(dolphin chirps) >> man: and animals from the arctic circle... (seal barks) (owl hoots) (cow moos) >> man: anywhere, everywhere animals live, it's always an adventure... (various animals making sounds) >> man: today on "animal atlas," we're going to take a closer look at the most unlikely pair of birds you'd ever expect to meet. why unlikely? one is tall, while one is, well, not so tall. one has long legs. one has stubby legs. both love water, but while one likes to swim, the other prefers to wade through the shallows. one can fly, and one can't. and maybe most noticeably,

while the other is pink. yes, pink. meet the regal flamingo and the charming penguin, birds with feathers who don't flock together... >> man: but before we get to know this unlikely pair a little better, it's a good idea to learn what all birds have in common, and this includes storks, swans, toucans, owls and chickens, too. yes, every bird you can name belongs to the class aves, which is simply the name for birds as a class of animals to differentiate them from, say, reptiles, mammals, fish, not to mention all the invertebrates

both on land, in the air and in the sea. what do all birds have in common, including the big pink bird and the stumpy blacacand-white one? no, not that they can all be found as lawn ornaments and plush toys. for starters, all birds have an outer covering of feathers. (macaw squawks) >> man: they have front limbs modified into wings, and they are warm-blooded, or ectothermic. birds lay eggs, and they don't have teeth. but perhaps most startling of all, not all birds can fly. did you think that flight defined class aves? not at all. just ask the penguin. all 17 kinds of penguins can swim

but none can fly. but penguins aren't alone in the flightless world. ostriches, those giant birds from the grasslands of africa, certainly can't get off the ground, not with that heavy body and those little wings. the cassowary, a bird from northern australia and new guinea, can't get off the ground either, and neither can the emu. nope, you don't need to be able to fly to be a bird. can flamingos fly? you bet they can, even though they are more likely to be found walking or wading. what is unique to birds, all birds? not the fact that they have a beak instead of teeth, since turtles and tortoises can make that claim, too. birds also aren't the only animals that hatch from eggs. just ask the snake or even a monotreme

which is, if you can believe it, an egg-laying mammal. oh, yes, you heard me right. furthermore, birds aren't the only warm-blooded creatures in the world. all mammals are certainly warm-blooded, whether big, small, furry or smooth-skinned. sure, birds may have wings, but then so do many insects. hey, bats have wings, too, and pretty astonishing ones at that. the one and only thing unique to all birds that no mammal or reptile or insect can claim to have is feathers. feathers are highly modified scales, and yes, before you ask, scales are something

have in abundance. the world is home to a great variety of scaly creatures, even those with spiky scales. but no scaly reptiles or fish have feathers. feathers are truly the triumph of the bird, even flightless ones and pink ones or those who favor a feathery coat of black and white. when we come back to "animal atlas," we'll get to know these two incomparable birds a little better. but first,

this animal fact... >> man: the answer coming up when we return to... [ female announcer ] are you one of millions of women embarrassed by hair loss or suffering from thinning hair? [ lisette ] i didn't want to look at myself in the mirror, and so i just got so frustrated. i just said, "i can't go on like this anymore." [ female announcer ] you have a personalized, proven solution right here. welcome to hair club. i had my self-confidence back. my husband was like, "that's my wife." [ female announcer ] you have your own, unique hair problem. that's why hair club offers a wide range of private, designed-for-you hair loss solutions, each of them proven and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. call or go online for more details. i look better today than i did at 40. i can style my hair the way i used to when i was younger. i love life. and why do i love life? because hair club brought that life back to me. [ female announcer ] after 40 years and 500,000 happy clients, from soccer moms to celebrities,

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>> man: we're back. did you guess the right answer to our question? >> man: the answer is... >> man: that's right. both penguins and flamingos have webbed feet. and we can easily see why penguins need webbed feet, since swimming is what they do best. but why would these big pink birds need webbed toes? simple. toe webbing keeps them from sinking down into the soft mud. now in terms of life span, these great pink birds are very long-lived. 20 to 30 years is common,

is not unusual. whoa! that's close to your life span, macaw, and you're famous for your longevity. what about penguins? they live about 20 years, though just 10 years in the wild is common. so the tall pink one is long-lived, while the shorter, tuxedo-colored one has a shorter life but a full life to be sure. the penguin may be shorter in stature and life span, but which bird is bigger? well, that's a good question, because when we talk about size, do we mean heaviest, tallest, longest or widest? for example, the heaviest animal in the world is the african elephant who, at 15,000 pounds, makes the other african giants look like featherweights. but if the tallest is the biggest, then the giraffe, at close to 20 feet tall, will look down on the broad head

but back to our flamingos and penguins. can there be any doubt that the flamingo is the bigger of the two? absolutely. let's compare the chilean flamingo with the black-footed penguin. this great pink bird is close to 4 feet tall with a wingspan of nearly 5 feet. compare that to our husky penguin who stands just 2 feet tall with a wingspan of, well, no real wingspan to write home about. the flamingo is twice the height of the penguin, but at close to 8 pounds, the flightless penguin outweighs the flamingo by a good pound or 2. what? how can that be? think about it. flightless birds, like this emu, can be much heavier than birds who can fly, since they don't have to get off the ground.

