1 00:00:08,313 --> 00:00:12,103 With its tropical beaches, sunshine, sand, and sea, 2 00:00:12,263 --> 00:00:17,520 thousands of people flock to the Caribbean each year in search of paradise. 3 00:00:20,089 --> 00:00:22,783 But the Caribbean has a hidden wild side. 4 00:00:25,745 --> 00:00:28,659 Its islands are forged by cataclysmic forces. 5 00:00:31,378 --> 00:00:34,662 And they bear the brunt of the most violent storms on earth. 6 00:00:36,413 --> 00:00:40,789 Island life makes specialists and opportunists, 7 00:00:40,949 --> 00:00:44,158 seafarers, and castaways. 8 00:00:45,556 --> 00:00:48,018 From the most fragile hummingbird 9 00:00:48,178 --> 00:00:50,637 to ocean giants that have visited these shores 10 00:00:50,797 --> 00:00:53,237 since the time of the dinosaurs. 11 00:00:55,448 --> 00:00:59,758 Born of volcanoes, battered by hurricanes, 12 00:00:59,918 --> 00:01:03,917 this is the wild side of paradise. 13 00:01:40,131 --> 00:01:43,262 Between the continents of North and South America 14 00:01:43,422 --> 00:01:45,348 lies a tropical paradise. 15 00:01:46,506 --> 00:01:50,307 The Caribbean, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands 16 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:53,168 and reefs lying within the crystal clear waters 17 00:01:53,328 --> 00:01:55,123 of the Caribbean Sea. 18 00:01:57,787 --> 00:02:01,658 From just a few meters wide to hundreds of km across, 19 00:02:01,818 --> 00:02:07,360 every island is different, and each has its own unique wildlife. 20 00:02:15,409 --> 00:02:17,605 From the tropical forests 21 00:02:17,765 --> 00:02:20,736 to the reefs beneath the waves, 22 00:02:20,896 --> 00:02:24,145 the Caribbean hides a secret treasure trove of life. 23 00:02:33,551 --> 00:02:37,031 Trinidad is the southern most island in the Caribbean. 24 00:02:39,464 --> 00:02:42,405 In Trinidad's northeast corner, the Caribbean Sea 25 00:02:42,565 --> 00:02:45,325 meets the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. 26 00:02:49,618 --> 00:02:52,311 Legends of hidden treasure have long drawn travelers 27 00:02:52,471 --> 00:02:54,799 to these islands from across the Atlantic. 28 00:02:57,262 --> 00:03:00,134 But some of nature's greatest seafarers have been visiting 29 00:03:00,294 --> 00:03:02,894 the Caribbean shores far longer. 30 00:03:10,556 --> 00:03:13,805 At night, Trinidad's beaches play host to creatures 31 00:03:13,965 --> 00:03:17,061 that have been around since dinosaurs walked the earth. 32 00:03:20,627 --> 00:03:23,586 It's April, and the start of the nesting season 33 00:03:23,746 --> 00:03:25,572 for leatherback turtles. 34 00:03:31,263 --> 00:03:34,736 Each year, female leatherbacks return to the Caribbean 35 00:03:34,896 --> 00:03:38,867 from thousands of km away, across the open ocean. 36 00:03:45,245 --> 00:03:48,189 They return to lay their eggs on the very same beaches 37 00:03:48,349 --> 00:03:50,627 where their own lives began. 38 00:03:56,307 --> 00:03:59,375 Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles on earth, 39 00:03:59,535 --> 00:04:01,237 growing up to two meters long 40 00:04:01,397 --> 00:04:04,295 and weighing up to 1,000 kilos. 41 00:04:08,970 --> 00:04:10,974 The female uses her massive flippers 42 00:04:11,134 --> 00:04:13,574 to dig a huge pit in the sand. 43 00:04:20,048 --> 00:04:22,136 She excavates a deep nest 44 00:04:22,296 --> 00:04:25,085 into which she lays nearly 100 eggs. 45 00:04:31,182 --> 00:04:35,080 The temperature of the nest will determine the sex of the hatchlings. 46 00:04:37,084 --> 00:04:39,583 If it's higher than 30° C, 47 00:04:39,743 --> 00:04:42,106 the hatchlings will be females. 48 00:04:42,266 --> 00:04:44,712 Cooler nests produce males. 49 00:04:48,183 --> 00:04:52,065 The smaller eggs are yolkless and sterile. 50 00:04:52,225 --> 00:04:54,859 They're designed to collapse over time 51 00:04:55,019 --> 00:04:58,333 to make extra room when the babies come to hatch. 52 00:05:12,611 --> 00:05:15,596 Finally, the nest is filled with sand, 53 00:05:15,756 --> 00:05:17,757 leaving a large disturbed area 54 00:05:17,917 --> 00:05:20,617 to make detection by predators difficult. 55 00:05:26,583 --> 00:05:29,113 Nesting can take up to three hours. 56 00:05:31,408 --> 00:05:34,111 The exertion involved is obvious. 57 00:05:45,597 --> 00:05:49,360 A few meters away, she begins digging another giant sand angel. 58 00:05:50,997 --> 00:05:54,956 This is a decoy nest to further confound predators. 59 00:05:58,633 --> 00:06:00,072 She's not alone. 60 00:06:00,232 --> 00:06:04,840 Trinidad's beaches have the densest population of nesting leatherbacks in the world. 61 00:06:06,438 --> 00:06:09,995 At the peak of the season, space is in short supply. 62 00:06:21,267 --> 00:06:24,306 Up to 500 turtles may visit a single beach 63 00:06:24,466 --> 00:06:26,179 in just one night. 64 00:06:30,516 --> 00:06:32,585 Leatherbacks coming ashore to nest 65 00:06:32,745 --> 00:06:35,820 collide with those intent on returning to the sea. 66 00:06:37,752 --> 00:06:43,040 The scrum for space inevitably results in turtles digging up each others' eggs. 67 00:06:56,475 --> 00:06:59,316 Sunrise can catch latecomers unawares. 