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{\an8}[relaxing music]

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{\an8}[narrator] <i>Between the islands</i>
<i>of Indonesia</i>

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<i>lies a remote underwater paradise,</i>

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<i>which holds some of the world's most rare</i>

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<i>and incredible species.</i>

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<i>Evolution has created an unparalleled</i>

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<i>underwater world of strange shapes,</i>

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<i>vibrant colors,</i>
<i>and truly incredible species.</i>

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<i>The natural ebb and flow</i>
<i>of the sea's tides and currents</i>

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<i>seems to create a constant</i>
<i>stream of new species,</i>

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<i>leading to the continuing discovery</i>
<i>of new life forms</i>

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<i>amongst the 1500 islands</i>
<i>of the archipelago.</i>

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<i>This peaceful water world</i>

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<i>has created species which can be found</i>

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<i>nowhere else on Earth,</i>

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<i>creating spectacles of elegant</i>

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<i>and truly unique beauty.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>There is no other place</i>

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<i>where unknown and already</i>
<i>discovered species</i>

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<i>come together in such colorful</i>
<i>and striking variety.</i>

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<i>What started 100,000 years ago</i>

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<i>with a constant motion of the seas</i>

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<i>has evolved over time</i>

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<i>to create the unique world</i>
<i>of natural diversity</i>

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<i>which we see today.</i>

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<i>This world ranges</i>
<i>from clear water-fringing reefs</i>

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<i>to the dark but colorful depths</i>
<i>of the sea.</i>

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<i>Come along with us on our journey</i>

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<i>through the wonderful underwater</i>
<i>landscapes of Raja Ampat.</i>

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[relaxing music with piano touches]

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[relaxing electronic music
with piano sounds]

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[drumbeat]

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<i>Translated from the Sanskrit,</i>

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<i>Raja Ampat means "The Four Kings."</i>

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<i>The story behind this name</i>

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<i>lies within the ancient</i>
<i>mythology of the region,</i>

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<i>which states that four kings,</i>
<i>hatched from eggs,</i>

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<i>rule over the four biggest</i>
<i>islands of Raja Ampat.</i>

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<i>This extraordinary sea world</i>

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<i>covers an area roughly</i>
<i>the same size as the Netherlands.</i>

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<i>Raja Ampat lies directly in the center</i>

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<i>of what is known as The Coral Triangle,</i>

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<i>an area of extreme marine diversity,</i>

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<i>which reaches from the Philippines</i>

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<i>over Indonesia and Papua New Guinea,</i>

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<i>and up to the Solomon Islands.</i>

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[relaxing music with tambourine touches]

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♪ <i>Whoa, whoa</i>♪

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♪ <i>Whoa, whoa</i>♪

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[relaxing music with drums]

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<i>One of the most common families</i>
<i>of animal found in the waters</i>

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<i>is the wrasse family.</i>

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<i>Here we found a whole school of wrasse.</i>

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<i>But although the wrasse</i>
<i>are the most common species of fish,</i>

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<i>they are just the beginning</i>
<i>of the hugely diverse range of species</i>

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<i>to be found in the reefs</i>
<i>of the Indo-Pacific.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>In Raja Ampat, an area</i>
<i>the size of a football pitch</i>

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<i>is home to a greater number</i>
<i>of unique species</i>

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<i>than can be found among</i>
<i>the whole of the Caribbean,</i>

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<i>or the Great Barrier Reef.</i>

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<i>Because of this unbelievably</i>
<i>varied biodiversity,</i>

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<i>the area is sometimes referred</i>
<i>to as the Amazon of reefs.</i>

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[relaxing music with tambourine touches]

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<i>The four major islands of Raja Ampat</i>

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<i>are Misool in the south,</i>

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<i>Waigeo in the north,</i>

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<i>and Salawati and Batanta</i>
<i>in the center of the archipelago.</i>

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<i>The population of the island chain</i>
<i>is very small,</i>

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<i>and those who do live there</i>

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<i>survive predominantly by working</i>

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<i>in the fishing or diving</i>
<i>tourism industries.</i>

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<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

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<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

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<i>The reefs of Raja Ampat</i>

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<i>have to cope with a multitude</i>
<i>of undersea currents.</i>

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<i>The motion of these currents</i>
<i>can stir up the sediment in the water</i>

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<i>and make it murky.</i>

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<i>Sometimes, though,</i>
<i>the water's movements</i>

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<i>can create an extraordinary play</i>

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<i>of colors and light</i>

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<i>after the stirred up water and sediment</i>

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<i>has calmed down again.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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[relaxing music with drums]

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<i>These reef inhabitants are a subspecies</i>

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<i>of a group of fish known as grunts.</i>

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<i>The appearance and behavior of grunts</i>

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<i>changes throughout their life span,</i>

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<i>with young grunts being far</i>
<i>more colorful and active</i>

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<i>than grunts which have</i>
<i>reached full maturity.</i>

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<i>In the daytime, these fish tend to linger</i>

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<i>in swarms underneath corals,</i>

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<i>emerging at night to hunt.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>Grunts are not shy,</i>

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<i>and can be very friendly</i>
<i>to underwater visitors.</i>

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<i>Let's follow one of these grunts</i>

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<i>through this section of the reef.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>The vast biodiversity of species</i>
<i>found in these waters</i>

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<i>cannot be explained by one factor alone.</i>

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<i>What is thought to be</i>

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<i>one of the main reasons</i>
<i>for this abundance of life</i>

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<i>is the numerous different biotopes</i>

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<i>found in the area.</i>

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<i>Here in Raja Ampat,</i>

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<i>you can find what are known</i>
<i>as fringing reefs,</i>

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<i>wide lawns of seagrass,</i>
<i>and sheltered bays,</i>

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<i>which offer various types of species</i>

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<i>the perfect conditions to settle down.</i>

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[relaxing distorted music
with occasional drums]

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<i>Cleaner wrasses make sure</i>

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<i>that all of the fish on the reef</i>
<i>have healthy skin.</i>

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<i>The fish who want to be cleaned</i>

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<i>signify this by opening</i>
<i>their gills and jaws,</i>

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<i>which the cleaner wrasse recognizes</i>

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<i>as a signal of their passiveness.</i>

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<i>This means that the cleaner wrasse</i>

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<i>can go about his job</i>

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<i>safe in the knowledge</i>
<i>that he won't be eaten.</i>

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<i>The fish need to be cleaned,</i>

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<i>as dirt builds up</i>
<i>in their gills over time,</i>

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<i>which leads to inflammation,</i>

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<i>creating breathing problems.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>This sea turtle is a particularly</i>
<i>interesting inhabitant</i>

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<i>of the area.</i>

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<i>All sea turtles are born ashore,</i>

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<i>but only the females return to lay eggs.</i>

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<i>Here, under the protection</i>
<i>offered by the coral reefs,</i>

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<i>hatchlings stand a far</i>
<i>greater chance of survival</i>

