1  
00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,440  
我们的星球永不停歇地演变。年复一年，季节更迭，生命随之蜕变。  
Our planet is a place of constant change. Each year, the seasons shift and life is transformed.  

2  
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,559  
但在某些地方，变迁的规模如此宏大  
But there are places where the changes are so epic in scale  

3  
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:25,199  
甚至能从太空目睹。  
they can be seen from space.  

4  
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本系列将展现自然界最震撼的  
In this series, we reveal three of the most  

5  
00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,120  
三大奇迹蜕变。  
miraculous transformations.  

6  
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,759  
斯瓦尔巴群岛。  
The islands of Svalbard.  

7  
00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,880  
冰冻荒原数周内迸发生机。  
Within a few weeks, frozen wastelands burst into life.  

8  
00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:44,639  
非洲奥卡万戈。  
The African okavango.  

9  
00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,480  
沙漠幻化成魔幻水世界。  
A desert transforms into a magical water world.  

10  
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,839  
还有新英格兰的神秘森林  
And the mysterious forests of new england  

11  
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,480  
在寒潮中如火燃烧。  
erupting in a Blaze of seasonal cold.  

12  
00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,640  
生命以最精妙绝伦的方式  
Life finds the most ingenious and surprising ways to thrive  

13  
00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,239  
在这瞬息万变的天地间蓬勃生长。  
in the world's most fast changing landscapes.  

14  
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,480  
卡拉哈里盆地，  
The kalahari basin,  

15  
00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,520  
250万平方公里的荒漠与灌木。  
2.5 million square kilometres of flat sand and scrub.  

16  
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,600  
这片沙漠横贯非洲南部，  
This desert stretches across Southern Africa,  

17  
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:48,839  
但其腹地却藏着一条  
but at its heart lies a river,  

18  
00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,280  
永不入海的河流，每年泛滥一次。  
a river that never reaches the sea, and once a year it floods.  

19  
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,879  
五个月内，洪水蔓延卡拉哈里  
Over five months, water's spread across a vast area  

20  
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,360  
广袤区域，缔造自然奇观。  
of the kalahari, transforming it into a wonderland.  

21  
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,360  
奥卡万戈三角洲。  
The okavango delta.  

22  
00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:28,639  
这是关于大自然如何在地球最干旱的荒漠  
This is the story of how nature creates a unique,  

23  
00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:30,840  
孕育独特湿地的传奇。  
flourishing wetland out of one of earth's great deserts.  

24  
00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,640  
故事从三角洲腹地开始。  
Our story begins in the heart of the delta.  

25  
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,959  
旱季已持续多时，  
The dry season is well advanced,  

26  
00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:14,560  
水源日渐稀缺。  
and water is becoming scarcer by the day.  

27  
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,520  
此时是掠食者的天下。  
At this time of year, predators rule.  

28  
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,159  
动物们还需等待六个月，  
Animals have another six months to wait  

29  
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,441  
洪水才会将此地重新化作丰茂湿地。  
before the flood turns this land back into a lush wetland.  

30  
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,479  
黑马羚。  
Sable antelope.  

31  
00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,079  
啃食枯草后，  
After grazing on dry grass,  

32  
00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,560  
不得不饮用死水潭，  
they have to drink at a stagnant pool,  

33  
00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,320  
却始终胆战心惊。  
but they're nervous.  

34  
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,480  
掠食者虎视眈眈。  
Predators watch their every move.  

35  
00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,880  
但对花豹而言，黑马羚的体型和弯刀般的犄角  
For a leopard though, a sable's size and lethal scimitar horns  

36  
00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,400  
风险实在太大。  
pose too much of a risk.  

37  
00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,199  
 easier targets.  
 easier targets.  

38  
00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,559  
疣猪家族。  
A family of warthogs.  

39  
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,599  
在曾经的宽阔河道上，  
Where once there was a wide river,  

40  
00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,520  
用坚硬鼻拱挖掘球茎。  
they use their tough snouts to truffle for bulbs.  

41  
00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:01,840  
在烈日炙烤的干硬土地上，  
But it's hard work in this dry, sun-baked ground,  

42  
00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,559  
埋头刨食危机四伏。  
and having your snout in the sand is decidedly risky.  

43  
00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,439  
花豹将猎物拖至隐蔽处，  
The leopard drags its kill to a hiding place  

44  
00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:56,840  
安心享用。  
where it can dine in peace.  

45  
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,720  
这只疣猪够它吃一周。  
The warthog will keep it going for a week.  

46  
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,560  
旱季是顶级掠食者的黄金狩猎期。  
The dry season means good hunting for top predators.  

47  
00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,000  
对其他动物而言食物紧缺。  
For everyone else, food is scarce.  

