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In the heart of South East Asia
is an ancient kingdom.
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With over 3,000km of coastline.
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But beyond its golden shores
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there are secret worlds.
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Home to mysterious creatures...
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..and forest giants.
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This is a fast-changing country
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where East and West collide.
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People and animals must
work together to survive.
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Forming unique relationships.
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A spiritual land...
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..full of magic and wonder.
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This is Thailand.
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Each morning,
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a magical chorus
rings through the forests
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of Khao Yai National Park
in central Thailand.
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The cry of the lar gibbon bonds
males and females.
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ANIMAL CALLS
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These intelligent apes
often pair for life
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and advertise their
territorial rights with song.
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In their forest sanctuary,
this cream-coloured male
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and his dark-haired mate
are raising a youngster.
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Grooming helps keep
family bonds strong
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for the ten or more years
they'll stay together.
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Finding food is the next priority.
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And it's not always easy.
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It requires an intimate knowledge
of their patch of forest.
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Building momentum helps them
swing from tree to tree
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at speeds of more than
50km per hour.
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00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,760
Following memory maps
of highways through the tree tops,
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the gibbons find
the perfect places to forage.
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But sometimes a gibbon highway
meets a human highway.
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When the fruiting trees are
on the other side,
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there's a big problem.
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Gibbons are strictly arboreal.
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So they're reluctant
to leave the trees
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and are vulnerable on the ground.
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Crossing a busy road on foot
would be too dangerous.
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No-one passing below this rope
bridge gives it a second thought.
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But, for the gibbons,
it's a lifeline.
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The rope bridge allows
the park's gibbons
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to access fresh feeding grounds.
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The devoted couple have located
a fruiting fig tree.
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Time for a lazy breakfast.
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Their lives have been made
just a little bit safer
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by a human helping hand.
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Life in one of Asia's
fastest-changing countries
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means people and animals are
finding new ways to get along.
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Central Thailand is the richest
and most productive region.
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Its fertile flood plains nourish
rice fields
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that cover 40% of all the farmland.
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Where the land meets
the Gulf of Thailand...
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..lies the great city of Bangkok.
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Around 8 million people live
in the nation's capital.
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And this bustling central region
is known as the nation's rice bowl.
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Even here, there are
magical places to be found,
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hidden from view...
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..where age-old beliefs and
traditional practices live on...
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..and time seems
to have stood still.
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Phraya Nakhon Cave was discovered
some 200 years ago,
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when Thailand was still known
as Siam.
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Thai kings have visited this cavern
for centuries.
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The Royal Pavilion crowns
this mystical place.
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Spirituality is the key
to understanding
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central Thailand's harmonious
relationship with nature.
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This Lyle's flying fox
is waiting out the heat of the day.
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And he's not alone.
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00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,960
With leathery wings
nearly a metre wide,
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00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,200
he can fly 30km or more
in search of fruit.
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These flying foxes are often
regarded as pests,
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destroying orchards
and causing conflict with farmers.
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But this bat and his colony
are special.
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They are under Buddha's
own protection.
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This is the temple
of Wat Pho Bang Khla.
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HE BANGS DRUM
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As dusk approaches,
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the resident monks are called
to prayer by the beat of a drum.
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But the bats have heard it all
before.
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Here, the spiritual
and animal kingdoms are united.
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MONKS CHANT
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Buddhism is the religion of
more than 90% of Thai people,
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profoundly influencing
their everyday lives.
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00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,120
Buddhist teachings state that
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all living things are
worthy of kindness,
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compassion and tolerance.
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This very tolerant place
is known as the Bat Temple.
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00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:00,920
It's the daytime residence
of 6,000 or more flying foxes.
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Leaving their sanctuary
to forage far away,
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they'll return at dawn
to this spiritual haven.
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00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,600
The natural world
features prominently
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in Thai religion and mythology.
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00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,000
The lotus is linked
to Buddha himself.
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In shallow lakes
to the west of Bangkok,
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tightly-filled buds rise
on slender stems
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as if craning their necks
to the heavens.
