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00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,440
There are some places on Earth...
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..that simply take your breath away.
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00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,240
Lush tropical forests...
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00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:22,400
..spectacular islands...
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00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,280
..soaring mountain ranges...
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00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,280
..or frozen polar worlds.
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00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,800
And for the people who call these
extraordinary places home...
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..survival requires skill...
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00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,280
..ingenuity and bravery.
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00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,040
In some of Earth's natural wonders,
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00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,880
learning to live with wild animals
is the only way to survive.
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00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:10,080
In the wetlands of Australia,
a man risks his life to collect
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00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,640
crocodile eggs.
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In one of the most remote places
on the planet,
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a herder and his reindeer...
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00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:19,960
HE YELLS
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..must make
a brutal 500-mile migration to their
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00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,440
summer pastures.
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00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,480
While in the foothills of the
greatest mountain range on Earth,
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00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:34,000
a man and his elephant must protect
a village from a rampaging herd.
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00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,760
In these natural wonders,
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00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,160
it is animals that make
the difference between life
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and death.
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Australia - on its far northern
coast is Arnhem Land,
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a 35,000 square mile area
of unspoilt wilderness.
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00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,240
And along its rugged coastline...
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..runs a remarkable ecosystem.
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00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:23,120
This natural wonder is a mosaic of
swamps and tidal salt marshes...
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00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,360
..fed by the monsoons that sweep in
from the Indian Ocean.
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00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,520
Up to half a metre of rain can fall
in a single day.
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00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,360
This sprawling network of creeks and
billabongs is home to one of the
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00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,960
most aggressive of all predators...
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00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,040
..the saltwater crocodile.
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00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:58,000
Measuring up to six metres in length
and weighing as much as a tonne...
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00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:03,840
..it's every inch a killing machine.
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00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:14,960
But for thousands of years, the
saltwater crocodile played a vital
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00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,800
role in the survival of the
Aboriginal peoples.
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They hunted crocs for meat and eggs.
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00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,560
Today, their descendants still use
traditional skills to collect
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00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,960
croc eggs, risking their lives in
the process.
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00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,680
TRANSLATION:
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00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,760
Greg Wilson is a ranger
and a member of the Gunadba clan.
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00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,080
He and his team are paid to collect
eggs for the region's
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00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,480
crocodile farms...
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00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,280
..where they're reared for their
valuable skins.
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00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,520
The rangers have around eight weeks
to collect up to 2,500 croc eggs
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00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,080
during the egg-laying season.
48
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,680
A quota set by the Northern
Territory government.
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00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,920
There, there. There, there, there.
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00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,200
As a result of a ban on hunting,
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00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,680
in recent years, the number of wild
crocs has rocketed and so has the
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00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,440
number of attacks.
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00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,760
A man was killed by a croc in this
area just three weeks ago.
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00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,000
It's making Greg's job more
dangerous than ever.
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00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,160
Today, he and his team are out
searching for crocodile eggs in an
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00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,720
area where there are usually plenty
of nests.
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00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,760
But this year, heavy rains are
making the nests hard to find,
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00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,000
as many of them are completely
submerged.
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00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,520
It's too risky to continue today,
so they head back to base.
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00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,680
The crocodile is important to the
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00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:00,520
Gunadba clan's sacred beliefs
but, for some,
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00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,560
this animal is part spirit figure
and part enemy.
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00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,680
Next morning,
the weather's eased off.
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00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,000
Today, Greg's going to try a
different area.
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00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,360
One where he hopes there'll be
more nests.
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00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,160
But the only way to get there
is by helicopter...
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00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,320
..and there's at least one agitated
croc in the shallows this morning.
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00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,840
It's not long before they spot a
large nest.
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00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,840
Once they're dropped in,
Greg and his partner Dickson
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00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,160
will be on their own.
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00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,080
HE YELLS
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00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,400
Before they can collect any eggs,
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00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,720
they have to drive the croc off the
nest.
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Go around, go around there.
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HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
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It's left the nest...
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..but for how long?
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00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:34,360
With an angry predator close by,
Greg and Dixon have to move fast.
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00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,480
But they have to handle the eggs
with care.
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00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,200
If they are stored the wrong way up,
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00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,320
the embryos die
and the eggs are useless.
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All right? Go.
