1 00:00:01,831 --> 00:00:01,911 (SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 2 00:00:36,751 --> 00:00:39,751 (BIRDSONG) 3 00:00:40,791 --> 00:00:43,751 (CHEERFUL DRUM RHYTHMS) 4 00:00:43,791 --> 00:00:46,191 NARRATOR: Here in the tropical far north of Australia, 5 00:00:46,231 --> 00:00:51,391 heavy rain and high temperatures conspire to create ideal conditions 6 00:00:51,431 --> 00:00:53,551 for huge trees to grow. 7 00:00:54,671 --> 00:00:57,231 With only a thin layer of fertile soil 8 00:00:57,271 --> 00:00:59,071 to nourish their shallow roots, 9 00:00:59,111 --> 00:01:02,191 these giants have thrown down buttresses 10 00:01:02,231 --> 00:01:04,631 to support their expanding girths. 11 00:01:06,871 --> 00:01:08,871 (DRUM RHYTHMS CONTINUE) 12 00:01:08,911 --> 00:01:12,071 Their heads are literally lost in the clouds, 13 00:01:12,111 --> 00:01:14,671 seeking light to photosynthesise. 14 00:01:19,031 --> 00:01:20,791 If these treetops could talk, 15 00:01:20,831 --> 00:01:23,831 they would have truly epic tales to tell... 16 00:01:27,391 --> 00:01:29,831 ..for they've been around for a very long time. 17 00:01:33,511 --> 00:01:36,111 Their ancestors would have sheltered dinosaurs. 18 00:01:36,151 --> 00:01:40,711 Indeed, some would argue these magnificent forests still do. 19 00:01:40,751 --> 00:01:43,831 (DRUM RHYTHMS CONTINUE) 20 00:01:45,511 --> 00:01:48,671 With its killer claws and bizarre head casque, 21 00:01:48,711 --> 00:01:52,191 the southern cassowary certainly looks the part, 22 00:01:52,231 --> 00:01:56,031 roaming through the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth. 23 00:02:06,191 --> 00:02:10,591 Cassowaries are thought to have been on Planet for 25 million years. 24 00:02:12,631 --> 00:02:14,871 They can only be found in four places today - 25 00:02:14,911 --> 00:02:19,351 in Papua New Guinea and three pockets of rainforest in Australia. 26 00:02:20,551 --> 00:02:22,991 The most accessible of these is the Daintree, 27 00:02:23,031 --> 00:02:25,071 in Far North Queensland. 28 00:02:26,511 --> 00:02:30,831 A botanical treasure 180 million years in the making. 29 00:02:34,271 --> 00:02:37,511 (MAJESTIC MUSIC SWELLS) 30 00:02:37,551 --> 00:02:40,031 Female cassowaries are larger than males. 31 00:02:40,071 --> 00:02:44,711 They can be as tall as two metres and weigh up to 75kg. 32 00:02:44,751 --> 00:02:49,151 They have thick muscly legs covered in scaly skin, 33 00:02:49,191 --> 00:02:51,671 and huge three-toed feet 34 00:02:51,711 --> 00:02:55,511 with massive daggerlike claws on their inside toes. 35 00:02:55,551 --> 00:03:00,951 Up to 12cm long, these claws have two main functions - 36 00:03:00,991 --> 00:03:03,631 to dig for fruit buried on the forest floor, 37 00:03:03,671 --> 00:03:06,951 and to defend their territory and honour. 38 00:03:10,791 --> 00:03:13,791 (DRUM RHYTHMS) 39 00:03:16,151 --> 00:03:19,791 Cassowaries do not roam through the jungle looking for a fight, 40 00:03:19,831 --> 00:03:21,751 but they can be a little feisty, 41 00:03:21,791 --> 00:03:24,031 especially when there are chicks around. 42 00:03:25,111 --> 00:03:27,431 The males aggressively guard their young. 43 00:03:31,551 --> 00:03:35,631 Cassowaries have a strange helmet, called a casque, 44 00:03:35,671 --> 00:03:39,391 Scientists are not 100% sure what it's for, 45 00:03:39,431 --> 00:03:42,071 but many believe it's a sexual ornament, 46 00:03:42,111 --> 00:03:44,311 helping both sexes to evaluate 47 00:03:44,351 --> 00:03:47,271 the quality and fitness of a potential partner. 48 00:03:50,551 --> 00:03:53,231 It's spongy in texture, rather than bony. 49 00:03:53,271 --> 00:03:56,391 So, it possibly acts as a resonating device, 50 00:03:56,431 --> 00:03:59,911 helping to amplify the low booming sound cassowaries make 51 00:03:59,951 --> 00:04:01,591 when danger threatens. 52 00:04:06,511 --> 00:04:10,911 It's impossible to overstate how important these ancient birds are 53 00:04:10,951 --> 00:04:12,951 to the survival of the rainforest. 54 00:04:14,631 --> 00:04:17,311 Cassowaries eat fruit, and lots of it. 55 00:04:17,351 --> 00:04:21,151 So, they play an essential role in dispersing seeds, 56 00:04:21,191 --> 00:04:23,351 complete with a load of fertiliser. 57 00:04:24,711 --> 00:04:28,511 One cassowary scat can contain hundreds of seeds, 58 00:04:28,551 --> 00:04:31,671 which means potentially hundreds of new trees, 59 00:04:31,711 --> 00:04:35,871 but it's not just the quantity that counts, it's the variety. 60 00:04:38,591 --> 00:04:43,791 These hungry birds eat over 200 different species of fruit. 61 00:04:44,831 --> 00:04:48,671 The cassowary has become the accidental farmer of the rainforest. 62 00:04:48,711 --> 00:04:53,031 Many scientists believe that if these birds were not around, 63 00:04:53,071 --> 00:04:57,391 the complex rainforest ecosystem would just cease to exist. 64 00:05:03,671 --> 00:05:06,071 Cassowaries are generally solitary birds. 65 00:05:06,111 --> 00:05:11,951 Each female has a home range which overlaps that of several males. 66 00:05:11,991 --> 00:05:13,391 During mating season, 67 00:05:13,431 --> 00:05:17,871 the female will mate with one or more of the males in her home range. 68 00:05:19,831 --> 00:05:22,551 After a brief courtship, she will lay her eggs, 69 00:05:22,591 --> 00:05:25,551 then leave the male to guard and incubate them. 70 00:05:33,871 --> 00:05:35,471 Assuming he does that successfully, 71 00:05:35,511 --> 00:05:40,031 after 50 days, three to five stripy chicks will emerge. 72 00:05:41,871 --> 00:05:45,791 The male cassowary then spends the next eight to 18 months 73 00:05:45,831 --> 00:05:47,431 raising his offspring 74 00:05:47,471 --> 00:05:50,151 before they are ready to fend for themselves. 75 00:05:51,431 --> 00:05:55,231 It takes another 1.5 years for young cassowaries to reach maturity 76 00:05:55,271 --> 00:05:58,631 to be able to breed themselves, and in so doing, 77 00:05:58,671 --> 00:06:03,071 contribute to the recovery of their population in the wild. 78 00:06:14,585 --> 00:06:18,225 NARRATOR: While many creatures in the jungle may frighten or repel, 79 00:06:18,265 --> 00:06:22,905 there's one species we humans have no trouble at all relating to. 80 00:06:25,185 --> 00:06:26,625 The orangutan. 81 00:06:27,625 --> 00:06:32,385 We share a whopping 28 physical characteristics with orangutans, 82 00:06:32,425 --> 00:06:36,945 leading some scientists to believe they are our nearest relatives. 