to worry about their weight in the water, because water provides a natural buoyancy for even the heaviest creatures in the world. birds who can fly not only have wings that are shaped to provide lift but also have hollow, and therefore lighter, bones. so who's bigger? it depends if you mean taller or heavier. one thing these birds have in common is that there's not just one kind of flamingo or penguin. as we've mentioned, there are 17 species of penguins, including our black-footed penguin, king penguin, rockhopper, humboldt, chinstrap and gentoo. for comparison, there are five species

including our chilean flamingo, lesser flamingo and caribbean flamingo. how do the various species differ from one another? first, the commonalities. all penguins have more in common than just black-and-white feathers. penguins have a big head, a short, thick neck, a streamlined shape, flipper-like wings, webbed feet and a short, wedge-shaped tail. and all flamingos not only celebrate shades of pink in their plumage, they also all have long legs, webbed toes, a long, curved neck and a goose-like voice. (flamingo honks) >> man: as for the differences between the species, these often concern the details of appearance. for example,

as its name suggests, is the smallest of all the flamingos and the most brightly colored. look closely, and you'll see that chilean flamingos have yellow-gray legs with pink bands at the joints, while the caribbean flamingo has pinkish legs and slightly darker knees. their beaks differ, too. while the tip of the caribbean flamingo's bill is darker, the lesser flamingo has a completely dark bill-- subtle differences, yes, and something we may not notice at first, because we're blinded by all that pink. what about penguins? indeed, after you get past the black-and-white feathers, each species looks a bit different from the next. take our black-footed penguin, also called the african penguin and the jackass penguin.

red bare patches above its eyes and random black spots on its chest and belly. a very different look, isn't it, compared to, say, the sleek gentoo penguin? wait a minute. did we say "jackass penguin"? that's right. they're so called, because the sound these penguins make resembles a braying donkey, which is also called a jackass. just some of the details that make the world of birds so darn interesting. when we come back to "animal atlas," we'll reveal the best-kept secrets of these two feathered creatures. but first,

this next animal fact... >> man: don't go away. the answer coming up

hi, i'm matt mccoy. how long have you had your car insurance? i ask because i had mine for over 20 years, before i switched and saved hundreds with the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. i was with my previous insurance for 30 years. but they could not compete with the hartford. people 50 and over could save hundreds of dollars when they switch. i had done a lot of comparison shopping. the rate was like half of what i was paying. [ female announcer ] $420 is the average amount drivers save when they switch

you know, it makes me wonder why everyone 50 and over hasn't switched. [ female announcer ] 4 out of 5 aarp members who switched to the hartford from companies like allstate, state farm and geico, got a lower rate with the hartford. so, call... or go to gohartfordauto.com for your free quote. if you're not already an aarp member, the hartford can help you join in minutes. let me tell you what else the hartford does. they promise not to drop you, even if you're in an accident. it's called lifetime renewability and it's included with your policy. it's a great feeling to know that they're not going to drop you for that reason. and if by chance you're ever injured in an accident, the hartford has a benefit called recovercare. this will help cover the cost of having someone do your grocery shopping, your house cleaning, lawn care, even walk your dog. [ leslie ] they were there when we got the insurance

and we really appreciate that. [ female announcer ] save $420 on average, get lifetime renewability and recovercare. call the hartford at... to request your free quote. that's... or go to gohartfordauto.com today. get this free calculator just for requesting a quote. >> man: we're back. did you guess the right answer to our question? the answer is... >> man: flamingos aren't born pink. in fact, most naturally have feathers as white as those of the ibis or the great white egret, which is why there is such variation in the pink/red/orange color of various flamingos, even within the same species. their color comes from the algae

in the water to eat, things that are rich sources of carotenoid pigments, which is the same pigment in orange carrots. flamingos aren't the only birds who have turned pink from what they eat. both the roseate spoonbill and the scarlet ibis are living testament to the idea that you are what you eat, at least in terms of color. but here's what's really interesting. to feed, the flamingo lowers its head into the water upside down. as it moves its head from side to side, it collects a mixture of food and water. inside its mouth is a piston-like tongue, which pumps the water past little lamellae, or strainers, inside the beak. the tiny food is trapped inside. the water goes back into the stream, and the flamingo

of beta-carotene to keep it in the pink. penguins, on the other hand, don't have such a complicated way of feeding. they find a fish or are offered one, and they open their mouths and swallow. this is a fish-spearing, fish eater's beak and definitely not a filter feeder's. because both the flamingo and penguin eat animals as opposed to vegetation, no matter how big or tiny and cute they might be, both birds are carnivores. okay, since the flamingo is pink because of what it eats, it follows that the penguin must be black and white because of what it eats, maybe black-and-white fish. that's a fun guess, but that's not it. no, penguins' feathers are black and white

pink may not be much in the way of a camouflage color, but hey, there's no hiding a flock of flamingos anyway. but black and white like this is called "countershading." all penguins have a darker color on their backs and a lighter color on their bellies. they may stand out like a black-and-white tuxedo on the shore, but think about it. penguins don't swim vertically. they only stand this way. in the water, where penguin predators lurk, the penguin's darker back faces upward making it almost invisible from above, while from below, its light belly makes it almost indistinguishable from the sky above the water. countershading also works in shades of gray and white. just take a look at the dolphin or the ground squirrel. hey, it works for rays, too.