68 00:07:11,063 --> 00:07:14,464 The short time the females spend nesting on the Caribbean's beaches 69 00:07:14,624 --> 00:07:19,960 offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these secretive sea turtles. 70 00:07:23,602 --> 00:07:26,023 Dawn brings opportunistic scavengers. 71 00:07:27,246 --> 00:07:29,993 They've learned that at this time of year, 72 00:07:30,153 --> 00:07:32,536 the beach brings rich pickings. 73 00:07:40,482 --> 00:07:45,480 For the eggs left exposed in the scramble for nesting space, there's no hope. 74 00:07:48,444 --> 00:07:52,600 Trinidad's vultures thrive on this seasonal windfall of turtle eggs. 75 00:08:06,658 --> 00:08:10,640 Youngsters learn about the whereabouts of food from more experienced birds. 76 00:08:19,747 --> 00:08:22,147 Even though there's plenty of eggs to go 'round, 77 00:08:22,307 --> 00:08:24,052 squabbles are common. 78 00:08:30,911 --> 00:08:33,275 But the vultures aren't all bad news. 79 00:08:35,267 --> 00:08:39,274 Left to rot, these eggs would putrefy in the sand 80 00:08:39,434 --> 00:08:43,480 and pose a risk to the eggs still incubating in their nests. 81 00:08:45,402 --> 00:08:47,463 By getting rid of the waste eggs, 82 00:08:47,623 --> 00:08:50,468 the vultures are helping to keep the beach clean. 83 00:08:59,358 --> 00:09:01,212 Heading north from Trinidad, 84 00:09:01,372 --> 00:09:05,254 a chain of small islands known as the Winward and Leeward isles, 85 00:09:05,414 --> 00:09:08,680 marks the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. 86 00:09:10,605 --> 00:09:14,400 These islands are on the border between two tectonic plates, 87 00:09:14,551 --> 00:09:17,908 and this was once a region of intense seismic activity. 88 00:09:21,495 --> 00:09:25,795 There are currently 17 active volcanoes in the Caribbean, 89 00:09:25,955 --> 00:09:28,798 including one submerged beneath the sea. 90 00:09:37,450 --> 00:09:40,706 The island of Dominica was forged from volcanoes 91 00:09:40,866 --> 00:09:43,330 just 26 million years ago, 92 00:09:43,490 --> 00:09:46,128 making it the youngest island in the Caribbean. 93 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,014 Less than 50 km long, with its volcanic peaks 94 00:09:54,174 --> 00:09:59,030 towering 1,500 meters above the sea, its a vertical island. 95 00:10:01,681 --> 00:10:06,509 Despite its small size, Dominica has nine active volcanoes, 96 00:10:06,669 --> 00:10:10,231 the highest concentration found anywhere in the world. 97 00:10:12,420 --> 00:10:15,687 There's not been a major eruption for centuries, 98 00:10:15,847 --> 00:10:19,800 but there's plenty of volcanic activity bubbling below the surface. 99 00:10:24,826 --> 00:10:28,841 Dominica's Boiling Lake is a huge flooded fumarole. 100 00:10:36,390 --> 00:10:40,000 The water can reach temperatures of more than 90° C 101 00:10:40,177 --> 00:10:43,266 as sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid are released 102 00:10:43,426 --> 00:10:46,222 from the lava trapped in the volcano below. 103 00:10:55,667 --> 00:10:58,708 The Caribbean's explosive past has left these islands 104 00:10:58,868 --> 00:11:01,243 with a unique legacy of life. 105 00:11:02,814 --> 00:11:05,586 Volcanic soils are extremely fertile, 106 00:11:05,746 --> 00:11:08,580 fed by plentiful rainfall over the mountains. 107 00:11:13,275 --> 00:11:15,781 Just about anything will take root, 108 00:11:15,941 --> 00:11:20,160 and all these flowers provide food for some of the Caribbean's fastest movers, 109 00:11:24,229 --> 00:11:25,770 hummingbirds. 110 00:11:28,779 --> 00:11:32,490 Hungry for nectar, hummingbirds have no sense of smell. 111 00:11:33,902 --> 00:11:37,009 They're attracted by the colorful appearance of the flowers. 112 00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:43,203 These tiny dynamos have the fastest metabolism 113 00:11:43,363 --> 00:11:45,118 of any animals on earth. 114 00:11:48,628 --> 00:11:51,862 Their hearts average 500 beats a minute, 115 00:11:52,022 --> 00:11:55,354 and their wings can beat up to 80 times in a second. 116 00:11:57,222 --> 00:11:59,857 To fuel this super fast flying, they must eat 117 00:12:00,017 --> 00:12:03,262 up to three times their body weight every single day. 118 00:12:08,907 --> 00:12:11,701 Standing less than 10 centimeters tall, 119 00:12:11,861 --> 00:12:15,760 the Antillean crested hummingbird is one of the Caribbean's smallest. 120 00:12:17,894 --> 00:12:20,946 Only males bear the distinctive mohawk of feathers 121 00:12:21,106 --> 00:12:23,326 that gives these birds their name. 122 00:12:28,912 --> 00:12:31,337 Females have a more discreet appearance, 123 00:12:31,497 --> 00:12:34,683 which helps keep them safe whilst raising their young. 124 00:12:45,423 --> 00:12:47,152 The chicks need extra protein 125 00:12:47,312 --> 00:12:51,026 and are fed a regurgitated mixture of nectar and insects. 126 00:12:55,629 --> 00:12:58,827 On this rich diet, they grow rapidly. 