1 00:00:10,515 --> 00:00:14,355 Looking down from two miles above the surface of the Earth, 2 00:00:14,395 --> 00:00:20,135 it's impossible not to be impressed by the sheer grandeur and splendour 3 00:00:20,155 --> 00:00:22,475 and power of the natural world. 4 00:00:26,075 --> 00:00:29,555 Ten years ago, in a television series called Planet Earth, 5 00:00:29,595 --> 00:00:31,635 we revealed many of those wonders. 6 00:00:34,875 --> 00:00:39,715 Planet Earth II brings you even closer to the lives of animals 7 00:00:39,755 --> 00:00:40,955 than ever before. 8 00:00:45,155 --> 00:00:47,975 With new technology and new insight, 9 00:00:47,995 --> 00:00:51,875 we can show wildlife dramas in completely new ways. 10 00:01:01,435 --> 00:01:05,635 In this programme, we celebrate some of the highlights of the series. 11 00:01:14,715 --> 00:01:17,355 Journeying to every corner of the globe... 12 00:01:21,195 --> 00:01:25,835 ..to reveal the extreme lengths animals go to in order to survive. 13 00:01:40,195 --> 00:01:44,915 And we also visit the newest habitat on Earth - 14 00:01:44,955 --> 00:01:46,155 our cities. 15 00:01:51,675 --> 00:01:55,335 Now is a crucial time for the natural world, 16 00:01:55,355 --> 00:01:59,595 when our connection with nature is more important than ever before. 17 00:02:02,155 --> 00:02:04,155 This is Planet Earth II. 18 00:02:42,395 --> 00:02:43,675 The snow leopard. 19 00:02:47,875 --> 00:02:52,395 Seldom seen, the detail of their lives has long been a mystery. 20 00:02:57,275 --> 00:03:02,395 But now, at last, helped by the latest remote camera technology, 21 00:03:02,435 --> 00:03:05,235 we're getting closer to them than ever before. 22 00:03:11,755 --> 00:03:17,535 They are very rare - as few as four of them in 40 square miles. 23 00:03:17,555 --> 00:03:20,615 In the high mountains, there is simply not enough prey 24 00:03:20,635 --> 00:03:21,755 to sustain them. 25 00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:29,555 They live solitary lives. 26 00:03:29,595 --> 00:03:32,835 Nonetheless, they are well aware of the presence and the movements 27 00:03:32,875 --> 00:03:34,595 of their neighbours, 28 00:03:34,635 --> 00:03:37,995 because they leave messages in a few special places. 29 00:03:41,275 --> 00:03:43,995 They rub particular rocks with their cheeks... 30 00:03:47,715 --> 00:03:49,715 ..and then spray them with urine. 31 00:03:52,755 --> 00:03:56,275 Their two perfumes create a unique signature. 32 00:04:01,475 --> 00:04:06,195 Any other leopard can know which of its neighbours passed this way 33 00:04:06,235 --> 00:04:08,275 without ever making direct contact. 34 00:04:41,675 --> 00:04:46,715 Life at extreme altitudes has shaped some of the toughest animals 35 00:04:46,755 --> 00:04:47,955 on the planet. 36 00:04:51,795 --> 00:04:55,035 In the Alps, Europe's highest peaks, 37 00:04:55,075 --> 00:04:57,995 it is winter and food is desperately short. 38 00:05:11,755 --> 00:05:15,615 A golden eagle has to spend every daylight hour 39 00:05:15,635 --> 00:05:20,115 scanning the slopes for something, somewhere to eat. 40 00:05:30,035 --> 00:05:34,035 Her seven-foot wingspan allows her to glide effortlessly 41 00:05:34,075 --> 00:05:40,955 for 100 miles in a single day. 42 00:05:45,835 --> 00:05:50,675 Her extraordinary eyes enable her to spot prey from two miles away. 43 00:06:00,075 --> 00:06:02,675 But she is not the only one who's looking for food. 44 00:06:05,235 --> 00:06:08,155 When she spots a chance, she must move fast. 45 00:06:13,235 --> 00:06:15,915 She can dive at 200mph - 46 00:06:15,955 --> 00:06:17,795 only a peregrine is faster. 47 00:06:52,115 --> 00:06:56,235 During winter, even eagles rely almost entirely on carrion. 48 00:06:57,795 --> 00:07:01,595 It's a dead fox, and it could sustain her for days. 49 00:07:05,355 --> 00:07:07,075 Other scavengers must defer. 50 00:07:10,475 --> 00:07:12,915 The hungry crows soon regain their courage. 51 00:07:15,915 --> 00:07:18,035 They'll try any trick to steal a morsel. 52 00:07:26,475 --> 00:07:28,755 And they are annoyingly persistent. 53 00:07:50,875 --> 00:07:53,715 But this mob are the least of her worries. 54 00:08:01,955 --> 00:08:03,835 A bigger eagle takes control. 55 00:08:09,275 --> 00:08:11,955 But this kill is too important to give up. 56 00:08:14,555 --> 00:08:16,355 So she must fight. 57 00:08:31,355 --> 00:08:33,875 For the moment, she has won the carcass back... 58 00:08:35,515 --> 00:08:39,235 ..but a kill like this will attract every eagle for miles around. 59 00:09:07,355 --> 00:09:10,435 As ever, the strongest wins the lion's share. 60 00:09:14,195 --> 00:09:16,595 Unable to defend the carcass any longer, 61 00:09:16,635 --> 00:09:19,395 the first eagle must now continue its search. 62 00:09:21,395 --> 00:09:24,035 It may be many days before she feeds again. 63 00:09:27,875 --> 00:09:31,595 Compared to the sparseness of the highest mountains, 64 00:09:31,635 --> 00:09:34,355 the jungle is full of opportunity. 65 00:09:36,115 --> 00:09:37,315 It is Eden. 66 00:09:39,755 --> 00:09:43,195 It covers less than 6% of the Earth's surface, 67 00:09:43,235 --> 00:09:51,235 but it's home to half of all the plants and animals on land. 68 00:09:56,515 --> 00:09:59,675 The challenge here is dealing with the competition. 