black-and-white camouflage, what else do different species of penguins have in common? for one thing, all wild penguins are found only in the southern hemisphere. not a single penguin will be found up north near the arctic circle where the polar bear lives. but not all penguins live near antarctica where it's very cold. in fact, our african penguin is found in the temperate waters off the coast of africa. this is one penguin who appreciates a warm sunny day, unlike a number of others who consider 40 degrees the perfect temperature. yes, penguins, despite not being able to fly, do get around so much so that they are found on every continent in the southern hemisphere. what about flamingos? the chilean flamingo, as its name suggests,

and around south america. the caribbean flamingo, accordingly, makes the caribbean its home, while the lesser flamingo is primarily an african species. the one absolute is that all flamingos are found only in tropical or subtropical areas. to recap, many penguins like it very cold, while a few prefer milder climates, but flamingos can only live where it's relatively warm and wet. one thing that both penguins and flamingos have in common is that they are very social. flamingos live in groups that vary in size from a few pair to thousands or even tens of thousands. penguins, too, live in large groups called colonies. though penguins occasionally will be solitary

most swim and hunt for food in groups. generally speaking, if you see one penguin, there are many more nearby. and likewise, where there's one flamingo, there are bound to be others in the vicinity. marching or walking together and then switching direction abruptly as one is a group behavior practiced both by flamingos and penguins with admirable precision. the big pink bird with the long legs and the strange bill may not seem to have much in common with the short black-and-white bird with the flipper wings, but it's feathers that make the bird, flamingo and penguin alike. >> man: for more fun animal facts and news, visit our web site at... >> man: the internet, you say? >> man: aw, that's nice.

>> man: see you there. don't go away. "animal atlas" will be right back. hi, i'm matt mccoy. how long have you had your car insurance? i ask because i had mine for over 20 years, before i switched and saved hundreds with the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. i was with my previous insurance for 30 years. but they could not compete with the hartford. people 50 and over

i had done a lot of comparison shopping. the rate was like half of what i was paying. [ female announcer ] $420 is the average amount drivers save when they switch to the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. you know, it makes me wonder why everyone 50 and over hasn't switched. [ female announcer ] 4 out of 5 aarp members who switched to the hartford from companies like allstate, state farm and geico, got a lower rate with the hartford. so, call... or go to gohartfordauto.com for your free quote. if you're not already an aarp member, the hartford can help you join in minutes. let me tell you what else the hartford does. they promise not to drop you, even if you're in an accident. it's called lifetime renewability and it's included with your policy. it's a great feeling to know that they're not going to drop you for that reason. and if by chance you're ever injured in an accident,

this will help cover the cost of having someone do your grocery shopping, your house cleaning, lawn care, even walk your dog. [ leslie ] they were there when we got the insurance and they were there when we needed it. and we really appreciate that. [ female announcer ] save $420 on average, get lifetime renewability and recovercare. call the hartford at... to request your free quote. that's... or go to gohartfordauto.com today. get this free calculator just for requesting a quote. tthey said a bottle was just a bottle.

but i knew i could be more. that one day, i would make people smile. [woman speaking indistinctly] ththey told me a bottle couldn't dream. that i would never become a superhero. [singing indistinctly] but i learned how to fly. just to come back, in a new disguise. and be the hero that i've always wanted to be. announcer: they'll test you.

but however loud the loudness gets. however many cheese puffs may fly. you're the driver. the one in control. stand firm. just wait. [click] and move only when you hear the click that says they're buckled in for the drive. never give up till they buckle up. >> ushaka: do you want to know what you can do to help some of africa's endangered species? today's safari will show you. so climb aboard-- it's going to be another wild one. because this is africa. this is "safari tracks."

african language) >> ushaka: kunjani. i am ushaka. it's easy to think that animals are everywhere in africa. but in recent years, many species have been threatened by hunting and the spread of human society and industry. today, we'll try to track down some of africa's most endangered species. they're not always easy to find. but first we're going to see how some creatures make their debut in the bush. >> ushaka: in the animal kingdom, the term "birth" refers to the way offspring

but did you know there are actually three scientific terms that describe different types of births? try dropping these vocabulary words on your friends at a party sometime. viviparous animals are the species that give birth to live babies. the offspring develop inside the mother and is nourished until birth, like this hyena pup. most viviparous animals are mammals. after they are born, they must have an external food supply to survive. and in the world of african animals, that's not always as easy as finding your local burger hut. however, in the race for survival, baby hyenas have a paw up on the competition. unlike most carnivores, they are born in an advanced state of development. their eyes are open. they've already got most of their teeth. they can even pull themselves across the ground with their front paws. for a few weeks after the birth, the mother will keep out of sight with her new pups.

after she introduces them to her clan, the whole family will help care for her young. oviparous animals produce and lay eggs that hatch outside the mother, like these noisy oriole chicks... or this cracked tortoise egg... and, of course, the mighty crocodile. to attract females during the mating season, a male croc really rocks. he'll blow, slap his snout on the water and make lots of other singing noises to attract the ladies. (crocodile growls) >> ushaka: when a male hooks up with a female, they rub their jaws together affectionately. about two months later, their reptile romance leads to-- you got it, my friends-- baby crocodiles. oh! after the eggs are laid in a nest like this, the female covers them with sand and then guards them for a 3-month incubation period. during this time, the father becomes a stay-at-home dad--