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00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:01,280
It's been a good day,
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00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,920
but Greg and the team still have
another four weeks working in these
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00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,520
croc-infested waters before the
egg-collecting season ends.
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00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,480
In the wetlands of Australia's
Northern Territory,
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00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,520
aboriginal peoples have found a way
to use their ancient skills to
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00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,320
survive in the modern world...
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00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,920
..alongside the saltwater crocodiles
with whom they
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00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,520
share this untamed landscape.
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00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,320
In other natural wonders,
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00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:43,760
the relationship between animals and
people is one of mutual dependency.
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00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,160
Siberia.
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00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:53,320
A vast, empty wilderness that makes
up around a 12th of the Earth's
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00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,680
entire land surface.
96
00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:02,200
And one of its great natural wonders
is the Yamal Peninsula,
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00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,480
stretching over 400 miles into the
Arctic Circle.
98
00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:13,000
It's known to local people as the
edge of the world.
99
00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,600
The climate is extreme.
100
00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,400
Temperatures can fall below
-50 Celsius in winter.
101
00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,560
Yet this harsh and unforgiving place
is where the Nenets
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00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:37,120
have made their home.
103
00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,920
But they would have no way to
survive here without reindeer.
104
00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,520
TRANSLATION:
105
00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:16,560
Medko Serotetto and his family own a
herd of 5,000 reindeer.
106
00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,160
It's spring and they are in the
middle of a gruelling
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00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,960
500-mile migration from winter
to summer pastures.
108
00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:36,960
But in recent years,
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00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,880
the erratic climate has made the
migration harder and harder.
110
00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:48,600
Medko has been making this journey
for over 40 years
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00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,440
and conditions this year are
particularly bad.
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00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,920
To stay alive, every day a reindeer
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00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,280
needs to eat over 1.5 kilos of a
type of fungus called lichen.
114
00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,120
Yet on the frozen Siberian tundra,
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00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,040
the herd quickly strip the lichen
patches bare.
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00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,120
They must keep moving to avoid
starvation.
117
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,000
It's now seven weeks since they
left their winter pastures.
118
00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,240
So far, they have covered 250 miles.
119
00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,720
250 more still to go.
120
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,560
They should be covering
12 miles a day,
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00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:14,080
but the weather's deteriorating and
they are struggling to make headway.
122
00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,640
It's imperative they pick up
the pace.
123
00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,240
While the women and children pack
away their homes,
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00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,360
the men round up the animals.
125
00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,320
It's taken several hours...
126
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,720
..but they are finally on the move.
127
00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,200
The herds travel in reindeer trains
up to three miles long.
128
00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,720
In worsening conditions,
it's heavy going.
129
00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,600
The temperature's fallen
to -20 degrees,
130
00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,360
with the wind chill making it feel
even colder.
131
00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,760
They've covered less than seven
miles...
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00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,080
..and already the reindeer are
exhausted.
133
00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,320
Medko has no option.
134
00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,880
He has to call a halt for the night
and let the herd rest.
135
00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,640
Many of the reindeer are pregnant
136
00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,280
and are due to give birth in just a
few days' time.
137
00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,880
There's very little lichen in this
area and if they don't get to better
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00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,880
feeding grounds by then,
their calves may not survive.
139
00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,720
By morning, the weather's improved
enough to get moving again.
140
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:41,480
But Medko's family is not the only
group making this journey.
141
00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,200
Other herds are migrating along the
same route.
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00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,280
The bad weather is delaying
everyone.
143
00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,480
And Medko's animals soon catch up
with a different group.
144
00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,680
Within a matter of minutes,
the two herds become one.
145
00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,960
Medko needs to separate his animals
out as quickly as he can and get
146
00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,720
moving again. They are losing
valuable time.
147
00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,840
Incredibly, he knows every last one
of them by sight.
148
00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,720
But extracting them
still isn't easy.
149
00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:29,400
All of the family have to help...
150
00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:31,920
..even the children.
151
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,480
After several hours' hard work,
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00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,800
Medko finally has his herd
back together.
153
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:52,480
He has lost a lot of time but,
if the herd's to avoid starvation,
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00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,040
they must cover more ground before
nightfall.
155
00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,560
Over the next seven weeks,
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00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,360
Medko and his reindeer continue
their battle against the elements.
