1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,920 Cast adrift in the far reaches in the southern hemisphere... 2 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,160 ..lies a continent separated from all other lands 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,120 for 45 million years. 4 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,520 Evolving in isolation, 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,760 nature has created a unique world of wonders. 6 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,760 Spiders that dance, 7 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,160 birds that spread fire... 8 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:44,280 ..where bouncing beats walk and youngsters are carried in pouches. 9 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,840 It's a world where animals have had to adapt 10 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,640 to surprisingly diverse landscapes... 11 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,000 ..and to thrive in its vibrant seas. 12 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:05,400 Even making their homes amongst the growing concrete jungle. 13 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,320 In this episode, we explore how human expansion is impacting 14 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:14,080 the lives of Australia's wildlife. 15 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:19,000 And we discover what it takes to survive... 16 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,320 ..in the changing landscapes of Earth's Magical Kingdom. 17 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:43,000 Humans have walked on the continent of Australia for 60,000 years. 18 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,520 Though they have worked the land and hunted animals, 19 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,000 generations of Indigenous Australians have left only 20 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,240 subtle marks on the landscape. 21 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,120 They tread lightly on the earth's surface. 22 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:14,840 It is new waves of migration in the last two centuries 23 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,920 that have introduced radical transformations... 24 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,160 ..and a very different future for the continent's wildlife. 25 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:30,840 Yet some creatures are coping surprisingly well with this change, 26 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,760 even in human hotspots. 27 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:42,120 Melbourne - Australia's second largest city. 28 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,560 Pulsating with nearly five million people... 29 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:58,440 ..and tens of thousands of brushtail possums. 30 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,080 These tree-dwelling creatures are members of the marsupial family. 31 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,800 Like kangaroos, they carry and suckle their young in pouches. 32 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,120 Living alongside humans has helped their numbers increase, 33 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,520 but they live a very different life to their country cousins. 34 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,000 Food is abundant. 35 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,560 But trees are not. 36 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,200 In the bush, each possum would be living a solitary life. 37 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,800 But in this park, every tree must be shared with many others. 38 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,000 HISSING 39 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,280 In such an intense environment, squabbles inevitably break out 40 00:04:19,280 --> 00:04:20,600 between neighbours. 41 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,720 City life may be stressful. 42 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,400 But it's conducive to making babies. 43 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:36,280 This mother has enough food to breed continuously 44 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:40,960 and will be pregnant almost her entire adult life, 45 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,720 meaning she may have twice as many offspring 46 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,200 as her counterparts in the wild. 47 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:56,160 At just six months, her eldest must make space for his younger siblings. 48 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,400 In the wild, he would enjoy her comforts for a whole year. 49 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,640 He has no option but to find his own way in the world. 50 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,560 But with the park's few trees so heavily defended, 51 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,400 he can't find a safe place to rest. 52 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,320 Like many young possums born in this park, 53 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,280 he must take a huge risk. 54 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,840 He heads into the human chaos in search of a new place 55 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:41,880 to call home. 56 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:25,160 Domestic cats, the possum's main urban predator, 57 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,200 are an ever present threat to be avoided at all costs. 58 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:49,920 A shared roof presents an opportunity. 59 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,240 It's the ultimate jackpot for a homeless possum. 60 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,440 A sanctuary without competition. 61 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,800 And this one comes with a bonus - a friendly human face. 62 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:57,360 Urban possums now live a different, often treeless, life. 63 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,440 But they have adapted to cope - 64 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,320 and may even prefer human dens to natural ones. 65 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,560 A corner of a suburban garden offers refuge for Australia's 66 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,480 smaller native creatures to make their magic. 