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Burma.

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Cut off from the outside world
for five decades.

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A mysterious land.
A land of secrets.

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Home to half of mainland
Southeast Asia's remaining forests.

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It's rumoured to be teeming
with iconic animals.

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This is one big question mark when
it comes to scientific exploration.

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These forests could be
the last refuge

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to some magnificent creatures that
are being wiped out across the world.

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As it opens up to democracy,

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Burma will have to choose the fate
of its forests.

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Now, for the first time,

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a team of scientists and wildlife
filmmakers are venturing

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deep into Burma's jungles.

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Did you see that? There they are.
I'm shaking.

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They will catalogue
its forgotten wildlife...

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and give Burma's government a report
to help get these forests protected.

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I feel very, very, very,
very, lucky.

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It's a race against time,
as the world eyes up
Burma's natural riches.

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We've got fire in front of us
and then fire here
and then fire behind us.

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Oh, God. This isn't good.

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What they discover could change
the future of Burma's wilds forever.

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What's this, what's this,
what's this?

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Whoa!

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This forest is extremely important,

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not just to Burma -
it's of global significance.

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Burma's forests are rich, unspoilt
and changing fast.

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The team's mission is
to survey the wildlife here

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and prove beyond doubt
that these forests need protection.

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This is the final phase
of a unique expedition.

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For this last leg of their trip,

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the team will search for Southeast
Asia's most iconic animal...

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the tiger.

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To have the best chance of finding
tigers, the team must split up.

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Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan
is heading to the forests
of southern Burma.

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These forests were once home
to a thriving population of tigers.

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But this region has been isolated
by war for over 60 years,

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so little is known
about the fate of the animals.

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Gordon will try to find proof
that tigers are still here.

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We're incredibly lucky
to be going into this area.

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This is a complete black spot
when it comes to scientific studies.

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It's been described as
the dark side of the moon.

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The rest of the survey team
are heading to the far north,
to Tamanthi,

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gateway to the largest stretch
of unspoilt forest in Burma,

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one and a half times
the size of Wales.

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Tigers are thought to live here
but no-one knows how many there are.

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Big cat specialist Justine Evans
will try to capture tigers
on camera.

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We've come up
to the far north of Burma.

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We're wading up rivers
because there is no road access into
the area that we're setting up camp.

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It's a huge remote tract of forest

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and so little is known about it,

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it could be home to some
of the world's most iconic species,

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such as the tiger.

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While Justine searches for tigers,

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Smithsonian mammal expert,
Kris Helgen, will measure
the forest's diversity.

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For biologists, Northern Burma is
the most exciting place
that we could come in the country.

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We expect that wildlife may be
at its richest

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and the diversity of all life
will be tremendous.

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Entomologist Ross Piper will study
the forest's insects.

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This will help the team assess
the health of the ecosystem.

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This forest looks amazing

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but how good is this forest and
is it functioning as it should be?

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To answer those questions, we can
look for lots of different species,

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to find out if this place is healthy

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and if it's functioning correctly.

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The team has already spent six weeks
exploring Burma's forests.

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Yes, yes! They've discovered
Asian elephant herds...

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breeding populations of sun bears...

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and some of the rarest cats
in the world.

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Now they're searching for tigers.

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If they can find visual evidence
of this endangered cat,

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the case for protecting these
forests will be stronger than ever.

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The northern team has arrived
at their remote jungle base camp,

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home for the next two weeks.

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Local forest rangers have chosen
this location.

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They believe this is
the heart of tiger territory.

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The survey team's first task is
to set up their jungle science lab.

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Working alongside Ross are
Smithsonian scientists
Nicole Edmison and Darrin Lunde.

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That is definitely bigger
than some of my shrews.

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This part of Burma is
one of those places

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where we're very likely
to find new species.

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We have a very good chance
of finding something new here.

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Justine decides to head out
immediately.

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A tiger can travel
twenty miles in a single day.

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She'll have to cover a lot of ground
fast, much of it at night.

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I think I'm going to have to think
like a tiger

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and keep its hours, as well.

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So, yeah, dusk, night, dawn are
going to be my hours,

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sleeping during the heat of the day.

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Like many animals, tigers choose
the easiest travel route.

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If a path already exists
they will use it.

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The hard part is finding out
which paths they're using.

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Justine has a plan.

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It might look a bit bizarre but what
I'm trying to create is a sand pit,

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not to play in but to record
footprints of tigers.

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The trouble with up here
in the forest is it's so dry.

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The ground is so compacted
I'm not sure I would spot them,

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so I'm creating this sand pit
to make it soft

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and therefore easier
to see the prints
if something else comes through.

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The land is baked dry,

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as temperatures have been reaching
around 40 degrees.

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It's looking great.

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It's got a nice light dusting on top
and it looks very clean,

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so I definitely will see a print
if it goes in there.

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You can see it's nice and soft.
You can see my fingers quite clearly.

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Now the only thing left to do is
put a camera trap on here.

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Even with camera traps in place,
Justine has a huge task ahead.

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The last tiger to be captured
on film in the north of Burma

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was 15 years ago.

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Across Asia,
tigers are disappearing fast.

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At the end of the 19th century,
there were as many
as 100,000 tigers.

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Today there may be as few
as 3,000 left.

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No-one knows how many remain
in Burma.

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One thousand miles to the south,

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Gordon has travelled
for two days through dense jungle

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to reach one of
the most isolated forests in Burma.

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Karen state has been cut off
from the rest of the country

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by the longest-running civil war
in history.

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In 2012 fighting finally ceased.

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Gordon is one of the first wildlife
filmmakers to be invited in.

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Really, what I hope to find is
that it's not just the forests
that are intact,

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that we have a whole range
of different species

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living in this forest,
animals like elephants, tigers.

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Officially, the Karen people
and the Burmese government

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are now at peace.

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But the forest rangers here
still carry weapons

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and their leader, Ti Po Kwa, is
a former Army General.

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MEN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE

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We're just trying to distribute
as much of the equipment as possible,

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so nobody's carrying too much
and nobody's carrying too little.

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We've got a full day walk ahead of us

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before we reach an area
where we can camp.

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We just want to be able to get
as far into the forest as we can
in the time that we've got.

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The further into the forest we go,

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the more chance we've got
of finding animals there.

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Karen State is part of Burma

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but since independence
from British rule in 1948,

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the Karen people have been fighting
for the right
to govern their own state.

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Gordon hopes that the long years
of isolation during the civil war

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may have helped protect
the wildlife here.

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Well, that's where I'm headed,
down into that deep dark forest.

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It's such an amazing sight.

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This forest is unbroken
as far as the horizon.

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It looks really promising.

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The Karen rangers believe
there could be tigers

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in the distant mountains
20 miles away,

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the remotest part of the forest.

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Only time and a lot of trekking
will tell.

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Back in the north,
the survey is getting under way.

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Finding tigers will take time

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but the challenge of documenting
everything else that lives here
begins immediately.

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My goal is to document
as many species as we can.

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Basically, create as complete a list
as possible for this area

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of all the different forms of,
in my case, especially mammal life,

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but working as a team,
everything that's here.

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The world is not yet explored.

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These forests are
really not intensely studied

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and so it shouldn't surprise us
when you get down to it

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that we can go into a place
like this, a beautiful forest,

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and find things that no scientist
has ever documented before.

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ANIMAL CALLS

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The forest here is so dense,
finding animals is a challenge.

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The survey team has a trick
that will help them -

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a line of pitfall traps.

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A wall of plastic sheeting
channels tiny mammals

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living on the forest floor
into a bucket buried in the ground.

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Darrin hopes these bucket traps
will provide

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a constant supply of creatures
to start building the species list.

