1 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,680 GRUNTING 2 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,720 DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: Mammals long ago invaded every habitat on Earth. 3 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,520 But as our world changes, so must they. 4 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,640 With every new challenge... 5 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,280 ..comes a new opportunity. 6 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,560 And mammals have always been quick to exploit them. 7 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,600 These daring sea lions in Chile have become regulars 8 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,080 at the fish markets. 9 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,000 With great ingenuity... 10 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,480 ..and a little courage, 11 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,240 they have found a space for themselves 12 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,320 in today's... 13 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,240 ..new wild. 14 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:13,520 SEA BIRDS CALL 15 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,040 But not everyone necessarily welcomes them. 16 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,600 BARKS 17 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,920 Dogs patrol these beaches. 18 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,760 BARKING 19 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,080 BARKING AND GRUNTING 20 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,560 Our oceans are becoming increasingly overfished... 21 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:52,160 ..and these sea lions are looking for an easy meal. 22 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:53,840 SEA LION ROARS 23 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,200 But with around two million stray dogs in Chile, 24 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,360 visiting these beaches, for a sea lion... 25 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,960 ..is becoming rather dangerous. 26 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,000 Sea lions are not used to this sort of threat. 27 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,280 BARKING 28 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,280 Dogs may be domesticated, 29 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,000 but their pack instinct is still strong. 30 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,560 SEA LION ROARS 31 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,400 SNARLS 32 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,160 They tackle the sea lions one at a time. 33 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,000 BARKING 34 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,600 Eventually, they force the sea lions 35 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,320 back towards the sea. 36 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,520 But all is not lost. 37 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,360 RATTLING 38 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,280 The sea lions are familiar with the sound 39 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,880 of these trolley wheels, 40 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,280 and know it will be worthwhile to follow. 41 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,800 Leftovers from the markets are thrown back into the sea. 42 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,080 For many wild mammals, 43 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,680 surviving in the modern world requires a mixture 44 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,560 of ingenuity, 45 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,120 adaptability, 46 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,840 and a helping hand from us. 47 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,800 Humans have profoundly changed 48 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,760 three-quarters of the Earth's surface. 49 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,240 And the fastest growing of these new habitats 50 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:22,960 are our cities. 51 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,280 Singapore. 52 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:29,080 A bustling metropolis. 53 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,200 Home to a group of very enterprising mammals. 54 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:50,000 This is the Zouk family, 55 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,440 named after a nightclub where they were first noticed. 56 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:58,680 SQUEAKING 57 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,160 They are smooth-coated otters, 58 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:05,880 and they hold one of the city's most sought-after territories. 59 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:11,960 But to keep it, 60 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,680 they have to be constantly on patrol. 61 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:24,720 SQUEAKING 62 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,200 17 otter families 63 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,800 live on Singapore Island. 64 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,840 Scent-marking warns other groups 65 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,280 to keep their distance. 66 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,480 Otters were absent from Singapore for some 30 years, 67 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,280 but after a countrywide clean-up, 68 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,720 they are now back, 69 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:00,520 and the urban waterways are once again full of life. 70 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,040 But in holding this most central territory... 71 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,600 ..the Zouk family face a daily danger. 