48  
00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:24,920  
南非狒狒凭借生存智慧  
Chacma baboons survive through their knowledge  

49  
00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:31,159  
和杂食习性存活。  
and eclectic taste.  

50  
00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,360  
象粪是珍贵的种子与昆虫来源。  
Elephant dung is a valuable source of seeds and insects.  

51  
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:52,799  
但似乎出现了更好的选择，  
But it looks like there's an appealing alternative,  

52  
00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,239  
一棵旱季仍结果的树，  
a tree that fruits even in the dry season,  

53  
00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,800  
扇叶棕榈。  
a fan palm.  

54  
00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,360  
果实营养丰富，虽然果核坚硬纤维粗粝。  
The fruit is nutritious if a pit tough and piffy.  

55  
00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,640  
什么动静？  
But what's this?  

56  
00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,919  
大象几乎食用所有植物，  
Elephants will eat virtually any vegetation  

57  
00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,519  
尤其钟爱果实。  
and fruit is their favourite.  

58  
00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,360  
数公里外就能嗅到果香。  
They can smell it from several kilometres away.  

59  
00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,319  
狒狒的盛宴就此终结。  
For the baboons, the feast is over.  

60  
00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,599  
果实高悬20米枝头难以触及，  
The fruit may be 20 metres up and out of reach,  

61  
00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,559  
但大象的策略简单粗暴。  
but the elephant's strategy is simple.  

62  
00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,159  
蛮力推倒。  
Brute force.  

63  
00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,160  
对机灵的狒狒来说，守株待兔有时会有惊喜。  
For a crafty baboon though, it sometimes pays to hang around.  

64  
00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,999  
它发现了大象遗漏的果实。  
It spotted one that the elephants missed.  

65  
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,320  
附近萎缩的水塘里，水面突然翻腾。  
Nearby at a shrinking pool, something agitates the water.  

66  
00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:51,319  
水面浮现张合的鱼嘴。  
Mouths gulp at the surface.  

67  
00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,920  
挤满体长1.5米的巨型鲶鱼。  
It's crowded with giant catfish up to a metre and a half long.  

68  
00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,279  
水中氧气耗尽鳃已无法呼吸，  
There's no oxygen left in the water for their gills to use,  

69  
00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,959  
但这些鱼还长着类似肺的器官  
but these fish also have lung-like organs  

70  
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可直接呼吸空气。  
that breathe air.  

71  
00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,479  
卡拉哈里的烈日每日蒸腾，  
Every day under the kalahari sun,  

72  
00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,439  
水塘持续萎缩。  
more water evaporates.  

73  
00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,239  
非洲鱼雕聚集等候饕餮盛宴。  
African fish eagles gather expectantly for a banquet.  

74  
00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,399  
绝望的鲶鱼尝试突围，  
In desperation, some catfish attempt to make a run for it,  

75  
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:51,919  
用鱼鳍在陆地爬行。  
using their fins to propel them.  

76  
00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,360  
暴露的它们成为雕与豺的活靶子。  
Now exposed, they are easy targets for eagles and jackals.  

77  
00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,520  
这些鲶鱼已时日无多。  
These catfish have run out of time.  

78  
00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,200  
两周内水塘彻底干涸。  
Within two weeks, the pool has vanished.  

79  
00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,919  
对大多数栖息于此的生物而言，  
For most of the plants and animals that live here,  

80  
00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,840  
旱季结束得越快越好。  
the end of the dry season can't come soon enough.  

81  
00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:12,719  
十一月为焦土带来短暂喘息。  
November brings a little respite to the parched land.  

82  
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,000  
热带暖湿气流席卷而至。  
Warm, humid air moves in from the tropics.  

83  
00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,920  
卡拉哈里降雨。  
Rain in the kalahari.  

84  
00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,919  
仅够为三角洲点缀新绿。  
Just enough to green the delta.  

85  
00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,640  
狒狒族群已然壮大。  
The baboon troop has grown in number.  

86  
00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,359  
这些幼崽诞生得正是时候，  
These youngsters were born just in time  

87  
00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:25,920  
喜迎雨季恩泽。  
to enjoy what the rains bring.  

88  
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,599  
更多树木开始结果。  
More trees have come into fruit.  

89  
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,400  
成就美味早餐。  
It makes for a delicious breakfast.  

90  
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,879  
但诱人香气也会招致麻烦。  
But there's a downside to such a wonderful scent.  

91  
00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,400  
果然，象群闻香而来。  
Sure enough, elephants aren't far away.  

92  
00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:10,440  
狒群四散奔逃。  
The troop scatters.  

93  
00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,960  
是时候转移了。  
Maybe it's time to move on.  

94  
00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,559  
母亲将新生儿护在身下  
Mothers carry their newborns safely underneath  

95  
00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,679  
方便哺乳，  
where they can keep suckling,  

96  
00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,720  
年长幼崽则需学会骑坐背上。  
but the older ones must learn to ride on top.  

