1 00:00:02,533 --> 00:00:07,533 {\an1}-Europe -- a continent renowned for its spectacular cities 2 00:00:07,566 --> 00:00:09,300 {\an1}and civilizations. 3 00:00:11,433 --> 00:00:14,600 But this is a surprisingly wild land, 4 00:00:14,633 --> 00:00:16,966 {\an1}with over 10 million square kilometers 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,533 {\an1}of diverse natural habitat... 6 00:00:20,566 --> 00:00:25,533 {\an1}stretching from the northernmost reaches of the arctic... 7 00:00:25,566 --> 00:00:29,266 {\an1}to the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. 8 00:00:31,266 --> 00:00:34,366 And across this extraordinary continent, 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,866 {\an1}an epic transformation is under way... 10 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:42,233 {\an1}as the wild heart of Europe is unleashed once more. 11 00:00:46,366 --> 00:00:48,733 {\an1}People are supporting the natural world. 12 00:00:48,766 --> 00:00:53,066 {\an1}-Let's go to the nest and see how the chick is. 13 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:55,400 {\an1}-Species are being reintroduced. 14 00:00:55,433 --> 00:00:58,933 {\an1}-He's not sleeping very well, so we have to be really fast. 15 00:01:00,433 --> 00:01:03,400 {\an1}-And nature itself is bouncing back. 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:05,500 [ Growling ] 17 00:01:05,533 --> 00:01:07,133 [ Roaring ] 18 00:01:07,166 --> 00:01:11,033 {\an1}The circle of life is bring reforged... 19 00:01:11,066 --> 00:01:13,633 {\an1}as the wild returns to Europe. 20 00:01:17,366 --> 00:01:19,633 {\an1}In Spain and Portugal, 21 00:01:19,666 --> 00:01:23,266 {\an1}an astonishing project is under way... 22 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:28,766 {\an1}to reverse the effectsof a centuries-old extinction... 23 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:33,033 {\an1}and secure the future of one of the rarest cats in the world 24 00:01:33,066 --> 00:01:35,866 {\an1}here in Europe's new wild. 25 00:01:43,333 --> 00:01:46,000 -Iberia. 26 00:01:46,033 --> 00:01:49,700 Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean... 27 00:01:49,733 --> 00:01:53,433 {\an1}and the Mediterranean Sea. 28 00:01:53,466 --> 00:01:56,133 {\an1}On the west coast of Europe... 29 00:01:56,166 --> 00:02:00,933 {\an1}this vast peninsula is home to Spain and Portugal... 30 00:02:02,766 --> 00:02:05,166 {\an1}...as well as some of the most diverse landscapes 31 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,766 on the continent. 32 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,700 ♪♪ 33 00:02:11,733 --> 00:02:14,700 {\an1}Scores of unique species live here. 34 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:18,366 {\an1}[ Birds chirping ] 35 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,533 {\an1}Its national parks host millions of migrating birds 36 00:02:22,566 --> 00:02:24,333 {\an1}and hundreds of mammals... 37 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:31,300 {\an1}...including the rare Iberian wolf... 38 00:02:31,333 --> 00:02:38,366 ♪♪ 39 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,966 {\an1}...as well as the most endangered cat in the world... 40 00:02:44,033 --> 00:02:47,966 {\an1}...the elusive Iberian lynx. 41 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,400 {\an1}These cats are known for their black ear tufts... 42 00:02:55,433 --> 00:02:58,366 {\an1}...and their long cheek fur, called ruffs. 43 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:03,900 ♪♪ 44 00:03:03,933 --> 00:03:07,400 {\an1}Specially adapted to Iberia's dry, arid landscape, 45 00:03:07,433 --> 00:03:09,233 {\an1}the lynx's sandy coat 46 00:03:09,266 --> 00:03:12,200 {\an1}allows it to camouflage amid brush and rock. 47 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,600 {\an1}Lynx are generally nocturnal. 48 00:03:18,633 --> 00:03:20,800 {\an1}But in the winter, these solitary cats 49 00:03:20,833 --> 00:03:23,000 {\an1}become active during the day. 50 00:03:26,766 --> 00:03:28,866 {\an1}A highly effective predator, 51 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:34,400 {\an1}its hearing is eight times sharper than a human's. 52 00:03:34,433 --> 00:03:39,866 {\an1}And its large eyes allow it to see well, night and day, 53 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:42,866 {\an1}advantages it uses to stalk its prey. 54 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:48,933 ♪♪ 55 00:03:48,966 --> 00:03:55,033 ♪♪ 56 00:03:55,066 --> 00:03:59,733 {\an1}European rabbits evolved here in the Iberian Peninsula. 57 00:03:59,766 --> 00:04:01,333 And many of the region's predators 58 00:04:01,366 --> 00:04:03,333 {\an1}specialize in hunting them. 59 00:04:03,366 --> 00:04:11,866 ♪♪ 60 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:13,500 [ Squeals ] 61 00:04:15,833 --> 00:04:20,000 {\an1}They're a lifeline for hungry hunters. 62 00:04:20,033 --> 00:04:21,800 [ Chirping ] 63 00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:26,966 {\an1}But in the northern peninsula, like other parts of Europe, 64 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,633 {\an1}there's a place where the predator-prey balance 65 00:04:29,666 --> 00:04:31,300 {\an1}has been disrupted... 66 00:04:34,366 --> 00:04:37,400 {\an1}...where the circle of life has been broken 67 00:04:37,433 --> 00:04:41,100 {\an1}and where the lynx has not been present for many years. 68 00:04:42,766 --> 00:04:45,200 {\an1}The Côa Valley in Portugal lies nestled 69 00:04:45,233 --> 00:04:48,700 {\an7}between the Douro River and the Malcata mountains. 70 00:04:51,166 --> 00:04:53,800 {\an1}Its dramatic river gorges and vast grasslands 71 00:04:53,833 --> 00:04:55,466 may look vibrant. 72 00:04:57,766 --> 00:04:59,533 {\an1}But as the land degraded, 73 00:04:59,566 --> 00:05:04,066 many animals disappeared from the area. 74 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:06,966 {\an1}And predators are rarely seen. 75 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,466 {\an1}The Côa Valley is ripe for rewilding... 76 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:18,600 ♪♪ 77 00:05:18,633 --> 00:05:20,833 {\an1}...helping native species return... 78 00:05:22,833 --> 00:05:25,900 ...so nature can take care of itself 79 00:05:25,933 --> 00:05:27,566 {\an1}and work as it's meant to. 80 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:32,533 {\an1}In Portugal, efforts began 81 00:05:32,566 --> 00:05:36,466 in the Valley's Faia Brava Reserve. 82 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:39,333 Pedro Prata is a conservation biologist 83 00:05:39,366 --> 00:05:43,633 {\an1}and the Rewilding Portugal Team Leader. 84 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:44,833 {\an1}-What we want to achieve 85 00:05:44,866 --> 00:05:47,733 {\an8}is a habitat where wildlife is abundant 86 00:05:47,766 --> 00:05:50,266 {\an7}and prey and predator and scavengers 87 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:54,833 {\an7}can be commonly seen in this landscape. 