1 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:41,960 There are only a dozen peaks in the world that rise five miles high. 2 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:58,600 All of them are here, in the Himalayas. 3 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,920 Lethally cold, scoured by gales and blizzards, 4 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,640 these mountains are among the most hostile places on Earth. 5 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,040 Snow leopards. 6 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,560 Like all creatures of the high mountains, 7 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,080 they have had to adapt both their body and their behaviour 8 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:44,800 in order to survive. 9 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,200 Life at extreme altitude 10 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,240 has shaped some of the toughest animals on the planet. 11 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,600 LEOPARD ROARS 12 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,640 The sunbaked mountains of the Arabian Peninsula. 13 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,000 They may only be a fraction of the height of the Himalayas, 14 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,920 but they are still so dizzyingly steep 15 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:41,280 that in many places it's almost impossible to get a foothold. 16 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,000 Yet Nubian ibex have made this their home. 17 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,360 BIRD CALLS 18 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,280 The ibex choose the steepest cliffs to raise their young, 19 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,640 in safety, beyond the reach of predators. 20 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,960 But living in this sanctuary comes with a cost. 21 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,320 These nursery slopes are so steep, 22 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,160 there is almost no standing water up here. 23 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,720 So to drink, an ibex family must descend into the valley... 24 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,440 ..1,000 feet below. 25 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,200 The mothers pick out the safest way down. 26 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,640 With soft cloven hooves that grip better than any climbing shoe, 27 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,360 they are the most accomplished mountaineers. 28 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,840 But the newborn kids are still having to find their feet. 29 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,960 This is their first descent. 30 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,080 One mistake could make it their last. 31 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,000 Following the adults, the kids finally reach the valley. 32 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,600 But once on level ground, they're vulnerable. 33 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,840 Red foxes lie in wait. 34 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,560 At the first sign of danger, 35 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,320 the young ibex instinctively run back to steeper ground. 36 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,960 KID BLEATS 37 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,560 But heading for this particular rocky outcrop could be a mistake. 38 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,320 It's a 30-foot drop. 39 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,360 The fox has them trapped - 40 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:07,760 or so it seems. 41 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,160 This is what ibex were born to do. 42 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,160 Scattering makes it hard for the fox to pick a target. 43 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,200 And it certainly can't follow them up here. 44 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,160 All it can do is wait for one to slip and fall. 45 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:34,960 But these youngsters are fast learners, 46 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,240 and they're now almost as sure-footed as their parents. 47 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,160 The fox will have to find its meal elsewhere. 48 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,840 It's just not been a good day. 49 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,680 Now, at last, the young ibex can drink. 50 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,680 But they'll soon need to return to the safety of the sheer cliffs. 51 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,800 Mastering precipitous terrain is always challenging, 52 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,760 but there are more fundamental problems for life in the mountains. 53 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,840 The Alps. Europe's highest peaks. 54 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,800 It's winter, and food is desperately short. 55 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,960 A golden eagle has to spend every daylight hour 56 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:43,800 scanning the slopes for something, somewhere, to eat. 57 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:57,200 Her seven-foot wingspan allows her to glide effortlessly 58 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:04,920 for 100 miles in a single day. 59 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,000 Her extraordinary eyes enable her to spot prey from two miles away. 60 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,760 But she is not the only one who's looking for food. 61 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,720 When she spots a chance, she must move fast. 62 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,800 She can dive at 200 miles an hour. 63 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:41,680 Only a peregrine is faster. 