Zèbre : l'animal le plus intelligent de la savane ? 🦓💡 - Documentaire animalier - AMP

This time things are looking really bad. The wild dogs are only a few meters away and they're famished. The pack scrutinizes the small group selecting its next victim but the dog's focus is now directed away from the group and that's where they launch their attack. In the end it's a wildebeest rather than a zebra because it's larger or rather because it's on its own. The old zebra then begins to wonder if his luck will last forever. Luck had smiled on him since the day he was born. He had been born safe and sound. Also because he was the second foal of a mare with experience as a mother. His birth had tired her. This can be seen in her drab mane but she fulfilled her two essential duties properly to nourish her offspring and to protect him from any animal who came too close. That day looking for a peaceful place to rest the mother and baby wandered a little further off. They moved a few dozen meters away, no more, in order to remain within sight of their little group. The mother wanted to rest for a while to have a moment's respite from guarding her foal but she soon had to get up and rescue him from the curiosity of a young male. The lucky zebra and his mother lived in a family of about a dozen individuals or more precisely in a harem. Four or five females and their young offspring of varying ages, all of whom have the same father. Another chance for the lucky zebra. He had been born into the right family. His father, the master of the harem, was both serious and watchful. The lucky zebra and his mother remained at a slight distance from the others but only for a few days. The time needed to recognize and memorize each other's odor and their stripes. At that time any contact with other individuals could confuse them. The colors of the leaves on the hills indicate that the dry season has come to stay. But there is at least one advantage to the dry season. Visibility is better and predators can be seen at a greater distance. For the lucky zebra and his family, lions are the greatest threat. But here conditions are more favorable. All year round the group finds enough to eat here in this area of about a hundred square kilometers. So the group doesn't need to undertake dangerous and exhausting seasonal migrations. They form into a small column and move off towards the watering hole. A timeless mid-morning ritual. There's no real hierarchy in the column. The places are chosen according to the animal's affinities. There is only one constant. The stallion always brings up the rear and the father of the lucky zebra makes sure that every animal follows. There is only a single watering hole in a radius of about 10 kilometers. So it's very crowded. The lucky zebra's group meets up with about 15 other harems here. Quite a gathering of many small families. But these families have nothing to do with each other. More than ever the lucky zebra remains glued to his mother's side. If he were to wander off in this crowd, he would then never know who to follow. The mothers are often very authoritative with their youngsters. As quickly as it had formed, this temporary herd disperses. As soon as they have quenched their thirst, the zebras leave as they came. In family groups. The watering hole is the vital hub of an area occupied by the several hundred zebras who live within a radius of a dozen or so kilometers. When the family groups disperse, they take as many directions as there are harems. Lucky zebra's group, one of the last groups to arrive, is thus one of the last to leave. Today like any other, just ordinary routine. But things can change drastically at any moment. Fate hangs by a thread. Just a moment of inattention is enough. Zebras and wildebeest often mingle while eating or drinking. So it's not uncommon to see a foal among these large antelopes. Except that this one is all alone. It's unaware that the other zebras have left. And its chances of ever finding its harem are very slim indeed. With its badly striped coat, this poor animal was born under a bad sign. When it finally decides to leave the wildebeest and look for its own herd, it's all alone. Apart from a few oxpeckers that groom its coat. At this very moment, the lucky zebra is blissfully untroubled. He is well guarded and properly integrated into his group. So when the harem moves off, he often leads the way. The foal is curious. He is constantly active, constantly alert. He has a lot to learn about the conduct and often puzzling behavior of his kind. One thing is clear. Zebras love contact. They cling to each other. They push each other. They become one. Physical contact is a language. Apart from the lucky zebra who remains with his mother, the other members of the harem often huddle together and form a small compact group. All appears quiet and peaceful. But suddenly, havoc breaks loose. The running wildebeest are merely playing, but it acts as a catalyst for the zebras who in turn begin to dash about madly. The atmosphere is electric. The males show signs of nervousness, but they remain in a cohesive group. They're confronted with an event that's rather common amongst zebras, the arrival of an outsider in the harem. The newcomer's intentions are unmistakable. He's come in search of a mate. The stallion keeps his eye on the intruder who moves from mare to mare. As master of the harem, the father