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In the heart of Southeast Asia
is an ancient kingdom...
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..with over 3,000 kilometres
of coastline.
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00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,040
But beyond its golden shores...
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..there are secret worlds.
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00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:39,880
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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00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,240
Forming unique relationships.
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00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:20,960
A spiritual land...
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..full of magic and wonder.
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00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:33,680
This is Thailand.
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00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,680
Thailand's north
is a wild and rugged land.
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Cloaked in forest,
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00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,720
hiding ancient communities
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and unexpected partnerships.
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Here, in the jungles of Phu Kao,
live some unusual primates.
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Phayre's leaf monkeys.
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They live up to their name,
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eating the leaves of around
100 different types of plant.
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00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,120
But this low-calorie diet
means they've got to eat a lot.
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So, they need to keep moving.
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00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,800
In all the hurry, youngsters risk
getting lost among the greenery.
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But babies are born bright orange,
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making them easier
for parents to spot.
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When he's a few months old,
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this baby will turn grey,
like his parents.
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00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,880
But, for now,
he remains highly visible.
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Sisters and aunts share
in the childcare.
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It helps them practise
their parenting skills.
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00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,720
But this new mother seems
reluctant to release her infant.
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Being this protective
doesn't allow her much time to rest.
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She's yet to learn the benefits
of sharing.
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On the move again.
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It's hard work travelling in the
tree tops with a baby in your arms.
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Feeding is more difficult, too.
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This mother is tired and hungry.
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And with others keen
to care for her baby...
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00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,880
..she accepts their help.
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Now, she can concentrate on
the important task
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of eating more leaves,
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knowing her baby is in safe hands.
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In this remote region of Thailand,
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strong partnerships have long formed
an essential part of life.
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00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,000
Northern Thailand
is a diverse landscape.
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Almost two-thirds of it
is dominated by forested mountains.
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This green veil hides some
of the world's rarest creatures.
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Like the leopard...
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00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,960
the Malayan tapir...
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..and the binturong.
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00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:41,760
Isolation has also protected
ancient communities,
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00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:43,640
where people and nature
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forge surprising alliances.
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Thailand's northern mountains began
to form 50 million years ago,
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when Indian and Eurasian
plates collided
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and the highest peak was born.
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00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,640
Doi Inthanon is known as
"The Roof of Thailand".
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It stands over 2,500 metres high.
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00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,600
Temperatures here
drop to near freezing,
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bathing the morning forest
in cool, moist air.
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Beneath this sea of mist
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lies an enchanting world
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of wild woods
and white-water streams.
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00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,000
As water flows through this forest,
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it absorbs carbon dioxide
from the soil and air,
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making it more acidic.
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00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,480
It eats away at the limestone rock
of the mountains,
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creating worlds within worlds.
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00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,640
Over millions of years,
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streams and rivers
have carved a maze of caverns.
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So far, more than 4,000
have been discovered.
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Tham Lod Cave is 50 metres tall.
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00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,680
Thousands of Cook's swifts nest
in its cathedral-like vaults.
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00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,160
But they can't nest in peace.
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A predator prowls these walls.
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This cave racer snake
is two metres long,
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helping it bridge gaps
to scale this cavern.
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To escape the snake,
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the swifts build their nests
in the most inaccessible places.
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00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,800
At night, they keep dead still,
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hoping the danger passes.
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the swifts can once more
take to the safety of the air.
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00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,840
As they leave the cave,
their droppings rain down.
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00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,800
Insect remains in the guano may be
appealing to the carp,
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00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,200
but others also take advantage
of this fertile sprinkling.
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Anpa visits the cave most days.
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SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE:
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In Buddhism,
heavenly favour can be earned
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by small acts of respect
or kindness
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known as "making merit".
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Anpa's ritual of collecting this
guano also has earthly benefits.
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This natural alliance reaffirms
Anpa's spiritual beliefs,
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as well as providing
valuable nitrogen
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and phosphorus for the soil.
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00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,320
Traditional small-scale farming
in the mountains
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requires a close
connection with nature.
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00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:39,880
So, too, does modern-day practice.