64 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:19,880 During winter, even eagles rely almost entirely on carrion. 65 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,280 It's a dead fox, and it could sustain her for days. 66 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,720 Other scavengers must defer. 67 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,520 The hungry crows soon regain their courage. 68 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,560 They'll try any trick to steal a morsel. 69 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,360 And they are annoyingly persistent. 70 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,480 But this mob are the least of her worries. 71 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:27,920 A bigger eagle takes control. 72 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,920 But this kill is too important to give up. 73 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,760 So she must fight. 74 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:57,960 For the moment, she's won the carcass back. 75 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:02,960 But a kill like this will attract every eagle for miles around. 76 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,160 As ever, the strongest wins the lion's share. 77 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,200 Unable to defend the carcass any longer, 78 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,920 the first eagle must now continue its search. 79 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,680 It may be many days before she feeds again. 80 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:54,440 Only the most competitive 81 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,200 will survive the perils of the mountain winter. 82 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,320 RUMBLING 83 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,240 An avalanche. 84 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,160 100,000 tonnes of snow 85 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,800 travelling at 80 miles an hour, 86 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,000 capable of smashing everything in its path. 87 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,480 The mountains of North America 88 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,160 are hit by thousands of avalanches every year. 89 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,840 Yet one animal spends the whole winter 90 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,960 slumbering within the snow on these avalanche-prone slopes. 91 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,400 And when spring comes, they emerge. 92 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,520 All across these mountains, 93 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,720 grizzly bears make their winter dens 94 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,320 10,000 feet up in the deep snow of leeward slopes. 95 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,720 And while they were half-asleep in the depths of winter, 96 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,200 their young were born. 97 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,840 Now these cubs are taking their first steps into the outside world. 98 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,680 This mother is leading her three youngsters 99 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,400 to a place where they can find food. 100 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,920 RUMBLING 101 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,160 They need to descend as quickly as possible. 102 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,520 The debris from an avalanche 103 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,560 is clear evidence that this slope is still dangerously unstable. 104 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,240 This is not a place to dawdle. 105 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:41,800 And they have another reason to keep moving. 106 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,760 After five months in the den, these bears are very hungry. 107 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,600 Bears that have hibernated throughout these peaks 108 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,760 now all descend to the valleys, where spring comes earliest. 109 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,960 In the Rockies, seasonal change is swift and dramatic. 110 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:29,160 In just a few days, the slopes turn from white to green. 111 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:55,360 Meadows that only a few weeks ago were buried beneath the snow 112 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,480 are now full of life. 113 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,680 But in these mountains, the good times will not last long. 114 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,920 So the bears must feed as fast as they can. 115 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:29,880 During the summer months, 116 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:34,080 an adult can put on 180 kilos gorging on plants 117 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,520 and, if they can catch them... 118 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,480 MARMOT CALLS ..a marmot or two. 119 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,640 But just now, the bears have something else on their minds. 120 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,200 It's becoming warmer, 121 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,520 and the bears are keen to shed their thick winter coats. 