83 00:06:38,745 --> 00:06:43,145 Orangutans live on one of two remote islands in South-East Asia - 84 00:06:43,185 --> 00:06:45,145 Sumatra and Borneo. 85 00:06:46,625 --> 00:06:48,665 Borneo is a mysterious place, 86 00:06:48,705 --> 00:06:51,305 shrouded in mist and mystery. 87 00:06:52,425 --> 00:06:54,745 It straddles the equator, 88 00:06:54,785 --> 00:06:58,385 so, it's hot, wet, and covered in lush, dense rainforest. 89 00:07:01,705 --> 00:07:05,265 The perfect home for these magnificent, intelligent animals. 90 00:07:06,745 --> 00:07:10,305 Orangutans are the only great apes of Asia. 91 00:07:11,425 --> 00:07:14,865 They spend at least 90% of their time in the forest canopy, 92 00:07:14,905 --> 00:07:18,705 eating, snoozing, or just hanging around. 93 00:07:23,345 --> 00:07:25,105 Despite their laidback attitude, 94 00:07:25,145 --> 00:07:28,105 orangutans can move fast if they need to. 95 00:07:28,145 --> 00:07:32,905 Their arms are long and strong and span nearly 2.5 metres. 96 00:07:34,905 --> 00:07:39,025 Both hands and feet have opposable thumbs for gripping onto branches. 97 00:07:40,425 --> 00:07:42,225 Their hands are very similar to ours, 98 00:07:42,265 --> 00:07:44,585 as is the enamel on their teeth, 99 00:07:44,625 --> 00:07:47,225 their long hair, and shoulder blades. 100 00:07:49,265 --> 00:07:53,985 But curiously, orangutans do not have toenails on their big toes. 101 00:07:58,905 --> 00:08:02,385 (CHEERFUL DRUM RHYTHMS) 102 00:08:03,585 --> 00:08:06,865 We share 97% of our DNA with them, 103 00:08:06,905 --> 00:08:10,865 and just as much time, as a species, caring for our young. 104 00:08:13,465 --> 00:08:14,705 Unlike most animals, 105 00:08:14,745 --> 00:08:17,545 female orangutans do not have babies 106 00:08:17,585 --> 00:08:20,785 until they're about 15 or 16 years old. 107 00:08:20,825 --> 00:08:23,065 They carry their young for up to five years, 108 00:08:23,105 --> 00:08:26,705 and are happy to breastfeed them until they are eight years old. 109 00:08:29,385 --> 00:08:31,785 At ten years old, the children leave home, 110 00:08:31,825 --> 00:08:34,345 but they regularly come back to visit their mothers 111 00:08:34,385 --> 00:08:36,105 for a further five years. 112 00:08:36,145 --> 00:08:38,545 The theory is that a long childhood 113 00:08:38,585 --> 00:08:41,185 is linked to the animals' large brain. 114 00:08:41,225 --> 00:08:44,945 It gives the young orangutans time to learn many skills 115 00:08:44,985 --> 00:08:46,985 and behaviour patterns from their mothers. 116 00:08:48,585 --> 00:08:52,745 Orangutan fathers play no direct role in rearing their offspring. 117 00:08:53,825 --> 00:08:55,745 They live a solitary life, 118 00:08:55,785 --> 00:08:58,145 only getting together with the others to mate 119 00:08:58,185 --> 00:09:00,505 or to fight other males for a mate. 120 00:09:01,625 --> 00:09:04,105 Dominant males can be easily identified 121 00:09:04,145 --> 00:09:06,385 by their hard-won battle scars 122 00:09:06,425 --> 00:09:08,985 and prominent flanges on their faces. 123 00:09:10,145 --> 00:09:12,785 Males without these cheek flaps are subordinate, 124 00:09:12,825 --> 00:09:15,065 and do not get to mate with a female. 125 00:09:16,625 --> 00:09:20,425 The latest research suggests that dominant males may exude a hormone 126 00:09:20,465 --> 00:09:24,265 that prevents the other males from reaching full maturity, 127 00:09:24,305 --> 00:09:26,465 but once the top man dies, 128 00:09:26,505 --> 00:09:30,025 a subordinate male will grow in size and stature, 129 00:09:30,065 --> 00:09:33,625 developing the facial flanges to show his supremacy. 130 00:09:35,665 --> 00:09:38,665 (SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 131 00:09:46,025 --> 00:09:49,065 (PEACEFUL CHIME MUSIC) 132 00:09:50,945 --> 00:09:53,145 The tropical jungles in the heart of Borneo 133 00:09:53,185 --> 00:09:56,665 are home to over 350 different bird species, 134 00:09:56,705 --> 00:09:59,705 but the biggest drawcard among birdwatchers 135 00:09:59,745 --> 00:10:02,345 are the extraordinary hornbills. 136 00:10:03,665 --> 00:10:07,985 Eight of the world's 45 hornbill species can be found here, 137 00:10:08,025 --> 00:10:10,585 including the oriental pied hornbill. 138 00:10:16,545 --> 00:10:19,345 The males have an almost comically large bill 139 00:10:19,385 --> 00:10:21,185 with a pronounced casque. 140 00:10:21,225 --> 00:10:24,425 Similar to the cassowary's multifunctional helmet, 141 00:10:24,465 --> 00:10:26,865 it too is thought to amplify sound. 142 00:10:30,105 --> 00:10:32,105 Hornbills are the only bird family 143 00:10:32,145 --> 00:10:35,545 to have the first two vertebrae in their neck fused, 144 00:10:35,585 --> 00:10:39,065 most likely to support the weight of their top-heavy beaks. 145 00:10:40,225 --> 00:10:43,185 Recent studies suggest they double as radiators, 146 00:10:43,225 --> 00:10:46,345 helping hornbills to regulate their body temperature, 147 00:10:46,385 --> 00:10:50,425 controlling the amount of heat they need to lose or conserve, 148 00:10:50,465 --> 00:10:53,625 depending on the time of day and ambient conditions. 149 00:10:56,305 --> 00:10:58,905 (TINKLING MUSIC) 150 00:10:58,945 --> 00:11:01,465 Hornbills have distinct eyelashes - 151 00:11:01,505 --> 00:11:04,225 modified feathers that protect the birds' eyes 152 00:11:04,265 --> 00:11:06,745 from flying insects and debris. 153 00:11:10,705 --> 00:11:13,305 While many jungle animals spend the bulk of their lives 154 00:11:13,345 --> 00:11:15,225 in and around the treetops, 155 00:11:15,265 --> 00:11:18,265 others quietly prowl through the undergrowth. 156 00:11:22,665 --> 00:11:25,345 This is a prime habitat for Borneo's top predator, 157 00:11:25,385 --> 00:11:26,785 the clouded leopard. 158 00:11:28,345 --> 00:11:29,985 The smallest of the big cats, 159 00:11:30,025 --> 00:11:33,585 these striking felines are shy and secretive. 160 00:11:34,825 --> 00:11:37,825 Of all the animals living in the jungles of South-East Asia, 161 00:11:37,865 --> 00:11:40,585 great cats remain the most elusive. 162 00:11:45,665 --> 00:11:48,665 (ROLLING GUITAR RHYTHMS) 163 00:11:50,385 --> 00:11:53,105 Sightings of tigers in the wild are particularly rare, 164 00:11:53,145 --> 00:11:55,145 and becoming rarer by the day, 165 00:11:55,185 --> 00:11:58,305 as humans continue to encroach on their habitat 166 00:11:58,345 --> 00:12:01,025 and hunt them for their organs and pelts. 