67 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,280 One flamboyant resident has some unique attributes that help it 68 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,320 overcome the problems created by humans. 69 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:44,000 This male peacock spider is the size of a grain of rice. 70 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,120 He's perfectly at home in a lawn that resembles 71 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,800 his natural grassland. 72 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,920 He has superb eyesight... 73 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,880 ..which helps in his search for a mate. 74 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,240 And there she is - a female peacock spider. 75 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:24,960 To invite her to mate, 76 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,760 he will produce a series of vibrations known scientifically 77 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,800 as rumble-rumps. 78 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,560 Sensing his movements through her legs, the female demands 79 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:45,120 a suitor who can produce soothing, even vibrations. 80 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,280 Anything muddled or intermittent is unacceptable. 81 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,680 But the pandemonium created by humans 82 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:03,320 can make sensing vibrations very difficult. 83 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,680 Fortunately, he has another tactic he can employ... 84 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,280 ..to divert her attention from all else in the garden. 85 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,560 Eyes locked, the enchantment begins. 86 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,480 She appraises the dance in all its colourful splendour 87 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,880 as his routine becomes increasingly vigorous. 88 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,480 But her head is easily turned. 89 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,000 A rival suitor muscles in to try his luck. 90 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,040 She strikes in less than a tenth of a second 91 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:18,880 and injects a lethal dose of venom into his brain. 92 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:23,320 The rival is now not a mate, but a meal. 93 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:43,240 Undeterred, our suitor once more steps into the line of fire. 94 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,240 He must mesmerise... 95 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,640 ..or die. 96 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,680 At touching distance, he gears up for the final flourish. 97 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,120 Just one mistake now will cost him his life. 98 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,960 While his front legs rotate her abdomen into position, 99 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,400 he gathers his sperm and passes it into her reproductive organs. 100 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,440 So, simple quirks of nature allow him to thrive 101 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,680 in this suburban environment. 102 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:54,760 He can either tap dance or use his dazzling good looks 103 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,600 to overcome disturbance from his noisy neighbours. 104 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,720 There are over 50 different species of peacock spider - 105 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,320 each dancing their own routine - 106 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,560 many in the gardens and green spaces of Australia's cities. 107 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:31,120 After all, a suburban garden is not all that different to savanna 108 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,920 when you're just five millimetres long. 109 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:42,000 Creatures that can be flexible tend to do better in the city. 110 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,720 But adaptability only takes you so far. 111 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:53,440 Sometimes, you simply have to change with your environment. 112 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:03,400 A thousand miles north, the cold-blooded inhabitants of Brisbane 113 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,040 are demonstrating evolution in overdrive. 114 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,840 Dotted between the freeways and the skyscrapers, 115 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,200 there are some green oases. 116 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,560 These city parks are home to eastern water dragons. 117 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,640 For this young buck, it's the only world he's ever known. 118 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,760 He shares it with many other dragons and human visitors 119 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:46,480 who enjoy the park's offer of close encounters with not so shy reptiles. 120 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,200 He is, in effect, marooned on an island, 121 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,440 living in an entirely man-made ecosystem. 122 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,560 Almost everything about it is different from the natural world. 123 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,440 From its size and surfaces... 124 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:14,640 ..to its prey... 125 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:18,760 ..and predators. 