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00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,880
In north-eastern Thailand,
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where there was once forest,
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there is now farmland.
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00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,120
And people here still maintain
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an important relationship
with wildlife.
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00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,200
Mr Tanon is on a personal mission.
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00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,720
By bending and breaking the spines
of banana palm leaves,
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he creates new homes for a rare
and secretive mammal.
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00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,080
Among these dry, dead leaves,
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00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,800
lives the painted bat.
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00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,120
Painted bats have adopted
this unusual roosting site...
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00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,840
..because there's a short supply
of natural forest in this region.
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00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,480
HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE:
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These bats were a rare sight.
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00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:11,680
But 16 years ago, a breeding
population was rediscovered here.
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00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:31,640
It's easy to see why they are known
locally as the "butterfly bat".
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00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,280
For Mr Tanon, the reward for this
partnership
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is simply to see the natural
beauty of these bats on the wing.
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Sometimes all it takes
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is one person to make a difference.
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00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,400
In northern Thailand,
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the lives of animals and people
are deeply entwined
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and the natural world
is an integral part of religion.
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00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:49,520
Under the full moon, there's
one event that happens each year,
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symbolising the letting go
of past problems
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00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,200
and welcoming new hope
for the future.
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00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,160
In Buddhist culture,
sky-borne lanterns
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00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,080
represent a move away
from darkness into the light.
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00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,040
The festivals of
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong
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bring families
and friends together.
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00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,640
Celebrating the elements of nature,
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00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,040
they honour Phra Mae Khongkha -
the water goddess.
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00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:25,240
"Loy", in Thai, means "to float"
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00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,000
and small baskets, or "krathongs",
fill the village river.
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00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,880
These elaborate rituals
help communities to live in harmony
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00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,320
and show respect
for the natural world.
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00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:57,080
The connection between people
and nature is a complex one.
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00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:03,040
And there's one creature with which
the people of northern Thailand
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have had an enduring relationship.
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00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:08,960
But it has not always
been a happy one.
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The Asian elephant.
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00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,920
These giants can weigh up
to five tonnes.
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00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,920
So, you don't want to cross paths
with one in thick jungle.
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This is an elephant this woman
knows well.
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She was rescued by Lek
from a life of toil and hardship.
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00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,520
The felling of the forests for
hardwood timber
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was once common in northern
Thailand,
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00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,800
and elephants
were used as tractors.
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00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,920
When logging was made illegal
in 1989,
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00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,560
many elephants were forced to earn
their keep in the tourist industry.
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00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:50,120
SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE:
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00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,720
Now, Lek is working
to change the lives
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00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,000
of Thailand's domesticated
elephants.
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00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,800
She's rescuing them
from illegal logging sites,
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00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,360
circuses and tracking camps,
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00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:35,720
and giving them a new life.
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Caboo suffered an injury in a
logging camp
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when she was two years old.
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But she had to carry on working
for another 23 years -
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until Lek came to her rescue.
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00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,400
The elephants roam here without
chains, meeting others,
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00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,440
and forging new bonds.
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Lek's sanctuary also enables
visitors to meet these giants.
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EXCITED CHATTER
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SNORTING
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THUNDER RUMBLES
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00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:05,800
In the wild, Asian elephants live in
family groups of related females.
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But these individuals have welcomed
Lek to be part of the herd.
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Elephants are highly intelligent
and emotional animals.
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00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,440
And after years
of psychological trauma,
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these individuals are now putting
their trust in Lek.
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RUMBLING AND SPLASHING
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In Thailand,
there isn't always the space
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to release large numbers of
them back into the wild.
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So, these elephants are likely to
spend the rest of their days
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in this sanctuary.
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With Lek's love and dedication,
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they'll get the care they need,
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and now have a second chance
at life.
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In Thailand's northern mountains,
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there are a few places where great
tracts of forest still remain.
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Especially on the border
with Myanmar.
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00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,080
It's the largest area of protected
land in mainland Southeast Asia.
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00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:20,000
At its heart, the wilderness
of Huai Kha Khaeng,
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is home to some of Thailand's
rarest and most elusive creatures...