157
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,040
By the time they reach the summer
pastures in early July,
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00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,440
over 1,000 of the herd have been
lost.
159
00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,520
In Siberia, in an increasingly
unpredictable world,
160
00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,720
the Nenets and their animals
are more dependent
161
00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,280
on each other than ever.
162
00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:00,640
In other natural wonders,
163
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,960
the relationship between people and
the creatures that live alongside
164
00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,120
them is far simpler.
165
00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:09,880
Particularly if you're a fisherman.
166
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,720
1,000 miles off the coast of
167
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,080
eastern Australia,
deep in the Pacific Ocean,
168
00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,160
lies the nation of Vanuatu.
169
00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,960
A chain of 83 volcanic islands.
170
00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,840
This spectacular natural wonder
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00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,120
began forming around 35 million
years ago.
172
00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:49,160
In total, Vanuatu has over 1,500
miles of coastline.
173
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:57,080
Fringed by stunning beaches and
crystal-clear waters.
174
00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:05,120
Home to some of the most vibrant
coral reef systems on the planet.
175
00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,360
Over 4,000 species of mollusc,
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00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:16,920
along with sea snakes, eels and a
dazzling variety of tropical fish.
177
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,560
This appears to be an unspoilt
paradise for
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00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,800
everyone who lives here.
179
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TRANSLATION:
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00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:53,520
Nigasau and his family live on
Futuna,
181
00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,840
one of Vanuatu's smallest and most
remote islands.
182
00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,960
There are just 500 inhabitants and
much of what they eat
183
00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,840
comes from the sea.
184
00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,640
But in recent years, there's been a
dramatic fall in their catch.
185
00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:35,640
Until now, Nigasau has been the main
provider of fish for his family and
186
00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,800
others in this small community.
187
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,920
But at 45, it's not getting any
easier and he knows he needs help.
188
00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,560
Futuna's next generation
needs to step up.
189
00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,600
Only boys learn to fish on Futuna
190
00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,880
and Nigasau's son, Misakofi,
has already made a start.
191
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:18,000
TRANSLATION:
192
00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:48,720
So far, Misakofi's only fished
from the shore,
193
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,920
but having turned 15, he is now
allowed to tackle sea fishing.
194
00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:07,440
For the past few nights,
195
00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,040
his father's been taking him out
into the open water.
196
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:17,880
Nigasau is teaching
197
00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,640
him how to use flaming torches to
lure flying fish into his nets.
198
00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:48,280
But the truth is, these days, it's
getting harder to catch enough.
199
00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,440
It's not Nigasau's technique that's
at fault.
200
00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,280
There are simply less fish in the
seas around Futuna.
201
00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:14,560
HE SINGS
202
00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:18,600
If Misakofi is to provide enough
203
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,920
food for the community
in the future,
204
00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,320
he needs to master every fishing
technique there is.
205
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,800
THEY SING
206
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,280
And tomorrow, he's going to try
the most difficult of all.
207
00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,880
It will push his young body to the
absolute limits.
208
00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:56,960
Today, Nigasau and Misakofi are
heading back out to sea
209
00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,280
in search of Futuna's
most prized catch...
210
00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,120
..lobster.
211
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,000
Lobster have never been easy to
find...
212
00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,840
..and now it's getting even harder.
213
00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:33,400
On Futuna, the fishermen freedive
to collect lobster
214
00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,480
and the best time to dive for them
215
00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,840
is at dusk
when they come out to feed.
216
00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,880
But that's not the only challenge.
217
00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,920
Just as with its fish stocks,
218
00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,600
Futuna's lobster numbers have also
plummeted.
219
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,760
Nigasau is having to paddle out to
220
00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,200
deeper and deeper water
to find them.
221
00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:01,000
But tonight, it's going to fall to
Misakofi to dive to the seabed to
222
00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,840
search for them. It's the ultimate
test for an aspiring fisherman.
223
00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,240
Misakofi will have to hold his
224
00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,440
breath and swim down over nine
metres.
225
00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,920
At that depth, the water pressure is
immense.
226
00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:31,840
Years of lobster fishing have left
Nigasau with perforated eardrums and
227
00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,560
brought his diving days to an end.
228
00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:38,640
Tonight, all he can do is guide his
son from the surface.
229
00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:50,720
Time to start searching.
