’S RUNNING ON EMPTY.
  HE NEEDS FOOD BADLY,
AND HE’S NOT GETTING IT.
 YOU DON’T NEED NIGHT VISION IF
YOU HAVE A HONEY BADGER’S NOSE.
BY SCENT ALONE HE CAN CREATE
     A 360-DEGREE IMAGE
OF THE WORLD AROUND HIM.
[SNIFFING]
HIS SENSE OF SMELL HELPS HIM
     HOME IN ON RODENTS
BURIED THREE FEET UNDERGROUND.
[SNIFFING]
NOW HE CATCHES A WHIFF
 OF SOMETHING ELSE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMETHING INTRIGUING.
SOMETHING UNFAMILIAR.
♪
AN AFRICAN CRESTED PORCUPINE.
IT COULD BE BIG TROUBLE.
BUT GRIT DOESN’T KNOW THAT.
[GRUNTING]
  PORCUPINES ARE
SUPERSIZED RODENTS,
COVERED IN SHARP QUILLS,
  SOME 20 INCHES LONG,
  WHICH THEY STAB
INTO ANY ATTACKER.
[GRUNTING]
   GRIT’S GOT A TOUGH HIDE,
BUT IT DOESN’T COVER HIS EYES.
A QUILL IN THE EYE COULD CAUSE
A WOUND THAT COULD GO SEPTIC.
[QUILLS RATTLING]
[RATTLING]
      TRUE TO FORM,
HE DOESN’T SEEM TO CARE.
BUT THE PORCUPINE DOES.
AND GRIT BEATS A HASTY RETREAT.
[GRUNTING]
♪
GRIT HAS NEVER KNOWN
THIS KIND OF HUNGER.
    HE HASN’T EATEN SINCE HIS
SCORPION BREAKFAST 16 HOURS AGO.
HE HAS TO ADJUST...
   OR RISK BECOMING ONE OF
THE DESERT’S MANY CASUALTIES.
 HE HEADS FOR THE ONE SPOT
WHERE HE MIGHT GET A MEAL.
THE WATERHOLE.
   AT NIGHT IT SEEMS LIKE
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE.
 FOR ONE THING, THE WILD DOGS
HAVE LEFT THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
[GROANING]
[SNARLING]
SOMETHING ELSE HAS CHANGED.
[BELLOWING]
A STRONG SCENT OF DEATH
 DRAWS HIM IN CLOSER.
GRIT’S STARVING AND DESPERATE.
♪
[BELLOWING]
THE CRIES OF TERROR ARE COMING
      FROM A WILDEBEEST.
IT CAME TO THE POOL
TO SLAKE ITS THIRST,
BUT GOT STUCK IN THE MUD
 AND EXHAUSTED ITSELF
TRYING TO BREAK FREE.
         THIS POOL,
WHICH WAS ONCE A LIFE-SAVER,
IS NOW A DEATH TRAP.
THE CROCODILES CAN AFFORD
      TO BE PATIENT.
  UNLIKE GRIT, THEY HAD
A LARGE MEAL THIS MORNING
AND CAN WAIT UNTIL THE ANIMAL
       IS EVEN WEAKER
BEFORE THEY MOVE IN
   FOR THE KILL.
GRIT DOESN’T HAVE THAT LUXURY,
AND IF HE’S TRAPPED IN THE SAME
MUD THAT SNARED THE WILDEBEEST,
   THEN HE, TOO,
COULD BE CROC BAIT.
 HE MUST MAKE HIS MOVE NOW
OR RISK DYING OF STARVATION.
♪
GRIT STRUGGLES TO FIND FOOD
 IN THE NAMIBIAN BADLANDS;
AND THE YOUNG HONEY BADGER’S
ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION.
HIS LAST CHANCE MAY BE
THIS DYING WILDEBEEST.
[GROANING]
BADGERS WON’T NORMALLY TACKLE
    AN ANIMAL THIS LARGE.
[BELLOWING]
THIS ISN’T A NORMAL SITUATION.
AND HE NEEDS TO MOVE QUICKLY,
 BEFORE THE CROCS
STAKE THEIR CLAIM.
♪
       HERE’S WHERE BEING
A HONEY BADGER COMES IN HANDY--
AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.
HIS STRONG, SHARP TEETH
    MAKE QUICK WORK
OF THE WILDEBEEST HIDE.
[BELLOWING]
♪
       HE CAN TEAR OFF
SEVERAL LARGE CHUNKS OF FLESH
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.
♪
THE HONEY BADGER RARELY EATS
    OFF A LIVING CARCASS
  AND WOULD NORMALLY WAIT
FOR AN ANIMAL TO DIE FIRST.
  BUT OTHER PREDATORS
WILL BE ARRIVING SOON.
IT’S TIME TO GET OUT...
  WHILE HE STILL CAN.