of the lucky zebra will surely intervene. The youngster and his mother are mere spectators. When zebras fight, they first try to bite their opponent's head or neck. This can inflict wounds, but the strategy is rarely decisive. So they engage in close combat. They often wrestle curiously close to the ground. It's a means of mutually avoiding the use of their hooves. Very dangerous weapons indeed. These encounters are usually shows of force without any real danger, but with a sufficient display of dominance so as to clearly define a winner. For the first four months of his life, the lucky zebra had not yet experienced death. Apart from that, both ordinary and inconspicuous, of birds and other small animals. At 10 meters above his head, the sight of a guinea fowl being devoured by a pair of tawny eagles is rather abstract reality for a young zebra. Early mornings are dangerous. Nights are long, attention weakens, and there are still predators roaming about. As long as the lucky zebra remains within the group, a lone hyena is not much of a threat. This one returns to its den. She's going back to her family, other females and their offspring. But when these pups grow up and start to hunt together as a clan, it would be best for the lucky zebra and his group not to be in the vicinity. After lions, hyenas are the second major predators of zebras, who are quite fortunate. Along with wild dogs and crocodiles, zebras only have four types of predators to fear. It's rather rare for leopards or cheetahs to go after zebras, as they prefer to hunt gazelles. The lucky zebra was nearly five months old when, for the very first time, he witnessed one of his own species killed. Fortunately, it was not a member of his own group. Gusts of wind in the leaves and in the tall grass herald a change of season. Wind is not favorable to the quarry. Predators often approach from downwind so that the air carries their odor away from the prey. Zebras rely heavily on their eyesight. They position themselves in opposite directions so as to have maximal visual control over the area. The lucky zebra is no longer the youngest member of the group. One of the mares has given birth to a new foal. The lucky zebra is now six months old and he is elated by the feeling of the wind in his mane. It's a new sensation. He remains very attentive to his father's behavior. Always mindful for his group, the stallion makes the right decisions. The first rains have fallen and watering holes are plentiful. So why choose a place where warthogs wallow? And yet the wildebeest have chosen to drink rather dirty water from a small hole. The lucky zebra's group arrives next. They could have chosen a riverbank with cleaner water. There's plenty of it all around. Yet in spite of its appearance, this pool is a very wise choice. It's safely located on open ground. And as the water isn't very deep, surprise attacks by crocodiles are an impossibility. With time, the lucky zebra learns that survival on the savannah is not merely a matter of chance. For example, there is a basic rule. Never linger at a watering hole. It's mid-morning and the group sets out to find a good place to eat. It's a familiar route. They've taken it hundreds of times without a single mishap. But today, lionesses lay in wait. Yet once again, fate has smiled upon them. It seems that the lionesses have no intention of attacking them. The group continues on its way towards an area of tall grass. It's a real treat for the zebras. When conditions are this good, they spend only 60% of their time eating. But much more when resources are less abundant. The lucky zebra is now nearly a year old. He'll soon be as tall as his mother, yet to whom he remains very close. He has learned a lot. He can now distinguish the impalas' warning cries from their mating calls. The lucky zebra is rather serious and always prudent. He's a pretty stable individual. He's careful, friendly, and well-behaved. Essential qualities necessary for a long life on the savannah. He will live more than three years without any trouble. There will be several hundred mornings. There will be several mating seasons. And then the time of births will be here again. He will know the hardships of the dry season before the return of the rains, which bring out the millipedes. He will see the acacia branches bud several times, when it will once again be the season of flowers and insects. Always the same, yet always different. For the zebras and other animals, each day is much like another. It's the vegetation, the very state of the vegetation, that sets the pace of life for the lucky zebra and for the harem. There have been births. There have been encounters. Emotions. Even panic. And there was tragedy. One of the mares, the lucky zebra's aunt, was killed at the watering hole that was thought to be so safe. But then one day, the lucky zebra left the group. He left alone, under the attentive eyes of his mother and his youngest brother. This is the fate of all males. When they become adults, they can no longer remain in the harem into which they were born. It's a drastic change. A veritable rupture. And the lucky zebra is alone for the first time in his life. It's a situation that seems to be against nature. It's extremely dangerous for a zebra to be alone. When he sees this female and her offspring, he is not tempted to approach them. He has but one goal. To find one or more