72 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,440 TRAFFIC HUMS 73 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,640 SQUEAKING 74 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,160 One wrong move could be fatal. 75 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:52,880 HORN TOOTS 76 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,160 Thanks to a helping hand, most get across. 77 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,960 But two have been separated. 78 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,040 ENGINES ROAR 79 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,840 SQUEAKING 80 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,640 HORN BEEPS 81 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,520 One of the stragglers tries his luck... 82 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,480 ..and makes it. 83 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:01,960 SQUEAKING 84 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,520 But one has been left behind. 85 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,600 Unaware of the split, 86 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,520 the family continues its patrol. 87 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,720 SQUEAKS 88 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,000 The separated one... 89 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,120 ..is now vulnerable to attack from other otter clans. 90 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,760 SQUEAKING 91 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,080 A family can travel six miles in a day. 92 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,440 By now, his could be almost anywhere. 93 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:57,560 SQUEAKING 94 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:09,960 SQUEAKING 95 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,200 His calls are drowned out by the sounds of the city. 96 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,080 SQUEAKS 97 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:38,080 He revisits places along the family's regular route. 98 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:46,960 But he's always too late. 99 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,680 SQUEAKING 100 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,640 Even his family's scent 101 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,280 is masked by the smells of city life. 102 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:12,960 He is lost. 103 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,840 He will have to brave the night alone... 104 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,840 ..without the protection of his family. 105 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,760 DISTANT SIRENS 106 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,640 But in the quiet of the dawn... 107 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,240 SQUEAKING 108 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,880 ..the sounds of his clan carry down the river. 109 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,960 SQUEAKS 110 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,440 SQUEAKING 111 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,640 Reunited with his family, 112 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,280 he is safe again. 113 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,480 Mammals, with their great intelligence, 114 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,120 have found ways of living alongside us 115 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,000 in the most unexpected 116 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,440 of places. 117 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:42,840 WATER ROARS 118 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:49,280 But in Zimbabwe, on the banks of Victoria Falls, 119 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:54,400 sharing space has become a particularly formidable challenge. 120 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,400 In the last 50 years, 121 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,200 a sizeable town has grown up here. 122 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,920 Elephants have learnt to stay away 123 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,800 during daylight hours. 124 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,720 But as night falls, 125 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,400 and the streets go quiet, 126 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,200 they return. 127 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,640 Led by the matriarch, 128 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,280 these are the routes that the family may have used 129 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,480 long before the town was built. 130 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,240 Tonight, they pass through in silence... 131 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,440 ..unnoticed by the human inhabitants. 132 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,880 But a gang of bull elephants 133 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,840 have followed the family into town. 134 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,120 ELEPHANT RUMBLES 135 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,440 And these rowdy males 136 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,480 find it rather harder to keep a low profile. 137 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,240 TRUMPETS 138 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:46,120 They've discovered how to get water from garden taps. 139 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,880 Their size, brashness and curiosity 140 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,560 can lead to serious confrontations with humans. 