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<i>than if they were to be raised</i>
<i>in open water.</i>

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<i>This area also contains</i>
<i>the most important nesting site</i>

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<i>for leatherback turtles,</i>

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<i>the largest species of turtle</i>
<i>in the world.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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[final drums end the music]

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[dramatic music]

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<i>There are two main coral groups:</i>

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<i>the soft coral, shown in this picture,</i>

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<i>and the scleractinia,</i>
<i>also referred to as stony corals.</i>

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<i>Soft corals look far more</i>
<i>alive and vibrant</i>

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<i>than their relatives, the stony corals.</i>

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<i>The combination of soft coral</i>
<i>and stony coral</i>

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<i>can look unusual,</i>

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<i>but the buildup of soft coral</i>

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<i>can be visually spectacular.</i>

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<i>When amassed, soft corals</i>
<i>are incredibly colorful,</i>

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<i>and can look like strange,</i>
<i>other-worldly flowers.</i>

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<i>The fish seem unfazed</i>
<i>by this natural beauty,</i>

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<i>and pass amongst the reefs</i>
<i>with seeming indifference.</i>

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<i>The deeper you go into this coral jungle</i>
<i>of beauty and color,</i>

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<i>the more you are rewarded</i>
<i>with an ever-increasing variation</i>

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<i>of living creatures.</i>

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<i>The vivid and busied activities</i>

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<i>of the sea dwelling creatures</i>

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<i>give the area the appearance</i>
<i>of a thriving city.</i>

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<i>The deep, dark sea is brought to life</i>

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<i>by the colorful variety of species.</i>

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<i>Large and small sea creatures</i>
<i>bustle around the reefs,</i>

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<i>making it seem almost like a playground.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>This underwater world seems to offer</i>

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<i>a never-ending supply of surprises.</i>

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<i>As we swim over the coral field,</i>

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<i>we discover a huge school of fry,</i>

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<i>who look for shelter in a bay.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>Each different species has invented</i>

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<i>its own individual way to survive.</i>

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<i>The clown fish, for example,</i>

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<i>is able to hide in anemones.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>Other reef species like the lionfish</i>

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<i>prefer more extraordinary</i>
<i>disguise methods.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>And some fish just hope</i>

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<i>that enough of their fellow species</i>
<i>can survive.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>The question of which method of survival</i>
<i>is most effective</i>

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<i>is put to the test by nature every year.</i>

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<i>If a species is not able to adapt</i>

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<i>and change to meet the challenges,</i>

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<i>it will not find a place to live.</i>

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<i>These are the harsh rules of nature,</i>

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<i>which exist even in a paradise</i>
<i>like Raja Ampat.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>The different sea creatures of this area</i>

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<i>have been forced to change</i>
<i>and adapt over time</i>

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<i>in order to survive the natural selection</i>
<i>process of evolution.</i>

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<i>This leads to the breathtakingly</i>
<i>varied array of species</i>

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<i>with which we are presented today.</i>

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<i>To survive in nature,</i>

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<i>every species produces offspring</i>

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<i>which have adapted ever so slightly</i>
<i>from the previous generation</i>

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<i>in order to better cope</i>
<i>with the ever-changing conditions</i>

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<i>created by their habitat.</i>

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<i>This process creates species</i>
<i>which look unusual,</i>

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<i>and some creatures have developed features</i>

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<i>which at first sight appear to be</i>
<i>a hindrance.</i>

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<i>But every characteristic</i>
<i>created by evolution</i>

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<i>has its own specific purpose for existing.</i>

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[relaxing music]

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<i>The sea dwellers of this region</i>

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<i>develop a huge range</i>
<i>of different strategies to survive.</i>

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<i>These surgeonfish</i>
<i>group together in large swarms</i>

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<i>and nibble on the algae</i>
<i>which live on the coral.</i>

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<i>Surgeonfish owe their name</i>

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<i>to the sharp spines</i>
<i>on the tips of their tails,</i>

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<i>which are being likened</i>
<i>to a surgeon's scalpel.</i>

215
00:15:58,875 --> 00:16:00,835
<i>These spines are used by the fish</i>

216
00:16:00,918 --> 00:16:03,546
<i>to defend themselves</i>
<i>against larger predators.</i>

217
00:16:06,257 --> 00:16:10,720
[dramatic and eerie music]

218
00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:48,799
<i>Other creatures wait patiently</i>
<i>in a hiding place,</i>

219
00:16:48,883 --> 00:16:52,595
<i>until an unsuspecting victim</i>
<i>crosses their path,</i>

220
00:16:53,095 --> 00:16:55,181
<i>striking at the perfect moment.</i>

221
00:16:55,681 --> 00:16:59,685
<i>This is the preferred strategy</i>
<i>of the wobbegongs or the carpet sharks.</i>

222
00:17:00,353 --> 00:17:03,564
<i>The number of sharks in the region</i>
<i>has been dramatically reduced</i>

223
00:17:03,648 --> 00:17:06,817
<i>by the prevalence of shark finning</i>
<i>in The Coral Triangle,</i>

224
00:17:06,901 --> 00:17:09,987
<i>meaning that sharks are now</i>
<i>very rare in the area.</i>

225
00:17:11,906 --> 00:17:15,534
<i>The triggerfish, with its colorful</i>
<i>and quirky patterns,</i>

226
00:17:15,618 --> 00:17:17,912
<i>is one of the highlights</i>
<i>of the Raja Ampat.</i>

227
00:17:19,372 --> 00:17:23,042
<i>It's not often that such variation</i>
<i>in color and pattern</i>

228
00:17:23,125 --> 00:17:25,169
<i>can be found on a single fish.</i>

229
00:17:27,129 --> 00:17:29,215
[relaxing music]

230
00:17:37,265 --> 00:17:39,642
<i>Another reason</i>
<i>for the unmatched richness</i>

231
00:17:39,725 --> 00:17:41,769
<i>of natural species in this area</i>

232
00:17:41,852 --> 00:17:43,396
<i>is the mangrove forests,</i>

233
00:17:43,479 --> 00:17:46,274
<i>which can be found</i>
<i>all around the island's coasts.</i>

234
00:17:48,401 --> 00:17:50,194
<i>The roots of the mangrove trees</i>

235
00:17:50,278 --> 00:17:52,196
<i>offer not only perfect shelter</i>

236
00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,532
<i>in which fish can raise their offspring,</i>

237
00:17:54,615 --> 00:17:58,035
<i>they also offer protection</i>
<i>for the delicate coral reefs.</i>

238
00:17:59,787 --> 00:18:02,206
<i>This is because the roots</i>
<i>of the mangrove trees</i>

239
00:18:02,290 --> 00:18:05,626
<i>help to hold the shoreline together,</i>
<i>minimizing erosion,</i>

240
00:18:05,710 --> 00:18:08,504
<i>which could be incredibly</i>
<i>damaging to the reefs.</i>