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A-ha, something for you, Ross.

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That looks like a bombardier beetle.

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That's a really big one, though,
yeah.

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I could think of it...

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Whoa! Argh! See that?
I did see that.

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There he goes again.
That's a bombardier beetle,
so this is its defence.

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It explodes.
There's an explosive mixture
that comes out of its rear end.

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That got me right in the face then,
as well.

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It's a mixture
of really nasty chemicals

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and it comes out of here at
probably just over 100 degrees C.

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Gee! Wow.

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Whoa! Did you see that again?

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It does not like this.

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Look at that!

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They are fantastic
and it's still doing it.

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I think it's all out.
Oh, there we go, look.

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Ow! I mean, this burns.

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This is getting me
right on the finger every time.

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The pitfall traps are perfect
for collecting small animals

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and the jungle is full of insects,
tiny mammals and reptiles.

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These traps will form the backbone
of the diversity survey.

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Justine has left her sand trap
overnight.

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If a tiger has been here,
she should see its prints.

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This is the sand pit
I prepared earlier.

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Looks like a gaur has come through
here

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and I wouldn't want to say for sure

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but there could have been a tiger.

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It's sort of inconclusive prints

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that have been walked over
by something else

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but I've got the camera trap here,

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so hopefully whatever's walked
through will be on there.

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Right.

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It's the moment of truth.

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It's a bear!

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Wow! It's a sun bear!
How amazing is that?

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He's a lovely big sun bear.

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That's great news in terms
of the diversity of this forest.

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I was worried
that there weren't bears here.

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You know, they suffer a lot
from poaching and human conflict,

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so that's lovely to see one
on the camera.

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Wow!

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Well, I was hoping for a tiger

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but a sun bear's a really good start,
anyway.

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Day two
and the team has already found

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one of Southeast Asia's
rarest animals - the sun bear.

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This is their second encounter
with sun bears

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after finding them
in the west of the country.

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Elsewhere in Asia,
they are on the brink of extinction.

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One sighting doesn't mean
sun bears are thriving here

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but it's a promising sign.

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The camera traps also reveal
an amazing variety of animals.

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Shortridge's langurs, only found
in this part of the world.

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Large numbers
of pig-tailed macaques.

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A Hoolock gibbon, highly endangered

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and an early indicator
of an undisturbed forest.

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A crab-eating mongoose
in search of insects.

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Another sun bear with young,

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the first proof the team has
of breeding animals.

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But to create a comprehensive
picture of the forest,

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Ross needs to find
smaller creatures.

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These forests in northern Burma,
they are guaranteed to get
any biologist excited.

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I know that no bug expert has been
to this part of Burma.

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So this is a real
once in a lifetime opportunity

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to document the wildlife
that I can find.

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It's not every day you get a chance
to do this sort of thing.

233
00:17:29,222 --> 00:17:35,262
The forests of northern Burma are
amongst the richest and least
explored on the planet.

234
00:17:41,062 --> 00:17:45,542
Every insect Ross finds will be
new data for Tamanthi forest.

235
00:17:48,822 --> 00:17:51,741
His species list will provide
scientists

236
00:17:51,742 --> 00:17:53,462
with valuable new information.

237
00:18:01,782 --> 00:18:04,341
A-ha! Look at this.

238
00:18:04,342 --> 00:18:06,142
These are plant hopper nymphs.

239
00:18:07,062 --> 00:18:09,742
They're one of the most ridiculous
things. Look at them.

240
00:18:10,862 --> 00:18:13,701
These long filaments here,
these are waxy secretions

241
00:18:13,702 --> 00:18:17,461
and these are thought to be
a defence against their parasites
and their predators.

242
00:18:17,462 --> 00:18:19,821
And also watch this.
If I try and touch them,

243
00:18:19,822 --> 00:18:21,862
they start twitching around.

244
00:18:23,022 --> 00:18:25,902
Looks like they're having
a really bad hair day.

245
00:18:26,942 --> 00:18:29,181
As a last line of defence
they can also jump.

246
00:18:29,182 --> 00:18:31,341
If I really irritate
this one here...

247
00:18:31,342 --> 00:18:32,581
Oi!

248
00:18:32,582 --> 00:18:34,342
Again. Oi! Look at that.

249
00:18:38,062 --> 00:18:40,222
Doi-oi-oi-oi-oing.

250
00:18:42,582 --> 00:18:45,502
Doink! Comedy creatures.

251
00:18:55,862 --> 00:18:59,622
In just one hour, Ross finds
a dazzling array of species.

252
00:19:03,622 --> 00:19:07,341
It seems that this is
a truly unspoilt habitat,

253
00:19:07,342 --> 00:19:08,822
packed with wildlife.

254
00:19:17,422 --> 00:19:20,301
But only four hours from base camp,

255
00:19:20,302 --> 00:19:23,502
Ross stumbles on a shocking vision
of Burma's potential future.

256
00:19:34,862 --> 00:19:36,701
I've been walking
all through the forest

257
00:19:36,702 --> 00:19:39,101
and I've come out
on this logging road.

258
00:19:39,102 --> 00:19:41,821
They're taking out logs from here
left, right and centre.

259
00:19:41,822 --> 00:19:44,621
Look at this.

260
00:19:44,622 --> 00:19:47,621
It's a bit peculiar, really.
I don't know what to make of it.

261
00:19:47,622 --> 00:19:50,821
I mean, when you're inside
that forest, you know,

262
00:19:50,822 --> 00:19:52,341
it looks like a pristine place

263
00:19:52,342 --> 00:19:56,062
but then you come across one
of these logging roads and you see
all this that's happening.

264
00:19:58,142 --> 00:19:59,942
Hmm.

265
00:20:03,462 --> 00:20:06,821
Logging is an important part
of Burma's economy.

266
00:20:06,822 --> 00:20:09,021
What's surprising is

267
00:20:09,022 --> 00:20:12,222
that it's happening so close
to such valuable forest.

268
00:20:19,302 --> 00:20:23,261
The government has pledged
to stop exporting wood.

269
00:20:23,262 --> 00:20:26,941
But it's still awarding contracts
to private companies

270
00:20:26,942 --> 00:20:29,101
within so-called protected forest.

271
00:20:29,102 --> 00:20:31,981
MONKEYS HOWLING

272
00:20:31,982 --> 00:20:35,901
Even worse, these logging roads give
poachers direct access

273
00:20:35,902 --> 00:20:38,302
to the heart of tiger territory.

274
00:20:45,662 --> 00:20:48,861
Illegally caught tigers are known
to be killed

275
00:20:48,862 --> 00:20:51,462
and used
in traditional Chinese medicine.

276
00:20:52,422 --> 00:20:55,261
The Burmese government doesn't
condone the wildlife trade

277
00:20:55,262 --> 00:20:58,822
but controlling border regions
is difficult.

278
00:21:05,342 --> 00:21:09,021
Most people here earn
less than a dollar per day.

279
00:21:09,022 --> 00:21:11,142
Hunting tigers is tempting.

280
00:21:15,702 --> 00:21:18,901
Following Ross's discovery,
Kris wants to know

281
00:21:18,902 --> 00:21:22,862
if tigers in this region are being
affected by illegal poaching.

282
00:21:23,822 --> 00:21:27,582
Good morning. The team's local guide
used to be a hunter.

283
00:21:30,822 --> 00:21:34,581
I'd like to ask what you can tell me
about tiger hunting,

284
00:21:34,582 --> 00:21:40,821
how it's done
and why the animal is so valuable.