141 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:01,160 TRUMPETS 142 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,200 LOW RUMBLING 143 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,640 TRUMPETS 144 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,720 TRUMPETS 145 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,640 With the bulls having revealed their presence, 146 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:19,680 the whole group collects as much food as they can 147 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,640 before being driven out of town. 148 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,520 TRAFFIC HUMS 149 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,760 This time, they're rather less subtle in their approach. 150 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,280 Their huge appetites can make them 151 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,200 very demanding visitors. 152 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,720 Fortunately for the herd, these townsfolk 153 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,280 don't resent the destruction caused tonight. 154 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,320 Both humans and elephants are trying to work out 155 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:25,280 how to share the same place in safety. 156 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,160 But the family have pressed their luck far enough 157 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:36,600 for one night... 158 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,200 LOW RUMBLING 159 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,360 ..and the matriarch leads them back 160 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:45,240 to the cover of the bush. 161 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,520 It's not just the growth of towns 162 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,120 that is reshaping the face of the planet. 163 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,800 Today, almost half of the world's habitable land 164 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,240 is being used for agriculture. 165 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,360 Across Southeast Asia, vast palm oil plantations 166 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:23,320 are replacing once-pristine forest. 167 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,640 At first sight, it seems that little else 168 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:32,920 is allowed to live in them. 169 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,160 But here in Malaysia, 170 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,360 one resourceful group of mammals 171 00:18:42,360 --> 00:18:45,360 has started to visit these plantations. 172 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,960 Pig-tailed macaques. 173 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,080 The family is teaching their youngest member 174 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,760 what is good to eat... 175 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,440 ..starting with fruit and seeds. 176 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,000 But they're about to introduce this youngster 177 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,760 to a less obvious meal... 178 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:33,600 ..if they can find it. 179 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:52,680 SQUEAKING 180 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,360 A wood rat. 181 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:09,920 The rats are fast and good at hiding... 182 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,680 ..but the family have worked out how to catch them. 183 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,000 The rodents nest high in the palm trees, 184 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,280 and the family have discovered 185 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,480 that this is the place to find them. 186 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,760 They flush them out of their hiding places. 187 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,400 The alpha male watches from below... 188 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,720 ..as fleeing rats rain down around him. 189 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:08,880 RAT SQUEAKS 190 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,000 He picks them off one by one. 191 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,360 SQUEAKING 192 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:51,640 Over 3,000 rats are caught by the macaques each year... 193 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:12,480 SQUEAKING 194 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:16,560 ..an unexpected element in the diet of animals 195 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,800 that are often thought of as vegetarians. 196 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,680 The ability of mammals 197 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,280 to take new opportunities as they occur 198 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,960 and pass their skills down through the generations 199 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,440 has been key to their survival. 200 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,160 But in a rapidly changing world, 201 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,480 not all mammals have enough time to adapt. 202 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,040 As farming intensifies across the world, 203 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:57,200 it commandeers more and more of a diminishing resource. 204 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,240 Today, 70% of the fresh water used globally 205 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,880 goes straight into agriculture. 206 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,560 Around 4,000 litres of water are needed 207 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:13,680 to produce just 1kg of rice. 208 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,560 In Tanzania, the Katuma River has been diverted 209 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,640 to irrigate rice fields... 210 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:26,880 ..but this hinders it from reaching 211 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,880 a neighbouring national park. 212 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:38,240 Now, for over a month during each dry season, 213 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,680 the river here disappears. 