230
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,800
Diving the equivalent of a
three-storey building quickly pushes
231
00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:15,880
Misakofi's lungs to the limit.
232
00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:31,680
He tries a second time.
233
00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:05,960
After an hour, Misakofi's beginning
to master the technique.
234
00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,000
There's plenty to see down here.
235
00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,320
But so far, nothing edible.
236
00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,440
Misakofi's struggling to hold his
breath long enough
237
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,200
to search among the rocks.
238
00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,200
He is starting to get tired...
239
00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,040
..but he doesn't give up.
240
00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:57,560
Finally, after many attempts,
success.
241
00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:17,640
Yes!
242
00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,000
And soon, he has another.
243
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,200
It's taken many hours just to find
two lobster.
244
00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,400
Misakofi's exhausted.
245
00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,080
Nigasau decides to call it a night
and head back to the shore.
246
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,360
But at least his son is starting to
247
00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:58,000
acquire the skills he needs to
survive on Futuna.
248
00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:01,320
HE SINGS
249
00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,880
For the time being at least,
250
00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,920
there's some lobster for supper and
one newly-qualified
251
00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,720
fisherman to celebrate.
252
00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:50,400
HE LAUGHS
253
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:55,920
Thanks to their fishing skills,
254
00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,960
the people of Futuna continue to
survive...
255
00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,640
..despite the challenges they face
in their changing world.
256
00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:21,880
Even in the most remote corners of
the globe, changes are coming.
257
00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,600
Some are making the hunt
increasingly difficult for
258
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:27,920
indigenous people.
259
00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:36,360
The forests of the Congo basin, deep
in the heart of Central Africa.
260
00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:45,200
This immense natural jungle covers
an area of 700,000 square miles.
261
00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:51,520
Referred to as the lungs of Africa,
262
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,840
this vast natural wonder
spans six countries.
263
00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,480
It contains around a quarter
of the planet's surviving
264
00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:01,880
tropical rainforest.
265
00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:09,040
It is so dense that even today some
parts remain uncharted territory.
266
00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:15,280
The tallest trees reach up to
60 metres into the sky.
267
00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,560
In the thickest areas, only 1% of
sunlight reaches the ground.
268
00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:29,520
The forest is home to an incredible
range of wildlife.
269
00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:38,360
And for at least 3,000 years,
it has also been home to the
270
00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:39,920
Mbendjele people.
271
00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:44,720
THEY CHANT
272
00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,480
The village of Mombelu.
273
00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:58,200
Over 60 miles from the nearest city
and 30 miles from the nearest road.
274
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:02,480
The Mbendjele are primarily
hunter-gatherers.
275
00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,320
Most of what they eat comes from the
forest.
276
00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:09,200
TRANSLATION:
277
00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,040
Niemu relies on his traditional
hunting
278
00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,760
skills to catch much of their game.
279
00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,360
He is one of the top hunters in the
village.
280
00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,120
But he hasn't been doing much
hunting lately.
281
00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,080
His wife died a few months ago,
282
00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,840
leaving him alone with their three
small children.
283
00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:10,200
Under Mbendjele custom,
284
00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:14,080
all sorts of restrictions are placed
on the deceased's family.
285
00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:17,240
Niemu's not been allowed to wash or
286
00:34:17,240 --> 00:34:21,320
change his clothes
for over six months
287
00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:23,280
and he's not been allowed
to lead a hunt.
288
00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,280
But now,
his mourning period has ended.
289
00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,760
The whole village
needs to be involved.
290
00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,760
But according to tradition,
291
00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,880
everyone must be in agreement before
embarking on a group activity.
292
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:18,520
But democracy takes time.
293
00:35:37,720 --> 00:35:42,920
Finally, after two hours,
everyone has had their say,
294
00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:44,440
and the hunt is on.
295
00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,120
The villagers are going to use a
giant net.
296
00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:55,160
They are one of the last groups in
Central Africa to hunt in this way.
297
00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,680
Woven from the bark
of the liana tree,
298
00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,880
the nets can be
hundreds of feet long.
299
00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:17,240
But before they can hunt,
it must be repaired.
300
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:21,360
Once the equipment's ready,
301
00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,920
it's time for the next stage of
preparations.
302
00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:46,440
Before any major hunt
can take place,
303
00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,440
a spirit of the forest must be
summoned to aid the hunters.