241
00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:12,008
[relaxing electronic music]

242
00:18:16,345 --> 00:18:18,639
<i>The amazing variation in the area</i>

243
00:18:18,723 --> 00:18:21,434
<i>is not just isolated to animal species.</i>

244
00:18:22,893 --> 00:18:27,023
<i>There is also massive variation</i>
<i>in terms of the landscape,</i>

245
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:30,484
<i>which leads to massive variation</i>
<i>in types of reef.</i>

246
00:18:31,444 --> 00:18:34,447
[relaxing electronic music]

247
00:18:48,294 --> 00:18:50,588
<i>While fringing reefs are often flat</i>

248
00:18:50,671 --> 00:18:53,591
<i>and less than half a meter</i>
<i>beneath the water's surface,</i>

249
00:18:53,674 --> 00:18:56,385
<i>barrier reefs appear more like columns,</i>

250
00:18:56,469 --> 00:18:58,220
<i>which reach from the sea bed</i>

251
00:18:58,304 --> 00:19:00,890
<i>to the water's surface in deeper areas.</i>

252
00:19:02,433 --> 00:19:04,018
<i>Vast diversity can be found</i>

253
00:19:04,101 --> 00:19:06,145
<i>among the tall barrier reefs.</i>

254
00:19:06,228 --> 00:19:09,815
[relaxing electronic music]

255
00:19:26,290 --> 00:19:28,000
<i>Over the passage of time,</i>

256
00:19:28,084 --> 00:19:31,337
<i>Earth has developed</i>
<i>four tectonic plates here.</i>

257
00:19:31,420 --> 00:19:33,214
<i>Each of these tectonic plates</i>

258
00:19:33,297 --> 00:19:35,132
<i>supports different life forms,</i>

259
00:19:35,216 --> 00:19:36,759
<i>due to different conditions.</i>

260
00:19:37,885 --> 00:19:40,638
<i>Raja Ampat is located in the center</i>

261
00:19:40,721 --> 00:19:43,683
<i>of where the four different</i>
<i>tectonic plates meet,</i>

262
00:19:43,766 --> 00:19:46,268
<i>creating unrivaled biodiversity</i>

263
00:19:46,352 --> 00:19:48,729
<i>and competition between different species.</i>

264
00:19:50,815 --> 00:19:53,818
<i>This competition</i>
<i>means that evolutionary change</i>

265
00:19:53,901 --> 00:19:57,321
<i>is still very much occurring</i>
<i>in the Raja Ampat region.</i>

266
00:19:58,572 --> 00:20:01,450
[relaxing electronic music]

267
00:20:35,776 --> 00:20:39,530
[dramatic music]

268
00:21:03,471 --> 00:21:06,515
<i>The harsh process</i>
<i>of natural selection does not,</i>

269
00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:09,518
<i>however, mean that some differing species</i>

270
00:21:09,602 --> 00:21:11,562
<i>can live in relative harmony.</i>

271
00:21:11,645 --> 00:21:13,939
[relaxing music]

272
00:22:00,736 --> 00:22:05,157
[upbeat quirky music]

273
00:22:12,081 --> 00:22:15,543
<i>This fish, with its distinctive</i>
<i>zebra stripe pattern,</i>

274
00:22:15,626 --> 00:22:19,713
<i>stands out from the crowd</i>
<i>of predominantly brown colored fish.</i>

275
00:22:19,797 --> 00:22:23,926
[upbeat quirky music with bass sounds]

276
00:22:29,265 --> 00:22:31,809
<i>Some fish change color and behavior</i>

277
00:22:31,892 --> 00:22:33,853
<i>as they move through their life cycle,</i>

278
00:22:34,478 --> 00:22:36,981
<i>and some fish even change gender.</i>

279
00:22:38,566 --> 00:22:40,359
<i>The wrasse family, for example,</i>

280
00:22:40,442 --> 00:22:43,863
<i>looks vastly different</i>
<i>in terms of color and pattern</i>

281
00:22:43,946 --> 00:22:45,990
<i>before and after puberty,</i>

282
00:22:46,740 --> 00:22:49,034
<i>but the change from female to male</i>

283
00:22:49,118 --> 00:22:52,830
<i>also occurs in all 200 species of wrasse.</i>

284
00:22:55,082 --> 00:22:57,918
<i>The strongest wrasse</i>
<i>will make the change fully</i>

285
00:22:58,002 --> 00:22:59,712
<i>from female to male.</i>

286
00:23:00,629 --> 00:23:02,214
<i>A little bit of chauvinism</i>

287
00:23:02,298 --> 00:23:03,632
<i>in the natural world.</i>

288
00:23:03,716 --> 00:23:07,887
[upbeat quirky music with bass sounds]

289
00:23:26,030 --> 00:23:29,074
<i>This little sea turtle, somewhat clumsily</i>

290
00:23:29,158 --> 00:23:31,535
<i>fights his way to the brink of the reef,</i>

291
00:23:32,786 --> 00:23:35,080
<i>but as soon as it has conquered</i>
<i>this brink,</i>

292
00:23:35,164 --> 00:23:37,249
<i>it looks utterly majestic.</i>

293
00:23:39,710 --> 00:23:44,089
<i>It's quite remarkable to think</i>
<i>that these majestic reptiles start life</i>

294
00:23:44,173 --> 00:23:47,134
<i>measuring just a couple</i>
<i>of centimeters in length.</i>

295
00:23:48,636 --> 00:23:51,764
<i>It's not just turtles</i>
<i>that start life tiny, though.</i>

296
00:23:52,598 --> 00:23:55,517
[upbeat quirky music with bass sounds]

297
00:24:36,558 --> 00:24:40,396
<i>Coral reefs are built</i>
<i>by tiny animals called polyps.</i>

298
00:24:41,730 --> 00:24:43,774
<i>They gather in large colonies</i>

299
00:24:43,857 --> 00:24:46,276
<i>and build a base for all corals.</i>

300
00:24:48,404 --> 00:24:50,030
<i>Through a chemical reaction,</i>

301
00:24:50,114 --> 00:24:54,326
<i>they transform the calcium ions</i>
<i>found in water into chalk.</i>

302
00:24:55,953 --> 00:24:58,872
<i>Large islands can grow</i>
<i>from these chalk skeletons</i>

303
00:24:58,956 --> 00:25:00,416
<i>over hundreds of years,</i>

304
00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:04,253
<i>but the polyps need a lot of energy</i>
<i>to achieve this majestic feat.</i>

305
00:25:05,796 --> 00:25:09,216
<i>The secret of coral's energy</i>
<i>production is the sun.</i>

306
00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:12,052
<i>Unlike most land-based plants,</i>

307
00:25:12,678 --> 00:25:16,056
<i>polyps cannot transfer light</i>
<i>directly into energy.</i>