214 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,560 The hippos are forced to share the last remaining pools 215 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,600 with animals of all kinds. 216 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,320 As the water shrinks... 217 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,520 ..feeding and drinking becomes more and more frenzied. 218 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,200 SNARLING AND GRUNTING 219 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,120 GRUNTS 220 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:53,040 This dominant male hippo is forced to share 221 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,040 what little space is left. 222 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:05,200 His tolerance of others diminishes with the water. 223 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:28,280 The dry season continues to tighten its grip. 224 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,320 The birds can leave if they so wish, 225 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,840 and the crocodiles can bury themselves in the mud 226 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:38,400 to wait it out. 227 00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:44,560 But hippos are trapped in ever-shrinking pools 228 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,440 and struggle to keep cool. 229 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,120 The large males who once fought one another 230 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:55,440 for the rights to the drying mud 231 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:57,360 are now forced together. 232 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,360 The dominant male, nonetheless, remains constantly on guard. 233 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:05,080 GRUNTS 234 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:08,800 But with every day that passes, 235 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,160 things become even more tense. 236 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,280 GRUNTING 237 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,880 A hippo from a rival group wanders across the plains 238 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:31,480 in search of water. 239 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,120 But new arrivals here are not welcome. 240 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,080 His cautious approach doesn't go unnoticed 241 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,600 by the dominant bull. 242 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,560 ROARS 243 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,520 For the newcomer, this pool could be the difference 244 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,480 between life and death. 245 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,360 But the dominant bull does not want to share. 246 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:29,920 ROARS 247 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,640 ROARING 248 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,440 The challenger is no match. 249 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,560 GRUNTING 250 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,440 He's forced to return 251 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,360 to the crushing heat of the plains... 252 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,200 ..while the victor continues to defend his claim 253 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,000 to a place in the pool. 254 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,080 He may have won this fight, 255 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,480 but the battle for the future of his river 256 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:42,760 lies beyond his control, 257 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:47,800 as agriculture claims more and more of the world's water. 258 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,280 WIND BLOWS 259 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,000 Today, very little of the natural world 260 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,920 remains beyond our influence. 261 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,760 Some mammals go to extreme lengths to avoid us 262 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,480 by living in places where humans themselves 263 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:10,440 fear to tread. 264 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,000 Near the frontier between Israel and Syria 265 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,600 lies a reminder of a fierce six-day war. 266 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:36,640 Here in the Golan Heights, around 2,000 fields 267 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,280 full of unexploded mines 268 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:43,240 have lain in wait for more than 50 years. 269 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,560 But astonishingly, life manages to continue. 270 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,440 Wild boar. 271 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,520 It's thought that their acute sense of smell 272 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,480 enables them to detect the explosive material 273 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,160 in land mines. 274 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:14,280 And it could be this that allows them to find 275 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,680 a safe path through danger. 276 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,320 And they're not alone. 277 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,200 Wolves. 278 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,440 They, too, have an acute sense of smell... 