Original subtitles

\h\hNarrator: IT’S LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH--

\h\h\h\h\hA NARROW LAND BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS TWO CONTINENTS.

FOR MILLIONS OF ANIMALS,

\hPANAMA PROVIDES A VITAL CONNECTION

BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA.

BUT THIS CONTINENTAL HIGHWAY \h\h\h\h\h\hIS UNDER THREAT.

ITS FORESTS ARE DISAPPEARING.

ITS BEACHES ARE DROWNING \h\h\hUNDER RISING SEAS.

Emma: DAN, COME HERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW, SCIENTISTS ARE USING

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY...

Dan: THE TRANSMITTER IS SITTING NICE AND TIGHT.

\h\hNarrator: ...TO TRACK THE ANIMALS’ MOVEMENTS...

Man: WHOA!

Narrator: ...AND CONFRONT THESE CHALLENGES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

Ricardo: WOO!

Narrator: IT’S FALL.

\h\hACROSS THE UNITED STATES, BIRDS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

ARE HEADING SOUTH \hFOR THE WINTER.

EACH YEAR, MILLIONS OF THEM FUNNEL DOWN TOWARDS PANAMA.

\h\h\h\hRAPTORS, SONGBIRDS, AND SHOREBIRDS FLY THROUGH.

BY LAND, JAGUARS AND COYOTES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMAKE THEIR WAY ALONG THE JUNGLE CORRIDORS.

AND IN THE OCEANS, HUNDREDS \hOF SEA TURTLES CONGREGATE

ON THE BEACHES TO NEST,

WHILE PODS OF HUMPBACK WHALES

\h\h\hGATHER TO BREED IN ITS COASTAL WATERS.

FOR ALL THE MIGRATING ANIMALS,

PANAMA IS A VITAL PIT STOP ON THE CONTINENTAL HIGHWAY

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT CONNECTS NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA.

AT ITS NARROWEST, THE ISTHMUS IS JUST A FEW DOZEN MILES ACROSS.

HERE, HUNDREDS OF SPECIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONVERGE

AS THEY STREAM DOWN \h\hFROM THE NORTH.

BUT THIS FRAGILE BOTTLENECK \h\h\h\h\h\hIS UNDER SIEGE.

THE CORRIDORS IT PROVIDES

\h\hALONG ITS COASTLINES AND IN ITS JUNGLES ARE CHANGING.

\hAND ANYTHING THAT DISRUPTS THE FLOW OF ANIMALS THROUGH

COULD IMPACT ENTIRE SPECIES.

Ricardo: LOOK AT THIS ONE.

Roland: THERE’S JAGUAR TRACK \h\h\hRIGHT HERE IN THE MUD.

Narrator: THAT’S WHY SCIENTISTS ARE MONITORING THE MOVEMENTS

OF JAGUARS AND COYOTES.

Emma: OK, LET’S GO. \h\hRAPIDO, RAPIDO.

Narrator: ATTACHING \hSATELLITE TRACKERS

TO GIANT LEATHERBACKS...

Liz: OOH, IT’S A BIT DEEP HERE.

Narrator: PLACING NANOTAGS THAT WEIGH LESS THAN A PAPERCLIP

ON TINY WARBLERS.

Liz: SHE’S READY TO GO.

Narrator: AND IT’S WHY

CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST \h\h\hKEITH BILDSTEIN

AND HIS COLLEAGUE J.F. THERRIEN ARE ON A STAKEOUT

ON A DAIRY FARM IN ARIZONA.

Keith: THIS GUY’S REALLY HUNGRY; HE’S REALLY TUGGING.

SO WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

Narrator: KEITH IS HERE TO TRAP TURKEY VULTURES.

Keith: YES.

\hNarrator: HE AIMS TO TAG THE BIRDS WITH SATELLITE TRACKERS

THAT WILL ALLOW HIM TO FOLLOW \h\h\hTHEIR WINTER MIGRATIONS.

\h\h\h\h\hKeith: UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY ARE, WHEN THEY ARE,

AND WHAT THEY’RE FEEDING ON

\h\hLAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

THIS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT \h\h\h\h\h\hAVIAN SCAVENGER.

Narrator: MORE THAN HALF OF ALL VULTURE SPECIES ARE ENDANGERED.

TO HELP PROTECT TURKEY VULTURES,

KEITH NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE THEY \hGO WHEN THEY LEAVE ARIZONA.

HOW MANY MIGRATE TO PANAMA, AND HOW MANY GO EVEN FARTHER SOUTH?

Keith: WE’RE TRYING TO DO PREVENTATIVE CONSERVATION,

IF YOU WILL.

Narrator: EARLIER TODAY, \h\hHE RIGGED A CARCASS

\h\h\h\hWITH FOOT SNARES MADE FROM FISHING LINE,

IN THE HOPES OF CAPTURING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA VULTURE.

Keith: SO WHEN THE BIRD’S FOOT \h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD GET CAUGHT,

IT WOULD MOVE ITS FOOT \h\h\h\hTHROUGH HERE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE’LL CATCH \hSOMETHING THIS MORNING.

CAN YOU SEE THEM?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW, IT’S ABOUT PATIENCE.

Keith: IT’S A WAITING GAME.

\hFOR ANY WILD ANIMAL, MUCH OF ITS LIFE UNFOLDS OUT OF SIGHT.

Keith: LOOK AT THAT!

WE’VE BEEN OUT HERE \hALMOST FOUR HOURS.

SO IT’S NICE TO FINALLY HAVE \h\h\hA BIRD ON THE GROUND.

THE BEST WAY TO REVEAL \h\hTHEIR HIDDEN LIVES

IS TO TRACK THEIR MOVEMENTS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKeith: OOPS. WASN’T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

ANYONE WHO’S EVER TRIED \h\h\hTO TRAP A VULTURE

\h\h\hWILL TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.

THAT’S TOO BAD.

\h\hTHERE’S A TENDENCY TO BE VERY PERSNICKETY

WHEN THEY APPROACH A CARCASS.

[LAUGHS]

PAINFUL.

Narrator: THE MORE BIRDS THAT ARE ON THE CARCASS

\h\hAND MOVING AROUND, THE GREATER THE CHANCE

THAT ONE OF THEM WILL STEP ON A FOOT SNARE.

Keith: THEY JUST FEEL \h\h\hMORE COMFORTABLE

WHEN THEY’RE FEEDING AS A GROUP.

Narrator: BUT SO FAR \hTHERE’S ONLY ONE.

\h\h\h\h\hKeith: HMM. SECOND ONE COMING IN.

Narrator: WITH EACH NEW ARRIVAL, THE ODDS IMPROVE.

Keith: BIG PARTY.

Narrator: IN A GROUP, \hTHE BIRDS MOVE MORE,

AS THEY JOCKEY FOR POSITION \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE CARCASS.

J.F.: COME ON, GUYS.

Narrator: SUCCESS!

THE TEAM MUST GET TO THE BIRDS \h\h\h\hAS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

TO MINIMIZE STRESS.

Keith: THIS ONE’S CAUGHT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY A TOE!

SO, WE’VE GOT AN ADULT HERE, \h\h\h\h\h\hAN ADULT THERE.

Narrator: THEY HAVE GOOD REASON

TO HANDLE THE BIRDS \h\hVERY CAREFULLY.

\h\h\hKeith: ONE OF THE DEFENSE MECHANISMS THAT THESE BIRDS HAVE

IS TO PROJECTILE VOMIT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hVOMITING ON AN APPROACHING PREDATOR

IS A VERY EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.

\h\h\hNarrator: SO FAR, KEITH’S MANAGED TO AVOID BEING A TARGET.

J.F.: ONE, SIX, THREE... \h\hFOUR, EIGHT, EIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\hKeith: SO THIS IS A SATELLITE TRACKING DEVICE

THAT WE AFFIX TO THE BACKS \h\h\h\h\hOF THESE BIRDS.

THIS IS THE SOLAR POWER \h\hPORTION OF THE UNIT;

\hTHIS IS THE GPS CUBE THAT COLLECTS THE DATA

ON THE LOCATION OF THE BIRD.

\hNarrator: THE GOAL IS TO FIX THE SATELLITE TAG

\hAS FIRMLY AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT IN ANY WAY INJURING THE VULTURE.

Keith: SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE \hTHAT WE GET IT FITTING SNUG

BUT NOT TOO SNUG, NOT TOO LOOSE.

JUST RIGHT.

THE BIRDS HAVE RATHER THIN SKIN,

SO THE HARNESS MATERIAL \h\h\h\hIS TEFLON RIBBON

WHICH IS NON-ABRASIVE, \h\h\h\hVERY SLIPPERY.

Narrator: THE SOLAR PANEL ON THE TAG GENERATES POWER

\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT THE NEED FOR A HEAVY BATTERY PACK.

Keith: LOOKING GOOD.

Narrator: THE TAG WEIGHS \h\h\h\h\hJUST AN OUNCE.