88 00:05:54,866 --> 00:05:58,466 {\an1}-Pedro and his team are on an urgent mission -- 89 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:01,100 to start building from the ground up 90 00:06:01,133 --> 00:06:05,300 {\an1}and transform the land and lure back wildlife, 91 00:06:05,333 --> 00:06:07,166 {\an1}like the Iberian lynx. 92 00:06:09,566 --> 00:06:12,533 [ Birds chirping, animals croaking ] 93 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,866 The key to this transformation... 94 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,666 {\an1}is grazers and prey animals... 95 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,300 {\an1}...like those in Spain's Doñana National Park. 96 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:35,166 {\an1}Here, large herbivores, like red deer, help shape the landscape. 97 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,800 {\an1}Their constant grazing creates open meadows, 98 00:06:38,833 --> 00:06:41,766 {\an1}which makes food available for smaller animals. 99 00:06:44,233 --> 00:06:47,500 [ Deer grunting ] 100 00:06:47,533 --> 00:06:51,133 {\an1}Female red deer gather at the best grazing sites 101 00:06:51,166 --> 00:06:52,833 {\an1}where food is plentiful. 102 00:06:54,933 --> 00:06:59,500 {\an1}In mating season, savvy males seek out these open meadows. 103 00:06:59,533 --> 00:07:01,666 [ Grunting ] 104 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:06,766 ♪♪ 105 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:11,066 {\an1}A dominant male tries to round up fertile females 106 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,500 {\an1}to create a harem. 107 00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:15,733 {\an1}[ Grunting continues ] 108 00:07:15,766 --> 00:07:21,900 ♪♪ 109 00:07:21,933 --> 00:07:23,566 {\an1}He's persistent... 110 00:07:26,466 --> 00:07:29,166 [ Roaring ] 111 00:07:31,166 --> 00:07:33,233 {\an1}...roaring to show his dominance... 112 00:07:33,266 --> 00:07:35,466 {\an1}[ Roaring continues ] 113 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,666 {\an1}...and flicking his tongue tocatch scent of their pheromones. 114 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:48,833 {\an1}♪♪ 115 00:07:48,866 --> 00:07:51,166 [ Roaring ] 116 00:07:52,933 --> 00:07:56,233 {\an1}His roaring is a warning to other mature males 117 00:07:56,266 --> 00:07:58,300 {\an1}and potential competitors. 118 00:08:00,466 --> 00:08:04,066 {\an1}Finally, his hard work pays off. 119 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:09,200 ♪♪ 120 00:08:09,233 --> 00:08:12,800 {\an1}In the Côa Valley, the loss of wild herbivores 121 00:08:12,833 --> 00:08:14,633 {\an1}has had a huge impact. 122 00:08:14,666 --> 00:08:18,000 {\an1}And now livestock herds are vanishing, too. 123 00:08:20,266 --> 00:08:23,966 {\an1}Just like deer, livestock animals graze constantly. 124 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,900 {\an1}[ Sheep bleating ] 125 00:08:26,933 --> 00:08:31,700 {\an1}Each sheep eats about 2% of its body weight per day... 126 00:08:31,733 --> 00:08:37,066 ♪♪ 127 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:39,266 {\an1}...which means they spend most of their life 128 00:08:39,300 --> 00:08:40,866 {\an1}tucking into greenery. 129 00:08:40,900 --> 00:08:47,666 ♪♪ 130 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:52,066 {\an1}This constant eating eventually creates open spaces... 131 00:08:54,333 --> 00:08:56,466 {\an1}...which can provide micro-habitats 132 00:08:56,500 --> 00:08:58,033 {\an1}for other animals. 133 00:09:02,533 --> 00:09:07,266 {\an1}But as domestic animals disappear from the landscape, 134 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:09,933 brush and scrub quickly takes over. 135 00:09:09,966 --> 00:09:17,333 ♪♪ 136 00:09:17,366 --> 00:09:19,900 {\an1}The Côa Valley has some of the highest rates 137 00:09:19,933 --> 00:09:23,166 {\an1}of land abandonment in Europe. 138 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,666 {\an1}As farmers left the countryside to start lives in the city, 139 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,433 {\an1}livestock disappeared. 140 00:09:30,466 --> 00:09:34,333 {\an1}Land that was once clear transformed. 141 00:09:34,366 --> 00:09:37,166 {\an1}The dense shrubs and bushes that grow back 142 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,833 {\an1}limit the variety of plants and trees that can grow. 143 00:09:40,866 --> 00:09:43,766 {\an1}And that leads to less wildlife. 144 00:09:48,533 --> 00:09:51,266 {\an1}It also produces dry brush, 145 00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:54,366 which helps fuel devastating wildfires... 146 00:09:56,366 --> 00:10:00,133 ...like the one in southern Spain. 147 00:10:00,166 --> 00:10:06,966 {\an1}In June 2017, a forest firebegan near Doñana National Park. 148 00:10:08,366 --> 00:10:10,000 {\an1}It quickly spread. 149 00:10:12,966 --> 00:10:15,866 {\an1}Firefighters tackled the blaze throughout the night. 150 00:10:15,900 --> 00:10:18,466 {\an1}[ Flames crackling ] 151 00:10:21,266 --> 00:10:24,666 {\an1}But by daybreak, it was clear they were losing the battle. 152 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:31,666 {\an8}The El Acebuche Lynx Breeding Centre 153 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:35,533 {\an8}stood directly in the fire's path. 154 00:10:35,566 --> 00:10:39,833 {\an1}It's one of five lynx breeding centers in Iberia. 155 00:10:39,866 --> 00:10:41,633 In the year 2002, 156 00:10:41,666 --> 00:10:47,433 {\an1}there were only 94 Iberian lynx left on the planet. 157 00:10:47,466 --> 00:10:50,600 {\an1}The Spanish government started a program to breed cubs 158 00:10:50,633 --> 00:10:53,333 {\an1}that could be released to live wild 159 00:10:53,366 --> 00:10:55,533 and save the cat from extinction. 160 00:10:57,666 --> 00:11:00,766 {\an1}As the fire approached, staff at the breeding center 161 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,600 {\an1}took the unprecedented decision 162 00:11:03,633 --> 00:11:05,500 {\an1}to evacuate the lynx. 163 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:12,200 {\an1}The cats are housed in individual dens. 164 00:11:12,233 --> 00:11:14,500 {\an1}They have limited contact with people, 165 00:11:14,533 --> 00:11:16,766 {\an1}so they're cautious, 166 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,300 {\an1}which makes catching them difficult. 167 00:11:19,333 --> 00:11:21,166 [ Lynx hisses ] 168 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:27,600 ♪♪ 169 00:11:27,633 --> 00:11:29,500 {\an1}Among the cats evacuated 170 00:11:29,533 --> 00:11:32,933 {\an1}were Homer and her two 5-week-old cubs. 171 00:11:32,966 --> 00:11:38,866 ♪♪ 172 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:41,300 Staff managed to catch the three 173 00:11:41,333 --> 00:11:44,466 {\an1}and move them to safety outside the fire zone. 174 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:54,266 ♪♪ 175 00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:56,766 {\an1}After burning for three days, 176 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:01,100 {\an1}the fire was finally brought under control. 