285
00:21:40,822 --> 00:21:42,382
HE SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE

286
00:21:52,862 --> 00:21:55,941
The Lisu people live
in the hills of northern Burma.

287
00:21:55,942 --> 00:21:59,342
They're renowned
for their skill at hunting.

288
00:22:08,582 --> 00:22:14,102
Why would some people hunt
the tiger? Why is it so valuable?

289
00:22:29,622 --> 00:22:31,821
That's a huge amount of money
in this country

290
00:22:31,822 --> 00:22:36,181
and we've heard numbers quoted
even larger than that as well.

291
00:22:36,182 --> 00:22:41,301
What that means is that, you know,
the demand for tiger is enormous

292
00:22:41,302 --> 00:22:47,661
and the perverse economics are
that the fewer tigers there are,

293
00:22:47,662 --> 00:22:50,501
the value on their heads
goes up even more

294
00:22:50,502 --> 00:22:52,421
because that demand
is extraordinary.

295
00:22:52,422 --> 00:22:57,341
So that paints a very bleak future
for tigers here in Tamanthi.

296
00:22:57,342 --> 00:23:00,861
But we don't know how many tigers
are still left

297
00:23:00,862 --> 00:23:04,422
and as long as there are still some,
there is still hope.

298
00:23:05,222 --> 00:23:09,622
Everything the team has learned here
reveals a country at a crossroads.

299
00:23:14,142 --> 00:23:18,541
Their survey results could change
these forests' future.

300
00:23:18,542 --> 00:23:20,782
But time is running out.

301
00:23:22,302 --> 00:23:26,501
So which rodents do we have here?
I got a good look
at the Irrawaddy squirrel.

302
00:23:26,502 --> 00:23:29,661
The scientists are gathering
as much data as they can.

303
00:23:29,662 --> 00:23:33,102
They need as complete a picture
as possible.

304
00:23:39,102 --> 00:23:42,022
The one I saw was actually beige.
Beige. All right. Mm.

305
00:23:48,662 --> 00:23:49,741
There we go.

306
00:23:49,742 --> 00:23:52,701
If they're to find new species here,

307
00:23:52,702 --> 00:23:54,902
they'll need every trick
in the book.

308
00:23:55,942 --> 00:23:57,861
So we've got the cage traps
out there.

309
00:23:57,862 --> 00:24:00,822
We've got the pitfalls,
we've got the mist nets.

310
00:24:12,062 --> 00:24:16,422
Justine's sand trap has revealed
sun bears but no tigers.

311
00:24:16,702 --> 00:24:20,942
Now she has a new strategy -
staking out a salt lick.

312
00:24:21,302 --> 00:24:25,221
All animals need salt and minerals
in their diet.

313
00:24:25,222 --> 00:24:29,661
This would be attracting things like
sambar deer, muntjac, barking deer,

314
00:24:29,662 --> 00:24:31,701
gaur, wild pig.

315
00:24:31,702 --> 00:24:34,181
Coincidentally,
they're all tiger prey,

316
00:24:34,182 --> 00:24:37,902
so you could say that tigers
get their food ready salted.

317
00:24:39,382 --> 00:24:42,862
This is perfect place
for a tiger to ambush its prey.

318
00:24:46,342 --> 00:24:49,021
Tigers are going to be
really tricky to film.

319
00:24:49,022 --> 00:24:51,901
What's good about this position is
I've got some height.

320
00:24:51,902 --> 00:24:54,941
I'm up on the top of a bank
looking down into the stream

321
00:24:54,942 --> 00:24:58,421
and I'm hoping that means
my smell's going to stay up here

322
00:24:58,422 --> 00:25:00,262
and not be down there too much.

323
00:25:05,142 --> 00:25:07,701
I'm just trying to break up the shape
of the hide a little bit

324
00:25:07,702 --> 00:25:10,462
so it doesn't look quite so obvious.

325
00:25:11,782 --> 00:25:14,221
This is only a stone's throw
from the main river,

326
00:25:14,222 --> 00:25:17,181
so it wouldn't take much for a tiger
to peel off and come up here.

327
00:25:17,182 --> 00:25:20,901
It's perfect ambush country. There's
ridges and little drop-offs.

328
00:25:20,902 --> 00:25:22,661
The thing is I wouldn't know
it was here.

329
00:25:22,662 --> 00:25:24,021
I could be sitting here all day

330
00:25:24,022 --> 00:25:26,221
and then suddenly
a tiger would just leap out.

331
00:25:26,222 --> 00:25:28,541
I'd be none the wiser.

332
00:25:28,542 --> 00:25:30,181
They are the masters of disguise.

333
00:25:30,182 --> 00:25:32,342
It's why they have
those beautiful markings.

334
00:25:36,302 --> 00:25:39,822
That's me set up.
Now for the stake-out.

335
00:25:47,022 --> 00:25:50,781
In Karen state, Gordon and his team
have trekked for two days

336
00:25:50,782 --> 00:25:52,902
into Megatha Forest.

337
00:25:55,742 --> 00:25:58,821
They have an hour ahead of them
to reach the base of the mountains.

338
00:25:58,822 --> 00:26:02,422
This is where the Karen rangers
believe the tigers live.

339
00:26:09,062 --> 00:26:13,222
But Gordon and his guide, Che Poe,
must tread carefully.

340
00:26:15,542 --> 00:26:19,302
During the war, the forest pathways
were littered with landmines.

341
00:26:26,182 --> 00:26:29,581
It makes the task
of finding tigers even harder

342
00:26:29,582 --> 00:26:32,862
but Che Poe knows
which routes are safe.

343
00:26:36,822 --> 00:26:38,621
To capture images of tigers,

344
00:26:38,622 --> 00:26:42,622
Gordon and the rangers have set up
38 camera traps.

345
00:26:43,822 --> 00:26:47,501
We are a long way away
from the nearest habitation,

346
00:26:47,502 --> 00:26:50,861
so we are really in
the middle of nowhere.

347
00:26:50,862 --> 00:26:52,381
There's very few signs of animals

348
00:26:52,382 --> 00:26:55,101
but that doesn't mean
that the animals aren't here.

349
00:26:55,102 --> 00:26:58,461
So the plan is
just to blitz this area

350
00:26:58,462 --> 00:27:00,982
with as many camera traps
as we've got.

351
00:27:02,702 --> 00:27:06,382
Leaving them to record day and
night, Gordon will set up his hide.

352
00:27:07,982 --> 00:27:11,622
Instead of salt, he's relying on
fruit to bring in the animals.

353
00:27:13,462 --> 00:27:16,582
There's a wild jack fruit.

354
00:27:16,742 --> 00:27:18,461
Very tasty.

355
00:27:18,462 --> 00:27:19,741
Mmm! It's really nice.

356
00:27:19,742 --> 00:27:23,421
I'm just going to find a place
to put the hide up

357
00:27:23,422 --> 00:27:26,101
but the whole ground is littered
with fallen fruit.

358
00:27:26,102 --> 00:27:30,222
Some of it's gone a bit mouldy but
some of it's still nice and juicy.

359
00:27:31,582 --> 00:27:33,501
Jack fruit has a sour aftertaste

360
00:27:33,502 --> 00:27:37,341
but Gordon hopes it will bring in
fruit-eating animals,

361
00:27:37,342 --> 00:27:39,382
perfect prey for a tiger.

362
00:27:47,942 --> 00:27:52,581
Just enough room
for me and the equipment.

363
00:27:52,582 --> 00:27:55,102
Actually, there's not enough room
for me and the equipment.

364
00:27:56,942 --> 00:27:59,622
The rain will wash away
Gordon's scent.

365
00:28:00,702 --> 00:28:03,182
Now all he can do is wait.