\h\hAND RUNNING ON SOLAR POWER, IT CAN TRACK A BIRD FOR YEARS...

Keith: OK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS LONG AS IT STAYS ON.

Keith: SO YOU CAN SEE \hIT’S FLYING NICELY,

HAS FULL USE OF ITS WINGS,

AND IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO \hBACK TO THE ROOST TONIGHT

AND TALK ABOUT A CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE THIRD KIND.

Narrator: NOW THE BIRDS CAN \h\hEFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE

WITH KEITH, RELAYING DATA \h\hABOUT THEIR JOURNEYS.

Keith: BEAUTIFUL.

THIS BIRD PROBABLY HAS A 5 1/2-FOOT WINGSPAN.

Narrator: SOON THE TAGGED \h\h\h\h\hTURKEY VULTURES

WILL LEAVE ON THEIR MIGRATIONS.

THOSE HEADED SOUTH WILL JOIN \hMILLIONS OF OTHER VULTURES

HEADED TO LATIN AMERICA.

AND ALL OF THEM WILL SQUEEZE \h\h\h\hINTO A STRIP OF LAND

JUST A FEW DOZEN MILES ACROSS-- THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA.

ANNUAL MIGRATIONS LIKE THESE

\h\h\hARE A CRITICAL PART OF MANY ANIMALS’ LIVES...

\hFROM BIRDS TO BATS, WILDEBEEST TO WHALES.

USUALLY ANIMALS UNDERTAKE \h\h\hTHESE VAST JOURNEYS

IN SEARCH OF MORE PLENTIFUL FOOD OR BETTER BREEDING CONDITIONS.

AND PROBABLY NOWHERE ON EARTH

IS SUCH A FOCUS OF MIGRATIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS PANAMA.

BUT THE NARROWNESS \hOF THE CORRIDOR

\h\h\h\h\h\hMEANS THAT ANY ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT HERE

\h\h\h\h\h\hRISKS BEING A CONSERVATION DISASTER.

AND NOT JUST FOR BIRDS.

THE PANAMA THROUGHWAY \h\hPLAYS A VITAL ROLE

\h\h\hIN THE MOVEMENT OF LAND ANIMALS, TOO.

IN PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE MOST \h\h\h\hMAGNIFICENT PREDATORS

IN THE AMERICAS.

[MOTOR REVVING]

\h\hRICARDO MORENO IS A MAN WITH A MISSION:

TO SAVE THE JAGUAR IN PANAMA.

\h\hSOME PREDICT IT COULD DISAPPEAR FROM THE COUNTRY

WITHIN A DECADE.

RICARDO IS DETERMINED THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ON HIS WATCH.

Ricardo: YOU CANNOT SEE THEM,

BUT YOU KNOW THEY ARE HERE, \h\h\h\hAND YOU CAN FEEL IT.

YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER \h\h\h\hOF THE ANIMAL,

\hBECAUSE THE JAGUAR IS THE POWER OF THE FOREST.

Narrator: BUT THAT FOREST \h\h\h\h\hIS DISAPPEARING,

TURNING INTO FARMS \h\hAND RANCHLAND.

AS JAGUARS THREATEN LIVESTOCK,

THEY’VE BECOME A TARGET \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR HUNTING.

RICARDO’S GOAL IS TO CHANGE \h\h\h\hTHE HEARTS AND MINDS

OF THOSE WHO VIEW THE CAT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS A THREAT.

Ricardo: WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE \h\hTHE JAGUAR HERE IN PANAMA,

\h\h\h\hWORKING WITH THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY CAN COEXIST.

Narrator: BUT FARMS \h\h\hARE SCATTERED

OVER WIDE AREAS OF FOREST.

TO KNOW WHICH RANCHERS \h\h\h\h\h\hTO TARGET,

RICARDO NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND \h\h\h\h\hHOW THE CATS MOVE

\h\hTHROUGH THE MOSAIC OF FORESTS AND FARMS.

TO DO THAT, HE AIMS TO BECOME \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST PERSON

TO PUT A GPS TRACKING COLLAR \h\h\hON A JAGUAR IN PANAMA.

Roland: THAT LOOKS LIKE NICER FOREST OVER THERE.

Ricardo: YEAH.

Narrator: HE’S TEAMING UP \h\h\h\hWITH ROLAND KAYS,

AN EXPERT ON USING CAMERA TRAPS TO TRACK ANIMALS.

THEY’RE HEADED INTO THE WILDEST PART OF THE COUNTRY,

THE DARIEN GAP--

\h\hTHOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES OF DENSE RAIN FOREST AND SWAMP

THAT SPAN THE BORDER \h\h\hWITH COLOMBIA.

BUT EVEN HERE, FARMERS ARE \hMOVING INTO THE JUNGLE,

INTO THE JAGUAR’S WORLD.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Narrator: RANCH OWNER \h\h\h\hENRIQUE NIETO

\h\h\hHAS LOST SEVERAL ANIMALS TO ATTACKS BY ONE OF THE CATS.

\hRicardo: HE WANTS TO HELP US TO COLLAR A JAGUAR RIGHT HERE,

BECAUSE THE JAGUAR ARE \hROAMING AROUND HERE,

\hAND THOSE CATS ARE KILLING HIS ANIMAL.

Roland: OK, SO WE’RE GOING TO BE SETTING TRAPS HERE

AND TRYING TO CATCH AND THEN \hCOLLAR ONE OF THE JAGUARS

TO SEE WHERE IT’S GOING \h\h\h\h\h\hON HIS LAND.

Ricardo: EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS PANAMA’S FOREST BECOMES

\hA FRAGMENTED PATCHWORK OF JUNGLE AND RANCHLAND,

IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE IMPACT

ON CREATURES LIKE THE JAGUAR

\h\hTHAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE HABITAT.

WITHOUT THAT BASIC INFORMATION, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PROTECT THEM.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

\h\h\hBUT RICARDO ALSO UNDERSTANDS THE THREAT

THE CATS POSE TO THE RANCHERS.

\h\hRicardo: HE’S TELLING US THE JAGUAR HERE USED TO KILL

THESE KIND OF ANIMALS, \hLIKE THE SMALL ONES.

YEAH, HE SAYS LIKE, ANIMAL LIKE THIS ONE CAN COST $300 TO $400.

Narrator: ENRIQUE HAS BORROWED \h\hMONEY TO BUY THESE CATTLE.

Ricardo: IF THE JAGUAR KILL IT,

HE NEEDS TO CONTINUE PAYING TO THE BANK,

AND IT’S A BIG LOSS FOR HIM \h\h\h\hAND FOR HIS FAMILY.

Narrator: IN THIS SITUATION,

FARMERS OFTEN HIRE HUNTERS \h\h\hTO KILL THE JAGUAR.

\h\h\hRICARDO AND ROLAND AIM TO CHANGE THE MINDS

OF RANCHERS LIKE ENRIQUE.

THEY CAN ADVISE THEM ON HOW \hTO PROTECT THEIR LIVESTOCK

FROM THE BIG CAT.

Ricardo: IF WE CAN SEE \hEXACTLY THE PATTERN,

\hWE CAN TALK WITH EVERY SINGLE OWNER

OF EVERY SINGLE FARM \h\h\hON THAT AREA.

Narrator: THE CAT ITSELF WILL \h\h\h\hREVEAL WHICH RANCHERS

ARE THREATENED AND WHERE RICARDO SHOULD CONCENTRATE HIS EFFORTS.

HE’S BATTLING TO PREVENT \h\h\h\h\h\hMORE JAGUARS

FROM ENDING UP LIKE THIS.

NAMED FIONA, SHE WAS FOUND \h\h\h\h\h\hAS A TINY CUB,

LESS THAN A WEEK OLD.

HER MOTHER WAS KILLED \h\h\h\h\hBY HUNTERS.

\h\h\hFIONA WAS BARELY ALIVE, ATTACKED BY THE HUNTERS’ DOGS.

EMERGENCY SURGERY SAVED HER.

SHE’S NOW TWO, WELL CARED FOR,

BUT FATED TO A LIFE \h\h\hIN CAPTIVITY.

THE SPREAD OF FARMS INTO THE RAIN FOREST

POSES AN INSIDIOUS THREAT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO JAGUARS

BY EATING INTO THEIR TERRITORY.

\hA SINGLE MALE JAGUAR CAN HUNT OVER AN AREA OF 50 SQUARE MILES,

TWICE THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN.

BUT AS FARMERS CLEAR TREES \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR RANCHING,

AN INDIVIDUAL CAT’S HOME RANGE GETS FRAGMENTED INTO POCKETS.

AS A POPULATION,

JAGUARS NEED A VAST STRETCH \h\h\hOF CONNECTED TERRAIN.

\h\h\hPANAMA IS A KEY LINK IN THE BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR

\h\hWHICH CONNECTS JAGUAR POPULATIONS

ALL THE WAY FROM THE SOUTHERN \h\h\hU.S. DOWN TO ARGENTINA.

