Africa's Strangest Partnership | Wildlife Documentary

[00:00:00]Even when the mongoose family hides deep inside an old termite mound, they still cannot enjoy a peaceful morning.

[00:00:07]>> [music] >> Their long-time companion, the H hornbill, is more reliable than any alarm [music] clock.

[00:00:14]Every morning, it calls the entire group out for breakfast.

[00:00:18]>> [music] >> During the colder months, the mongoose would rather curl up and keep sleeping.

[00:00:29]But, the H hornbill [music] knows exactly how to end that dream.

[00:00:36]It begins tossing dirt straight into the entrance.

[00:00:44]Eventually, the sleepy mongooses have no choice [music] but to poke their tired faces outside.

[00:00:51]Mongoose have their own rhythm.

[00:00:53]>> [music] >> They groom themselves, warm, sunbathe.

[00:01:05]Before leaving, the mongoose perform a strange handstand while scent marking their [music] territory.

[00:01:12]They may leave their scent at a greater height, making intruders believe [music] a much larger animal lives here.

[00:01:20]Mongoose also possess an extremely powerful sense of smell. They can detect prey hidden beneath the soil.

[00:01:27]>> [music] >> They can detect prey hidden beneath the soil.

[00:01:34]>> [music] >> Mongoose are among the most venom-resistant animals in the African savanna.

[00:01:42]Scorpions, venomous spiders, and large insects are all valuable meals.

[00:01:49]Whenever the mongoose begin digging, the hornbill takes advantage of the disturbance.

[00:02:06]>> At first, this may look like [music] nothing more than opportunistic stealing.

[00:02:11]But it is actually a highly effective feeding [music] strategy.

[00:02:18]The hornbill uses the mongoose as a moving hunting team.

[00:02:25]Turning their feeding grounds into [music] its own mobile dining table.

[00:02:32]>> [music] >> The mongoose rarely care about losing a few small prey items.

[00:02:40]Because the service the hornbill provides is far more valuable.

[00:02:47]Constantly [music] scan the ground and the sky above.

[00:02:52]>> [music] >> High overhead, the martial eagle silently circles.

[00:03:00]The moment the hornbill detects danger, rapid calls and strong wing beats fill the air.

[00:03:07]The mongoose [music] stop feeding and listens.

[00:03:14]The [music] entire group races toward the nearest termite mound.

[00:03:23]>> [music] >> This is the greatest advantage of having a lookout above.

[00:03:29]>> [music] >> The mongoose cannot see very far.

[00:03:32]But the hornbill can.

[00:03:35]>> [music] >> At first, the large animal appears threatening.

[00:03:43]But the dominant mongoose soon recognizes a familiar visitor.

[00:03:50]Immediately, the mongoose rush out of the termite mound.

[00:04:01]What interests [music] them is not the warthog itself. It is the tiny creatures living on its body.

[00:04:08]Warthogs regularly roll in mud.

[00:04:16]The mud helps cool their bodies and protects their skin from the sun.

[00:04:21]>> [music] >> For the warthog, these parasites [music] are a constant burden.

[00:04:30]For the mongoose, they are a nutritious meal.

[00:04:34]>> [music] >> The animals quickly climb onto the warthog's shoulders, back, [music] and neck.

[00:04:45]Then they carefully remove the ticks with [music] their sharp teeth.

[00:04:52]The relationship [music] between the striped mongoose and the southern yellow-billed hornbill >> [music] >> is no exception.

[00:05:00]Across the African savanna, many animals have learned to take advantage [music] of each other's presence.

[00:05:06]The animals quickly climb onto the warthog's shoulders, back, [music] and neck.

[00:05:13]The mongoose helps stir up the ground, exposing insects [music] and small animals that the hornbill would have difficulty finding [music] on its own.

[00:05:28]In return, the hornbill's skyward gazing eyes often detect danger before the mongooses do.

[00:05:35]The day of foraging ends.

[00:05:42]Tomorrow, they will start again from the same place.

[00:05:51]And perhaps the strength to survive doesn't come from being the strongest, but from knowing when to rely on each other.