304
00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:06,800
This is done with an elaborate
ceremony called the mokondi massana.
305
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,480
One villager is shrouded in leaves
306
00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:18,400
to become the forest spirit and must
307
00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:20,880
be brought to life by the rest of
the village.
308
00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,280
The better they sing and dance, the
more meat they'll catch tomorrow.
309
00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:56,960
Next morning...
310
00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:02,880
..the entire village sets out
for the hunting grounds.
311
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:08,560
THEY SING
312
00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:27,440
Niemu might be coordinating
the hunting party,
313
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,240
but everyone has a part to play.
314
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:51,720
Net hunting is like
dry land trawler fishing.
315
00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:56,960
Working as a team, they stretch
their net between the trees.
316
00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:09,400
The trap is set.
317
00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:10,440
THEY SHOUT
318
00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:25,920
The men shouting will flush out any
animals hiding in the undergrowth...
319
00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:30,160
..driving them towards the net.
320
00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:34,960
The women wait behind the nets.
321
00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:52,760
An animal breaks cover...
322
00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:57,720
HE YELLS
323
00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:05,160
..and runs straight into the trap.
324
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,160
But it's only a small porcupine.
325
00:40:15,560 --> 00:40:19,520
And, unfortunately,
the forest offers up nothing else.
326
00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:26,400
Slender pickings like this have
become all too familiar for them
327
00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:28,040
over recent years.
328
00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:34,320
The demand for bush meat in the
329
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:38,000
cities has seen the arrival of
commercial hunters in the area.
330
00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:43,120
It's had an enormous impact on the
animal population.
331
00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:00,000
The Central African rainforest is
332
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:04,360
one of the world's most
extraordinary natural wonders,
333
00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:07,800
but one where rapid change is
affecting both the animals and the
334
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,760
humans that call it home.
335
00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:18,920
Human development is encroaching on
areas of wilderness in many parts of
336
00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:20,240
the world.
337
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:27,400
And as the dramatic rise in
population continues,
338
00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:32,840
expansion in some natural wonders is
leaving people and animals competing
339
00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:34,480
for space.
340
00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:38,600
India.
341
00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:42,480
Marking its northern border,
342
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:45,920
one of the most famous natural
wonders on Earth...
343
00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:49,760
..the Himalaya.
344
00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:55,720
Among the snow-capped peaks,
vast glaciers have formed.
345
00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:02,320
And the meltwaters that flow down
from the heights
346
00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:05,480
feed a web of forests and jungles
lying below.
347
00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:11,800
These are the foothills of the
Himalaya.
348
00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:19,920
A beautiful tapestry of lush green
valleys...
349
00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,360
..home to an incredible range of
animals.
350
00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:33,720
Not least among them,
the Asian elephant.
351
00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:43,200
Every winter, hundreds of these
animals come down from the mountain
352
00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,040
forests to the lowlands of Assam.
353
00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:51,240
But over the years,
354
00:42:51,240 --> 00:42:54,920
virgin forest has been cleared to
make way for Assam's renowned
355
00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:56,600
tea plantations.
356
00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:05,880
An army of tea pickers have
followed,
357
00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:09,560
and many of their homes lie directly
on the elephants'
358
00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:11,480
ancient migration routes.
359
00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:17,000
It's a recipe for trouble.
360
00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:20,600
Elephants are drawn to the villages
in search of food.
361
00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:28,560
In the process, trampling crops and
damaging houses.
362
00:43:31,280 --> 00:43:36,320
Across Assam, elephants kill an
average of 65 people every year.
363
00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:44,680
But the villagers of one region have
a defence
364
00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:46,800
against the migrating herds.
365
00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:52,480
The elephant emergency service.
366
00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:58,600
A team of highly trained
domesticated elephants known as
367
00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:00,560
kumkis and their riders.
368
00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:08,960
Bablu Thapa is one of them.
He's a mahout,
369
00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:11,960
member of the ancient profession
of elephant handlers.
370
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:18,520
The bond between a mahout
and his kumki runs deep.
371
00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:22,280
TRANSLATION:
372
00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:32,880
Bablu is able to communicate with
the kumkis because they understand
373
00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:34,840
up to 30 commands.
374
00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:45,720
And he knows just how to get the
best from them.