BUT IN THE NARROW ISTHMUS OF PANAMA,

THAT LINKAGE IS MOST VULNERABLE TO BEING BROKEN

BY SPREADING FARMS.

\hRoland: MAYBE? Ricardo: MAYBE.

Narrator: RICARDO HAS NO IDEA

IF THE JAGUAR THAT KILLED \h\h\hENRIQUE’S LIVESTOCK

IS STILL IN THE AREA.

BUT THEN...

Ricardo: LOOK AT THIS ONE.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY.

Roland: OH, THERE IT IS.

\h\hRicardo: THOSE ARE PERFECT JAGUAR TRACKS.

Narrator: FRESH TRACKS.

THE JAGUAR MUST BE CLOSE BY.

\h\hIN PANAMA’S WILD DARIEN RAIN FOREST,

RICARDO MORENO AND ROLAND KAYS \h\h\h\hHOPE TO TRAP A JAGUAR,

\h\h\hSO THEY CAN FIT IT WITH A SATELLITE COLLAR.

Ricardo: IN THIS TRACK YOU CAN SEE THE ANIMAL GOING THIS WAY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRIGHT, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

Roland: SO IF THIS JAGUAR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAME BY

AND DID NOT EAT A GOAT \h\h\h\h\hLAST NIGHT,

\h\h\hDO YOU THINK IT’LL BE BACK TONIGHT LOOKING FOR GOATS AGAIN?

Ricardo: YEAH, I THINK SO, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hI THINK SO.

\h\h\h\h\hAND I HOPE SO, BECAUSE IF IT COMES BACK

\h\h\h\h\hMAYBE WE HAVE OUR FIRST JAGUARS HERE.

Roland: YEAH.

\hNarrator: FIRST TASK IS TO SET UP REMOTE CAMERAS.

Roland: SO WE PUT CAMERAS OUT FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS

AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

IN THIS CASE WE WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THIS JAGUAR IS

SO THAT WE CAN BETTER TRAP HIM.

Narrator: IF THE JAGUAR APPEARS,

\h\h\h\hIT WILL TRIGGER A SENSOR ON THE CAMERA,

WHICH WILL THEN RECORD \hA VIDEO OF THE CAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hRoland: ALRIGHT, I GOT THE CAMERA TRAPS SET,

SO WE’LL COME BACK TOMORROW \h\h\h\hAND SEE WHAT WE GET.

Ricardo: YEAH, WE WILL SEE.

I HOPE WE HAVE THE ANIMAL.

Narrator: THEY RIG MULTIPLE \h\hCAMERAS AROUND THE FARM.

Roland: SO YOU WANT \hTWO CAMERAS HERE?

Ricardo: DON ENRIQUE TOLD ME \h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS THE TRAIL

COMING FROM THE NEIGHBOR, \h\hWHICH IS PASTURELAND,

AND THEY SEE JAGUAR TRACKS.

\h\hNarrator: RICARDO AND ROLAND HAVE LIMITED TIME IN THE DARIEN;

JUST A WEEK.

\h\hWHILE THEY WAIT FOR INPUT FROM THE CAMERAS ON THE FARM,

THEY DECIDE TO SET A TRAP \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE FOREST

NEAR WHERE THEY EARLIER FOUND \h\h\h\hTHE TRACK OF A JAGUAR.

Ricardo: THIS IS A GOOD PLACE.

Roland: WE’VE LEFT THE FARMLAND,

WE’RE RIGHT AT THE EDGE \h\hIN THE FOREST HERE,

WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE JAGUAR’S HOME, REALLY, IN THE FOREST,

AND THEN HE VENTURES \hINTO THE FARMLAND.

\hWE’RE GOING TO PUT SOME BAIT OVER HERE,

AND WE’RE EXPECTING THE ANIMAL’S GOING TO COME AROUND THIS CORNER

\h\h\h\h\hAND SEE THE BAIT AND THEN COME STRAIGHT IN,

\h\hSO WE’RE GOING TO SET RIGHT AT THE END OF THIS STRAIGHTAWAY,

PUT OUR TRAP.

THIS IS THE MOST HUMANE WAY \hTO CATCH A JAGUAR, REALLY,

BECAUSE IT JUST CATCHES THEM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE FOOT,

AND THERE’S THIS SPRING

SO THEY DON’T PULL AWAY \hAND DAMAGE THEIR HAND.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Roland: THE TRICKY THING IS \h\h\h\hYOU HAVE TO PREDICT

EXACTLY WHERE THE JAGUAR’S \h\h\h\h\h\hGOING TO STEP.

AND SO BY PUTTING \hTHESE LOGS HERE,

WE THINK THAT HE’LL \hSTEP OVER THE LOG

AND THEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

Narrator: THE FINAL STEP IS TO INSTALL A REMOTE ALERT SYSTEM.

[STATIC]

Roland: SO THIS IS \h\hTHE SLOW BEEP,

MEANS NO ANIMAL IN THE TRAP.

WHEN THE TRAP GOES OFF, \h\h\hIT PULLS THIS OUT,

AND THE BEEP WILL SPEED UP.

[BEEPING]

THERE, NOW IT’S SPED UP.

Ricardo: YEAH. AND IT’S LIKE, \h\h\h\h\h\hWE HAVE SOMETHING,

AND WE NEED TO RUN!

Roland: IF WE HEAR THIS, \h\hIT MEANS GO, GO, GO.

Ricardo: YES.

Roland: YOU WANT TO MINIMIZE \h\h\h\h\hTHE AMOUNT OF TIME

AN ANIMAL’S IN THE TRAP.

IT’S BETTER FOR THE ANIMAL,

\h\hLESS LIKELY TO GET HURT, BUT THEN ALSO LESS LIKELY TO ESCAPE.

Narrator: NOW, ALL THEY CAN DO \h\h\h\h\h\hIS WAIT AND HOPE.

[STATIC]

EVERY FOUR HOURS,

\h\hRICARDO CHECKS TO SEE IF THE TRAP HAS BEEN TRIGGERED.

JAGUARS WILL SOMETIMES HUNT \h\h\h\h\h\hDURING DAYLIGHT.

IT’S THE BIGGEST CAT \h\hIN THE AMERICAS.

\h\hFOR ITS SIZE, ITS BITE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN A TIGER’S.

IT HAS LITTLE TO FEAR.

\h\hBUT SO CLOSE TO HUMANS, THE JAGUAR IS MORE LIKELY TO RETREAT

INTO THE FOREST IN THE DAY

AND ONLY COME IN THE QUIET \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE NIGHT.

FOR JAGUARS, THE FRAGMENTATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR FOREST

COULD PREVENT THEM FROM CROSSING THE PANAMA LAND BRIDGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR EONS, PANAMA DIDN’T EVEN EXIST!

\hNORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA WERE SEPARATE CONTINENTS.

BUT MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,

COLLIDING TECTONIC PLATES FORCED THE SEABED UPWARDS.

\hEVENTUALLY CREATING THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA

\h\h\h\hAND TRIGGERING ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVEMENTS

\h\h\hOF ANIMAL SPECIES IN THE PLANET’S HISTORY.

THE U.S. NOW HAS ARMADILLOS, \h\h\hPOSSUM AND PORCUPINES

BECAUSE THEY CAME OVER THE PANAMA LAND BRIDGE

FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

IN REVERSE, LLAMAS STARTED OUT \hAS A NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES,

\h\h\hTHEN USED THE ISTHMUS TO EXPAND THEIR RANGE SOUTH.

THEY WERE LIKELY KILLED OFF \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE NORTH

BY EARLY HUMAN HUNTERS.

TODAY, THE ISTHMUS REMAINS \h\h\h\h\hA CRITICAL LINK

CONNECTING THE CONTINENTS.

\h\h\hBUT THE BRIDGE IS UNDER INCREASING THREATS

AS PANAMA DEVELOPS.

\h\hAND THE COUNTRY IS DEVELOPING FAST.

SKYSCRAPERS NOW TOWER OVER ITS WILD FORESTS.

ITS SHEER NARROWNESS MAGNIFIES THE IMPACT

OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.

DESTROYING A SWATH OF FOREST \h\hJUST A DOZEN MILES WIDE

COULD CUT OFF MIGRATION ROUTES \h\h\hBETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH.

IF CLIMATE CHANGE RAISES SEA LEVELS,

IT COULD WIPE OUT BEACHES

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT ARE VITAL FOR ENDANGERED MIGRANTS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT COME HERE FROM THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES.

THEY CAN REACH SEVEN FEET LONG \hAND WEIGH AS MUCH AS A TON.

AND THEY SUSTAIN THIS VAST BULK ON LITTLE MORE THAN JELLYFISH!

BUT THESE GIANTS ARE AT RISK \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM POLLUTION

AND INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FISHERIES.

HUNDREDS DROWN EACH YEAR,

\h\h\h\hTANGLED IN NETS OR HOOKED ON LONGLINES.