279 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:42,480 ..and even manage to raise their families here. 280 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,640 Elsewhere, they could be shot on sight, 281 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,240 but here the land mines keep humans away. 282 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,000 But the growing wolf pack needs to eat. 283 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:05,760 And even for those with the most sophisticated noses... 284 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:11,920 ..high-speed chases are best conducted outside a minefield. 285 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,440 They only leave their sanctuary 286 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,480 under the cover of darkness. 287 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,880 HOWLS 288 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:29,000 As the sun sets, the call goes out. 289 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,120 HOWLING 290 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,560 Now, outside the protection of the minefields, 291 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:05,080 they are at risk from human hunters... 292 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,560 ..and must get something to eat as quickly as possible. 293 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,720 It's even worth tackling a porcupine, 294 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,960 in spite of its prickly defences. 295 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:39,600 But wild boar... 296 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,320 BOAR SQUEALS 297 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:42,920 ..make for easier prey. 298 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:57,840 As dawn arrives, 299 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:59,800 the pack heads back 300 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,240 to the comparative safety of the minefields. 301 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,520 These wolves have discovered an extraordinary way 302 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,640 to keep their families safe... 303 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:22,160 ..protected by the mines that keep humans away. 304 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,320 CUBS WHINE 305 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,000 Over the past 50 years, 306 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,840 some wildlife populations have declined 307 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:50,680 by an average of almost 70%. 308 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,440 But our impact started much earlier than this. 309 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:04,360 The prairies of the American Wild West 310 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,640 were once home to one of the greatest assemblies 311 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,080 of mammals on Earth. 312 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:13,520 But human settlers 313 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,280 reduced their numbers from tens of millions... 314 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,080 ..to almost none. 315 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,640 Today, however, they are back. 316 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:43,120 Buffalo. 317 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:45,720 This iconic American animal... 318 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:48,560 ..also called bison, 319 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,040 has returned to the prairies. 320 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:54,520 GRUNTS 321 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:57,560 Once a year, the males assemble. 322 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:03,240 They have been attracted by the females, 323 00:35:03,240 --> 00:35:06,920 who, for a few short weeks, are fertile. 324 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,640 GROWLS 325 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:14,240 The males fight for dominance. 326 00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:16,360 GROWLS 327 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:22,960 GROWLS 328 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,120 The winners will father the most calves. 329 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,760 Each success will help to increase 330 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:37,720 the numbers on the plains. 331 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:42,840 GRUNTING 332 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,000 GRUNTING 333 00:36:10,720 --> 00:36:15,360 But the return of the buffalo has not been entirely natural. 334 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,280 It's been helped and managed by humans. 335 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:27,120 At the end of the rutting season, 336 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:30,800 while they're still together, the buffalo are rounded up. 337 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:40,600 Checked over and counted, 338 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,040 a small proportion are separated 339 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,080 for human beings to eat 340 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:46,720 and to start new herds. 341 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,160 Today, measured by weight, 342 00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:59,680 less than 6% of mammals in the world 343 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:01,360 are truly wild. 344 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,440 The other 94% 345 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,440 are our livestock, our pets... 346 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:12,240 ..and ourselves. 347 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:20,720 As these buffalo wander free for most of the year, 348 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:26,400 this managed reintroduction is perhaps a middle ground. 349 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,640 Half a million now graze these plains once again. 