167 00:12:04,425 --> 00:12:06,225 The largest of all cat species, 168 00:12:06,265 --> 00:12:09,265 tigers are the ultimate apex predators, 169 00:12:09,305 --> 00:12:12,225 with muscular legs, retractable claws, 170 00:12:12,265 --> 00:12:15,665 and a mouth full of teeth tailored to specific tasks - 171 00:12:15,705 --> 00:12:20,545 taking down prey, tearing flesh from bone, and chewing. 172 00:12:20,585 --> 00:12:25,025 (GUITAR RHYTHMS CONTINUE) 173 00:12:27,345 --> 00:12:29,585 They were once the kings of these jungles, 174 00:12:29,625 --> 00:12:32,265 stretching from India to north-east China, 175 00:12:32,305 --> 00:12:35,105 and from the Russian Far East to Sumatra, 176 00:12:35,145 --> 00:12:37,145 but over the last century, 177 00:12:37,185 --> 00:12:40,585 their numbers have fallen by 95%. 178 00:12:43,945 --> 00:12:45,625 A global conservation campaign 179 00:12:45,665 --> 00:12:48,545 has stopped their numbers from diminishing further, 180 00:12:48,585 --> 00:12:51,665 but it will be years before they regain their standing 181 00:12:51,705 --> 00:12:53,985 in what remains of their natural domain. 182 00:12:56,945 --> 00:12:59,905 With fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild, 183 00:12:59,945 --> 00:13:03,745 zoos now play an important role in ensuring their protection, 184 00:13:03,785 --> 00:13:06,625 giving visitors a chance to better understand 185 00:13:06,665 --> 00:13:09,105 their behaviour and hunting prowess. 186 00:13:18,545 --> 00:13:21,585 (STIRRING PIANO MUSIC) 187 00:13:21,625 --> 00:13:24,585 Tigers breed well in captivity. 188 00:13:24,625 --> 00:13:28,225 So, there is a chance these cubs and their future offspring 189 00:13:28,265 --> 00:13:30,265 might one day play a role 190 00:13:30,305 --> 00:13:32,945 in ensuring the survival of wild populations 191 00:13:32,985 --> 00:13:35,265 throughout the world. 192 00:13:42,005 --> 00:13:42,045 (DRUM RHYTHMS) 193 00:13:48,245 --> 00:13:50,845 NARRATOR: While many rainforest animals will do all they can 194 00:13:50,885 --> 00:13:52,365 to avoid being seen, 195 00:13:52,405 --> 00:13:55,885 our next jungle dweller is a veritable show-off. 196 00:13:55,925 --> 00:13:58,405 It's spent thousands of generations 197 00:13:58,445 --> 00:14:02,525 evolving the most ostentatious feathers of any bird on Earth. 198 00:14:05,525 --> 00:14:08,405 There are around 40 different species of these striking birds, 199 00:14:08,445 --> 00:14:12,805 each with a unique combination of bright colours and ornate feathers. 200 00:14:12,845 --> 00:14:16,165 Collectively, they are the birds of paradise. 201 00:14:16,205 --> 00:14:20,005 Some live in tropical Australia and eastern Indonesia, 202 00:14:20,045 --> 00:14:23,205 but most have made a home for themselves in Papua New Guinea. 203 00:14:25,845 --> 00:14:28,445 Papua New Guinea is a very special place. 204 00:14:28,485 --> 00:14:30,965 It's a land of extremes. 205 00:14:31,005 --> 00:14:34,005 The world's largest and highest tropical island, 206 00:14:34,045 --> 00:14:37,285 New Guinea has massive ice-capped mountains 207 00:14:37,325 --> 00:14:40,445 and deep steamy valleys filled with jungle. 208 00:14:42,125 --> 00:14:45,485 It's a place of mystery - of unexplored valleys, 209 00:14:45,525 --> 00:14:48,365 with species that are yet to be discovered. 210 00:14:50,005 --> 00:14:52,805 The perfect setting for birds of paradise. 211 00:14:54,845 --> 00:14:57,045 Most females are a drab brown, 212 00:14:57,085 --> 00:14:59,925 but the males are simply resplendent. 213 00:15:00,925 --> 00:15:04,765 The male will spend ages preparing a stage on which to perform. 214 00:15:04,805 --> 00:15:08,725 It could be a branch of a tree or a clearing on the forest floor. 215 00:15:11,405 --> 00:15:14,045 Once a potentially curious female arrives, 216 00:15:14,085 --> 00:15:16,245 the show begins in earnest. 217 00:15:20,725 --> 00:15:23,525 (DRUM RHYTHMS) 218 00:15:23,565 --> 00:15:27,165 Each species of bird puts on a unique dance 219 00:15:27,205 --> 00:15:29,005 to try to seduce the female, 220 00:15:29,045 --> 00:15:32,045 and some displays may last several hours. 221 00:15:36,285 --> 00:15:40,205 Females can spend six weeks watching dance after dance 222 00:15:40,245 --> 00:15:42,045 before they select their mate. 223 00:15:42,085 --> 00:15:43,885 After all this work, 224 00:15:43,925 --> 00:15:47,005 many males may not get selected at all. 225 00:15:52,725 --> 00:15:54,485 Another feathered family 226 00:15:54,525 --> 00:15:57,725 living deep in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and Australia 227 00:15:57,765 --> 00:15:59,245 are the bowerbirds. 228 00:16:00,765 --> 00:16:03,365 Many of the 18 species that comprise this group 229 00:16:03,405 --> 00:16:06,485 have beautiful feathers worthy of attention, 230 00:16:06,525 --> 00:16:11,245 but the male bowerbird's preferred method of seduction is architecture. 231 00:16:13,565 --> 00:16:15,045 To attract a mate, 232 00:16:15,085 --> 00:16:17,365 the satin bowerbird will build an elaborate set. 233 00:16:17,405 --> 00:16:18,965 It is not a nest - 234 00:16:19,005 --> 00:16:22,245 rather, a stage where he will perform a special dance 235 00:16:22,285 --> 00:16:23,765 to show off to the ladies. 236 00:16:25,405 --> 00:16:27,845 These are always located on the ground, 237 00:16:27,885 --> 00:16:29,885 and can be up to two metres long. 238 00:16:31,725 --> 00:16:34,765 The quality of the bower and the male's prowess on the dancefloor 239 00:16:34,805 --> 00:16:36,805 determine courting success. 240 00:16:38,885 --> 00:16:40,365 But in some species, 241 00:16:40,405 --> 00:16:44,365 females may also assess the feathers of a potential breeding partner, 242 00:16:44,405 --> 00:16:48,525 as a glossy, satin like sheen would indicate their overall health. 243 00:16:51,685 --> 00:16:54,645 Bowers are decorated with colourful natural objects, 244 00:16:54,685 --> 00:16:58,605 such as berries, snail shells, or feathers from other birds. 245 00:16:59,725 --> 00:17:01,845 Where habitat borders suburbia, 246 00:17:01,885 --> 00:17:03,765 bottle tops, pegs, 247 00:17:03,805 --> 00:17:06,805 and bits of brightly coloured glass and rubbish are used. 248 00:17:08,845 --> 00:17:11,845 Many satin bowerbirds show a preference for blue objects, 249 00:17:11,885 --> 00:17:15,205 perhaps because this helps to accentuate their own colour. 250 00:17:15,245 --> 00:17:18,805 (TINKLING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 251 00:17:23,845 --> 00:17:26,125 There is no honour among thieves, 252 00:17:26,165 --> 00:17:29,605 and male bowerbirds, even those of a different species, 253 00:17:29,645 --> 00:17:33,005 will sabotage another's bower and steal his treasures 254 00:17:33,045 --> 00:17:34,965 in an effort to have the best-looking structure 255 00:17:35,005 --> 00:17:36,485 in the neighbourhood. 