Original subtitles

Cities, the fastest growing habitat on the planet

A land of opportunity for animals of all shapes and sizes.

This unnatural world presents unique challenges.

But for those able to adapt and take advantage of the riches on offer,

the

urban jungle is quickly becoming.

In the last 30 years, the world's urban areas have almost tripled in size,

changing at a rate wildlife has never experienced before.

Some animals have adapted to urban life with survival.

With surprising ease, and made cities their home.

Others have found that keeping one foot in the wild and commuting into town,

they make the most of both worlds.

But there is another group

with the most surprising stories of all.

Animals that once lived where our cities are now built.

Today, they find themselves fighting for their

place in a land that once belonged to them.

These are the wild outcasts.

Costa Rica.

A tropical tourist hotspot, famed for its incredible wildlife encounters.

And this Pacific coastal town is home to some

of the most intelligent monkeys in the world.

But despite first impressions, these white-faced

capuchins are in a perilous position.

Struggling to adapt and fit into a changing world.

White-faced capuchins have the largest

brain-to-body ratio of any primate other than us.

And the wealth of tasty and exotic goodies tourists bring

to the beach makes for hot property worth defending.

Around 20 strong, this is an average-sized troop.

And this grizzled alpha male is in charge.

He lost an arm fighting to keep hold of this territory.

Him and his troop defend the tourist beach

like they would a fruiting tree in the forest.

They know there's more to be gained than a few measly leftovers.

They've learnt to play the naive tourists.

To get their hands on a seemingly never-ending supply of food.

Employing a variety of cunning tactics.

There's the sweet and gentle.

The butter-would-it-melt.

And the cheeky-chappy.

But these aren't natural behaviours.

These monkeys should have an innate fear of humans.

But the alpha male has become so confident he's happy to assert his dominance.

And the more the capuchins expect food, the more aggressively they pursue it.

By continuing to feed them, tourists are only fuelling this bad behaviour.

It's even led to them developing a criminal streak.

They wait patiently for people to leave their belongings on the beach.

Before moving in to steal any food.

Capuchins are one of the only primates known to use tools.

So opening unattended luggage is no problem.

But their delinquent behaviour and bullying tactics are making them unpopular.

And right now, these capuchins face an uncertain future.

They may be relocated or worse still, euphonised.

Unless the tourists change their habits.

Finding ways to protect wildlife from the problems

we create is becoming increasingly important.

Because urban areas will only continue to swallow natural habitats.

And cities support just 20% of the wildlife

that lived on the land before they were built.

It's never been more important to create space for nature in the urban world.

If we don't, we risk losing it altogether.

It's predicted that by the middle of the century,

50% of the world's species will be in decline.

And that's in part because more and more land is

being cultivated to feed our ever growing population.

The scale of the problem couldn't be more obvious than in Sri Lanka.

Where forests are fast being replaced with crops.

Putting people in direct conflict with the largest land mammal of all.

Elephants.

As their jungle disappears and is farmed to feed us,

they've discovered it makes potentially easy pickings.

Under the cover of darkness, more elephants head into town to try their luck.

The local inhabitants guard their livelihood.

Armed with lights, firecrackers and flares.

It's a risky strategy for the elephants.

But hunger drives them on.

Each year this conflict claims the lives of over 200 elephants and 80 people.

Explosions across the region mark the start of the nightly battle.

It's an outcast claim to lost lands versus a relentlessly expanding civilization.

The elephants retreat.

But to grow up to 3 meters tall and weigh 5 tons,

they need to eat as much as 150 kilos a day.

They will be back.

With the encounters taking their toll on both sides, a ceasefire is well overdue.

People here are developing ways to try and keep the peace.

Farmers have found that planting a barrier of fruit trees around their crops helps.

Because elephants have the best sense of smell in the

animal kingdom and find the smell of citrus repellent.

The trees act as a sustainable buffer that

encourages the elephants to feed back in the forest.

Electric fences that surround some of the villages help too.

But the elephant encounters that happen outside the fences are the most dangerous.

And for some kids, this road through a notorious

elephant corridor is the only way to school.

It's a potentially deadly commute on foot.

But the solution is simple.

An elephant school bus.

Each morning, the bus picks up kids from the surrounding area.

And drives them safely to school.

A journey of fear is now a journey of wonder.

Elephants don't perceive large vehicles as a threat in the same

way they do a person on foot, making for a peaceful passage.

These Sri Lankan communities are finding ways

to live alongside the largest of animals.