127 00:13:02,516 --> 00:13:06,340 The nest is crafted almost entirely from spider silk, 128 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:10,737 making it elastic so it stretches as the chicks grow bigger. 129 00:13:12,796 --> 00:13:15,514 Just two weeks after hatching, these chicks 130 00:13:15,674 --> 00:13:18,094 are almost ready to leave the nest. 131 00:13:25,989 --> 00:13:29,600 The Caribbean's hummingbirds have developed a very special relationship 132 00:13:29,764 --> 00:13:32,302 with one particular type of plant. 133 00:13:34,128 --> 00:13:37,621 Heliconia plants are found across the Caribbean islands. 134 00:13:38,994 --> 00:13:41,715 Each island has its own different species, 135 00:13:41,875 --> 00:13:45,072 and all rely on hummingbirds to spread their pollen. 136 00:13:51,205 --> 00:13:52,774 While feeding on nectar, 137 00:13:52,934 --> 00:13:56,345 hummingbirds transfer pollen from flower to flower, 138 00:13:56,505 --> 00:13:58,722 allowing the plants to reproduce. 139 00:14:02,189 --> 00:14:03,789 But on a small island, 140 00:14:03,949 --> 00:14:06,232 there's no room for competition, 141 00:14:06,392 --> 00:14:11,160 and the relationship between heliconias and hummingbirds goes one step further. 142 00:14:13,214 --> 00:14:15,970 In most cases, the size and shape of the flower 143 00:14:16,130 --> 00:14:18,590 matches exactly the beak of the hummingbird 144 00:14:18,750 --> 00:14:20,526 that spreads its pollen. 145 00:14:28,782 --> 00:14:33,360 Each bird has exclusive feeding rights to a particular species of heliconia 146 00:14:33,522 --> 00:14:36,038 so there's less competition for food. 147 00:14:37,024 --> 00:14:39,674 Both beaks and flowers have co-evolved 148 00:14:39,834 --> 00:14:41,775 to be a perfect fit. 149 00:14:54,226 --> 00:14:57,108 The fertile soils of the Caribbean's volcanic islands 150 00:14:57,268 --> 00:14:59,293 are good for people, too. 151 00:15:09,399 --> 00:15:11,151 The original Caribbean islanders 152 00:15:11,311 --> 00:15:13,899 came from the South American mainland. 153 00:15:22,699 --> 00:15:25,164 Traveling by canoe, they began settling 154 00:15:25,324 --> 00:15:27,506 on the more mountainous volcanic islands 155 00:15:27,666 --> 00:15:29,883 around 4,000 years ago. 156 00:15:35,017 --> 00:15:38,960 The new settlers were used to life in the vast forests of South America, 157 00:15:39,115 --> 00:15:42,006 where there'd been an abundance of big animals to hunt. 158 00:15:46,854 --> 00:15:48,951 The small islands of the Eastern Caribbean 159 00:15:49,111 --> 00:15:51,788 have no large indigenous mammals. 160 00:15:51,948 --> 00:15:55,046 The sea proved too big a barrier for them. 161 00:15:59,070 --> 00:16:00,989 With little to hunt on land, 162 00:16:01,149 --> 00:16:04,492 the first islanders turned their attention back to the sea. 163 00:16:08,055 --> 00:16:09,782 Over the years, they became experts 164 00:16:09,942 --> 00:16:12,088 at fishing and foraging. 165 00:16:15,552 --> 00:16:17,741 Just like the Caribbean's wildlife, 166 00:16:17,901 --> 00:16:22,117 its first people had to adapt to life on an island. 167 00:16:26,275 --> 00:16:30,087 The Caribbean's volcanic past plays another crucial role. 168 00:16:34,822 --> 00:16:38,566 The mountains are so tall, they create their own weather. 169 00:16:40,790 --> 00:16:43,592 As moist air from the sea rises above the peaks, 170 00:16:43,752 --> 00:16:48,136 it forms clouds, and with the clouds comes the rain. 171 00:16:52,498 --> 00:16:57,600 Some areas of Dominica receive over 700 cm of rain each year. 172 00:17:04,808 --> 00:17:08,516 Rain brings a plentiful supply of fresh water, 173 00:17:08,676 --> 00:17:11,230 vital for an island to sustain both human 174 00:17:11,390 --> 00:17:13,600 and animal life. 175 00:17:26,591 --> 00:17:30,560 Fresh water flows down the island's many waterfalls for the coast, 176 00:17:30,718 --> 00:17:33,596 feeding nutrients into the Caribbean Sea. 177 00:17:35,607 --> 00:17:39,164 Even here, there are signs of volcanic activity, 178 00:17:39,324 --> 00:17:41,670 with submerged fumaroles venting gases 179 00:17:41,830 --> 00:17:44,048 through cracks in the sea floor. 180 00:17:45,574 --> 00:17:47,948 These warm, nutrient-rich waters 181 00:17:48,108 --> 00:17:49,855 create the ideal conditions 182 00:17:50,015 --> 00:17:54,851 for one of the Caribbean's richest treasures, its coral reefs. 183 00:17:58,374 --> 00:18:00,569 Over 800 different species of fish 184 00:18:00,729 --> 00:18:05,522 and many more crustaceans and invertebrates live in the coral reefs. 185 00:18:15,136 --> 00:18:17,337 Many of the fish that find shelter or protection 186 00:18:17,497 --> 00:18:21,240 in the Caribbean's reefs are found nowhere else on earth. 187 00:18:26,934 --> 00:18:29,115 But the reefs can be dangerous, too. 188 00:18:37,165 --> 00:18:39,656 Over the centuries, thousands of ships 189 00:18:39,816 --> 00:18:42,718 have foundered in the Caribbean's treacherous currents 190 00:18:42,878 --> 00:18:44,653 and ferocious storms. 191 00:18:49,635 --> 00:18:53,994 In 1867, the Rhone, a Royal Mail steamer, 192 00:18:54,154 --> 00:18:57,454 was driven aground on the reef at Black Point Rock, 193 00:18:57,614 --> 00:19:00,061 just off the British Virgin Islands. 