1 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,840 It's an animal you can't help but look up to... 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,720 but what do we really know about giraffes? 3 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,160 Somehow, these gentle giants have been overlooked... 4 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:27,400 ..but not by one man. 5 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,040 Having dedicated the last 20 years of his life to them, 6 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,520 Dr Julian Fennessy knows giraffes better than anyone... 7 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,160 Do I get sick of giraffe? Never. 8 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:45,480 ..and what Julian has recently discovered is truly alarming. 9 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:48,120 I'm absolutely amazed that no-one has a clue - 10 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,840 this silent extinction, 11 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,720 some populations less than 400 individuals in the wild. 12 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,680 That is more endangered than any gorilla, 13 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,520 than almost any large mammal in the world. 14 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,320 In an urgent effort to help, 15 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,160 Julian will travel across Africa, 16 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:09,640 from Namibia to the unsettled border of Ethiopia and South Sudan, 17 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,120 and on into Uganda to launch a daring rescue mission 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,760 with a determined team. 19 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:20,000 Giraffe is very beautiful. It has to be protected forever. 20 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,400 There is hope, but Julian and his wife, Steph, know they must act now. 21 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,760 It's a very critical time and we have to do something now. 22 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,760 If we don't, in a few years, it might really be too late. 23 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,680 Together, they're standing tall for a remarkable beast - 24 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,880 a true icon of African wildlife. 25 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,000 Giraffe have gone extinct in at least seven countries in Africa. 26 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:45,640 It's not going to happen again. 27 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,360 There is no giraffe going to go extinct on my watch. 28 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,680 Weighing up to two tonnes, 29 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,320 the giraffe is a colossal animal, 30 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,160 and unlike any other. 31 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,480 You have to love something so big and weird 32 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,240 and sort of, you know, out there. 33 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,440 They're so funky-looking, they don't make sense. 34 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,240 They've got amazing eyelashes 35 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,720 and, you know, a lot of women love giraffe for their eyelashes. 36 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,560 Everybody loves giraffe. 37 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,800 I mean, they're a symbol for so many things around the world. 38 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,240 In a remote valley, Dr Julian Fenessey has found 39 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,840 the intact skeleton of an old bull giraffe. 40 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,640 So, you can see this old bull. He's huge, huge ossicones. 41 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,840 The massive bumps on a giraffe's head aren't horns or antlers - 42 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,600 they're different, and they're called ossicones. 43 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,760 They actually are like cartilage, like in your ear, 44 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,320 and when they're born, they're flat, and then they fold out 45 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,920 and they become bone and fuse to the skull. 46 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,840 The males' ossicones are much larger 47 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,600 and grow increasingly massive over their lives. 48 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,520 This is a couple of vertebrae, here, of the giraffe - 49 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,200 but there's only seven vertebrae in the neck, 50 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,080 just like all humans and all other mammals. 51 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,640 This is the lower leg bone. They kick out at lions 52 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,520 and other predators, they just knock 'em for six, they're dead. 53 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,160 It's about the same size as my daughter. 54 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,200 Julian's kids, Molly and Luca, are seven and ten 55 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,840 and, just like their dad, they love giraffes. 56 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:58,480 A giraffe is very tall. 57 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,600 It's got lots of dots. 58 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,760 Long legs and ossicones. 59 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,000 And long arms and a long neck. 60 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,640 And a tongue as long as her arm. 61 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,920 Julian and his wife Steph run the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, 62 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:20,800 or GCF, from their home here in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. 63 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,640 It's the first giraffe charity in the world. 64 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,000 We spend so much time thinking, talking, looking at giraffe. 65 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,000 From here, they work with men and women across the continent 66 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,200 to save the giraffe. 67 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,280 There is a fine line between brave and stupid, 68 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:42,360 and there's been a bit of a risk, put a lot of money on the line. 69 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,280 A lot of our life savings, really, has gone into this, at the moment. 70 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,680 It's no coincidence that Julian and his family 71 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,120 live in the middle of Namibia. 72 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,560 It's giraffe central. 73 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,000 The giraffe found here are called Angolan giraffes. 74 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,480 They're one of nine different subspecies of giraffe 75 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:05,680 spread across Africa. 76 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,200 It's just two days' drive from Julian's home 77 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,840 to a very special place called the Hoanib River. 78 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,440 Julian has been studying the giraffes that live here 79 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:20,800 for almost 20 years. 80 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,800 I mean, I remember coming out here for the first time. 81 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,240 I had no clue, as a young lad who'd come out from Australia, 82 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,480 and I ended up sort of in one of the most harshest deserts in the world. 83 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,320 Giraffe thrive here. 84 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,840 To me, this place is home. 85 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:44,480 This is where I love to come. This is my own personal space. 86 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,600 I feel like I've grown up with these guys, you know, they're my mates. 87 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,680 Year after year, Julian and Steph have been coming here, 88 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,640 recording every detail of these animals' lives. 89 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:05,880 This pioneering work is crucial to our understanding of giraffes today. 90 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,120 And look, there's giraffe over there. 91 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,520 Got a couple of females over there. And now we can try and ID them. 92 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,360 'At some stage we decided, let's give it a go. 93 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,200 'There's just no-one else who's looking after giraffe, 94 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,240 'there's no-one, really, doing that job. 95 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:21,880 'And they're pretty amazing animals. 96 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,320 'I mean, if you just see them out in the wild, 97 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,520 'I don't think there's any animal like them. 98 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,360 'They're so unique and iconic.' 99 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:34,160 Steph and Julian have gathered tens of thousands of photographs 100 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,240 and meticulous notes in a system they've invented 101 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,560 to tell each giraffe apart. 102 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,400 Every single giraffe has a unique pattern, 103 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,520 just like the fingerprint of a human. 104 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,640 I see a butterfly or I see a sailing boat 105 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,880 in one of the spots, Julian won't see that at all. 106 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,520 I'll see a beer or something like that. 107 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,040 Being Australian, you know, I've got a bit of a focus there. 