69 00:10:06,515 --> 00:10:11,555 And that has driven animals to do a raft of ingenious things. 70 00:10:13,755 --> 00:10:16,595 For some, it is about trying to stand out. 71 00:10:21,315 --> 00:10:25,355 While, for others, the key to survival is blending in. 72 00:10:28,355 --> 00:10:32,815 And these streams in Costa Rica are home to one of the most remarkable 73 00:10:32,835 --> 00:10:34,475 masters of disguise. 74 00:10:48,075 --> 00:10:49,555 A glass frog. 75 00:10:57,675 --> 00:11:00,395 A male, and tiny. 76 00:11:00,435 --> 00:11:01,955 No bigger than your fingernail... 77 00:11:03,355 --> 00:11:06,515 ..and almost entirely transparent. 78 00:11:08,955 --> 00:11:10,115 As he needs to be. 79 00:11:13,275 --> 00:11:16,795 Almost everything that walks past here could eat him. 80 00:11:18,475 --> 00:11:19,555 Even a cricket. 81 00:11:24,755 --> 00:11:29,495 His best chance is to stay absolutely still and trust 82 00:11:29,515 --> 00:11:31,755 that the cricket looks right through him. 83 00:11:53,315 --> 00:11:54,355 Danger passed... 84 00:11:56,355 --> 00:11:57,875 ..and that's just as well. 85 00:11:59,635 --> 00:12:02,595 Because he is a father... 86 00:12:05,915 --> 00:12:08,235 ..and he is guarding some very precious eggs. 87 00:12:12,915 --> 00:12:16,155 For the last few weeks, females, one after the other, 88 00:12:16,195 --> 00:12:19,315 have visited him and entrusted him with their offspring. 89 00:12:22,995 --> 00:12:25,395 Some are now almost ready to hatch. 90 00:12:29,715 --> 00:12:33,335 There are several clutches on the leaf, and those at the top, 91 00:12:33,355 --> 00:12:36,555 the most recently laid, are barely a day old. 92 00:12:42,835 --> 00:12:46,235 But, in the jungle, there is always someone out to get you. 93 00:12:52,635 --> 00:12:56,955 This wasp is a specialist hunter of frogs' eggs. 94 00:12:59,035 --> 00:13:02,995 It has noticed the wriggling tadpoles at the bottom of the leaf. 95 00:13:09,155 --> 00:13:11,415 He mustn't move. 96 00:13:11,435 --> 00:13:14,315 The youngest eggs are the most vulnerable, 97 00:13:14,355 --> 00:13:15,835 and he can't guard them all. 98 00:13:36,115 --> 00:13:39,515 But these tadpoles are not as helpless as they might appear. 99 00:13:47,875 --> 00:13:53,455 Incredibly, the unhatched tadpoles can sense danger and the oldest 100 00:13:53,475 --> 00:13:57,075 and strongest wriggle free and drop into the stream below. 101 00:14:15,275 --> 00:14:17,715 The eggs at the top of the leaf, however, 102 00:14:17,755 --> 00:14:19,755 are still too young to hatch... 103 00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:24,075 ..and now the wasps know they're there. 104 00:14:28,235 --> 00:14:36,235 But the male's back looks very like the youngest cluster of eggs... 105 00:14:37,235 --> 00:14:39,555 ..and that seems to confuse the wasps. 106 00:15:02,195 --> 00:15:06,515 Using his own body as a decoy is a huge risk. 107 00:15:06,555 --> 00:15:08,475 The wasps' stings could kill him. 108 00:15:36,715 --> 00:15:39,635 He has managed to save most of his young. 109 00:15:44,195 --> 00:15:47,715 He'll have to remain on guard for another two weeks. 110 00:15:49,275 --> 00:15:54,075 But, in the jungle, just surviving the day can count as a success. 111 00:16:02,875 --> 00:16:05,755 Jungles are the richest places on Earth, 112 00:16:05,795 --> 00:16:07,835 because of one remarkable fact. 113 00:16:11,195 --> 00:16:12,875 They make their own weather. 114 00:16:18,955 --> 00:16:23,195 Every day, water rises from the surface of the leaves as vapour. 115 00:16:25,795 --> 00:16:28,715 It's as if the trees breathe out clouds. 116 00:16:31,835 --> 00:16:34,835 They gather over the forest, until finally... 117 00:16:37,875 --> 00:16:39,075 ..they burst. 118 00:16:53,755 --> 00:16:57,035 Rain is the lifeblood of every jungle... 119 00:17:07,075 --> 00:17:10,715 ..and all have to do their best to endure the daily downpour. 120 00:17:50,475 --> 00:17:53,775 In some jungles, like here in Brazil, 121 00:17:53,795 --> 00:17:57,955 it rains so much that, for part of the year, the trees 122 00:17:57,995 --> 00:17:59,755 are almost totally submerged. 123 00:18:05,475 --> 00:18:11,395 This is a mysterious world, a place few people have ever explored. 124 00:18:14,915 --> 00:18:20,115 Here, 1,000 miles from the sea, are dolphins. 125 00:18:24,355 --> 00:18:29,275 A newly-identified species of river dolphin found nowhere else on Earth. 126 00:18:37,635 --> 00:18:40,755 At the shallow margins of the flooded jungle, 127 00:18:40,795 --> 00:18:44,235 food is so abundant it supports giants. 128 00:18:47,555 --> 00:18:50,155 Capybara - the biggest rodents in the world. 129 00:18:55,115 --> 00:18:57,555 Giant otters, the size of a man. 130 00:19:02,755 --> 00:19:04,635 And the rulers of these rivers... 131 00:19:06,195 --> 00:19:07,315 ..caiman. 132 00:19:09,235 --> 00:19:11,555 They grow to 10 feet long 133 00:19:11,595 --> 00:19:14,155 and kill anything they get between their jaws. 134 00:19:18,995 --> 00:19:22,115 But there are more artful hunters, 135 00:19:22,155 --> 00:19:24,555 drawn here from the surrounding forest. 136 00:19:36,995 --> 00:19:40,475 A jaguar - the supreme jungle predator. 137 00:19:59,115 --> 00:20:01,835 Capybara are strong and wary. 138 00:20:05,435 --> 00:20:07,275 The key is stealth. 