194 00:19:04,767 --> 00:19:07,343 The Rhone sank to the bottom in seconds, 195 00:19:07,503 --> 00:19:10,149 claiming the lives of over 100 people. 196 00:19:14,276 --> 00:19:18,920 More than a century later, the ship has a new lease of life. 197 00:19:24,742 --> 00:19:27,955 Corals have colonized its rusting hull, 198 00:19:28,115 --> 00:19:30,643 making it hard to tell where the reef ends 199 00:19:30,803 --> 00:19:33,045 and the Rhone begins. 200 00:19:46,722 --> 00:19:52,520 Some fish even entrust the safety of their future offspring to the remains of the ship. 201 00:19:52,698 --> 00:19:55,511 These purple patches are actually the eggs 202 00:19:55,671 --> 00:19:58,153 of the sergeant major fish. 203 00:19:58,313 --> 00:20:01,618 After the female has laid as many as 200,000 eggs, 204 00:20:01,778 --> 00:20:05,717 she departs, leaving the male as the sole protector. 205 00:20:07,512 --> 00:20:10,958 He will guard the nest until the eggs hatch, 206 00:20:11,118 --> 00:20:13,948 just six days after being fertilized. 207 00:20:15,972 --> 00:20:19,240 It's not just year-round residents like the sergeant major fish 208 00:20:19,419 --> 00:20:22,919 that rely on the Caribbean Sea as a place to raise their young. 209 00:20:25,208 --> 00:20:28,652 In the far north of the Caribbean is a shallow area of sea 210 00:20:28,812 --> 00:20:31,316 sitting on a huge limestone shelf 211 00:20:31,476 --> 00:20:33,689 known as the Silver Bank. 212 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,132 A Spanish galleon sank here in the 17th century, 213 00:20:40,292 --> 00:20:43,625 and a horde of silver treasure was lost to the sea, 214 00:20:43,785 --> 00:20:46,553 which is how the Silver Bank got its name. 215 00:20:50,871 --> 00:20:55,120 Nowadays, these waters shelter treasures of a wilder kind. 216 00:20:57,655 --> 00:21:01,397 The Silver Bank is a vast carving pool for humpback whales. 217 00:21:13,829 --> 00:21:16,122 The bond between the humpback mother and calf 218 00:21:16,282 --> 00:21:17,963 is extremely strong. 219 00:21:24,357 --> 00:21:31,000 Parent and child are inseparable as the mother teaches her calf to swim and dive. 220 00:21:38,376 --> 00:21:40,802 Each year between December and April, 221 00:21:40,962 --> 00:21:44,988 around 3,000 humpbacks pass through the Silver Bank. 222 00:21:49,578 --> 00:21:53,063 As summer approaches, the whales return to their feeding grounds, 223 00:21:53,223 --> 00:21:57,360 thousands of kilometers away in the cold North Atlantic. 224 00:22:00,387 --> 00:22:02,763 The Caribbean's role as a nursery 225 00:22:02,923 --> 00:22:06,482 is vital for the survival of these great ocean voyagers. 226 00:22:14,795 --> 00:22:16,613 Virtually all the Caribbean islands 227 00:22:16,773 --> 00:22:19,116 have coral reefs on their shores. 228 00:22:20,378 --> 00:22:26,240 But there's one island whose coastal waters have almost no reefs at all, Trinidad. 229 00:22:30,894 --> 00:22:33,112 Trinidad lies so close to South America 230 00:22:33,272 --> 00:22:36,057 that silt from the Orinoco River 231 00:22:36,217 --> 00:22:39,773 makes the sea surrounding it too muddy for coral to grow. 232 00:22:42,735 --> 00:22:46,840 But coral reefs have played a part in the making of the island itself. 233 00:22:48,698 --> 00:22:51,856 Mount Tamana in Trinidad's high land heart 234 00:22:52,016 --> 00:22:54,463 was once an ancient coral reef. 235 00:22:57,445 --> 00:22:59,671 Thousands of years ago, the reef was pushed up 236 00:22:59,831 --> 00:23:02,327 to over 300 meters above sea level 237 00:23:02,487 --> 00:23:04,885 by powerful volcanic forces. 238 00:23:07,899 --> 00:23:10,361 Today, the ancient reef forms a massive network 239 00:23:10,521 --> 00:23:12,371 of limestone caves. 240 00:23:24,895 --> 00:23:26,699 Beyond the reach of daylight, 241 00:23:26,859 --> 00:23:30,212 the caves are teeming with over 1 million bats. 242 00:23:39,740 --> 00:23:44,280 Eleven different species lurk in the dark of the Tamana caves, 243 00:23:44,434 --> 00:23:46,929 and many have intriguing names. 244 00:23:49,085 --> 00:23:52,126 The spear-nosed bat and the funnel-eared bat 245 00:23:52,286 --> 00:23:55,398 roost alongside naked-backed, leaf-nosed, 246 00:23:55,558 --> 00:23:58,037 mouse-eared, and tailless bats. 247 00:24:00,174 --> 00:24:04,400 The floor of the bat cave is piled high with all kinds of bat droppings, 248 00:24:04,555 --> 00:24:07,201 and this guano supports a surprisingly diverse 249 00:24:07,361 --> 00:24:09,687 community all of its own. 250 00:24:19,397 --> 00:24:23,089 It's an unglamorous location, but for cave cockroaches, 251 00:24:23,249 --> 00:24:25,135 the copious amounts of guano 252 00:24:25,295 --> 00:24:27,877 provide an endless supply of food. 253 00:24:35,791 --> 00:24:40,840 Most of these cockroaches will spend their whole lives buried in bat droppings. 254 00:24:45,386 --> 00:24:50,680 The roaches are a source of food for other animals in the cave, like the whip scorpion. 255 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:55,127 Despite its name and appearance, 256 00:24:55,287 --> 00:24:57,695 it's actually a type of spider. 