108 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,200 But there's lots of markers how to identify them. 109 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,680 So, we don't only look at the patterns - 110 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,040 we look at the shape of the ossicones 111 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,280 and if they have hair on them or not. 112 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:04,200 Old boys, like me. Yeah, bald. 113 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,400 Because they know every giraffe as an individual, 114 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,760 they can do what no-one else can, 115 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,880 and follow them over their entire lives - 116 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,960 and today they've found a very old friend. 117 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,440 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! 118 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,440 See the black spot on its neck? Yeah. 119 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:27,680 And on here. Look at that. 120 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,000 So we saw this giraffe many, many years before you guys 121 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,360 were even born. How cool is that? Very cool! 122 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,640 This old bull giraffe was first seen 123 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,680 at the very beginning of their studies. 124 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,520 Back then, he was already an adult, 125 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:49,440 which means that he's over 20 years old, and, as of this moment, 126 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,480 the world's oldest recorded wild giraffe. 127 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,120 We don't know any giraffe that is as old as these in the world. 128 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,560 There just hasn't been the studies available to date. 129 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,840 Until Julian and the GCF's work, 130 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:06,080 many of the really basic facts about giraffes were missing - 131 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:07,960 how long can they can live? 132 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:12,800 How many are there? And even, how far do they roam? 133 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,200 We're seeing giraffe move in distances that we never thought. 134 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,640 Some of them in Namibia are going more than 11,000 square kilometres. 135 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,920 It's absolutely amazing. 136 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:27,560 Julian has also discovered many of the secrets of their survival - 137 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,840 that they get enough water just from browsing. 138 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,880 The trees, to defend themselves, have developed giant spikes, 139 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:40,400 poisonous leaves, and have recruited ants to fight the giraffe off. 140 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,280 In response, the giraffe's skin has become tough. 141 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,920 They also have a giant black sun-proof tongue, 142 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:52,560 and Julian has recorded that they can sniff out the poisonous leaves 143 00:08:52,560 --> 00:08:54,400 and pluck the moister ones. 144 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:01,480 Most importantly, he has discovered that giraffes are vital pollinators 145 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:06,400 and seed spreaders. Without the giraffe's landscape gardening, 146 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,640 Africa would change for the worst. 147 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,040 Each year brings new discoveries for Julian. 148 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,640 Technology is now helping him 149 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,600 see the giraffe as he's never seen it before. 150 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Wow! It's so dark, he can't see his own hand in front of his face, 151 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,280 but his camera can peel back the night. 152 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,840 This is like Christmas all at once! It's absolutely brilliant. 153 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,640 Julian can now see that giraffe are surprisingly active at night. 154 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,720 Then he sees something he's never seen before, 155 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,080 just on the limit of what the camera can distinguish. 156 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,040 There is one sitting down, right in front here. 157 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,760 I didn't even see that. I thought it was a tree. 158 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,040 Wow! This guy has just put his neck... 159 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,600 he's just turned it around and he's resting it on his bum. 160 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,840 In the middle of the desert, where lions prowl, 161 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:19,280 the giraffe has curled up on the ground and gone to sleep. 162 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,960 In zoos, they study it. Basically, when their neck is down, 163 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,040 it's REM sleep, so maybe these giraffe are dreaming. 164 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,920 I've never seen that in the wild. 165 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:34,000 If they are dreaming, who knows what wild giraffe dream about? 166 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,160 All this is new for Julian. 167 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,480 So, this female has just turned. 168 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,080 That one's just stuck its neck up straight away. 169 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:46,720 It's sat down. 170 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,200 It went down straight away 171 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,480 and stuck its neck back, started to sleep. 172 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,360 I think they're talking to each other. 173 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,040 There's got to be some communication. 174 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,280 It's like they're taking turns to sleep. 175 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,480 That we don't know for certain 176 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,720 if these massive animals can communicate 177 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,720 or how they sleep in the wild shows how neglected 178 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,400 they've been. So much is new. 179 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,080 WAILING SOUND 180 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,880 Giraffe were thought to be mute until this year, 181 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:32,840 when these noises were recorded from giraffes in a zoo at night. 182 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,080 WAILING SOUND 183 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,680 Animals which communicate often rely on being in social groups 184 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:42,640 for their survival. 185 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,120 For the giraffe, discoveries like these, about how they live together, 186 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,160 give Julian vital information that may help him save them. 187 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,880 I don't know anyone who's observed giraffe at night. 188 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,040 And this is the first time it's ever been done, you know? 189 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,800 I know a little bit about giraffe but I've never seen this. 190 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:18,360 But Julian's most jaw-dropping giraffe discovery is, 191 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,320 alarmingly, the simplest. 192 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:28,520 He's found that, in just 20 years, the numbers of all giraffe 193 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,960 across Africa have dropped by almost 40%. 194 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:36,880 I don't know how else to explain it, 195 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,280 but, you know, everyone just thinks they're everywhere 196 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,480 and they're lovely, and they're beautiful, so... 197 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,560 of course they can't be dwindling, the numbers can't be going. 198 00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:46,520 Numbers are plummeting. 199 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,040 We have lost many animals before, 200 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,360 and I just think it would be a really sad world without giraffe. 201 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,040 To put this into perspective, 202 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,520 it's well known that African elephants are in trouble. 203 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,840 Their numbers are falling rapidly, 204 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,480 and there are just almost half a million left... 205 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:11,560 ..but what no-one realised is that there are far fewer giraffes. 206 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:12,880 There are just 90,000. 207 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,440 Giraffe have already become extinct 208 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,280 in at least seven countries. 209 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,680 Easy targets for poachers, 210 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:24,720 they are killed for their meat, 211 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,920 and their habitats are being destroyed. 212 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,760 It's frightening, and I think, if we lost them, 213 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,120 I don't know where I would be at. 214 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,720 I really think...I've lost. 215 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,200 Me and so many people around us 216 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,000 have just not done the job we set out to do. 217 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:44,600 Time is running out 218 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,320 and Julian knows we urgently need 219 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,240 to take our understanding of giraffes to a new level. 