97  
00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,160  
开阔平原上，族群必须紧密团结。  
On these open plains, the troop must stick together.  

98  
00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,200  
已有成员因花豹袭击失去肢体。  
Some have already lost limbs to leopards.  

99  
00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,400  
所有生物即将面对崭新世界。  
All these animals will soon face a new world.  

100  
00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,840  
卡拉哈里的降雨虽带来短暂缓解，  
The kalahari rains may have provided some temporary relief,  

101  
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但更宏大的变迁正在路上。  
but a much greater change is on its way.  

102  
00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:25,719  
在卡拉哈里远方的群山中，  
In distant mountains beyond the kalahari,  

103  
00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,720  
热带气流正引发倾盆暴雨。  
the tropical air now brings much heavier downpours.  

104  
00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,239  
北部高地的雨水  
Rain from highlands to the north  

105  
00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,400  
最终汇入奥卡万戈河。  
cascades ultimately into one river, the okavango river.  

106  
00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:01,079  
形成的洪峰将耗时两月  
It creates a pulse of high water which takes two months to snake  

107  
00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,760  
蜿蜒一千多公里抵达三角洲顶端。  
over a thousand kilometres to the top of the okavango delta.  

108  
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,000  
洪水还需一月才能抵达  
It will still be another month before the floodwaters reach  

109  
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三角洲核心地带。  
the heart of the delta.  

110  
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主河道常年流淌，滋养着数千  
Here, the river always flows and is home to several thousand  

111  
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原住民，比如苏纳比。  
people, such as sunabi.  

112  
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他的族人融合了卡拉哈里游牧民  
His people are descendants of both kalahari nomads  

113  
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与中非渔民族群的血统。  
and fishermen from central Africa.  

114  
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河水上涨时，溢出河道淹没周边，  
As the river rises, water spills onto the surrounding land,  

115  
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形成理想的渔猎浅滩。  
creating shallows ideal for spearfishing.  

116  
00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:14,039  
上涨的洪流继续向南  
The rising pulse of water continues onwards  

117  
00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:15,920  
涌向干旱的三角洲腹地。  
south towards the dry heart of the delta.  

118  
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,599  
但要理解后续变化，  
But to understand what happens next,  

119  
00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,560  
需回溯往昔。  
we have to go back in time.  

120  
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,279  
两百万年前，  
Two million years ago,  

121  
00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,040  
巨大裂谷撕开荒漠地表。  
great cracks ripped through the desert floor.  

122  
00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,319  
大地扭曲变形，形成了今日  
The land warped to create the shape of the delta  

123  
00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,640  
三角洲的雏形。  
we know today.  

124  
00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,279  
这些断层界定了洪水  
The faults define the start and finish lines for the flood  

125  
00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,359  
涌入三角洲主区域的路径。  
which is to come to the main delta.  

126  
00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:07,799  
三角洲腹地的干旱平原  
The dry plains in the heart of the delta  

127  
00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,240  
即将迎来巨变。  
will soon be transformed.  

128  
00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,120  
这里的生命将被彻底改写。  
Life here is about to be turned upside down.  

129  
00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,080  
芦苇丛中，最初只是涓涓细流，  
Hidden in the reeds, it starts as the tiniest trickle,  

130  
00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,080  
非洲最壮观洪水的序幕由此拉开。  
the beginning of one of Africa's greatest floods.  

131  
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,679  
当上涨的河水涌入三角洲主区域，  
As rising water spills into the main delta,  

132  
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水流渐缓，散作无数细流。  
it slows and spreads into countless tiny rivulets.  

133  
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洪水每日推进不足一公里，  
Travelling at barely a kilometre a day,  

134  
00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,400  
完全覆盖三角洲还需四个月。  
the flood will take another four months to cover the delta.  

135  
00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,079  
但水流所到之处，  
But straight away, wherever water touches the land,  

136  
00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,000  
即刻引发惊人变化。  
it makes a remarkable impact.  

137  
00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:08,359  
沙蛙一年中大部分时间  
Common sand frogs spend most of the year  

138  
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蛰伏在半米深的地下...  
buried half a metre underground...  

139  
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,199  
如今洪水灌入洞穴，  
But now water floods their Burrows  

140  
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,199  
迫使它们现身地面。  
and forces them to the surface.  

141  
00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,120  
它们鼓胀身体吓退捕食者。  
They inflate to scare off any predators.  

142  
00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:29,880  
雄蛙开始寻找配偶。  
He's off to find a female.  

143  
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:40,679  
对这些家园被淹的微小生物而言，  
For tiny creatures, whose homes are in the way,  

144  
00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,919  
涓涓细流不啻于灭顶之灾。  
the trickle is more like a Tsunami.  