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The contrast of the blooms
to the muddy water
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inspired Buddha to use the lotus
as a symbol of enlightenment.
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00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,120
The passage from darkness to light,
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ignorance to wisdom.
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00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,720
Yukha spends every day
in the watery fields
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plucking the stems.
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Almost every part of the lotus
is edible,
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and the petals, roots and stamens
are used in traditional medicine.
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00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:01,760
By dawn the next day, these
bouquets will be on sale in Bangkok.
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00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,720
But not as ingredients
for food or pharmacy,
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they are destined
for a higher purpose.
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00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,400
The lotus bud is one of the most
popular ways to pay tribute
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at one of more than 30,000 temples.
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00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,080
Embracing both Buddhist
and Hindu principles,
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people make daily offerings
to honour the gods.
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00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,080
This shrine is named after Erawan -
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the elephant that carried
the Hindu god Indra,
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so he deserves
a floral offering too.
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00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:11,040
Here in Thailand, one animal's fate
is intertwined more than any other
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with the country's history
and its future.
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The Asian elephant.
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It has been revered for centuries.
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Even the word for its dung
also means moon.
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A new beginning, the propagator.
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Creating new life
from seed dispersal.
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00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:07,240
But the story of elephants in
Thailand is not always a happy one.
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There are more than 4,000
of these giants in captivity.
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00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,360
And most visitors to Thailand
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00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:21,080
take a ride on a domesticated
elephant for granted.
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00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,560
At Sublangka Wildlife Sanctuary,
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00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,960
a new life is offered to elephants
rescued from the tourist trade.
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The Elephant
Reintroduction Foundation
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releases rehabilitated elephants
back into the forest.
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31-year-old Wadsana was bought
by the sanctuary in 2011.
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00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,320
Four years later,
a calf called Earn arrived.
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00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,640
And they have been inseparable
ever since.
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Earn and her adopted mother
are now taken
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on regular walks in the forest.
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00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,560
To be ready for their release,
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they'll need to be familiar with
its sights, sounds and smells,
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know where to find water,
and what they can and can't eat.
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00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,520
Annan is a former mahout,
an elephant trainer and rider.
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00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,600
He is now one of the team of rangers
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00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,120
responsible for the daily care
of the elephants.
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00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,200
IN THAI:
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00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,680
Wadsana and Earn will soon
be ready to join
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Sublangka's growing population
of elephants.
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00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:38,640
And for when the day arrives,
a royal send-off is being planned.
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300km south-west of Bangkok
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lies the province of
Prachuap Khiri Khan.
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00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:52,920
The plains flood
during the rainy season,
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00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,040
and with the waters
come rich deposits of silt.
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00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,400
These fertile fields not only fill
the rice bowls of a nation,
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00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,720
they also provide a major export.
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00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:13,200
So, for farmers, living side-by-side
with animals is a delicate balance.
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Chestnut munias do their best
to steal the rice grains
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ripening in the paddy fields.
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00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,880
And the farmers chase them away,
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just as they always have.
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00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:50,120
Open-billed storks were once hunted
by villagers for food.
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00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:58,080
But in the 1980s, golden apple
snails were introduced to Asia
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00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:03,040
from South America, and became
a major agricultural pest.
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00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:07,600
Suddenly, the storks became
the farmers' friends.
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They are snail specialists.
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00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,760
So they are left to forage in peace.
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Local farmer Uncle Alf
is draining a pool.
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Fish are abundant among the paddies.
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Family and friends muck in
to help with the catch.
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00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,120
These freshwater fish
were trapped here
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when floodwaters receded
at the end of the last rainy season.
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00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,960
Scooping them up by hand is
the way it's always been done.
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00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,440
But sometimes
the fish make it easy for you.
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LAUGHTER
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00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,640
The harvested fish will be sold
at the market,
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00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,960
and the little egrets are welcome
to any left behind.
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There's one kind of fish
that is highly prized
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across central Thailand.
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But not as food.
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And these village boys
are out to catch some.
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BOYS CHATTER
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Here's what they're after -
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a fish that's admired for showing
no fear in defence of its territory.