122 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,800 Mothers show the cubs what to do about this. 123 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,200 They'll soon catch on. 124 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,480 Some trees, it seems, are particularly suitable for rubbing. 125 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:27,320 Bears have their favourites and will travel long distances to visit them. 126 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,200 Some itches just have to be scratched. 127 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,400 There are now around 30 bears in this one valley. 128 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:09,840 As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent. 129 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,200 So the tree soon carries a list of who's around, 130 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,800 which might help individuals to avoid a fight. 131 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,160 To best spread their scent, 132 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,960 they really have to put their back into it. 133 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,680 BEAR GRUNTS 134 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,840 But summer is short. 135 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,880 Itches satisfactorily scratched, 136 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,880 it's time to eat. 137 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,040 In a couple of months, 138 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,920 they will have to return to their dens to hibernate, 139 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,600 so now they must put on as much weight as they can. 140 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:39,240 Winter in the mountains returns fast and hits hard. 141 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:44,240 WIND HOWLS 142 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:58,960 Temperatures in the Rockies will drop to -54 degrees, 143 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,680 so cold that moisture in the air 144 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:06,160 freezes into tiny crystals called diamond dust. 145 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:33,240 This bobcat is one of the few hunters to remain active in winter. 146 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,640 Most of his prey is now hidden beneath the snow 147 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,200 that covers his entire territory. 148 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:53,760 He hunts by listening for the faintest sound of movement. 149 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,720 And to prevent crunching footsteps from revealing his presence, 150 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,840 he uses boulders as stepping stones. 151 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:21,520 A mouse. 152 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:24,960 But one is not enough. 153 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,480 The deeper the snow, the harder it is to detect prey, 154 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,320 and the rewards for the effort can be disappointing. 155 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:52,720 To say the least. 156 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,560 By midwinter, the snow is so deep 157 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,680 that bobcats are forced to leave their territories 158 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,120 to try and find easier hunting. 159 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,360 For this particular valley is blessed. 160 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:44,920 A river here never freezes. 161 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,880 It's fed by a volcanic hot spring 162 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,680 that heats these waters 163 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,760 to 50 degrees warmer than the surrounding air. 164 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,880 Hungry animals of all kinds come here to feed. 165 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:30,680 Throughout the winter, 166 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,200 the river is full of food 167 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,840 for those who know how to catch it. 168 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,280 Here, even the coyotes have become fishermen. 169 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,520 But hunting is hard for a cat that's not used to getting its feet wet. 170 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,440 So he must choose his target with care. 171 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:23,440 Goldeneye ducks. 172 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,480 But can he get close enough to pounce? 173 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:53,360 QUACKING 174 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,880 Perhaps he'll have more luck on the other side. 175 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,960 Here, steam from the river warms the surrounding trees, 176 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,560 so up in the branches, there could be prey. 177 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:30,360 CHIRPING 178 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,200 If only he could get to it. 179 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,440 It's 20 feet up. 180 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:56,360 At last - a squirrel. 181 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,680 Not much, but enough to keep him going. 182 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:10,000 To survive a winter in these mountains takes tenacity, 183 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,040 and bobcats have that in abundance. 184 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,480 Snow on the equator. 