256 00:17:41,285 --> 00:17:44,285 (SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 257 00:17:51,925 --> 00:17:55,405 (UPLIFTING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 258 00:17:57,005 --> 00:17:59,885 The rainforests of Australia and Papua New Guinea 259 00:17:59,925 --> 00:18:03,925 are also home to the world's only megabats, 260 00:18:03,965 --> 00:18:07,165 but some species are not restricted to this habitat. 261 00:18:07,205 --> 00:18:11,645 Indeed, some manage to live right in the heart of major cities. 262 00:18:14,125 --> 00:18:17,565 The Botanic Garden in Sydney has long provided a safe roost 263 00:18:17,605 --> 00:18:20,445 for a huge number of grey-headed flying foxes, 264 00:18:20,485 --> 00:18:23,005 the largest of the four megabat species. 265 00:18:23,045 --> 00:18:26,045 (BATS CALL) 266 00:18:27,045 --> 00:18:29,245 It has a whopping one-metre wingspan. 267 00:18:32,445 --> 00:18:35,245 Bram Stoker never made it to Australia, 268 00:18:35,285 --> 00:18:37,605 but these creatures certainly look 269 00:18:37,645 --> 00:18:40,805 like they were the inspiration for Dracula. 270 00:18:40,845 --> 00:18:43,085 Unlike vampire bats 271 00:18:43,125 --> 00:18:45,845 and those fictitious beasts in the horror movies, 272 00:18:45,885 --> 00:18:48,205 flying foxes do not drink blood. 273 00:18:49,565 --> 00:18:51,725 In fact, they don't eat meat at all. 274 00:18:51,765 --> 00:18:55,485 Their favourite foods are fruit, seeds, and nectar. 275 00:18:58,565 --> 00:19:02,565 Every night they fly out from their roosting sites in huge numbers 276 00:19:02,605 --> 00:19:04,165 to search for a feast... 277 00:19:05,365 --> 00:19:07,925 ..flying hundreds of kilometres if necessary 278 00:19:07,965 --> 00:19:11,365 to get to a favourite stand of trees in flower. 279 00:19:11,405 --> 00:19:14,405 (BATS CALL) 280 00:19:16,165 --> 00:19:17,885 Here in Elsey National Park, 281 00:19:17,925 --> 00:19:19,565 in the Northern Territory, 282 00:19:19,605 --> 00:19:22,365 flying foxes are forced to drink on the wing 283 00:19:22,405 --> 00:19:25,925 in an effort to reduce any associated risk. 284 00:19:29,205 --> 00:19:31,365 Hiding just below the surface, 285 00:19:31,405 --> 00:19:34,645 freshwater crocodiles are waiting to capture their next meal. 286 00:19:37,485 --> 00:19:38,885 Timing is everything, 287 00:19:38,925 --> 00:19:41,645 on the part of the crocodiles and the flying foxes, 288 00:19:41,685 --> 00:19:44,565 whose lives can be snuffed out in a heartbeat. 289 00:19:50,925 --> 00:19:54,005 The whole safety in numbers strategy won't work for everyone... 290 00:19:56,005 --> 00:19:59,245 ..but those that safely run the gauntlet return to their camps 291 00:19:59,285 --> 00:20:00,885 to rest during the day. 292 00:20:03,085 --> 00:20:05,845 (GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 293 00:20:07,485 --> 00:20:09,525 Flying foxes breed at a slower rate 294 00:20:09,565 --> 00:20:11,925 compared to other medium-sized mammals. 295 00:20:13,485 --> 00:20:16,805 Females take 1.5 years to reach breeding age, 296 00:20:16,845 --> 00:20:20,645 and generally give birth to one pup at a time, 297 00:20:20,685 --> 00:20:22,845 but in large colonies such as this, 298 00:20:22,885 --> 00:20:25,965 that can mean a few thousand extra mouths to feed. 299 00:20:30,805 --> 00:20:32,525 As the seasons progress, 300 00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:35,805 different tree species across the flying foxes' range 301 00:20:35,845 --> 00:20:37,405 bear flowers or fruit. 302 00:20:37,445 --> 00:20:39,925 So, the colony will come into contact 303 00:20:39,965 --> 00:20:42,965 with a huge range of trees across a vast area. 304 00:20:44,765 --> 00:20:46,965 As they eat, they pollinate the trees, 305 00:20:47,005 --> 00:20:49,285 and as they defecate on the wing, 306 00:20:49,325 --> 00:20:51,925 they disperse seeds far and wide. 307 00:20:51,965 --> 00:20:55,085 (UPLIFTING MUSIC SWELLS) 308 00:20:55,125 --> 00:20:57,725 Flying foxes are keystone species - 309 00:20:57,765 --> 00:21:00,965 an essential part of the rainforest's life cycle. 310 00:21:01,005 --> 00:21:05,245 Without them, these forests would not be able to keep reproducing, 311 00:21:05,285 --> 00:21:08,085 and all the species that depend on these forests 312 00:21:08,125 --> 00:21:09,605 would not survive either. 313 00:21:11,765 --> 00:21:13,925 Their nomadic and migratory ways 314 00:21:13,965 --> 00:21:16,805 help drive biodiversity in this region. 315 00:21:16,845 --> 00:21:20,605 (UPLIFTING MUSIC CONTINUES) 316 00:21:25,725 --> 00:21:28,525 It's hard to imagine, looking at this mass of animals, 317 00:21:28,565 --> 00:21:31,645 but flying foxes are listed as vulnerable. 318 00:21:32,805 --> 00:21:35,845 They're being wiped out by a perfect storm of causes. 319 00:21:37,645 --> 00:21:40,645 Conservationists and scientists are suggesting 320 00:21:40,685 --> 00:21:43,325 that if things don't change, and change quickly, 321 00:21:43,365 --> 00:21:47,165 the flying fox may well be extinct by 2050. 322 00:21:57,840 --> 00:21:57,920 (ROLLING GUITAR RHYTHMS) 323 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,400 NARRATOR: Australia's rainforests provide a home 324 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,200 for a vast array of creatures... 325 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,520 ..and the best time to see many of them is at night. 326 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,320 With keen eyes and a powerful torch, 327 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:21,480 it is possible to surprise many nocturnal creatures, 328 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,600 particularly spiders and reptiles. 329 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,960 Forest huntsmen do not build webs to catch prey. 330 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,280 They hunt and forage for food, 331 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,480 mainly insects and other invertebrates 332 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,520 creeping through the undergrowth. 333 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,360 They hide during the day to avoid being eaten themselves, 334 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,200 principally by birds. 