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..such as banteng.
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00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,640
They normally
live deep within the forest,
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but, during the dry season,
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come out into the clearings to feed
on the last remaining grasses.
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These wild cows are believed
to be the ancestors
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of all cattle in Southeast Asia.
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Each herd is comprised of a male,
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several females,
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and their playful calves.
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Huai Kha Khaeng
is one of the few places
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where numbers seem to be growing.
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Sambar deer also like to graze here
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and are useful sentinels,
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alert to the sounds of the forest.
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They need to be.
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Large predators live here, too.
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00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,760
Armed rangers are here to protect
the rarest of them all.
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The Indochinese tiger.
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00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:15,480
It is estimated there are only 200
of these tigers left in Thailand.
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And they face extinction
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due to habitat loss and poaching.
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00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,680
The rangers pass on any information
they find to scientists...
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00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,800
..who are also working hard
to prevent the tigers' decline.
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00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,880
It's a great collaboration
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between the Department
of National Parks,
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00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,800
Wildlife And Plant Conservation,
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00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,880
and the Wildlife
Conservation Society.
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But it's tough work for everyone.
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Tigers are almost impossible
to find.
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00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,080
The best way for Som Pot
and the tiger research team
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00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:32,560
to work out how many live here
is by using camera traps.
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00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,280
They've revealed that here
in Huai Kha Khaeng -
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00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,760
just four hours' drive
from Bangkok -
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00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,760
there's a significant
tiger population.
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00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:54,080
Many Thai people are unaware
these secretive cats
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still exist in their country.
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00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,000
To know where
to put the camera traps,
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00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,880
the team need to understand
the tigers' territory.
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00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,200
To do that, they follow
a number of key individuals
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00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:25,560
using satellite collars.
224
00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:34,960
Today, Som Pot's tracking
one particular tiger.
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00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:40,440
Its satellite collar shows it keeps
returning to the same place.
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00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,880
It's a good chance to
get vital camera-trap footage.
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00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:55,400
The tiger has made a kill...
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..a male sambar deer.
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00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,200
They must work quickly,
with minimal disturbance.
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00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,200
THEY MURMUR QUIETLY
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00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,160
FLIES BUZZ
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00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,080
THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE
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00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,280
Later that night, the tiger returns.
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00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,560
Camera-trap footage has been vital
for documenting the tigers here.
235
00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,680
Tiger stripe patterns
are like fingerprints -
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00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:50,720
unique to each individual.
237
00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:05,120
The database shows around 70 tigers
roamed these forests.
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00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,720
Numbers have almost doubled
in a decade
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00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,280
and that's because of people like
Som Pot and his team.
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00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:46,760
Restoring natural harmony in the
forests of northern Thailand
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00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,480
is also vital for preserving the
spiritual lives
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00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,200
of the people that live here.
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00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,840
These men are from the
Black Lahu hill tribe.
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00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:06,680
Their ancestors lived in the
Himalayan foothills
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00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:11,000
for over 2,000 years, settling here
within the last century.
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00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,200
They believe spirits dwell
in this forest.
247
00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:26,160
For Papa,
cooperating with them is vital.
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00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,320
HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE:
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00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:43,680
The Black Lahu have a unique
relationship with nature,
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00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:47,400
with an animist faith
that predates Buddhism.
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00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:56,120
This tree will become a bridge
to the spirit world.
252
00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,120
HE CHANTS, OTHERS PLAY PIPES
253
00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:04,040
An offering is made.
254
00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:07,600
THEY PLAY NOTES
255
00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:11,760
Papa believes this cord will pull
his wife's lost soul
256
00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,480
along the tree trunk
back from the forest.
257
00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,080
HE CHANTS
258
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:26,040
By tying the cord around her wrist,
259
00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:30,320
the spirit doctor reconnects Nalor
with her soul.
260
00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:34,440
A Lahu will never cut a spirit cord,
261
00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,480
wearing it until it falls off.
262
00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:44,960
This sacred connection with the
forest is cause for celebration.