350 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:40,480 We understand the importance of space for mammals, 351 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:43,160 and have created protected areas for them 352 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:45,320 all across the globe. 353 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:58,720 Africa is home to some of the most loved of all wild mammals. 354 00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:00,400 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 355 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:03,920 LOW RUMBLING 356 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,440 Amongst them, the cheetah. 357 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:15,240 With only around 7,000 left in the wild, 358 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:18,640 protecting their habitat has become critical. 359 00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,720 These cubs will spend the first 18 months of their lives 360 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:26,440 with their mother, 361 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,600 learning from her and living under her protection. 362 00:38:33,840 --> 00:38:37,760 But only an estimated 1 in 20 cheetah born 363 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,960 will survive to adulthood. 364 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:49,080 This mother needs to hunt almost daily 365 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:50,960 to feed her growing family. 366 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,440 But with four cubs trailing her, 367 00:38:56,440 --> 00:38:58,320 she's easily spotted. 368 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:05,960 Cheetah are the fastest mammal. 369 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,760 For their high-speed chases, they need open grasslands. 370 00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:37,760 But the backdrop to their lives has changed. 371 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,760 With an estimated 69 million visitors 372 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:23,680 to protected sites in Africa each year... 373 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:30,160 ..parts of the wilderness are becoming overcrowded. 374 00:40:41,240 --> 00:40:45,120 There is pressure to get the best view of the kill. 375 00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:19,840 As the predators start to hunt... 376 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:22,840 ..so do the cars. 377 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:28,160 Wildlife experts studying the cheetahs 378 00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:31,680 recommend that there should be no more than five vehicles 379 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:33,680 to each sighting. 380 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,080 Over 70 cars now encircle this kill. 381 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:46,960 Tourism has become essential 382 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:49,800 to fund the protection of wild areas. 383 00:41:51,680 --> 00:41:54,040 Without the revenue that comes from it, 384 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:58,000 this park and its cheetah would simply not be here. 385 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:06,960 But having an assembly this size and this close 386 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:09,080 comes at a cost. 387 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:20,280 More of the cheetah's hunts fail, 388 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:23,480 and more of their kills are abandoned. 389 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:28,320 In areas of high tourism, 390 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:32,040 research has shown that the survival of cubs 391 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:33,960 is also greatly reduced. 392 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:58,920 We are in danger of loving these cheetahs to death. 393 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:04,040 It must surely be possible 394 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:07,120 to respect the animals' need for space 395 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:10,640 and at the same time enable human visitors 396 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:13,760 to have a meaningful glimpse of the wild world. 397 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,000 That is what must be achieved 398 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:31,240 if cheetah are to have a future on the African plains. 399 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:47,120 Finding such a balance 400 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:51,320 is as important in the ocean as it is on land. 401 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:55,200 The seas have become highways. 402 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:01,600 And the traffic is having a huge impact 403 00:44:01,600 --> 00:44:05,920 on the mammals that once had these waters to themselves. 404 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,880 An estimated 20,000 whales die 405 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:16,200 from collisions with ships every year. 406 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:22,440 The blue whale, which can grow to 30 metres in length, 407 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:25,600 is one of the species most at risk. 408 00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:32,080 For millions of years, they have cruised the oceans... 409 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,520 ..constantly feeding as they travel. 410 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:01,960 Their sheer size protects them from predators. 411 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:08,440 But that size also makes it difficult for them 412 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:10,720 to avoid collisions with ships. 413 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,200 Here in Patagonia, however, 414 00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:25,840 a group of scientists are trying to help. 415 00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:30,640 They are tagging blue whales 416 00:45:30,640 --> 00:45:34,200 to gather more information about this growing threat. 