177 00:12:01,133 --> 00:12:03,966 Forest fires are natural processes. 178 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:09,533 {\an1}But this fire's intensity was fueled 179 00:12:09,566 --> 00:12:11,766 {\an1}by an ungrazed landscape. 180 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:19,166 ♪♪ 181 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,566 {\an1}Fortunately, the breeding center was spared. 182 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:28,466 {\an1}But not all of the evacuated lynx survived the ordeal. 183 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:32,966 {\an1}In the aftermath of a 2017 wildfire in southern Spain, 184 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,500 {\an1}staff returned to the Iberian Lynx Breeding Centre 185 00:12:36,533 --> 00:12:39,466 {\an1}and to devastating news. 186 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:43,833 {\an1}One of the lynx, Homer, died in transit. 187 00:12:43,866 --> 00:12:46,266 {\an1}Already weak after giving birth to cubs, 188 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:50,833 {\an1}the stress of the move proved too much for her. 189 00:12:50,866 --> 00:12:55,466 {\an1}Paco Villaespesa is the director of the breeding center. 190 00:12:55,500 --> 00:12:57,600 {\an7}-[ Speaking native language ] 191 00:13:01,933 --> 00:13:05,533 {\an1}-Homer's two little cubs, Oslo and Opilano, 192 00:13:05,566 --> 00:13:07,766 lost her at a very vulnerable age. 193 00:13:13,433 --> 00:13:15,366 {\an1}If her cubs are hand-fed, 194 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,366 {\an1}there's little chance they can live wild, 195 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,133 and they'll spend their lives in captivity. 196 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:34,100 {\an1}And this meant the cubs still had a chance of living wild. 197 00:13:34,133 --> 00:13:35,900 [ Purring ] 198 00:13:38,366 --> 00:13:42,233 {\an1}Iberian lynx generally give birth between March and April. 199 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,833 {\an1}The average litter size is three, 200 00:13:48,866 --> 00:13:52,033 {\an1}but rarely do more than two cubs survive weaning. 201 00:13:54,366 --> 00:13:59,233 {\an1}They stay with mom until they're about 10 months old. 202 00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:01,933 {\an1}And they spend most of the time playing. 203 00:14:01,966 --> 00:14:04,200 {\an1}[ Cubs squealing ] 204 00:14:04,233 --> 00:14:08,866 ♪♪ 205 00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:12,500 {\an1}It may look like fun and games, 206 00:14:12,533 --> 00:14:16,033 {\an1}but this helps the cubs develop skills they need in the wild. 207 00:14:18,533 --> 00:14:20,000 {\an1}Play between siblings 208 00:14:20,033 --> 00:14:22,633 strengthens their social bonds... 209 00:14:25,066 --> 00:14:26,666 ...and develops physical abilities 210 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:28,533 {\an1}for breeding and hunting. 211 00:14:28,566 --> 00:14:30,600 [ Cubs growling ] 212 00:14:30,633 --> 00:14:36,433 ♪♪ 213 00:14:36,466 --> 00:14:42,266 ♪♪ 214 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:46,633 At 4 weeks old, cubs start eating meat. 215 00:14:46,666 --> 00:14:50,766 {\an1}A lynx needs between 600 and 1,000 calories a day... 216 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,700 {\an1}...about the same amount of energy 217 00:14:54,733 --> 00:14:57,133 {\an1}contained in a single rabbit. 218 00:14:59,666 --> 00:15:03,466 {\an1}A mother lynx will need to catch several rabbits each day 219 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:05,866 {\an1}to feed herself and her cubs. 220 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:14,266 ♪♪ 221 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:19,566 {\an1}They may be small, but rabbits prop up the entire ecosystem. 222 00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:25,133 {\an1}Their grazing clears the ground so new plants can grow. 223 00:15:29,333 --> 00:15:31,633 {\an1}Rabbits also make a tasty meal 224 00:15:31,666 --> 00:15:34,400 for a range of Iberian predators. 225 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:38,833 {\an1}So their excellent hearing, 226 00:15:38,866 --> 00:15:42,800 {\an1}which captures sound from up to three kilometers away, 227 00:15:42,833 --> 00:15:46,800 comes in handy when hungry wolf... 228 00:15:46,833 --> 00:15:49,366 {\an1}and fox are nearby... 229 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,666 {\an1}[ Animals chattering ] 230 00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:56,166 ♪♪ 231 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,400 {\an1}...as well as the Spanish imperial eagle, 232 00:15:59,433 --> 00:16:02,400 which favors anywhere with rabbits. 233 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:06,966 {\an1}Just like the lynx, 234 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,800 more than half of the eagle's diet is rabbit. 235 00:16:12,833 --> 00:16:15,733 {\an1}The eagle is one of Iberia's many predators 236 00:16:15,766 --> 00:16:18,400 {\an1}that rely on rabbits to survive. 237 00:16:18,433 --> 00:16:23,533 ♪♪ 238 00:16:23,566 --> 00:16:28,700 ♪♪ 239 00:16:28,733 --> 00:16:33,533 But then the rabbit population crashed. 240 00:16:33,566 --> 00:16:36,300 {\an1}Rabbits were once so numerous across Europe, 241 00:16:36,333 --> 00:16:39,300 they became an agricultural pest. 242 00:16:39,333 --> 00:16:44,833 {\an1}So humans introduced a virus -- myxomatosis. 243 00:16:44,866 --> 00:16:51,000 {\an1}It ran out of control and killed 90% of Europe's rabbits. 244 00:16:51,033 --> 00:16:53,000 Carnivores like the imperial eagle 245 00:16:53,033 --> 00:16:55,100 {\an1}started taking other prey. 246 00:16:56,766 --> 00:16:59,166 {\an1}But not all predators could adjust, 247 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,933 {\an1}and their numbers plummeted. 248 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,066 {\an1}To lure predators back to the Côa Valley, 249 00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:10,500 {\an1}the area needs rabbits. 250 00:17:10,533 --> 00:17:15,333 ♪♪ 251 00:17:15,366 --> 00:17:17,633 {\an1}Rather than reintroducing them, 252 00:17:17,666 --> 00:17:20,800 {\an1}Pedro wants to build up the existing population, 253 00:17:20,833 --> 00:17:25,433 {\an1}one that has an inbuilt resistance to the deadly virus. 254 00:17:25,466 --> 00:17:29,600 {\an1}But even estimating the Côa Valley's rabbit population 255 00:17:29,633 --> 00:17:31,100 is a challenge. 256 00:17:31,133 --> 00:17:36,433 {\an1}-So there's some droppings of rabbit. 257 00:17:36,466 --> 00:17:40,066 {\an1}Only a few, so it's recent. 258 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:41,766 {\an1}-It's an important discovery -- 259 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,800 {\an1}proof that rabbits are in the area. 260 00:17:44,833 --> 00:17:46,166 -See? 261 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,566 {\an1}So this would be an adult,and this would be a younger one, 262 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,700 {\an1}two different ages. 263 00:17:51,733 --> 00:17:55,366 {\an1}-A potential den site nearby explains why. 264 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,266 {\an1}-There's rocks -- loose rocks. 