145  
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,320  
蚂蚁被迫撤离巢穴，  
Ants are forced to evacuate their nest,  

146  
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,320  
成为黑翅长脚鹬的美餐。  
an easy snack for blacksmith lapwings.  

147  
00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:04,160  
这座土丘是巨白蚁的堡垒，  
This mound is the fortress for macrotermes termites,  

148  
00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:11,359  
百万成员的庞大王国。  
a colony a million strong.  

149  
00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:14,200  
白蚁丘仅是地下都市的中枢，  
A termite's mound is just the hub of an underground city,  

150  
00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,719  
六公里长的觅食隧道纵横交错。  
six kilometres of foraging tunnels.  

151  
00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,080  
白蚁正面临巢穴被淹的危机。  
Termites now face the flooding of their colony.  

152  
00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,559  
随着隧道进水坍塌，  
They beat a hasty retreat for the safety of their mound  

153  
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,520  
它们急速撤回安全的主巢。  
as their tunnels start to flood and collapse.  

154  
00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,199  
奇迹就此发生。  
But in doing so, something miraculous happens.  

155  
00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,120  
隧道竟自行封闭。  
The tunnels seal themselves up.  

156  
00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:51,759  
这阻断了洪水的地下渗透，  
This blocks the flood's underground advance  

157  
00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:53,560  
迫使水流返回地表。  
and forces the water back to the surface.  

158  
00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,120  
主巢内的白蚁安然无恙。  
Back inside the mound, the termites are safe.  

159  
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,800  
奇妙的是，洪水恰恰提供了它们所需的契机。  
Incredibly, the flood provides just the opportunity they need.  

160  
00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,679  
它们脆弱的沙土城堡  
Their fragile castle made of sand  

161  
00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,000  
需要持续维护重建，而洪水浸泡后  
requires constant maintenance and rebuilding, but the soil,  

162  
00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:26,359  
松软的泥土更便于运输到  
now softened by floodwater, is easy to transport  

163  
00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:29,160  
巢穴的损毁部位。  
to damaged parts of the mound.  

164  
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,360  
成千上万白蚁逐步重建堡垒。  
Gradually, thousands of termites reconstruct their fortress.  

165  
00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:46,960  
修复蚁丘不仅造福白蚁，  
Repairing these mounds isn't just good for the termites,  

166  
00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,199  
这些建筑还孕育了对三角洲生物  
these structures help to create something vital  

167  
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:54,840  
至关重要的存在——岛屿。  
for all the delta's wildlife, its islands.  

168  
00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:04,159  
一切始于这样的场景。  
And it all starts like this.  

169  
00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:16,440  
富含果实种子的粪便成为天然肥料。  
Dung, ready-made fertiliser laden with fruits and seeds.  

170  
00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:25,759  
洪水浸透蚁丘干燥的斜坡，  
Floodwater soaks up the dry side slopes of the mound  

171  
00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,120  
为新植物提供完美温床。  
to create the perfect bedding for new plants.  

172  
00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:46,519  
经年累月，  
Gradually, season by season,  

173  
00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,520  
蚁丘上的植物愈发茂盛。  
termite mounds become home to more and more plants.  

174  
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,039  
植被吸引更多动物前来，  
As they grow, they attract more animals,  

175  
00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,559  
动物又带来新的种子  
which in turn bring with them the seeds to grow  

176  
00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,599  
促进植被扩张。  
even more plants.  

177  
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,800  
榕树、扇叶棕榈、马鲁拉树相继生长，  
Sycamore fig, fan palm, marula, until the termite mounds  

178  
00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,320  
直到葱郁树冠完全掩盖蚁丘原貌。  
are barely recognisable under their lush, green canopies.  

179  
00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:30,479  
洪水泛滥时，蚁丘周边高地  
As it floods, raised areas around termite mounds  

180  
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:34,799  
化作岛屿。  
become islands.  

181  
00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,919  
这些岛屿全年提供食物、庇护所，  
They provide food, shelter, and a refuge throughout the year  

182  
00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,520  
成为大象、狒狒和鸟类的乐园。  
for everything from elephants to baboons and birds.  

183  
00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,439  
曾经单调的荒漠三角洲，  
In the delta, once a featureless desert,  

184  
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,920  
如今散布着约15万座此类岛屿。  
there are now around 150,000 such islands.  

185  
00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,280  
狒狒们似乎格外珍视这宝贵水源。  
Baboons seems to delight in the precious liquid.  

186  
00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:20,759  
初次见识洪水的好奇幼崽  
Curious youngsters encountering the flood  

187  
00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,959  
显得不知所措，  
for the very first time don't seem to know  

188  
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,960  
不知如何应对。  
quite what to make of it.  