But across the world, elephants are losing their natural

habitat and being targeted by poachers for their ivory.

The global population has shrunk by a shocking 95% in the last century.

It's a crisis desperately in need of solutions.

Peaceful coexistence with large and dangerous animals is possible.

All up the east coast of America, luxury

developments are built on prime alligator habitat.

Golf resorts.

But at South Carolina's Kiowa Island, the water hazards, rough and rolling

greens are a paradise for golfers and gators alike.

That's because each species knows its place here.

The ponds belong to the gators, and the fairways are reserved for the golfers.

But each spring, as males compete for the best territory and the best females,

the boundaries become blurred.

This four-meter male guards his network of ponds and channels.

And he protects his love interest too, whether she's interested or not.

But there's no rush.

New science shows that alligators can actually mate for life.

He warns off the smaller males by broadcasting his dominance.

An infrasonic, then bellowing call that can be heard from five kilometers away.

Happy he won't be interrupted, he makes his move.

But she needs some wooing.

Turning on his charm, he rests his head on her back and blows her romantic bubbles.

During a brief moment underwater, the pair mate.

With the female spoken for, the battle-scarred youngsters

walk the course in search of their own territory.

But all the best spots are taken.

Chasing and posturing is usually enough to end the dispute.

With a bite three times more powerful than a

lion, it's better to retreat than risk injury.

But it's not enough to get away with it.

Even though it's built on alligator territory, this high-end

human playground provides for both people and wildlife.

Striking the right balance with animals we naturally fear can be difficult.

But cities will continue to attract uninvited wild guests.

Because sometimes they offer them everything they need to survive.

And those animals small enough to take advantage

of these opportunities unnoticed can make it big.

What's a tiny desert resort?

This twinkling North American city is built where few animals or people ever lived.

Almost everything has been brought here by humans.

Hidden in plain sight, one small but deadly

arachnid is thriving in this shiny new desert oasis.

The bark scorpion.

They might be just a few centimeters long, but they

are the most venomous scorpions in North America.

And despite the city being built on their land, they have flourished.

In summer, when males hunt for a partner, action on a strip gets pretty hot.

Bark scorpions have 12 eyes, but their vision is poor.

They can only see shades of light and dark.

So males follow the scent of a potential mate using

specialized sensory organs on their belly, called pectines.

But finding her will take her half the battle.

Blocking pincers, she tests his strength and suitability as a father.

He needs to be careful.

One false move and she'll have him for dinner.

She'll carry her fertilized eggs for up to a year.

And if times get hard, she'll reabsorb them.

But in this city of excess, that's unlikely.

When she's ready, she gives birth to up to 30 helpless young that she will carry on

her back until they are old enough to survive on their own.

In her six year lifespan, she could produce 150 babies, fueling a population boom.

As one of the only life forms able to survive at nuclear test sites,

scorpions may not be too welcome, but it looks like they are here to stay.

Because cities can offer food, shelter, and somewhere to raise a family,

the most tenacious wild animals will find a way to live between the cracks of the

urban world, no matter what we throw at them.

One notorious outcast has been so successful at avoiding our attempts to

eradicate it that is now common in nearly every human settlement in the world.

The brown rat.

In fact, city living suits them so well that they are now only found alongside us.

15 million live in the UK alone.

And like the scorpions in Vegas, their extraordinary

ability to reproduce is the secret to their success.

By filming under controlled conditions, we can reveal why.

Safe in their nest, this litter is just 10 days old.

And about to open their eyes.

And in less than two months time, the young

females will be able to have babies of their own.

And from then on, could have a litter of 11 every three weeks.

That's up to 3,000 descendants a year.

They explore the world around them with a nose that

will eventually be more sensitive than a bloodhound's.

For now, mum wants to keep them safe.

But just a few weeks later, the young females

are ready to leave and start their own family.

It's a dangerous time.

More than 50% of rats die within 10 days of leaving the nest.

So they're naturally wary of anything unfamiliar.

But few things stand in their way.

They can squeeze through a gap a quarter of their size.

Cavity walls in modern buildings provide perfect hidden highways.

With flexible feet and fine claws, rats can climb around inside them.

Even when upside down.

The outside world presents different challenges.

But it's rats' innate skills that have made them such an urban success story.

As they find their way around, rats make a mental map of new surroundings.

And with soft pads on their feet, can grip even smooth surfaces.

They are one of the few mammals other than us

able to plan complex routes to reach a goal.

