1 00:00:39,140 --> 00:00:42,800 Asia is home to the most extraordinary animals. 2 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:51,520 But they are under pressure that is increasing as never before. 3 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,560 All over the continent, 4 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,360 remarkable people are dedicating their lives to saving them. 5 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Their aim is to ensure a future 6 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,440 where humans and wildlife can co-exist. 7 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,320 Northeast Borneo... 8 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,320 ..home to one of Asia's most elusive mammals... 9 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,360 ..sun bears. 10 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,120 No-one knows how many are left in the wild... 11 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:06,120 ..but they face tremendous threats from deforestation and poaching. 12 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:15,920 All too often, orphaned cubs are sold as pets. 13 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,840 And those that are rescued... 14 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,280 ..end up at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre... 15 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,080 ..run by Dr Siew Te Wong... 16 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,280 Hey, hey, hey. Be nice, be nice. 17 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,000 ..also known as Papa Bear. 18 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,760 People give me that name, Papa Bear, because all of these are my kids. 19 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,400 But yet, I'm a wildlife biologist. 20 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,720 I want bears to live in the forest and not in captivity, not even here. 21 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,280 One of the sanctuary's residents, Sika, 22 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,840 is about to begin her journey back to the wild. 23 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:15,080 This will be the culmination of years of care and rehabilitation. 24 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,840 Sika came to our centre in March 2017. 25 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,880 When we first got her, she was about three, four months old. 26 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,680 You see her eyes, she looks very sad, does not want to interact. 27 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,120 Here, of course, we have to play the role as a surrogate mother. 28 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,640 And then she is getting bigger now, you know. 29 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,040 And hey, with that kind of strength, 30 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,720 this is something that you do not want to mess with. 31 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,200 You need to have a lot of love and patience. 32 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,960 The process of rehabilitating and taking care of a bear cub 33 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,640 is a very, very, long process - it takes years. 34 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,920 Before her release can begin, Sika must be darted... 35 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,560 ..to avoid unnecessary stress, 36 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,640 and to protect the team. 37 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,680 Although roughly the size of a Labrador, 38 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,760 sun bears have incredibly strong jaws... 39 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:38,280 ..and they could easily kill a human. 40 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,240 Once sedated, 41 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,080 the team have limited time to move her. 42 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,360 The clock is ticking, definitely. 43 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,520 Fingers crossed that everything's go well. 44 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,480 She is placed in a metal crate, 45 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,240 specially designed so that she cannot chew her way out. 46 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,960 OK. There's no going back now. 47 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,440 OK. 48 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,120 One, two, three. 49 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,240 All right, let's go. 50 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,440 The team travel at night to avoid the searing heat of the day, 51 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,000 which could be fatal for an animal inside a metal box. 52 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,800 In order for our reintroductions to be successful, 53 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,360 we need to send them deep in the jungle, 54 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,960 where they're not going to see any humans ever again. 55 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,960 The final leg of Sika's journey... 56 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,200 ..will be by helicopter. 57 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,400 The sedative is wearing off... 58 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:14,800 ..and the temperature is rising. 59 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:17,960 And there's a bigger problem... 60 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,960 ..the landing site is under cloud cover. 61 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,720 I'd give it about an hour, 10.30 at least. 62 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,680 10.30? 10.30 we decide, 63 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,120 because it's still very covered on that side. 64 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,520 It looks kind of blue now, it's moving that way, 65 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,640 but it's still kind of sitting. 66 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,360 Erm... It's not ideal for the bears to bake under the sun for too long. 67 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,280 So we basically need to do it before this last trip. 68 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:43,360 Yes, yes, yeah, yeah. 69 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:47,200 Working in the forest or working with the animals, 70 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,080 safety always come first. 