LEATHERBACK NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED

\h\h\h\hBY AROUND 70% IN THE LAST 40 YEARS.

\h\h\h\hPANAMA PROVIDES CRITICAL NESTING SITES.

IN SPRING, TURTLES LEAVE \h\h\h\hFORAGING GROUNDS

THAT COULD BE AS FAR NORTH \h\h\h\h\hAS NOVA SCOTIA.

\hAND SWIM THOUSANDS OF MILES TO PANAMA’S WARM TROPICAL BEACHES.

THESE LONG MIGRATIONS \h\h\hCOULD TAKE THEM

THROUGH DANGEROUS \hFISHING GROUNDS,

BUT THE DETAILS OF THEIR JOURNEY ARE LITTLE KNOWN.

RESEARCHERS FROM THE SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY HAVE COME TO PANAMA

WITH THE GOAL OF TRACKING \h\h\h\h\hTHOSE MOVEMENTS.

EMMA HARRISON, DAN EVANS \h\h\h\h\hAND THEIR TEAM

ARE HEADING TO A REMOTE BEACH \hON THE WILD CARIBBEAN COAST.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

THIS BACK ROUTE IS SAFER \h\hTHAN THE OPEN OCEAN,

BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S EASY.

THE BEACH’S REMOTENESS IS WHAT MAKES IT PRIME NESTING HABITAT

FOR LEATHERBACKS.

IT’S NOW LATE MAY.

AFTER TWO OR EVEN THREE YEARS \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE VAST OCEAN,

FEMALES WILL BE GATHERING \h\h\h\h\h\hOFF THE COAST.

\h\h\h\hTHEY WILL COME ASHORE TO LAY THEIR EGGS AFTER DARK.

\h\hONLY THEN WILL THE TEAM GET THE CHANCE TO TAG A LEATHERBACK.

\h\hTONIGHT, THEY AIM TO DEPLOY STATE-OF-THE-ART SATELLITE TAGS.

Dan: WE REALLY DON’T KNOW \hA LOT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO

WHEN THEY’RE OUT IN THE OCEAN,

\h\h\h\hWHERE THEY SPEND OVER 90% OF THEIR LIVES.

SO WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO LEARN IS WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE?

Narrator: KNOWING IF THEY’RE \h\h\hHEADED INTO HARM’S WAY

\hIS THE FIRST STEP IN PROTECTING THEM.

WHILE THEY WAIT FOR NIGHTFALL,

EMMA AND HER ASSISTANT \h\h\h\h\hRAUL GARCIA

HEAD OFF ON A RESCUE MISSION.

Emma: READY? LET’S GO. \h\h\hRaul: LET’S GO.

\h\hEmma: I’LL MEASURE IF YOU HOLD THE TAPE.

Raul: OK, PERFECT.

\h\h\hNarrator: THEY KNOW A LEATHERBACK NESTED HERE

EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

\h\h\hTHE NESTLINGS SHOULD HAVE HATCHED.

BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

Emma: OK, WE CAN START \h\h\hTHE EXCAVATION.

Narrator: THE MOTHER HAS BURIED HER EGGS DEEP,

\h\h\h\h\hSO THEY’LL BE AT A STABLE TEMPERATURE

AND SAFE FROM PREDATORS.

\hEmma: OK, I THINK THAT’S ALL OF THEM.

Narrator: BUT THERE’S \h\h\h\hANOTHER THREAT

\h\h\hAGAINST WHICH SHE HAS NO DEFENSE.

Emma: UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ANY OF THESE EGGS

HATCHED AT ALL.

NO EMBRYO.

Narrator: THE DARK COLOR \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE SAND

\hPROVIDES A CLUE TO THE EGGS’ FATE.

Emma: OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THESE EGGS, BECAUSE THEY’RE ROUND,

THERE’S OBVIOUSLY AIR SPACES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBETWEEN THEM.

AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE WHERE \hTHE HIGH TIDE HAS COME UP TO

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

AND SO IF THERE WAS WATER \hSAT ON TOP OF THIS NEST,

THOSE AIR SPACES WOULD HAVE \hBECOME FILLED WITH WATER,

AND ESSENTIALLY THE DEVELOPING \h\h\h\h\hEMBRYOS WOULD HAVE,

WOULD HAVE DROWNED.

\hNarrator: LEATHERBACKS ARE TOO HEAVY TO CRAWL FAR UP THE BEACH.

\h\h\h\h\hFEMALES TEND TO LAY JUST ABOVE THE HIGH TIDE LINE.

THIS TIME, IT WASN’T FAR ENOUGH FROM THE OCEAN.

Emma: WITH CLIMATE CHANGE \h\h\h\hAS SEA LEVEL RISE,

THINGS LIKE THIS COULD \hBECOME MORE COMMON.

Narrator: THE COMBINATION \h\h\hOF RISING SEA LEVELS

COUPLED WITH DEVELOPMENT \hALONG PANAMA’S COAST,

WOULD BE A DOUBLE WHAMMY \h\h\hFOR LEATHERBACKS.

THAT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE VITAL TO PROTECT THE TURTLES

\h\h\h\h\hALONG THE LENGTH OF THEIR MIGRATION ROUTES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S WHERE THE NIGHTTIME TAGGING COMES IN.

TRACKING THE TURTLES IS THE ONLY WAY FOR RESEARCHERS TO KNOW

EXACTLY WHERE THEY GO

\hAND IDENTIFY DANGERS THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER.

\h\h\h\hEmma: I’M GIVING ANYBODY A BEER IF THEY DO A COMEDY FALL.

DAN, DAN, DAN, DAN. COME HERE.

YEAH, THIS LOOKS LIKE A TRACK.

\hTHIS IS DEFINITELY A LEATHERBACK TRACK,

LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF IT.

WHERE IS SHE?

Narrator: AT THE END \h\h\hOF THE TRACK,

A FEMALE AT JUST THE RIGHT STAGE OF THE NESTING PROCESS.

Emma: I THINK SHE MIGHT \h\hHAVE STARTED LAYING.

\hNarrator: NOW IT’S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

\h\h\hEmma: OK, LET’S GO, CH-CH-CH, RAPIDO, RAPIDO.

Narrator: THE TEAM SWITCHES \h\h\h\h\hTO RED HEADLAMPS.

Dan: WE USE THE RED LIGHTS

\h\hBECAUSE SEA TURTLES DON’T SEE RED VERY WELL,

TENDS NOT TO DISTURB THEM.

\hNarrator: WHILE SHE’S LAYING, SHE GOES INTO A KIND OF TRANCE,

\h\h\h\hSO THEY CAN ATTACH THE SATELLITE TRANSMITTER

WITHOUT BOTHERING HER.

\hDan: OK, SO, YOU HOLD ON TO THAT, AND LET ME DO THE PUTTY.

Emma: THEN THAT’S GOING TO ACT \h\h\h\h\h\hAS A CUSHION HERE

SO THAT WE DON’T DO ANY DAMAGE AT ALL TO THIS CENTRAL RIDGE.

\h\h\hSO WE HAVE TO WORK QUITE QUICKLY WITH THIS

JUST BECAUSE IT SETS QUITE HARD.

Dan: PERFECT.

AND WE’RE DOING PRETTY WELL.

SHE’S STILL LAYING HER EGGS.

CAN YOU GET IN THERE \h\hTO PULL THAT...

YOU CAN EVEN GO OVER THE CRIMP.

Emma: YEAH, THAT’S WHAT \h\h\h\h\hI’M THINKING.

Dan: YOU GOT IT? \h\hEmma: YEAH.

Dan: OK.

Emma: HERE WE GO.

\hDan: THE TRANSMITTER’S SITTING NICE AND TIGHT, AS IT SHOULD BE,

\h\hBUT THERE’S STILL ROOM FOR HER TO GROW A LITTLE.

\h\h\h\h\hWHEN SHE BREAKS THE SURFACE OF THE WATER,

THE ANTENNA WILL COME \h\h\h\hSTRAIGHT OUT,

\hAND THEN THERE ARE SALT WATER SWITCHES, ONE RIGHT ON THE TOP,

\hTHAT TELL THE TRANSMITTER THAT IT’S OUT OF THE WATER,

AND TO START SENDING SIGNALS.

\h\hNarrator: THIS IS THE LATEST GENERATION

SATELLITE TAG FOR LEATHERBACKS.

\h\hIT’S CAPABLE OF TRACKING THE TURTLE’S EXACT MOVEMENTS

\hIN ALMOST REAL TIME FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS,

\h\hAND CAN REVEAL SURPRISING DETAILS ABOUT HER LIFE AT SEA.

\hDan: THE SATELLITE TRANSMITTER CAN TELL US A LOT OF INFORMATION

ABOUT NOT ONLY WHERE SHE’S GOING BUT HOW FAST SHE’S GOING THERE.

