Built for the Kill
- Title: Built for the Kill
- Duration: 16 х 60’
- Producer: USA
- Year: 2008
National Geographic Channel Collection
This unique series is a fascinating second-by-second deconstruction of the kill that illuminates the complex processes of hunting and survival in the wild. From the jungle's big cats to the garden spider, these creatures have learned to survive by outrunning or outwitting their prey and by using some of nature's cleverest and most deadly tools.
Some have developed the speed and dexterity for the chase: a golden eagle swoops in for the kill at breakneck speed, just as a penguin dives deep below the surface, tucking in its feathers for minimum resistance against the water.
Less speedy animals have developed the skills to lure their prey to them. Take the crab spider, perfectly camouflaged on a leaf, camping out and ready to ambush his unlucky insect dinner. But the killer instinct lurks in the unlikeliest of places. Even the exotic venus fly trap plant - an unlikely carnivore - has developed a taste for beetle juice. Meanwhile the rattlesnake silently lifts its head in the shadows, using stealth as its deadly weapon, waiting for the right moment to sink its teeth into an unsuspecting rat.
Other creatures have bulked-up bodies to enhance their own fighting skills. Beetles and ants carry around their solid outer shield for protection and these macro gladiators can draw swords for battle. And then there’s poison. One of nature’s most feared weapons. In one poison dart-frog, there is enough venom to kill ten human beings, and like all poisonous creatures they know when to use it.
So different in shapes and sizes, all these creatures have one thing in common - they are built for the kill.
Episodes
Episode 1. Ambush
Ambush predators are the snipers of the animal kingdom, cryptic killers who are waiting to pounce and destroy from their lairs. Animals as varied as the pike, cayman and African Rock Python are superbly designed to stalk, wait and pounce. Some predators have evolved amazing camouflage to enhance their ambush tactics.Patience, followed by astonishing speed and accuracy to deliver the deathblow are what makes these solitary stalkers Built For the Kill.
Episode 2. Cold
Wind whips across the ice-clad landscapes. Freezing hail and sleet scream across the snow swept plains and mountain tops. While life huddles into hidden burrows for warmth and safety, killers of the cold lurk. To hunt and kill during the menacing grip of winter demands extreme adaptations. Formidable Polar Bears, talon-charged eagles and wily coyotes are among the predators that haunt these hostile climes. Ice choked polar waters conceal other killers - giant mouthed bowheads and the mysterious belugas. Kitted out to survive, these predators are ready to pounce, dive and claw their way to kill in the cold.
Episode 3. Coral Reef
The marine environment of the coral reef may seem like a tranquil place of colour and life, but it is a hunting ground where creatures fight a deadly battle for survival. And each has evolved to either kill or avoid being killed. From the slow-moving world of the sea stars to the superfast ambush predator, the great barracuda, or the escape techniques of the octopus, the sheer variety of predator-prey relationships of the coral reef is astounding.
Episode 4. Desert
From the heat-seeking rattlesnake to the rattler's nemesis, the roadrunner, see how the desert is home to extraordinary predators and prey. Witness incredible life-or-death interactions between desert creatures including owls, mice, coyotes and more as they fight for survival in dramatic second-by-second accounts of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 5. Forest
At times, it can be an advantage to be an opportunist, ready to search for food anywhere and to eat anything. Animals like the raccoon, a non-specialist hunter, are not particularly good at catching any prey item, but are nevertheless very successful. Goshawks are amongst the most elegant and well-equipped forest hunters - they are sharp-sighted and fast predators ready to drive their deadly talons deep into their prey before killing it with a sharp blow to the head. But some of the most feared forest predators are large constrictor snakes like Indian pythons and Boa constrictors. Following their prey's scent, they slither up to within striking distance and once caught, there is no way out for the hunted. Snakes' bodies are so strong that they literally squeeze the air out of their victims' lungs before swallowing them whole. All these animals have evolved into successful predators as they were built for the kill in forests.
Episode 6. Grassland
From the speed of the cheetah, the fastest land animal on earth, to the specialized hunting skills of the aardvark, the animals of the African grasslands have evolved diverse methods of hunting prey in one of the world’s most challenging environments. Featuring animals such as the leopard who hunts alone and the rare hunting dog which knows that there is safety in numbers, “Built for the Kill – Grassland” presents a portrait of a habitat where everything from termites to lions is fighting for survival.
Episode 7. Hidden
From the bizarre camouflage of a Sargasso frogfish to the colour-changing antics of the boneless octopus and the ingenious traps of some killer-plants, see how hiding makes the difference between life and death. Predators and prey are locked into an eternal game of hide and seek - those that succeed are hidden specialists. The sheer variety of hiding techniques is baffling and mind-blowing, while killers that use hidden traps or ways of confusing prey to take their mind away from potential danger are no less exceptional.