220 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,320 He has a revolutionary theory - 221 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,880 that there's not just one species of giraffe, 222 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,080 divided into slightly different sub species, 223 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,760 but there are instead many unique species. 224 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,000 BIRDS CAW 225 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,680 If Julian knows how many species there are, 226 00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:10,480 he can see which are most in trouble 227 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,720 and take immediate action to save them... 228 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,320 ..but only by analysing the genes inside the giraffe 229 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,440 can Julian prove how different they are. 230 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,840 To do this, he's been taking samples of their skin and testing their DNA. 231 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,240 The information inside 232 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,480 tiny plugs of skin like this 233 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,120 could give Julian the power to save whole species 234 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,160 we didn't even know existed. 235 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:52,920 Julian has got the DNA 236 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,960 from almost every wild giraffe population in Africa. 237 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,040 Before he can run a species analysis, 238 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:06,520 he needs a final sample from a population called Nubian giraffes. 239 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,840 There are perhaps just 650 left in the wild. 240 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,440 This group live far from Namibia, in Ethiopia, 241 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,320 right on the war-torn border with South Sudan. 242 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:21,360 BIRDS CHEEP 243 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:22,680 ROOSTER CROWS 244 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,240 Julian has never been here before. 245 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,960 Being away from the family all the time is not easy. 246 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,840 They are my life, but so is giraffe and giraffe conservation, 247 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,040 and it's tough work. 248 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,000 From the capital, Addis Ababa, 249 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:38,600 it's two days' travel west... 250 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,520 ..to one of Africa's most remote national parks, Gambela. 251 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,840 Years ago, flying across Gambela, 252 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,440 spotters recorded a wealth of wildlife 253 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,040 somehow flourishing on the edge of a warzone... 254 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,560 ELEPHANTS TRUMPET 255 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,440 ..but, since then, the situation has changed. 256 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,680 All Julian has seen so far is fires and cows. 257 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,760 This place is mad. COW MOOS 258 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,840 The population in Ethiopia is going up by two million a year. 259 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,880 There's refugees pouring across the border. 260 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,200 To get his sample, Julian must find 261 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,320 the last surviving giraffes in the park. 262 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:27,880 I'm hoping to find... 263 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,000 hundreds of giraffe, let's be honest. 264 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,360 But there is no hope of that, sadly. 265 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,680 You know, if we can find 10, 20 giraffe 266 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,680 that would be a great start, you know? 267 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,760 Get a sample count, a sample number, of what's out there. 268 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,800 But the signs aren't good 269 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,880 when he sees his first wild animals 270 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,680 on the backs of eight heavily armed poachers. 271 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,400 THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE 272 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:00,680 They're all sitting here with AK-47s - 273 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,280 and it looks like there's been 274 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,360 at least six kob that have been poached. 275 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:06,440 Yeah, it's a little bit of a heated discussion. 276 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,240 So, let's hope they can move on, 277 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,960 take his names and we go from there. 278 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,120 With one gun against eight, 279 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:17,760 there's little Julian's scout can do but send them on their way. 280 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,160 If this is what's happened to the kob, 281 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,240 no wonder there's literally a handful of giraffe 282 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,320 probably left in this place. 283 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,880 The last surviving giraffe are thought to have moved 284 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,760 deeper into the park, 285 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,600 an area engulfed in conflict and even harder to control. 286 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,480 It's another two days before Julian 287 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,280 reaches the international team he'll be working with. 288 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,000 They've assembled to find and satellite-tag 289 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,680 many different animals in the park. 290 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:56,960 Julian has brought with him four giraffe GPS collars. 291 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,560 These will allow him to follow the giraffe, 292 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,640 tracking their movements from space. 293 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:05,520 We want to be able to monitor them, 294 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,160 get some DNA, because we really have no clue what giraffe they are. 295 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,640 Almost nothing about this vast park is known. 296 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,480 With no roads or fences, it only exists on paper. 297 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,800 To even find the giraffe is going to be a huge challenge. 298 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,040 The only solution is to use a helicopter. 299 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,880 Now, they have a rare opportunity to shed light on the animals 300 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:42,240 that live in this remote land and begin to try to protect them. 301 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:49,600 With Julian is vet Andre Uys. 302 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,440 This is... This is a once in a lifetime job, really. 303 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,720 We know very little about these animals. 304 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,480 It's actually quite exciting, and valuable data will come out. 305 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,000 They all know the stakes are high. 306 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,200 TRANQUILLISER SHOT 307 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:05,440 ELEPHANTS TRUMPET 308 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,680 ELEPHANT GROWLS 309 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,320 OK, we've got her. She's in front of us. Thanks, Nick. 310 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,000 The team set to work, 311 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,960 satellite-collaring a range of animals. 312 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,240 That's perfect, huh? 27, 27. 313 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,080 'Generally, they don't give you much warning before they wake up.' 314 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,120 She's starting to come out of the anaesthetic. 315 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:25,720 Come on, guys. Get back to the helicopter. 316 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,480 But the days tick by. 317 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,520 And, in all their flights, they have seen no giraffe. 318 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,560 Now Julian has just two more days. 319 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:46,640 To go home not even having found a single giraffe would be devastating. 320 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,200 The team focuses on wooded areas, 321 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,720 because giraffe can spend three quarters of their time browsing. 322 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,520 Then, in a patch of trees right on the Sudanese border, 323 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:01,080 Julian sees what he's come for - 324 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,120 a herd of 30 giraffe. 325 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:05,280 Andre takes the shot. 326 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:07,600 TRANQUILLISER SHOT 327 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,200 'We have to give them massively high doses to get them down, 328 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:11,840 'so it's critical for me 329 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,680 'to get to the giraffe as soon as possible 330 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,480 'after it's gone down, 331 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,160 'to administer an antidote and get its respiration back to normal.' 332 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,320 The giraffe is now totally awake. 333 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,040 Just the team holds it down. 334 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,480 They keep her calm with a blanket over her eyes. 335 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,360 Time is critical for Julian to take his DNA sample 336 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,480 from the least intrusive place. 