265 00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:59,266 {\an1}There's bramble and bush, 266 00:17:59,300 --> 00:18:02,900 {\an1}and so they can do their burrows and breed. 267 00:18:02,933 --> 00:18:05,266 {\an1}-To encourage the rabbits to breed, 268 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:09,033 {\an1}Pedro builds them shelters. 269 00:18:09,066 --> 00:18:12,900 {\an1}These provide safe spaces for rabbits to hide from predators 270 00:18:12,933 --> 00:18:14,566 {\an1}and raise their young. 271 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:19,966 Camera traps... 272 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,633 {\an1}will catch any animals that come to the site. 273 00:18:25,433 --> 00:18:27,400 {\an1}[ Camera shutter clicking ] 274 00:18:27,433 --> 00:18:29,633 It's a start. 275 00:18:29,666 --> 00:18:31,100 {\an1}And a promising one. 276 00:18:31,133 --> 00:18:34,800 {\an1}Because these guys breed like rabbits. 277 00:18:36,466 --> 00:18:39,066 {\an1}Other species make use of the shelters. 278 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:42,933 {\an1}They're ideal perches for birds... 279 00:18:42,966 --> 00:18:45,500 {\an1}and the perfect resting spot... 280 00:18:45,533 --> 00:18:47,600 {\an1}for nighttime hunters. 281 00:18:47,633 --> 00:18:49,800 {\an1}[ Animals chirping ] 282 00:18:53,333 --> 00:18:56,733 {\an1}Two species of hedgehog make their home in Iberia. 283 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:01,733 These solitary, nocturnal omnivores 284 00:19:01,766 --> 00:19:05,833 {\an1}cover more than a kilometer a night foraging for food. 285 00:19:10,566 --> 00:19:15,700 {\an1}They're covered in thousands of sharp spines, hollow hairs, 286 00:19:15,733 --> 00:19:18,333 {\an1}which are their defense against predators. 287 00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:25,166 {\an1}Relying on their senses of smell and hearing, 288 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,900 {\an1}they search for invertebrates, like slugs and snails... 289 00:19:32,766 --> 00:19:35,333 ...which make a tasty midnight snack. 290 00:19:35,366 --> 00:19:41,866 ♪♪ 291 00:19:41,900 --> 00:19:48,400 ♪♪ 292 00:19:48,433 --> 00:19:52,733 {\an1}In southern Spain, two cubs orphaned by the wildfire 293 00:19:52,766 --> 00:19:57,166 {\an1}urgently need the care of an adult lynx. 294 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,300 {\an1}But with no female available to take them on, 295 00:20:00,333 --> 00:20:03,066 the team makes an unprecedented decision. 296 00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:10,366 {\an1}A male lynx has never been known to raise cubs. 297 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,300 {\an1}But the team plans to place the little cubs 298 00:20:12,333 --> 00:20:15,733 {\an1}with their father, Esparto, 299 00:20:15,766 --> 00:20:19,333 {\an1}hoping he'll step up and care for them. 300 00:20:19,366 --> 00:20:23,933 {\an1}They just need to wait for the right moment. 301 00:20:23,966 --> 00:20:28,300 {\an1}The breeding center's goal is to avoid hand-raising the cubs 302 00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:30,700 {\an1}so they can live wild one day. 303 00:20:30,733 --> 00:20:33,166 {\an1}[ Bird squawking ] 304 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,833 {\an1}While the lynx are prepared for a life in the wild... 305 00:20:36,866 --> 00:20:40,300 {\an1}the wild also needs to be prepared to support them. 306 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:49,133 A key measure is preventing wildfires. 307 00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:53,600 {\an1}Portugal has one of the highest forest-fire rates in Europe. 308 00:20:53,633 --> 00:20:56,066 {\an1}In Iberia's dry, hot summers, 309 00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,933 this vegetation becomes a tinderbox. 310 00:21:00,966 --> 00:21:04,900 {\an1}But local groups fight fire... 311 00:21:04,933 --> 00:21:06,333 with fire. 312 00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:12,700 {\an1}Strategic areas are burned to create fire breaks. 313 00:21:12,733 --> 00:21:14,233 {\an1}These controlled burns 314 00:21:14,266 --> 00:21:18,200 {\an1}produce 10 times less heat than wildfires... 315 00:21:18,233 --> 00:21:22,133 {\an1}meaning that plant roots and soil remain undamaged... 316 00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:27,466 {\an1}...while dry and dense vegetation is burned away. 317 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:34,333 ♪♪ 318 00:21:34,366 --> 00:21:37,800 {\an1}Burning brings other benefits to the land, 319 00:21:37,833 --> 00:21:41,566 {\an1}as wildlife technician Joao Quadrado explains. 320 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,600 {\an1}-This will become like an oasis for wildlife. 321 00:21:46,633 --> 00:21:49,166 {\an1}-These burns increase biodiversity 322 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,500 by making space for new species to grow. 323 00:21:53,533 --> 00:21:55,433 -Just a few weeks after the fire, 324 00:21:55,466 --> 00:21:58,833 {\an1}we can already see some vegetation growing up. 325 00:21:58,866 --> 00:22:01,733 {\an1}Roots and the water that's in the ground, 326 00:22:01,766 --> 00:22:03,400 {\an1}it's completely untouched 327 00:22:03,433 --> 00:22:06,566 and available for the plants to grow fast. 328 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:12,300 {\an1}-Controlled burns protect and revitalize 329 00:22:12,333 --> 00:22:14,066 {\an1}small patches of land. 330 00:22:16,866 --> 00:22:19,000 [ Horse neighs ] 331 00:22:19,033 --> 00:22:22,300 {\an1}But larger areas need a different approach... 332 00:22:24,133 --> 00:22:25,600 {\an1}...big herbivores, 333 00:22:25,633 --> 00:22:28,200 {\an1}like those in Iberia's national parks, 334 00:22:28,233 --> 00:22:30,933 to eat the scrub and clear the land, 335 00:22:30,966 --> 00:22:33,233 {\an1}creating natural fire breaks. 336 00:22:36,366 --> 00:22:39,866 {\an1}Garrano wild horses, an ancient local breed, 337 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,633 were reintroduced by Rewilding Europe, 338 00:22:42,666 --> 00:22:45,700 {\an1}and now 30 roam the Côa Valley. 339 00:22:45,733 --> 00:22:53,600 ♪♪ 340 00:22:53,633 --> 00:22:55,866 {\an1}Along with grazing unwanted scrub, 341 00:22:55,900 --> 00:22:58,933 they also provide soft benefits, 342 00:22:58,966 --> 00:23:01,500 which can unleash a chain reaction. 343 00:23:01,533 --> 00:23:03,500 {\an1}[ Insects buzzing ] 344 00:23:06,966 --> 00:23:09,233 {\an1}Using its powerful sense of smell, 345 00:23:09,266 --> 00:23:12,766 {\an1}this dung beetle locates fresh horse droppings 346 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,966 {\an1}and rolls it into balls. 347 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:23,133 {\an1}Often transporting more than1,000 times its own body weight, 348 00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:26,433 {\an1}the beetle moves the ball over vast distances... 