71 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,200 It is very dangerous, 72 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,760 but I feel like we still need to continue the work 73 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,440 because if we don't do it nobody will, 74 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,360 and the bears would have no future. 75 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,040 Yeah, OK. 76 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:11,280 News comes through that there's a break in the weather. 77 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:12,640 OK. 78 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:15,760 Oh. 79 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,680 For the team, there is not a moment to lose. 80 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,360 It's risky. 81 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,840 The crate could spin uncontrollably, 82 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,560 so palm fronds are attached to steady it. 83 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,800 The only place to land is a small patch of volcanic mud. 84 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:18,800 After over 20 hours in the crate... 85 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,520 ..Sika is now only moments from freedom. 86 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,920 OK. 87 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,400 OK, OK. 88 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,360 All right, so get ready. 89 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,200 Here. All right, Sika, this is it, your last journey ends. 90 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,840 So I wish you all the best. 91 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,120 Yeah, I wish you all the best. 92 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,000 Wish you all the best. 93 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,960 Wish you a happy... Wish you a long life. 94 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,080 Yeah, OK. 95 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,440 OK? Pulling. Go! 96 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,600 The moment I open that door and the bears dash out into the forest, 97 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,280 they are all on their own, I cannot help them any more. 98 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:25,960 It's not guaranteed that we can make sure 99 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,920 that the bears can live happily ever after. 100 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,120 But I think after all the hard work, 101 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,160 it is still the right thing to do. 102 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,800 The bears deserve a second chance to be in the wild. 103 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:00,680 In this protected reserve... 104 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,920 ..bears like Sika can still make a home. 105 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,000 But in some of the continent's forests, 106 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,800 wildlife is being removed at an alarming rate. 107 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,880 Java, Indonesia. 108 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,840 This rainforest should provide a habitat 109 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,520 for a multitude of birds with melodious songs. 110 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,160 But the jungle is falling silent. 111 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,480 In stark contrast, the bird markets are noisier than ever. 112 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:09,680 Keeping birds that sing as pets is a deep-rooted tradition in Indonesia. 113 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:17,120 And, in recent years, a new craze has emerged. 114 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:27,280 Singing competitions take place all over the country. 115 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,360 The stakes are high. 116 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,560 Big-money prizes are on offer. 117 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,440 Many of these birds have been taken from the wild... 118 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:59,640 ..and the hobby is driving some species towards extinction. 119 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,560 Panji Gustar Akhbar is determined 120 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:13,720 that one very special species isn't going to vanish. 121 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,040 All this security is here for a reason. 122 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:27,360 Within these walls is one of the rarest birds in the world... 123 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,720 ..the Javan green magpie. 124 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,760 OK, shall we start with the body condition score? 125 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,240 Three and a half. 126 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,400 Here, a breeding programme is being run 127 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,320 with the aim of releasing captive-bred magpies into the wild. 128 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,440 But the team face a huge challenge. 129 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,880 Panji will only release his captive-bred birds 130 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:39,000 if he can find a population of wild magpies with which they can breed. 131 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,120 But with so few left... 132 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,640 ..it's a near impossible task. 133 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,560 He is deploying new technology - 134 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:07,120 sound traps - 135 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,720 microphones that pick up every noise in the jungle. 136 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,520 Software powered by artificial intelligence 137 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,640 helps Panji analyse all the recordings. 138 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,880 But it still takes hours and hours of listening. 139 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,600 We just need to hear one magpie. 140 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,400 This isn't Panji's only problem. 141 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,640 There is no point in releasing birds if they're then just poached again. 