337 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,760 It'd be fine if I take a tip off the ear. 338 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,440 Just hold her a bit. 339 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:39,400 Just... 340 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,160 OK, that's just... That's fine. 341 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,640 Next, the team gently secure the GPS collar. 342 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,120 COLLAR TWISTS 343 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,200 Now, they'll be able to track where this giraffe roams 344 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,000 and see if she crosses the border into South Sudan. 345 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,520 Time to let her go. 346 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,000 OK, Pablo, get off, get off, get off... 347 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,360 PANTING 348 00:21:22,360 --> 00:21:25,000 She got me in the shins with her horns. Ah. 349 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,960 Jesus! 350 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:28,680 Mm, I'm sore. 351 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,640 It's like being beaten with a ten-pound mallet on your shin. 352 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,440 Fantastic, guys. LAUGHTER 353 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:34,880 A little bit of DNA. 354 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,120 Let's get on with it. Next one. 355 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:43,120 Soon, now, Julian will know if his theory is correct. 356 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:46,160 We've always known giraffes look different in different places 357 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:47,320 across the continent. 358 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,000 But are they as different as Julian thinks? 359 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,440 This is really exciting stuff. 360 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,920 This is the first DNA sample. 361 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:01,920 It's a little piece of tissue, that's all it is. 362 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,080 But it's got a big mystery inside of it. 363 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:13,240 We want to send it off to Germany, get it analysed 364 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:17,800 and who knows? This is the key to understanding giraffe. 365 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,800 Now they can all be compared to each other. 366 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,880 Julian has just one last flight. 367 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,960 He desperately wants to get more giraffe. 368 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,000 It's all a bit of a mad rush this morning. We were all ready to go, 369 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,840 and we've just got another passenger 370 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,560 from the wildlife authority that we have to take with. 371 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,760 Literally, this is my last day. I'm out this evening. 372 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,320 So we've got to get out there and see if we can find these guys. 373 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:56,800 HELICOPTER WHIRS Without warning, 374 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,040 the government insist on an official accompanying the team 375 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,680 on their last day, so there's no room for cameras... 376 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,320 HELICOPTER WHIRS 377 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,760 ..but the helicopter returns much earlier than expected - 378 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,600 and it's soon clear why. 379 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:12,920 They've been shot at. 380 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,280 We basically flew over some guys with some cattle in the park. 381 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,360 We saw the two rifles point up 382 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:21,760 and then we heard...bang. 383 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,960 The team is still in shock. 384 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,440 We all thought that basically the chopper had been hit somewhere, 385 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,440 so we thought, we've got to get out of here really quickly. 386 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,360 Luckily, no-one was hit, er... 387 00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:36,960 and that's the end of the collaring. 388 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,040 That's the end of the giraffe collaring. It's... 389 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,440 It's just too unsafe. 390 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,200 It's a bloody warzone out there, it's crazy. 391 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,320 The team can't find where the bullet hit, 392 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,240 but it's ended Julian's mission. 393 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,360 We're just trying to help giraffe, trying to help conservation. 394 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:53,640 We don't even know what flavour giraffe it is out there. 395 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,200 Let's hope the sample we've got... 396 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,520 we can take that and figure out who's who. 397 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:03,600 Julian must leave. 398 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,640 He carries a single precious cargo. 399 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:08,680 Nothing shakes you up more 400 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,520 than having some AK-47s fired at you in a helicopter. 401 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,760 Scary. 402 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,240 I tell you what, I'm happy to leave. 403 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,880 I want to get home to the family, get on with life. 404 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:21,880 HELICOPTER WHIRS 405 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,280 Within a year, a helicopter was shot down 406 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,240 and the pilot killed by poachers in Tanzania. 407 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:36,120 In the last decade, it's estimated over 1,000 rangers 408 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:39,840 have been killed while protecting wild animals, 409 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:41,400 in a war with poachers 410 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,040 increasingly funded by organised crime. 411 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,000 The early results from the DNA analysis are just coming in, 412 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,640 and they are very significant. 413 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,960 As Julian suspected, it looks like there isn't just one, 414 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,160 but perhaps four or five separate species of giraffe... 415 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,440 ..and the Nubian giraffes in Ethiopia should be reclassified 416 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,520 as one of the rarest species on Earth. 417 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,560 Their only other large population is in Uganda. 418 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,120 Here, the giraffes were thought to be different, 419 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,840 and called Rothschild's giraffes. 420 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,160 But they are the same. 421 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:30,640 In total, there's just 2,150 survivors 422 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,520 of this potentially new species left in the wild. 423 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:46,280 This is Murchison Falls National Park, 424 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,640 Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area. 425 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:50,640 BIRDS CHEEP 426 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:00,320 It is the last great stronghold of the Rothschild's giraffe. 427 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,160 Over 1,000 live here. 428 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,880 They are very distinctive, with lighter coats, 429 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,720 white stockinged legs 430 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,280 and - not three - but five ossicones. 431 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,600 In the ground beneath their feet 432 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,280 lie three quarters of Uganda's oil deposits, 433 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:21,080 and plans to drill are underway. 434 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,240 Keeping this fragile population safe 435 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,840 will now be Julian and the team's biggest priority. 436 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,080 An entire species of giraffe could rely on it. 437 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,360 If something goes wrong here in Murchison Falls, 438 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:40,200 Rothschild's giraffe could be extinct in no time. 439 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:43,440 The time is now. 440 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,880 If we don't come together to save giraffe, it could be too late. 441 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,800 Losing this new species would be a disaster. 442 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,840 Julian and the Uganda Wildlife Authority 443 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,200 have a daring plan to protect these giraffe for generations. 444 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:06,440 Currently, the giraffes all live on one side of the Nile - 445 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:08,360 they can't cross it. 446 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:12,720 The plan is more ambitious than anything they've done before. 447 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,560 They are going to catch giraffes from the north side 448 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,240 and start a new giraffe population across the river, 449 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:21,720 away from the oil drilling. 450 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,120 This is Tom Okello, Murchison Falls' Park Manager. 