349 00:23:31,133 --> 00:23:34,200 {\an1}...leaving behind seeds as he goes. 350 00:23:37,133 --> 00:23:40,900 {\an1}He buries the dung ball, which fertilizes the soil 351 00:23:40,933 --> 00:23:42,933 {\an1}and helps other plants to grow. 352 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:50,533 {\an1}Insects are essential for a healthy ecosystem 353 00:23:50,566 --> 00:23:53,066 and for many of the peninsula's predators... 354 00:23:57,366 --> 00:24:00,200 {\an1}...like Iberia's little owl. 355 00:24:00,233 --> 00:24:07,300 ♪♪ 356 00:24:07,333 --> 00:24:13,266 {\an1}These tiny owls, 20 centimeters tall, favor open countryside. 357 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,833 {\an1}She hunts in daylight, perchingup high to scan the ground below 358 00:24:19,866 --> 00:24:22,133 {\an1}for small mammals and insects. 359 00:24:23,866 --> 00:24:27,600 {\an1}She needs to be alert when there's a hungry brood to feed. 360 00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:30,100 {\an1}[ Birds chirping ] 361 00:24:30,133 --> 00:24:33,366 {\an1}Little owls lay their eggs in tree hollows. 362 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,433 {\an1}Chicks hatch a month later and, within weeks, 363 00:24:36,466 --> 00:24:39,666 {\an1}gather at the nest's entrance, calling for food. 364 00:24:43,133 --> 00:24:45,300 They won't fledge until they're a month old 365 00:24:45,333 --> 00:24:48,533 {\an1}and aren't independent till a month after that. 366 00:24:48,566 --> 00:24:51,233 [ Chirping ] 367 00:24:53,833 --> 00:24:57,266 {\an1}Until then, they rely on their parents for food 368 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:00,000 {\an1}at any time of day... 369 00:25:00,033 --> 00:25:01,200 or night. 370 00:25:01,233 --> 00:25:07,000 ♪♪ 371 00:25:07,033 --> 00:25:10,500 Dinner at last. 372 00:25:10,533 --> 00:25:12,233 {\an1}And it's delicious! 373 00:25:12,266 --> 00:25:18,500 ♪♪ 374 00:25:18,533 --> 00:25:24,733 ♪♪ 375 00:25:24,766 --> 00:25:28,233 {\an1}Another initiative by the Rewilding Portugal team 376 00:25:28,266 --> 00:25:30,700 {\an1}is helping creatures return to the area. 377 00:25:33,466 --> 00:25:35,633 Artificial ponds have been established 378 00:25:35,666 --> 00:25:37,766 {\an1}throughout the reserve. 379 00:25:39,933 --> 00:25:42,533 {\an1}These provide water for thirsty animals 380 00:25:42,566 --> 00:25:44,200 {\an1}and habitats for others. 381 00:25:44,233 --> 00:25:50,700 ♪♪ 382 00:25:50,733 --> 00:25:52,866 {\an1}Amphibians and insects are attracted 383 00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:54,966 to the humid, moist conditions... 384 00:25:55,000 --> 00:26:00,600 ♪♪ 385 00:26:00,633 --> 00:26:03,666 {\an1}...and the plant life thatthrives on the edge of the pond. 386 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,533 Which is ideal for the local frogs. 387 00:26:10,533 --> 00:26:12,166 {\an1}They can chill out... 388 00:26:14,433 --> 00:26:17,366 {\an1}...and catch a meal with minimal effort. 389 00:26:20,966 --> 00:26:23,333 {\an1}Along with the usual suspects, 390 00:26:23,366 --> 00:26:27,366 {\an1}these small but essential bodies of water... 391 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,566 {\an1}support a range of birds... 392 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:38,133 ♪♪ 393 00:26:38,166 --> 00:26:42,000 {\an1}...who can prey on the pond's inhabitants. 394 00:26:42,033 --> 00:26:44,333 [ Bird chirping ] 395 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,433 {\an1}By bringing animals back to the Côa Valley, 396 00:26:50,466 --> 00:26:53,500 natural processes can begin to work again. 397 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,666 {\an1}The wild horses that the Rewilding Europe team 398 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:01,400 has introduced 399 00:27:01,433 --> 00:27:04,766 {\an1}are already transforming the landscape with their appetites. 400 00:27:06,466 --> 00:27:08,600 {\an1}But they need more muscle... 401 00:27:08,633 --> 00:27:11,733 and more mouths. 402 00:27:11,766 --> 00:27:16,900 {\an1}So science is turning to a once-extinct species. 403 00:27:16,933 --> 00:27:21,600 {\an1}At the Côa Museum, copies of cave art show the aurochs, 404 00:27:21,633 --> 00:27:23,366 {\an1}an extinct wild cow 405 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,600 {\an1}which once shaped the landscape of all of Europe. 406 00:27:26,633 --> 00:27:30,066 {\an1}-What you see here actually is a pretty good representation 407 00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:31,433 {\an1}of what an aurochs was. 408 00:27:31,466 --> 00:27:33,500 {\an7}It was a huge animal. 409 00:27:33,533 --> 00:27:38,666 {\an7}They also had this typicallycurved back with a white stripe. 410 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:41,133 {\an1}We think the animals were a bit more slenderly built 411 00:27:41,166 --> 00:27:43,833 {\an1}because they were made for running. 412 00:27:43,866 --> 00:27:46,666 {\an1}-Hunting and habitat loss pushed these creatures 413 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:49,100 {\an1}to remote European forests, 414 00:27:49,133 --> 00:27:52,666 {\an1}where the last aurochs died in 1627. 415 00:27:56,066 --> 00:27:59,600 {\an1}But traces of their DNA were left behind. 416 00:27:59,633 --> 00:28:03,300 {\an1}And with it, scientists had a chance to create an animal 417 00:28:03,333 --> 00:28:06,400 {\an1}that resembled the aurochs. 418 00:28:06,433 --> 00:28:10,666 {\an1}-There are so many aurochs skeletons everywhere in Europe. 419 00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:14,466 {\an1}But you need to have high-quality ancient DNA, 420 00:28:14,500 --> 00:28:17,833 {\an7}and they found a skeleton in a cave in the U.K. 421 00:28:17,866 --> 00:28:21,000 {\an7}which was -- where the bones are very good conserved 422 00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:24,566 {\an7}and they could extract quite good amount of DNA. 423 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,300 {\an1}-Bones from an 8,000-year-old aurochs skeleton 424 00:28:28,333 --> 00:28:31,766 {\an1}were sequenced to extract DNA. 425 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,633 {\an1}The genetic material revealed 426 00:28:33,666 --> 00:28:36,000 {\an1}can then be compared against DNA samples 427 00:28:36,033 --> 00:28:38,400 {\an1}from modern breeds of wild cows. 428 00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:44,100 {\an1}This way, scientists can find different breeds 429 00:28:44,133 --> 00:28:47,000 {\an1}that have similar traits to the aurochs. 430 00:28:47,033 --> 00:28:49,900 {\an1}-So, if you want to go back to an extinct species, 431 00:28:49,933 --> 00:28:52,933 {\an1}you want to go and look for all the traits -- 432 00:28:52,966 --> 00:28:55,533 {\an1}horn size, coat colors. 433 00:28:55,566 --> 00:28:57,633 {\an1}And then we're going back to the traditional breeds, 434 00:28:57,666 --> 00:28:59,033 {\an1}the primitive breeds. 