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00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:45,960
The Betta fish is better known as
the Siamese fighting fish.
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They share their fearless reputation
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with the gladiators of the ancient
martial art of Muay Thai.
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Or Thai boxing.
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Top fighters can become
household names...
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earning millions of Thai baht
per fight.
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00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,000
Fortunes can be won or lost
on the outcome.
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The opponents size each other up.
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The fish extend their fins
to make themselves look bigger.
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When one fish is slipped
into the bottle of the other,
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their true nature
as born fighters is revealed.
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BELL RINGS
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A knockout ends this bout...
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..and the fish fight is over
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when one retreats
to the bottom of the bottle.
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Tomorrow, both fish
will be returned to the wild.
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00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:55,440
For centuries, Siamese fighting fish
have been admired as prize-fighters,
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00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:59,920
but selective breeding
to enhance colour, tail and fins
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00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:03,560
has also made them into
exquisite objects of desire.
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00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,680
Photographer Visarute is
well known in Thailand
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for his photographs capturing
their silky sensuousness.
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00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:49,800
Extreme slow motion reveals their
dance in all its willowy grace.
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00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:15,040
These little fish loom large
in Thai culture...
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..epitomising the exoticism
of this country.
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00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,280
Food is a huge part of Thai culture.
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00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:48,120
But among
the more familiar ingredients
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00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:51,880
in Thailand's food markets
are some unexpected delicacies.
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Wi Li has bought this supper of
live crickets to feed her family.
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00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,560
Insects have long been
on the menu in Thailand.
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And the children love
these crispy bugs.
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But thieves lurk in the shadows.
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00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:17,560
The soles of their feet are covered
in microscopic bristles
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that split into hundreds more,
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gripping every surface.
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00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,160
It's one of the largest geckos
in the world.
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00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:34,720
The tokay.
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00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:41,320
A gecko might steal a meal or two,
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00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,320
but they also help get rid
of unwelcome insects.
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00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,440
Geckos evolved
to climb trees and rocks,
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00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,800
so scaling a wall is no problem.
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At up to 35 centimetres long,
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they're big lizards
with big appetites.
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Thai people may be accustomed to
large lizards in their houses...
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..but some giants make
more intimidating neighbours.
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Lumphini Park
in the heart of Bangkok.
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An oasis of green
amid the daytime bustle.
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00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,800
But something's not quite right
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00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,400
with this picture of
carefully tended tranquillity.
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00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,400
There's danger
in this urban paradise.
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00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:42,400
Huge lizards, called water monitors,
stalk these lawns.
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00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:55,200
Water monitors can reach
more than three metres in length
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00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,120
and weigh over 50kg.
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00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:11,520
These lizards are
exclusively carnivorous.
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They even dispose of the remains
of less fortunate monitor lizards,
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which may win them a few friends.
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00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,040
Razor-sharp teeth
and germ-laden saliva
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00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,760
can inflict life-threatening wounds.
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00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,320
But water monitors
rarely bite humans.
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00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,280
The reaction to these latter-day
dinosaurs is typically Thai.
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00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:47,720
Their attitude, when it comes to
potentially lethal lizards
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00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,840
sharing public spaces, is summed up
by one of their favourite
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00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:56,160
Buddhism-inspired expressions -
mai pen rai -
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00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,080
it's fine.
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00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,960
Just be calm, carefree,
and we can all get along.
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00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,280
Some Buddhist teachings advise
that things are best left alone.
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00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:27,160
But they also may urge direct action
to preserve the natural world.
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00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:40,280
Like symbolically ordaining trees
as monks,
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00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,000
complete with robes,
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00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,880
as a sort of spiritual
preservation order.
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00:31:56,440 --> 00:32:00,280
Other Buddhist ceremonies
can also benefit nature.
248
00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:04,080
And for Wadsana and Earn,
it's a very special day.
249
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,560
SINGING OVER MICROPHONE
250
00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,640
Making merit is a way of
earning celestial favour
251
00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,680
for doing a good deed.
252
00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:24,280
It might be giving alms to a monk,
chanting Buddhist scripture,
253
00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:27,480
or releasing an animal
into the wild.