142 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,680 So he must also change the hearts and minds 143 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,120 of those who make a living from them. 144 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,080 Panji is meeting with Mr Neo, 145 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,000 who owns several award-winning singing birds. 146 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,320 Astonishingly, in Mr Neo's back yard, 147 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,840 Panji finds a bird he never expected to see here... 148 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,920 ..a Javan green magpie. 149 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,880 I care about birds a lot, but also I care about people. 150 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,640 I care about the culture, I care about the income of these people. 151 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,880 And you can't just forcefully tell them to stop depending 152 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:54,640 their daily life on this activity without giving any solutions. 153 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,840 Panji needs to convince people like Mr Neo 154 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,920 that there's another way to appreciate birds. 155 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,960 He wants to show him a project in Central Java 156 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,800 that might persuade him. 157 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:22,200 The village of Jatimulyo was once a hotbed for poaching 158 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,360 but now, instead, the locals make a living from bird tourism 159 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:29,080 and photography competitions. 160 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,840 It attracts birders from across Asia. 161 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,240 And now the poaching has stopped. 162 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,240 Panji is hopeful for the future... 163 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,880 ..because he now knows a change of heart is possible. 164 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,120 Mr Neo has donated his bird to the sanctuary. 165 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,320 And, after months of work, there is more good news. 166 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,880 Wait. Wait. 167 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,280 This is interesting. This is interesting. 168 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,800 That's a magpie! That's a magpie! 169 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,160 That's a magpie! 170 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,440 We found it. 171 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,600 We found it! 172 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:02,000 With Javan green magpies confirmed at a secret location, 173 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:07,880 Panji is now a step closer to releasing his captive-bred birds 174 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,120 and help ensure the survival of this newly-discovered population. 175 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:27,240 Okinawa Island, Japan. 176 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,120 Scientists here are developing techniques that give us a glimpse 177 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:36,440 of what conservation could become in the future. 178 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:01,680 Marine biologists Mr Tomita and Mr Kaneko 179 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,280 are taking delivery of some very precious cargo. 180 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,440 There is only limited time to get the refrigerated unit 181 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,440 back to their laboratory. 182 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,720 Their task is to take pregnant sharks, 183 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,000 killed accidentally in fishing nets, 184 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,760 and rescue their unborn young. 185 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,560 They have developed an incubating system 186 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,320 that simulates the mother shark's womb. 187 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:08,080 The delicate embryos are fed by their existing yolk sacs. 188 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,160 But they need to be surrounded by a special chemical fluid, 189 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,000 similar to that provided by their mother... 190 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,640 ..and are kept dark, as they would be naturally. 191 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:15,640 The process requires constant monitoring 192 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,640 and the liquid must be changed as time passes... 193 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,480 ..to become gradually more like sea water. 194 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,480 After several months, 195 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,760 the baby sharks are ready to be released into a tank... 196 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,520 ..where their development will continue. 197 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,360 As we learn more about the animals 198 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,760 with which we share the world, 199 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,920 we also invent new techniques for conserving them. 200 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,680 And a recent discovery may prevent rare species of fish 201 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,120 from being caught in the first place. 202 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,760 Muncar, on the eastern tip of Java, 203 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,840 is home to one of the region's largest fishing fleets. 204 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:43,560 Many rare species that are caught in drift nets by accident... 205 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,360 ..end up in the market here. 206 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,600 They are known collectively as a bycatch... 207 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:01,920 ..and Egin Salim and his team at the Mobula Project Indonesia monitor it. 208 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,280 It's not just small rays that suffer... 209 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:22,640 ..this giant mobula ray was caught by accident last night. 