for potential danger. when the babies are ready to hatch, their parents will sometimes help crack the shells open with their teeth, the same way you eat sunflower seeds. amazing! now for a real tongue twister. ovoviviparous animals produce eggs that hatch inside the mother, followed by a live birth, like this great white shark. little is known about their reproductive process, but scientists have discovered their babies are perfectly capable predators from the moment they are born. african pythons are ovoviviparous, too. he looks like he's got places to go and fresh prey to squeeze, so let's move on, and this time i mean up, up and away. >> ushaka: wind and weather permitting, hot air balloons are a magical way

these amazing flying machines work off of one simple principle-- warm air rises in cool air because warmer air has less mass. >> men: (singing african language) >> ushaka: from up here, the east african savanna looks endless. it also makes you appreciate the fact that some lions claim a home range as vast as 1,600 square miles. those kitties get around. >> men: (singing african language) >> ushaka: of all the migrating animals we can observe from this altitude, none is more impressive than the wildebeest. unlike many other species, their numbers have actually increased in recent years. they numbered about 250,000 in 1960

one and a half million today. >> ushaka: hey, what's the minivan doing out here? oh! wait, my friends. that's a female white rhinoceros. their typical home range is from 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 square miles. but unlike males, who won't set foot in another male's territory, the ladies are quite neighborly. they don't mind if their ranges overlap, and they nuzzle nose to nose when they bump into each other in the bush. those elephants like to travel. the size of their territories varies from herd to herd. if food and water are plentiful, some elephants are perfectly content in a 15-square-mile territory. others need home ranges covering nearly 4,000 square miles. seeing the savanna from this vantage point kind of gives you

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(bird squawks) >> ushaka: africa is a land of vast, open space where animals roam free. but some of this land's most beautiful and amazing animals are struggling to survive. today we'll see the challenges these animals face and what's being done to help them. >> ushaka: to understand why so many of africa's animals are endangered, you first need to understand more about the biomes, or ecological zones, where they live. >> ushaka: lush forests like this are home to a lot of mammals, rodents and insects, but at the current rate that forests

it may not be around much longer. (car horns honking) >> people: (speaking indistinctly) >> ushaka: try to wrap your brainpans around this, my friends-- worldwide, an area of forest equal to 20 football fields is lost every minute. when a forest is lost, so are many of the animals that depend on it for survival. but since forests are home to more than half of all species on earth and one-third of our medicines come from forests, you might think people would never cut them down. (saw buzzing) >> ushaka: well, they do. africa's bulging population of nearly 800 million people puts tremendous pressure on forests for resources. they are cut down for firewood or to create farmland for crops and cattle. commercial logging

>> ushaka: that brings elephants and humans into direct conflict for two reasons-- the increasing human population needs more living space, and elephants need huge habitats because they eat so much. more often than not, elephants come out on the losing end of this battle. (elephant trumpets) >> ushaka: and when elephants do fight back, villagers can get hurt. 25 years ago, there were nearly a million and a half elephants in africa. today, they are endangered because there are only about 500,000 left... and most of them are restricted to overcrowded parks and reserves. but even here, they are not completely safe. for some, killing an elephant for sport is a dream come true. others take them for their ivory,

on the black market, where it is used in traditional medicines and carvings. >> men: (singing african language) >> ushaka: still, there are some hopeful signs for elephants, my friends. in some african countries, antipoaching laws and conservation efforts have contributed to a slight increase in their populations. and captive breeding of elephants in some public zoos means they don't have to kidnap more elephants from the wild for display. >> men: (singing african language) (elephant trumpets) >> ushaka: another victim of the ivory trade is the magnificent rhinoceros. since the 1970s, demand for rhino horn in the middle east,

has tragically cut their population by 90%. presently, only two species remain in africa-- the black rhinoceros and the white or square-lipped rhino. >> ushaka: the total population of rhinos in africa has dropped to less than 10,000. but here's the good news, my friends-- the population of black rhinos in southern africa has been increasing for several years. and when you look at the horns on these rhinos, i hope the guy that counts them gets extra hazard pay. >> ushaka: organizations like the international fund for animal welfare, or ifaw, are making a difference. when it comes to saving rhinos and elephants, they're not afraid to step in and do the heavy lifting, literally. >> men: (shouting indistinctly) >> ushaka: you're watching an ifaw team of experts

from a dangerous habitat to a protected reserve where it will have a better chance of survival. this rhino may be a bit homesick and cranky at first, but he'll love his new digs soon enough. in the race against human sprawl and poaching, ifaw's experts have successfully relocated many endangered rhinos and elephants. but there's still much more that needs to be done. >> ushaka: cheetahs have been stalking the savanna for over four million years, but if present trends continue, my friends, their days may be numbered. cheetahs are not the largest of cats, but their incredible speed makes them formidable hunters. yet today, there are fewer than 12,000 of these elegant cats left. did you catch that? in your future,

once again, the root of the threat is habitat destruction and poaching. with every new farm and cattle ranch, cheetahs lose a bit of their territory. and unfortunately, farmers and hunters often kill them indiscriminately. but if all this news about endangered species is making you want to disappear, take heart, my friends, you're going to learn

when we return. hi, i'm matt mccoy. how long have you had your car insurance? i ask because i had mine for over 20 years, before i switched and saved hundreds with the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. i was with my previous insurance for 30 years. but they could not compete with the hartford. people 50 and over could save hundreds of dollars when they switch. i had done a lot of comparison shopping. the rate was like half of what i was paying. [ female announcer ] $420 is the average amount drivers save when they switch