366
00:28:27,382 --> 00:28:30,742
Well, we've got our first visitor
of the night.

367
00:28:33,582 --> 00:28:38,061
Porcupines will eat a whole range
of different food.

368
00:28:38,062 --> 00:28:40,462
It's not just fruit.

369
00:28:42,062 --> 00:28:47,822
They'll eat insects,
they'll dig for termites.

370
00:28:49,862 --> 00:28:55,741
This porcupine will be able to
hold his own with clouded leopards,

371
00:28:55,742 --> 00:28:59,022
with leopards, even with tigers.

372
00:28:59,702 --> 00:29:01,582
But not always.

373
00:29:02,182 --> 00:29:08,861
I've seen tigers with porcupine
quills stuck in their noses

374
00:29:08,862 --> 00:29:10,501
and around their mouth.

375
00:29:10,502 --> 00:29:13,542
I'm afraid that can only mean
one thing for a porcupine.

376
00:29:16,702 --> 00:29:22,142
There he goes,
disappearing off into the night.

377
00:29:28,022 --> 00:29:33,621
Back in the north, Justine has been
in her hide for eight hours.

378
00:29:33,622 --> 00:29:37,421
She hopes her high vantage point
will let her see the tiger

379
00:29:37,422 --> 00:29:39,822
before it gets spooked by her scent.

380
00:29:44,582 --> 00:29:46,662
What's that?

381
00:29:49,222 --> 00:29:51,302
Something very bright.

382
00:29:51,742 --> 00:29:55,542
That's... Yeah, that's a shrew.

383
00:29:58,342 --> 00:30:01,261
I can hear rustling,
I can hear rustling all around

384
00:30:01,262 --> 00:30:03,941
but it's often just shrews.

385
00:30:03,942 --> 00:30:05,662
There could be civets as well.

386
00:30:23,902 --> 00:30:26,702
I thought there might
be more going on.

387
00:30:27,182 --> 00:30:32,621
You have to put so much time
in the hide to get any results.

388
00:30:32,622 --> 00:30:35,541
More and more I'm thinking the camera
traps are much more appropriate

389
00:30:35,542 --> 00:30:37,342
in these sorts of conditions.

390
00:30:40,982 --> 00:30:44,861
I'm staring at the screen
just wishing for a tiger to appear

391
00:30:44,862 --> 00:30:48,022
but no amount of wishing is going
to make it happen.

392
00:30:51,462 --> 00:30:53,422
Where's the off button?

393
00:31:02,102 --> 00:31:06,742
Back in base camp, Kris is having
more luck with the camera traps.

394
00:31:10,342 --> 00:31:13,261
Oh, my goodness.
The large Indian civet.

395
00:31:13,262 --> 00:31:16,222
Moves about on the ground at night.
That's a great image.

396
00:31:17,582 --> 00:31:20,102
Oh, God, that's incredible.

397
00:31:20,182 --> 00:31:22,542
One of my favourite animals.
That's a pangolin.

398
00:31:23,422 --> 00:31:27,541
Wow. This is an insect eater
in this forest,

399
00:31:27,542 --> 00:31:29,421
a very critical part
of the forest ecology

400
00:31:29,422 --> 00:31:33,981
and common in so many places in Asia
until recently,

401
00:31:33,982 --> 00:31:38,862
when the scales became in great
demand for Asian wildlife trade.

402
00:31:41,222 --> 00:31:44,341
Oh, that's a stunner.

403
00:31:44,342 --> 00:31:47,061
Night-time shots of a binturong.

404
00:31:47,062 --> 00:31:49,701
This is the biggest civet
in the world.

405
00:31:49,702 --> 00:31:52,261
We've seen some
of these other civets.

406
00:31:52,262 --> 00:31:54,261
This looks,
not so much like a civet

407
00:31:54,262 --> 00:31:56,261
as almost a little bear

408
00:31:56,262 --> 00:31:58,502
and sometimes it's called
the bear cat.

409
00:32:01,022 --> 00:32:04,941
The binturong and pangolin are
extraordinarily rare

410
00:32:04,942 --> 00:32:06,782
and seldom filmed.

411
00:32:09,782 --> 00:32:13,382
The cameras also reveal
a huge variety of cats.

412
00:32:20,742 --> 00:32:22,661
The sheer number of them means

413
00:32:22,662 --> 00:32:26,182
the forest must be full of prey
for them to eat.

414
00:32:31,902 --> 00:32:34,902
But there's still no visual evidence
of tigers.

415
00:32:43,742 --> 00:32:45,861
Finding tigers is always hard

416
00:32:45,862 --> 00:32:49,501
but in the north
it's even harder than usual.

417
00:32:49,502 --> 00:32:53,222
The tigers appear to have learned
to fear humans.

418
00:32:54,942 --> 00:32:59,101
The Burmese government has made
an effort to protect tigers.

419
00:32:59,102 --> 00:33:02,421
200 miles north
of Tamanthi forest lies

420
00:33:02,422 --> 00:33:05,141
the world's largest tiger reserve.

421
00:33:05,142 --> 00:33:09,422
Despite this protection, the reserve
is littered with gold mines.

422
00:33:12,902 --> 00:33:17,702
These devastate the forests
and pollute the rivers.

423
00:33:21,222 --> 00:33:24,102
The tiger's future here in the north
looks bleak.

424
00:33:25,222 --> 00:33:28,262
Burma has a critical choice to make
right now.

425
00:33:28,382 --> 00:33:33,141
The large wildlife is still here in
this forest. It can be protected.

426
00:33:33,142 --> 00:33:35,421
A plan can be put into place.

427
00:33:35,422 --> 00:33:38,901
The time is right now
for Burma to make a decision.

428
00:33:38,902 --> 00:33:42,501
Is it going to be able to support
these large mammals in the country

429
00:33:42,502 --> 00:33:44,782
into the future or not?

430
00:33:52,422 --> 00:33:55,861
In the south,
the future may be brighter.

431
00:33:55,862 --> 00:34:00,582
Gordon's hosts, the Karen people,
want to run their state differently.

432
00:34:03,222 --> 00:34:05,982
They have a spiritual belief
in the natural world.

433
00:34:06,662 --> 00:34:11,061
Perhaps here tigers can coexist
with man.

434
00:34:11,062 --> 00:34:12,941
After an unsuccessful night
in the hide,

435
00:34:12,942 --> 00:34:16,582
Gordon returns to find
huge excitement in camp.

436
00:34:18,262 --> 00:34:19,702
What's this?

437
00:34:21,982 --> 00:34:23,782
Oh, my word.

438
00:34:25,422 --> 00:34:27,262
It is the scat.

439
00:34:27,862 --> 00:34:29,861
Oh, wow!

440
00:34:29,862 --> 00:34:31,581
From a big cat.

441
00:34:31,582 --> 00:34:34,261
You can tell that
because of the hairs in it.

442
00:34:34,262 --> 00:34:36,502
Let me just lay it down
on the ground.

443
00:34:38,382 --> 00:34:44,862
From the size of that, that
really has to be from a tiger.

444
00:34:46,102 --> 00:34:50,141
These hair from deer,

445
00:34:50,142 --> 00:34:52,141
from monkeys, if you can catch them.

446
00:34:52,142 --> 00:34:56,662
Whereabouts did you find it?
SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE

447
00:34:58,262 --> 00:35:00,102
Was it on a path?

448
00:35:04,982 --> 00:35:08,341
Is he saying that he saw it?
Here, yes.

449
00:35:08,342 --> 00:35:09,582
No way!

450
00:35:11,822 --> 00:35:13,941
He saw it as well?
GORDON LAUGHS

451
00:35:13,942 --> 00:35:16,581
That is quite something.