254
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,000
As befits their size and place
in Thai culture,
255
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,680
to release an elephant is one of
the highest forms of making merit.
256
00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,360
Today, six will be set free,
257
00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,320
six elephants for the 60th birthday
258
00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,640
of Thailand's much-loved
Princess Sirindhorn.
259
00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:16,680
It's a very big day
for a little elephant like Earn.
260
00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:20,040
She has to face
the crowds of well-wishers.
261
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:25,440
And Annan has even taught her
to bow for the Princess.
262
00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,800
The Princess blesses them
with holy water.
263
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,960
She offers them each a stick or two
of sugar cane for their journey,
264
00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:54,520
and they are free.
265
00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,560
Annan and the team of rangers will
continue to monitor their progress.
266
00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:30,280
There's already a herd of
previously released elephants
267
00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:31,640
roaming the forest.
268
00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:36,800
Hopefully, in time, Wadsana
and Earn will join up with them.
269
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,720
But first, they need to get
used to life without Annan.
270
00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:51,600
Elephants have always occupied
a special place in Thai mythology.
271
00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,120
But other animals share
that mythical status.
272
00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:00,760
And some are a lot harder
to get along with.
273
00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:09,320
In rural Sakaerat,
north-east of Bangkok,
274
00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:13,480
a lethal conflict is taking place
between villagers and snakes.
275
00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:27,840
There are more than 175
snake species in Thailand.
276
00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:35,480
This little Asian vine snake is one
of more than 100 that are venomous.
277
00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:40,480
And more than half of those
are highly dangerous.
278
00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:47,800
There are up to 10,000 snake bites
per year in Thailand.
279
00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,760
And one type of snake
bites more people
280
00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,080
than all the other snakes
put together.
281
00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:00,040
This roadside community is
typical of rural Thailand.
282
00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:02,840
Running through its centre
283
00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,840
is a river that dries up entirely
in the hot season.
284
00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:18,880
As night falls,
it becomes a perilous place,
285
00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:20,680
haunted by predators.
286
00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:30,720
Pit vipers.
287
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:35,720
Barely 60 centimetres long,
288
00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:39,560
this green pit viper is
making its way to a site
289
00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,720
where it can ambush frogs,
lizards or mice.
290
00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:48,440
It's all too easy
for someone passing by
291
00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,400
to brush dangerously close
to this striking little snake.
292
00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,840
Snakes are often killed on sight,
293
00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:07,440
but there's a snake conservation
team here
294
00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,440
that is trying to save the snakes
and people
295
00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:12,920
in the Sakaerat area and beyond.
296
00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:20,200
A call has come in that a huge king
cobra has tried to enter a house,
297
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,040
and has taken refuge
in a potted shrub.
298
00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:36,480
Colin Strine, head of the snake
team, assesses the situation.
299
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,040
Stet back, step back, step back.
300
00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:43,200
It's one of the world's
most deadly snakes.
301
00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,520
OK, I'm going to go ahead
and make the grab now.
302
00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:53,560
I'm trying to bring out the vines
that it's grabbing onto.
303
00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:58,320
The bite of a king can deliver
enough venom to kill an elephant.
304
00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,560
So there's no room for error.
305
00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:04,120
Here we go, here we go.
Go, go, go.
306
00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:07,080
Grip now, grip now, please. OK.
Good.
307
00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:11,840
Good job.
308
00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:15,040
Release, let go.
309
00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:17,520
OK.
310
00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:21,840
If this snake had not been rescued,
the locals would have felt
311
00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,200
they had no choice but to kill it.
312
00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:31,320
Bagged and boxed,
the cobra will be taken back
313
00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,240
to the conservation centre.
314
00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:43,320
Nice and easy.
We don't see any parasites. OK.
315
00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:46,640
Snakes that are brought in
by the team are given a sedative
316
00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,680
prior to a thorough health check.
317
00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:53,480
Measurements are taken
for the team's research.
318
00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:58,240
Perfectly natural,
and it's quite common with humans
319
00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:01,240
to be very fearful of snakes.