435 00:28:59,066 --> 00:29:01,566 {\an1}If they have also ancient looks,they also have ancient material. 436 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,133 {\an1}And then we say, "Okay,this breed has these nice horns, 437 00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:06,533 {\an1}which is interesting. 438 00:29:06,566 --> 00:29:08,666 {\an1}And if we use that breed, we can use it with these and these 439 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:11,733 {\an1}and these breeds, 'cause this has nice hair -- skin color. 440 00:29:11,766 --> 00:29:14,233 Another one has a nice hair color thing. 441 00:29:14,266 --> 00:29:17,400 {\an1}The other one has the height, which is very nice." 442 00:29:19,733 --> 00:29:21,900 {\an1}So all these kind of things we try to combine 443 00:29:21,933 --> 00:29:23,933 {\an1}and then we can make crosses. 444 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,166 {\an1}The goal is not to create back the aurochs, 445 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,400 but to create or to bring back an animal 446 00:29:32,433 --> 00:29:34,433 {\an1}which is self-sufficient. 447 00:29:34,466 --> 00:29:43,333 ♪♪ 448 00:29:43,366 --> 00:29:46,966 {\an1}-Today, 100 kilometers outside Amsterdam, 449 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,300 {\an1}scientists are rebuilding this extinct species. 450 00:29:52,666 --> 00:29:56,033 {\an1}By crossbreeding cattle that carry aurochs genes, 451 00:29:56,066 --> 00:30:00,766 {\an1}they're creating a new breed of wild cow... 452 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,433 the Tauros. 453 00:30:02,466 --> 00:30:04,733 {\an1}-There are still quite a few cattle breeds around 454 00:30:04,766 --> 00:30:06,966 {\an1}with a lot of features of aurochs. 455 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,733 {\an1}We try to find those breeds and get them breeding together 456 00:30:10,766 --> 00:30:12,800 {\an1}to find the way back to an animal 457 00:30:12,833 --> 00:30:15,966 {\an1}that looks as much like an aurochs as could be. 458 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:17,733 {\an1}-With their massive appetites, 459 00:30:17,766 --> 00:30:21,366 {\an1}they eat nearly 10 kilos of vegetation per day. 460 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:26,033 {\an1}And they're just what the Côa Valley needs. 461 00:30:29,466 --> 00:30:33,066 {\an1}Rewilding Portugal already introduced 20 of them. 462 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,266 {\an1}And with wild births, 463 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:42,766 {\an1}there are now 35 Tauros living in large corrals. 464 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,700 {\an1}While the plan is to release them to a wider area... 465 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:52,566 ...the corrals are an opportunity 466 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,766 to see how Tauros impact the landscape. 467 00:30:55,800 --> 00:31:03,466 ♪♪ 468 00:31:03,500 --> 00:31:09,033 {\an1}This is the change in one small area in less than a year. 469 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:15,866 {\an1}And this new patchwork landscape 470 00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:18,900 provides niches for many different animals... 471 00:31:20,866 --> 00:31:24,200 {\an1}...like the partridge. 472 00:31:24,233 --> 00:31:28,833 {\an1}The red-legged partridge isa key species in this ecosystem. 473 00:31:28,866 --> 00:31:31,733 {\an1}It needs a varied habitat -- 474 00:31:31,766 --> 00:31:36,100 {\an1}brush and bushes where it can hide from predators... 475 00:31:36,133 --> 00:31:38,700 {\an1}and make ground nests to lay eggs... 476 00:31:41,266 --> 00:31:45,200 {\an1}...and also dry, open areas to feed on seeds and insects. 477 00:31:45,233 --> 00:31:47,166 [ Chirping ] 478 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:56,333 {\an1}Sara Cascado studies theCôa Valley partridge population. 479 00:31:56,366 --> 00:32:00,266 {\an1}It's a key food source for many of Iberia's predators. 480 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:02,033 -Partridge, together with rabbit, 481 00:32:02,066 --> 00:32:05,266 they have many different animals preying on them, 482 00:32:05,300 --> 00:32:08,666 {\an8}so they are key in the food chains. 483 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:11,366 {\an8}We really need to have a healthy population of partridges 484 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:15,766 {\an1}for the rest of the ecosystem to be healthy, too. 485 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:21,700 {\an1}-So Sara and her team set out to create a partridge census, 486 00:32:21,733 --> 00:32:23,766 {\an1}which is easier said than done. 487 00:32:28,033 --> 00:32:31,600 {\an1}Partridge numbers here are low, and the birds are elusive. 488 00:32:31,633 --> 00:32:36,833 ♪♪ 489 00:32:36,866 --> 00:32:39,800 {\an1}So Sara must use every trick at her disposal. 490 00:32:42,033 --> 00:32:45,433 {\an1}She follows any lead, from prints in the sand 491 00:32:45,466 --> 00:32:47,433 {\an1}to partridge calls. 492 00:32:47,466 --> 00:32:50,800 {\an1}-We spot -- like, we observe individuals and count them 493 00:32:50,833 --> 00:32:53,533 {\an1}and identify the age 494 00:32:53,566 --> 00:32:56,500 {\an1}and also we listen, like, try to identify the songs, 495 00:32:56,533 --> 00:32:57,833 {\an1}listen to the songs 496 00:32:57,866 --> 00:33:00,800 {\an1}and also determine the numbers of individuals like that. 497 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:06,500 {\an1}It's a very important way to verify the conservation actions 498 00:33:06,533 --> 00:33:09,900 {\an1}and also to understand how the changes in the population 499 00:33:09,933 --> 00:33:13,333 can affect also the population of raptors. 500 00:33:13,366 --> 00:33:16,466 {\an1}-Herbivores reintroduced here are also doing their part 501 00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:19,133 {\an1}for the partridge population. 502 00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:22,600 {\an1}-These animals help out reducing the amount of vegetation 503 00:33:22,633 --> 00:33:25,433 {\an1}that could potentially burn in case of a fire. 504 00:33:25,466 --> 00:33:28,100 {\an1}They also help maintaining open areas 505 00:33:28,133 --> 00:33:32,600 that partridges can use for feeding. 506 00:33:32,633 --> 00:33:36,200 {\an1}-Partridge here once relied heavily on cereal crops. 507 00:33:36,233 --> 00:33:40,533 {\an1}But as farmers left, this food source disappeared. 508 00:33:40,566 --> 00:33:42,633 {\an1}And as partridge numbers dropped... 509 00:33:46,633 --> 00:33:50,233 {\an1}...predators like fox and eagles had less to feed on. 510 00:33:50,266 --> 00:33:52,433 {\an1}[ Birds chirping ] 511 00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:56,800 So did the lynx. 512 00:34:00,166 --> 00:34:04,366 {\an1}Lynx mothers must hunt for themselves and their young. 513 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:08,833 {\an1}They need large territories to find enough prey. 514 00:34:08,866 --> 00:34:12,666 {\an1}Even then, keeping cubs fed is a full-time job... 515 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,433 {\an1}...and a chance for the little ones to learn. 