210 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:30,480 In the dark depths, it couldn't see the net and swam straight into it. 211 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,720 Some new research could help protect the rays. 212 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:53,760 Egin is working with scientists, including Betty Laglbauer, 213 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,040 who is an expert on ray eyesight. 214 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:57,720 I'm good, I'm good. 215 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,800 We think we've finally been able to basically identify 216 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,320 which wavelengths the animals can detect. 217 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,920 We're really curious to see if we could use some lights 218 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,080 that basically shine light 219 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:10,480 in the specific wavelengths 220 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,240 that these animals can detect, 221 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,840 to try to get them to notice the nets in the water 222 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,600 before they swim into them. 223 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,320 And if we can... 224 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,880 If Betty's theory is correct, 225 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,280 traditional fishermen like Egin's friend, Pak Usik... 226 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:28,960 ..could help conserve the species. 227 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,000 But will he be willing to adopt the idea? 228 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,000 Tonight, the lights will be tested on the net. 229 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:22,120 If the science is accurate, green lights will be visible to rays... 230 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:27,360 ..but not to the fish that Pak Usik and his crew depend on 231 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,440 to feed their families. 232 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,600 It's the moment of truth. 233 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,600 There are plenty of target fish. 234 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,160 And no rays have been caught in the net tonight. 235 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,040 Pak Usik is relieved. 236 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,240 This initial trial gives hope 237 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:19,120 that there might be a way to safeguard ray species across Asia... 238 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,320 ..and beyond. 239 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:38,240 Technology is increasingly being used in the fight to save wildlife. 240 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,560 And, in Hong Kong, 241 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:47,600 a small team are testing a new way 242 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:52,240 of protecting another of Asia's most threatened marine creatures. 243 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:02,520 This city consumes over 800 tonnes of seafood every day, 244 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:05,880 including one rare coral reef species... 245 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:13,160 ..the ultimate luxury delicacy - the Napoleon fish. 246 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:25,720 Yvonne Sadovy, a marine biologist from the University of Hong Kong, 247 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,480 is an expert on this species. 248 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:36,640 These animals are complex, they're very intelligent 249 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,200 and in the wild get really, really big - 250 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,240 over one and a half metres. 251 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:47,760 It lives a very long time. 252 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,240 We're talking about well over 30 years - 253 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,680 longer than lions, longer than tigers. 254 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:56,920 So these big males, they're like the old men of the reef, 255 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,080 the wise men of the reef. 256 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,440 But nowadays, there aren't many large ones left. 257 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,640 They're being fished quite heavily and they're disappearing. 258 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,400 Because of their status, 259 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,720 very few Napoleon fish are allowed to be imported 260 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,560 and then sold in Hong Kong under international law. 261 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,880 But only some restaurants are sticking to the quotas 262 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,200 and too many fish are ending up on dinner plates. 263 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,840 A number of years ago, I would go to work every day 264 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:42,640 past a little restaurant. 265 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:48,040 And I seemed to be seeing the same two Napoleons in that tank 266 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,280 every day for weeks and weeks and weeks. 267 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,720 I started taking photographs of them every day. 268 00:32:55,720 --> 00:33:00,200 And what I noticed over time was a change-over in fish, 269 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,000 as I could tell by the facial markings. 270 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,880 Something like 14 fish had gone through the tank. 271 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,040 We realised how easy it was 272 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,200 to actually just replace legally-imported fish 273 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,360 with one that's illegally imported. 274 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,520 How ever would anyone detect that? 275 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:28,400 Yvonne has gathered together a team 276 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:32,160 to work on an innovative solution to this problem. 