126 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:31,560 This dragon population is evolving to survive in this new world 127 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,360 right before our eyes. 128 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:44,040 In a timescale of little more than 150 years, 129 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,480 they have become metropolitan dragons. 130 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,600 Not just living a different lifestyle, but now genetically 131 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,400 distinct from their wild cousins. 132 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,320 His ancestors were here long before the city developed around them. 133 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:15,240 Yet in many ways, this modern dragon generation has things easier... 134 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,120 ..like staff who do the digging for them... 135 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,720 ..a bee-flavoured fun park... 136 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,840 ..and water features. 137 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,360 A fair replacement for their natural creek habitat. 138 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,240 It seems a charmed life. 139 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,840 With abundant food and few natural predators, 140 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,160 the city's park populations have soared. 141 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,960 This male lives amongst the highest density of water dragons 142 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,800 on the planet, 143 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,800 so good communication is essential to maintain social harmony. 144 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,640 A raised arm, a tail slap, a tilt of the head 145 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,400 are all ways of communicating the pecking order. 146 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:47,240 Now coming of age - with his chest turning a deep red - 147 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,400 he will start to assert his dominance. 148 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,880 But it's hard to get ahead in a city of strong males. 149 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,720 The current ruler is intolerant of young upstarts... 150 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,480 ..so the young buck's presence is not welcome. 151 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,320 HISSING 152 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,160 The spectacle attracts attention. 153 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,440 Can he overthrow the leader? 154 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:52,840 Unable to outmanoeuvre his opponent, he soon surrenders and is banished. 155 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:02,000 But in this world, you find friends in strange places. 156 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,720 At least the gardeners are sympathetic. 157 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,280 Brisbane's parks have proved to be a pressure cooker 158 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,520 for evolution, forcing dramatic physical change. 159 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,240 The water dragons have grown to twice the size 160 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:33,880 of their wild cousins, with many males weighing well over a kilogram. 161 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:38,400 And without their usual trees to climb, limbs are getting longer 162 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,120 and claws less defined. 163 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,040 Their behaviour has altered, too. 164 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,200 In the wild, water dragons are timid towards people. 165 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,480 But in Brisbane, they refuse to even move for humans. 166 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:05,600 These dashing dragons are Australia's most surprising example 167 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,280 of rapid evolution, driven almost entirely 168 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,280 by the changing environment. 169 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:21,000 But it's not just in city parks that animals live without fear of humans. 170 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:30,800 800 miles south along Australia's eastern seaboard 171 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,720 lies the sun-kissed Sapphire Coast... 172 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:47,160 ..visited by eastern grey kangaroos. 173 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:53,120 They're not drawn here by the golden sands, 174 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:58,160 but to feed on the spoils washed up by the Tasman Sea. 175 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,720 Seaweed is a salty but nutritious snack. 176 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:14,360 Recent reports suggest there are 44 million kangaroos in Australia. 177 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,560 That's twice the number of people, 178 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,160 leading to over a million being culled each year. 179 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:29,280 But the kangaroos here enjoy a relatively relaxed life. 180 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,080 They've learned that - in this spot, at least - 181 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,560 humans don't pose a threat. 182 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,640 All along the coast, holiday parks have popped up 183 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,520 offering kangaroo encounters. 184 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:07,240 And because the roos are welcomed, they come day after day. 185 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:14,360 Resorts that offer refunds to disappointed visitors 186 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:16,200 have never had to pay out. 187 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,240 It's a win-win situation. 188 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,960 The roos enjoy happy, unhindered grazing 189 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,480 while providing a tourist attraction. 