bachelors like himself. They will wait together. Wait for the time when they're mature enough to become fathers themselves. If the lucky zebra were to approach, he'd see that the baby in the distance was a badly striped foal. This takes him a few years back in time. Five years to be precise, when he too had a woolly coat. When he was vulnerable and totally dependent on his mother's attention. The lucky zebra now leads an entirely different kind of life. The harem used to be his whole world, and his fellow zebras were his sole reference. Now, he relies on observing others for his safety. At the watering hole, a rhinoceros acts as a scout. As the zebra no longer has any siblings to sound an alert, he must now rely on the escape of a kudu or a flight of birds. For the lucky zebra, the savannah has become a large and worrying world. Hiding behind every bush or tree, danger lurks everywhere. Here, a leopard is devouring a gazelle. So the zebra has nothing to fear. He can continue on his way. But which road should he take? For each leads to a different destiny. At the end of either, there will be encounters, good ones and bad, who can say? The lucky zebra follows his lucky star. A good choice. Taking this road will put an end to his loneliness. He has found a new friend. A male giraffe, also wandering on his own. For a few weeks, they're inseparable. Walking in this giant's footsteps, the lucky zebra makes use of the giraffe's height. He now has his own official watchtower. The lucky zebra may not have yet found the social life that he was looking for, but at least he can eat in security. A few weeks later, while still in the giraffe's company, an important thing happens. Some zebras show up. Single males like himself. It's a time to separate from the giraffe. These are the real companions that the lucky zebra had been waiting for. But first, he has to be accepted by their little group. And as he has all the makings of a good friend, they let him into their fold. From that day on, these four bachelors are inseparable. For the lucky zebra, everything has changed. His daily routine is less stressful, and his life is easier. The oldest of the four zebras has a slight infirmity. Three years ago, an incredible incident occurred. He could have lost his life, not just the tip of an ear. On that nearly fatal day, a large crowd had gathered around the watering hole, and all witnessed something they'd never forget. A crocodile had grabbed the zebra by the ear, and was pulling him down into deep water. Just as the croc was trying to get a better grip, the zebra broke free. The zebra with the bitten ear often leads the little group of four. Together, they roam the savanna. Inseparable, they almost never stray far away from one another. Groups of single males are common, but it's rare to find such intense bonding. The four inseparable zebras are rambunctious and lively. When they see another group of bachelors, they amuse themselves by wreaking bonding through intimacy and close contact. Such tactile expressions are rarely found in other species. This period was probably the happiest time in the lucky zebra's long life, but it was too good to last. One day, for no apparent reason at all, one of the four left forever, without ever looking back. And that was the end of the group, the end of an era. Now that there were only three of them, things just weren't the same. They had lost their love for mischief and galloping about. Whenever they met up with a new group, they looked eagerly for a zebra with a bitten ear, for it was he who had left the group. The lucky zebra had seen hundreds of other zebras pass by, but he had never found his missing friend. The departure of the zebra with the bitten ear was a sign. The time had come for the lucky zebra to assume his responsibilities. So he too left, but with a very clear purpose, to find a mate and start his own harem. There aren't all that many ways of doing this. He has to steal a female from another group, from a harem like this one, with a stallion, a few females and their foals. But this group is on the far side of the river and can't be reached. A little later, he comes across another group. But once again, it's no good for him. It's a group of single males. Finally, the next day, the lucky zebra meets up with a quiet-looking little harem. Apart from a young stallion, there are four mares and a large foal. The lucky zebra decides to give it a try and steal one of the mares. So he starts following them. He gets closer and closer to the group, but just as he tries to mix in with it, the young stallion, who'd been watching from behind, blocks his way. The stallion is slightly smaller than the lucky zebra, but he's determined not to let an intruder anywhere near his females. Without a fight, without even trying, the lucky zebra watches the group wander off. He had been rather too shy in his approach, a little uncertain of what might have happened if he'd started to fight. He would have to be patient and accept the solitude that was beginning to weigh so heavily upon him. But he knows the proper code of conduct. For the time being, he'll still have to rely on the vigilance of other species. The lucky zebra was tired of this way of living, but if he really wanted a harem of his own, then he'd have to take a few risks. He had no excuse. He was old enough. The first years of his life had been without mishap. Why