Expert tightrope walkers, rats use their flexible tails as a counterbalance.

And when needed, to give them control on tricky descents.

With powerful back legs, rats can leap more than a meter.

At the merest hint of us, they flee.

Supple and strong, they can survive a fall of over two meters.

In the shadows, rats have all the skills they

need to ensure the survival of their species.

Right under the nose of their age-old enemy.

However, life in the city can be more accommodating

for outcasts with a better public image.

Built on prime marshlands, the capital of the Netherlands is synonymous with a bird

that lived in these waterways long before the city was built.

The grey heron.

They've managed to survive here, feeding on a natural diet of fish and frogs.

But in extra cold winters, the city's 150 kilometers of waterways can freeze solid,

blocking their food out of reach.

Some have learned that if they get their timing right,

there are still places in town to get a good meal.

They head to the fish market just before it closes at 5 p.m.

And they wait.

The bull would come down hawking for scraps even before the market goers have left.

But there are slim pickings this early.

As darkness descends, so do the rest of the herons.

Dancing between trolleys and vans, they fight for the leftovers.

Feeding after dark is highly unusual behavior.

Herons are hardwired to roost at night like predators.

But the fish market provides them a vital lifeline in the long, cold winters.

It's a race to clear up as fast as possible.

Head to head with their garbage-guzzling inner-city rival.

By adapting to the changing urban world, the

herons have secured a future in the heart of town.

And because they are established in the city,

some have even formed remarkable relationships.

In a sleepy suburb, one lucky heron has been welcomed with open arms.

Dini Deeprink is preparing breakfast for her good friend, Kiri.

In the beginning, he was coming in my garden and I think, oh, what a big bird.

I call him Kiri.

I give him some food and from this day, he is coming every day for 17 years.

Three years ago, I was in the hospital for a long time and he started to miss me.

He flies over the roof looking for me.

When I come back out of the hospital and I go with my daughter with the bicycle,

he flies with me.

In other words, you don't leave me alone again, you know?

I found him ugly.

In the beginning.

But then, little by little, I really start to love this bird.

He knows who I am.

It's beautiful.

It's beautiful.

The respectful bond between Dini and Kiri has mutual benefits.

It's a winning strategy that's proving successful on a far larger scale.

Helping to bring one of Florida's state mascots back from the brink of extinction.

The town of Crystal River is famous for its glass-like

spring-fed rivers that originate in the heart of town.

But the biggest tourist attraction here by far are its manatees.

Growing to four meters and weighing a ton and a half,

these huge vegetarians are also known as sea cows.

Despite their size, they don't have much insulating body fat.

When the sea temperature drops, they can die from cold stress.

A condition similar to frostbite.

So in winter they head into town.

Where a warm welcome awaits.

Cows rely on their mothers until they are two

years old and make the journey side by side.

Swimming an average of seven kilometers an hour, they

cruise past waterfront condos and jetties on the way.

And when hungry, calves suckle from teats under mum's front flippers.

Every three to five minutes, they come to the surface to breathe.

When they reach Crystal River's springs, they can relax.

Here, 45 million liters of water pour out of the ground each day.

At a constant 22 degrees.

The perfect temperature for manatees to avoid cold stress.

In the warmth of the spring, mum and baby can slow down and save energy.

When it's really cold, over 500 manatees pack themselves into the toasty springs.

That's almost 5% of the world's population.

But 30 years ago, the story was very different.

Pollution and severe injuries from boat traffic

meant their population all but collapsed.

Prompting a large scale community initiative to protect them.

Today, over 100 volunteer guardians keep a watchful eye over the manatees.

Strict speed limits control boat traffic.

And visitors are educated on how to behave around the manatees.

What we normally do is get up maybe three

to six feet away from them and then we stop.

Here's where we passively observe them.

When in doubt, just remember to float.

You'll be perfectly okay.

The scheme has been an overwhelming success.

Manatee tourism attracts up to 250,000 tourists a year.

Generating an income of more than $30 million.

And in 2017, manatees were taken off the endangered species list.

It's no secret that we need to protect nature.

Only now are we starting to realize that our

towns and cities have a role to play in this.

What's perhaps most surprising is that it can be a two-way street.

And in Beijing and China, the city's millennia-old relationship with one of the

world's best-traveled birds has recently been recognized to be mutually beneficial.

It's reckoned that in its lifetime the average Beijing swift clocks up 200,000

kilometers, enough to get almost halfway to the moon.