417 00:45:42,120 --> 00:45:44,560 To do that, they need to reach the whales 418 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,200 while they are at the surface. 419 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:56,720 And that can be a very dangerous thing to do 420 00:45:56,720 --> 00:45:58,320 in a small boat. 421 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:48,360 Success! 422 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:56,920 The GPS tracker is now attached, 423 00:46:56,920 --> 00:46:58,760 and the casing is retrieved. 424 00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:05,560 This tag will start transmitting 425 00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:07,840 every time the whale surfaces. 426 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:17,440 And the data recorded by the tags is very revealing. 427 00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:24,080 This blue dot shows the track of a whale 428 00:47:24,080 --> 00:47:26,400 over the course of a week, 429 00:47:26,400 --> 00:47:29,240 trying to navigate heavy ship traffic 430 00:47:29,240 --> 00:47:31,200 whilst attempting to feed. 431 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:46,160 Thanks to this data 432 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:48,640 and the arguments made by scientists, 433 00:47:48,640 --> 00:47:51,280 parts of the range of such whales 434 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:55,200 have recently been designated a marine park... 435 00:47:56,920 --> 00:48:00,840 ..where ship traffic and speeds will be limited... 436 00:48:02,680 --> 00:48:06,640 ..enabling us to share space more responsibly... 437 00:48:08,040 --> 00:48:11,760 ..and help protect not just our largest mammal... 438 00:48:13,120 --> 00:48:15,760 ..but an entire ecosystem. 439 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:25,520 The more we know about our impact on planet Earth, 440 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:27,720 the sooner we will be able 441 00:48:27,720 --> 00:48:33,880 to find a balance in today's new wild. 442 00:48:58,360 --> 00:49:01,280 Filming near the border of Israel and Syria 443 00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:03,040 was full of challenges. 444 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:08,320 Wolves are difficult to find at the best of times, 445 00:49:08,320 --> 00:49:11,200 let alone in a hostile environment. 446 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:15,560 We know this area has about 2,000 minefields, 447 00:49:15,560 --> 00:49:17,800 and we know the wolves are out there somewhere. 448 00:49:17,800 --> 00:49:20,000 There's only a few places we can access safely. 449 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:24,560 The team have the help of local wolf expert Itamar Yairi. 450 00:49:24,560 --> 00:49:27,160 First time I saw a wolf was on the road. 451 00:49:27,160 --> 00:49:29,200 Big beautiful wolf. 452 00:49:29,200 --> 00:49:30,800 Green eyes. 453 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:33,360 Just crossed the road, stopped to look at me. 454 00:49:33,360 --> 00:49:34,760 CHUCKLES 455 00:49:34,760 --> 00:49:36,680 Something started to build. 456 00:49:38,840 --> 00:49:40,920 Itamar is a carpenter, 457 00:49:40,920 --> 00:49:43,720 but his passion for wolves has taken him into the field 458 00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:47,600 almost every day for the past ten years. 459 00:49:47,600 --> 00:49:52,120 He uses corridors between the fenced minefields, 460 00:49:52,120 --> 00:49:54,600 but he must still be cautious. 461 00:49:56,200 --> 00:49:59,440 It's always a danger to be in the minefield, 462 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,440 cos the mines are really old 463 00:50:02,440 --> 00:50:05,160 and every mine can blow up 464 00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:07,240 like every minute from nothing. 465 00:50:08,680 --> 00:50:10,280 And over time, 466 00:50:10,280 --> 00:50:12,800 weather can move mines through the soil. 467 00:50:14,720 --> 00:50:17,520 Yeah, be careful, though. Ooh, yeah. Let's go. 468 00:50:22,240 --> 00:50:24,840 There is no mines over there. OK. 469 00:50:24,840 --> 00:50:29,440 It's like 20 metres wide without mines all over there. 470 00:50:30,640 --> 00:50:34,000 To try to uncover the wolves' current movements... 471 00:50:35,560 --> 00:50:38,200 ..the team uses Itamar's extensive knowledge 472 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:41,120 to bug the place with camera traps. 473 00:50:42,040 --> 00:50:44,360 All of this area, they come from here a lot. 474 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:51,440 Because here we got the trees and lots of animals. 475 00:51:03,560 --> 00:51:08,080 With the surveillance in place, the team start their stakeout. 476 00:51:10,080 --> 00:51:13,440 As the wolves leave the minefields at night, 477 00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:16,240 the crew get into position before they return. 478 00:51:21,800 --> 00:51:24,800 QUIETLY: The best strategy is to creep out at dawn 479 00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:28,840 and then hunker down behind one of these walls 480 00:51:28,840 --> 00:51:31,520 and hope for the best. 481 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:38,840 Producer Lydia takes advantage of the high military lookout posts. 482 00:51:38,840 --> 00:51:43,320 I mean, this area is hundreds of kilometres, 483 00:51:43,320 --> 00:51:45,800 so trying to spot a wolf in this is... 484 00:51:45,800 --> 00:51:47,680 ..is like a needle in a haystack. 485 00:51:51,640 --> 00:51:56,360 As time goes by, the wolves prove extremely elusive. 486 00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:08,600 We're hiding from them, 487 00:52:08,600 --> 00:52:10,440 and they're probably hiding from us. 488 00:52:13,360 --> 00:52:16,720 So, this is another morning without seeing the wolves. 489 00:52:16,720 --> 00:52:19,360 It's another disappointment, but... 490 00:52:19,360 --> 00:52:22,120 ..keep on going until we are out of time. 491 00:52:24,600 --> 00:52:27,840 Itamar is starting to get concerned, 492 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:31,240 so the team send out a drone 493 00:52:31,240 --> 00:52:33,840 to scout for signs of them. 494 00:52:34,920 --> 00:52:39,640 The wolves are so difficult to film because they just don't trust you. 495 00:52:39,640 --> 00:52:41,400 They don't trust anyone. 