The passage describes a documentary showcasing the lives of various wild animals, including lions, meerkats, tigers, and hippos. The documentary features "spy" animals, which are robotic replicas designed to blend in with the real animals and capture intimate footage.
The documentary begins with a pride of lionesses that mistakenly attack one of their own males, thinking he's an outsider. The scene then shifts to a group of meerkats that work together to defend their colony against a snake, which is later revealed to be a robotic "spy snake."
The documentary then focuses on a litter of 10-day-old tiger cubs, which are unusually adventurous and playful. The mother tiger must learn to care for them, and the documentary captures intimate moments of their interactions.
The passage also features a wild orangutan that uses a saw to cut branches, demonstrating its intelligence and adaptability. A robotic "spy orangutan" is introduced, which seems to bring out a competitive streak in the real orangutan.
The documentary also showcases hippos, which are territorial and social creatures. A robotic "spy hippo" is used to capture footage of the hippos underwater, where they are seen interacting with fish that clean their skin and provide dental hygiene.
Here are the extracted facts:
1. Male lions from other prides will kill cubs.
2. Lionesses work together to protect their cubs.
3. Lionesses are usually aggressive when introducing their cubs to the pride's male lion.
4. Lion cubs are usually a few weeks old before their mother introduces them to their father.
5. Lion cubs are mesmerized by the male lion, despite his size.
6. Lion cubs are born after a gestation period, but the exact length is not specified in the text.
7. Lionesses usually give birth to 2-3 cubs, but sometimes have more.
8. The sex ratio of newborn lion cubs is usually equal.
9. Lion cubs are vulnerable to predators and many dangers, and it is rare for all cubs in a litter to reach maturity.
10. Lionesses use a contact cry to keep track of their cubs.
11. Lion cubs can make a "contact cry" to ensure their mother doesn't forget them.
12. Wild lion cubs as young as 10 days old have never been filmed before.
13. Lion cubs usually hide in their dens for the first six weeks of life.
14. Lion cubs' eyes open at around 10 days old, but they won't see clearly for another six weeks.
15. Tigers must pick up their cubs by the scruff of the neck to avoid hurting them.
16. Tigers can bite with a force of nearly 500 kg.
17. Orangutans have an opposable thumb that allows them to grasp and handle objects with precision.
18. Orangutans can use tools, such as saws, to accomplish tasks.
19. Orangutans can be competitive and enthusiastic when using tools.
20. Hippos are social creatures but also territorial.
21. Hippos spend much of their time below the surface of the water.
22. Hippos walk underwater rather than swim.
23. Fish, such as barbs, feed on the riverbed but also show around hippos.
24. Hippos have skin that is prone to cuts and scratches, which can become infected or invaded by parasites.
25. Fish, such as barbs, provide an underwater "clinic" for hippos, cleaning their skin and even providing dental hygiene.