320
00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:03,800
I guess we should just be
really happy
321
00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:07,680
that they were willing to call
instead of just killing it.
322
00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:13,840
We do work pretty hard to try
and educate people about snakes,
323
00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:15,720
and about not to be afraid of them.
324
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:21,280
The king cobra is the longest
of all venomous snakes
325
00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,640
and reaches close
to six metres in length.
326
00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:30,480
This male is a mere
three-and-a-half metres.
327
00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:36,560
The sleeping king is inflated.
328
00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:41,240
The long lungs running down his body
are full of anaesthetic
329
00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:45,440
which has to be manually forced out
before he can come around.
330
00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:57,600
It's crucial that rescued snakes are
returned to their own territories,
331
00:39:57,600 --> 00:39:59,960
so they're given time
to recover fully
332
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:03,160
before being released a short
distance from their capture sites.
333
00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:14,120
For Colin, every king
safely returned to its territory
334
00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,080
is a success story.
335
00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,400
It feels good,
because they're still alive.
336
00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,640
It's always a pleasant feeling when
they're going back into the wild.
337
00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:40,680
is a sign of good luck
and good fortune...
338
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,800
..though it might be best to avoid
sharing the water with one.
339
00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:53,960
The ancient serpent cult
of this region teaches
340
00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,960
that the wealth of Thailand
was bestowed upon it
341
00:40:56,960 --> 00:40:58,720
by the Naga snake spirits,
342
00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:01,600
living in the kingdom's waterways.
343
00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,240
For centuries, these waterways
have helped transport
344
00:41:11,240 --> 00:41:13,720
people and goods around Thailand.
345
00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:23,920
At watery crossroads, floating
markets sprang up everywhere.
346
00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:45,600
These days, modern commerce
is fast replacing the traditional.
347
00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:51,960
But an amiable armada of old women,
vessels laden with local produce,
348
00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:55,240
still invades Tha Kha,
west of Bangkok,
349
00:41:55,240 --> 00:41:57,560
to buy and sell from boat to boat.
350
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:12,240
The lowlands of central Thailand
351
00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,240
have long been the agricultural
heart of the country.
352
00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:20,800
A network of canals was constructed
to link rivers
353
00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:23,520
and allow the transportation
of goods
354
00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:27,640
east from Cambodia and south-west
from coastal provinces.
355
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,120
During the rainy season,
356
00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:36,880
fertile sediment washes
down these waterways,
357
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,600
eventually reaching
the Gulf of Thailand.
358
00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:47,120
As the monsoon subsides,
the sea teems with life.
359
00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:52,360
The waters are ripe for harvest.
360
00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:58,000
And one of the largest yield comes
in the form of a very small fish.
361
00:43:03,080 --> 00:43:08,000
It's anchovy season at fishing
villages all along the Gulf Coast.
362
00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:13,360
The daily catch is deftly filleted
363
00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:16,160
and neatly laid out
to dry in the sun.
364
00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:25,640
This must take place
before the fish start to spoil.
365
00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:29,320
So everyone plays a part
in the process.
366
00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:39,720
Once the sun and breeze
have done their work,
367
00:43:39,720 --> 00:43:42,920
the dried fish will keep
for up to a year.
368
00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:58,520
There's plenty for everyone
in this seasonal pay-out.
369
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,120
Flocks of terns are always ready
to cash in.
370
00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:18,360
But a much larger fisherman
has arrived in these waters.
371
00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:31,560
The locals call it chao pho lai,
meaning very big grandfather.
372
00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:37,760
A 15-metre-long Bryde's whale.
373
00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:46,960
Whales are thought
to bring good luck,
374
00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:50,880
but locals believe that bad things
happen to those who harm them.
375
00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:57,200
Chao pho lai is also the name
for Thai mafia.
376
00:44:57,200 --> 00:44:58,480
Godfathers.
377
00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:07,400
From August to December, the whales
gather in the Gulf of Thailand
378
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,600
to make the most of
the abundant anchovies.
379
00:45:12,800 --> 00:45:14,320
They usually feed alone,
380
00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:16,920
though a mother and calf
will hunt together.