you know, it makes me wonder why everyone 50 and over hasn't switched. [ female announcer ] 4 out of 5 aarp members who switched to the hartford from companies like allstate, state farm and geico, got a lower rate with the hartford. so, call... or go to gohartfordauto.com for your free quote. if you're not already an aarp member, the hartford can help you join in minutes. let me tell you what else the hartford does. they promise not to drop you, even if you're in an accident. it's called lifetime renewability and it's included with your policy. it's a great feeling to know that they're not going to drop you for that reason. and if by chance you're ever injured in an accident, the hartford has a benefit called recovercare. this will help cover the cost of having someone do your grocery shopping, your house cleaning, lawn care, even walk your dog. [ leslie ] they were there when we got the insurance

and we really appreciate that.t. [ female announcer ] save $420 on average, get lifetime renewability and recovercare. call the hartford at... to request your free quote. that's... or go to gohartfordauto.com today. get this free calculator just for requesting a quote. (birds chirping) (elephant trumpets) >> ushaka: today's safari has taken us deep into the world of africa's most endangered animals. across the continent, human sprawl, poaching

have driven many species to the edge of oblivion. >> ushaka: this crab may know there's trouble off africa's coast as well, like the problems with this coral reef. notice how broken-down and bleached the coral heads look, huh? that's a sign that the reef is in trouble. >> people: (speaking indistinctly) >> ushaka: commercial fishing, tourism, pollution and temperature changes due to global warming threaten the reef. and if the reef isn't healthy, species that depend on it, like these clown fish, may soon be in jeopardy, too. >> ushaka: farther offshore, great white sharks lurk in the deep,

>> ushaka: great whites live in the coastal surface waters of all major oceans, and they may be earth's most fearsome predator. yet, even they cannot escape the hazards of human industry. no accurate numbers on great white shark populations exist, but scientists believe they have become an endangered species. that's due in part to fishermen that target them for their valuable jaws, teeth and fins, or capture them accidentally. >> ushaka: now you may be thinking fewer great white sharks is a good thing, huh? not when you understand that their reputation as man-eaters is totally exaggerated. for example, more people are killed in the united states each year by domesticated dogs than have been killed by sharks in the last 100 years. and remember, my friends, their feeding habits are crucial to the balance of nature.

into extinction, organizations such as the wildlife conservation society, or w.c.s., are doing all they can to help. think about it-- so little is known about great white sharks, such as their mating habits and birth process. it would be a tragedy for them to vanish now. what if they held the secret to a cure for a.i.d.s. or cancer? you never know. >> ushaka: all too often, wild animals wind up in the crosshairs of human expansion and enterprise. witness the bushmeat crisis of west and central africa... here, poachers and the global timber industry are pushing gorillas and chimpanzees toward extinction. if the slaughter continues, the remaining wild apes in africa could be gone in the next half century. but in this fight to save the great apes, education may be the most powerful weapon.

the world wildlife fund launched an education campaign featuring koko-- a gorilla much like this one-- who could perform and understand sign language. not surprisingly, as the local children's awareness and care for gorillas increased, local support for gorilla hunting fell off. way to go, koko! >> ushaka: farther east, in kenya's tsavo national park, another potential success story is unfolding. (elephant trumpets) >> ushaka: located in southern kenya, tsavo national park is an endless tapestry of over 8,000 miles of open plains, palm-fringed rivers and more than 60 species of large mammals. >> ushaka: it is the ancient domain of the "big five"--

buffalo and rhino. >> ushaka: but this magnificent place is in peril. like so many other places i've shown you today, human encroachment is driving many of tsavo's animals to extinction. and with only a handful of rangers to patrol 8,000 miles of land, poaching is a vicious and persistent problem. something needs to be done, and once again, ifaw's experts are part of the solution. working with officers from the kenyan wildlife service, ifaw has launched an all-out effort to save tsavo national park. the multimillion-dollar plan will focus on routine operations, research, education and wildlife security. ifaw is working with local communities to educate people

between man and nature. >> ushaka: more rangers are being added to the park's staff to beef up law enforcement against poachers. and yet, without more support from concerned people like us, all of this may not be enough. the crises that beset tsavo national park and other parts of africa may seem like a world away to you. but many of the organizations that are making a difference might be right in your own backyard. the most important thing is to get involved. and organizations like the wildlife conservation society, world wildlife fund and ifaw

hi, i'm matt mccoy. how long have you had your car insurance? i ask because i had mine for over 20 years, before i switched and saved hundreds with the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford.

but they could not compete with the hartford. people 50 and over could save hundreds of dollars when they switch. i had done a lot of comparison shopping. the rate was like half of what i was paying. [ female announcer ] $420 is the average amount drivers save when they switch to the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. you know, it makes me wonder why everyone 50 and over hasn't switched. [ female announcer ] 4 out of 5 aarp members who switched to the hartford from companies like allstate, state farm and geico, got a lower rate with the hartford. so, call... or go to gohartfordauto.com for your free quote. if you're not already an aarp member, the hartford can help you join in minutes. let me tell you what else the hartford does. they promise not to drop you, even if you're in an accident. it's called lifetime renewability