189  
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,760  
沙地看似贫瘠，但凡水流经处，  
The sand may look barren, but wherever the water touches it,  

190  
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,039  
便有奇迹发生。  
something magical happens.  

191  
00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,359  
短短数日，数十亿淡水浮游生物  
Within a couple of days, billions of freshwater plankton  

192  
00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:12,760  
陆续苏醒孵化。  
begin to awake and hatch.  

193  
00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:22,079  
这些微小生物是三角洲的秘方，  
Such tiny creatures are the delta's secret ingredients,  

194  
00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,200  
构筑了食物链的基石。  
the foundation of its food chain.  

195  
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:32,920  
与此同时，深水区浮现泡沫山丘。  
Meanwhile, in a deeper channel, a mountain of foam has appeared.  

196  
00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:39,359  
这是一对非洲梭鱼所为，  
It has been created by a pair of African pike,  

197  
00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:42,359  
虽凶名在外却是尽责的父母，  
notoriously aggressive but caring parents  

198  
00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:44,280  
精心守护后代。  
that watch over their offspring.  

199  
00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:54,879  
泡沫之下安全隐匿着  
Hidden safely underneath the foam,  

200  
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:56,640  
数百枚正在孵化的鱼卵。  
hundreds of fish eggs are beginning to hatch.  

201  
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,719  
鱼苗依附泡沫发育，  
The fry remain attached to the foam  

202  
00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:04,199  
直至完全成熟，  
until they are well developed,  

203  
00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,080  
如今三角洲提供充足食物。  
and now the delta offers plenty for them to eat.  

204  
00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,839  
幼小梭鱼加入70种鱼群，  
The tiny pike fry join small hungry fish of 70 different  

205  
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,879  
在富含浮游生物的浅滩  
species, swimming through the shallows  

206  
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,600  
营养汤中穿梭觅食。  
in a nutritious soup of freshwater plankton.  

207  
00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:41,600  
不久后，鸟群遮天蔽日，  
Before long, the skies fill with birds,  

208  
00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,320  
上演非洲最壮观的野生动物奇观，  
one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles,  

209  
00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:52,680  
远方迁徙而来的游牧民族。  
travelling nomads from far and wide.  

210  
00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:59,439  
它们为何而来？  
The reason they're here?  

211  
00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,840  
凡水漫之处必聚集鱼群。  
Wherever water covers the land, it fills up with little fish.  

212  
00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:07,840  
每种鸟类都掌握独门  
Each of the birds has its own special technique  

213  
00:28:07,841 --> 00:28:09,680  
捕鱼技巧。  
for catching them.  

214  
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,400  
鞍嘴鹳猛啄猎物。  
A saddle-billed stork jabs at its prey.  

215  
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,479  
非洲琵鹭天生配备完美工具  
African spoonbills have the perfect equipment  

216  
00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,559  
过滤最细小的美味。  
for filtering out the finest morsels.  

217  
00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:45,359  
黑鹭展翅形成遮水华盖。  
Black egrets use their wings to form canopies over the water.  

218  
00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:48,680  
阴影诱捕渴求掩护的惊慌鱼群。  
The shade lures nervous fish desperate for cover.  

219  
00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,960  
其他猎手则选择高空突袭。  
Others attack directly from above.  

220  
00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,520  
斑鱼狗。  
A pied kingfisher.  

221  
00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,600  
25厘米的体长使其成为最大型悬停鸟类。  
At 25 centimetres long, it's the world's largest hovering bird.  

222  
00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:35,239  
悬停极其耗能，  
Hovering demands a lot of energy,  

223  
00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:36,959  
它们每日需捕获相当于体重四分之一的鱼量  
so they have to catch a quarter of their weight in fish  

224  
00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,040  
才能存活。  
every day.  

225  
00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:45,639  
保持头部绝对静止，在十米高空  
Keeping its head perfectly still about ten metres  

226  
00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,040  
锁定水面动静，  
above the water, it sees movement,  

227  
00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:56,199  
随后控制俯冲。  
then drops in a controlled dive.  

228  
00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,879  
若被鱼儿察觉，翠鸟能及时中止  
If the fish sees it, the kingfisher can still abort  

229  
00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,000  
节省体力，否则便全力冲刺。  
and save energy, if not, it commits and dives rapidly.  

230  
00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:10,879  
这番努力绝对值得。  
It's worth the effort.  

231  
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:12,719  
悬停让它们能在猎物最丰富的  
Hovering allows them to hunt in the middle of the plains  

232  
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,240  
平原腹地捕猎。  
where the pickings are especially rich.  

233  
00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,640  
猛击鱼头致命，  
The bird kills its prey with a blow to the head,  

234  
00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:36,639  
吞咽前必须调整鱼头朝向，  
but before it can swallow it must flip the fish head-first  

235  
00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,319  
否则鱼刺会卡住喉咙。  
or the spines will stick in its throat.  