335 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,200 A spotlight won't intimidate a forest huntsman, 336 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,520 for despite having eight beady eyes, 337 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,280 it detects prey through vibration. 338 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,440 (MYSTICAL CHIMING MUSIC) 339 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:13,480 The amethystine, or scrub, python, is Australia's largest snake, 340 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,520 growing to eight metres long. 341 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,560 Like all pythons and boas, it's not venomous snake. 342 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:25,160 It kills by coiling itself around its prey 343 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,400 and squeezing until the victim's heart stops beating. 344 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:33,320 Heat-sensing pits along its lips 345 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:35,920 allow it to detect warm-blooded prey... 346 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,680 ..and flexible muscles and ligaments in its lower jaw 347 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,320 stretch so the python can swallow large animals, 348 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:47,000 such as birds, bats, and wallabies. 349 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,280 Because the amethystine can eat large prey, 350 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,440 it doesn't have to eat very often - 351 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,920 maybe once or twice a year. 352 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:01,480 Despite its enormous size, 353 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,120 the amethystine poses no major threat to humans. 354 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,720 They're quite shy 355 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:13,080 and unlikely to attack unless threatened or accidentally disturbed. 356 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,440 The Boyd's forest dragon is another handsome reptile 357 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,160 that is relatively easy to find and observe 358 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,760 on a spotlighting tour in the wet tropics. 359 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,800 This particular dragon is unique among lizards, 360 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,520 as it does not need to draw energy from the sun to survive. 361 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,640 It regulates its body temperature to the surrounding vegetation. 362 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,040 A handy skill to have 363 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,040 to counteract the heat-sensing ability of the amethystine. 364 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,080 These well-camouflaged lizards like to eat stick insects 365 00:24:57,120 --> 00:24:59,680 that have a preference for eating new leaves. 366 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,960 When a Boyd's forest dragon needs to feed, 367 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,760 it will hang around in a spot 368 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,360 it knows the stick insects will find irresistible... 369 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,960 ..patiently waiting for a potential meal to arrive. 370 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,000 As they have less stored energy to expend, 371 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,880 they will stay quite still for a long time, 372 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,320 fixed to a tree limb or vine. 373 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,480 So, it's easy to get a close and prolonged encounter 374 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,000 with one in the wild. 375 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:40,120 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 376 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,400 The most spectacular-looking python in the Queensland rainforest 377 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:50,240 is the green tree python. 378 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:53,760 It is small by Australian snake standards - 379 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,760 around 1.5 metres long - 380 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,640 but it is very good at ambushing its prey. 381 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:06,120 Tree pythons will often lie motionless on a low branch, 382 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,200 waiting for a potential meal to wander within striking distance. 383 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,000 Young pythons are not born green, 384 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,880 but begin life bright yellow or orange. 385 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,120 So, whether young or mature, 386 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,200 this beautiful snake is a real jewel of the jungle. 387 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,520 (SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 388 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,520 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 389 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,520 Most jungle animals can be hard to see in the wild. 390 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,240 When they hear us coming, they run or fly away. 391 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:58,200 But one creature that has difficulty effecting an escape is the sloth. 392 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,400 It's the slowest mammal in the world. 393 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,320 They live in South America, 394 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:11,200 in the most famous jungle of all, the Amazon. 395 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,280 Their top speed is a glacial two metres per minute. 