452
00:35:16,582 --> 00:35:20,021
To find a little bit of evidence is
one thing,

453
00:35:20,022 --> 00:35:21,901
but to actually...

454
00:35:21,902 --> 00:35:25,141
Well, these guys have seen a tiger
walking through camp last night.

455
00:35:25,142 --> 00:35:29,222
So you definitely saw stripes
down the side of the animal?

456
00:35:31,782 --> 00:35:33,702
How big was the head?

457
00:35:36,662 --> 00:35:38,422
Oh, really? Big one.

458
00:35:40,902 --> 00:35:43,542
Yeah, that's made my day.
It's the best news.

459
00:35:51,542 --> 00:35:56,582
It's a great find. Gordon's guides
give thanks to the forest spirits.

460
00:36:00,382 --> 00:36:01,942
It's a little shrine.

461
00:36:03,702 --> 00:36:05,782
MAN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE

462
00:36:15,262 --> 00:36:19,382
This is a part of Karen culture that
is rarely seen by the outside world.

463
00:36:22,142 --> 00:36:23,942
What's the ladder for?

464
00:36:43,742 --> 00:36:46,541
It's great to come to a place

465
00:36:46,542 --> 00:36:52,061
with a people that have got this
intimate understanding of the forest

466
00:36:52,062 --> 00:36:55,341
and incredible respect
for this place.

467
00:36:55,342 --> 00:36:57,822
It's very special.

468
00:37:04,782 --> 00:37:08,421
The Karen people's affinity with
nature gives them a powerful motive

469
00:37:08,422 --> 00:37:11,741
to protect the forest
and its wildlife.

470
00:37:11,742 --> 00:37:14,062
Tigers here might have a future.

471
00:37:18,622 --> 00:37:22,861
1,000 miles north, Justine has spent
an uncomfortable night in her hide

472
00:37:22,862 --> 00:37:24,742
and seen nothing.

473
00:37:24,862 --> 00:37:27,582
Her hopes are now pinned
on the sand pit.

474
00:37:29,022 --> 00:37:31,581
So here's my sand pit area.

475
00:37:31,582 --> 00:37:34,862
Let's see if anything's been
coming through.

476
00:37:45,822 --> 00:37:47,502
That looks like tiger. Here.

477
00:37:48,782 --> 00:37:50,582
Yes!

478
00:37:51,822 --> 00:37:54,221
That's tiger for sure.
It's definitely tiger.

479
00:37:54,222 --> 00:38:00,141
I'll just measure this
and see how big this footprint is.

480
00:38:00,142 --> 00:38:03,501
Wow. This is pretty standard tiger.

481
00:38:03,502 --> 00:38:08,541
90mm across the rear pad,
so it's a big print.

482
00:38:08,542 --> 00:38:10,662
There's no doubt this is a tiger.

483
00:38:11,302 --> 00:38:13,501
I'm surprised
that we've got tracks in here

484
00:38:13,502 --> 00:38:15,941
because it means that there's a tiger

485
00:38:15,942 --> 00:38:19,182
that's occupying this area
quite regularly.

486
00:38:19,382 --> 00:38:23,061
Justine's next step is to check
the camera traps.

487
00:38:23,062 --> 00:38:25,942
With luck,
they may just have recorded a tiger.

488
00:38:27,542 --> 00:38:29,742
Oh, there's something appearing.

489
00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:32,822
Oh, that's stunning!

490
00:38:33,862 --> 00:38:35,502
Oh, that's beautiful!

491
00:38:38,822 --> 00:38:42,182
It's the first shot we've got
of a tiger.

492
00:38:43,502 --> 00:38:47,662
So lovely to see a shot of one
at last, after all this time.

493
00:38:48,382 --> 00:38:51,821
I was starting to think
that they were these mythical beasts
in this forest

494
00:38:51,822 --> 00:38:54,142
and we would never ever see one.

495
00:38:55,742 --> 00:38:59,141
Well, I've seen the footprints

496
00:38:59,142 --> 00:39:02,421
and I'm pretty sure this is the
individual that left the footprints,

497
00:39:02,422 --> 00:39:04,701
so I've got something to go on here.

498
00:39:04,702 --> 00:39:06,702
This is a good start.

499
00:39:09,502 --> 00:39:10,941
Ah!

500
00:39:10,942 --> 00:39:12,902
BIRD SQUAWKING

501
00:39:13,582 --> 00:39:18,102
Back at camp, the team is still
unaware of Justine's success.

502
00:39:19,982 --> 00:39:24,581
Ross is helping Smithsonian
scientist Nicole Edmison set up
mist nets

503
00:39:24,582 --> 00:39:26,942
to catch new species of bats.

504
00:39:31,022 --> 00:39:35,421
I think most people don't realise
that there are over 1,200
different species of bats.

505
00:39:35,422 --> 00:39:37,061
So out of all the mammals...

506
00:39:37,062 --> 00:39:39,181
They are
the second most diverse group.

507
00:39:39,182 --> 00:39:41,181
After the...?
After rodents.

508
00:39:41,182 --> 00:39:44,981
The fine mesh is invisible
to the bats' sonar.

509
00:39:44,982 --> 00:39:47,541
She hopes to catch them
as they leave their roosts at dusk

510
00:39:47,542 --> 00:39:49,901
for their nightly feed.

511
00:39:49,902 --> 00:39:54,501
No one has ever done
a survey for bats in this area,

512
00:39:54,502 --> 00:39:57,982
so it'll be exciting
to see what we get in the net.

513
00:39:58,982 --> 00:40:02,222
With the nets up,
Nicole must wait for nightfall.

514
00:40:07,302 --> 00:40:10,101
Ross is also working
through the night.

515
00:40:10,102 --> 00:40:13,421
He's set up a moth trap.

516
00:40:13,422 --> 00:40:16,701
Insects lured by the light
will give him a measure

517
00:40:16,702 --> 00:40:18,662
of the forest's diversity.

518
00:40:19,102 --> 00:40:21,821
Oh, my goodness!

519
00:40:21,822 --> 00:40:23,942
ROSS LAUGHS

520
00:40:24,502 --> 00:40:27,581
This is gorgeous.
It's like a painting of moths.

521
00:40:27,582 --> 00:40:29,182
It is, isn't it? It's fantastic!

522
00:40:30,462 --> 00:40:36,141
The sheer variety of moths suggests
that this ecosystem is thriving.

523
00:40:36,142 --> 00:40:40,221
What is this? Amazing! It's some
sort of noctuid, I think. OK.

524
00:40:40,222 --> 00:40:43,101
I don't know if it's trying
to be a dead leaf, actually.

525
00:40:43,102 --> 00:40:46,861
You would not see it. It looks like
that would be incredible camouflage.

526
00:40:46,862 --> 00:40:48,501
Look at this one here.
What do we got?

527
00:40:48,502 --> 00:40:50,581
Check this one here.
Look at that one. Ah!

528
00:40:50,582 --> 00:40:56,261
How many species do you think
we're staring at
in this mosaic of moths here?

529
00:40:56,262 --> 00:40:58,941
There's more than a hundred, easily.
There has to be.

530
00:40:58,942 --> 00:41:00,941
Yeah.
Incredible how many kinds you have.

531
00:41:00,942 --> 00:41:04,021
Yeah, like, when you think there's
1.1 million species of insect

532
00:41:04,022 --> 00:41:05,661
been identified so far.

533
00:41:05,662 --> 00:41:08,701
But I think there's new species
on this sheet, guaranteed.

534
00:41:08,702 --> 00:41:10,221
So I'll be able to identify these.