516 00:34:19,466 --> 00:34:24,566 ♪♪ 517 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:29,666 ♪♪ 518 00:34:29,700 --> 00:34:32,400 Watching her hunt is a master class. 519 00:34:32,433 --> 00:34:42,133 ♪♪ 520 00:34:42,166 --> 00:34:46,000 As they look on, she silently stalks her prey... 521 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:52,000 {\an1}...until it's finally in reach. 522 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,900 {\an1}Then she pounces... 523 00:34:58,733 --> 00:35:01,300 {\an1}...killing it with a single bite to the neck. 524 00:35:01,333 --> 00:35:10,666 ♪♪ 525 00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:13,666 {\an1}Back in Spain, two little cubs who lost their mother 526 00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:17,100 {\an1}urgently need an adult lynx to care for them 527 00:35:17,133 --> 00:35:19,566 and teach them. 528 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:22,333 {\an1}Otherwise, they'll have to be raised by humans. 529 00:35:22,366 --> 00:35:26,400 And that means they'll never live wild. 530 00:35:26,433 --> 00:35:28,700 But with no adult females available, 531 00:35:28,733 --> 00:35:31,433 {\an1}staff come up with a remarkable plan. 532 00:35:31,466 --> 00:35:33,033 {\an1}For the first time ever, 533 00:35:33,066 --> 00:35:35,900 {\an1}lynx cubs will be placed with their father. 534 00:35:44,666 --> 00:35:48,733 {\an1}The team has no idea how the cubs' father, Esparto, 535 00:35:48,766 --> 00:35:50,266 will react. 536 00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:52,266 {\an1}He could accept them... 537 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:53,733 or reject them. 538 00:35:57,966 --> 00:36:04,200 ♪♪ 539 00:36:04,233 --> 00:36:07,166 {\an1}But he bonds with them instantly. 540 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:08,800 {\an1}And for the first time ever, 541 00:36:08,833 --> 00:36:12,800 {\an1}a male lynx is seen parenting his offspring. 542 00:36:12,833 --> 00:36:15,166 {\an1}And he takes the job seriously. 543 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:24,200 ♪♪ 544 00:36:24,233 --> 00:36:30,433 ♪♪ 545 00:36:30,466 --> 00:36:33,466 {\an1}Hunting is a key skill for captive lynx. 546 00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:45,200 Learning to hunt is a long process... 547 00:36:45,233 --> 00:36:47,300 {\an1}even with an adult around. 548 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,566 {\an1}At first they seem intimidated by the prey. 549 00:36:53,600 --> 00:37:01,133 ♪♪ 550 00:37:01,166 --> 00:37:03,966 {\an1}Then they try to master the art of ambush... 551 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,100 [ Screeching ] 552 00:37:06,133 --> 00:37:08,533 {\an1}...which doesn't go very well at first. 553 00:37:12,700 --> 00:37:15,233 {\an1}And even when they manage to get close, 554 00:37:15,266 --> 00:37:17,233 {\an1}they come out empty-handed. 555 00:37:20,633 --> 00:37:23,100 {\an1}The rabbit doesn't even look worried. 556 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:30,300 {\an1}It will be a while before these guys can catch a meal. 557 00:37:30,333 --> 00:37:36,733 ♪♪ 558 00:37:36,766 --> 00:37:41,333 {\an1}Back in the Côa Valley, anotherspecies needs help finding food. 559 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,966 {\an1}Vultures nest on steep cliffs like these. 560 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:49,400 They're perfect for catching rays... 561 00:37:53,866 --> 00:37:57,333 {\an1}...and hiding precious treasure from predators. 562 00:37:57,366 --> 00:38:02,666 ♪♪ 563 00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:06,966 {\an1}Here on the cliff's ledges, vultures lay a single egg 564 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,533 {\an1}and tenderly nurture their offspring. 565 00:38:09,566 --> 00:38:15,733 ♪♪ 566 00:38:15,766 --> 00:38:21,933 ♪♪ 567 00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:25,733 {\an1}Chicks exercise their wings in preparation for fledging... 568 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:31,000 {\an1}...which they'll do between 3 and 4 months of age. 569 00:38:33,766 --> 00:38:36,400 {\an1}But it's never too early to start practicing. 570 00:38:39,233 --> 00:38:40,866 {\an1}But there's a problem. 571 00:38:43,033 --> 00:38:46,300 {\an1}Without any predators around to make kills, 572 00:38:46,333 --> 00:38:49,500 {\an1}there's not enough food for the vultures to scavenge. 573 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:55,966 {\an1}So the Rewilding Team sets up temporary vulture restaurants 574 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,933 {\an1}to help the vultures until wild prey and predators return. 575 00:39:01,533 --> 00:39:03,200 [ Squawking ] 576 00:39:03,233 --> 00:39:07,066 It may look chaotic, but there's a rigid pecking order. 577 00:39:09,266 --> 00:39:12,233 Larger vultures open up the carcasses, 578 00:39:12,266 --> 00:39:14,600 {\an1}allowing smaller birds to feed. 579 00:39:17,466 --> 00:39:22,000 {\an1}Their table manners may leave something to be desired. 580 00:39:22,033 --> 00:39:23,666 {\an1}But everyone is fed. 581 00:39:25,766 --> 00:39:28,266 {\an1}Until predators return to the Côa Valley, 582 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:31,533 {\an1}these restaurants ensure the vultures' future. 583 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:38,600 {\an1}It's not just scavengers that need predators. 584 00:39:38,633 --> 00:39:41,266 {\an1}Oak forests rely on them to grow. 585 00:39:43,333 --> 00:39:46,033 In autumn, oak trees produce acorns 586 00:39:46,066 --> 00:39:48,100 that fall to the base of the tree. 587 00:39:48,133 --> 00:39:50,466 {\an1}[ Birds chirping ] 588 00:39:54,833 --> 00:39:58,266 {\an1}They don't go to waste. 589 00:39:58,300 --> 00:40:02,533 {\an1}If there are no predators about, the Western Mediterranean mouse 590 00:40:02,566 --> 00:40:04,600 gobbles them up where they find them. 591 00:40:04,633 --> 00:40:13,333 ♪♪ 592 00:40:13,366 --> 00:40:22,033 ♪♪ 593 00:40:22,066 --> 00:40:24,333 But if predators are in the area... 594 00:40:28,066 --> 00:40:32,300 {\an1}...the mice take the acorns far away to eat them in safety 595 00:40:32,333 --> 00:40:34,700 {\an1}and bury them in burrows. 596 00:40:38,766 --> 00:40:41,533 {\an1}These acorns can grow into oak trees 597 00:40:41,566 --> 00:40:44,533 {\an1}a great distance away from where they fell. 598 00:40:47,500 --> 00:40:52,700 {\an1}Named for their thick bark, cork oaks are native to this region. 599 00:40:52,733 --> 00:40:54,366 {\an1}And Portugal is home 600 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,733 {\an1}to the largest cork oak forests in the world. 601 00:41:02,166 --> 00:41:05,166 {\an1}Cork is more fire-resistant than normal bark, 602 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,733 so these trees are natural fire breaks. 603 00:41:09,766 --> 00:41:13,633 {\an1}They also support more than 200 animal species... 