139 00:20:26,355 --> 00:20:30,075 She needs to get within a metre if she is to pounce. 140 00:20:53,035 --> 00:20:54,075 Not this time. 141 00:21:05,035 --> 00:21:13,035 She's not the only female here. 142 00:21:24,115 --> 00:21:32,115 Few places on Earth have enough food to support so many big cats. 143 00:21:54,995 --> 00:21:57,355 The male hunts in a different way. 144 00:22:04,675 --> 00:22:08,955 Weighing over 130 kilos, it's hard to be stealthy. 145 00:22:12,315 --> 00:22:15,515 And with so many other jaguars around, 146 00:22:15,555 --> 00:22:17,915 he doesn't bother with wary capybara. 147 00:22:24,435 --> 00:22:26,555 He seeks a different prey. 148 00:22:49,835 --> 00:22:51,035 He's become a killer... 149 00:22:52,915 --> 00:22:53,915 ..of killers. 150 00:23:19,955 --> 00:23:23,535 Jaguars have the most powerful bite 151 00:23:23,555 --> 00:23:24,795 of any cat. 152 00:23:28,395 --> 00:23:30,915 And he knows the caiman's most vulnerable point. 153 00:23:33,555 --> 00:23:34,915 The back of its skull. 154 00:23:58,355 --> 00:24:03,075 For some, isolation has provided an escape from the competition. 155 00:24:25,995 --> 00:24:29,715 The tiny island of Escudo, off the coast of Panama. 156 00:24:32,355 --> 00:24:35,675 Home to the pygmy three-toed sloth. 157 00:24:39,715 --> 00:24:43,115 This is a male, and life here suits him well. 158 00:24:46,515 --> 00:24:50,475 Mangroves provide all the leaves he can eat, 159 00:24:50,515 --> 00:24:52,795 and there are no predators to worry him. 160 00:24:55,435 --> 00:25:00,235 Island life may seem idyllic, but it comes at a price. 161 00:25:01,995 --> 00:25:05,475 There are only a few hundred pygmy sloths in existence... 162 00:25:06,955 --> 00:25:08,955 ..and he needs a mate. 163 00:25:11,475 --> 00:25:13,775 HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL 164 00:25:13,795 --> 00:25:15,635 That is an enticing call... 165 00:25:17,915 --> 00:25:18,915 ..from a female... 166 00:25:21,755 --> 00:25:23,555 ..somewhere, out there. 167 00:25:53,995 --> 00:25:57,635 The problem is there's deep water between them. 168 00:25:59,475 --> 00:26:02,635 So what should any red-blooded sloth do? 169 00:26:07,875 --> 00:26:09,035 Swim, of course. 170 00:26:40,075 --> 00:26:46,435 Could this be her? 171 00:26:48,795 --> 00:26:52,195 He does his best to put on a turn of speed. 172 00:27:02,715 --> 00:27:04,875 But she's not the one. 173 00:27:04,915 --> 00:27:06,835 She already has a baby, 174 00:27:06,875 --> 00:27:09,815 and she won't mate again until it leaves her 175 00:27:09,835 --> 00:27:11,795 in about six months' time. 176 00:27:18,995 --> 00:27:23,195 Even life on a paradise island can have its limitations. 177 00:27:34,915 --> 00:27:38,075 Islands can be sanctuaries for wildlife, 178 00:27:38,115 --> 00:27:41,435 but that doesn't mean that life is easy. 179 00:27:41,475 --> 00:27:44,475 Some can be very challenging places indeed. 180 00:27:59,515 --> 00:28:02,615 There are islands still forming today, 181 00:28:02,635 --> 00:28:04,715 built by volcanoes. 182 00:28:08,315 --> 00:28:10,195 Some erupt explosively. 183 00:28:17,275 --> 00:28:21,355 Others pour out rivers of molten rock - 184 00:28:21,395 --> 00:28:22,395 lava. 185 00:28:28,635 --> 00:28:32,915 In the last 50 years, ten new volcanic islands have been formed. 186 00:29:00,355 --> 00:29:05,315 Young volcanic islands can be tough places to survive. 187 00:29:09,875 --> 00:29:13,995 This is Fernandina, one of the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific. 188 00:29:17,795 --> 00:29:23,115 It is a desolate place, but the surrounding sea is rich with life. 189 00:29:26,595 --> 00:29:31,015 And the frontier between these two very different worlds is the home 190 00:29:31,035 --> 00:29:33,235 of one of the strangest of reptiles. 191 00:29:37,595 --> 00:29:39,555 Seagoing iguanas. 192 00:29:43,195 --> 00:29:45,135 They are vegetarians, 193 00:29:45,155 --> 00:29:47,815 but since there is little food for them on land, 194 00:29:47,835 --> 00:29:50,795 marine iguanas graze on the sea floor. 195 00:29:53,475 --> 00:29:58,915 A big male like this one can dive to 30 metres and hold his breath 196 00:29:58,955 --> 00:30:00,035 for half an hour. 197 00:30:24,875 --> 00:30:31,515 It is an incredible adaptation that allows them to survive 198 00:30:38,635 --> 00:30:41,575 And by bringing nutrients from the sea to the land, 199 00:30:41,595 --> 00:30:44,755 the iguanas help other animals to survive here, too. 200 00:30:48,835 --> 00:30:52,035 Crabs feed on dead skin on the iguanas' back, 201 00:30:52,075 --> 00:30:55,995 and in turn provide a welcome exfoliation service. 202 00:31:04,155 --> 00:31:07,795 While smaller lizards prey on the flies that pester the colony. 203 00:31:30,435 --> 00:31:34,675 But not all the relationships on this island are so harmonious. 204 00:31:41,355 --> 00:31:44,035 Marine iguanas lay their eggs in sand. 205 00:31:46,515 --> 00:31:50,315 In June, when the hatchlings emerge, they are vulnerable. 206 00:31:54,555 --> 00:31:57,955 They must join the adults at the edge of the sea, 207 00:31:57,995 --> 00:32:00,275 but the journey will be a dangerous one. 208 00:32:25,555 --> 00:32:26,955 Racer snakes. 209 00:32:56,715 --> 00:32:58,755 The snakes missed their chance. 210 00:33:07,155 --> 00:33:09,115 But more babies are hatching... 