375
00:45:03,120 --> 00:45:05,400
The mahouts and their kumkis work
376
00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:08,440
alongside Assam's forestry
department to
377
00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:12,600
protect 100 villages spread over
240 square miles.
378
00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:16,640
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
379
00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:18,760
They're on stand-by to deal with
380
00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:21,560
wild elephant emergencies 24 hours a
day.
381
00:45:26,720 --> 00:45:29,360
It's November, and the elephant
382
00:45:29,360 --> 00:45:32,360
migration season
is at its absolute peak.
383
00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:34,520
The HQ's on high alert.
384
00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:41,000
When villagers spot wild elephants
385
00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:43,520
approaching their homes,
they call HQ.
386
00:45:49,480 --> 00:45:51,840
A pair of kumkis
are immediately dispatched
387
00:45:51,840 --> 00:45:55,400
to protect the concerned villagers.
388
00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:58,360
For Bablu and the elephant emergency
service,
389
00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:00,280
it's often a race against time.
390
00:46:01,720 --> 00:46:04,040
Bablu and the kumkis usually go by
391
00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:06,720
the most direct route across
country.
392
00:46:11,600 --> 00:46:16,600
On this terrain, it can take
several hours to reach a village
393
00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:19,920
and, until they arrive,
the villagers are on their own.
394
00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:28,400
At Sesa, the villagers have counted
around 30 elephants approaching.
395
00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:33,040
But as elephants
are a protected species,
396
00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:37,040
it's illegal for the villagers to
use force to defend their homes.
397
00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:42,560
When Bablu and the kumkis arrive,
they rely on a more subtle
398
00:46:42,560 --> 00:46:47,360
technique to drive wild herds away,
elephant psychology.
399
00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:52,840
Elephants live
in tight family groups
400
00:46:52,840 --> 00:46:56,440
and, as a rule, they will avoid
conflict with rival groups.
401
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:03,240
So, the mahouts use the kumkis to
confront the wild elephants and
402
00:47:03,240 --> 00:47:05,280
drive them away from villages.
403
00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:10,200
That's the theory, but first they
have to get there.
404
00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:18,160
In the meantime,
it's up to villagers
405
00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:21,400
to do what they can
to keep wild herds at bay.
406
00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:22,440
THEY YELL
407
00:47:39,240 --> 00:47:43,440
They make as much noise as possible,
banging drums, shouting and
408
00:47:43,440 --> 00:47:46,480
throwing firecrackers, to attempt to
scare the elephants.
409
00:47:51,480 --> 00:47:54,640
The danger is, this can enrage the
wild animals.
410
00:48:17,120 --> 00:48:19,000
As soon as the emergency service
411
00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:22,440
arrives at a village,
they quickly assess the situation.
412
00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:27,800
Usually, they will look for a
dominant animal in the wild herd.
413
00:48:27,800 --> 00:48:31,080
If they can turn them away, the rest
of the herd will follow.
414
00:48:32,680 --> 00:48:36,320
But tonight, as Bablu tries to get
in position,
415
00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:41,400
a group of young male elephants
starts stampeding.
416
00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:45,800
Bablu's kumki has been specially
selected and trained for its
417
00:48:45,800 --> 00:48:47,520
dominant temperament.
418
00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:52,880
With Bablu riding high, making as
much noise as he can, they confront
419
00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:54,360
the wild herd.
420
00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:01,480
He's trying to intimidate them and
drive them away from the village.
421
00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:08,200
Now he has to get right in amongst
the wild animals.
422
00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:11,720
He rams one of the smaller males.
423
00:49:21,200 --> 00:49:23,080
It's enough to move him away from
424
00:49:23,080 --> 00:49:26,080
the villagers and back towards his
herd.
425
00:49:29,160 --> 00:49:32,280
Bablu stays in hot pursuit,
just to make certain.
426
00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:39,880
And sure enough, the rest of the
wild herd turn and retreat.
427
00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:50,680
For tonight, at least, the danger
has passed.
428
00:49:50,680 --> 00:49:54,960
Bablu and the elephant emergency
service have done their job.
429
00:50:10,840 --> 00:50:13,800
The inhabitants of Sesa village can
sleep safe.
430
00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:19,320
But in the morning comes a sobering
discovery.