277 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,640 Every Napoleon fish has unique markings on the side of its head. 278 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:46,600 Loby Hau is helping Yvonne develop a facial-recognition app. 279 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,800 It should allow them to identify individual fish 280 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:56,240 and so monitor the number on sale across the city's restaurants. 281 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,680 We are trying to develop a new technique to protect the species. 282 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:10,760 KNOCK ON DOOR 283 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,080 Hi, Loby. Hello. Come in. 284 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,840 We think what we've developed 285 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:21,240 can really be a breakthrough in conservation. 286 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:26,160 Here we have the similarity score, from 0% to 100%. 287 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:32,120 We can keep improving it, with more images. Right. 288 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,800 So you can see these are different fish. 289 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,240 The app has been over five years in the making. 290 00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:40,400 Eyes are different, left and right, and it's quite distant. 291 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:44,120 And with the prototype now at an advanced stage, 292 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:46,240 the team are training it 293 00:34:46,240 --> 00:34:49,840 with as many images of Napoleon fish as they can gather. 294 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,360 So what's the percentage match, for example, with this one? 295 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,840 98. 98. Absolutely fantastic. 296 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:15,960 If the app is to be a success, 297 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:19,640 it will need the support of people like Lee Choi-wah, 298 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:24,680 who represent live seafood traders throughout Hong Kong. 299 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:37,800 That's good to know, I tell you. Yeah. 300 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:44,000 With the support of organisations such as Mr Lee's, 301 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,720 widespread take-up of the app is now a real possibility. 302 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:53,840 Absolutely the next step has to be that the government 303 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:57,840 adopts this approach in their enforcement work. 304 00:35:57,840 --> 00:35:59,600 There is no other choice. 305 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,320 The technology now exists 306 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:07,800 to monitor the number of Napoleon fish being sold 307 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:11,520 and so control the illegal trade in the species. 308 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:16,360 It has the potential to be a game-changer. 309 00:36:26,240 --> 00:36:31,520 Globally, wildlife is one of the largest black-market commodities, 310 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,400 alongside drugs and arms. 311 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:38,600 The trade is worth over $20 billion. 312 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:48,160 And one country in Asia sits at its crossroads... 313 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:57,880 ..Nepal. 314 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:04,000 Stretching east-west along the southern flanks of the Himalaya... 315 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,040 ..it has a 1,000-mile border used by smugglers, 316 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,640 who take animals from the wild in southern Asia 317 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,240 to sell to wealthy buyers in China. 318 00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:24,240 At the border crossing, 319 00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:27,600 many globally-threatened species are seized, 320 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:29,720 including red pandas... 321 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:32,680 ..and leopards. 322 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:40,440 Kumar Paudel is working to stop this criminal activity. 323 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:45,160 Today, he's teaching customs officials 324 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,240 how to identify animal products. 325 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:15,600 Intercepting illegal goods is a positive step... 326 00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:21,520 ..but catching the traffickers who operate inside Nepal is key. 327 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:29,600 In Kathmandu, Kumar and his team collect information on smugglers... 328 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:34,000 ..and share their findings with police. 329 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:49,520 Kumar has some important intelligence 330 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:52,760 for his contacts in the specialist wildlife unit 331 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:56,840 that is at the front line in the fight against trafficking. 332 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:26,200 The police have confirmed Kumar's information... 333 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:30,440 ..and are planning a sting operation. 334 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:36,520 An under-cover officer will go ahead, posing as a buyer. 335 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,200 The rest of the team will follow 336 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,120 and move in once contact is made. 337 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:55,120 The team close in on the target. 338 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:24,120 Destined for the black market, 339 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:27,480 a sack of scales from a pangolin - 340 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:29,560 a critically-endangered mammal. 341 00:41:31,240 --> 00:41:34,160 And people are risking their freedom for it. 342 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:53,960 Across Asia, pangolin numbers are in serious decline. 343 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:58,760 And although poaching is the main threat they face, 344 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:00,800 there are other issues. 