381
00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:34,880
These two have located
a school of anchovies.
382
00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:51,000
Like other whales
in the rorqual family,
383
00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:53,400
such as blue and humpback whales,
384
00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:57,120
Bryde's whales sieve
each monumental mouthful
385
00:45:57,120 --> 00:46:02,600
through long, coarse bristles
called baleen.
386
00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:05,240
At least,
that's how it usually works.
387
00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:10,200
These whales are
exhibiting behaviour
388
00:46:10,200 --> 00:46:12,600
that is puzzling marine biologists.
389
00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:27,840
Some think
the anchovies are too small,
390
00:46:27,840 --> 00:46:31,600
and would slip through
the coarse baleen of the Bryde's.
391
00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:35,080
So the whales rock and swill
the fish to the back of the gullet
392
00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:36,920
so they can swallow them.
393
00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:59,560
In other parts of the world
where they feed on larger fish,
394
00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:02,520
Bryde's whales don't use
this method.
395
00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:07,080
But here they seem to have developed
a unique way of making the most
396
00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:09,160
of Thailand's fertile waters.
397
00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:23,800
These giants of the sea are treated
with respect and reverence.
398
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:46,440
In central Thailand, the giants of
the forest are gaining freedom
399
00:47:46,440 --> 00:47:49,200
and ever more footholds in the wild.
400
00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:59,040
The little elephant family
is learning to live on its own.
401
00:48:22,960 --> 00:48:27,040
Climbing a tall and slippery bank
could be dangerous for Earn.
402
00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:30,120
But Wadsana shows her how,
403
00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:32,360
ascending the slope on her knees.
404
00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:52,080
It looks like
Earn's going to be just fine.
405
00:48:57,480 --> 00:49:00,840
The rangers follow the elephants
regularly,
406
00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:03,040
checking to make sure
they are healthy
407
00:49:03,040 --> 00:49:05,840
and learning to feed themselves
successfully.
408
00:49:23,960 --> 00:49:27,960
Annan will never come
into close contact with them again.
409
00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:32,360
They'll now live out their lives
in the forest as wild elephants.
410
00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:59,920
The Asian elephant is
the enduring symbol of Thailand.
411
00:50:01,160 --> 00:50:05,600
At Sublangka, their breeding herd
in the wild is also a symbol
412
00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:09,280
of Thailand's transition
from past to present.
413
00:50:10,480 --> 00:50:13,600
Making merit
and earning goodwill from the gods,
414
00:50:13,600 --> 00:50:16,840
means also renewing the forest.
415
00:50:28,720 --> 00:50:33,840
In the forests, fields, and even
the cities of central Thailand,
416
00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:38,520
nature thrives, with the blessing
and help of its people.
417
00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:53,440
Unique, spiritual
and still untamed.
418
00:50:56,440 --> 00:51:01,720
The ancient bonds between
humans and animals live on.
419
00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:19,120
During the filming of
the central Thailand episode,
420
00:51:19,120 --> 00:51:21,240
the crew visited Sakaerat,
421
00:51:21,240 --> 00:51:24,440
a hot spot for conflict
between humans and snakes.
422
00:51:28,240 --> 00:51:32,560
The one creature they really wanted
to film was a very pretty snake
423
00:51:32,560 --> 00:51:34,520
with a very bad reputation.
424
00:51:38,840 --> 00:51:41,400
It's a snake that has been
carefully studied
425
00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:44,960
here at the Sakaerat
Environmental Research Station.
426
00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:47,200
These will put you in hospital.
427
00:51:48,960 --> 00:51:52,800
Producer Steve Cole is introduced
to the serpent in question
428
00:51:52,800 --> 00:51:55,520
by snake research assistant
Ben Marshall.
429
00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:59,680
These guys are responsible for the
vast majority of bites in Thailand.
430
00:51:59,680 --> 00:52:01,400
They are beautiful, aren't they?
431
00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:03,840
It's a green pit viper.
432
00:52:03,840 --> 00:52:06,040
How far would that snake strike?