431
00:50:19,320 --> 00:50:21,240
One of the young wild elephants
432
00:50:21,240 --> 00:50:25,120
got trapped in a ditch and died
during the chaos of the night.
433
00:50:28,160 --> 00:50:30,880
Despite the trouble
they sometimes cause,
434
00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:33,880
elephants are revered
in Indian culture
435
00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:38,440
and the death of one calls
for prayer and a respectful burial.
436
00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:45,640
It's a poignant reminder of the
consequences of humans and animals
437
00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:48,160
competing for the same living space.
438
00:50:53,040 --> 00:50:56,240
Change is affecting many of Earth's
natural wonders.
439
00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:03,160
People are having to use all their
skills...
440
00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:08,040
..and courage in order to survive.
441
00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:14,320
It's testimony to human resilience
442
00:51:14,320 --> 00:51:17,400
that, or the time being, at least,
many
443
00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:20,080
continue to endure in the
extraordinary
444
00:51:20,080 --> 00:51:22,760
natural wonders they call home.
445
00:51:32,080 --> 00:51:36,560
To find and film one of the last
remaining examples of net hunting
446
00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:38,080
was a huge challenge.
447
00:51:38,080 --> 00:51:39,600
But as it turned out,
448
00:51:39,600 --> 00:51:44,800
the biggest problem was transporting
25 boxes of filming equipment to the
449
00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:47,120
heart of the Central African
rainforest.
450
00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:53,640
The first part of the journey is
fairly straightforward.
451
00:51:54,960 --> 00:51:57,080
But then they reach the
Motaba River.
452
00:51:58,840 --> 00:52:02,920
With kit weighing over 150 kilos,
it's obvious they are going to need
453
00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:04,560
more than one boat.
454
00:52:09,400 --> 00:52:11,280
She looks pretty sturdy, actually.
455
00:52:11,280 --> 00:52:14,160
Quite robust. We're going to pile it
high with all our kit and...
456
00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:17,840
..I think it's about five hours
down the river.
457
00:52:17,840 --> 00:52:20,440
This is where it gets
really, really interesting.
458
00:52:24,600 --> 00:52:28,560
It's early afternoon by the time
the two boats set off.
459
00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:32,600
As this is such a remote area,
miles from any hospital,
460
00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:35,120
the team have hired an ex-Army
paratrooper
461
00:52:35,120 --> 00:52:37,120
and wilderness medic Tom Bodkin.
462
00:52:39,760 --> 00:52:41,640
We've been on the river for
two hours already.
463
00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:45,600
Another hour, an hour and a half, to
go and we just want to get there in
464
00:52:45,600 --> 00:52:49,120
good time. We've got a whole camp to
build before dark, basically.
465
00:52:49,120 --> 00:52:53,360
So, it's never-ending this journey
but, hopefully, we'll be there soon.
466
00:53:17,280 --> 00:53:18,320
I think we're there.
467
00:53:29,560 --> 00:53:34,000
Five days and several thousand miles
from home, the crew, at least,
468
00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:35,480
finally arrive.
469
00:53:35,480 --> 00:53:37,160
Home for the next two weeks, eh?
470
00:53:42,560 --> 00:53:44,120
All being well,
471
00:53:44,120 --> 00:53:47,080
the boat with all the camera kit
shouldn't be far behind.
472
00:53:51,160 --> 00:53:52,960
So, with the light rapidly fading,
473
00:53:52,960 --> 00:53:55,200
they get stuck into
building their camp.
474
00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:06,360
As darkness falls, it becomes
475
00:54:06,360 --> 00:54:09,280
apparent they have a serious
problem.
476
00:54:09,280 --> 00:54:11,120
Yeah, well, if we left at two, OK,
477
00:54:11,120 --> 00:54:13,920
it's a five-hour journey for them
under normal conditions, right?
478
00:54:13,920 --> 00:54:17,760
So that brings us up to seven
o'clock, yeah?
479
00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:20,560
OK, so, let's reduce the speed by
half once it got dark,
480
00:54:20,560 --> 00:54:23,920
so they're two and a half hours late
and it's dark.
481
00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:28,040
The missing boat is carrying most of
their filming equipment and all
482
00:54:28,040 --> 00:54:29,920
their spare fuel.
483
00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:33,880
But launching a search party in the
dark is extremely risky.