308
00:25:17,516 --> 00:25:21,645
<i>Instead, they form a symbiosis</i>
<i>with small algae</i>

309
00:25:21,770 --> 00:25:23,689
<i>called symbiodinium.</i>

310
00:25:25,274 --> 00:25:27,693
<i>These algae colonize the polyps</i>

311
00:25:27,776 --> 00:25:29,903
<i>and carry out photosynthesis.</i>

312
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:33,866
<i>The extracted energy transforms into sugar</i>

313
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:36,952
<i>and helps the corals produce calcium.</i>

314
00:25:39,163 --> 00:25:40,748
<i>Thanks to the sunlight,</i>

315
00:25:40,831 --> 00:25:44,084
<i>polyps are able to build</i>
<i>the biggest buildings on Earth,</i>

316
00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:46,003
<i>the coral reefs.</i>

317
00:25:46,086 --> 00:25:49,882
[upbeat music]

318
00:25:52,176 --> 00:25:55,471
<i>Corals can protect themselves</i>
<i>with stinging cells,</i>

319
00:25:55,554 --> 00:25:58,724
<i>which fend off their enemies</i>
<i>with the use of poison.</i>

320
00:26:00,267 --> 00:26:03,353
<i>This creates the amazing colors seen here,</i>

321
00:26:03,437 --> 00:26:06,273
<i>which act as a warning</i>
<i>to potential predators.</i>

322
00:26:07,357 --> 00:26:10,903
<i>Other species try to protect themselves</i>
<i>by camouflage.</i>

323
00:26:11,403 --> 00:26:12,821
<i>This is the method employed</i>

324
00:26:12,905 --> 00:26:16,241
<i>by the sinister-looking</i>
<i>scorpion stonefish.</i>

325
00:26:18,327 --> 00:26:19,912
<i>The poisonous barb on his back</i>

326
00:26:19,995 --> 00:26:22,581
<i>can be extremely dangerous for divers,</i>

327
00:26:22,664 --> 00:26:24,875
<i>and they are often hidden</i>
<i>to the naked eye,</i>

328
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,878
<i>due to their incredibly</i>
<i>effective camouflage.</i>

329
00:26:29,505 --> 00:26:31,507
<i>A sting from one of these fish</i>

330
00:26:31,590 --> 00:26:33,675
<i>can be life-threatening for humans.</i>

331
00:26:38,972 --> 00:26:41,475
<i>Some fish on the reef,</i>
<i>like the clown fish,</i>

332
00:26:41,558 --> 00:26:44,770
<i>can immunize themselves</i>
<i>against the poison of the mollusks.</i>

333
00:26:45,979 --> 00:26:48,649
<i>They take on the mucous of the anemones,</i>

334
00:26:48,732 --> 00:26:52,277
<i>which stops the anemones</i>
<i>attacking them with their poison.</i>

335
00:26:53,070 --> 00:26:56,490
<i>The small fish will then</i>
<i>clean off any dirty residues,</i>

336
00:26:56,573 --> 00:26:59,034
<i>which build up</i>
<i>on the anemones in return.</i>

337
00:27:00,244 --> 00:27:02,621
<i>This is a small price to pay,</i>

338
00:27:02,704 --> 00:27:05,082
<i>considering the danger of these neighbors.</i>

339
00:27:05,165 --> 00:27:08,877
[dramatic music]

340
00:27:18,303 --> 00:27:19,680
<i>Most residents of the reef</i>

341
00:27:19,763 --> 00:27:23,058
<i>will mainly eat mollusks</i>
<i>or even just plants.</i>

342
00:27:24,434 --> 00:27:28,939
<i>This is what the rather strange-looking</i>
<i>yellow blowfish does.</i>

343
00:27:33,610 --> 00:27:37,739
<i>The most important food source</i>
<i>on the reef, however, is plankton.</i>

344
00:27:37,823 --> 00:27:40,576
[upbeat electronic music]

345
00:27:40,659 --> 00:27:44,079
<i>Most female clown fish</i>
<i>live almost exclusively</i>

346
00:27:44,162 --> 00:27:45,664
<i>with other females.</i>

347
00:27:46,582 --> 00:27:49,585
<i>This female, however,</i>
<i>lives with many males</i>

348
00:27:49,668 --> 00:27:51,128
<i>with which she copulates.</i>

349
00:27:51,211 --> 00:27:54,756
[upbeat electronic music]

350
00:28:02,389 --> 00:28:06,351
<i>Like wrasses, clown fish</i>
<i>are able to change their gender.</i>

351
00:28:07,644 --> 00:28:11,398
<i>In this case, the males</i>
<i>will transform into females</i>

352
00:28:11,481 --> 00:28:14,484
<i>if a leading female</i>
<i>in their group disappears.</i>

353
00:28:15,152 --> 00:28:18,155
[upbeat electronic music]

354
00:28:34,630 --> 00:28:38,634
<i>More than two thirds of all species</i>
<i>living in the world's reefs</i>

355
00:28:38,717 --> 00:28:40,510
<i>live in Raja Ampat.</i>

356
00:28:42,179 --> 00:28:44,848
<i>There are also more than 75%</i>

357
00:28:44,932 --> 00:28:47,726
<i>of all stone corals in the region,</i>

358
00:28:47,809 --> 00:28:50,938
<i>ten times more than in the whole</i>
<i>of the Caribbean.</i>

359
00:28:52,773 --> 00:28:54,691
<i>Nowhere else on Earth</i>

360
00:28:54,775 --> 00:28:58,695
<i>is home to such a large number</i>
<i>of coral and fish species</i>

361
00:28:58,779 --> 00:29:01,657
<i>than this unique underwater realm.</i>

362
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,202
[upbeat electronic music]

363
00:29:07,663 --> 00:29:09,748
<i>One kind of coral found in the region</i>

364
00:29:09,831 --> 00:29:11,249
<i>called the leather coral</i>

365
00:29:11,333 --> 00:29:14,753
<i>doesn't exist anywhere</i>
<i>outside of the Indo-Pacific.</i>

366
00:29:16,088 --> 00:29:19,466
<i>Here, it is free to spread as it pleases,</i>

367
00:29:19,549 --> 00:29:23,720
<i>but in other areas, fierce competition</i>
<i>from other species</i>

368
00:29:23,804 --> 00:29:27,182
<i>means it has to fight</i>
<i>for every centimeter of ground.</i>

369
00:29:28,016 --> 00:29:31,687
[upbeat electronic music]

370
00:29:31,770 --> 00:29:35,565
<i>Only 1,000 species of anemones</i>
<i>in the whole world</i>

371
00:29:35,649 --> 00:29:38,276
<i>get into a partnership with clown fish.</i>

372
00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:43,657
<i>In Raja Ampat, we can find all</i>
<i>of these 1,000 species of anemones</i>

373
00:29:43,740 --> 00:29:45,617
<i>paired up with their clown fish.</i>

374
00:29:46,159 --> 00:29:49,121
[upbeat electronic music]