345 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:18,640 Sunda pangolins are now being squeezed out 346 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:22,720 of their remaining forest habitats by urban development. 347 00:43:29,720 --> 00:43:34,760 In Singapore, the few that remain are forced to eke out an existence 348 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:37,880 in the shadow of the city's skyscrapers. 349 00:43:40,560 --> 00:43:43,800 And pangolins often find themselves in trouble... 350 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:47,560 ..out of place 351 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:50,000 and in the heart of the city. 352 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,600 Kalai Balakrishnan runs the only 353 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:06,520 24-hour wildlife rescue charity here. 354 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:10,320 And he's a busy man. 355 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:14,240 Is this where you saw the bat? Yeah, it's where I last saw it. 356 00:44:14,240 --> 00:44:15,720 He's in the door frame. 357 00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:19,840 Oh, my God! Is it in the doorframe? 358 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:22,240 Considering how small we are, 359 00:44:22,240 --> 00:44:27,480 and considering how little forest cover we have left, 360 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,600 I would say that we are pretty rich in biodiversity. 361 00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:36,760 Currently, we are averaging about 1,800 calls a month. 362 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:45,840 Definitely, there has been an increase 363 00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:48,960 in wildlife coming into urban areas. 364 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:52,480 There are more and more species 365 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:55,120 that are involved in this conflict with people. 366 00:44:56,480 --> 00:45:00,160 A lot of pangolins that we rescue, they are in urban areas. 367 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:03,000 They are obviously coming out either because of development 368 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:04,800 or maybe they're looking for a mate. 369 00:45:06,120 --> 00:45:08,560 We have rescued them under flats... 370 00:45:10,160 --> 00:45:12,960 ..in drains, 371 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:14,720 in construction sites. 372 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:20,240 A call has just come in. 373 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:26,000 A pangolin has been found in a critical condition. 374 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:28,000 We don't know what might have happened. 375 00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:31,440 The pangolin seemed to be in pretty bad shape 376 00:45:31,440 --> 00:45:33,160 in the middle of a golf course. 377 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:40,440 A lot of pangolins here unfortunately die from road kills 378 00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:43,280 because a lot of our roads are dividing the nature reserves 379 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,880 and the greenery that we have here - the habitats. 380 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:49,760 So, yeah, we want to do this as soon as possible, 381 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:52,000 so that he has a better chance of surviving 382 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:53,960 as a critically-endangered species. 383 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:01,680 In a lot of the rescues we do, 384 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:03,520 we often get asked this question... 385 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:06,720 "Where did this animal come from?" 386 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,240 People don't realise that they were always here. 387 00:46:15,240 --> 00:46:17,000 It's we who moved in 388 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:19,440 and they are just trying to survive alongside us. 389 00:46:24,240 --> 00:46:26,680 I think its back legs are broken. 390 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:29,000 It has a depression at the side of the abdomen, 391 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:31,440 which is not a good thing. 392 00:46:34,040 --> 00:46:36,880 Kalai works with specialist vets... 393 00:46:37,960 --> 00:46:42,680 ..who are world-class pioneers in caring for pangolins. 394 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:49,000 The team will do everything they can 395 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:51,560 for this elderly, fragile male. 396 00:46:55,720 --> 00:46:57,760 He's lost a lot of body condition. 397 00:46:57,760 --> 00:47:00,200 He can't seem to manage his wounds very well. 398 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:03,600 He cannot fend for himself. 399 00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:10,760 Sometimes I think all of us just want to give up. 400 00:47:13,280 --> 00:47:15,800 But I think tenacity is a very important thing. 401 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:22,480 You've just got to really believe that every living thing 402 00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:24,760 has a value and has a place here. 403 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:31,440 The passion and the wanting to help animals is very important. 404 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:33,720 I grew up being like that. 405 00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:38,800 But, as much as you try, you can't always succeed. 406 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:54,040 PHONE RINGS 407 00:47:55,920 --> 00:47:59,080 Only a few hours later, Kalai is called out 408 00:47:59,080 --> 00:48:03,680 to a multistorey car park to pick up another pangolin. 409 00:48:05,240 --> 00:48:07,200 Right. 410 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:12,480 It's OK, it's OK. 411 00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:16,160 It's a youngster... 412 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,920 ..less than six months old and full of life. 413 00:48:24,120 --> 00:48:26,080 You're fine. You're going to make it. 414 00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:28,520 You're going to make it. You're going to make it, OK? 415 00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:30,600 It's OK, it's OK. 416 00:48:30,600 --> 00:48:33,800 Kalai has arrived just in time. 417 00:48:33,800 --> 00:48:36,280 The pangolin is out of harm's way 418 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:40,600 and can be released where it won't get run over... 419 00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:43,400 So we're just going to pop this guy in 420 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:45,400 and, yeah, just let him go. 421 00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:52,280 ..giving this precious individual a second chance. 