211 00:33:14,755 --> 00:33:18,875 ..and now the snakes are on the alert. 212 00:33:18,915 --> 00:33:22,715 This is the best feeding opportunity they will get all year. 213 00:33:38,755 --> 00:33:43,075 On flat ground, a baby iguana can outrun a racer snake... 214 00:33:44,915 --> 00:33:46,755 ..but others are waiting in ambush. 215 00:34:14,795 --> 00:34:19,075 Another hatchling has its first glimpse of a dangerous world. 216 00:35:17,115 --> 00:35:19,035 A snake's eyes aren't very good... 217 00:35:20,355 --> 00:35:22,195 ..but they can detect movement. 218 00:35:24,115 --> 00:35:28,155 So if the hatchling keeps its nerve, it may just avoid detection. 219 00:37:00,515 --> 00:37:02,315 A near-miraculous escape. 220 00:37:09,475 --> 00:37:13,655 The lucky survivors can begin learning the unique way of life 221 00:37:13,675 --> 00:37:15,915 demanded by this hostile island. 222 00:37:25,915 --> 00:37:28,635 There are habitats on Earth 223 00:37:28,675 --> 00:37:31,115 where food seems abundant. 224 00:37:36,035 --> 00:37:40,655 One quarter of the land on Earth is covered by a single remarkable 225 00:37:40,675 --> 00:37:41,835 type of plant. 226 00:37:43,795 --> 00:37:44,795 Grass. 227 00:37:52,995 --> 00:37:55,955 It can be tall enough to hide a giant... 228 00:38:03,555 --> 00:38:06,155 ..and the world it creates is unique. 229 00:38:21,475 --> 00:38:23,155 These are the good times. 230 00:38:24,955 --> 00:38:26,475 But in just a few months, 231 00:38:26,515 --> 00:38:31,075 the animals will be forced to move on in search of new growth. 232 00:38:36,115 --> 00:38:40,655 For tiny animals, the summer boom brings opportunity 233 00:38:40,675 --> 00:38:41,915 to their doorstep. 234 00:38:45,475 --> 00:38:48,915 An excellent time to build a tiny treehouse... 235 00:38:51,155 --> 00:38:52,315 ..for a harvest mouse. 236 00:39:06,395 --> 00:39:10,195 During summer, European meadow lands are full of food. 237 00:39:13,995 --> 00:39:15,955 But only for those that can reach it. 238 00:39:34,715 --> 00:39:37,635 Climbing grass is harder than climbing trees, 239 00:39:37,675 --> 00:39:40,795 not least because their stems just won't stay still. 240 00:39:48,635 --> 00:39:51,915 A prehensile tail acts like a fifth limb, 241 00:39:51,955 --> 00:39:55,555 so she's as agile as a monkey clambering around in a tree. 242 00:40:03,955 --> 00:40:07,995 And just as well, for the best food in this tiny forest 243 00:40:08,035 --> 00:40:09,875 is at the very top of its canopy. 244 00:40:20,635 --> 00:40:23,235 Feeding up here, she is exposed. 245 00:40:30,835 --> 00:40:31,955 A barn owl. 246 00:41:02,915 --> 00:41:04,515 Not her finest move... 247 00:41:08,475 --> 00:41:09,675 ..but it did the trick. 248 00:41:11,995 --> 00:41:15,275 Harvest mice seldom go all the way down to the ground. 249 00:41:18,715 --> 00:41:21,915 It's a tangled and dangerous world down here. 250 00:41:35,315 --> 00:41:39,355 But she can read the pattern of the stems overhead like a map... 251 00:41:40,555 --> 00:41:42,315 ..and so find her way home. 252 00:41:50,515 --> 00:41:52,595 And not a minute too soon. 253 00:41:57,515 --> 00:41:59,475 There are mouths to feed. 254 00:42:13,155 --> 00:42:15,155 Her babies must fatten up quickly. 255 00:42:17,555 --> 00:42:20,975 They need to harvest the summer grasses while they are still 256 00:42:20,995 --> 00:42:22,115 rich with food. 257 00:42:31,355 --> 00:42:33,715 On the grasslands of Africa, 258 00:42:33,755 --> 00:42:38,075 Jackson's widowbirds seek out fresh stems 259 00:42:38,115 --> 00:42:39,915 with a different purpose in mind. 260 00:42:45,995 --> 00:42:47,995 This male wants a mate. 261 00:42:51,315 --> 00:42:54,435 He has grown elaborate breeding plumage for this moment... 262 00:42:56,395 --> 00:42:59,035 ..but he needs a stage on which to show it off. 263 00:43:03,635 --> 00:43:08,775 By carefully selecting grass blades, each trimmed to the correct length, 264 00:43:08,795 --> 00:43:10,795 he is creating something very special. 265 00:43:25,595 --> 00:43:27,675 He needs an even surface... 266 00:43:30,195 --> 00:43:31,515 ..and a centrepiece. 267 00:43:34,315 --> 00:43:35,795 The stage is set. 268 00:43:37,035 --> 00:43:41,235 His bachelor pad is sufficiently neat and tidy to attract a female. 269 00:43:43,355 --> 00:43:46,155 The problem is, can she see it? 270 00:43:50,235 --> 00:43:51,235 He has competition. 271 00:44:01,635 --> 00:44:05,715 It might take more than a little gardening to impress the ladies. 272 00:44:08,235 --> 00:44:09,915 Jumping is the right idea... 273 00:44:11,355 --> 00:44:13,395 ..but he has misjudged the height of the grass. 274 00:44:23,675 --> 00:44:25,555 His rival makes it look easy. 275 00:44:48,795 --> 00:44:50,755 Time to raise his game. 276 00:45:26,475 --> 00:45:29,255 It's not only who jumps the highest, 277 00:45:29,275 --> 00:45:32,075 but who can keep doing so the longest. 278 00:45:40,475 --> 00:45:44,755 Unable to go the distance, his rivals drop out, one by one. 279 00:45:49,675 --> 00:45:52,915 Stamina has won him admirers. 280 00:45:54,355 --> 00:45:57,715 Now he can show off his courtship arena. 281 00:46:06,875 --> 00:46:10,275 And engage in a little romantic hide and seek. 282 00:46:22,395 --> 00:46:26,155 Finally, he's done enough. 