375
00:29:57,045 --> 00:29:58,839
<i>Many similarities can be drawn</i>

376
00:29:58,922 --> 00:30:01,508
<i>between the sights of the underwater world</i>

377
00:30:01,591 --> 00:30:03,385
<i>and those of the world above.</i>

378
00:30:05,053 --> 00:30:08,306
<i>This coral, for example,</i>
<i>bears a striking resemblance</i>

379
00:30:08,390 --> 00:30:10,142
<i>to a branch tree,</i>

380
00:30:10,225 --> 00:30:13,061
<i>and this fan coral</i>
<i>could easily be likened</i>

381
00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:15,230
<i>to the veins seen on a leaf.</i>

382
00:30:19,901 --> 00:30:22,696
<i>Let us float through</i>
<i>the different underwater gardens</i>

383
00:30:22,779 --> 00:30:24,614
<i>and coral bases for a moment.</i>

384
00:30:24,698 --> 00:30:28,243
[upbeat music]

385
00:31:10,619 --> 00:31:12,245
<i>Also, above water,</i>

386
00:31:12,329 --> 00:31:15,123
<i>the small and larger island</i>
<i>of the archipelago</i>

387
00:31:15,207 --> 00:31:18,043
<i>with their thriving trees</i>
<i>and wide beaches</i>

388
00:31:18,126 --> 00:31:20,879
<i>look like the perfect vision of paradise.</i>

389
00:31:20,962 --> 00:31:24,007
[relaxing music]

390
00:31:24,091 --> 00:31:27,552
[more upbeat music]

391
00:31:45,195 --> 00:31:47,364
<i>Even though these natural wonders</i>

392
00:31:47,447 --> 00:31:50,659
<i>look almost indestructible</i>
<i>and seemingly permanent,</i>

393
00:31:50,742 --> 00:31:53,954
<i>they are, in fact, incredibly vulnerable.</i>

394
00:31:54,037 --> 00:31:55,831
<i>The mining and timber industries</i>

395
00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:59,960
<i>have already destroyed</i>
<i>much of the natural beauty of the islands,</i>

396
00:32:00,043 --> 00:32:02,754
<i>and have contributed</i>
<i>to increased rates of erosion.</i>

397
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:06,842
<i>They also contribute</i>
<i>to the pollution of the air,</i>

398
00:32:06,925 --> 00:32:09,928
<i>with their creation of greenhouse gases.</i>

399
00:32:10,011 --> 00:32:13,098
<i>The destruction of the rainforests on land</i>

400
00:32:13,181 --> 00:32:15,475
<i>can be fatal for the coral reefs.</i>

401
00:32:15,559 --> 00:32:18,103
<i>Without tree roots</i>
<i>to hold the earth together,</i>

402
00:32:18,186 --> 00:32:21,106
<i>erosion will lead</i>
<i>to an accumulation of mud,</i>

403
00:32:21,189 --> 00:32:22,440
<i>which will be followed</i>

404
00:32:22,524 --> 00:32:24,651
<i>by the sedimentation</i>
<i>of the coral reefs,</i>

405
00:32:25,277 --> 00:32:28,071
<i>which will eventually</i>
<i>lead to their deaths.</i>

406
00:32:29,823 --> 00:32:32,492
<i>If there were no forests and corals,</i>

407
00:32:33,201 --> 00:32:36,621
<i>all life in the reef would just disappear.</i>

408
00:32:38,707 --> 00:32:40,041
<i>If we do not act fast</i>

409
00:32:40,125 --> 00:32:43,044
<i>to prevent the cultivation</i>
<i>of these sensitive areas,</i>

410
00:32:43,128 --> 00:32:45,130
<i>we will no longer be able to observe</i>

411
00:32:45,213 --> 00:32:48,049
<i>the complex and spectacular life cycles</i>

412
00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:51,344
<i>of species like the wrasse and clown fish.</i>

413
00:32:52,220 --> 00:32:56,183
<i>Of course, there are countless</i>
<i>more types of coral reef,</i>

414
00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:58,685
<i>each with their own</i>
<i>unique characteristics,</i>

415
00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:02,522
<i>but it would be impossible</i>
<i>to talk about every one of these</i>

416
00:33:02,606 --> 00:33:04,274
<i>in just one documentary.</i>

417
00:33:07,110 --> 00:33:09,946
[upbeat music]

418
00:33:34,262 --> 00:33:37,432
<i>The relationship between clown fish</i>
<i>and anemones alone</i>

419
00:33:37,515 --> 00:33:39,226
<i>could fill several books.</i>

420
00:33:40,852 --> 00:33:43,813
[relaxing music]

421
00:33:53,031 --> 00:33:55,242
<i>The soft coral and their different species</i>

422
00:33:55,325 --> 00:33:57,535
<i>have many interesting aspects, too.</i>

423
00:33:58,495 --> 00:34:01,414
<i>They, for example,</i>
<i>have no calcium skeleton,</i>

424
00:34:01,498 --> 00:34:02,832
<i>like the stone corals,</i>

425
00:34:02,916 --> 00:34:07,128
<i>but do, however, have numerous</i>
<i>tiny needle-shaped skeletons</i>

426
00:34:07,212 --> 00:34:10,131
<i>which give the soft coral</i>
<i>their flexibility.</i>

427
00:34:12,217 --> 00:34:14,469
<i>As there is no leftover calcium skeleton,</i>

428
00:34:14,552 --> 00:34:16,429
<i>when a soft coral dies,</i>

429
00:34:16,513 --> 00:34:19,432
<i>there are very few fossil remains</i>
<i>to be found.</i>

430
00:34:21,017 --> 00:34:23,979
<i>Because of this fact,</i>
<i>it has proven extremely difficult</i>

431
00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:27,107
<i>to fully understand</i>
<i>their evolutionary cycle</i>

432
00:34:27,190 --> 00:34:29,109
<i>in the Raja Ampat region,</i>

433
00:34:29,192 --> 00:34:31,027
<i>and in the rest of the world.</i>

434
00:34:31,111 --> 00:34:34,364
[upbeat music]

435
00:34:49,879 --> 00:34:52,215
<i>Here this swarm of big eye mackerel</i>

436
00:34:52,299 --> 00:34:54,551
<i>is a direct result of evolution.</i>

437
00:34:56,094 --> 00:34:59,139
<i>For years, scientists</i>
<i>have tried to understand</i>

438
00:34:59,222 --> 00:35:02,559
<i>the processes which occur</i>
<i>in shoal fish over time.</i>

439
00:35:04,060 --> 00:35:05,729
<i>Here they focused their research</i>

440
00:35:05,812 --> 00:35:08,273
<i>particularly on mirror neurons.</i>

441
00:35:09,107 --> 00:35:11,401
<i>These nerve cells help to recognize</i>

442
00:35:11,484 --> 00:35:15,071
<i>and copy the movements</i>
<i>of familiar individuals.</i>