should his luck leave him now? He was soon able to put it to the test. One morning, the lucky zebra wandered into a meadow where a lot of other zebras were grazing. He mixed freely with them. They took little notice of him, as they were too busy eating. There are about a hundred individuals, a good dozen harems. It's a little like the watering hole. They congregate here for a very good reason, for here they have plenty to eat. The lucky zebra is no exception, but he doesn't lose sight of his real goal, and he sneaks up to a female. This move is observed by a young stallion, but he takes no action as the mare is not in his harem. The lucky zebra continues to look for a companion that suits him and will accept him, but the stallions are on the lookout and he is unceremoniously chased away. This time, however, he makes a stand. There's no way he's going to give up without a fight, if only to test himself. But after one last kick, the lucky zebra finally has to give up. Fortunately, he comes out of the fight unscathed. He has escaped the humiliation that this one suffered and who is condemned to live the rest of his life with a severed tail. But now his mind is made up. The lucky zebra is ready to face the most protective stallions, and yet he'd rather not tempt fate too soon. He will attempt to attain his goal, as is his habit, with cautious subtlety, almost as if he were counting on his charm. And finally, his dream comes true. Just as he's moving away from the center of the group, a young female advances and joins him. Before long, she's following after him. And a few minutes later, as if nothing has happened, they discreetly leave together. The lucky zebra has finally made a conquest, and without any fuss or bother. They form a solid couple. The lucky zebra and his companion lead a peaceful life. They never stray very far from each other. They spend an enormous amount of their time eating, much more than antelopes of the same size. Zebras don't ruminate and therefore get less energy from their food. Months and months go by. Not only has the couple survived this difficult period, but the family has grown. After 385 days of gestation, the lucky zebra's mate gives birth to a little female. The delivery went smoothly. The foal is in good health, and the young mare is a good mother. Is this too much good luck for one single individual? But the new father is doing everything he can to remain under his lucky star. Nightfall is the beginning of the dangerous time for the foal. The lucky zebra has his own strategy against predators. He wanders down into the hollows between the hills where the elephants roam. Elephants hate lions, so lions avoid the areas that elephants frequent. And so the place becomes almost safe for the zebra family. In the morning, the elephants leave for other pastures. The lucky zebra's young family can count on daddy's vigilance. Looking after a single female and her foal already demands a lot of attention and care. So just imagine the stress of looking after a large harem. With impalas, for example, one territorial male guards over 50 females. The male has to ensure that the females remain grouped together and that they do not wander off. It's a full-time job. That's why the lucky zebra decides that to be happy, it's best to limit his ambitions to a small-sized harem. The returning clouds and storms announce a new rainy season. Each season has its advantages and disadvantages. With the rains, the grass grows tall and is very nutritious. But there are also many bugs and parasites. And the lush vegetation also limits visibility. The lucky zebra's companion stays closer than ever to her baby. The father eats close by. He can be proud of his offspring. The foal has a beautiful mane. The family leads a peaceful life. They have no problems finding food or water. And ox pickers take care of the parasites in their coats. But there's always the problem of predators. But so far, so good. There's no reason why his luck should fail them now. But the lucky zebra begins to get bored. The little foal, who has grown up now, is still very close to her mother. And the father feels a little left out. Mother and daughter spend all their time together. Not only do they de-louse each other, but even though she's almost a year old, the daughter is still suckling. The lucky zebra feels excluded from their close relationship. He is still young and strong. What he needs is a little excitement. So he decides to take off in search of a second female. After walking for barely a day, he comes across another harem. The stallion is busy fighting the single males in his own group. So the lucky zebra can easily approach the harem unobserved. The fight between the group's males drags on. The lucky zebra manages to slip into the harem as if he belonged to it. The stallion has galloped rather far off. So the lucky zebra takes advantage of the situation and absconds with one of the females. The lucky zebra ultimately gives up on his idea of a small harem. Three times he has gone off and three times he has returned with a new female. And then comes the day when he has enough females, enough offspring. His harem is complete. The stallion is now more than 20 years old. He's coming to the end of his life. He is respected. He is admired. Despite his age, he is still handsome. His good luck would never leave him. And one day, the lucky zebra would die of old age.