604 00:41:13,666 --> 00:41:21,633 ♪♪ 605 00:41:21,666 --> 00:41:23,500 {\an1}...and dozens of plants. 606 00:41:23,533 --> 00:41:26,800 {\an8}-A cork oak is an ecosystem in itself. 607 00:41:26,833 --> 00:41:30,600 {\an8}It harbors many different species. 608 00:41:30,633 --> 00:41:33,300 {\an1}Lots of bird species use it to nest. 609 00:41:33,333 --> 00:41:37,300 {\an1}There's all the different crevices of the cork 610 00:41:37,333 --> 00:41:40,433 {\an1}and the root system and the foliage 611 00:41:40,466 --> 00:41:45,000 {\an1}that makes different niches for species to thrive. 612 00:41:45,033 --> 00:41:47,100 {\an1}-By protecting cork trees, 613 00:41:47,133 --> 00:41:49,433 rewilding teams shield the region 614 00:41:49,466 --> 00:41:52,833 {\an1}and its animals from fire, 615 00:41:52,866 --> 00:41:57,166 helping avoid its devastating effects. 616 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:01,100 {\an1}In the nine months since the wildfire in southern Spain, 617 00:42:01,133 --> 00:42:03,766 {\an1}the land is showing signs of recovery. 618 00:42:06,300 --> 00:42:10,666 {\an1}And 10-month-old cub Opilano... 619 00:42:10,700 --> 00:42:13,166 {\an1}taught by his father... 620 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:14,800 is now a hunter. 621 00:42:14,833 --> 00:42:20,166 ♪♪ 622 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:25,533 ♪♪ 623 00:42:25,566 --> 00:42:27,433 {\an1}He can feed himself. 624 00:42:30,833 --> 00:42:33,500 {\an1}It's time to be set free. 625 00:42:33,533 --> 00:42:39,133 ♪♪ 626 00:42:39,166 --> 00:42:41,000 Across Europe, efforts are under way 627 00:42:41,033 --> 00:42:43,133 {\an1}to rewild huge areas 628 00:42:43,166 --> 00:42:45,933 {\an1}of the continent's most important habitats... 629 00:42:47,966 --> 00:42:50,466 {\an1}...allowing key species to return. 630 00:42:50,500 --> 00:42:58,200 ♪♪ 631 00:42:58,233 --> 00:43:00,766 {\an1}At the lynx breeding center in Spain, 632 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,666 {\an1}cats ready for release undergo a health check 633 00:43:03,700 --> 00:43:07,433 {\an1}to ensure they won't pass on any illnesses to wild lynx. 634 00:43:10,933 --> 00:43:12,266 {\an1}To track their movements, 635 00:43:12,300 --> 00:43:14,566 they're fitted with a GPS collar. 636 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:20,833 {\an1}Opilano the cub, who lost his mother in the wildfire, 637 00:43:20,866 --> 00:43:24,166 {\an1}has a clean bill of health and is ready for release. 638 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,233 {\an1}But his brother, Oslo, fails the test, 639 00:43:29,266 --> 00:43:31,600 {\an1}forcing him to stay behind at the center. 640 00:43:34,433 --> 00:43:39,833 {\an1}Once they're freed, lynx can travel great distances... 641 00:43:39,866 --> 00:43:44,866 {\an1}like Kentaro, a male lynx that was released in 2014... 642 00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:48,866 ...where he began an epic journey 643 00:43:48,900 --> 00:43:51,400 {\an1}of nearly 1,000 kilometers. 644 00:43:54,433 --> 00:43:56,266 {\an1}One of his last locations 645 00:43:56,300 --> 00:43:57,800 {\an1}was the Côa Valley. 646 00:43:57,833 --> 00:44:05,200 ♪♪ 647 00:44:05,233 --> 00:44:07,500 Kentaro's visit here brings hope 648 00:44:07,533 --> 00:44:10,400 {\an1}that lynx could one day resettle the area. 649 00:44:10,433 --> 00:44:15,933 ♪♪ 650 00:44:15,966 --> 00:44:19,966 {\an1}But despite such a promising start, things didn't end well. 651 00:44:23,366 --> 00:44:26,900 {\an1}Just nine months after his journey to the Côa Valley, 652 00:44:26,933 --> 00:44:29,600 {\an1}Kentaro was struck by a car and killed. 653 00:44:34,066 --> 00:44:36,566 {\an1}Traffic is one of the leading causes of death 654 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:38,266 {\an1}for the Iberian lynx. 655 00:44:38,300 --> 00:44:43,366 ♪♪ 656 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:45,033 But there's hope. 657 00:44:47,166 --> 00:44:49,200 {\an1}Pedro and his team are setting up 658 00:44:49,233 --> 00:44:52,066 {\an1}new rewilding zones in the Côa Valley. 659 00:44:54,633 --> 00:44:57,733 {\an1}This network of protected areas near Faia Brava 660 00:44:57,766 --> 00:45:00,700 {\an1}will allow a host of animals to safely migrate, 661 00:45:00,733 --> 00:45:04,100 {\an1}settle, and breed. 662 00:45:04,133 --> 00:45:07,033 {\an1}This year, the Côa Valley rewilding area 663 00:45:07,066 --> 00:45:13,066 {\an1}is increasing by 300%to more than 120,000 hectares... 664 00:45:13,100 --> 00:45:20,566 {\an1}♪♪ 665 00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:28,066 ♪♪ 666 00:45:28,100 --> 00:45:30,233 {\an1}...in the hope that one day 667 00:45:30,266 --> 00:45:34,233 {\an1}this elusive cat resettles the Côa Valley. 668 00:45:34,266 --> 00:45:40,133 ♪♪ 669 00:45:40,166 --> 00:45:46,033 ♪♪ 670 00:45:46,066 --> 00:45:48,700 {\an1}In southern Spain, months of hard work 671 00:45:48,733 --> 00:45:50,266 {\an1}are about to pay off 672 00:45:50,300 --> 00:45:54,366 {\an1}as crowds gather to witness the release of an Iberian lynx. 673 00:45:54,400 --> 00:46:00,566 ♪♪ 674 00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:04,400 {\an1}Opilano, the cub who lost his mother in the wildfire, 675 00:46:04,433 --> 00:46:05,900 is being freed, 676 00:46:05,933 --> 00:46:09,066 {\an1}just like hundreds of captive-bred lynx before him. 677 00:46:17,133 --> 00:46:25,833 ♪♪ 678 00:46:25,866 --> 00:46:34,533 ♪♪ 679 00:46:34,566 --> 00:46:36,600 {\an1}Opilano is free... 680 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:44,666 {\an1}...another player restored to Iberia's ecosystem. 681 00:46:44,700 --> 00:46:51,633 ♪♪ 682 00:46:51,666 --> 00:46:58,633 ♪♪ 683 00:47:14,466 --> 00:47:16,166 {\an1}One of the most successful 684 00:47:16,200 --> 00:47:20,666 {\an1}wildlife reintroduction programs in the world, 685 00:47:20,700 --> 00:47:23,866 now with nearly 600 Iberian lynx, 686 00:47:23,900 --> 00:47:25,900 {\an1}their conservation status has downgraded 687 00:47:25,933 --> 00:47:29,266 {\an1}from critically endangered to endangered. 688 00:47:29,300 --> 00:47:36,366 ♪♪ 689 00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:40,100 -For me, rewilding is a positive outlook into the future. 690 00:47:40,133 --> 00:47:41,700 {\an1}It brings a new hope, 691 00:47:41,733 --> 00:47:45,666 {\an1}a new perspective that we're notjust trying to slow down decline 692 00:47:45,700 --> 00:47:48,300 {\an1}but actually to provide means and opportunity 693 00:47:48,333 --> 00:47:51,100 {\an1}to reverse that trend. 694 00:47:51,133 --> 00:47:55,233 {\an1}I think as a human, it brings dignity back to the equation. 695 00:47:55,266 --> 00:47:59,800 ♪♪ 696 00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:06,333 {\an8}♪♪ 697 00:48:06,366 --> 00:48:11,533 {\an8}♪♪ 698 00:48:11,566 --> 00:48:14,266 {\an7}-To order "Europe's New Wild" on DVD, 699 00:48:14,300 --> 00:48:18,100 {\an8}visit ShopPBS or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS. 700 00:48:18,133 --> 00:48:20,633 {\an8}Also available on Amazon Prime Video. 701 00:48:20,666 --> 00:48:29,866 {\an8}♪♪