451 00:27:26,120 --> 00:27:30,160 In all, you should not keep all your eggs in one basket. 452 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,840 we first keep some stock out of the oil area, 453 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:37,720 so that, in the event that some impacts may come out of oil, 454 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,760 we have a safe population somewhere else. 455 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:42,560 To carry out this mission, 456 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:46,400 the men and women in charge of caring for Uganda's wildlife 457 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,080 have gathered from across the entire country. 458 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,520 Gorilla doctors from the mountains, 459 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,200 the chief vets of the other great parks of Uganda, 460 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,320 rangers from Murchison Falls itself. 461 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,320 And Julian has brought along a secret weapon... 462 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,760 vet Dr Pete Morkel. 463 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:07,800 I love giraffes. 464 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:09,680 It's quite remarkable that such a... 465 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:15,280 ..strangely put together beast functions so well. 466 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:19,360 Catching and moving a wild giraffe is difficult and dangerous. 467 00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,160 Pete has done it hundreds of times. 468 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,960 It is an unusual type of capture. 469 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,080 That animal is totally awake. 470 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:30,720 It is a stressful situation, but it does work very well. 471 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:34,160 It's the accepted way of catching giraffe, here in Africa. 472 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:38,640 Before the team learns on a giraffe, Pete is training them on himself. 473 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:42,720 If that animal falls more than two or three times, 474 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,560 it says, "That's it, I'm finished". 475 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:47,200 It's not good for the giraffe. 476 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,240 The team is going to have to guide any giraffe they catch 477 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:53,680 into a trailer, using ropes. 478 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:55,520 We need someone giving good control. 479 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,280 We need the people responsive. 480 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,960 They must be strong, they must be intelligent, eh? 481 00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:03,400 There's no chance for sleeping. I will show you. 482 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:04,440 Are you ready? 483 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,920 You must allow me to move forward, otherwise we will never load it. 484 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,360 You must let me go. You must let me move. 485 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,360 ALL TALK You must let me move. 486 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,320 Cos I don't want stay here the whole day. 487 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:16,840 ALL TALK 488 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,680 So, what you want to do is stand to a little to one side. Yeah. 489 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:21,680 ALL SHOUT 490 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:29,200 LAUGHTER 491 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,160 You want to have these giraffe delivered safe and sound, 492 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:37,960 that's the primary objective. 493 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:39,680 That's what's most important to me. 494 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:42,240 CAR ENGINE RUNS 495 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,280 It's 5am, and the team is preparing for their first day. 496 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,080 WATER RUNS 497 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,680 Did you sleep well? ALL: Yes. 498 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,440 Are we ready to go? ALL: Yes. 499 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:57,680 All right. 500 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,120 Three of the vets are also Christian pastors. 501 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,520 Muhangi, you lead us in prayer. 502 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:07,400 Almighty Father, we thank you for your love for us. 503 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,200 We surrender every one of us into your care... 504 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:15,360 They have two weeks to catch and transport 20 giraffe. 505 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,520 Protect us while we are in the wilderness. Amen. 506 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:19,600 ALL: Amen. 507 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,240 The group is inexperienced, but, as Julian and Pete know, 508 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,160 the only way to learn is to get your hands on a giraffe. 509 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:29,120 We are going into action now. 510 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:37,880 The catching team moves ahead carefully. 511 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,320 They are looking to create a breeding herd, 512 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:47,040 so are after young, healthy females and just three or four males. 513 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:49,840 They hope the new population will quickly swell. 514 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:54,360 The rest of the cars hang back, 515 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,920 ready to run in once they've caught a giraffe. 516 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,040 It's in! The drug is in. 517 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,280 Even a small giraffe is so strong 518 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,360 that no team could catch it just with ropes, 519 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,920 and the dart in its rump carries such strong sedative 520 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:28,240 that the animal must be given an antidote within 20 minutes. 521 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,080 But it's also a waiting game, 522 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,360 because, if they try to catch it too soon, 523 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,120 it could startle and run away. 524 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:36,080 Two minutes. 525 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,640 The team watch for signs the drugs are taking effect. 526 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:45,320 Four minutes. 527 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,560 Everyone knows their job in theory... 528 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,400 ALL TALK HURRIEDLY 529 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:53,160 ..but the giraffe is extremely unpredictable 530 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:54,520 and the capture becomes chaotic. 531 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:55,880 ALL SHOUT 532 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:57,120 The team is wary - 533 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,360 a giraffe kick could decapitate a man. 534 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,280 ALL SHOUT 535 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:09,280 Finally, they bring it down safely, 536 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,720 but it's not a textbook capture. 537 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:13,240 ALL SHOUT 538 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:14,760 Julian and vet Pete step in. 539 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,600 Pete is in charge of the antidote. 540 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,280 Give the antidote, gentlemen. 541 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,760 Where's the antidote? Where's the antidote? 542 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,360 We poleaxe them with chemicals, really. 543 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,120 So if you don't give the antidote immediately it's going to die. 544 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,440 The antidote is in in time. 545 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,520 Now the giraffe is wide awake, 546 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,760 Julian keeps it from struggling by sitting on its neck. 547 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:41,360 Putting on the blindfold just sedates her a lot, 548 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,040 so, hopefully, she's being a bit more relaxed now. 549 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,320 It's just measuring the ossicone. Ten. 550 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:49,080 And, by doing that, we can figure out... 551 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:51,120 There's hardly any research ever been done. 552 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:52,360 Nine. 553 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:54,960 Hopefully, we can just build up more information over time. 554 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,640 It's nine and a half, maybe. OK. 555 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:57,640 Come on, guys! 556 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:05,720 The calmer they keep the giraffe, the easier the next stage will be. 557 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:07,480 We have some water? 558 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:09,160 It's on the ground for over ten minutes 559 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:13,280 while the team take measurements and samples and position their trailer. 560 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:16,960 Who has the spray? Spray, please. 561 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:18,280 Spray, spray, spray! 562 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:21,000 It's all right, we don't have to shout. We just keep nice and slow. 563 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:22,520 Just easygoing. 564 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:24,840 It's time to loop ropes around it, 565 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,480 which they'll use, as Pete demonstrated, 566 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,160 to guide the blindfolded giraffe into its trailer. 