190 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,320 And the grass rarely needs mowing. 191 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,640 There's a fair amount of clearing up to be done 192 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,760 but no shortage of volunteers. 193 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,840 Before they've even left their mother's pouch, 194 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:15,320 young joeys develop a taste for the cultivated pasture. 195 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:29,280 Proving that humans and wildlife can live in harmony, 196 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,480 the roos here are as welcome as the tourists themselves. 197 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,000 200 miles further up the coast, 198 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,640 Sydney is Australia's most populous city. 199 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,960 Many of them sun worshippers. 200 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:12,760 As night falls, the beach crowd disperses. 201 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:26,360 The stage is set for the next shift of beach-goers. 202 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,720 The red fox - 203 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,960 now one of Australia's most common predators. 204 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,160 The beach is her home, and every night is hers to enjoy. 205 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,760 Foxes are not native to Australia. 206 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:02,160 They were imported from England in the mid-1800s for sport hunting. 207 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:08,520 Their resourcefulness and lack of competition has seen them spread 208 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,480 right across the continent. 209 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,760 For this fox, it seems a carefree life... 210 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,360 FOXES GROWLING 211 00:25:17,360 --> 00:25:20,040 ..one shared with a playful sibling. 212 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,080 GROWLING CONTINUES 213 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,320 They may look charming, but they have contributed 214 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,880 to the extinction of numerous native species 215 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,880 unprepared for such an efficient hunter. 216 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:50,680 It's estimated there are now close to seven million foxes in Australia. 217 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:58,200 In Sydney, there's an average of 25 every square mile. 218 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,600 Around midnight, the siblings split up and head out 219 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,360 for their nightly rounds. 220 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:37,120 Hunting or scavenging, they enjoy a varied diet. 221 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,000 Much of it generous offerings left by humans. 222 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,760 The female has a three-mile range. 223 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:16,320 It extends from the beach into neighbouring residential streets. 224 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:21,560 She'll visit all the spots she knows might yield rewards. 225 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:40,960 Whilst most residents sleep, the town is hers. 226 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:42,400 CAR BEEPS 227 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:54,800 Her hearing is so acute, she can detect snoring several houses away. 228 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,280 Moving silently, she will even steal from her canine cousins. 229 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:28,280 With her belly full, she returns to the beach for one last happy reunion 230 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,080 before the sun rises. 231 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,480 Their night is rubbed out. 232 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:50,280 And the beach belongs to humans once more. 233 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,680 Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world. 234 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,960 Yet it's also one of the most sparsely populated. 235 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:28,640 Only 10% of its three million square miles is considered habitable. 236 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:37,800 But the reach of humans can still be felt in its most remote regions. 237 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,040 In the deserts of western Australia, 238 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,520 where temperatures reach over 50 degrees Celsius 239 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:49,080 and mining operations continue round the clock, 240 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:54,040 another of Australia's top predators is drawn from the desert plains 241 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:59,720 towards the lights, the sounds and the smells of human industry. 242 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:08,480 Australia's native dingo. 243 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:14,960 Amid the noise and machinery, 244 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:18,440 several dingo packs eke out an existence. 245 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:30,600 This alpha pair and their offspring lay claim to a shale heap 246 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,480 which overlooks the mine site. 247 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:40,440 In a man-made mechanised oasis, they enjoy the luxuries of water 248 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:41,640 and shade... 249 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,240 ..both in short supply on the plains beyond. 250 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,160 Danger is everywhere. 251 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,360 The adults head out to forage before the heat of the day 252 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:43,880 becomes too intense... 