麻豆约拍

It is the hottest time of year, and the waterhole becomes busier in the cool of the night. With remote cameras able to get closer than ever before to the action, the team uncovers the new dynamics of night-time at the waterhole.

The shift to nocturnal activity also brings a new predator out of the shadows: hyena. A group moves into the area, but they are so elusive that it is hard to know how big the clan is. Their arrival has a dramatic effect on other predators in the area, and no lions or leopards are spotted at the waterhole while they are around. To discover more about the waterhole hyena clan, Chris Packham and wildlife cameraman Bob Poole use remote cameras to monitor their nearby den.

Ella Al-Shamahi discovers how the increased footfall has changed the shape of the waterhole and how, as temperatures rise, the waterhole residents' behaviour is also changing. Cape buffalo who were once frequent visitors are nowhere to be seen, but elephants come in ever-increasing numbers and they are not just drinking. For many herbivores, the waterhole is becoming an increasingly risky place to be, but new bird species are flocking to this oasis. Among the newcomers are yellow-billed storks who spend an hour trying to fish, and ironically may have carried fish eggs on their feet to the waterhole.

In an ambitious experiment, Chris and the team attempt to count the hyena at night, and they discover larger numbers of the carnivore than they ever imagined. As rain clouds gather, another dramatic change is on the horizon, but what will happen to the waterhole residents?