422 00:48:56,720 --> 00:49:02,000 Kalai's work gives urban wildlife a much-needed helping hand. 423 00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:07,080 But elsewhere in Asia, 424 00:49:07,080 --> 00:49:11,200 conservationists are attempting something even more ambitious. 425 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:16,960 They're trying to break the link between the destruction 426 00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:19,600 of the natural world and poverty. 427 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:34,960 The Batang Toru cloud forest in Sumatra. 428 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:41,680 This is home to the most recently-discovered great ape. 429 00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:47,960 But it's already the most threatened. 430 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:03,600 The Tapanuli orangutan. 431 00:50:08,520 --> 00:50:13,240 This baby and its mother are two of only 800 left. 432 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:28,680 Hotlin Ompusunggu is working to save them, alongside the local community. 433 00:51:10,280 --> 00:51:13,520 Even though the orangutans' habitat is remote, 434 00:51:13,520 --> 00:51:17,080 their last stronghold is under extreme pressure 435 00:51:17,080 --> 00:51:19,240 from human encroachment. 436 00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:26,800 But Hotlin has a unique approach to conservation - 437 00:51:26,800 --> 00:51:30,120 one that involves the entire community. 438 00:51:30,120 --> 00:51:31,960 DRILL WHIRS 439 00:51:31,960 --> 00:51:35,960 And it all starts in a most unlikely place. 440 00:51:45,240 --> 00:51:47,040 I am a dentist. 441 00:51:48,040 --> 00:51:50,480 I work in a rural area. 442 00:51:52,680 --> 00:51:55,480 The community are very poor. 443 00:51:56,600 --> 00:51:59,720 Dental care is still very limited. 444 00:51:59,720 --> 00:52:01,560 Health care is expensive. 445 00:52:03,160 --> 00:52:06,720 They believe that the forest should be protected - 446 00:52:06,720 --> 00:52:09,920 that the forest is important for their wellbeing, 447 00:52:09,920 --> 00:52:13,240 but when they have no other option to survive 448 00:52:13,240 --> 00:52:15,880 they have to cut trees for timber. 449 00:52:18,120 --> 00:52:21,720 There is a connection between poverty and logging. 450 00:52:23,320 --> 00:52:25,720 And poverty bring more poverty. 451 00:52:28,520 --> 00:52:31,000 To reverse deforestation, 452 00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:34,960 Hotlin has come up with an ingenious solution. 453 00:52:34,960 --> 00:52:37,120 Hello, Enan. 454 00:52:37,120 --> 00:52:41,280 Villagers are encouraged to grow trees from seeds at home 455 00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:44,200 and then bring the saplings along to the clinic 456 00:52:44,200 --> 00:52:46,720 as part payment for their treatment. 457 00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:53,040 Chainsaws can also be traded-in. 458 00:52:55,880 --> 00:52:58,520 They can have the treatment. 459 00:52:58,520 --> 00:53:01,520 At the same time, they can also help 460 00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:04,840 to protect and rehabilitate the forest. 461 00:53:06,960 --> 00:53:08,760 Given time, 462 00:53:08,760 --> 00:53:12,560 Hotlin's work will help take pressure off the forest 463 00:53:12,560 --> 00:53:14,200 and the orangutan. 464 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:21,240 Orangutan. Photo? 465 00:53:22,280 --> 00:53:24,960 Ah! GENTLE LAUGHTER 466 00:53:30,920 --> 00:53:33,960 Orangutan is important for us. 467 00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:36,560 It's a mutual relationship. 468 00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:40,680 They are the one who look after the forest. 469 00:53:42,440 --> 00:53:46,040 They will save the source of water 470 00:53:46,040 --> 00:53:48,680 for the people who live nearby. 471 00:54:14,760 --> 00:54:17,960 It might seem like a huge leap of faith... 472 00:54:19,480 --> 00:54:22,960 ..but there is real evidence this concept works. 473 00:54:25,520 --> 00:54:30,280 Back in 2007, on the neighbouring island of Borneo, 474 00:54:30,280 --> 00:54:35,440 Hotlin co-founded the world's first conservation health clinic 475 00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:38,280 with a staff of fewer than ten. 476 00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:45,480 Aah! LAUGHTER 477 00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:47,760 Today it has over 90... 478 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:51,560 ..and is thriving. 479 00:55:04,400 --> 00:55:07,560 The challenge when we started this, 480 00:55:07,560 --> 00:55:12,280 I said, "If you want to do something good you have to believe in it," 481 00:55:12,280 --> 00:55:16,760 and sometimes we don't even know how it will turn out, 482 00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:20,000 but just believe and don't compromise 483 00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:21,840 in what you want to achieve. 484 00:55:23,800 --> 00:55:27,000 So I tell them it's like in a Bollywood movie, 485 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:29,160 at the end... SHE LAUGHS 486 00:55:29,160 --> 00:55:31,080 We will dance at the end. 487 00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:39,960 The ASRI Clinic now has a huge bank of saplings, 488 00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:43,000 brought in by patients to help pay for treatment. 489 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:49,440 These are being used to re-forest areas 490 00:55:49,440 --> 00:55:52,240 that were once stripped of vegetation. 491 00:56:07,760 --> 00:56:09,960 And once the trees return... 492 00:56:15,680 --> 00:56:17,120 ..the animals follow. 493 00:56:18,440 --> 00:56:20,760 LAUGHTER 494 00:56:29,480 --> 00:56:31,560 From its bustling cities... 495 00:56:33,680 --> 00:56:35,960 ..to its rich oceans... 496 00:56:37,720 --> 00:56:40,280 ..across Asia, 497 00:56:40,280 --> 00:56:45,440 individuals are working tirelessly to bring about positive change. 498 00:56:47,920 --> 00:56:50,200 United by one aim... 499 00:56:53,840 --> 00:56:57,320 ..to protect the continent's natural riches 500 00:56:57,320 --> 00:56:59,480 for future generations. 501 00:57:01,840 --> 00:57:03,480 SQUAWKING 502 00:57:03,480 --> 00:57:06,040 There is a long way to go 503 00:57:06,040 --> 00:57:07,880 and they may not succeed... 504 00:57:09,600 --> 00:57:12,720 ..but if this region... ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 505 00:57:12,720 --> 00:57:16,960 ..home to almost 60% of the people on the planet, 506 00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:19,800 can find ways to co-exist with wildlife... 507 00:57:21,360 --> 00:57:25,960 ..then there is surely hope for the rest of the world.