283 00:46:33,715 --> 00:46:36,195 The seasonality of the grassland 284 00:46:36,235 --> 00:46:40,055 means the time of opportunity is swiftly followed 285 00:46:40,075 --> 00:46:41,715 by times of hardship. 286 00:46:44,635 --> 00:46:48,355 In winter, the prairies of North America freeze. 287 00:46:51,795 --> 00:46:54,435 60 million tonnes of snow 288 00:46:54,475 --> 00:46:57,315 now blanket this herd of bison's territory. 289 00:46:59,755 --> 00:47:03,595 Pushing through the drifts is exhausting work, 290 00:47:03,635 --> 00:47:06,355 and the bison are now slowly starving. 291 00:47:12,675 --> 00:47:15,915 Just keeping warm saps huge amounts of energy. 292 00:47:22,275 --> 00:47:26,035 Their thick coats can insulate them down to minus 20 Fahrenheit. 293 00:47:27,235 --> 00:47:28,915 It is now minus 40. 294 00:47:32,275 --> 00:47:34,795 The only thing that will keep them alive 295 00:47:34,835 --> 00:47:37,755 is buried beneath three feet of snow. 296 00:47:42,635 --> 00:47:45,875 And that's a problem shared with a surprising neighbour. 297 00:48:03,915 --> 00:48:07,235 The food the fox seeks is also deep beneath the snow. 298 00:48:19,875 --> 00:48:22,135 The survival of both creatures 299 00:48:22,155 --> 00:48:24,595 depends on getting through to the ground. 300 00:48:30,115 --> 00:48:33,155 For the bison, it will be a matter of brute strength. 301 00:48:38,275 --> 00:48:41,715 Their lightweight neighbour needs more precision. 302 00:49:06,595 --> 00:49:11,715 The bison have reached their goal - a mouthful of withered grass. 303 00:49:15,755 --> 00:49:20,075 And where the bison have dug, the fox now spots an opportunity. 304 00:49:29,115 --> 00:49:31,115 Every footstep counts. 305 00:49:34,155 --> 00:49:35,515 But he mustn't break through... 306 00:49:36,755 --> 00:49:37,755 ..yet. 307 00:49:41,115 --> 00:49:44,235 He listens carefully to pinpoint his target. 308 00:49:50,235 --> 00:49:51,235 It's moving. 309 00:50:12,875 --> 00:50:13,875 A vole. 310 00:50:16,355 --> 00:50:21,835 Small, but 100 times more nutritious than a mouthful of dried grass. 311 00:50:28,515 --> 00:50:31,995 To get through the winter on these prairies, 312 00:50:32,035 --> 00:50:34,435 sometimes brain beats brawn. 313 00:50:41,155 --> 00:50:45,995 Seasonal change brings the transformation of the landscape 314 00:50:46,035 --> 00:50:47,395 to more than just the grasslands. 315 00:50:49,075 --> 00:50:53,515 In America, the spring melt turns the slopes of the Rocky Mountains 316 00:50:53,555 --> 00:50:55,355 from white to green. 317 00:51:18,115 --> 00:51:20,335 Meadows that only a few weeks ago 318 00:51:20,355 --> 00:51:24,035 were buried deep beneath the snow are now full of life. 319 00:51:39,675 --> 00:51:42,875 Bears have emerged from their winter dens. 320 00:51:47,195 --> 00:51:48,555 It's becoming warmer, 321 00:51:48,595 --> 00:51:51,595 and they are keen to shed their thick winter coats. 322 00:51:55,155 --> 00:51:58,595 Mothers show their cubs what to do about this. 323 00:52:08,795 --> 00:52:09,955 They'll soon catch on. 324 00:52:13,315 --> 00:52:16,995 Some trees, it seems, are particularly suitable for rubbing. 325 00:52:18,475 --> 00:52:20,235 Bears have their favourites, 326 00:52:20,275 --> 00:52:22,875 and will travel long distances to visit them. 327 00:52:26,195 --> 00:52:28,875 Some itches just have to be scratched. 328 00:52:50,275 --> 00:52:53,995 There are now 30 bears in this one valley. 329 00:53:00,595 --> 00:53:05,595 As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent. 330 00:53:09,435 --> 00:53:12,715 So the tree soon carries a list of who's around... 331 00:53:13,875 --> 00:53:16,355 ..which might help individuals to avoid a fight. 332 00:53:18,355 --> 00:53:20,975 To best spread their scent, 333 00:53:20,995 --> 00:53:23,235 they really have to put their back into it. 334 00:54:05,315 --> 00:54:07,555 But the summer is short. 335 00:54:07,595 --> 00:54:12,395 Itches satisfactorily scratched, it's time to eat. 336 00:54:21,235 --> 00:54:23,595 Dawn in the high Andes. 337 00:54:26,835 --> 00:54:31,115 Here, too, the sun's warmth brings rapid relief. 338 00:54:35,795 --> 00:54:37,995 Mountain viscacha are up early 339 00:54:38,035 --> 00:54:41,875 to claim the best places to catch the sun's first rays. 340 00:55:03,755 --> 00:55:08,075 For others up here, the sunrise is even more welcome. 341 00:55:11,235 --> 00:55:13,475 At over 4,000 metres, 342 00:55:13,515 --> 00:55:16,515 this is the highest flamingo colony in the world. 343 00:55:19,235 --> 00:55:23,715 At night, it gets so cold that even this salty water freezes over. 344 00:55:26,555 --> 00:55:28,795 And now the flamingos are trapped in the ice. 345 00:55:34,875 --> 00:55:37,515 Eventually, the sun thins the ice. 346 00:55:38,675 --> 00:55:41,875 But it's still a struggle for the flamingos to break free. 347 00:56:02,715 --> 00:56:05,315 Walking on thin ice is always risky. 348 00:56:16,835 --> 00:56:19,195 And it's hard to retain one's dignity. 349 00:56:20,835 --> 00:56:23,035 Especially when you're wearing stilts. 350 00:56:36,475 --> 00:56:38,275 At these altitudes, 351 00:56:38,315 --> 00:56:43,475 the sun's power can quickly turn from salvation to threat. 352 00:56:49,835 --> 00:56:52,035 The atmosphere is so thin, 353 00:56:52,075 --> 00:56:55,475 there is very little protection from ultraviolet radiation. 