it's a great feeling to know that they're not going to drop you for that reason. and if by chance you're ever injured in an accident, the hartford has a benefit called recovercare. this will help cover the cost of having someone do your grocery shopping, your house cleaning, lawn care, even walk your dog. [ leslie ] they were there when we got the insurance and they were there when we needed it. and we really appreciate that. [ female announcer ] save $420 on average, get lifetime renewability and recovercare. call the hartford at... to request your free quote. that's... or go to gohartfordauto.com today. get this free calculator just for requesting a quote. >> ushaka: as a result of rhino conservation efforts, the total number of rhinos

has soared in recent years. yes, yes. this has led to an alarming increase of rhino road rage, where two rhinos refuse to yield the right-of-way to each other. (horns honking) >> ushaka: buffalo are struggling with a similar problem. rush hour traffic has gotten so bad on their migration trails, they're rear-ending each other constantly. come on! let's move it along, buddy. (laughs) now just hold on a minute. let's throw the jeep in reverse and go back to those rhinos. (audio runs backwards) >> ushaka: while conservation efforts have recently raised their total estimated population to around 10,000, they're still highly endangered. believe me, gridlock and road rage are the least of their worries. >> ushaka: one of the more interesting vocabulary words we learned today is viviparous. that's the term

after it's been wadded up in a hiking boot too long. when that happens to a fellow camper, you say, "dude, your socks are viviparous. throw them in the campfire, huh?" hopefully, you won't do it because the term actually refers to animals that give birth to live infants, such as lions, hyenas and wildebeests. >> men: (singing african language) >> ushaka: i hope you enjoyed our special journey today. it's important that we understand and respect the wildlife of africa, for it is just that-- wild and primitive-- but with an order that is beautiful and unique. we must do all we can to help preserve that so future generations can appreciate and learn from these animals, just like we have. until next time, my friends,

stay well. captioning provided by cs#f> today on "the coolest places on earth," we're heading down under to one of the coolest continents on the planet, australia. we'll go surfing and sunbathing on sydney's amazing beaches, cross the legendary outback, and get to the bottom and the top of uluru. it's going to be a bonza time.

mate. this is "the coolest places on earth." australia, it's the world's biggest island and tiniest continent. it's also the world's sixth largest country, with over 3 million square miles of dazzling deserts, fabulous beaches, stunning wetlands, and rain forests filled with the most unusual wildlife that you'll find anywhere on earth. winter runs june through august while summer is december through february. hey, anyone up for a christmas barbie at the beach? here's a little bit of aussie history. in 1770, british captain james cook claimed what would later be called new south wales and created an outpost, a penal colony for great britain.

this is one big jail. in 1788, the "botany bay" pulled into sydney's harbor and delivered about 1,500 convicts. talk about survival of the fittest. good luck, guys. by the 1850s, lots of free settlers followed. why? because gold was discovered in victoria. on january 1, 1901, australia became a nation. we start our amazing australian adventure in new south wales, the premier state. it's home to about 800 national parks, the national rugby league, and australia's largest and most populated city, sydney-- historic, beautiful, cosmopolitan city. the capital of new south wales is perhaps the number one tourist attraction in all australia. bordered by the blue mountains

ocean to the east, sydney is the heartbeat of australian art, culture, five-star dining, serious shopping, and nature at its best. this is more than just another big city. need to unwind? in sydney, you're never far from the beach or a park, so indulge yourself with a little relaxation in the great outdoors. in the arvo, stroll through centennial park or have a picnic lunch at the royal botanic gardens. if sand and surf are more your speed, catch some waves at beautiful world famous botany beach. ah, this is pure sydney. sun worshippers, there's year-round surfing here, and there are even secret beaches. shh. don't tell anyone. there are tiny, sparkling, secluded beach oases favored by the locals just a little off the beaten path that offer all the beach you want without the crowds. or take it a notch

sports better than the aussies. skydiving and parasailing are just a few of the activities you can leap into while you're here. scuba diving and kayaking are also high on the list. go ahead, give it a burl. if these activities aren't enough to get your heart pumping, how about climbing a bridge? sydney's major focal point is sydney harbor and the massive steel-arch harbor bridge. it's said to be the biggest steel-arch bridge in the southern hemisphere, but don't just drive across it. you've got to climb this one. it's a guided 440-foot ascent from the bridge's underbelly over the massive arch to the summit. how's this for an unparalleled view of sydney? over 3 million people, visitors and aussies alike, young and old, have

stand triumphantly at the top. from the bridge, you can see the sydney opera house. completed in 1973, this innovative world-class performing arts center is what really put sydney on the map. with 5 stages and nearly 1,000 rooms, excellent acoustics, and one of the most unusual an recognizable rooftops in the world, the modern sydney opera house is a must see. be sure to take a behind-the-scenes backstage tour. better yet, catch a show. canberra, the capital of australia, is in new south wales. if you're interested in the richness and diversity of australian history and culture, aboriginal art and incredible wildlife preserves, canberra is the city for you. it's quaint, with colonial villages, art

vineyards, and antique stores. it also has namadgi national park. take a bush walk, that's australian for hiking, along dozens of trails and discover aboriginal history. go rock climbing or just admire the rock art along the way. and a mere 40 minutes from canberra is tidbinbilla nature reserve. with great camping and fishing along the murrumbidgee river, you're bound to see all kinds of wildlife such as emus and kangaroos. but don't get too close to the roos. they can sometimes pack quite a punch and a kick. just out of town are the mighty australian alps, which means ski resorts. but if you want to avoid snow, try springtime in canberra. and check out floriade in commonwealth park, a major month-long free-to-the-public event that showcases over a million fragrant flowers of

color. want even more color? look up. it's the autumn canberra balloon fiesta. these delightful technicolor balloons take to the skies every march for 9 uplifting days of balloon mania. magical. you can also go biking and boating with the family around beautiful lake burley griffin, named for the american-born architect who designed the city. no matter what you choose, you're going to fall in love with canberra. when we come back, we're heading to melbourne to meet the 12 apostles, jump with the kangaroos, and check out some serious graffiti. later we'll dive into the great barrier reef and climb uluru. it's "the coolest places on earth." hi, i'm matt mccoy. how long have you had your car insurance?