253 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:48,600 ..leaving the youngsters behind. 254 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,240 They follow the reliable tracks across the mine. 255 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:16,040 The offerings are meagre, and they will take what they can get, 256 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,480 travelling up to 12 miles a day in search of food. 257 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,480 The pack leader surveys the desert 258 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:50,040 as his ancestors have done for thousands of years. 259 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:57,680 The isolation of this great desert has protected him from breeding 260 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:03,360 with domestic dogs, so he is father to some of the continent's last 261 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:06,200 precious purebred dingoes. 262 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:14,440 As the day heats up, the family members who have stayed behind 263 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,200 stick close to their water hole - 264 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,520 watched over by a patient older sibling. 265 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,480 This is the hottest part of the country, 266 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:30,160 and it could be months before rain falls again. 267 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,920 The waste water from the mine creates an oasis 268 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,160 for all desert creatures... 269 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:42,080 ..providing new foraging opportunities for the family. 270 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:51,360 The young dingoes dine on worms and forage for scraps. 271 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:01,640 No feast, perhaps, but vital protein in the desert. 272 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:16,680 The pack expend energy knowing that when they overheat, 273 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:19,520 there's plenty of water in which to cool off. 274 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:10,320 But one pup is a little too adventurous. 275 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,680 The thick plastic lining offers no grip. 276 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:28,840 DINGO HOWLS 277 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:33,680 Fortunately, an older sibling provides a clue to an escape route. 278 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:08,920 Lesson learned. 279 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:21,600 The mine is a hive of activity 24 hours a day. 280 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:33,400 It may not seem like an obvious place to raise a family. 281 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:37,440 But amid the debris, 282 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:41,720 the newest generation emerges from their makeshift den. 283 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:53,400 Dingoes normally make a home of rabbit holes, caves or hollow logs. 284 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:56,760 But here, they have man-made structures. 285 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:09,520 They offer reasonable protection from the trucks rumbling past. 286 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:16,400 These pups are being guarded by an older sister 287 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:18,320 while their parents hunt. 288 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,040 But they're getting hungry, impatient for Mum to return. 289 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,560 The desert day trippers are on their way back to the rest of the pack. 290 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,920 And their family members are on the lookout for them. 291 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,040 DINGO HOWLS 292 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:11,720 The reunion at the end of the day is an important part of pack life, 293 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:14,560 reinforcing family bonds. 294 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:23,120 These animals have learned to live amid the infrastructure pounding 295 00:38:23,120 --> 00:38:26,920 around them and use it to their advantage. 296 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:36,000 Dingoes have a much better chance of survival here 297 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,040 than in the arid plains. 298 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,160 It's no picture book, perhaps, but for these dingoes, 299 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:50,280 it's as comfortable as life will get in this desert environment. 300 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:59,680 Most man-made structures do not benefit Australia's wildlife. 301 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:04,520 Instead, they add to the perils animals confront 302 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:06,480 in these harsh landscapes. 303 00:39:11,960 --> 00:39:16,080 Like the networks of supply lines ferrying the desert's offerings 304 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:17,920 to cities and ports. 305 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:24,000 With little warning, 306 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:27,960 storms sweep hundreds of miles inland from the sea, 307 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:31,120 bringing flooding rains to the Great Northern Highway 308 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,760 that crosses Western Australia... 309 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:40,480 ..triggering unexpected events... 310 00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,400 ..like blooms of fish in the desert's heart. 311 00:39:56,680 --> 00:40:00,600 Yellowtail grunts wait out the dry season 312 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,720 in small, ever-decreasing pools. 313 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:12,960 With these occasional flash floods comes an opportunity to disperse... 