396 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:28,240 Sloths are so slow-moving, fungi and plants grow in their fur, 397 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,360 creating a viable habitat for hundreds of beetles 398 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,040 and other crawling insects. 399 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:40,360 This mini ecosystem affects the colour of their fur, 400 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:43,360 allowing them to blend into the forest foliage. 401 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,240 The sights and smells of the rainforest 402 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,160 in South and Central America can be overwhelming. 403 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,360 But the thing that surprises people most is the noise. 404 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:04,520 (ANIMAL CALLS) 405 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,560 The soundtrack to these jungles is deafening. 406 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,880 (INSECTS HUM, BIRDS CALL) 407 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,640 Insects make a constant din, 408 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,800 but that cacophony of whoops, howls, and chatter you hear 409 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:19,400 comes from monkeys. 410 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:27,280 The monkeys in this part of the world come in all shapes and sizes. 411 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,480 They represent five different primate families, 412 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,920 and are collectively referred to as New World monkeys. 413 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:37,080 (MONKEYS CALL) 414 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:39,520 Most New World monkeys are colour-blind. 415 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,600 They have similar-looking noses, and many have prehensile tails, 416 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,240 perfect for charging around the canopy, swinging from tree to tree. 417 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,760 The best swingers in the jungle are the spider monkeys. 418 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:05,360 These graceful animals can move effortlessly at high speeds 419 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,960 thanks to their very long limbs and tail. 420 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,200 You'll probably hear them before you see them, 421 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,400 as they're known for their distinctive screeches and barks. 422 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,880 The loudest animal in the jungle is the aptly named howler monkey. 423 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:29,720 You'll be able to hear these foghorns of the forest 424 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,800 from over 5km away. 425 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,720 Scientists think the loud howls prevent fights between troupes 426 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,000 by announcing the size and location of each group of animals. 427 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,880 Male howlers have evolved to magnify sound. 428 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,240 They have oversized throats and shell-shaped vocal chambers. 429 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:00,560 The jungles of Colombia 430 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:02,600 are home to one of the smaller New World monkeys. 431 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,280 The very punk-looking cotton-top tamarin. 432 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:10,680 These beautiful animals 433 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:12,880 are some of the most sociable in the New World order, 434 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,280 and one of the most critically endangered. 435 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,920 So, sightings like this in the wild are a rare privilege. 436 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,800 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 437 00:30:32,365 --> 00:30:33,805 in the upper Amazon basin, 438 00:30:33,845 --> 00:30:36,645 and they are quite large for a tree-dwelling species. 439 00:30:36,685 --> 00:30:40,405 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 440 00:30:41,405 --> 00:30:43,005 Feeding primarily on fruits, 441 00:30:43,045 --> 00:30:46,685 they put their prehensile tails to good use, 442 00:30:46,725 --> 00:30:50,805 acting as a safety anchor while their limbs are otherwise engaged. 443 00:30:56,125 --> 00:30:59,125 (JAUNTY MUSIC CONTINUES) 444 00:31:03,565 --> 00:31:06,205 Another familiar face in the wilds of South America 445 00:31:06,245 --> 00:31:08,645 belongs to the cheeky capuchin. 446 00:31:12,165 --> 00:31:13,925 They are thought to be the most intelligent 447 00:31:13,965 --> 00:31:15,405 of all the New World monkeys. 448 00:31:18,525 --> 00:31:20,725 Demonstrating an ability to problem solve, 449 00:31:20,765 --> 00:31:22,925 they use rocks as tools, 450 00:31:22,965 --> 00:31:27,005 crushing fruit in order to get at the delicious nutty kernel within. 451 00:31:33,125 --> 00:31:36,245 (PLAYFUL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 452 00:31:37,565 --> 00:31:41,565 Another amazing place to encounter New and Old World monkeys 453 00:31:41,605 --> 00:31:43,165 is South Africa. 454 00:31:44,965 --> 00:31:46,965 Specifically in Monkeyland, 455 00:31:47,005 --> 00:31:51,925 the world's first free-roaming, multispecies primate sanctuary. 456 00:31:53,445 --> 00:31:55,365 The staff here are on a mission 457 00:31:55,405 --> 00:31:59,125 to educate and foster greater understanding of our primate cousins. 458 00:32:01,965 --> 00:32:03,805 The animals are not caged, 459 00:32:03,845 --> 00:32:06,125 so looking for them is all part of the adventure. 460 00:32:10,085 --> 00:32:13,405 There are well over 700 primates living in the sanctuary. 461 00:32:15,685 --> 00:32:18,485 Spider monkeys and capuchins from South America. 462 00:32:20,725 --> 00:32:22,205 Gibbons from South-East Asia. 463 00:32:24,285 --> 00:32:25,765 Lemurs from Madagascar. 