   LESSON LEARNED--
TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
♪
DAYS TURN INTO WEEKS, AND GRIT
 IS LEARNING NEW THINGS DAILY
ABOUT HOW TO BE A HONEY BADGER.
FINALLY, THE LONG, DRY WINTER
      DRAWS TO A CLOSE.
      THERE ARE SIGNS
THAT THE LAND IS AWAKENING.
♪
THIS SMALL, LONG-SNOUTED RODENT
IS A SENGI.
  IT EMERGES TO SNIFF OUT
SOME INSECTS FOR BREAKFAST.
♪
GRIT’S AWOKEN, TOO, AND IS OUT
FOR HIS FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY.
SO HAVE THESE AARDWOLVES.
[SNARLING]
THEY’RE NOT OFTEN OUT
   IN THE DAYTIME,
SO THIS MAY BE THE FIRST
  GRIT’S SEEN OF THEM.
[YIPPING]
THEY’RE NEITHER FOOD
  NOR COMPETITION,
SINCE THEIR DIET IS ALMOST
   EXCLUSIVELY INSECTS.
[GROWLING]
   IN OTHER WORDS,
HE’S NOT INTERESTED.
WHAT HE IS INTERESTED IN
     IS BREAKFAST...
     WHICH THESE OSTRICHES
ARE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE.
BUT ONE LESSON HE REMEMBERS
      FROM HIS MOTHER:
WHERE THERE’S A BIRD,
   THERE’S AN EGG.
[BIRD SQUAWKING]
THE GROUND IS STREWN
  WITH THE REMAINS
OF SEVERAL PLUNDERED EGGSHELLS.
    NOT MUCH LEFT HERE
FOR A HUNGRY HONEY BADGER.
BUT GRIT’S IN LUCK--
 THERE’S ONE LEFT.
    ALL HE HAS TO DO
IS BREAK OPEN THE SHELL.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
   OSTRICH EGGS ARE
THE LARGEST ON EARTH...
WEIGHING UP TO THREE POUNDS.
AND THE STRONGEST.
AND REALLY SLIPPERY.
NOT SO EASY TO CRACK...
EVEN FOR A HONEY BADGER.
HE TAKES EVERY CHANCE TO KNOCK
THE EGG INTO ROCKS AND STUMPS,
HOPING TO START A CRACK.
[GROWLING]
LOOKS LIKE HE’S MAKING PROGRESS.
[GROWLING]
[PURRING]
FINALLY.
[PURRING]
♪
MEANWHILE, DAD IS STARTING
   TO GET A BAD FEELING.
OSTRICHES MAY LOOK
  AWKWARD TO US,
BUT THEY’RE BIG AND STRONG
     AND CAN RUN FAST.
GRIT NEEDS TO MOVE.
[SLURPING]
♪
[GROWLING]
♪
HE GETS AWAY SCOT-FREE...
THIS TIME.
♪
GRIT’S CAUGHT THE SCENT
OF SOMETHING UNUSUAL--
AT LEAST TO HIM.
SOMETHING WORTH TRACKING DOWN.
[SNIFFING]
    IT’S NOT FOOD.
THAT MUCH HE’S SURE OF.
[SNIFFING]
IT’S A FEMALE.
[SNIFFING]
SHE’S A BIT LONG IN THE TOOTH,
BUT TO GRIT, SHE’S A SIGHT
      FOR SORE EYES.
HE MAKES NO SECRET
OF HIS INTENTIONS.
BUT WILL SHE HAVE HIM?
♪
[SNIFFING]
NOW, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING
        DEVELOPMENT.
♪
SUDDENLY, A FAMOUSLY SOLITARY
CREATURE IS NOT SO SOLITARY.
♪
THEY TEAM UP TO FORM
  A HUNTING PARTY.
SPRING TURNS THE WASTELAND
      INTO PARADISE.
AROUND EVERY CORNER
 IS A NEW RESOURCE
FOR THE RAIDERS TO COLLECT.
[PURRING]
THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH THE FAMINE,
AND NOW IT’S TIME TO FEAST.
[GROWLING]
[GROWLING]
[PURRING]
TODAY THEY’LL HUNT TOGETHER.
TONIGHT...WE’LL SEE.
♪
THEIR TIME TOGETHER IS BRIEF.
♪
[PURRING]
♪
HONEY BADGERS ARE THE OPPOSITE
        OF MONOGAMOUS.
THEY QUICKLY PART WAYS.
[SNORING]
  MALES TAKE NO PART
IN REARING THE YOUNG.
GRIT HEADS OFF UNSENTIMENTALLY
   TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.
HE WON’T SEE THE FEMALE AGAIN.
     HE’S BECOMING
A TALENTED SCAVENGER...
  AND GETTING TO BE A PRETTY
ACCOMPLISHED PREDATOR AS WELL.
       HIS WORLD
IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING,
  BRINGING WITH IT
NEW OPPORTUNITIES...
AND NEW CHALLENGES.
