Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed and Board

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 at 7 p.m. on KPBS 2 / Stream now with KPBS Passport, a member benefit that unlocks exclusive shows and extra content on the PBS App

Three of the greatest builders of the animal world live in the African savannah: sociable weaver birds, aardvarks and termites. "Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof." Sociable weaver birds, aardvarks, and termites build incredible structures that are used by a variety of wildlife.

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Social weaver birds live in colonies. In their hundreds, they build a nest weighing tons in which each bird has its own home.

Courtesy of American Public Televsion

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Sociable weaver bird

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Sociable weaver birds live in colonies. In their hundreds, they build a nest weighing tons in which each bird has its own home. "Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof."

Courtesy of American Public Television

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The aardwolf gets more than only living space from the aardvark. In winter it would starve without the special capabilities of its roommate. Living together has advantages and disadvantages for the animals in the African savannah.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Termites build incredible structures that are used by a variety of wildlife.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Termites build incredible structures that are used by a variety of wildlife.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Aardvarks build underground cave systems meters below the ground. However, in their spectacular buildings they do not live alone. Many roommates from other species live in there as well. From small insects, reptiles and birds to large mammals.

Courtesy of America Public Television

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Aardvarks build underground cave systems meters below the ground. However, in their spectacular buildings they do not live alone. Many roommates from other species live in there as well. From small insects, reptiles and birds to large mammals.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Warthogs. "Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof."

Courtesy of American Public Television

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"Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof."

Courtesy of American Public Television

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"Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof."

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Filmmaker gets a shot of a giraffe walking past a tree. "Africa's Wild Roommates - How Animals Share Bed And Board" is a fascinating look at how different animal species, from insects to birds and large mammals, can live together peacefully under one "roof."

Courtesy of American Public Television

Living together has advantages and disadvantages for the animals in the African savannah. But these communities don’t necessarily differ from their human counterparts: it’s for the benefit of all if there’s more space to live, more food, more encounters and more diversity.

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