263
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:49,000
MUSIC PLAYS, THEY CLAP IN TIME
264
00:34:55,320 --> 00:35:00,600
By dancing, the Lahu show their joy
to their creator spirit, Gui Sha.
265
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,840
The Lahus' spiritual relationship
with the forest
266
00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,400
protects their loved ones
and strengthens the community.
267
00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,480
These remote mountain worlds
268
00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:00,560
not only hide ancient traditions,
269
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,920
they also hide age-old showdowns.
270
00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,000
Up here lurks one of
northern Thailand's
271
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:11,960
more surprising creatures.
272
00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:15,600
The big-headed turtle.
273
00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:22,520
As his name suggests,
he has an enormous head,
274
00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,720
with super-sized jaws.
275
00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:36,760
Food can be hard to come by
in this fast-moving water,
276
00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:41,120
but as he only needs to eat every
few days, there's no real urgency.
277
00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:44,520
And he knows where he's going.
278
00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:54,720
Long claws and a muscular
tail propel him upstream.
279
00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:05,480
He's a little on the slow side,
280
00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:07,160
but it helps him save energy.
281
00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,000
He's got to where he wants to be.
282
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:17,760
It's now a waiting game.
283
00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:34,160
Other ancient creatures are
drawn from the forest to the water.
284
00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:47,680
Freshwater crabs.
285
00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:53,360
It's likely their ancestors
ended up here,
286
00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:56,040
300km from the coast,
287
00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,960
when the mountains formed
millions of years ago.
288
00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:36,240
To a crab, the big-headed turtle
looks much like a rock...
289
00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,240
..and that's just what he wants.
290
00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:57,640
Now those jaws make sense.
291
00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:59,800
The ideal crab cracker.
292
00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:01,520
CRUNCHING
293
00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:17,960
Over millennia,
remote forest streams
294
00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:21,360
have brought these unlikely
animals together.
295
00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:29,680
Thailand's mountainous north
is an ancient land...
296
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:36,160
..but there are places where people
have had a big influence
297
00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:37,840
in recent years.
298
00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:44,160
Like here, in the hills of
Mae Hong Son.
299
00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:49,120
Commercial logging cleared parts
of this land,
300
00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:52,720
creating new opportunities
for other kinds of plant.
301
00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:06,720
Sunflowers now carpet
these mountains.
302
00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:16,320
They were first brought to Thailand
from Central America
303
00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:18,920
as garden plants
about 70 years ago.
304
00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,680
But no-one quite knows
how they got to the slopes.
305
00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:28,440
Up here, they spread like wildfire.
306
00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:41,960
Many tourists
come to admire the spectacle.
307
00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:53,240
The people of the North
have embraced this interloper...
308
00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:02,040
..adopting it as
a provincial mascot.
309
00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:19,240
The Mexican sunflower is now part of
the fabric of northern Thailand.
310
00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:34,400
Where farmland is replacing forest,
311
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,480
wildlife finds new ways to flourish.
312
00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:53,000
Weaver ants have colonised
much of this man-made landscape.
313
00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:02,520
Hundreds of them work as a team
to build their home out of leaves,
314
00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:04,600
protecting them against
the elements.
315
00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:23,640
To lash the leaves together,
316
00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:26,280
gangs of workers pull as one.
317
00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:34,280
Bridges are built, helping ants
move quickly around the site.
318
00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:52,520
To hold their construction together,
319
00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:55,720
they rely on the youngest members
of the colony -
320
00:42:55,720 --> 00:42:57,640
grubs.
321
00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:10,960
When they're in their final stages
of development,
322
00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:12,600
they produce strands of silk...
323
00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:18,600
..and make the perfect glue gun.
324
00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:39,720
In just a few hours,
their new home is complete.
325
00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:45,680
Their nest happens
to be on a mango farm.
326
00:43:48,040 --> 00:43:50,160
But it's no ordinary orchard.
327
00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:04,760
Mr Bunchu has recruited this army
of miniature warriors
328
00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:06,240
to defend his fruit.
329
00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:10,080
They'll eat any pests.