354 00:56:57,195 --> 00:57:00,875 By mid-morning, it's risky to linger out in the open. 355 00:57:04,475 --> 00:57:07,275 The viscacha are forced to head for the shade. 356 00:57:12,515 --> 00:57:15,555 Out on the lake, there is nowhere to hide. 357 00:57:21,995 --> 00:57:26,215 The white crust of the soda lake reflects the sun's glare, 358 00:57:26,235 --> 00:57:29,315 and increases the impact of its ultraviolet rays. 359 00:57:34,635 --> 00:57:38,755 By midday, uncovered human skin will burn in four minutes. 360 00:57:44,875 --> 00:57:47,435 But this doesn't seem to bother the flamingos. 361 00:57:48,715 --> 00:57:50,915 In fact, they are on parade. 362 00:58:21,035 --> 00:58:22,835 During the breeding season, 363 00:58:22,875 --> 00:58:26,275 flamingos perform these bizarre courtship dances, 364 00:58:26,315 --> 00:58:28,355 even through the hottest time of the day. 365 00:58:35,635 --> 00:58:38,715 They are so eager, they don't even pause to feed. 366 00:58:57,395 --> 00:59:00,195 The rules are something of a mystery. 367 00:59:00,235 --> 00:59:04,155 But after a month of dancing, all the birds will have paired off 368 00:59:04,195 --> 00:59:06,315 and will be getting ready to mate. 369 00:59:13,035 --> 00:59:17,255 Up here, there are few other creatures to bother the flamingos, 370 00:59:17,275 --> 00:59:21,435 but then, few other creatures could even tolerate these conditions. 371 00:59:26,235 --> 00:59:29,315 Such extreme habitats require wildlife 372 00:59:29,355 --> 00:59:32,035 to be extraordinarily resilient. 373 00:59:36,755 --> 00:59:39,155 And nowhere more so than in the desert. 374 00:59:43,075 --> 00:59:46,595 With temperatures reaching almost 50 degrees Celsius, 375 00:59:46,635 --> 00:59:49,375 there's no escape from the scorching sun, 376 00:59:49,395 --> 00:59:50,795 the wind and the dust. 377 01:00:13,555 --> 01:00:17,715 This is the oldest desert in the world - 378 01:00:17,755 --> 01:00:20,195 the Namib, in south-west Africa. 379 01:00:21,875 --> 01:00:24,915 It's been dry for 55 million years. 380 01:00:30,435 --> 01:00:34,195 Life here, for the hunter, is as hard as it gets. 381 01:00:45,075 --> 01:00:47,455 A pride of lions. 382 01:00:47,475 --> 01:00:49,595 One of the very few that endures 383 01:00:49,635 --> 01:00:53,475 this desert's scorching temperatures and lack of water. 384 01:01:24,475 --> 01:01:26,995 A dry riverbed on the edge of their territory. 385 01:01:30,755 --> 01:01:32,875 The only animals here are giraffe. 386 01:01:34,275 --> 01:01:38,555 But these one-ton giants could kill a lion with a single kick. 387 01:01:51,955 --> 01:01:55,115 Lions seldom tackle such formidable prey... 388 01:01:58,315 --> 01:02:02,635 ..but this pride can't go on much longer without food. 389 01:02:31,155 --> 01:02:34,195 The whole pride must work together as a team if they're to succeed. 390 01:03:03,395 --> 01:03:05,795 Two lionesses lead the chase. 391 01:03:05,835 --> 01:03:08,555 Others race to cut off possible escape routes. 392 01:03:25,595 --> 01:03:29,635 The giraffe has the speed and stamina to outrun the pride. 393 01:03:32,435 --> 01:03:34,235 But it's being chased into a trap. 394 01:03:36,915 --> 01:03:39,315 Up ahead, the lead female waits. 395 01:03:49,915 --> 01:03:51,955 It's now up to her. 396 01:04:11,195 --> 01:04:13,675 Most lion hunts end in failure. 397 01:04:15,675 --> 01:04:20,195 But no lions fail more often than those that live in the desert. 398 01:04:27,435 --> 01:04:30,995 In the land where food and water is so limited, 399 01:04:31,035 --> 01:04:33,315 competition can be intense. 400 01:04:36,795 --> 01:04:40,955 It's July in Nevada in the Western United States. 401 01:04:42,995 --> 01:04:44,795 The hottest time of the year. 402 01:04:57,955 --> 01:05:00,715 Bands of wild horses, mustang, 403 01:05:00,755 --> 01:05:04,835 are converging on one of the last remaining waterholes for miles. 404 01:05:10,555 --> 01:05:14,615 Now, water not only offers them the chance to drink. 405 01:05:14,635 --> 01:05:16,675 It can also bring power. 406 01:05:19,835 --> 01:05:22,955 If a stallion can control access to water, 407 01:05:22,995 --> 01:05:25,955 he will secure mating rights to the entire herd. 408 01:05:27,915 --> 01:05:30,635 So, stallions try to dominate these pools, 409 01:05:30,675 --> 01:05:33,315 fighting off rivals who venture too close. 410 01:05:46,635 --> 01:05:47,675 A stranger. 411 01:05:49,555 --> 01:05:51,975 He has travelled ten miles to be here, 412 01:05:51,995 --> 01:05:54,995 because the pools where he's come from have already dried up. 413 01:05:59,435 --> 01:06:01,435 With him come his females. 414 01:06:04,075 --> 01:06:07,055 If he can't provide them with water, they will leave him 415 01:06:07,075 --> 01:06:10,795 for the white stallion who already dominates this pool. 416 01:06:21,435 --> 01:06:23,475 So, he will have to fight. 417 01:07:24,035 --> 01:07:25,515 There is everything to lose. 418 01:07:27,515 --> 01:07:31,715 A broken leg or a shattered jaw would mean a slow and painful death. 419 01:07:53,035 --> 01:07:56,075 A missed kick and it's all over. 420 01:07:58,715 --> 01:08:00,475 The new arrival has won. 421 01:08:02,955 --> 01:08:07,155 And his prize is more than just a chance to drink. 