496 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:43,520 Outside the minefields, 497 00:52:43,520 --> 00:52:47,200 wolves seen hunting livestock can be legally killed. 498 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:51,840 As it is world over, human-wildlife conflict 499 00:52:51,840 --> 00:52:54,360 is a delicate balance. 500 00:52:54,360 --> 00:52:57,600 I try to help the wolves and the people, 501 00:52:57,600 --> 00:53:00,080 like 50-50. 502 00:53:00,080 --> 00:53:02,000 Part of it is filming them 503 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:04,720 and show other people how the wolves live 504 00:53:04,720 --> 00:53:07,560 and why they are so important. 505 00:53:07,560 --> 00:53:10,720 But before the team get a chance to spot any wolves, 506 00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:13,040 they're faced by yet another hurdle. 507 00:53:13,040 --> 00:53:16,000 There is still military activity on this border 508 00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:19,960 and drone jammers are halting any further aerial surveillance. 509 00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:22,840 We've just been told there might be a bit of interference, 510 00:53:22,840 --> 00:53:26,120 so we're just not putting the drone above the minefield 511 00:53:26,120 --> 00:53:28,000 just in case we lose connection, 512 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:30,000 and we don't want to lose the drone. 513 00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:34,360 The next day, even surveillance on foot is no longer an option. 514 00:53:37,640 --> 00:53:40,160 Can you see anything? 515 00:53:40,160 --> 00:53:41,720 No, it's too foggy. 516 00:53:43,360 --> 00:53:45,640 Our chances of seeing wolves are low. 517 00:53:45,640 --> 00:53:48,760 We can see about 20 metres, is our visibility, 518 00:53:48,760 --> 00:53:51,200 and we think it's going to be like this all day. 519 00:53:56,920 --> 00:53:58,360 But in the mist, 520 00:53:58,360 --> 00:54:01,080 Itamar makes an encouraging discovery. 521 00:54:01,080 --> 00:54:03,640 Yeah, it looks like the wolves killed it 522 00:54:03,640 --> 00:54:07,080 and maybe we will see some lone wolf. 523 00:54:07,080 --> 00:54:09,560 Whatever, will be good for us. 524 00:54:12,920 --> 00:54:16,600 Meanwhile, Lydia is seeing whether the wolves are going 525 00:54:16,600 --> 00:54:18,600 into the military bunkers 526 00:54:18,600 --> 00:54:21,240 positioned just outside the minefields. 527 00:54:24,040 --> 00:54:25,920 Oh, it's huge back here. 528 00:54:34,160 --> 00:54:36,720 There are two bones in here. Something's brought that in. 529 00:54:41,960 --> 00:54:43,720 Got a whole load of feathers. 530 00:54:43,720 --> 00:54:46,880 Obviously, a...a bird's been eaten down here. 531 00:54:46,880 --> 00:54:48,720 We'll put a camera trap in here 532 00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:50,880 and see if it's a route anyone uses regularly. 533 00:54:50,880 --> 00:54:52,760 WIND BLOWS 534 00:55:02,920 --> 00:55:06,840 And finally, their luck starts to change. 535 00:55:07,880 --> 00:55:09,200 OK. 536 00:55:10,520 --> 00:55:12,480 Porcupine going down the stairs. 537 00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:13,880 That's nice. 538 00:55:15,200 --> 00:55:16,280 LAUGHS 539 00:55:16,280 --> 00:55:17,920 Walking into the bunker. 540 00:55:17,920 --> 00:55:20,840 He's sniffing the camera traps. 541 00:55:20,840 --> 00:55:22,400 Great. 542 00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:24,120 Ah, what's that?! 543 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:27,440 Fox! 544 00:55:28,680 --> 00:55:30,280 Oh, that's lovely. 545 00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:34,200 Sharing our HQ with all the animals. 546 00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:38,640 And back at the carcass, 547 00:55:38,640 --> 00:55:40,720 Itamar's hunch has also paid off. 548 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:44,920 Ooh! It's a wolf. 549 00:55:44,920 --> 00:55:47,640 One wolf, two jackals. 550 00:55:47,640 --> 00:55:50,280 Ah! Looks big. Nice. 551 00:55:51,800 --> 00:55:55,200 The evidence of the wolves' return keeps coming in. 552 00:55:55,200 --> 00:55:56,560 Here we got wolf. 553 00:55:57,720 --> 00:56:00,080 Nice shots, you see? Yeah, great. 554 00:56:01,960 --> 00:56:03,840 The mother. 555 00:56:03,840 --> 00:56:05,040 Nice. 556 00:56:05,040 --> 00:56:07,280 Oh, here is the pup, running after her. 557 00:56:10,480 --> 00:56:13,080 Relieved that the wolves are safely back in the area, 558 00:56:13,080 --> 00:56:16,080 the cameramen return to their positions. 559 00:56:28,800 --> 00:56:31,120 WHISPERS: We've just seen our first wolves. 560 00:56:32,200 --> 00:56:33,800 We're very happy boys now. 561 00:56:39,760 --> 00:56:43,000 It's running, like, happily through the minefield. 562 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:44,600 Yeah. Running back home. 563 00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:47,440 They were just, like, happy running. Happy running. 564 00:56:47,440 --> 00:56:50,000 They were happy. We were panicking. 565 00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:51,600 BOTH LAUGH 566 00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:55,840 And the team's success continues... 567 00:56:57,520 --> 00:57:01,840 ..thanks to one man's passion for these remarkable wolves. 568 00:57:03,600 --> 00:57:05,960 None of this would have been possible without Itamar. 569 00:57:05,960 --> 00:57:08,520 That's for sure. We would have got nothing. 570 00:57:12,200 --> 00:57:16,280 Without human, they can use the minefield as a safe zone, 571 00:57:16,280 --> 00:57:19,680 so it's like kind of the perfect place for wolves. 572 00:57:19,680 --> 00:57:22,720 We can't ignore how special these places are. 573 00:57:29,800 --> 00:57:31,360 Next time... 574 00:57:32,680 --> 00:57:33,960 ..the water... 575 00:57:35,240 --> 00:57:38,320 ..the hardest place for mammals to survive. 576 00:57:39,720 --> 00:57:41,840 From fresh water pools... 577 00:57:43,440 --> 00:57:45,840 ..to the deep ocean, 578 00:57:45,840 --> 00:57:49,880 we will uncover the extraordinary stories 579 00:57:49,880 --> 00:57:53,000 that lie beneath the surface.