314 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:19,680 ..if they can cross a road. 315 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:33,600 Nobody knows what motivates them to make this perilous journey 316 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,040 or where their destination lies. 317 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:49,320 Crossing this road will take courage in the face of hovering predators. 318 00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:09,640 Terns, which have flown to this desert from as far as Siberia, 319 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:11,960 are welcomed with an easy meal. 320 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:21,440 They feast for hours, as the offerings just keep on coming. 321 00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:29,000 Only stopping for the trucks to power through, 322 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:32,440 sluicing the grunters back to where they started. 323 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:45,240 What chance for a little fish? 324 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:03,160 Every now and then, a grunter defies the odds... 325 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:15,040 ..joining a slippery battalion who made it through... 326 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:25,400 ..one step closer to their mystery destination. 327 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:37,000 Australia's wildlife has evolved to deal with erratic weather patterns, 328 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:40,440 but now the climate itself is changing - 329 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:45,120 more dramatically here than in many other parts of the world. 330 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:47,600 And animals are struggling to cope. 331 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:55,400 In the farmlands of New South Wales, summers are getting tougher. 332 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:00,840 Hot days, more frequent. 333 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,040 Droughts, longer. 334 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:14,760 This region is home to a species identified as being 335 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:18,480 one of the world's most threatened by climate change. 336 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:30,240 In a eucalyptus tree, one of Australia's most iconic marsupials 337 00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:33,080 lays her body against the cool of a branch. 338 00:43:35,680 --> 00:43:40,560 The tree's trunk is five degrees lower than the air temperature 339 00:43:40,560 --> 00:43:43,080 and will keep her from overheating. 340 00:43:44,640 --> 00:43:50,560 The koala is reliant on the eucalypt for all they need to survive. 341 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:59,280 Its tough, waxy leaves - toxic to most animals - 342 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:01,680 provide her only source of food. 343 00:44:04,240 --> 00:44:08,640 The eucalypt even hydrates the super specialist, 344 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:11,840 giving her no reason to leave the safety of this tree. 345 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:16,720 Or so it was thought. 346 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:31,560 Farmer Rob Friend has lived on this land for over 70 years. 347 00:44:41,320 --> 00:44:47,320 Today, as he surveys his paddocks, he finds a lifeless body at the base 348 00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:49,520 of a seemingly healthy tree. 349 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:59,400 In the last major heat wave, 25% of the region's koala population died. 350 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:05,880 Locals report koalas drinking at puddles, pools, taps 351 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:07,840 and cattle troughs. 352 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:17,000 Rob believes the no-drink koala is dying of thirst. 353 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:24,640 As the climate changes and temperatures increase, 354 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:28,040 it seems that the chemical content of eucalyptus leaves 355 00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:30,680 is changing, too, 356 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:36,160 losing its ability to hydrate these finely tuned marsupials. 357 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:43,080 Rob can't bear to see them go, 358 00:45:43,080 --> 00:45:48,960 and he is motivated to try something on his own farm, at least. 359 00:46:02,440 --> 00:46:04,520 BIRDS CHIRPING 360 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:23,360 He fits a drinking trough to a tree on his property. 361 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:34,240 He then positions an infrared camera alongside. 362 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:41,560 Rob will monitor his watering hole, to find out if his resident koalas 363 00:46:41,560 --> 00:46:45,000 need more than their trees can now supply. 364 00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:53,560 But when the cameras spring into action, 365 00:46:53,560 --> 00:46:56,640 it's not koalas they capture. 366 00:46:56,640 --> 00:47:01,160 Parrots, butcher and myna birds fight for space. 367 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,200 Bees, too, come to quench their thirst. 368 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:28,680 After nightfall, nocturnal drinkers are no less varied. 369 00:47:41,320 --> 00:47:43,680 Tree frogs get there first... 370 00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:46,920 ..followed by possums. 371 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:53,720 Sugar gliders, tiny squirrel-like marsupials, arrive to drink. 372 00:48:04,440 --> 00:48:09,120 The daintiest and most acrobatic of Australia's gliders 373 00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:11,920 are nesting in nearby tree hollows.. 374 00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:23,240 ..and launching themselves 50 metres between eucalypt groves to land, 375 00:48:23,240 --> 00:48:27,120 with pinpoint accuracy, at the water station. 376 00:48:31,840 --> 00:48:33,920 And then, at last... 377 00:48:37,120 --> 00:48:38,160 ..a koala. 378 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:58,680 Drinking deeply, quenching his thirst - 379 00:48:58,680 --> 00:49:02,120 something the eucalypt seems no longer able to do 380 00:49:02,120 --> 00:49:03,600 in times of drought. 