AND FROM THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY \h\h\hEVEN DETERMINE BEHAVIOR,

\h\h\h\hWHETHER OR NOT SHE’S JUST MIGRATING,

SWIMMING DISTANCES \h\hBETWEEN AREAS,

OR IF SHE’S ACTUALLY \h\h\h\hSLOWING DOWN

TO FEED AND FORAGE IN AN AREA.

AND THAT HELPS US TO IDENTIFY \h\h\h\h\hTHESE FORAGING AREAS

\hAND POTENTIALLY AREAS THAT MAY BE IN CONFLICT

\h\h\hWITH HUMAN FISHERIES OR OTHER THREATS TO HER SURVIVAL.

Narrator: THEY COLLECT \h\h\hSOME FINAL DATA.

Emma: 150.4.

Narrator: 150 CENTIMETERS \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR HER SHELL.

THAT MAKES HER TOTAL LENGTH \h\h\h\h\h\hAROUND SIX FEET.

\h\hSHE COULD WEIGH CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS.

Dan: RIGHT IN THE NORMAL RANGE.

OH, PERFECT TIMING.

Emma: YEAH, SO THAT’S GREAT,

SO SHE’S NOW GOING TO START COVERING.

SHE USES THESE REAR FLIPPERS \h\h\hTO COVER THOSE EGGS UP

\h\h\hWITH A, YOU KNOW, A GOOD COVERING OF SAND,

\h\h\hPRESSING IT DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE,

\hYOU KNOW, THE EGGS ARE WELL PROTECTED.

AND THEN...OOH, DAN!

\hDan: WATCH OUT! Emma: ARE WE GOOD?

Dan: OW!

Emma: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE’RE DONE.

Dan: LOOKS GOOD. READY TO GO.

Narrator: SHE’LL SPEND THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS AT SEA,

UNTIL SHE NESTS AGAIN.

AND SHE’LL ALMOST CERTAINLY

RETURN TO THIS VERY BEACH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO DO SO.

EXACTLY WHERE SHE’S HEADED NOW \h\h\h\h\h\hWE DON’T YET KNOW.

BUT HER TAG IS ABOUT TO TELL US IF SHE’S SWIMMING INTO DANGER.

\h\h\h\hACROSS PANAMA, ON THE PACIFIC COAST,

RESEARCHERS ARE SEEKING \h\h\h\hANOTHER MIGRANT.

THIS ONE IS NO GIANT.

Liz: OOH! IT’S A BIT DEEP HERE.

Narrator: LIZ AMES AND HER TEAM ARE IN SEARCH

OF A TINY SONGBIRD.

\h\h\h\hIT WEIGHS LESS THAN A REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUP.

BUT IT HAS A MOUTHFUL OF A NAME: THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLER,

\h\hNAMED AFTER CLERKS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

WHOSE ROBES WERE BRIGHT YELLOW.

EACH FALL, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE WARBLERS

LEAVE THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS \h\h\hIN THE UNITED STATES.

\h\h\h\hAND JOURNEY TO PANAMA AND THE TOP OF SOUTH AMERICA.

\h\h\hTHEY HEAD FOR THE MANGROVE FORESTS

\h\h\h\hTHAT LINE THE COASTS OF THESE TROPICAL COUNTRIES.

\h\hTHIS STRETCH ALONG PANAMA’S PACIFIC COAST

IS SOME OF THE MOST INTACT \h\hMANGROVE IN THE WORLD.

BIRDS LIKE THE WARBLERS RELY ON THE RICH FOOD SUPPLY HERE

TO GET THEM THROUGH THE WINTER.

BUT THE MANGROVES’ FUTURE \h\h\h\h\hIS UNDER THREAT

\h\hFROM DEVELOPMENT, FARMING AND POLLUTION.

IT’S ALMOST CERTAINLY BAD NEWS \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE WARBLERS.

BUT AS A SCIENTIST, LIZ HAS TO PROVE IT.

Liz: WE’RE HOPING THAT \h\h\hWE CAN DETERMINE

\hWHAT VALUE DOES THIS MANGROVE HAVE

FOR PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS \hTHAT ARE WINTERING HERE.

Narrator: TO DO THAT, \hSHE MUST TRACK THEM.

AND INCREDIBLY,

THERE ARE TAGS SMALL ENOUGH \h\h\h\hTO FIT THE WARBLERS.

Liz: WE’RE SETTING UP \h\h\h\h\hA MIST NET.

THIS IS HOW WE CAPTURE BIRDS.

\h\hNarrator: A FINE MESH NET 40 FEET LONG AND 10 FEET HIGH.

\h\h\h\hLiz: FOR THE MOST PART IT’S SUPER SAFE FOR THE BIRD,

BECAUSE IT IS SO SOFT.

OK, LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator: IN THIS RICH HABITAT, IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG.

Liz: ALRIGHT!

WE GOT OUR PROTHONOTARY.

SO THIS IS A FEMALE.

Narrator: WEIGHT GIVES A CLUE \h\h\h\hTO HOW HEALTHY SHE IS.

Liz: 13.65.

Narrator: LESS THAN 14 GRAMS; \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHALF AN OUNCE.

AND BY PARTING THE FEATHERS,

LIZ CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT \hKIND OF SHAPE SHE’S IN.

Liz: SO SHE HAS PLENTY OF FAT,

AND A DECENT AMOUNT \hOF BREAST MUSCLE,

\hWHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A GOOD HABITAT

FOR PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS \hAND OTHER BIRDS AS WELL.

Narrator: A TINY BIRD \h\hNEEDS A TINY TAG--

A RADIO TRANSMITTER ATTACHED TO A HARNESS MADE OF STRETCH CORD.

\h\h\hLiz: FIRST STEP IS TO PUT IT OVER ONE FOOT.

Narrator: IT’S CALLED A NANOTAG; IT’S UNDER HALF AN INCH LONG

\hAND WEIGHS LESS THAN A PAPERCLIP.

INSIDE IS A MINIATURE \h\h\h\hWATCH BATTERY

THAT CAN POWER THE TAG \hFOR OVER TWO MONTHS.

Liz: SO NOW SHE’S READY TO GO.

Narrator: A MINISCULE MICROCHIP EMITS A RADIO SIGNAL

THAT UNIQUELY IDENTIFIES \hTHIS PARTICULAR BIRD.

Liz: ALRIGHT, SO IT’S READING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TAG NUMBER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S GIVING US A SIGNAL STRENGTH AND A TIME.

Narrator: LIZ CAN NOW COMPARE \h\h\h\hTHIS BIRD’S MOVEMENTS

THROUGH THIS HABITAT

TO ANOTHER BIRD SHE TAGGED \h\h\hIN MANGROVES NEARBY,

WHERE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT IS DAMAGING THE FOREST.

Liz: THERE WE GO.

SO HE’S COMING IN STRONGEST \h\h\h\hOVER THIS DIRECTION.

STRONGEST HERE.

Jay: HE’S ON THE GROUND.

Liz: OH, I SEE HIM, TOO.

Narrator: HER RESULTS SHOW \h\hTHAT THE WARBLERS HERE

IN THE DEGRADED MANGROVE

ARE RANGING TWICE AS FAR \h\h\hIN SEARCH OF FOOD.

\h\h\hIT’S GOOD EVIDENCE THAT PRISTINE MANGROVES

\h\h\h\h\h\hARE VITAL TO THE WINTERING WARBLERS.

AND NOT JUST THE PROTHONOTARIES.

MANY SONGBIRD SPECIES RELY ON THIS RESOURCE.

ALL OF THEM WILL BE HIT HARD IF THE MANGROVES AREN’T PROTECTED.

BUT LIZ’S NANOTAGS \hCAN DO MUCH MORE

THAN JUST LET HER TRACK BIRDS \h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE MANGROVES.

Liz: ALRIGHT, IT LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator: THE SIGNAL THEY \hPUT OUT CAN BE PICKED UP

\h\h\hAS THEY MIGRATE ACROSS THE CONTINENTS.

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, TRACKING THE MIGRATIONS OF TINY BIRDS

LIKE THE PROTHONOTARIES

\hHAS BEEN REVOLUTIONIZED BY A NETWORK OF ANTENNAS.

IT STRETCHES ACROSS \h\h\hNORTH AMERICA

AND INTO SOUTH AMERICA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IN 2016 IT WAS EXTENDED INTO PANAMA.

THE RECEIVERS WILL PICK UP

\h\h\h\hWHEN THE WARBLERS LEAVE THE WINTER FEEDING GROUNDS HERE,

\h\h\hAND WILL TRACK THEIR JOURNEY NORTH.

AS THE MANGROVES DETERIORATE,

\h\h\hTHE BIRDS WILL HAVE TO SPEND LONGER

FUELING UP FOR THE MIGRATION.

THE ANTENNAS WILL RECORD \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT DELAY,

SHOWING TO WHAT EXTENT THE LOSS OF MANGROVES

IS IMPACTING THE MIGRATION.