185 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,880 Unlike the Rockies, in these mountains 186 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,800 there are no marked seasons. 187 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,520 This is Africa's Mount Kenya. 188 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,480 It's 17,000 feet high, 189 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,240 which makes its summit some 30 degrees colder 190 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,560 than the surrounding savanna. 191 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:13,200 Giant heathers, lobelias and groundsel grow on its upper slopes. 192 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,520 They all thrive in the tropical sun. 193 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:22,080 After all, every day is summer. 194 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:28,320 But once the sun sets, every night becomes as bitterly cold as winter. 195 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:40,440 The temperature drops to five degrees below freezing, 196 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,280 turning the mountainside into a garden of ice. 197 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,600 CRACKLING 198 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:06,880 Everything freezes, 199 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:11,800 but the cabbage groundsels have a way of protecting themselves. 200 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:22,400 They close up their leathery leaves to form an insulating blanket 201 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:25,240 that shields their vulnerable central bud. 202 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,840 Night comes to an end... 203 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,560 ..and the sunshine returns. 204 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,360 The groundsels spread their leaves wide 205 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,440 to bask in the sunshine once again. 206 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:15,800 Dawn in the High Andes. 207 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,520 Here too, the rising sun brings rapid relief 208 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,720 to animals living amongst these volcanic peaks. 209 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,600 Mountain viscacha are up early 210 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:42,440 to claim the best places to catch the sun's first rays. 211 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:07,840 For others up here, the sunrise is even more welcome. 212 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:13,120 At over 14,000 feet, 213 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,360 this is the highest flamingo colony in the world. 214 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:23,640 At night, it gets so cold that even this salty water freezes over. 215 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,120 And now the flamingos are trapped in the ice. 216 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,160 FLAMINGOS CALL 217 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,520 Eventually, the sun thins the ice, 218 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:42,200 but it's still a struggle for the flamingos to break free. 219 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,160 Walking on thin ice is always risky. 220 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:18,960 And it's hard to retain one's dignity... 221 00:34:20,720 --> 00:34:22,720 ..especially when you're wearing stilts. 222 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,200 At these altitudes, 223 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:43,240 the sun's power can quickly turn from salvation to threat. 224 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:51,920 The atmosphere is so thin, 225 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:55,280 there is very little protection from ultraviolet radiation. 226 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:00,760 By mid-morning, it's risky to linger out in the open. 227 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,200 The viscacha are forced to head for the shade. 228 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:15,400 Out on the lake, there is nowhere to hide. 229 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,000 The white crust of the soda lake 230 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,160 reflects the sun's glare 231 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:29,200 and increases the impact of its ultraviolet rays. 232 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:38,560 By midday, uncovered human skin will burn in four minutes. 233 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,280 But this doesn't seem to bother the flamingos. 234 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:50,600 In fact, they are on parade. 235 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,560 During the breeding season, 236 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:26,080 the flamingos perform these peculiar courtship dances 237 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,720 even through the hottest time of the day. 238 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,480 They are so eager, they don't even pause to feed. 239 00:36:57,240 --> 00:36:59,680 The rules are something of a mystery 240 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:01,720 but, after a month of dancing, 241 00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:04,000 all the birds will have paired off 242 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,160 and will be getting ready to mate. 243 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,880 Up here, there are few other creatures to bother the flamingos, 244 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:18,960 but then, few other creatures 245 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,440 could even tolerate these conditions. 246 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,080 So for animals that have the endurance, 247 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:30,680 mountains can be sanctuaries. 