Episode 8. Island
The earth's oceans are dotted with islands from tiny sand covered atolls to the vast continent of Australia. Being surrounded by water means that sometimes the animals that live on them evolve in strange ways or develop unique hunting methods. See amazing animal behaviour from the Galapagos finches who've earned the nickname "vampire finches" from their habit of drinking the blood of other birds, to the Santa Catalina Rattlesnake which has developed into a successful hunter by losing the rattle that's given it its name.
Episode 9. Miniature
Size doesn't matter when it comes to killers in the natural world. Spiders use webs to trap their victims, then using their potent venom, they slowly digest their prey. Witness the incredible life-or-death interactions between creatures of the miniature world in dramatic second-by-second analyses of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 10. Night
Every night the sun sets, plunging our world into pitch-blackness. The day shift retreats to find safe places to sleep the night away. And from the murky shadows emerge the creatures of the night. Ambush hunting cats, echolocating bats, super-sensitive owls, crushing boa constrictors and brutal jackals are among the bigger characters. But on a smaller scale, venom-laden scorpions patrol the desert at night and the spiky lionfish and deadly box jellyfish lurk in the dark ocean depths. Operating by star and moonlight they creep in silence masked by inky blackness, waiting to pounce from the shadows.
Episode 11. Ocean
From the amazing speed of the striped marlin, a master tactician of the ocean, to the coordinated cunning and power of the killer whale, the battles between predator and prey in the world's oceans are some of the most unusual on earth. Witness how the ocean is home to many animals who are "built for the kill," as they fight for survival beneath the waves in dramatic second-by-second analysis of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 12. Poison
Poison from the skin of some poison dart frogs could kill 20,000 mice. Spider hunter wasps deliver a paralytic venom into their victims to lay their eggs on them for a slow, grisly death. Venomous snakes like Gaboon vipers, coral snakes and cobras come equipped with complex venom injection fangs, razor sharp and designed to deliver venom to take down their prey. And box jellyfish possess harpoon-like capsules laden with some of the fastest heart-stopping toxins in the world. Get up close and personal with some animals that carry a deadly payload, and are always Built For the Kill.
Episode 13. Rainforest
Nowhere else on earth contains a greater variety of plants and animals. Predators and prey are everywhere, but catching sight of them in the rain forest is not easy. Hidden by the trees and shadows, ambush, stealth and surprise are the best weapons of attack. The Jaguar, Giant tarantula and the Fer de Lance are masters of this art. You can't drop your guard for an instant as an ambush may come from any direction. To survive in the Amazon rain forest, you’ve got to be built for the kill.
Episode 14. Swamp
From the power of the alligator to the disguise of the snapping turtle, see how the swamps are home to some extraordinary predators and prey. Witness how the conditions of the swamps have honed the hunting skills of the water scorpion, the deadly accuracy of the egret, and more, as they fight for survival in dramatic second-by-second analysis of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 15. River
Water is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It has the power to shape our world - carving out huge canyons, bringing life to parched deserts. The animals which live in, on and over the earth's rivers are some of nature's most specialized killers. See some amazing predator behavior from the shooting ability of the Archer Fish to the speed and size of the Giant Otter.
Episode 16. Chase
The chase is a deadly contest between predator and prey. It can be as brief as a second, or go on for hours. It all depends on who you are, and what you're chasing.
Episode 1. Ambush
Ambush predators are the snipers of the animal kingdom, cryptic killers who are waiting to pounce and destroy from their lairs. Animals as varied as the pike, cayman and African Rock Python are superbly designed to stalk, wait and pounce. Some predators have evolved amazing camouflage to enhance their ambush tactics.Patience, followed by astonishing speed and accuracy to deliver the deathblow are what makes these solitary stalkers Built For the Kill.
Episode 2. Cold
Wind whips across the ice-clad landscapes. Freezing hail and sleet scream across the snow swept plains and mountain tops. While life huddles into hidden burrows for warmth and safety, killers of the cold lurk. To hunt and kill during the menacing grip of winter demands extreme adaptations. Formidable Polar Bears, talon-charged eagles and wily coyotes are among the predators that haunt these hostile climes. Ice choked polar waters conceal other killers - giant mouthed bowheads and the mysterious belugas. Kitted out to survive, these predators are ready to pounce, dive and claw their way to kill in the cold.
Episode 3. Coral Reef
The marine environment of the coral reef may seem like a tranquil place of colour and life, but it is a hunting ground where creatures fight a deadly battle for survival. And each has evolved to either kill or avoid being killed. From the slow-moving world of the sea stars to the superfast ambush predator, the great barracuda, or the escape techniques of the octopus, the sheer variety of predator-prey relationships of the coral reef is astounding.
Episode 4. Desert
From the heat-seeking rattlesnake to the rattler's nemesis, the roadrunner, see how the desert is home to extraordinary predators and prey. Witness incredible life-or-death interactions between desert creatures including owls, mice, coyotes and more as they fight for survival in dramatic second-by-second accounts of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 5. Forest
At times, it can be an advantage to be an opportunist, ready to search for food anywhere and to eat anything. Animals like the raccoon, a non-specialist hunter, are not particularly good at catching any prey item, but are nevertheless very successful. Goshawks are amongst the most elegant and well-equipped forest hunters - they are sharp-sighted and fast predators ready to drive their deadly talons deep into their prey before killing it with a sharp blow to the head. But some of the most feared forest predators are large constrictor snakes like Indian pythons and Boa constrictors. Following their prey's scent, they slither up to within striking distance and once caught, there is no way out for the hunted. Snakes' bodies are so strong that they literally squeeze the air out of their victims' lungs before swallowing them whole. All these animals have evolved into successful predators as they were built for the kill in forests.
Episode 6. Grassland
From the speed of the cheetah, the fastest land animal on earth, to the specialized hunting skills of the aardvark, the animals of the African grasslands have evolved diverse methods of hunting prey in one of the world’s most challenging environments. Featuring animals such as the leopard who hunts alone and the rare hunting dog which knows that there is safety in numbers, “Built for the Kill – Grassland” presents a portrait of a habitat where everything from termites to lions is fighting for survival.
Episode 7. Hidden
From the bizarre camouflage of a Sargasso frogfish to the colour-changing antics of the boneless octopus and the ingenious traps of some killer-plants, see how hiding makes the difference between life and death. Predators and prey are locked into an eternal game of hide and seek - those that succeed are hidden specialists. The sheer variety of hiding techniques is baffling and mind-blowing, while killers that use hidden traps or ways of confusing prey to take their mind away from potential danger are no less exceptional.
Episode 8. Island
The earth's oceans are dotted with islands from tiny sand covered atolls to the vast continent of Australia. Being surrounded by water means that sometimes the animals that live on them evolve in strange ways or develop unique hunting methods. See amazing animal behaviour from the Galapagos finches who've earned the nickname "vampire finches" from their habit of drinking the blood of other birds, to the Santa Catalina Rattlesnake which has developed into a successful hunter by losing the rattle that's given it its name.
Episode 9. Miniature
Size doesn't matter when it comes to killers in the natural world. Spiders use webs to trap their victims, then using their potent venom, they slowly digest their prey. Witness the incredible life-or-death interactions between creatures of the miniature world in dramatic second-by-second analyses of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 10. Night
Every night the sun sets, plunging our world into pitch-blackness. The day shift retreats to find safe places to sleep the night away. And from the murky shadows emerge the creatures of the night. Ambush hunting cats, echolocating bats, super-sensitive owls, crushing boa constrictors and brutal jackals are among the bigger characters. But on a smaller scale, venom-laden scorpions patrol the desert at night and the spiky lionfish and deadly box jellyfish lurk in the dark ocean depths. Operating by star and moonlight they creep in silence masked by inky blackness, waiting to pounce from the shadows.
Episode 11. Ocean
From the amazing speed of the striped marlin, a master tactician of the ocean, to the coordinated cunning and power of the killer whale, the battles between predator and prey in the world's oceans are some of the most unusual on earth. Witness how the ocean is home to many animals who are "built for the kill," as they fight for survival beneath the waves in dramatic second-by-second analysis of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 12. Poison
Poison from the skin of some poison dart frogs could kill 20,000 mice. Spider hunter wasps deliver a paralytic venom into their victims to lay their eggs on them for a slow, grisly death. Venomous snakes like Gaboon vipers, coral snakes and cobras come equipped with complex venom injection fangs, razor sharp and designed to deliver venom to take down their prey. And box jellyfish possess harpoon-like capsules laden with some of the fastest heart-stopping toxins in the world. Get up close and personal with some animals that carry a deadly payload, and are always Built For the Kill.
Episode 13. Rainforest
Nowhere else on earth contains a greater variety of plants and animals. Predators and prey are everywhere, but catching sight of them in the rain forest is not easy. Hidden by the trees and shadows, ambush, stealth and surprise are the best weapons of attack. The Jaguar, Giant tarantula and the Fer de Lance are masters of this art. You can't drop your guard for an instant as an ambush may come from any direction. To survive in the Amazon rain forest, you’ve got to be built for the kill.
Episode 14. Swamp
From the power of the alligator to the disguise of the snapping turtle, see how the swamps are home to some extraordinary predators and prey. Witness how the conditions of the swamps have honed the hunting skills of the water scorpion, the deadly accuracy of the egret, and more, as they fight for survival in dramatic second-by-second analysis of the moments leading up to, and following, a kill.
Episode 15. River
Water is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It has the power to shape our world - carving out huge canyons, bringing life to parched deserts. The animals which live in, on and over the earth's rivers are some of nature's most specialized killers. See some amazing predator behavior from the shooting ability of the Archer Fish to the speed and size of the Giant Otter.
Episode 16. Chase
The chase is a deadly contest between predator and prey. It can be as brief as a second, or go on for hours. It all depends on who you are, and what you're chasing.
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