567 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:32,760 THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE 568 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,160 I think Julian is the last one to sit on the neck. 569 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:43,120 ALL TALK 570 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,520 Now they're helping it up, they're pushing it up. 571 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:53,880 ALL TALK 572 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:57,760 THEY SHOUT 573 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:00,000 Hold on. Wait, wait, wait! 574 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:06,080 POLE CLANGS 575 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:11,000 I find it quite emotional, I'm actually quite close to tears. 576 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,200 Erm, it's just... 577 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:16,800 You don't normally see them so close and get so close. 578 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,680 It's stressful for everyone, and it's a big learning curve. 579 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:23,560 For a giraffe to stand up is a huge effort. 580 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,960 The team is wary of exhausting this one. 581 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,440 Let it go. Let this thing go. 582 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:29,880 Let it go? Yeah. 583 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:31,400 OK, let this one go? 584 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,320 Can the pilot move? 585 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,720 To be safe, vet Dr Margaret Dricuru 586 00:34:36,720 --> 00:34:37,960 makes a call. 587 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,400 Everyone to one side, please. 588 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,240 The giraffe is going to get up. Everyone to one side. 589 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:52,400 I think it's not a good idea to keep trying. 590 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:56,000 The welfare issues - that's the reason we've let it go. 591 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:20,320 Back at their base, the team have built a boma - 592 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:24,280 an enclosure for the 20 giraffes to go into. 593 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:26,640 But, for now, it remains empty. 594 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:27,960 It's not a great start. 595 00:35:32,240 --> 00:35:35,680 Undeterred, they are still aiming for two giraffes by sundown. 596 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,600 Ranger Francis Adiyokan lives here 597 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,200 and he loves these animals. 598 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:48,000 The giraffe is very beautiful. 599 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,680 It is a design which God has created on the world. 600 00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:54,560 So I feel like they have to stay in the world forever. 601 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:56,760 Because, if God meant for it to end, 602 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,000 he would have put an expiry date, 603 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:02,080 which means that it has to be protected forever. 604 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,120 So I am very happy to protect giraffe. 605 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:16,640 'At the end of the day, when you're capturing a giraffe, 606 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:17,920 'you're just focused. 607 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:22,600 'It's all about having that giraffe come down safely 608 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,600 'and get up safely. 609 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,400 'I'm just totally focused.' 610 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,080 Although many of the team are wild animal vets, 611 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:31,920 few have actually touched a giraffe before - 612 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,160 like Dr Eddy Kambale. 613 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:38,720 'I am already very excited to work with a giraffe 614 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:40,880 'for my first time, since I was born.' 615 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:42,800 I just used to read books, 616 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,560 but now I am feeling the reality of what it means, 617 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:48,800 being and working with a giraffe. 618 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,440 We have few of them so we need to keep some, yeah. 619 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:54,360 Yeah, good. 620 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,480 To push blood up their huge necks to their brains, 621 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:01,160 giraffes have the largest heart of all the land mammals. 622 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:05,640 It can weigh over 10kg and beats twice as fast as our own. 623 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:10,920 When it was running, the heartbeat was much higher. 624 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,760 But right now it's settling down, 625 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:15,040 so the rate has reduced. 626 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:17,920 How's the breathing? It's good? 627 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,920 Breathing is fine and it's very regular. 628 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:22,520 It's a very relaxed giraffe. 629 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,400 For me, I feel attached. 630 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:26,960 Yeah. Yeah. 631 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,160 GIRAFFE BLEAT 632 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,720 OK, everyone, I think let's let the animal properly stand up. 633 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:38,840 Let it get up strongly onto its feet before we start to pull it. 634 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,840 'Catching the giraffe, it's something that I learnt from Pete. 635 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,680 'You know, if he says things can be done, you do it. 636 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:48,920 'And you're out there and you're there for the giraffe.' 637 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:52,480 Giraffes use their powerful necks to batter other giraffes. 638 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:55,000 Oh! 639 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:00,520 But Julian has to stay close to stop the giraffe from hurting itself. 640 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:05,840 When it's down, you sort of go, 641 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:07,880 "OK quick, rush. Let's get all the things done. 642 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,840 "Let's make it safe, let's make it and sound". 643 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:13,280 And you're just waiting for that moment for it to get up safely. 644 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:26,480 Slowly, the team is learning that, to move a giraffe, 645 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,320 you cannot pull it. 646 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,000 Instead, you must gently guide it. 647 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:37,960 DOOR SHUTS 648 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:40,920 Fantastic, eh? 649 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:44,440 Absolutely bloody brilliant. 650 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,800 There she goes. Hopefully, er... 651 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:49,040 we'll see her soon, at the boma. 652 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:50,080 Bloody brilliant. 653 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:55,320 This is my first translocation I'm actually involved in. 654 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:57,880 I've heard lots of stories, but I've never been there. 655 00:38:57,880 --> 00:38:59,760 The reality of it is actually quite tough, 656 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,440 because it's very intrusive for the animals. 657 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:06,520 I think we just have to keep in mind why we are doing it. 658 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:11,760 The blindfold calms the giraffe on the slow 10 miles back to the boma. 659 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:14,040 I'll take the blindfold off. 660 00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:17,680 Before she can be released, Pete needs to climb up 661 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:21,760 and brave the giant neck to free the giraffe from her blindfold. 662 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:26,960 He knows it's vital to keep calm. 663 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:28,160 GIRAFFE CLOMPS 664 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:35,560 OK. 665 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:55,280 GIRAFFE CLOMPS 666 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,360 Finally, the first giraffe is in the boma. 667 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:05,000 Because giraffe are social animals, 668 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,640 left alone overnight, 669 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:08,600 this one might panic and hurt itself. 670 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:12,120 The team are under pressure - 671 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:15,560 they must now catch her a companion. 672 00:40:15,560 --> 00:40:20,040 The next giraffe is much bigger and stronger. 673 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:26,320 ALL SHOUT 674 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:48,480 The team hold their nerve as one tonne of giraffe kicks out at them. 675 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:08,920 ROPE CREAKS 676 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:22,600 It's been a long day... GIRAFFE CLOMPS 677 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:24,640 GIRAFFE CANTERS ..but two healthy females 678 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:26,640 are now safely in the boma. 679 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:28,120 Just 18 more giraffes to go. 680 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,920 These two giraffe that are now out there in the boma, 681 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,080 we don't know if they have feelings, 682 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:40,200 if they have family bonds. 