535
00:41:10,222 --> 00:41:14,021
It's going to take a long time
but probably by tomorrow morning.

536
00:41:14,022 --> 00:41:16,581
I'm expecting a full report
by the morning

537
00:41:16,582 --> 00:41:18,662
of every insect on this sheet.

538
00:41:26,262 --> 00:41:29,661
Nicole's mist nets are producing
good results too,

539
00:41:29,662 --> 00:41:32,702
including one bat
that may be new to science.

540
00:41:34,622 --> 00:41:38,381
This is definitely the tiniest bat
I have ever handled.

541
00:41:38,382 --> 00:41:40,902
ANGRY SQUEAKING
A-ha!

542
00:41:42,702 --> 00:41:44,661
It's some sort of pipistrelle

543
00:41:44,662 --> 00:41:49,702
but I need to take a closer look
at it to decide
exactly which pipistrelle it is.

544
00:41:50,502 --> 00:41:53,381
I personally have never seen
one of these before,

545
00:41:53,382 --> 00:41:55,142
so it's really exciting for me.

546
00:41:59,942 --> 00:42:04,342
Ah! What have we got?
Got a treasure in a bag.

547
00:42:04,902 --> 00:42:07,182
There you go. There you go.
SQUEAKING

548
00:42:08,342 --> 00:42:12,101
Gorgeous thing. One of the smallest
bats that's here, right? Yeah.

549
00:42:12,102 --> 00:42:16,221
Well, we expected that these
little pipistrelles would be here,

550
00:42:16,222 --> 00:42:20,301
but it's always hard to tell
exactly which species they are,

551
00:42:20,302 --> 00:42:21,861
so we'll have a closer look

552
00:42:21,862 --> 00:42:25,941
and we'll try to figure out exactly
which species that we're dealing with

553
00:42:25,942 --> 00:42:27,982
so that we can add it to our list.

554
00:42:36,422 --> 00:42:39,461
After a four-hour hike
back from her sand pit,

555
00:42:39,462 --> 00:42:42,182
Justine has arrived in camp
with her news.

556
00:42:42,822 --> 00:42:45,021
Hi, Justine welcome back.
Hi, Kris.

557
00:42:45,022 --> 00:42:48,381
Hey, I've got some exciting news
for you. What did you find?

558
00:42:48,382 --> 00:42:52,301
Well, you know I put these
two sand pit areas,
where I cleared the whole trail?

559
00:42:52,302 --> 00:42:54,301
Yeah.
Guess what? What?

560
00:42:54,302 --> 00:42:57,821
Today I went up to check
and there are tiger prints. No!

561
00:42:57,822 --> 00:43:01,701
Which is just... I can't tell you
how excited I am because it's...

562
00:43:01,702 --> 00:43:06,861
Mainly because it worked,
doing the sand pit worked!

563
00:43:06,862 --> 00:43:08,461
Great news. That's great news.

564
00:43:08,462 --> 00:43:11,621
We know a tiger has been here,
it's been here recently,

565
00:43:11,622 --> 00:43:13,461
we know which way it's moving.

566
00:43:13,462 --> 00:43:16,221
I think it's time
that we all got out

567
00:43:16,222 --> 00:43:18,261
and looked to see what evidence
we can find,

568
00:43:18,262 --> 00:43:21,341
where this cat is in this area,
where it's moving.

569
00:43:21,342 --> 00:43:23,901
We can get Ross on the case as well.
We'll get Ross.

570
00:43:23,902 --> 00:43:26,542
We'll get Ross searching.
While he's collecting his bugs.

571
00:43:27,942 --> 00:43:33,342
Justine has the team's first visual
evidence of a tiger in this forest.

572
00:43:34,862 --> 00:43:38,142
But for the species to survive,
it needs a mate.

573
00:43:39,422 --> 00:43:43,942
They need to find more tigers
but time is running short.

574
00:43:48,622 --> 00:43:52,702
On Kris's instructions, the trackers
are preparing for a two-day trek.

575
00:43:53,902 --> 00:43:56,421
Tigers have large territories,

576
00:43:56,422 --> 00:44:00,342
so he's sending Ross further afield,
out of this tiger's range.

577
00:44:03,062 --> 00:44:06,141
If I head north, then. Great, yeah.
If you can head north.

578
00:44:06,142 --> 00:44:09,061
If we can find out more.
See what you can find.

579
00:44:09,062 --> 00:44:10,622
OK. Sounds good.

580
00:44:20,622 --> 00:44:22,661
To find out
if there's more than one tiger,

581
00:44:22,662 --> 00:44:24,781
Ross must trek ten miles north

582
00:44:24,782 --> 00:44:26,982
into the territory
of a different animal.

583
00:44:31,342 --> 00:44:35,782
Meanwhile, Justine still has
16 camera traps to monitor.

584
00:44:41,062 --> 00:44:43,141
With just three days left,

585
00:44:43,142 --> 00:44:45,742
the science team is busy cataloguing
new finds.

586
00:44:47,142 --> 00:44:49,141
A little Suncus, do you think?

587
00:44:49,142 --> 00:44:53,501
Well, it's hard to say
but it looks like a little Suncus
to me. A little musk shrew.

588
00:44:53,502 --> 00:44:55,581
This is one of
the world's smallest mammals.

589
00:44:55,582 --> 00:44:58,861
Yeah. Oh, and it's got
a little bit of a bite.

590
00:44:58,862 --> 00:45:00,422
Can you feel that?
Hardly. OK!

591
00:45:02,502 --> 00:45:05,061
And Nicole has found a bat
that needs feeding up.

592
00:45:05,062 --> 00:45:09,981
I've got a new fruit bat for us.
Oh, really?

593
00:45:09,982 --> 00:45:13,661
Oh, good morning.
Hello!

594
00:45:13,662 --> 00:45:18,902
Yeah, it looks like exactly
what it is - a Megaerops. Yeah.

595
00:45:21,182 --> 00:45:24,702
Really exciting because
it's not known from here, so...

596
00:45:26,462 --> 00:45:29,741
Waking up after the cold night.
There he is.

597
00:45:29,742 --> 00:45:33,062
Oh-ho! That's nice.
Yeah.

598
00:45:34,462 --> 00:45:36,621
The team's results already suggest

599
00:45:36,622 --> 00:45:40,662
this forest is the richest habitat
they've found in Burma.

600
00:45:41,342 --> 00:45:44,581
We've documented
more than 50 mammal species

601
00:45:44,582 --> 00:45:48,301
and a whopping 22 of them
are carnivore species.

602
00:45:48,302 --> 00:45:53,301
That paints a remarkable picture of
the importance of the habitats here.

603
00:45:53,302 --> 00:45:57,701
There are seven species of cats
recorded in this forest alone.

604
00:45:57,702 --> 00:46:02,902
So seven cats, these top predators,
that's fairly extraordinary.

605
00:46:05,742 --> 00:46:07,221
And even more extraordinary -

606
00:46:07,222 --> 00:46:10,982
these cats feel safe enough
to move in broad daylight.

607
00:46:12,382 --> 00:46:16,342
Marbled cats, nocturnal creatures
which are rarely seen.

608
00:46:18,142 --> 00:46:20,462
The tiny leopard cat.

609
00:46:23,862 --> 00:46:26,222
Clouded leopards.

610
00:46:30,782 --> 00:46:34,142
And Asian golden cats,
one with her cub.

611
00:46:36,222 --> 00:46:39,181
All seem completely unafraid,

612
00:46:39,182 --> 00:46:41,502
a clear sign they're not nervous
of being hunted.

613
00:46:48,182 --> 00:46:52,182
Further north, Ross's search
for a second tiger continues.