236  
00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,359  
数月后，另一种对三角洲至关重要的  
Within a few months, another type of organism  

237  
00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,239  
生物破水而出，  
vital to the delta breaks the surface,  

238  
00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:30,319  
数十种水生禾草、  
dozens of species of aquatic grasses,  

239  
00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,839  
莎草与睡莲。  
sedges, and water lilies.  

240  
00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,000  
晨光中，昼开型睡莲绽放吸引  
At dawn, day lilies open to attract pollinating bees  

241  
00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:59,120  
传粉的蜜蜂与蝇类。  
and flies.  

242  
00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:30,279  
暮色降临，昼开型睡莲开始闭合  
As dusk approaches, the day lilies begin to close  

243  
00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:33,480  
将舞台让给夜班花朵。  
and give way to the night shift.  

244  
00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:41,799  
夜开睡莲舒展绚丽花瓣，  
Night lilies open their brilliant petals,  

245  
00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,680  
皎洁月光下依然明艳夺目。  
bright enough to attract insects in the moonlight.  

246  
00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,560  
睡莲在卡拉哈里沙漠中央盛放，  
Water lilies flourishing in the middle of the kalahari desert,  

247  
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,960  
这或许是三角洲最伟大的奇迹。  
Perhaps the greatest miracle of the delta.  

248  
00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:19,799  
朝阳炙烤大地时，  
As the morning sun heats the ground,  

249  
00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:21,319  
蒸腾水汽昭示着洪水已蔓延至  
rising vapours everywhere reveal that water has spread  

250  
00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,159  
整片平原。  
right across this plain.  

251  
00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,479  
这场蜕变彻底颠覆了  
It's a transformation that turns the tables  

252  
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:29,960  
猎手与猎物的地位。  
between predator and prey.  

253  
00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:37,399  
赤羚大批现身，  
Red lechwe appear in large numbers  

254  
00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,600  
寻觅最爱的嫩滑水草。  
looking for their favourite food, tender aquatic plants.  

255  
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,320  
鬣狗却想趁其不备发动突袭。  
But a hyena hopes to take advantage of their distraction.  

256  
00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:04,200  
只需再靠近些许。  
It just needs to get a little closer.  

257  
00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:14,120  
逃命时刻到了。  
Time to run for it.  

258  
00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:27,399  
赤羚宽大的蹄掌使其能够  
Lechwe have large, splayed hooves that allow them to bound  

259  
00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,719  
在浅水中高速奔跃，这赋予它们  
at speed through shallow water, giving them a big advantage  

260  
00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:33,039  
远超掠食者的优势。  
over any predator.  

261  
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:52,760  
这种适应性进化帮助它们  
It's an adaptation that helps to protect them  

262  
00:34:52,761 --> 00:34:53,920  
度过洪水季节。  
during the time of flood.  

263  
00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:06,479  
很快，水生植物遍地萌发，  
Soon the aquatic vegetation sprouts everywhere,  

264  
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,760  
水域变得难以通行。  
and the water becomes impassable.  

265  
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:18,119  
但在洪水泛滥的平原上，  
But crisscrossing the flooded plains,  

266  
00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:20,400  
芦苇丛中出现了条条通道。  
highways through the reeds appear.  

267  
00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:26,880  
创造者正是河马。  
And here's their creator, a hippopotamus.  

268  
00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,280  
作为食草动物，开路不过是举手之劳。  
He's a grazer and thinks nothing of bulldozing a way through.  

269  
00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:39,359  
行进间便开凿出一条水道。  
As he does so, he excavates a channel.  

270  
00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:00,840  
需要开辟道路的不止河马。  
And it's not only hippos that have to find a way through.  

271  
00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:11,719  
在三角洲北部，  
In the north of the delta,  

272  
00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:13,280  
苏纳比划船穿越茂密芦苇荡。  
sunabi rows through dense beds of reeds.  

273  
00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:18,920  
为求通行，他祈求河神指引。  
To get through, he seeks the help of the spirit of the river.  

274  
00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:54,959  
芦苇深处，他发现了一条河马通道。  
Deep in the reeds, he discovers a hippo channel.  

275  
00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:57,520  
这是鱼群的高速公路，正是布网的绝佳位置。  
It's a highway for fish, so the perfect place to rig a net.  

276  
00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,720  
苏纳比的村庄位于洪泛区边缘。  
Sunabi's village is on the edge of the floodplain.  

277  
00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:54,279  
家人深知只要三角洲持续馈赠，  
His family know that as long as the delta provides,  

278  
00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:57,719  
他们就永无断粮之忧。  
they will never go short of food.  

279  
00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:02,319  
他将鳊鱼熏制保存，  
He smokes the bream to preserve it for days  

280  
00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:05,359  
以备收获不佳时食用。  
when the catch is not quite as good.  