433
00:52:06,040 --> 00:52:09,720
Is it a she? Would she expect me
to be a lot closer before she...
434
00:52:09,720 --> 00:52:12,360
Yeah, much closer,
and a lot more agitated.
435
00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:15,160
These guys are not going to waste
their time, waste their venom,
436
00:52:15,160 --> 00:52:17,040
they will attempt to hide.
437
00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:20,040
They will attempt to just
stay absolutely still.
438
00:52:20,040 --> 00:52:23,520
It sounds like the sort of snake
we might have some hope of filming!
439
00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:25,680
Absolutely.
Especially when you find one,
440
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:27,400
cos he's not going to be
going anywhere.
441
00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:34,480
Finding these creatures in the wild
can be both difficult and dangerous.
442
00:52:35,840 --> 00:52:39,040
But, luckily for Steve,
this team rescues and releases
443
00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:40,920
the types of venomous snake
444
00:52:40,920 --> 00:52:43,600
that most often come into conflict
with people.
445
00:52:46,160 --> 00:52:48,120
Many of these are radio tagged
446
00:52:48,120 --> 00:52:51,280
to provide data on their habits
and whereabouts.
447
00:52:51,280 --> 00:52:53,360
I keep thinking she,
but I could be wrong.
448
00:52:53,360 --> 00:52:56,040
It's this inside info
that Steve needs.
449
00:52:57,360 --> 00:53:01,720
And snake researcher Sammy Assad
is here to guide the film team.
450
00:53:04,600 --> 00:53:08,680
Three tagged pit vipers have made
this dry riverbed their home.
451
00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:14,400
They don't move around much,
so they should be easy to find.
452
00:53:14,400 --> 00:53:16,120
That's the theory.
453
00:53:21,720 --> 00:53:25,280
Green pit vipers hunt
under the cover of darkness.
454
00:53:27,560 --> 00:53:31,400
Sammy quickly picks up the signal
of one of the transmitters.
455
00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:39,280
So, at the moment,
456
00:53:39,280 --> 00:53:41,560
it's sounding like
he's just within the base
457
00:53:41,560 --> 00:53:44,200
of this, kind of,
liana vegetation covered tree.
458
00:53:46,160 --> 00:53:48,520
I'd definitely be careful
moving around here,
459
00:53:48,520 --> 00:53:51,280
cos there are lots of other
green pit vipers in the area.
460
00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:52,760
So if you're going to walk around,
461
00:53:52,760 --> 00:53:55,080
make sure you've got
a head torch on.
462
00:53:56,480 --> 00:54:00,400
After checking he's not about to
have his very own snake conflict,
463
00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:03,680
cameraman Si Wagen sets up lights.
464
00:54:07,120 --> 00:54:09,200
I can see him now.
465
00:54:10,600 --> 00:54:11,600
Got him.
466
00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:13,560
Ah, fantastic!
467
00:54:15,720 --> 00:54:18,000
In this tangle of
twigs and branches,
468
00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:20,760
you can just see his coils there.
469
00:54:20,760 --> 00:54:22,360
The scales.
470
00:54:22,360 --> 00:54:24,920
It's impossible to pick out
his head at the moment.
471
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:29,080
They just blend in so beautifully,
472
00:54:29,080 --> 00:54:32,840
it's almost impossible to see them
in this tangle of leaves.
473
00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:36,960
But if he stays there,
474
00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:39,200
we won't be able to get
a good shot of him.
475
00:54:41,160 --> 00:54:44,240
The pit viper showed
no sign of moving,
476
00:54:44,240 --> 00:54:47,400
so the team come back to
the same location the next night.
477
00:54:50,200 --> 00:54:52,920
They hope to find
a more accessible snake.
478
00:54:56,840 --> 00:54:57,920
So...
479
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,960
It's amazing that our light
doesn't bother him,
480
00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:05,360
but it seems like
his method of defence
481
00:55:05,360 --> 00:55:07,920
is the same as
his method of attack.
482
00:55:07,920 --> 00:55:09,880
Just keep very still.