464 00:32:25,805 --> 00:32:29,365 Indeed, it's the United Nations of primates. 465 00:32:31,445 --> 00:32:34,565 These species would never encounter one another in the wild, 466 00:32:34,605 --> 00:32:36,805 but somehow, they all seem to get along. 467 00:32:39,285 --> 00:32:41,925 Rangers do not try to tame the monkeys 468 00:32:41,965 --> 00:32:44,765 and visitors are asked not to touch or feed them. 469 00:32:46,965 --> 00:32:50,285 Many inmates have been rescued from captive situations. 470 00:32:50,325 --> 00:32:53,165 They may have been mistreated as pets 471 00:32:53,205 --> 00:32:55,725 or experimented on in laboratories. 472 00:32:58,085 --> 00:33:00,725 When they first arrive, they are given a thorough check-up 473 00:33:00,765 --> 00:33:03,765 before they are allowed to socialise with their new friends. 474 00:33:06,525 --> 00:33:08,765 Initially, a new resident will be placed in a cage 475 00:33:08,805 --> 00:33:10,445 for their own protection, 476 00:33:10,485 --> 00:33:13,045 allowing the other animals to get used to them, 477 00:33:13,085 --> 00:33:14,405 and vice versa. 478 00:33:18,125 --> 00:33:20,285 Other than daily food and water checks, 479 00:33:20,325 --> 00:33:23,325 rangers try to avoid interacting with the new monkey. 480 00:33:24,965 --> 00:33:27,125 This encourages them to become independent 481 00:33:27,165 --> 00:33:29,805 and ready for release into the sanctuary. 482 00:33:32,485 --> 00:33:34,885 Rangers still keep a distant eye on a newcomer, 483 00:33:34,925 --> 00:33:37,285 but contact is kept to a minimum. 484 00:33:39,685 --> 00:33:42,485 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 485 00:33:43,925 --> 00:33:46,085 One of the most distinctive Monkeyland residents 486 00:33:46,125 --> 00:33:49,165 is the male proboscis monkey from Borneo. 487 00:33:52,005 --> 00:33:54,525 Scientists believe their rather large noses 488 00:33:54,565 --> 00:33:56,165 act as echo chambers, 489 00:33:56,205 --> 00:33:59,285 amplifying the calls they make to intimidate rivals, 490 00:33:59,325 --> 00:34:01,965 or alternatively, attract females. 491 00:34:09,725 --> 00:34:12,725 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 492 00:34:12,765 --> 00:34:14,605 The crowd favourite here, 493 00:34:14,645 --> 00:34:17,045 and in many primate exhibits around the world, 494 00:34:17,085 --> 00:34:21,645 are the ring-tailed lemurs from the African island of Madagascar. 495 00:34:23,205 --> 00:34:25,765 They spend more than a third of their time on the ground, 496 00:34:25,805 --> 00:34:28,085 which is unusual among the lemur family... 497 00:34:32,445 --> 00:34:34,725 ..often striking a very yogalike pose 498 00:34:34,765 --> 00:34:36,845 as they take in warmth from the sun. 499 00:34:38,445 --> 00:34:41,605 (JAUNTY MUSIC CONTINUES) 500 00:34:44,725 --> 00:34:46,925 There are fewer than 2,000 of these enigmatic animals 501 00:34:46,965 --> 00:34:48,445 living in the wild. 502 00:34:51,805 --> 00:34:53,605 But they breed well in captivity, 503 00:34:53,645 --> 00:34:57,125 so their populations in zoos around the world are thriving. 504 00:35:00,645 --> 00:35:03,365 Their trademark tails are longer than their bodies, 505 00:35:03,405 --> 00:35:08,485 with 12 or 13 white rings and 13 or 14 black rings. 506 00:35:11,765 --> 00:35:13,325 They cannot grip with their tails 507 00:35:13,365 --> 00:35:15,125 as many of their primate cousins do... 508 00:35:17,725 --> 00:35:20,885 ..but they do use them for balance and communication. 509 00:35:22,485 --> 00:35:24,685 Females are dominant and assertive, 510 00:35:24,725 --> 00:35:28,085 and will enforce their status through biting and lunging, 511 00:35:28,125 --> 00:35:29,605 or rearing up on their back legs, 512 00:35:29,645 --> 00:35:34,285 but clearly there's little need for that here at the monkey UN. 513 00:35:38,405 --> 00:35:41,445 (SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) 514 00:35:48,605 --> 00:35:51,605 (PLAYFUL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 515 00:35:54,565 --> 00:35:57,765 There's one rainforest creature that well and truly shows 516 00:35:57,805 --> 00:36:00,205 there's safety and power in great numbers... 517 00:36:03,165 --> 00:36:05,565 ..and its behaviour has taught the local humans 518 00:36:05,605 --> 00:36:07,765 to be the most careful drivers in the world. 519 00:36:11,045 --> 00:36:13,565 The red crabs of Christmas Island. 520 00:36:15,645 --> 00:36:18,445 Christmas Island is the top of an underwater volcano 521 00:36:18,485 --> 00:36:19,885 in the Indian Ocean. 522 00:36:22,725 --> 00:36:24,725 The closest nation is Indonesia, 523 00:36:24,765 --> 00:36:27,285 but it's an Australian territory. 524 00:36:27,325 --> 00:36:29,805 (JAUNTY MUSIC CONTINUES) 525 00:36:32,725 --> 00:36:36,205 And these bright red crabs have put the island on the map. 526 00:36:39,045 --> 00:36:40,605 They're land crabs, 527 00:36:40,645 --> 00:36:43,565 and spend most of the year living in the jungle away from the coast. 528 00:36:52,005 --> 00:36:54,565 (UPLIFTING MUSIC BUILDS) 529 00:36:54,605 --> 00:36:58,285 But around Christmastime, the crabs stage a remarkable event. 530 00:37:01,645 --> 00:37:04,325 They march to the sea in their millions. 531 00:37:07,685 --> 00:37:09,405 Much of the coast of Christmas Island 532 00:37:09,445 --> 00:37:11,125 becomes a carpet of red crabs. 533 00:37:14,405 --> 00:37:16,805 The crabs are a wonderful sight to behold... 534 00:37:18,085 --> 00:37:20,805 ..and people travel all the way to this remote island 535 00:37:20,845 --> 00:37:23,885 just to witness this spectacular migration. 536 00:37:27,285 --> 00:37:29,965 Human infrastructure can present challenges 537 00:37:30,005 --> 00:37:32,085 for armies of small crabs on the move... 538 00:37:33,845 --> 00:37:36,165 ..but the locals do their best to assist them. 539 00:37:38,285 --> 00:37:42,525 Plastic fences and funnels guide the crabs to safe crossing points. 540 00:37:45,405 --> 00:37:47,205 The migration is the only time 541 00:37:47,245 --> 00:37:50,725 red crabs break out of their lonely lives to get together. 542 00:37:53,485 --> 00:37:55,845 The first wave of crabs consists of the males. 543 00:37:58,245 --> 00:38:00,685 They head from their inland homes to the coast 544 00:38:00,725 --> 00:38:03,445 and quickly dig themselves a temporary burrow. 545 00:38:06,365 --> 00:38:10,205 The females join them, selecting their mate for the season, 546 00:38:10,245 --> 00:38:13,805 and after copulating, the males head back to the jungle, 547 00:38:13,845 --> 00:38:17,485 leaving the females to look after the developing eggs in their burrows. 