248 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,280 But rocky peaks which to us, perhaps, 249 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:48,920 seem a symbol of permanence, 250 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:50,920 are more fragile than they appear. 251 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:57,440 Today in the Alps, 252 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:01,760 human encroachment is changing even the highest summits. 253 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:16,760 In the Rockies, 254 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,000 rising temperatures are shortening winter hibernation 255 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:22,640 and stifling the growth of valuable food plants. 256 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:32,400 And in the Andes, some glaciers 257 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:36,080 have shrunk by 50% in just 30 years. 258 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:48,440 Even the Himalayas are now vulnerable. 259 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:54,400 With most of the world's tallest peaks 260 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,920 and covering a third of a million square miles, 261 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,320 this is the greatest mountain range of all. 262 00:39:07,240 --> 00:39:09,560 And here, temperatures are now rising 263 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:11,520 faster than the global average. 264 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:17,760 As the snow line retreats further and further up these peaks, 265 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:21,360 there is less and less space for wildlife, 266 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,200 and that is a challenge 267 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:27,440 for one of the most majestic of all mountain creatures. 268 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:47,680 The snow leopard. 269 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:57,000 Seldom seen, the detail of their lives has long been a mystery, 270 00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:02,160 but now, at last, helped by the latest remote-camera technology, 271 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,960 we are getting closer to them than ever before. 272 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:14,440 They are very rare - only about four of them in 40 square miles. 273 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:19,480 There is simply not enough prey to sustain more. 274 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,040 They live solitary lives. 275 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:31,560 Nonetheless, they are well aware of the presence and the movements of 276 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:36,440 their neighbours, because they leave messages in a few special places. 277 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:43,400 They rub particular rocks with their cheeks... 278 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:48,520 ..and then spray them with urine. 279 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,680 The two perfumes create a unique signature. 280 00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:57,000 SQUIRTING 281 00:40:59,120 --> 00:41:04,240 Any other leopard can know which of its neighbours passed this way, 282 00:41:04,240 --> 00:41:06,520 without ever making direct contact. 283 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:14,160 But there are times when snow leopards must come together, 284 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,680 and the event is often violent. 285 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:32,760 An adult female and her daughter. 286 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:46,560 She has devoted the last two years to raising her cub 287 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:48,680 and very soon, it will be weaned. 288 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:55,800 For now, the cub is still entirely dependent on its mother. 289 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:09,880 But staying together as long as this could cause problems. 290 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:11,920 The female is now in heat again, 291 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:15,440 and any male that smells her signature will know that. 292 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:19,000 SQUIRTING 293 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:29,520 From this moment on, her cub's life is at risk. 294 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:35,200 Males kill cubs that are not their own. 295 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:44,640 But the mother is now driven by an urge that she cannot control. 296 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,400 She lets the males know exactly where she is. 297 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:55,440 LEOPARD CALLS 298 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,920 From up here, she can be heard for miles around. 299 00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:10,920 LEOPARD CALLS 300 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:31,680 A young male emerges from the wilderness, eager to find her. 301 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:38,160 Snow leopards meet so infrequently 302 00:43:38,160 --> 00:43:40,960 that there is uncertainty and tension. 303 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:51,120 And it's about to get worse. 304 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:02,480 Another, bigger male has arrived. 305 00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:15,280 The mother and cub are trapped between the rivals. 306 00:44:15,280 --> 00:44:16,960 GROWLING 307 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:22,400 The cub is now in danger. 