483
00:55:11,840 --> 00:55:16,840
Now, they have seen for themselves
how still pit vipers can be,
484
00:55:16,840 --> 00:55:20,680
they have an even more
complicated shot in mind.
485
00:55:20,680 --> 00:55:25,040
We are going to try to get
a motion-control camera shot.
486
00:55:26,560 --> 00:55:29,800
Motion control cameras
run along small tracks,
487
00:55:29,800 --> 00:55:33,440
allowing smooth moves
into a subject.
488
00:55:33,440 --> 00:55:36,920
In this case, Steve is hoping
they can create the feel
489
00:55:36,920 --> 00:55:38,680
of a striking snake
490
00:55:38,680 --> 00:55:41,760
without the danger
of an actual snake attack.
491
00:55:42,840 --> 00:55:46,240
I've no idea even if it's pointing
in the right direction.
492
00:55:46,240 --> 00:55:47,840
No, it's not.
493
00:55:50,680 --> 00:55:52,680
It's trickier than we thought.
494
00:55:52,680 --> 00:55:54,800
I always thought it would be tricky!
495
00:55:54,800 --> 00:55:57,720
I, on the other hand,
was an optimist.
496
00:55:57,720 --> 00:55:59,200
Wrongly so!
497
00:56:00,720 --> 00:56:04,000
The problem is,
the focus has to be pin sharp
498
00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:06,360
at the closest point to the snake.
499
00:56:06,360 --> 00:56:08,320
I can't quite achieve focus there.
500
00:56:08,320 --> 00:56:13,000
And that means the camera is well
inside the snake's striking range.
501
00:56:13,000 --> 00:56:15,280
I physically have to
get closer to it.
502
00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:33,800
To get focus,
503
00:56:33,800 --> 00:56:36,120
I'm going to have to put my hand
right next to its face.
504
00:56:36,120 --> 00:56:39,120
You can't do that. No.
So I'm going to guess the focus.
505
00:56:39,120 --> 00:56:41,440
And then run it back and forwards
506
00:56:41,440 --> 00:56:45,000
until such time as
we get the focus correct.
507
00:56:46,160 --> 00:56:50,240
OK, so... We're going
to have to inch forward.
508
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:54,000
Once Si has set the focus
as close to the snake as possible,
509
00:56:54,000 --> 00:56:58,560
he has to stop the camera
in exactly the right spot.
510
00:56:58,560 --> 00:57:01,600
I've got about 3mm
to park this camera.
511
00:57:03,160 --> 00:57:06,280
The depth of field
at point of focus is so shallow
512
00:57:06,280 --> 00:57:08,640
there's no margin for error.
513
00:57:15,240 --> 00:57:17,720
Right, Steve, here we go.
514
00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:25,200
Well, that's sharp.
515
00:57:25,200 --> 00:57:26,440
Spot on.
516
00:57:29,920 --> 00:57:32,680
I think that's about as close
as we're going to get.
517
00:57:32,680 --> 00:57:35,760
It's closer than I thought
we'd be able to get,
518
00:57:35,760 --> 00:57:37,800
and he's been very patient,
519
00:57:37,800 --> 00:57:40,680
so I think it's time for us
to leave him alone now.
520
00:57:40,680 --> 00:57:43,520
He's also paying way too much
attention me now.
521
00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:47,920
And I don't like that!
He's only little, but he's scary.
522
00:57:50,760 --> 00:57:53,400
The team has got the shot.
523
00:57:53,400 --> 00:57:57,680
The green pit viper finds
a less busy place to hunt,
524
00:57:57,680 --> 00:57:59,680
and speeded up,
525
00:57:59,680 --> 00:58:02,280
the shot is suitably striking.
526
00:58:07,440 --> 00:58:12,080
Next time, we head to
Thailand's untamed north,
527
00:58:12,080 --> 00:58:16,520
where mysterious cloud forests
are home to ancient customs.
528
00:58:17,480 --> 00:58:20,360
Here, life can be tough.
529
00:58:20,360 --> 00:58:24,280
And survival means
forging unexpected alliances.
530
00:58:27,760 --> 00:58:29,040
Both old...
531
00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:31,520
..and new.
44245
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