The next day, the Wild Kratts were discussing on where to go next for adventures. And the big main screen showed a map of the world.
"Okay Wild Kratts, where should we go next?" Martin inquired.
"Hmm? So many places we haven't checked out yet." Chris said. "Where to go? Where to go?"
"How 'bout Asia?" Koki suggested. "We've only checked out the Indonesia Rainforest of southeast Asia, so far."
"True, other areas on that continent that we have to check out." Chris said. "Like India, home of the Tigers, Asian Elephants, and the King of Snakes, the King Cobra."
And then the map showed India with a Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant and King Cobra.
"Eh, I'm thinking Australia with the friendly Kangaroos and Koalas." Jimmy said. "And not much to worry."
"I wouldn't care to relax, Jimmy." Chris advised. "Australia is home to some of the deadliest snakes and spiders on Earth. Like the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider, and the Eastern Brown Snake."
"Oh." Jimmy said.
"We could check out other habitats in Africa." Martin suggested. "So far, the Savannah. We could also check out the mysterious Jungles of the Congo, or maybe the biggest Desert on Earth, the Sahara.
"We do that, we have to check out Egypt." Aviva said.
"Deal." Martin said.
"Hmm, you know there are still 2 continents we haven't checked out yet." Chris said. "South America and Antarctica."
"Ooh, South America's my favorite continent." Aviva said. "I've been waiting for a while."
"I would sure love to explore the South Pole of the Antarctic." Chris said. "Where you can find 7 out of 10 species of penguins. And home to the region's top predator, the Leopard Seal."
"Hmm, either South America or Antarctica." Martin said, tapping his chin to think. "Where first?"
"How 'bout South America first?" Chris suggested. "There are lots of animals to look at."
"Yes!" Aviva cheered. "How 'bout somewhere in Brazil? South America's biggest country."
"I guess we can do that." Chris said.
"Well then, to South America, Brazil it is." Martin said.
And soon, the Tortuga starts up and soon flies south towards Brazil.
An hour later, they were flying high over Panama, a thin strip of land that connects North and South America.
But 5 million years ago, Panama was completely underwater.
Since splitting from Antarctica, 30 million years ago, South America was isolated from the rest of the world. And as a result, its animals are unique.
1 million years ago, South America was a lost continent and a world of strange exotic giants. Like one called Doedicurus, a giant ancient relative of the Armadillo, as big as a car, and with a spiked tail club as heavy as a cannonball.
There's even a strange kind of Mammal that looks like a camel with a small trunk-like nose. Which is called Macrauchenia, a bizarre creature unrelated to any modern Mammals.
And there was even a colossal mega version of Chillax, called Megatherium. A Giant Ground Sloth. But, they have huge claws, grow to 20 feet long, 6 meters, from nose to tail, stand 12 feet tall on their back legs, and weigh 4 tons, about the same weight as an Elephant. They are also as big as an Elephant too.
And the native predators are strange and bizarre, the flightless Terror Birds. One species, the main one, is 10 feet tall, 3 meters, and called Phorusrhacos.
But the isolation of these creatures came to an end, when the movement of the South American continent caused it to collide with North America. Across a land bridge, came a new host of animals to colonize.
Life was never the same since then.
Cats were among those colonists. But one was a legendary killer.
Smilodon, the fabled Sabertooth. And the most powerful big cat of all time.
The biggest of its kind, Smilodon quickly became the new top predator of South America once it managed to outcompete the Terror Birds. Their original home was North America, and came to South America when the new land bridge opened up.
But nearing towards 10,000 years ago, all these amazing and strange creatures disappeared and were wiped from history. Climate change is most likely as it got cooler and drier, and the large prey animals Smilodon hunted vanished.
And soon, Smilodon vanished into extinction along with them.
But even today, South America is still home to many exotic creatures.
Another 2 hours later, and the Tortuga lands in a region called the Pantanal. Which is an area of grassland and marsh.
"Wow, the Brazilian Pantanal." Martin said.
"Home to some amazing creatures." Chris beamed. "But which ones to check out first."
"Let's have a look and see what we can find." Martin suggested.
And then the 2 brothers begin to head out and explore the area.
"Yeah, wait for me!" Aviva rushed to them.
And they went to have a look around.
20 minutes later, they were still looking around as a Termite mound was near them.
"Hey look, a Termite mound." Martin said.
"Cool, it's similar to the ones we saw in Africa." Chris said.
"Yeah." Aviva said. "Is there anything that eats them out here?"
"There is one, and there might be one somewhere here." Chris said.
They start to look around, and then Aviva saw what she thought was a black and gray bush.
"Uh guys?" Aviva called to them. "Is there ever such a thing as a black bush?"
"No." Chris said.
"Why?" Martin asked.
"Well, I'm seeing one." Aviva said.
They then turned to the object.
"This could be it!" Chris gasped.
"What's it?" Aviva asked.
"Shh, Let's wait and watch." Martin said.
They watched the object quietly for a few minutes, and then the black object moved and it moves back revealing more of the gray part. As it turns out, it was actually a very shy and elusive creature.
A Giant Anteater.
"A Giant Anteater!" Chris and Martin said in amazement.
"An Anteater, cool!" Aviva said.
"Shh, Anteaters are shy and have good hearing and smell." Chris said.
And they watch as the Giant Anteater wanders around to the mound. Her eyesight isn't that good, but her senses of hearing and smell help guide her to the Termites.
And then she reaches the base of the Termite mound, and they watch as she begins to dig through a section like how they saw the Aardvarks in Africa. Once she broke through the wall, she then sticks her narrow snout in and brought her tongue out.
"Wow, she used the same way Slurpy and his mom do." Aviva said.
"Yeah, Anteater claws can dig through Termite mounds, just like Aardvark claws can." Chris said. "And her mouth is only as small as a penny."
"Really?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, but her tongue is 2 feet long." Martin said.
"Just like how Aardvarks do in Africa." Chris said.
"Wait, what's that on her back?" Aviva said, noticing something on her.
"Hey, wait a minute." Martin said, before he then gasped. "I don't believe it!"
"It's a baby." Chris said.
On the Anteater's back, was actually a Anteater pup, only about a month old.
"Aww, he's so cute." Aviva said, admiring the pup. "Why is he riding his mom?"
"Oh, baby Anteaters ride on their mom's backs for a few months." Martin said. "And they blend in on the back for protection from predators, like Jaguars."
"Yeah, those claws are also for defense as well." Chris said. "Giant Anteaters are actually known to have killed Jaguars."
"Whoa, that's a tough creature." Aviva said.
"Yeah, they're shy, but can lash out if needed." Chris said.
"Good thing Anteaters are considered 5% of the Jaguar's diet here in the Pantanal." Martin said.
And soon, the mother Anteater has eaten her fill as she then notices and turns towards the trio. They remained quiet and kneeled down to her level as she wanders closer, and then lifts her head up and sniffs them curiously.
After having a good sniff, and giving them each a good lick on the face, the mother Anteater then begins to head away, with her baby on her back.
They spent the whole afternoon exploring the area, and saw a few Caiman. And as the sun sets, and dusk begins to approach, they headed back into the Tortuga.
Author's Note:
Just to let you all know, as an animal lover, I both love and show affection for all kinds of animals, and that includes those that many people traditionally consider "gross", such as rats, insects, like cockroaches, spiders and snakes.
And speaking of snakes, who's interested in the Wild Kratts meeting South America's largest and heaviest snake? Because that's what's coming up next.