683 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:41,680 Are they sad? I don't know. 684 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:45,520 The team will now pull back 685 00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:47,600 to leave the giraffe alone overnight. 686 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:52,400 Let's hope the lovely ladies have a good night and we'll go from there. 687 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:53,480 BIRDS CHEEP 688 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:00,080 GIRAFFE BLEAT 689 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:07,280 'OK, let's humble ourselves and we pray. 690 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:10,240 'We pray that, Lord, you will protect the animals 691 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:12,320 'we are going to capture, 692 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:14,800 'you protect us who are going to capture, 693 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:19,720 'we pray that the animals and the personnel will be safe 694 00:42:19,720 --> 00:42:21,280 'and we pray that, Lord, my God, 695 00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:24,080 'that you give us great success 696 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,800 'and we pray that, at the end of this exercise, 697 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:28,800 'we shall accomplish the target. 698 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,040 'In Jesus' name we pray. 699 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:31,880 'Amen.' ALL: 'Amen.' 700 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:35,520 ALL SHOUT 701 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:44,440 Over the next few days, with guidance from Julian and Pete, 702 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,080 the team grows in confidence. 703 00:42:47,720 --> 00:42:50,800 Personally, I try to keep things sort of under control. 704 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,480 'If you get stressed, people around you get stressed. 705 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:03,720 'They want to know that you're in control 706 00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:06,000 'and you're working with them.' 707 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:07,840 'This is very important. 708 00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:11,480 'It's the first time that a Ugandan team has done this. 709 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:13,720 'And this is very good for the country.' 710 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:16,640 'We're here to save giraffe. 711 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:24,880 'All you want to know is that it's safe and sound 712 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:28,000 'and, once it's off and gone, then you can start to relax.' 713 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,120 Soon, the two giraffes in the boma are joined by others. 714 00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:40,400 This is the beginning of the small population 715 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,400 that will form a genetic arc to take across the Nile. 716 00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:49,240 GRUNTING 717 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:54,800 Determined to fill the boma in the little time they've got, 718 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:56,960 the team starts at dawn every day 719 00:43:56,960 --> 00:43:58,720 and finishes after sunset. 720 00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:04,920 Their passion for this animal sustains their work. 721 00:44:07,120 --> 00:44:09,160 They're very gracious animals 722 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,520 and, for that reason, I really love them a lot. 723 00:44:14,600 --> 00:44:16,280 Giraffes are majestic animals. 724 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:21,480 They oversee the forest. 725 00:44:24,640 --> 00:44:27,840 It's my animal because it's calm 726 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:29,760 and I love its colours. 727 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:36,040 It's one of the most beautiful creatures in the world. 728 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:44,920 APPLAUSE 729 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:47,160 GIRAFFE CLOMPS 730 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:51,240 'We are learning. Thank you.' 731 00:44:51,240 --> 00:44:53,840 'Well done, Pete. That's cool.' 'That was much better.' 732 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:03,800 MOLLY: 'It's really cool to see my dad save the giraffe, 733 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:05,760 'because there's not lots around. 734 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:12,520 'I want to be just like my dad is 735 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:16,000 'and I want to help all the giraffe. 736 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:19,440 'And if there's only a couple left, 737 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:20,960 'I'll try and work harder.' 738 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:29,640 The tired team knows the end is in sight. 739 00:45:34,280 --> 00:45:36,320 You're all right, mate. You're all right, mate. 740 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:38,360 That way, that way. You'll be good, mate. 741 00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:41,200 The pioneer giraffe colony is complete. 742 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:43,520 Five of the giraffes are special - 743 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:46,840 they've been fitted with satellite tracking collars. 744 00:45:46,840 --> 00:45:50,360 But one young male is special for a different reason. 745 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:53,640 LUCA: 'There's one giraffe that I like the best 746 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:56,080 'and he just has the funny lip.' 747 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:58,240 Yeah, I can see it, just there. 748 00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:01,080 And his name is Melvyn. GIRAFFE CLOMPS 749 00:46:01,080 --> 00:46:03,560 He just looks so hilarious, 750 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:06,760 and his head looks like a seahorse head. 751 00:46:06,760 --> 00:46:09,240 And every time he eats he looks very grumpy. 752 00:46:09,240 --> 00:46:10,240 THEY LAUGH 753 00:46:11,640 --> 00:46:13,880 Stage One is complete. 754 00:46:13,880 --> 00:46:18,960 The team can now rest before their final challenge as the night falls. 755 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:27,840 Soon, these giraffes will go where no giraffes have gone before. 756 00:46:29,120 --> 00:46:31,160 HIPPO SNORTS 757 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:32,280 Throughout the mission, 758 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:36,640 the rangers have also been carrying out their other duties... 759 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:38,280 GRUNTING 760 00:46:38,280 --> 00:46:40,880 ..patrolling the park to protect the animals here. 761 00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:53,280 Murchison Falls is next to Lake Albert. 762 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:56,880 On the other side is the Democratic Republic of Congo. 763 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:01,800 The human populations all around are growing, 764 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:05,400 and some people cross into the park to trap and poach 765 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:07,400 the wild animals, using metal snares. 766 00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:15,120 They feel pain, like us. 767 00:47:15,120 --> 00:47:17,440 When we are denying their right to move, 768 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:18,760 their right to eat, 769 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:21,040 their right to be alive in the world... 770 00:47:25,440 --> 00:47:29,360 We don't want to lose them, we don't want them also to suffer. 771 00:47:29,360 --> 00:47:30,360 They have to be free. 772 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:34,960 Also the same way God created them. 773 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:37,160 So we are not happy with those poachers. 774 00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:42,280 By Tom's office, two large huts 775 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:45,320 are stuffed full of the poacher's equipment 776 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:47,520 that his rangers have found here 777 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:48,960 in the last year alone. 778 00:47:51,760 --> 00:47:55,640 If an elephant or giraffe becomes trapped, this is the result. 779 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:00,520 If they can be reached in time, 780 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:03,480 the snares can be removed and the animals saved... 781 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:09,680 ..but, sometimes, they're too late. 782 00:48:11,160 --> 00:48:13,560 Dr Eric Enyel, the park vet, 783 00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:16,600 has been tracking a snared elephant for days. 784 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,200 He's just caught up with it. 785 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:19,560 But it died an hour ago. 786 00:48:21,440 --> 00:48:23,200 The wire caught it in a very wrong place. 787 00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:24,400 It was unable to feed. 788 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:30,040 We have not lost them to poachers for a very long time. 789 00:48:30,040 --> 00:48:32,000 It's now coming to a year plus. 790 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:33,680 It's not a good happening. 791 00:48:33,680 --> 00:48:35,160 It is really very sad for us. 792 00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:39,520 And this is a very big loss. 793 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:42,120 This one is still a young bull. 794 00:48:42,120 --> 00:48:45,000 It has gone with all its genetic material. Gone. 795 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:57,640 The elephant is taken to be buried, 796 00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:01,080 and its tusks removed, so that no poacher can profit from them. 797 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:06,840 It is a stark reminder of how vulnerable 798 00:49:06,840 --> 00:49:09,120 the Rothschild's giraffes are, 799 00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:12,800 with over half of their entire population in just one place. 800 00:49:19,320 --> 00:49:21,560 Now, it's time. 801 00:49:21,560 --> 00:49:24,800 The team are preparing for the final stage of the mission. 802 00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:30,920 The giraffes will be split into three groups. 803 00:49:30,920 --> 00:49:33,960 They'll be driven for many hours and across the Nile. 804 00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:37,240 To distract them on the journey, 805 00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:40,680 the rangers cover the truck with delicious leaves. 806 00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:45,360 This specially prepared vehicle 807 00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:49,040 has been paid for by the donations of hundreds of people 808 00:49:49,040 --> 00:49:50,400 from across the world. 