SMITHSONIAN RESEARCH ASSOCIATE \h\hMARTIN WIKELSKI HAS PLANS

FOR AN EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS \hGLOBAL TRACKING SYSTEM.

HE’S DEVELOPING A NETWORK \h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED ICARUS

\hTHAT WILL TRANSMIT SIGNALS VIA THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

IT ORBITS JUST 250 MILES \h\h\h\h\hABOVE EARTH--

AROUND HALF THE DISTANCE

OF THE COMMUNICATION SATELLITES OTHER TAGS USE.

THAT MEANS SENDING THE DATA \h\h\h\h\h\hUSES LESS POWER,

SO THE TAGS CAN BE SMALLER.

\hTHEY USE TECHNOLOGY SIMILAR TO CELL PHONES TO COMMUNICATE.

\h\h\hSO LOTS OF TAGS CAN BE TRANSMITTING SIMULTANEOUSLY,

JUST LIKE LOTS OF PEOPLE \h\h\hCAN ALL BE TALKING

ON ONE CELL PHONE NETWORK.

\hMartin: IT IS POSSIBLE FROM A VERY SMALL DEVICE

TO COLLECT INFORMATION \h\h\h\hON THE ANIMAL

AND THEN SEND THAT INFORMATION \h\hRELIABLY FROM MANY ANIMALS

\hAT THE SAME TIME AROUND THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: INSTEAD OF TRACKING INDIVIDUALS,

THE NEW SYSTEM WILL \hALLOW RESEARCHERS

TO FOLLOW WHOLE GROUPS \h\h\h\h\hOF ANIMALS--

SOMETHING OF REAL VALUE \hTO MIGRATION STUDIES.

MONITORING ANIMALS IN THIS WAY,

\h\hICARUS COULD EVEN TAP INTO ANIMALS’ SIXTH SENSE

TO PREDICT NATURAL DISASTERS.

\h\hMan: OK? Martin: OK.

Narrator: MARTIN RECENTLY \h\h\hTAGGED FARM ANIMALS

\h\h\h\h\hAT THE EPICENTER OF AN EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

ACCELEROMETERS IN THE TAGS

SHOWED THAT THEY BECAME \h\h\h\h\hMORE AGITATED

\h\h\h\h\hHOURS BEFORE AN AFTERSHOCK STRUCK!

Martin: THESE TAGS SHOW US THAT SOME OF THE ANIMALS,

THE COWS, THE SHEEP OR OTHERS,

HAD SOME WAY OF ANTICIPATING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN EARTHQUAKE.

\h\hAND IF THAT’S THE CASE, THEN THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE

A MAJOR HELP FOR THE PEOPLE HERE OR AROUND THE WORLD.

Narrator: THROUGH MONITORING \h\h\h\h\hANIMALS LIKE THIS,

\h\hICARUS COULD ALSO BE AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

FOR VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS \h\h\h\hAND TSUNAMIS.

THE SYSTEM WILL ALLOW BIRDS \h\h\h\hAS SMALL AS WARBLERS

\h\h\hTO BE TRACKED IN ALMOST REAL TIME

ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

AND THAT COULD HELP SAVE

SOME OF THE MOST THREATENED \hOF ALL PANAMA’S MIGRANTS.

FOR SHOREBIRDS, THE ISTHMUS \h\hIS A CRITICAL STOP-OVER

ON THEIR MULTI-THOUSAND-MILE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJOURNEYS.

\hON THE PACIFIC SIDE, THE TIDES CAN BE HUGE.

WHEN THE TIDE EBBS, IT EXPOSES \hMILES AND MILES OF MUDFLATS,

\hLIKE A GIGANTIC FOOD COURT FOR SANDPIPERS AND OTHER SHOREBIRDS.

\h\h\h\hIT’S A VITAL REST STOP THE BIRDS RELY ON TO FUEL UP.

\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT IT, MILLIONS OF THE BIRDS WOULDN’T BE ABLE

TO CONTINUE THEIR MIGRATIONS.

BUT LIKE THE TURTLES’ \h\h\hNESTING BEACHES,

THESE MUDFLATS ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM RISING SEA LEVELS.

THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT \h\h\h\hWHAT THIS MEANS

FOR SHOREBIRDS MIGRATING \h\h\h\h\hTHROUGH PANAMA

IS TO TRACK THEIR MOVEMENTS.

ONCE ICARUS IS UP AND RUNNING,

\h\hTHE IMPACT ON THESE BIRDS WILL BE MONITORED FROM SPACE.

BUT FOR RICARDO MORENO,

\h\h\h\hTHE ONLY PLACE TO WAGE HIS BATTLE TO SAVE THE JAGUAR

AND ITS FOREST CORRIDOR \h\h\hIS ON THE GROUND.

[MOO]

IT’S MORNING. [GOAT BLEATS]

NO LIVESTOCK IS MISSING FROM THE RANCH IN THE DARIEN RAIN FOREST.

THE SNARES RICARDO’S TEAM SET OVERNIGHT REMAIN UNTRIGGERED.

BUT THERE’S A SURE SIGN \h\hTHE JAGUAR WAS HERE.

Roland: THERE’S A JAGUAR TRACK \h\h\h\hRIGHT HERE IN THE MUD,

\h\hSO IT WAS DEFINITELY VERY CLOSE IN THIS AREA.

\h\h\h\hSO HOPEFULLY WE’LL GET A PICTURE.

Ricardo: YEAH.

Narrator: TIME TO CHECK \h\h\hTHE CAMERA TRAPS.

Roland: THIS IS US SETTING UP.

\h\h\hAND THIS IS... IS THIS US? NO. 7...

HUH, IT DOESN’T LOOK VERY--OH!

Ricardo: OOH!

Narrator: THEIR EFFORTS \h\h\h\h\h\hARE REWARDED

WITH AN INCREDIBLY RARE GLIMPSE OF A WILD JAGUAR.

Ricardo: WOO!

OH, MY GOD! IT’S A MALE.

Roland: MACHO.

\h\h\hNarrator: HE FIRST APPEARS JUST BEFORE 8:00 IN THE EVENING.

Roland: THERE HE IS. ¿CONOCES? \h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW THIS ONE?

Ricardo: NO, NO, NO!

\h\h\h\hRoland: AT 8:55 HE’S COMING BACK AGAIN.

Ricardo: NICE!

Roland: SAME GUY. \h\hRicardo: YEAH.

Roland: LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

Narrator: RICARDO AND ROLAND \h\h\hCHECK A SECOND CAMERA,

\h\hWHICH WAS SET UP FAR FROM THE FIRST, NEAR THE FARMHOUSE.

Roland: OOH! RIGHT NEXT TO US!

CRUISING RIGHT BY.

Ricardo: A BIG MALE.

Roland: HE IS WELL FED. \h\h\h\h\hRicardo: YEAH.

Roland: COMING BY AGAIN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWALKING,

\h\h\hSO HE’S WALKING ALONG THE FENCE HERE.

Ricardo: YES, I THINK HE COME \h\h\hHERE, AND HE WAS LIKE...

Roland: HE’S CRUISING AROUND.

Narrator: THE VIDEOS REVEAL \h\h\h\h\hA LONE MALE JAGUAR

\h\hCIRCLING THE FARM FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR.

\h\h\h\hFOR THE SCIENTISTS, IT’S AN EXCITING DISCOVERY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FARMER WHOSE LIVESTOCK COULD BE JAGUAR PREY?

Enrique: OH!

Ricardo: SI.

Roland: YEAH. 7 O’CLOCK.

Roland: UH-HUH. AND HERE, 7:48.

Enrique: AY...

Ricardo: SI.

Narrator: ENRIQUE’S REACTION \h\hIS ONE RICARDO HAS SEEN

FROM OTHER FARMERS.

\hRicardo: THEY HAVE FEAR, THEY DON’T LIKE TOO MUCH THE ANIMAL,

\h\h\hBUT IN THE MOMENT OF THEY SEE THE ANIMAL,

\h\hTHEY ALWAYS SAY THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator: RICARDO HOPES TO USE \h\hTHE BEAUTY OF THE JAGUARS

TO CHANGE THE RANCHERS’ MINDS,

SO THEY’LL PROTECT RATHER THAN \h\h\h\h\h\hHUNT THE BIG CATS.

BUT AFTER A WEEK THEY’VE STILL NOT MANAGED TO TAG THE JAGUAR.

THEY CAN’T TRACK ITS MOVEMENTS \h\h\h\h\h\hAROUND THE FARMS.

FOR NOW, RICARDO AND ROLAND’S \h\h\h\h\h\hTIME HAS RUN OUT.

IT’S A DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT EVIDENCE OF JUST HOW ELUSIVE THE JAGUARS ARE

AND HOW RARE THEY HAVE BECOME \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN PANAMA.