422 01:08:07,195 --> 01:08:10,295 He has provided for his herd and, in the process, 423 01:08:10,315 --> 01:08:12,195 stolen his rival's females. 424 01:08:14,435 --> 01:08:16,755 The white stallion's rule is over. 425 01:08:29,435 --> 01:08:31,075 When rain does come, 426 01:08:31,115 --> 01:08:34,755 it has the power to bring life to even the desert. 427 01:08:53,395 --> 01:08:57,015 And no creature exploits the greening of the land 428 01:08:57,035 --> 01:09:01,755 more quickly or more dramatically than a locust. 429 01:09:10,195 --> 01:09:12,235 Madagascar's arid south-west 430 01:09:12,275 --> 01:09:15,075 has received its highest rainfall in years. 431 01:09:21,395 --> 01:09:23,355 Now an army is on the march, 432 01:09:23,395 --> 01:09:26,875 attracted by the smell of newly-sprouting grass. 433 01:09:39,275 --> 01:09:41,755 Locusts are normally solitary creatures, 434 01:09:41,795 --> 01:09:45,575 but when food becomes suddenly plentiful, they come together 435 01:09:45,595 --> 01:09:50,035 into an unstoppable force that devours everything in its path. 436 01:10:08,475 --> 01:10:12,635 But this devastation is about to get a lot worse. 437 01:10:24,515 --> 01:10:28,355 The locusts now transform into winged adults. 438 01:10:29,435 --> 01:10:31,515 And with conditions as good as this, 439 01:10:31,555 --> 01:10:34,115 they do so three times faster than normal. 440 01:10:36,275 --> 01:10:38,915 Now they are at their most voracious. 441 01:10:40,595 --> 01:10:43,435 And with wings, they can take to the skies. 442 01:11:08,635 --> 01:11:12,675 Once airborne, the locusts can travel over 60 miles a day 443 01:11:12,715 --> 01:11:15,755 in their search for new feeding grounds. 444 01:11:29,555 --> 01:11:33,875 A super swarm of this scale may only appear once in a decade. 445 01:11:35,275 --> 01:11:38,235 This one extends over 200 square miles 446 01:11:38,275 --> 01:11:46,275 and contains several billion individuals. 447 01:12:23,475 --> 01:12:26,515 Nothing can strip a land of its vegetation 448 01:12:26,555 --> 01:12:30,595 with such speed and thoroughness as a plague of locusts. 449 01:12:33,755 --> 01:12:37,195 When the food eventually runs out, the whole army will die. 450 01:12:38,795 --> 01:12:41,035 But not before it's devastated the land. 451 01:12:52,755 --> 01:12:54,575 In the last 6,000 years, 452 01:12:54,595 --> 01:12:56,915 a new habitat has appeared, 453 01:12:56,955 --> 01:13:02,595 entirely designed and constructed by one species for its own purpose. 454 01:13:05,875 --> 01:13:10,475 We humans create homes for ourselves, cities - 455 01:13:10,515 --> 01:13:13,955 with consequences for wildlife, good and bad. 456 01:13:17,435 --> 01:13:19,595 Rome in December. 457 01:13:19,635 --> 01:13:22,235 Visitors are drawn in by the city's heat. 458 01:13:24,115 --> 01:13:25,915 And they're leaving their mark. 459 01:13:29,235 --> 01:13:31,235 In a single winter's day, 460 01:13:31,275 --> 01:13:34,915 ten tonnes of its droppings rain down on the city. 461 01:13:42,355 --> 01:13:43,355 Starlings. 462 01:13:46,715 --> 01:13:49,515 In the evening, they come back to the warmth of the city 463 01:13:49,555 --> 01:13:51,715 after feeding in the neighbouring countryside. 464 01:13:54,915 --> 01:13:58,255 They must return to their roosting trees, 465 01:13:58,275 --> 01:13:59,735 but the first to do so are 466 01:13:59,755 --> 01:14:07,755 at the highest risk of being caught by birds of prey. 467 01:14:10,435 --> 01:14:11,795 There's safety in numbers. 468 01:14:14,755 --> 01:14:16,235 As daylight fades, 469 01:14:16,275 --> 01:14:20,595 the sky fills with a staggering one million starlings. 470 01:14:23,475 --> 01:14:28,235 And then follows one of Nature's great spectaculars. 471 01:15:15,035 --> 01:15:17,395 We still do not fully understand. 472 01:15:28,475 --> 01:15:30,595 Eventually, en masse, 473 01:15:30,635 --> 01:15:34,995 they brave the descent and fill the branches of their favourite trees. 474 01:15:40,355 --> 01:15:42,235 On these cold winter nights, 475 01:15:42,275 --> 01:15:46,835 the city's extra warmth can mean the difference between life and death. 476 01:16:00,515 --> 01:16:05,195 For the bold, this new world can offer other opportunities. 477 01:16:11,395 --> 01:16:16,755 But to compete with humanity takes intelligence and nerve. 478 01:16:21,755 --> 01:16:24,695 One enterprising species of monkey 479 01:16:24,715 --> 01:16:28,395 has moved into the city of Jaipur in India. 480 01:16:31,675 --> 01:16:32,755 The Rhesus macaque. 481 01:16:37,795 --> 01:16:41,355 But how to get a share of all this juicy fruit? 482 01:16:49,995 --> 01:16:51,075 Every morning, 483 01:16:51,115 --> 01:16:55,175 the troop make the same journey through the urban jungle, 484 01:16:55,195 --> 01:16:56,995 just as human commuters do. 485 01:17:19,875 --> 01:17:23,435 Sometimes, inevitably, there are traffic jams. 486 01:17:47,875 --> 01:17:51,035 Once they get to the market, trouble begins. 487 01:18:12,635 --> 01:18:14,875 Being both intelligent and brazen 488 01:18:14,915 --> 01:18:18,115 is the key to beating human beings on their home turf. 489 01:18:56,315 --> 01:18:57,875 It's daylight robbery. 490 01:19:08,315 --> 01:19:12,835 In the city, conflict between man and animal might seem inevitable. 