330
00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:16,840
And by tying these strings between
mango trees,
331
00:44:16,840 --> 00:44:20,720
Mr Bunchu helps the ants
get to new foraging grounds,
332
00:44:20,720 --> 00:44:22,720
expanding their empire
333
00:44:22,720 --> 00:44:25,160
and protecting his orchard.
334
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:49,680
Healthy ant colonies
mean fewer pesticides
335
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:52,840
and the weaver ants
give the farmer something else.
336
00:44:55,440 --> 00:44:59,240
Mr Bunchu
likes to harvest their eggs.
337
00:45:26,920 --> 00:45:30,440
He takes only a little
from each nest,
338
00:45:30,440 --> 00:45:33,920
separating the ants
so they can return to the colony.
339
00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:39,240
These eggs are a Thai delicacy...
340
00:45:39,240 --> 00:45:41,680
and a favourite dish of the North.
341
00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:53,880
By working WITH wildlife,
342
00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:56,200
farmers in northern Thailand
343
00:45:56,200 --> 00:46:00,840
are able to benefit from nature's
bounty, and help it flourish.
344
00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:19,120
But the greatest rewards of all
345
00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:23,200
are found in the shadows of these
northern mountains.
346
00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:29,560
The soil here is watered by rivers
that flow down through this land,
347
00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:31,280
irrigating the rice fields.
348
00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:43,000
Thailand exports more than
9 million tonnes of rice a year.
349
00:46:52,160 --> 00:46:56,000
Every rice plant is vital
for Mr Thipuin's crop...
350
00:46:58,080 --> 00:46:59,880
..but there's constant threat.
351
00:47:01,720 --> 00:47:05,720
White-backed plant hoppers
invade the paddy fields.
352
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:14,840
They suck the sap and stunt
the growth of the rice plants,
353
00:47:14,840 --> 00:47:16,320
reducing the yield.
354
00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:22,080
But living beneath these mountains,
355
00:47:22,080 --> 00:47:25,560
the farmers have their
own natural pest control.
356
00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:34,920
Every evening, it stirs.
357
00:47:55,360 --> 00:48:00,200
300,000 wrinkle-lipped bats emerge
358
00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:02,880
to hunt for insects on the wing.
359
00:48:26,200 --> 00:48:31,560
This living ribbon of bats
is a welcome sight for the farmers.
360
00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:33,720
HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE:
361
00:48:57,720 --> 00:49:00,320
these bats rescue enough rice
362
00:49:00,320 --> 00:49:04,120
to feed 26,000 people
in Thailand each year.
363
00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,720
And by planting his rice
in the flight path,
364
00:49:10,720 --> 00:49:14,400
Mr Thipuin will benefit from
these hungry little helpers.
365
00:49:18,840 --> 00:49:22,840
In these northern mountains,
success and survival
366
00:49:22,840 --> 00:49:25,080
rely on working together
367
00:49:25,080 --> 00:49:28,520
and exploiting opportunities
when they arise.
368
00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:33,400
Ancient beliefs, modern ideas,
369
00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:35,880
and unexpected alliances
370
00:49:35,880 --> 00:49:40,120
all help to maintain
the natural harmony.
371
00:49:52,680 --> 00:49:55,840
The toughest challenge
for the northern Thailand team
372
00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:58,320
was filming Indochinese tigers.
373
00:49:59,720 --> 00:50:04,120
There are only about 350 left
in the wild.
374
00:50:04,120 --> 00:50:07,680
The only place
they stood any chance of success
375
00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:10,320
was in the forest of
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.
376
00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:17,600
Producer James Hemming teamed up
with the scientists
377
00:50:17,600 --> 00:50:19,040
who've devoted their lives
378
00:50:19,040 --> 00:50:21,520
to understanding the habits
of these creatures...
379
00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:27,240
..sometimes using quite unusual
tracking techniques.
380
00:50:27,240 --> 00:50:28,440
Yeah.
381
00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:30,800
Yeah, that's really...
382
00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:32,160
It's quite potent!
383
00:50:32,160 --> 00:50:35,360
Scent marks define tiger territory.