308 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:24,040 Mother must act fast. 309 00:44:25,760 --> 00:44:28,480 To divert the males' attention from her cub, 310 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,400 she rolls over submissively. 311 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:47,280 With the males fixed on the female, the cub has a chance to escape. 312 00:44:54,640 --> 00:44:57,440 The males close in on the mother from both sides, 313 00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,240 keen to claim her for their own. 314 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:05,760 A fight is inevitable. 315 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:30,160 The female moves to escape and protect her cub. 316 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:33,440 But the big male follows her. 317 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:48,400 He will not let her leave until he has mated with her. 318 00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:10,960 With the males gone, the female is at last reunited with her cub. 319 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:16,440 But she has been injured. 320 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:30,480 The cub, however, is alive, thanks to its mother. 321 00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:43,920 Until her injury heals, she won't be able to hunt. 322 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:50,320 Mountain animals survive on the very edge of existence. 323 00:46:54,120 --> 00:46:56,960 Mother and cub were not seen again. 324 00:47:05,880 --> 00:47:09,320 Until over a month later, high on a ridge, 325 00:47:09,320 --> 00:47:11,200 a remote camera was triggered. 326 00:47:15,680 --> 00:47:17,480 The female cat. 327 00:47:17,480 --> 00:47:20,720 She's no longer limping, but she's now alone. 328 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:29,440 Then, an hour after the female has left, 329 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:31,640 the camera is triggered again. 330 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:40,160 It's her cub, 331 00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:44,520 taking her first steps towards adulthood and independence. 332 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:50,000 She is unlikely to see her mother again. 333 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:53,120 But every now and then, they will be reunited 334 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:57,280 through the messages they leave on the marking rocks. 335 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:04,120 Her mother has succeeded in raising her, 336 00:48:04,120 --> 00:48:07,320 but life ahead will be challenging, 337 00:48:07,320 --> 00:48:10,120 and she will spend nearly all of it alone. 338 00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:16,480 Only the toughest can survive 339 00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:20,240 among the savage beauty of the world's highest mountains. 340 00:48:37,320 --> 00:48:39,880 on the lives of golden eagles in the mountains 341 00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:42,000 would take two very different approaches. 342 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:52,880 A traditional wildlife crew set out to film wild eagles 343 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:55,840 closer than ever before. 344 00:48:59,520 --> 00:49:03,080 Whilst an aerial team aimed to capture the hunting flights 345 00:49:03,080 --> 00:49:05,160 of eagles high in the mountains. 346 00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:15,720 The helicopter crew soon have success in filming 347 00:49:15,720 --> 00:49:17,560 wild eagles high over the Alps, 348 00:49:17,560 --> 00:49:21,200 but there was one part of the story even they couldn't follow. 349 00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:29,040 Golden eagles can stoop at 200 miles an hour. 350 00:49:31,600 --> 00:49:35,400 To capture an eagle's-eye view of such a dramatic flight 351 00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:38,080 would take a more extreme approach. 352 00:49:45,160 --> 00:49:49,240 I'm Aaron Durogati and I'm a professional paraglider pilot. 353 00:49:49,240 --> 00:49:54,320 Aaron believes that to fly like a bird, he must think like one, too. 354 00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:57,640 It's a very special feeling to fly with eagles 355 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:00,400 because I'm really looking how they are thermalling 356 00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:02,080 and where they go to soar. 357 00:50:02,080 --> 00:50:04,680 This helps me to become a better pilot, 358 00:50:04,680 --> 00:50:07,320 and I try to take inspiration from the nature. 359 00:50:07,320 --> 00:50:10,640 Wearing a specially designed helmet camera, 360 00:50:10,640 --> 00:50:14,200 Aaron's aim is to film the perspective of a diving eagle. 361 00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:21,120 But before he can jump off a mountain, 362 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:22,840 first he needs to climb it. 363 00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:30,560 It's a tough 3,000m ascent for Aaron and his wingman, Armin, 364 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:34,120 as director Emma Brennand waits for news in the valley below. 365 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:41,920 The ascent is slowed by a series of dangerous crevasses. 366 00:50:46,360 --> 00:50:49,840 After a tricky climb, they finally reach their launch site. 367 00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:56,160 But the weather up here is unpredictable 368 00:50:56,160 --> 00:50:59,200 and a change in wind direction makes it impossible to take off. 369 00:51:03,880 --> 00:51:08,080 Aaron and Armin are forced to overnight in the summit shelter, 370 00:51:08,080 --> 00:51:13,160 and with the cold knocking out their comms, Emma is worrying. 371 00:51:13,160 --> 00:51:18,600 They're well-trained mountain guides, 372 00:51:18,600 --> 00:51:22,480 I think it's going to be a fairly restless night for me as well. 373 00:51:22,480 --> 00:51:25,640 Whilst the paragliders prepare for a night on the mountain... 