257 00:25:01,281 --> 00:25:04,460 In the weak sunlight that reaches the cave's entrance, 258 00:25:04,620 --> 00:25:07,869 seeds excreted by the bats commonly sprout 259 00:25:08,029 --> 00:25:10,302 in the nutrient-rich guano. 260 00:25:12,354 --> 00:25:15,358 The lack of light makes the seedlings fragile, 261 00:25:15,518 --> 00:25:19,206 the stems growing long in a bid for the sun. 262 00:25:21,713 --> 00:25:24,548 Above ground, the forest surrounding the caves 263 00:25:24,708 --> 00:25:28,495 is rich in flowers, fruit, and insects. 264 00:25:38,968 --> 00:25:41,737 Each evening, as daylight fades, 265 00:25:41,897 --> 00:25:44,330 the bats emerge to feed. 266 00:25:51,291 --> 00:25:53,810 Some travel from deep within the labyrinth of tunnels 267 00:25:53,970 --> 00:25:57,957 and passageways up to 300 meters underground. 268 00:26:08,322 --> 00:26:12,005 With so many bats leaving through one small entrance, 269 00:26:12,165 --> 00:26:15,039 the mass exodus takes more than an hour. 270 00:26:29,201 --> 00:26:31,720 Trinidad's tropical forests are also home 271 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,447 to some rather less gothic residents. 272 00:26:37,044 --> 00:26:38,957 A male golden-headed manakin 273 00:26:39,117 --> 00:26:41,018 trying to attract a mate. 274 00:26:47,433 --> 00:26:49,681 In the branches of a tree, the male birds 275 00:26:49,841 --> 00:26:53,487 share a communal display site known as the lek. 276 00:26:59,746 --> 00:27:02,491 Each male competes for female attention 277 00:27:02,651 --> 00:27:05,630 by dancing on their own personal perch. 278 00:27:09,821 --> 00:27:12,488 The slightest movement can trigger a display. 279 00:27:13,751 --> 00:27:15,458 Even a passing agouti. 280 00:27:26,828 --> 00:27:30,640 Elsewhere in the forest, a group of male white-bearded manakins 281 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,580 are also intent on courtship. 282 00:27:35,526 --> 00:27:37,766 With their more down-to-earth appearance, 283 00:27:37,926 --> 00:27:41,299 these manakins base their lek on the forest floor. 284 00:27:42,831 --> 00:27:45,215 Keen to impress, each bird works hard 285 00:27:45,375 --> 00:27:49,678 to keep its own private court clear of debris and fallen leaves. 286 00:28:04,982 --> 00:28:08,246 White-bearded manakins have their own unique display. 287 00:28:14,077 --> 00:28:16,801 They raise their chin feathers to make a beard, 288 00:28:16,961 --> 00:28:18,994 which is how they got their name. 289 00:28:20,022 --> 00:28:21,797 The loud snapping noises are made 290 00:28:21,957 --> 00:28:25,207 as they strike their wings together behind their backs. 291 00:28:29,336 --> 00:28:32,800 Eventually, the commotion has the desired effect, 292 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:34,937 the arrival of a female. 293 00:28:41,999 --> 00:28:44,077 Despite her rather dull appearance, 294 00:28:44,237 --> 00:28:47,085 she provokes a frenzy of activity from the males 295 00:28:47,245 --> 00:28:49,874 as each competes for her attention. 296 00:28:56,484 --> 00:28:59,100 The female will only mate when she's ready, 297 00:28:59,260 --> 00:29:02,891 and this time, the males have failed to impress. 298 00:29:14,012 --> 00:29:17,921 As summer approaches, the sun-drenched islands of the Caribbean 299 00:29:18,081 --> 00:29:20,873 become an altogether darker place. 300 00:29:28,911 --> 00:29:30,688 From June to November, 301 00:29:30,848 --> 00:29:35,601 these islands are in the firing line of the most ferocious storms on earth. 302 00:29:46,378 --> 00:29:49,587 Most hurricanes begin life as tropical storms 303 00:29:49,747 --> 00:29:51,869 off the coast of West Africa. 304 00:29:55,309 --> 00:29:58,281 They roar across the Atlantic, sucking up heat 305 00:29:58,441 --> 00:30:00,102 from the warmth of the water, 306 00:30:00,262 --> 00:30:02,379 and growing in intensity. 307 00:30:07,110 --> 00:30:11,680 The islands of the Caribbean are the first land masses these hurricanes encounter. 308 00:30:14,009 --> 00:30:18,044 If the winds that drive them reach 120 km/h, 309 00:30:18,204 --> 00:30:20,717 the storms rank as fully fledged hurricanes. 310 00:30:34,915 --> 00:30:37,213 Even with the best forecasting, 311 00:30:37,373 --> 00:30:40,978 no one can predict when a hurricane will strike. 312 00:30:47,885 --> 00:30:51,327 The hurricanes bring waves up to 20 meters high. 313 00:31:03,975 --> 00:31:07,019 Lobsters are especially vulnerable in a storm. 314 00:31:09,136 --> 00:31:11,243 Being crushed by stones or loose corals 315 00:31:11,403 --> 00:31:13,380 is a real possibility. 316 00:31:16,548 --> 00:31:20,034 As the hurricane draws in, the water temperature drops 317 00:31:20,194 --> 00:31:22,588 and its salinity increases. 318 00:31:23,620 --> 00:31:28,840 Sensing these changes, lobsters from across the reef take flight. 319 00:31:42,732 --> 00:31:47,800 They march in single file, conserving energy by following in each others' slipstreams. 320 00:31:56,587 --> 00:31:59,819 Each year, the lobsters undertake this migration 321 00:31:59,979 --> 00:32:03,449 to pass the stormy season in the safety of deeper waters. 