384
00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:37,080
They're like signposts,
385
00:50:37,080 --> 00:50:40,400
providing vital clues
to their whereabouts.
386
00:50:44,640 --> 00:50:46,000
Two different tigers?
387
00:50:48,400 --> 00:50:53,280
Even so, finding them
is far from easy.
388
00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:57,760
The team have only got
three weeks in this forest,
389
00:50:57,760 --> 00:51:00,400
which is four times
the size of Greater London.
390
00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:09,440
HE SNIFFS
391
00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:12,560
James is going to need more
than a sniff to succeed.
392
00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:15,880
Wow!
393
00:51:15,880 --> 00:51:17,120
Yeah.
394
00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:21,040
Camera traps are his best chance
395
00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:24,280
of getting footage
of these elusive animals.
396
00:51:25,360 --> 00:51:27,000
The cameras need to be rigged
397
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:30,760
at key locations in the forest where
they'll be triggered by motion.
398
00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:35,160
And to film a passing tiger,
399
00:51:35,160 --> 00:51:38,240
it's really important to
get the frame size right.
400
00:51:38,240 --> 00:51:39,640
Pretty good.
401
00:51:40,800 --> 00:51:42,320
Yeah. It's all good.
402
00:51:42,320 --> 00:51:44,000
Cool. OK.
403
00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:47,360
THEY MURMUR
404
00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:51,800
For the scientists, camera traps
have also proved essential.
405
00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:56,440
Not just for research, but in
helping police with anti-poaching.
406
00:51:56,440 --> 00:52:00,120
In 2015, camera-trap images
proved that a tiger
407
00:52:00,120 --> 00:52:04,800
which once roamed these forests,
had been illegally poached.
408
00:52:04,800 --> 00:52:07,480
It led to the prosecution
of three men.
409
00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:15,840
The crew aren't relying
just on camera traps.
410
00:52:15,840 --> 00:52:18,480
Wildlife cameraman Graham MacFarlane
411
00:52:18,480 --> 00:52:21,600
and guide Kwanchi,
are also in the field.
412
00:52:21,600 --> 00:52:25,720
A tiger could be ten metres from you
and you wouldn't see it.
413
00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:36,880
This place is covered
with animal prints.
414
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:39,520
There's elephant, loads of deer.
415
00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:42,360
It's a really good sign,
all prey for the tiger.
416
00:52:42,360 --> 00:52:45,160
I've got a really good feeling
about this place.
417
00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:51,080
And there's a fresh tiger track,
just down there.
418
00:52:51,080 --> 00:52:54,600
(Great news. Well spotted, Kwanchi!)
419
00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:58,080
Graham is using
a more traditional method,
420
00:52:58,080 --> 00:53:01,240
waiting it out in a hide
near a spring.
421
00:53:01,240 --> 00:53:04,040
So, I've got my camera there,
my seat,
422
00:53:04,040 --> 00:53:06,760
my little window out on the world.
423
00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:13,960
As Graham settles in,
424
00:53:13,960 --> 00:53:17,200
the camera traps start
to bring in results.
425
00:53:32,320 --> 00:53:35,600
A leopard is caught on camera.
426
00:53:35,600 --> 00:53:38,120
But no sign of tigers.
427
00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:44,600
A few days later, scientist Som Pot
may have found the breakthrough
428
00:53:44,600 --> 00:53:49,320
that James needs - the rotting
remains of a tiger kill.
429
00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:54,080
"Come to Thailand!" they said.
"Full of beaches(!)"
430
00:53:54,080 --> 00:53:55,640
FLIES BUZZ
431
00:53:56,920 --> 00:53:59,720
The tiger could return at any time,
432
00:53:59,720 --> 00:54:02,320
so the team need to work swiftly.
433
00:54:02,320 --> 00:54:06,040
I really hope this works.
It could be the best chance we have
434
00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:08,400
of actually filming a tiger here.
435
00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:10,920
Now all they can do is wait.
436
00:54:16,640 --> 00:54:19,520
Patience is also key for Graham.