809 00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:55,720 If you've got giraffe in the boma, 810 00:49:55,720 --> 00:49:57,920 you don't relax until they're released. 811 00:49:57,920 --> 00:50:02,000 I still get worried until that last giraffe runs out of a truck 812 00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:03,360 and is off, safe and sound. 813 00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:09,120 RANGERS SHOUT 814 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:14,480 Murchison Falls has never seen anything like it. 815 00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:28,200 The giraffes are seeing the world from an angle 816 00:50:28,200 --> 00:50:30,080 even higher than they're used to. 817 00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:36,120 Because of its precious cargo, 818 00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:37,760 the convoy heads out slowly. 819 00:50:42,480 --> 00:50:46,320 The team have put bars between the giraffes to help them stay upright. 820 00:50:49,720 --> 00:50:51,760 It's such a delicate situation 821 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:54,000 that eight men must ride up with them 822 00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:58,040 to keep constant watch, at the risk of being licked with a giant tongue. 823 00:51:10,040 --> 00:51:11,880 Melvyn is in the middle, 824 00:51:11,880 --> 00:51:14,520 so has to be handed his travelling snacks. 825 00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:24,680 After four slow hours of driving, 826 00:51:24,680 --> 00:51:28,320 they reach an obstacle no truck or giraffe can cross without help... 827 00:51:31,160 --> 00:51:32,040 ..the Nile. 828 00:51:34,440 --> 00:51:38,680 The water here will flow over 4,000 miles, 829 00:51:38,680 --> 00:51:41,320 across the Sudan and into Egypt, 830 00:51:41,320 --> 00:51:43,160 before it finally meets the sea. 831 00:51:45,160 --> 00:51:46,880 Just a few miles upstream, 832 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:51,200 the torrent is so strong it can cut through mountains. 833 00:51:51,200 --> 00:51:54,400 But here the river becomes calmer. 834 00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:57,960 The banks and the water are a havens for wildlife... 835 00:51:57,960 --> 00:51:59,440 BIRDS CAW 836 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:02,880 ..and the current is gentle enough for a ferry to drive across it. 837 00:52:07,520 --> 00:52:09,760 HIPPO GRUNTS 838 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:15,080 HIPPOS GRUNT 839 00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:19,920 All the years of hard work from Julian and Steph 840 00:52:19,920 --> 00:52:24,360 are paying off in a truly extraordinary sight. 841 00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:26,840 How often do you see a giraffe on a boat? 842 00:52:26,840 --> 00:52:27,840 SHE LAUGHS 843 00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:33,720 If anything goes wrong here, it would be a catastrophe. 844 00:52:34,920 --> 00:52:37,920 I can count one, two, three, four, five. 845 00:52:37,920 --> 00:52:39,880 Six. Where's Melvyn? 846 00:52:39,880 --> 00:52:42,320 MOLLY: At the end! Ah! 847 00:52:42,320 --> 00:52:45,760 He's looking where he's going, he's checking out. 848 00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:48,680 No giraffe has ever seen anything like this before. 849 00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:07,480 The ferry safely pulls in, 850 00:53:07,480 --> 00:53:11,920 and the passengers enter a land untrodden by giraffe. 851 00:53:11,920 --> 00:53:13,200 We're on the way. 852 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:16,000 We've just crossed over the Nile River with six giraffe. 853 00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:18,160 I've never been so stressed in my life. 854 00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:20,160 VAN RUMBLES 855 00:53:22,280 --> 00:53:23,480 GRUNTING 856 00:53:23,480 --> 00:53:26,160 This side of the river is wilder. 857 00:53:26,160 --> 00:53:29,240 Nothing as tall as a giraffe has eaten the trees here, 858 00:53:29,240 --> 00:53:32,240 so the rangers and Julian clear the way 859 00:53:32,240 --> 00:53:34,600 for the world's tallest living load. 860 00:53:37,120 --> 00:53:38,680 None of this would have happened 861 00:53:38,680 --> 00:53:42,600 if Julian's life hadn't suddenly changed course over two decades ago. 862 00:53:44,040 --> 00:53:46,840 As I grew up, I really wanted to be a stockbroker. 863 00:53:46,840 --> 00:53:49,480 Unfortunately, my dad died when I was 16. 864 00:53:49,480 --> 00:53:51,360 So it was tough. 865 00:53:51,360 --> 00:53:54,800 I realised that I didn't want to spend my life behind a desk. 866 00:53:54,800 --> 00:53:57,960 I wanted to do something more than make a few bucks. 867 00:53:57,960 --> 00:54:00,040 I'm really happy that I've changed my game, 868 00:54:00,040 --> 00:54:03,800 and now I think I have the most amazing life in the world. 869 00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:07,600 If Julian and Steph can show this translocation works... 870 00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:10,040 That is great. Keep going. 871 00:54:10,040 --> 00:54:14,480 ..it will be the beginning of even bigger missions to save giraffe. 872 00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:16,920 But they cannot do it alone. 873 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:20,160 What we need and what we'll always need is money. 874 00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:23,040 I've been doing giraffe for 15 years without being paid a cent. 875 00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:24,600 If things can be done, you do it, 876 00:54:24,600 --> 00:54:27,080 and you're out there and you're there for the giraffe. 877 00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:29,920 Everyone, apart from the giraffes, 878 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:32,760 knows that their long journey is finally at an end. 879 00:54:36,240 --> 00:54:39,160 We have to open... Stop. We have to open the door first, Allen. 880 00:54:39,160 --> 00:54:41,720 There's no time for hesitation. 881 00:54:41,720 --> 00:54:45,320 The longer they're inside, the more chances of an accident. 882 00:54:45,320 --> 00:54:47,200 Kennedy, you come out. Out. 883 00:54:47,200 --> 00:54:49,440 Let us pull. Are the bars all gone? 884 00:54:49,440 --> 00:54:51,200 The bars are all gone. CLINKING 885 00:54:53,760 --> 00:54:58,160 The team creep back, so the nervous giraffes can see it's clear ahead. 886 00:54:58,160 --> 00:55:00,360 Come on, Melvyn, be the man. 887 00:55:00,360 --> 00:55:03,240 Melvyn and the others make their move. 888 00:55:03,240 --> 00:55:04,240 Come on! 889 00:55:12,360 --> 00:55:13,600 Well done, guys. 890 00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:14,600 APPLAUSE 891 00:55:17,480 --> 00:55:20,080 See them all going through there, guys. 892 00:55:23,240 --> 00:55:26,000 'When it happens, it's amazing. 893 00:55:26,000 --> 00:55:28,480 'All the guys we've worked with, 894 00:55:28,480 --> 00:55:32,360 'it's been an amazing effort, you know, and super proud. 895 00:55:32,360 --> 00:55:36,480 'Super proud that we've been able to do an amazing job together.' 896 00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:39,000 We are feeling great. Yes! This a great success. 897 00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:42,440 All the animals are released, they are all alive, no problem. 898 00:55:46,200 --> 00:55:49,760 Giraffe after giraffe runs off into a new life. 899 00:55:53,960 --> 00:55:55,040 GIRAFFE CLOMP 900 00:55:56,560 --> 00:55:59,080 Goodbye! Bye-bye! 901 00:56:06,200 --> 00:56:08,040 The team can finally celebrate. 902 00:56:09,240 --> 00:56:12,480 In this historic moment, Dr Andrew Seguya, 903 00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:15,360 the head of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, 904 00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:17,160 has come along to join them. 905 00:56:17,160 --> 00:56:18,800 'I'm very, very proud of them. 906 00:56:18,800 --> 00:56:22,240 'Look at them - these guys have worked for the last few weeks. 907 00:56:22,240 --> 00:56:23,960 'They have put in everything. THEY SING 908 00:56:23,960 --> 00:56:26,440 'They have left their families, they have come here,' 909 00:56:26,440 --> 00:56:28,200 they have slept in the bush. 910 00:56:28,200 --> 00:56:31,160 Most importantly, they have shown the love for the giraffe. 911 00:56:31,160 --> 00:56:33,560 They have handled them with a lot of care, 912 00:56:33,560 --> 00:56:36,200 with a lot of love and with a lot of professionalism. 913 00:56:36,200 --> 00:56:37,880 I'm very, very proud of them. 914 00:56:37,880 --> 00:56:39,320 THEY SING 915 00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:43,000 But, also, it is really one of those exciting days for conservation. 916 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:44,600 CHANTING AND CLAPPING 917 00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:47,400 This is the just the beginning. 918 00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:50,040 The Ugandan team will now continue their mission 919 00:56:50,040 --> 00:56:53,360 to save giraffes and other endangered animals 920 00:56:53,360 --> 00:56:55,440 across the entire country. 921 00:56:55,440 --> 00:56:57,600 THEY SING 922 00:57:02,080 --> 00:57:05,160 For Julian and Steph, it's a very personal moment. 923 00:57:06,560 --> 00:57:10,200 After 15 years of hard and dangerous work, 924 00:57:10,200 --> 00:57:12,840 they can finally see the tide starting to turn. 925 00:57:15,040 --> 00:57:16,680 'If you had that moment every day, 926 00:57:16,680 --> 00:57:19,320 'I don't reckon you'd be able to sustain yourself. 927 00:57:19,320 --> 00:57:22,760 'My heart wouldn't be able to survive, let's be honest.' 928 00:57:22,760 --> 00:57:26,240 LUCA: 'Melvyn was the funny one with the funny lips. 929 00:57:26,240 --> 00:57:29,320 'I miss him now, but at least he's not in a zoo.' 930 00:57:32,360 --> 00:57:36,000 STEPH: 'We did that, we actually made a difference here. 931 00:57:36,000 --> 00:57:38,000 'And I think that is something really amazing. 932 00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:40,760 'And not too many people can say, in their lives, 933 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:43,240 'that they actually have made a difference.' 934 00:57:46,760 --> 00:57:49,880 Over the coming months, the giraffes range far and wide. 935 00:57:51,920 --> 00:57:54,280 The readings from their GPS collars 936 00:57:54,280 --> 00:57:56,520 show them travelling hundreds of miles, 937 00:57:56,520 --> 00:57:58,280 as they explore their new home. 938 00:58:01,360 --> 00:58:04,000 The team are planning more translocations 939 00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:05,440 to further swell the colony... 940 00:58:06,960 --> 00:58:09,920 ..and soon they hope that new giraffe calves 941 00:58:09,920 --> 00:58:11,960 will be born on both sides of the Nile. 942 00:58:15,600 --> 00:58:18,640 Across the continent, Julian and the team 943 00:58:18,640 --> 00:58:21,520 are working closely with African governments 944 00:58:21,520 --> 00:58:25,680 and the people who live alongside these gentle giants 945 00:58:25,680 --> 00:58:28,000 to secure a better future for all giraffe. 946 00:58:54,400 --> 00:58:57,680 CHANTING AND CLAPPING 947 00:58:57,680 --> 00:58:59,360 LAUGHTER