484
00:54:33,880 --> 00:54:35,360
So, I think what we need to do is
485
00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:37,320
make a decision whether we do
something
486
00:54:37,320 --> 00:54:39,960
tonight, or we wait till it's light
in the morning, basically.
487
00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:42,120
If they've pulled in,
just at the side to the bank,
488
00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:44,560
we could very easily miss
them in the dark.
489
00:54:44,560 --> 00:54:47,640
Unless they've abandoned it
and know that there's a village
490
00:54:47,640 --> 00:54:50,400
and walked to a village.
And worst-case scenario, if it's
491
00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:53,560
capsized, all our kit's gone as
well.
492
00:54:53,560 --> 00:54:57,320
Hopefully, they're just broken down.
493
00:54:57,320 --> 00:55:00,520
We're responsible for everyone's
welfare and
494
00:55:00,520 --> 00:55:03,720
we can't leave people on the river
unaccounted for.
495
00:55:03,720 --> 00:55:07,160
So, you know, I don't care about the
cameras and the chargers and things,
496
00:55:07,160 --> 00:55:10,440
we need to find out that everyone's
safe and get them in.
497
00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:15,400
They decide they have no option but
to retrace their route and try to
498
00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:17,720
find the missing boat.
499
00:55:20,240 --> 00:55:23,800
But it isn't long before they quite
literally run into a problem.
500
00:55:28,240 --> 00:55:33,240
Is that all right?
That made a proper noise.
501
00:55:33,240 --> 00:55:34,760
They've struck a log.
502
00:55:40,240 --> 00:55:43,240
If they've holed the boat,
or damaged the engines,
503
00:55:43,240 --> 00:55:44,600
they'll be in big trouble.
504
00:55:48,040 --> 00:55:50,000
Fortunately, everything is fine.
505
00:55:52,600 --> 00:55:54,640
But they still have to find the
missing boat.
506
00:56:00,080 --> 00:56:03,400
Take it nice and gently.
Just get there in the end.
507
00:56:05,120 --> 00:56:07,760
Half an hour later,
there is still no sign of it.
508
00:56:09,880 --> 00:56:11,720
And they are now
running low on fuel.
509
00:56:20,760 --> 00:56:23,160
Just when they're thinking they'll
have to turn back...
510
00:56:26,920 --> 00:56:27,960
Is this them?
511
00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:33,560
Thomas? Thomas? Ca va?
Oui, ca va.
512
00:56:35,160 --> 00:56:36,400
Tres bien.
513
00:56:36,400 --> 00:56:38,520
Luckily,
we've just found the other boat,
514
00:56:38,520 --> 00:56:40,960
which is a huge relief,
and they're absolutely fine,
515
00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:43,080
there's no problems with them
at all.
516
00:56:43,080 --> 00:56:45,720
The reason for the delay is soon
apparent.
517
00:56:48,840 --> 00:56:51,160
So, we just noticed that they've
changed the motor,
518
00:56:51,160 --> 00:56:54,520
so there's obviously been an issue
with the engine and they've picked
519
00:56:54,520 --> 00:56:57,000
up a new engine at another village
just upstream.
520
00:57:01,080 --> 00:57:04,920
Together, both boats make their way
back upriver to the village.
521
00:57:09,200 --> 00:57:11,520
Yeah, this is really good news.
522
00:57:11,520 --> 00:57:14,600
The main thing is the guys are safe,
so we've got the full team together.
523
00:57:16,080 --> 00:57:17,440
But all the kit has turned up.
524
00:57:17,440 --> 00:57:21,480
We've got everything we need, all
the cameras, the charging stuff,
525
00:57:21,480 --> 00:57:25,000
so we can make a film and it means
tomorrow we can just get on with it.
526
00:57:26,240 --> 00:57:31,840
The team went on to have a fantastic
shoot with the Mbendjele,
527
00:57:31,840 --> 00:57:35,080
capturing one of the last groups
net hunting in this part
528
00:57:35,080 --> 00:57:37,760
of the African rainforest.
529
00:57:43,960 --> 00:57:49,440
Next time, in some of Earth's most
stunning natural wonders,
530
00:57:49,440 --> 00:57:53,800
people must push themselves to the
limit in order to survive...
531
00:57:55,240 --> 00:57:57,280
..against the odds.
532
00:58:00,160 --> 00:58:01,200
Don't move.