443
00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:18,199
<i>This is an important feature</i>

444
00:35:18,283 --> 00:35:21,828
<i>which enables the swarm</i>
<i>to move about freely and uniformly</i>

445
00:35:21,911 --> 00:35:22,912
<i>through the reef.</i>

446
00:35:22,996 --> 00:35:26,249
[upbeat music]

447
00:35:35,884 --> 00:35:40,096
<i>The coral reefs are far more</i>
<i>than just chalk frameworks in the ocean.</i>

448
00:35:41,264 --> 00:35:43,767
<i>While growing, they absorb a huge amount</i>

449
00:35:43,850 --> 00:35:46,936
<i>of carbon dioxide and sea water</i>
<i>from the air.</i>

450
00:35:48,271 --> 00:35:51,816
<i>This process helps to work</i>
<i>against the greenhouse effect.</i>

451
00:35:55,570 --> 00:35:58,406
<i>Furthermore, corals</i>
<i>are a magnificent source</i>

452
00:35:58,490 --> 00:36:00,450
<i>of nourishment for many fish,</i>

453
00:36:00,533 --> 00:36:03,078
<i>as plants often settle on the branches.</i>

454
00:36:03,953 --> 00:36:05,538
<i>These fish return the favor</i>

455
00:36:05,622 --> 00:36:09,167
<i>by preventing too large</i>
<i>a buildup of plant life,</i>

456
00:36:09,250 --> 00:36:11,503
<i>which would obscure the coral's surface</i>

457
00:36:11,586 --> 00:36:13,838
<i>and prevent it from absorbing sunlight.</i>

458
00:36:13,922 --> 00:36:17,550
[upbeat music]

459
00:36:25,934 --> 00:36:29,020
[relaxing music]

460
00:36:41,866 --> 00:36:44,619
[music changes back to upbeat rhythm]

461
00:36:59,384 --> 00:37:02,011
<i>One of the main reasons</i>
<i>for the colorful mixture</i>

462
00:37:02,095 --> 00:37:04,222
<i>of different plants and animals</i>

463
00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:07,100
<i>is the dramatic change</i>
<i>in the mean sea level</i>

464
00:37:07,183 --> 00:37:09,519
<i>over the last 100,000 years.</i>

465
00:37:10,562 --> 00:37:11,980
<i>Because of the ice ages,</i>

466
00:37:12,063 --> 00:37:14,274
<i>which came and went over this period,</i>

467
00:37:14,357 --> 00:37:17,819
<i>the water between the two poles</i>
<i>became linked.</i>

468
00:37:17,902 --> 00:37:22,574
<i>Consequently, the mean sea level</i>
<i>sank significantly.</i>

469
00:37:22,657 --> 00:37:27,078
<i>Eventually, there was no water left</i>
<i>in Raja Ampat.</i>

470
00:37:28,037 --> 00:37:29,706
<i>As a direct result of this,</i>

471
00:37:29,789 --> 00:37:33,293
<i>completely separate species</i>
<i>of animal and plant life</i>

472
00:37:33,376 --> 00:37:35,378
<i>developed in the two seashores,</i>

473
00:37:35,462 --> 00:37:37,881
<i>divided by the land of West New Guinea.</i>

474
00:37:39,132 --> 00:37:40,675
<i>When the ice ages passed,</i>

475
00:37:40,759 --> 00:37:42,510
<i>and the ice thawed into water,</i>

476
00:37:42,594 --> 00:37:44,721
<i>the mean sea level rose again,</i>

477
00:37:44,804 --> 00:37:49,601
<i>and the previously completely separate</i>
<i>marine environments joined together,</i>

478
00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:51,728
<i>and transformed Raja Ampat</i>

479
00:37:51,811 --> 00:37:55,148
<i>into the colorful and vibrant paradise</i>

480
00:37:55,231 --> 00:37:56,649
<i>which we see today.</i>

481
00:37:56,733 --> 00:37:59,569
[upbeat music]

482
00:37:59,652 --> 00:38:02,989
[music takes on a quicker rhythm]

483
00:38:53,540 --> 00:38:55,917
<i>Up to this point, evidence</i>
<i>has been discovered</i>

484
00:38:56,042 --> 00:39:00,880
<i>to suggest the existence of more</i>
<i>than 600 different hard coral species,</i>

485
00:39:00,964 --> 00:39:03,299
<i>700 snail and shell species,</i>

486
00:39:03,383 --> 00:39:06,636
<i>as well as more than 1600 fish species</i>

487
00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:09,305
<i>in the region around Raja Ampat.</i>

488
00:39:09,389 --> 00:39:13,309
<i>Several years ago,</i>
<i>almost 300 different fish species</i>

489
00:39:13,393 --> 00:39:15,812
<i>were discovered in one dive.</i>

490
00:39:18,273 --> 00:39:21,109
<i>In the eclectic mixture</i>
<i>of different habitats,</i>

491
00:39:21,192 --> 00:39:22,777
<i>thousands of different species</i>

492
00:39:22,861 --> 00:39:27,115
<i>have developed their own individual</i>
<i>and ingenious ways of surviving.</i>

493
00:39:28,032 --> 00:39:31,202
<i>The archipelago, in the center</i>
<i>of The Coral Triangle,</i>

494
00:39:31,286 --> 00:39:33,746
<i>is a crucible of evolution.</i>

495
00:39:33,830 --> 00:39:36,958
<i>It is only here,</i>
<i>in the Indonesian coral jungle</i>

496
00:39:37,041 --> 00:39:39,085
<i>that such a variety of living things</i>

497
00:39:39,168 --> 00:39:40,712
<i>could come into existence</i>

498
00:39:40,795 --> 00:39:42,964
<i>in a purely natural environment.</i>

499
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:48,303
<i>Nowhere else can so many</i>
<i>differing species of sea dwellers</i>

500
00:39:48,386 --> 00:39:51,723
<i>be found coexisting in such harmony.</i>

501
00:39:52,473 --> 00:39:54,851
[upbeat music]

502
00:40:03,735 --> 00:40:05,987
<i>Who these pink colored contemporaries</i>

503
00:40:06,070 --> 00:40:09,198
<i>with skillful movements</i>
<i>and perfect maneuverability</i>

504
00:40:09,282 --> 00:40:12,911
<i>try to outswim, remains uncertain to us,</i>

505
00:40:14,746 --> 00:40:17,832
<i>but surely they will</i>
<i>find their hiding place,</i>

506
00:40:17,916 --> 00:40:21,502
<i>here in this abundant underwater world.</i>

507
00:40:21,586 --> 00:40:25,131
[relaxing music]

508
00:40:29,052 --> 00:40:33,097
[upbeat music]

509
00:40:36,225 --> 00:40:40,647
<i>However, this incredibly unique</i>
<i>and precious area</i>