281  
00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:09,319  
与此同时，家人用洪泛区的草  
Meanwhile, his family weave baskets out of grass  

282  
00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:13,199  
编织箩筐。  
from the floodplains.  

283  
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:15,360  
年内晚些时候将用于捕鱼。  
Later in the year, they will be used for catching fish.  

284  
00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:43,599  
七月时分，三角洲腹地，  
By July, in the heart of the delta,  

285  
00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:45,640  
曾经的干旱草原已化作水乡泽国。  
the once dry Savannah has become a lush water world.  

286  
00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:51,759  
但这场蜕变让狒狒们举止怪异。  
But this transformation has an odd effect on the baboons.  

287  
00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:10,559  
每只都走出了滑稽的步伐。  
Each has developed its own funny walk.  

288  
00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,960  
除了被淋成落汤鸡的幼崽。  
All that is except for the baby who just gets a soaking.  

289  
00:39:56,600 --> 00:40:00,439  
狒狒似乎不太喜欢涉水，  
It seems likely that baboons don't much enjoy  

290  
00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:02,840  
或许是在警惕水中的威胁。  
being in the water or they may be nervous of something in it.  

291  
00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:08,880  
鳄鱼无处不在。  
Crocodiles are everywhere.  

292  
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,719  
对狒群而言，洪水泛滥的三角洲危机四伏，  
For the troop, a flooded delta is a lawless place,  

293  
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:19,400  
但比鳄鱼更可怕的威胁已然现身...  
but a threat worse even than a crocodile has appeared...  

294  
00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:29,040  
独行的雄性狒狒。  
Lone, male baboons.  

295  
00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:36,159  
陆地领地的缩减迫使  
The shrinking of territory on land  

296  
00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:37,840  
独行侠与狒群短兵相接。  
forces the loners into contact with troops.  

297  
00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,279  
它们可能挑战首领争夺控制权。  
They may fight the troop's Alpha male for control.  

298  
00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:47,199  
若外来者胜出，可能杀害幼崽  
If the stranger wins, he may also kill the young  

299  
00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:51,999  
并与雌性交配。  
and mate with the females.  

300  
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,320  
现任首领必须严防任何挑战者。  
An incumbent Alpha male must keep a close eye on any rival.  

301  
00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:04,360  
为求生存，确立权威至关重要...  
To survive, it is crucial that he lay down his authority...  

302  
00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,840  
必须驱逐叛乱分子。  
insurgence must be sent packing.  

303  
00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:31,680  
随着三角洲泛滥，各处矛盾逐渐激化。  
As the delta floods, everywhere tension seems to be mounting.  

304  
00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:40,679  
河马社群尤甚，  
Not least in the hippo community  

305  
00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:42,961  
它们的水域领地正急剧扩张。  
where their watery territories are expanding dramatically.  

306  
00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:48,960  
这里也出现了年轻挑战者。  
Here too, there is a young challenger.  

307  
00:42:55,160 --> 00:42:57,000  
领地主人喷鼻示警。  
The territory's resident bull snorts a warning.  

308  
00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:08,759  
竞争者通过猛烈甩尾散布粪便  
The adversary's declare their ownership of the pool  

309  
00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:10,560  
宣示水域主权。  
by vigorously spreading dung with their tails.  

310  
00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:24,679  
它们打哈欠展示武器——  
They yawn to display their weaponry,  

311  
00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:27,160  
巨大的象牙状獠牙。  
huge ivory tusks.  

312  
00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:39,600  
首轮力量较量。  
First, a test of strength.  

313  
00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:49,080  
老河马暂时退却。  
The old bull makes a temporary retreat.  

314  
00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,960  
雌性们密切关注战局。  
Females have a vested interest in the outcome.  

315  
00:43:58,920 --> 00:43:59,999  
它们只愿接受  
They will only be prepared to accept a mate  

316  
00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:01,280  
能在战斗中立足的配偶。  
that can hold his own in a fight.  

317  
00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:12,359  
领地主人展开残酷反击。  
The resident bull retaliates brutally.  

318  
00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:29,799  
河马常鏖战数小时，  
Hippos will often fight for hours  

319  
00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:31,480  
有时直至一方死亡。  
and sometimes to the death.  

320  
00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:52,439  
最终，一记残忍的锁头杀——这致命一击  
Finally, a brutal headlock, the coup De grace  

321  
00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:55,519  
为老河马锁定胜局，将挑衅者逐出  
that settles it for the older male, expelling the pretender  

322  
00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:58,240  
领地...  
from his territory...  

323  
00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:12,559  
这意味着领主通过考验，  
Which means the resident bull passes the test  

324  
00:45:12,560 --> 00:45:14,120  
获得今年繁衍后代的资格。  
to sire this year's crop of baby hippos.  