491 01:19:15,515 --> 01:19:18,335 We create these cities for ourselves, 492 01:19:18,355 --> 01:19:20,795 and some of the changes we introduce 493 01:19:20,835 --> 01:19:22,755 can be hard for animals to cope with. 494 01:19:27,235 --> 01:19:30,175 One of the greatest changes of recent times 495 01:19:30,195 --> 01:19:35,235 has come from a single invention made less than 140 years ago. 496 01:19:39,515 --> 01:19:40,555 Electric light. 497 01:19:43,275 --> 01:19:45,395 It has become more and more powerful... 498 01:19:48,075 --> 01:19:49,715 ..filling our streets with light. 499 01:20:01,675 --> 01:20:03,075 It is everywhere in the city. 500 01:20:05,675 --> 01:20:06,955 It even goes underground. 501 01:20:26,435 --> 01:20:29,015 The difference between day and night 502 01:20:29,035 --> 01:20:31,515 has become less and less perceptible. 503 01:20:41,475 --> 01:20:49,475 And that has a profound effect on the activities of wildlife. 504 01:20:50,835 --> 01:20:54,915 In the wilderness, light triggers all kinds of behaviour. 505 01:21:01,315 --> 01:21:02,975 On the night of the full moon, 506 01:21:02,995 --> 01:21:06,735 hundreds of tiny hawksbill turtle hatchlings emerge 507 01:21:06,755 --> 01:21:09,395 from the safety of their nest, deep in the sand. 508 01:21:12,515 --> 01:21:15,755 Their instinct is to reach the sea as quickly as possible. 509 01:21:18,395 --> 01:21:22,715 And their guide is the light of the full moon, reflected on the water. 510 01:21:30,235 --> 01:21:31,835 But this young hatchling... 511 01:21:32,835 --> 01:21:33,835 ..is confused. 512 01:21:42,355 --> 01:21:44,795 It's going in the wrong direction. 513 01:21:50,155 --> 01:21:52,235 Bright light is coming from the land. 514 01:21:55,635 --> 01:21:59,835 And all these hatchlings are travelling up the beach towards it. 515 01:22:06,395 --> 01:22:09,115 Predators are ready to take advantage. 516 01:22:11,035 --> 01:22:14,915 Crabs now make their burrows directly beneath the beach lights... 517 01:22:15,955 --> 01:22:18,355 ..and wait for their prey to come to them. 518 01:22:40,795 --> 01:22:44,635 Even if a hatchling escapes, they're still in peril. 519 01:22:53,675 --> 01:22:56,515 The lights become more and more bewildering. 520 01:23:20,915 --> 01:23:23,755 80% of all hatchlings on this beach 521 01:23:23,795 --> 01:23:27,635 are now disoriented by the lights of the town. 522 01:23:48,155 --> 01:23:50,555 Roads bring many to their end. 523 01:24:05,835 --> 01:24:09,355 Hundreds get trapped in storm drains every night. 524 01:24:23,995 --> 01:24:26,055 Exhausted by the effort of travelling 525 01:24:26,075 --> 01:24:27,515 such a distance on land... 526 01:24:30,195 --> 01:24:34,195 ..this hatchling's chances of surviving the night are slim. 527 01:24:46,875 --> 01:24:49,695 This turtle is one of the countless species 528 01:24:49,715 --> 01:24:51,835 that have been unable to adapt 529 01:24:51,875 --> 01:24:55,555 to the change brought about by the urban environment. 530 01:25:02,675 --> 01:25:08,155 Whether we choose to live in harmony with wildlife is up to us. 531 01:25:08,195 --> 01:25:10,915 But there is one city where that idea 532 01:25:10,955 --> 01:25:13,555 is being applied on a major scale - 533 01:25:16,755 --> 01:25:17,835 Singapore. 534 01:25:23,715 --> 01:25:28,475 Two million trees have been planted here in the last 45 years. 535 01:25:30,315 --> 01:25:34,555 This city is now richer in species than any other in the world. 536 01:25:38,755 --> 01:25:42,115 And this practice extends to all parts of the city. 537 01:25:45,315 --> 01:25:47,355 The waterways have been cleaned up 538 01:25:47,395 --> 01:25:50,355 and smooth-coated otters are coming back. 539 01:25:54,475 --> 01:25:59,315 But perhaps the most spectacular example of city greening 540 01:25:59,355 --> 01:26:02,235 is this grove of "super trees". 541 01:26:16,635 --> 01:26:20,435 Creepers have been planted to grow over the outermost branches. 542 01:26:24,115 --> 01:26:29,815 This is a new urban world that we have now designed and built 543 01:26:29,835 --> 01:26:31,435 with others in mind. 544 01:26:34,315 --> 01:26:37,635 Create the space and the animals will come. 545 01:26:46,795 --> 01:26:49,635 Is this a vision for our cities of the future? 546 01:26:58,795 --> 01:27:02,015 It could be possible to see wildlife thriving 547 01:27:02,035 --> 01:27:05,075 within our cities across the planet. 548 01:27:07,395 --> 01:27:11,675 We, after all, are the architects of the urban world. 549 01:27:13,715 --> 01:27:15,795 Looking down on this great metropolis, 550 01:27:15,835 --> 01:27:20,715 the ingenuity with which we continue to reshape the surface of our planet 551 01:27:20,755 --> 01:27:21,755 is very striking. 552 01:27:22,835 --> 01:27:25,015 It is also sobering. 553 01:27:25,035 --> 01:27:27,715 It reminds me of just how easy it is for us 554 01:27:27,755 --> 01:27:30,755 to lose our connection with the natural world. 555 01:27:32,195 --> 01:27:36,355 Yet it's on this connection that the future of both humanity 556 01:27:36,395 --> 01:27:38,835 and the natural world will depend. 557 01:27:40,355 --> 01:27:45,555 It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power 558 01:27:45,595 --> 01:27:50,015 to create a planet that provides a home, not just for us, 559 01:27:50,035 --> 01:27:52,715 but for all life on Earth.