614
00:46:54,262 --> 00:46:57,142
Without his guides,
he would be completely lost.

615
00:46:59,182 --> 00:47:02,542
There are no paths in this jungle,
only rivers.

616
00:47:03,662 --> 00:47:06,701
They must move
by wading along streams

617
00:47:06,702 --> 00:47:09,621
and hacking through forest.

618
00:47:09,622 --> 00:47:12,181
If Ross finds tracks
this far from base camp,

619
00:47:12,182 --> 00:47:14,782
they should be from another tiger.

620
00:47:17,862 --> 00:47:20,182
Oh, my word. Look at this!

621
00:47:21,462 --> 00:47:24,141
Look at that one there -
that's fantastic. Look at that one.

622
00:47:24,142 --> 00:47:25,781
That's really good.

623
00:47:25,782 --> 00:47:29,781
Ross needs to be certain that this
isn't the same tiger Justine found.

624
00:47:29,782 --> 00:47:31,221
He measures the paw prints.

625
00:47:31,222 --> 00:47:36,701
These do look bigger. They're
getting on, actually, for 100mm,

626
00:47:36,702 --> 00:47:41,062
so that is a fair bit bigger,
actually - that's almost 10% bigger.

627
00:47:44,142 --> 00:47:46,821
My mission was to go out
and find some tiger sign

628
00:47:46,822 --> 00:47:50,341
and try and establish
if there's more than one tiger
in this part of the forest

629
00:47:50,342 --> 00:47:52,061
and I've found that
with these prints,

630
00:47:52,062 --> 00:47:53,861
so this is really good news.

631
00:47:53,862 --> 00:47:59,581
This is definitely a different tiger
and possibly an adult male.

632
00:47:59,582 --> 00:48:02,662
Tigers could be
successfully breeding here.

633
00:48:07,262 --> 00:48:09,901
One thousand miles south
in Karen State,

634
00:48:09,902 --> 00:48:12,582
Gordon has run out of time.

635
00:48:21,582 --> 00:48:24,022
The team has collected in
the camera traps.

636
00:48:25,982 --> 00:48:29,581
These images will give Gordon
and the Karen people a glimpse

637
00:48:29,582 --> 00:48:32,902
into a world that has remained
hidden for 60 years.

638
00:48:36,102 --> 00:48:38,021
What animal would you most like
to see?

639
00:48:38,022 --> 00:48:40,622
MEN SPEAK IN NATIVE LANGUAGE

640
00:48:43,062 --> 00:48:44,742
Tiger!

641
00:48:52,622 --> 00:48:55,781
Oh. Wild pig.

642
00:48:55,782 --> 00:48:59,621
MAN: OK. Tomia. Tomia. Tomia.

643
00:48:59,622 --> 00:49:02,862
This is a little piglet there,
as well.

644
00:49:03,662 --> 00:49:06,621
Ah! There's a whole lot, look.

645
00:49:06,622 --> 00:49:08,421
LAUGHTER

646
00:49:08,422 --> 00:49:10,301
It's like ants.

647
00:49:10,302 --> 00:49:12,781
A lot!

648
00:49:12,782 --> 00:49:14,742
So we've got a macaque here.

649
00:49:22,662 --> 00:49:26,261
Oh, beautiful cats.

650
00:49:26,262 --> 00:49:28,741
Marbled cat and clouded leopard
are very similar

651
00:49:28,742 --> 00:49:30,822
but that's clouded leopard.

652
00:49:33,302 --> 00:49:36,862
Oh, there we go!
Tail end of a leopard.

653
00:49:39,342 --> 00:49:41,542
OK? That's good.

654
00:49:54,102 --> 00:49:56,421
Oh, look at this.

655
00:49:56,422 --> 00:49:58,861
It is a Malayan tapir,

656
00:49:58,862 --> 00:50:00,741
one of the most endangered animals

657
00:50:00,742 --> 00:50:03,142
that you find
in this part of the world.

658
00:50:04,142 --> 00:50:08,901
Wow! What a beauty.

659
00:50:08,902 --> 00:50:13,501
We haven't seen a single tapir
anywhere else in Burma

660
00:50:13,502 --> 00:50:15,262
that we've been.

661
00:50:15,822 --> 00:50:19,462
Oh, that's a male,
you can see quite clearly.

662
00:50:25,262 --> 00:50:28,662
Another tapir.
I wonder if that's the same one.

663
00:50:30,302 --> 00:50:32,421
Oh, you can see
this one is a female.

664
00:50:32,422 --> 00:50:36,101
You can see her udder
at the back there.

665
00:50:36,102 --> 00:50:39,581
It looks quite full.
She may well still have a youngster.

666
00:50:39,582 --> 00:50:41,222
That's really good to see.

667
00:50:42,782 --> 00:50:47,421
You know, to see a tapir in the flesh
is incredibly difficult,

668
00:50:47,422 --> 00:50:49,902
especially in this forest.

669
00:50:51,102 --> 00:50:54,141
Malayan tapirs have almost vanished
from Southeast Asia

670
00:50:54,142 --> 00:50:56,902
because
of the rapidly disappearing forests.

671
00:50:59,422 --> 00:51:04,502
But here in Karen State it seems
both tapirs and tigers have a home.

672
00:51:07,662 --> 00:51:12,061
Gordon has been struck by his Karen
guides' connection with nature.

673
00:51:12,062 --> 00:51:15,501
He can only hope that their beliefs
will help protect this world

674
00:51:15,502 --> 00:51:17,062
for the future.

675
00:51:18,462 --> 00:51:21,662
For you, why is conserving the forest
important?

676
00:51:25,782 --> 00:51:32,542
He said that the forest is
the livelihood and the life
of the Karen people.

677
00:51:33,742 --> 00:51:35,741
It seems that beyond their freedom,

678
00:51:35,742 --> 00:51:40,702
the forest is the most important part
of their culture.

679
00:51:41,382 --> 00:51:43,941
So in 50 years' time,

680
00:51:43,942 --> 00:51:49,061
what do you hope your grandchildren's
relationship will be with the forest?

681
00:51:49,062 --> 00:51:51,062
MAN SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE

682
00:51:58,542 --> 00:52:04,221
Ti Po Kwa's saying that he hopes
that his grandchildren will continue
protecting the forest

683
00:52:04,222 --> 00:52:08,541
and areas that have been logged,
that they will replant the forest,

684
00:52:08,542 --> 00:52:11,661
that there will be
a green forest forever.

685
00:52:11,662 --> 00:52:13,822
KAREN PEOPLE SINGING

686
00:52:30,302 --> 00:52:33,942
The team's time in Tamanthi is
also drawing to a close.

687
00:52:39,982 --> 00:52:44,781
Kris, Ross. How was the hide?
Oh! Long and quiet.

688
00:52:44,782 --> 00:52:48,021
But I've got the results
of all the camera trap stuff now.
Oh, brilliant.

689
00:52:48,022 --> 00:52:52,581
And I've just compiled it all,
so this is all distilled action.

690
00:52:52,582 --> 00:52:55,621
Well, great. Let's have a look at
the distilled action. Yeah, yeah.

691
00:52:55,622 --> 00:52:57,862
Right, first up.

692
00:52:59,142 --> 00:53:01,581
So this, this is really funny.

693
00:53:01,582 --> 00:53:04,901
You know I cleared those sand pit
areas to try and get footprints?

694
00:53:04,902 --> 00:53:07,501
We kept getting to the sand pits
and finding them all messed up

695
00:53:07,502 --> 00:53:10,941
and this is what was going on.
Wow!