    HE’S SURVIVED
THE DRY SEASON ALONE,
BUT THERE ARE TWO MORE THINGS
EVERY YOUNG HONEY BADGER
    MUST LEARN TO DO.
 THE FIRST: TRACK DOWN
THE PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE
THAT GIVES THEM THEIR NAME.
LIQUID GOLD.
HONEY.
THE HONEY BADGER GOT ITS NAME
  FROM ITS TASTE FOR HONEY,
AND IT’S ONE OF THE FEW ANIMALS
CAPABLE OF BREAKING
  INTO A BEEHIVE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME GRIT’S
TRIED TO LIVE UP TO HIS NAME.
 BUT IT MAY NOT GO
EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
     AFRICAN HONEY BEES
HAVE SLAVED AWAY FOR MONTHS
COLLECTING POLLEN
 FOR THEIR QUEEN,
AND NOW THEIR JOB IS TO PROTECT
THE PRECIOUS HIVE,
DEFENDING IT TO THE DEATH.
GRIT’S DEFINITELY BRAVE,
   BUT HE’S NOT IMMUNE
      TO THE STINGS
OF THESE INFURIATED BEES.
[BUZZING]
     HIS THICK FUR COAT
IS THE PERFECT STING BARRIER,
    BUT HIS FACE
IS STILL VULNERABLE.
[SQUAWKS]
STILL, NOW THAT HE’S HAD
    A TASTE OF HONEY,
HE KNOWS IT’S WORTH THE PAIN.
[BUZZING]
THE HONEY IS A RICH SOURCE
       OF CALORIES,
 AND SINCE HE SWALLOWS HUNDREDS
OF BEE LARVAE AT THE SAME TIME,
    GRIT ALSO INGESTS
A LOT OF QUALITY PROTEIN.
BUT EVEN A HONEY BADGER
CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH.
TOO MANY STINGS COULD KILL HIM.
[BUZZING]
HE CALLS IT QUITS
WHILE HE’S AHEAD.
[BUZZING]
♪
        IT’S SUMMER IN
THE CENTRAL NAMIBIAN SAVANNAH.
[THUNDER]
    SLOWLY BUT STEADILY,
GRIT IS ACQUIRING EXPERIENCE,
  AND WITH EACH NEW EXPERIENCE
HIS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL IMPROVE.
HE’S NO LONGER THE HONEY BADGER
THAT SET OUT ON A JOURNEY
 TO SURVIVE ON HIS OWN.
AND THIS IS HIS FIRST
 RAINY SEASON ALONE.
♪
THE RAINS BRING NEW LIFE.
 THEY ALSO SIGNAL THE START
OF THE SNAKE BREEDING SEASON,
   WHEN THEY ALL COME OUT OF
HIBERNATION IN SEARCH OF MATES.
THERE ARE OVER 80 DIFFERENT
   SPECIES OF SNAKE HERE,
  BUT FOR A HONEY BADGER,
A MOLE SNAKE IS A DELICACY.
IT’S A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.
    IT CAN GROW TO BE
MORE THAN SIX FEET LONG.
 THE MOLE SNAKE ISN’T VENOMOUS,
BUT IT’S A POWERFUL CONSTRICTOR
  AND CAN INFLICT
PAINFUL BITE WOUNDS
    THAT CAN BE FATAL
IF THEY BECOME INFECTED.
    GRIT’S LEARNED A LOT,
BUT THIS IS HIS ULTIMATE TEST.
♪
[SNARLING]
THE SNAKE TARGETS THE HEAD,
  THE BADGER’S WEAK SPOT.
♪
BUT WHERE ANOTHER ANIMAL MIGHT
 RUN OFF TO FIND EASIER PREY,
THIS IS A HONEY BADGER.
NOTHING SCARES HIM.
HE KEEPS ON COMING.
[HISSING]
[GROWLING]
[CRUNCH]
♪
[SNARLING]
♪
[GROWLING]
♪
THE SNAKE TRIES TO RUN,
 BUT ONCE THE HONEY BADGER
HAS LOCKED ONTO ITS TARGET,
IT DOESN’T BACK DOWN.
♪
[SNARLING]
♪
[GROWLING]
♪
[CRUNCHING]
♪
[GROWLING]
   ONCE THE BADGER IMMOBILIZES
THE SNAKES JAWS, IT’S GAME OVER.
♪
  GRIT’S MADE IT THROUGH
HIS FIRST SIX MONTHS ALONE
AND FOUND A TERRITORY
     OF HIS OWN.
NOT EVERY HONEY BADGER DOES.
HE’S LEARNED TO SURVIVE...
       BY SURVIVING.
♪
HIS OFFSPRING WILL FACE
   THE SAME HURDLES
AND HAVE THE SAME CHANCES.
WHILE THE SUMMER LASTS,
HE’LL CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT HE DOES BEST--
BE A HONEY BADGER--
    AND PREPARE HIMSELF
FOR THE LONG WINTER AHEAD.