\h\hYET RICARDO KNOWS HIS CAMERA TRAP IMAGES

\hARE A POWERFUL WEAPON HE CAN USE IN HIS BATTLE

\h\h\h\h\hTO SAVE THE BIG CATS AND THE FORESTS THEY RELY ON.

Ricardo: WHEN I START WORKING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH WILDCATS,

AND ESPECIALLY JAGUARS,

\hI SEE LIKE THE BASIC THING WE NEED TO DO IS DO SCIENCE.

BUT I REALIZE, LIKE, SCIENCE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONLY SCIENCE

IS NOT GOING TO SAVE \h\h\hTHOSE ANIMALS.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE.

Narrator: HERE, RICARDO \h\h\hSCORES A VICTORY.

ENRIQUE MAKES A COMMITMENT \hNOT TO KILL THE BIG CAT.

BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FARMERS TO WIN OVER.

Ricardo: THIS IS REALLY \hHARD WORK, SUPER HARD.

YOU KNOW, CONVINCE PEOPLE \h\h\h\hIS NOT VERY EASY.

BUT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE.

\hTHIS IS MY LIFE, AND I’M A WARRIOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER SHE LAID HER EGGS,

THE LEATHERBACK THAT EMMA AND DAN TAGGED

\h\h\h\h\h\hHEADED AWAY FROM THE NESTING BEACH.

SHE’S NO LONGER JUST ANOTHER LEATHERBACK.

\hSHE’S AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A NAME, CALYPSO BLUE FIVE.

DURING THE NESTING SEASON \hLEATHERBACKS DON’T EAT.

NOW SHE MUST FIND FOOD.

HER DATA TRAIL SHOWS HER SWIMMING NORTH.

LEATHERBACKS ARE KNOWN TO FORAGE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

BUT A MONTH AFTER LEAVING HER EGGS,

CALYPSO MAKES A SURPRISING TURN TO THE NORTHWEST,

AND SWIMS DIRECTLY TOWARDS \h\h\hTHE GULF OF MEXICO.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE GULF IS FULL OF THE LONGLINE FISHERIES

THAT CAN BE DEADLY FOR LEATHERBACKS.

FIVE MONTHS AFTER LEAVING \h\h\h\hTHE NESTING BEACH,

SHE IS STILL FEEDING \hHERE IN THE GULF.

SO FAR, APPARENTLY SAFE \h\h\hFROM FISHING NETS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S LATE FALL WHEN THE MIGRATING TURKEY VULTURES

DESCEND ON PANAMA.

AMONG THEM, BIRDS HEADING HERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM ARIZONA.

AROUND TWO THIRDS OF THE WORLD’S ENTIRE POPULATION

\hIS ABOUT TO FUNNEL THROUGH THE ISTHMUS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HAWKS \h\h\h\h\h\hAND OTHER RAPTORS

WILL TAKE THE SAME ROUTE.

EACH YEAR, A GROUP OF BIRDERS \hASSEMBLES TO TAKE A CENSUS.

SMITHSONIAN RESEARCHER \h\h\h\hGEORGE ANGEHR

HAS BEEN MONITORING \h\h\hTHE MIGRATION

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

TOGETHER WITH A TEAM OF COUNTERS FROM PANAMA’S AUDUBON SOCIETY,

HE SETS UP ON THE HIGHEST PEAK \hIN PANAMA CITY, ANCON HILL.

George: IT’S JUST \hAFTER 8:00 A.M.

THE BIRDS GENERALLY START \hTO FLY AROUND 8 O’CLOCK.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SUN WARMS THE EARTH

IN ORDER TO PRODUCE THERMALS \h\h\h\hSO THEY CAN GET UP.

Narrator: THERMALS FORM \h\hOVER ELEVATED AREAS,

LIKE THE HILLS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CANAL.

George: THEY LEAPFROG THEIR WAY THROUGH THEIR MIGRATION ROUTE,

GOING FROM THERMAL TO THERMAL, \hGENERALLY OVER HIGH POINTS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO THEY’RE JUMPING FROM ONE HIGH POINT TO ANOTHER.

Narrator: THE RAPTORS START \hTO WHEEL ON THE HEATED AIR

TO GAIN ALTITUDE, LIKE CLIMBING A SPIRAL STAIRCASE.

♪

AT LAST, THEY HAVE ENOUGH HEIGHT TO SOAR TO ANCON HILL,

TO CATCH THE NEXT THERMAL.

Man: BASTANTE TURKEY VULTURES.

\h\hWOW! THE GROUP IS JUST GETTING IN, MAN.

\hNarrator: AT FIRST THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF DOZEN BIRDS.

THEN, THE NUMBERS \hSTART TO MOUNT.

\hTHE BIRDS MUST FLY OVER LAND SO THEY CAN PUT DOWN AT NIGHT.

THEY MUST TRAVEL THROUGH PANAMA.

THAT MAKES IT THE IDEAL PLACE

TO MONITOR THE HEALTH \h\h\h\hOF THE FLOCKS.

[THUNDER]

Narrator: THEN THE DAY CHANGES.

♪

THE BIRDS DISAPPEAR \h\h\h\hFROM THE SKY

AND FIND A PLACE TO SETTLE.

George: THE THERMALS DON’T FORM WHEN IT’S RAINING

OR HEAVILY OVERCAST.

SO THEY’VE GOT TO PUT DOWN \h\h\h\h\hAND WAIT IT OUT.

Narrator: THE BIRDS ARE GROUNDED UNTIL THE WEATHER IMPROVES.

IF THE RAIN PERSISTS,

\h\h\hTHEY MIGHT NOT MAKE IT TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATIONS

ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA.

George: THE BIRDS DON’T FEED EN ROUTE FOR THE MOST PART.

THEY RELY ON STORED FAT.

SO THE DISTANCE THEY CAN GO

DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH FUEL THEY HAVE IN THEIR TANK.

AND IF IT GOES ON FOR TOO LONG, THEY RUN OUT OF STORED FAT,

AND THEY’VE GOT TO STAY \h\h\h\hWHERE THEY ARE,

\hWHICH MAY NOT BE THE OPTIMAL PLACE FOR THEM TO OVERWINTER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF THEY GET STUCK HERE,

\hTHERE SIMPLY WON’T BE ROOM OR ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM ALL.

SOME BELIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE

WILL LEAD TO MORE STORMS \h\h\h\h\hAND HURRICANES

HAMMERING CENTRAL AMERICA.

\h\h\h\hFOR THE RAPTORS, THAT COULD PREVENT THEM

\h\h\h\h\hFROM CROSSING THE PANAMA LAND BRIDGE.

WILL THE RAINS STOP IN TIME

FOR THESE BIRDS TO CONTINUE \h\h\h\hTHEIR JOURNEY SOUTH?

THE LATEST GENERATION \h\hOF SATELLITE TAGS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE THOSE TRACKING TURKEY VULTURES THROUGH PANAMA,

IS PROVIDING ASTONISHING \h\h\h\hREAL-TIME DETAIL

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON HOW USE OF THIS MIGRATION CORRIDOR IS CHANGING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT SOMETIMES IT’S THE OLD-FASHIONED METHODS

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT TURN UP THE BIGGEST SURPRISES.

Roland: CAMERA TRAPPING \h\hAND ANIMAL TRACKING

ARE KIND OF LIKE TWO SIDES \h\h\h\hOF THE SAME COIN.

THEY EACH HAVE THEIR ADVANTAGES,

\hAND THEY EACH HAVE THEIR DISADVANTAGES.

\h\h\hTHE GREAT THING ABOUT CAMERA TRAPPING

IS YOU GET EVERY ANIMAL

\hTHAT GOES IN FRONT OF YOUR CAMERA TRAP,

NOT JUST THE ONE ANIMAL \h\h\hTHAT YOU TRACKED,

\h\hAND SO YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT WHOLE POPULATIONS,

WHOLE ANIMAL COMMUNITIES.

\h\hTRY TO GET THEM RUNNING BACK WITH THE CHICKEN IN THEIR MOUTH.

Narrator: ROLAND KAYS HAS \hDISCOVERED A NEW MIGRANT

ENTERING THE PANAMA CORRIDOR \h\h\h\hFOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\hRoland: COYOTES ARE ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PREDATORS

\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPANDED SO MUCH.

WHILE OTHER SPECIES \h\hARE IN DECLINE,

THE COYOTE IS GROWING ITS RANGE IN EVERY DIRECTION.

Narrator: TODAY, PANAMA IS THE LEADING SOUTHERN EDGE

OF THE COYOTE’S RANGE.

\hAND ROLAND BELIEVES THE SPREAD OF FARMLAND

\h\hTHAT’S DECIMATING THE JAGUAR POPULATION

\h\h\h\hCOULD BE HELPING THE COYOTES’ EXPANSION.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

\h\hHE AND LOCAL RESEARCHER JOSUE ORTEGA HEAD TO A FARM

\h\hCARVED OUT OF FOREST, NOT FAR FROM PANAMA CITY.

\hRoland: SO THIS IS VERY TYPICAL PANAMA.