322 00:32:11,748 --> 00:32:13,574 A particularly violent hurricane 323 00:32:13,734 --> 00:32:15,946 can destroy the reef itself. 324 00:32:22,328 --> 00:32:24,553 Fragile corals are uprooted 325 00:32:24,713 --> 00:32:27,697 and smashed at the powerful churning water. 326 00:32:33,681 --> 00:32:37,767 Within hours, thousands of years of growth are undone, 327 00:32:37,927 --> 00:32:41,360 and an entire ecosystem lies devastated. 328 00:32:54,903 --> 00:32:58,844 But reefs can recover, and corals grow fast. 329 00:33:00,222 --> 00:33:03,729 The destruction wrought by hurricanes is not irreversible. 330 00:33:28,778 --> 00:33:33,320 Many Caribbean islands have their own living, growing defense against hurricanes, 331 00:33:34,702 --> 00:33:36,430 mangrove forests. 332 00:33:39,256 --> 00:33:42,347 With one foot on the shore and one in the sea, 333 00:33:42,507 --> 00:33:45,305 the mangrove forms a natural breakwater. 334 00:33:48,042 --> 00:33:50,859 The tangle of roots reduces the power of big waves 335 00:33:51,019 --> 00:33:54,887 and storm surges, protecting the shore behind. 336 00:33:57,212 --> 00:34:00,505 Caroni Swamp lies on Trinidad's west coast. 337 00:34:09,397 --> 00:34:12,236 As the tides rise, the mangrove is inundated 338 00:34:12,396 --> 00:34:14,810 with seawater twice a day. 339 00:34:24,005 --> 00:34:27,310 Few plants can cope with such salty conditions. 340 00:34:28,335 --> 00:34:32,760 Many Caribbean mangroves have only three or four different species of tree. 341 00:34:37,458 --> 00:34:39,379 Yet the trees create a habitat 342 00:34:39,539 --> 00:34:42,804 that shelters a rich and unique ecosystem. 343 00:34:56,647 --> 00:34:58,810 The constant rise and fall of the tides 344 00:34:58,970 --> 00:35:01,213 presents both opportunities and challenges 345 00:35:01,373 --> 00:35:03,840 to the animals that live in the mangrove. 346 00:35:06,394 --> 00:35:10,323 When the tide is out, four-eyed fish sometimes beach themselves 347 00:35:10,483 --> 00:35:13,688 on the exposed mud flats to catch insects. 348 00:35:20,430 --> 00:35:25,520 As the tide rises, the fish feed on tiny crustaceans on the surface. 349 00:35:28,068 --> 00:35:30,993 This surface dwelling lifestyle leaves them vulnerable 350 00:35:31,153 --> 00:35:34,282 to attack from above and below. 351 00:35:36,676 --> 00:35:40,030 Spectacled caiman patrol Caroni's waters. 352 00:35:43,113 --> 00:35:46,144 And fish-eating birds are here in abundance. 353 00:35:59,605 --> 00:36:02,864 The four-eyed fish are well equipped to keep watch. 354 00:36:04,096 --> 00:36:07,757 Despite their name, they actually have just two eyes, 355 00:36:07,917 --> 00:36:10,498 each of which is split in half. 356 00:36:10,658 --> 00:36:15,216 Each eye has two pupils, one for focusing above the surface, 357 00:36:15,376 --> 00:36:18,103 the other for focusing underwater. 358 00:36:19,382 --> 00:36:21,163 These unique eyes are essential 359 00:36:21,323 --> 00:36:23,535 for avoiding Caroni's predators. 360 00:36:35,948 --> 00:36:39,215 Sometimes even four eyes aren't enough. 361 00:36:52,563 --> 00:36:55,933 At low tide, the swamp's thick, glutenous mud 362 00:36:56,093 --> 00:36:59,948 is a rich source of food for Caroni's crab population. 363 00:37:02,972 --> 00:37:07,600 Each teaspoon of mud contains around 10 million bacteria, 364 00:37:07,763 --> 00:37:11,695 and this bacteria supports a wealth of tiny animal life. 365 00:37:12,884 --> 00:37:16,054 Fiddler crabs use their one small claw for the vital task 366 00:37:16,214 --> 00:37:19,457 of collecting this microscopic food from the mud. 367 00:37:21,363 --> 00:37:24,848 With just one hand, it's a time consuming process. 368 00:37:29,810 --> 00:37:32,575 Their big claw is reserved for waving 369 00:37:32,735 --> 00:37:35,551 in a display designed to attract a mate. 370 00:37:38,529 --> 00:37:42,400 Fiddlers also wave to defend their burrows from rival crabs. 371 00:37:49,448 --> 00:37:52,059 Having an escape hole is vital. 372 00:37:52,219 --> 00:37:54,058 There are predators around. 373 00:37:58,577 --> 00:38:02,061 When the tide is out, scarlet ibis probe the mud 374 00:38:02,221 --> 00:38:05,683 in search of fiddler crabs and other crustaceans. 375 00:38:14,127 --> 00:38:17,725 It's this diet of red shellfish, rich in carotene, 376 00:38:17,885 --> 00:38:20,540 that gives the ibis their vivid color. 377 00:38:27,870 --> 00:38:29,890 Young birds are born gray, 378 00:38:30,050 --> 00:38:34,160 and it takes about two years before they've eaten enough crabs to turn red. 379 00:38:41,193 --> 00:38:43,690 Dipping the crabs in the water before swallowing them 380 00:38:43,850 --> 00:38:45,990 helps rinse off some of the mud. 381 00:38:58,038 --> 00:39:00,812 The ibis forage together with other water birds, 382 00:39:00,972 --> 00:39:04,037 like egrets, herons, and plovers. 383 00:39:14,782 --> 00:39:18,072 Having a larger group helps stir up the silt, 384 00:39:18,232 --> 00:39:20,467 making it easier to catch prey. 385 00:39:25,051 --> 00:39:27,386 And with caiman lurking nearby, 386 00:39:27,546 --> 00:39:29,386 there is safety in numbers. 