510
00:40:40,730 --> 00:40:44,984
<i>is under constant threat</i>
<i>from overfishing and climate change.</i>

511
00:40:45,818 --> 00:40:48,446
<i>The natural environment</i>
<i>of West New Guinea, though,</i>

512
00:40:48,529 --> 00:40:52,200
<i>does remain relatively untouched</i>
<i>by human activity.</i>

513
00:40:54,118 --> 00:40:57,205
<i>This reef has been turned</i>
<i>into a natural reserve</i>

514
00:40:57,288 --> 00:40:59,499
<i>in order to prevent damage from humans,</i>

515
00:40:59,582 --> 00:41:01,960
<i>and is protected</i>
<i>by the Indonesian government</i>

516
00:41:02,043 --> 00:41:03,503
<i>as effectively as possible</i>

517
00:41:03,586 --> 00:41:06,506
<i>in order to preserve this marine paradise</i>

518
00:41:06,589 --> 00:41:08,091
<i>for future generations.</i>

519
00:41:08,758 --> 00:41:10,093
<i>Thanks to this action,</i>

520
00:41:10,176 --> 00:41:13,680
<i>species which exist nowhere else on Earth</i>

521
00:41:13,763 --> 00:41:17,058
<i>continue to thrive around the coast</i>
<i>of Western New Guinea.</i>

522
00:41:18,184 --> 00:41:20,019
<i>Despite numerous expeditions,</i>

523
00:41:20,103 --> 00:41:22,021
<i>it has been impossible to calculate</i>

524
00:41:22,105 --> 00:41:25,233
<i>the number of species</i>
<i>living in the coral gardens.</i>

525
00:41:26,109 --> 00:41:30,655
<i>To this day, the number of species</i>
<i>known to exist in Raja Ampat</i>

526
00:41:30,738 --> 00:41:32,573
<i>has increased every year.</i>

527
00:41:32,657 --> 00:41:34,701
<i>But for how long will this continue?</i>

528
00:41:36,577 --> 00:41:40,206
<i>Hopefully these coral gardens</i>
<i>will remain protected</i>

529
00:41:40,289 --> 00:41:42,667
<i>and will thrive long into the future,</i>

530
00:41:42,750 --> 00:41:45,670
<i>so that the number of new</i>
<i>species discovered here</i>

531
00:41:45,753 --> 00:41:47,547
<i>will carry on increasing.</i>

532
00:41:49,007 --> 00:41:52,343
<i>Sometimes very special and rare guests</i>

533
00:41:52,427 --> 00:41:56,764
<i>of mysterious and breathtaking beauty</i>
<i>come to visit the area.</i>

534
00:42:00,810 --> 00:42:03,396
<i>When the spectacular manta rays appear,</i>

535
00:42:03,479 --> 00:42:08,109
<i>all other fish suddenly</i>
<i>seem far less impressive in comparison.</i>

536
00:42:08,192 --> 00:42:09,944
<i>They are friendly creatures,</i>

537
00:42:10,028 --> 00:42:13,197
<i>and boast an impressive 23 foot wingspan.</i>

538
00:42:15,324 --> 00:42:17,577
<i>Due to the two lobes around their mouths,</i>

539
00:42:17,660 --> 00:42:20,663
<i>these fish are also known as devil rays.</i>

540
00:42:21,289 --> 00:42:23,249
<i>Manta rays are filter feeders,</i>

541
00:42:23,332 --> 00:42:27,628
<i>meaning they survive almost exclusively</i>
<i>on a diet of plankton.</i>

542
00:42:27,712 --> 00:42:29,338
<i>When they visit Raja Ampat,</i>

543
00:42:29,422 --> 00:42:31,674
<i>these fish are welcomed by wrasses,</i>

544
00:42:31,758 --> 00:42:34,052
<i>who clean their skin of parasites.</i>

545
00:42:34,635 --> 00:42:37,305
<i>These places are known</i>
<i>as cleaning stations.</i>

546
00:42:37,805 --> 00:42:42,268
<i>On these occasions, manta rays</i>
<i>move incredibly gracefully,</i>

547
00:42:42,351 --> 00:42:46,105
<i>gliding slowly and cautiously</i>
<i>through the water.</i>

548
00:42:46,189 --> 00:42:49,609
[upbeat music]

549
00:44:02,890 --> 00:44:06,477
<i>This delightful spot,</i>
<i>with its beautiful sandy beaches</i>

550
00:44:06,561 --> 00:44:08,437
<i>and crystal-clear water,</i>

551
00:44:08,521 --> 00:44:12,608
<i>attracts all manner of people</i>
<i>from all over the world.</i>

552
00:44:12,692 --> 00:44:15,528
[upbeat music]

553
00:44:33,171 --> 00:44:35,339
<i>When viewed from a bird's eye perspective,</i>

554
00:44:35,423 --> 00:44:39,010
<i>the magic of the interaction</i>
<i>between the islands is striking.</i>

555
00:44:39,635 --> 00:44:43,514
<i>This is far more impressive</i>
<i>than traversing the narrow canals by boat,</i>

556
00:44:43,598 --> 00:44:47,101
<i>as from here,</i>
<i>the rainforests and coral reefs</i>

557
00:44:47,185 --> 00:44:49,145
<i>look untouched by time,</i>

558
00:44:49,228 --> 00:44:51,355
<i>appearing almost prehistoric,</i>

559
00:44:51,439 --> 00:44:54,025
<i>and as if they have existed for eternity.</i>

560
00:44:54,108 --> 00:44:57,320
[upbeat music]

561
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:10,791
<i>The wide extended woods,</i>

562
00:45:10,875 --> 00:45:13,669
<i>which can only be seen in full</i>
<i>from up here,</i>

563
00:45:13,753 --> 00:45:17,757
<i>are very typical for this equatorial</i>
<i>tropical rainforest area,</i>

564
00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:20,301
<i>with its many different palm species.</i>

565
00:45:20,384 --> 00:45:24,305
<i>Many trees are growing on cliffs</i>
<i>and stony steep faces.</i>

566
00:45:25,264 --> 00:45:28,643
<i>One species of tree</i>
<i>is very typical for this area,</i>

567
00:45:28,726 --> 00:45:32,438
<i>and does not need a lot of soil to grow,</i>
<i>the coco palm.</i>

568
00:45:34,899 --> 00:45:37,693
<i>During the Pacific War</i>
<i>between America and Japan</i>

569
00:45:37,777 --> 00:45:39,487
<i>in World War II,</i>

570
00:45:39,570 --> 00:45:41,906
<i>the number of wrecks</i>
<i>around the archipelago</i>

571
00:45:41,989 --> 00:45:43,824
<i>increased dramatically.</i>

572
00:45:43,908 --> 00:45:48,162
<i>Here you can marvel at the plane wreck</i>
<i>of a P-47 Thunderbolt,</i>