THIS AREA USED TO ALL BE FOREST,

\h\h\hAND NOW IT’S A LOT OF FARMLAND, RANCHLAND.

\hSO WHAT USED TO BE GOOD JAGUAR HABITAT

IS NOW IDEAL COYOTE HABITAT.

\h\hAND WE’RE STANDING HERE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THESE TREES

WHERE THE CHICKENS SLEEP,

AND THEY ROAM AROUND ALL DURING THE DAY.

THEY’RE VERY AT RISK TO COYOTES.

RIGHT OVER HERE WE’VE GOT \h\hSOME CROPLAND PLANTED,

WHICH IS GOOD OPEN COUNTRY \h\h\h\h\hFOR THE COYOTES,

AND DOWN ON THIS SIDE \hTHERE’S SOME FOREST

WHERE WE’VE SEEN COYOTES

AND WE’VE ACTUALLY SEEN \h\h\h\h\hCHICKEN BONES.

SO THEY SEEM TO GRAB \hTHE CHICKENS HERE

AND RUN INTO THE FOREST \h\h\h\h\h\hAS A REFUGE.

Narrator: UNTIL THE 1980s,

\hCOYOTES HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN IN PANAMA.

[CAMERA SNAPPING]

AROUND 2010, THEY MADE IT \h\h\h\hACROSS THE CANAL.

ROLAND IS LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE \h\hTHAT THE CHANGING HABITAT

\h\h\hFROM FORESTS TO FARMS IS HELPING COYOTES EXPAND SOUTH.

Roland: SO WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE \hBASICALLY IS A CRIME SCENE.

WE HAVE DISAPPEARING CHICKENS,

AND WE HAVE A SUSPECT, \h\h\h\h\hTHE COYOTE,

AND WE’RE HOPING TO CATCH HIM

\h\hCOMING BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME WITH THIS CAMERA TRAP.

AND SO THIS IS BASICALLY \hA SURVEILLANCE CAMERA

THAT HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO HELP US SOLVE THIS LITTLE MYSTERY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY SET SEVERAL TRAPS.

AND THEN, THEY HAVE TO WAIT.

LIKE JAGUARS, COYOTES ARE MOSTLY NOCTURNAL HUNTERS.

[ROOSTER CROWS]

Roland: 159 NEW VIDEOS.

THIS IS GREAT, WE GOT A LITTLE \h\h\h\h\hOFFICE SET UP HERE.

ALRIGHT, LET’S CHECK OUT \h\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST ONE.

THAT’S A LOT OF CHICKENS.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO FAR, THERE’S NO SIGN OF COYOTES.

THEN THEY CHECK A SECOND CAMERA,

\hON THE BORDER BETWEEN THE FARM AND THE FOREST.

Roland: OH!

Narrator: THERE’S NO DOUBT \h\hTHE COYOTES ARE HERE.

[SNIFFING]

Roland: WAIT, WHAT?

Narrator: BUT SOMETHING ABOUT \h\hTHEM CATCHES ROLAND’S EYE.

THIS COYOTE HAS A BOBBED TAIL.

IT COULD BE THE RESULT \h\h\h\h\h\hOF INJURY.

\h\h\hBUT THERE ARE SEVERAL WITH THE SAME DISTINCTIVE SHORT TAIL.

IT’S A TRAIT ROLAND’S SEEN BEFORE...ON DOGS.

THERE’S A GENETIC MUTATION

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT GIVES DOGS LIKE JACK RUSSELLS THEIR BOBTAILS.

COULD THE COYOTES SOMEHOW HAVE \hINHERITED THE SAME MUTATION?

Roland: IF YOU’RE A COYOTE

AT THE LEADING EDGE \h\hOF COLONIZATION,

BY DEFINITION, YOU’RE JUST ABOUT THE ONLY COYOTE OUT THERE.

AND SO, IF YOU WANT \h\h\hTO REPRODUCE,

\h\h\hYOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BEST YOU CAN GET, WHICH IN THIS CASE,

IS DOGS THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE IN PANAMA.

Narrator: THE CAMERA TRAP \hPICTURES MAY BE EVIDENCE

THAT THE NEWLY ARRIVED COYOTES \h\h\hARE BREEDING WITH DOGS,

RESULTING IN COYDOGS \hWITH BOBBED TAILS.

IF THESE ARE IN FACT \h\hHYBRID COYDOGS,

\h\h\h\hTHEY MAY BE ESPECIALLY WELL SUITED TO LIFE IN PANAMA,

AS SHOWN BY A DISCOVERY \h\hROLAND MAKES NEARBY.

Roland: WE JUST FOUND A COYOTE SCAT THAT’S LOADED WITH MANGO.

HERE’S A BIT OF MANGO SKIN THAT WE JUST PULLED OUT OF THE SCAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DOGS HAVE EVOLVED ENZYMES

THAT MAKE THEM BETTER \hABLE TO DIGEST FRUIT

THAN NORMAL COYOTES.

PERHAPS THE PANAMANIAN COYDOGS \hHAVE INHERITED THAT ABILITY,

\h\hWHICH COULD BE USEFUL IN THE FRUIT-RICH TROPICS.

Roland: SO IT MIGHT BE THAT \h\h\hHYBRIDIZING WITH DOGS

ACTUALLY HELPS THEM COLONIZE \h\h\h\h\hTHIS NEW HABITAT.

Narrator: IN PANAMA CITY,

\h\hTHE RAIN THAT STALLED THE TURKEY VULTURES FINALLY LIFTS.

\h\hTHEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR MIGRATION SOUTH.

\h\hTHE BAD WEATHER HAS CAUSED A LOGJAM.

THE BIRDS ARE BUNCHED UP.

\h\hON THE FAR SIDE OF THE CANAL THEY BEGIN TO RISE INTO THE AIR.

\hMan: RIGHT NOW IS A REALLY LARGE GROUP

THAT IS IN THE DISTANCE,

EASILY MORE THAN 500 BIRDS

WILL BE CROSSING OVER HERE \h\h\h\hAT THE CANAL AREA.

♪

WHOA, MAN!

Man: THIS IS A HUGE, \h\hHUGE GROUP, MAN.

HUGE GROUP.

♪

Narrator: THE NUMBERS \h\hJUST KEEP GROWING.

BY THE END OF THE DAY,

ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION \h\h\hRAPTORS PASS ANCON HILL.

MOST OF THEM, TURKEY VULTURES.

BY THE TIME THE FALL MIGRATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS OVER,

THE COUNTERS WILL HAVE CHALKED UP NEARLY A MILLION VULTURES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPROOF THAT, FOR NOW, THE POPULATION REMAINS HEALTHY,

AND THEIR MIGRATION CORRIDOR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS INTACT.

FOR ALL THE RESEARCHERS \h\hTRACKING THE ANIMALS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT TRAVEL THIS CONTINENTAL HIGHWAY,

WORK GOES ON.

SIX MONTHS AFTER LEAVING \h\h\hPANAMA’S BEACHES,

LEATHERBACK CALYPSO BLUE FIVE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS STILL FEEDING

IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

\h\h\hTHE SATELLITE TRACKING HAS REVEALED SOMETHING NO ONE KNEW--

\h\h\h\hTHAT THE GULF IS A VITAL FORAGING GROUND

FOR LEATHERBACKS.

CONSERVING THE TURTLES MEANS

\h\h\h\h\hNOT JUST PROTECTING THE NESTING BEACHES IN PANAMA,

BUT ALSO TACKLING DANGERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHERE, TOO.

\h\hIN SPRING, THE PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS EQUIPPED WITH NANOTAGS

\hWILL LEAVE PANAMA’S THREATENED MANGROVES,

\hAND BEGIN THEIR LONG FLIGHT NORTH,

\h\h\hTRIGGERING THE NETWORK OF ANTENNAS AS THEY PASS BY.

\h\h\hRICARDO WILL CONTINUE HIS EFFORTS TO TAG A JAGUAR

AND ACCURATELY TRACK, \hFOR THE FIRST TIME,

\h\hTHEIR MOVEMENTS THROUGH THE INCREASINGLY FRAGMENTED FORESTS.

AS THE CONTINENTAL HIGHWAY \h\h\hCONTINUES TO CHANGE,

THE COYOTES WILL LIKELY \h\h\h\hFURTHER BENEFIT

FROM THE SPREAD OF FARMLAND,

MARCHING THROUGH PANAMA,

AND EVENTUALLY MAKING IT \h\h\hTO SOUTH AMERICA.

PANAMA CANNOT BE ISOLATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM CHANGE.

BUT AS TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIMPROVE,

SCIENTISTS WILL BE ARMED \h\h\hWITH BETTER TOOLS

TO MONITOR THAT CHANGE,

\h\h\hSO THEY CAN PROTECT THE MILLIONS OF CREATURES

\h\h\h\hTHAT JOURNEY ALONG PANAMA’S ANIMAL HIGHWAY...

A BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS.