1 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:08,960 The Andes. 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,680 Stretching over 4000 miles. 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,720 This is the longest mountain range in the world. 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,600 Over 100 summits eclipse the western edge of Argentina. 5 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,880 With their highest peak reaching almost 23,000 feet, 6 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,160 these are mountains of extremes. 7 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,120 Creating winds of over 70 miles per hour. 8 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,120 And casting a rain shadow hundreds of miles wide. 9 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,040 Every creature and plant in their wake has had to adapt, 10 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,880 or endure to survive. 11 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,200 Nature here has become highly specialized. 12 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,720 No animal is out of reach of the Andes. 13 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,520 From Tierra del Fuego in the south, 14 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,120 to Argentina's northern border... 15 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,160 at almost 12 times the size of the UK, 16 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,880 Argentina's terrain is a varied expanse of rich plains... 17 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,440 rolling plateaus... 18 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,280 rugged mountains... 19 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:17,480 and rainforests. 20 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,840 Over 10,000 species of animals and plants 21 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,120 are spread out across 18 different eco regions. 22 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,680 Alongside neighboring Chile, 23 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,320 Argentina is the most southern country in the Americas, 24 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,040 and encompasses around 80% of the region known as Patagonia. 25 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,320 To the west, the Andes dominate the skyline... 26 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,240 and ancient glaciers still carve the rugged landscape. 27 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,720 In the east, the low Patagonian desert 28 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:09,920 sweeps across the country... 29 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,520 before plunging into the fierce Atlantic Ocean. 30 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:26,320 The peaks of over 45 mountains tower over Argentina at icy heights 31 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,040 over and above 20,000 feet. 32 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,720 In these extreme mountains, 33 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,560 survival is all about skill and strength. 34 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,040 The Andes are a stronghold for an apex predator. 35 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:54,600 Pumas. 36 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,480 These big cats are solitary creatures... 37 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:13,520 and with good reason. 38 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:20,200 This female needs at least 30 square miles of hunting territory 39 00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:22,800 to find enough food to survive. 40 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:33,320 After jaguars these are the biggest cats in the Americas. 41 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,040 Males and females can weigh as much as humans. 42 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,720 Here, these cats have no natural predators. 43 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,440 Conditions on the mountains are one of their biggest killers. 44 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,560 The pressure to hunt is on... 45 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,440 and their favorite food is on the move. 46 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,720 These strange-looking animals are guanacos 47 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,160 ancient ancestors of llamas. 48 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,560 They thrive in the foothills of the Andes. 49 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:35,880 Around half a million live here. 50 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,080 These guanacos are nomads, 51 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,720 constantly roaming in search of food. 52 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,520 In their quest for a meal they forage at altitudes 53 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,760 as high as 14,000 feet. 54 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,520 In Argentina weather conditions can change by the minute. 55 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,560 The stark beauty of this region is only matched by its hostility. 56 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,760 But guanacos have evolved to counter what the mountains throw at them. 57 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:19,160 A thick shaggy coat protects them from the biting cold, 58 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,480 and winds up to 75 miles per hour. 59 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,440 Their blood is rich to help them cope with life at altitude. 60 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,080 They have four times the number of red blood cells 61 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:36,640 found in human blood. 62 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,160 These creatures are perfectly adapted to life 63 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,240 at the mercy of the mountains. 64 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,800 It's November, the most prosperous month in the guanacos' calendar. 65 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:57,680 Breeding season. 66 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:06,320 This mother has been pregnant for 11-and-a-half months. 67 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,000 And with the first signs of rain, 68 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,560 her grazing is interrupted by her baby's arrival. 69 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,600 Baby guanacos are called chulengos. 70 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,560 She guards him as he tackles learning to walk. 71 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,280 His first steps are clumsy. 72 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,800 But after just five minutes he is up. 73 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:17,840 He has no choice. 74 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,360 Chulengos are vulnerable in these hills. 75 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,680 Only 30% make it to adulthood. 76 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,600 The puma has a home range of over 40 square miles. 77 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,600 The guanacos have wandered into her patch. 78 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,680 They are the most protein-rich prey available. 79 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,440 She won't turn down an opportunity to hunt. 80 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:10,160 Pumas make their kill with a combination of stealth and strength. 81 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,480 She is an expert ambush hunter, 82 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:23,720 and possesses one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. 83 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:26,920 But guanacos aren't easy to catch. 84 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,800 They outstrip her on stamina, 85 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,640 able to maintain speeds of almost 40 miles per hour. 86 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,040 A chance of success relies on the element of surprise. 87 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,000 She's missed her chance. 88 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:56,920 But all is not lost. 89 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:02,440 With night approaching, she'll try again in the cover of darkness 90 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,320 n freezing temperatures... 91 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,320 traveling as far as 20 miles overnight, 92 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,040 to catch her prey off-guard. 93 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,200 As the morning sun climbs the slopes of the Andes, 94 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,200 the puma's victory is revealed. 95 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,040 Using her incredible eyesight, 96 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,600 she has made a kill during the night. 97 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,080 And the dawn finds her still feasting. 98 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:52,800 But she needs to keep a watchful eye for company. 99 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,160 There are many others in these mountains 100 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,120 who could benefit from the guanaco's meat. 101 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,520 Patagonian pumas have to make 50% more kills 102 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,160 than their North American relatives to eat the same amount. 103 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,280 These cats have serious competition. 104 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,560 The mountains conceal countless carnivores who want their share. 105 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:29,160 Life is tough at these altitudes. 106 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,240 Most choose lower climbs. 107 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,640 With food so scarce, 108 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,280 the puma must eat as fast as she can, 109 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,040 and run before the scavengers arrive. 110 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,560 One carnivore has an aerial advantage. 111 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,040 Andean condors are the real masters of these mountains. 112 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:14,200 They are amongst the largest flying birds in the world. 113 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:21,120 This male has a wingspan of over ten feet. 114 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,640 Perfect for effortless gliding. 115 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,600 He weighs 30 pounds, 116 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:30,800 as much as the average dog. 117 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,360 With such heft the condor capitalizes 118 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,000 on the mountain's strong winds and morning thermals... 119 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:44,320 soaring to heights of 18,000 feet with minimal effort. 120 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,840 From his airborne vantage point, 121 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,960 he has spotted the puma's prize from several miles away. 122 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,760 But he's not the first to arrive. 123 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,480 An Argentine gray fox is making the most of the free meal. 124 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:22,040 Andean condors are carrion feeders and opportunistic thieves. 125 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,320 With a sharp hooked beak and an insatiable appetite... 126 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,360 the condor makes light work of ripping apart 127 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,600 what remains of the dead guanaco. 128 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,640 Caracaras also arrive to take a share of the bounty. 129 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:55,600 In just a few hours, nothing but bones will be left. 130 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,680 The harsh reality of life in the mountains 131 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,280 does little to detract from their desolate beauty. 132 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,760 This is a landscape 30-million years in the making. 133 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:23,160 Beneath the South Pacific Ocean, lies the Nazca tectonic plate. 134 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,400 Million of years ago it collided, 135 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:30,080 and was forced under the South American plate, 136 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,520 forcing the land above to buckle and rise. 137 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,560 Lifting an ancient seabed far above the surface 138 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,440 over the course of 30-million years. 139 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,880 Creating some of the highest mountains 140 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,160 and volcanoes in the world. 141 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,080 Changing the landscape of South America forever. 142 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,560 Volcanic ash carried on the wind 143 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,840 cloaked and petrified the forests that once covered this land... 144 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,120 leaving behind incredible stone monuments 145 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,520 to the landscape of the past. 146 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:19,960 A reminder that Argentina was once covered in rich green forests. 147 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,760 The Andes have rewritten the natural history of Argentina. 148 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,880 Creators of this moonlike landscape. 149 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,840 In the high plateaus of the Andean Mountains... 150 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,120 at an altitude of around 11,000 feet... 151 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,840 strange geometric shapes crisscross a wide white landscape. 152 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,560 Salinas Grandes is one of South America's biggest salt pans. 153 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,600 Literally translating as "salt desert" 154 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,160 this is the remains of what was once an ancient lake. 155 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,600 Trapped by the rising of the Andes, 156 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,440 the lake disappeared over 10,000 years ago. 157 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,560 Today the wind continually strips the surface of the lakebed, 158 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:45,400 carrying tiny pieces of salt far across the Patagonian steppe. 159 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,040 But not all salt pans are such vacant wastelands. 160 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:04,600 Laguna Brava or Brave Lake lies just west of Salinas Grandes 161 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,160 at over 13,000 feet. 162 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:21,000 Like much of the Andes, 163 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,880 the volcanoes that surround this salt pan 164 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,440 are an indication of its ancient origins. 165 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,160 It's still possible to find mud pools like these 166 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:32,920 high in the mountains. 167 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:39,560 Nearly 2,000 acres make up this salt-pan water mirror. 168 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,880 A shard of silver in a patchwork of color. 169 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,360 In spring the dusty hues of the desert 170 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:55,920 are brought to life with the arrival of a flamboyant seasonal visitor. 171 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:06,760 Flamingos. 172 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,960 Thousands have descended on Laguna Brava. 173 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:30,680 Their pink coloration comes from their diet of shrimp and algae, 174 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,800 which they filter from the salty shallows. 175 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,760 They have migrated here from nearby Bolivia and Chile. 176 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,200 The reason why soon becomes clear. 177 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,320 This dusty plateau, high in the mountains, 178 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,560 becomes a stage for a spectacular dance. 179 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,440 This is no frivolous footwork. 180 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,240 Flamingos use dance to find a partner. 181 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,400 If a female is impressed with the male's moves, 182 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,920 she will leave with him, and they will mate for life. 183 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,480 The water here is too salty for most other animals. 184 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,720 Most of the wildlife in the mountains 185 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,680 relies on using initiative. 186 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:03,160 The guanacos have followed water down the mountain to a plateau lake. 187 00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:07,160 With spring in full force, 188 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,440 the herd swells in numbers as the final chulengos are born. 189 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:18,880 Only two weeks after birth, the mothers are ready to mate again. 190 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,320 Nearly all the offspring in this herd share the same father. 191 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:30,200 But it's not an easy life for the dominant male. 192 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,240 Younger, fitter males frequently challenge his hierarchy, 193 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:40,080 and finding time to mate can be a struggle. 194 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,120 He chases the young contender, attempting to trip and injure. 195 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,440 This headlock is test of strength. 196 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,920 Fighting can be vicious, 197 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,240 as each male tries to attack the other's most prized possession. 198 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:22,240 Protecting one's assets during battle isn't an easy task. 199 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,320 Finally, the newcomer gives up. 200 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,120 He knows he won't always lose. 201 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,600 Order has been restored. 202 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:53,800 For now. 203 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:06,000 East of the Andes, stretching from the foothills is a barren wasteland. 204 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:11,920 The Patagonian steppe covers 260,000 square miles. 205 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,040 An area almost as large as Texas. 206 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,280 The mountains cast a rain shadow across Argentina 207 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:23,840 that can be seen from space. 208 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,920 As summer approaches the temperatures during the day 209 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,440 rise by 25 degrees in a matter of hours. 210 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,480 What rain the plateau receives through spring stops altogether. 211 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:43,360 The dry air that crests the mountains 212 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,520 becomes so cold at these heights, 213 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:50,360 that when it meets the Andes' eastern flanks it rapidly falls. 214 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,120 As it follows the slopes down, 215 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,680 the air picks up speed due to compression changes. 216 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,920 Creating winds over 70 miles per hour... 217 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,760 which hurtle down the Andes' slopes... 218 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,560 and spread out across Argentina's desert... 219 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,040 the seventh largest in the world. 220 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,320 Sandstone canyons are sculpted by the winds. 221 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,680 And animals and plants must do all they can to protect themselves 222 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,880 from the extreme elements. 223 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,000 One peculiar creature has found that the best way 224 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,680 to escape the howling gales is to make its home underground. 225 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,640 These strange rabbit-like animals are members of the rodent family. 226 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:17,360 Patagonian mara are closely related to guinea pigs. 227 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,640 With short front legs and four sharp claws, 228 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,120 they are well adapted to digging. 229 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:32,600 It's the females who have dug this burrow in the soft sandstone. 230 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,560 Here, babies from different families are raised together, 231 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:39,320 n a communal nursery. 232 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,360 Protected from the elements, as well as predators. 233 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,680 Unusually for rodents, the mara are active during the day... 234 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,760 and spend most of their waking hours either grazing, 235 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,480 or basking in the hot Patagonian sun. 236 00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:10,640 Mara parents are monogamous, 237 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,800 and a female will only nurse her own offspring. 238 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:18,400 Using her keen sense of smell, she's able to detect her own. 239 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,160 Imposters aren't tolerated. 240 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:39,040 With so many predators around, it's important to have a lookout. 241 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:45,240 It doesn't take much to make them nervous. 242 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,320 With a single alarm call from a neighbor... 243 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,080 everyone races to safety. 244 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,040 The babies dive underground... 245 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,520 and the adults scatter. 246 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:08,240 In a very peculiar way. 247 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:19,560 This bizarre hopping allows the mara to travel surprisingly fast. 248 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:24,440 Almost 30 miles per hour. 249 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,760 Thankfully, it's a false alarm. 250 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:47,040 Maras aren't the only weird and wonderful creatures on the steppe. 251 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,440 In this treeless landscape, 252 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,040 even owls have learnt to live on the ground. 253 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:03,120 Like many of Patagonia's residents, burrowing owls use underground nests 254 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,520 to protect their young from the cold sand-laden winds of the steppe. 255 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:15,080 But unlike the mara these owls don't always excavate their own. 256 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,680 Instead, they'll use a burrow owned by someone else. 257 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:30,760 And they won't give it up without a fight. 258 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:39,040 This is a steppe standoff. 259 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,400 Once they have procured the burrow, 260 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,600 the female lays seven eggs, 261 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,440 which she will incubate for a month. 262 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:08,080 In summer the chicks will make their first foray outside the nest. 263 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:13,320 But until then the winds of the steppe are only just bearable. 264 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,800 Here in the Patagonian steppe, 265 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:27,640 every corner of the compass offers vast uninterrupted horizons. 266 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:35,440 The creatures of the desert might be unaware of the Andes... 267 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:38,120 but even this far east, 268 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:42,320 Argentina's landscape is defined by the mountains. 269 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:48,520 In the sandblasted passageways between hardy shrubs, 270 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:52,360 one enterprising animal is at home in the wilderness. 271 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,160 Everything about the large hairy armadillo 272 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,120 s perfectly adapted for desert life. 273 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:14,280 Patagonia is the furthest southern limit of this creature's range. 274 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,680 Like all armadillos, 275 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:21,600 ts head and body are covered in protective bony plates. 276 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,800 Long coarse hairs also add a protective layer. 277 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,760 This species is an accomplished digger. 278 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,600 Its powerful claws make light work of burrowing... 279 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,240 and special membranes in its nose 280 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:45,960 allow it to extract oxygen from the soil without inhaling any. 281 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:53,880 Armadillos have poor eyesight, 282 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,680 but they make up for it with a fantastic sense of smell. 283 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:05,040 Unusually for an armadillo this far south, 284 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,360 conditions have created meat eaters. 285 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,600 This one capitalizes on an abandoned kill. 286 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:18,000 A hare's misfortune is a lucky break for the armadillo. 287 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:25,080 Armadillos are usually omnivores. 288 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:27,560 Those that live closer to the equator 289 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,440 mainly eat insects and plants, 290 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:32,840 but here the large hairy armadillo 291 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,080 has had to find a way to cope with the lack of resources. 292 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,280 The softest flesh is eaten first. 293 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,720 As the temperatures climb in the midday sun, 294 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,160 the armadillo needs to retreat underground, 295 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:08,800 where his meal can be saved for later. 296 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,000 Even with the steppe's smallest residents, 297 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:26,360 the mountains have been the driving force for evolution. 298 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,040 Even though it has fully formed wings, 299 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,640 this darkling beetle cannot fly. 300 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,000 Over the course of thousands of years, 301 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,360 ts wings have fused together. 302 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:49,000 It has no chance of taking flight in such gusts. 303 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,760 The only way for this beetle to escape the fierce winds 304 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:58,400 s to bury himself until it's safe to come out again. 305 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,200 He's an expert excavator. 306 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:28,400 It's not just the animals here that have had to adapt to the desert. 307 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:33,040 Plants have also evolved to cope in the harsh conditions. 308 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:41,760 This agave plant is a succulent, specially adapted to storing water. 309 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,920 The leaves are coated in a wax-like substance 310 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,360 to prevent water evaporating through the surface, 311 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:57,160 and are shaped to allow the plant to efficiently capture water 312 00:33:57,240 --> 00:33:59,280 from rain and dew. 313 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,600 The needles on this plant defend it from animals 314 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,200 attempting to get at its water supply. 315 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,280 They are so tough that ancient civilizations 316 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,320 used them as sewing needles. 317 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:30,600 Even the grasses of the steppe are hardy survivors... 318 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:36,600 blanketing Patagonia for millions of years. 319 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:50,680 Every living creature and plant in Patagonia's desert 320 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,960 s locked in a battle with thirst. 321 00:34:56,240 --> 00:34:59,040 One of Argentina's most feared residents 322 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:02,760 s well adapted to the arid conditions of the steppe. 323 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:20,000 This male tarantula gets most of his liquids from his prey. 324 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:26,120 But at this time of year his focus is on more pressing matters. 325 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,600 He's on the hunt for a female. 326 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:46,400 He'll travel for weeks on end in his quest for a female. 327 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,760 It isn't long before he finds a burrow entrance 328 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:07,880 with all the right signs. 329 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:15,640 Traces of her web outside the burrow contain pheromones, 330 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:20,200 chemical messages to alert passing males of her presence. 331 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:32,960 He taps the ground to send a coded message 332 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,400 to the female tarantula inside. 333 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:40,480 He's checking if she's open to visitors. 334 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:45,840 If he gets this wrong, or the message is lost in translation, 335 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,280 she might come out only to kill him. 336 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:28,760 But, luckily, she's in the mood for romance. 337 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,520 He strokes her legs gently but quickly in order to subdue her. 338 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,880 Sending her into a paralyzed trance. 339 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,880 Using small hooks on his front legs called tibial spurs, 340 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:15,280 he keeps her fangs away from him in case she suddenly decides 341 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:18,800 she'd rather have the male as a snack than a suitor. 342 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:44,040 The male has specially adapted organs called pedipalps, 343 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:48,680 which carry a small pocket of spider silk sprayed with his sperm. 344 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,800 While the female is under his spell, 345 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,240 he quickly deposits the packet of sperm 346 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,040 nto the female's reproductive organs. 347 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:25,920 And makes a quick getaway. 348 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:33,960 The female will remain in her trance for another few minutes, 349 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:37,200 giving him enough time to make it to safety. 350 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:45,600 Later she'll use his sperm to fertilize her eggs. 351 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:49,600 This female could have over 400 babies this year. 352 00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:57,920 For the male it's time to hit the road again, 353 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,040 and find the next burrow. 354 00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:17,400 Some of the desert's residents are already in the throes of parenthood. 355 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,520 But this is no doting mother. 356 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:39,480 In rhea relationships, it's the father who does most of the work. 357 00:40:43,720 --> 00:40:47,440 Two months ago, after mating and laying her eggs, 358 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,680 the female abandoned her unhatched offspring, 359 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:54,760 and their father spent 40 days incubating the eggs. 360 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:01,320 These chicks all hatched within 36 hours, 361 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,800 and have been on the run ever since. 362 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,760 Rhea are flightless birds, 363 00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:14,400 so they must keep moving to avoid predators, 364 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:16,120 staying close together, 365 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:19,640 and communicating with whistles when one falls behind. 366 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:29,400 When fully grown they run at speeds of almost 40 miles per hour. 367 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:40,600 Their father is devoted. 368 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,000 For six months he will stay with them, 369 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,160 guiding them across the steppe, 370 00:41:45,240 --> 00:41:49,160 and showing them how to forage for roots, seeds and leaves. 371 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,240 It is an endlessly nomadic existence. 372 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:08,240 The Patagonian steppe stretches the entire width of Argentina. 373 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:20,840 Over 800 miles, east of the Andes, 374 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:24,960 the desert finally plunges into the South Atlantic. 375 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:34,280 Here the animals of the steppe 376 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:37,440 coexist with visiting ocean voyagers. 377 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:44,920 Desert intermingles with sandy beaches. 378 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,920 Since their formation 30-million years ago, 379 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:07,160 the Andes have defined the landscape of much of Argentina. 380 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:13,880 From the slopes to the sea, these mountains dictate the climate. 381 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:18,960 Creators of the howling Patagonian winds. 382 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:22,880 Gatekeepers of the rain. 383 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:27,000 The extreme conditions of the Andes 384 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,440 have forced the animals and plants of Argentina 385 00:43:30,520 --> 00:43:34,200 to evolve and adapt in unimaginable ways. 386 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:41,400 Only at the coast does their control abate 387 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:45,520 nto the waves of the fierce Atlantic Ocean. 388 00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:52,160 Across Argentina the steppe bears the scars of the Andes' rule. 389 00:43:56,040 --> 00:44:00,200 These mountains are the creators of the wilderness. 390 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:03,280 Subtitles: Asha Chong www.btistudios.com