Sealed inside a mud-walled nest, a female hornbill relies entirely on her partner for food while she raises their chick. For months, the male delivers every meal through a narrow slit—until the day finally comes for her to break free.
Features
A Mother’s Escape: A Langur’s Dangerous Climb
A langur mother climbs dangerous cliffs to protect her baby from rival males.
Unlikely Roommates: Frog Dad & Tiger Tarantula
Sharing a tree hole, two unlikely allies protect their families in very different ways.
Jungles | Parenthood
See how jungle animal parents raise children by mastering their environment.
TRANSCRIPT
She will be totally reliant on her partner for food.
He'd better be up to it.
Fruit forms the bulk of his offerings.
A caterpillar is a welcome treat once carefully prepared.
Most of the time, the food is greatly received.
But not always.
(bug buzzes) The lack of choice is beginning to get to her.
(bug buzzes) The male works hard to maintain his daily deliveries, but then, one beak becomes two.
Their growing chick is thriving, but the nursery is becoming increasingly cramped and a touch grubby.
Dad does his best to keep them both properly fed, but conditions inside the nest are now almost unbearable.
(bugs buzz) Finally, after three months of imprisonment, she decides the time has come to leave and to introduce her chick to the outside world.
(wings rustle) The male now starts to withhold food, a clear sign that he too thinks that the time has come.
She starts to chip away at the (indistinct).
Her slight muscles are stiff and weak.
Inch by inch, she squeezes her way out.
Freedom again.