374 00:51:27,560 --> 00:51:30,320 ..cameraman Barrie Britton is setting out early 375 00:51:30,320 --> 00:51:34,240 on a more cautious quest to film wild golden eagles from a hide. 376 00:51:40,400 --> 00:51:42,920 I've got to get everything set while it's still dark 377 00:51:42,920 --> 00:51:46,520 and the eagles can't see what we're up to. 378 00:51:46,520 --> 00:51:50,040 Or if they saw any movement around the hide, then they'd fly away 379 00:51:50,040 --> 00:51:52,360 and probably wouldn't come back for a few days. 380 00:51:52,360 --> 00:51:55,360 They're notoriously difficult birds to film. 381 00:51:57,000 --> 00:52:00,040 Even hide work is not entirely without risks. 382 00:52:01,480 --> 00:52:06,120 It's -20 outside. So this is a crucial part of the operation, 383 00:52:06,120 --> 00:52:09,400 making sure the fire works so we don't freeze to death. 384 00:52:09,400 --> 00:52:11,840 Aah! Well, that's all the hairs gone on my hand! 385 00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:13,720 Oh, well! 386 00:52:13,720 --> 00:52:16,800 And we just have to be really quiet now 387 00:52:16,800 --> 00:52:20,320 and hope the eagles come in when first light comes up. 388 00:52:20,320 --> 00:52:23,080 Eight sedentary hours later, 389 00:52:23,080 --> 00:52:26,440 Barry's only reward is a dead leg. 390 00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:30,640 We haven't done a single shot today. 391 00:52:32,360 --> 00:52:33,720 Nothing has come. 392 00:52:35,360 --> 00:52:37,000 Anyway, that's the way it goes. 393 00:52:38,600 --> 00:52:40,880 After a long night on top of the mountain, 394 00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:43,360 the weather is only getting worse. 395 00:52:43,360 --> 00:52:46,800 The team need to get down, but visibility's so poor 396 00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:50,600 that descending on foot past the crevasses is too risky. 397 00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:55,240 Aaron decides it's safer to fly, but it'll be a bumpy ride. 398 00:52:56,720 --> 00:52:58,520 TRANSLATION: 399 00:53:12,520 --> 00:53:16,080 Thick cloud makes it hard to avoid the mountains, let alone film them. 400 00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:23,920 Thankfully, they make it down in one piece, much to Emma's relief. 401 00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:26,320 We are very, very glad to see you both. 402 00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:27,720 Yeah, it's a bit hard up there. 403 00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:37,160 ..until at last, a clear flight. 404 00:53:52,280 --> 00:53:54,600 Trying to mimic a diving eagle, 405 00:53:54,600 --> 00:53:56,680 the flying looks spectacular, 406 00:53:56,680 --> 00:53:59,080 but the helmet-cam shots are less so. 407 00:54:02,000 --> 00:54:03,880 To stay safe at these speeds, 408 00:54:03,880 --> 00:54:07,120 Aaron must turn his head regularly to check his glider, 409 00:54:07,120 --> 00:54:09,400 and that is making the shots unusable. 410 00:54:13,440 --> 00:54:16,520 The team must quickly come up with a new plan. 411 00:54:21,880 --> 00:54:24,600 Back in the hide, all has been quiet 412 00:54:24,600 --> 00:54:27,800 until Barrie spots an eagle scavenging on a fox carcass. 413 00:54:35,880 --> 00:54:38,600 Barrie repositions his hide to keep watch. 414 00:54:46,280 --> 00:54:47,640 Good stuff! 415 00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:51,160 After 100 hours in the hide, 416 00:54:51,160 --> 00:54:53,640 finally, his luck changes. 417 00:54:56,240 --> 00:54:59,080 That's one terrifying bird there. 418 00:54:59,080 --> 00:55:02,440 For me, it's fantastic just to see them so close. 419 00:55:03,680 --> 00:55:05,080 It's just beautiful. 420 00:55:08,120 --> 00:55:12,280 With Barrie's success, it's now down to the paragliding team. 421 00:55:12,280 --> 00:55:15,560 They've come to the Mont Blanc range with a new plan. 422 00:55:17,600 --> 00:55:21,880 Aaron's decided that the best way to keep safe and get stable shots 423 00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:24,160 is to fly tandem with a cameraman. 424 00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:29,600 We've got to try and mimic how an eagle flies, 425 00:55:29,600 --> 00:55:33,200 which is pretty hard because they're basically like the top bird of prey. 426 00:55:33,200 --> 00:55:35,160 John is nervous. 427 00:55:35,160 --> 00:55:37,120 It's his first-ever flight. 428 00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:41,360 Three, two, one, go. 429 00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:44,720 Eee...ahh! 430 00:55:45,880 --> 00:55:49,080 Yes! Woohoo! 431 00:55:52,040 --> 00:55:55,520 How is it? Ah, man, that was a shock. 432 00:55:55,520 --> 00:55:58,640 Overcoming his initial fears, John begins filming. 433 00:56:00,480 --> 00:56:03,040 If you can go right of this, that'd be cool. 434 00:56:07,480 --> 00:56:09,680 that Aaron was unable to get flying solo. 435 00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:13,880 Awesome, Aaron, very good. 436 00:56:13,880 --> 00:56:15,960 But it's not all plain sailing. 437 00:56:20,440 --> 00:56:26,280 The feeling of discomfort only gets worse 438 00:56:32,640 --> 00:56:34,480 JOHN LAUGHS 439 00:56:34,480 --> 00:56:36,280 I feel sick! 440 00:56:37,800 --> 00:56:40,120 Oh, man! 441 00:56:40,120 --> 00:56:44,160 Flying low and fast like an eagle 442 00:56:54,640 --> 00:56:59,360 LAUGHING: A little bit too much, do you think? Yeah! 443 00:56:59,360 --> 00:57:02,640 Sorry, what did you call it, an unplanned landing? Yeah! 444 00:57:04,840 --> 00:57:08,200 They might not be as majestic as a golden eagle, 445 00:57:08,200 --> 00:57:11,320 but they do capture a unique perspective 446 00:57:11,320 --> 00:57:14,840 that conveys an eagle's life as never before. 447 00:57:19,720 --> 00:57:21,440 Next time... 448 00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:23,520 we explore the world's jungles. 449 00:57:25,960 --> 00:57:29,920 Places of surprise and invention unrivalled on Earth... 450 00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:35,240 ..where the battle for survival is at its most intense.