325  
00:45:29,360 --> 00:45:32,039  
年轻雄性在撤退时受伤，  
The young male has been injured during the retreat,  

326  
00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:33,760  
侧腹暴露在盛怒的追兵面前。  
his flank exposed to his furious pursuer.  

327  
00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:41,479  
幸好大自然为它安排了  
At least nature has arranged for him to be nursed  

328  
00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:45,159  
这些牛椋鸟护士。  
by these oxpeckers.  

329  
00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:47,239  
它们会吃掉所有可能导致感染的生物。  
They eat anything that might cause an infection.  

330  
00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:51,959  
这番痛苦或许值得，  
The pain is probably worth it,  

331  
00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:53,640  
它应该能活到再战之日。  
and he should survive to fight another day.  

332  
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:08,159  
八月，洪水终于抵达  
By August, the floodwaters finally reach  

333  
00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:10,200  
三角洲南部断层带——泛滥的最远边界。  
the delta's southern fault line, its maximum extent.  

334  
00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:21,079  
奥卡万戈如今成为全球最大内陆  
The okavango is now one of the largest inland deltas  

335  
00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:25,199  
三角洲之一。  
in the world.  

336  
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:29,639  
整个三角洲水系相连，  
The whole delta is linked by water,  

337  
00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:32,119  
浅滩、水潭与深水道  
shallow floodplains, pools, and deeper channels  

338  
00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:34,080  
皆由奥卡万戈河滋养。  
all fed by the okavango river.  

339  
00:46:46,600 --> 00:46:49,880  
平原上数十亿鱼类迅速成长。  
Billions of fish that fill the plains have grown rapidly.  

340  
00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:03,919  
苏纳比的妻女已准备好  
And sunabi's wives and daughters are ready for them  

341  
00:47:03,920 --> 00:47:06,399  
箩筐迎接丰收。  
with their baskets.  

342  
00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:37,760  
虎鱼将成为美味炖菜。  
Bulldog fish will make a fine stew.  

343  
00:47:43,320 --> 00:47:47,319  
主河道正在发生奇异现象。  
In the main river, something strange is happening.  

344  
00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:50,240  
水面如沸腾般翻涌。  
The waters appear to be boiling.  

345  
00:47:56,600 --> 00:47:59,920  
是鲶鱼群在水面吞咽空气，  
It's catfish taking gulps of air at the surface  

346  
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:07,880  
数量以百万计。  
and they are here in their millions.  

347  
00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:14,879  
在洪水退去前，  
Before the flood recedes,  

348  
00:48:14,880 --> 00:48:16,359  
它们从三角洲远端猎场  
they return from their hunting grounds in the far reaches  

349  
00:48:16,360 --> 00:48:18,240  
回归深水区的安全地带。  
of the delta to the safety of the deep channels.  

350  
00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:26,559  
在纸莎草丛中捕食小鱼。  
Amongst the papyrus, they hunt smaller fish.  

351  
00:48:46,040 --> 00:48:48,479  
白鹭群加入这场盛宴。  
Flocks of egrets arrive to join in the feast.  

352  
00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:12,440  
混乱中没有绝对安全。  
No one is safe in the mayhem.  

353  
00:49:20,920 --> 00:49:24,200  
非洲海雕集群俯冲轰炸鲶鱼群。  
African fish eagles swarm and dive-bomb the catfish.  

354  
00:49:30,240 --> 00:49:33,599  
数百万在洪泛区养肥的鱼群，  
Millions of fish that grew fat out in the floodplains  

355  
00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:35,680  
为带来水源的河流注入了生机。  
bring life back in the river that brought them water.  

356  
00:49:52,600 --> 00:49:57,519  
在最干旱时节，洪水创造了沙漠中的  
When it's needed most, the flood creates a vast oasis  

357  
00:49:57,520 --> 00:49:59,920  
万里绿洲，这一万平方公里的  
in the desert, a wonderland, and its 10,000 square kilometres  

358  
00:50:01,760 --> 00:50:06,239  
澄澈水域吸引着数千动物  
of crystal waters attracting thousands of animals  

359  
00:50:06,240 --> 00:50:08,640  
从干旱的卡拉哈里沙漠各处涌来。  
from all over the dry kalahari desert.  

360  
00:50:35,560 --> 00:50:39,999  
但这些水域永不会汇入海洋。  
But these waters will never reach the sea.  

361  
00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,799  
它们很快会开始蒸发，  
They will soon begin to evaporate  

362  
00:50:43,800 --> 00:50:45,639  
或渗入卡拉哈里沙土，  
or simply sink into the kalahari sand as the okavango delta  

363  
00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:48,720  
奥卡万戈三角洲将逐渐复归干旱草原。  
gradually returns to dry Savannah.