387 00:39:34,332 --> 00:39:38,118 Every evening at dusk, the ibis return in great flocks 388 00:39:38,278 --> 00:39:40,519 to tiny islands within the mangrove. 389 00:39:43,539 --> 00:39:46,157 They gather in their hundreds to roost for the night. 390 00:39:48,827 --> 00:39:52,136 Originally these birds were immigrants from the mainland, 391 00:39:52,296 --> 00:39:54,381 with South America lying just 11 km 392 00:39:54,541 --> 00:39:56,674 from Trinidad's western shores. 393 00:39:59,312 --> 00:40:03,049 At its peak, Trinidad's population of scarlet ibis 394 00:40:03,209 --> 00:40:05,613 can number more than 15,000. 395 00:40:06,659 --> 00:40:09,580 It's now recognized as the island's national bird. 396 00:40:17,878 --> 00:40:21,280 The ibis are not the only South American import on the island. 397 00:40:23,930 --> 00:40:27,920 Trinidad was only separated from the mainland around 12,000 years ago, 398 00:40:28,089 --> 00:40:31,508 when sea levels rose at the end of the last Ice Age. 399 00:40:35,167 --> 00:40:38,635 As a result, it's home to South American mammals 400 00:40:38,795 --> 00:40:41,279 that are found nowhere else in the Caribbean. 401 00:40:44,913 --> 00:40:48,765 The silky anteater is the world's smallest anteater, 402 00:40:48,925 --> 00:40:51,578 only slightly larger than the human hand. 403 00:40:53,839 --> 00:40:58,800 Though tiny, these anteaters can eat up to 5,000 ants every night. 404 00:41:02,678 --> 00:41:05,799 During the day, the ants have little to fear. 405 00:41:11,258 --> 00:41:13,288 Silky anteaters are nocturnal, 406 00:41:13,448 --> 00:41:17,136 and in the heat of the sun, sleeping takes precedence. 407 00:41:20,014 --> 00:41:23,240 There are larger South American imports on Trinidad, too. 408 00:41:25,802 --> 00:41:29,360 The island is home to a troupe of white-throated capuchin monkeys. 409 00:41:31,906 --> 00:41:34,690 Capuchins are found across most of South America 410 00:41:34,850 --> 00:41:37,782 and are known for being particularly resourceful. 411 00:41:40,433 --> 00:41:42,492 But life on a Caribbean island requires 412 00:41:42,652 --> 00:41:44,698 its own special strategies. 413 00:41:48,515 --> 00:41:52,193 Trinidad's capuchins have found that the island's coconut palm trees 414 00:41:52,353 --> 00:41:54,296 are a rich source of food. 415 00:42:05,587 --> 00:42:10,000 Dead leaves and branches harbor all kinds of insects and grubs. 416 00:42:15,475 --> 00:42:17,720 Having a prehensile tail to hang on with 417 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:21,880 means that both hands are kept free for eating and foraging. 418 00:42:27,483 --> 00:42:29,226 Trinidad's capuchins have learned 419 00:42:29,386 --> 00:42:32,262 to make the most of the rise and fall of the tides. 420 00:42:46,869 --> 00:42:50,730 At low tide, freshwater conches are left exposed, 421 00:42:51,674 --> 00:42:54,826 sitting targets for an opportunistic monkey. 422 00:42:57,224 --> 00:43:00,265 The conch is encased in a rock-solid shell, 423 00:43:00,425 --> 00:43:04,000 but the capuchins have found a way to access the meat inside. 424 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:23,038 Lying so close to South America, 425 00:43:23,198 --> 00:43:27,265 Trinidad has its own unique legacy of mainland life. 426 00:43:27,425 --> 00:43:32,560 For those islands further away, the Caribbean Sea has proved a bigger barrier. 427 00:43:35,003 --> 00:43:38,360 But some animals have succeeded in becoming island hoppers. 428 00:43:40,096 --> 00:43:43,759 For land bound animals, the Caribbean's hurricane season 429 00:43:43,919 --> 00:43:46,246 can offer opportunities for travel. 430 00:43:49,277 --> 00:43:51,688 Strong winds frequently uproot trees. 431 00:43:51,848 --> 00:43:56,040 So after a storm, there's lots of vegetation drifting in the sea. 432 00:43:59,752 --> 00:44:04,132 These makeshift rafts are one way in which reptiles like the iguana 433 00:44:04,292 --> 00:44:07,320 have been able to spread from island to island. 434 00:44:12,937 --> 00:44:16,051 The Lesser Antillean iguana has successfully colonized 435 00:44:16,211 --> 00:44:18,395 many of the Eastern Caribbean islands. 436 00:44:22,980 --> 00:44:26,416 On Dominica, a population of around 10,000 437 00:44:26,576 --> 00:44:29,471 lives in the low-lying forests on the coast. 438 00:44:37,618 --> 00:44:42,132 Iguanas follow a strict hierarchy, which is color-coded. 439 00:44:44,567 --> 00:44:47,203 Dominant males turn dark gray 440 00:44:47,363 --> 00:44:50,066 with pale blue scales on the side of their heads. 441 00:44:52,959 --> 00:44:56,726 Females, along with juveniles, are bright green all over. 442 00:45:01,909 --> 00:45:04,923 Iguanas can live for up to 25 years, 443 00:45:05,083 --> 00:45:08,856 but with age, the ability to change color is lost. 444 00:45:13,459 --> 00:45:15,278 April brings the mating season, 445 00:45:15,438 --> 00:45:18,521 and the females dig burrows in which to lay their eggs. 446 00:45:25,007 --> 00:45:27,920 Each dominant male defends a small territory 447 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:30,291 with up to seven nesting females. 448 00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:35,733 Rivals are deterred from interfering with the high reign 449 00:45:35,893 --> 00:45:38,155 with a display of aggressive head bobbing. 450 00:45:52,268 --> 00:45:54,982 Choosing a sunny nesting site is essential. 451 00:46:03,566 --> 00:46:06,234 After digging a burrow and laying up to 18 eggs, 452 00:46:06,394 --> 00:46:09,880 the female plays no further role in the care of her offspring. 453 00:46:11,885 --> 00:46:15,217 For the next three months, the incubation of the eggs 454 00:46:15,377 --> 00:46:17,810 will rely entirely on solar power. 455 00:46:23,363 --> 00:46:27,634 Even buried a meter underground, iguana eggs are vulnerable. 456 00:46:37,054 --> 00:46:40,918 Dominican ground lizards, or abolo as they're known locally, 457 00:46:41,078 --> 00:46:43,466 are found only on this island. 458 00:46:57,233 --> 00:46:58,925 When the iguanas are nesting, 459 00:46:59,085 --> 00:47:02,658 ground lizards stay close, patrolling untended nests 460 00:47:02,818 --> 00:47:04,411 in search of eggs. 461 00:47:22,140 --> 00:47:24,769 Lots of eggs fall foul of scavengers, 462 00:47:24,929 --> 00:47:26,993 but many more survive. 463 00:47:29,343 --> 00:47:32,235 By June, those that have survived 464 00:47:32,395 --> 00:47:34,021 are ready to hatch. 465 00:47:35,306 --> 00:47:38,126 Iguanas are a Caribbean success story. 466 00:47:40,559 --> 00:47:44,155 They've turned the devastation brought by hurricanes to their advantage, 467 00:47:44,315 --> 00:47:49,200 using it to colonize islands that would otherwise be completely out of reach. 468 00:47:52,629 --> 00:47:56,156 Some species have turned island hopping into an art form. 469 00:48:04,237 --> 00:48:07,528 Coconuts are relative newcomers to the Caribbean. 470 00:48:09,311 --> 00:48:14,480 Originally from Southeast Asia, they only arrived around 500 years ago. 471 00:48:17,763 --> 00:48:19,827 These palms are perfectly designed 472 00:48:19,987 --> 00:48:22,858 to deal with the Caribbean's frequent hurricanes. 473 00:48:25,406 --> 00:48:29,220 Up to 4,000 roots spread laterally under the sand, 474 00:48:29,380 --> 00:48:34,720 giving the palm a firm anchor to withstand winds of over 150 km/h. 475 00:48:36,511 --> 00:48:39,740 And strong winds facilitate their travels, too. 476 00:48:41,918 --> 00:48:44,252 Hurricanes help dislodge their seeds, 477 00:48:44,412 --> 00:48:47,194 which are cast adrift on the ocean currents. 478 00:48:49,044 --> 00:48:50,813 Coconuts are especially buoyant 479 00:48:50,973 --> 00:48:54,041 and can float for months on end without sinking. 480 00:48:55,622 --> 00:48:57,762 When they eventually wash ashore, 481 00:48:57,922 --> 00:49:00,194 a new island is colonized. 482 00:49:01,910 --> 00:49:04,745 In just 500 years, coconuts have spread 483 00:49:04,905 --> 00:49:07,556 to virtually every island in the Caribbean. 484 00:49:14,296 --> 00:49:16,993 By early July, the leatherback turtle eggs 485 00:49:17,153 --> 00:49:18,836 are ready to hatch. 486 00:49:23,763 --> 00:49:28,760 It's time for the young turtles to leave the safety of their nests on the Caribbean's beaches. 487 00:49:33,041 --> 00:49:36,048 The hatchlings emerge in perfect synchrony. 488 00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:44,959 Safety in numbers is their best chance at reaching the sea. 489 00:49:52,751 --> 00:49:56,003 Over the next decade, the youngsters will increase in size 490 00:49:56,163 --> 00:49:58,270 maybe 10,000 times. 491 00:50:05,352 --> 00:50:09,441 Even at this young age, the leatherback can propel itself through the water 492 00:50:09,601 --> 00:50:13,040 with an efficiency no other turtle can match. 493 00:50:14,321 --> 00:50:16,899 Once they take to the sea, the leatherbacks will remain 494 00:50:17,059 --> 00:50:20,214 in the mysterious depths of the open ocean 495 00:50:20,374 --> 00:50:22,174 for most of their lives. 496 00:50:23,540 --> 00:50:25,644 Only the female turtles will ever return 497 00:50:25,804 --> 00:50:27,719 to the Caribbean's beaches. 498 00:50:29,715 --> 00:50:33,393 Once they're fully grown, they will come ashore to lay their eggs, 499 00:50:33,553 --> 00:50:38,560 just as their ancestors have done for the last 100 million years. 500 00:50:50,642 --> 00:50:55,240 The islands of the Caribbean have been forged by nature's most cataclysmic forces. 501 00:50:58,873 --> 00:51:01,472 Lying in the heart of Hurricane Alley, 502 00:51:01,632 --> 00:51:04,840 they must withstand the most ferocious storms on earth. 503 00:51:08,418 --> 00:51:12,760 Yet these islands are home to a secret and spectacular variety of wildlife. 504 00:51:14,613 --> 00:51:16,435 From wily opportunists 505 00:51:17,431 --> 00:51:19,000 to specialists, 506 00:51:21,147 --> 00:51:24,596 the Caribbean protects those that live life in the fast lane 507 00:51:26,036 --> 00:51:28,993 and attracts seafarers from near and far. 508 00:51:35,927 --> 00:51:38,237 Though the pirates are long gone, 509 00:51:38,397 --> 00:51:41,230 the wild treasures of the Caribbean remain.