548 00:38:21,325 --> 00:38:23,725 Within about two weeks, the eggs have developed 549 00:38:23,765 --> 00:38:26,285 and are ready for the next remarkable stage 550 00:38:26,325 --> 00:38:27,725 of the great red crab journey. 551 00:38:32,165 --> 00:38:34,925 At high tide, they carry their eggs to the water's edge, 552 00:38:34,965 --> 00:38:36,845 and release them into the ocean 553 00:38:36,885 --> 00:38:38,965 before returning home to the jungle. 554 00:38:54,325 --> 00:38:56,405 (JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 555 00:38:56,445 --> 00:38:59,525 Within a month, the eggs have hatched and matured, 556 00:38:59,565 --> 00:39:02,565 and are ready to begin the air-breathing phase of their lives. 557 00:39:05,525 --> 00:39:07,925 Each crab is only 5mm across, 558 00:39:07,965 --> 00:39:09,805 but there are so many, 559 00:39:09,845 --> 00:39:12,925 they often form a moving carpet several centimetres thick. 560 00:39:24,285 --> 00:39:26,205 Once they reach the rainforest, 561 00:39:26,245 --> 00:39:29,365 they find a good hiding place where they can feed and grow. 562 00:39:31,445 --> 00:39:34,085 Red crabs are a keystone species. 563 00:39:34,125 --> 00:39:37,645 The entire rainforest depends on them to disperse seeds 564 00:39:37,685 --> 00:39:39,685 and fertilise the soil with their droppings... 565 00:39:41,845 --> 00:39:44,245 ..and to aerate the ground with their burrows. 566 00:39:46,885 --> 00:39:49,045 It's amazing that something so small 567 00:39:49,085 --> 00:39:53,125 should play such an important part in the ecology of Christmas Island. 568 00:39:57,103 --> 00:39:57,183 (UPBEAT DRUM RHYTHMS) 569 00:40:02,983 --> 00:40:06,703 NARRATOR: The cloud-capped mountains and secluded valleys of Rwanda 570 00:40:06,743 --> 00:40:09,863 form the backdrop for one of the most extraordinary, 571 00:40:09,903 --> 00:40:12,783 life-changing animal encounters on the planet. 572 00:40:17,183 --> 00:40:20,583 A chance to see the last of the great silverback gorillas. 573 00:40:23,343 --> 00:40:25,743 (DRUM RHYTHMS CONTINUE) 574 00:40:31,343 --> 00:40:35,503 Mountain gorillas were first seen by Europeans in 1902. 575 00:40:37,423 --> 00:40:42,023 Unfortunately, this discovery led to a century of gorilla decimation. 576 00:40:47,543 --> 00:40:51,423 They were hunted for trophies, bush meat, and live young. 577 00:40:52,783 --> 00:40:55,383 At the same time, their habitat was being compromised 578 00:40:55,423 --> 00:40:58,263 to make way for more agricultural land. 579 00:40:59,783 --> 00:41:02,183 As a species, they were clearly in peril. 580 00:41:03,703 --> 00:41:06,223 When naturalist Dian Fossey arrived in Rwanda 581 00:41:06,263 --> 00:41:08,263 to study the mountain gorilla, 582 00:41:08,303 --> 00:41:11,863 she estimated there were only 240 remaining. 583 00:41:14,623 --> 00:41:17,023 Today, the gorillas' fortunes have turned, 584 00:41:17,063 --> 00:41:19,423 thanks to the truly heartening efforts 585 00:41:19,463 --> 00:41:22,823 of a new generation of activists, conservationists, 586 00:41:22,863 --> 00:41:24,903 and hard-working locals. 587 00:41:26,943 --> 00:41:29,743 Zoologists believe there are now about 900 mountain gorillas 588 00:41:29,783 --> 00:41:31,383 in the wild. 589 00:41:37,663 --> 00:41:40,383 Mountain gorillas are the largest gorilla species. 590 00:41:42,583 --> 00:41:47,263 A big male can weigh 160 kilos and be over 1.5 metres tall. 591 00:41:49,543 --> 00:41:53,543 One troupe usually consists of a dominant male, the silverback... 592 00:41:56,623 --> 00:42:00,143 ..a few young males, some females, and their offspring. 593 00:42:02,703 --> 00:42:04,583 The silverback rules the troupe, 594 00:42:04,623 --> 00:42:08,503 organising the day with activities such as eating roots and leaves, 595 00:42:08,543 --> 00:42:10,583 building nests to rest in, 596 00:42:10,623 --> 00:42:13,223 and moving around the small home range. 597 00:42:15,543 --> 00:42:17,543 Troupe home ranges often overlap, 598 00:42:17,583 --> 00:42:20,903 but mountain gorillas do not fight to defend their territory. 599 00:42:22,543 --> 00:42:25,503 They only get aggressive when their troupe needs protecting. 600 00:42:30,303 --> 00:42:34,823 Newborn gorillas are tiny, weighing in at only 1.5kg. 601 00:42:34,863 --> 00:42:37,703 They will stay with their mother for at least six years... 602 00:42:39,263 --> 00:42:42,183 ..first clinging to her fur and then riding on her back 603 00:42:42,223 --> 00:42:45,143 before they are big enough to play, like children, really, 604 00:42:45,183 --> 00:42:46,943 in the surrounding forest. 605 00:43:01,903 --> 00:43:05,063 Tourism is the key to the survival of these beautiful creatures. 606 00:43:06,543 --> 00:43:08,743 Rwanda has about 19 gorilla troupes 607 00:43:08,783 --> 00:43:11,423 living in the Volcanoes National Park, 608 00:43:11,463 --> 00:43:14,343 and ten of those are used to human visitation. 609 00:43:15,983 --> 00:43:19,783 A permit to visit these remarkable animals in the wild is expensive, 610 00:43:19,823 --> 00:43:21,863 but a portion of the funds raised 611 00:43:21,903 --> 00:43:25,303 helps to support schools and medical centres in the region. 612 00:43:29,383 --> 00:43:32,103 Protecting the gorillas' habitat and guiding work 613 00:43:32,143 --> 00:43:34,463 keeps many of the local villagers employed, 614 00:43:34,503 --> 00:43:37,103 so the whole undertaking is sustainable. 615 00:43:37,143 --> 00:43:39,143 A win-win for the community, 616 00:43:39,183 --> 00:43:42,423 and of course, the magnificent mountain gorillas. 617 00:43:51,463 --> 00:43:53,183 (UPBEAT MUSIC) 618 00:43:53,223 --> 00:43:57,343 The jungles of the world are some of the hardest places to get to, 619 00:43:57,383 --> 00:44:01,983 requiring time, and often great physical effort... 620 00:44:05,223 --> 00:44:08,463 ..but they contain such an incredible profusion of life. 621 00:44:10,783 --> 00:44:13,783 They never fail to impress and inspire. 622 00:44:15,423 --> 00:44:17,503 The sights, the sounds, and the smells 623 00:44:17,543 --> 00:44:19,823 of the world's tropical jungles 624 00:44:19,863 --> 00:44:23,223 conspire to create multisensory experiences... 625 00:44:24,863 --> 00:44:28,823 ..that are unique and often profound. 626 00:44:30,343 --> 00:44:33,663 (UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES) 627 00:44:38,703 --> 00:44:41,703 Captioned by Ai-Media ai-media.tv