before i switched and saved hundreds with the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. i was with my previous insurance for 30 years. but they could not compete with the hartford. people 50 and over could save hundreds of dollars when they switch. i had done a lot of comparison shopping. the rate was like half of what i was paying. [ female announcer ] $420 is the average amount drivers save when they switch to the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. you know, it makes me wonder why everyone 50 and over hasn't switched. [ female announcer ] 4 out of 5 aarp members who switched to the hartford from companies like allstate, state farm and geico, got a lower rate with the hartford. so, call... or go to gohartfordauto.com for your free quote. if you're not already an aarp member, the hartford can help you join in minutes. let me tell you what else the hartford does.

even if you're in an accident. it's called lifetime renewability and it's included with your policy. it's a great feeling to know that they're not going to drop you for that reason. and if by chance you're ever injured in an accident, the hartford has a benefit called recovercare. this will help cover the cost of having someone do your grocery shopping, your house cleaning, lawn care, even walk your dog. [ leslie ] they were there when we got the insurance and they were there when we needed it. and we really appreciate that. [ female announcer ] save $420 on average, get lifetime renewability and recovercare. call the hartford at... to request your free quote. that's... or go to gohartfordauto.com today. get this free calculator just for requesting a quote. welcome back to "the coolest

continue on our australian adventure, we thought it might be helpful to offer a little primer on speaking australian, so here goes. a billabong is a park. brekkie is breakfast. a biggie is a cookie. lolly water, that's soda or pop depending on where you come from. see you in the soup means see you around. a chook is chicken. chockie is chocolate. and clobber is clothing. if you keep stuff in the boot of your car, it means the trunk. and oldies, they're your parents. got it? well, good on ya, mate. now let's go to victoria on the southeastern coast. this is australia's major manufacturing and agricultural state as well as a popular tourist attraction. melbourne, victoria's capital, is the country's second most populated city. one look and

gorgeous, sophisticated, trendy, and a little traditional. it's no wonder melbourne has been called one of the most livable cities in the world. it's a cultural melting pot where you'll find cutting-edge restaurants, high-fashion boutiques, amazing cafes with some of the world's best-tasting coffee--no joke-- and one amazing skyline. hop the tram and take a shopping expedition down chapel street or to queen victoria market or find some of the many gothic laneways to get a taste of the real melbourne. sample some of the finest, freshest cuisine. every kind of food you can imagine can be found here, but make sure you try a traditional meat pie from one of the smaller cafes. they're scrumptious. and here's a tip. there's no tipping the waiters in melbourne. walk off your meal by taking a stroll along the yarra river or the royal botanic gardens. if you really want to know what it takes to be a melbournian, you

australian rules football, known very affectionately as footy, is one of melbourne's greatest pastimes. it's so important that they have 5 international sporting arenas, making melbourne the world's ultimate sports city. the players are all local heroes, and nobody misses a game. and notice no helmets, no shoulder pads, ouch. to say that people love the sport almost seems like an understatement. melbourne's you don't have to go to a gallery. some people call it graffiti or tagging, but others call it street art. the city of melbourne actually manages and regulates the graffiti that graces its walls. this is tagging 2.0., and it's all about art. but if you're feeling a little artistic, wait before you pick up that spray can. you have to get a permit before you start

170 miles west of melbourne, from the surf coast highway to the great ocean road, there along the shipwrecked coast, there they are, standing majestically as if rising up from the southern ocean, the 12 apostles. a collection of natural limestone sea stacks, cliff pieces of the mainland that have weathered many, many storms. these monolithic stacks have been sculpted, reshaped, and reformed by over 10 million years of wind and waves. consider taking a scenic helicopter tour for an even more spectacular view. this is arid south australia, or s.a. as the locals call it. you can expect long, hot summers and mild winters and some of the most amazing landscapes in all of australia. most residents live in the state capital of adelaide, but go a little farther and you'll find

established back in 1836 at kingscote and kangaroo island. the natural wildlife sanctuary of kangaroo island, australia's third largest island, is astonishing. k.i., as the locals call it, is just a ferry ride away from adelaide. or you can take a short flight. no matter how you get there, you'll want to stay awhile. if you've ever wanted to explore the australian bush, this is a great place to start. unspoiled white sand beaches, untouched bush land, and wildlife everywhere you turn on land, in the air, and by sea. everything from sea lions to cute penguins, kangaroos and wallabies, pelicans and koalas. hey, easy on that eucalyptus. it's like a zoo without cages. and here you're in their neighborhood. charter an eco tour and let the locals show you

perspective. she'll be right. on k.i., you can camp or stay in a luxury suite. real outdoor lovers sleep in a comfy swag under a canopy of stars. but you won't be spending a lot of time sleeping. you'll go fishing or take out a boat. explore the sparkling beaches and discover magical hidden coves. pick a day to check out flinders chase national park with its other-worldly lichen-covered red rock formations, called remarkable rocks. don't miss the admiral's arch, a favorite hangout for sea lions and fur seals. if you've ever seen or worn an opal, it probably came from coober pedy, a desert town in south australia about 500 miles north of adelaide. coober pedy is a mining town. it's actually considered the opal capital of the world. but because of the heat, everybody in coober pedy

they even have underground churches and jewelry stores. in fact, coober pedy's name comes from the aboriginal term kupa-piti, which literally means white men living in holes. when we return, we'll swim the great barrier reef and go walkabout through the awesome northern territory.