437
00:54:21,400 --> 00:54:23,640
Another day in the office.
438
00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:26,360
Still no tiger. I'm not going to
give up yet.
439
00:54:34,320 --> 00:54:37,000
As it's the height
of the dry season,
440
00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:40,120
the spring is proving to
be a busy place.
441
00:54:48,640 --> 00:54:50,760
A Malay tapir.
442
00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:52,960
Such an unusual-looking animal.
443
00:54:56,400 --> 00:54:59,720
But this binturong
has Graham baffled.
444
00:54:59,720 --> 00:55:02,760
I shall have to look that one up
in the mammals book.
445
00:55:02,760 --> 00:55:04,600
That's is pretty cool, though.
446
00:55:06,840 --> 00:55:10,520
And there are signs
that predators may be close.
447
00:55:10,520 --> 00:55:14,240
I just saw one of those barking
deers with a massive scar.
448
00:55:14,240 --> 00:55:17,240
I can only imagine
it was a...lucky escape.
449
00:55:17,240 --> 00:55:19,240
Possibly from a tiger.
450
00:55:22,160 --> 00:55:23,960
It makes me nervous.
451
00:55:26,120 --> 00:55:28,720
Graham is right to be nervous.
452
00:55:28,720 --> 00:55:32,080
A ranger was recently attacked
here by a tiger.
453
00:55:33,640 --> 00:55:38,480
But, right now, there's a far bigger
threat that no-one had anticipated.
454
00:55:42,760 --> 00:55:44,560
A forest fire.
455
00:55:44,560 --> 00:55:45,800
Out of control.
456
00:55:47,120 --> 00:55:50,440
James and the team are forced
back to base.
457
00:55:58,600 --> 00:56:01,560
It's weird, because
it was quite sunny earlier...
458
00:56:02,800 --> 00:56:05,920
..and now with the wind's picked up,
and it's so smoky.
459
00:56:07,720 --> 00:56:10,520
The langurs all left
at the same time.
460
00:56:10,520 --> 00:56:12,440
They went that way.
461
00:56:12,440 --> 00:56:13,560
So, I guess...
462
00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:18,760
..if the fire does come this way,
I'll head that way, too.
463
00:56:22,600 --> 00:56:25,200
Graham's time in the hide is over.
464
00:56:29,240 --> 00:56:31,080
Back at the headquarters,
465
00:56:31,080 --> 00:56:34,760
the fires are now dangerously close
to James and the team.
466
00:56:37,000 --> 00:56:41,840
It's suddenly become, within, like,
ten minutes, incredibly smoky.
467
00:56:41,840 --> 00:56:43,600
We're actually having to evacuate.
468
00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:50,040
Pretty worried, to be honest.
It's just so unpredictable.
469
00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:00,680
Holy Moley...
470
00:57:08,120 --> 00:57:11,200
The team managed to get out safely,
471
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:14,680
and despite the fires,
the camera traps were saved.
472
00:57:18,560 --> 00:57:19,760
Wow...
473
00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:26,560
Look... I mean,
look at the size of him.
474
00:57:26,560 --> 00:57:28,400
Fantastic. Wow...
475
00:57:31,600 --> 00:57:34,680
It's lucky that we got this?
Yes! Really?
476
00:57:37,120 --> 00:57:39,520
Healthy. Really healthy.
477
00:57:39,520 --> 00:57:42,400
Good body condition.
Which is great.
478
00:57:42,400 --> 00:57:46,200
This must mean there's plenty
of animals to, you know, hunt.
479
00:57:55,800 --> 00:57:58,160
I'm over the moon
that we actually managed to,
480
00:57:58,160 --> 00:57:59,880
you know, get the footage.
481
00:57:59,880 --> 00:58:03,600
Thank you very much. It was great.
You're welcome.
482
00:58:04,720 --> 00:58:07,760
Over the course
of the last 20 years,
483
00:58:07,760 --> 00:58:10,280
tiger numbers have increased here.
484
00:58:10,280 --> 00:58:15,280
And there is new hope for
Thailand's biggest land predator.
38534
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