696
00:53:10,942 --> 00:53:14,302
They're all taking baths in it.
Great hornbills taking a dust bath.

697
00:53:18,062 --> 00:53:21,421
And now look.
Oh, my word.

698
00:53:21,422 --> 00:53:22,821
Oh, look at that! Look at that.

699
00:53:22,822 --> 00:53:25,701
Lovely cat, though, isn't it?
Gorgeous. Beautiful.

700
00:53:25,702 --> 00:53:28,221
That's a good one.
That's a close-up, isn't it?

701
00:53:28,222 --> 00:53:30,341
Love that they're coming right
at the camera trap,

702
00:53:30,342 --> 00:53:33,261
just checking it out.
They're so bold, don't you think?

703
00:53:33,262 --> 00:53:35,142
Absolutely.

704
00:53:40,142 --> 00:53:42,582
Would you say that was a female?
I'd say that's a female.

705
00:53:43,822 --> 00:53:47,381
The team has evidence of two tigers
in the area -

706
00:53:47,382 --> 00:53:51,581
this female and the tiger whose
tracks Ross found ten miles away.

707
00:53:51,582 --> 00:53:54,981
It's not firm proof tigers are
breeding here

708
00:53:54,982 --> 00:53:57,022
but it's a hopeful sign.

709
00:53:58,262 --> 00:54:00,381
And if there's a female here,

710
00:54:00,382 --> 00:54:03,981
then would you not think
that there would definitely be males,

711
00:54:03,982 --> 00:54:07,822
seeing as they roam so much further?
Well, we certainly hope so.

712
00:54:09,542 --> 00:54:13,581
Female tigers stake claim
to a territory and remain within it,

713
00:54:13,582 --> 00:54:17,541
but males will walk hundreds
of miles looking for a female.

714
00:54:17,542 --> 00:54:22,061
It's possible that Ross's tiger
may be a male searching for a mate.

715
00:54:22,062 --> 00:54:25,341
So from all the things we've seen,
all the camera trap footage,

716
00:54:25,342 --> 00:54:29,581
how many tigers do you think
might be living
in this part of the forest?

717
00:54:29,582 --> 00:54:31,861
Well, we all know it's really hard
to say... Mm.

718
00:54:31,862 --> 00:54:34,821
..but considering all the
information that we've collected,

719
00:54:34,822 --> 00:54:36,581
I think that gives
a hopeful view

720
00:54:36,582 --> 00:54:39,302
that we're looking at a population
of tigers here.

721
00:54:40,862 --> 00:54:45,021
If it's properly protected,
Tamanthi forest has the potential

722
00:54:45,022 --> 00:54:47,101
to become a desperately needed
sanctuary,

723
00:54:47,102 --> 00:54:50,341
a place where tigers can breed
undisturbed

724
00:54:50,342 --> 00:54:52,582
and recover their numbers.

725
00:54:54,342 --> 00:54:58,101
But the fact that the top
of the food chain predator is here

726
00:54:58,102 --> 00:55:02,381
suggests that this is
a really healthy place still

727
00:55:02,382 --> 00:55:04,821
and I really hope
that going forward in the future

728
00:55:04,822 --> 00:55:06,501
that it can be protected

729
00:55:06,502 --> 00:55:09,902
because this is a place
that has so much potential.

730
00:55:12,262 --> 00:55:16,381
Kris's final task will be to compile
a report for the President of Burma.

731
00:55:16,382 --> 00:55:18,581
He hopes it will persuade
the government

732
00:55:18,582 --> 00:55:21,022
to save its precious forests.

733
00:55:21,782 --> 00:55:24,741
Everything that we've documented
will be pulled together

734
00:55:24,742 --> 00:55:27,341
into a report and a species list

735
00:55:27,342 --> 00:55:30,901
that will be given
to the government of Burma

736
00:55:30,902 --> 00:55:33,181
and that will communicate
a better understanding

737
00:55:33,182 --> 00:55:36,622
of what is living here and
how it can be better looked after.

738
00:55:39,862 --> 00:55:43,462
Elsewhere in Asia, tigers are
on the brink of extinction.

739
00:55:45,382 --> 00:55:49,022
Perhaps, here in Burma,
there is still hope.

740
00:55:58,182 --> 00:56:00,101
After two months on the ground,

741
00:56:00,102 --> 00:56:03,381
thousands of miles covered
and 300 hours of footage,

742
00:56:03,382 --> 00:56:07,622
the team has reams of new data and
images that paint a hopeful picture.

743
00:56:11,942 --> 00:56:15,462
Much of Burma's wilderness is
untouched and in good health.

744
00:56:17,702 --> 00:56:21,261
Oh! In western Burma they found
a thriving population

745
00:56:21,262 --> 00:56:23,142
of endangered Asian elephants.

746
00:56:24,022 --> 00:56:27,702
In 25 years, this is the first time
I've seen wild elephants in Burma.

747
00:56:30,182 --> 00:56:33,381
JUSTINE: Burma probably holds
the largest remaining population

748
00:56:33,382 --> 00:56:35,381
in the whole of Southeast Asia,

749
00:56:35,382 --> 00:56:42,062
so these elephants here are globally
very, very, very important.

750
00:56:44,342 --> 00:56:47,902
In the remote Salu forest
they found sun bears.

751
00:56:48,822 --> 00:56:51,622
Oh, look!

752
00:56:52,742 --> 00:56:55,462
That is amazing.

753
00:56:57,022 --> 00:57:00,102
And they found evidence
of some of the world's rarest cats.

754
00:57:00,782 --> 00:57:02,341
Look!

755
00:57:02,342 --> 00:57:05,062
See?
LAUGHTER

756
00:57:06,902 --> 00:57:08,941
In northern Burma, they came looking

757
00:57:08,942 --> 00:57:12,101
for the most iconic predators
of them all

758
00:57:12,102 --> 00:57:14,102
and found them.

759
00:57:21,902 --> 00:57:24,261
Burma is at a crossroads.

760
00:57:24,262 --> 00:57:27,821
As the modern world breaks through
into this ancient land,

761
00:57:27,822 --> 00:57:30,501
change is inevitable.

762
00:57:30,502 --> 00:57:34,901
But this vast country is home
to a treasure trove of wildlife

763
00:57:34,902 --> 00:57:38,821
and there are still immense forests
where animals can live undisturbed.

764
00:57:38,822 --> 00:57:42,741
The team believes
they have the proof

765
00:57:42,742 --> 00:57:45,302
that these forests
should be protected.

766
00:57:48,542 --> 00:57:51,421
The future now lies in the hands
of the government of Burma.

767
00:57:51,422 --> 00:57:54,501
If they, like the Karen people,
believe

768
00:57:54,502 --> 00:57:56,901
that Burma's wildlife is worth
saving,

769
00:57:56,902 --> 00:58:00,302
then these forests
may have a future.

770
00:58:03,062 --> 00:58:05,181
In the last hundred years,

771
00:58:05,182 --> 00:58:09,141
the forests of Southeast Asia have
been absolutely devastated

772
00:58:09,142 --> 00:58:12,741
but yet parts of this forest persist

773
00:58:12,742 --> 00:58:15,221
and animals are still living here.

774
00:58:15,222 --> 00:58:17,581
That does fill me full of hope

775
00:58:17,582 --> 00:58:19,941
because if the right decisions
are made

776
00:58:19,942 --> 00:58:21,421
over the future of these forests,

777
00:58:21,422 --> 00:58:26,381
we can see these animals living here,
making their homes here,

778
00:58:26,382 --> 00:58:31,102
for not just another hundred years
but for another thousand years.

779
00:58:37,342 --> 00:58:39,542
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