Each spring, thousands of them stop over to breed

and feed on their migration to southern Africa.

The intricate temple roofs mirror the cracked

cave ceilings that swifts traditionally nest in.

For the past two decades, Professor Gao Wu has been studying the swifts.

Every year his team gather at the famous Summer Palace to

ring and tag the birds to find out more about their migration.

In between visits they spend their entire time in

the air eating, drinking and mating on the wing.

Only landing once a year in Beijing to have their young.

In recent years, life for the returning swifts has changed.

With nearly 22 million people, Beijing is now the busiest capital city on the planet.

But the swifts have found opportunity building

nests among the high rises and concrete bridges.

Any animal can adapt to the environment.

The language is the same.

The city is constantly changing and it is constantly developing.

And today, the swifts are recognized for the vital service they provide.

To feed themselves and their young, each bird consumes as many as 7,000

insects a day including thousands of biting mosquitoes.

Therefore, every summer, they can eliminate 250,000 of them.

The swifts are a part of the fabric of this city and have been raising their

chicks here since the time of the Ming Dynasty.

We feel that this language plays a very important role in the urban ecosystem.

People can't live without these nests.

So we can't leave this language behind.

The more we learn, the clearer it becomes that welcoming

our wild neighbors into our lives can have real benefits.

And nowhere is this more evident than on San Clemente

Island where a wild guardian angel gives the U.S.

military unexpected protection.

The tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean is just 6 kilometers

wide and 30 kilometers long and a highly sensitive U.S.

naval warfare facility.

It's the only place in the world the U.S.

Navy are authorized to practice sea-to-land bombardment.

And they aren't the only deadly force here.

A little-known predator is watching their every move.

The San Clemente Fox is the island's largest carnivore.

But at the size of a domestic cat, it's one

of the smallest canine species in the world.

With endless drills and exercises, the barren

south end of the island is inhospitable.

But these foxes thrive in the north.

Living in a Navy's town.

Amongst its personnel and close to the airstrip.

It's the nearest thing to hustle and bustle in this corner of the Pacific.

This vixen has a den full of cubs.

Right by the busy port.

It's the perfect spot for her to raise a family.

Because foxes have access all areas to the highest security base.

But she has a work cut out.

Normally foxes have just two cubs a year.

This vixen has three.

The cubs will learn everything they need to survive here from their mum.

She's teaching them to eat a wide range of foods.

From lizards and small mammals to insects and even birds eggs.

Climbing trees doesn't come easy to a five week old cub.

But the rewards are worth it.

San Clemente foxes don't exist anywhere else in the world.

And 15 years ago the species was listed as critically endangered.

The navy were warned that if the fox numbers dropped any further they'd be

evicted from the island to allow them to recover.

So the military now invests seven million dollars a

year into the protection of the island's wildlife.

They have even put in place a team of scientists that run a fox awareness

program to track and monitor the population.

The foxes are no longer considered endangered.

And the navy are now not just looking out for them because they have to.

There's real affection here for these tiny predators.

The foxes bring out a warm and caring side of the military.

Protecting their population safeguards the navy's presence on the island too.

But as urban areas expand more and more wildlife

will need our help if it's to have a future.

And where we have given it a chance there is hope.

Half a century ago New York had some of the most polluted waterways in the world.

But efforts to clean them up have paid dividends.

And recently scientists like Howard

Rosenbaum have witnessed an amazing recovery.

Right here in New York we're seeing the benefits of five decades of protection and

we're seeing the fish stocks recover from depleted numbers.

Waders and fishing birds are flourishing in what had become empty marshlands.

Pods of dolphins hundreds strong can now be found in sight of the city.

But the biggest surprise is the return of one of the Atlantic's giants.

The humpback whale.

For quite some time it was considered probably the sighting of a lifetime.

I mean just to think about the fact that you can

be strolling on the beach and see a humpback.

People are not used to having humpbacks in and around New York.

The fish they prey on is now so abundant that New York's

coast has become a perfect summer stopover for the whales.

We see healthy animals foraging here feeding right close to our shores.

I mean it's phenomenal.

We are at a critical point in history.

Our relationship with the planet is increasingly fragile.

We're consuming more than we ever have done.

And while our population is booming it's estimated we've

lost half of the world's wildlife in just 40 years.

But in our cities the newest and fastest growing habitat on earth we can make a

difference by simply giving nature the space and resources it needs.

Even for the biggest and most surprising of animals

the urban jungle can be a place of opportunity.

So what happens next is up to us.