573
00:45:48,246 --> 00:45:50,790
<i>one of the most commonly</i>
<i>flown American aircraft</i>

574
00:45:50,873 --> 00:45:52,166
<i>in World War II.</i>

575
00:45:53,376 --> 00:45:57,213
<i>Even though wrecks such as this</i>
<i>can be quite easy to spot among the coral,</i>

576
00:45:57,296 --> 00:45:59,382
<i>it is sometimes quite difficult to define</i>

577
00:45:59,465 --> 00:46:01,259
<i>the exactly position of a wreck.</i>

578
00:46:01,342 --> 00:46:03,886
<i>The most effective methods</i>
<i>of locating a wreck</i>

579
00:46:03,970 --> 00:46:07,181
<i>are air recognizance and sonar technology,</i>

580
00:46:08,307 --> 00:46:09,767
<i>a technique which is similar</i>

581
00:46:09,850 --> 00:46:14,230
<i>to the echo method</i>
<i>used by bats, whales, or dolphins.</i>

582
00:46:14,313 --> 00:46:17,650
[relaxing music]

583
00:46:19,485 --> 00:46:22,196
<i>Over time, the wrecks decay,</i>

584
00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:25,324
<i>and can be left</i>
<i>as just large hunks of metal.</i>

585
00:46:27,535 --> 00:46:31,247
<i>However, nature is very good</i>
<i>at working around these wrecks,</i>

586
00:46:31,330 --> 00:46:32,957
<i>and uses them as a frame</i>

587
00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:35,209
<i>on which new life can be created,</i>

588
00:46:35,293 --> 00:46:38,587
<i>turning the old plane</i>
<i>into an artificial reef.</i>

589
00:46:38,671 --> 00:46:42,425
[dramatic music]

590
00:46:45,177 --> 00:46:48,431
<i>Although this process originally</i>
<i>occurred accidentally,</i>

591
00:46:48,514 --> 00:46:51,475
<i>artificial reefs have since</i>
<i>been built intentionally</i>

592
00:46:51,559 --> 00:46:54,729
<i>in places like Australia</i>
<i>and the Caribbean.</i>

593
00:46:54,812 --> 00:46:58,399
[dramatic music]

594
00:47:57,416 --> 00:48:00,002
<i>Slowly we approach the end</i>
<i>of our journey,</i>

595
00:48:01,253 --> 00:48:05,549
<i>a journey which has taken us through</i>
<i>an unforgettable paradise of nature,</i>

596
00:48:05,633 --> 00:48:08,427
<i>a paradise which now lies behind us.</i>

597
00:48:08,511 --> 00:48:12,431
[upbeat electronic music]

598
00:48:20,106 --> 00:48:21,982
<i>Nowadays, Raja Ampat</i>

599
00:48:22,066 --> 00:48:26,028
<i>is one of the most beautiful</i>
<i>nature sanctuaries in the world.</i>

600
00:48:26,112 --> 00:48:28,406
<i>The reefs are still</i>
<i>in very good condition.</i>

601
00:48:29,323 --> 00:48:32,827
<i>We, the visitors</i>
<i>of such an exotic paradise,</i>

602
00:48:32,910 --> 00:48:34,620
<i>have a duty to take care of it</i>

603
00:48:34,703 --> 00:48:36,539
<i>so that it stays as it is.</i>

604
00:48:38,332 --> 00:48:40,709
<i>Every visitor, be it a diver,</i>

605
00:48:40,793 --> 00:48:44,130
<i>a scientist, or a swimmer,</i>
<i>can contribute their part</i>

606
00:48:44,213 --> 00:48:47,383
<i>in order to safeguard</i>
<i>this astonishing nature.</i>

607
00:48:47,466 --> 00:48:50,469
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

608
00:48:51,804 --> 00:48:58,436
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

609
00:48:58,519 --> 00:49:01,939
<i>There is hope for these areas</i>
<i>of beauty in the future.</i>

610
00:49:02,022 --> 00:49:04,733
<i>For years now, the islands</i>
<i>have been monitored</i>

611
00:49:04,817 --> 00:49:07,820
<i>as effectively as possible</i>
<i>by conservationists.</i>

612
00:49:07,903 --> 00:49:11,490
[relaxing music]

613
00:49:12,575 --> 00:49:15,661
<i>Currently, there is talk</i>
<i>of designating the islands</i>

614
00:49:15,744 --> 00:49:18,205
<i>UNESCO world heritage sites.</i>

615
00:49:19,790 --> 00:49:23,252
<i>This would not only increase</i>
<i>public interest in the area,</i>

616
00:49:23,335 --> 00:49:27,256
<i>but also ensure its protection</i>
<i>and wellbeing for the future.</i>

617
00:49:27,339 --> 00:49:30,634
[upbeat electronic music]

618
00:49:56,327 --> 00:49:59,038
<i>Artificial reefs</i>
<i>can bring life back to regions</i>

619
00:49:59,121 --> 00:50:01,999
<i>which were seemingly irrevocably damaged,</i>

620
00:50:02,082 --> 00:50:05,127
<i>and give the areas back</i>
<i>their sprawling beauty.</i>

621
00:50:07,922 --> 00:50:10,549
<i>If it is treated with this care,</i>

622
00:50:10,633 --> 00:50:14,970
<i>Raja Ampat will remain</i>
<i>in exactly this state for the future.</i>

623
00:50:15,054 --> 00:50:18,807
[upbeat electronic music]

624
00:50:35,783 --> 00:50:42,248
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

625
00:50:43,749 --> 00:50:50,464
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

626
00:50:50,548 --> 00:50:54,176
<i>We fly over the coral reef one last time,</i>

627
00:50:54,260 --> 00:50:56,804
<i>admiring the greatest abundance of species</i>

628
00:50:56,887 --> 00:50:59,139
<i>to be found anywhere in the world.</i>

629
00:51:01,267 --> 00:51:04,478
<i>With all its innumerable</i>
<i>secrets and treasures,</i>

630
00:51:04,562 --> 00:51:07,231
<i>this place will continue</i>
<i>to fascinate humans</i>

631
00:51:07,314 --> 00:51:09,275
<i>for many more years to come.</i>

632
00:51:11,986 --> 00:51:14,613
<i>It doesn't matter how much time goes by,</i>

633
00:51:14,697 --> 00:51:19,201
<i>Raja Ampat will forever have</i>
<i>what makes it so incomparable,</i>

634
00:51:20,494 --> 00:51:23,706
<i>the magic of the Indo-Pacific region.</i>

635
00:51:23,789 --> 00:51:27,459
[upbeat electronic music]

636
00:51:39,722 --> 00:51:46,020
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

637
00:51:47,730 --> 00:51:54,028
<i>♪ Whoa, whoa ♪</i>

638
00:51:55,988 --> 00:51:59,491
[music changes to a more relaxed beat]

639
00:52:08,792 --> 00:52:12,504
[dramatic music]