places on earth."

places on earth." queensland, known as the sunshine state, borders the brilliant coral sea. more than 4.5 million people live here, most along the coast, which is why queensland is also called surfer's paradise, and it may be queensland's best kept secret. not for long. the gold coast, just a short 58 miles south of brisbane, has many of the best beaches in the world. it's also home to the hinterlands, a lush subtropical rain forest along the edge of an old volcano. take a bush walk on these incredible scenic trails, dine a la fresco at one of hundreds of cafes and restaurants, or spend a day at some of the gold coast's many zoos and sanctuaries, truly the best in the southern hemisphere. it's called k'gari by the aboriginal people, meaning

beautiful fraser island is the world's largest sand island. over 75 miles of white, uninterrupted beaches, ancient rain forests, giant coastal dunes, and brilliant wild flowers, and freshwater lakes. the sand under your feet could be over 750,000 years old, remnants of volcanic bedrock. the multi-colored cathedral is a product of natural erosion. you'll also find swamp wallabies and dingoes. and a profusion of birds and reptiles. keep an eye out t r crocs and watch the waves. you're bound to see plenty of humpback whales, sharks, and dolphins at play. urban sunshine coast just north of brisbane is a little more laid back and easy with awesome beaches, freshwater lakes, and family-oriented hinterland villages that make it a pretty

stretching over 30 miles from one end to the other, sunshine coast is blessed with awesome weather and spectacular waves, so don't forget your board. this is one of the wonders of the natural world, australia's great barrier reef. here in the coral sea off the coast of queensland is the world's largest coral reef system, a massive ecosystem that supports more birds, mammals, and marine life than anything else like it in the world. you'll fall in love with the sugar white sand beaches and crystal waters. but nothing can adequately prepare you for what you'll find underwater. the colors will astound you. there's nothing else like it in

the northern territory, though sparsely populated, is a major tourist attraction. this is pure outback. archaeologists can trace human history here back 40,000 years when australia's indigenous people first settled these lands. darwin, the capital city near the timor sea, is small, somewhat isolated, yet quite cosmopolitan. but once you leave the city limits, you're in the outback. make sure you find your way to kakadu national park about 90 miles southeast of darwin. aboriginals jointly manage its 3.2 million acres. these protected wetlands are teeming with wildlife including 10,000 species of insects and several rare species of plants. it's also inhabited by a healthy population of saltwater crocodiles. the northern territory is where you'll also find uluru, the spiritual

from every corner of the world gather here to marvel at this natural geologic wonder. it's made of sandstone and stands 1,100 feet tall with a circumference of over 5 miles. depending on the position of the sun, uluru seems to change color from glowing orange to deep red. when we come back, it's all

coolest places on earth." welcome back to "the coolest places on earth." our final stop on this australian adventure is western australia and its capital city, perth. this small, isolated mining town also once served as a prison colony until the discovery of gold. today perth is australia's fastest-growing city. still, it maintains a certain laid-back, peaceful quality most big cities tend to lose. here, it's all about quite coastal living. its beaches are gorgeous, and better yet, uncrowded. that's right, so if relaxing is your number one priority, hit the beach. plus perth's unspoiled national parks are under an hour's drive away. check out pinnaroo valley memorial park if you want to see

chill. ah, perth. the perfect way to end at the perfect holiday. that's australian for vacation. hooroo. we'll see you next time. >> [plays a didgeridoo] >> this is "the coolest places on earth." as an american, it's hard to hear

and as a parent, it's even harder to hear that one in 5 of our kids struggles with hunger, especially when billions of pounds of good food are wasted every year. feeding america is a nationwide network of food banks that helps provide billions of meals to families in need right in your community. visit feedingamerica.org to support feeding america and your local food bank. together, we can solve hunger. together, we're feeding america. everywhere that we go he makes people laugh and makes people smile and i feel like i have that quality. he's the one that always takes me fishing. i watch golf with him. [laughing] i watch him cook, 'cause when i grow up, i want to be a cook too. we have the same faces, like this. dad is the one, when you fall that picks you up. that unconditional sense of presence and um, reassurance, is really what makes him my father.

...dot com. you want a college education, don't you? you know you do. that's why we're here. we're free, and here to guide you through every step of the way. starting with... attendance. [air horn] gary, financial aid forms... picking a college, man! you and us. we go together like tacos and tuesday. and i loooove tacos. narrator: go to getschooled.com >> today, we're heading to the pacific northwest to explore one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and tour one of the world's most progressive cities. in oregon, it's all about the green, from biking to save on gas to the moss on the trees. oregonians are here to see it, enjoy it, and not destroy it,

bikes,