381 00:49:08,680 --> 00:49:13,920 Over days, Rob captures koalas drinking time and time again. 382 00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:17,960 Sometimes, they sit for hours. 383 00:49:22,640 --> 00:49:25,280 They are thirsty koalas. 384 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:41,920 On Rob's land, there are tiny signs of renewal. 385 00:49:50,080 --> 00:49:54,600 While one farmer can give koalas a fighting chance, 386 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:57,160 he can't save the species alone. 387 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:04,280 The very trees they need to survive are also being lost. 388 00:50:08,000 --> 00:50:11,760 In the 200 years since European colonisation, 389 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:15,240 40% of Australia's forests have been cleared. 390 00:50:17,880 --> 00:50:21,160 And despite all that is known about the critical importance 391 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:26,720 of old-growth trees, land clearance shows no sign of abating. 392 00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:36,920 Australia's wildlife is facing a perfect storm of challenges 393 00:50:36,920 --> 00:50:38,200 to its survival. 394 00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:45,120 At current rates, koalas in New South Wales are on course 395 00:50:45,120 --> 00:50:48,760 for extinction by 2050. 396 00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:53,040 To turn the koala story around, 397 00:50:53,040 --> 00:50:55,880 it will require a national recovery plan... 398 00:50:57,400 --> 00:50:59,760 ..one that recognises as a priority 399 00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:03,520 the value of a single incomparable species. 400 00:51:05,520 --> 00:51:08,480 But Australia is capable of such a thing. 401 00:51:18,840 --> 00:51:22,080 In another part of the country, people have been dramatically 402 00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:26,320 changing their lives to accommodate their animal neighbours. 403 00:51:28,800 --> 00:51:33,320 This is Phillip Island on Victoria's southern coast. 404 00:51:35,840 --> 00:51:41,160 The island's shores tumble into Bass Strait, where the aptly-named 405 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:47,040 little penguin - the world's smallest - spends 80% of its time. 406 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:58,440 Despite being only 30 centimetres long, it can swim rapidly, 407 00:51:58,440 --> 00:52:02,520 eating 25% of its body weight in fish in a day. 408 00:52:20,800 --> 00:52:25,480 When they hit the shore, they are a little less graceful. 409 00:52:25,480 --> 00:52:30,120 And yet these tough little birds have, for thousands of years, 410 00:52:30,120 --> 00:52:34,000 battled the rocks here to reach their breeding grounds. 411 00:52:38,480 --> 00:52:41,960 It's only in the past 100 years that their journey 412 00:52:41,960 --> 00:52:44,960 has been lit by more than stars. 413 00:53:06,080 --> 00:53:10,360 Human development on the island has turned their remote home 414 00:53:10,360 --> 00:53:13,600 into a baffling and dangerous puzzle. 415 00:53:24,720 --> 00:53:28,440 The population looked set for extinction until a bold decision 416 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:32,520 was made to make this a penguin housing estate - 417 00:53:32,520 --> 00:53:34,920 at the cost of the human one. 418 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:39,400 This hill above Summerland Beach 419 00:53:39,400 --> 00:53:42,880 is where penguins have long dug their nests. 420 00:53:45,880 --> 00:53:50,160 Given a chance, little penguins are excellent breeders. 421 00:54:00,720 --> 00:54:05,120 A mating pair share all chick-raising responsibilities. 422 00:54:06,920 --> 00:54:12,080 Females lay two eggs at a time and can have two clutches a year 423 00:54:12,080 --> 00:54:15,760 if fishing is good and they're protected while nesting. 424 00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:36,680 The population is now booming due to pioneering conservation efforts. 425 00:54:41,200 --> 00:54:43,800 Over the past 25 years, 426 00:54:43,800 --> 00:54:49,680 human residents have been moved out to make way for the penguins. 427 00:54:51,320 --> 00:54:54,960 180 holiday homes have been removed. 428 00:55:01,040 --> 00:55:06,800 And with them go the cars, the lights, the people and dogs 429 00:55:06,800 --> 00:55:11,200 that collectively took this penguin colony 430 00:55:11,200 --> 00:55:13,240 to the edge of extinction. 431 00:55:14,880 --> 00:55:20,560 A sight and sound of penguins dominates the landscape once again. 432 00:55:33,080 --> 00:55:36,480 The little penguin population on Phillip Island 433 00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:39,560 has tripled since the 1980s. 434 00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:50,600 But humans aren't quite out of the picture. 435 00:55:56,720 --> 00:56:02,080 In fact, they're now being invited back as paying customers. 436 00:56:09,920 --> 00:56:13,800 The tourist trade funds the conservation effort 437 00:56:13,800 --> 00:56:18,880 with 700,000 carefully controlled visitors a year. 438 00:56:18,880 --> 00:56:23,720 Humans might outnumber penguins, but the tables are turned. 439 00:56:27,560 --> 00:56:31,640 Finally, people are here on nature's terms. 440 00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:44,440 The little penguins on Phillip Island 441 00:56:44,440 --> 00:56:48,120 are a conservation success story, 442 00:56:48,120 --> 00:56:52,120 an example of how species can be protected. 443 00:56:57,000 --> 00:56:59,480 In all corners of Australia, 444 00:56:59,480 --> 00:57:05,160 wildlife is feeling the impact of a modern, human-dominated world. 445 00:57:12,000 --> 00:57:14,840 Many creatures are now forced to live a different 446 00:57:14,840 --> 00:57:16,560 metropolitan life... 447 00:57:24,440 --> 00:57:27,600 ..where towering buildings have encircled them... 448 00:57:29,360 --> 00:57:32,360 ..even changing the course of their evolution. 449 00:57:35,440 --> 00:57:38,480 While some have taken advantage of change... 450 00:57:40,720 --> 00:57:45,200 ..too many are disappearing to make way for human expansion. 451 00:57:49,640 --> 00:57:54,520 Australia has one of the highest rates of extinction in the world. 452 00:57:59,800 --> 00:58:03,040 The human population must learn to value 453 00:58:03,040 --> 00:58:06,040 their country's natural treasures. 454 00:58:11,240 --> 00:58:14,440 For only with its extraordinary wildlife 455 00:58:14,440 --> 00:58:19,480 can Australia remain truly magical.